Friday, June 28, 2019

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. 

Saturday, June 22, 2019

A Deconstructed Butterfly Garden

If the past few weeks have taught me anything it's that things don't always go to plan. That sometimes, no matter how hard we battle against them, there are things beyond our control.


Life and death don't care about deadlines. The post office and customs doesn't care about my little packages. There are things beyond my control and sometimes you just need to find an alternate solution rather than fight and struggle.


Sometimes you have to throw your hands in the air and give in! Sometimes that is the right thing to do to preserve your sanity.


These pieces, made with beautiful papers, glorious collage sheets, and super thick chip board bases should have been a hinged bookish boxy thing-a-ma-doodle. But something went sideways and the monkey wrench flew across the room and instead of one piece, I ended up with a several smaller bits.

I'm okay with that. I mean it's not what I set out to do, but honestly, some days I'm grateful for any beauty that comes my way. If things aren't going to plan, and that means a deconstructed butterfly garden... so be it.


Instead of assembling the Wide Letter Box Book as it should be put together, I've used each of the chipboard elements as a base for some pretty collage pieces.


I've embraced the *Butterfly Garden Kit theme, but used the pretty parts as separate elements.

And boy are they pretty! There's a reason I'm growing a butterfly garden this year.


And you know, I'm pleased with my butterfly garden pieces. Together or apart, they are rather pretty.


When you're struggling, I hope you know it's ok to give in a little. Struggles and mistakes can result in something just as nice as something made with purpose. And when your talking about butterflies and toadstools? Pfft, mistakes can be wonderful.

To make the above pieces I used:
English Fairy Garden Collage Sheet
Bees Collage Sheet
Butterfly Garden 6x6 Paper Pad
Antique ATC Pockets & Butterflies Collage Sheet
Wide Letter Box Book

All the bits can be found HERE

I hope you make loads of mistakes too :)

Friday, June 21, 2019

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. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Moon Maiden ATCs

Playing around with pictures and words today, I made some Moon Maidens.


The aren't perfect, but I like the idea of them.


I like the idea of women dreaming under moonlight with messages carried by songbirds. 


I'm going to redo them. Give them a second chance.


I have ideas on how I'd like to improve them.


 But I think that the work made in the process of making is worthwhile too.


While these aren't where I want them to be...


... the are part of the journey.


And the journey is where so much of the good stuff takes place!