Magical Masquerade ATC's

This months kit at Alphastamps.com is themed "Beauty and the Beast" but I've run with the Midnight Masquerade papers and made a handful of pretty magical masquerade ATC's instead.



The colours are juicy and gem like and look lush with copper highlights. I applied some thick acrylic medium with the Quatrefoil Texture Sheet and Diamonds Texture Sheet to create some three dimentional texture.

NOTE: If you want to use your texture sheet over and over again, try a couple of coats of marine varnish to protect it and make the card super durable.



This card has adorable Small Mulberry Blossoms and pretty Lavender Purple Gardenias.



Those little Clear Iridescent Star Sequins on all of the cards are really quite nice and rather dreamy. I thought they seemed quite a bit thicker than most sequins I've worked with before.



And how gorgeous are those Gardenias in Mixed Cream Yellow Orange?



I think they turned out quite nicely. All dreamlike and rich.

See a card you like and want to swap? Shoot me a note and we can make a trade!

Want to make your own? Here's a list of all the bit's I used for these ones.

Art Deco Party #2 Collage Sheet
The Secret Collage Sheet
Costumes Collage Sheet
Midnight Masquerade
Gardenias in Mixed Cream Yellow Orange
Small Mulberry Blossoms
Lavender Purple Gardenias
Mini Rose Buds - Turquoise Variegated*
Turquoise Blue Mini Paper Blooms
Small White Mulberry Blossoms*
Clear Iridescent Star Sequin
Quatrefoil Texture Sheet
Diamonds Texture Sheet

Victorian Frame and Easel

I kind of feel like I'm on the verge of a mid-life crisis. I have this strong desire to wear leopard print, snap gum and listen to old time country music about standin' by yer man. 

I'm sort of looking at 'Flo' from Alice as my new life role model. She's a sassy fire cracker who's catch phrase is "Kiss my grits!" I feel like saying that an awful lot lately so I figured I'd make a sign I can just point too when annoyed. 

The 'kissy grits' part is a very quick embroidery I just whipped up on some cotton fabric. I've placed the embroidery in a Victorian Frame and Easel and gussied that sucker up with flowers and paper butterflies. 

I mean, just because I'm annoyed, doesn't mean I don't want things to be pretty!

This would actually be a great sized frame for an ATC, which would sit nicely with a border between the card and the edge of the frame. Or you could just go old school and put a picture in there.

I'm certain you could figure this one out yourself, but just in case, there's a video walkthrough HERE (link shortly.)

And the teeny tiny supply list!

• Victorian Frame and Easel
• Acrylic paint
• White glue if you want a crackle finish
• Faux flowers and leaves
• Paper butterflies
• Hot glue

Sparkly carriages and the dangers of excess

For AlphaStamps this month I've created not one but TWO sparkly Cinderella Coaches.



Because I'm as lazy as one can possibly be... and, let's face it, I have an extreme glitter fetish... my immediate impulse was to bathe these beauties in the sparkly stuff. And because I have low impulse control, that's just what I did.



Now this may seem a bit much (it totally is) but it doesn't actually take THAT much glitter to completely douse something if you prepare. Basically, I paint the object the colour of my glitter (in this case white), then, working in sections, apply a thin layer of glue and cover with glitter. Tap off the excess, collect the extra sparkly stuff, and move on to the next section. Easy peasy!

I LOVE the over the top glimmer of these coaches but the Large Size Cinderella Coach did pose a bit of a safety risk. The glitter I used on that particular one was Twinklets Diamond Dust. It is gorgeous, but made from finely ground glass... so covering the entire piece makes it difficult to handle. All those sharp little glass slivers sticking out all over gave me a few scratches. Crafting is dangerous business!

But look how pretty. Totally worth it.



Those Pale Pink Paper Roses and Bright Pink Paper Roses are so lush and I love the spark of colour they give. Cute as damned buttons!

Speaking of cute, here's the Cinderella Coach - Mini Size gussied with glitter too! I used clear glitter for this coach, and added Tiny Mixed Size Flat-Back Pearls and pieces from the Wide Header with 4 Scrolls Silicone Mold. Those little sparkly dots are just inexpensive self adhesive elements from the $store.

This carriage is topped withe a little metal crown and is carrying a big fat bunch of Bright Pink Paper Roses.

I'm not planning on getting married again, but... how cute would it be to use one of these to present a ring?! *swoon!* Hang on... you don't need to get married to get a ring right? 

Important note: I actually prefer my rings in doughnut form.

Being ultra extra lazy, inside those carriages I've simply tucked in a bit of shimery organza. That's it!

Sometimes the 'lazy' way is a little kooky, a whole lot of glittery, and maybe a little dangerous... but there's nothing saying it's not adorable too.

