A Fanciful Twist

Halloweenified

I am spinning in that space where I am so eager not to miss a morsel of this Halloween season, that I am about to lose my head.  So much to embrace and savor and stash away.  It has to be just enough to hold us over until the next season, me thinks.  So, immersion it is.  Soaking it all in + enjoying every moment of it....

Over the last handful of days, I didn't feel like I was getting enough Halloween infusion.  Then I thought about the one thing in my home, that I see the most, and enjoy the most.  And that is the mood board in my office. 

So, I decided to make a 2nd mood board, with only Halloween things.

I chose many of my cards that I designed, and carry in my online shop.

(By the by, my shop is stocked with Halloween cards and more.  I am now stepping up shipping to every single day, as Halloween approaches, so there is still time to place an order.)

Come in, and I'll share some tid-bits with ya...

Have you ever created a mood board for yourself?

To me, it is one of the most calming fun things.

It allows you to be creative & crafty, and there is no chance of messing up.  Plus, you get to gather oodles of things that you like, and bonus, you get to enjoy them all at once.

The moon has been sublime, perfect for a little Halloween crafty inspiration!

5:30 a.m. today, yes, that is the moon.  It was glowing orange, and I had to run out there and take a photo.  But then, I did crawl back into bed for a while...

Pumpkins and witches make me so happy.

I personally think that witches and Halloween art should be year round display, even if just a little.  Because really, every proper fairytale forest has a witch and a haunted house and ghosties, and seasons.  And so, it is all part of the grand tale, as I see it?

I hung my mood board in my cozy nook...

Perfect, makes me feel so much more Halloweenified.

(ps:  I have to share all my pumpkin babes I grew this summer, these are some of them, others we ate, and others are sleeping right now, and didn't want their photo taken ;)

And, I can look at it often throughout the day.

I didn't have a cork board on hand, so I used a piece of wood, and just hot glued everything to it.  Normally I use push pins, but since I wanted to make this mood board to hang up year after year, I didn't have a problem hot gluing everything to it...

It is such an excellent way to get to peek at my cards.  Usually I only get a glance as I write some of my own to send, or package orders.

This is just a great way to appreciate those things I never really get to fully enjoy.

I attached an old key, a couple brooches, even some of the spell labels...

I also glittered up some fake bugs, and glued on one of my giant dahlias that had dried...

Little flies and pumpkins got glued on too...

Mood boards really are "mood" enhancers.  Such a great concept...

One of my fave cards below (in my shop also)...

Oh and, I always have to throw in a few butterflies.  I just love them.  I feel like, butterflies make everything extra magical... (they say Vanessa means butterfly?  Maybe that is why I love them so much?)

So, there you have it, instant Halloween extravaganza mood board.

As a tip, I hot glued vintage sheet music to the back of my board.  But you can use brown paper, stained coffee filters, wrapping paper, anything really...

I can't wait to see if I wake up in time to catch the moon again tomorrow morning.  That moon is sure elevating the enchantment level, I tell ya....

Golden orange moon beam glow love!

See you extra soon ;)

Love, V

Homemade Ghosties

Year after year I plan to make some super easy, fun and crafty ghosties.  And year after year, I plum forget.  But really I ask, what is Halloween without proper wee ghosties floating about? 

Oooooooooooo...

 

You all know how to make these, I am certain.

There is nothing to them at all. 

Alas, when a person wants to check out, into crafty bliss, a super easy craft hits the spot.  Just what I needed this evening.

So, into my haunted cottage studio I went...

 

I gathered white fabric scraps, doilies, hot glue gun, ribbon and cotton balls...

 

I cut white fabric scraps into about 5" x 5" squares...

 

Then I took about 4 cotton balls, and placed them in the center of my fabric square, and then simply gathered the fabric together, like so...

Then I tied the ghostie shut with a ribbon, voila!

 

My ghosties wanted doily collars.

