Summer Beachy Bunting

You know those people who complain about the cold in winter and long for hot summery days? I'm not one of them. I'll take the cold over this hot humid sticky mess any day of the week. To make matters worse my husband likes to wait until we are all in absolute drippy misery before turning the a/c on. Last night I said I would no longer be cooking until the heat wave broke... the air went on soon after.

 
As much as I dislike the heat, there are some very nice things about summer. Bright and breezy days, sitting by the pool, trips to the beach, camping under the stars and firefly shows... they are all rather splendid.

I created this summery beach bunting for Alpha Stamps. It reminds me of the sweet and cheery things that I do like about summer. and looks pretty darned cute hanging on my mantle ;)

Here's a better look at each of the pieces...

Alpha Stamps is currently offering a Heat Wave Beach Sale and a giveaway too boot so hop over and try your luck. AND while you are there look at those little treasure chests! I'm just a little jealous I didn't get one in my design team package :)

Stay cool! 

Graphic 45 Altered Birdsong Tags for Manly Men

Again with the masked bandits? Yep. But hear me out on this one...

I created this altered art tag for my husband as a card alternative. He’s not really a ‘card’ person (many men aren't) but he just might keep this hanging around. 

As an added bonus the back has a pocket filled with treats just for him: homemade pie of his choice, total control over the television remote for the day, some art from the kiddo, and maybe I’ll sneak a gift certificate in there too.

And because I know you have a manly man of your own who might not appreciate those pretty cards you make, here's a step-by-step to knock his too 'cool-for-school' socks off...

ALTERED TAG SUPPLY LIST

Graphic 45 Papers:

Bird Song Jasmine Dream
Bird Song Bird Song

Bird Song Tranquility
Bird Song Chipboard Die-cuts 1

Graphic 45 Staples:
Large Tag AlbumOrnate Metal Label Holder

Stamped Metal Brads

Stamped Metal Tags

Ornate Metal Key

Other:

May Arts Ribbon

Jute Twine

Glitter

Gold Dresden Trim
Scortape
Rubber cement

White Glue

E6000 adhesive

Tacky Glue

And because I love you... Download the COLLAGE SHEET

Here we go...

Using a tag from the Graphic 45 Staples Large Tag album as a template I cut out two paper tags from complimentary papers Bird Song Jasmine Dream and Bird Song Bird Song. From the paper which will embellish the back of the tag, I removed 2.5” from the bottom.

I used rubber cement to adhere the papers to the tag. To use rubber cement apply a thin coat to both sides, align and press.

On the back of the tag, avoid applying rubber cement to the lower 2.5”

 When both the back and front of the tag have been covered I sand all of the edges to ensure there is a smooth, clean edge.

Next I darken and grunge the edges using thin layers of acrylic paint. I use multiple layers and apply this to both sides of the tag until the desired effect is achieved.

Now I apply some white school glue and brush it to an even layer. 

I sparingly sprinkle some fine glitter powder which coordinates with the background paper. Wipe any glue or excess glitter from the metal ring and set the tag aside to dry.

While the tag is drying I cut out the vintage gentleman, his mask, and a crown shape. I darken all of the cut edges using an old stamp pad. Download the COLLAGE SHEET HERE.

I assemble them, using Scortape to adhere the ribbon. (Scortape is AWESOME for applying ribbon - highly recommend).

I gather all of the materials needed to create the top name-plate on the tag including an Ornate Metal Label Holder and Stamped Metal Brads

I edge the cut title with a stamp pad, remove the brad heads from their backings and bond them to the label holder using E6000 adhesive. The pieces look like this when assembled.

When the tag is dry, I score a line 2.25” from the bottom and apply score tape to the side edges. This will be folded and form the back pocket for the tag.

I adhere the vintage gentleman to the front of the tag and ink the edges once more.
 

Final embellishments are added to the back of the tag. Here I’ve layered a tag from the Bird Song Chipboard Die-cuts 1, a metal tag and an ornate key, adding metal brad heads to finish off the back of the piece.

The label plate is applied to the front of the piece and a coordinating May Arts Ribbon added.

 Finally, fill the pocket with tags from Bird Song Tranquility

 And that's it! Easy peasy, super cool, and extra manly. If you make your own I'd love to see it. Shoot me a photo of your own manly Graphic 45 tag. Happy messy making!

P.S. You can also view this tute on the Graphic 45 blog along with sneak peeks of their newest line, Typography.

 

Staycation Adventure Book

Like a many families we live on a budget and our piggy bank doesn't contain enough pennies for a fancy vacation. While we would love to visit faraway places, we simply cannot afford it. Now, I may not be able to take my kiddo to Cuba or Disneyland, but I can make sure he has a fabulous summer staycation at home.

