Lacey Paper Flowers, Step by Step Project!

Flowers are huge in the crafting and design industries, especially vintage and handmade ones. They can be scene on headbands, cardigans, tanks, purses, wristlets, shoes, jewelry, sewing projects, paper supply and scrapbooking.

If you aren't or think you aren't crafty enough to make them, but love to buy them for embellishing, I will change that though process for you. This is the first in a series of projects I will be posting for you to do. Today's Flower Power Project is: Lacey Paper Flowers. The next will be Faux Velvet Flowers and Embossed Paper Flowers.

Project Materials:
-Vintage or recycled book pages
-Martha Stewart Lace Border Punch
-Basic paper single punch (hand punch)
-Scissors
-White Floral Wire
-Beacon Adhesives Kids Choice Glue
-Pearls

Project Directions:
1. Cut three circle shapes (they don't have to be perfect circles), sized 3.5 inches, 2.5 inches, 1.5 inches.

2. Using the Lace Border Punch, punch around the borders of each cut circle.

3. Now layer your punched circles on top of each other, larger being the first to layer onto.

4. Next using the single punch, punch a hole through the center of all three.

5. Thread a 3 inch cut piece of white floral wire through all three holes.

6. Attach a pearl on top of the floral wire end, located above the flower, secure in place with kids choice glue, let set a few minutes.

7. Once the glue sets (dries), begin to pinch up the flower sides, to give your flower stack dimension.
8. Here is your finished Lacey Flower.

Project Sample:
I taught a vintage fashion plate assemblage workshop a few days ago called: Les Parisiennes. I showed the students how to create these flowers for their assemblage! Here is the final class sample:

Whimsical Scrapbook Layouts !


I am not your normal scrapbooker, never have been, I have always loved popping out my pages, adding dimension and unusual details, basically playing with each detail on it, and letting it tell a new story. When I was in college I chronicled by senior year using a used storybook page calender as the background paper, instead of the scrapbook paper that was available at the time, which was plain and boring, now scrapbookers have more options and themes to play with.


In this post I am showing you a Whimsical scrapbook layout I created using papers from my new paper line. I used the Doll House Curiosities Sheet, Tatterkins Royal Style and the Sweet Shoppe Carnival, Taffy Crowns Style.
I choose a vintage French postcard image which digitally altered in Corel Paint Shop Pro and layered it onto sweet polka dot paper from Making Memories, followed by K and Company photo corner accents.

I then attached the layered image to the main paper; Tatterkins Royal Style. Now comes the fun part embellishing.

I aged flowers from Prima in Tea and Distress Inks from Ranger, handmade and distressed crepe paper flowers, millinery pearls/stamens.

I used handmade paper frame, chipboard, aged ribbon, lace, trim/yoyo's from rat's pajamas, velvet trim and other embellishments.

I finished the layout with 2 embellishments from my doll parts line: Large Kewpie and Small Kewpie, which I hand painted, dressed, and extra embellished.


Currently the doll parts are available in my Etsy Store, Website and at my store Front: Piddlestixs. The first printing of papers are sold out, the 2nd printing and new line will be available from the distributor before the end of the year!

Stay tuned for more scrapbook layouts and Lisa fun.

Meet Bailey, The Teddy Queen!

Meet Bailey, the Teddy Queen. Bailey's favorite color is pink and she loves cotton candy, she lives in Cocoa Falls, just north of Mousse City and Bearywood Forest which is home to the rainbow bears, her favorite are the Pink Bears whose favorite food are jelly beans.

Every year Bearywood Forest holds the annual Teddy Queen Pageant and Festival. This years winner is Bailey, how exciting...

Bailey is a new style added to my Charlotte Doll Line, made using my own handmade molds, clay, paints, and a variety of embellishments. Each one of my molded dolls are unique and one of a kind, reminiscent of the vintage dolls from the past with my twist on them.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Bailey and join her at the festival for some fun!
Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

The Worst Witch Series!
I was a huge fan of The Worst Witch as a girl growing up, wishing my school was as magical as the movie and tv series was. Today, I try to re-create those magical worlds in my art and now at my store.

In case you aren't familiar with this adorable series, here is a bit of info for you:
The Worst Witch is a series of children's novels written and illustrated by Jill Murphy and published by Puffin Books. The first book was published in 1974. They have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 4 million copies.[1] In 1986, the first book in the series was made into a Halloween telefilm. A TV series based on the books aired from 1998 to 2001, and has inspired two spin-offs, Weirdsister College (2001) and The New Worst Witch (2005).

Mildred Hubble is the 'worst' student at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. She is well-meaning but does things without thinking. The benevolent headmistress, Miss Cackle, is generally understanding, whereas Mildred's form teacher, the virago Miss Hardbroom thinks she just isn't trying hard enough.

