Owls and Gnomes

I've learned a new craft this year - Needle Felting.  It all came about after I ordered a kit from Fancy Tiger Crafts to make an owl  (I think I bought it on Blitsy?)  more than a year ago.  Anyway - I didn't make it right away after I purchased it - as I looked quickly at the directions and thought it was going to be difficult - so I put it away and then lost it in my craft room (you know how that goes!).  Then when I was cleaning up my room a bit a month or so ago - I found the Owl Kit - and ended up making an owl in about 10 minutes while watching TV!!!  You may have seen the project I made using that first owl here.

So - I decided to make a few more of them to give as Christmas gifts. Aren't they sweet??!! Every time you make one it comes out a little bit different - just like in real life!

 I love them so much - they just crack me up - and it's so hard to part with them - even though I know I can make more.

 So then I ordered the Gnome Kit and made these little guys

I made the bodies different lengths so they'd be different heights.

Another little craft creation that I find hard to part with!

I bought this lovely bird and nest piece in a craft shop in Wolfeboro, NH a couple of years ago. It was the perfect prop for my creations!  The owls are about 2" tall and the gnomes are  3" - 4" with their tall hats!

And since I'm on the topic of Owls and Gnomes -  here are couple of cards I've posted in the last few months on the topic!

 Owl stamp and die from Great Big Owl set by Waltzingmouse

 Gnome, pine branch and sentiment stamps from Jolly Old Elf set by Waltzingmouse

 It's almost Christmas!!!

Owl Switchplate cover Stamps:  Great Big Owl Paper:  Kraft - PTI Ink:  Versamark, Vintage Photo Ranger Distress Accessories:  Brown Embossing Powder - Ranger, ScorTape, Xyron 510, Double Sided Laminate for Xyron, x-acto knife, Zutter Corner Rounder.

Fall Blessings Stamps:   Great Big Owl, Peace and Plenty - Waltzingmouse Paper:  White and Smokey Shadow - PTI,  DP Pyrus Paper Pad - Basic Grey. Ink:  Versamark, Archival Orange Blossom, Potting Soil and Jet Black. Accessories:  foam dots, Tiny Twinkles - Taylored Expressions, glue pen, Ranger Distress Markers Stormy Sky and Dried Marigold.  Big Owl Die set - Waltzingmouse.

Have Your Elf

Stamps:  Jolly Old Elf - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  White, Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse - PTI

Ink:  Wendy Vecchi Archival Potting Soil and Fern Green

Accessories:  Winter Blend Sequins - Avery Elle, Glue N Seal - Ranger

Gnome for the Holiday

Stamps:  Jolly Old Elf - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  White, Summer Sunrise - PTI, DP Christmas House Paper Pad - Teresa Collins

Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Wendy Vecchi Archival - Dandelion and Fern Green

A Vintage Journey #20 - Birds of a Feather

First off - may I wish everyone in the USA a most blessed Thanksgiving!  We were the hosts for dinner this year with my sister and her husband, and one of her daughters (my niece) with her husband and their two sweet kids, Landon and Mila.  My other niece and family are in northern Maine with her husband's family - and my son and his lady are celebrating with some friends.

And now - may I welcome you to this fortnight's A Vintage Journey Challenge -  two weeks really fly by don't they?  And speaking of flying - here is the challenge that Creative Guide Chris has for us this week!

#20 Chris - Birds of a feather Now you've seen our line up it's time for YOU to get busy. Get out your inks, paints, chalks, Gelatos etc and grab your bird dies, stencils, masks, stamps, whatever avian stash you have and conjure up something that sings of our feathered friends. Whatever you create, we want to see Tim's influence clearly identified. Let's see your magic!  >:o)

While cleaning my craft room recently I not only found the instructions for the fabric basket I made for the last AVJ challenge seen here -   I also found a kit I had purchased a few years ago for needle felting a little owl.  I thought it was going to be difficult to make - so put it away (and lost it until recently!)  Come to find out - it was easy peasy to make and only took me about 10 minutes! HOW CUTE is this little guy???!!!

I made a pretty little woods hollow for him to live in.

Here's how it started and the steps I took to finish it.  I had purchased Tim's 5.5" x 5.5" Configurations Box on sale a Joann's quite some time ago.

I removed all the inside boxes and used just the cover and bottom of the box.

I sprayed the bottom of the box with Antiqued Bronze Spray Stain (design note - I first used the Tea Dye spray stain - but it ran right off whatever coating is on this box -  the Bronze Spray Stain must be made a little differently because it adhered to the surface).  I brushed a coat of Gesso on the top of the box.

