Easy Foliage Tutorial

 Hello Friends!  Ever find yourself in need of foliage for your projects?  My latest project, Fairy Pumpkin House, while it is filled with miniatures and the inside of the pumpkin is about 1/12" scale, the outside is a different story.  I wanted the outside and landscape of the pumpkin to be more life sized.  Sort of like the fairy house is just sitting outside.  So, I needed bigger than miniature items.  

I often scroll through IG and one day, on a mushroom tutorial, I noticed there was a quick glance on how the artist made a leaf to go atop her mushroom.  It was simply wire and masking tape.  So, I broke out some very thin wire and my roll of wide masking tape.  In no time at all I had made enough leaves for a plant to go outside of my pumpkin and I just love them!  I wound up also making some fern leaves which I also love!  Careful!!  They're slightly addictive to make!

I think it's pretty self-explanatory.  Cut two pieces of tape, lay your wire down on one piece and put your other piece of tape on top.  Sticky sides together.  Draw and cut out your pattern on the tape.  Paint to desired color.  And that's it!  

I've never needed large items for a miniature project until now.  This method worked perfectly!  I am sure your can make miniature plants this same way, although, I haven't tried yet.

Thank you for visiting!  Have a wonderful day!

XoXo ~Laurie

P.S. I also made a few leaves from duct tape.  While it worked, the paint does not want to stay on the duct tape as well as the masking tape.  :)

fall leaves

I like when I am feeling crafty.  Earlier in October I had the urge to make glittery fall leaves for the day care.  I like making decorations that I can use from year to year.  I found a simple, multi leaf template on yahoo images, printed them on card stock and later cut them out.  But that's as far as it went for a couple of weeks.  I even put them away in my office.  But yesterday the crafty bone crept up on me and I pulled the cut outs back out.  I got out a cereal box that was almost gone, traced the patterns and cut them out while the kids were playing in the yard.  Then during naptime I painted the leaves different colors and mixed glitter and glue and made them sparkle.  I only made the one batch but already wish I had more.  I also only put one coat of craft paint on each side of the leaves because frankly my paints are starting to run low.  And I didn't make any orange ones because my orange paint is nim-to-none.  But the orange ones are not out of my mind completely because I do have orange glitter.  Maybe I can yellow down some red paint later.  Check them out!

 

 

I think they almost look real, don't you?  

 

Isn't this the cutest thing?  He woke up early from naptime and I bargained that if he would be quiet and let the others finish their naps than I would let him watch the diggers at the dirt pile. 

He didn't make a peep.  Just sipped from his cup and enjoyed the show.

I am really digging these lights strung up in the kitchen.  Especially when I get here and it's still dark.  They illuminate the whole room micely.

 

And before you think "it's too late to make fall leaves" think again!  You can have these out plum through November!



image inspiration

 Ok let's just get to the good stuff right up front.  I shared a blog with you last week called SouleMama and she has stunned me again.  Yes... since then.  I want to visit this family!  Just look what they did with fall leaves.  We are absolutely going to do this at the day care.  Our leaves aren't at their peak yet here in Tennessee so I've got time.  What I also have is bees wax and fishing line.  Pretty soon colorful fall leaves will adorn our day care and my home!  I can't wait!
Click the pictures for a direct link to her post.
 

 


 

 

I cannot imagine a room in my home actually looking like the this picture.  I enjoy looking but wow the difference in taste!  What I do love about the details, besides everything, is the simple horse planter sitting in the center of the table... nothing else.  How vivid.

Found on abeautifulmess via THIS post.

 

 

 

And THIS is an example of me, on a blog, just blogging along, and then seeing a book, with a book review, then jumping over to my library's website and getting on a wait list because it's brand new and still on order.  But hey... I'm number 17.  It's my process.  There's just something about books.

Image found on thejungalow.com by Justina Blakeny

These next two inspiring images were actually from the same blog post found on freepeople entitled 20 Minute Bedroom Refresh.  I really enjoyed the post with quick ways to fluff up your sleep space.  The second image had me jumping to my library's website again for the Gypsy book.  The top image has me thinking of a large and warm new cover for our bed... and getting Shaun an electric blanket for his birthday.  I feel we would need one for only his side.  I like warmth but I get hot at night.

