Now it's finally time for my favorite holiday of the year - Halloween! It's such a fun season to be creative! This year we found a tip from Panduro on how to make plaster ghosts which we had to try! Both Ebba and I thought it was so much fun and turned out so well, so we're sharing this in case there are more craft fans out there! :)
Panduro's description can be found HERE .
Make a frame out of cardboard and balloons (tape them together properly). I also brushed a little vaseline on the balloon and the cardboard pieces so that the plaster would come off easier once it's dried.
Dip the fabric in plaster and hang over the frame. (We used stone plaster and cut a piece of a sheet that we measured first so it fits the shape we built before.) And don't forget to protect the table! It gets pretty messy!
Let dry and then remove the balloon and cardboard inside.
Cut out black eyes and glue on.
Ebba thought my eyes made the ghost look a little too scary so she chose "googly eyes" with long black eyelashes instead (we cut the eyelashes out of paper). Then she also wanted red hearts on the cheek of her ghost because then it is clear that it is a kind ghost ;)
How cute? :) Then all you have to do is to insert a battery-powered light loop inside and they will glow so nicely when it's dark!
Thank you Panduro for this great tip on Halloween crafts!
When I worked in Falköping and did decor painting, I came into contact with Spångsjö Libergs' painting. They had started renovating Slöta church and needed someone who could gild the orbs that sit on the roof. And isn't it great that I work with gilding now as well? So I joined them and had a look at the church. Luckily I could take the globes off and bring them home with me.
This is how they looked before.
There wasn't much gold left.
Once at home, I cleaned them and primed with järnmönja (Because that's how they were treated before). Then I painted a layer of yellow linseed oil paint before it was time to add the gold leaf.
And this is how they turned out afterwards. Think what a little gold can brighten everyday life?
They look so tiny up there!
Beautiful church! Thank you for this time!
As you may know, I illustrate some for Nordens Ark. For the fifth year in a row now, I illustrate limited edition motifs every year that are printed on lots of different products in their own store in the park. I am so very proud, happy and grateful to be a small, small part in their hard work to save endangered animals! This year I also illustrated pictures for their large information sign outside the turtle ark and last Thursday it was finally time for the inauguration! And what a lovely day we had! The sun was shining and they had arranged everything so incredibly nicely for this big day! The Crown Princess Victoria, the postcode lottery, radio and television and everyone who has been involved in some way were there.
This is what the invitation looked like that went out to everyone involved. A snake-necked turtle that I drew for Nordens Ark.
The day started with a lovely lunch outdoors with live music.
Then we walked over to the ark.
A little speech before the opening (with Ellen Ljungqvist's fantastic mosaic turtles in the foreground).
Mats Höggren (CEO), Crown Princess Victoria, Jimmy Helgesson (tortoise expert) and a Greek country tortoise ensured that the ribbon was cut and the ark was inaugurated.
Our daughter Ebba thought it was very exciting with the turtles.
And here is the sign that I've been illustrating pictures for. Happy girls!
Illustrated a turtle how it looks inside (It can't crawl out of its shell like in the cartoon!).
As well as some line illustrations.
So fun to bring Ebba on this! She was so happy!
The best supporters were there! <3 (Mom, Dad and Ebba)
My own little corner in the shop.
Tomorrow the new motifs will be released on lots of different products! I wish I could have stayed another day so I could see them for myself.
A small draft from Bohusläningen where Ebba and I got to be in the picture.
Thank you Nordens Ark for an absolutely fantastic day! So cool to finally see this live! If you want to read more about Nordens Ark, the turtle ark and their hard work to save endangered animals, you can do so HERE.