So, I took a doily and cut the center out, then I cut the doily rim into 4 pieces...

 

I then ran a bead of hot glue under the neck tie, going all the way around.  One piece of my cut doily went perfectly around one ghost neck, gathering a little bit as I went around.

Then I used a sharpie to make oval eyes and an oval mouth...

 

I was not in the mood to search for my fishing line, so I hot glued a bit of white string to the tops of my ghosts, for hanging.

 

And just like that, ghosties flew in for the season!

 

It's the simplest little projects that bring the spirit of the season to life, don't you think?

Boy I needed that.

Boooooooo!

 

I can't even believe it is going to be October.

This time, all of a sudden creeps up so fast, doesn't it?

I am getting so party excited!!!!

I am so delighted so many are signing up, and there is still oodles of time for more to jump on the wagon ;)

I must go take part in the wrestling match with my pups!  They are having so much fun without me, see you sooooon!

Love, V

 

 

ps:  My Ipod in the studio was playing Beirut as I typed this.  I could faintly hear it in the office.  I had forgotten all about it, as I had not heard them in so long!  Soooo gooood!  Such a nice treat to refind music you love.

 

pss:  Thank you for sending positive thoughts for Coco (my friends' furry family member).  I will keep you posted.  Heartstrings.

Wax & Pencil {Creative Buzz}

The creative buzz is such a curious thing.  Keeping it alive and nurturing it are crucial factors, that sometimes get forgotten in daily life.  I think that whether you create for a living, for fun, for sanity & fulfillment, or for all three (and more),  it is important for the creative vibe to branch out, and keep sprouting new baby leaves.

Some of my most favorite things to do, which keep my creative vibes flowing (not limited to clay and paint) are, cooking, crafting, gardening, crocheting, doodling, piano playing & decorating (to name a few).

Doodling, to me, is one of the most important aspects of keeping creativity flowing.  No matter how silly or lacking in finesse, a doodle has the ability to simply keep the light, cute and sweet thoughts skipping about.  With the chance of sparking something grand.

Does doodling seem childish? I for one, know it kept me from falling off the edge in the classroom.  But now, as as adult, I find vast importance in it.

In keeping a light heart.

In losing yourself in it, and taking your mind off heavy things.

Little faces and buckets of hearts keep the soul young, taking us away from the easy to spiral into hum-drum of responsibilities and stacks of chores.

It's silly, it's simple.  It doesn't have to be good.

It just keeps us holding on to a thread of sweet simplicity.

And, for me, it just keeps one foot in the door to the vast and most magical world I carry deep in my heart, soul and mind.

Reminders, that they are there.  Always there, waiting for me.

Life is complicated.  Sometimes hard.  Sometimes easy.  Sometimes wonderfully amazing, sometimes heart-wrenching.

A doodle a day...

I say ;)

One of my most favorite things, that also keeps my creative buzz alive, is to invent crafts from things I find outside.

I'll see a twig, a stick, a seed pod, and I think, what could I do with this?

Just this weekend I found one of my giant candles melted into the dirt, and I thought, PRESTO!  This is just what I needed....

You see, I looove to save flowers.

I press them into books.  Fill glass jars with them.

I collect seeds, petals...

Which, from time to time, leads to experiments...

I had this vague memory, of melting crayons and flower findings in kindergarten.

It was so vague.

Did it happen, maybe not ;)

But it lead me to a plan.

I wanted to make a page of memories, of this year's flowers.

Last year I pressed a bunch of my flowers into books, and have done some of that this year too.  But, to create a page a year, of petals, how grand would that be?

I took a piece of scrapbook paper, and scribbled on it with wax crayons (not a necessary step), and I shaved (with a cheese tool) a bunch of  wax off of my ruined candle.

Then I put a towel on my metal counter.

On top of the towel, I placed a brown paper bag.

Then I put down my scrap book paper, sprinkled with fresh petals.

Then I placed hearty bits of shaved wax all over the petals and paper.

