Down the Alley there's a little Poison Shopee

Months past... Back with a miniature project today for this spooky October - a little poison shopee owned by an old druggist down the alley.

How this came about?

I was trying to decluttering my crafting suppliers and found I've several "experimental" crafts such as broken frames cast from paper clays, an old old mini tin, some leftover miniatures stuffs and paper collages from Alpha Stamps which I was once their DT member years ago. And it so happen I've quite a substantial amount of Halloween and dark spooky stuffs. Well, upon looking through those paper collages, the idea of this rather old shabby abandoned drugstore came to my mind. And I ended up piecing everything together!

The druggist's poison shopee on my palm

Since it has been a while I've yet to upload videos on my YouTube channel, decided perhaps a short orientation in motion of how this little shopee looks like might be useful. Pardon me for the poor resolution, somehow the camera couldn't adjust itself to focus.  

When the shopee is open on my hand...

When it's opening...

Some nerve pills to curb your nervousness?

The skeleton hand is a last minute addition to this project, thinking having something to hold the little shopee will spook up the whole thing. Anyway it's Halloween, so why not?

Butterfly on the skull; an added "pop"!

Apart from those gigantic poisons at the bottom, pile of books, scrolls, an old clock with some dies are at the druggist's workstation. There's even a little signboard there! And a squid or maybe an octopus? Skulls and crystal balls at the very top, wondering is any apocalyptic going on besides being apothecary?  

Mystical eye with wings of a butterfly

Loads of details here and unfortunately there're limitations in making attempts to snap deeper into the shopee. Just click the image to enlarge to view if that helps. I'd think this will be better if view physically. Hmm... perhaps I should list it in my Etsy shop for this. Any takers?

I've taken tons of photos and I do hope these pictures can showcase how this little poison shopee well enough though missing some details. Most items used in this project are mostly from Alpha Stamps and one of the collages I used can be purchase here. 

Nonetheless, I hope this has been inspirational and I look forward to share more of such projects. Meanwhile, take care and stay safe!

Buxom Garden Fairies Trio; From the Little Garden

Few years back, I bought a bag of mini wooden sconces thinking perhaps I may use them for some of my miniature work. As usual, there's always a grand scheme of plan at the back of my mind hardly get executed for whatever reasons. Many years has passed, it's only very recently I managed to recall I still this bag of unused mini wooden sconces. Well, it's always not good to hoard, and I feel it's time to use them. 

And here I am, using them for this month Ephemoire's project with a video tutorial. Bringing you these cute little buxom fairies!!! Aren't they whimsically cute?

Each of these little buxom fairies has their very own colour to represent themselves, as indicated by the various rose colours attached to them, as if each of them is in charged of the colours they are assigned to. They are like the guardians of the little garden they're in, ready to prune and sow the seeds within their little garden in order to be fruitful. Oh! How fun and delightful they are? 

Here is the video process in how I create them... 

A little close-ups of these lovely buxom fairies. I'd suppose they'd need extra wings, hence the bigger ones behind them so that they can flutter and dance as they sing.  

I hope these little buxom fairies have made your day and have given a little inspirations. Below is an extensive list of supplies I used for this project with links to where to get them if you're interested in getting them:

• Ephemoire digital images (French vintage ephemera overlay, Marie Antoinette style buxom ladies)
• Finnabair Art Basics heavy gesso in white (Amazon, Scrapbook.com)
• Finnabair muscial notes acrylic clear stamps
• Ranger multi medium in gloss (Amazon, Scrapbook.com)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink in brushed corduroy (Amazon, Blitsy, Scrapbook.com)
• Knotted wood edger chalk ink
• Docrafts acrylic paint in Linen
• Graphic 45 Botanical Tea rubber stamp
• StazOn midi in spiced chai
• Dusty Attic mini flourishes
• Acetate sheets
• Wood fillers
• Own stash (mini wooden sconces, floral stamens, green foliage, miniature roses, toothpicks)

Coffee Express at Platform No. 9

At certain point of my life, I can be a fanatic freak of something something; something that caught my eyes that I feel like owning everything of something I fancy. Oh well, I can never have enough of suitcase frenzies and I'm certainly obsess over them especially old suitcases. It's definitely undoubtedly I'll have some sort of old suitcases in my very own home in the future.

