vintage paper/collage art

The Beauty at Bridgerton

friends, Lori's Class, Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

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I am home from a varied and jam packed full of fun trip.

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And speaking of jam packed- you should have seen my luggage!

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I started my journey flying to Asheville, then hiking with my baby boy, then off to Charleston in a rental car  for Jenn Hayslip’s Bridgerton event.  I had one bag filled with kits to teach a class.

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Plus my normal supplies to take my pal, Lori Oles’ class, as well as a selection of items to sell, and even more supplies for projects to work on at the beach.

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Siesta Key was the final flight of my trip, off to see my sissies.
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My two, overly stuffed, giant pieces of luggage and equally bulging carryon had to include warm clothes for the mountains, dress up things for the art event, and beachy outfits. Along with kits, supplies, wares for the market, and little gifties.

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All I can say is thank goodness that suitcases have wheels.  Even if they don’t like thresholds and rolling onto elevators , those wheels made the juggling of all those bags possible.
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Still, even with all that packing, I screwed up.  I didn’t pack proper attire for the big party.  I brought a dress, but it wasn’t fancy enough.  So, the kind hostess, who also has multiple, amazing, to die for closets full of gorgeousness, had me try on her clothing until we found something that could work on a grandma attending a ball.  

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Jenn’s wardrobe is suitable for being the bell of the ball every day of her life and it was a joy to be invited to play in those closets!  Here is what she wore.  And the dress she loaned to Lori.  Neither one of us packed right.

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Everyone else brought their finest gowns!  Oh my, the dresses were lovely.

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Looked at this beauty! Wow!

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Jenn’s adorable husband got it right and was a great sport while looking cute as can be.

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Jennifer does not miss one detail when it comes to making every aspect of her events perfect.

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So I felt bad about letting her down with my lack of fabulousness.

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But that kind hearted lady was gracious and generous about finding a fix for my attire.

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I felt very pampered instead of embarrassed by the way she handled my faux pas.

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Everything about being in this luxurious home was pampering. 
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And beautiful.

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Simply, delightfully, beautiful.

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I could’ve just wandered around and gawked all day, the home was that pretty.  Lori and I wanted to play a drinking game, where every time we heard someone say the word PRETTY, we would take a shot.  But, since I am a very bad drinker and have never done a shot in my life, I’d have lost quickly.  I’m more of a wine sipper.

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Every city that I visited and all the people I saw, made for such a lovely adventure.  I’ll leave you more pictures of Jenn’s perfectly detailed and pretty, pretty, pretty party for now, and will have more about the rest of my travels later.

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Cheers!

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Under a magic spell

Good JuJu, holiday decor, Romantic Gothic Ghosts, vintage paper/collage art

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I really, really, really loved making things for Good Juju for Halloween!

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I have collages, dolls, witchy hats, jewelry, mushrooms, ballerina bats (yes, that’s right, ballerina bat skeletons),  signs, painted pumpkins, and my possibly fave- magic potion bottles.

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For years, I have been tossing any vintage items I find that seem fitting for this season, into a drawer.  It was quite full of tempting treats to turn into my fun creations.

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I found it so inspiring to have an eclectic mix of ephemera and goodies to dig through.

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No two came out the same, since I was working with so many originals bits of vintagey goodness.  I had some photos that I’d copied, but the rest is all aged.

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While I was at it, I whipped up a few hand made pumpkins too.

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Here are some used as bottle toppers.

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I went overboard.

A bit.  

As I do.

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There is probably enough inventory for next year too.  I should add some to my online shop, but I will be teaching at Jenn’s fantastic event in Charleston mid October, so might not have time to get any listed in time for Halloween. 
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Now it is time to halt my spooky endeavors and switch to Christmas.

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Which isn’t a problem, I adore creating sparkling pretties for that holiday too.  
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It is hard to put away all of the supplies for October, and to stop myself from making way, way, too much of this stuff.  I’ve been on a roll.

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Knowing me, I will be every bit as much obsessed with  as happy to  make things for the next holiday. 
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I’ve been saving up Christmas ephemera and supplies too.  I have a feeling that crafting with those is  going to be taking over my life soon.

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I’m excited just thinking about it!

2D03CF26-A221-4AAF-B5C0-7152C698A972And it is extra nice to have a reason to make things, after quarantine and Ryan’s death.  I hadn’t had much inclination to create in volume like this.

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Juju Preview

antiques/junking, Good JuJu, Hand painted, holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art

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In my last post I mentioned that I got my booth set up at Good Juju before my trip to Indy.  I have more to add, and hopefully will get it there before the sale this Friday and Saturday. 
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My Halloween theme is in full force, with pumpkins and witches everywhere.