Want to make your own? Here's the a list of the supplies used:
Flat-Back Gold Star Studs - 12mm*
Twinklets Diamond Dust - 3oz Jar
Tiny Mixed Size Flat-Back Pearls
Wide Header with 4 Scrolls Silicone Mold
Symmetrical Bronze Flourish
Not what I used but... Tiny Antique Silver 3D Crowns*
Bright Pink Paper Roses
Large Size Cinderella Coach
Cinderella Coach - Mini Size
1 Inch Pale Pink Paper Roses*
Mini Rose Buds - Pink Cream Variegated*
Large Bronze Curved Feathery Filigree
Star Fairy Wand Charm - Silver

And HERE is everything in one place.

The Little Death Matchbox Shrine

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

We don't...

Well, not really...

Okay, I confess, last year asked for chocolates and a card. After almost 25 years with the fella with no romantic demands, I don't think it was asking too much.

This year Mr Pixie asked what I wanted for Valentine's. I said "Nothing" but quickly changed my mind and requested a cheesecake and his spot on the couch.

Mr. P has actually been quite woo-ey over the past few months. It's so out of the ordinary that family members have asked if one of us is dying. For the record, we're both fine. *knock on wood*

Speaking of death....

I made this piece specifically to celebrate Valentine's Day. "The Little Death" matchbox shrine is a bit of a cheeky joke with "La petite mort" a metaphor for sexual orgasm.

Despite there being a little skull smack dab in the middle, and it being called 'The Little Death', this isn't about doom and gloom. It's sex, love and romance baby!

Some of those little paper flowers look like chrysanthemums, a symbol of joy and optimism. Maybe they are asters, talisman of love and a symbol of patience.

There's a golden butterfly, the symbol of the soul and positive transformation.

That shiny amber something at the bottom of the shrine? A nod to Freya, the Norse goddess of love, sex, beauty and death. Freya would weep amber tears while waiting for her beloved husband to return to her from his extended journeys.

Ok, maybe there is a tiny bit of death in all of this, but so many symbols associated with love, sex and life also share a connection with death. And why not, that's what we do isn't it? We live, we love, we die... hopefully we do it all well.

If you're interested in seeing "The Little Death" being made, hop over HERE or watch below

And here's a list of the supplies I used to create that wee shrine.

• coloured tissue paper
• Creative Paperclay
• standard match box
• chess rook
• paper (I used a vintage love poem and G45 scrapbook paper)
• charms (metal crown, stamped brass butterfly)
• 2 Symmetrical Flourishes Silicone Mold
• Flower Soft (used for flower centres)
• Narrow Gold Fleur Dresden Borders*
• Tiny Dot Dresden Borders - Gold*

• acrylic paint
• glue

Note: The tool I mention in the video is a ball stylus... not necessary, but a handy thing to have around.

Whether you're celebrating today or not, I'm sending a little love your way.

Happy Valentine's Day, sweetie pies!

I am not a painter

I am not a painter
... but I do it anyway.

Still running with the inspiration of the AGO's Mystical Landscapes exhibit, I've made a handful of little paintings. Canvas' covered with starry nights, strange moons and fluttering birds. All my favourite things mushed up together.

I wish my hands would cooperate with the things that my mind dreams up. I wish my painting was fine and delicate.

I *wish* I was a painter in the same way I wish I was poet, or filmmaker, or writer. In a way, I think I'm still waiting to figure out what I am.

What sort of strange bird am I? Maybe I'm not a bird at all! Maybe I'm a moth or a bat!

One thing is for certain, I am not a painter.

But I do it anyway.

The 'do-ing' is the most important part of all. Do what you love. Enjoy what gives you pleasure and joy and don't allow what you are (or are not) to get in the way.

Being bratty, exceptions, and mossy stumps

I don't do commissions. There are very few exceptions to this rule. Commissions, in general, suck the fun out of making. Maybe it's the pressure to please. Maybe it's my inner brat refusing to enjoy anything that I am forced to do. Like every book I HAD to read in high-school, it doesn't matter how enjoyable it actually is, the 'must' ruins it.

But there are exceptions.

These stumps loitering my mantle, for example. Most will become homes for tiny porcelain fairies made by my friends at fairy.com. 

The remainder will sit in my studio until brillance strikes and I have my way with them!

What sort of mischief or magic do you think could take place inside little mossy stump?

Swapping with a Slytherin

Itty bitty post today. I forgot to show off this bundle of stuff I swapped with a crafty buddy.

A bunch of Harry Potter miniatures including, scrolls, books, frienship pins and bracelet, newpapers and, last by not least, a portrait of Snape. I know... he's rather handsome here. I think I was projecting a little bit.

And what did I get in return? This amazing pin cushion by the super talented audi.ty

Isn't it the coolest?! I just love a good swap.

Hope your week kicks off on just the right note.

xoxo