Botanical Tea Guest Book

It used to be that weddings were ginormous events and huge tomes with pages and pages were necessary for all of the well wishes from wedding guests. Today however weddings are often smaller, more intimate affairs and perhaps a little handmade book would be more fitting. 

My cousin and his beautious bride got hitched in Vegas not long ago and I created this little book made with Graphic 45's Botanitcal Tea and Large Staples Tags to toss into their suitcase and collect congratulations from their guests.

It's a pretty little thing, a handmade something, to remind them of their gorgeous day.

Want to make your own special keepsake book? Here's the supply list:

Large Tag Album-Ivory

Washi Tape
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal KeyBotanical Tea StickersBotanical Tea Alphabet StickersBotanical Tea ChipboardBotanical Tea BannersBotanical Tea Spring Duet
Botanical Tea Fauna

Ribbon

Thread/Yarn
Paper

And here's how to put it all together...

Step One:  Cut several sheets of paper to 3.9” x 8”, the same size as the large tags. You could use regular bond (printer) paper or splurge and use better quality for something a little more special. Use a corner punch to round the edges of your paper so that they align perfectly with the tag edges.

Step Two: On ONE of the large tags, create a score line at 1.2” from the bottom, short edge.

Step Three: Cut four pieces of Graphic 45 paper to cover your tags. (I’ve chosen Spring Duet for the outside covers, and Fauna to line the inside.) At 1 ⅛” from the short bottom edge, cut a 1/4” strip from the papers that will embellish the front and back of the cover tag.

Affix your papers to the tags. Leave the fold line free on the front cover like so:

 

Step Four: Wrap a length of Washi Tape around the front cover where the exposed fold line is located and burnish into place.

Step Five: Puncture small holes in your covers and papers using a small punch, awl or nail. Mine are located .5” from the edge and there are 5 holes evenly spaced apart.

Step Six: Bind all of the pages together using thread, ribbon or yarn. If you look up Japanese Stab Binding, there are many tutorials available demonstrating this very simple binding technique in a variety of patterns.

All of these steps will help your book to lay flat when opened, avoid cracking paper, and provide stability to your fold line.

Step Seven: Now to embellish your cover! I begin with Botanical Tea Stickers...

… add some Botanical Tea Banners ...

… and a fussy cut butterfly.

Step Eight: Finally I add a Botanical Tea Chipboard tag, and Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key with a length of pretty ribbon pulled through the tag grommet holes and finish the whole thing off with the lucky couple’s initials using Botanical Tea Alphabet Stickers.

The Cellar

Did you know that my Mr. is a winemaker? The grape and it's harvest rule our lives during the harvest (which is fast approaching). It was only a matter of time before a wine themed something-or-other was made.

And so I present my latest piece, a little wine cellar.

 

The piece measures approximately 7" x 5.5" x 5.5".

Although it's not as jam-packed as many of my minis, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

My favourite part is of course the little soggy footprints.

Yes, I know that's not how they make big people wine... but perhaps the pixies still do it that way.

This piece is also a little different in that most of the items inside were not made from scratch, but rather altered from purchased items.
 

That's not to say there aren't personal touches. Those tiny bottles, for example, do proudly display labels from Pixie Hill Estates Winery ;)

Because I imagine shipping this would be a nightmare, I'm not sure that it will be listed in the etsy shop. Once everything has had a few moments to settles I'll give it a good wiggle and if nothing wobbles it may become available.

ETA: This item is now listed HERE. There was a small 'hiccup' in the wine tub which I wanted to correct before listing :)

Back to School Organization *With bonus candy!*

Psst... I created this project for Petaloo and their blog hop with Core'dinations. Skip over to their site for a chance to win some truly great products.

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My 11 year old son has been enamoured with all things Mexican for years. He's had a Mexican birthday party, owns a healthy collection of luchador masks, and is a BIG fan of good Mexican cuisine. We even create an alter for Dia de los Muertos after the trick or treating is over.

When the Coredinations cardstock arrived in my design team package, those rich colours reminded me of that culture he loves. I knew they could be easily combined with Petaloo trims and blooms to create a fun back to school something inspired by the colours and imagry of Mexio for my kiddo.

I've taken a small set of plastic drawers and embellished the heck out them with trims, papers and flowers. It IS a bit of a mixed bag of this and that, but it's also something that he'll be thrilled to keep on his desk and use to organize homework supplies.

And to ease stresses of all this back to school business, the bottom drawer has a secret stash of sweets :) This also works well as bribery reward to finish homework.

