Thursday, September 24, 2020

It’s a small world...after all

Welcome

Done using the WordPack app


I have been blessed with friends and followers

from all over the world.

It is beyond what I have ever dreamed of.

Today I would like to share one of my passions.

It started when I was about 3 years old;

then became a friendship for a shy little girl

which then turned into

An addiction!

Yes, I am talking about paper dolls!

Incurable!

Never enough!

Always finding new ones!

Always wanting new ones!

In celebrating our small world today, 

I am showcasing paper dolls from countries

where a few of my readers live, featuring 

Dolly Dingle Trips Around the World;

and a series of Vintage Paper Dolls

by M.Banks & Gilette

(Gilette is a guess, as it isn’t clear)


Let’s have some paper play fun!

Spain

This one is from a series by M. Banks, with another signature that is
‘Gilette’ or ‘Oiletee’. Really can’t tell.
They were published about 1933.

Looks like I will need to continually 
Apologize
for the crazy format, spaced out lines,
text size and more.
Really.
Am I not more intelligent than a program?
So bear with me while I learn the how-tos.
I will triumph!
(Sounds confident, doesn’t it?)
πŸ˜‚

Next is a Dolly Dingle paper doll
by Grayce Drayton.
Dolly D. Was first published March 1913
in a Pictorial Review magazine.
She was then published regularly from 1916-1933.



Next we have 
Holland and the Netherlands 
Why 2 names under one country heading?

The Kingdom of the Netherlands 
is the actual name of the country.
Holland is a province.
2 provinces actually!
It has a rather twisted history with name variations,
boundaries changed and provinces split.
Older things may be labeled 
“Dutch” or “Holland”.
It’s all under the umbrella of
The Netherlands now.



France!




Burgundy is an historical region of France.


That’s it for today.

Thank you readers from

Spain, the Netherlands and France.

I hope you all enjoy the vintage paper dolls!


‘Til next time,

inkspired


Truth (usually discovered before coffee or 10 am):

When letting the dog out in the morning,

be dressed.

There will always be a neighbor ready to chat

if you are in your pajamas.

Kaleidoscope by inkspired and KaleidoCam 

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Pressed Flowers 101

 Welcome


Today’s adventure with the new Blogger 
apparently will be:
*Why can I NOT get the format to change over to center alignment
instead of
left alignment?

*Why can I NOT assign credits to imported photos?

Well the new adventure didn’t last long as I am ALREADY FRUSTRATED.

Back to blogging-

Let’s make some beautiful things while we enjoy the beginning (no matter how brief)
of Autumn.

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam app.

I have been pressing flowers from my garden
before the early snows kill them off.
I use a microwave method using
the Microfleur kit.
I just love it!

The Microfleur basic set

It consists of 2 plastic plates, 
2 clips to hold them together,
2 squares of thin cotton fabric
and 2 thick felt pads.


You lay out your flowers similar to above photo.
Make a ‘sandwich’ & pop into your microwave.
First burst: 10-20 seconds
Second burst: 10-20 seconds


A pressed flower design. Photo by Evelyn Ruhnke

I have never had to microwave longer than that.
Take your ‘sandwich’ apart carefully.
I then place the pressed flowers on paper towels 
until I am done with all I am pressing for the day.
🌸🌻🌺
Because you are pressing in such a short time,
the colors are so bright and pretty!

From a set of notecards by VT Pressed Flowers, Etsy

Pressed flower framed art is also unique and beautiful.

Another framed arrangement by Evelyn Ruhnke

Don’t want to get that fancy?
That’s okay!
You can place your flowers between 2 sheets of plastic.
Use the sturdy plastic from the front of toy boxes,
or even from clear sheet protectors.
VERY lightly dab tiny bits of glue on flowers 
and place on 1 piece of plastic with tweezers.
Tip:
It helps if you lay out your design
first, then glue.
πŸ‚ 🌾  πŸ₯€ πŸƒ 🌼 🍁
Place 2nd piece of plastic on top. You can dab a couple of places on the top of the flowers,
then press 2nd sheet in place.
Finish with some pretty tape all around the edges to hold everything together.
Washi tape works, or ribbon that is 1” wide.
You will have to glue the ribbon folded over the edge equally to make it look nice.

