Steampunkish Bird

This is the second coaster I created for Alpha Stamps with the theme Birds in Hats.  I am constantly drawn to steampunk but never seem to be able to nail it.

I think overall everything needed to be bigger and then it would have looked better.  Wax is holding down all the clock parts along the edge of the coaster.  And I used a number of watch parts on his hat. 

I was also kinda going for a Tin Man heart thing but in this case a heart that needed a sprocket to work.  Yes, that is a red heart inside the gold bird. 

I twisted a bunch of wires together to make a connection between the compass parts and the clock parts on the bottom. 

There is still time to sign up for the Birds in Hats Swap, sign ups end this Sunday June 24th. I would love to see you join us.

 

I still have not heard from the winner of the kit I created for the Meet The Alpha Stamps Design Team Blog Hop

my winner

Jennifer Pearson Vanier

who said... What great fun! Lovely work

 

 

Please see the original announcement post for instructions on contacting me.  If I haven't heard from you by tomorrow morning I will be drawing for a new winner. 

 



Paper Feather Tutorial

I first shared this tutorial as part of my "Meet The Alpha Stamp Design Team" post where I promised I would post this separately making it easier to find.  So, here it is but first thing first...

I still have not heard from the winner of the kit I created

Well, it's been a few weeks and I still haven't heard from my winner

Jennifer Pearson Vanier

who said... What great fun! Lovely work

Please see the original announcement post for instructions on contacting me. 

This Friday, if I still haven't heard from you, I will be redrawing.  If you post a comment on this post I will add your name into the original pile (even if that means you will get 2 entries).  I really want to give away this kit!  It is fabulous!

Okay, onto the tutorial

This tutorial is an alteration of one I found on Pinterest. 

Karen B. of Todolwen made some beautiful Hymn Page Feathers and supplied a wonderful tutorial

Here is an image of Karen's feathers

Print out or draw your own feathers. 

Trace the template onto your desired paper and cut the feathers out.
Because my paper was thin, when I went to cut the feathers out I stacked two sheets of paper together and then cut. However if your paper is thicker remember you will need to have a front and back for your feather.

Now it's time to cut some wire.
I used a medium gauge wire but suggest a nice thick one. Cut the wire slightly longer than the feather.

Glue the wire in place and smush the feather pieces together.

Now it's time to really turn it into a feather.
Start cutting downward from the edge towards the wire. I like to make sure the cuts are nice and uneven.

Give your cut feathers a little edge ruffling by running your finger along them and curling the paper in towards the wire.

Karen wrapped her stems with matching paper, I had a really hard time doing that so I decided to wrap my stems in coordinating seam binding. I dipped the wire end into the glue and curled the seam binding around it. Once it was dry I cut off the excess ribbon.

For some reason I distress everything, so the feathers got a quick brushing of tea dye and vintage photo distress inks.

Not so surprising is that I added glitter. I put a small amount on my finger and ran it along the edge of the feather, then sprinkled the glitter on.

And voila, mini feathers!

Thank you Karen for the wonderful tutorial and the inspiration to make them. I hope you like the alterations I made and that they inspire you to make some paper feathers of your very own.

Kill 2 Birds with one Stone

A while ago Alpha Stamps held a blog hop and the design team shared some of our work.  Well I didn't share it all so here are some more pictures of my "Kill two Birds with one Stone" piece.

As I mentioned in the blog hop I like to tell stories with my artwork.  This one I came up with after seeing the phrase "Kill to birds with one Stone" on the Bird Words Collage Sheet created by Teri Calia

So I found two lovely birds topped their heads with a hat similar to the one I've always seen depicted on Marie Antoinette in her final moments (from collage sheet Just Hats) tossed a Guillotine and a couple of stones in there and voila I've killed two birds with one stone. 

There is still time to sign up for the Birds in Hats Swap, sign ups end this Sunday June 24th.  I would love to see you join us. 

