Altoid Tin Altars #G45DarkSide

I was so excited to see this months Graphic 45 challenge: #G45DarkSide. This was just the prompt I needed to get to business on a project I’ve been thinking about for a long while.

I’m a big fan of altering altoid tins. You can create these tins to hold just about anything. Create a fancy little sewing kit. Keep one in your car filled with emergency bits and bobs. You can fit a surprising amount in those little tins.



I’ve created two #G45DarkSide tins here. One tin pairs papers from Communique—Deluxe Collector's Edition with brass Staples Decorative Hardware.





The other uses Floral Shoppe with shabby chic Staples Decorative Hardware

The tins contain a sort of storage space which, if careful, can fit a surprising amount of goodies!


All of the items above fit comfortably in that trap-door space.

My tins will be used as tiny portable travel altars. Each contains matches, a vile of herbs, incense, candles, gemstones, a tiny crystal ball, vessels for libations and offerings, magnetic images and more!



But if altars aren’t your thing… no worries! The video tutorial I’ve created demonstrates how to cover an altoid style tin and create the trapdoor element inside. So take those instructions to create something that suits YOU.



I'm smitten with my little altars but I totally encourage you to take this idea and run with it, making something filled with little things useful or treasured by you.

Supply List:

Antique Brass Metal Clock Keys
Antique Brass Ornate Metal Keys
Antique Brass Ornate Metal Key Holes
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key Holes
Antique Brass Stamped Metal Brads
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Brads
Floral Shoppe
Communique—Deluxe Collector's Edition
Couture - Fabulous

Cardboard
Charms
Small wooden blocks
Glue
Black ink pad
Altoid style tin

Bits and bobs to fill your tin

Hallowe'en in Wonderland Nonsense Clock #G45DarkSide

The challenge this month over at Graphic 45 is to create a project using a dark colour pallet. I did create another project, which I can't show off just yet, but I couldn't help but make another with the #G45DarkSide theme when Hallowe'en in Wonderland arrived in the mail.

I've used a chipboard Grandfather Clock 1:12 from gslcuts.com as the base. It measures just 7.5" tall but if you're not comfortable with that tiny scale, there is a larger 11" version available too.

I toyed with the idea of putting a working watch face in the top of the clock, but opted for an antique metal clock key with the stem chopped off, and an ornate metal key hole with the top and bottom loops snipped off to fit. There are some brass stamped metal brads there too. I've snuck a Tim Holtz clock key from my stash on the top.

The bottom area, where there would normally be the clockwork pendulum, all of the characters have jumped in and are doing their thing. The Queen is shouting, the Hatter is spouting nonsense, Rabbit is checking the time, and the Cheshire cat is smiling.

The bottom The little drawer at the bottom (which I have thoughtfully accidentally glued shut) has a brass pull and a little chippy accent from Hallowe'en in Wonderland.

A bit of glitter, fussy cutting and curls and my clock is done! And because Alice is all about nonsense, and what could make more sense than a clock that doesn't actually tell time and with a drawer that doesn't open?!

Want to make your own? Here's the bits and pieces list:

Hallowe'en in Wonderland Deluxe Collectors Edition
Grandfather Clock 1:12
Antique Metal Clock Keys

Ornate Metal Key Holes
Brass Stamped Metal Brads

Tim Holtz Clock Key
Brass Drawer Pull
Glue
Acrylic Paint
Glitter

Butterflies, Specimens and Inspiration

There was a butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum wrapping a few days after I landed in the UK. So, I jumped on a train and travelled across the country to the big city. I literally made it just a few hours before the exhibit closed.

The exhibit was in an exterior tent and it was all sorts of magic walking through the fluttering winged things.

Inside the museum there were loads of old school specimens.

Did you know that there are no real Dodo specimens? None! Not a single one! Every Dodo bird specimen found in museums is a reproduction.

But, what I really want to show you is this...

This Victorian display stands over 6ft tall and contains over 100 hummingbird specimens. It looks like chaos in photos, but in person it is absolutely amazing. I was trying to find additional information on this piece and it seems it's history is a bit of mystery. I think that adds to it's appeal.

