Decorated paper roll containers with wire handles and wrapped candies. After a month of creating embellished paper clips as my project of the month, I now have a large selection of clips to use. I'm happy to send one to anyone who asks. This month the planned topic is Party Favor Ideas. Now this topic was originally set for earlier in the year. I pushed it forward when the coronavirus made parties seem unlikely. Evidently I was being too optimistic even then. However, in the spirit of looking forward to a time when gathering will not be a life threatening proposition, I have decided to collect, collate, and possibly construct some party favor ideas and place them on a Pinterest board made for the purpose. Here's the truth. There are a LOT of very creative party favor ideas out there already. They kinda fall into categories: 1. Edible favors : Re-packaged candy or snacks in soft bags of some kind, often with a themed tag, or in a decorated tin, b...

The first of the new batch is on her way to a new home in Indiana. Still time to buy  a pretty gift before Mother's Day!

...because I've been making Wish Dolls. Each one comes with a small fragrant pillow - either a lavender sachet or Indian musk blended with a touch of Orange blossom. The lavender is easy. It's dried lavender flowers from Lavender Wind, a pesticide-free farm  on Whidbey Island north of Seattle, that I sew into mesh pillows and then inserted with a minimum of stuffing into the Wish Doll double sided pillow. The great thing about lavender, aside from the aroma, is that to refresh the sachet, all you have to do is squeeze it. The musk is a little different. I cut small squares of muslin or poplin and stuff them in a sealed jar with musk oils and orange blossom to absorb the oils. I wrap each piece in some poly batting and stuff the pillows. When I say Indian Musk, I mean that literally. My mother-in-law traveled to India a lot in the 1960's and 70's and brought back oils, incenses, art work, and amazing fabrics.  She sent over a very mysterious, small dark bottl...

Since I enjoy making tags, I decided to get some plain cut blanks ready to go. I was very happy with the shape of these once they arrived. I also had some pretty prim/folk art style hearts I hand cut from corrugated cardboard. Why do I like corrugated cardboard so? Any hoo, I did some inking, some ageing, some stamping, some glueing, and this is the first set of sweet tags in powdery pastels and a nice rose pink, as a set. I also made more stamped "washi" style tape for the project. I enjoy stamping more and more, especially now I have a fine collection of Colorbox inks thanks to Amy at ScraPerfect . They are on my Etsy , if you want to see more pictures. I use tags a lot around the holidays instead of attaching cards to the wrapped items. How do you use tags most? For scrapbooking layouts (eg journalling), or on gifts?

Here is the first batch of Dream Star Art Dolls for the Uptown Village Market. Each is one-of-a-kind in a series. Green Batik My beautiful beaded 8 1/2 inch Dream Star Dolls appeal to people on an emotional level. Somehow, magically, you will be drawn to one. I can't predict which doll you will like - it just happens. You will just feel called to her. You will pick her up, turn her over in your hands and enjoy the soft hair, the little surprises of the paper beads or the charms. Sometimes the words on some of the charms will be the clincher. I never know which will be claimed first. But somehow they all eventually go out into the world to inspire dreams of beauty. Bright Batik Some people keep them on their mantels, others by their bedside. Lots of people tell me they keep theirs beside their computer. Maybe you will tell her your troubles, or just feel grateful that there are beautiful things and beautiful people all around you. Orange Lady Charms Maybe you will see...

I have some pretty things in my Etsy store at the moment, but my new FB friends and recent Twitter followers may not be aware of them. Since my Dream Star One of a Kind Art Dolls are being exclusively represented by The Gallery 9 in Culver City, CA, I'd love it if you'd take a look at some of my paper crafted items. Like these Handmade Romantic 3D Gift Tags . All Four Handmade Romantic 3D Gift Tags Set of 4 coordinating hand made oval gift tags in muted warm pinks and browns. I hand painted, stamped and aged sheet music, which I stiffened with card. I made double layered, hand cut lotus flowers in several varieties of pretty scrapbook papers. Each gently spinnable flower has a unique button center. I added the sentiments with rub on letters, and finished the tags with an eyelet and matching ribbon & yarn tie. I aged the parchment paper on the back but left plenty of room for your handwritten greeting. They are a one of a kind set. Size: 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches...

Cereal box turned inside out, painted, embellished with decoupaged acetate (my tie dyed paper towel papers,  printed ribbon trim and handles. For dh's friend.

Are you running out of time to make something beautiful by Mother's Day? Are you afraid that you don't have the skills to handcraft a gift for Mom? Are you frustrated by kits that seem to be everywhere and want something a little different and special? Mom's eyes will light up when she unwraps this pretty picture frame made with your own hands during the Rose Frame Class , to be taught by me -  only at the Michaels Arts and Crafts Store in Hawthorne, CA. I have personally designed this keepsake project to be completed in just two hours during the class . You'll use our tools at the store, and we'll do all the clean up. You'll walk out with a customized, truly special gift just in time for Mother's Day. In the class you will learn to make super easy  Rolled Paper Roses. Later you can make more to use in a multitude of ways for yourself or other gifts. Hair clips Brooch pins Ribbon chokers Head bands Embellishing other projects like treasure b...