Other characters in the books include Ethel Hallow and Mildred's friends, Maud Moonshine and Enid Nightshade. Maud is a rotund girl and more sensible than Mildred, although usually finds herself caught up in her friend's problems. Enid (introduced in the second book) is a practical joker who is more likely than Mildred to get them all into trouble. The three of them have a strong rivalry with Ethel Hallow, their high-born, snobbish and vindictive classmate.

Murphy (who began writing The Worst Witch at the age of 15) based the Worst Witch books on her own experiences of school at Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon, England with Singing becoming Chanting, Chemistry becoming Potions and so on.



Film version
Main article: The Worst Witch (TV movie)

In 1986, the first book in the series was converted to a made-for-television film on ITV starring Fairuza Balk, Tim Curry and Diana Rigg. Though a British film, it also aired in the USA on HBO. The film followed the plot of the first book of the series, portraying the incidents of Mildred turning herself invisible and turning Ethel into a pig, Miss Cackle's evil twin sister Agatha plotting to take over the school, and the Grand Wizard viewing the Halloween Broomstick formation (sabotaged by Ethel's faulty broom she lent to Mildred). It was shot at St. Michael's College in Tenbury Wells. This holiday special later aired on The Disney Channel every year for Halloween until the late 1990s. Its opening song, titled Growing Up Isn't Easy, was sung by Bonnie Langford; its music was composed by Charles Strouse and its lyrics were written by Don Black. Their other musical number was "Anything Can Happen On Halloween". Denis King composed its incidental music score. He also wrote the song "My Little School".

TV series

The Worst Witch, a TV series based on the books which starred Georgina Sherrington and Felicity Jones as Mildred Hubble and Ethel Hallow respectively, was broadcast from 1998 to 2001. It was shot in Montreal.

When it was no longer realistic that Mildred would still be at school, the series relocated her to a magical university in Cambridge and was retitled Weirdsister College: The Further Adventures of the Worst Witch, and saw the return of Felicity Jones as a reinvented Ethel Hallow.

In 2004, a new series based on the 1998 series was made, entitled The New Worst Witch. It centred on the adventures of Mildred's equally bungling cousin, Henrietta "Hettie" Hubble, played by Alice Connor, also set at Cackle's Academy.

For more info on the Worst Witch visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Worst_Witch
http:
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Worst_Witch_%28TV_series%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weirdsister_College
http://www.miss-cats-worst-witch-academy.de/History__-_Who_is_who_/The_Telly_Series/Georgina_Sherrington/georgina_sherrington.html
http://www.galafilm.com/worstwitch/usa/index.html

Last Thursday the Ladies of Lafayette's Secret Society came together for a night of spook-tacular magic hosted by Miss June, who dropped off our secret invites to each of us. Even the invite was glowing with magic, the front was a vintage seance image of Edgar Allen Poe, a Silent Film Actress and other Icons of that error, all dressed to the eclectic hilt of glamor and filling on watchers with curiosity and intrigue.

Thursday's group was Karen, Noreen, Joyce, Joan, Me, and our host June, with special guest ghost hunter, Brian, who came to meet each of us. June had homemade lasagna, baked artichoke squares, wine and The Queen's Cherry Jubilee Royal Cake waiting for us, complete with dozens of glowing candles and lanterns to set the mood, all inside the historic 150 year old building which has tons of history and folklore surrounding it.
It was a night filled with absolute magic, a little Halloween for ourselves, each of us needing this night in more ways then one. Whether you believe there is an afterlife or a skeptic of it or not, whether you are filled with curiosity or not, understanding ghosts and historical folklore, just know magic is everywhere, each of us who attended left with that and much more.

I know my Grandfather, Grandmother (her birthday is Halloween) and family is watching over me, learned of the history and afterlife at Piddlestixs, and more, we all left with a special bond, laughter, memories and love.

We have now entered a new month, a new day, new night and new adventure in November. I hope this months brings us all love, luck, good health and prosperity.

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

My Studio At Piddlestixs!
There is a large back room at my store which was formally the stage, this is where I have begun the makings of transforming my studio. A few weeks back I salvaged a vintage cabinet from destruction and turned it into my cabinet of magic and all things spooky such as ephemera, cabinet cards, cigar boxes, rusty things, old bottles, doll heads, items from friends and swaps, all things eclectic.

This is the first part of the transformation process of my studio which will be magical spooky meets candyland whimsy!

This is an ongoing process, as I need two more class type wood curio cabinets and a low height book shelf for this room and then I will be done. I am currently working on the apothecary area and vintage clothing room in the store, followed by the papery section, always a work in progress and on a budget!

Happy Creating!
xoxo
Lisa!

Happy Halloween!

Amy Knutkowski has done it again, another fabulous digital masterpiece. Today was a late day at Piddlestixs, spent eating candy and giving it all away. As I sat back tonight and reflected on the Halloween Season, I came away with magic, 2 full weeks of it. A Witches Tea Party, Ghost Walk, Seance, Halloween Decor, Folklore and a Special Birthday Greeting to my Grandmother who was born on Halloween, who makes this day that more special.

