Pixie Palace

 Normally, I like to create small things: half-scale miniatures, knitted socks, three inch embroideries, that sort of thing. But sometimes you gotta shake things up to keep it exciting, right? I guess that's what I was thinking when I made a 1:12 scale Pixie Palace for any wee folk living in the backyard. 

The Pixie Palace was constructed from many great things from Alpha Stamps, including two Octagon Room Boxes stacked on top one another for two floors of living space. It is about 17.5" tall and 15" wide - I'm pretty sure my last three projects could fit inside!

There's a cute rustic door (it does open!) and a planter box with trellis on the outside, and a few windows with mica tile panes sandwiched between. The outside is covered in lichen, climbing vines, foliage, and plants. 

On the first floor is a stone fireplace and dry sink. Upstairs is the bedroom with a cute bed and a bookshelf with drawers.

I covered a Narrow Victorian Fireplace with paperclay and tiny pebbles to make it look like a stone fireplace. The flooring is jumbo craft sticks cut to resemble tree rings. The color was nice, so I left them bare. More on that later.

There's a black metal pot hanging over the firewood, plus a bunch of tiny things on the mantel like a green jar, a half-scale crate of mushrooms, plants, a different bitty metal pot, and a bowl. I also see a wooden chair, dutch oven, wooden spoon, and...is that a cocktail umbrella in the background?

Here is the kitchen area, all ready for a quick bite to eat! There's a dry sink, hand pump, pail, and soap dish. Next to the sink is a fern stand used as a table, cheeses, a basket for fruit and sweets, wooden bucket, thimble planter for pink flowers, pumpkin pods, a metal dish of apples, and a barrel planter of grass.

Above the fern stand is a spice rack with a towel bar that's perfect for hanging plants, herbs, or even a sickle! An assortment of jars sit on the shelf: red jam, a mason jar, baby food jar, metal apothecary jar, and a fun creamer with flowers tucked inside. I crocheted a window valance and added a candle to a pop top "candleholder". 

I love the wee bed on the second floor! It's actually part of a bunk bed, so if a second pixie decides to move in, all I will need to do is add the top bunk and knit another blanket. 

In the corner is a pretty pitcher and basin set sitting on a spool, a square planter, a paper label, and a snippet of an advertisement. 

I used the Bookshelf with Drawers for storage but altered it a little with paperclay. Adding paperclay to a chipboard kit can totally transform a piece. Before covering the bookshelf with the clay, I painted it with gesso to make sure the clay would not warp the chipboard. I have done this with multiple chipboard pieces and have never had any issue, even when I wet the clay to shape it. Sometimes I also add a light layer of glue before slathering the piece with paperclay, but mostly on heavy things like the stone fireplace. The final layer is acrylic paint:

The flooring in the bedroom is the same as the first, jumbo craft sticks, and I've added thin strips of basswood along the floor and walls, just as before. There's a matching crocheted valance (I was going for a spiderweb-type curtain), another thimble planter with roses, a few wooden buckets, and bits and bobs crammed on the shelves. I also made a frame from some sticks, then hung the squirrel picture from a thumbtack. 

Minicus Moo is Chief Operating Officer and oversees all projects, especially ones involving itty bitty fragile miniatures or yarn. She has told me the doorway needs to be taller :/

The beginnings of Pixie Palace. I cut a window and doorway from the panels before gluing them in place. And you can see in that blurry photo above how I drew lines radiating from the center front of the room to the corners of the walls, then cut the jumbo craft sticks to size. They were glued down with regular Tacky Glue. 

Under all of that paint, moss, vines, lichen, and plants is the base of the Pixie Palace. Aluminum foil and 5 pounds of paperclay! I smooshed the foil together before hot gluing it to the stacked room boxes, then proceeded to cover the entire thing with clay. It took a few days to cover and a few to let it dry. You can see the windows and door were installed beforehand. I added a mica sheet to the back of the window frame, glued the window in place, and added a second window frame on the inside. If you do this, make sure you paint both sides of the frame since it is visible between the glass.

 

Oh look! Pixie Palace is let at last!

Thanks to all of you who have made it this far; you've come to the best part. The supply list! Instead of linking every bit of detail in the blog post (that would be silly), you can view all of it in one go by clicking RIGHT HERE. Cat not included.

Happy mini making!!!

