Friday, July 27, 2018

A Little Cottage

It's that time of year where a little cottage appears in the studio.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

This wee abode has been made with a wood kit base which has been slightly modified.

Outside has a mossy thatched roof dotted with handmade toadstools and ladybugs.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

There's a mail waiting on the cobblestone porch and a pair of planters filled with paper flowers.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

Inside, four little rooms.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

Inside, a gamesroom, kitchen, bedroom and washroom.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

The games room has miniature checkers, snakes and ladders, full size game pieces from marbles, to dice, to chess pieces and tiny playing cards.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

And those things are soooo TINY!!!!

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

Above the fireplace is a picture of Milton Bradley.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

The kitchen is chocked full of little food items. An island in the middle of the room has a flour covered top with tiny rolling pin and mixing bowl.

A matchstick ladder scales up to the second floor, leading to a cozy bedroom.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

There, a tin bed, bunting, books, tiny ruby slippers, and birthday candle lighting.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

Next door, the washroom has a tart tin tub, sea shell sink, itty bitty rubber duck and vintage pill tin.

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

There is no toilet. I think this occupant prefers to wee out in the wilderness. I mean, who wants to clean a toilet anyway?

A little cottage - Nichola Battilana

The cottage is available HERE. This piece was created for an event and has imperfections (i.e. there are connective areas that are not completely camouflaged) and the price is reflective of that.


Friday, July 20, 2018

Three new wee pieces

Three little pieces sprouted from the mess in my studio....


"you are one lovely dream" available HERE

All have chipboard bases and decorated with pretty papers and butterflies.


"a glimmer" is available HERE


This pretty can be found HERE

They all feel quite right in the beautiful summery weather we've been having. The flowers we've planted to attract butterflies seem to be doing the trick! I'm tempted to put on a big fancy hat and frock, sprout some wings and turn myself into one of the ladies in my work. 

Happy weekend, lovely.

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Buntings are hard to photograph and the new wood shed

I love buntings. I think they are just about one of the prettiest things around. They're whimsical and joyous and sweet... and such a pain to photograph.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

This particular bunting is a happy thing, all yellow and sunshiney. But pictures! Ugh, pictures. I was moping around this morning trying to figure out how to show it off when the new woodshed caught my eye.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

The Mr used recycled wood so it doesn't LOOK new, but huzzah for that because it's the perfect contrast to my pretty flaggy thing-a-ma-doodle. I'm certain Mr had no idea he was actually building me a giant photography prop.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

But on to the bunting! I knew I wanted to create a long banner so I used two sets of this Banner Builder Pennant Set. Instead of layering straight and scalloped edged pieces, I've used them separately. 

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

I painted the chipboard white and stamped the edges with a floral filigree pattern. Atop of that I applied papers from Floral Shoppe (which is gorgeous and probably my favourite Graphic 45 paper ever.) The colours I chose are a very subtle nod to my beloved Hufflepuff house.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

The butterflies are stamped onto Floral Shoppe Indigo Lilies. A few dabs of white paint are added as highlights, then I fussy cut those suckers.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

The flowers were created using elements from the Large Tag ATC and Flower Die set.


Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

That snip of lacy paper at the top was created by clipping a portion of clock from from the Square Tag and Clock Dies

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

Attach all those bits to a length of ribbon and you've got yourself a bunting that is very difficult to photograph!

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

Thank goodness for new woodsheds that look old.

Here's the bit list if you too would like to make a pretty hanging something-or-other.

Floral Shoppe: Golden Serenity
Floral Shoppe Indigo Lilies

Saturday, July 14, 2018

An Exploding Explore Box and a Goofy Surprise

A little something something for AlphaStamps today. 

(Note: AlphaStamps has been updated and you'll need to hop over to alphastamps.NET for the shop.)


Using the Double Explosion Box from the July Kit I've created a little surprise for a sea side adventurer.


I've used a bunch of pieces from the Wanderlust Printed Chipboard which I kinda love.

Quick tip: cut your paper just slightly smaller than the sides and you wont have to worry about bends and folds at the corners. I painted my box first, then applied squares of Wanderlust Souvenir Scrapbook Paper. It made things soooo much easier.


Open the box and inside there's another, tied with twine and embellished with snips from the 
Vintage Travel Tags & Hardware Collage Sheet.

More chipboard pieces and some shell charms. I've applied stamped metal letters that have been hiding my stash for eons.


Remove that wee box and inside a compass so that you'll never be lost on your wandering adventures.


Pretty cute, no?



And, Leslie from AlphaStamps will kill me for this but I made a second goofy exploding box. 


It's all sparkles and glittery stars and unicorn stickers.


Coloured with smooshes of paint and decorated with cheap bits from the $store like fluff and plastic unicorns!


There's an important message too! Less to-dos and more ta-das!


I really do need more ta-das!We ALL need more ta-das! Anyone who says they don't has pants on fire.

ANYWAY... if you want to make an exploding explore box (or a goofy surprise) HERE are all the bits available from AlphaStamps.net. And here they are listed individually:

8mm Gold Flat-Back Glass Shell Cabochon
Wanderlust Printed Chipboard
20mm Resin Starfish Cabs
13x17mm Patina Starfish Charms
Patina Scallop Shell Charms
Wanderlust Souvenir Scrapbook Paper
Brass Patina Conch Shell Charms
Double Explosion Box