A big fat update post

It's seems an age since I gave a general 'this is what I've been up to' update. If you're interested in what's been going on around here... read on!

I finished my two children's workshops at the local library. Kids are so much fun to watch as they explore and experiment. I felt very special indeed when one of my favourite little crafty kids gifted me two friendship beads. I don't give a hoot that I'm 40, I'm wearing these proudly!

After the great ice storm last winter (and I do mean 'great' as in large, not as in super-duper fun) panic sort of set in. We've had a woodburning stove installed so that we won't freeze to death should the power go out this year. So if you find yourself near by and without juice you can come visit us for heat and mulled wine :)

I've been working my next set of altered Altoid tins. This is the prototype for the exterior. It's Magic Screen from Pee-wee's Playhouse! This set is SLOWWWW going so it may be a while before you see the next update.

This snap is from another 'in progress' project. The inside is almost done but the exterior is being a pain. Sometimes I have to wait for just the thing to come along to finish off a piece... this is one of those times.

Believe it or not I'm actually starting on my Christmas making. It's seems impossible to me but here's photographic evidence of a holiday order in the making.

Finally, this wee silkworm pixie was discovered in the studio and is freshly listed in the etsy shop.

Fussy Cutting Tray with Graphic 45

I can not sit and watch tv without doing something with my hands. I drag my tools and supplies to the couch and inevitably lose them between the cushions and under pillows. Even worse, my fussy cut bits fall into that abyss! So I’ve upcycled an unwanted tray into a fussy cutting buddy. It’s a simple recon, but results in something useful and pretty. Totally optional (but really very handy) is the addition of a scrabble tile holder set off to the side. It’s a simple solution to prevent my tools from rolling around the work surface while avoiding the creation of any additional corners or crevices for little bits to get stuck in. 

I’ve used An Eerie Tale for my recon, but you can easily change up the Graphic 45 collection to suit your tastes. With coordinaing front and backs, picking two papers really gives you four paper options and makes mixing and matching pretty darned easy.

Want to make your own? HERE's a snapguide how-to!
 

Supply List:

An Eerie Tale  > Enchantment
An Eerie Tale  > Grand Illusion
Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Brads
Thrifted tray
Scrabble tile holder (optional)
Black acrylic paint
White tacky glue
Sandpaper
Black inkpad

Ring pillow with Tresors de Luxe

Today I'd like to share a rather small and oh-so-sweet ring pillow I created with a little fabric and lush Tresors de Luxe lace.

It was a simple thing to create. Two squares of fabric, a bit of stuffing and snippets of a variety of lace to embellish. 

I think it's awfully pretty and would make a lovely keepsake for the happily hitched couple.

But don't think for a moment that you need a wedding as an excuse to make something similar. Be inspired and create accent pillows for a shabby chic corner. Add small pocket in place of the ribbon and your tooth fairy would be very happy indeed!

Supplies:
Ivory Lace Trim LA-019
Ivory Lace Trim LA-115
Lace Trim GL-016
White Venice Lace LA-048
Fabric
Stuffing
Ribbon

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