A Simple Dreamy Project

Nichola here to share a project and tutorial created just for GinasDesigns.net! This month I thought we'd create something fun and simple. A quick project that doesn't take a lot of time or products but still has a 'wow' factor. Some glittery goodness to keep you inspired, or maybe a little bit of glam to cheer up a friend.

I've used a sturdy chipboard sentiment, a brand new design from Gina's, available soon. I've chosen the word "Dream" but other inspirational words will also be available.

To kick up the glam factor of this project I've covered my pieces in ultra fine glitter. You can see exactly how I apply it, and tips for a flawless flat glittery finish, in my tutorial video for this project. 

Finally, those sweet shooting star elements, another new design from Gina's, adds even more whimsicality.

Are you ready to create your own bit of sparkly magic?!

HERE is the video tutorial and here is a list of all the products I used:

Gina's "DREAM" chipboard sentiment *Available Soon!*

Gina's chipboard stars *Available Soon!*

4 large beads

black acrylic paint

white acrylic paint

ultra fine glitter

star tinsel

bamboo skewer

glue

Old Bird ATC Pocket Letter

It's the first Friday of September (already!) which means it's my turn to share a tutorial using magnifique products from Gina's. Woo hoo! This month I thought we'd do some nitty gritty paper crafting and create a sort of pocket letter.

I've been seeing these pop up all over my timeline and wanted to give it a try. 

What is a pocket letter, you ask? Janette Lane, the creator of Pocket Letters™, explains on her site:

"Basically, you fill all the pockets of a 9 Pocket Trading Card Protector and send the whole page to someone who wants to swap with you... You fill the pockets with anything you like (stickers, tea bags, a note, washi tape samples, pictures, etc.) A short note or letter is included and tucked into one of the pockets. Then the Pocket Letter is folded up and sent in a standard 10 size envelope."**

I am a huge fan of ATC's (Artist Trading Card: miniature works of art measuring 2.5" x 3.5") so I've created a cohesive set of birdy themed cards to fill those little pockets with. You can source your own public domain images, or purchase a collage sheet with all of those vintage birds and sentiments available HERE.

When creating your own piece, consider other little bits and pieces to tuck into those sleeves. Stamps, ephemera, feathers... little bits that match the theme or look of your cards.

Also consider the sleeves themselves. I've added clear stickers to the exterior.

Of course you could just create these pretty ATC's and trade/give them separately. There's nothing wrong with spreading the crafty love around.

If you're not keen on making these little bits of art, you may want to check out the tutorial anyway as it includes creating the textured background seen below.

But enough blabble! HERE is the video tutorial. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a shout. I'm happy to lend a hand or answer any questions you have. Seriously. Don't be shy ;)

THE SUPPLY LIST

From Gina's:
Cardstock Doily Set 1
Cardstock Doily Set Intricates
Steampunk Fan
Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set
Pen & Ink Shape Set
Faux Metal Number Plates
Herringbone Small

Other things you'll need:
For the Birds Collage Sheet or your own vintage bird images
Cardstock
Paper (I used pages from an old book)
Decorative scrapbook paper
Glue
White acrylic paint
Watercolour paint
Stamp pad
Clear stickers
Foam spacers
Ultra fine glitter
Tim Holtz Long Mini Brads 
Jute twine
Washi tape
Buttons, stamps and other small embellishments and trinkets
ATC Pocket Pages

**For more information on Pocket Letters you can visit Janette Lane's YouTube Channel or join the Pocket Letter Pals Network

A Fun Fairy Door

Hello!!! Nichola here, with a wee fairy door project to share. Isn't it cute as buttons?!

To create this adorable fairy entrance I've used Gina's Fairy Door 'Deann', Faux Metal Number Plates and Keys & Plates Shape Set.

In this example I've used the stone door frame piece that comes with the Fairy Door as a stencil and applied a layer of spackling to give the texture of a stone doorway.

To create the illusion that the door is made of wooden planks, I've scored the chipboard with a stylus before painting. If you don't have a stylus, you could press very hard with a ball point pen to create the grooves. A light wash of dark paint allowed to seep into the impressed lines will emphasize the effect.

The 'hinges' are created by cutting a large keyhole in half, applying to the door and trimming.

Fairy doors are pretty dang adorable and an excellent way to include a bit of magic in your household. Be sure to get creative with them by adding a little plant, a welcome mat and other accessories... great curb appeal will be sure to entice the wee folk into your home ;)

Fairy Door 'Deann'

Faux Metal Number Plates

Keys & Plates Shape Set

Acrylic paint

Small metal brads

Spackling

Glue

Tall Garden Cottage Tutorial

This month I have a pretty big tutorial to share.

There are loads of steps and it'll take some time to complete (especially when you factor in drying time), but I think it's worth it.

Created from Gina's 3 Story House, you could customize the contents to your own whims and tastes. Filled with little mementos, keepsakes and small photos it would make a wonderful gift for someone special.

Mine isn't quite so sentimental and will be home to little gnome and elf figures and collectibles :)

Don't feel rushed with this project. Enjoy the process of making it 'just-so' and the challenge of filling it with lovely little bits and bobs.

You can find the full video tutorial HERE. If you have any questions or are unclear about anything, don't hesitate to ask.

