Fall 'Welcome' Sign with Graphic 45

I’ve created two different 'Welcome' signs using two different Graphic 45 collections, Couture and 12 Day’s of Christmas.

 I really wanted to demonstrate the vercitility of Graphic 45’s designs and colour pallet and encourage you to think outside the box. 

Do not be bound by the ‘theme’ of a paper line!
Don’t be afraid to pull out that Christmas paper in August.

For 12 Day’s of Christmas sign:
12 Days of Christmas Chipboard Die-cuts 212 Days of Christmas Flowers12 Day’s of Christmas Pear Tree
For Couture sign:
Couture  CoutureCouture Chipboard 1Couture Flowers
Blank sign base
Acrylic paint
White school glue
Ribbon
Jute twine
Assorted Petaloo blooms

Graphic 45 Staples door knob

Here’s the process that I used to create my sign. Give it a try and add your own flair and style!

Step 1: Grab a suitable sign base and a background paper. I’ve used an inexpensive blank wooden frame and chosen 12 Days of Christmas Pear Tree as my background.

Step 2: Using THIS simple crackle paint technique, I prepare my base and affix the paper to the frame. HINT: Coordinate the background paint to the main colour in the paper you are using.

Step 3: Create this funny folded loop shape with a length of ribbon, holding it in place with small dabs of hot glue (or score tape). Make a second that is a mirrored image of this.

Step 4: Apply the folded ribbon, along with two lengths for ‘tails’ to the front centre of your sign. This gives the illusion of a bow without the bulk of knots.

Step 5: The ribbon ends will now be concealed by a large tag from 12 Days of Christmas Chipboard Die-cuts 2. You can add a focal piece atop on the diecut. Here I’ve added an ornate door handle.

Step 6: Begin the embellishing! I’ve used 12 Days of Christmas Flowers to create some dimention and texture with some pretty blooms. HERE is a snapguide explaining how I assemble my flowers.

Step 7: When my main flowers and embellishments are in place, I situate the “Welcome” scroll just where I want it.

Step 8: With that in place I add my final embellishments, adding leaves, baubles and flowers from Petaloo.

Step 9: I complete the piece with a length of jute twine affixed to the back for hanging.

And here are the results using the same tutorial, but this time with the Couture collection:

Toilet Humour

Things have been kinda quiet around here lately. Sorry about that. I've been swamped with non-arty/crafty things like Canadian Thanksgiving and cleaning my house. Me? Cleaning? I know it's odd but I have a boatload of family from overseas spending the night tomorrow. Sure they say "Oh, don't worry! Don't go out of your way!" Pfft! I don't know about your family, but when guests are expected my family goes insane with the prep and cleaning. Just look at this...

Not only is that toilet clean, but I installed a new seat (believe me, it needed to be done) and even recalked around the bottom. I'm going to need a mental health day after this visit.

To be honest, my bathroom is the one place in this house that is usually clean. (Probably because I don't craft in there.) HOWEVER... I had guests over one day and a gentleman asked to use the restroom. I showed him to this very toilet and he came out moments later and looked rather shaken. I didn't think anything of it until later when I lifted the seat to clean.... it was an absolute horror show! It looked like Mr. Hanky the Christmas poo had hosted a conga line around the blasted thing. I was mortified.

Anyway, things will continue to be quiet for a few more days while I drive myself to madness, pretend to be the hostess with the mostess for a night, and spend three days in recovery :P

I'll leave you with another gem from my 1912 Hallowe'en Games book...

 

Halloween Cards with Petaloo & Authentique

Although I do enjoy making cards, I don't do it often. When I saw the Spirited Card Making Stack from Authentique in my design team package however, I had an overwhelming urge to make a few spooky greetings.

Using the Authentique Spirited papers "circles & scallops", "stamp blocks", "components", and "enhancements" the cards came together really easily.

The addition of some winding 'vines' of Floral Ephemera is perfectly petrifying :P

Some tattered Crochet Lace Fancy Trim gives a nice textured detail.

The Textured Elements Burlap Blossoms and Mixed Textured Layers are perfect for Halloween embellishments.

And sometimes just a little bling in the form of some shiny green Embellishment Brads is all you need for the finishing touch.