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I especially love these old sign letters that I found on a junking morning with the Guncles.  I’ve made BAT, EEK, BOO, and CROW with them.

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And of course, more mushies in fall and Halloween colors.   Thank you to everyone who bought my tutorial to make their own.  Please send pics when you do!  

If you’d like to make one, you can find them here.

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There are handmade witchy hats too.

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Plus vintage things, of course.

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With a spooky turn to them.

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As you can tell, I have embraced fall colors.  Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate their beauty and have e corporates them into my style.

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I hope you’ll be in to visit for the show!  Please drop by my booth to say hello if you do.

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There are still all sorts of things I need to tag and bring in yet, so this isn’t all of it.

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A lesson learned in the past, that I am remembering as I set up my Good Juju booth

antiques/junking, collections, Good JuJu, paintings, vintage paper/collage art

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Hmmm, now I am wondering why I spent so much time remaking my wall, when you don’t even see it.  Yep, this spot is FULL.

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Adding the “porch” awning allowed me to really overfill.  I love that structure that Rich built for me, even if it got buried and is now hidden.

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One reason that I am excited to join the Good Juju venue, is that while it is full of wonderful antiquities and awesome junk, there are also handmade items and lots of artwork.  

All of my favorite things, so right up my alley!

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I’ll be having hand painted furniture, vintage paper collage, old stuff, painted signs and canvases, and some jewelry.

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These necklaces are my “Recycled Charms”, pendants made of bits of jewelry I have collected over the years.

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This side of the door holds sterling silver with genuine stones.

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If all goes well, this can be a place where I can indulge my creative whims.

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While I am kinda rusty on the antique mall biz, and it’s been a while since I had a booth, I did set up my garage as a shop during Birdsong events, so I stayed, somewhat in the commerce world.

I’m hoping I’m just a little rusty, not completely out of it.

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No matter how long I’ve been away, there is one rule that will never leave me- I will NOT willy nilly buy things just because I think they will sell. I’ll only offer goods in my booth that I would want for myself, in my own home, and stay with my own sense of style. 

For one thing, you never know what you’ll get stuck with, so I have things I like just in case they do end up at my own home later on.  My house is furnished right now with leftovers that did not sell.

Also, with a small spot, I need to be able to coordinate the items and have a flow.  Although I do have to admit, that I’ve packed so much into this little corner that the flow could look more like a log jam, huh?

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I feel like everything I add to the spot should give me a little tug, one that says, “Hey, don’t sell that!  Think how great it would look on my living room wall! Or in the studio!  Or hey- I can make something with that!”

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Please wish me luck, it might take me a while to find my niche at this mall.  For now, I’m throwing all my faves into the spot and seeing how it goes. 
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A much delayed, simple project

cottage, vintage paper/collage art

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At my Peeps Craft Day, I had a couple of little side projects to get done too. Once we finished our Easter pictures, we all turned to our own things.  I made some labels for my various spray bottles in the bathroom.  

Finally.

 I like to have them out to use instead of keeping them in a cabinet, and it always bothered me that they never matched my bathroom. 

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Silly, because it was such a quick and easy thing to do.  That I had thought about for YEARS.  What makes me put off little projects like that?  It’s not like my plate was so full, I never had time.  

But maybe having them done and displayed wouldn’t have made me as happy as it does now, after looking at the previous labels for years as is?  I sure like them now!

Steampunk Vintage Violins

guncles, how to's, Travel, vintage paper/collage art

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This could be one of my all time favorite projects.  Randy had a violin he wanted to possibly modpodge, but then we got to talking and thinking and planning and brainstorming and getting excited and going through his stashes and well, it blossomed.

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He had so much cool stuff to work with!  Some was from sister, Terry, who sent him the gears and such, some was goodies he’d been collecting.

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We painted the violin black then glued down some lace for texture and painted it too.

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Next we picked out what we wanted to add to it, painted those bits and bobs all black too, including some small frames we placed vintage photos in, then covered in paper glaze.

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The mat black (chalk paint, so no priming was needed) was very stark, and needed some dimension, so I dry brush silver over the high points of each item.  

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Once everything was all glued into place, it got aged with more dry brushing of a bronze mixed with sepia (acrylic craft paint).

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The brown/bronze really topped it off. (The white is wet glue that will dry clear) 

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We loved making this so much, we couldn’t wait to start another! This time, ivory with the addition of some sheet music.  I still used the gears, frames, keys, etc, but also embellished it with some vintage rhinestone jewels and pearls that I had with me.

