Fairy Gardens and Dragons' Dens!

Hi everyone!

This is a little different from what I usually post about, but I had such a lot of fun with it, that I wanted to share!

I belong to the local Gardening Club and we are having a booth tomorrow at our town's annual SpringFest.  It's just to showcase the club and give the public a little idea of what we do.  At our next meeting I am going to be showing everyone how to make Fairy Gardens, so we decided I would make a garden to have on display at the booth.

Well..... be forewarned.... you can't just stop at ONE garden .... once you get started, you just CAN'T stop!  LOL.

I started with a Fairy Garden for my grand-daughter to enjoy.

A trip to Michael's snagged me the fairy and a bag of potpourri that had some awesome seed heads and pinecone flowers in it.  I also realized, while I was picking up fish food at the local pet shop, that aquarium decorations work wonderfully in these gardens.  The fairy is sitting on a piece from there! 

The little house is a wooden birdhouse from the dollar store that I painted with crackle paint, sprayed with stains to fill in the cracks, and glued sphagnum moss on top.  The rest of the stuff was just little accents that I had collected here and there.  (Don't you love those eency weency gardening tools by the front door!!)

Well I wasn't ready to stop with the fun yet.  I had a Fairy Garden for my grand-daughter, but what about my grandson?  Well he needed a Dragon's Den of course!

I absolutely loved this beautiful blue Dragon (again, from Michael's), and I built him a ledge of rocks to protect his dragon eggs below.  (See what fun you can have with your imagination when building these gardens??  LOL) 

 I tucked more of the bits and pieces from the potpourri bag, here and there.

And just to show that there's room in EVERYONE'S garden for a little magic, I made this tiny little Butterfly Garden.

The beautiful Monarch is resting on a patch of Irish Moss.  The butterfly was also found at Michael's.  (Their toy section is a treasure trove I tell you!)

I hope you've enjoyed seeing these little gardens, as much as I enjoyed making them!

Have a great weekend everyone, whether you're in the garden or the craft room!

Linda

Showcase Monday at Scrapbooker's Paradise

Well HI everyone!

It is my turn this week to do a "Showcase Monday" post over at Scrapbooker's Paradise.  Here's a little peek at what I created for them. 



 

 

In order to see more, AND learn how to create one of your own, please hop over to Scrapbooker's Paradise by clicking "here". 

 

Take care and have a great week!

Linda



There's still time to Play in Paradise!

There's still time to get in on the Sketch Challenge over at Playing in Paradise!

Project can be a card, a layout, or an altered object - you choose!

Check out the details here.

Technique Tuesday at Scrapbooker's Paradise

Hi everyone!

Today is Technique Tuesday at Scrapbooker's Paradise and Pam is hosting this week.  The new Tim Holtz Assemblage Clock has recently hit the shelves at Scrapbooker's Paradise and Pam decided to feature this product in her post this week.  Just for fun, we all decided to alter a clock, each in our own style.  Head over to the blog and check them out!!

These clocks are very cool.  They are 2 inches deep which allows you to alter them in many ways.  You can make a shadow box or even tuck a mini album in there.  (They open easily from the back.)  I had this bird nest that was the exact fit for the clock, so I chose to make a shadow box with it. I had a digital fairy image that I printed and fussy cut, made a little tag, and added some embellishments from my stash. 

This view shows you the beautiful finish I got from mixing a couple of mists.  I painted the clock with gesso and then sprayed Olive Vine Glimmer Mist and Incandescent Copper Moon Moonshadow Mist over top once it dried.  Follow this up with Krylon's Crystal Clear Acrylic spray and you will have a finish that won't chip off.

This was so much fun, I'm already planning my next one that will hold a mini album!

Take care and have fun creating!

Linda

Supplies used:

Tim Holtz Assemblage Clock

Tattered Angels "Olive Vine" Glimmer Mist

Lindy's Stamp Gang "Incandescent Copper Moon" Moonshadow Mist

Ribbon, burlap, and other trims from my stash.

Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic spray

A "Tattered Florals" Tutorial

Hi everyone,

I was playing with my Tattered Florals die this week and created some flowers that I just love.

