holiday decor – Page 23 – Karla's Cottage

Easter tree

By Karla Nathan / April 14, 2014

We dyed eggs last week, a bit early for Easter, but we'll do more closer to the holiday.

And while we had the dye out, we had a great idea to dye lace too.

After Easter last year, I bought a few boxes of Paas for 10 cents each, figuring that stuff is fine to save till the next year. Well, it's not. We had to grind the tablets up, we couldn't get them to disolve. And the colors never really took off, they stayed pastel. Which is fine for me, but Sugarwings like a blast of color in everything she does.

We'll buy some fresher dye for more eggs later on, but this batch was excellent for making ribbons to hang plastic eggs from.

And Joy Joy Angel Joy Nathan thinks that makes the best cat toys she has ever seen.

I wonder how many will still be hung from the tree by the time Easter arrives?

Chances are they will be all over the farm. Dew drop has already plucked the few within her reach.

But there is no way that Dewdrop and Joy Joy can reach them all. We have some pretty high up there.

Charlotte Bunny Baskets

holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 30, 2014

Do you ever have a day that just flows happily through you? Where time just melts away because you are so involved with what you are doing that all of a sudden you realize it is evening only because your tummy reminds you that dinner should be served soon, but you are happy because you know you don't have to be responsible for that dinner?

I don't get those as often as I'd like. Usually, there are too many interruptions where every day life gets in the way.

But recently, I had a DAY ALL TO MYSELF.

About 12 hours straight of not talking to or seeing another person. I took advantage of it by working in the studio.

And the first part of the day was used to finish all of my Birdsong kits. That was a happy feeling right there. Then, I mindlessly sewed crepe paper ruffles. While that might sound boring, and sometimes it would be for me, on this day, when I had all the TIME in the world, it was almost like meditation.

After sewing all that crepe, I was ready to play with it, and figured out a way to turn Charlottes into Bunnies.

Then, I used that crepe paper to embellish some vintage nut cups. And line them with the moss scraps on the table from making the fairy kits for Birdsong. Most of the supplies were stuff that I hadn't cleaned up yet from making the kits (which means that my workspace was about 10").

It felt great to have no time limits, and nothing calling me away from my desk. I didn't have to pick anyone up, take anyone someplace, or even feed anybody. I just had a glorious, long stretch of TIME all to myself to work play. And to use the Good Stuff. Creating with soft, old velvet, faded millinery, and sweet Charlottes was a balm to my stressed soul.

And even better? My sweet son dropped by with Dewdrop about dinner time with a pizza. I had the best of both worlds, not only did I get all this TIME to myself, I still got to end the day listening to the giggles of a 3 year old and I got a dinner that I didn't have to cook.

Now, I have the resolve to tackle my taxes and all the other stuff piling up. I needed that TIME, uninterrupted, to be creative and get recharged.

And I even got these listed in the Boutique, if you'd like one.

St Paddy’s Day Parade

Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / March 24, 2014

We had a perfect day downtown Lawrence for the St Patrick's Day parade. Sugarwings danced the day away, awash in the joy of it all.

And with her brushes with princesses and beauty queens. Who knew Kansas was so chock full of royalty?

We had all of the parade court go by, one at a time, Miss Kansas, Mrs. Kansas, Miss Lawrence, Miss Douglas Co., Miss Topeka, Miss Johnson Co. and more.

Sugarwing's own crown broke early in the day, but she had to have it on every time a princess came by. Her grandfather was happy to hold it in place for her so she could greet her fellow royal friends. And so many of them were so sweet to her, making sure to greet her, eye to eye and say something.

My husband had the brilliant idea to go downtown early and park our truck so we could have a base to hang out in. We picked up a bag of green crap beautiful holiday decor, to deck out the truck and make it festive.

I let the girls do all the decorating themselves. We had green tinsel and leprechaun window clings everywhere.

Being there early, turned it into an almost all day adventure. We had a picnic, did some decorating, went for a walk, but mostly just hung out and had fun together.