So Super Awesome, Pinterest

Or
Cut your plastic into an oval, circle, etc.
Then use a sharp sewing needle 
with the stitch set on long
and sew all around the edge.
A zigzag stitch looks pretty also.
Add ribbon hanger and place in a window. 

Herbarium Boutique, Etsy 

I have also used copper tape
around the edges of a glass sandwich.
The glass was leftover from smaller frames 
where I did not want to use the glass.

(Notice the simple & clever stand below?)

Another example of flowers 
displayed between panes of glass:

ForgetMeNotNature, Etsy


Let’s not forget stationery!

Found on Pinterest, but no ID.
Possibly My Humble Jumble, Etsy

Making beautiful notecards is so easy with
pressed flowers and leaves
as God through Nature does all the work for you!
Simply take cardstock,
cut and folded to your desired size,
and lay your pressed items 
in a pleasing arrangement.
Dab on glue.
Add glitter glue, paper die cuts, lace,
bits of ribbon- 
anything that pleases you,
trying to stay with flatter objects.
Happy? Glue in place with dabs of glue.
My friend S.N. uses an old cd as her palette,
and squirts a little blob of glue on it.
Then taking a toothpick she picks up
dabs of glue and glues her items.

PatsysPressedFlowers, sold on Etsy.

A gorgeous one-of-a-kind card to send!

Card by Original Garden. She has an Etsy shop.

The last pressed flower/leaf craft
I would like to share with you are
BOOKMARKS!

My Booklandia, Pinterest 

Do you have some old, falling apart books 
stuck in a corner or box somewhere?
This is a lovely way to use a few pages 
from books headed to the recyclers..


Cut pages into bookmark shape.
Back with sturdy cardstock, but nothing too thick.
Glue to pre-cut page. 
Punch a hole at the top.
Lay out your pressed flower design;
sparingly glue in place.
Brush 2-3 light coats of Mod Podge over all.
Let dry 24 hours+ in between coats.
Thread ribbon/yarn tassel through punched hole at top.
Or
Cut clear contact paper into 2 bookmark shapes,
with one being slightly larger.
Peel off backing from the first one,
and place dried flowers on the sticky part.
Carefully place sticky side down of
second slightly larger piece, 
and smooth with a brayer,
rolling pin or smooth sided bottle.
I like to do this on a thinnish shop towel,
 to help protect the pressed flowers.
Trim excess contact paper.
Punch hole in top for tassel if desired.

Brit Morin, Pinterest 

Here are some more ideas to inspire you.

My Humble Jumble, Etsy & Pinterest

Notice the stitched border:

Craft, DIY Decor, Gift, Sew and Party with Tip Junkie, Pinterest 


rose.gold.silver, Etsy and Pinterest

I hope you are able to try out the
Microfleur flower press.
(No paid endorsements, I just really like it!)
If not, get out that old telephone book
and start pressing!

‘Til next time,
inkspired

My Humble Jumble

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Kaleidoscopes

 Welcome!

All kaleidoscopes are by inkspired using KaleidoCam app

Well, apparently I am stuck with the ‘new format’ blogger.
Sigh.
Just took me 5 minutes to place the welcome,
photo and description.
Not fun.
Sooooo......let’s begin our adventure!

Garden kaleidoscopes 




I have enjoyed our flower gardens so much this year.
With all that color, texture and shape
they constantly cried out
“Take a photo!”
“Make kaleidoscopes!”
So, I did!






I had so many beautiful Black-eyed Susans this year,
planted from a mixed seed packet.
Yellow is a favorite color of mine -
so cheery!





You may have noticed that some other yellow flowers
have crept into my kaleidoscopes.
I also have yellow/white striped flowers,
daisies, and yellow day lilies to name a few.



Somehow purple is always plentiful in my garden,
so I suppose that is another fave flower color.
I know it is one of my favorite colors overall.
πŸ’œ




I think I will close with just a few more
flower kaleidoscopes.
I have a plethora of them, you know!




‘Til next time,
inkspired