Good Morning: Winter wonderland!

 

There are definitely two types of people in this world. Those who wake up to a fresh blanket of snow and groan and those who see a wonderland. I am the latter of the two.

Winter seems to have arrived in one fell swoop at Pixie Hill. It's absolutely beautiful. Snow is precariously perched on every single branch. Even the birds have some shoveling to do.

My neighbours perfect tree!

Late last night the dog wanted to go out so I did get a little preview of this magic. It struck me, standing there in the dark, being snowed upon while the dog did his business, just how quiet the world was. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I love it snow too. Not only is it bright and beautiful, but it quiets the world. Lovely.

Papery Woodland Centrepiece

I created this papery centerpiece for my friends at Alpha Stamps. It's a great project that requires very little fiddling but is mighty impressive upon a festive table. AND I'm going to show you exactly how to make your own. Here's your material list:

Materials

Oak Leaf Die-Cut Chipboard

Maple Leaf Die-Cut Chipboard

Sheet Moss 

Layer Cake Paper Mache Box Set

Small Ceramic Mushroom Bead

Mushrooms - Red

Natural Raffia

Miniature Pine Cones

Pumpkin Pods 

Embossed Fall Leaves

Red Glittered Holly Berries - Red

Assorted Feathers

Step 1: Cover an upturned Layer Cake Paper Mache Box with some decorative scrapbooking paper. If using the large size box you'll need to use two strips to cover it. Using this vertically striped paper helps to hide the seam! 

Tip: I'm a bit of a stinker when it comes to measuring and trimming. To create perfect edges I cut slightly larger than necessary then gently sand my edges so that they appear to be cut perfectly.


Step 2: Add a strip of coordinating paper or ribbon around your base. I've used Scor-tape to adhere this, easy peasy.

Step 3: Taking several strips of Natural Raffia, wrap that around and tie in place with a nice little bow.

TIP: To keep your bow from slipping a tacky glue dot just behind the knot will keep everything in it's place.

Step 4: Apply a healthy layer of Sheet Moss to the top of the box. I use hot glue to keep it in place. Don't be stingy, and make sure the moss reaches all the way to the edge.

The base is now complete! Woo hoo!

Step 5: Now we're going to paint some Oak and Maple Leaf Die-Cut Chipboard cutouts. These ones are quite thick and sturdy and take layers of paint really well. I've used 3 different shades of green acrylic paint. I dampened the leaves, then sort of mottled the colours together using a rag and my fingers (because I don't mind getting messy). Be certain to apply paint to both sides and don't miss the edges!

Step 6: Once dried, begin layering and fanning the leaves. I've used hot glue to apply them.

 Keep playing and arranging until you end up with a sort of tree shape like this...

Step 7: Dig a small hole in your mossy landscape, fill it with a healthy dose of hot glue and hold your tree in place. It should remain upright when you release. If not, don't panic. Just apply some additional moss around the bottom of the tree with some hot glue and hold in place until dry (this should only take a minute or so).

 

TIP: When placing your tree, keep in mind where your bow is placed. You'll probably want a flat side of the tree to line up with the bow.

Step 8: Working in layers, add your embellishments! I've used all sorts of things such as: Miniature Pine Cones, Pumpkin Pods, Embossed Fall Leaves, and  Red Glittered Holly Berries.

TIP: If your tree is a little wobbly, your embellishments can help to add stability.

TIP #2: You can get rid of all those stringy hot glue bits by blowing a hot hair dryer over them.

And that is it! You're done! Hurrah for you! Well done :)

P.S. After you've enjoyed your fall centerpiece, if you're feeling a little more wintery, transform it into a Christmas tree! Add some glittery snow and and cute little charms and decorations... voila and ho! ho! ho!

xoxo enjoy

Terrifyingly terrible joke card and tag envelope

I made this card and envelope duo when the kidlets were returning to school. Now, some kids love school... mine does not. To brighten his gloomy weekdays I sometimes put a terrible joke in his lunchbox. I’ve always just scribbled something on a post-it note but I decided that this year I might pull up my fancy pants and create a proper means of delivering those bits of hilarity.

  

So I created a sturdy envelope from a Graphic 45 Staples Large Tag Album along with a little card. It might seem a little strange to make a back to school card with the Steampunk Spells collection but what 10 year old boy doesn’t think returning to the desk is dreadful and truly horrific?

Want to create your own? Hop over to today's Graphic 45 blog post for a tutorial!

Here is the full supply list:

Steampunk Spells:

Frightful Folly

Witching Hour

Tick-Tock

Vintage Voyage

Steampunk Spells Alphabet Stickers

Steampunk Spells 6x6 Patterns & Solids

Steampunk Spells Chipboard 2

Graphic 45 Staples: Large Tag Album

May Arts Ribbon

Scor Tape

Button

Sandpaper
Ink pad

Gooood Morning: It's all how you look at it

Sometimes I feel a lot like this raindrop.

Some may see it as representive of 'just hanging on' or something sad like a tear, or dreariness. That's not what I see at all.

I see the whole world reflected in a tiny drop of water. A seemingly impossible riddle solved with a drop.

Sometimes I feel a lot like this raindrop. Like I am one small thing, but inside a whole upside-down world exists.

Check your pants, cause they just got fancy! Your official invite...

I'll be installing this show next Friday (eek!) but the opening reception will be held December 7th, 5 to 7pm. Consider this your official personal invitation.

Please stop by and say 'hello' if you're nearby. If you're worried about your pants not being arty farty or fancy enough, Rebecca's shop is a lot of fun and you won't regret a visit. AND what better way to get some holiday shopping done than with a tipple in hand, sweet music playing and surrounded by fairy magic :)

Hope to see you there!

A big bright moon

This is the second shrine I've been working on for my December show. Like the other one it measures 16" x 28". The base of the piece is actually a drawer from a dresser we found at the side of the road. Another man's treasure as they say...

Originally I had made two moons from clay which I then pit fired but one broke (poo!) and the other was wayyyy too small. So I made this fellow from polymerclay. The houses and toadstools in this piece are fired clay which adds a bit of weight to the thing.

 The glittery stars are suspended by thread

And there is a spindly ladder reaching up to that bright moon. Which may or may not have a faerie thing climbing up it one day :)

P.S. I think it's funny how the angle of the photos totally affects the moons expression! he is rather serene at eye level, practically pleased when viewed from below, and... at exactly the right angle... looks as though he's sucking on a piece of hard candy.

A very big shrine

Two posts in one day? I know. I've lost my marbles.

I wanted to quickly share another new project that I created for that show that you will be entirely fed of hearing about. *See below for details*

So here it is... a GIANT drawer shrine!

The piece measures 16" x 28" which is absolutely monstrous compared to my other work. I think it looks much better in person than in the photos. It looks far better proportioned in real life... you can get sort of submerged in the details.

All of the toadstools and little houses in this piece are the pit fired clay I was experimenting with. There's a lovely little twig ladder and a clothes peg 'tree fort' with tiny books and buttons. The nest you see at the top left is one of many we have found here over the past couple of windy years.

* Want to see this piece in person? "Sugar Plum & Other Faeries" will be running through December at Impresario Artisan Market in Cobourg. You are invited to the very fancy pants opening reception being held on December 7th 5pm - 7pm. Shhh, don't worry, it'll just be pretend fancy, not pretentious fancy.