Dewdrop didn't get the whole Irish concept, and insisted on wearing pink. But did consent to wear a green mermaid tale costume. And every once in a while would put on a hat. But mostly, she was enthralled by green moustaches and beards on the guys. And thought that leprechauns were Santas.

Personally, I was into the green thing. I got a hat from the dollar store and spent a couple minutes glittering it up and added some old millinery flowers with a couple safety pins.

And my witchy socks were called leprechaun socks for the day.

Sugarwings was all rainbows and green sparkles from head to toe. And used one of the dollar store hats to gather tons of candy that was being passed out.

She was very good about not eating it, and when Fin came by from one of the floats, she gave most of it to him. And that guy tossed it to the crowds when he got back on his bus. I was proud of them all for being good sharers. For them, it was more about the collecting and tossing than about a sweet tooth.

Our favorite entry in the parade, was of course, the Hoop Mamas. Sugarwing's Hippy Chick mommy and all of their friends ran over to give hugs.

They won 3rd place this year. Not bad, considering how much time and effort went into so many floats. These girls won with their dance routines.

We thought this garden center float filled up with baby fairies, was adorable.

That one got Dewdrop's vote. I think she appreciated that the fairies also preferred pink.

Downtown was pretty crazy and the traffic was bumper to bumper after it was over, but I don't think I'd ever want to go to this parade without the pickup again. We loved having a home base, and seats.

We were up high and had a great view from the tailgate. And when our friends came right up to the truck with their horses, Dewdrop had plenty of space to run away from them.

Funny, that kid loves "My Little Pony" more than anything, but when a real horse came up to see her, I practically had to peel her off the roof of the truck cab.

Downtown Lawrence is such a pretty place to spend a day. No matter what day of the year you go. But St Pat's is a big deal around here and they sure know how to celebrate it.

This year it was even better, with the weather cooperating, and the 17th fell during Spring Break for all the local kids.

I hope we have the luck of the Irish again next year! I already can't wait. What fun.

Glittered peat pot baskets

holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / March 18, 2014

I've been in an Easter egg kind of mood. This little paper mache one is painted metallic with glitter, inside and out, then decked out in its Sunday best with lots of millinery blooms.

Because, seriously, can you have too many flowers? Even on a tiny egg, I like to pile them on.

This one has a stand made of an old tart tin.

And this has a peat pot nesting spot.

I thought that properly foofed up peat pots would make sweet Easter baskets.

Some I filled.

This one has a nest with a felted chick.

And some I left empty to fill with treats.

They aren't necessarily for Easter only, they could be sweet May Day baskets, too, don't you think?

But when they are all together in a group with the eggs,they sure do make it look like the Bunny is on his way!

These are available in the Boutique.

Another person’s trash….

bird song art event, holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 12, 2014

As I've been gathering up fairy making materials to fill kits for Birdsong, I've taken a few breaks here and there to make a couple of other things too.

Beth came over for a craft day and brought me a bag of her trash. Now, that might sound odd, but she throws away stuff that I am thrilled to get. Like a stack of old books, half started projects, piles of ribbon, doilies, sewing supplies, all sorts of stuff that she cleaned out of her studio.

We thought the little fairies were going to join us for craft day, but they were busy outside all afternoon.

This cardboard box lid was in there. She'd lined it with the bird print on text and some ribbon, then quit. I couldn't leave it like that. I added beeswax to the background, more trim, some rhinestones, a nest and more birds.

It reminded us of that challenge on Top Chef where the chefs go from station to station doing the next step in a dish others started.

I'm setting this aside to use for a drawing prize for Birdsong 4. I'll be using the doilies she brought over to wrap up drawing prizes too. I'm already setting things aside to make up bundles of gifts to pick from when I pull a name out of the flowered hat during our weekend.

And I have a bonus gift too, from Gwen McClure She is giving us a $50 gift certificate to Bottoms Up!

