Black Books Altoid Tin

Are you familiar with Black Books? It's a UK show from the 2000's about a bookshop, it's grumpy owner Bernard Black, and his friends Fran and Manny.

The show is a bit ridiculous and boozy and cigarette filled. I first saw it AGES ago but spied it on Prime last week and binged all three seasons all over again. I've been feeling a bit "Bernardish" lately and was inspired to make my own pocket-sized book shop to lord over.

I tried to get everything just right with the limited source photos out there. Made all those wee books for the window display and even made a tiny sign that said "Books Bought & Sold" because I caught a glimpse of it in a pic of the set... and then I promptly forgot to place it before sealing the window up! NOOOO!!!!! And you'd be none the wiser if I didn't tell you. DOUBLE NOOOO!!!!!



Ah well, I'm pretty pleased with the little thing even without the sign. Aren't those the cutest garbage bags you've ever seen?!?!

And in case you've never heard of Black Books (for shame!), here's a pic from the show with my teeny version below.

Not too terrible, eh? I'm well pleased with myself :)

As for the outside...

The first episode has Manny entering the shop searching for "The Little Book of Calm" and I thought of making the exterior look like the cover of the book. However, I'm a fan of the "NO TIME WASTERS" sign that appeared outside the shop. I mean, I have a "Go Away" sign outside my front door so I was basically obligated to go with this option.

No collage sheet or tutorial for this project, but I will leave you with some fitting words of wisdom from Bernard Black, "The pay's not great, but the work is hard." 

Ain't that the truth.

Stay safe, and wash your hands xoxo

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

A Fiji Mermaid

Hello lovely people! Are you hanging in there? Are you safe and well? I hope you're all dandy.

I've been feeling terribly uninspired but I did manage a creepy something that I've been wanting to make for a long while now... a fiji mermaid!

A fiji mermaid was a side show gaff, in this case a monkey top sewn to a fish bottom, to create a 'real' mermaid. Being a big fan of all things weird and wonderful I decided to create my own terrifying mermaid.

I used a wad of tinfoil to create the basic shape of my mermaid, then built up layers of apoxie and paper clay.

The apoxie clay is really strong so ideal for spindly areas like the arms.

You can see that the resist of the apoxie vs the paperclay has left the paint coverage on the arms blotchy and uneven. I don't mind that at all because it looks a bit like flaky mummified flesh in my mind, and kind of adds to the creepy oldness of it.

That's about it really. A tinfoil, clay, and a smattering of sloppy acrylic paint and I have my very own P.T. Barnum/Ripley's type mermaid gaff with not a single monkey nor fish harmed.

Overall size 8" tall x 7" wide.

P.S. There's a super FeeJee Mermaid at Harvard University take a look here

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Mini Haberdashery Counter for Sewing Notions and Such

It feels like a hot minute since I've made a miniature scene but when I got my hands on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Shop Counter I was inspired to fill it up with a slew of wee things.

I decided to go with sewing and knitting bits and bobs... a haberdashery!

Isn't that a wonderful word?! In America a haberdashery sells men's clothing, but in the UK it is a shop that sells notions and other small items for sewing and making.

I've filled my counter with yarn and fabric, patterns buttons, a thimble and spools of thread. A mix of life sized and miniature items is fun visually (and I like to think that fairies would find full sized thimbles extremely useful).

I've used a 1 inch Sized Faux Book Box and Suitcase as display boxes for my miniature buttons, skeins of yarn and measuring tape.

If you'd like to see how I created this piece and the minis I've made a video HERE. But don't feel limited to creating a haberdashery! Create something that reflects you and what you love. Fishing and hunting supplies, candy shop, hardware store, jewelry store... you name it!

Here are all the bits I used to create this particular counter.

Store Counter (COMING SOON)

1 inch Sized Faux Book Box
Suitcase 1.6 Inch

Wooden beads

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe paper
Sewing & Such Collage Sheet

Buttons
1/8" wooden dowel
Fabric

Craft Yarn/Thread
Cardboard
Mini Embellishments

Chicken Wings... Errr... I Mean Fairy Wings

A batch of baby chicks arrived yesterday and man oh man are they ever sweet and fuzzy.

Someone tagged me in a pic of chicks with cupcake liner tutu's on and I was directed to replicate it... however these dudes are too wee for ballet class just yet. (Seriously, the cupcake liners are bigger than they are!)

So I gave them fairy wings instead. I mean until their feathers come in they could really use some help in the fluttering department.

Before you begin to worry, cross my heart, none of these babies were harmed or in any discomfort at all wearing these wings. I created tiny harness', weighing less than a gram, that rested, nestled, into their fluff that easily slid on and off.

And speaking about those wings... after a number of requests I've created a new transparency sheet with a single style of 'Fae Wing' in a natural neutral colour.