I wanted to try out the Art Anthology Stone Effects/Sandstone paint I purchased a while ago.  I brushed it on with a stiff brush wanting to get a nice texture on the cover.  This paint really feels like rough sand when it's dry!

I lined the bottom of the box with a piece of Wallflower paper that I had sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I embossed  Letterpress letters with Wendy Vecchi Archival Tree Branch ink and embossing powder. Then I stamped over the embossing with Wendy's Spatter Background stamp using Wendy's Archival Potting Soil ink.  Wendy showed this technique on her blog.

I wanted to get another tone on the cover and so I dabbed some Tarnished Brass Distress Paint randomly.  It has a little bit of a green tint which I liked for the woodsy look I was trying for.

I sponged over the cover with Ranger Distress Vintage Photo Ink and the sand paint practically tore apart the sponge applicator!.... so I brushed Matte Glue N Seal over the whole cover to try and seal it a bit. When it had dried - I found that it did make it feel much smoother - still rough but not sharp!

When I showed this to Kent - he thought it was a wooden frame I had painted so I guess I got the look I wanted!  I embossed the Clock Key with the Tree Branch embossing powder.  I inked the Philosophy tag (that says "Wander") with Archival Orange Blossom Ink and the Word Band (that says Observations) with Archival Fern Green ink.  I hit them with my heat tool for a minute to dry them. I wove a piece of Linen Ribbon through the Word Band. I used a Swivel clasp to connect the key with the tag.

I used a branch from my backyard for the little owl to sit on - gluing all the pieces in the box  with Glue N Seal.  I had inked the Compass Coin and Game Spinner with Archival Orange Blossom Ink.

I sponged some Mirrored Stars with Archival Orange Blossom Ink and dabbed the Foundation Box Feet with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.  I didn't try to thoroughly cover the feet - leaving some bare spots.

I wanted to add some things to the outside frame of the cover without getting too cluttered.  I stamped the feather from Tim's Bird Feather stamp set by coloring the stamp with Walnut Stain and Brushed Corduroy Ranger Distress Markers - spritzing the stamp with a little bit of water and stamping it on rustic white card stock.  I cut it out and adhered it to cover edge.

I used Tim's Butterfly Frenzie die with some Wallflower paper to create a flutter of butterflies in muted tones.  Just enough to fill the space and complement, but not detract from, the scene inside the box.

Here you can see the wood look of the paints

I just glued the legs to the box with Glue N Seal. 

You can see here where I placed the inked Mirrored Stars. 

I placed one butterfly inside the box - fluttering on the branch.

I screwed the Clock Key into the side and the Curio Knob into the top of the cover before placing it over the box - as the legs curve around the back and the cover can't be removed after the legs are attached.

I love the little wood hollow I created for my sweet little owl - I think it's the perfect home for him where he can be happy sitting on his tree top branch and I can be happy just looking at him!

What will you create to illustrate "Birds of a Feather??  I can't wait to see what you link up!

Our challenge sponsor is Country View Crafts.  They are offering one winner, chosen by the Creative Guides, a £10 voucher to spend in their on-line shop.  

 I hope you will be inspired to play along with us -  you have 2 weeks - you will find all the details at the A Vintage Journey Blog - along with some wonderful "Birds of a Feather" inspiration by several of my very talented fellow Creative Guides!

Stamps:  Splatter Background Stamp - Wency Vecchi/Stampers Anonymous, Bird Feather - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous

Paper:  Rustic White - PTI, Paper Stash/Wallflower - Tim Holtz.

Ink:  Ranger Distress Vintage Photo, Archival Wendy Vecchi Tree Branch, Potting Soil, Orange Blossom and Fern Green.

Accessories:  Idea-ology - Word Bands, Compass Coins, Mirrored Stars, Letterpress, Game Spinners, Philosophy Tags, Clock Keys, Swivel Clasps, Linen Ribbon, Curio Knobs, Foundations; Butterfly Frenzie Die - Alterations, Glue N Seal - Ranger,  Mini Mister - Ranger, Ranger Distress Markers Walnut Stain and Brushed Corduroy, Tree Branch Embossing Powder - Wendy Vecchi, heat tool, White Gesso, Antiqued Bronze Spray Stain - Ranger, Art Anthology Stone Effects/Sandstone, Tarnished Brass Distress Paint - Ranger, Needle Felted Owl Kit from Fancy Tiger Crafts.com., branch from backyard.