Cottage Garden ATCs

Experimenting with colour and pattern, I made a bunch of ATCs with a cottage garden theme. I like them, but they definately felt like experimentation or works in progress. So I whipped up a second batch and added some bumblebees (and one cabbage moth).

I'm pretty happy with where these are headed. Definitely not there yet, but I like the sweetness and day-dreamyness of them.

These make me want better paint. I've always been pretty comfortable with shitty quality acrylic paints... but perhaps it's time for an upgrade.

But I do like the looseness of them. The splotchy smooshy-ness of the flowers and fuzziness of the bumblebutts.

These fellows are not for sale. I'm probably going to trade them, making them true ATC's.

What have you been working on? Have you been keeping busy? Hope you're safe and well!

xoxo

Bird ATC's

I've been plugging away on this and that for a while but haven't really had anything 'finished' to show off. Mostly I've been keeping house (don't be fooled, it's still a mess) but in those moments I've been in the studio, I've been working on old dollhouse furniture kits sent to me over the years. There is a literal stack of little furnishings on my worktable. It looks like a fairy sized storage facility.

But yesterday... well yesterday it rained and the weather cooled and I hid away in the studio with the windows flung open. Paint was opened and before I knew it the whole day had passed and these fellows had appeared.

The backing is thick card covered with sheets from vintage hymnals. They each measure 2.5" x 3.5", yer standard ATC size. The paint is acrylic.

Blackbird - Original available here

I tried to stick with birds that have been visiting my yard. This year I've had a couple of red-winged blackbirds. They aren't uncommon but they usually stick to the marsh that's not far from us so seeing them around lately has been a treat. I just love that shock of red and yellow, like a badge of honor.

Chickadee - Original available here

Chickadee's, of course, who are just so plucky and fun. I love their fearlessness (perhaps only matched by hummingbirds, but I'm convinced their courage comes from being a little mad.)

Yellow Finch - Unavailable

Yellow finches which just make me happy to look at. They're like flying feathered sunshine. 

American Robin - Original available here

Robin's are one of my absolute favorites. I believe with my whole heart that they are in cahoots with the faeries.

Sparrow - Original available here

An unusual number of sparrows have taken up residence here this year. Normally it's all robins, woodpeckers and chickadees, but these guys have snuck in and made themselves comfortable.

Wren - Original available here

Finally, a wee wren. I was looking for a sweet looking wren as a reference pic but almost everything I came across was a cross looking. While I think something cute and sweet would match it's song (which is beautiful!) they are ALWAYS complaining at me when I'm near so the grumpy face is pretty perfect.

Watching and taking note of the birds in the garden feels like such an old lady thing to do. Don't care. Call me an oldie. It's a joyous thing.


"Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings." ~ Victor Hugo

A simple thing-a-ma-bob

Last month when I made this Mermaid Silhouette Luminary, I had an extra frosted vase that demanded a little attention.

I grabbed a few supplies and ended up creating something very pretty and elegant in no time at all.

I simply painted pieces from the Mini Birds & Nests Shape Set, Scribble Frame Leaves, and a sentiment from the Word Tags Travel set, with a healthy layer of white acrylic paint. Then I added three white paper flowers.

Self adhesive foam squares provide a bit of depth to the layering of the different elements.

Now, I've called this a 'something-or-other' because you could use this as a candle holder, vase, center piece, and I'm sure a slew of other things. I think they'd be super pretty for weddings or showers, christenings, or even as a hostess gift. And while I love the all-white look, you could totally change this up to match your colour scheme.

Here's what you'll need to recreate this look:
• Mini Birds & Nests Shape Set
• Scribble Frame Leaves
• Word Tags Travel (coming soon)
• prepared glass vase
• paper flowers
• self adhesive foam squares
• glue

Note: if you'd like to see the vase being frosted, pop over to HERE to see last months tutorial

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. 

Mermaid Silhouette Luminary

The weather has been absolutely glorious here and my pool is all glistening ripples. I'm going to be taking advantage and become a total mermaid this summer. I created a little something to encourage my sea maiden ambitions for this months Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts project.

I've used an simple, straight sided vase as a base for my luminary. You could absolutely use a jar for but this was inexpensive ($2) and the was no mucking around to fit your hand inside. 

I've used a spray to frost the glass and tinted it with washes of acrylic paint. You can see my process by visiting THIS video walkthrough.

I've placed two figures from the Mermaids Shape Set inside my vase. The figures in this set are quite sizable, so if you're working with small jars I'd recommend considering the Mermaids Miniatures instead.

I've added shells. cheesecloth, and unraveled twine at the base of my luminary, as well as a Word Tag. There's some wired glass baubles that poke out here and there and look wonderfully like bubbles.

For a seaweed effect, I've used snips of the Leafy Swirl cutouts.

You could add an led candle inside the vase, or a string of lights, but I think it looks rather pretty just sitting in front of a bright window... especially one that overlooks the pool and reminds me to jump in, make a splash and mermaid my heart out!

Here are all the bits I've used for this project:

Mermaids Shape Set

Word Tag - Travel (coming soon)

Leafy Swirl Cutouts
• Rustoleum Frosted Glass spray

• glass vase

• acrylic paint

• sea shells

• cheesecloth

• twine

• wired glass baubles
• glue

And HERE is where you can find out how to put all the bits together.

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. 

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.