Wee Floral Fairie Scene in a Tiny Tin with Fairie Dust from Graphic 45

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I've been whining about being sick. Despite feeling like death on a stick, I've been really productive. Working has been a distraction from feeling terrible. (Don't worry, I'm feeling positively perky today.)

One of the things that popped off my work table was a collection of little fairy tins. 

There's not much to these cuties. They're made with "Fairie Dust", inexpensive clear topped tins, a whole lot of fussy cutting. 

I started by fiddling around with just one wee tin... then quickly went through the entire half dozen I had on hand.

I got so carried away I even made a tutorial so that you can join me in my madness. My voice is pathetic because I'm sick, and the lighting is horrendous because I really didn't plan on making a tutorial for these, but the How-To vid can be found over HERE.

You can absolutely make these with any tin or box. The tutorial gives a technique for covering an object with curved edges.

These are made with the "Fairie Dust" collection save for the wee yellow butterflies from "Flutter" and these Wee Wings Transparency

Want to make your own? Good! Here are all the bits you'll need:

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust
Graphic 45 Flutter
Wee Wings Transparency
Small metal tin
Good quality white glue (I use Aleene's tacky glue)

Hot glue
White acrylic paint
Adhesive foam squares

A pinch of glitter

And here's that tutorial link again... HERE.

And remember, if you're feeling inspired and make your own, please tag me! I really appreciate the shout out, and I absolutely love to see the things you make. xoxo

Sweet Winged Dressform

I've started this blog post a million times. Trying to come up with a good explanation, a reason for this project. The truth is, there is none. It's just a fun silly thing that happens to be pretty.

And you know, that's ok. Why does there need to be a reason to create something other than the urge to do so?!

 So I've made this pretty frock using a Dressform Hang Up as a base.

To it I've added a pair of wings from the Wings Assortment

And nestled a piece of the Victorian Corners 2 set onto the bodice (it fits just right!)

I've layered silk rose petals and tulle for the dress portion, simply hot gluing them in place. A bit of glitter, paper flowers and a heart embellishment and voila! you've got a sweet little something. 

If you need some guidance to create this piece, I have a video walkthrough HERE, but rest assured it's easy as can be.

Here are all the bits you'll need:

Dressform Hang Up
Wings Assortment
Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25
Victorian Corners 2

acrylic paint

paper flowers

silk flower petals

tulle

glitter

glue

Pretty Pink Christmas Things

A few years ago I would have laughed if you told me I'd be all about pink Christmas. This year I'm all about the pink Christmas.

I've used two paper collections: Pink Christmas 12x12 Paper Pad and Christmas Vintage 12x12 Paper Pad for the following projects and I'm loving the way they work together.

Add some faux snow and a Gold Dresden Christmas Tree swoon!

There was a quite a bit of fussy cutting involved in these projects, but the results are terribly sweet. Just look at this Peaked Roof Matchbox...

...and those little birds and inside. 

What a lovely holiday treat for someone nice.

It's totally worth mentioning that the Pink Christmas 12x12 Paper Pad has a super cute tag, envelope, ephemera elements that come together really, really swiftly. 

I did some gold embossing around the edge of the vintage Santa image and it looks so authentically old timey. And while old envelopes probably would have been plain white, the envelope element is the perfect compliment. Swoon!

The final two pieces (yes there's more!) are more of a kitchy rather than antique vintage. Still totally cute though.

Here I've used Jingle 6x6 Paper Pad and Tree Ornament Matchboxes. I'm thinking that i might pop these on top of presents instead of a standard bow. Afterall, what could be nicer than a gift topped with another wee surprise?!

I usually start Christmas crafting in September so this is a very late start for me, but I gotta admit, I'm really enjoying it this year. It's far less work and much more pleasure this time around. I hope you're enjoying holiday creating too.

NOW, if you want to make your own slew of pretty pink Christmas things, here's the supply list:

Tree Ornament Matchbox
1 Inch Clear Acrylic Snowflake Mix
Jingle 6x6 Paper Pad
Mini Candy Canes
2x3 Chunky Matchbox
1 Inch Clear Acrylic Snowflake Mix
Pink Christmas 12x12 Paper Pad
Gold Dresden Christmas Tree
Peaked Roof Matchbox
Santa Sleigh Silver Charm Set
Christmas Vintage 12x12 Paper Pad

And everything all in one place

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 Charms, Wide 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.

Patina Brass Narrow Feather Charms
Wide Feather Charm - Patina Brass
42mm Bronze Key Charm
14mm Round Glass Cabochons
14mm brass bezel

Earring posts
Jump Rings

Perpetual Happiness Calendar

Sometimes, I need a reminder to breathe more than I need to recall that it's Sunday the 29th of October.

So I've taken the Gypsy Soul Perpetual Calendar Bracket Style and turned it into a Perpetual Happiness Calendar.

Instead of days and dates, I've replaced them with reminders to kick ass, to sparkle, and included images of some of my favourite things like Christmas robins, Van Gogh and pretty ladies in pink.

Both sides of the cards are decorated to give lots of variation. When the mood strikes, I'll select new cards, reminders to inhale/exhale, to think nice thoughts and encouragement to keep at it!

