Memories of Pompeii Spun Sugar Twist

In those short days before children, my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Italy. I was reminded of the trip recently while talking with my friend Lu, as we both longed for a taste of Limoncello (or Venetian Lemonade, as she puts it). I was inspired to create several lengths of ribbons while reminscing.
Since five ribbons were created, it didn't work for me to put them on the usual trifold card, so I put the "pages" together like a book. Pompeii sky and Lemon Grove ribbons

From the top: Lemon Grove, Italian Pink Grapefruit, Olive Leaf, Limoncello, and Pompeii Sky

I collaged each page before adding the ribbon: Limoncello

(Back of Limoncello) Pompeii Sky

Olive Leaf

Italian Pink Grapefruit

Lemon Grove. This one has a warm spot of yellow fading into white, then green with touches of brown

I have more lengths of the ribbons, but I'm not sure yet if I'll offer more than one card.

Reds and Pinks

Raspberry Lemonade, Pink Flamingo, Cameo and Ivory Each of them uses a different hand dye/paint technique, but they are so pretty together!

Vintage Violette

A sweet friend of mine asked me to put together a kit for her to help her put together a captured fairy jar. She intends on the jar being a tribute to an aunt who loved violets. Here's what I came up with, a vintage violette collection:

A Sugar&Spice Tin filled with purples, buttons, paper flowers, purple tinsel garland, handmade SugarWafer blossoms, crystals, stamen, vintage jewelry findings. Lots of goodies hiding here.

The paper set: glimmered paper lace and tags, antique violet postcard and violet collage images, old music and book pages

I'll let her decide if she wants more ribbon. I had already dyed this "wood violet" yardage before she had even asked, must be we are both desperate for spring!

New style Ribbon

I've been studying different techniques of coloring ribbon, my latest is multiple color application, which results in a varigated appearance. The colors blend smoothly from one area to the next, a very pretty technique! I've been highly inspired by the watercolor paintings of artist Marjolein Bastin, and created some ribbons with a very nature-colored hues.

This first photo shows a big pile of different lengths of dyed ribbons
This one is Rose

And here is the pretty Hydrangea

They'll be posted in the shoppe once they find their perfect Spun Sugar card combinations.

Bombay Flower Tutorial

My first tutorial was very enjoyable, so I'm adding another. This one I call Bombay Flower after the first one I made with it's pretty feathers. Supplies needed: Pretty papers (double sided is nice), adhesive, circle cutters for cutting and tracing, pencil, paper punch, embellishments (I'm using a white flower, green leaves, bit of chalk)

First cut a five inch circle.

Next, trace a 1&1/2 ince circle in the center, this can be drawn on either side of the paper. Here I drew it on the outside, which will then show in the back. On the pink flower I drew it on the back side and it became glued over (probably the better choice).

Cut into your circle only up to the pencil line, tring to keep the "petals" the same width from outside to center.

Turn paper so you are looking at the "inside" of the flower. Placing glue on the pencil line (or just inside the cuts) start to bring the outside of the strips to the line and adhere down. I found it easier to do every other to start with.

Glue remaining strips down.

Punch a coordinating sheet of paper for the center- I chalked mine up a bit.

Using your fingers, press the outside of the petals lightly to "fluff" them up a bit.

Add your embellishments! On the pink I coated the center with glitter, a few buttons, and feathers (they can be ironed if they have too much curl!) . Try layered papers, buttons, felt or whatever is your favorite!

Thanks for letting me share!

Valentine Swap

Aren't I the luckiest? My sweet partner in ArtsyMama's Valentine Swap was the very darling Beshka She put together a wonderful package- including beautiful handmade earrings and a fun, kitschy plastic J tied up with vintage laces and pretty pink millinery leaves.

Here is the whole box- the pretty bird is now in my valentines vignette, chocolates (already opened in the picture-did I mention my children were watching?), earrings, a fun plastic red heart full of buttons and clips, and one of juliecollings' great art boxes. Thank you dearest Beshka!