The Making of Little Deer.

Here are the instructions for the Oh Deer project . I made her into a brooch. I have more plans for this little deer in the coming weeks. I really do want to know if you come up with any projects to use her in. Please share and we'll all play!

Here she is in all her deery glory. I think her name is Dorothy.


I copied this image onto a word document and sized it to fit the paper sheet without any borders.

Then I printed the image onto a sheet of Shrink It Plastic for printers.

Using a small pair of scissors cut out the pieces

Place the arms where you want them

Pop a hole through the arm and the shoulder pieces at the same time using a hole punch.

Over lap the legs at the hip and pop a hole through there too.

Use the tip of the scissors to drill a hole in the skirt where the legs will join. Don't just push the scissors through there, twist them gently and the hole will get bigger gradually and not tear the plastic.

Here are the pieces as they will be baked. Get the oven on to 500 or the hottest setting and put a piece of parchment onto a baking sheet. I fold the edges so the parchment doesn't curl up on me and burn.

Bake each piece separately so you can keep an eye on them. If you put them all in at the same time I'm pretty sure there will be apocalyptic consequences.

This is the video of what happens in the oven. Keep the door open a crack so you can see what's going on and keep an oven mitt on so you can rescue things if you need to.
It's going to look pretty ugly for a while. Just let it happen and after it looks like it's stopped shrinking you can flatten things out.

After it was done shrinking I turned it over with tongs while it was still in the oven.

I pulled the door open and slid out the wrack and pan and used a smooth egg flipper to squash the piece flat while it was still hot. It cools very quickly so move fast.

You can see how small she is here in my hand.

One leg to go. You can really see how much the pieces shrink here with one still full size. The colours also deepen quite a bit.

Some things you will need to put her together.

Teeny plastic faceted beads in the same colours as her clothes. I put two for her arms and one for her skirt on head pins.

Put the beaded head pin through both the arm and the torso pieces.

Cut the head pin to 2 cm long with wire cutters, and turn the cut end with double round nose pliers so it is a spiral on the back of the piece. The spiral and bead will keep the wire headpin in place so the limb will move freely like a joint.

Repeat the process with the other arm and both legs.

I used the E 6000 glue to fix on some pretty flowers and ribbons and rhinestones. Add what you like or leave her plain.

I also glued a pin to the back.

I think she's going to be cute with spring blouses.

Don't forget to post a link to what you made in the comments box. I really am excited to see what you make.

:)

Oh Deer Take Two.

I'm posting deer progress. I didn't know what she was going to be for sure at first, but now I know.
If you have any ideas please feel free to go ahead and use her to create something of your own..... but please, please send me a message or a link to what happened along the way.
I'm thinking of how to go about sharing some things with you all. This bloggie thing is about sharing and other bloggies out there seem to have things called giveaways. Giving away finished pieces (like an eye pendant) didn't feel right to me. So I'm going to try to publish some more printable projects for you to try this year. That way I'm sharing with more than just one. I need you to let me know how things go on your end once and a while. You know..... for encouragement.

I'll post the full project soon.
Here are the pieces.

She looks kind of funny just lying there all in pieces like this. I'd better hurry up and pull her back together.

It's not really a hurry up kind of day. George is demonstrating the days speed for us.
And yes, that is a catnip ball.

White Lace Stiletto Nails.

I missed having stiletto nails.

So I removed my green and blue spring nails.

Contrary to popular belief, wearing acrylic nails does not ruin your natural nails. Ripping the acrylics off ruins your natural nails. So if you get acrylics have the patients to remove them properly. My nails look pretty good for almost two years of acrylic wear (give or take a week here and there). I filed off the spring acrylics and gave myself a manicure and some primer.

Here are the steps I took to make the stiletto nails:

I used a semi opaque pinkish powder and liquid to build up and extend my natural nail beds. Stiletto nails look best on long nail beds I think.

I made a smile line with white opaque powder and liquid.

I made what I'm gonna call horns of white coming from the smile line to the tip of the extension.

Here is the second little horn coming from the smile line and heading up to the tip.

I filled all the open space on the free edge with clear sparkle mix.

I capped the whole thing in clear acrylic powder and liquid.

I used a fine paintbrush and some white watercolour to make some jittery lines that end in a part swirl on the nail bed. I also made some dots. I couldn't help myself.

I coated the whole thing with clear UV gel and set a rhinestone on each nail.
I do like me some bling.

Here is a shot with flash so you can see them a bit better. It's hard to get a good shot of monotone nails, especially on shadowy days like this.

Oh Deer!

I got some new pencil crayons from Stewart Books. I love them!
Mr. Jimmy came in and saw what I was doing and said
"Oh Dear!"

:)

Hope?

It's coming..............

I can feel it in my bones.

Not long until the porch looks like this again.

Snowy Night Supper

Here's Supper!

Mom made Lena's spaghetti sauce. Mom and Dad used to live with Lena and Roger when they were first married and this is the sauce Lena taught Mom how to make. It's a real family favorite perfect for a snowy storm night.

Mom let the sauce cook all day. It smelled so good!

She stewed some Italian sausages right in the sauce and took them out before serving to be divided up.

Here is Mr. Jimmy's fabulous whole wheat bread, ready to sop up all that red saucy goodness.

Warm and cozy. I ate so much spaghetti I didn't have room for the salad.

Keep warm.

Another Snow Storm.

We are having another snow storm today. This one is a soft and gentle storm. Loads of big fluffy flakes floating gently to the already snow covered ground.

Here's the view from the front porch.

and the dining room window.

Sebastian loves the snow and chases the big flakes. He tries to get them all in his mouth at the same time.

We're trying to keep toasty. Mr. Jimmy is making some fabulous whole wheat and seed bread. He's getting so much better at it. Mom is making Spaghetti and Sausages. Sooooo good!

and I am making Mr. Jimmy in a bunny suit!

:D