Showing posts with label Nichola Battilana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nichola Battilana. Show all posts

Thursday, August 29, 2019

The Little Mystic's Hutch

Although I've always been interested in the magical, I've never been one for crystals. Lately however I've been admiring a number of Instagram accounts that share these gorgeous pictures of crystal grids. Shiny stones laid out in pretty patterns. They're enchantingly beautiful.


Those patterns, colours, and crystals got me thinking about glitter and stardust and dreams and the Universe. Yes, all those things at once!


So I put together the 3 Panel Hutch, added some spindly legs and stars...


... and filled it with tiny gem stones.


Perhaps I'll make a life sized mystic hutch for myself in the future, but for now my fairies will not be wanting. They have drawers filled with stars, and loads of stones and gems, to weave some magic.


If you'd like to see the process of making this hutch, you can pop over to my YouTube channel to watch the video HERE.


Here are all the bits and bobs I used to create The Little Mystic's Hutch:

3 Panel Hutch
(UK shoppers visit HERE)

Wooden Table Legs
3D Star Spacer Beads
Flat-Back Gold Star Studs - 12mm
Flat-Back Gold Star Studs - 8mm
Blue/Turquoise scrapbook paper
Gold Star Sequins
Brass Moon
Miniature Tarot Cards
Various Stones/Gems/Crystals
Tiny Wood Bowls and various miniature bowls/vials
Paint
Glitter

Monday, July 29, 2019

Potages Cauldron Shope

I'm embracing my inner Potterhead once again and this time I've created a miniature version of "Potages" the cauldron shop located on the North Side, Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter universe.


I've used a 7 by 7 Corner Room Box as the base for my little shop. I've also added a
Double Window Ornate on both the inside and exterior of the 'building'.


The signage is are printouts pasted to thick board with small brad heads added to the corners.


Simple trims, which are just various sized strips of card cut from a cereal box, are a super easy way to create a finished custom look.


Wooden floor was created with coffee stir sticks, stained with washes of acrylic paint. And how perfect is that wallpaper with it's pattern of tiny spiders?! That's "It's Elementary" from Graphic 45s Master Detective Collection. Scrapbook paper makes excellent roombox wallpaper.


To fill my shop, all sorts of little cauldrons. I even designed some products for proper cauldron upkeep like wax, cleaner and polish. To be honest, those little packages put me almost a whole day behind... totally worth it :P You can download the collage sheet to create these at the bottom of this post.


Want to create your own Potages? Or maybe a shop from your own imagination?! I have a video walkthrough for creating the basics of this room that might help you in making your own masterpiece. You can find it HERE


Finally, here are supplies used in my wee cauldron shoppe:
Metal Cauldron or Pot

Tiny Wooden Bowls
"It's Elementary" Graphic 45, Master Detective Collection

cereal box card
thick card
wooden stir sticks
acrylic paint
drywall compound
small metal brads
transparency paper
glue, glue, glue
Cauldron Shop Printable



Have fun!







Monday, April 29, 2019

Florentine Moon Triptych

I have always had an affinity with the night sky. The stars and moon make me swoon! And I've been especially inspired to make moony themed pieces recently, and this project is no exception.


The exterior is dark and moody. A Vintage Triptych "Florentine" is covered with paper from Graphic 45's Love Notes


The corners are adorned with Victorian Corners 2 which have been chopped in half to give a sort of hinge look. I've added a Hasp to the cover for a closure, and simply added the smallest of the Tudor Rose Singles to add a bit of decoration to the piece.


Inside I've relied on old paper and paint, and a bit of gold embossing powder.


I'm really pleased with it and I have a video to show you just how I achieved this look (and how I put the pieces together) Pop over HERE to see the walkthrough.


Are you ready to make some of your own moon magic?

Here are all the bits you'll need from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:
Vintage Triptych "Florentine" *Coming Soon*
Victorian Corners 2 

And all of the other supplies that I used in this project:
Brass Starburst CharmFlat Back Gold Star Studs 12mm
Flat Back Gold Star Studs 8mm
Stamp and pad
Gold embossing powder
Glitter
Old Paper
Washi Tape
Acrylic paint
Glue


Friday, March 29, 2019

The Butterfly Conservatory

On my trip to London last year I made certain to time my visit with the butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum. I made it just in time, squeezing in on the afternoon of the very last day. It was magic. Then again, how could walking among butterflies not be?!

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

This project, is a sort of homage to that memory. A pretty space filled with flowers and fluttery things.

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

This project may take time, but it uses  only a handful of supplies. The structure is a Small Conservatory. That's it. I haven't added any fancy embellishments (but don't let that stop you from adding some dramatic flair!)

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

Inside I've added miniature wooden pots packed with faux flowers and leaves. They aren't properly scaled and they don't even look like any particular sort of 'real' plants, but they give a nice floral feel and provide lots of texture.

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

Those paper butterflies inside are all from my English Fairy Garden collage sheet. I printed it out at 50% to scale the butterflies down to a more appropriate size.

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

I haven't glued any of the pots in place so that I can move those potted pretties around, and even change up the Small Conservatory completely if I want to!

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

Besides paint and glue, the last supply I used was a plain sheet of cardboard. I've used strips to create the 'wood' floor and baseboards inside the conservatory.

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

Outside, again, I used layered strips of plain card to create a subtle architectural element to the bottom of the structure. I also used the card on the roof of the building to hide the slot and tabs that hold the piece together.

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

And that's it! Just those few little bits to make something quite pretty. If you'd like to see how I put this project together, follow along with this walkthrough video.

