Pretty as a Peacock...the continuing story.

This file is inspired by a beautiful piece of art in our local Curiosity Shop at The Alliance Trader building. We bought this piece over a year ago and many, many admirers have wanted it. I shared it last year on my other blog, Designs by Laura.

http://designsbylkc.blogspot.com/2010/10/pretty-as-peacock.html

My frequent response when asked if it's for sale is, "No, but you have excellent taste! And you may come visit it anytime we're open and you're in town!

More than one has examined it and taken pictures in a desire to recreate this piece which was made from Shasta soda pop cans.

So, it was my inspiration for this fun and comparitively simple design. It's a 3 part layered design and I think I will have fun playing with it and I hope you do, too! The file is here.

The additional photos are provided for the artistic folks who have come into our shop and want to try and make something similar. It's an ambitious project and I hope they will share pics!

The body has some depth to it. From what I can see it appears to be some wood pieces shaped and attached to the main piece of wood. The depth does add to the beauty and realism of the bird.

This was one of the "feathers" which was nailed on. Some are longer, some shorter...hope this helps those who are taking this project on!

Little Butterflies and Inspirational Girls

I have a new display in our Curioity Shop at The Alliance Trader. I've been filling some beautiful little bottles with bath salts and thought it would be fun to incorporate some little butterflies from the files I've shared earlier. I also thought it would be a nice option to present some Inspirational Girls along with the bath salt containers. Perhaps it will give you some ideas...and if you missed the previous blog posts, the girls can be found here and the butterflies here!



This great dessert glass is perfect for some bath salts and a bath scrunchie. I threw in the straw for effect! What a fun way to give a bath treat...just don't eat it!
Here is a vintage beauty!

The bath salts are scented with either lavender or eucalyptus so the shop is smelling especially fragrant, too!

More Origami Money Folding

So, I had a request to do a flying dragon with a $5o dollar bill for a donation presentation so thought it would be fun to show it with the regular dollar bill version. Also have a couple of other folds I've done.

Notice the doggie eye and mouth in photo above!

The fifty is on the right side.

A quarter nestled in a heart-shaped dollar bill.

Dollar Bill Origami

Well, for those who try to follow my blog...my apologies for the lack of posting. We have been swamped with a new furniture consignment shop and our own Curiosity Shop next door to it. So these little projects seemed fitting for our Curiosity Shop. I had a call requesting a dragon and frog out of a dollar bill so that led to a few new folds for me and I threw in some earlier ones, too.

Do a Dollar Bill Origami search to find some great artists out there!
Maybe this will inspire you to explore this unique artistic expression!



I call this one shirt 'n chaps. One dollar for the shirt and one for the chaps.

Frog
Cancer Ribbon
Flying Dragon (isn't he a cutie?!)


Bats!

Shirt Gift Card Holder

So I was browsing Stetler Arts blog and saw an adorable shirt card design she shared. I love origami and so I thought it would be fun to do a little tweak to make the shirt a gift card holder and let it be the card rather than attach it to another piece of paper...so I will show the steps here. The beauty is you completely use your scrapbook paper.

Cut your paper in half to 6"x12

Fold in half.

Unfold and fold both sides to center as shown.

Fold the top out as shown...this will create the sleeves. I used the envelope as a guide to see how large to create the sleeves. It is approximately 2 1/4" from the top.

Turn over and fold the bottom up for the collar. Mine is about 3/4".

Turn over again and fold collar toward center as shown.


Fold so that the shirt body tucks under the collar and crease the bottom.

Fold the bottom up about an inch.

Open up and you will have to reverse to of the folds to creat an accordian effect...

it should look like this. I like to glue the back flap of the accordian fold to create more stability.

I will add three buttons.

The back looks like this.

Tuck in a note with a gift card, check or cash!

Birdie Bride and Groom

A request for a bird silhouette with a veil prompted this little file, figured she need a partner...tweet, tweet!
File is here, seventh post.

Doggie and Kitty Cup Card Design

I thought I posted these somewhere but I couldn't find them so I will show some pics of this design similar to the cup cards but perfect for a little special pet in your life. They are great for a little treat or gift card for a pet store or your favorite dog groomer, etc. The bands are cut from the edges of the paper and I used small die cuts for the circles and flowers on the band though you could add your favorite accents.

I have not offered these files before and if you are a member of our forum (of course, free to register!) you can purchase them for $1. They are a lot of fun and there are fun pet themed papers that are perfect for these! The offer is here. I'm also offering two other designs including my bistro set and a friends card.

Our "forum" is not so much a place to chat as it is a place for all my design files as well as a place for buying and selling of general merchandise in the Nebraska panhandle but if you are a member of the hobby forum please feel free to post comments and or links for your own blog(s) or if you've used any of my designs you are welcome to post them as well! I love pics!

And thanks to those who have shared the work and links to my files on their blogs! Happy Crafting!