Sponsors who give us little prizes for the gift bags or something for the drawing will be added to the side bar of my blog for a year. Plus, I'll show off your kind gift on my blog.

And you will make the Birdsong peeps very happy! If you want to be a sponsor, please email me at:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

This was made with trash from Beth too, or at least some of it. She tried out the hot wax I was using on the bird piece, but didn't like the technique. So, I rescued her waxed French postcard and layered it with lace, flowers, and this baby picture.

The wax was interesting, but I doubt if I'll make much use of it. I am too impatient to get it hot enough, and it was gloppy and hard to work with. I like things I can do without thinking about ahead of time or planning.

Gee, that sounds lazy.

Is it that hard to warm up a pot of wax before I need it????

I've added the baby collage to the Boutique, along with a few Easter Eggs on stands too.

Here comes Pretty Cottontail

holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 1, 2014

Lately, I've been working on building kits for Birdsong, but I just had to take a little break to create something JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT. Just because I wanted to make something.

I'd found this styrofoam, hollow egg at a flea mkt, years ago and came across it in the cabinet while looking for something I needed for the kits I was gathering together. At that point, I simply had no choice but to stop everything else I was doing, and sit down to remake this thing.
The interior of it was filled with a scene that included a bunch of this kind of stuff. The outside of it was covered in pale blue fabric and crispy, cheap lace. Ugh. I should have got a photo of the whole thing, but you are probably glad that I didn't, it wasn't all that pretty to see.

I remade some of the pieces from its center into this. The horses are saved for something else. I thought it would be cuter with a bunny pulling the cart. The wheels were painted and put back on, but I added mother of pearl buttons over them, to match the MOP paint I used on the carriage.

The egg itself got all of the lace ripped off (I'd love to know what fantastic glue had been used on it, that stuff really held!), and I decoupaged right over the fabric with pages torn from an old French book. That was a little harsh for me, so I brushed over the words with cream, then with white Mother of Pearl paint. And over that, some fine, clear glitter.

It's pretty from the back too, but simple.

When I started on it, the plan was jelly bean colors. Hmm, that didn't happen, did it? It turned into a soft, low color piece, which is often how things go with me. I love the tones of vintage lace and old pages, and lean towards using them even when I planned on doing something else.

To me, it makes the piece less Easter-y, something that you could display year round if you wanted to.

What will the bunny be bringing to you this year? If you'd like one of these pieces in your basket, you can find them here.

Sweethearts and some card making tips

celebrations, Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, how to's, Sugarwings, Valentine's Day, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / February 21, 2014

I hope you had a good Valentines Day? We sure did. Actually, a week of it! My Handsome Husband took me out to dinner one night, then the next, we all got dressed up and went out for a fancy meal with Sugarwings, her mommy and her mommy's sweetheart. And this was all before Valentines ever arrived. On the day of, I had the grand fairies and we decided to play with food coloring out in the snow.

Of course, not all of the artwork can be hearts and love notes when you are creating with a 3 year old, and most of it all got trampled. When Ryan came down his stairs later as it was starting to get dark out, he thought there had been some sort of massacre in the snow from all the red squirted everywhere.

Sugarwings took off for a weekend with her mommy while Dewdrop spent some time with us. We got all dressed up with her and went out on the town again, to do a little dining and dancing while a friend's band played.

Then, and yes there is MORE. My husband and I went out to dinner AGAIN with some friends. I think I might just forget how to cook. I could get used to this life of restaurants and celebrations.

Except it all came to a crashing end when I had more gum surgery on Monday morning. No more dining for me for a while, it's jello time now.

Between galas and bashes and dinners and celebrating, I made up some cards to send out. These are a little different for me, not all elements are pure vintage. I had this rose print paper, and thought it was perfect for the holiday.