The Twinkle Tinkerer's Workshop

 This project idea came to me after I had been chatting with Leslie about the long list of fictitious art I had designs for, and Leslie, being the patient and polite person she is, let me go on and on with these grand plans like they'd all actually come to fruition in the near future. Leslie (a.k.a. the Voice of Reason) offhandedly mentioned it being March, to which I had a moment of panic and quickly decided to merge a few projects together. 

The Twinkle Tinkerer's Workshop started with the glorious Lucky Star 8x8 Paper Pack and the Lucky Star Kit from Alpha Stamps. Oh, how I love these two! All of the shiny pretties in the kit are absolutely swoonworthy. I scooped those up along with a cute Workshop Table - 1:12 plus a whole lotta tools and in about 5 hours had a finished project. 

The idea is a bit of a quirky one. It's a workshop for a someone that mends stars (and maybe collects all of the dreams and wishes, too). Let's take a little tour, shall we? 

Here is where the magic happens! The workbench is covered with shimmery dusts, paints, powders, and every kind of tool.

[painted and stamped workshop table and stool, with a collage sheet image for the top of the stool]

There's a mallet, hand saw, nails, a wrench...

hammers, another saw, a hand drill, pliers, and I think perhaps there's a woodworker's plane somewhere in the tool box.

[toolbox was painted, sanded, stamped a few times, then glittered]

Above the table is a celestial mobile hanging from a metal swivel plant hanger.

[made from thin wire colored with alcohol ink and bent around a few charms then hung]

Got to have a place to store all of those dreams and wishes before they come true:

[painted mini wooden oil drums with text from the Fairy Dust collage sheet]

Another quick peek at the workbench...can you find the nails?

[re-painted can of paint with glitter, tiny glass globes with tulle or glitter stuffed inside then glued to a bead cap, metal canisters and jars painted with a gold paint pen, layered rosettes to serve as a bowl for stardust sequins, glass jar filled with "magic" wool roving]

Under the table are several jars, bottles, and containers.

[filled with stuff like pearl beads, teensy stars, basket filler, glass glitter, sequins, etc.]

Finally, on the walls are images from collage sheets and a quote that I found in the Lucky Star paper pack. I cut a simple frame from dollhouse moulding and glued it on. A few tufts of wool roving clouds placed here and there, and then it was done!

With two project ideas knocked out in one go, I can cross them off the list and move on. Or think of twelve other things I'd like to create. Whichever.

Go HERE to see all of the splendorific supplies used. Go and make some magic of your own!

Eat A Cake - A Mini Recipe Book Project

I'd like to say I have managed to complete my To Do list for the week and then had time to make some art. Well, the To Do list is only half-way finished and I scrapped the rest so I could get to the making art part. It's not like the laundry is going anywhere.

Spending an afternoon creating something is a great stress-reliever. I can focus on a project, even for an hour or two, and I'm happier afterward. When I decide to ditch the dishes and craft a little thing, I am grateful to have a stash of monthly kits from Alpha Stamps. I know I can pick one up and have it finished before too long, feel like I've accomplished something rewarding, and still have time to feed people. But who cares about all of that, let's see some art!

I'm still having fun with the Tiny Retro Bakery Box Kit from January and all of its parts. For such a teensy kit, it has loads of things to play around with! I turned my kit into a mini apron box with an itty bitty recipe book tucked inside.

Another great thing about small projects - you only need |this| much paper! (I love the Delicious Scrapbook papers and bought more anyway. It sparks joy.)

The 2.5 x 2.5 Kraft Folding Box from the kit has a window but since I covered over it on the front, I added a humorous image to the inside. Do this part first if you plan on a solid front. 

Inside the box is a wee 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" book with more collage sheet images and tiny removable papers for recipes, notes, or general silliness. 

Here's how to make the book:

Materials - 

12x12 Kraft paper for the book

Scrapbook papers for the pages and pockets

Collage sheets

Stickers, embellishments, double-sided tape or glue

1. Cut two lengths of kraft paper 2 1/4" x 12. Score paper every 2 1/4" along the length of the strip. Repeat for the other strip. There will be a small flap left at the end; score 1/4" from the previous score mark on both small flaps.

2. Cut (6) 2" squares for the left-side pages of the book, the front cover, and back cover.

3. Cut (4) 2" x 3" rectangles for the right-side pages. Score at 2" and fold. This will make a pocket to hold the recipe card. Trim the top of the pocket with decorative scissors. 

4. Cut out collage sheet images.

5. Don't count the number of pockets and squares in the photo because it lies.

6. Accordion fold the two strips of kraft paper and slide the two pages without the small flaps over one another. Use double sided tape to hold the pages together. I also added tape inside each page, but it isn't necessary. 

