Thursday, August 30, 2018

Paper Fairy Matchboxes

Cross my heart, I am not exclusively making matchboxes... but I do have more to show off today.

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Each is wrapped in paper from Graphic 45 and had a sweet little sentiment on the cover. Inside vintage paper, moss, paper flowers and teeny tiny paper fairy.

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Each and every one is different.

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana



I have a bunch of these listed in the shop. They're $20 each and include shipping within North America (add $3 for international shipping). Just a heads up for my American friends, the US Customs and Border Protection is delaying mail entering the US. *sigh* So expect delays. I adore you and appreciate your patience.

Now settle in for a long look at these cuties.
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana


Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola BattilanaPaper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana


Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana


Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola BattilanaPaper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana
Paper fairy matchbox - Nichola Battilana

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

A simple fascinator

"Do you have your hat yet?"

"I'm not wearing a hat."


"YOU HAVE TO WEAR A HAT! Your grandmother was told she must wear a hat. You've got to wear something."


Apparently I have to wear a hat of some sort to my cousins wedding. I love hats (serious affinity to crowns!) but a) I get a bad case of hat head when I wear anything on my head and b) I have to pack it in a suitcase.

The solution? A simple fascinator!

A fasinator is "a type of formal headwear worn as an alternative to the hat; it is usually a large decorative design attached to a band or clip."


Most instructions I found for creating a fascinator said to use a 8" round, but I wanted something quite small. Instead, I opted for the Layered Frame Bella Oval as my base. I painted it black then sandwiched a piece of scrapbook paper that matches the colour of my dress in between the layers.

I applied a pair of Fantasy Wings to a Punchelements 1 inch Scalloped round and topped that with a paper rose. This element holds a length of tulle in place.


I backed the frame with a piece of felt and glued the entire thing to a headband. To secure things even further, an additional piece of felt is added over the band to keep it sturdy.


And that's really it! So simple. Done in not time at all with just a few materials. Best of all you can colour coordinate perfectly with your pretty frock.


I did attempt a tutorial but I had issues with the video and the footage was unsalvageable. August continues it's reign of disaster. *sigh* This project is pretty easy though and to make your own, here is the list of all the materials I used:

Layered Frame Bella Oval
Fantasy Wings 
Punch Elements 1 inch Scalloped
Headband
Felt
Tulle/Mesh/Net
Paint
Scrapbook paper
Hot glue
White glue
Paper flower 

And if you aren't attending an event that requires headwear, make yourself a fascinator and drink high tea at home with pinkies out and fancy something upon your head.

Freeform Junk Journals for Graphic 45

This months challenge over at Graphic 45 was to create #G45JunkJournal. Now, this is more of a junk folder than a junk journal, but I think this format works well for my scattered brain and horrifying organizational skills.



I’m always tearing out sheets, and forever tucking bits of paper into my sketchbooks and journals. The idea of a freeform, loosey goosey place to hold my ideas, memories and inspiration was oh so appealing.



Nothing is bound together in here, it’s all loose sheets and tags and papery bits.



As long as you have a nice fat stack filling your folder, everything should hold in place well when tied shut (yay friction!)



I began with a super simple tri-fold cover, and added ribbon for a closure. No pockets, no pages, just an easy peasy junk folder.

Then I created a bunch of stand-alone pieces to tuck inside.

Tags, ATC’s, envelopes…

 

... mini folder filled with ephemera...

...loose sheets for journaling and layouts.



I’ve also included a notebook which I simply recovered with another sheet of “Imagine”.



While I’m a HUGE fan of mixing and matching collections, I’ve kept things really, really simple here by just using the “Imagine” collection along with some Graphic 45 staples and a bit of ribbon. If you have any worries about coordinating papers, this is the way to go. You really cannot go wrong by sticking within a single collection.

Just look at all that junk!



Want to make your own? Check below for a video tutorial for creating the folder and here's the list of supplies I used for the Imagine #G45JunkJournal

Imagine 12 x 12 Collection Pack
Shabby Chic Metal Clock Keys
Antique Ornate Metal Keys
Washi Tape
Set
Large Tags—Ivory
Imagine Stickers
Cardboard
Ribbon
Glue
Bottle Cap
Paperclay fourishes
Notebook
Tassle

AND.... HERE how to create your own freeform junk journal folder. I've kept the instructions fairly basic so that you can alter this project to suit your own tastes.


The supplies used in the tutorial sample are:

Communique Delux Collectors Edition
Antique Ornate Metal Keys
Antique Brass Metal Clock KeysCardboard
Ribbon
Glue
Charms
Jump Rings
Brass Name Plate

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Disaster and a Sudden Frida

I mentioned that my Montreal trip was a bit of a disaster. The highlight of the trip should have been seeing the amazing light show at the Montreal Basilica, Aura.

