Something nice to end the year.

I thought I'd end the year (and the whole decade come to think of it!) gently, not with a whimper exactly, but with a sweet whisper.

Months ago a local thrift shop posted about an album had recently been donated. They were concerned that it had been given in error and wanted to ensure that it was intended for donation.

Immediately I said "It's not mine, but if no one steps forward, I'll gladly adopt them."

Months later I got the message to come an pick up my new 'family'.

I understand why the shop was concerned. The little album is packed with the most darling images.

Little boys with wooden swords.

Grandmother knitting.

Children in tasseled hats sneaking up on sleeping uncles.

It is absolutely packed with the most delightful images.

And they are all just so wee!

The tiny pictures are from the 1920's

I am so very thrilled to have them in my collection...

And cannot wait to hear the stories they'll whisper to me almost 100 years after they were taken.

Best wishes to you and yours for a beautiful new year filled with gentle joys.

Love,

Nichola

Tiny Little Shadowbox Houses

Recently I've been playing with new materials and techniques. I made a slew of little colourful houses and moons with Apoxie Sculpt not too long ago and wondered what to do with my townful of little abodes. 

I enshrined them in Tiny Little Shadowbox Houses and they are cute as buttons!

The exterior of the boxes were covered in dreamy blue-hued scrapbook papers. The inside lined with old music sheets and painted in a black to cyan ombre.

A sprinkling of glitter to create a magical stary night and a wee clay moon popped into place above a group of tiny colourful cottages.

A little bit of gold embossing powder adds nice little finishing touch to the edges.

The Tiny Little Shadowbox Houses come in a four different sizes, each one just the right size to hold in your hand.

While these little shrines aren't perfect, I love that they show off something new. Here's hoping the new year will bring even more new little creative adventures to show off.

Tiny Little Shadowbox Houses

Scrapbook paper

Old papers

Acrylic paint

Glitter

Gold embossing powder

Moss
Apoxie Sculpt (houses, mushrooms and moons)

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. 

Artwalk Alchemy Holiday Sale

I have been absolutely swamped with holiday prep and stress. Creating took a bit of a back seat to baking and painting over the past two weeks. I even painted the flipping ceiling in my kitchen and made a gingerbread house from scratch (never again). My annual Christmas meltdown came early. It might seem mad but I'm glad I hit the breaking point because that's the moment I start to let go and enjoy the holidays. Oh anxiety, you are a cheeky bugger.

ANYWAY... I've mentioned before that I'm an instructor with Art Walk Alchemy 2020. 24+ projects offered over the course of 2020. Here's my wee project that will pop up in March....

A tiny cottage inspired by Irish faeries!

There's loads of other great projects offered throughout the year and I'll be participating as a student in many of them. I. Can't. Wait.

If you're considering signing up, right now you can get the whole years worth of classes for $89 US when you use the code XMAS89 at checkout.

And now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to stuff my face full of carbs and look lovingly at my wonky Christmas tree.

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. 

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. 

Krampusnacht! A shout out to the naughty list peeps

Tonight, the evening of December 5th, is Krampusnacht. It's Krampus night!!!

Kramps and Saint Nicholas head out this evening, with Krampus punishing terrible children and Saint Nicholas leaving a pressie for good little ones. (If you're wondering what the heck is St. Nick doing out this early, December 6th is the feast day of Saint Nicholas in Western Christian traditions.)

I love all the Krampus images I've seen over the years and have been meaning to do some Krampus pieces for a good long while. While I didn't do all the things I wanted to, I got my act together and managed a little bundle of Krampus goodness this year.

There's Krampus' sack that he shoves bad children inside with his chains and bells dangling. There's a golden switch to beat awful children. A lump of coal (which is far better to receive than being dragged to the underworld and eaten). And a Krampus  head ornament made with paperclay and a some wool roving for whiskers and eyebrows.

A better look at all those goods. 

Aside: black is an absolute bugger to photograph and definately on the naughty list.

I was going to do a whole thing on the history of Krampus but to be perfectly honest, no one really knows his origins and there is a big steaming heap of misinformation out there. We can all agree that he's a pre-Christian relic that has managed to survive 100's of years through the age old tradition of trying to keep rotten children in line.

Speaking of rotten kids... what's with the coal?

Again, no one really knows. Which is weird because there are a bunch of Christmas-time figures who dole out coal to naughty boys and girls in a bunch of different cultures. Perhaps it's because it's a necessity rather than gift reward? Who knows. 