Last year I was really obsessed with stacked suitcases, and for this year to bring my obsession to another fantasized level, I'm doing up a cafe based suitcase fusing with a fan-fiction derived inspiration from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾. With my love for coffee and a fan of Harry Potter, I fused these two together and created this Coffee Express at Platform 9. While it looks rather magical on the outside, as you enter you’ll be welcome into a suite of modernized coffee cafe where mugglers hang out for a cup of nice coffee. It’s practically the reverse scene setting where witches and wizards travel to have mugglers’ coffee. They still have to board the train at Platform 9¾ to head back to Hogwarts, but it’s just ¾ platform away from Platform 9.

I built this medium size suitcase based on my stacked suitcases PDF tutorial and transformed it into runaway suitcase by adding some wheels. I've a separate mini magician matchbox suitcase tutorial, as well as a miniature magician wands Snapguide tutorial if you'd like to explore. To add some fun, most of the miniatures within are not fixed and free to move around. I've done up a video orientation to show how to "play around" with this suitcase. Something really fun to play with! Sit back and enjoy the journey!

List of Supplies:

• Graphic 45 Cityscapes 12" x 12" Paper Pad (Cityscapes, Global Odyssey, Passport to the World, Crossroads, Street of Dreams)
• Graphic 45 Staples (Stamped Metal Brads, Ornate Metal Keys, Ornate Metal Label Holder)
• Gypsy Soul Lasercuts (2” wheels, miniature bookplates, faux metal number plates)
• Tim Holtz Matchbox L Die
• Craft blank matchboxes
• Petaloo Flowers
• Coffee Stuffs (liquor, wine, honey pots, bag of coffee beans, coffee glitters, coffee grinder, bronze coffee cup)
• Other Cafe Items (industrial lamps, glass lamp, wooden spec, coffee time signage)
• Suitcase Items (top hat, magical books, magical wands, umbrella, pocket watch)

Some Updates and Some Stuffs in my Store

I think it has been "x" number of times I've been "MIA-ing" for a while then came back with new projects and maybe some updates. Yes I'm pretty inactive since last July as I was constantly caught up with loads of life issues; mainly on the various major changes in both my life and family. 

Little do you know, I was actually going through a tough marriage and was (and still) in midst of separation and divorce since end of 2014. Plus my parents' health are not doing well in particularly for my dad who is at very high risk of getting a stroke. Over the last weekend, my dad was admitted to the hospital as he suddenly couldn't control his movement, collapsed and fell twice - on streets and at home. He was so distraught that he suddenly became a baby, cried in despair as he lost control of his bowel and wet his pants. After a series of MRI scan and labs tests, we got to know he was actually infected with Influenza A virus and the neurologist managed to discover a teeny weeny blood clot in one of his brain vessels. Though the clot is not life threatening enough to cause any physical stroke symptoms, his doctor got him started on aspirin. He was infected with the flu bug and why was he so weak that led him to lost control of himself is something doctors unable to explain to us.

Well, my dad is on cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar control medication. This really speaks how unhealthy my dad is. He is on so many medications that I think it's a little overkill. As I look into the various medications he's taking (very seriously for the very first time), I got to realize the various side effects of these drugs he is taking. One of them in particular (though rarely reported) has an effect on skeletal muscle tissues which the drug will break down the muscles tissues. Perhaps it's the constellation of various medications he has been taking plus the attack of flu bug made him so vulnerable. Though I'm not a trained doctor, I feel strongly that such drugs should be prescribed with care. There has been a huge misconception that patients can totally rely on medications without realizing that these are drugs, and drugs have side effects. They are not elixir or some sort of wonder drugs that can prolong a person's lifespan, unless you are in a condition that you need to be then that's a total different story. A lot of effort has to be made on the patients' side (often on diet and regular exercising) to ensure they are not fully dependent on drugs but using them to assist their current health condition. This is something a lot of us have been taking for granted, unfortunately.