Instead, we spent a lot of time getting lost and frustrated. I cracked my phone. There was stress. There were many, many, many deep breaths and counting to ten.

I kept saying to myself. "It's okay. We'll go to the basilica. It'll be great. It will make this ridiculous trip worthwhile."

But... we went to the basilica and could not get tickets. Disaster. It was the final straw in a long string of unfortunate events and I had a short but very ugly cry meltdown back at the car. I am not usually a big baby, but this trip was a big deal for us. Our first sort of grown up vacation as a family and so much seemed to go wrong.

In the end we wandered around a really cool area of Montreal, bought some drinks to take back to the hotel, and sat in the hottub for a bit. It wasn't the end of the world. How could it be with a hottub?!

A Sudden Frida - Nichola Battilana

Next month I'm heading to the UK and using the Montreal disaster as a lesson in pre-planning. I'm not filling every minute, I'm allowing for spontaneity, but I have a long list of possible things to see and do and plenty of maps and routes.

A Sudden Frida - Nichola Battilana

One of the things on my list is an exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up. It's a collection of personal items belonging to Frida. This mixed media Frida piece sprouted suddenly in my excitement.

A Sudden Frida - Nichola Battilana

I've included a little mirror, a sort of nod to her theme of self portraiture.


A Sudden Frida - Nichola Battilana

Old odd bits and a butterfly.

A Sudden Frida - Nichola Battilana

I've included hummingbirds, a symbol used in her work.

A Sudden Frida - Nichola Battilana

I'd really love to make the exhibit, I'm planning on it, but this sudden Frida is also a reminder to not get so caught up in that 'to-do list' that I forget to enjoy the experience and miss everything else if things go tits up.

"Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away." ~ Frida Kahlo

Everything changes.

Plans change. 

This time I'll be ready to revolve too. I'll fly rather than fight against the changes.

Thanks for the lesson, Montreal.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Pretty Bird Matchboxes

Little boxes, fussy cutting, and pretty papers... swoon!

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

You can absolutely make your own matchboxes, but I totally cheated and bought a bunch from the dollar store. I covered them in papers from the glorousiously gorgeous Graphic 45's Floral Shoppe (seriously, I cannot get enough of those papers).
Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Inside are fussy cut flowers, birds and butterflies from Floral Shoppe and Seasons

(Disclaimer: a butterfly or flower might have snuck in from another collection. I was a flurry of paper and scissors and my memory is a total blur.)

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

I lined the inside of the boxes with vintage dictionary pages that have been given a wash of white acrylic paint.

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Depth is created by using layers foam squares.

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

What is it about small things that make them precious? Holding these in your hand is like a little bit of magic.

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Here's an even better look at these pretties.

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Pretty Bird Matchboxes for Graphic 45 - Nichola Battilana

Want to make your own? Here's what I used:
• matchboxes

• old papers (dictionary pages)
• acrylic wash
• glue
• foam squares
• self adhesive nail heads




Saturday, August 18, 2018

Leftover Bindrune Earrings

I am not a jewelry maker. I am only just finding my jewelry wearing self to be honest.


But I had leftover bits from my AlphaStamps design kit and they demanded to be used. 


So I made these earrings from Patina Brass Narrow Feather CharmsWide Feather Charms and
42mm Bronze Key Charms.

The top bit is a bindrune combining the runes Fehu and Perthro. A bindrune is a symbol which combines two or more runes and sort of joins their meaning. Here I'm mixing luck and new beginnings with magic, hidden knowledge and feminine power. I'm hoping these give me a little boost when I where them. (There's some debate about the meaning of Perthro but I like that particular interpretation.)

Simply connected all the bits together with jump rings and the attached the top bezel to an earring post. Easy peasy!

Here's my supply list for this unexpected extra project.

Earring posts
Jump Rings

A Little Big Fat Nature Journal

This month's AlphaStamps kit has sprouted an ATC sized nature themed junk journal.

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

I separated the panels from an ATC Ticket Journal as a base for many of the pages and used some Water Media ATC Cards for others.

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Really I just made a whole bunch of ATC's and then stitched those suckers together. They make a lovely fat little book.
Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

To bind the pages I simply poked three holes in one side, and tied them together with Bakers Twine which I've muddied up with a wash of brown paint.

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

The interior pages are a jumble of collage sheets and papers and fussy cut bits and bobs. Check the bottom for the complete list of supplies used.

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

Little Big Fat Nature Journal - Nichola Battilana for AlphaStamps

I'm really pleased with how all of those wee ATC's came together to form a cohesive bookette. If you'd like to make your own, here's all the bits and pages and papers I used.