Fairy Christmas Card Advent Calendar

Ok, I've let Halloween pass and now it's full steam ahead with the Christmas posts. I have a few projects coming up that I KNOW you're going to want to try so I'm posting nice and early to give you plenty of crafting time. Today, a totally freaking adorable advent calendar alternative.

Imagine waking up each day to find a card from the fairies helping you count down to Christmas! I've put together a Fairy Card Advent Calendar, a 2 page download that includes 25 miniature cards with vintage holiday imagery, numbered postage stamps and three envelope templates to fit the various sized cards.

Now, when I showed this project to my kiddo he said "Yeah, but what about the treat?" The wheels in my mind starting turning and I thought of all the little things that would fit in those envelopes... letters, notes, coins, buttons, glitter, jokes, stickers, charms... then the light bulb above my head lit up. 

Every few days a charm could be included in the tiny card and your little pixie could make their own Christmas charm bracelet! The sets I've used here are the Santa Sleigh Silver Charm Set and the Silver Snowflake Charm Set from Alpha Stamps.

Cute as buttons and sugar free! Although if you do like the sweet stuff you could always give a lolly or chocolate kiss.

Don't do the advent calendar thing? No worries! You could always make these up and pass them out to the people in your life who need a little extra fairy magic around the holidays.

Now, as for decorating the outside of those envelopes, here's what I suggest:

1. Using the templates from the Fairy Cards Advent Calendar, trace the envelope shapes onto a piece of regular white paper.

2. Cut the shapes.

3. Fold the two short sides, then fold the bottom (the one with the flat edge) and glue into place. Be careful not to glue the envelope shut!

4. Sprinkle both sides with a bit of tea or coffee. I prefer tea as it doesn't leave a lingering scent. Allow to dry. NOTE: You can age your paper before creating the envelopes, but I found that doing it in this order results in a flatter, smoother finished piece. See wrinkles above.

5. Add little postage stamps and 'cancel' them using a rubber stamps. Any patterned stamp will do. Place a scrap bit of paper beneath so as not to ink your work surface.

6. Address the envelopes, personalizing them for the recipient.

7. Add the wee cards and any tiny surprises you'd like to include.

Lastly, and this is kind of important, these can NOT go through the regular postal system. Their size requires that they be handled only by Royal Faerie Post. If you want to send them to someone far away, I suggest mailing them within a larger card with a note of explanation.

Supply round up:

Fairy Card Advent Calendar

scissors
glue
tea/coffee for staining*
rubber stamps*
ink pad*
*optional

Do-dads for the charm bracelet:

Chain, clasp and jump rings / or pre-made bracelet
Santa Sleigh Silver Charm Set
Silver Snowflake Charm Set

You can get a printed version of the Fairy Card Advent Calendar and Charms HERE at AlphaStamps

Blog Hop with Gina's Designs and Creative Paperclay

I am really excited about this Blog Hop/Link Party. I'm a HUGE fan of Creative Paperclay, and I love Gina's to bits, so I'm chuffed to share an opportunity for you to win products from both of these amazing companies. Here's the rundown from the hosts...

The Creative Paperclay Design Team

has teamed up with Gina's Designs Lasercuts Design Team

for a Halloween Theme Blog hop

We are excited to show off our Halloween projects

and even more excited about the fact YOU can win a prize

Prize Package Includes

1 pound package of Paperclay

1 sample package of Sandits

and

$25 shopping spree to Gina's DesignsLasercuts

How to enter - each of these will get you one entry

1) Enjoy the hop

2) Stop by each blog on the hop and leave a comment

3) Pin each project on your Pinterest site

4) Share this post on your Facebook page

5) Like Creative Paperclay Facebook page

6) Like Gina Designs Facebook Page

Here is the List of BLOGS:

An InLinkz Link-up

And now on to my Gina's/Paperclay mashup project...

I've taken a Coffin Box from Gina's and embellished it with paper from Tim Holtz Wallflower 12x12 Paper Stash. I've also added flowers from Petaloo and a bit of dried moss. Finally I've added some Feathery Flourishes which have been painted black and have just a bit of glitter added.

I painted the interior black and covered it in fine blue glitter. A bit of moss at the base provides a lawn for my Paperclay toadstools and a Tombstone Stand Up. For the text on the tombstone I've simply used a rubberstamp of script writing. You'll also notice some creepy trees in there. I've used one Chipboard Tree from Gina's and chopped it in half for this little scene.

The sentiment on the underside of the coffin lid "It was midnight and the moon shine through the attic window" is from an old vintage children's book. The filagree bits that frame the words were made by pressing Paperclay into this Silicone Mold. Wiping excess paint off of the Paperclay while it is still wet give a great distressed look.

And finally that little moony face. I sculpted him using a Creative Paperclay product called Delight. It is extremely soft, sort of like working with marshmallows, and even more lightweight than the original Paperclay.