The new issue of Green Craft is about to enliven newstands. My recycled gift boxes using vintage magazine papers and hand made flowers are on page 60-61 leading an article about upcycling cereal boxes. Yay. It's a packed issue with lots of scrumptious photos and project ideas.

I'm trying something new. I'm trying a free file hosting service to make my clip art available for downloading. I have placed this happy collaged character there, that I have been using to make cards (more pics soon). So far over here she has held a "Thank You" banner and a "Happy Birthday" banner made from stamped and cut out letters. I colored and decoupaged her to assorted cardstocks. Please feel free to visit the site and download her and make prints for your use. If you use her online, please link back to this blog. More free figures will follow as I am inspired to do more paper and mixed media art. She loves to be embellished! Also I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know how the download process worked - it seemed pretty simple to upload and I have high hopes. I think you have to create a free account.

in my Etsy store with the heady scent of Indian musk and a touch of orange essence. They ship in clear cellophane bags which retain the fragrance. Here's my suggestion: fasten a diamond bracelet to the hanging loop so that when your lady pulls the pillow from the bag the bracelet comes out with them. Or pin a beautiful brooch to the pillow. Also wonderful for Valentine's day - the romantic hand made gift tags. They are very solid and would be the perfect embellishment to a nice box of fancy chocolates or tied around the neck of a perfume bottle.

I have just listed a bunch of pretty lavender scented heart shaped pillow sachets for Valentine's Day. They are all double sided, embellished with beads and buttons and have ribbon loops for hanging. In the next day or so I will be listing a bunch of similar hearts only scented with vintage Indian musk and orange essential oils. So sweet and fresh, or seductive and decadent - some very pretty gifts available at my Esty store .

I made a collection of favor boxes made from recycled packaging, which will soon contain small candy bags, for Jayn's dance class friends. I had so much fun, that I thought a tutorial was in order. The boxes are either single serve cereal boxes or other oblong food packages cut in half to be small and cute. 1. Tape any box bottoms that are insecure with masking tape. Paint the boxes with two or so coats of white craft paint. I like to make the paint a bit thick, allowing dimensional brushstrokes to stay visible. 2. Decoupage the boxes with a selection of tissue papers. I used some leftover polka dotted wrapping papers, commercial decoupage tissues, and some of my own tie dyed paper towel sheets in pastel and gelato colors - for a range of boxes. 3. I stamped gold hearts at random, then aged the boxes with a wash made from brown acrylic and stain medium. Once the age wash was dry, I went back over with translucent pink glitter paint from, of all places, Ikea. The color is very light...

In an unheard of rush of timely enthusiasm, I am making some items to add to my Etsy store in plenty of time for Valentine's Day gifting. Here are a pile of double sided heart shaped fragrant sachets that will in due course be filled with either lavender or Musk/Orange oil. The fabrics are mostly vintage furnishings or retro print cottons - here you're seeing the wrong side of the fabrics. I plan on beading around the edges. They will be very sweet hanging in a closet or sitting in an underwear drawer. Stay tuned in upcoming days for the finished hearts and also for some Valentine Gift boxes divinely suitable for candies. I think I'll post a tute as well as having some for sale.

I figure Jayn's young friends probably don't read my blog, so I'm probably reasonably safe posting this gift before it is given. The bag is about 8 x 5 inches with a strap long enough to sling over the body. The patchwork side is a collection of undoubtedly familiar vintage and new remnants left over from recent doll making, while the back is a piece of vintage (I'm thinking 1960's) kimono silk. My mother-in-law gave me the kimono in a couple of pieces. I guess she had altered it some years ago and had worn the top part of it as a short jacket. Since it is now unwearable, and parts are actually faded and rubbed, I felt only a few twinges of guilt in dismantling the garment and the other few remants she sent me. The lining of the kimono was a beautiful flesh toned silk that has and will find new life in art dolls. I lined the bag is some very soft sage green silk that I had lying around from something. I made the patchwork by joining small rectangles into strips and ...

Now that the holidays are done, and I'm pretty sure that the bags have all made their way to their new homes, here are the larger sized OOAK Iggy Jingles handpainted and beaded character purses I made on special order for my good friend. I have to say it was kind of an accident that they turned out so big. I made a template for the painting and the larger size sprang from that. However I took the opportunity to upgrade the design by including an interior pocket, sewn in to the lining, which is always handy in a bag. Plus I made the closures with covered elastic instead of ribbon or plain elastic. Please enjoy...