A Venetian Theatre

Yesterday it was an imaginary trip to France, today it's Italy and the water ways of Venice.

 

My dear husband is Italian (in case the last name didn't tip you off), his family from a town near Venice. While I know full well that every modern convenience is available to the Venetian people, I prefer to think of it as a place stuck in time. If I ever get a chance to visit, my delusional mind will fully expect costumed figures with hats, capes and masks darting through dark alleys, leaping onto gondolas, then nipping into secret eateries for fancy nibbles and plenty of drink!

Perhaps it's best I made myself a little slice of magical Venice to dream upon, using Alpha Stamps  June Paper Theatre Kit and few extra bits and bobs.

Just look at that gold dresden! If I was a wealthy woman I would spend all of my pennies on fancy dresden and candy.

 

Want to create your own slice of Venice? Here's the supply list:

June Paper Theatre Kit
Ships and Waves Backdrops Collage Sheet 
Pierrette Collage Sheet 
The Canals Collage Sheet 
Gold Fleur de Lys Dresden Borders
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Turquoise
Star Mix Cut-Outs
Small Wooden Finials

A little French something or other

I created this little wheeled shadowbox for Alpha Stamps with their Springtime in Paris Kit. It's packed with snippets of lace, fussy cut blooms and butterflies.

I've never been to Paris. I'm not entirely certain how well I would do in that tourist mecca. Perhaps I'd be better off roaming the less traveled roads.

If I ever DO make it to France I pinky swear that I will I will turn into a crafty Pepe le Pew and say "Oh la la!" and "Sacrebleu!" at every opportunity (in full realization no one actually says those things).

But, if I happened to run into the very handsome Frenchman Jean Reno on my French adventure, I would (mostly) be on my very best behaviour and wink and say, "Où sont les toilettes?" because I really don't know how to speak French at all but am fully capable of embarrassing myself even with a limited vocabulary. :P

Supplies:
All Alpha Stamps supplies used in this project found HERE
Small Paper Theatre Boxes
Small Masonite Wheel Set
Springtime in Paris Kit
Fern Garland
Mini Red Pip Berry Garland
Pink Rose Garland*
Mixed Size Butterflies Dresden Scraps
Buttons 

Me, me, me and some whacky tags too!

The introductions continue on the Graphic 45 blog and today it's little ole' me!

Some of my very favourite pieces are featured over there, as well as this new project:

I admit this is project is a little bit whacky… but it’s whacky in a good way (like a kooky auntie). It’s cheerful and fun and although it’s been raining for 2 days, this project made my grey afternoon a little brighter. ATC’s are one of my favourite types of project. They are fast, fun, and a great way to use snippets, tiny bits and scraps. I’ve used the Artist Trading Tags-Ivory as my base and went nuts on my Graphic 45 stash using snips from Place in Time, Secret Garden, A Ladies' Diary, and Botanical Tea. It’s ok to mix and match! Go ahead… give it a try :)

Supply list:

Artist Trading Tags-Ivory
Place in Time > foundation paper
Secret Garden > May Flowers, Posy Patch
A Ladies' Diary > Garden Stroll, Lasting Impression, La Gazette
Botanical Tea > Botanical Tea, Flora, Fauna, Spring Duet, Herbal Infusion, Sweet Chamomile
Various fibers, yarns and ribbons
White Foam Stamen
White Pearl StamenPetaloo Flowers and Trims
Be sure to continue to check out the blog as Graphic 45 introduces then entire (and utterly fab!) 2014 design team.

To soothe a broken heart

Last week Rik Mayall passed away.

I loved Rik Mayall. He made me laugh... a lot... even when life wasn't very funny.

If you aren't familiar with his work look him up and check out his stuff. It's funny, silly, surreal, nonsensical, over the top...

The news of Rik's passing has hit me particularly hard. Really hard. Tears hard. I rarely cry over death, not even of those I know in real life. I'm saddened, sure. Melancholy, yep. But tears are a rarity. Over a celebrity? Never! For some reason this death, HIS death, feels like an immense loss. A real loss that leaves a hollow spot in my heart where he should be comfortably situated forever and ever. Perhaps it's because the world is a little less silly. I really don't know why I've been so affected, but I'm heartbroken knowing he's no longer here.

A long while ago I made a doll that was going to be a wrestler but wasn't really working out. Then he was going to be a swashbuckler, but that didn't happen. Instead he's been sitting in my studio for two years, staring at me, waiting. After Rik's passing I knew what he was. He was Flashheart.

So I've spent the past couple of day dressing this fellow in all of his finery to soothe my broken heart and to have something to cuddle with when I watch Young Ones, Bottom or Blackadder. I'm hoping he'll whisper naughty, silly things that will make me feel just a little bit better.

"Cancel the state funeral, tell the king to stop blubbing, Flash is not dead! I simply ran out of juice! And before five hundred girls all go 'oh, what's the point in living any more?' I'm talking about petrol! Woof!"

RIP Rik.

Fathers Day Layout for Petaloo

Psst! Be sure to go over to the Petaloo blog for your chance to win a fab prize pack and take a gander at the other goodies during the blog hop with Quick Quotes!

On to my handsome fellas.

These are my two boys...my "cute as a button" son and my hubby.

The sentiment on that Calypso Chipboard Die Cut is a very accurate motto for our family. "Be silly. Be honest. Be kind." As long as those rules are strictly adhered to, I will pretend that the winks and smiles work.

I'm really happy with this 8" layout using Calypso papers, and Petaloo's Textured Ivory Elements. It's vibrant and full of fun and a bit rough around the edges... just like us :) And it's not too feminine to send to the Sr. troublemaker (Grampa, aka Nono) for Father's Day.

Petaloo's Textured Ivory Elements Calypso Papers
Calypso Chipboard Die CutCalypso Die Cut Stickers
Buttons
Jute twine

Tea and coffee

This year's fairy tour kick off/studio open house will be held on July 5th, 2014 here at Pixie Hill. Guests will be invited to snoop the grounds, peek at some of my arty farty things and maybe even play a game of croquet. Later in the afternoon tea will be served.

Once again fairy letters will be available for pickup at the little mail box on the old maple tree. Fairy mail is free when you visit Pixie Hill (with advance notice) but I am kindly requesting a $5 donation for any mail picked up at this event. All money collected for fairy postage on this date will go to our favourite 10 year old to help by needed diabetes equipment.

For more information and other events I'll be taking part in, please visit THIS PAGE.

And lastly, a miracle this morning.. my floor got washed.

I also left my coffee mug on the other side of the room, across a vast expanse of dripping wet floor.

And such has been the start of my week. Fingers crossed that things start to look up for all of us and no more coffee gets taken hostage.

Owl Post

I think this just might be the greatest 5 minute craft in the history of the world.

I saw this plastic owl at the $store today and immediately knew what to do.

A very quick coat of white paint (and some brown for the base), a printout of the iconic Harry Potter letter and voila! My very own mail owl in about 5 minutes. I know he's not EXACTLY like Hedwig but for $2 and 5 minutes I think he's practically perfect.