The Butterfly Collector

Art Appeal!

 

So here they are ... my three little contributions to the Victorian Bushfire Fund!  I'm selling some of my recent paintings over at ETSY this week to help my fellow Victorians who now have no where to call home! I've also stumbled across lots of other Artists and Crafters also contributing their beautiful handmade items to help! Check out Handmade Help and One Red Robin, there are beautiful bags, more art, soft toys and jewelery to be found! I even found the Toy Society blog collecting Handmade Toys for kids who have lost everything! Its so good to see and hear all the good and wonderful things so many people are doing to help!
And a heartfelt thankyou to all the hero firefighters, police and volunteers helping those in need !!!

Top Painting ... Miss Ophelia at the Opera is in my Etsy Shop HERE!

and Painting Below ... Prima Donna on Grand Opening Night is in my Etsy Shop HERE!

 

Above ... Pink Poetry Blossoms are to be found HERE!

Please see my ETSY listings for descriptions and sizes of each painting! Thanks for looking and please check out all the other wonderful crafty stuff being donated at the above links!

Candy Cones !!!!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET This week’s PROJECT ... CANDY CONES!!!

Here's one of the most fun and the easiest Project we've ever created for Madame B! Anyone can make these simple Candy Cones! Make one for your Partner, a Friend, the person you secretly admire or even get the kids to make one or two for you!!! INGREDIENTS... Beautiful Paper Scissors Decorative Scissors A Sticker or Tape Ribbon And ... Something wonderful to fill the cone with!

MAKE IT ... Grab a gorgeous piece of paper and find something round to place down on it to trace around and create a circle. We used a simple bread and butter sized plate. Just Remember ... the bigger the Circle, the bigger the Cone will be! Cut out your circle with normal or decorative scissors and also cut a wedge into it the shape of a pizza slice. See our Picture! Fold your cut out piece around itself to form a cone and stick the sides together with tape, a decorative sticker or even glue. Wrap around a gorgeous ribbon and fill your Cone with something delicious for a fabulous Valentines Treat, we uesd mouth watering creme filled chocolates! This idea could also be fun for a Birthday Treat, Kids Parties or even Wedding Fare !!!

Thsi Project was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in February 2007!

Build A Nest!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET
This week’s PROJECT ...

CREATE A NEST
Here's a fun little project to create a pretty home for your favorite bird! Collect a few bits and pieces and you'll be on your way to making this new nest!
PROJECT INGREDIENTS
Large Sewing Needle
Coloured or Gold or Silver Threads or Wool
Some collected Twigs, Moss , Sticks or we used a bag of artificial twigs and lining from a craft store!
Some fabric scraps
A little Bird ( also from a craft store!)
CREATE IT ..
1. Thread your needle with the coloured wool or thread of your choice ! Use a long piece so you don't have to stop and re-thread quickly!
2. Start with a small clump of twigs and bind them together with your needle and thread.
3. Working around the clump in an oval shape start to add more twigs and moss and sticks ( you could even add fabric strips and found objects !)Sew it all together so it holds its shape.
4. When the base of your nest is large enough, start to create the sides by adding more and more materials and manipulating the nest with your hands. Just keep bending it upwards as you sew clumps together.
5. When your little nest is complete, you might need to find it an inhabitant, a little bird or a group of real or artificial egss maybe! We found our little friend in a craft shop!

This project was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in February 2007.

Dinner Place Setting Cards !

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET
This week’s PROJECT ...
DINNER PLACE SETTING CARDS

Make your FESTIVE party or NEW YEAR celebration special this year by setting a perfect place for everyone at the table! Make youe own place cards, personalising each one with some simple ideas and instructions ...
PROJECT INGREDIENTS
Glue Stick
Craft Glue
Craft Knife
Scissors
Some cardstock or thin cardboard
Some fabulous paper or fabric ....we used tissue,art papers, chinese silk and vintage wallpaper from Madame Butterfly's Paper Fantasia Packs available in the Boutique!
Bits and pieces to apply such as buttons, ribbon, old stamps or tickets, beads etc ...
CREATE IT ...
1. Cut some cardstock or cardboard to approximately 10cm by 10cm in size and then score it length ways in half to create a fold line so your card will stand up on the table. Cover the outside in some gorgeous paper with your glue. Trim away any excess paper.
2. Next pick out some buttons and ribbon to apply. We simply used craft glue to apply ours. Play with some colours and shapes to get the mix just right!
3. The next step is to jump on your computer and type out the names of your guests in some interesting fonts and print them out onto coloured papers. Cut them out in strips with your craft knife and glue them onto your cards with a glue stick.
4. Lastly set the table and place your gorgeous cards at each setting and surprise your guests!
SOME MORE IDEAS ...
Use this idea for other occaisions and make themed place settings for your wedding, engagement and adults and children's birthday parties.
Make cards of different sizes and shapes and attach them to drinking straws in glasses or bundles of wrapped sweets or even Cocktail Umbrellas.
Make cards for the food platters on your buffet to describe to your guests what they are nibbling on.
Use all kinds of bits and pieces to create wonderful place cards, like ... feathers, vintage buttons and buckles, glass flat backed beads, embroidery threads and interesting papers like old music sheets and newspapers.