I placed a sheet of wax paper over this, and then covered the wax paper with a paper bag.

Phew ;)

Then I pressed down on the top layer of brown paper with my hot everyday iron.

 

(To clean your iron when you are done, keep ironing on brown paper bags, until there is no residue left from the wax.  Although, I might not iron my favorite frock with the same iron I craft with)

When I felt that I had ironed enough, as I could see lots of wax coming through my brown paper bag, I lifted the bag.

This piece still has the wax paper covering it, but you can see your paper below quite clearly.

I then took the piece, still covered with wax paper over to my a/c, and held it in front of the vents until it was thoroughly cooled.

Then I slowly peeled the wax paper away...

Slowly pulling it back, to reveal the entire piece...

I then cut my fave section out of the entire piece.

It is so much prettier in person than any photo can convey.

And, holding it up to the light is dreamy.

Mister Lovee wanted me to share his gushing about how much he adored this, like really really really.  But, I told him that made him sound biased and obnoxious.

:)

The page is totally flat, with no lumps and bumps, and bonus, I can smell the beautiful scent of my lime candle.  Mmmmm.

The wax page looks really great behind glass, or framed...

I definitely want to make a couple of these to use in my garden journal.  I wish I had made one every year, for the last 17 years.  From city garden to country garden.

Alas, one must begin somewhere.

I will date it, and sew a tiny gold thread through the edges.

So, there you have it, who knew your old heat ruined candles could be saved?

For now, I am hanging my flower wax page on the inside of my cupboard because it smells sooo good!

I have so many fun things in the works.  And I am anxiously waiting for a shipment of delicious autumnal cards (chomping at the bit!) for the shop.

I have also devoured the fall 2011 issue of Victoria several times over.

It is 105'F today, but somewhere out there, a feather of fall tickles the soul, I'm sure.

 

Off I go for now...

See you sooooon!

Love, V

 

ps:  Weekend Garden Snapshot.  Crazy little Vines.

Let's get Crafty with Yarn and Fabric Bracelets - Part II

Soooo, after my Part I post of crafting yarn bracelets, I sort of felt bad (inherent guilt, I know).  Why you ask?  Because well, I know not everyone has 5,000 empty tape rolls.  So, this morning I stole one of Mister Lovee's cereal boxes, and tested an idea...

You might know that I love crafting with cereal box cardboard.  It's easy to cut, accessible & perfect for crafting with.

As I was cutting up a box, I was marveling at how many bracelets you could really get out of one box.  Depending on your size, you could probably have about 10.  Isn't that fantastic?

Cut out cereal box strips to your desired width.  Then, trim to fit whatever size wrist you would like, and wind some strong tape (I prefer packing tape, but masking will work too) around your seam. (overlap your seam a little bit)

I suggest using the inside matte cardboard side of your box, as your outside bracelet, rather than the glossy printed on side.

I suspected that if you started with a base of yarn wound around the cardboard, you would have a fairly sturdy bracelet to work with.  It worked!

 Of course, it isn't as firm as the tape rolls.  But, in some curious way, I have to admit, I like the cereal boxes better, because they have this feel when you are done, of being mostly textile.  Which I love.

Easy as pie.

And now, you don't have to scour the earth for empty tape rolls ;)

I have made two with this new base method so far...

Yes, I am addicted. 

You knew I would spiral, didn't you?

;)

I decided to use up some scraps of ribbon and fabric that I had this time around...

Mister Lovee is crazy about these.

He can't believe that I am going to give these two away...

In fact...

You might get to own one...

Aren't these fun?

No glue, no mess.

Use up all your craft scraps, and...

You get something extra pretty and fun, and original too!

As for these two, leave me a howdy in the comment section, and I will choose two names in a couple of days, to gift these to.  First name drawn will choose whichever one they want...

A little Friday fun.  I will pick two names in a couple of days.

Also, do share if you make one.  I can't wait to see.  If you'd like, I'll share your creation here.

Fun fun!

Happy weekend!!!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  Loving Charlotte Martin's recent album...

 

pss:  I have had Bizarre Love Triangle in my head all summer.  Teenage memories (thank goodness that the remaining members of Joy Division created New Order, as their songs were a huge part of my teens).  In fact, Charlotte Martin does a beautiful cover of "Bizarre Love Triangle" that I listen to all the time.  I picked it up on iTunes.

Fanciful Frills {Let's get Crafty with Yarn Bracelets!}

My evenings have been filled with yarn, and ribbons and fabric pieces these days.  Crocheting, weaving, listening to audiobooks.  All the yarn and fabric bits, combined with me always wearing my empty packing tape rolls when I am working on orders, led me to come up with an idea.

A simple, fun and pretty idea, that I had to share with you...

I am sure that if your are crafty, and/or crochet or knit, you might have that little bit of yarn left, that is too small of an amount to do anything much with.  In fact, I have 1 and 2 yard pieces of some of my favorite yarn.  Not enough to make a scarf, but just enough to roll into a little ball and save.

As I was packaging orders this week, and wearing an empty roll of packing tape, I thought, I should wrap these empty tape rolls with all those pretty yarns and fabrics I have leftover, and make bracelets.  So, I painted a few empty tape rolls with one messy coat of acrylic paint...

As soon as they dried, I started wrapping them.

I instantly felt an addiction coming on...

Of course, once I got started, I wanted to use lots of different textile loves.  I thought this was just perfect due to no glue, no mess, easy and yay. 

A great crafty gift too.  Holiday summer making.  Something I always want to do, and don't.

I figured out that wrapping each bracelet in 24 inch increments works really well.  So, I cut a piece of about 24" yarn, tied it to the roll, leaving a first end, and then wrapped the yarn around.  I did this until I had about a 2" end left, and then tied that end to my first end.  I repeated that until I had wrapped the whole roll.

I left the ties on the outside, which made tassels in a way.  I liked it, especially since I planned on tying all sorts of yarn to the bracelet once my initial wrapping was complete.

As soon as I wrapped the whole bracelet in teal yarn, I took bits of other fave yarns, and tied them wherever I wanted.  I didn't want a uniform look.  I wanted a sort of mermaid seaweed look...

Easy, and so fun!

It's almost too fun, I am so hooked now it isn't even funny.

I think, making usable things, with recycled materials no less, is beyond fulfilling.  Especially when you make something you can gift or wear yourself.

I decided to make a super soft red one.  I was going to make it sort of gypsy.  I still want to sew little coins and bits and baubles to it.

Super soft.

Yummy!

I wrapped other colors and textures of yarn around it.  It is so cozy to wear too.

Like I said, I can't wait to sew all sorts of baubles on to the red one.  I think that will look super fun, don't you?

As I was winding yarn around the red bracelet, I felt a Marie Antoinette inspired piece coming on.  With lace and such...

I am making another one with fabric strips.  Seriously though, you will get hooked on this if you try it.  It is way fun.  Imagine all the things you can add to these?  The ideas are endless...

Buttons, keys, watch faces, feathers, ribbons, millinery flowers, petals, glitter, stones, beads... Anything!

As I was in a mind explosion of thoughts, I had the best idea yet, for me at least.

You see, I have bunches of brooches that I rarely wear, but love.  I have some really special antique ones, that I sometimes pin on a necklace or charm bracelet.  Since, we can't always wear a coat or sweater in Arizona.

However, the bestest thing about these bracelets is that, since you have wrapped them with yarn or fabric, you now have a place to attach your brooches onto.

I would put in a tiny needle & thread stitch or two, just so your brooch doesn't open and get lost.  But other than that, I think this has hooked me even more...

I pulled out my favorite antique brooches, and I thnk that they worked really lovely on these...

I didn't even intend to make bracelets that went perfectly with brooches I had.  It just worked out that way.  These are some of my favorite brooches, that I would never part with, and always want to use more... 

And now I will.  Do you have brooches you would like to use this way as well?

I am really excited.

I am inspired to make some of these, of course, not using my very beloved brooches, but other trinkets and treasures, for Christmas gifts.

I can't wait to wear this one...

The other thing I like, is to push my bracelets up high on my arm.  And these work in that manner also.

I am really looking forward to making more of these with all of my extra yarn and ribbons.  And plus, getting to wear my brooches to boot.  That makes me extra happy.

I have been evening crocheting a lot lately (before bed), listening to really good audiobooks that I purchase on Itunes, and feeling the spirit of the holiday season urging me to make some gifts now, so that the season doesn't slap me in the face, in the height of it.

The thing is, I am one of those people that loves to be in the moment of the season I am in.  I get a smidge annoyed when I see all the Christmas items in the shops in August.  Yet, as I get older, time goes faster, and I suppose I should try to get organized during these hot summer days.  Plus, being in the art/retail/wholesale world, you almost have to be prepared for autumn in May.  In fact, I had an autumn inspired deadline 2 months ago, and a holiday/winter inspired deadline this month.  And, I did enjoy it.

But, what really shocks me is that it is the end of July. 

Can you believe it?

I decided a while back to just succumb to age and time, and all that.  But, it still goes by shockingly fast.  Doesn't it?

Well, I best be off.

 I have paint on a palette.

I would love to see your bangles if you try this.

Love, V

 

 

Cutie Paper Puppet Head Printables (+Easter Egg Wraps)

I have something fun to tell, and funner to share with you today.  You see, for about a year, I have been spending much time with a whole bevy of characters...

They are a part of something very dear, that I am working on.  As I looked at some of  them the other day, I thought, why not introduce you to a little group of some of the faces I spend my days with?

Maybe even share them with you?

So, I did some redrawing magic, and turned them into little paper puppet heads... 

Then I thought, "wait, these could double as egg wrappers for Easter!"

(remember the ones from 2009?)

So, here are 6 of my littles, ever so happy to say hello to you. 

I turned them into printables, that you can use for personal use, in a wide range of crafty fun and whimsical ways. (give them several seconds to open)

 

Click Here for Printable PDF 

 

The link above will gift you a two page printable that looks like the pages below.  You can print as many as you'd like.

  

 

If you would like to use these as egg wraps, simply cut them out, wrap them around your egg, and tape the ends together in the back.

Easy.

We always have brown, light green or spotted eggs in our house, but I conjured up some white eggs so you could see how even a very plain white egg looks cute wrapped up as such.  Of course, you can also dye your eggs, but if you have not the time or energy for such a thing, then simply print these, cut them out, and wrap your eggs up ;)

But wait, I am so rude.

I didn't properly introduce you to the litttle cuties.

Please do meet...

Lotti

Humphrey... 

 

Tilly...

Cricket... 

Lionel... 

And, sweet Sam ;) 

In our family we like to use plastic eggs that can be opened to reveal a treat, or coins.  So, for a plastic egg, you can still use an egg wrap, or even doll your eggs up a bit with tissue and a ribbon, and place your egg wrap on the outside... 

Or.... 

If you can procure some large chocolate eggs (such as these large French chocolate eggs Mombie gave me a few weeks ago) then you can most easily, use your egg wraps the same way...

I myself am using my little paper puppet heads to put around vases, and all sorts of things around my house...

I even wrapped some around sticks and made lil' puppets for playing with. 

Mister Lovee suggested I wear one, but he had not noticed that I already had one around my wrist.  I held my arm up and we both laughed.

 

I hope you enjoy these, and that you liked meeting a few of the characters that are part of my days.  It's so lovely to get to share them.

I must go cut a few sets...

Have a beautiful & scrumdilyumptious spring week!!

See you soooon ;)