I think it's a perfect time to get our potions and spells in corder (labels in my shop), of the imaginary variety of course. I have been up to all sorts of my own onjuring...
A witch's job can be so complex, if I do say so myself ;)
Testing endless sticker/label papers, designing labels, getting everything just right. After lots of purchasing and trying out, I found a label paper this summer that is a bit thicker and richer. Yumm.
So now, it's magic time!
These are the current addition to the apothecary + potion label love in my shop...
You can see a fun tutorial I shared for spell labels and potion jars right here, which can be applied to these labels as well. Here is a photo of the labels used in that post (available in my shop also)...
I followed the same steps in decorating and filling the jars below, but added a twist. I'll give you some tips....
These labels are a bit larger, so you can use even bigger apothecary jars, or household jars, decked out for your very own imaginary shop.
I decided to try some additional decorating techniques using the labels. Below I took a glass box, and filled it with some of my smaller old bottles, dried flowers, beads and sparkles. I put in a few fun treats too such as, faux poisonous agaricus mushrooms, and then placed the label on the glass box.
I really love this. It is super fun to think that, all the contents of the box might be poison ;)
Every spring/summer I save as many flowers as I can, and I dry them. This large container below houses the sweetest smelling roses, which I actually saved last year. I used the tutorial for the lid I shared here, and then sprinkled some magenta glitter into the jar for effect. I hung an antique necklace around the jar, and voila Gypsy Magic.
I thought goblin's hair would be a wonderful addition to the mix. My granny would tell me witch's fairytales as a child, and there was always some form of hair used for spells. So, goblin's hair had to join in.
I used straw rope fibers and orange/pink/green furry yarn. I sprinkled in some glitter, but it looks more like goblin dandrfuff, eeee, awesome! Haha.
The sky is the limit on this one. Inventing your contents is more than half of the fun. Scrounging around outside for all sorts of goodies to fill your jars with is something that could entertain me all day...
The Star Dust label (below) us one of my super faves. I used this bottle for the star dust label, and washed the inside with a little soap and water. Then, I put it upside down to drip dry for a few minutes. While the jar was still damp inside, I stuffed in some batting/pillow stuffing fibers that I tore apart to create a cloud effect.
After the jar was stuffed with the white fiber, I funneled in a bunch of glitter, both larger gold glitter and iridescent fairy dust powder. Then I shook and shook the bottle. The fact that the bottle was a bit damp inside caused the glitter to adhere itself to the glass, which is super lovely, don't you think?
I then made a few stars and tied one around the bottle top, and hot glued another to the side of the jar. I had a huge cork top, and used that as a stopper.
Mermaid Song was my next label choice. I thought it would be a perfect jar to fill with any sea findings you might have. I mixed some dried flowers in with shells and starfish and beach glass. You could also pop in some pieces of sheet music for effect, and a little sand...
The "Fairy Tears" jar on the far left (below) is just a regular old jar. I used the coffee filter trick for the lid, and adorned it with dried flowers and a butterfly.
Then I filled the jar with water, and a half a drop of red food coloring which created the most perfect neon pink tint. I then sprinkled in some iridescent fairy dust powder, and some bright pink larger glitter. When you shake it, the glitters spin around, and really do look like fairy tears, sniffle :)
Now, the exciting part was combining my new label jars with the labels I already carry..
It really created a shelf filled with an enchanting and authentic feeling...
I am crazy about this shelf. I think that the new labels are a great addition to the existing labels. One never knows how the end result will turn out, so I am happy.
The labels are now in my shop, and I can't wait to see if you pick some up, and what you do with yours. I am tempted to create a second shelf of jars, and incorporate more old pictures, amulets, pumpkins, oh, all sorts of goodies.
The complete shelf, using both sets of labels...
I am sooo inspired! I want to go outside hunting for more seed pods and curious treats to add to my jars, although, you can find lots of things in your pantry or trinket drawer I am sure. A fun indoor project to do anytime, but especially when it is hot or raining, with autumn inspiration beckoning.
So, that's a little bit of what I have been up to.
As for the winner of the magicbox..........
The name pulled out of the hat is, Celia!! Hoooray! She happens to be having a Gypsy Party you can learn about on her bloglette, right here. Congrats! E-mail me your addy Miss Celia ;)
So, there you have it, spells and potions and lots more fun to come. I am so glad you liked the magic box sooo much! I am inspired to make more treats to gift.
I must be off for now!
Love, V
ps: Photos by popular demand. My kids.
1) Matisse ~ aka, Matty Cakes. Lover on his own terms (will hug only me on command), hates everyone (scary barker) but mom, dad, brother, and maybe granny and gramps, depending on how he feels that day. Runs so fast it is scary. Looooooves burgers, jumps in car and waits if door is open, in hopes of burgers. Attacks Mom (me) with love. I feel so special ;)
His main joy in life, protecting his home, and making sure he chases all living beings and cars away.
His cake self = cinnamon, spice, brown sugar and molasses. Meow!
2) Miles ~ aka Mimer Cakey Cakey (my-mer)
Lover of all and more. Loves you, and you and you and you, around the earth and back, and then all over again. Lives to snore, howls like a banshee, oh and most importantly, looooves to eat eat eat. Oh yaaa!
Loves hugs, kisses and massive wrestling with Matty. Loyal to the core, and kookie as a boar. Growl Growl. (are boars kookie?)
His cake self = buttermilk, sugar, hot butter, powdered sugar, licorice eyes and nose ;)
Buttermilk Biscuit love!
Nothing like rolling in the mud after a bath, brush, dry, and tired mammiecakes.
He thinks it's funny ;) I'm sure.
