Graphic 45 Harry Potter Mashup

If the sorting hat were placed upon my head the last house I would be put into would be Slytherin. Most silly quiz results put me in Hufflepuff. (Not sure how I feel about that either but I'll take it.) But as soon as I saw this paper, Play Ball from Good Ol' Sport ...

... I immediately saw quidditch team colours for the serpenty Hogwarts house and HAD to make something Slythernish. (Slytherinesque? Slytherinny?)

I'm pretty sure that almost every Slytherin student would have a sneaky false book to hide things in. Using the new staples Book Box from Graphic 45 and papers from the Good Ol' Sport and Steampunk Spells collections I've done just that!

Each of those gears and cut out pieces on the cover are laser cuts from Gina's Designs.

Inside are magical bits and pieces tucked away for safe keeping.

A captured winged key made with Graphic 45 Staples

A bottle of Death Microbes... because it is Slytherin house afterall.

A box of owl treats

And a little reminder to support the house team!

 

Not being a sports inclined person at all, I'm pretty pleased that I was able to find a sporty use for Good Ol' Sport. And don't you dare say quidditch isn't a real sport! (Muggle!)

Supply List:
Good Ol' Sport:
Game Day
Play Ball
Big Score
Newsworthy
Touchdown 

Steampunk Spells:
Steampunk Spells
Vintage Voyage
Mechanical Marvels
Totally Wicked
Steampunk Spells Alphabet Stickers
Steampunk Spells Chipboard 2
Steampunk Spells Tags & Pockets

Book Box
Metal Butterflies
Ornate Metal Keys

Gina's Designs

Texture Sheet Gears

Flourished Open Circle Frames

Queen Anne's Lace

Acrylic paint, glass bottles, pen and nib, crafty wirey bits, glue and all that other good stuff :)

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

There's a reason I gush every time I talk about Graphic 45 ... they deserve it.

Being a member of their design team this past year has been an incredible experience. I am so appreciative to have had the opportunity to work with their stunning products (seriously, every box is like Christmas!) but even more than that, to have had the privilege to be in such wonderful company. Truly, I have never met a kinder, more supportive group than my fellow design team members, and the entire Graphic 45 family.

How could I pass up the opportunity to audition for this years team? And so, here are a few of my favourite projects from this past year. (Titles link to the original post with additional pictures and supply lists.)

A Spooky Little Steampunk Spells Box   

A small (but mighty!) box altered with Steampunk Spells and embellished with Graphic 45 staples which paired perfectly with those amazing vintage metal feet!

Staycation Adventure Book

Unable to go to far away places this summer, I created an activity book for my kiddo.  Using vibrant G45 papers from a variety of collections and Regular Tag Album, I packed the pages with surprises and prompts for at home adventures.

Botanical Tea Cards

What can I say? Botanical Tea is just a dream to work with. It's stunning and absolutely perfect for making elegant cards... and even igniting a spark of inspiration!

Topsy Turvy Couture Album

There were 14 layouts featuring Couture in this 8x8 Easel Album. Not being a layout artist, I found it  a huge challenge... but I'm so proud of the results. The vintage black and white photos worked so well with the classic look of the collection.

Floral Fairy ATC's

Using A Secret Garden and A Ladies' Diary I created a little set of ATC's. They aren't big or elaborate, but I think they are terribly sweet and elegant.

Postal Station No. 45

Typography is one on my very favourite collections and it was perfect for creating this miniature post office. Again, those Graphic 45 Staples come in handy and are put to good use as windows and doors on this piece.

Secret Garden Cubby Box

A pink and frilly, rather sentimental piece I created with bits of stash and papers from Secret Garden. This piece really just makes me dreamy eyed to look at it.

These projects show off a range of skills and styles, but they also represent some of the projects that I had the most fun creating. It really has been the most amazing year and I hope I'll be lucky enough to take part again. Each of my fingers and toes are crossed!

P.S. If you're thinking about auditioning for the design team... show off your awesomeness, be yourself and GO FOR IT! Here's the link to the Design Team call blog post.

221B Baker Street Real Estate Links

I have one auction listing live. It can be found **SOLD**. I will list a second today, but I'm looking for an alternative to ebay. Listing that tin reminded me of all the reasons I stopped using ebay YEARS ago. Anywho, I'll update this post when I list the second tin later today. **SOLD**

Secondly... and most amazingly... check this out!

Those three little letters? That "Wow!" at the end? That's from the man himself, Arwel Wyn Jones, who created the brilliant BBC Sherlock set! Needless to say I just about fainted dead away ... 

... then, being me, I thought "Oh crap. What if he means 'Wow! what a nutter?"

... then I pushed that thought aside and decided to believe it was a nice 'Wow!' afterall :)

Good luck folks!

221B Baker Street - Redux Update!

First things first. I've completed two tins and they will be going up for auction tomorrow (ETA: BOTH ARE NOW SOLD). I will post the links to the auctions all over the place. You'll be fed up to the back teeth with me before this is through.

The details...