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

What little girl didn't love the Nancy Drew Mysteries?  For Andrea L's contribution to the Stamp Out Crime ATC swap she selected one of my all time Favorite Nancy Drew Novels.  Andrea did a fantastic job incorporating all the major themes of this book, the lake house, the locket and even one of Niko Van Dyke's records! 

Nancy Drew and her friends are plunged into a network of strange events when they visit Misty Lake. The very night they arrive, they meet pretty, red-haired Cecily Curtis, who seeks Nancy's help in solving two mysteries: one concerning Cecily's fiance, Niko Van Dyke, a popular singer who believes that his record company is cheating him of royalt... more »y payments; the other, involving a family treasure hidden before the start of the Civil War--Cecily's only clue being half of a gold locket.

To view other Stamp Out Crime contributions please select the label stamp out crime from my blogs left hand sidebar. 

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

Two women competing for a man's heart — Two queens fighting to the death for dominance — The untold story of Mary, Queen of Scots — This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often negle... more »ct the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.

The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman.

This is a review of the Audio Version

I absolutely loved listening to The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory and was thrilled when I realized that The Other Queen was performed in a similar fashion - with different voices/people reading the various points of view.  There are three different point of view in this novel, Mary Queen of Scots, George Talbot and Bess of Hardwick.  Each reader captured the characters personality perfectly. 

Mary in captivity, by Nicholas Hilliard, c. 1578

I know very little about the history of Mary Queen of Scots so the historical portion of Gregory's book was intriguing to me.  Especially since Gregory decided to write this from Mary's point of view instead of Elizabeth's.  My one issue with Mary's character is that she seemed very much like Catherine in The Constant Princess (which I didn't care for), always steadfast in what she believed in and never giving up. 

George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury

George drove me nuts.  He was a very repetitive character, always thinking and saying the same things.  When he fell in love with Mary he became simpering.  He never once came across as a strong person that a Queen would put in charge of imprisoning the rival to her thrown. 

Bess of Hardwick, 1550s

Now Bess was an extremely interesting character and I think I could read an entire book about her.  Gregory portrays her as a woman who doesn't need a man but knowing the time she lives in puts up with husbands.  She is sufficient in accounting, dealing with her tenants and has a level head.  George is Bess's fourth husband so she had already acrewed her money and knowledge.  The interaction between Bess and George is also interesting.  They at one point seem to have been in love but once Mary is in the picture everything changes.  But George doesn't leave her out in the cold, that might be his only redeeming quality.

All in all listening to this book was probably better than reading it since it was a bit repetitive (I think that would come across worse in the books).  I am not thrilled with the Title choice, it is a little to close to The Other Boleyn Girl for my taste.  I'm glad I listen to it because I know a bit more history now, however I would recommend The Boleyn Inheritance on audio before I would this one.

I am linking up with 

I'm going to give this one 3 sprinkles of glitter

Marie Folded Cloth Heart

 Heart closed

Terri Gordon came up with another fabulous MAMA Swap.  This time participants created a Folded Cloth Heart to send to an assigned partner.

No glue to be used on this heart, this is to be sewn, either by machine or hand.

When you print out the pattern it should be 6 inches high by 8 1/2 wide. These are alot of fun to make, use beautiful laces and you can decorate your heart anyway you would like, you can also use color if you wish.

Rhonda and I were partnered together and both of us are ecstatic to be finally creating for the other one.  Especially since Rhonda is the wonderful person who invited me to join MAMA

 Outside of the heart

Originally I wanted to go darker, Marie without her head, because Rhonda loves the dark side.  However I just couldn't make it work so I went with the cupcake theme.  Most of the items I have used can be purchased through Alpha Stamps.

 Outside of the heart open

Terri made a wonderful tutorial that I followed most of, I had a lot of seed beads to sew on so I closed up my heart a bit differently than Terri suggested and it worked and there are no messing sew marks showing.

Inside of the heart 

The Inside design came to me before the outside.  I absolutely love these Eat Cupcakes Bookmark images that I purchased from Olgas Designs on Etsy

The cupcake images are from Alpha Stamps. I printed everything out on fabric and sewed them on the heart adding seed beads to enhance them.