Madame Butterfly Wishes You a Happy New Year!

This Project was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in January 2007.

Copyright Shae Reid 2007

Picture Postcards Project!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET
This week’s PROJECT ...
PICTURE PERFECT POSTCARDS

Holidays are not far away and this week we've come up with a fun little project to make on a lazy afternoon! These Collage Postcards are simple and you'll be sending "Wish you were here!!!" meassages to your friends and family in no time!
PROJECT INGREDIENTS
Glue Stick
Craft Glue
Scissors
Some cardstock or thin cardboard
Old magazines and Catalogues
Some fabulous paper ....we used tissue and vintage wallpaper from Madame Butterfly's Paper Fantasia Packs available in the Boutique!
Stamp and Stamp pad
Bits and pieces to apply such as buttons, ribbon, old stamps or tickets, beads etc ...

CREATE IT ...
1. Cut some cardstock or cardboard to postcard size ( or any size you would like really!). Cover one side in some plain lovely paper that you can write your postcard notes on!
2. Start browsing through some old magazines or catalogues and tear or cut out interesting images and words to apply to your collage. Also pick out some interesting paper or coloured paper to add into the mix!
3. Layout your images and words and paper onto to your postcard and move them around until you have the right fit! Now glue them down into place!
4. Take your craft glue next and apply some little embellishments such as buttons and ribbon, we even added some gold stamps with a stamp pad too!
5. Lastly trim around the edges to make each side neat and pop your beautiful masterpiece in the mail!!!

This project featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in December 2006. Copyright Shae Reid 2006.

Studio Door Decoration!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET
This week’s PROJECT ...
STUDIO DOOR DECORATION
A Project by Shae Reid
Make a fabulous decoration for your Studio Door! Its easy, quick and fun! See what you can dream up! You could also make one for your children's bedroom door with their name!Hang it with some ribbon on your Inspiration Board or even your fridge with a favorite word or quote or photo attached!
What you'll need ...
PROJECT INGREDIENTS ...
Some Fabulous Papers ...
We used Vintage Wallpaper from the wonderful packs available now in the Gallery Section of our Boutique, there are more papers coming soon too! 
We also used gold ripped Tissue paper and Crepe paper too!
Some cardboard
A Cutting Mat
Some decorative edged Scissors
A Knife or sharp Scissors
A Glue Stick
Craft Glue
Glitter
Some buttons, ribbons, pearls, bits and pieces you might like to stick on!
Some text you could print from your computer or cut from a book or magazine!
A Hole Punch
Some ribbon to hang it with
CREATE IT ...
1.Cut a circle from a piece of thick carboard, then use the decorative edge scissors around its edge. Use a hole punch to to add some holes around the edge too!
2. Next stick down some interesting text and ripped or cut papers to your cardboard medallion.
3. Sprinkle some glitter on to make it sparkle and add some interesting bits and pieces such as buttons with craft glue!
Thread some ribbon, chain, thread or wool through the holes you made with the hole punch. We used some threaded tiny pearls we found! Let it Dry!
4. Cut some long strips of crepe paper and gather them up and glue them to the back of your cardboard medallion to make the shape of a flower!
5. Take the decorative scissors once more and cut some petal shapes from some fabulous papers and glue them on around the back of the shape too! Let this Dry!
6. You've made a pretty little sign to hang and make you smile! Add some ribbon to its back and hang it up for all to see!
This project featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in December 2006

Create a Snowflake!

Here's a fun and simple project to make for Christmas !!! Its approaching fast and these Snowflakes are quick and simple to make! You can add them to your own tree, give them as presents, tie them on to the top of presents or even get your kids to make their own special one to hangup too!

Lets Get Started ...

YOU WILL NEED ...Lots of Coloured Sparkly BeadsA Roll of thin Bendable WIRE Small Pointy Nose Pilers ( or jewellers pilers)Small Wire Cutters ( or jewellers cutters)A length of Ribbon All of the above should be available at your local craft store!

TO CREATE IT ...

1. Cut five pieces of wire from the roll. They should each be approx 20cm long.

2. Line them up next to each other and thread all of them through a bead. Place the bead in the middle and then twist the wires tightly at either side of the bead and splay them out like a star! The bead should now not be able to move.

3.One at a time, start threading beads of different colours and sizes onto each piece of wire. Push each one down tightly. Leave a gap of about one centimetre at the end. If it is longer, just take your pilers and cut it to size.

4. Take your pointy nose pilers and bend this end into a loop, place the end back into the last bead to make it neat.

5.When you have completed each beaded arm and loop, splay all the wire arms out to form a Sparkly and beautiful Snowflake.

6. Use a length of ribbon threaded through one of the loops to hang your masterpiece!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This Project was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in November 2006!

Cookie Cutter Gift Cards!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET

This week’s PROJECT ...

COOKIE CUTTER CARDS

A Project by Shae Reid

Make some gorgeous gift cards for this years Christmas Presents or for any occaision with this very easy and fun project!

PROJECT INGREDIENTS ...

