A Fairy Crown

 Is it a crown? A tiara? A diadem? A headband? Whatever it is, it's fekkin' cute.

Tomorrow is the summer solstice! My garden is ready and my faerie magick en pointe. But what's the fun in faerie enchantment if it isn't shared? So, make a magickal head-topper with me.

Here are all the bits and pieces I used to create my faerie crown:

• inexpensive headband

• strips of tea-stained cotton (you could use ribbon, lace instead)

• grunged up cheesecloth (optional)

• faux flowers and leaves

• hot glue

• Transparent wings (digital download also available)

• mushrooms (shells, beads, crystals, anything your heart desires)

That's it!

Now here's how you smash all that together

An Altered Shabby Canvas

It rained today. It rained A LOT. It rained so much that Lu, my dog, didn't want to venture outside. He loves being outdoors, not so keen on getting wet feet. For a big guy he's an absolute baby.

So, it was an indoor sort of day. I decided to take the opportunity to sit down at my worktable and create a 'practice' piece for a swap I'm taking part in to alter a 5" x 7" canvas.

I think she turned out rather pretty. 

I filmed my process but it isn't really a tutorial. It's much more of a 'hey, look at me stick my fingers together while I work!' sort of thing. But take a gander if you like..

Hope you're having a beautiful day 

xo

Paper Fairy Trading Cards

While life continues to be weird and bit of a disaster, I'm grateful that the garden has been blooming with inspiration. Right now the irises, poppies and sweet william are showing off, and the dwarf lilac is stinking up the garden beautifully. We're positively swarming with fairies.

Some of the first fairy friends spied in the garden were frolicking in the dandelions, violets, and apple blossoms.

I've made some pretty ATC's (artist trading cards) inspired by those sweet little friends.

 

Do you have fairies in your garden too? If you're feeling inspired, and you'd like to make your own fairy trading card, I have little ATC kits available that include just about everything you'll need to make these wee works of art.

The kits include paper elements printed on cardstock and pre-cut, a blank ATC card, a wee sheet with three pairs of transparent wings, and an old book page. There's a set for The Dandelion Fairy, Spring Violet Fairy, and The Apple Blossom Fairy. The only supplies you'll need to provide yourself are paint, glue and some adhesive foam squares.

And if you're unsure about how to put all those elements together, here's a walkthrough you might find helpful :)

I hope you're well and good and have loads of snacks.

xo

Snow, spring, and scraps

I feel like I haven't played with paper in a million years, but de-stashing has encouraged some small spurts of creativity. I came across some small blank cards and had a play about.

We had a storm last night and outside is snow-covered and chilly. These small beauties are like holding a snippet of spring.

If you'd like to make your own, I've put together a limited number of scrappy grab bags that contain everything you'll need (except for glue and gumption!)

Vintage hymnal sheet, stickers, blank cards....

Papery bits printed on cotton paper, cardstock and more...

Sentiments printed on vellum and canvas...

Some gorgeous floral and butterfly stickers...

It's crammed full of beautiful snips :)

If you'd like to snag one, you can find them HERE. 

Note: some of the items included will vary slightly bag to bag. The exact stickers, words, patterns and hynmal sheet will vary, but be very similar.

P.S. This guy showed up with his girlfriend this morning. He looks like he's saying "Snow. Again. Really?" 

Hope you're warm and well. xoxo

 

Happy Love Day Freebie

I'm not a great fan of Valentine's Day.

There's so much pressure to buy, buy, buy and want, want, want. And the whole thing just seems disingenuous and reeks of insincerity. Barf.

But... I am an absolute sentimental fool, a romantically minded nitwit, the entire rest of the year. And I don't begrudge anyone who longs for flowers and chocolates.

ANYWAY.... here are two fabulous "Love" graphics that I swiped from the cover of some music sheets. Use them voraciously and without abandon.

 

Love is in the air

Did I ever tell you about Monsieur Plantpot? I bought him a while ago and I love him. Today while at the nursery I saw the perfect Missus for him. How could I not bring her home to meet him?!

The introductions went well, and while I'm trying not to put too much pressure on them, I think they make a lovely couple. I'm a god damn magnificent matchmaker!

Ah young love... and so close to Valentines Day. Swoon!

Speaking of Valentines, I found a bunch of adorable vintage Valentines cards at an amazing little junk shop. I've put a handful of them on a digital download available in my etsy shop HERE.

They're all kinds of adorable and the file is just $1.50. Pop over to the shop and take a gander if you like :)

P.S. It's rather glum and grey here today. Hope the weather is better where you are xoxo

Seed Fund Savings

The Mr is plant mad. He's always been plant mad but this year he's gone full tilt.

I saw him eyeing a cute coin bank for saving pennies for seeds and I said "I can make that!"

Sure, sure, if I factor in my time, materials, and all that stuff, it probably would have cost just about the same to buy the bank he was spying in the first place...

... but all sense goes out the window when it comes to making stuff. I mean, it costs 3x's more to make a card than it does to buy one but I'm still going to buy the paper and do the things. Sense be damned, let creativity rule supreme.

Anyway, the bank is cute and Mr already has a whole $5 in his jar. My job here is done.

Keeping warm and a watering can

It. Is. FREEZING!!!!

It's so freaking cold today. I'm safely inside a cozy warm house and puttering around, playing with my new Silhouette Cameo. 

I'm having so much fun playing with my machine and it's inspiring me to make stuff like this watering can.

I added some text to a vintage graphic frame and applied the cutout to a DollarTree watering can. It is a vast improvement over the 2 litre pop bottle I've been using to water my plant babies.

I'm still learning what works, and what fiddling I need to do to finesse my cutouts but I'm having so much fun getting to know my Cameo.

