Design Team Project
By Marfi Bradford

Whimsical Paper Dolls!

When I was 8 I had a friend that had a huge collection of paper dolls, fortunately she was generous and didn't mind sharing. We'd play for hours, changing accessories and outfits.One of the best things was being able to keep all the outfits that were damaged...I'd bring them home and "repair" them, adding glitter, construction paper, photos from magazines and fake flowers.
This week's project for Lisa Kettel Designs helped me remember how much fun that was.
I used an image from a collage clip art CD which you can find in Lisa's shop.

Marie Antoinette Materials
Vintage Image
ribbon
pink ruffled ribbon
cage and bird stickers
red glitter heart sticker
resin rose stickers
glitter in dark pink, iridescent pink
paper flowers
small artificial rose
white pompom trim
rhinestones
decorative scrapbook paper
card stock
white craft glue
hot glue
glue stick

Directions
1.print image onto card stock
2.glue decorative paper onto card stock using a glue stick, press out air bubbles,
3.cut into skirt shape
4.attach image to top of skirt
5.hot glue ruffles to lower half of skirt, starting at the bottom.
6.add pompom trim using white glue
7.add paper flowers to dress
8.brush white glue to flowers and sprinkle with iridescent glitter
9.arrange rhinestones onto doll
10.attach artificial rose to skirt using hot glue
11.place cage on her head and bird sticker to her hand
12.add glitter heart sticker to hip
13.hot glue ribbon to back of doll to hang if you wish










Flower Fairy Materials
Vintage image
glitter paper
fabric roses
silver glitter tinsel
artificial leaf
crepe paper flower
pink pipe cleaner
ribbon
coarse glitter in pink and gold
plastic wings
card stock


Directions
1.print image onto card stock, cut out
2.draw arms onto remaining card stock, cut out and glue to torso
3.glue leaf to bodice
4.add fabric roses to top of arms to form sleeves
5.glue tinsel ribbon to 'waist'
6.hot glue torso and head to tissue paper flower
7.drizzle white glue to flower and cover with pink glitter
8.form legs out of pink pipe cleaner and glue to inside of skirt
9.add more fabric flowers for shoes
10.cut out crown shape out of gold glitter paper attach to top of head
11.glue wings to back of doll.
12.add ribbon to back of doll to hang




Tip:
use butterfly wings or stickers instead of plastic wings
tissue paper flowers can be found in the greeting card/birthday section of Target
use crepe paper instead of fabric ribbon

Visit Lisa Kettell Designs, her artfire shop or her beautiful blog for more inspiration !!
.....................................................................................................................................................................

How amazing are these paper dolls that Marfi did? I love them! xoxo

Lisa's Top 25 CHA Products/Manufacturers

Below is a list of my top 25 favorite products and manufacturers at this years Winter CHA 2012 show in Anaheim, CA.
1.Ruby Rock-It www.rubyrock-it.com
2.Graphic 45 www.g45papers.com
3.Hemptique www.hemptique.net
4.Vintaj www.vintaj.com
5.Beacon Adhesives www.beaconadhesives.com
6.Scrap Perfect www.scraperfect.com
7.Plaid www.plaidonline.com
8.Ranger www.rangerink.com
9.Ellison/Sizzix www.ellison.com
10.Colorbox/Clearsnap/Donna Salazar www.clearsnapinc.com
11.Basic Grey www.basicgrey.com
12.Kaiser Craft www.kaisercraft.net
13.EK Success:Martha Stewart and French General www.eksuccessbrands.com
14.Glitter Dust www.thermoweb.com
15.October Afternoon www.octoberafternoon.com
16.Offray Ribbon-Sports Line
17.Best Creations www.bestcreation.us
18.Zutter www.zutterproducts.com
19.Walter Kunze Dresden's www.walterkunze.com
20.Globe Craft Memories www.globecraftmemories.com

In this post I will spotlight Ruby Rock-It, No.1 in my list: www.rubyrock-it.com
I roamed the whole floor until I found them, engulfed beneath a magnificent life sized Birdcage gazebo, surrounded by a magical assortment of papers and products, now add the Ruby Rock-It crew: Warren, Joanna and Rachel, and the whole booth is complete, like their products, they are each a real treasure to work with and easy to purchase from, their creativity has no boundaries and keep me coming back for more, which placed them at No.1 in my fave products/manufacturers of the show. Their "NOSTALGIA", "PAPER DOLL" and "ENGLISH STEAMPUNK" lines were my absolute favorite, take a look: Yes I am loving all these papers! Fabulous Layouts:
A make and take:Now I have one question for you: "Are you hooked yet? I am, visit Ruby Rock-It for all the magic you need to start creating in 2012!
Magic and Joy, From a Ruby Rock-It Fan,
xoxo
Lisa!

"Polly's Starring in the Moonlight Ballet and her date: Cupie of Love!"
As many of you know I am a lover of dolls and all things fantasy, that also includes vintage carnival dolls and cupies/kewpies! For years I have been creating around these themes through my stories, illustrations, collage art and dolls.My passion for creating dolls has lead me on a journey into the world of papier mache. I have experimented w/papier mache, striving to find that perfect blend which could resemble the look of chalkware. On a trip to the San Francisco Area last year I bought a vintage chalkware bunny, when I came home I placed my bunny onto a cute cake stand in my studio, this bunny has inspired me ever since.As I made my charlotte dolls and doll parts I would experiment with different clay mixtures, some are perfect for one thing and not the other. I've developed a clay paint mixture perfect for 3Dimentional details and texture (This article can be found in the November/December Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine). As I played with papier mache I found myself un-satisfied, I wasn't comfortable with the mixes I was making until a few weeks ago, by accident aka the serendipity method, I stumbled upon the perfect clay. This clay is a combo of papier mache and a chalkware feel when dried, hence my new feel good discovery within my art.From this I have re-molded some pieces and bought vintage tin molds, trying to re-capure that storybook vintage look, these following dolls are the result of that.

Each doll has a 4 day and multi step process:
1.The clay is made for each batch, cured/dried on each side.
2.Next they are baked for several hours, cooled, and sanded.
3.Now they get coated, painted and aged
4.Finally they are embellished with vintage millinery, handmade hats/clothes, crushed sugar glitter and more.

All my dolls come signed by me, and will be numbered in a collection, until I retire their style.

Polly's Moonlight Ballet is the story about a cupie girl named Polly is has been chosen to be a Moonfairy in the Moonlight Ballet which will be held at the Starlight Garden Theater located at Petalwood Square. Polly will dance, sing and fly to a symphony of enchanted melodies, half way through the performance Polly is startled by a glittering sugar arrow which was sprung from the arrow of Poe, The Cupie of Love. By the end Polly and Poe fall in love, but I recommend the ballet to all....

To purchase these dolls visit my Etsy Store, to order custom dolls contact me!
Hope you have enjoyed the magic,
XOXO
Lisa!