And so I created this adventure book especially for my kid using Graphic 45 staples and papers. It contains all sorts of things to do, challenges and activities to be accomplished over the summer holiday. There's approximately one tag for each week of summer vacation.

I used a Graphic 45 Regular Tag Album and embellished using a number of Graphic 45 paper collections. The visual goal was to create something vibrant and fun, to toss fuddy duddy design rules out the window and just play with the papers. Since the Graphic 45 papers lend themselves so well to mixing and matching, it all comes together nicely.

What activities are in the book?   

• trip to grandpa’s farm (done!)
• plan a pool party (this weeks tag, party day is tomorrow!)
• scavenger hunt
• a night at the drive-in
• photography challenge (a list of things to take photos of)
• sushi and kung-fu movie night
• prepare and enjoy a picnic
• write a secret coded message (with cypher wheel and blank postcard)
• a checklist of activities for July including camping on the lawn and making a mud pit
• treetop treking adventure with dad  .....and my personal favourite
• treasure map to find a tin of buried coins!

Here's a better look at a few of the tags...

 

 

Most of the pages have a tag or pocket that can be used for keepsakes of the 'mini-adventures' when completed. The tickets, photographs, notes and drawings he collects will be a reminder of the great summer we spent at home... and hopefully serve as a reminder that you don't need a lot of money to create great memories, just a little bit of imagination :)

Want to make your own? Here's the complete list of materials used in this project:

Graphic 45 paper:
French Country 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad
French Country Tags & Pockets
French Country Grandeur
French Country Provance 
French Country Bon Appetit 
French Country Chipboard 2 
French Country Promenade 

Secret Garden Pretty Primrose 

Place in Time January Cut-ApartsPlace in Time Chipboard 2 
Place in Time Stickers AlphabetPlace in Time Stickers 
Place in Time July Cut-Aparts 

Bird Song - Enlightenment 
Bird Song Chipboard Die-cuts 1 
Bird Song Stickers

Graphic 45 Staples: 
Regular Tag Album
Stamped Metal Brads 
Ornate Metal Key Holes 
Ornate Metal Keys

Other:
May Arts Ribbon and Twine
Bond Paper
Hand Charm
Tiny Compass
Resin pointing finger

Small metal fork
Metal brad

Bird Books & Giveaway

I've been doing an awful lot of making for other people lately. Don't get me wrong... it's an honour, and I am thrilled to bits, to be on such grand design teams. I just haven't had much time to make stuff for the sake of making it, to really squeeze those creative juices.

To remedy this I've been working feverishly on a set of altered bird books. There are 5 books in all. The covers are fabric and the measure somewhere around 4.5" x 5ish".

Three of the journals are for sale in my etsy shop HERE. One will be abandoned in the woods for a stranger to discover. The last one I'm giving away!

If you'd like to win one of these birdy journals there's three ways you can toss your name into the mix...

1. ON THE BLOG: Leave a comment on this post and be sure you can be contacted if you win
2. ON FACEBOOK: Comment and share the contest post on the facebook page
3. TWITTER: Tweet something nice @pixiehillstudio #BirdBookPlease

Please enter only once per site.

A winner will be randomly selected from all entries on Friday July 12th. International entries welcome. I will ship world wide but only using the most economical shipping option. Warning: that might mean a very long wait if the winner lives across the sea. Note: The journal sent may vary from the one pictured.

Good luck and much love
xoxo

A day of discoveries

It's been an eventful day at Pixie Hill.

First, new toadstools are popping up everywhere. I think the faeries must like their homes this year, otherwise these would not be sprouting right next door.

Then there is this unusual fellow who has sprouted at the spiral. Strange toadstool indeed!

I noticed a great deal of fussing by some tiny little sparrows near the big pine on our front lawn. It didn't take long to see what the commotion was about...

This grumpy little fellow had fallen from his nest. I left him be and went to read up on what to do about fallen birds. Since there was no way to return the wee fellow to the nest, I decided to take a bit of advice and create a little nest near the original one and hope the mamma and papa would take care of the wee thing. Well I popped that little bird into the nest I hobbled and he popped right back out again! He's a feisty little thing and his ma and pa are close by so I suppose all I can do is hope that nature can be kind.

 

Nature isn't always kind. Mr. Pixie found this in the pool this morning. Isn't it beautiful? It makes me sad that it's not fluttering around, but it's a wonder to hold in your hand. We were certain that it was dead but after a few hours we noticed tiny movements here and there. I'm sure the beautiful creature will not live, but those little movements of resilience are miraculous.

And finally (although the day is not yet over so may not truly be 'finally') I almost mowed this over with the lawn tractor today.

What a strange and marvelous day.