Life wasn't that fantastic for me for year 2015 and the beginning of this year but despite all hurdles I managed to overcome them, one by one. Though it seems that the path ahead is tough, there's always a bright side that I can always look forward to such as creating more exciting projects and be able to share with all of you. 

Oh well, I know this has been a long wait and finally I manage to get it done and make it available. I know some of you are really looking forward for this and I hope this don't come in too late. My STACK SUITCASES tutorial is FINALLY available at my Etsy store! Phew! After a year plus?!?Alright I know it has been quite a long wait. But trust me, I'm probably someone who is able to provide  tutorials with such clarity together with loads of illustrations and photos. 

Tutorial Sample Pages

I don't take short cuts and will make an effort, put my very best to illiterate every step as clear as possible.  For those who had purchased my Suitcase Treasures PDF tutorial, you get to notice a lot of illustrations are digitally drawn by me so that you know exactly what to measure, which paper to use and what to cut. A lot of effort put in and this explains why I charge my tutorials a little more expensive than most others. 

If you love building things, my tutorials are for you. Head over to my store HERE to get a copy. I shall talk to you soon. Have a great day ahead and happy crafting! Cheers!!!

Venetian Masquerade Carnival Curio Shoppe

One fine sunny day as I was trying to screw and boggle my creative brain cells, I was struggling to think of something imaginative yet whimsical enough to tell a story. When the release of what's happening for this month Alpha Stamp's kit, a moment of doing up a Venetian theme diorama struck my mind. Hah! And I managed to hunt down one mask in one of the local thrift stores. The moment I'm back home, I started spending hours researching and watching videos on how Venetian masks are made by various artisans across Italy till the extend I seriously want to learn how to make one, forgetting I need to do up a project not a mask. I almost went nuts over this.

Nonetheless in the midst of this creative chaos, I managed to pull myself back and start creating. Using billions of Alpha Stamps supplies, I transformed the mask I bought and a wooden box into one Venetian shoppe. Presenting here is my very own imaginative Venetian Masquerade Carnival Curio Shoppe owned by this man known as "The Man who Knows" for this week's Alpha Stamps newsletter project highlight.

Shop close...

This Man has a pretty much unique curio shop (I should say) because he has this gigantic Venetian mask mounted on top of his shop. As you enter his shop, your soles will be welcomed by the velvety touch of this exquisite polish Persian Regal carpet. I'd have to warn you to enter the shop bare-footed as you cannot afford to dirty his expensive carpet. What houses inside his shop are various curio items ranging from a variety of carnival masks, buttons & badges, clocks & watches, jokers posters, 4 of a kind, a Hurricane lamp, a Magician top hat to even a Holy Bible... Along with this shop, he has a trunk of various clown masks, props and shoes. What he'd always bring along with him is his little black suitcase containing various Magician wands that you wouldn't want to miss getting one. And interestingly, he loves riding his penny-farthing bike around and tend to keep it in his suitcase.

Ever wonder how did The Man place such a huge mask and keep it in place on top of his shop? Well, he used his 2 stinky rich elephants to hold the mask, for such elephants are stinky enough to hold the mask upright due to their rich gold plated bodies. Indeed their trunks are equally useful enough to hold the brass chain, allowing The Man to close his shop with ease. They are plain stinky rich, so why not fully utilize them? That's what The Man thinks.

I hope you have enjoy the little story behind this curio shoppe. Tutorials in how to create miniature Magician wands and the black little suitcase are at the end of this entry together with a list of supplies.

