GardenMama

.: Transferring Images Onto Stone ~ Mindful Giving :.

.: Stones we created today with transferable images :.

You may notice that the winter months bring about quite a bit of crafting for my family. We try to enjoy creating each and every day.  Many of you know of my affinity for stones! Like some of you I have quite a collection of stones collected from the ocean this past summer...

I am usually one who will use materials found near-at-hand or materials that can be recycled. Today we mixed things we had on hand and something that caught my eye at the craft store!

.: Choosing our stones for the project! :.

We gathered up a few stones from the collection and placed them in a bowl. These stones were chosen for their smoothness and size so that the images we transferred onto them would fit proportionately.

.: The sheet of transferable images :.

I purchased this sheet of transfers from the craft store. Some of the images appealed to me as I imagined them transferred onto the stones.

.: By rubbing over the image it transfers onto the object :.

I started with a few and soon all three children were gathered around to choose their own images and transfer them onto the stones!  The simple process  entails placing the transfer onto the stone and with the stick provided you rub over the image and it transfers itself. 

.: Butterflies hold significant meaning for me, this one is beautiful! :.

.: I appreciate this little bird sitting atop a stone! :.

The butterfly and bird stone are two of my favorites--they make me happy and now live in my kitchen!

.: A sweet pairing of stones :.

The bird and bird cage made for a fun pair! I think these stones would make beautiful Valentine gifts for  friends, or as party favors!

.: These stones are now placed in unexpected spots around the house! :.

I appreciate discovering them in unexpected places around the house. It makes me smile to see their simple beauty paired with nature!

.: Admiring their work! :.

.: My favorite stone which holds symbolic meaning for me :.

Ginny, who writes the blog Sweet Myrtle wrote a lovely post that I enjoyed reading today. She spoke of choosing a word to focus on in this new year.  Ginny wrote a long list of words that bring inspiration to her before choosing one word to focus on.

This resonated with me because over this past year my family adopted the mantra: "Be here now." Many times I have pondered this mantra and it rang true for me in times when I needed it.

.: A warming word bringing peace to my heart :.

I know firsthand that writing a positive or inspirational word on a stone is powerful. Wouldn't this be a great project to create a few stones with life-affirming words on them and place around your home to bring more encouragement, joy, and mindfulness into your day?

.: Wishing you creativity, beauty, and inspiration today! :.

.:Magic In The Woods!:.

.: Three snow children on an adventure in the woods by the sea! :.

Tiny snow babies danced from the heavens over the past few days. When they had finished their dancing they settled here on earth giving us a great surprise with their visit! 

On this day we gathered up our mittens, hats, and snowboots and set out to enjoy our own dancing and stroll through the woods!

.: Mesmerizing ice sculptures all along the way! :.

.: The artists of Winter always inspire and amaze us! :.

When the snow babies come out to play they often inspire other friends of Winter to also do their work. We enjoyed many beautiful ice sculptures left by King Winter!

.: Frozen ocean mist creates prisms as it clings to the reeds :.

A delicate mist from the ocean lands all along the reeds and grasses growing along its waters. The mist clings to the reeds and is left frozen in it's tracks. There it basks in the sun, creating beautiful prisms!

.: Dripping diamonds are perfectly placed and sparkled throughout the forest! :.

A winter fairy clearly enjoyed a time of play here in the woods while decorating the forest in sparkling diamonds that dripped from each branch.

.: A log table set with many mushroom seats set for a moonlit meal! :.

We noticed a log table out here in the woods, complete with numerous mushrooms that served as seats for all the fairies, gnomes, and small creatures of the forest. Surely they will dine together this evening under the snowy moonlight!
 

.: We were lucky enough to see Queen Winter's magical wand! :.

A magical wand glistened with snow and ice. Queen Winter takes in the artwork in the forest she has recently completed.

 

.: We followed  footprints in the snow left by others also appreciating the magic of Winter! :.

We follow tracks through the snow left by deer and other visitors here on this day who also enjoy the work and play that Winter shares with us!
 

.: Snow children enjoy the adventure and beauty of this day! :.

My own snow children enjoy the magic of the woods! The adventure and beauty surrounds us all on this sparkling white winters day! 

.: Sparkling and bright, the winter brings joy to our spirits on this day! :.

Everything is sparkling today, bringing such light and magic to our hearts!

.: Photo Cairn ~ Tutorial:.

 

Some of the holiday gifts I created this past season were born of a fallen birch tree. The pieces I enjoyed creating the most this year were birch photo holders. 

Inspired by the sea, I decided to fashion a new design for an original card/art/photo holder from the ever-growing ocean stone collection I have gathered from the beaches near our home!

Now we can create a stone card holder just for you! Perhaps it will hold a seasonal card on your nature table, a special photo, or your children's artwork! How about sharing your Etsy business cards in a stone card holder too?

Let's get started!

 

You will need:

Stones, scissors, thin floral wire, wool felt, a small cap to trace, thin marker, and glue.

Begin by cutting an arm's length of thin floral wire. Next, fold the wire in half to double the wire.

With a pencil or knitting needle, create a loop to serve as the actual card holder.

Twist the wire twice around the pencil, making sure it is a big enough loop to hold your photo.

When complete, one side of the loop will hold the front of the photo. The other side of the loop will support the back, sandwiching your photo in the center. You now have the main loop formed that will hold your cards or photos.

Center the wire loop at the top of your stone, while wrapping both the left and right side around the stone to meet underneath.

When your two wire ends meet under the stone, pull tight and make your first twist in the wire.  Twist the wires together neatly and securely.

Next take out the felt. Now find a lid and begin to trace a small circular shape onto the felt.  This circle of felt will next be glued over the twisted wires to form a covering for the wire and a cushion for your table.

Glue the felt circle over the wire and flip the stone over.  Your photo holder is now complete!

 
My favorite part of creating today was when all three children made drawings to feature their own imaginative creations in the newly-created stone photo holders!

Their artwork made this project all the more beautiful and cherished! Won't you make a few of your own and see just what will appear displayed in yours!

Card Sources:  Math Cards ~ Alphabet Cards ~ Seasonal Postcards