I thought it would be fun to dole out some coal this year. I've included a little coal label on my Merry Little Christmas Labels download and used it to package up some bit of coal (ok, it's charcoal, not real coal, but I know you won't rat me out). I've used little vials with wide-ish necks to put wee lumps inside. And that cellophane bag has chocolate lumps of coal inside for those who aren't completely awful.

I really kind of love these drawstring teabags I picked up that look like wee sacks. How cute would they look dyed red?!

While it's super fun to hand out reminders that we're all a little naughty, don't forget to encourage goodness (and not by beating the evil out with birch twigs). So, my Notes from the North Pole, a nice list notification download, will be available for just $1 until Christmas morning.

I have no idea where to plonk this fact, but I think it's too fascinating not to include so... Many old depictions of Krampus show him with one cloven and one human foot. No one knows why. 

OK! Go, behave, and I wish you all the best tonight. Here's hoping you're not whacked with the Krampus switch and shoved in a sack. You're lovely so I'm sure you'll be fine.



P.S. I only made a few Krampus ornaments and have already given most of them away so there are none available this year. Sorry guys!

Simple Christmas Kraft Boxes

I'm 'retiring' as an AlphaStamps design team member this month.

It feels weird to type that. It hardly seems real! I've been with AlphaStamps 4eva!

Why am I bowing out? I'm trying to simplify and refocus. I've always known that you can't do it all, but I often feel like I'm trying to stuff 36 hours of activity into a day that only has 24. I'm trying to NOT fill every minute so that I can *gasp!* spend a day with family, read a book, and, by the grace of the gods, get every bit of laundry done at least once in my life. (A girl can dream.)

I kinda wish there was a big dramatic crafty fallout, but you'll have to settle for the fact that I'm shit at time management basically.

I'll still be making little things with their delightful crafty bits and I've already said I'd be pleased as punch to be a guest designer if they'll have me. And they better. Or else.

Given that I'm trying to simplify my life, these cute little boxes seem a fitting send off project.

I've kept them simple. Some gold embossing powder, snippets from holiday collage sheets, a wee charm, a bit of raffia. While I totally understand the appeal of embellishing until things are dripping with colour and a thousand different elements, there's a case for simplicity too.

If you've got a load of people on your list you could turn out a boat load of these cute 2 Inch Cube Kraft Boxes in no time at all. Just a length of paper cut from the Rejoice Christmas Baking Custom 12x12 Paper Set, and a snip from the Gingerbread Collage Sheet. A rustic bow made with raffia and tuck a candycane in place and you're set.

Put a bit of tissue inside these and fill them with wrapped sweets and you're set for giving a small token of holiday spirit. I've prepared a whole whack of these so that I can dole them out and look like I totally have my holiday shit together.

(Note: I do not have my shit together.)

Can we talk about these cute house boxes?

Again, keeping it simple but adorable and cheery.

Simple wee wreath made with Tiny Green Leaf Garland, a Santa Sleigh Silver Charm, a snip from the Tiny Christmas Windows Collage Sheet as a tag and closed up tight with a Mini Bronze Butterfly Paper Clip.

I DID add some gold embossing elements to the roof (because I'm currently in love with combining kraft and gold) but you could totally skip that.

I also added Mini House Doors & Windows (painted red), Polymer Clay Christmas Candy Slice Mix and Larger Miniature Candy Canes. Honestly, I really love the rustic look of these without any added paper embellishing (and the time it saved me!) 

All the bits to make these cute and quick goodies can be found in one place, right HERE.

Or here is everything to pick and choose from:

Santa Sleigh Silver Charm Set
Santa is Outside Collage Sheet
Gingerbread Collage Sheet
Tiny Christmas Windows Collage Sheet
Mini Bronze Butterfly Paper Clips
Larger Miniature Candy Canes
2 Inch Cube Kraft Boxes*
Polymer Clay Christmas Candy Slice Mix
Tiny Green Leaf Garland
Sweet Treats Collage Sheet

House Treat Box
Mini House Doors & Windows
Christmas Baking Treat Box Kit - November 2019

So that's it! My last sweet and simple post for AlphaStamps. The biggest fattest "thank you" to everyone at AlphaStamps for all you do. Leslie, it's been an absolute pleasure. Bella, you are a peach and I'll see you around lady. My teamies, you're all such inspirations. The shipping department, you rock! And every other person behind the scenes, you've made my zillion years there all the better because of your hard work. BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU!