A Fanciful Twist

Santa's Miniature Workshop

Please come in and visit, as Santa is down to the wire preparing for Sunday's deliveries.

If you have been here since the early days, you might recall my little Christmas diorama.

It housed a scene of Christmas festivities and little dolls I had made.

It normally sits on a shelf in the tiny cottage at the country house.

This year, I woke up one morning and decided I wanted to turn it into Santa's workshop.

And so, I set out to gather all sorts of little things I have collected over the years to create a miniature fantasy land.

Let's go in, shall we?

It looks like someone is incredibly busy.

Mind if we stop in for a quick hot chocolate, Santa?

Of course, he doesn't mind at all.

He's too busy to even notice us.

I loved every second of setting up this little miniature workshop.

I filled shelves and counters with all manner of teensy little toys and treats.

The hunt through all my miniatures was great fun.

I loved figuring out what would work, which is more than half the excitement.

Nutcrackers, trains, tiny peppermints, teddy bears, cats, rocking horses, dolls and more.

I even found pencil eraser sized toys for the work bench shelves.

Elves with parcels and tiny gifts are just the thing.

I'm especially fond of the tiny wooden toys that are hand painted.

So many nooks and crannies filled with things to see.

I even set up a Christmas tree.

This project has tickled my soul to pieces, I tell ya.

Another gift for little Vanessa checked off this list.

My childhood self really came out in full force this holiday season.

For some reason I am particularly in love with the Jack-in-the-box.

Can you find it in the image below?

Well, looks like Santa has had enough of us snooping around.

He's super busy and simply cannot be distracted right now.

Do you see any of the items on your list in his workshop?

But more importantly...

Have you been naughty or nice this year?

:-)

This little diorama makes me happy all day long.

I am drawn into it every time I walk by.

I hope you enjoyed peeking in.

I would chat to you longer, except that I am having a whopper of an allergy attack today.

The nostalgia of Christmas has captured my heart so deeply this year.

I am enjoying every morsel of the season.

These little projects really help to slow down time and savor these December days.

You'll have to let me know if you spot a favorite item in the workshop.

I can't wait to hear.

I must be on my way for now, but I do have a couple more treats to share with you this week.

Stay tuned for more Christmasy blog posts to come.

 

Hope you are well in your neck of the woods.

See you soon!

 

Lots of Love, 

 

Vanessa

 

 

 

Free Printable Christmas Tags, From me to You!

Hello friends!

It's Christmas time, down to the wire.

I was frantically hunting for gifts tags just now, when I remembered...

I have oodles of printable tags that I have made for you throughout the years.

I thought, if I needed some, you might too.

Nothing better than sharing a few of my illustrations for you to print at home.

And so, here is a Christmas gift tag round-up.

Just make sure to click on the pdf link to get the printable version, below each image.

 

Let's begin with fox, deer, mouse and swan <3

CLICK HERE for the printable link for this one.

I love this one so much.

I just printed it and looks so good.

 

 

Next, we have Mushroom houses, creatures and elves!

CLICK HERE for the printable pdf of this one.

This one is so fun, festive and colorful!

It looks scrumptious printed.

 

And last, but not least, we have really fun elves and green polka dots!

CLICK HERE for pdf of this one.

The colors are so rich and fun of this one.

 

I printed a couple of all of them for myself.

I hope you enjoy these.

And don't forget, in my right-hand sidebar under "printable treats and ideas," you can always access the link with all of my tutorials and free printables I have shared with you throughout the years.

CLICK HERE for all tutorials and printables.

 

I am scurrying around, doing all of my own gift wrapping and last minute everything.

I will be back with another post, but I just wanted to pop in really quick to share those.

 

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

 

Cabinet of Natural Curiosities {Golden Insect Pumpkins}

Dear Friends, I know Halloween has come and gone, and there were no posts here.

My blog service has been down for a week, which has been very stressful.

I am not able to upload photos as I normally do, so I am having to upload these giant versions in a round about way, until they iron out that glitch.

I figure, that is better than nothing.

I had so much fun and magic planned for you this season, I know Halloween is one of the most beloved posts at A Fanciful Twist.

And so, I have decided to go forward and post everything I had planned for you, even if it is a week late.

I know social media moved on to Christmas at the stroke of midnight on Halloween, but I also know some of you are true Halloween lovers, so these next posts are for you.

And now we have...

Golden insects treasures!

I'll show you my idea for these curious pumpkins and then the next post will be our 2022 Halloween post.

One day I was sitting on the sofa looking at my white pumpkins, thinking that they would look amazing covered in golden bugs.

I remembered I had a bag of plastic fake bugs, and of course, I always have gold paint on hand...

And so, I spray painted a bunch of bugs, bats, tiny mice and lizards in gold, and then I sprinkled iridescent glitter on them.

This really is the easiest craft ever, with the most fancifully magical outcome.

