Recycled Halloween

Recycling items we already have or saving items from the trash can open up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to creating.

For years I have always loved old frames. They are just so timeless. Whenever I head to a thrift store or rummage sale I go right for the frames. There are always so many of them left over, I usually take the whole lot of them and get a great price as well.

Last Spring I received a lot of 12 big wood frames w/o the glass for $2.00. Then 2 days after the sale there was Spring clean up week in my town. As I was walking I found a bunch of discarded frames waiting to head to the dumpster, so I rescued them. Now I had a bunch of open frames waiting to turn into some kind of art and this Fall they did.

A few weeks ago I mounted the open frames onto the wall and decided to create a Halloween scene in each of them using black paper owl cutouts from the dollar store. There are about 18 in a pack, just attach some scotch tape to the back of each owl cutout and attach inside the frames to create a scene.

This whole project cost about a $1.00 for the cutouts and the free frames from cleanup week. You could do this for any theme, holiday or family silhouettes. Fast and easy project with an artsy, vintage feel. Recycling is a great way to preserve our past and to bring discarded items back to life again.

Happy Recycled Halloween!
xoxo
Lisa

Wizard Soiree Necklace

 

Wizard Soirée! A new necklace I created using muted distressed gold findings, chains, beads, rhinestones and pin. I photographed this piece on my favorite dichroic stained glass boxes and books!

All the findings are from Bead Landing and the beads are from Halcraft USA, all available at Michaels Craft Stores.

Long ago there was a Magician named Oliver who believed in magic, he believed that he was a direct ancestor to Cornelius Morvette.  Cornelius was a wizard from Brush Hollow, a city which some how just disappeared, just as OZ did.

Oliver recently discovered a trunk period under heaps of copper scraps while fixing his flying air machine. He dusted the top of the trunk and opened it with the gleaming key still inside the trunks key lock.

They a puff of golden light sprinkled some glittering powder and the contents were made clear. An old large ornate book, some smaller books, journals, potion supplies, bottles, jeweled amulets and a map. What was all this stuff? he wondered. Could it be, could it really be true, was he the great great grandson of Cornelius Morvette. Afterall they shared the last name and finding this trunk just proves it.
Now Oliver must go on a journey to find the truth about his ancestry and see if he is really the great grandson of Cornelius Morvette. Also what happened to Brush Hollow? How could a town just disappear?

Are the disappearances of Brush Hollow and Oz a coincidence?or completely separate? Oliver packed the trunk and map on his air ship and set sail with his friends Miranda Sicklesby, Doey Muddstone and his pet Owl Puffs.

 Where will their first stop be? I'm thinking Jaggerville or Tuckerton. Who knows, as soon as I find out, I will let you know. In the meantime enjoy one of the necklaces from Cornelius's trunk.

 I hope you enjoyed the necklace and its story.
xoxo
Lisa

The Candy Carnival

The Candy Carnival is a fun paper assemblage I made with a character from my illustration "Candy In Wonderland". In addition I used a cupcake cup, vintage cake balloon and clown toppers, paper straws and embellishment wheels! 

This project is a great recycle project that can be created with birthday or party leftovers such as cupcake liners/cups, paper straws, toppers, crepe paper, party bags, party bag fillers and images from the invites and cards. Which makes for a great memory piece from that special day.  You could even use your child's image, your image or a friends.

Materials:

-Paper straw
-Cupcake liner or cupcake cup
-Cupcake sticks or bamboo grilling stick
-Cupcake/cake clown, balloon toppers
-Paper or party bag scrap (for banner)
-Chipboard
-Wood wheel or scrapbook wheel embellishments
-Pink party shredding (filler)
-Illustration, greeting card or invite images.
(I used an image from my own illustration)
-Glues: hot glue sticks, paper glue stick
-Tools: hot glue gun, scissors
-Other: white paper floral wire, scrapbook embellishments

Directions:

1. Cut image from greeting card or invite, layer onto chipboard or sturdy cardstock and glue using paper glue stick. ( This makes the image more sturdy )
2. Attach a small piece of a cupcake or bamboo stick to the bottom of the cupcake cup using hot glue. 
3. Fill the cupcake cup with pink party shredding using more hot glue. Then cut a paper straw in half and attach to each interior side of the the cupcake cup.
4. Insert a clown cupcake topper into the top of each straw, hot glue in place. Then insert floral wire into the balloon toppers and hot glue. Wrap the balloons in a groups of 3 around the base of the paper straws. (See project photos)
5. Wrap floral wire around the base of the left paper straw and extend the wire to the top of the right paper straw, hot glue in place.
6. Cut small square shapes from papers, party bag or invite left overs. Then cut a small triange shape into each end of the cut square. Make about 6 to 7 of these shapes, use to form the banner.
7. Insert the layered image into the cupcake cup, hot glue.
8. Finally add extra embellishments, lettering, found objects or glitter.