AND... AND... I have all transparency sheets listed at 20% off all weekend so pop over to the etsy shop and have a gander if you're making winged things.

Hope you've been dandy. Wash yer hands and stay safe, lovelies.

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

The Corona Chronicles **SWEARING AHEAD

The sweary journaling group I belong to on Facebook decided to do a round themed around this pesky Covid 19. I know swearing isn't everyones cuppa so please be warned that the following contains plenty of f-words.

With that warning out of the way, I present, The Corona Chronicles.

This little hardcover book was made with THIS tutorial from adogslife13 on youtube for the inside pages, and then adding a cover using cardboard and scrapbook paper.

All of the pages contain images from 1940's - 1950's advertising and I love the way they pair with the salty language. No collage sheet this time around as I'm not sure of the copyright status of some of the images so I'm sticking with personal use only.

Anywho, enjoy the swears ....

Hope you enjoyed my wee book of swears "The Corona Chronicles", and I hope you're staying safe!

Take care, lovelies!

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

An Irish Faerie Cottage and a Pinky Swear

Today is the day! It's been a LONG wait but today, April 1st, is the date that my little Irish Cottage project is being released over on Art Walk Alchemy 2020.

This project was inspired by the gorgeous wee cottages with bright colours and slate roofs I spied on my Irish adventure. The tutorial is made up of three 30 minute videos and I'll be hanging about online for two weeks to provide any support and encouragement you need.

It feels like really cruddy timing, but if you're looking for something positive and creative to do during this pandemic Art Walk Alchemy 2020 might be up your alley. There will be 24 different projects offered over the course of 2020, with several bonus classes. Classes range from painting to paper craft and jewelry making. If you can, come join us!

MASSIVE thank you to those who continue to support makers, creators, and artists of all sorts during these strange times. Not just by taking online classes and making purchases, but by liking, sharing and commenting too. It all makes a huge difference.

I know that it's a difficult time right now and not everyone will be able to join me over at Art Walk Alchemy so I am working on a special quarantine project. Pinky swear that I will have something up next week.

Stay safe. Stay creative. And wash your hands.

House Front Letter Box

In the midst of the worlds current craziness I find I'm having issues concentrating. While it seems that now might be the perfect time to tackle a big and complex project, I just can't seem to muster the gumption needed. A little distraction on the other hand... totally doable.

So I've taken a House Front Box Kit and made a wee box for the mail that is still managing to get through. I love getting mail, if you have little ones maybe they'd like to get some mail too.

I don't have a video tute for this project, but I do have some step-by-steps you can follow.

1. Clean the edges of the pieces you'll be using and orientate the pieces of House Front Box Kit so that you know how they'll fit together.

2. Cover one side of the slotted base and cut out the holes using a sharp blade. This will be the top side of the base.

3. Cover the bottom side of the side. No need to cut out the holes on this side.

4. Glue the box together.

Note: Consider tracing the house shape of the front of the box onto your decorative paper before gluing pieces in place.

5. Cover the inside and outside of the box with decorative paper.

Note: I covered the little holes on the sides of the box. If you want to add a handle, string or ribbon, you'll want to poke those holes open.

6. Prepare your decorate elements.

• Paint the door included in the House Front Box Kit, a little "Letters" Plate, and a turret from the Turrets Set of 4 with red acrylic paint.

• Paint window frames from the House Front Box Kit and a Mini Crest Sign black. 

7. Add a non-discript picture to the window frame. You might also want to sandwhich a layer of clear plastic between the frame and the image to give the shiny appearance of glass.

8. For the mailbox I simply sliced one of the little turrets in half. Cover the exterior with paper to hide the curved opening then cut with a sharp blade.

9. For the top piece, apply the prepared Mini Crest Sign, add a bit of paper to the back of the "Letters" Plate to make the lettering pop, and then add a Faux Metal Number Plate

10. Pop your window, door and mailbox in place.

11. Fill with letters and notes for those that you're quarantined or locked-down with!

Here's all the bits you'll need:

House Front Box Kit
Turrets Set of 4
Mini Crest Sign
"Letters" Plate **available from AlphaStamps
Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25

Scrapbook paper

Black and red acrylic paint

Glue

Plastic for windows (optional)

Pretty Moon Maiden ATCs

Some pretty ATCs to share today.

These are made with Chunky ATC Blanks as a base. I know they're just a cut rectangle of chipboard, and you could absolutely cut your own bases... but man, oh man I'm a fan of these. It's one of the items I repeatedly request from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

The images and words I've used are from my Moon Maiden Collage Sheet. In my original set of ATC's I set these ladies against a night sky backdrop. I think they're quite nice as daytime maidens too.

As a final touch, I've applied some stained lace, dried lavender and rose petals and a few drops of bees wax.

Have you been keeping your fingers busy and mind occupied? Hope you're well. Please be safe.