Showing posts with label Egypt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Egypt. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide: magnetic paperdolls around the globe

Salam

'Peace' in Arabic,
spoken in Oman
and
in Qatar

Welcome to my readers in Oman and Qatar!

Children of the World paper doll assortment
AmariasPaperWorks

Today I'd like to introduce to you a most wonderful set of paperdolls that I discovered on www.etsy.com

If you have never browsed around on etsy, today is your day to do that!

I have 2 shops on the etsy site:
and

I decided to have 2 different shops to focus on my paper-related items
(scherensnitte, Collage Art Dolls, Collage Paper Painting and original cards)

set of 4 Collage Art Doll notecards

and my other shop features recycled junk mail, primarily in
bottlecap magnets
and other recycled art, such as my Rock Painting
and my domino magnet painting and stamping and hand beaded jewelry.

recycled bottlecap magnet art

...and yeah, I have lots more too!!
:0)

hand beaded woven necklace

However,
today I want to let you in on a secret....
okay, maybe not so secret....

Etsy has FANTASTIC artists with INCREDIBLE items for sale!

:0)

I found AmariasPaperWorks one day while I was looking for paper dolls on etsy.
Wow, I was impressed.
I was able to add one of Amaria's magnetic paper doll sets into a treasury that I had put together called "Paper Doll Parade".


'Australia Outback' set of basic dolls


Autralia Outback costumes

 
Keep in mind, I tend to put items into my treasuries that I would like to have myself!

'the Netherlands' dolls w traditional costumes

I sent a little note to Amaria to let her know that I had placed one of her paperdoll sets into a treasury, and how much I liked her paper dolls.
  She sent me the nicest note back.
Things progressed with a few e-mails back and forth,
with me drooling on the keyboard over these super fun magnetic paperdolls.

I want some....

(with a super high-pitched whiny voice....)

some of Amaria's Fairy Tale costumes, with a custom face

Amaria's Paperdolls are a thick pressed-board type of material doll.
There is a long magnet on the back, so you can play with her dolls on any magnetic surface.

www.AmariasPaperWorks.etsy.com

The thicker construction makes these perfect for little hands to play with,
without bent necks and torn hands, etc.!

Amaria was such an incredible sweetie and offered to send me....

wait for it...


a free set of her paperdolls!!!

Indonesian Paper Dolls in traditional clothing,
with around the world Paper Dolls in various outfits in background.

After picking myself up from the floor, I sent an enthusiastic
YES!!

Autumn and Winter clothing sets, www.AmariasPaperWorks.etsy.com

Next, she asks me which set would I like?
Which set?
Is she crazy?

I WANT THEM ALL!!!!

Boy's dress up costumes

After much consideration and gnashing of teeth and more drooling
and a bit of whining to myself,
this is the set I chose:

Malaysia, Amaria' Paper Works native costume dolls

It was really really hard to choose, as there were truly so many to pick from.
Like these:

Egypt

Greece

England
My Fun set of Amaria's Paperdolls arrived with not only the national costumes,
but with 'play' clothes also. They looked similar to this:


Play clothes, with Inuit paper dolls

or these:

play clothes, with New Zealand paper dolls

I am so happy with them!

But wait....

there's more...


Amaria also sent me an additional set of fairy tale clothes,
the set above!!!

Okay, now I'm really having fun!

Amaria also offers custom listings, where you can personalize dolls with your own photos. Here are a few examples:




She even does babies!!


and special party sets!


So, I think you can see now why I am really excited
about this wonderful etsy find!



I have been thinking about my Christmas list this year...
more on that later!

I hope you are having a wonderful day,
and will have some time to explore the world of etsy soon.

inkspired



Friday, September 21, 2012

International Day of Peace

He Ping

'Peace' in Mandarin, spoken in China

Yu Yuan Garden national monument

Today, September 22, 2012 is International Peace Day.
What a wonderful idea!
Let's celebrate peaceful images today,
and 'peace' in some international languages.

peace around the world

Rafi
'peace' in the Northern Sami language, spoken in Finland

Peace dove by Picasso found at www.planetpals.com


Paz
how to say 'peace' in Portugal

kirigami cutting by inkspired

Santiphaap

how to say Peace in Thailand
Peace Dove watercolor
 
 Sliem
'peace' in Maltese, spoken in Malta

'Day Dreaming at the Well' original Collage Paper Painting by inkspired

Amniat

'peace' in the Pashto language, spoken in Pakistan


a statue of Mahatma Gandhi
no photo creds - if you know, please tell me so I can credit it properly
 
a scherenschnitte pattern for you, I believe it is from an out of print BackStreet book
Place the cutting on a fold, and cut both sides at once.


Pau
'peace' in the Valencia language, spoken in Spain


in the 'for the home' section

a coloring page from a Noah's Ark coloring book,
courtesy of Dover Books
 
Uxolo
'peace' in the Xhosa language, spoken in South Africa


Hasani (means handsome in Swahili) with his surrogate mom, Bawang.
photo cred: Marcio Jose Sanchez

a beading pattern for you to do in peyote or brick stitch
c. Mary J. Tafoya, 1998


Freda

'peace' in the Alsatian language, spoken in France

peace-dove painting by Douglas Schneider found at www.fineartamerica.com


Hetep

'peace' in the Egyptian language, spoken in Egypt
 
kirigami cutting by inkspired

Cutu
'peace'  in the Nganazan (Siberia native) language, spoken in Russia

a polar bear at peace
photo credit: Martin Meissner

That's all for today.
I hope you have found today's blog
peaceful.

inkspired

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

School's Out - time for summer doings

Paqja

'Peace" in Albanian

Albanian coin cut-out


School's out and it's time to cram all the fun you can get into just 3 short months.  Or, if you are like the schools here, you have 2 1/2 months, or even a week less than that!
So not fair....
:0)

BUT
let's find some fun things to do to fill all that glorious 'empty' space!


