Matchbox Stories

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A darling little ice storm hit Toronto on December 22nd, leaving about 300,000 homes without electricity for the holiday season. We chose to stay in our very cold house for two and a half days until the power came back on, and were definitely among the lucky ones, since as of this morning, there are a few hundred people still cold and in the dark. To mark this most unusual holiday season, here’s a project born in a matchbox, a true essential during a power outage.

Matchboox, which inspired this project, is a collection of small books folded accordion style, and neatly housed inside a matchbox. It’s a series created by editor Richard Meier, involving more than 70 artists, making some very cool art in a box.

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Filed under Books, collage, drawing, matchbox craft

Felted Santas

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I’m not sure where the last 7 weeks went, but my unintentional break has finally come to an end – just in time to squeeze in some felted Santa ornaments, before the trees come down!

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Filed under Christmas, felt

Halloween Planter Decorations

P1190280A few weeks spent going through twenty years worth of things stored in my basement, made me realize just how much crap we humans like to hang on to. I did come across a few salvageable items like these spiral obelisks, which were given a second life just in time for Halloween. A fresh coat of paint, a selection of skulls, and a nice assortment of bloody human parts did the trick.

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Filed under Halloween, recycling

Halloween Bottles

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I couldn’t help but notice all the Halloween themed bottles at the liquor store, and since it didn’t take much enticement on my part, I ended up with a nice little collection to display. There’s not a whole lot of work involved other than relaxing, having a few drinks and lightly embellishing the bottles with a few decorations. That part, the kids can help with.

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Halloween EyeBook

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If you search for book sculptures on the internet, you’ll come across some incredible creations, including one that stares right back at you – artist Hubertus Gojowczyk’s “Latest News.” With Halloween on the brain, I thought this would make the coolest, spooky prop for my favourite time of the year.

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Filed under Books, Halloween, mixed media

Halloween Pins

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This is an easy craft to help kids get in on all that Halloween action. They can choose to make traditional Halloween characters, or run wild with their imagination.

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Filed under felt, Halloween, pins

Halloween Collage Box

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It’s never too early to begin thinking about Halloween (can you tell I love it), and making a special box for some of those wonderful treasures you’ve amassed over the years, is a wonderful way to start. A few drawings and images, a little Mod Podge, a trip to the dollar store, and you’re all set.

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Chalk Mandalas

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Many cultures and religions throughout the world use Mandalas as spiritual teaching tools. Their use is rooted in eastern religious traditions, but has also been adopted by the west, as a way of focussing the mind, and encouraging transformation and healing.

Making a chalk mandala is my farewell to summer, and a reluctant welcome to the fall. It is also a wonderful form of creative self-expression, and hopefully something kids will explore on paper as well.

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iBat’s USA Road Trip

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Travelling with a favorite toy and photographing it in front of various landmarks, began as a totally off the wall idea known as the travelling gnome. It originated in Australia in the 1980’s, and is now firmly entrenched in popular culture. I first came across it in the quirky little french film Amélie, and I’ve been dying to do it ever since. Adults may have come up with this idea, but it has plenty of kid appeal. All you need is a toy and a camera.

Since garden gnomes are a bit cumbersome to lug around, we invited our temperamental little friend, iBat, to join us on our USA road trip, where we travelled from Toronto to Florida and back in just under three weeks. We stayed in ten different cities, with plenty of pit stops along the way, and a nice lengthy stay near Hogwarts. iBat was thrilled to come along, but returned home sulking because I forgot to photograph him at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Philadelphia. He was right there, hanging off the back of my purse, but I just plain forgot about the little guy, and snapped a ton of shots – without him.

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Filed under travel

Stone Mementos

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A stone collected and brought home from a holiday, serves as a wonderful reminder of that time and place. Even stones from day trips and local adventures to forests and beaches, can turn up specimens worthy of being pocketed and brought home. It’s a nice idea for children, who can line them up and stack them along their windowsill, while thinking back on their adventures.

I’ll be looking for some new stones to add to my collection, as we head off on a road trip to Hogwarts. I’m quite possibly more excited than my kids, and can’t wait to visit the Leaky Cauldron, and enjoy a nice cold glass of Butterbeer. Cheers and happy summer to all of you!

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Filed under travel