Head over to Technique Tuesday at Scrapbooker's Paradise, where I have posted a tutorial on how you can create your own beautiful and unique flowers!  These flowers were inspired by Wendy Vecchi, I just put my own twist on them.

Here I am enjoying myself at Butchart Gardens, surrounded by acres and acres of blooming flowers!

Playing in Paradise Friday Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone!  

We are starting a new challenge format at Playing in Paradise this week.  On the 2nd Friday of each month we will be featuring a "Sketch" challenge.  This week's sketch has been designed by Pam and she has given you several options to choose from. You will be given until noon on Thursday, May 31st to complete this challenge.  Further rules can be found by "clicking" here.

  Single Layout

 

                                               Card
                              

Double Layout  

I am presently working on an "off the page" challenge and I chose to use the card sketch.  I used the sketch to make a cover for my project.

I added different kinds of texture by: using a Crafter's workshop template and painting a gesso pattern over this beautiful paper from the Prima "Art Journal Pad", making a burlap mat, distressing, and using twigs and lace as embellishments.  

I added a mat cut from an 8x8" package of Secret Garden paper, a little bit of sparkle, and I was done.

Do drop by Playing in Paradise and give this challenge a try!  As always, there will be a wonderful prize and an opportunity to guest design with us if you should be the lucky winner.  You can use whatever supplies you have on hand.  The main requirement is that you use a new project that has been designed for this particular challenge.  Previously published or posted projects will be looked at as inspiration, but will not be eligible for the prize package.

Hope you all enjoy the lovely weekend that is coming up!

Linda


Supplies used that are available at Scrapbooker's Paradise:
Prima Art Journal Pad
Crafter's Workshop "Layered Beads" template
Burlap
Ingvild Bohm Rasp Tool for distressing
Secret Garden 8x8" Paper Pad
"Cinnamon" Ranger Stickles Glitter
Gesso

Supplies from my stash:
The little charm is Prima Fairy Rhymes Vintage Trinkets
Lifetime Canvas Alphabet Stickers
Prima fabric flowers:  Merci collection
Bo Bunny C'Est La Vie dimensional stickers

NSD Swirlydoos style!

Hi everyone!

Hope you're enjoying National Scrapbooking Day as much as I am!  There's so many things to do all over the internet, it's almost hard to pick.  I planned this layout to fulfill the requirements of two challenges.  One is at Swirlydoos and the other at the Flying Unicorn.  Swirlydoos is allowing everyone to take a week to complete the challenges, so if you haven't been able to scrap this weekend, you can still join in!!

I was just on a holiday to Victoria, BC and fulfilled a 20 year dream of seeing Butchart Gardens.  I took a LOT of pictures, and this is one of my favorites that I wanted to scrap.

Is that place awesome or what??  55 acres of pure gorgeousness ... sunken gardens, rose gardens, Japanese gardens, Italian gardens, ponds, fountains ... oh my gosh it just made my heart sing!

Enjoy your creating time.

Linda

National Scrapbooking Day at Flying Unicorn

The girls at Flying Unicorn have come up with some awesome challenges for today and tomorrow.  You definitely want to check it out.  There's lots of fun and games and prizes and a great mix of challenges!  Not only that, everything in the store is 33% off today and tomorrow!!

I need a birthday card for tomorrow, so I started with a "Tag" challenge hosted by Adrienne.  She wanted to see some flowers and butterflies.  I have been anxious to use Prima's new circle crystals, they are so gorgeous and provide some beautiful sparkle.

Hope you're having a great National Scrapbooking Day!!

Linda

Supplies used:

Studio 75 paper

Crafter's Workshop template "Mini Wedding Ring" (inside of card)

"Silver Sugar" TA Glimmer Mist (painted over template)

Prima "Say it in Crystals"

Prima embellishment

Prima flowers

CTMH embellishment

CTMH butterfly

Stamp set:  Fiskars "Make a Wish Quotes"

Hurray for National Scrapbooking Day!

Playing in Paradise #114

Happy National Scrapbook Day

There is still time to come and play with us for a chance to win great

 prizes, 'Spring Time Joy' check it out  HERE