Stay safe and warm and be kind to yourself 

xo

Tiny Tarot Box

First and foremost... 

HI! OMG I'VE MISSED YOU!!! HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? YOU GOOD? LONG TIME NO SEE!!!! 

Ok, so, one of the most popular items in my etsy shop are these Tiny Tarot decks. They're the cutest.

They come in a clear cello bag that makes shipping them a dream because they can be popped in an envelope and shipped via lettermail. BUT... I've often been asked about boxes for the little things, whether for gift-giving or just for safe keeping. 

I've FINALLY gotten off my duff, sorted my scatterbrain, and put together a template for a perfectly sized box for those Tiny Tarot decks. Just look how snug they are!

While I don't think I'll be offering the boxes for sale, you are absolutely welcome to make your own wee box for free!

Here is the Basic Template Graphic.

If you're using Cricut, use this SVG FILE.

OR in Cricut's Design Space you can look me up (Pixie Hill) or search for Pixie Hill Tiny Tarot Deck Box and you should find the project file for the box.

Silhouette users can use this Studio3 FILE

I'm brand new to Silhouette so I hope that the file works for you. Remember to assign "score" to the yellow lines when you send your file.

Here is a PNG Sticker Image that makes a nice finishing touch to the top of your box. If you don't have sticker paper, don't worry. Just print and cut on printer paper and use a glue stick to adhere it to the top of your box. There are three various tarot cards on the graphic to chose from.

A few tips/notes:

• Download the image, then print. When a graphic is printed directly from a browser it is often a low res preview that you are printing and not the best quality image.

• Your score lines might need to be adjusted ever so slightly depending on the thickness of your cardstock. Do a trial run to make sure everything is scoring/folding nicely.

• Print at 100% You may get an error message about print size if you're using the Basic Template Graphic above, but don't worry, I've taken the margins into account and the printed file should have no issues.

• WHAT?!?! You don't have a Tiny Tarot deck for your little box? Pop over to my etsy shop and use code "TINYTAROTTEN" for 10% off any Tiny Tarot purchase.

P.S. For reals, I hope you're doing well xoxo

Fast and Fancy Fairy Earrings

Hey ho! Guess who actually made something today? ME! 

I've been messing around with resin and made a bunch of cabochons. They weren't perfect, containing plenty of bubbles, but I thought they were pretty nonetheless. Plus they fit perfectly into some brassy frame bezels in my stash.

I cut out some Fae Wings, poked a little hole in them and attached them with brass jump rings. A tiny Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metal Adornments Key was the final little touch.

I affixed earring posts to the back of the brass frames and voila!

They are imperfect but delightful.

Hope you're well, my lovely friends.

xo

Art Walk Alchemy 2022 Winner!

Thanks to all who entered the Art Walk Giveaway, I wish I could give you all a place! Alas, I can only give one spot. Congrats Kandy Carma! I hope you have so much creative fun this year!

If you'd like to join the fun, you can sign up for a fun-filled year of creativity HERE.

Art Walk Alchemy Giveaway 2022

Even though the winter holiday is almost over, I have one gift left to give! I am giving away one seat to Art Walk Alchemy 2022.

Art Walk Alchemy is a year full of great art workshopping with international instructors. Come join me! To enter, EMAIL YOUR ANSWER to the question below no later than January 4th at midnight. My email address is: [email protected]

I’ll draw the winner on the 5th and post it here.

The question: What is the animal totem for Mystic Spring Studios? Find the answer by clicking on this link: https://bit.ly/3Jw3rcF

Happy Halloween with Bonus Pocket Cryptid Content

How long has it been since I shared a tutorial or download? For-flipping-ever, that's how long!

I wanted to make a little something for Halloween and came up with these little cryptid matchboxes.

I kinda love them. I hope you do too because I've got everything you'll need to make your own!

The worksheet! You'll need to download the full-size image, not the smaller preview. Print this on cardstock rather than regular printer paper for best results.

If you have a Cricut HERE is the project link which has both the print-and-cut image file and match-box cut and score file. (Note: You CAN fit four match-boxes on one 12" sheet. That project file can be found HERE.)

NOTE: If, for some reason the project files are refusing to link (shakes fist angrily), just search for "Nichola Battilana" on the Cricut Workspace, click on my profile, and you should find them. FOR WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT, CRICUT??!!!

Once you've got your file of choice sorted, pop over to the youtube tutorial for how to put all that stuff together to make your own little pocket cryptids.

 

That's it spooky friends. Now go make something creepy and make me proud!

Miniature Candle Eye Candy

OMG IT'S BEEN FOREVER!!!!

How are you? You doing ok? Holding up? I've missed you!

Yeah, I know. I've been absent. Don't worry, I've been ok. Just haven't felt much like making or interacting with the world very much. Know what I mean?

However, the past couple of weeks I've been smacked upside the head with the productivity fairy (totally real thing) and have been making a literal shit ton of miniature spell and saintly candles.

I spent wayyyy too long designing packaging for these but it felt pretty darn good to put my Cricut to use and I totally think the time/effort was worth it.

The saintly candles have coordinating laminated prayer cards. How flipping cute, right?!

I've also made a whack of spell candles.

Instead of prayer cards they'll come with tiny magical books. They don't open, which is sort of a bummer, but I figured for a nice little added bonus they're just fine.

There's something seriously satisfying about seeing the a whole bunch of these all gathered up together.

There are sets of 9 Saint and 9 Spell candles listed on etsy right now. They're really, really flipping cool. if I do say so myself. The individual candles will be listed next week after I give my eyes a break... and holy cow, do they need the rest.

Take good care of yourself, you lovely weirdo.

P.S. I'm going to try really hard to get you a project and tutorial for Halloween. It's been far too long. xo