Grim Little Boxes

Sometimes, in the middle of the sunshine and the dancing fairies, I feel like making something a bit grim. It's not a bad thing. It's not a sad or angry thing. It's just that once in a while a bit of darkness is a nice contrast to the airy fairy.

At the post-halloween sales last year I picked up some wee wooden boxes and a couple of weeks ago I gussied them up with Graphic45 papers and embellishments from my stash.

This blingy skull with heart shaped eyes and rhinestones has been in my stash for AGES! I plonked it on top of a metal keyhole, added some metal brads and wings.

Available HERE

I think it makes a mighty nice frontispiece!.

And these dudes! I love them, but they too have been sitting, waiting to be used. This seemed like a perfect little project for them.

Available HERE

One more wee grim box, this one with a surprise inside.

A vial of Devil's Shoestring to trip up bad luck and provide protection. 

Break in case of emergency!

Available HERE

Hope you're having summer fun and that you don't need one iota of luck.

(I just looked up what an 'iota' is... it is the ninth letter of the greek alphabet and I'm more confused than before.)

The Fairy Garden

I've been quiet this week, cleaning, clearing and preparing the fairy garden. I didn't have one last year and this year I scaled back. I chose to keep things quiet this year and I'm glad of it. Sure, it means less money... but it's far more charming in a way, the magic is more intimate.

Here are some pics from today's very quiet fairy garden.

This bluejay perched on my sign first thing this morning and screeched to the feathered kingdom that there was free birdseed to be had.

And this fellow didn't care one bit that it is BIRD seed. 

There are berries abound, just ripening.

While gnomes don't have a reputation for being exceptionally bright ~ I think that placing your reading chair directly beside a berry bush for snacking is a brilliant idea.

The fairies from the fallen tree at the bottom of our hill have moved to a young tree close to the house. Hopefully they'll spruce the place up. (You have no idea how much I wish that was a spruce tree so that joke would be wildly punny.)

The foxglove decided to show today!

Some of those clovers have to be lucky!

The fairies dranks an enormous amount of tea today. I would expect nothing else.

A gossamer canopy kindly spun by a spider friend.

Tea and pastries next to the clover.

Just a few members of my gnome army were out playing in the garden today.

Sweet little bucket gardens.

Spirals, spirals everywhere.

Clay pot houses.

I'm sure someone is charging for this space under the deck.

BTW, if you ever need to distinguish between a troll and gnome camp, trolls always display their collection of stolen socks. If you have an abundance of odd socks... you probably have a troll infestation.

Finally, probably my favourite addition to the garden ever...

How much fun is this?!?! I can hardly stand it.

Big fat fairy wishes from this years little fairy garden.

An Incomplete Curiosity Composition Box

Ok, my project for gslcuts.com isn't finished but... But... BUT!!! I have a very good reason.

We've planned a little family getaway to Montreal next month and I've created this in preparation for my memories. I'll keep little mementos from our adventure and tuck them in this box when I return. I'm so excited!

I'll buy postcards. I'll keep tickets and receipts. Bottle caps and coasters will be placed in here too. Maybe a stone or a leaf or... or... or... the possibilities are endless! I'll keep my eyes peeled for a little tacky souvenir and add that to my curiosity box as well.

I've created embellishments for the box with layers from the Steampunk Shape Set and
Stackable Labels Shape Set. I have to toot my own horn and say I'm really digging that top element!

While I usually mix and match collections, I've stuck with Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition from Graphic 45 for this piece. If you like quirky and cool and vintage it'll be right up your ally. If that ain't your cup-o-tea, by all means, make something that suits YOU.

Below is a list of all the bits you'll need and I've got a video walk through for pulling all those bits together. Here's hoping we all make some amazing memories to complete our curiosity composition boxes.

Supply List:
Composition Box - 25
Steampunk Shape Set
Stackable Labels Shape Set

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition
White glue
Ribbon
Acrylic paints (I am in LOVE with Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint Iridescent Copper)
Small brass brads

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust ATC Tags

Asked to create a self portrait project for Graphic45 my mind raced. Should I upcycle some cool old dodad? Make a steampunky something or other?! Create a super cool Sherlocian whatchamacallit with Master Detective?!?! I was a mess of ideas!