There are 10 new tins, at least 6 of them will be for sale (in some form or other) online. I will always post the where and when's prior to listing. (There will probably be an etsy listing next week.) I also wanted to say that I will not be making any more of these particular tins. In the distant future I may do the bullet marked wall or something else Sherlock related... but this particular design is being put to rest.

I'm really proud of this lot of little Baker St flats and I'm glad to have had the chance to improve upon the original and 'fix' a few things that ate away me. Here's a look at the completed pieces...

The fireplace is now much closer to the fabulous BBC Sherlock set, which is designed by the amazing Arwel Wyn Jones.

The tins do shut, but once again the chairs have to be removed... but I'll send along extra papery bits to mess up the apartment with to make up for that particular annoyance.

Finally (while I have your attention) I wanted to say a few words about The Undershaw Preservation Trust and ask you to consider taking a moment to 'Like' their facebook page. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle holds a very special place in my heart, not just as the creator of Sherlock, but as someone who had a deep interest in fairies. Preserving his home not only acknowledges the significant mark he left on the literary world and our very culture, but also respects his memory... something I believe he deserves.

 

The trust isn't accepting donations at this time, but I'll be holding on to one of these tins (for a while at least) in the hopes that the sale of one of these silly things can benefit their cause. We'll have to see what develops. Again, I'll keep you informed.

So that's it for now. If you're planning on bidding I wish you all the luck in the world. If not, thanks for being nosy.

SMOOCH!

Artist Trading Blocks for Graphic 45

A few Artist Trading Blocks created for Graphic 45 using Good Ol Sport. It’s great fun to create these tiny 3 dimensional works of art and I thought it would be a fabulous medium for the Good ol Sport collection. They remind me of little trophies! How great would these look in a masculine den or sports lovers room?

 

A few tips for making your own: The top finials and bottom stands are simply miscellaneous wooden pieces adhered together. Old wooden knobs and pulls, chess pieces, crafting pieces pieced together until they look just right. Once painted or stained they look as though they are one piece. Add some age to the pieces by grunging them. Sand all of the edges and then staining them with dark brown, watered down acrylic paint. To protect the finished project, coat with a light sealant.

There's more pics over on the Graphic 45 blog, along with other beautiful projects by Olga and Miranda :)

Materials List:

 Good ol Sport
Number 1 Fan
Cheer On
Victory
Play Ball
Teamwork
Champion
Touchdown
Game Day
Big Score
Ornate Metal Keys
Wooden Block
Rusty bits and bobs
Wooden Egg Cup
Small Wooden Finial
Miscellaneous old wooden knobs, pulls and pieces
Acrylic paint
Sealant

In Praise of Odd Birds

I wrote you a poem.

Yes you.

While working on my 'Odd Bird' projects for Alpha Stamps my mind did turn affectionately to the odd birds I have come to know and love. And I do love them... you... you with the ruffled feathers who believes in magic and embodies kindness.

So I wrote a few rhyming words and made a little book in praise of odd birds. (Don't squint... the full text is at the end.)

Cherish the odd birds 

With their hedgehog plumes

Who sing wild songs

In quiet little rooms

Delight in the sparrows

Overflowing with strange dreams

So filled to the brim

They are splitting at the seams

 Marvel at the darlings

Who smile with crooked teeth

Whose wings are not straight

But who have the brightest cheeks

Cherish the odd birds

The irregular and quirky

For they are beams of hopeful light

When all the world seems murky

Stay odd. For I love you as you are, and it suits you :)

And with gratitude to Alpha Stamps, here is the great big supply list for that little book:

February - An Odd Bird Kit

Paper Mache Book

Mini Red Pip Berry Garland
Wired leaves Tintypes Collage Sheet
Cream Adhesive Pearls - 3mm

Metallic Mini Brads in 2 Colors Ornate Metal Keys
 Fancy Aunties 2 Collage Sheet
 Art Deco Travel Ads Collage Sheet
  Curiosity - One of a Kind Scrapbook Paper
  Curiosity 12x12 Paper Pack
  Finches Collage Sheet
Robin Red Breast Collage Sheet
  Foliage Bees Epoxy Stickers
Vintage Postcard Fairies Collage Sheet

P.S. The 'Curiosity' papers listed above are rather beautiful :)

Check out the Alpha Stamps newsletter for even more pretties :) 

221B Update: Slippers, stacks and love

Still plugging away. This weekend was spent making little stacks of magazines, end tables, rugs, slippers, and mantle statues. There are still a few interior items to make like tiny pen knives, portraits and bat specimens.

 

Although the guts of 221B still need attention, I turned my focus to the exterior for a while. The original door numbers are very sweet and I rather like their handmadeness (my word, I'm keeping it) but I wanted something a little more polished for the new set.

Pardon the muddled and messy appearance, they are a bit wet and very much 'in progress' here. Scouring my usual crafty sources it was pretty clear that teeny weeny golden numbers were not going to be easily had. After a great deal of trial and error (mostly error of course) I hobbled together a 221B stamp and used gold embossing powder to create the numbers.

I am now deeply in love with embossing powder. Don't tell Cumberbatch, I wouldn't want him to get jealous :P

Graphic 45 By The Sea Matchbox

I've been waiting AGES to show off this project, created with the lovely seaside themed papers "By The Sea" from Graphic 45. It's featured over on their blog today so I can finally show it off!

