Kooky For Cutters

While decorating my kitchen with a few antiques and vintage items I already had on hand ("shopping my home" as they say), I came across some metal cookie cutters I have picked up over the years at antique and thrift shops. Then I remembered I had even more sitting in my closet... ones I take out when it's time to make the annual Christmas shortbread.

It wasn't until I gathered them all together that I realized what a collection I had of old and new cutters.

I have round ones:

7 Scalloped rounds, 1 smooth round and 1 scalloped oval

Hearts and rectangles:

2 hearts, 3 long scalloped rectangles and 1 small scalloped rectangle

Stars of all sizes:

2 four-point stars, 1 scalloped, a medium and a small five point stars

Of course Christmas shapes:

2 Gingerbread men, holly leaf, bell, candy cane (my only copper cutter), 1 small & 2 large Christmas trees and Santa

And some of my favorites; various animals:

2 Reindeer, a cat, pig, swan, bird, chicken, Scottie dog and horse

Mixed in with the cutters were these...  they're staying in my studio though, as they'll make great push molds using Sculpey. The holiday ones are newer, but the scalloped shapes are older.

And the oldest of the bunch are these delightful animal shapes. Marked Hong Kong, I have a bear, rooster, rabbit, pelican, lamb and cat.

There's only one cookie cutter that has me stumped though:

I've been staring at it. I've been flipping it over, moving it around every which way and I still can't figure it out...

Anyone have an idea what this could be?  It's driving me Kooky!

Sharing over at Funky Junk's!

And with Angie at Knick of Time!

From Good(will) To Better

A few weeks back I spotted this wreath at Goodwill... since it was only $4, I thought I could "spruce" it up a bit to make a nice front door decoration for Spring. Sorry original designers, but those badly-painted, uber-sharp flat metal leaves just won't cut it - well, other than my hands when I try to handle you, that is.

Once I got it home, I found a heavy white plastic box tucked into a brown felt bag sewn onto the wreath behind the nest... it was a battery box - at one time this was motion-activated; the sound of chirping birds probably irritating er, greeting passers-by.

I bought the wreath because the birds and flowers were nice; there were no chips or breaks and the colours not too gaudy. I just needed to make the whole thing more 'natural' somehow.

Then I remembered I already had a bag of moss I got at Michael's for 50% off to do my Easter bunny place settings. Since I barely used any of it for those tiny pots, I had nearly the whole the bag left. I also had some other moss in another bag downstairs, so this project only cost $4 with the rest found items I already had.

I began by snipping off all those nasty leaves and removed the sound box, wires and bag from behind the nest.

Next, I wrapped long strands of Spanish moss around the frame.

Then I simply tore the small Sphagnum moss into pieces and glued them into place.

I added a few branches I had on hand from a mantel display (previously taken from a tree in our yard last Fall).

This was a messy, but quick project.

A piece of rough thick twine is going to be added to the top for hanging once I leave it overnight for the glue to dry.

So what do you think?

Before and After (click to biggify):

I'm joining in on the DIY Moss Projects over at Funky Junk's!

And with Diann over at:

Card Creations

The past month not only kept me busy with Easter preparations, but I was also able to crank out a few homemade cards for various occasions.

This first one was a get well card for my Aunt. The cloisonne bird was embossed on vellum and then coloured with Copics on the reverse. I love the translucent effect that gives, especially when it's popped up on foam dimensionals. 

The next two cards were made for two co-workers who are leaving our Department. The first was distressed using some Tim Holtz ink, a Spellbinder die popped up and the bird stamp added on top. I rarely make specially-shaped cards; this one was done with a large Spellbinder die - easy peasy.

The second going-away card for the office features a Magnolia Tilda stamp, as the recipient loves Maggies. I added some Wild Orchid roses over top inked patterned paper that was black and white only, so the purple really added a nice softness.

Two other ladies on our floor are leaving on maternity LOAs in April (they are both due on the same day and both are having girls!) so I made these for them using a new set of Spellbinders dies:

I melted three layers UTEE to make the duck stamp glossy; kind of like a rubber ducky!

The second card I wanted to make in a totally different style, with lace and pearls:

I also made a dress form card for a swap group I belong to. I used my Stampin' Up stamp, and popped it up on a Spellbinder die cut. The background of the card was made by mod-podging real dress pattern tissue using watered down glue. I added a few other stamps from the SU set, a ruler image from Tim Holtz and a seam binding bow at the bottom.

Speaking of cards, of course I HAD to create some Easter cards for the family. I made three the same - one for daughter, my parents and my hubby. I used a new drawing I did of a bunny rabbit (that I have added to my DigiDrawn digital stamp site).

I had fun sponging the background in Tim Holtz Distress Inks, using a torn piece of paper to create the ragged horizon. If you look closely, you'll see a teenie tiny sparkly butterfly on top of one of the flowers.

Hopefully I'll have more time this month to do some new digi stamps - since snow still covers our yard and deck, it'll still be awhile before yard work beckons!

The Last Easter Projects

Well, for THIS year, that is!

Not only was Good Friday a holiday, but so was Easter Monday for us hospital workers - a four day weekend that I needed to prepare for hosting the family Sunday dinner.

Since I didn't have time to decorate Easter eggs beforehand, I spent Monday and tonight finishing up a few last projects. I especially wanted to decorate Meeka's eggs - my daughter's lovebird who laid five eggs in February. To read more about her, click HERE for the story.

They are so tiny! Here are two of hers compared to the size of a regular chicken egg:

I drew Meeka on one egg, using Copic markers - on the reverse I glued on a feather of hers, along with her name and the date. The other one I simply covered in gold using a vintage package of "Excelsior Gold Enamel" I found at an antique store last year.

I also wanted to try my hand at making the chicken egg Victorian - looking... perhaps with some lace and a pearl? First I coloured the egg gold, then measured out the lace and gathered the top using some old linen thread I had.

Then I used a second style of lace to wrap all around the sides from top to bottom. I added some vintage jewelry pieces; a gold disc on the top where I ran seam binding through to hang the egg by, and a faux pearl at the bottom with a seam binding bow to finish it off.

So that's it for this year - finally finishing off 2013's Easter crafts and decor!

Bunnies In Pots

Each holiday, I like to create something special for dinner guests to take home. You may recall a few posts back I had revealed my "prototype" treat for this Easter. I am pleased to say that I finished all six "Bunnies In Pots" to grace each table setting for Sunday's family meal.

I'm going to ask daughter to decide who gets which bunny (because I can't).

There's a cinnamon brown fella with white nose and paws:

A gray one:

A medium brown large fella:

A black and white:

Beige first-try bun:

Or a large-eared cream-coloured:

If you want to see how I created them, check out my previous post HERE.

Hoppy, er Happy Easter!