Cookie Cutters in a few different shapes

Some Fabulous Papers ( we used Vintage Wallpaper from the wonderful packs available now in the Gallery Section of our Boutique!)

Some plain or coloured Card stock

A Cutting Mat

A Knife or sharp Scissors

A Glue Stick

A Pencil

A Hole Punch

Some ribbon

CREATE IT ...

Take your cookie cutters and trace their shapes with a pencil onto some card stock and onto the pretty papers you have chosen.

Then using your craft knife on a cutting mat or scissors cut around each shape as accurately as you can.

Then join each pretty paper shape with its plain or coloured card stock mate and use the glue stick to join them together.

Punch a small hole in each and tie on some ribbon so you can join them onto your presents!!! You could even use them as decorations to hang on your tree or across a window!

This project was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in November 2006! We used our fabulous Paper Fantasia Vintage wallpaper packs to create these Cards. They are available in Madame Butterfly's Boutique right now!!! They contain five fabulous pieces of Vintage Paper and are only $12 ! Imagine what you could create? The possibilities are endless!

Festive Gift Ideas!

MADAME BUTTERFLY'S CREATIVE CABINET

That time of year is approaching very fast. Christmas will be here at any moment! We thought it might be time to Inspire some festive thoughts and projects!

Have you thought about what you will give this year? How will you wrap it?

Its always wonderful to recieve a beautifully wrapped gift and this week we've thought of a few fun presents and ways to wrap them!...

1. Find some unusual ways to wrap your gifts. Use vintage papers or some found boxes and jars.

2.Use lace ,thread or wool instead of ribbon.

3.Attach a Christmas ornament ( like this week's snowflake project!), threaded beads or jewellery around a wrapped gift instead of traditional ribbon

4. Give a bowl, box or basket of your recipients favorite things. Here we've pictured a beautiful bowl filled with flavored TEA's. You could also make up a mini sewing box, a fishing box, a jewel box or a toy box from lots of inexpensive items!

5. Start baking and give personalised boxes or jars filled with cookies, slices, rum balls or even sweets. You could even make up your own fun labels to stick on them!

6. Make up your own gorgeous gift tags and cards for your presents. You could even get your kids to start making them too! Get them to draw on some coloured papers and cut there artwork into small rectangles or squares to stick onto cards.

7.Purchase fun trinkets, bargain store or thrift store finds and tie them on to brighten up your gifts. You'd be amazed at what you can find in your local two dollar store, in

Chinatown

or in your local op shop!

8. And finally, some great ideas for alternative wrapping paper ... chinese newspaper, bubble wrap with coloured tissue underneath, see-through fabrics such as Tulle, Lace or Muslin with coloured papers underneath and vintage wall papers!

Have fun WRAPPING !!!

This article Featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in November 2006!

WARDROBE MAKEOVER

WARDROBE MAKEOVER

Most of us have wardrobe’s brimming with clothes and shoes. A lot of us don’t even know what is hiding in that cupboard space. Even more of us have plenty of clothes that don’t fit anymore, have been out of fashion forever or need to be thrown in the bin or donated to our local charity shops!

So this week its time to give ourselves a wardrobe makeover! …

Here’s some tips to get you started on creating a beautiful space to display your clothes, shoes and accessories …

1. Set aside a day to create your new wardrobe. Pull everything out and one by one decide whether it deserves to return to your closet! Make three piles … one for donating to charity ( or you could even sell some on ebay and make some money to buy yourself something new!), one to try on and decide whether to keep and one for the things that will be staying. Don’t forget to go through your  accessories, jewellery, bags and shoes too!
2. Remember this thought from Oprah …” if you don’t feel great, fabulous and alive in a piece of clothing then it’s not worth wearing”
3. Make sure you have enough clothes hangers, it might be nice to go out and treat yourself to some new wooden ones or fabric covered ones!
4. Invest in a shoe rack or boxes. You could cover your own shoe boxes in some gorgeous paper or fabric or buy some clear ones!
5. Line your drawers with some beautiful paper. Cover the back of the wardrobe wall in a fabulous wallpaper, so you always get a surprise glimpse when you moves things around!
6. Put your clothing in order. If its out of season, store it away! Place all your shirts, skirts, dresses, pants and tops in groups together so they are easy to find. Or colour co-ordinate your entire wardrobe.
7. Use small trays and bowls in drawers to organise your small things.
8. Use a belt rack to hang carves and belts
9. Clear the floor and use baskets and boxes to organise it, label them all!
10. Take out all your t-shirts, jumpers and tops and fold them all neatly again. Make them into piles … casual, sport, long sleeved, singlets, short sleeved, dressy!
11. Take a good hard look at your underwear and socks … are there holes, stains, broken elastic etc … its time to throw them out!
12. With all these great tips you should soon have a fabulous looking new wardrobe. Take yourself out and treat yourself to a new little something that fits well and looks fabulous as a reward for all your hard work!!!

Madame B says, "Think about what your decor says about you ! Is it loud and proud, drab and dreary, pretty and perfect or modern and sleek! If it doesn't reflect your personality and style, then change it. Your home should reflect the Inner You"

This article was featured in the Madame Butterfly Gallery in November 2006!