Tips:
-Use uncooked pasta wheels in place of wood wheels.
-Cut of words from your invites, greeting cards or ephemera and personalize your piece.
-Vintage clown toppers give your piece a more nostalgic look.

xoxo 
Lisa

Piddlestixs Vol.7

Its finally ready. Piddlestixs vol.7 w/5 extra pages, now 45 pages. featuring so many great artists, and 2 pages of collage sheets. Now available in print. Follow the link below to purchase your own copy!
http://www.lulu.com/shop/lisa-kettell/piddlestixs-vol7/paperback/product-21837069.html
 To submit an article, project, story, artist spotlight, recipe or collage sheet to piddlestixs magazine, email: lisakettell@yahoo.com  Place Mag. Submission in the email header.

Piddlestixs Mag, ArtStixs and Faerie Zine come out 2-3 times a year. All publications are available as print or download. Please note there was no Spring or Summer edition for 2014 only Winter and Fall.

Enjoy!
xoxo
Lisa

Summer Memories Ornament

Every summer we embark on a multitude of adventures.  Exploring becomes a way of life either on a stroll to the park, hike in the mountains or a swim at the beach.

As an artist I always try to come up with unique ways to capture my adventure and preserve it. Back in June I was lucky to share an adventure to the Jersey Shore with my creative friend Marfi Bradford, who traveled to me from Arizona for some artful fun and exploring.

Everyday became a road trip to all parts of the Tri-State area.  One of those trips was to Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, NJ.  Both seashore towns located on the Jersey Coast.

While there I was collecting ephemera and found objects on the beach such as shells, drift wood, pebbles and sand.  When Marfi, My Mom and Myself returned we were all exploding with creativity, so we decided to start making art in the studio.  Marfi choose to work in a Halloween theme.  My mom created in a Victorian theme, while I wanted to capture the day at the shore.

My finished piece was created using some of the elements I found earlier at the shore. I called my piece: Queen of the Sea, a summer memories ornament which will preserve our memory of the day in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove.

Materials:
-Drift wood
-Shells, all sizes
-Beach pebbles
-Lettered wood beads or scrabble pieces
-Chipboard letter
-White paper or floral wire
-Vintage image
-German silver glass glitter
-Glue: hot glue sticks, paper glue stick, tacky glue
-Tools: hot glue gun, scissors
-Other: pearl stick pin, chenille stem, navy fine glitter, card stock, letter sticker

 

Directions:
1. Cut out vintage image from paper, adhere to card stock using paper glue stick, re-cut again. (This makes       the image more sturdy)
2. Hit glue the cut image to the center of a piece of drift wood or glue to the location of choice.
3. Begin layering shells and pebbles onto the drift wood.  Attach with hot glue.
4. Cover a chipboard letter with tacky glue and sprinkle with German glitter.  Then attach to the drift wood.
5. Thread a piece of paper wire with letter wood beads and hot glue each end to the drift wood.
6. Wrap a piece of chenille stem into a circle, attach to a stick pin, add a sticker and pearls. Insert into drift       wood.
7. Embellish vintage image with navy glitter and a crown shape made from a piece of chenille stem.
8. Write the date and location onto the back of the image.

Tips:
-Create a tag.  Write the date, location, who you were with and a brief description onto the tag and attach to   the ornament.
-Use a photo of the day instead of the vintage image.
-Use a large shell as the base instead of the drift wood.

The possibilities are endless on what you can create out of your summer findings.
Thanks for visiting.

xoxo
Lisa

The Artful Girls Club Line!

I'm so excited to share with all of you the release of my friend Deb Hodge's new line: The Artful Girls Club. A line of clothing and accessories inspired by the vintage romance of decades long ago.  A place in time where Ladies were courted by dashing Gentlemen, soirees happened every weekend and pearls were a main part of one's jewelry collection.

A decade of innocence and carefree days by the lake, the beach and the garden. Lavender, roses and peonies filling vases in every home. Jeweled chandeliers shining over tea time afternoons and ladies retreats. Farm fresh delicacies, wood wagons and old fashioned beverages on summer days. Traveling back into time is easier then you think with a trip to Deb's World of Vintage Bliss. 

