Happy Halloween with Bonus Pocket Cryptid Content

How long has it been since I shared a tutorial or download? For-flipping-ever, that's how long!

I wanted to make a little something for Halloween and came up with these little cryptid matchboxes.

I kinda love them. I hope you do too because I've got everything you'll need to make your own!

The worksheet! You'll need to download the full-size image, not the smaller preview. Print this on cardstock rather than regular printer paper for best results.

If you have a Cricut HERE is the project link which has both the print-and-cut image file and match-box cut and score file. (Note: You CAN fit four match-boxes on one 12" sheet. That project file can be found HERE.)

NOTE: If, for some reason the project files are refusing to link (shakes fist angrily), just search for "Nichola Battilana" on the Cricut Workspace, click on my profile, and you should find them. FOR WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT, CRICUT??!!!

Once you've got your file of choice sorted, pop over to the youtube tutorial for how to put all that stuff together to make your own little pocket cryptids.

 

That's it spooky friends. Now go make something creepy and make me proud!

Miniature Candle Eye Candy

OMG IT'S BEEN FOREVER!!!!

How are you? You doing ok? Holding up? I've missed you!

Yeah, I know. I've been absent. Don't worry, I've been ok. Just haven't felt much like making or interacting with the world very much. Know what I mean?

However, the past couple of weeks I've been smacked upside the head with the productivity fairy (totally real thing) and have been making a literal shit ton of miniature spell and saintly candles.

I spent wayyyy too long designing packaging for these but it felt pretty darn good to put my Cricut to use and I totally think the time/effort was worth it.

The saintly candles have coordinating laminated prayer cards. How flipping cute, right?!

I've also made a whack of spell candles.

Instead of prayer cards they'll come with tiny magical books. They don't open, which is sort of a bummer, but I figured for a nice little added bonus they're just fine.

There's something seriously satisfying about seeing the a whole bunch of these all gathered up together.

There are sets of 9 Saint and 9 Spell candles listed on etsy right now. They're really, really flipping cool. if I do say so myself. The individual candles will be listed next week after I give my eyes a break... and holy cow, do they need the rest.

Take good care of yourself, you lovely weirdo.

P.S. I'm going to try really hard to get you a project and tutorial for Halloween. It's been far too long. xo

Palmistry Hand

I've been an instructor with Mystic Spring Studio's, Art Walk Alchemy, for a couple of years now (and will again in 2022! Yay!). If you're unfamiliar, it's a pretty sweet deal: 24 in-depth projects offered over the course of a year. There's always such a great array of projects. The latest to be released is an amazing palmistry/altered hand-model project, taught by Zera Derrig. I did the class and I'm so happy with my results.

I mean come on... how cool??!!!

 

As soon as I saw this project I kind of wanted to make 100's of palmisty hands, but I restrained myself (shock of shocks) and only bought a pair to paint. This is the first one I finished and I can't wait to add it to my collection of palmistry hands and phrenology heads.

Note: I bought the unfinished hands from amazon, but the specific listing I purchased is currently sold out.

If you'd like to join in this years fun you can follow THIS LINK to sign up. You'll have access to all of the projects already released this year and all of those yet to come.

Or you could just BASK IN THE GLORY OF MY SUPER COOL HAND!!!!!!!

Hope you're well and taking good care of yourself. Please be kind to you. Have an extra cookie if you want.

Lemonade and Tarot Freebies

So, there was a mishap with my printer.

As a result I have a huge stack of mini tarot sheets that are printed on the wrong card stock. There's nothing particularly wrong with them, they just don't meet my usual paper nerd standards. What to do?!

I've bundled these up into packages of 12 sheets and selling them with full disclosure that they are perfectly fine but not nearly as nice as my usual decks. 12 sheet for $12 including US/Canada shipping. Not a bad deal, and it's listed HERE.

Someone asked if these were suitable for use in resin and so I did a little test and they seem to hold up just fine.

Someone else suggested that the little cards would be great for journaling or keeping record of your tarot readings/journey.

I started to work on a layout and it occurred to me that some printable worksheets would be super freaking handy. And then I got carried away (as you do) and made 4 separate sheets.