I've added gold and pink dresden trims and colourful fun bits of sparkle.

With little angel feet to hold up my happiness.

If you really do need to remember what day it is, laser cuts of the months, days and numbers come with the Perpetual Calendar Bracket Style

Or you can set them aside and decorate the inserts with your own joyful reminders.

I've created a short video with tips on putting together this piece. You can skedaddle over HERE to see it. 

The list of requirements!

Perpetual Calendar Bracket Style

Scrapbook paper
Dresden Trims
Cherub Metal Box Feet Set
Oak leaf charms
Gem/Jewel bits and bobs
Washi tape
Stickers
Glitter
Glue

Haunted House Shadow Box

 A little haunted house shadow box today, for alphastamps.com

Inside a collection of spooky ooky bits

I've kept the little spaces pretty simple and haven't cluttered them up too much since they'll be covered by the house exterior most of the time.

The papers I used for the background are the Tim Holtz 8x8 Kraft Paper Stash. I like them a whole bunch! The simple black and orange patterns are nice and functional and easy to coordinate.

If you know me at all, you know I'm a bit lazy when it comes to hinges. I've opted to not have hinges in this piece at all and simply use a length of ribbon that is tied around the back and hold the front of the front facade in place.

Mine is filled with just a mish-mash of halloween images, but it would be a load of fun to create a themed house. A vampire abode. A monster mansion. Or maybe even include pics of your own family members in their Halloween regalia.

Want to make your own haunted shadow box? Here's the goodies I used for this piece:

Mini Haunted House Kit
Small Haunted House Add-On Kit 

Red Brick Wall Scrapbook Paper Small Haunted House Window TrimsSmall Haunted House Shadowbox  Halloween Labels Collage Sheet Tim Holtz 8x8 Kraft Paper Stash - HalloweenLittle Darlings Collage Sheet

Baroque Dresden Borders - Black 

Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Black 

Assorted tiny bottles
Corked Domes 
Acrylic Black Standing Cat Cut-Out 

Brass Setting

Cameos
Plastic bats, and spiders

Ribbon

Acrylic Paint

Starry Tags with Tutorial for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

This month for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts I've used their 3 tag set to create something starry and dreamy.

With some layers of paint, chipboard stars and glitter those kraft coloured tags are transformed.

They are the perfect backdrop for the sentiments and vintage images found on THIS Stars and Dreamers Collage Sheet (which is totally free to download because I love you.)

If you need a little guidance putting these beauties together, I've put together a video tutorial for you.

I do use a fair few layers of colour... but I honestly think that multiple washes add a depth of colour and visual interest that is incomparable to a slap of thick paint.

But hey! if a thick coat of acrylic is your thing... go for it! Art and craft is all about YOU, the maker. I wholeheartedly encourage you to do what works for you.

Here are all the bits I used to create these starry sparkly tags:

Stars and Dreamers *FREE* Collage Sheet

Gypsy Soul Tags

Keys Engraved
Printers Ornament Corners
Swirl Medallion Small

Deco Stars

Acrylic Paint (also used 

Glue
Glitter

Metal Ring
Ribbon/Fibers

The Collector's Room Box

This month's theme at AlphaStamps.com is "Collector's Room". The kit features a chipboard window to create a little scene within... but I've gone rouge err... rogue and created a collector's room with the new
Small Frame Shadowbox.

I wanted to create a space filled with bits that might have been collected on adventures, an assortment of oddities. A sort of kooky gentleman's library, or study.

Every gentleman's library needs books. These shelves are filled with them! Well... not really... they're simply facades cut from the Window Card Cabinets Collage Sheet.

Another 'must have' in a real gentleman's study is a stag head and the Mini Deer Head Trophy is perfect!

There are A LOT of amazing little oddities in my collectors room. All of the products used are listed below but some of my very favouites that deserve and extra shout out: Miniature Flying Bats, Pewter Candlesticks, Ceramic Gargoyle Bead and perhaps my favourite little bauble of all the wee Ceramic Red Devil Bead.

This wee American Crow ain't so bad either!

Here's the full list of supplies if you want to create your own collectors room, or if you just see something you might fancy.

Small Frame Shadowbox
Kitchen Wall Shelf Unit - Chipboard
Amber Resin Potions Bottle
Set of Metal Ginger Jars
Set of 4 Metal Apothecary Jars
Mini Black Resin Sitting Cat
Miniature Flying Bats
Pewter Candlesticks
Mini Metal Shadowbox
Mini Deer Head Trophy
American Crow
10mm Clear Glass Marbles**
Small Ceramic Skull Bead
Ceramic Gargoyle Bead
Ceramic Red Devil Bead.
Clear Stemware - Set of 6
Bronze Binoculars Charm*
Antique Bronze Bird Skull Pendant*
Miniature Red Wine Bottle
12 Tiny Glass Bottles
Even Tinier Bottles*
Tiny Round Bottles*
Window Card Cabinets Collage Sheet
Antique Leather Book Spines Collage Sheet
Architextures 8x8 Paper Pad
Vintage Toys Collage Sheet
Mini Old Windows & Doors Collage Sheet