Have a great day ahead and happy curio shopping.

Shop opens.

This diorama is available HERE.

One stinky rich elephant at work.

A bird eye view...

Another bird eye view.

Curio items for sale.

Blinks and drapery...

The Man with his trunk and little black suitcase.

The penny-farthing bike he rides...

Tutorials in creating miniature Magician wands and altering a blank matchbox into a little black suitcase

Click link to follow - How to Create Miniature Magician Wands

Step 1: Gesso the entire matchbox including the inside with black gesso. You can use black chalk paint or those cheap black acrylic paint if you do not have any black gesso.

Step 2: Paint a layer of pale gold acrylic paint (Daler Rowney no.708) on the matchbox. This will gives an old gold colour.

Step 3: Use some black ink, brush a few strokes onto the gold painted surfaces and blend evenly with a brush. You can use black calligraphy/pigment ink. I'm using Clearsnap Smooch pearlized accent ink in Tuxedo here for an extra shine. 

Step 4: After blending, this is how it will look like. You will still be able to see some gold beneath, however in general the suitcase is in black with a little magical shine. 

Step 5: On a piece of black cardstock, cut 2 strips of ~1/8" in width and paint a thin layer of pale gold acrylic paint over. These will be straps and handle for the suitcase.

Step 6: In order to strengthen the matchbox drawer, line the inside of the drawer with black cardstock.

Step 7: Use the strips prepared from Step 5 above to build the straps and handle for the suitcase. And you are done making yourself a black little suitcase! 

A more detail step-by-step tutorial in how to create matchbox suitcases using papers can be found on one of my Snapguide tutorials here...

Supplies List:

• May Run Away &  Join the Circus Kit 
• Reversible Clowns Collage Sheet  
• Vintage Magician Collage Sheet 
• Clowns #3 Collage Sheet  
• Carnival Scrapbook Paper – Sideshow  
• Chipboard Steamer Trunk  
• 2mm Brass Flat Back Studs  
• 3mm Brass Flat Back Studs  
• Faux Suede Sheets 
• Narrow Gold Fleur Dresden Borders 
• Wood Finial Chess Pawns
• Small Wooden Finials  
• Blank Matchbox
• Fancy Gold Buttons in Tin
• Clock face Buttons - Tiny
• Pocket Watch Brads
• Silicone Mold – Architectural Flourishes
• Creative Paperclay
• Acrylic Tophat –Small
• Miniature Hurricane Lamp 
• 3cm Tall Bronze Elephant Charms 
• Bronze Playing Card Suits
• Nouveau Goddess
• Antique Queen Mask Charm
• Victorian Bicycle Charm
• 25mm Round Antique Bronze Setting 
• 18x13mm Oval Filigree Setting
• Raw Brass Flourish
• Brass Jump Ring Mix
• Tim Holtz Damask Regal Flourish Embossing Folders
• Golden Rod Sticklers
• Platinum Sticklers
• Mini Lacy Banner Flags
• Small Gold Hinges with Screws 
• Brilliance Pigment Ink in Galaxy Gold
• Molding Paste
• White Gesso
• Black Gesso 
• Glue N Seal
• E6000
• Dusty Attic Chipboards (Small Masks, Vintage Clock)
• Bo Bunny Clockworks
• Shimmerz Paints (Vibez - Egg Noggin’, Coloringz - Night Moves, Inklingz- Miner, Miner, 49er)
• Zva Creative Flourish Crystals
• DMC Lumina Crochet Thread (L677, L3821)
• Daler Rowney System 3 Acrylic Paint (pale gold no.708, rich gold no. 707)
• Cire A dorer gilding wax in classic gold
• Own stash (wooden box, mask, box feet, brass chain, gold diamond pearl chain, 1/8" satin ribbon, glitter ribbon, gold cord trim, black feathers, black cardstock, miniatures - holy bible, oval mirror)