Of Summer & Bees Triptych

It's the first Friday of the month which means it's my turn to share a project and tutorial using some GinasDesigns.net products. Here's what I'm sharing this month...

An altered art homage to the coming days of summer, warmth and honey using Gina's Triptych - Arch Top.

The bottom of this piece is embellished with three Faux Metal Number Plates which are flanked with some copper brads to give them a finished look. 

I've created some honey in the chipboard Honeycomb embellishment I added,  and while there are some chipboard bees included in that set, I couldn't resist using this divinely detailed bee charm to top off the piece.

I've added a few teeny weeny buzzy things too.

And because everything looks better framed I've mounted my triptych in an 11 x 14" shadow box.

I'm not going to lie, this piece took a while to create. The process isn't exactly difficult, it's just time consuming to achieve the right look. I do have a video tutorial of the process but for time sake it's been edited to the bare bones. If I've missed something and you have any questions feel free to ask :)

THE SUPPLY LIST
Triptych - Arch Top

Faux Metal Number Plates

Copper BradsHoneycomb & Bees Medium
Giant Bronze Bee Charm 
Small Bronze Bee Charm 
Slider Beads
Paper Butterflies
Acrylic Paint
Mod Podge
Aleenes Tacky Glue

Vintage images*

*Note: When looking for images for your artwork try using the search term  "vintage public domain portraits". The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs collection is a great resource. Just be sure to double check the Rights And Restrictions before using any images you find.

Sunday Chores and Fairy Gardens

I stayed up wayyyy past my bedtime last night. I totally lost track of time making these toadstools. Cross my heart, I looked at the clock and it said 5am! Oops!

After a nice sleep in, today was spent doing chores (I now have clean dishes but the floors are still a wreck.) and making potted fairy gardens. Yesterday during our gallivanting, I picked up some miniature roses and this pot of clover. How could I resist?! Look at all those four leafed beauties!

Still in my jammas I went wandering on the lawn and harvested some mosses, pinecones and stones.

The results are pretty dang cute. Three little magical gardens have been completed and are ready for the market next Saturday :)

One Little Thing - May Queen

Can you believe it's almost May? In celebration this weeks theme is "May Queen"

"The May Queen or Queen of May is a personification of the May Day holiday, and of Springtime and also Summer."

Use this prompt to create one little thing in celebration of May.

Very Important Altered Awards

I'm not too proud to admit that this year has been a bit difficult for me creatively. I've been creating work. I've even made some things that were quite nifty... but I've kinda felt 'disconnected' with my work.

Anyway, I finally feel as though I'm getting back on track. I've got one or two projects I can't show off just yet, but I also made something just for the hell of it that I think you'll like. Some very important altered awards

Ever since seeing the Tim Holtz trophies shown at CHA I've had it in my head that I wanted to create some altered trophy cups. I found these babies in the party supply section of my local discount shop, four for $1.25! I've simply grunged them up with a bit of acrylic paint.

This piece is available HERE

Each little darling has a sentiment taken from vintage book pages that reflects the gentle nature of these 'awards'. How nice would it be to receive an award for twinkling?

The base of each of the awards is just a simple wooden block that has been gussied up with fabric, ribbon, buttons and burlap. 

This piece is available HERE

Some of my biddies are standing on Petaloo blooms.

This piece is available HERE

Some are atop a little mound of moss.

This piece is available HERE

Most are holding their declarations high, and topped with Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars  

This piece is available HERE

Best of all, when all together they look like they are having quite the party.

The 'Awards' will be listed in my etsy shop over the next few days. I'll update the links as they become available.

Here are some of the supplies I used to create these pieces:

Small plastic trophy cups
Wooden blocks
Misc buttons and vintage embellishments
Moss
Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars
A slew of charms and filigree embellishments from Alpha Stamps
Mini Rose Buds - Ivory* 
Flowers and leaves from Petaloo (especially love the Botanica Blooms!)

The call is coming from inside the house!

Just a funny story that makes me look like a complete dip.

I'm editing video today and my phone keeps ringing. I answer it and no one is there. It happened no less than a dozen times. It's really driving me flipping nuts because editing is one of my least favourite jobs and I have to stop, and retrack before starting again. 

I call Mr Pixie to see if he is trying to call me. Nope. 

I check all the phones to see if they are charged and not giving a low battery signal. They're all fine. 

I start to worry the call is coming from inside the house *Oh the horror!* 

... then I realize the ring is from the video I am editing, not the phone. 

I need coffee and chocolate.

Queen Bee Reliquary

I created this little chipboard reliquary while playing with my stash of Gina's Designs Lasercuts. 

Although I run like hell and scream like a ninny when one comes near me, I do have a soft spot for bees. Can we talk for a moment about THIS be in particular?

It's all sorts of spectacular. It's big and beautifully detailed. I've dulled up the brassiness of it with a wash or two of dark paint, which also enhances those little details.

Supplies....
Reliquary - Arch Top
Honeycomb & Bees Medium
Faux Metal Number Plates
Giant Brass Bee 
Medium Bee Charms - Raw Brass 
Music sheets
Acrylic paint

One Little Thing - Birds

This week I'd like to challenge you to incorporate the theme of "Bird" into your one little thing.

Think about types of birds, what they symbolize, their actions, their calls.

There is no wrong way to interpret the theme. Just spend a short time focused on the theme and create one little thing and you've been successful!