My One Little Thing "Stash Bustin'"

This piece has been sitting in my craft room for eons. I see it all the time and keep meaning to gussy it up... but life always gets in the way. So this weeks challenge, to utilize your stash, was a perfect opportunity to finally do something with this hunk-o-wood just for me.

A bit of glitter, some paint and starry tinsel and ta-da....

Cute as buttons!

This weeks lesson? Often, little 'just for fun' projects get pushed out of the way. Every once in a while remember to do one of those 'back burner' projects. Check your stash and do that thing you've been putting off for a year. Those fun frivolous projects are important! They get your hands dirty and you'll feel great about checking something off of your never-ending, ever-growing 'to-do' list.

One Little Thing - Bust Yo' Stash!

This week we're "Stash Busting!"

Your challenge this week is to create something, anything, from your "stash". Go rummaging! Dig deep into your collection of hoarded goods. This is the perfect time to get to work on the little project you've been putting off forever. OR profess your love to your stash of glues and glitters through rhyming verse. Show off your magnificent stash of neatly folded fabrics through photographs! The only rule this week is that you cannot buy anything new. You must create and celebrate what you already have on hand.

You can do it! I know you can :)

**You DON'T have to make something big or elaborate. This challenge is about removing the excuse "I don't have time" and dedicating few minutes to being creative. It's also about giving value to, and recognizing, creativity and inspiration in all it's forms. A poem, photograph, idea list, ATC, doodle, inchie, sketch, card, painting, inspiration board, altered something-or-other... ANYTHING you create from scratch with the theme in mind is a success. **

Star Crossed Lovers

The theme over at Alpha Stamps this month is "Star Crossed Lovers" (which I love!) For my project I began by embellishing a Hinged Wood Chest with Clasp with glitter and stars and adding wheels...

... then I altered a series of cards with the romanitcal lusty theme to fit inside.

The cards themselves are distressed and then have fitting snippets from old books added.

I then added some wax and embedded glitter, stars and small heart shaped beads.

I love the way the wax gives a cloudy, dreamy quality to the pieces.

On these cards I've simply used regular candle wax but it has it's drawbacks... if your flame doesn't burn cleanly you run the risk of lampblack/soot getting into the clean wax.

Plain candle wax is actually quite brittle when dried and will easily crack so care must be take afterwards not to bend the cards. ALSO some candle wax is actually quite greasy (especially true if scented oils have been added).

Using beeswax can help you to avoid these problems. Alpha Stamps offers these beeswax pellets which are much more pliable and resilient and are intended for arty/crafty use.

Want to make your own? Here's what you'll need...
Star Crossed Lovers
Star-Crossed Lovers Add-On Kit
Hinged Wood Chest with Clasp* 

Masonite Circus Flag Cut-Outs*

Tiny Star Sequins 

Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Gold 

Mercury Glass Stickles

Beeswax Pellets

My One Little Thing "Hero"

I had a few ideas for this weeks challenge.

1. There was an idea that I had that used stamps... but I seem to have misplaced my stamp stash (a whole flipping tackle box!) and so that I idea was squashed.

2. Next I thought about doing a piece focusing on the many women that inspire me... but the idea was scattered and not coming together. 

Then I found this picture of Picasso...

... and I knew exactly what had to happen...

P-man standing guard over the Saturday morning coffee and peanut-butter.

I wouldn't exactly call Picasso a hero. He is one of the greatest artists who has ever lived, but he was also a bit of a dick. However, I could not pass up the opportunity to make a pocket sized Pablo in tights.

So what's the lesson this week? It's okay to be silly in your work. Being silly is a valid way to explore a concept/challenge and opens the door to even more ideas. As an added bonus, it can remove fear and gives you freedom over your own work.

P.S. I watched the documentary Blood Brother this week (it's on Netflix). Ahhhmazing! Rocky Braat is a real hero.

Morning Visitors

I've been wondering where my feathered friends have gone. The feeder was hanging half full... yet no visitors for ages. Today I went out to inspect and discovered that all that was left was dried corn which was clogging the holes. I felt badly for not realizing sooner so set out a feast this morning. In no time at all my friends returned.

We're located on a migratory path and see a lot of different birds here. It's lovely to see four or five totally different birds sharing the goods. Sometimes they get a bit bossy and dive bomb one another, but mostly everyone gets along.

Yellow birds in winter are like a wisp of summer.

The bird above is one of my very favourites, a dark-eyed  junco. They prefer scattered seed over the feeder and enjoy the spoils that fall from the feeder.

The sweet girl above is a downy woodpecker. You can tell her apart from the boys because she is missing a patch of red feathers at the back of her head.

Everyone was having a grand time and having their fill until this cheeky thing came bounding along. 

I've been watching a family of squirrels poking in and out of a hole in the tippy top of one of our old black locust trees. Lucky for him they've been entertaining or else I would have shooed him away.

Collecting Nice Things with Graphic 45

I'm sure I've asked this before: Have you ever seen the movie Amelie? 

It’s wonderful, and filled with so many delightful little details. Many of those little details were from a journal that directorJean-Pierre Jeunet, used to keep. A collection of things that made him happy. I’ve wanted my own collection of nice things ever since. And so, my new years resolution is to take special notice of lovely things.

Using an inexpensive coil bound notebook and Graphic 45's Once Upon a Springtime, I’ve created a special place for my collection. It has loads of pockets where bits and pieces can be tucked away… but it’s also practically embellished so that I can toss it in my purse. 

Although I may not have gone over the top with embellishments, I think every snip of Once Upon a Springtime is cute as buttons.

When not making notes it closes up tight and is secured with a length of jute affixed with a brad on the spine. It has quickly become my favourite book to write nice things inside :)

To make your own, I've created a snapguide HERE to help you. Don't let the number of steps put you off, a few of them doubled for clarity sake.

And the supply list...

G45 Once Upon A Springtime Tiny Treasures

G45 Once Upon A Springtime Cut-apart

G45 Once Upon A Springtime Enchanted Forest

G45 Once Upon A Springtime Woodland Fantasy

G45 Once Upon A Springtime Frames

Graphic 45 Stamped Metal Brad

Graphic 45 Ornate Metal Keys

Core'dinations G45 Darks Antique Moss

Blank Journal

Adhesive

A few collages

I've been a total slacker this week. I don't know if it's the weather, or maybe recovery from the holidays, or I'm just burnt out, but I haven't felt like doing much other than veg on the couch and watch foreign horror films.

I dragged my bum up to my crafty cocoon last night and created a few little collages...

First this little girl in the wind. The image of the gal is from The Graphics Fairy, a great resource for free images. That greenish paper in the background has a beautiful iridescent quality... I wish I had bought more of it because I don't think it's available any longer. The little striped bit by her feet is a lovely thin Red & Cream Stripes Paper Tape*

Below is my favourite of the bunch.

I like how serene and surreal it is. I like the colour pallet too, it's like a dream. Warning: I'm about to sound pretenious... I like the spacial quality, the economy of embellishment most of all

And then the moon. Sometimes I sit and chop out words and phrases from discarded books then peice them back together into phrases... sort of like little poems. It's a lovely exercise.