7. Add double sided tape to one small flap, wrap it around the book pages, and adhere it to the cover.

8. Originally, I had planned on using the other small flap as a way to keep the book completely closed. You can do this by gluing additional pieces of kraft or scrapbook paper to the flap to make it a tad longer, then add tiny magnets to the flap and book cover. I chose to chop off the extra flap because the cat was demanding dinner and did not care about the aesthetics of my book.

9. Add the pockets, page covers, and whatever else you want to your new book. Don't forget the ric rac!

Now I feel ready to knock out that To Do list (with a smile on my face). Happy crafting!

GO HERE to see the supplies used and HERE if you are in need of a quick happy project.

You've Got Mail

 "In transit". Those are the words you like to read when you are tracking a package. They bring a bit of excitement to the day. A little while later you check again, because you are anxiously awaiting those Great British Baking Show oven mitts, only to see the same message. Days later, still no change. Sigh. I'm almost expecting random photos of my mitts in different locales to show up in my mailbox. This does not deserve a Paul Hollywood handshake folks.

That being said, I can tell you that I spend a great deal of time in my local post offices and have gotten to know a few employees fairly well. They (well, one postal clerk in particular) have told me of the employee shortages, the influx of holiday mail they are still delivering, plus some crazy weather that's happened in certain areas, which explained my perpetual "in transit" message. I have seen the teetering stacks of packages behind the counter. It makes me wish I had left my mail carrier a better Christmas gift tied to the mailbox. 

So instead of refreshing the USPS Tracking page over and over like a madwoman, I decided to make some art. 

Guess those GBBS mitts are still on the mind. Hm.

I used one of the kraft boxes from Alpha Stamps for a tiny project. This one is the 3x3 Kraft Folding Box with Sliding Lid with a cellophane window. I cut out a bunch of mail-themed collage images then glued them all over the box. A few words were printed, inked, and glued on. I added a header made from an oval in the Bakery Box Banners chipboard set and a Symmetrical Bronze Flourish.

The inside is pretty plain; I made four envelopes from black cardstock, added a stamp from the 4 Heart Icons Rubber Stamp Set, and called it a day. In case you're wondering, any envelope smaller than 2 1/2" square would fit. 

And here's a tutorial on how to fold the box:

fold along all the creases toward the inside except for the notched bits (those are folded the opposite way)

roll each side with the notched bits to the inside

and then join them

like so

tuck in the short tabs

and finally, roll the last two sides over to the middle. you can either use double sided tape or glue to hold the flaps in place.

Well that didn't take too long. Maybe the mitts are Out for Delivery now...

Thanks for checking out this little project, and I hope whatever you might be waiting on arrives soon!

Don't forget to GO HERE to see the supply list!

Let's Bake!

 I know a lot of people have decided to pass the time in the kitchen baking cookies, pastries, cakes, and bread. My daughter has perfected the cheesecake with zero cracks. Truly amazing. Since I do not bake anymore, I did the next best thing - miniature "baking"!

The Tiny Retro Bakery Box Kit from Alpha Stamps started me on this path, with its delightful kitchen themed buttons, new collage sheets, a tiny mixing bowl...ack! It is too much! So, naturally, I took that stuff along with some other bits and bobs and crammed it in a 7x7 Corner Room Box. Yay!

There's a work table in the center that holds pots, pans, and bowls, plus all of the baking accoutrements on the top: kitchen blender (eeek, there's a plug!), blue measuring cup (technically a coffee cup in a gorgeous retro color but a few swipes with a Sharpie turned it into a measuring cup), milk, muffin pan, rolling pin, cookie cutter, spatula, items from the kit, and a smattering of jars. 

                                       

A bit of paint has been added to the cutting board before being hung on the wall. I think it adds a nice touch, plus I really like that button. The shank was snipped off the back so it lays flat. The same was done to all of the buttons used, but I have a second set to sew onto something later. :)

The hutch in the back has tons of things on its shelves and inside the opening doors on the bottom, like a grater (another button!), honey jar, little lemon cakes, red canisters, more jars and containers, a rooster, and a canister for spoons and a whisk. (It is really a painted flower pot...)

Miniature baking can be just as enjoyable as real-life baking, just not as delicious. Not to mention a real disappointment to kids. Oh well!

Hope you have found some happiness in your day. Keep on crafting!

You can GO HERE to see all the fun bits used in this little scene.