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Sunday, November 8, 2015

Vintage Dictionary Illustrations

So, I was feeling a little creative last night.
I'm always bringing home vintage dictionaries from the
auction trash and decided to use one in some
kind of repurposing project.  



This was a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 1947,
with nicely yellowed pages, and charming
hand drawn illustrations.
The spine was broken, so don't worry about me cutting
 it up.  It was begging to be useful again! :)





I've had this duck for decades, back when ducks were 'in' along with
hunter green and burgundy....so 1990's! 
 I covered him in the illustrations using Modge Podge and a little paint brush.

I applied two coats over the whole thing and let it dry overnight.
Who knew applying something vintage would bring him into the 
21st century! haha.  I intended to put him in my etsy shop,
but I'm having a hard time letting go.





I'll enjoy him a few days and see how I feel then.
He's large...would make a gorgeous centerpiece on a dinner table.
Maybe in a tray with fall colored leaves for Thanksgiving?
Or a wreath of holly around his neck for Christmas?
Hmmm.....


46 comments:

  1. What a creative use of an old dictionary! I think you should keep the duck. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just might...at least for a while. He's an interesting conversation piece, anyway!

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  2. Hi Betsy - what a great idea ... amazing result too. So so clever ... and I love seeing it. I think I'd keep him for at least a year ... he'll go out of fashion by 2030?! Cheers - this is so lovely to see .. Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, time is ticking in the duck fashion world! haha....

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  3. What a neat idea. Turned out really nicely!

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  4. Looks great! I remember when you did something similar with a pumpkin. Very creative. Old dictionaries are perfect for this sort of thing. I bet there are lots at the auctions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the pumpkin was on the foyer table during October! But it wasn't done with the true vintage dictionary pages....I printed those off the internet...still, almost identical in looks!

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  5. That's so unique. A real conversation piece.

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  6. Great job! I can picture the duck as a table center piece, what a great idea!

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    Replies
    1. If I keep it, that's probably where it will end up!

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  7. Oh how creative you are!! And the duck looks great! Too bad the "old" dictionary had to be sacrificed.....1947 is the year I was born too!! Hmmmmm.......

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    Replies
    1. It wasn't sacrified...it was resurrected! lol...

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    2. Send him a page, Betsy.... Find a good one with a definition of something that has to do with barns and gardens or maybe Peach Salsa. HeHe!

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  8. Very clever to use the animal prints on this now, dignified duck.
    Still chuckling about the hunter green and burgundy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My living room was those colors back then....it was all the rage! lol....

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  9. Gosh, you are so talented! It's lovely. (I have several ducks which date back to that same era. The grandchildren like to play with them.)

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    Replies
    1. If you paste dictionary pictures on them, they can learn and they play! haha...

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  10. I expect he is no longer 'duck' for words . . . . :)
    What a unique idea . . . . he looks as though he is well read . . . :)
    You are so creative . . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Duck for words...that's a new phrase to me! :)

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    2. a pun . . . . sorry . . . . 'stuck for words' is the phrase . . . :)

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    3. haha...we say, "at a loss for words". No, I suppose he isn't!

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    4. We say that too ~ you look very studious ~ have you swallowed the rest of the dictionary? . . . . haha
      Hope you have a lovely weekend.~ I have been recovering after my mammoth week looking after Peter . . . :)

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  11. Excellent, Betsy. And we're the 90's really that long ago? Ugh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes....amazing, isn't it? I always laugh when Etsy defines something 'vintage' as being 1994 or earlier!

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    2. I guess that makes me a genuine antique then....haha

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    3. Oh, but we all get better with age, right? ha.

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  12. That sure is neat
    And he can leave all in defeat
    If can't find words making you say umm truck
    Just go and consult the duck

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were a few words I didn't know
      as I did the cut and paste rows!

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  13. Replies
    1. It was very fun to do! Might have to find something else to paper! haha...

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  14. Too, too clever and really cute.
    My brain just doesn't work that way.
    I really like the idea and may have to do something that way myself.
    It may be too hard to part with now for the holidays.

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    Replies
    1. If you do something similar, I want to see it! :)

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  15. I agree . . it would make a wonderful centerpiece! I remember the hunter green and burgundy days, too. They were back in my much younger days, of course! ha ha.

    Marla

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, much, MUCH younger days for all of us...haha....I remember loving my dark green walls...and I
      even had the burgundy wall paper border.

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  16. Well.....I was wondering what you had been up to, in your studio. Very creative! And, I'm thinking he needs to live maybe at someone's lake house.

    P.S. I used to do the whole duck thing. Ha!

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  17. I love this! I do believe I have a naked Duck in the basement!
    I like the way you left the bill plain...
    I think a wee hat is in order! Hahaha!
    Enjoy your Sunday!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  18. I would never have thought to do such a thing. I can't believe how creative you are! Let us know your made over ducks fate. Lol

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  19. Wow, this is a great repurpose. Books like that head for the landfill and there are some great collage material there. I really like the look.

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  20. I love this idea! =)
    You did a wonderful job!

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  21. You did a beautiful job, I love how it turned out. It's a keeper.

    ReplyDelete

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