Mushroom Fairies with Red Knock-Out Roses and Sweet Childhood Memories
Hello, Friends!
When I was a little girl, I used to go to our small public library every Friday evening while my mother and father did the weekly shopping. I would carefully roam the stacks of books in the juvenile section searching for just the right books to check out for a week of reading pleasure. We were only allowed to take 4 books with us, so I chose my reading companions with great care. One book was easy to find every single time. I always picked one of the wonderful Andrew Lang fairy tale anthologies I loved so much. There was the Blue Fairy Book, the Red Fairy Book , the Purple Fairy Book, the Green Fairy Book..and so on. A dozen different fairy tale collections to delight my imagination. Now, what does this have to do with paper crafting? Well, Polly’s Paper Studio has the most whimsical digital download of Mushroom Fairies you’ve ever seen. And while I was creating with these delightful images, I remembered the long summer days I spent in the hammock getting lost in those magical Andrew Lang fairy tales.
Don’t you just love this image? This one, of course, is for the Red Fairy Book. I used old book pages to die cut some flower layers (MFT Flower & Leaf trio)I tried a little bit of a different “technique” when making my flowers this time. I sprayed them with red stain, then crumpled them into a ball and left them to dry. Then, I carefully opened them, shaped them just a little with my stylus and layered them together. Finally, I spritzed them with my hand made gold mist.
I filled the centers with seed beads. They add a nice touch of shimmer. Mushroom Fairies love shimmer! To me, these flowers look like the red knock-out roses that climbed up my mother’s garden arbor.
My loopy bow was made with Red Burlap String and Natural Burlap string. I tied a loopy bow with my Zutter Bow-it-All, then squeezed some hot glue under the flower petals and used the tip of my scissors to push the center of the bow into the puddle of glue. Then I arranged the loops the way you see them here. The leaves are hand cut from burlap scraps.
The inside of the card uses a sentiment from the Subway Art Digital Sentiments Assortment. I thought it was a good fit to go with the theme of the card. I also stamped “happy birthday” in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.
I had so much fun with these fairies, that I had to make another project in honor of the Blue Fairy Book.
I altered a little spiral notebook (4.5″ x 6″) with this sweet image. The little mushroom clothespin in the top left corner can be used as a bookmark. Just clip it where you want the book to open.
I used burlap on this card, too. Burlap and mushrooms…they just go together.
I decorated the inside front cover.
And I covered the back of the notebook with burlap as well. I actually wrapped it around the edge………
………..to create a pocket on the inside. You could tuck photos or coupons or receipts in here. You can never have too many pockets.
And that’s my summertime stroll down memory lane today. I had such fun sharing these Mushroom Fairies with you. And, I’m curious….did you read any of Andrew Lang’s Fairy Tales during your childhood? I made it through every single volume…some of them more than once!
Thanks for stopping by!
Very, very fun! The colors and textures are lovely! Thanks for sharing your story with us! I’ve always been a bookworm but I’ve never read the Lang Fairy books. I’m definitely going to have to check them out.
-Kris-
Wow Kathy!! Your projects always impress me but these really strike my fancy! The crumpled, misted flowers in the Red Fairy card are amazing!! Such beautiful texture and dimension. I keep going back to look at them! The burlap string and hand cut burlap leaves are such a nice contrast with the flowers and add a nice rustic feel. I also loved going to the library as a young girl and I don’t know if the fairy tale volumes I read were the same as yours, but they were called by color names as well. Between those and all the Frank L. Baum books based on characters from the Wizard of Oz, I spent many a summer day sitting under a tree and lost in fantasy land. Your card and notebook take me back to that magical time!
Hi Kathy, remember that song Fairy Tales Will come True, well if your young at heart anything can happen. These are fairy tales coming true, and like the journal to write your dreams and joy. gorgeous…have a good day.(song was about love, and fairytale are love for children. young at heart)
Swooning!!! I just love every little scrumptious detail…all of the fairies and gnomes and the flowers are breathtaking. LOVE!!!!
Another belated birthday wish Kathy.
I have always loved Fairies and Gnomes and all that goes with them. My sister bought me a wonderful book on Fairies a long long time ago, and I love it. This card reminds me of that time in my life. To be honest I am not sure if I was read any of those tales by Andrew Lang tho’. Love the card!!! love it.
You rock my friend. It seems you have come into your own lately with these wonderful projects. They seem to fit your personality perfectly and I love each and every one! Great tutorial on the roses and thanks for sharing some of your memories!
Such wonderful memories Kathy, I was with you in the library as you chose your books.
I LOVE those roses! They look so vintage but not at all distressed even though you crumpled them up. They look exactly as they should look on that card. The card and the roses talk to each other. Perfect!
Sending oodles of the squishes and hugs ~ Cobs. x
LOVE the burlap usage! The flowers are stunning too! Just gorgeous! Hope your birthday was special!
How magnificent!! I have not read Andrew Lang’s Fairy books but that will be changing as soon as I can locate them! I love all things fairies and love creating Fairy houses and villages!
My grandsons actually found a Fairy Portal door in my craft room the last time they were here. They are now looking forward to finding more of them as the fairies get ready to move inside for the winter. They spend a lot of time trying to get a peek at the fairies but have not been lucky enough yet to see them.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your childhood with us!!
Hi, taking a break from the sun at the beach…to read my mail….love these creations! I am waiting for my v2 bow-it-all….so I can make bows just like you….LOL
Kathy, I just adore your Mushroom Fairy card and notebook project! I have always been a big fan of fairies (but never read the Andrew Lang series–might just need to check our library for them).
The red flowers are just yummy with those sprays and seeded centers. I love the used of the burlap..yes mushrooms and burlap fit so well together in my opinion, too. I love the glltter and bling you have added to the image to make it really special. It looks as if the fairy is popping off the background; is this the way the image comes, or did you fussy cut the fairy?
What a sweet notebook–my favorite little Kathy touch is that mushroom clip! How perfectly sweet and useful, too! That dragonfly looks strangely familiar–I think I have one in my jewelry hoard!
You are simply amazing; I’m sure there are more than one Kathy’s working in that craft room of yours!
Hugs!
Gorgeous projects. That card is absolutely amazing. Your flowers look like they could just climb their way off the card onto you Mom’s arbor. Stunning!! And I truly love the burlap on both project — perfect for mushroom fairies 🙂 I too loved the public library and this is such an amazing tribute to the power of reading and imagination. Love it! Mary Elizabeth
Oh my word, Kathy. You have always, always made the most wonderful projects…but lately you have been beyond WOW!
You rock, Kathy! 🙂
stunning work. I love the look of those flowers from your new technique.
Kathy,
I am smitten with those creations because they are exquisite.
Notebooks and journals have always been a favourite on mine, even from childhood and I have so many which I deem as too precious to actually write inside them, I know if I were the owner of this journal it would become a treasure to me.
Wonderful staging,I cannot take my eyes from the spools of burlap ribbon, oh my goodness, they look amazing.
Wishes
Lynne
Books always transport me, I have been a Bookworm since I could read.
These are adorable! Love the mushroom clothespin. Isn’t it great how books can transport us to so many different and wonderful places?
My favourite word ever is magical xxxxx