To start, I folded a chocolate brown sheet of card stock to make the card, and inked all the edges inside and out. Next, I cut out the rose paper to fit on the card, and with an exacto blade, cut slits in the faux picture frame on the paper, to slide in a Victorian die cut cherub.

To make the frame a bit more 3d, I used a soft brown marker to outline the inside of the frame and create shadows.

Around the card, I doodled with a metallic gold ink pen. The message inside the card is with the same ink.

To finish, I glued two sets of millinery petals, and added a red rhinestone to the center.

This card was made in much the same way, then I added velvet ribbon, a crepe paper ruffle, a painted brass piece and a millinery leaf to the edge.

For the brass, I used Martha Stewart craft paint that is made for metal, painted it on and wiped it off.

This time, the card also features a painted metal piece, that I've tied ribbons to. On top of it, I glued some vintage butterfly wings and on those, a pink cake topper lady, who is now a fairy.

I had another pink lady, and used her over some die cut butterfly wings that my friend, Hope, had given me. I layered her over another painted brass piece and some lace.

This one was made after I ran out of the pretty rose paper but was still in a card making mood. I cut sheet music into a heart, inked the edges and added a crepe paper ruffle to the back.

Onto the card, I added a Victorian die cut lady. Her dress had been baby blue, but I changed that with markers for a more Valentiney look. Her wings are two different butterflies printed onto vellum paper, and slid under her shoulders.

I added some millinery and a touch of sparkle with Stickles glitter.

I just love the way vellum paper looks with images printed on it. This photo is on vellum, and I cut a heart out of sparkly, white scrap book paper to layer underneath, then put both over a tan mat for contrast. It went into a frame, not onto a card.

If you'd like to try the snow painting, it is simple as can be. A small amount of food coloring in a jug of water is all it takes to make the paint. Then, put it into squirt bottles. It is surprising how fast it goes, though, so be prepared for a lot of refilling.

PS- if you'd like to sign up for a chance to win a copy of Where Women Create, please leave a comment on my previous post, or on FB.

Free Images to Sweeten someone’s day for Valentines

flowers, free images, holiday decor

By Karla Nathan / January 27, 2014

There isn't much that is more fun to me than a day in the studio. Especially with friends. Which is why I adore Birdsong so much and why I want to plan more mini workshops at the cottage.

Last week, I was able to have a little get together in there with a few good friends, and little Dewdrop. One friend works for United Way and was putting on a coordinated workday with the Boys and Girls Club to make some cards to deliver with Meals on Wheels for Valentines Day.

She asked her crafty friends to help with some samples to display for the event, and brought her supplies over for us to come up with some cards using them. Well, it's always fun to delve into a pile of new goodies, of course, so I was all for it. Since I usually work with vintage papers, it was a challenge to try something different than what I am used to. Lori brought pretty scrapbook papers, so it was a joy to try them out.

Still, I did make some copies of flowers and old Valentines, plus some messages to add inside the cards.

I'll post them here for you to use too. Maybe you'll make a card for someone who otherwise might not be getting one this year?

Some of these I might have posted before, some are new. All would be pretty used in a Valentine! Click to open into a larger window and save the image to your computer before you print it off.

A Gingerbread Dream House for the fairies

holiday decor, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / January 21, 2014

Last week, Sugarwings and I took advantage of the warmer weather and took our Gingerbread Dreamhouse out to the Fairy Berry Trail for the fairies to move into.

(after cutting out a doorway, so they could walk into it)

I asked her why she was sitting it on a table instead of under a tree on the ground and she looked at me like I was dense and reminded me that fairies can fly.

Then, she took the Santa out of the chimney and added a sparkly, blue fairy to greet the new occupants.

I'm sure the little people will be thrilled with their Dreamhouse.

Unless it is devoured by wildlife before the little Dorkies discover it in the woods. Albie Brave and Strong has had his eyes on the tasty looking home since we first started smearing icing on it.

In case Sugarwings goes out to check on how her fairies are liking the new abode and instead of housing sprites, it has been eaten by woodland creatures, I explained to her that as soon as the fae folk move in, it disappears into the magic fairy realm and becomes invisible.