Small Conservatory - Butterfly House - gslcuts.com

And here is your supply list:
Small Conservatory

Miniature plant pots
Faux flowers
English Fairy Garden collage sheet
Sheet of cardstock
White acrylic paint
Glue (white and hot glue)

Happy making!

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Sweet winged dressform

I've started this blog post a million times. Trying to come up with a good explanation, a reason for this project. The truth is, there is none. It's just a fun silly thing that happens to be pretty.


And you know, that's ok. Why does there need to be a reason to create something other than the urge to do so?!


 So I've made this pretty frock using a Dressform Hang Up as a base.


To it I've added a pair of wings from the Wings Assortment

And nestled a piece of the Victorian Corners 2 set onto the bodice (it fits just right!)


I've layered silk rose petals and tulle for the dress portion, simply hot gluing them in place. A bit of glitter, paper flowers and a heart embellishment and voila! you've got a sweet little something. 

If you need some guidance to create this piece, I have a video walkthrough HERE, but rest assured it's easy as can be.

Here are all the bits you'll need:

Dressform Hang Up
Wings Assortment
Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25
Victorian Corners 2


acrylic paint
paper flowers
silk flower petals
tulle
glitter
glue

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Butterfly Specimen Tray

I love museums and old school museum displays. I also love butterflies.

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com

I've created my own butterfly specimen display using a ATC Display Tray, adding a few extra details, and boatload of fussy cut butterflies.

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com

I've kept the embellishments conservative on this project but I haven't left it completely plain. The corners each have a piece from the Petal Corners set added, and I've added a sort of name plate using the Stackable Labels Shape Set.

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com

I've also numbered the specimens with the Tiny Number Plates - Silver

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com

I'm really pleased with the result. Best of all, it didn't take ages to create this piece!

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com

If you'd like to see how this all came together I have a video walk-through for you HERE

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com

And here are all the bits and pieces you'll need to make your very own specimen tray:

ATC Display Tray
Tiny Number Plates - Silver
Petal Corners
Stackable Labels Shape Set

Butterfly Specifics from Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe Deluxe Collector's Edition
Old book pages
Acrylic paint
Ribbon
Large jump ring
Glue

Butterfly Specimen Tray - Nichola Battilana for gslcuts.com


Monday, October 29, 2018

"The Mad Hatter's Secrets" Hidden Drawer Book

This is one of those projects that just kind of sprouted. All the supplies just kind of jumped up and shouted "ME! ME!". I'm glad they did because I'm smitten with this project.

Mad Hatters Secrets Hidden Drawer Book - Nichola Battilana


I've used the 6" Hidden Drawer Book Box as my base and then ran with the Mad Hatter theme from the Hallowe'en in Wonderland Deluxe Collectors Edition from Graphic 45.

I've repeated the cobweb theme of the scrapbook paper with a wed stamp and gold embossing powder.

Mad Hatters Secrets Hidden Drawer Book - Nichola Battilana

I used that same stamp, repeatedly, on a Layered Frame Aria then added a spade charm to the tippy top for some added interest.
Mad Hatters Secrets Hidden Drawer Book - Nichola Battilana

I used the same stamping and embossing technique for the top and bottom elements on the spine. I used a Deco Frame, then trimmed the elements I wanted to use.

Mad Hatters Secrets Hidden Drawer Book - Nichola Battilana

Also on the spine and cover, I've used more elements from Hallowe'en in Wonderland Deluxe Collectors Edition and added a Metal Door Plate and Knob.

Mad Hatters Secrets Hidden Drawer Book - Nichola Battilana

Inside, the Hatter's Tea Party! I really just sort went to town and filled the interior with suitable miniatures already in my stash including: a pocketwatch pendant, miniature wine bottle, a dormouse, playing cards, cakes and cookies and more. 

Mad Hatters Secrets Hidden Drawer Book - Nichola Battilana

If you'd like to see the process of making this piece, take a gander over HERE for the video walkthrough.

And here is the list of supplies I used:
6" Hidden Drawer Book Box
Layered Frame Aria
Deco Frame
Web Stamp
Embossing powder
Acrylic paint
Hot glue and white glue
Foam squares
Bits and pieces for the interior


Wednesday, August 29, 2018

A simple fascinator

"Do you have your hat yet?"
"I'm not wearing a hat."
"YOU HAVE TO WEAR A HAT! Your grandmother was told she must wear a hat. You've got to wear something."

Apparently I have to wear a hat of some sort to my cousins wedding. I love hats (serious affinity to crowns!) but a) I get a bad case of hat head when I wear anything on my head and b) I have to pack it in a suitcase.

The solution? A simple fascinator!

A fasinator is "a type of formal headwear worn as an alternative to the hat; it is usually a large decorative design attached to a band or clip."


Most instructions I found for creating a fascinator said to use a 8" round, but I wanted something quite small. Instead, I opted for the Layered Frame Bella Oval as my base. I painted it black then sandwiched a piece of scrapbook paper that matches the colour of my dress in between the layers.

I applied a pair of Fantasy Wings to a Punchelements 1 inch Scalloped round and topped that with a paper rose. This element holds a length of tulle in place.


I backed the frame with a piece of felt and glued the entire thing to a headband. To secure things even further, an additional piece of felt is added over the band to keep it sturdy.


And that's really it! So simple. Done in not time at all with just a few materials. Best of all you can colour coordinate perfectly with your pretty frock.


This project is super simple. To make your own, here is the list of all the materials I used:

Layered Frame Bella Oval
Fantasy Wings
Punch Elements 1 inch Scalloped
Headband
Felt
Tulle/Mesh/Net
Paint
Scrapbook paper
Hot glue
White glue
Paper flower 

And if you aren't attending an event that requires headwear, make yourself a fascinator and drink high tea at home with pinkies out and fancy something upon your head.