After I spray painted and glittered the bugs, I thought for a second about how I would attach them.

I almost instantly knew the answer, pearl head pins!

I just pushed the head pin through the top of the softer bugs, and anchored the pins around the bugs that were too hard to push through,.

I had soooo much fun with this craft, and the result was pretty magnificent.

At least, I thought so.

They almost look like valuable brooches.

In fact, you could glue a brooch back onto the bugs and cover a dress or jacket in them as well.

The uses for these bugs are really endless.

I loved the tiny golden mice so much, I saved a few to tuck in here and there.

This pumpkin fit in just perfectly with my daily decor.

I almost wish it could stay here forever, it's so wonderful.

I will keep it out until the pumpkin decides to perish...

The real bonus is that I can pull out the bugs, leave the pins in, and store them in a little box.

Then I can use them again next year.

 I hope you try this yourself, it really is a satisfying craft.

Amazing what a little gold spray paint can do to almost anything.

Next, I will be on my way to see if I can upload our Halloween post as well.

I'm hoping I am able to publish this for you now.

It has been such a harrowing time dealing with the Typepad crash of 2022.

It turned quite chilly here yesterday, and the pecan trees have turned a rusty golden color.

Autumn has arrived in my neck of the woods for certain.

I hope you are well dear friends, and that you had a really lovely October.

I will see you at our Halloween post soon.

 

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

Of Halloween Stars & Cozy Autumn Fireplace

Cozy October is the most wonderful time!

I am here trying to enjoy every morsel.

Apple crisps on repeat, watching the glorious moon, and doing some delightful crafts.

I've been making star garlands for years, but I didn't have a large one for the super tall mantel.

I put on some scary movies and just drew stars onto cardboard, cut them out, painted them in kid craft glue and dunked them in glitter.

A truly enjoyable time.

I don't know why stars are so magically fun to make and hang, but they just are.

And they are perfect for Halloween and Christmas.

My little guy is finally being treated with the love he deserves.

I got him in 2001 I think, for a party, and then left him outside for years and years.

Until he was aged to absolute perfection.

Boy is he ever.

So well-aged, that I may have to seal him so pieces of him don't keep falling off.

I was in the mood for a calm and cozy Halloween vibe this year.

I didn't go super crazy and I'm really enjoying the overall feel of it.

I had ordered the moon and star pumpkins form somewhere this summer, if only I could remember where?

I loved them in orange, but I kept envisioning them in pink with glitter accents.

So, I painted them in acrylic craft paint, and I really love them now.

I added some light brown staining, which isn't overtly obvious, but made them have a little more depth of color.

All the twinkle lights and spooky magic of the season is just my most favorite.

I've really been drinking in the wonders of October.

Fireplace, tea in the dark, with only the candles and twinkle lights illuminating.

Absolutely the best.

I brought out a few of my favorite books.

I've never used the witchcraft book, but I got it in the creepiest little hole in the wall bookstore when I was in my 20's.

I just adored going into that bookstore.

There was a little chair in the way back corner, with twinkle lights and paper ships hanging from the ceiling.

I thought it was the most magical place I had ever been in, surrounded by the scent of old books.

It's long gone now, but I love the vivid memories I have of it.

I had a wonderful weekend at the country house, reading ghost stories and making ML some rice krispy treats.

Of course, tending my gardens a lot, and Halloweenifying gypsy wagons.

I have all my supplies ready for my mom's caramel corn, next on the menu for this coming weekend.

If only this deliciously magical month could slow down a little.

I love it too much, I can't get enough.

The weather is sublime, the garden is in a second spring.

There is so much relief from the hot summer.

The sky is stunning at night.

Please don't go so quickly Octoberrrrr!

I hope you are having a delightful month as well.

I have so many harvests happening.

I've never had such huge endless tomatoes.

I am convinced it was all the rain this summer that got them to set so much fruit.

The flavor of them, just incredible.

I'm bringing in huge baskets full daily.

I normally despise tomatoes, but when I grow them myself, I do enjoy them.

I have made salsas, and pomodoro, and salads aplenty.

Oh and, tomato tarts too.

There are soooo many chilies, and still zucchini and pumpkins.

I have yet to roast my first pumpkin of the season, have you?

I've also been working on clay sculptures, but it seems I hardly have time in my life these days.

My day begins, and I am busy busy, and then it is over in the blink of an eye.

I remember when I was a child and days were soooo long.

I know that scientifically time goes faster as you get older, but this is just nonsense :-)

You'll have to fill me in on all the wonderful things you are getting up to this month.

What are your favorite must-do's in October?

It's definitely time to bake some pumpkin bread.

I just realized I have not had anything pumpkin flavored this month yet.

I must get on that tomorrow.

I hope you are doing just lovely in your neck of the woods, and I hope to see you soon!

 

Lots of love from me to you!

 

Happy pumpkin times!

Love, Vanessa