Want to make your own version? Here's a list of the materials I used:

Coffin Box
Feathery Flourishes
Tombstone Stand Up
Chipboard Tree
Creative Paperclay®
Paperclay Delight
Wallflower 12x12 Paper Stash
Silicone Mold
Petaloo flowers
Moss
Glitter

Old Timey Tuesday

Old grungy pictures from my personal collection for use in your art and craft projects.

You may NOT sell, give or distribute the images, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group.

Violators will be turned into toads... I mean it... It won't be pretty.

Tiny Flower Tute and Alpha Stamps news

Alpha Stamps is carrying a product called "Flower Soft" which is available in different colours (cross my fingers more will be listed shortly). I was asked to do a tutorial for creating the flowers with this fluffy stuff and I feel sort of guilty about it because it is INCREDIBLY easy to use.

Gather some florist wire and a pour out a small pile of Flower Soft. A little goes a looonng way.

Side note: Whenever I use little wired flowers, I trim them and am left with a short length of wire. These trimmings are perfect for creating these flowers because you really only need 1.5" or so of wire. So save those scraps!

Put a healthy glob of glue on the end of the wire. My glue of choice is Aleene's Tacky Glue because it is super thick and usually stays where it's told.

 

Roll the gluey end of the wire in the product.

Set aside and allow to dry. That's it! You'll have sweet little floral stems ready for microgardening or bunch them together to make the wee-est bouquets. Just look at those tiny flowers in that sweet wee vase from this Miniature Vase Set (I'm holding the smallest one below).

Aaannnnd, for my bit of Alpha Stamps news: they'll now be selling my Corner Box and Frame Front Box. I'm really excited about this because Canadian shipping prices are outrageous (*shakes fist at Canada Post*) so you actually save a few pennies.

For a refresher...

Here's the Wandry Room which is made from the Corner Box. (+additional supplies)

This Wortcunner's Shed was made from the Frame Front Box. (+additional supplies.)

Finally, you'll also be able to purchase my Miniature Fairy Godmother Magazines Collage Sheet and Miniature Tooth Fairy Letter Collage Sheet from Alpha Stamps also.

That's it for today, but be sure to come back for another visit because I've got loads of good stuff coming up over the next couple of weeks. Smooches lovelies!

Little Flower Cart with Petaloo and Authentique

I'm so excited to be taking part in Petaloo's blog hop with Authentique. To celebrate both products I've created a little flower cart. (Don't forget to head over to the Petaloo blog for a chance to win some fab prizes.)

I think it's pretty dang cute!

The body of the cart is covered in "Tender" from the Nestled collection. The awning created with "Hearty". I've then added embellishments from 'details' the cardstock sticker sheet from the same collection.

Inside my little cart, all sorts of Petaloo blooms which pair perfectly with Authentiques "Nestled" collection. Just look at how well those Chantilly Mixed Blooms in cream, and Sugared Mini's in mocha coordinate with the colours of the sticker. 

Petaloo:
Chantilly Mixed Blooms in cream
Sugared Mini's in mocha

Authentique:
Nestled: Hearty
Nestled: Tender
Nested: Cardstock Stickers

Other:
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Turquoise
1.5" Straight Wheels
7mm Flower Washers
1/8" doweling

Old Timey Tuesday

Old grungy pictures from my personal collection for use in your art and craft projects.

You may NOT sell, give or distribute the images, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group.

Violators will be turned into toads... I mean it... It won't be pretty.

Breastfeeding & Human Rights: A New Walmart Saga

After posting about my glue gun misadventures yesterday, someone suggested that I go directly to the Walmart Canada facebook page to complain. When I landed on the page I noticed another customer complaint and an astoundingly ignorant reply from Walmart Canada.

So they have new/expectant mom parking spaces but if you want to feed your baby you have to do it in the same place people poop?

Feeling riled, I shared the link on my profile. Shortly after posting a reply from Walmart Canada with an apology (because they wrongly thought the complaint was from myself).

Now here's the thing, in Ontario it is a mom's legal right to breastfeed her baby wherever she feels most comfortable as is clearly stated on the Ontario Human Rights Commission website:

"Women should have the choice to feed their babies in the way they feel is most dignified, comfortable and healthy."

I'm not sure if I'm more disgusted by the fact that women are still being forced to feed their children in the same place people defecate, or that a corporation the size of Walmart is so clueless as to their responsibilities when it comes to Human Rights. This is not up for debate. This is not up to the discretion of a store manager. This is a legal obligation and as pointed out in the Code: "It is unacceptable to choose to remain unaware, ignore or fail to address potential or actual human rights violations, whether or not a complaint is made."

Anywho, feel free to hop over to the Walmart Canada facebook page to let them know your thoughts.