Tag Archives: Spring

Hippity hoppity back in time with a vintage ATC

Hippity hoppity back in time with a vintage ATC
Hippity hoppity back in time with a vintage ATC

Hippity hoppity Easter’s on its way. With Easter approaching, it is the perfect time for springtime tales and bunny tails.

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I combined these themes with my take on a time-honored altered art form–the Artist Trading Card (ATC). Read the rest of this entry

Breaking news: E. Bunny reveals how he delivers that Easter candy

Breaking news: E. Bunny reveals how he delivers that Easter candy

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The chocolate eggs and jelly beans have all been delivered (and probably eaten) by now, but I’m certain many of you are still wondering how Mr. Easter Bunny gets all those baskets delivered on Easter Morn. He certainly doesn’t have the benefit of flying reindeer.

You can put all your wondering to rest because for the first time in the history of Easter Baskets, Mr. Bunny aka Peter Cottontail recently revealed to Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts just how he gets those candies to you.

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Look who is hosting Easter Tea

Look who is hosting Easter Tea

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Easter may be right around the corner, but even Peter Cottontail takes time now and then to enjoy the spring air in his outdoor kitchen and serve his friends tea, carrots and jellybeans.

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Those not indulging in treats relax outside listening to the babble of the water fountain and smelling the blossoming flowers. Truth be told, I’m frustrated with this project because it is sooooo much cuter in person, than it appears in photos. I simply could not photograph it well. Gah!

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Celestial Pinwheels for spring’s evening breezes

Celestial Pinwheels for spring’s evening breezes

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It is almost magical: a warm spring evening, a light breeze and a starry sky. These celestial mixed media pinwheels remind me of this special time.

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Here is where you can see my tutorial on how to make pinwheels. 

These pinwheels kind of makes me want to skip out on all my work, make up some lemonade and go sit on my porch swing right now. Ah, but I have a lengthy blog post to write. Of course, I could just send you over to my tutorial

…and then…

…I could just…

 …play hooky…

 

 

A little birdie told me Mother’s Day is drawing near

A little birdie told me Mother’s Day is drawing near
A little birdie told me Mother’s Day is drawing near

For moms of young kids, Mother’s Day can be difficult. I bitched for years about not being able to enjoy the “holiday” because it meant racing around trying to honor my mom, step-mom as well as my mother-in-law before she passed away. At least my husband would help my kids give me a gift–I know single moms have it harder.  .

Losing my Dad and nearly losing my mom this year gave me an attitude adjustment. Immensely grateful my mom is still with us, I am determined to relish this day. Read the rest of this entry

Leaving the nest and letting them soar

Leaving the nest and letting them soar
Leaving the nest and letting them soar

 

For 18 or so years we keep our children safe–all the while strengthening their wings and slowly teaching them to fly. Finally the day draws near when they are ready to leave our nests and fly away on their own.

Suddenly, in the beat of a wing, the core focus of our lives is taken away from us. It is terribly tempting to tightly lock the door to the birdcage, keeping our vulnerable fledglings safe under within our care.

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Yet, a caged bird will not sing. We know we must let them fly away. There’s the saying that “if you love something, let it go free. If it loves you, it will come back.” Usually, our children come back. Yet we know deep that things will never really be the same. Our nests are forever changed.

I created this art, featured at Alpha Stamps, as testimony to the experience so many of my friends are going through–the bittersweet experience of seeing children leave for college or another adventure. The cage, which I made from paper mache, is lined with “bird advice” a mother might say to her children. Read the rest of this entry

A riot of spring colors–butterfly tag tutorial

A riot of spring colors–butterfly tag tutorial

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The promise of spring is here in the Northland with budding lilac trees and shoots of green forcing their way through the still frozen earth. After months of bleak winter landscape, the vibrant colors and textures of spring are truly a rebirth. My three-dimensional butterfly tag is meant to reflect the wonderful assault of color that spring brings. Please visit the tutorial on how to make this fun take at the ColourArte Blog.

 

Paper-Calliope-CA-tutorial-122330 Read the rest of this entry

Pink rabbit noses and roses abound in this tunnel book–but be careful, not all bunnies you meet are sugary sweet

Pink rabbit noses and roses abound in this tunnel book–but be careful, not all bunnies you meet are sugary sweet
Pink rabbit noses and roses abound in this tunnel book–but be careful, not all bunnies you meet are sugary sweet

 

 

 

 

I am not sure why I had never made one before, but I am here to tell you that making tunnel books are a whole bundle of fun.

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Big news deserves a big altered art project–I am joining the esteemed Alpha Stamps Design Team!

Big news deserves a big altered art project–I am joining the esteemed Alpha Stamps Design Team!
Big news deserves a big altered art project–I am joining the esteemed Alpha Stamps Design Team!

Dreams really do come true. I found that out firsthand when I recently got invited to join the Alpha Stamps Design Team.

I can’t adequately describe what an honor this is. Nor how terrifying it is. Many artists I have most admired over the years are on this team. Simply put, their work is brilliant.

Austin Kleon says, “Stand next to the talent” because you will only be as good as the people you surround yourself with.  He tells artists to hang around people who are smarter and better than themselves. That’s what I am doing–I  just fervently hope I don’t fall on my face (subsequently impaling myself with craft scissors or suffocating from all the glitter on my studio floor).

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Alpha Stamps is announcing my arrival on their blog tomorrow. For my debut Alpha Stamps project, I created a three-dimensional Altered Art Greenhouse from two 6.5 inch tall House Oddities Boxes, complete with a mossy roof, wind chimes, iron bridge and flower urns. You can see this miniature greenhouse featured on the Alpha Stamps blogRead the rest of this entry

Itty bitty teeny tiny–how to make miniature flower bulbs

Itty bitty teeny tiny–how to make miniature flower bulbs
Itty bitty teeny tiny–how to make miniature flower bulbs

 

 

 

For some of you Spring is in the air. Here in Minnesota, well, let’s just say, we don’t even dare hope for it until April. Creating these miniature dollhouse flower bulbs provide a fun reminder that eventually the snow will  may melt. The realistic miniatures have bulbs and shoots made from clay, and papery scales made from paint and gloss medium.

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To see a tutorial on how to make miniature flower bulbs for dollhouses, please visit the ColourArte blog.

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