Supply list:
Petaloo Fancy Trims
Petaloo Festive Trims
Petaloo Embellishment Brads
Darjeeling Daisies Seaside
Darjeeling Mini-Daisies Seaside
Darjeeling Teastained Mini-Mix
Darjeeling Petites
Core'dinations 6x6" Cardstock Darks
Inexpensive plastic drawers
Loteria cards
Sugar skull image from jacobg at vecteezy.com
CANDY!

Halloween Houses

It is only very recently that I have acquired a die/emboss machine. Mr Pixie gave me a Sizzix Big Shot for my birthday. While I am a HUGE fan of doing things the old fashioned way (you definitely DO NOT need fancy equipment for crafting) I do sort of feel like a big kid now that I have one of these cool kid toys.

Some my very first dies? These super cute Movers & Shapers House and Window dies.

 

Here I've used Graphic 45's An Eerie Tale to make a couple of very sweet Halloween houses but I'm looking forward to making loads of papery cottages. This duo will sit on my mantle with faux tea lights flickering inside, but I'm forecasting some gorgeous Christmas houses in my future!

Here's the product list for this sweet duo:
Movers & Shapers House and Window dies
An Eerie Tale 6x6 Solids & Patterns Pad
Copper Zig Zag Dresden Borders
Black Mini Paper Blooms
Mini Red Pip Berry Garland
Tiny Green Leaf Garland
An Eerie Tale Banners
Large Game Spinners
Small Ceramic Horned Owl Bead
Thin Looped Dresden Borders - Black
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Black
Pumpkin Pods
Trinkets & Baubles Adhesive Pearls Cream

Through the woods...

The Halloween fun is starting early at Alpha Stamps. This month's kit theme is "Little Red Riding Hood", a delightfully sinister fairy tale. When I saw these Creepy Chipboard Tree Cut-Outs... I knew just what to make.

I've taken a Graphic 45 8x8 Matchbook Box and used papers from An Eerie Tale to embellish. Inside there's a spooky encounter between Little Red and that Big Bad Wolf using The Wolf At The Door Collage Sheet.

Perhaps my favourite part is the Mini Lantern with Battery Pack which gives the scene a a nice and creepy glow.

I'm also rather smitten with this Lion Head Handle that adorns the top of the box.I think he's a perfect finishing touch.

Want to make your own? Here's an easy peasy link to all the supplies from Alpha Stamps.

Or the items listed separately:

*August 2014 - Little Red Riding Hood Kit
*Little Red Riding Hood Add-On Kit
8x8 Matchbook Box
Creepy Chipboard Tree Cut-Outs 
Mini Lantern with Battery Pack
Sheet Moss
Lion Head Handle
Metal Hands
Ornate Metal Key Holes - Antique Brass
Trinkets & Baubles Adhesive Pearls Cream
Graphic 45: An Eerie Tale, Unsolved Mystery
Graphic 45: An Eerie Tale, Captivating Characters
Graphic 45: An Eerie Tale, You Bewitch Me
Graphic 45: An Eerie Tale Wicked Whimsy


 

Tresors de Luxe Shabby Sachets

These little shabby sachets are super cute and so simple to make. Layers of cheese cloth are sewn into little pouches (use a zig-zag stitch to prevent too much fraying) and embellished with Tresors de Luxe lace, filled with dried petals and lightly scented with essential oil. I've tea stained mine for a vintage feel, but they would be just as pretty left white. 

These ones will be tossed into my linen closet to make everything smell lovely. I think I'll make some more to tuck into presents during the holidays and make my gifts smell nice too.

Supplies
Ivory Venice Lace for Bridal LA-020
Shabby Chic Flower Embellishment
Ivory Venice Embroidered Fabrci Lace Trim LA-079
Ivory Venice Lace LA-081
Cheesecloth (available at the grocery store)
Buttons
Jute twine
Petals for filling
Essential oils for scenting

Mailable Graphic 45 Mother Goose House

Graphic 45 challenged its design team members to create something inspired by a pin on Pinterest. I saw THIS collaspable cardboard house and immediately had the urge to shrink it down :) So I've created my own version from G45's Mother Goose.

I often post things in via snail mail and this seemed like the perfect way to send something nice to my little friends overseas without breaking the bank. 

Everything collapses flat (the house, the characters) and tucks neatly away inside the envelope. Easy peasy! 

I’ve used Mother Goose for my little house, but I am certain that An Eerie Tale would make for a super haunted house!

Psst, I’ve used a folded banner triangle attached to the back of the characters to help them stand.

Supplies

Mother Goose:

A Pocketful of Posies

Spot On

Little Boy Blue

Ring Around the Rosies

Nursery Rhymes

Mother Goose Alphabet Stickers

Mother Goose Stickers

Mother Goose Banners

Mother Goose Tags & Pockets

** UPDATE: For those asking for a tute, I'll try to put something together soon-ish **