Inspired by my visit to the Natural History Museum I've made a little butterfly "specimen" display.

I've used an inexpensive cubby box as a base and covered it with papers from Steampunk Debutante.

The butterflies are fussy cut from Butterfly Specifics from Olde Curiosity Shoppe.

I've added some small metal feet, Antique Brass Stamped Metal Brads, and an Antique Metal Door Pull to finish it off.

I have so many other interesting and inspiring things to share with you that you're going to be sick to death of me! But first I've got to get back to gluing stuff to other stuff and splashing paint on things.

Waiting for the train to London. Fun fact: you cannot get cream for your coffee in England! You can have your fill of milk, but delicious thick cream for your black gold is a rare treasure. I was gasping for a creamy cup of joe when I returned.

Five Halloween Mini Shrines

Before I jetted off across the pond I was playing with these 5 Halloween mini shrines from AlphaStamps.

I went a little mad scientist and used a few different techniques on the wee things.

I used everything from a simple crackle glue finish (instructions here) to a glitter smothered facade.

The Cat on Pumpkin Mini Shrine was painted in a vintage halloween style, and the Big Cat Mini Shrine was turned into into a toothy monster.

I think that both the simple finishes and painterly pieces look spookadellic and despite not being completely matchy-poo look well grouped together.

Note: that nose? A lump of paperclay applied and dried to the chipboard before painting.

Want to create your own mashed up collection of halloween goodies? Here's a list of all the bits I used:

Halloween Countdown Kit - September 2018
Cat on Pumpkin Mini Shrine
Raven October Mini Shrine
Haunted House Mini Shrine
Big Cat Mini Shrine
Cat in Moon Mini Shrine
Spooky Boo Scrapbook Paper - Eek
Spooky Boo Scrapbook Paper - Speech Bubbles
Vintage Halloween Pumpkin Time Scrapbook Paper
Vintage Halloween 2x2 Number Squares Scrapbook Paper
Pumpkin Pods
Mini Halloween Costumes Collage Sheet
Tinsel
Creative Paperclay
Glitter
Glue
Acrylic Paint
Fake Teeth
Moss

Let the Happy Haunting begin!

The Elfin Oak

Just arrived home last night from my three week adventure in England and Ireland. It was an absolute whirlwind and I will never take my bed or quiet life for granted for as long as I live!

I've got so much to share with you, so many bits of inspiration that I can't possibly do it all at once. Instead, I'll share things here and there over the coming weeks.

Today I'd like to tell you about the Elfin Oak, a magical old oak stump in Kensington Gardens.

It's easily missed and doesn't look like much from afar: an old tree in a cage behind a fence.

But, if you look closely, there's a whole lot happening on that stump.

It is covered with animals...

... and faces...

... and activity...

There are elves, fairies, witches and imps carved all over the old oak.

Mystics peek out from the bark.

An old fox sits at the base.

The entire surface is covered with figures hiding, sneaking, playing.

There's even a bit of kissing!

Originally carved in 1911, the tree underwent restoration in the 1960s, and then again in 1996.

It's such a fun thing to look at and explore.

So many wee folk with stories to tell. The makers wife wrote about the stump and had this to say:

"for centuries now it has been the home of fairies, gnomes, elves, imps, and pixies. In the nooks and crannies they lurk, or peer out of holes and crevices, their natural windows and doorways. It is their hiding-place by day, their revelry place by night, and when the great moon tops the bare branchless tree the Elfin Clans come out to play and frolic in the moonlight."

If you're ever in Hyde Park/Kensington Garden, you'll find this treasure next to the Diana Memorial Playground. Be sure to locate it on a map and get oriented before you go because we had a heck of a time finding it. Kensington Garden staff had absolutely no idea what I was talking about, but it was well worth the search.

Glad to be back to home to my bed and the quiet, and I'm looking forward to running with all of the inspiration I've bottled up.

Hope you've been well and not tooooo well behaved.