Saturday, October 20, 2012

Antique Player Piano Rolls

ETA: photo below for CASual Friday's over the edge challenge, and the LIM autumn challenge (much more white space):







At a garage sale last year I saw a box under a table with a sign saying, "25 cents each." Taking a closer look, I saw they were old player piano rolls! Score! I bought them all. I was surprised to find that they are about a mile long once your unroll them. I think one roll will last me many, many projects. My first project with them is a set of cards I made for a card exchange last year.


 It was hard for me to cut one up, but I thought it was better to give them a second life. I backed the player piano roll with a dark paper to highlight the holes that make the music. The words in blue are the song lyrics, which would be read from bottom to top as the roll moves. So the lyrics on this particular card would read, "Pret-ty ba-by."


 On the inside of the card I printed a little blurb about player pianos, figuring not everyone is going to know what it is. It was fun doing some research, and I even got to hear the actual song on youtube! It's a pretty catchy jazz tune.
 

I made a few different versions of the card. They all feature a leaf "falling." I like that the song, "Bye-Bye Pretty Baby," could be about saying good-bye to the beautiful falling leaves. I thought the vertical holes in the paper added to the falling leaf story too.

I'm adding this to the Less is More challenge: autumn.

Thanks for looking!
-Kelly

Supplies used: 
stamps:  Stampin' Up Leaves
other:  watercolor pencils, wire, button, player piano roll

42 comments:

  1. What a wonderful find!!!!! Awesome cards!

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  2. Oooh Kelly what a great find this was! Love that you added the little note inside and those leaves are really pretty!

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  3. Ok this is just genius Kelly! Great find indeed.

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  4. This is AWESOME!!! What an amazing find--and a great way to re-use them! LOVE this idea! Now, where to find some myself?! ;)

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  5. What a find, lucky you.

    The cards you have created are very unique and simply stunning. I love the fact that you have given the recipient info on the music sheet, it's a lovely touch.

    Love Sheila x

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  6. All the white space has been used up on these cards Kelly, but the designs are perfectly clean and simple and your use of the piano rolls is inspired!
    I simply love them.
    Thanks so much
    Chrissie
    "Less is More"

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  7. Great use of the piano rolls, the cards look fab :)

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  8. These are really beautiful. That was an excellent find and a lovely way to recycle them as keepsakes. Wonderful.
    Julia

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  9. Utterly gorgeous Kelly - what an amazing find!

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  10. Honestly, you are one of the most creative people I know - I would NEVER have thought to make a card with this, and certainly never put the sentiment like that, which is so clever and makes you really think about the card. SO. COOL!

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  11. your cards are absolutely the coolest!!

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  12. Fantastic idea! So unusual and these cards look amazing!
    Chris
    x

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  13. what an ingenious upcycling project! and the skeleton leaves are just beautiful. hugs, annie x

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  14. Wow! Clever beyond clever! Not only are the piano rolls amazing but you have captured the absolute essence of that era with the font & the placement of the sentiment! Amazing!

    Hey, better check out an antique web site because those rolls (complete with boxes) could buy you a whole room of stamps :)

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  15. Hi Kelly I just found your blog and have to admit I love it.
    It´s so awesome how you used the piano rolls.
    Have a great day and may greetings from Germany
    Tascha

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  16. What a fantastic card and a great way to re-purpose something that might have wound up in a landfill somewhere!

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  17. Wonderful card. Your use of the piano paper is genius.
    Lynne xxx

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  18. I love the vintage feel these cards have and they certainly have movement with the falling leaves :0)
    Jenny x

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  19. I love the additional one Kelly, the leaves look amazing too!
    Thanks again
    Chrissie
    "Less is More"

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  20. Kelly! These are outstanding! CAS perfection, each and every one of them! What a fantastic find in that paper roll and you have created something really special with them! Thanks so much for playing along in our Over the Edge challenge. It's a very special week for us here at CAS-ual Fridays, and I hope you're enjoying all the sneak peeks :)
    ~hugs~
    Michele

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  21. What a wonderful way to recycle those piano rolls. Each card contains a tiny piece of history!

    Sharon
    x

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  22. Oh my gosh, Kelly!!!!!!! You are a genius, to think to grab this for your cards. This is such a wonderful creative idea. I love that the papers are now getting out of the box and having a second life. Your cards are gorgeous and I will tell you right now Winner! It has to be! You my friend are a trend setter right here. Gorgeous , beautiful idea and cards. Are you getting … I like them … smile.

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  23. Take ME (PLEASE!!!)antique shopping with YOU! O me o my! I love how you used the piano roll paper! wow wow wow! Thanks so much for playing with us at CAS-ual Fridays! PS: just in case you think I forgot to comment on that leaf....no, I saw and I noticed how gorgeous it is!! Truly beautiful!

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  24. Truly, truly inspired ... je les adore! Anita in France

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  25. What a score! Isn't it funny how we see cards in everything? I just love how the piano rolls are both vintage and modern looking with those graphic designs! Your cards turned out just beautifully! The fall leaves are the perfect pairing with the krafty piano roll paper.

    Hope you're having a great week Kelly!

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  26. What a fabulous way to give something new life! And in a gorgeous way too :) Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays this week :)

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  27. Wow! What an amazing find!! So jealous! hehe! You sure did put it to good use, all of your cards are stunning and CAS perfection! Thanks so much for playing along with us at CAS-ual Fridays this week!

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  28. WOW! Fantastic! What a great find? LOVE it, Kelly! Thanks for playing with us @ CAS-ual Fridays:)

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  29. Oh AWESOME! What a great find! Thanks for playing along with us at CAS-ual Fridays this week! :)

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  30. Happy dancing for your BIG win, Kelly! Woot woot!

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  31. Oh wow piano rolls? Seems like you've got a few amazing uses out of it already :) Congrat on the big win!

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  32. Congratulations on such a well deserved win! I loved this idea so much and I am so happy for you, Kelly!

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  33. Congratulations Kelly~this is so neat!

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    1. First, congratulations on the well-deserved when from CFC, Kelly! You were truly brilliant to recognize what a fantastic "find" you had there. OMW! What you have done with them already makes these cards so very special. Taking the time to do the research and include the insert is taking the care factor to a whole new level. Awe.

      I wish you had (or maybe you do) a cute little boutique shop near you that would love to sell these one-of-a-kind cards!

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  34. A very well deserved win! I knew that this clever card was a winner the instant I saw it! Well done young lady!
    Woot Woot :)

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  35. Wow, what a fantastic find! And a well deserved win, too! Congrats, Kelly!

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  36. Congratulations, Kelly on your BRILLIANT idea and having that recognized with a win at Casual Friday! So happy for you. Your projects always make me smile. : )

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  37. This paper gives a really great look to your cards. What an original idea!

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  38. HUGE Congrats on your well deserved win Kelly :) :) :)

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  39. Congratulations on your CFC win - I knew it was special!

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  40. What a unique post and gorgeous cards!! Congrats on your shout out!

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  41. I love this card!! It has such an antique feel about it:)

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I absolutely love reading comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave one! - Kelly