When Things Get Out of Hand or Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Fairy Journals

I made a few of these Fairy Journal books and pencils and quickly snapped this pic while packaging them up. Folks seemed to like it.

Then I thought I'd make a smaller batch.

Sure they're small... but do they still open? Yep!

And then I thought, "Well just how small can I go?" So I went smaller again.

And I kept going!

But do those ones open?

Yep! Even the most itsy bitsy teeny weeny one, which measures just 2mm x 3mm.

I'm going to try to make some pencils for some of the smaller ones before listing them for sale. (The very smallest ones will not be listed.) The "larger" ones are already available in the shop.

AND finally, last year I did a limited number of year one Hogwarts textbooks.  Do you remember them? They were sorta cute :)

The first year texts (the ones pictured above and below) are sold out, but I'm starting work on the year two textbooks this week. (Helloooo, Gilderoy Lockhart) If you'd like to be guaranteed a set, you can preorder them HERE. Otherwise there will be a handful available for purchase, and when they are gone, well... they're gone.

French Country Curio Box for Graphic 45

When I was a child my father would often take me all sorts of museums. Perhaps that’s where my love of old dusty things was sparked. I still love visiting those places, pressing my nose against the glass of artifact filled cabinets. 

I’ve created my own display of neatly presented everyday artifacts, appropriately labeled “Miscellaneous” and embellished with some lovely French Country paper that I’ve been hoarding.

The box itself is an inexpensive shadow box that I've gussied up with Graphic 45 papers.

I’ve kept things simple here and have been reserved in my adornments, which I think compliments the organization of the bits and bobs inside my little curio.

And be sure to stop by the Graphic45 blog to check out all of the inspiration by my design teamies :)


The supply list:

Graphic 45 FRENCH COUNTRY Rendezvous

Graphic 45 FRENCH COUNTRY Montage

Ornate Metal Keys

Ornate Metal Label Holder

Antique Metal Door Pull

Wooden Box

Misc Items for box (clothes pegs, twine, buttons, small scissors….)

One Little Thing - Blue

This week I'd like to challenge you to use the colour blue in your one little thing.

Have fun!

Of Summer & Bees Triptych

It's the first Friday of the month which means it's my turn to share a project and tutorial using some GinasDesigns.net products. Here's what I'm sharing this month...

An altered art homage to the coming days of summer, warmth and honey using Gina's Triptych - Arch Top.

The bottom of this piece is embellished with three Faux Metal Number Plates which are flanked with some copper brads to give them a finished look. 

I've created some honey in the chipboard Honeycomb embellishment I added,  and while there are some chipboard bees included in that set, I couldn't resist using this divinely detailed bee charm to top off the piece.

I've added a few teeny weeny buzzy things too.

And because everything looks better framed I've mounted my triptych in an 11 x 14" shadow box.

I'm not going to lie, this piece took a while to create. The process isn't exactly difficult, it's just time consuming to achieve the right look. I do have a video tutorial of the process but for time sake it's been edited to the bare bones. If I've missed something and you have any questions feel free to ask :)

THE SUPPLY LIST
Triptych - Arch Top

Faux Metal Number Plates

Copper BradsHoneycomb & Bees Medium
Giant Bronze Bee Charm 
Small Bronze Bee Charm 
Slider Beads
Paper Butterflies
Acrylic Paint
Mod Podge
Aleenes Tacky Glue

Vintage images*

*Note: When looking for images for your artwork try using the search term  "vintage public domain portraits". The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs collection is a great resource. Just be sure to double check the Rights And Restrictions before using any images you find.

Sunday Chores and Fairy Gardens

I stayed up wayyyy past my bedtime last night. I totally lost track of time making these toadstools. Cross my heart, I looked at the clock and it said 5am! Oops!

After a nice sleep in, today was spent doing chores (I now have clean dishes but the floors are still a wreck.) and making potted fairy gardens. Yesterday during our gallivanting, I picked up some miniature roses and this pot of clover. How could I resist?! Look at all those four leafed beauties!

Still in my jammas I went wandering on the lawn and harvested some mosses, pinecones and stones.

The results are pretty dang cute. Three little magical gardens have been completed and are ready for the market next Saturday :)

One Little Thing - May Queen

Can you believe it's almost May? In celebration this weeks theme is "May Queen"

"The May Queen or Queen of May is a personification of the May Day holiday, and of Springtime and also Summer."

Use this prompt to create one little thing in celebration of May.

Very Important Altered Awards

I'm not too proud to admit that this year has been a bit difficult for me creatively. I've been creating work. I've even made some things that were quite nifty... but I've kinda felt 'disconnected' with my work.

Anyway, I finally feel as though I'm getting back on track. I've got one or two projects I can't show off just yet, but I also made something just for the hell of it that I think you'll like. Some very important altered awards

Ever since seeing the Tim Holtz trophies shown at CHA I've had it in my head that I wanted to create some altered trophy cups. I found these babies in the party supply section of my local discount shop, four for $1.25! I've simply grunged them up with a bit of acrylic paint.

This piece is available HERE

Each little darling has a sentiment taken from vintage book pages that reflects the gentle nature of these 'awards'. How nice would it be to receive an award for twinkling?

The base of each of the awards is just a simple wooden block that has been gussied up with fabric, ribbon, buttons and burlap. 

This piece is available HERE

Some of my biddies are standing on Petaloo blooms.

This piece is available HERE

Some are atop a little mound of moss.

This piece is available HERE

Most are holding their declarations high, and topped with Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars  

This piece is available HERE

Best of all, when all together they look like they are having quite the party.

The 'Awards' will be listed in my etsy shop over the next few days. I'll update the links as they become available.

Here are some of the supplies I used to create these pieces:

Small plastic trophy cups
Wooden blocks
Misc buttons and vintage embellishments
Moss
Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars
A slew of charms and filigree embellishments from Alpha Stamps
Mini Rose Buds - Ivory* 
Flowers and leaves from Petaloo (especially love the Botanica Blooms!)