A Wedding Coach for Cinderella

 Cinderella has made her appearance at Alpha Stamps for February (and I was ecstatic about getting a 3D version of the fanciful Cinderella Coach Album). The coach is smaller than the album at about 3 1/2" high by 5" wide; it is dainty enough for a wedding cake!

I didn't stray too far from a classic version of a royal wedding carriage, or at least my version of one, and painted it white with little adornments. The bride is supposed to be the star of the show, right? 

The Tiny Dot Dresden Borders worked out nicely for window trim, so that and a few fancy embellishments was all it really needed. And a bunch of roses. Oh, and tulle curtains. 

And maybe two suede cushions with gold trim. Plus a coating of White Opal Liquid Pearls to give the coach a pearlescent shimmer to it. (I just painted it on over the white gesso base coat.) But that's about it. Well, I did add a door handle- a snippet of toothpick and a flat back brass stud- and sprinkled a few more of those studs here and there.

The last thing I added was a white paper lollipop stick on the back of the carriage because I wanted a place to tie golden jingle bells. That's it!

Okay, okay, I also hacked the coach up a tad, but it is an easy alteration. Here is the assembled coach from the kit, and I just gave it a different floor: 

Mark floor of coach at the door opening.

This is the floor of the coach. The back of the coach is on the left and the front is on the right. Mark a line that is 22mm from the left and 37mm from the right. Cut along lines. Save that extra piece!

The two new pieces have been glued in place and the extra will be glued to the underside of the seats.

Cut two 12mm sections from the extra piece. Save that thin strip!

Glue 12mm pieces to the underside of floor and along edge of door on both sides.

Cut an 80mm x 48mm rectangle from thin cardboard, then wrap it around a coffee mug and hold it in place with a rubber band. This really should be Step 1, so by the time you get to this stage your cardboard will have a nice curve to it. Anyway!

Glue the thin strip left over from the last step on the underside of the coach, about 15mm from the right edge. The front of the coach is still on the right and the back of the coach is on the left.

Run a line of glue along the edge of the strip and also along the piece that protrudes slightly from the back.

Hold. Hold. Hold.

Then bippity, boppity, boo! A coach fit for a Princess, no Fairy Godmother needed.

HERE is a list of supplies I used

Cat Tales ATC Book

Paper toys delight me like nothing else. Airplanes, pop-ups, the "cootie catcher" every kid in grade school folded and played with, jumping jacks, and paper dolls...I love all of that. When I saw the new Wain Cat Paper Doll collage sheet at Alpha Stamps, I knew I had to get my paws on them! The sheet I used features Cinderella, Aladdin, the Princess, and the Magician, and Robin Hood, but there is also More Wain Cat Paper Dolls of Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, and Dick Whittington. Louis Wain's illustrations of anthropomorphic cats are fun all by themselves, but then to have the added pleasure of dressing and accessorizing these big-eyed kitties? Well, that's the cat's pajamas!

As soon as I had cut out all of the bits and pieces, clothed everycat in their appropriate attire, and reenacted a few scenes, I wondered how to store the paper dolls and keep them all together. What about a book? An ATC sized book that can be slipped into a pocket and carried along? 

Inside the book are three envelopes, one for each story, and in the back are two removable backgrounds that can be unfolded. The backgrounds are also reversible for maximum playability.  Here is the middle envelope opened up with Aladdin and the Princess ready to entertain. The tuxedo kitty on the front is attached with a brad so her head can be swiveled inside the book's cover.

Poor Cinderella, always sweeping, and her only friends are the mice.

Ho, ho! What's this? She's found the purrfect Prince! You better pounce home, Cinderella, because your time is up!

Aladdin and his pre- and post Genie outfits:

And my favorite one, Robin Hood, with all of his accoutrements. Maybe Aladdin and Cinderella will stand in for Little John and Maid Marian.

Finis!

If you want to make your own ATC sized envelope, here is how you do it:

Cut a 5" square from cardstock. Place your square on an envelope maker and score a line at 1 3/4" on opposite sides. Turn and score a mark at 2 1/4" on opposite sides. Or measure the same distance from the corners and score if you don't have an envelope scoreboard.

Using a corner rounder, punch the corners on the long sides. Snip off tiny triangles where the score lines meet. 

On one long side, mark and cut a slit to hold the top flap of the envelope.

Fold over the sides and apply glue (or use a tape runner) to edges, then fold up the bottom. Stuff it full of paper cats!

Happy Crafting!

All of the supplies I used (it's all paper!) can be found HERE.

Plus a few stash items:

Sizzlits Tim Holtz Alphabetical Die
Small Brad (for the swiveling head of the cat on the front)
Cardboard

Love You Like No Otter

It is Valentine's Day and I stink at card making. Can't do it. They drive me crazy. So I made a tiny otter to send to Kid 1 instead.

He's a little derpy looking, but it is kind of endearing.

I think she'll like it nonetheless.

Hope your Valentine's Day was like no otter!