Thursday, July 19, 2018

Buntings are hard to photograph and the new wood shed

I love buntings. I think they are just about one of the prettiest things around. They're whimsical and joyous and sweet... and such a pain to photograph.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

This particular bunting is a happy thing, all yellow and sunshiney. But pictures! Ugh, pictures. I was moping around this morning trying to figure out how to show it off when the new woodshed caught my eye.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

The Mr used recycled wood so it doesn't LOOK new, but huzzah for that because it's the perfect contrast to my pretty flaggy thing-a-ma-doodle. I'm certain Mr had no idea he was actually building me a giant photography prop.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

But on to the bunting! I knew I wanted to create a long banner so I used two sets of this Banner Builder Pennant Set. Instead of layering straight and scalloped edged pieces, I've used them separately. 

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

I painted the chipboard white and stamped the edges with a floral filigree pattern. Atop of that I applied papers from Floral Shoppe (which is gorgeous and probably my favourite Graphic 45 paper ever.) The colours I chose are a very subtle nod to my beloved Hufflepuff house.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

The butterflies are stamped onto Floral Shoppe Indigo Lilies. A few dabs of white paint are added as highlights, then I fussy cut those suckers.

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

The flowers were created using elements from the Large Tag ATC and Flower Die set.


Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

That snip of lacy paper at the top was created by clipping a portion of clock from from the Square Tag and Clock Dies

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

Attach all those bits to a length of ribbon and you've got yourself a bunting that is very difficult to photograph!

Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe Bunting - Nichola Battilana

Thank goodness for new woodsheds that look old.

Here's the bit list if you too would like to make a pretty hanging something-or-other.

Floral Shoppe: Golden Serenity
Floral Shoppe Indigo Lilies

Saturday, July 14, 2018

An Exploding Explore Box and a Goofy Surprise

A little something something for AlphaStamps today. 

(Note: AlphaStamps has been updated and you'll need to hop over to alphastamps.NET for the shop.)


Using the Double Explosion Box from the July Kit I've created a little surprise for a sea side adventurer.


I've used a bunch of pieces from the Wanderlust Printed Chipboard which I kinda love.

Quick tip: cut your paper just slightly smaller than the sides and you wont have to worry about bends and folds at the corners. I painted my box first, then applied squares of Wanderlust Souvenir Scrapbook Paper. It made things soooo much easier.


Open the box and inside there's another, tied with twine and embellished with snips from the 
Vintage Travel Tags & Hardware Collage Sheet.

More chipboard pieces and some shell charms. I've applied stamped metal letters that have been hiding my stash for eons.


Remove that wee box and inside a compass so that you'll never be lost on your wandering adventures.


Pretty cute, no?



And, Leslie from AlphaStamps will kill me for this but I made a second goofy exploding box. 


It's all sparkles and glittery stars and unicorn stickers.


Coloured with smooshes of paint and decorated with cheap bits from the $store like fluff and plastic unicorns!


There's an important message too! Less to-dos and more ta-das!


I really do need more ta-das!We ALL need more ta-das! Anyone who says they don't has pants on fire.

ANYWAY... if you want to make an exploding explore box (or a goofy surprise) HERE are all the bits available from AlphaStamps.net. And here they are listed individually:

8mm Gold Flat-Back Glass Shell Cabochon
Wanderlust Printed Chipboard
20mm Resin Starfish Cabs
13x17mm Patina Starfish Charms
Patina Scallop Shell Charms
Wanderlust Souvenir Scrapbook Paper
Brass Patina Conch Shell Charms
Double Explosion Box

Monday, July 09, 2018

Grim Little Boxes

Sometimes, in the middle of the sunshine and the dancing fairies, I feel like making something a bit grim. It's not a bad thing. It's not a sad or angry thing. It's just that once in a while a bit of darkness is a nice contrast to the airy fairy.


At the post-halloween sales last year I picked up some wee wooden boxes and a couple of weeks ago I gussied them up with Graphic45 papers and embellishments from my stash.


This blingy skull with heart shaped eyes and rhinestones has been in my stash for AGES! I plonked it on top of a metal keyhole, added some metal brads and wings.


I think it makes a mighty nice frontispiece!.


And these dudes! I love them, but they too have been sitting, waiting to be used. This seemed like a perfect little project for them.




One more wee grim box, this one with a surprise inside.


A vial of Devil's Shoestring to trip up bad luck and provide protection. 
Break in case of emergency!


Hope you're having summer fun and that you don't need one iota of luck.

(I just looked up what an 'iota' is... it is the ninth letter of the greek alphabet and I'm more confused than before.)


Saturday, July 07, 2018

The Fairy Garden

I've been quiet this week, cleaning, clearing and preparing the fairy garden. I didn't have one last year and this year I scaled back. I chose to keep things quiet this year and I'm glad of it. Sure, it means less money... but it's far more charming in a way, the magic is more intimate.

Here are some pics from today's very quiet fairy garden.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

This bluejay perched on my sign first thing this morning and screeched to the feathered kingdom that there was free birdseed to be had.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

And this fellow didn't care one bit that it is BIRD seed. 

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

There are berries abound, just ripening.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

While gnomes don't have a reputation for being exceptionally bright ~ I think that placing your reading chair directly beside a berry bush for snacking is a brilliant idea.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

The fairies from the fallen tree at the bottom of our hill have moved to a young tree close to the house. Hopefully they'll spruce the place up. (You have no idea how much I wish that was a spruce tree so that joke would be wildly punny.)

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

The foxglove decided to show today!

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Some of those clovers have to be lucky!

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

The fairies dranks an enormous amount of tea today. I would expect nothing else.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

A gossamer canopy kindly spun by a spider friend.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Tea and pastries next to the clover.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Just a few members of my gnome army were out playing in the garden today.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Sweet little bucket gardens.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Spirals, spirals everywhere.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Clay pot houses.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

I'm sure someone is charging for this space under the deck.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

BTW, if you ever need to distinguish between a troll and gnome camp, trolls always display their collection of stolen socks. If you have an abundance of odd socks... you probably have a troll infestation.

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

Finally, probably my favourite addition to the garden ever...

Pixie Hill Fairy Garden 2018 - Nichola Battilana pixiehill.com

How much fun is this?!?! I can hardly stand it.

Big fat fairy wishes from this years little fairy garden.