I don't know about you but I use different spreads in my divination. Plus, variety is the spice of life as they say!

Below you'll find worksheets for logging 5 Card, Past Present Future, Classic Celtic, and Horoscope/Zodiac Spreads. I've made these to fit my little miniature tarot cards (but I won't tell on you if you use them to log your big tarot readings). Clicking on the images below should take you to the pdf file for you to download.

5 CARD SPREAD

CLASSIC CELTIC TAROT SPREAD

HOROSCOPE - ZODIAC TAROT SPREAD

PAST - PRESENT - FUTURE SPREAD

Seriously, how pretty is this Zodiac spread?!?!

A few notes:

• I don't include card interpretations with the layouts or cards. There are a zillion resources and books available for that.

• The same spreads can have loads of variations/interpretations. The Celtic Spread I've used here is the one that I've always known and appears in my oldest tarot books. BUT that doesn't make it it exclusively correct, or right, or the only way. You do you, baby! If you're more comfortable with another interpretation, use it. Anyone who tells you "This is the only correct way..." is full of malarkey. Yeah, I said it. Malarkey.

• You are welcome to print these off, use them, have tarot parties or classes with them... I only ask that you don't sell them, don't alter them, and don't pass them off as your own. Or else. Seriously. It won't be pretty.

The lesson? When life (or your printer) hands you lemons, make the best of it, make some lemonade and go totally overboard and carried away doing something that distracts from the massive pile of laundry that needs to be folded.

Want some wee tarot cards? Here's what's currently in my shop:

• 12 Cut-Your-Own Tarot Sheets - 2nds

• Cut-Your-Own Tarot Full Deck - Premium

• Cut-Your-Own Major Arcana Card - Premium

• Full Deck 78 Miniature Cards

• Major Arcana 22 Miniature Tarot Cards

Have a super day you lovely weirdo!

A Celestial Care Package

When AlphaStamps asked me if I'd like to play with some starry goods I immediately said "Yep!" I wanted to make something magic and mystical and toyed with a few ideas but nothing was gelling. Then I thought why just make one thing when I can create an entire package of items! And once I was done it felt like I'd been gifted magical care package directly from the stars.

I started with an inexpensive wooden box and covered it with Lucky Star Scrapbook Papers. The lid has layers of snips from those papers as well as clips from the Mini Alchemy Half Sheet and The Celestial Spheres Collage Sheet. Wonky Stars have been painted gold and copper and layered with brass star charms.

 

A few fussy cut butterflies and a smattering of Celestial Sequin Mix and Stardust Iridescent Gold & Purple Sequin Mix (both of which are swoon worthy!).

I played with papers and chipboard and sequins and charms until I had unexpectedly created a box full of celestial gifts!

A dreamy diadem, a crown made of paper and chipboard trimmed with Wide Scalloped Dresden Border and dotted with Celestial and Stardust Iridescent Gold & Purple Sequins.

Wax topped jars filled with stardust (disguised as sequins) and a pair of moon sequin earrings leapt off my worktable!

Those moony earrings? They are my faaaavvvourite. They're super duper lightweight and pretty. To make them I created dangly lengths of crescent moons with Iridescent Crescent Moon Sequins and small silver jump rings. Those were then attached to shepherd hook backs. Voila!

I had toyed with using the Sunburst Bronze Filigree to embellish my box, but it demanded something more. "I want to be seen! I want to stand out!" and so it became the base of this ethereal brooch. I added a pin to the back and brass stamped stars, moon and sun and a smattering of those Stardust Iridescent Gold & Purple Sequins to the front to complete the piece.

And somehow, I still wasn't done! Celestial fairy winged maidens appeared next.

I imagine they are nocturnal faeries that work strange magic under full moons...

under dark moons...

under stars...

and in dark places. 

They feel quietly helpful to me. The type of fair creature that would overhear your night wishes and, if so inclined, encourage them to come true.

All of the AlphaStamps bits for creating this celestial care package can be found HERE or, peruse the whole list of supplies below.

