Finding the Perfect Props: Vintage Stories for AzarÉl Greetings

As a photographer, I’m constantly on the hunt for props. My favorite sources are places where I can see and handle the objects. I’m continually exploring the various antique and vintage shops in nearby Adamstown for treasures. At craft shows, many artists and crafters reuse and repurpose nostalgic items very creatively. I really like when I can check details and scale in person. These venues offer a goldmine of practical and beautiful items—things with character, history, and a certain charm you simply can’t mass-produce. Before sharing my recent finds, I’ll explain exactly how I choose items for AzarÉl Greetings photography.

Choosing the Perfect Prop

Before I carry a piece to the checkout counter, I run it through a mental checklist. First of all, I look for items that are ‘bird-sized’. If a prop is too large, the bird is dwarfed; if it’s too small, the bird looks like a giant. I call “size” my ‘Goldilocks Rule’ because the size has to be juuuuust right!  I also generally look for pieces with some color rather than items that are drab. Beyond the visual, a great prop needs to be something people can easily relate to or connect with through memory. Lastly, but above all else, it has to be something that motivates me. After all, I’ll be staring at it for several hours as I take photos. Then I’ll stare at it lots more as the photo gets processed. I’ve got to love it to bring it home!

Prop Spotlight: 5 Items That Earned Their Place in My Collection

 The true joy of shopping vintage and handmade is finding pieces with a genuine story. Below are recent discoveries that just might make an appearance in the 2025-2026 winter photography!

1.The Pink Christmas Tree

My first find that absolutely embodies character is this beautiful piece from Jan Gilligan’s Inner Beauty Decor booth at the Howard County Craft Show Spectacular. Jan crafts unique Christmas trees from cracked vintage glassware, giving history new life. Mine is made of pink depression glass and stands 11 inches tall. I may have to bury the base of it in snow to shorten it a little. The soft pink provides the beautiful color I look for. It’s an inspiring prop that could work wonderfully for a holiday theme, or even better, as a beautiful symbol for breast cancer awareness. This unique piece is a keeper that really sparkles with ideas.

Check out more of Jan’s work on Facebook here.

2. The Tiny Tea Kettle

This small tea kettle and cup was another treasure that immediately spoke to my need for both story and scale. The pieces are perfectly “bird-sized”—the tea kettle is about 5″ wide by 4″ high, and the cup just 2.5” wide. The hand-painted snow scene will beautifully complement a real snowfall. Colene Feudale (Martin’s Creative Crafts) uses a variety of vintage items as her canvas. She participates in only one show a year: The Covered Bridge and Arts Festival in Bloomsburg. (She’s in the Industrial Building, space 42.) Her artistry helps to conjure memories of building snowmen and enjoying hot chocolate in winter. I can just picture a little -dee perching on the handle of the tea kettle! What a unique find!

3. Classic Candy Canes

Candy Canes are the taste of Christmas! Visually, it brings a bold red and white color palette I love. I haven’t fully fleshed out the scene yet, but the potential is huge! I can already imagine a chickadee perched right on the crook of a single candy cane. Alternatively, using a small vintage ball jar filled with a colorful candy cane collection would add instant depth. It’s a simple, affordable item, yet it offers all kinds of potential for creating memorable, high-impact seasonal images.

4. Charlie Brown Soup Mug

This week I desperately needed a break from card making, so I took a much-needed trip to one of my favorite vintage shops: The Heritage Antique Center in Adamstown. It’s wonderful because it has such a broad variety of vintage items (without being overwhelmed by glass!). My favorite recent find is this Charlie Brown Soup Mug. At 4.75 inches wide by 3.25 inches tall, it’s the perfect size for filling with, small ornaments, old Christmas lights, or pinecones and moss with fairy lights. On the other hand, maybe I could pile marshmallows in the center, making you think of hot chocolate. Of course, there’s no hot chocolate, only delicious bird treats. I wonder if a bird would really perch on the ‘marshmallow island’…

5. Snoopy’s Doghouse

My love for Snoopy and Charlie Brown runs deep. Last year I managed to capture a close-up shot of a chickadee with the single red ball of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree! That inspiration is leading to another project: creating Snoopy’s iconic red doghouse. When I’m feeling ‘crafty’, I’ll construct a miniature version using paint sticks or popsicle sticks. I have a feeling Brian will be a willing accomplice in this build. Of course, it will be completed with bright colored fairy lights. This will be such fun to make and photograph!

🎄 The Single Red Ball

Last winter, I captured a sentimental shot: a close-up of a chickadee gazing intently at the single, red ornament that had fallen to the ground beneath the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. That simple, spindly tree with its single red Christmas ball speaks volumes. It’s a reminder to embrace the true, simple meaning of the Christmas season.

If this image sparked joy, consider purchasing the giclée canvas print. You can browse it and other prints at AzarEl Greetings online here.

What’s Your Favorite Find?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek at some of my favorite recent finds. These unique pieces have so much character and story. If one or two of these ideas sparked your imagination and became a favorite, please let me know by commenting on the corresponding AzarÉl Greetings‘ Facebook post! And, if you have another fun, unique prop idea, I would absolutely love to hear it.