 At her newest site: The Artful Girls Club, you can rediscover a vintage world through various clothing and accessories from tee shirts to linen. There is something for everyone in her new shop.

For more information of Deb's works and to keep up to date with her workshops and products visit her blog, facebook and shop.  

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtfulGirlsClub

https://www.facebook.com/swoonwithdebhodge

http://www.swoonwithdebhodge.blogspot.com/

swoonwithdebhodge@yahoo.com

I was gifted with one of Deb's pieces and I truly love it, she is truly amazing. Thanks Deb for sharing your world with us.

xoxo

Lisa

(Please note all photos belong to Deb Hodge)

LK Design Team Project by Marfi Bradford: Peter Pan Book/Puppet theatre

Do you believe in fairies?

I think you all know that I do!

Here's a Lisa Kettell Designs Team project

that has everything you need to help you believe! 

-Marfi Bradford

Supplies

• Cigar box or book shaped box (available at craft and hobby stores)
• 2 Baby Bailey unpainted dolls
• Fairy silhouette
• wooden scrolls/trim
• alphabet stickers
• England stickers*
• gold glitter washi tape
• purple ribbon
• treasure map
• hot glue gun, glue sticks
• white glue
• glitter in gold & pink
• craft wire
• green scrapbook paper
• acrylic pant: white, peach, orange, gold, pink, red, light green, dark green, dark blue, brown, black

Directions

1. Paint baby bailey dolls to look like Wendy and Peter. Then hot glue purple ribbon to top           of her head, add pink glitter to top of her ankles.
2. Next fold a small amount of green paper to resemble a hat for peter, hot glue to his head       poke craft wire into back of dolls, set aside.
3. Paint the wooden trim gold and add glitter. Paint inside of box dark blue and add white to create clouds.
4. Position Big Ben sticker in front of the clouds, or, paint him on. Then glue green paper to       lid of box, paint outside of box gold. 
5. Open box add washi tape across the top and hot glue wooden trim to frame inside of box.     add stickers and silhouette to box lid to create the cover.
6. Put a small amount of hot glue on tips of the wire attached to the dolls and position them         to look like they're flying. 
7. Add treasure map to inside lid and dry brush gold paint on corners of cover and the map.

Hope this was fun...I've been outside most of this week adding arches and making a bed out of

bent wood and an iron cot! When it's ready it'll be covered in vines and flowers. -Marfi Bradford

I hope you enjoyed Marfi's project for the Lisa Kettell Design Team.  Her work is filled with so much magic, enchantment and joy.  I just love this project. To create your own using some of Lisa Kettell Designs products visit the artfire shop at: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/MoonfairesWorld


Stay tuned for more Design Team projects this week!
xoxo
Lisa

 

Peeps Wands

Do you know what time of year it is? Its peeps time. Here is another fun peeps project I created. This time I used Rit Dye for the lace ribbon and pom poms, paper straws and pink bunny peeps. A great recycled project using left over ribbon, paper straws and peeps. Perfect for all ages. Now let's get started.

Materials for the Decorating:

• Pink bunny peeps, Peeps and Company
• Paper straws
• Pom poms
• Ornate pearl stick pins, Lisa Kettell Designs
• Tools/Glue: hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, scissors

Materials for the Dye:

• Liquid Dye, Petal Pink, Rit Dye
• White lace trim or ribbon, Joanne's Fabric and Craft Store
• Plastic table cover
• Paper towels or old towel
• Measuring spoon, measuring cup
• Large glass or plastic bowl

Directions to Dye the Lace and Pom poms:

1. Prep your surface. Lay plastic table cover on the surface you will working over. Put on your rubber or latex gloves.
2. Mix 2 tablespoons Rit liquid dye petal pink with 1 1/2 cups hot water in a plastic, or metal bowl and stir. Let steep for 20 minutes. For good hot water, heat some in the microwave in a glass bowl for 2 minutes.
3. Place lace ribbon and light color pom pom in the liquid dye solution, let set for 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove the dyed ribbon when desired color is achieved and place onto a foil pan. Let dry. Reserve your remaining mixture for more dying by pouring into a glass jar or container, keep sealed

Directions To make Peeps Wands: 

1. Push a paper straw into the bottom end of a pink bunny peep, secure in place with hot glue or glue of choice. Attach a pom pom to the back of the peep, tilting to the left side, secure with hot glue.
2. Cut a piece of the dyed lace ribbon about 12 inches and tie around the bottom of the peep ( at the top of the wand). Then push in a pearl stick pin into the top center of the peep.