Lucky Star Spectrum Scrapbook Paper
Sunburst Bronze Filigree
Celestial Sequin Mix
Embossed Brass Star Charm
Lucky Star Polaris Scrapbook Paper
Lucky Star Fortune Scrapbook Paper
Lucky Star Orion Scrapbook Paper
Lucky Star Crescent Scrapbook Paper
Fairy Wings Collage Sheet
Brass Starburst Charm
Large 3D Brass Sun Charm
Fancy Brass Star Charm
Lucky Star 8x8 Paper Pack
5mm Star Sequin Mix
Iridescent Crescent Moon Sequins
Mini Alchemy Half Sheet
Mad Mystic Collage Sheet
Cobalt Blue German Glass Glitter
Wide Scalloped Dresden Border Set*
Small Man in the Moon Charms
Small 3D Brass Sun Charm
Lucky Star Nova Scrapbook Paper
Small Brass Starburst Charm
Wonky Stars Shape Set
Stardust Iridescent Gold & Purple Sequin Mix
The Sun Collage Sheet
The Celestial Spheres Collage Sheet
Lucky Star Kit - February 2021
Lucky Star Crowning Glory Chipboard Set
Moon Maidens Collage Sheet

Wooden box

Shepherd hook earring findings

Jump rings

Pin back

Acrylic paint

Glue

Wax

Glass vials/bottles

Adhesive foam squares

Cardboard

Now, off you pop! Go! Make yourself some magic.

Hello stranger! Tasteful Nudity and Bohemian ATCs

It's been a while. Life's been bumpy.

I've been making an effort to get back into creating over the past little bit. It's a difficult thing to get back into the swing of things when your heart just isn't in it. I know an awful lot of makers have been feeling the same way. 

I sat at my worktable and worked on nothing in particular, stared at my supplies until it drove me mad. Then, I cleaned my studio. I gave away boxes and boxes of stuff. "Is it really free?" Yes. Come get it. I just want it gone.

I sat at my worktable and worked on nothing in particular, again. 

And again.

Eventually, slowly, little things started to take shape.

A handful of ATCs of beautiful bohemian women dancing under moons.

I hope you're working on something too.

I hope your supplies aren't being jerks and driving you mad.

I hope things are really taking shape for you.

P.S. If you follow me on social media you'll know that my bestie, Padfoot, died in February. It was not unexpected, but the loss of him has been massive. There's a huge silent space in the house where he should be. I miss him. We all do.

R.I.P. Paddfoot

Aka Pads, Paddy, Padders, Paddykins, The Asshole

Matchbox Record Shop - A Prototype

For a very long time I didn't listen to music much. Certainly not new music. Certainly not music outside of my comfort zone. When I was young I thought that music would forever be the heartbeat of my days. It would be ever present and thumping life along. Then there came a long period of silence and comfort in the familiar.

But there's a sort of revival going on inside my head right now. Tired of the silence and comfort, I'm enjoying the rediscovery of my heartbeat. Give me all of the new noises and caterwauling and poetry (good and bad)! No, I don't like it all, some of it is awful, but I am delighting in the revelations.

These past few weeks I've been pushing myself, not just in the music I've been listening to, but in my work too. I've continued to make those little vinyl LPs, striving to make them better and better, taking great satisfaction in the accuracy of those silly little things. 

Which brings me to this matchbox record shop. "MAKE IT SMALLER! MAKE IT BETTER!" my mind screams at me. "DO MORE, MORE, MORE!" While I don't usually like to be shouted at, right now I'm grateful for the inspiration momentum (plus it's my own head yelling at me, so it's not so bad).

This is just the prototype. There is loads of room for improvement (which excites me!) but I was so chuffed by these initial steps I wanted to share them and show them off.

Just a standard matchbox with little bits of cut paper and a few snips of plastic... but the results are sooooo stonking cute! I'm well pleased.

While I AM pleased with this wee version, I KNOW I can do better and my mind is racing with ways in which to improve. This is such a fiddly mother fucker, I'm also wracking my brain to think up ways in which I can make a simplified version that others can make without getting too frustrated.

So, this long winded post is just to show off, with nothing to sell, or teach, or link to. Just a post because I'm pleased with myself and want to share something that is making my heart beat at right this minute. Holy heck, I've missed that thumping.

*The sign I used for the record shop is from an actual record store that was located in New Jersey and has been closed for a number of years.