I can’t let anything go to waste! This recipe page was too cute to not re-use some how, and the swap book will already have a copy of it inside, so I turned it into a Fairy picture to hang on a wall.
After taking advantage of the big sale at the UPS store on copies (29cents, not 19, but still good!) I had copies of my fairy painting done.
I used an exacto knife to cut around the hand painted roses and the wallpaper hearts over the recipe, and made a slit to slide in the portrait that was cut to fit.
Then, I made a new banner, with the word "Fairy" cut out of and old fairy tale book and added a ruffle and a sheer organza ribbon to hang it from.
It is now listed on Etsy, but I wonder if I should have kept it and hung it in my studio? I do have a thing for that fairy tale wallpaper I used and have to get over the miser in me who wants to keep my greedy paws on every scrap!
SOLD
I also changed one of my book covers yesterday. I had to add this German foil crown that I got in the mail from Speckled Egg. I ordered a bunch of pretty things from her, some brass heart charms, die cuts, more crowns.
One of my belated New Years resolutions is to use more hand painted elements in my paper collage work. Here are the backs of the covers I have done so far. I am finishing the backs of all of them, I do think that is important. If it is pretty wallpaper, I am leaving it, but if it s more simple, I am adding some flourishes.
I painted a few lockets too.
Some I am going to tie to the recipe covers.
The rest, I am using for other projects like this button jar.
SOLD
I just listed it on Etsy too.
I thought I had more of the heart lockets, but I could only find a handful to paint. I am trying to be productive and work on what is in FRONT of me (another resolution!) instead of spending all my time hunting around in my stashes for something I think I just Have To Have.
Another resolution I made, just this morning (yes, very belated) is to only use my fabric scissors for fabric. No paper, I want to keep them sharp.
And along those lines, I will not use my regular scissors for cardboard or WIRE. Only for paper. That might be the hardest to keep.
I also resolve to take down my Christmas Tree before Valentines Day. Or at least I sure hope to. I am beginning to avoid my own home and just hide out in the studio to avoid all the dusty, holiday decor. Of course, there are Xmas trees out there too, but I am used to that room being a mess. 
This last cover that I made yesterday is a bit different. My friend, Jen, who is in the swap too, came over. We were going to work on the project, but her time was shorter than she planned, so we ate chocolate cake, had coffee and hung out.
I dropped my piece of cake on the floor and broke a favorite plate. But I do that sort of thing a lot, being a klutz. The thing is, I always feel like no one will believe that I didn’t actually eat the whole cake, or the last piece of lasagna or what ever, that I really dropped it. That sounds like such an excuse- like something I’d make up to cover up finishing off the whole thing myself. (I was glad to have a witness!)
Anyway, she did have time to go through my stuff and pick out what she wanted me to put on her cover. I hope she likes it.
Well, now I am off to Beth’s, we are going to work on covers for the swap today, then I am going to do my dreaded shoe shopping while I am in the big city.
Oh- guess what!! Lucky, Lucky me- I won the contest from Remember my Childhood
and won a hand sewn skirt for Sugarwings!! Here is a photo of one of the skirts from her website.
I told her that I’d be happy with any skirt that had pink flowers on it and she could chose one and surprise me with it.
Thanks, Clarice for hosting this giveaway! The fairy grand baby and I will have a dress up tea party and she will wear her new skirt and her pink wings from Carol, and I will of course take tons of photos of her, because I can’t help myself.
Aren’t digital cameras great? You can take all the photos you want, plus you don’t have to have the camera right up to your eye, you can still be a part of what is going on.
Ok, I’d better pack my glue and my sparkly things, I need to go make pretties with Beth! This will be a great day!
I love the Fairy collage. It is beautiful. If you want to keep it – you’d better hurry – I’m sure someone will snatch it up quickly. So much beauty in the covers you are creating. I’m so excited to get the final piece! My cards were in yesterday’s mail so you should get them within the next few days!
Karla
Karla, that is a darling collage that you made with your fairy painting…and what an adorable skirt, sugarwings will be just sweet as can be and i will be here to see:)
Love it all, you are so creative and talented. As usual I am GREEN with envy! Can’t wait to see the completed recipe books, they all look so gorgeous!
Have lots of fun!!! That skirt is adorable 🙂 I also really like what you’re doing with your covers!!! How about we both make a resolution that by Feb. 1st our Christmas decorations will all be put away?!!!
Hi Karla, you’re such a busy talented lady! Every time I come here I think: and what have I done today??? Hahaha! Keep up the good work, you are inspiration to everyone, thanks!! Hugs L.
Your hand painted lockets are adorable! Show us all the pictures of Sugarwings as you’d like. I love to see them and my mother has become a big fan, too! LOL! I’m always calling her over to the computer to show her something you’ve done.