Tips/Tricks: 

• Fill in any white areas of the peep with a decaupage medium mixed with petal pink Rit dye and add pinkish sand to finish. 
• Try adding sugary pink clear or German glitter on the peep.
• Add a crepe paper skirt and other fun details to your peep wand.

To see the original project I created and to learn more about using Rit Dye visit my project link inside my Rit Studio at: www.ritstudio.com/2014/04/04/peeps-wands


xoxo
Lisa

Peeps in a Box!

Peeps are marshmallow candies, sold in the United States and Canada, that are shaped into chicks, bunnies, and other animals.  They are produced by Just Born a candy manufacturer founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by Russian immigrant Sam Born. In 1953, Just Born acquired the Rodda Candy Company and its marshmallow chick line, and replaced the process of hand-forming the   chicks with mass production.  

Soon Just Born, was considered the "largest marshmallow candy manufacturer in the world."   The yellow chicks were the original form of the candy, then new shapes other than the chicks were produced following a theme according to the season starting in the 1960s. Twenty years later, the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny was released as a popular year round shape of the candy.


I have been a long time fan of the kitschy sweet bunny peeps.  My Mom and Grandma would put edible German Easter Candy grass in a basket and fill it with peeps and other Easter treats usually from Woolworths or Newberrys Dept. Stores. 

As an artist and advid recycler I save everthing and try to reuse what I have in my projects.  Recently I came across a box filled with un-opened packages of peeps from last year.  I remembered buying them on clearance for 25 cents a box.  The pink bunnies are so cute and asking to be saved from snack time.  Each one looking like one of the chartacters from my art stories.  I knew they would fit in perfectly with my Easter projects.

The first in the series of projects is called "Peeps in a Box."  For this project I recycled last years peeps and their box  and turned them into a fun Spring assemblage.  I lined the peeps box with scrapbook papers, peeps, paper straws and shredded paper grass.  This project is perfect to do with your kids, with friends or yourself.  It teaches recycling, initiates crafting, and rings in the Easter holiday.  Best part of this project is you can make it within 15-20 minutes.

 Materials

• 1 box of pink bunny peeps
• Pink pom poms 
• Scrapbook paper 
• Scrapbook embellishments
• Shredded paper grass, pink
• Paper straws, pink/white striped 
• Pink acrylic paint
• Tools/Glue: scissors, hot glue gun, hot glue sticks
• Other: fabric spray stiffner, ribbons, wire ribbon, mini plastic chicks, wax paper

Directions

1. Remove the pink bunny peeps from box, separate from each other.
2. Place the peeps on wax paper and spray with fabric stiffner, let dry. This helps harden the peeps. For this project I used last years hardened peeps. 
3. Paint over any white areas of the peeps with pink acrylic paint, let dry.
4. Glue pink pom pom to the back of the peep, tilting to the left.
5. Measure the inside of the peeps box and cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit inside it, ahere with hot glue ot glue of choice.
6. Line the bottom of the peeps box with shredded pink paper grass, secure with hot glue or clue of choice.
7. Decorate the box with additional scrapbook paper embellishments, wire ribbon, paper straws, and peeps.

Tips/Tricks 

• You can air dry the peeps by cutting open the box and letting the air hit them for a few days or a week.
• Try photo copying your peeps and print onto sturdy weight paper and use them in place of the real peeps.
• You can use clay, paper mache or paper to make your own peeps. Coat the finished clay peeps in paint, mod podge and pink sand. There are some bunny type molds you can use to fill with plaster of paris for another version of the bunnies.

Company Products Used:

• I used Crate Paper for the kitschy tag cut outs, Clearsnap/Colorbox for the Party cut out and EK Success for the background Scrapbook paper in this project. I bought mine at ACMoore.
• I used pink acrylic paint from Plaid.
• Orange pom poms were dyed with petal pink and fuschia Rit Liquid Dye
• The thin shredded pink paper was from the dollar store.
• I used white floral wire to make my banner.
• The paper straws are from Michaels. 

Bunny peeps come in others colors besides pink. Blue, purple, and yellow are some of the other colors they come in.  This project can be made using any color or variety of peeps. 

I will be posting 4 peeps projects over the next few days to get you inspired to recycled and have fun using peeps.

xoxo
Lisa

 For more info on peeps visit:
www.marshmallowpeeps.com

To purchase items from my store visit:
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/MoonfairesWorld