I walked toward each area of my store and turned off the lights, which glow so magically every evening. To me it doesn't have to be Halloween time in order to decorate and feel magic around you and inside you, it can be kept all your long. In a few weeks, I will be celebrating the release of the latest Harry Potter Movie with a night workshop and a trip to see it.

Tonight I turned on the computer and was greeted with a fabulous piece of digital magic from the amazing Amy Knutkowski, who used one of my images: Betty Grable Halloween as an element in the piece. Click here to visit Amy's flickr site!
Amy's Blog: www.wallflowerimages.blogspot.com

Here is the Betty Grable Halloween Image:


Here is the digial masterpiece that Amy created with it:


All my collage cd's are available in my Etsy Store, Website, and inside Piddlestixs. For free images to use in your works, please visit my flickr site.

Have a magic filled night!
xoxo
Lisa!

Handmade Pink Glass Glitter



For a few years I have been making my own crushed glass glitter using broken bottles, colorants and a crusher or tumbler.

For the Candyland Putz House Workshop and Event, I have made up several batches of glitter in sweet candy colors such as cotton candy pink, rosy lampshade, sugar plum, aqua bliss, Miss Blueberry, Divine Lemonade and more. Workshop attendees will get to use the glitters in their project and take some home.


I will have the glitter available next week, for sale in my etsy store and at my shoppe: Piddlestixs.

Have a glitter filled Weekend!
xoxo
Lisa!

Winter Candyland Workshop and Event

Winter Candyland Workshop Event

What: A Winter Candyland Show andWorkshop Event
Hosts: Piddlestixs and Bell Barter Theater Presents
When: Saturday December 11, 2010
Time: 11am-6pm
Limited to: 10 students only!
Price: $95 (this included everything, no kit fee)

Every year I do a different themed early winter event. This year's theme is Candyland and its many stages of characters, vintage putz houses and seer sucker bliss. I have combined all the fees into one price so no kit fee! Hooray!

The added bonus: Students will become apart of the Winter Candyland Vignette at a 200 year old Cathedral transformed into a Whimsical theater for the past 10 years known as: The Bell and Barter Theater.

Students are encouraged to dress up in fun and whimsical clothing, and are welcome to borrow some costume and accessories to wear for the day. We will create vintage inspired Putz houses decorated with faux candies, seer sucker stripes and placed onto paper mache boxes. Our class setting will be one of the vignettes in the show, where passerby's attending the main event will watch us create and play within our own storybook world.

Workshop Highlights:
-Create inside a real theater
-Be a real live vignette inside a day event, smile for the camera!
-Wear costumes and play
-Some enchanted treats and sweets
-Light lunch
-Coffee/Tea/Soda (Candy land brew)
-Vintage Inspired Putz House Box Project
-theater Music
-Giveaways
-Sponsored Goodie Bags and Candy
-And more....

Seats limited to 10 people only

No refunds!

Price:$95.00
Click Here to register

The Witches of Lafayette! Double, Double Toil and Trouble

I added some magic to some of the photos from The Witches Tea Party and Ghost Walk Event I hosted at Piddlestixs on October 16, 2010, in Historic Lafayette, NJ.

I added some pizazz in Corel Paint Shop Pro using some filters, distress tools, lettering, plug-ins and borders!

Here are some highlights of these enhanced photos:



Here I am in my own Witches Hat, I choose Pink and I'm wearing Mo's Velvety cloak, I truly felt magical. To set the mood of the event, I tried to play all the magical tunes I could find, a few of songs on the playlist were from Harry Potter, such as Double Double Toil and Trouble, which comes from Macbeth.

Below is a caption from Macbeth, its interpretation and the lyrics from Harry Potter....P.S. I have this as a ring tone on my cell phone!

"Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."

-Macbeth Act 4, scene 1, 10–11, etc.

Three Scottish witches are going about their business—tossing poisoned entrails, eye of newt, toe of frog, and such, into a cauldron—while awaiting a visit from the man they said would be king: Macbeth. "Double, double toil and trouble" is part of the refrain to their demonic incantation, an inspiring little number in tetrameter (four accents per line). The collective memory has clouded somewhat; often, this refrain comes to mind in the jumbled form "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble," which makes even less sense than the original. The witches are actually trying, with their spells, to pile up toil and trouble until they "double"—yielding twice the toil and double the trouble for Macbeth, presumably.

Here are the lyrics as they were played in Harry Potter:
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!

Eye of newt and toe of frog,
wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
lizard's leg and owlet's wing.

Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!

In the cauldron boil and bake,
fillet of a fenny snake,
scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
witches mummy, maw and gulf.

Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Something wicked this way comes!

Have a magical night!
xo
Lisa!