A Deconstructed Butterfly Garden

If the past few weeks have taught me anything it's that things don't always go to plan. That sometimes, no matter how hard we battle against them, there are things beyond our control.

Life and death don't care about deadlines. The post office and customs doesn't care about my little packages. There are things beyond my control and sometimes you just need to find an alternate solution rather than fight and struggle.

Sometimes you have to throw your hands in the air and give in! Sometimes that is the right thing to do to preserve your sanity.

These pieces, made with beautiful papers, glorious collage sheets, and super thick chip board bases should have been a hinged bookish boxy thing-a-ma-doodle. But something went sideways and the monkey wrench flew across the room and instead of one piece, I ended up with a several smaller bits.

I'm okay with that. I mean it's not what I set out to do, but honestly, some days I'm grateful for any beauty that comes my way. If things aren't going to plan, and that means a deconstructed butterfly garden... so be it.

Instead of assembling the Wide Letter Box Book as it should be put together, I've used each of the chipboard elements as a base for some pretty collage pieces.

I've embraced the *Butterfly Garden Kit theme, but used the pretty parts as separate elements.

And boy are they pretty! There's a reason I'm growing a butterfly garden this year.

And you know, I'm pleased with my butterfly garden pieces. Together or apart, they are rather pretty.

When you're struggling, I hope you know it's ok to give in a little. Struggles and mistakes can result in something just as nice as something made with purpose. And when your talking about butterflies and toadstools? Pfft, mistakes can be wonderful.

To make the above pieces I used:
English Fairy Garden Collage Sheet
Bees Collage Sheet
Butterfly Garden 6x6 Paper Pad
Antique ATC Pockets & Butterflies Collage Sheet
Wide Letter Box Book

All the bits can be found HERE

I hope you make loads of mistakes too :)

Free Photo Friday

Once a week I share an old timey photo from my personal collection. Feel free to use them in your mess making, art and crafting.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Moon Maiden ATCs

Playing around with pictures and words today, I made some Moon Maidens.

The aren't perfect, but I like the idea of them.

I like the idea of women dreaming under moonlight with messages carried by songbirds. 

I'm going to redo them. Give them a second chance.

I have ideas on how I'd like to improve them.

 But I think that the work made in the process of making is worthwhile too.

While these aren't where I want them to be...

... the are part of the journey.

And the journey is where so much of the good stuff takes place!

Flower faerie infestation!

Speaking of old photos...

Many people in old photos have a certain charm, a sort of magic about them. I wonder if the darlings in these old black and white photos knew they'd come back to life as garden fairies? 

In any case, here are a bunch of oldies infesting my garden and flower pots Cottingley style.

I'm taking their appearance as a sign that the summer solstice is just around the corner.

I'm also counting my blessings that the gooseberries and currents haven't ripened yet because I'm sure they'd have gobbled them all up!

Any sightings of winged things in your neck of the woods yet?

P.S. Here's a pic of Pixie Hill looking mighty pretty just because xo

A year of Free Photos

My birthday is coming up. I think I'm creeping up 'old'.

Age has never really bothered me. The truth is, I like old things... so why shouldn't I like an old me? 

One of the old things I particularly like is old photographs. I have a good sized collection and I'm trying to scan and organize them all digitally. It's something I've been meaning to do for years (but I get easily distracted soooo....)

I did make a start and have enough photos processed to post one old timey pic, once a week, for the next year. So, I'll be sharing my collection of oldies, one at a time, every Friday over the next year. Feel free to use them in your mess making.

The images are not polished and left in their grungy, smudged and speckled glory. Just how I like 'em! Without further ado... 

Please do NOT sell, give, or distribute the images as your own, digitally or printed, alone or as part of a collection, collage sheet or group. BUT DO absolutely make stuff with them and sell the stuff you make. If you share your project, a link is appreciated.

Violators will be turned into toads, given warts, all the bad stuff... I mean it... It won't be pretty. 

Practical Masculine Cards

I LOOOVE me some layered fussy cutting with sticky-outy things and loads of depth and ribbon and frilly bits and embellishments.... but let's be honest, sometimes that isn't the most practical thing to pop in the mail.

Sometimes you just need a little "I'm thinking of you" to slide in the mailbox. No fuss. No muss.

Wanting to make something for my father-in-law for Father's Day, I set to work with Graphic 45's A Proper Gentleman, and some kraft coloured card blanks.

I ended up with 6 simple cards. All easily mail-able. Well under the weight/size to send using single stamp. Nothing to get in the way or bulk up the envelope.

They are exceedingly simple. Seriously. Get your kids in on this and show the fatherly types in your life that you're thinking of them. Or, make a batch to have on hand 'just in case'.

Now that I've made something simple and restrained, I need to balance it out with something ridiculous and opulent and stuffed to the gills with fussy things!

It's all about balance (or something like that).

Another re-do when I should be doing laundry

The laundry was piled high on the couch, waiting to be folded. Instead of doing the grown up thing, I decided to revamp this little jewelry box I snagged at the thrift store. Here's the before:

Some white spray paint and a bit of Bloom paper, and here is the after:

That glass insert had an 'interesting' design on it that I manage to scratch off with blade.

I did put the glass back in, but I put a pretty sentiment behind the glass instead. I might replace that with a photograph later. (Who am I kidding? It'll stay as is forever because I'm forgetful and lazy.)

The inside had pink flocking which I kept intact as it coordinates well with the papers. I carefully taped off the interior before spray painting.

I really do love the look of that flat matte spray paint.

Them dainty feets! And it occurs to me that I really should look at old pieces like this for their hardware. Seriously, feet and handles can get super pricey and jewelry boxes fairly easy to find and thriftily priced (this one was $4). They are usually screwed into place and easily removed. Hmmm.

And now that I've shown this redo off... I gotta grown-up and do a boatload of unfun chores. Bleh!

Wish me well as I tackle Mount Saint Laundry-pile.