Gina's Supply List:

3 Story House

Cottage Windows Small

Stackable Labels Shape Set

Faux Metal Number Plates

The Robin's Nest Supplies:
Calamity Jane Diagonal Glitter Cardstock
Honeycomb Fleur Cardstock
Cathedral Specialty Paper

Other Supplies:
White Tacky Glue
Spackling (I used one that goes on pink and dries white)

Various Petaloo Botanica Flowers
Moss
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Gold 

Garden Gnomes Resin Embellishments*
White Acrylic Paint

Flower and Leaves Dresden Borders - Antique Gold 

Colorful Butterfly Buttons* Miniature Garden Tools - Rake & Shovels Wood Birdhouse Buttons* Antique Bronze 3D Rabbit Charms* Fly Away Resin Birds Set*

Garden Fairy Crown

I love crowns. I do. I adore them and make them often. I guess I haven't had my fill of fancy head wear because I've made another. This one was created with chipboard shapes from GinasDesigns.net and it's this month's video tutorial.

The crown is made by layering Garden Fairies, Feathery Flourishes Set, Dragon Shape Set, and Tudor Rose Singles over a simple base. For some added interest I added texture using gel medium and the Texture Sheets - Fiesta from Gina's.

Washes of ColourArt Silks Acrylic Iridescent Glazes and Twinkling H2Os Shimmering Watercolors are applied and then a smidge of glitter is added.

Some pretty paper flowers, butterflies and ribbons and voila! I'm pretty sure that wearing this will automatically make you a fairy princess.

Here's the video tutorial. The sound is a bit awful in spots and I'm sorry about that (honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing and it's a miracle I muddle through at all!). If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Here is the full supply list:

Gina Designs:

Texture Sheets Fiesta

Garden Fairies Medium

Feathery Flourishes Set

Tudor Rose Singles
Dragon Shape Set

ColourArte

Silks Acrylic Iridescent Glazes 

 Twinkling H2Os Shimmering Watercolors

Other

Petaloo Botanica Flowers

Glue
White paint

Glitter (this is what I used)
Ribbon

Golden Heavy Gel

Heavy card

An Utterly Nonsensical Wishing-Go-Round

Being utterly nonsensical once in a while is good for the soul. 

So, I am pleased to present a completely ridiculous project this month.

I offer you a glittery 'Wishing-Go-Round'. This 15" slice of whimsy is created with Gina's Moon & Stars String Alongs, Celestial Shape Set, Spool, a bit of scrapbook paper and a whole lot of glitter.

I know some people aren't keen on glitter... but the stuff makes me positively giddy. It really adds a dash of magic to this piece.

If you'd like to create your own twinkling thing-a-ma-bob I have a video tutorial for you HERE. 

Questions? Feel free to ask and I'll try to help.

I 100% encourage nonsense and whimsy after all :)

Gina's Designs Supply List:

String Alongs - Moon & Stars 

Celestial Shape Set

 Spool Large 

Other Supply List

Scrapbook Paper

 Glitter 

White glue

 Hot glue 

Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Gold

Star Wired Garland 

Celestial themed charms such as: Man in the Moon - Raw Brass 

'Of Summer & Bees' Arched Top Triptych

Hi everyone! It's the first Friday of the month which means 

it's my turn to share a project and tutorial using some of Gina's faboo products. 

Here's what I'm sharing this month...

A mixed media homage to the coming days of summer, warmth and honey 
using the Triptych - Arch Top.

The bottom of this piece is embellished with three Faux Metal Number Plates 
which are flanked with some copper brads to give them a finished look.

I've created some honey in the chipboard Honeycomb embellishment with glaze and a smidge of paint.And while there are some chipboard bees included in that set, I couldn't resist using this 
divinely detailed bee charm to top off the piece.

I've added a few teeny weeny buzzy things too.

And because everything looks better framed I've mounted my triptych in an 11 x 14" shadow box.

I'm not going to lie, this piece took a while to create. 

The process isn't exactly difficult, it's just time consuming to achieve the right look. 

HERE is a video tutorial of the process,

but for time sake it's been edited to the bare bones.

If I've missed something and you have any questions feel free to ask :)

GINA'S DESIGNS SUPPLY LIST
Triptych - Arch Top 
Faux Metal Number Plates

Honeycomb & Bees Medium

Other Supplies
Copper Brads
Giant Bronze Bee Charm 
Small Bronze Bee Charm 
Slider Beads
Paper Butterflies
Acrylic Paint
Mod Podge
Aleenes Tacky Glue

Vintage images*
 
*Note: When looking for images for your artwork try using the search term "public domain images".
The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs collection is a great resource.
Just be sure to double check the Rights And Restrictions before using any images you find.

Fairy Dust Bagatelle Boxes

I'm pretty excited about my first project for GinasDesigns.net.
Being a sucker for small things I was keen to play with the Bagatelle Boxes.
I had a few ideas but ended up creating a series of these fairy dust shrines.

Don't they look like they just came out of a fairy godmother's cupboard?!

The boxes come in six different sizes and can accommodate various sized bottles and vials. 
You can purchase a set of bagatelle boxes containing two of each size, or buy them separately.

For this blue bagatelle I've chopped up a plate from the Keys & Plates Shape Set to create the feet. 

(I give a little how-to in my video tutorial linked below.)

For this one I've used the Stackable Labels Shape Set. I've used the the Miniature Bookplates Shape Set on some of the other boxes.

And just in case your handwriting is a little bit iffy, I've created an entire sheet of little labels of Fairy and Pixie Dust to fit all manner of little bottles and vials.

There's a full video tutorial for this project, and I really hope you'll take a peek and try your hand at making some magic of your own ;)

Gina's Designs Supply List:

Bagatelle Boxes
Miniature Bookplates Shape Set

Stackable Labels Shape Set

Keys & Plates Shape Set

Other items used

Fairy and Pixie Dust CS Sheet

G45 Time to Flourish Papers

Small Glass Bottles and Vials
Glitter3mm Brass Flat-Back Studs

Mercury Glass Stickles
Wooden Candlestick Holder
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Sandpaper

Krazy Glue

White Acrylic Paint

Aleene's Tacky Glue