An Altered Shabby Canvas

It rained today. It rained A LOT. It rained so much that Lu, my dog, didn't want to venture outside. He loves being outdoors, not so keen on getting wet feet. For a big guy he's an absolute baby.

So, it was an indoor sort of day. I decided to take the opportunity to sit down at my worktable and create a 'practice' piece for a swap I'm taking part in to alter a 5" x 7" canvas.

I think she turned out rather pretty. 

I filmed my process but it isn't really a tutorial. It's much more of a 'hey, look at me stick my fingers together while I work!' sort of thing. But take a gander if you like..

Hope you're having a beautiful day 

xo

Paper Fairy Trading Cards

While life continues to be weird and bit of a disaster, I'm grateful that the garden has been blooming with inspiration. Right now the irises, poppies and sweet william are showing off, and the dwarf lilac is stinking up the garden beautifully. We're positively swarming with fairies.

Some of the first fairy friends spied in the garden were frolicking in the dandelions, violets, and apple blossoms.

I've made some pretty ATC's (artist trading cards) inspired by those sweet little friends.

 

Do you have fairies in your garden too? If you're feeling inspired, and you'd like to make your own fairy trading card, I have little ATC kits available that include just about everything you'll need to make these wee works of art.

The kits include paper elements printed on cardstock and pre-cut, a blank ATC card, a wee sheet with three pairs of transparent wings, and an old book page. There's a set for The Dandelion Fairy, Spring Violet Fairy, and The Apple Blossom Fairy. The only supplies you'll need to provide yourself are paint, glue and some adhesive foam squares.

And if you're unsure about how to put all those elements together, here's a walkthrough you might find helpful :)

I hope you're well and good and have loads of snacks.

xo

Snow, spring, and scraps

I feel like I haven't played with paper in a million years, but de-stashing has encouraged some small spurts of creativity. I came across some small blank cards and had a play about.

We had a storm last night and outside is snow-covered and chilly. These small beauties are like holding a snippet of spring.

If you'd like to make your own, I've put together a limited number of scrappy grab bags that contain everything you'll need (except for glue and gumption!)

Vintage hymnal sheet, stickers, blank cards....

Papery bits printed on cotton paper, cardstock and more...

Sentiments printed on vellum and canvas...

Some gorgeous floral and butterfly stickers...

It's crammed full of beautiful snips :)

If you'd like to snag one, you can find them HERE. 

Note: some of the items included will vary slightly bag to bag. The exact stickers, words, patterns and hynmal sheet will vary, but be very similar.

P.S. This guy showed up with his girlfriend this morning. He looks like he's saying "Snow. Again. Really?" 

Hope you're warm and well. xoxo

 

Happy Love Day Freebie

I'm not a great fan of Valentine's Day.

There's so much pressure to buy, buy, buy and want, want, want. And the whole thing just seems disingenuous and reeks of insincerity. Barf.

But... I am an absolute sentimental fool, a romantically minded nitwit, the entire rest of the year. And I don't begrudge anyone who longs for flowers and chocolates.

ANYWAY.... here are two fabulous "Love" graphics that I swiped from the cover of some music sheets. Use them voraciously and without abandon.

 

Love is in the air

Did I ever tell you about Monsieur Plantpot? I bought him a while ago and I love him. Today while at the nursery I saw the perfect Missus for him. How could I not bring her home to meet him?!

The introductions went well, and while I'm trying not to put too much pressure on them, I think they make a lovely couple. I'm a god damn magnificent matchmaker!

Ah young love... and so close to Valentines Day. Swoon!

Speaking of Valentines, I found a bunch of adorable vintage Valentines cards at an amazing little junk shop. I've put a handful of them on a digital download available in my etsy shop HERE.

They're all kinds of adorable and the file is just $1.50. Pop over to the shop and take a gander if you like :)

P.S. It's rather glum and grey here today. Hope the weather is better where you are xoxo

Seed Fund Savings

The Mr is plant mad. He's always been plant mad but this year he's gone full tilt.

I saw him eyeing a cute coin bank for saving pennies for seeds and I said "I can make that!"

Sure, sure, if I factor in my time, materials, and all that stuff, it probably would have cost just about the same to buy the bank he was spying in the first place...

... but all sense goes out the window when it comes to making stuff. I mean, it costs 3x's more to make a card than it does to buy one but I'm still going to buy the paper and do the things. Sense be damned, let creativity rule supreme.

Anyway, the bank is cute and Mr already has a whole $5 in his jar. My job here is done.

Keeping warm and a watering can

It. Is. FREEZING!!!!

It's so freaking cold today. I'm safely inside a cozy warm house and puttering around, playing with my new Silhouette Cameo. 

I'm having so much fun playing with my machine and it's inspiring me to make stuff like this watering can.

I added some text to a vintage graphic frame and applied the cutout to a DollarTree watering can. It is a vast improvement over the 2 litre pop bottle I've been using to water my plant babies.

I'm still learning what works, and what fiddling I need to do to finesse my cutouts but I'm having so much fun getting to know my Cameo.

Stay safe and warm and be kind to yourself 

xo