Saints, Sinners and Mystics Little Niche Shrines

Some things take time. Life gets in the way, plans change, priorities shift, wrenches halt the wheels of progress. In other words, stuff happens. These little nicho shrines from AlphaStamps are a perfect example. An idea spouts, brainstorming swirls like mad, but somehow it takes months and months for the planets to align 'just-so' to make them happen.

And this isn't a bad thing! Waiting for the right moment is far better than rushing the wrong moment. (That's what I keep telling myself, so I hope it's true.)

Each of these shrines is made from chipboard, a small box and a decorative piece affixed to the front. There are Pointed, Rectangle, Scalloped and Starburst niches available.

To decorate each of these I've followed the same process:
• assemble the niche
• cover with old paper
• apply washes of paint
• stamp and apply gold embossing powder (the tarot nicho skips this step)
• combine layers of fussy cut collage sheet elements spacing with foam squares
• add finishing touches like gold dresden and brass stars

While I considered styling these as homages to beautiful, colourful, Mexican nichos (and you could absolutely explore that theme!) I drew from a mash-up of images from Roman Catholicism, Mysticism, Gnosticism and just plain old lovely old woodcuts and engravings.

You can find the images I used collected onto two separate collage sheets. The Mad Mystic Collage Sheet used above, which is a bit more devilish and magically themed.

And the Saints and Sinners Collage Sheet which is all bleeding hearts and blessed beings (except for the dude above who is definitely a sinner).

Below you'll find a list of all the bits I used in making these niche shines. Have your own grand ideas? DO IT! Make all the stuff, explore your ideas and get messy! BUT if you happen to get caught up in life and get distracted and you're dodging life's wrenches... remember not to sweat it, everything  happens in it's proper time.

Mad Mystic Collage Sheet

Saints and Sinners Collage Sheet

Little Niche Shrine - Pointed

Little Niche Shrine - Scalloped
Little Niche Shrine - Starburst
Little Niche Shrine - Rectangle
Tiny Scalloped Fleur Dresden Borders - Antique Gold
Tiny Dot Dresden Borders - Gold
Flat-Back Gold Star Studs - 12mm
foam adhesive squares
old book pages/music sheets
acrylic paint
gold embossing powder and stamps

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. 

Preserving Autumn

I woke to a very pretty winter wonderland this morning. 

While it is beautiful, and I do love snow, I don't know if I feel quite ready for this change. I'm grateful I preserved a little bit of fall (which never seems to last long enough).

This was my first attempt using resin, so there are bubbles and they are far from perfect, but somehow perfect at the same time.

 

I gathered bright fall leaves a couple of weeks ago and then let them dry. I crumpled them into a sort of natural confetti and sprinkled the bits into the resin.

Despite the bubbles and flaws, I love how much they remind me of the glorious colours of autumn. Time will tell how well they'll preserve but for now... swoon!

I made some simple keychain dangly thingamabobs and added loops to the others for necklace pendants for my pretty bits, now I just have to decide who needs a slice of Canadian fall colours!

Here's the bits and bobs used:

Easy Cast Clear Casting Epoxy
5 Piece Pendants Silicone Molds Set
Glass beads
Oak tree charm
Findings

Merry Little Christmas Labels

While I am worried about jinxing myself, I gotta say, I'm killing the holiday crafting this year! I feel really good about where I'm at and what I've made so far. The past couple of days have been spent on this plethora of tiny jars and vials.

These are going to make great stocking stuffers, baubles and trinkets! 

I made a collage sheet with LOADS of holiday themed labels and I'm really, really pleased with them. There's everything from tinsel, peppermint and North Pole snow to holiday magic and lumps of coal.

I'll be showing off projects created with this sheet over the next few weeks and if you'd like to play along it's available HERE.

And, because I never know what size I'll need, this is a two sheet download. There's a sheet with the original 'large' version of labels and a second sheet with the same designs scaled down to three smaller sizes.

I'm feeling really good about these little simple projects and I think you're going to like them too. So, keep your eyes peeled for wee glass vials and vessels, and come kick holiday ass along with me!

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. 

Happy Halloween!

Hello my pretties!

It's Halloween and I'm feeling it in my old bones this year.

This is another one of the masks I created in the Master of Disguise workshop.

It makes me feel this:

“A witch ought never be frightened in the darkest forest 

because she should be sure in her soul 

that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her.”

Terry Pratchett, "Wintersmith"

I hope you're feeling terrifying too.

Big spooky halloween love from me to you.

xoxo

Little Spooky Ladies Book

I've been doing some vintage/antique image searching lately and keep stumbling on little bits of inspiration. One amazing bit I came across was from a medieval manuscript, a man reading a heart shaped book. This led to finding real examples!

Swoon right?!

But it's not hearts and love song season. It's spooky season, so let's get a tad creepy.

I had coffin shaped chipboard bits on my worktable from the AlphaStamps *Twilight Kit so ran with the orginal inspiration to create a little chipboard coffin book. I kept it simple and just bound the pages together with a bit of sports tape.

On the cover of the book I placed a Wide Spider Charm on the end of a snip of  1/16 Inch Black Satin Ribbon. To cover the loop of the charm I added a bit of bling with a sparkly accent.

Inside each page is covered with papers from the Twilight 8x8 Paper Pad and features a spooky little lady.

I particularly like the ladies from the Victorian Bats Collage Sheet .

Want to create your own little spooky ladies book? Here are all the bits I used:

Twilight 8x8 Paper Pad
Small Chunky Coffin w Bat Shape Set - Set of 3
Wide Spider Charms
A Witchy Encore Collage Sheet
Mini Gothic Architecture Collage Sheet
Mini Old Windows & Doors Collage Sheet
Victorian Bats Collage Sheet
1/16 Inch Black Satin Ribbon