Halloween Minis - Triple Tutorial

 Hello all!  Welcome to spooky season!  I absolutely love making my own Halloween decorations for our home!  So, while I haven't made many minis lately, I thought it would be fun to whip up a couple new things for the cottage!

My first thought was to make an "outdoor" door mat that the residents could wipe their feet on.  As usual I have no measurements for you lol.  I pretty much just eyeball the size I need for most things.  I made and printed BOO on some card stock and cut it out.  I gave it a touch of watered down brown paint so the white wouldn't show through.  Then I tinted some fine sawdust with a drop of black paint and a teeny bit of water and let that dry.  First, I applied wood glut to the words and sprinkled the black sawdust.  When that dried, I brushed glue onto the rest and sprinkled brown tinted sawdust.  

I also made the little ghost and I absolutely love him!  Even though I kinda messed him up at the end.  But as I always say "never apologize for mistakes when cooking or creating."  No one knows that you didn't mean for it to be that way.

For the ghost, I used air dry clay for the base and feet and the smallest clothespin that I could find in my bag.  He stands about 4 inches tall.  I took the clothespin out and let it air dry all day and then before bed I used wood glue in the base and put the clothespin in.  So, this morning I was ready for the "sheet".  I used about 1/4 cup water to 2 teaspoons powdered starch and a good squirt of white school glue and mixed that real good with a whisk.  I soaked my piece of white fabric that I cut into a rectangle size with the corners rounded.  I squeezed out as much as possible and got to shaping.  I used a Styrofoam base and sewing pins to hold the fabric in place and set it in the warm sun to dry.  Then I used craft paint to paint the eyes and finish up the shoes.

I also made the little signs today.  I made them on my computer, printed them, sprayed them with matte clear coat, cut them out and glued them to really thin balsa wood.  I made a hole in a dollar tree hay bale for the post and glued the signs to it.  I also included a picture of the signs below that you are welcome to use.  Maybe it will let you copy and paste it somehow.  Then adjust the size for your project.

Well, that's all folks!  Hope you enjoyed!  Sure have missed you!  XOXO

Easter Rag-A-Bunnies

 Hi All!!  Presenting my dear sweet Easter Rag-A-Bunnies!  Lovingly made from clay, vintage fabric and vintage embellishments.  Available in my Etsy shop for adoption!

tiny flags

Good morning!  Today I am sharing some pictures of a miniature, super-easy, Americana flag that I made yesterday.  The ingredients are simple and few as is the idea.  I first thought of making a mini flag on the way home from our last four wheeling trip.  I was very inspired by simply looking out of the truck window at homes and "front door décor".  The complete aesthetic view of someone else's piece of the world can be fantastic.  What you decide to take from it is up to you... more-over what you remember.  In my case my journal was in my lap with pencil in hand.

Here are the ingredients, minus the glue, paint brushes and toothpick.  Red, Blue and buttermilk paint colors, pin, very thin wood or cardboard, a piece of drop cloth.

I cut a piece of drop cloth, un-measured, that is slightly smaller than a postage stamp.  You can measure a normal sized flag and divide it by 12 for your measurements if you need to.

You are painting both sides of the flag here.  I started with the blue on both sides.

For the stripes, since I've not perfected painting a straight line, I added paint to one edge of a small piece of balsa wood.  Sort of like a stamp.  I pressed the edge onto the flag, re-applying red paint between each stamping.

For the stars I only made small dots with the end of a toothpick.  I did blot this with a paper towel while it was still wet.  From a distance, with a trick of the eye, one will not know.

While the flag is still damp, simply pinch some waves into the fabric.  As the flag dries these will stay somewhat... enough to give the affect.

What a cutie!!

Oh yea... paint the sewing pin so it's not so shiny.

I also used my brown ink pad to dab a little nostalgia and age on.

Apply some glue to the pin and gently lay it on one end of the flag and let dry.

I do apologize for the blurriness.  I have to transfer my pics from my phone by email to myself in order to get them to you.  Blogging from my phone simply doesn't work unfortunately.  Surely I will get better at it.  If not I will revert to my old fashioned ways once again :)  

XOxo Laurie

 

Movies and Miniatures

Two of my favorite things.  Sometimes done together... sometimes not.  I have favorite movies that I love to watch, at my kitchen work area, that I have seen a hundred times and some that I've only just rented from the library.  Sometimes I am painting a newly made mini and sometimes I create on inspiration.  And sometimes my minis start one way and take on the affect of what I'm watching... leading me to always remember what movie was on while I made a piece.

This piece was an idea I had while at work, partly.  The side table here I made while watching Pirates or the Caribbean.  Which I think gave it a more nautical look when finished.  The first picture shown.. its not quite finished.  The candle does light up and flicker.  I've been thinking about that part for months.  This is just my first one.

This photo is taken in my new roombox.  I made it while watching Alice in Wonderland (Johnny Depp version).

Every piece seen here was handmade by me... except the tiny flowers on the wall... Jesus made those.

This little basket I made last night while watching The BFG (big friendly giant).  I can't believe I've not seen this movie! (Or made a teeny basket like this before)  I woke this morning at 4:37 thinking about coloring some sawdust that I got from my Dad's woodshop for moss.  So I got up, colored it, and glued it on.  Such a difference!!  I love it :)

This picture is also in my roombox.  The roses I found just yesterday at Hobby Lobby.  They had several colors and seeing as how I'm not good at making flowers (yet) I was tickled to find them.  The basket I've had for years and the table I made.

I love and mossy look so much.  I also added it to my fireplace this morning.  I couldn't help myself.

Yes.. I've missed you too... terribly.  Let's not get into the where, how or whys.  :)

Yours Truly,

Laurie

P.S. I am on Instagram... hulseylaurie… you can see my candle in action there.  xoxo