The photos don't do this piece any justice, which is a shame because I really wish you all could see how pretty it is.  At least Rhonda will :)

And yes, I sewed on each and everyone of those pearls.  And yes, my fingers hurt.  So I am off to find some lotion and get started on my next project.  Hope you enjoy.  

Meet the Alpha Stamp Design Team Blog Hop Winner!

Last Week Alpha Stamps held a fabulously fun Blog Hop to introduce the Design Team.  I was thrilled to take part and loved all the comments. 

I offered, as a prize, a kit to make your very own "Slices of a Birdhouse" 

Once the hop was over I headed over to Random.Org and let the computer guru do it's thing.  The number picked was 4

and that number goes with.....

Jennifer Pearson Vanier

who said... What great fun! Lovely work

Congratulations Jennifer please take a moment to e-mail me cmoh@earthlink.net or leave a comment (I won't publish it) with your address so I can send off your prize.

Thank you all that took part in the hop, can't wait to do it again. 

Art Share ~ Stamp Out Crime

It's anohter ATC by the Stamp Out Crime group.  This simple, sunny, bright piece was cretaed by our fearless leader Sarette.  She was inspired by the book bellow, Unraveled Sleeve by Monica Ferris.  It is the 4th in a series called the Needlecraft Mysteries.

The art of needlecraft requires patience, discipline, and creativity. So, too, does the art of detection. Just ask Betsy Devonshire—who’s learning that life in a small-town needlecraft shop can reveal an unexpected knack for knitting…and a hidden talent for unraveling crime.

Unraveled Sleeve

Betsy Devonshire has settled into her new home in Excelsior, Minnesota, as owner of the town’s needlecraft shop. So why is she suffering from terrifying nightmares? She hasn’t a clue—but she thinks maybe it would help to get away for a while. With her friend Jill in tow, she heads north for a “stitch-in” at a remote, rustic lodge. But her nightmares only get worse—especially after she finds a dead woman no one else had seen. Then the body disappears—and she knows she won’t get any rest until she untangles the mysterious threads of the crime….

Sarette really likes the Needlecraft Mystery's because she did a 2nd ATC inspired by it.  This ATC was created after she read Thai Die (Needlecraft Mystery, Bk 12) by Monica Ferris.  I need to ask Sarette if these books need to be read in order. 

Just back from a trip to Thailand, Doris Valentine is eager to show Betsy and her other stitching friends her souvenirs. She also has a small stone Buddha that she agreed to deliver to a local antiques store. When Doris meets the dealer, he's surprised she threw out the dirty rag it was wrapped in, though relieved the statue's delicate h... more »ands aren't damaged.

That night, Doris's apartment is broken into, and some of her souvenirs are stolen. Than the antiques shop owner is found murdered - and the Buddha is missing. Betsy starts to wonder about the dingy wrapper she retrieved from the trash - made of silk and stitched with rare, exotic embroidery. Is the statue dangerous, or did its silk cocoon conceal more than carved stone?

To view other Stamp Out Crime ATC's select the Label Stamp Out Crime from the left hand toolbar on this blog.  Enjoy!

House Journal

It's been a long time coming but this is the last of the Circle of Friends round Robbin Journal Entries for this rotation. 

Andrea's Journal was in the shape of chipboard houses, she asked participants to do whatever they wanted but no personal photo's.

So I decided to make a "Tea House" out of one of the houses.

I stained the book pages with tea and brushed some tea leaf bits onto the page.

I made the window frame out of paper clay, painted it white, stained it with tea and then stamped it with a script stamp. 

The opposite side of the house is what's going on inside, beyond the window. 

Yesterday I shared a tutorial on how to add texture to foil without an embossing system.  Well, here is that project in it's entirety.

You can view the tutorial HERE

This is my "House of Blue's" which was the first idea that popped into my head.  I'm not 100% pleased with how it turned out but they can't all be perfect, right.

I used some of my paperclay stars (available in my store) to fill in some of the open spaces. 

And that's that.  I had a great time creating for this round of journals and I can't wait to start the next journal rotation.