Which means, I'd better go out and check to see if there are remnants of it lying around before she finds those, huh?

Birdsong 4 is now open for registration to new attendees. There might be an opening or two, I'm holding a couple of spots for past sponsors and guests who are checking dates and info, but these seats might be up for grabs. I'm starting a waiting list just in case. Please let me know if you are interested in coming or being a sponsor.

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

A Holiday Ornament making party

celebrations, family, holiday decor, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / January 11, 2014

Is it too late to still be talking about Christmas?

I feel like I missed a chunk of the holiday since I got so sick with a 24 hour bug that I was in bed for almost a week. Luckily, the rest of the family didn't get hit so hard. But I was a pure wimp about it.

So, I feel a bit behind with my holiday recaps. Plus, I'm writing this ahead of my trip to Hawaii so my blog will update while I'm away, making this not quite as old of news to me as it is to you….

On the weekend before Christmas, we had an ornament making party. It was a big, pitch in dinner, with lots of tasty treats, about 40 or so people, and I filled a table in the studio with tons of supplies so whoever wanted to make something for their tree could snip and paste and glitter away. Most of the husbands preferred beers in the office to glitter in the studio. The kids and moms were all able to make at least a couple ornies each.

I think Finn set the record, he was a regular Santa's Helper Elf. That kid was cranking them out.

And, I'd say the glitter was certainly used in full force! I will be sweeping up glitter for months. Or not, I kind of like having it sparkling up the floors.

Actually, it was one of many ornament parties I went to. First, the workshop early in the season, then a few friends over the next week to make some of the leftover projects. And my pal, Tami, invited me to a holiday ornament party at her house with some of our Birdsong friends.

Those were all such fun, that I threw this big one with the dinner party too. But poor Sugarwings, who was so excited about helping me plan it, got sick and couldn't come. I had a mini party for her where she could craft her own sparkly creations to make it up to her.

I'd bought a bagful of those papermache shapes on strings at Michael's when they were 40% and I had a 25% off everything coupon. These made for some fun concoctions, and I think I should go back and get more if they are still on clearance there . I have a feeling that they are gone by now. They are good to work with for the adults as well as the kids.

I wish I'd had my camera out more. I was elbow deep in sparkly stuff and too busy to take many pictures til things slowed down and all the kids had been helped with the glue gun and basic steps.

Over the years, I've had other seasonal parties with crafts in the studio. I love making things so much, these are my favorite kind of parties. I'm blessed with the space to do this and also have more supplies than I'll ever use. Might as well share, huh?

Speaking of supplies, my friend, Jen, had given me a stack of photo paper she wasn't going to use. Some how, some old photos (copies) of her relatives were left in the envelopes, but I wasn't sure if they were from her or some I had, or what, because it was a year or so later that I opened them and I had lots of pictures and photo paper.

She saw the photos I had out for everyone to cut and play with and recognized her grandma in them. She and her daughter had a great time making family themed ornaments to give away for Christmas. And it was cute to hear her daughter come over and say, "Mom, can I have another relative, please?"

Gosh, I hated to see the holidays come to an end. In my house, all the decor was packed up and stored away on Jan.1st. But there is still a silver and gold explosion of Christmas out in the studio. I have a feeling that when I return from Hawaii, I will be wishing I'd got that all boxed up too. Heck, I didn't even have a chance to clean up the room from the party yet.

That will be one of the first things on my list to do when I get settled. Because the girls and I have new toys to play with, I got these art sets at Michael's for them (those go on sale every year for a couple dollars) and Sugarwings bought one for me too! She had earned money from selling dyed bottle brush trees on Etsy and took that to her school holiday shop where things are donated by the community for kids to buy.

We were so tickled to see that we'd got the same gifts for each other. I can't wait till we get to sit down in the studio, spread out all the colors and give them a whirl.