Baby chick day

We raise our own chickens and a new batch of the fluffy things arrived yesterday.

They are very cute, and very soft when they arrive, just a day or so old.

They peep, poop, peck and sleep.

They like to be warm and will huddle together in a big fluffy pile.

At this very moment they are living in our garage in a big wooden box with a heat lamp to keep them warm.

When they are hearty enough, they will be moved outside where they will live in a movable pen called a 'tractor'.  The tractor gives them access to fresh grass and bugs daily. This pen also keeps them safe from predators like foxes, hawks and coyotes and more. There are A LOT of things that like to eat chickens.

Happy Friday! Hope your weekend is lovely xoxo

Just call me Chatty Cathy

Miss Tigerlily Cribbs asked me if I might answer some questions for artcentive.com. She is a cutie-patootie, and lovely as can be, so I was happy to comply.

Some snippets:

What are your ultimate tips for aspiring artists trying to make it?

Be kind. Support and promote fellow artists that you admire.
Create every single day. Be prolific.
Remember, you’re allowed to say “no”.
Respect and value your own work.
Engage and appreciate your audience.

If you were a fairy, what would your fairy persona be?

I would absolutely be a house brownie. I’d steal sweets from the pantry but I’d also check on sleeping children and shoo mice away.

What do you think the art industry needs more of today?

Humility & sparkles.

What piece of your work would you most like to shack up in?

Probably “Leon’s Window”, because I have a huge crush on Jean Reno and we’d live there together of course (though I could do without the gunfire).  Or “Godefroy’s Bookshop” – because books!

What are your top 3 essential crafting products that you would recommend?

I represent some truly amazing craft companies and I love their products, but don’t ever think that you need anything more than a sharp cutting tool, quality glue and a bit of creativity to get started. Those are the essentials. You absolutely do not need fancy products!

The full interview can be found HERE.

Creepy Coffin Bottle Bag with G45 and Petaloo

It's blog hop week for Graphic 45 and Petaloo... two of my very favourite companies! Be sure to pop over and check them out for more great projects by my teamies and your chance to win some fabulous swag (seriously, their stuff is gorgeous!). On to my project...

I love Halloween. Perhaps part of that love stems from the fact that even grown-ups can play along and enjoy spookiness. Here I’ve created a gift bag that is just the right size for a bottle of something deep dark and red. Perfect for a grown up goodie bag or hostess gift.

Yep! That wine was made by Mr. Pixie!

The bag was created with two large coffin shapes, 12” tall, cut from An Eerie Tale > Gone Batty. The sides are strips of paper 3.25” wide with additional ½” flaps on either side that adhere the front and back coffin shapes. The bottom of the bag has a double layer to ensure the precious cargo remains safe.

For the handle I’ve attached a length of wide Fancy Trim from Petaloo. This is secured to the front and back of the bag, the ends hidden with embellishments like An Eerie Tale Tags & Pockets, An Eerie Tale Decorative Chipboard and Petaloo’s Burlap Blossoms. 

I’ve added some Alphabet Sticker Staples to spell out RIP to finish it off… because I’m spooky like that ;)

Don't forget the back!

Now get out there and make yourself something spooky.

 An Eerie Tale > Gone Batty

An Eerie Tale Tags & PocketsAn Eerie Tale Decorative Chipboard

Alphabet Sticker Staples

Petaloo Fancy Trims

Petaloo Burlap Blossoms

Petaloo Mixed Textured BlossomsPetaloo Spring Berry Clusters

A new toy and the man in the moon

I was very excited to receive this box of goodies in my mailbox yesterday.

The folks at Chibitronics were kind enough to send me a starter pack, and the opportunity to play with their product. Woo hoo!

I had an idea tumbling around in my head and so I let the laundry wait, left the dishes in the sink, and set to work to making a mixed media man in the moon.

I created a circuit using the Chibitronics kit on my base, then poked various sized holes in the area of the lights in the covering sheet to shine through like little twinkly stars in the glittery night sky.

The verdict? Chibitronics is a lot of fun, and simple enough that kids would get a great kick out of using with minimal frustration. The sticker lights can be reused (yay!) and are pretty dang bright. Everything is powered by a small flat watch battery which takes up so little space I'm really looking forward to using them in some miniature projects and cards.

In other words... I will now place lights on ALL THE THINGS!

Silver Spoon Keepsake with Tresors de Luxe

Everyone around me seems to be having babies. Paired with the arrival of the very pretty collector's edition of "Baby 2 Bride" from Graphic 45 in my mailbox... well a baby themed something or other was inevitable.

Silver spoons have long been a traditional baby gift, often given as a Christening present. For some, the silver spoon was the first in a set of cutlery and other household items that would be accumulated as gifts over the years and given to the child when he/she left home.

For others still it may be given as a symbol of wealth or as a single precious gift. A keepsake.

And so I've created a little sort of shrine for this precious antique spoon so that it can hang on the wall rather than be tucked away and rarely seen.

I've surrounded it with fussy cut butterflies from Time to Celebrate: Party Perfect
and Let's Get Together with snippets of Tresors de Luxe lace and flowers.

A tiny pink bow and tag finish it off.