 



a list

i am off work today and yet i got up at 530am to make breakfast for shaun.  not that i "have" to do so but because i "want" to do so and no matter my indiscretions from the evening i wanted coffee so much i decided to stay up.  it is all hallows eve and i have a list of things to do today... even though the sun isn't even up yet and it is raining.  the rain, of which, is bringing in cold temperatures that leads to lengthen my list.

since we mowed down and put the garden to rest, two of my herbs that i grew over the summer have come back.  the dill, which bloomed and went to seed, is clustered and scattered and came up after the clippers.  the parsley, grown from seed and is a precious sight as a young seedling, sprung back from it's hair cut to let us know you can't keep a good man down... apparently.  we have a temp prediction of thirty two degrees in nashville which means, up here on the hill, it should dip to around twenty seven.  so... on this... all hallows eve... there will be a cutting and hanging at the hulsey's.  beautiful herbs cut from their spots in the garden to being strung up on the pole above my kitchen window.  i love the smell of dill drying in my kitchen.  sometimes you can smell it when you walk into the room.

although our home is well insulated, that we made sure of when building, vintage, summer, dang-near-see-through bed linens won't cut it when.. (pardon me) baby it's cold outside.  i own two sets of the softest most comforting flannel sheet sets on the planet.  i petitioned kate this morning to choose between stripes or florals and although they were washed, and very well folded might i add, they are in the washer about to get a dousing of downy to freshen them up.  they were neatly packed away for the summer in the attic but actually never made it out of the floor in my crap room... which i have desperately tried not to clutter up but i have found that old habits like you are hard to break.

it is the perfect weekend to walk in the woods.  bow season is at a halt as juvenile hunt was last weekend and muzzle loader doesn't begin until next weekend.  dang it... and just as i was cleanin my muzzler and sharpenin my skinnin knife.... just kiddin... i don't have a muzzle loader.  i'm afraid that by the time rifle is open all the good deer will be dead already.  i'm not really picky.  i don't want a wall hanger, although it would be nice for my first, i just want meat in the freezer.  mmmmm deer chili, deer burgers, steaks... that's the stuff stockings hung by the chimney with care is made of.  still, if the rain doesn't cease i will be forced to leave my camera under covers on my walk which is not good because right now, outside, it looks like someone went crazy with an orange highlighter.  beautiful colors this year out.

i have much to do.  i do love to write early in the morning before my innocent mind is corrupted by worldly news and responsibilities.  back to the list.

good morning aunt dea.

Fall library books for wee ones

I absolutely never leave my day care kids out when I take a trip to the library... which is once a week.  I like to check out books for story time and keep a fresh mix.  I have come across several books (luckily) that teach and touch on Fall.  I have plans for crafts and coloring pages to go along with some of the books and even some magic pumpkin seeds!  Here's what we are reading over the next couple of weeks.

All of these were available at my local library.  I usually wait too late and all the good seasonal children's books are already checked out.  This year I was ready and have them for the next couple of weeks!

OH also I am trying to learn this song to teach to the kids.  I even bought a black plastic cauldron!

do you know plantain?

Are you familiar with Plantain?  Plantain is pretty common in yards everywhere... especially ours.  I always felt that maybe I could do something with this plant or weed as it is commonly called and thanks to a fantastic library book I found that something!  The leaves can be used in salads and I followed a recipe for a facial mask that is very refreshing and that is said to eliminate toxins in the skin, treat skin conditions, tighten skin and even reverse wrinkles!  That's no weed!  That's a backyard miracle worker!  

Plantain Skin Smoothie

1-2 cups plantain leaves

1/4 of an avocado, peeled and pitted

1/2 cup water

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.  Apply to any are of skin that is experiencing discomfort.  Let it dry, rinse it off.

Mine took around 30 minutes to dry.  I first removed my make up then applied it before my bath and rinsed it after.  

Here is the cool book the recipe came from.