Because who doesn’t travel across country in an RV with four dogs and not bring vintage sparklies  to craft with?

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A Bridgerton Art Event!

Travel, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party, Workshops

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I am sooooooooo excited to announce this tidbit of wonderful news.

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 I’ve known about it for a few weeks and felt like Lady Whistledown hanging on to a juicy morsel.  No wait, she doesn’t keep secrets does she?  She is the opposite.  

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Recently hearing that the second season of Bridgerton was coming in the not too distant future, I was already pumped.  Then this news? Woo hool!

The first season of this racy, period piece had to be the very most beautiful show on tv.  I could watch it over and over just for the fabrics alone.  Then, the scenery? Masterfully done, mesmerizing sets that are so lovely, who cares that there is a plot?

But then again, there is a plot, and such a fun one that I immediately read every book in the series including the prequels. Did you know that each novel was amended to add a chapter that visits the couple years after the story?  I loved that part.

Having seen the series first, I could picture the beauty of the gowns and houses as I read the books. The visuals in the show were pure perfection.  And who else do we know that can accomplish that level of gorgeousness?  My beautiful buddy, Jenn Hayslip, who leaves a trail of beauty in her wake every where she goes.  Like King Midas and the gold, her touch magically turns anything into scrumptiousness.  If anyone can bring a Bridgerton event into fruition and do it justice, it is her.

I cannot wait to see what she does.  And I am so honored to be a part of it!  If I wasn’t teaching, I’d have been the first to buy a ticket.  

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It will be October 6th – 9th, 2022 in Charleston, SC (And what a beautiful city to spend time in.)

The event will be smaller and more intimate in size. It will take place in Jenn Hayslip’s home,

The Chantilly Rose House

(And oh my gosh, I can’t wait to see that palace!)

Jenn says-

“A full weekend event will include workshop classes, tea luncheon, shopping, formal dress evening soiree kick off party, giveaways, and much more!

I have two incredible artist Karla Nathan, and Lori Oles whom will be teaching beautiful elegant

regency themed projects.

Details and registration coming very soon!

Who is ready to dress up, sip tea, create, and discuss Lady Whistledown’s latest social gossip?

All the wonderful fanciful details and registration will be shared very soon!

Happy Creating Friends!”

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How to make folded paper Christmas balls

holiday decor, how-to projects, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

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These layered balls ended up being pretty easy to make once I figured it out.  My first ones didn’t come out as nicely, but they got better as I made a few.
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My first mistake?  Using only vintage papers, and not being careful to find ones that aren’t brittle.

I discovered that the ideal paper is scrapbooking card stock, but since I love the old stuff so much, I tried using some book pages and wallpaper too.  Plus, a mix looks pretty together.

Vintage flocked wallpaper is ideal, and some more sturdy wallpapers are too.  But most of the antique ones disintegrate when folded.  

I used some Xmas wrapping paper also.  

If you have a fragile paper you just love, and really want to use, maybe try backing it with card stock first.

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These were some that worked for me, as well as some book pages. To test it, fold the paper a few times and see if it cracks.  If not, it should work okay.  
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Cut and fold all of the pages ahead of time, so you have a pile to work with and not have to pause while gluing.

Fold each piece with the most interesting side inwards, so you are gluing the outsides to each other.  
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Glue one folded piece to the next until you have a stack that looks like this.

Another discovery that I made is that it’s a good idea to glue all of the folded circles together and set them aside to dry.  If you try to make the orb while the glue is wet, the paper is more fragile and will easily tear.

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While still folded, you can ink the edges.

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Add some strong glue (I like The Ultimate) along the folded edge.

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Cut ribbon or string, and fold it in half with a loop at the end.

 (I used pipe cleaners down the center of some, and it did work, but for me, it was too easy to poke through the papers with it, string or ribbon is better).

Then stick the ribbon into the glue, with the loop at the top and the two ends hanging out of the bottom.  

Open the pages.

Apply glue to both half circle sides, then press them together to make the orb.  Smoosh them together and there it is!  You might need to carefully pick each layer apart, gently manipulate them, and form the circle.

If you get a tear when opening it up, just attach an extra circle over that segment.

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You can use the two trailing ends or your ribbon or string to tie a bundle of netting and ribbons to the bottom.

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Or use them to tie on charms.  Or do both! (I liked the idea of book charms with the old book pages).

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How many circles did I use?  Well, they are all different.  The thinner the paper, the more you need.  The heavier papers fill out nicely without as many. And because they are thick, too many makes the stack so high that when you put them together you have a huge gap in the center.

So, about 20 for thin papers, half that much for heavy ones. 

 

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