Tips and Treats
Each month, The Market Place would like to offer 
their special visitors, Primitive and Country style decorating tips, free country style recipes, free primitive printables and more.
Tips
Aging Your Blank Tags with Walnut Ink
You can use Walnut Ink Crystals that way you can get them as dark (or light) as you prefer.
- Mix your crystals with warm water until you are
happy with the color. To this mixture add some Vanilla
or whatever scent you prefer. If you want them really
grungy, add some cinnamon! - Drop your tags into the mixture and let soak about 5 minutes.
- Take them out and spread on paper towels. You can dry them several
ways. You can set them outside in the sun, dry in a very low oven,
or even faster..in the Microwave. If you choose this method,
I do have to warn you though, DO NOT WALK AWAY..
If you set the time to high, your tags can easily catch on fire.
Now you are ready to dress up your Tags!
(Tip by Howling Moon Designs)
Tea staining paper
- Mix about 1/2 cup of water and a couple of tablespoons of instant tea.
- With a foam brush you can brush it onto your paper, let dry, and then turn over and repeat on the other side.
- To get a darker intense and more antique look, you can press the paper with an iron. Make the iron really hot and be sure to keep it moving so it does not leave an imprint. You can do this on material also. Be sure to clean the iron or use a designated crafting iron on it so that when you press your good clothes they don't get tea stained.
- You can stain wool felt or muslin or paper with this method.
- Not a tea drinker? You can also use instant coffee for this technique as well!
Primitive and Country Style Decorating Tips
December
Featured Book Spot: Holidays at a Country Home by Judy Condon
This amazing 2011 holiday book includes a secret recipe which the author's grandson CANNOT believe she has divulged! It decorated homes of thirteen country collectors. The book includes the Wisconsin home of Kari Cameron, owner of Just a Little Bit of Country and her husband Jack, the Massachusetts home of Barbara English, owner of The Gingham Goose, and her husband David, the home of antique dealer Cheryl Bonin and her husband Bill, the Massachusetts home of artists Jane and Barron Hansen, the West Virginia home of Helen Brown, the Ohio condo of Pat and Chuck Knapp, the Maine home of the McLaughlins, the Indiana home of Faith and Bill Moss, the Pennsylvania home of Michelle Logan, owner of Squire Brown, and her husband Donny, the home of Phyllis and Pete Mathieus of Connecticut and two other homes in Massachusetts; that of Karen and Michael Casey and Sue and Tom Morello.
Now you can own this book for yourself or for a great gift idea for a friend by shopping at The Market Place of Tomah, WI
Here are some additional images from the book. Please feel free to click on these images below to get a closer look....
Did you like this month's article? Let us know!
Grab a free "Breakfast & Brunch" recipe booklet by Gooseberry Patch and Post Cereal. There are two other free Gooseberry Patch recipe booklets that you can still request. They are "Fall Favorites" and "Family Favorite Recipes." You can download The Family Favorites Recipe Booklet in Adobe PDF for FREE by clicking here or The Fall Favorites Recipe Booklet by clicking here.
To print a copy of these recipes, Click here for the document. (pdf format, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Want more great ideas? Try our Tips Archive
Site designed and maintained by 