Supply list:

Dusty Rose Fabric Shabby Chic Roses PF-018White Fabric Shabby Chic Roses PF-016White Organza Flower FL-059Shabby Chic Flower Embellishment with Wooden Beads FL-099Ivory Venice Lace Trim for Appliques GL-108Ivory Flower and Pearl Trim Vintage silver spoonCardboard
Pink ribbonGraphic 45 papers: Baby 2 Bride—Deluxe Collector's EditionTIme to Celebrate > Party PerfectTIme to Celebrate > Let's Get Together

Ho, ho, hoing in September!

It's only September but the Christmas orders have already started. These bitties are already sold, but I will have some listed a bit closer to the holiday season.

I think they are rather charming :)

Hogwart's House Cards

I’m a big Harry Potter fan. Big. I own all the books and movies (Prisoner of Azkaban is on heavy rotation in my studio). “Muggle” is a term frequently used in my house. I made myself a mail owl who could easily pass for Hedwig’s cousin. It’s only natural that a Potterhead such as myself would eventually make a gigantic mess creating a set of cards inspired by the four houses of Hogwart’s with my Graphic 45 goodies.

 

Really Very Big Supply List:

Don’t be terrified of this massive supply list, I’ve just taken colour coordinated snippets from a boatload of Graphic 45 collections.  Never be afraid to mix and match! Jump in and have fun!

 

Gryffindor

Typography  > Create

Steampunk Spells  > Fanciful Floral

Steampunk Spells > Frightful Folly

Couture  > Style

Mother Goose > Ring Around the Rosies

Good Ol' Sport  > Newsworthy

Good Ol' Sport Chipboard 1

Good Ol' Sport Banners

Couture Banners

Typography Tags & Pockets

Slytherin

Steampunk Spells > Frightful Folly

Couture  > Style

Good Ol' Sport  > Newsworthy

Good Ol' Sport  > Play Ball

Steampunk Spells > Nevermore

Couture Tags & Pockets

Couture Banners

Steampunk Spells Banners

Mother Goose Banners

12 Days of Christmas Tags & Pockets

Steampunk Spells Chipboard 2

Good Ol' Sport Banners

Hufflepuff

Steampunk Spells > Frightful Folly

Couture  > Style

Good Ol' Sport  > Newsworthy

An Eerie Tale  > Unsolved Mystery

Bohemian Bazaar > Bohemian Bazaar

Bohemian Bazaar Tags & PocketsCouture Banners

Mother Goose Banners

Steampunk Spells Chipboard 1

Ravenclaw

Steampunk Spells > Frightful Folly

Couture  > Style

Good Ol' Sport  > Newsworthy

Steampunk Spells > Steampunk Spells

Good Ol' Sport Banners

Typography > Journey

Botanical Tea Banners

12 Days of Christmas Banners

White bond paper

Jute twine

Core’dinations Colour Core Cardstock

Lace Wrist Cuff for Tresors de Luxe

I've been waiting to create this project since joining the Tresors de Luxe design team. A pretty wrist cuff made with those fabulous laces!

I've used three types of lace in this piece, layering them all together and added a snip of ivory ribbon. The piece has been aged with a bit of coffee so that I can make up a story about this being found in the bottom drawer of a dusty dresser. I've stiffened the cuff with slightly with a light application of starch.

I think this buzzy little bee charm is a perfect Victorian-esque accent.

And the addition of this filagree clasp closure is the perfect finishing touch.

Supply list:
Lace Trim, Ivory Lace Fabric GL-016 Ivory Embroidered Fabric Lace Trim LA-092Ivory Cotton Venice Lace Embroidered Lace Trim LA-0Filagree clasp closureAntique Brass Wreath 
Medium Bee CharmIvoryRibbon

Two quick tutes

It's nearing the first of the month, which means I'm swamped with looming deadlines and sitting on a pile of projects I can't reveal just yet. What I can show you are a couple of tutorials you might find helpful.

First, I've put together this snapguide showing how I assemble the flower die-cut accessories from Graphic 45 for pretty dimensional flowers.

And secondly, a guide on how to achieve a crackle paint finish... without crackle paint finish. I'm certain many of you have seen this technique, it certainly isn't my original invention, but for those who haven't it's a nice little trick to file away for future use.

Hope you're enjoying the long weekend! 

xoxo

Back to School Magnets with Petaloo

My kiddo is going back to school which means that once again my fridge will become the household bulleten board. It's where every bit of work with a good grade will be displayed. It's also where important scraps of paper will be lost admid the jumble.

So I've decided that if my fridge will become a jumble (there's no two ways about it...) that it's going to be a pretty jumble!

I've created a set of pretty magnets using Petaloo flowers, Graphic 45 tags and stickers from their Couture collection.

I've glued two strong 'button' magnets on the back of each piece so that there's no sliding about.

It's a simple project but it sure will be nice for we mom's to have something elegant to look at while sorting through permission forms and fundraising sheets :)

Supplies:
Petaloo Burlap Blossoms
Petaloo Mixed Textured LayersCouture Flowers
Couture Alphabet Stickers
Couture BannersMagnets

The French Farm Box

I completed this piece a few weeks ago but it refused to be photographed. Another try with the camera this morning and I'm much more pleased with the results.

Miniature books, tea cups, flowers and even some very small mail are housed inside. It's sort of my imagining of the perfect, neat, little French fairy farm house.

The overall size of this piece is 5.4" x 7.25" x 3". Room boxes and dioramas are such a great way to get your dollhouse fix without having to accommodate an entire doll house :)

This piece is listed in the etsy shop HERE.