Blue Eye Spring, Albania

If you can, find a peaceful place where you can hear the birds sing,
the water ripple and dance
the crickets are chirping
and there is a gentle breeze.
Oh,
and lots of sun!!!

Sometimes the places are right outside your window....

c.1881

or in your backyard....

vintage illustration

Sometimes you have to travel a bit....

Nooroo Spring Mount Wilson Blue Mountains, Australia
photo cred unknown

That's okay!
Our lives were meant to include at least a bit of nature as often as possible.
Summer is a great time to explore.

vintage bicycling Spanish card

Now that you are outside, there are many things to do...
like -

c.1906

FISHING!

or -

vintage card with Donald Duck

GOLFING!

or -

Damba, Ghana Festival

BANGING ON SOME DRUMS!

(Note: I reserved this as an outside activity!!!)

How about.....

c.1907

RIDING A HORSE!

or you could -

photo cred unknown

WATCH A LIGHTNING STORM!

Don't forget to include some friends -

Egyptian children

This should include lots of laughing -


Indian/Gypsy dress at Masala Baby Clothing line

Aren't friends just great?

Here are some ways to do things with friends you already have,
or
things to do with a new friend -

daisy chain with bee necklace by inkspired

Learn how to bead!
The daisy chain is a favorite of mine -
I find beading sooooo relaxing.

vintage embroidery pattern

Learn how to embroider!
It's a great carry-along craft,
and is fun to do with a Grandparent or brother/sister too!

Get out the crayons and paper!
This sweet robin can get you started.
After you finish coloring her, why not add a tree?
Draw a baby bird nest,
and some more leaves.
Wouldn't flowers at the base look terrific?


Time for scissors and paper scraps!


Cut squares from your paper scraps and form each piece into a cone shape, fastening them closed with scotch type tape.
Experiment!
Depending on the size of your squares will determine the size of your cones.
You can also cut the edges
with all those fun decorative scissors that are out there.
You can double layer the cones like the wonderful etsy artist did above.
Try a mix of bright summer colors.
Now cut a large cardboard circle for the wreath shaped backing
or
you can purchase a styrofoam type wreath.

Using a heavy glue (like Aleene's Tacky Glue, or...)
start gluing the cones together against the base.
You could also try using a stapler to attach cones to each other.
Using a styrofoam wreath base?
Poke a hole in the base first with the tip of a table knife, or the end of a spoon (not the bowl part).

Are the kids old enough to use a low-temp glue gun?
That would work great!

Send me pictures!
:0)

Still got those scissors and paper scraps out?
Let's make party hat invitations
or just pretty hat cards for everyday!

by inkspired
using patterns from Back Street Designs, Inc.

Here is the hat pattern -

Next is the pattern for an inner lining -


You can piece the patterns together to make an envelope just for these cards -

or you can size it just a little smaller and use a regular long envelope
(the actual name is escaping me right now, but they are very common).

by inkspired

Use all those scraps of scrapbooking paper,
and use an inner lining for added sturdiness
or
card stock
or
patterned card stock on one side
or
how about some wallpaper samples?

Be creative and use up what you have - no need to go buy new stuff.

hat cards by inkspired

Now comes the fun part of embellishing!
I have used scraps of ribbon, lace, little silk flowers,
paper punched flowers, rick rack, stickers, small stamped images
...there's no rules on what you can add!

For a nice finish, I wrap the ribbon/lace around to the back side
and use strapping tape to hold it in place.
This is for when I am using a liner.
Then I place the liner over it all to hide all the loose ends.

Otherwise I try to make it look as neat as possible,
cutting the ribbon ends at a diagonal,
and using either glue or scotch tape.

hat cards by inkspired

Check out my photos and you will see lots of different styles.
On some of the hats in this photo you can see peeking out from under the brim

'I can do everything through Him'

These were made for a ladies' tea at my church and were set at each place.

To add my heavier items I still use Aleene's Tacky glue
and hold it in place with a clothspin until it is dry.
If you are more of a hot glue gun type person, that would also work.

hat cards by inkspired

Maybe these hats from the Kentucky Derby 2012 will inspire you!

Tamara Sorrell Austin
photo cred: Mark Humphrey

Kimberly Scott of Albany Georgia
'The Run for the Roses'
photo cred: Michael Conroy

138th Kentucky Derby
photo cred: Jeff Haynes

photo cred: Jeff Haynes

photo cred: John Gress

Kentucky Derby 2012 at Churchill Downs Louisville, KY
photo cred: Jeff Haynes

Well, those should get your creative juices flowing!

I will be having more Summer Activities in future blogs.
It's such a fun subject!

'Butterflies' original Collage Art Doll by inkspired

See you later!
Be sure and share photos with me if you can -
I would love to see your creations!
If you would like me to post them, just let me know.

inkspired


note: 6/11/2012
You can find 'lilies of the valley' here:
http://inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/meanings-of-flowers-intro-and-may.html

:0)