The base of the piece is a Graphic 45 Staples 8x8 Matchbook Box. If you're unfamiliar with them, they are sturdy (truly!) kraftboard boxes that look like this...

I embellished like crazy, did loads of fussy cutting and ended up with something quite nice :) The layered bunting effect at the top with the stamps, starfish and snippets is one of my favourite elements of this piece.

Check out that octopus paper covering the box. That's Gathering Shells and the reverse is covered in starfish! "By the Sea" is such a fun collection with a lovely colour pallet. Slightly subdued for a bit of an aged, vintage feel with wonderful graphics.

Perhaps the element I'm most pleased with...

... the wheels! I have utilized those Ornate Metal Key Holes for all sorts things. Now here they are holding some small wooden wheels in place. Proof you should never be afraid of turning things upside down ;)

More photos on the G45 blog and here's the complete supply list:

Graphic 45 By The Sea

By the Sea

My Anchor

Beachcomber

Pier 45

Set Sail

Sand and Surf

Gathering Seashells

Graphic 45 Staples

8x8 Matchbook Box

Ornate Metal Key Holes

Ornate Door Plate

Wooden Craft Wheels

Metallic Mini Brads

Small Wooden Buttons/Wheels

Twine

221B Update: Fireplaces and Injuries!

I took a break yesterday for an impromptu 'date night' with my kiddo. We ate tacos, made homemade donuts, watched Shaun of the Dead and played Hungry-Hungry-Hippos. It was the most excitement I've had in ages ;)

After my little man went to bed I crafted my guts out... until 5 in the morning. It couldn't be helped. I was on a streak and it's been a long while since I pulled a late night. That work continued this morning, into the afternoon and here I am, 4:30 pm, in my jammas from the flurry of progress.

The new fireplaces are done and I'm soooo happy with them. A vast improvement over the original (on the left). Far more detailed.

And they are much closer to the BBC Sherlock set!

Arwel Wyn Jones is the Production Designer on Sherlock. The more I look at the world he creates the more astounded I become. Such lovely, detailed work.... and the wallpapers are swoony! I am so smitten that I am contemplating spending my summer making a great big detailed miniature that includes ALL THE THINGS! Working on this tiny scale is fun, but it's also a bit limiting in a way.

Anywho, amid all this fireplace flurry I managed to snip myself with scissors. If you don't count gluing my fingers together (something I do daily) then it's my first crafting injury of 2014. I'm surprised I've made it this long to be honest. 

Here's hoping it's another night packed with crafty action!

221B Update: Teeniest Books and Organization

This week's updates will mostly focus on the set of 221B tins and (hopefully) the flurry of progress in completing them. This morning's task was to complete the books that litter the shelves and floor of Sherlock's abode. Here's a look at some on a penny for an idea of size.

I've made loads. LOADS! And I know it still won't be enough. No matter how many extra I make, it never seems to be enough. I am always left thinking... "If I just had a few more." *sigh*

With so many little bits and pieces completed it's been necessary to level up my organization and use one of my favourite tools... the cheap plastic divider box! Stepping into my studio you might think that all things would be lost in the evil vortex of chaos, but I do know where most things are. These little boxes keep my mess shockingly organized.

This little darling is keeping all of my papery Baker Street bits exactly where they should be :)

Lastly, a word about the sale of the tins. As much as I dislike auctions, I'm leaning toward that option for their sale. I feel like an auction would give more people the opportunity to own one, rather than just good timing. It also takes pricing out of my hands (something I loathe) and assures that the winning bidders are paying a price they are comfortable with.

Any thoughts? I'd really like to hear what you think.

I'm off to build bookshelves for all those little tomes... maybe even a mantle or two.

Another 221B Baker Street Tin Update

I have been working on the new 221B Baker Street tins. I hope to have them completed sooner rather than later. I'm aiming to be completed the set at the end of the week... that's if all goes smoothly **fingers crossed, knock on wood and all that jazz**.

I've shared a few of the improvements I've made so far and here is another... a silly thing but something that bothered me right from the get-go. In the original tin the floor boards ran in the opposite direction as on the BBC set. I didn't realize that until after-the-fact and it drove me a little bonkers. In the new set the floor does indeed run in the correct direction. Phew!

Today I've spent ages and ages fiddling with the papery bits that will fill the interior of the tins. Above are the beginnings of book stacks and file folders to be strewn about. Below are some of the 'new' additions (which I am totally thrilled with!) In the palm of my hand are reproductions of two of the newspapers from the BBC series, an old map of London, a tiny reproduction of the first paper to feature a Sherlock Holmes story, violin sheet music for Bach's Sonata No.1 as played in Reichenbach Fall and last, but not least, a vintage advertisement for men's hats.

And I'm pretty proud of those tiny newspapers. I recreated them them from scratch and shrunk them down. They are so tiny that 80% of details can't even be seen...

... but I know they are there and that makes me happy.

There are a few bumps I'm not quite sure how to get over at the moment, and a couple of items I'd like to include but need a little time to work out. I'll update as things progress this throughout the week :)

xoxo