You are so talented!I love looking at your blog everyday. Inspiring!
You are so talented. I love looking at your blog. Inspiring!
YOu are so taalented — I love to see your creative process .. Thanks for all the hard work on the recipe swaps , OH the covers are lovely , can’t wait to get mine . Thank you for showing the tags i sent — what a surprise — am new to this blog world — started in Nov . all of you are the nicest –
Kathy
Lots of lovelies to look at. Happy you won the skirt, I went and checked out her website, they are just great:) Rachael
Karla, what a busy time you have had with all the covers for the swap.
It was probably better to sit and have cake and coffee with Jen and takea break from it all.
Love the fairy collage and how cute sugarwings will be in her skirt.
Good luck with the scissors issue – i always seem to pick up which ever ones are closest!
Alison
Wonderful things, as always. I particularly love the button jar.
Karla, the covers are coming along and each one is fantastic. I also love what you did with the lockets…beautiful
Karen
Your sweet treat covers are looking fantastic! Your resolutions sound like some I need to make. Especially to use what you already have one…. I am always on the hunt for more. I have so much stash of just stuff it is mind boggling! LOL!
Love the little lockets too!
Barbara
Karla, I love checking your blog to see what beautiful new thing you’ve painted/created! After seeing all these gorgeous covers I am so sad I did not get into this swap, maybe next time!
Stacy
I love the flourishes and the bird with the crown is wonderful! Is the bird a cutout?
The lockets are adorable and I can’t wait to see Sugarwings in her new skirt.
~elaine~
Karla that skirt is so lovely!
xo
Mary
I LOVE the painting you are doing on the back of the covers! WOW you and Beth have been busy bees! They are looking so wonderful! I wanted to sign up but I’m not much of a “cooker” (one of my new years resolutions is to do more of that!)
The book covers are all turning out so pretty Karla, and I love the little lockets. What a lovely idea, to paint a surprise inside each one.
I’m pretty picky about my fabric scissors too, and buy them in a particular color, so my guys know never to use them. Any other color is a free for all, but sharp scissors are a must when working with fabric. Now, I wish I could do better with my little tiny thread cutting scissors. Those end up being used for cutting out little paper things sometimes.
Thanks for all the hard work you’ve put into this swap. I’ve mailed off my package, and I’m looking forward to receiving my book.
Best wishes!
Love how you ‘re-purposed’ your adorable fairy painting, great idea! And you & Beths’ swap stuff looks amazing!
I love seeing all the treasures you have created! Just wonderful things!
The skirt is so lovely too!!
Hugs,
Sue
I love your heart lockets…very sweet. I wrote with a black Sharpi on the outer blade of my fabric scissors FABRIC ONLY. Because even if I remember, my DH may not realize that he should not use them 🙂
Pam
I want to see the books completed soon. The bird with crown is very cute. I like much to see you use wastes,and the fabric of the skirt too.
Fabulous-all of them!! We love the fairy collage..a the little golden crown…and your fabulous win of the skirt!! we laughed at the fabric scissors resolution! Kijsa guards her like a drill sergeant !! Kari always laughs!!
Blessings,
kari & kijsa
your fairy collage is so beautiful! You should definatly use your handpainting talents in your paper art.. they look so nice together and when someone sees something you have created they won’t be able to say “I can make that”… unless of course they can paint as gorgeously as you which I doubt!
I do that ALL the time with my scissors… I was laughing so much when I read that! lol
xoxox
Your fairy collage is so pretty, actually everything in this post is so pretty. The rose lockets are precious! You are so very talented!
gorgeous creations!! love the skirt you won for Sugarwings!! xo Britt
Thanks for your sweet comment about the hand painted glass cake dome Karla. To answer your question, I used Folk Art Enamels for glass & ceramics.
Barbara
I just adore these items! How perfect for Valentines Day. My favorite is the one with the geraniums. What talent!
Kindest regards,
Darly
I love your projects…so fun and you ARE such a busy creative girl. Looks fun and lovely!
blessings
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted
Oh Karla, I am thrilled you won and I know sugarwings will look so adorable !!!!
Love Clarice
I have just found this site and I love it. Can’t wait to see more. I have been working on felt booties today-bright lime green polka dots with pink accents. Such fun.
she is like a little fairy……
OMG I LOVE THE FAIRY cover! I love those cute little crowns esp on birds soo cute!!! fingers crossed I get one like that 🙂 I love the vintage small furniture for Sugarwings! I saw some yesterday while out and about! You do such amazing things with paint!
Toodles-
Sarah
I’m noticing the music paper that you have in various stages as you use it for your back ground pics. I love that you have people in mind as you create a piece of art.
I just got lost in this beautiful blog. So much for the eye to see and the soul to absorb. Excellent is all I say.