I took a deep breath, refocused, and realized the exact right thing to do was play with the fairies.

My #G45selfie includes three things I like best... ATC's, fussy cutting, and fairy folk.

As a friend of the fairies, I'm all sorts of in love with Fairie Dust. It's so cheery and colourful. I've also added butterflies from Olde Curiosity Shoppe to my project, they just seem to go hand in hand.

I love working in ATC size. If I'm feeling stuck, or need to kick my creative mojo in the pants, creating in ATC size is undaunting (is that a word?) It's a non-stressful size, but big enough to be creative.

I also love fussy cutting. I do it while watching tv, collecting those tiny snips as I cut away. My best fussy cutting tips? Use super sharp scissors and cut more than you think you'll ever use.

Toss all those elements together and you've got yourself a cute-as-can-be set of Fairie Dust ATC's. I’ve created a video to show you exactly how I created these cute little tags. (https://youtu.be/uGxSF14HY4o)

So grab some sharp little scissors, some Fairie Dust, and make some magical little tags with me.”

Graphic 45 Supplies:

Graphic 45 - Fairie Dust Collection - 8 x 8 Paper Pad

Graphic 45 Fairie Dust 12x12 Collection Pack

• Moonlit Blooms

• Tiny Toadstools

• Magic Wishes

• Stickers

Graphic 45 - Olde Curiosity Shoppe

• Parlor Wall

• Butterfly Specifics

Graphic 45 - Decades Dye Inkpads

Graphic 45 - Artist Trading Tags-Ivory

Graphic 45 - Staples - Large Tag, ATC Tag and Flower Dies

Other Supplies:

• glue

• ribbon

• foam squares

A Hufflepuff Box

I am a Hufflepuff. For a long while I fought against it, but I have come to embrace my house. What's not to love about loyalty, a dedicated work ethic and strong moral code?!

Now whenever I see yellow I think "HUFFLEPUFF!" and set to celebrating my house with pride.

The yellow window on the Stained Glass Windows Collage Sheet reminded me of something that might be in the Hufflepuff common room so that's where I drew my inspiration.

Inside, a Hufflepuff garden full of yellow Curly Paper Roses. There are  Mini Fern Garland leaves, Tiny Paper Roses and Miniature Creeping Vine Garland too.

But enough showing off! Here's how I made this sweet little Hufflepuff Box.

1. Assemble the inside drawer of the Matchbox for Conservatory Book. Use the arched frame element from the Mini Conservatory Accordion Book as a template and cut the arched shape from the drawer. NOTE: leave a bit of a border when you cut, you will need the edge to glue the frame in place later.

2. Cover the inside and exterior of the box with cobblestone paper from the Wandering Ivy 12" pad

3. Paint the arched elements cut from the Mini Conservatory Accordion Book. Cut the yellow window from the Stained Glass Windows Collage Sheet and glue to the back side of one of the frames.

4. Glue that to the inside of the drawer.

5. Glue the second frame to the exterior.

6. Add Sheet Moss, Curly Paper Roses, Mini Fern Garland and Miniature Creeping Vine Garland to the interior.

7. Cut butterflies from the Wandering Ivy 12" pad and colour with felt tip markers.

8. Download a public domain badger image and add it, along with the prepared butterflies to the interior.

9. Cover outside sleeve of the matchbox with paper from the Wandering Ivy 12" pad. I am NOT gluing the end in place. This piece will wrap around the inside drawer, not slide over it.

10. Cover the exterior.

11. Glue 2 lengths of ribbon to the outside cover and add some pretty buttons.

Add a couple of cute charms and tie closed! Easy as pie.

Are you a Hufflepuff? Or will you make a little something for your Ravenclaw heart? Gryffindor? Or something a little green perhaps?

Whatever your house, have take pride in it and make a little something to celebrate all the goodness it encompasses... yes, even you Slytherin!

Here's the supply list in case you missed anything above:

Matchbox for Conservatory Book
Mini Conservatory Accordion Book
Stained Glass Windows Collage Sheet
1 Inch Curly Paper Roses - Variegated Yellow
Wandering Ivy 12" pad
Pewter Wizard Hat Charm
Star Fairy Wand Charm - Silver
Sheet Moss
Mini Fern Garland
Miniature Creeping Vine Garland
Ribbon
Buttons