Petaloo Products:
Textured Elements Burlap Blossoms 1200
MixedTextured Layers 1257
Botanica Blooms 1102
Brads 1920
Floral Ephemera 1100
Crochet Lace Fancy Trim 1482
Asst Blossoms 1263
Spring Berry Clusters 1105
Forget Me Nots 1837

Authentique Spirited Papers
- Spirited Card Making Stack
- "circles & scallops"
- "stamp blocks"
- "components"
- "enhancements"

Images from:
Something Witchy Collage Sheet
Witchy Business Collage Sheet

An Eerie Tale Domino Pendants

I adore the images used on the pages of An Eerie Tale. I am, in fact, so smitten with them that I would wear them with pride on my personage! So I decided that to create some simple (yet totally eerie and adorable) domino pendants with some of my favourite images. 

Best of all you can use the tiniest of precious scraps to create these wee cuties. You do save your scraps, don’t you?

I happened to have some dominoes in my stash but I’ve seen boxes a-plenty in thrift shops. First I used a domino as a stencil to cut out the appropriate shape, inked the edges, then applied a layer of quality white glue to adhere the image to the surface of the domino. When dried, I applied a thick top coat of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic and added a blank pendant with a bail on the back. Easy peasy!

Here's the complete supply list:

An Eerie Tale
> You Bewitch Me> Run and Hide> Fanciful FableDominoes
Blank pendant with bail
Quality white glue
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
E6000

And your daily dose of Hallowe'en from my 1912 book of games...

Hallowe'en and a Sneak Peek

I'm sure I've shared this book before. Despite it's pages being filled with scribbles it's one of my favourite possessions.

The book is dated 1912 and the pages are filled with 'games' and 'charms' meant to be enjoyed on Hallowe'en. Most of the activities involve finding out who your true love is, but there are a few other gems in there. I'll be posting a few of the entries this month... because HALLOWEEN!

To kick things off, here is the suggested invitation wording to your spooky gathering...

I would be thrilled to attend Miss Ethel Jones' party!

And now a sneak peek at something rather lovely...

Graphic 45's newest collection "Time to Flourish". Isn't it delish?!? Not sure on the actual release date but I seriously can not wait to get my hands on it :)

A Faerie Bed

It is a well known fact that our house is infested with faeries. We're quite lucky that they are (mostly) of the nice variety and that we get along swimmingly. It is inadvisable to spoil faeries, they find it insulting and overbearing, I do believe that an occasional treat is acceptable. 

And so, today I'm sharing this little bed I created for my resident faeries... because even the fair folk get sleepy.

The base of the bed is made from fallen twigs found in our yard. A small mattress was created with some quilting batting and a small square of cotton fabric. The beautiful covers on the bed are laces from Tresors de Luxe, including Lace Trim Venice Floral and Gold Venice Lace Applique.

For the tiny pillow, I have taken two segments from this White Venice Lace Trim, filled with the tiniest bit of cotton batting, and sealed the edges.

  
The posts of the little bed are decorated with deconstructed Rustic Shabby Chic Flower Embellishments and White Acrylic Flower Sprays.

If you have sleepy faeries and would like to construct your own bed, here are the supplies I used to create this piece:
Lace Trim Venice Floral
Gold Venice Lace Applique
White Acrylic Flower Spray
Rustic Shabby Chic Flower Embellishments
twigs
cotton fabric
quilt batting

Garden faeries and something to scribble in

Last year I started taking photos of the faeries in my garden. The photos are inspired by the Cottingley fairies, and in that spirit involve very little funny business. The photos are shot just as they appear, with only minor photoshopping and colour editing.

The bee in this particular photo was so very cooperative! He just sort of hung out while I did my thing :)

This fellow regaled me with tales of his strength. He told me he can lift a twig three times his size! Hubba, hubba.

Finally, this pretty girl was twirling in this cluster of mushrooms near the old maple tree. I think she was waiting for a parcel to be delivered to fairy mail box.

And for the something to scribble in...

Ta da! I made a book: Pixie Hill Planner for Scribblers and the Utterly Disorganized. 

If you follow the link you can preview the entire book. There are no holidays or events marked, just basic monthly calendars. There are pictures of my garden faeries inside, but the pages aren't coated or fancy so you should feel no guilt whatsoever about doodling and drawing in it.

P.S. I realize that Blurb shipping prices to non-US addresses is ridiculously high. I am sorry about that and I wish there was some way to curb them. (Seriously, because I get dinged by them too!)