Bind Sigil Besom

A new pretty thing-a-ma-bob for the front door! A bit of magical protection against that big bad virus that is wreaking havoc on the world.

I've added charms and beads, flowers and some knot work to my besom too. My focus was on creating something gentle, calm and hopeful. Although those things might sound a bit namby-pamby, they're powerful forces of good! I don't know about you, but I could do with a bit of positive focus right now... making pretty things helps.

The symbol I carved is a bind sigil created by Tommie Kelly, combining sigils from his divination/magic system The Forty Servants. Specifically the sigils for The Healer, The Protector and The Sun were used here. 

(Totally recommend checking out Adventures in Woo Woo if you're interested in modern magical discussion/thinking/ideas.)

I first carved the sigil and then stained it with red ocher. This is said to have been done historically as a replacement for blood in the charging of magical items and ritual. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but I like the idea of taking this new symbol, from a new magical system, and mixing it up with old ideas.

Truly, I hope you're doing all you can to feel safe right now. I hope you're doing all the practical things like social distancing and making healthy choices. And, whether it's carving sigils, crafting, cooking comfort food, or Netflixing, I hope you're finding a bit of calm and hope in this crazy time.

P.S. Wash your hands. 

P.P.S. I love you.

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. 

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. 

All about bee wings

I've had a few requests for additional information, and questions about attaching the wings when following my Needle Felted Bumblebee video tutorial and working with the Bee Wing Digital Download and Bee Wing Transparency Sheet. 

First, you'll need wings.

The Bee Wing Transparency Sheet is a pre-printed sheet with 32 pairs of bee wings in various sizes. Cut them out as you go along. How you cut them out will depend on which method you want to use to attach the wings. I'll show you two methods below.

To print your own wings you'll need the Bee Wing Digital Download. You will use this file to print onto transparency paper. When buying transparency paper it's important to buy the correct type for your printer. Look for "inkjet" or "laser" on the packaging depending on which type you have. When printing specify that you are printing onto transparency paper by changing the settings. This will give you the best results.

I use two methods to attach the wings.

Method 1
Select the wings you want to use. Leave a little extra tab at the end of the wing when cutting them out.

With a very sharp blade, make an incision into the body of the bee where you want to place the wings.

If you've felted the bee well, this cut should not cause the bee to come apart.

Apply a tiny drop of glue to the end of the wing

Push the wing into the cut, wiggle it into just the right position, and allow to dry.

Method 2

Cut out your preferred wings and make a diagonal cut at the end. The cut should reflect the angle that you want the wings to sit at.

Apply the a small drop of hot glue to the underside and edge of the wing. You may want to practice applying the glue to get used to applying just the right amount.

Press the wing into place. Wiggle slightly so that the glue catches to the wooly surface of the bee. Hold the wing in place as it dries.

While the first method will give you a stronger bond, I actually prefer the second method. Once you get the hang of how much glue to apply it's a much quicker and simpler method.

I've had people ask about adding wire to the wings. When I was planning this project I thought that wire would be needed but at this size the transparency is thick enough that it doesn't need added support. Unless you want to create posable wings, or a super huge bee, wiring the wings is unnecessary.

As always, if you have a technique or method that you prefer, by all means continue doing what you're doing! There's no wrong or right way to do things and experimentation is the key for discovering what works best for you.

Have a great week crafty friends!

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. 

Paper fairy in a tuna tin

The thing with faeries is that they can take up residence anywhere. They can move into an old tuna tin and turn it into a tiny wonderland.

Creative recycling is a funny thing. You become drawn to certain vessels. I have soooo many single serve tuna tins, Pringles tubes, cocoa and coffee tins. Each of them waiting, waiting for paper fairies and wonderlands.

To 'encourage' your own recycling fairy, you might want to consider keeping these bits around:
• Matchbox fairy download

• a clean vessel/tin/box/bottle
• paper, paint and lace to embellish

• moss
• acorn

• paper mini flowers
• handmade mushrooms
• crown (I made one from THIS mold)

Paper Moon Tags

This month I'm diving into my stash and making some dreamy mixed media tags for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.

And while you'll find the full supply list of the bits I've used for my tags, I totally encourage you to dip into your own stash to create the textured effect with extra bits from your own stash.

I've layered chipboard elements and washes of paint and glitter to achieve the desired effect on these tags. I am LOVING the texture. The same effect can be achieved by layering all sorts of extra chippy bits, so don't feel confined to using the same ones I've listed. Just be sure the top layer contains a few stars and you'll be set.

I've turned these tags upside-down so that the ribbons dangle, my initial intent being to add charms and dangly beads... that idea went out the window. 

I'm all about creating as means of improvisation and playing. If you don't have a certain product, use what's on hand and experiment! Sometimes those results are just as nice.

And I am so pleased with these how these paper moon tags turned out. They make my heart happy.

If you'd like to see how I created these tags, pop over HERE for a video of my process.

Gypsy Soul Supplies:

Chipboard Decorative Tags X Large

Artist Trading Coins

Clock Hands Shape Set
Fanciful Elements

Banner Border Strips

Deco Stars

Texture Sheet Gears 6x6

Other goodies I used:

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments - Stars
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Paper Dolls

Scrapbook paper

Old paper

Ribbon

Wired tinsel

Glitter

Clear gesso

Glue

Acrylic paint