Fractured Fairy Tale: Chapter 2 with Relics & Artifacts and ColoriQue

We continue our Fracture Fairy Tale with Ambassador Sherry Matthews as she familiarizes us with the demented stepsisters.  For the previous segments, please be sure to catch on the ColoriQue blog as well as the Muse.

Cinderella had the meanest of step-sisters. You'd have to look far and wide for two nastier people. They treated her like she was their maid and took whatever they wanted of her few belongings. So it was no surprise that when the Prince's invitation to the Monster's Rock Ball arrived, the sisters began arguing over it.

"Me!" Anastasia screeched, "the Prince will LOVE me!"  Drizella ripped the envelope from her hands exclaiming, "Everyone knows that I am the most beautiful in the land!" They both mocked Cinderella horribly for wanting to attend. Their torture left her in tears. Somehow, amongst the tussling, a brooch fell from a secret pocket in the envelope. The sisters assumed the jewelry was a gift from the Prince. But BOY!  Were they WRONG!

Cinderella's fairy godmother had sent it. The gift was an enchanted brooch, intended to allow Cinderella's true beauty to shine through. Drizella and Anastasia, true to form, kept the brooch hidden for themselves.

On the night of the ball, Anastasia tried to pin it to her dress. Drizella was furious! She grabbed for it and tried to rip it from her sister's dress.  Suddenly, they both felt faint!  They promptly sat on their vanity bench, looked into the mirror, and to their horror, discovered the brooch's powers! 

The sisters were now conjoined! Individually, they had half the brain, half the personality, and none of the kindness that their step sister possessed.  The brooch itself was now rusted and crusty. It oozed the black of the sisters' souls.

Their dark sides were now revealed for all to see.

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Rising Spirit I
ColoriQue by Lisa Jimenez: Black Diamond, Snow Summit, Ruby Slippers, Pacific Ocean
VerDay paint set
Apoxie Sculpt
EnviroTex EasySculpt Modeling Clay
EnviroTex Jewelry Resin
DecoArt Antiquing Cream
DecoArt Modeling Paste
Liquitex Gel Medium
Nail Art Jewels
E6000
Kraft paper
Cardboard faux book box
Scrapbook paper

"Once Upon A Midnight Dreary" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

So who's excited about our new Literary Hauntings Challenge?  I definitely am!  I've made "no bones" about the fact that I am frequently inspired by works of poetry and literature.  You might even say I've "pondered over many a quaint & curious volume of forgotten lore."

Add to that my love of Halloween and it's no surprise that I am a fan of Edgar Allen Poe. His words evoke imagery that rap, tap, tap on the door of my imagination!  This piece is an homage to Poe's The Raven.

Hope you will all join in on the spooky fun of our #RALiteraryHauntings Challenge!

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Ancient Soul
Relics & Artifacts® Troubador
VerDay Paint Set
Apoxie Sculpt
DecoArt acrylics
reproduction iron doorknocker

"Dreamer" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS Ambassador Sherry Matthews

"So come with me where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever." ~ Peter Pan

All you poets and artists
With your creative vibes
Musicians & Makers-
You are my tribe!

Congratulations my friends!
You've earned your wings!
For each of you is
a dreamer of dreams!

You're braver than brave!
That's truer than true!
All you thinkers of things,
This medal's for YOU! 
~Sherry Westfall Matthews

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Ancient Soul
Relics & Artifacts® Medallion
DecoArt acrylics
E6000
Jewelry making supplies
Word tile

"The Reading Room" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are."
~Mason Cooley

I can't even imagine a world without books. Books educate and enlighten. They entertain and ease our stress.

Books are a ticket to escape to a haven all our own or a way to connect to faraway lands . Books introduce us to innumerable people, both living and dead.

They transport us through time and allow us to journey through space. Each journey begins with the turn of a single page.  When you curl up with a good book, where does it take you?

"For a fantastic voyage without leaving your nook, crack open the cover and travel by book." ~Sherry Westfall Matthews

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Andromeda Mini Throne
Muse® Art Stamps Basque
Muse® Art Stamps Celestial
Muse® Art Stamps Devotion
Apoxie Sculpt
DecoArt Craft paints
E6000 adhesive
Embossing powders
Ranger Perfect Medium stamp pad
vintage shadow box
vintage millinery flowers
scrapbook paper

"What If You Fly?" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews and CANVAS CORP BRANDS

Poetry and art are some of the world's earliest forms of self-expression. In my mind, one of the greatest benefits of creating either art or poetry is the ability to inspire others- to think, to create, to feel.

For this collaboration with Canvas Corp Brands, we were given the theme of "Something Old, Something New".

Poetry and visual arts ARE both old and new, from the classics to the modern masters. The poem which inspired this piece has a timeless message but was written by a young poet while still in her teens, Erin Hanson.  This is my inspiration in her words:

"There is a freedom waiting for you,
on the breezes of the sky,
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling,
What if you FLY?"
--Erin Hanson

Don't forget about our giveaway!  Keep reading below for more details on how to be entered to win.

Here is all you need to do.  Be sure to use #RACCBmatchup so that we can track you down!

-Leave a comment here on any or all of the Match Up Posts during the month of July with Relics & Artifacts® and CCB.  You can leave one on each post for more chances to win. 

-And/or leave a comment on the CCB Facebook page.

-And/or leave a comment on any of the CCB Instagram posts where you see any of the projects from the CCB team or the RA team. 

Feel the urge to join the addiction that is Relics & Artifacts®?  Take a look in the Sandra Evertson shop and stock up.  You can also join our Relics & Artifacts® Tribe on Facebook and be inspired by fellow creatives in the best creative group on the web!

Be sure to follow along by searching #RACCBmatchup too.  If you love what you see and would like to join our Facebook group, the CCB Collective, just click the link and ask to join today.  We would love to have you! 

Materials list:
Relics & Artifacts® Papillon
Relics & Artifacts® Ancient Soul II w/ wood support
Relics & Artifacts® Archangels
Canvas Corp Brands 3x3 canvas canvas
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze saffron
Tattered Angels High Impact paint olive
Tattered Angels High Impact paint turquoise
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Nougat
Naturally Aged Kit - Marble (precious stone)
burlap
ICE Resin
scrap lumber
hinge
E6000

"Heart Strings" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

"Once upon a time..." Well, isn't that how all good folk tales begin?  This is the tale of a young gypsy girl named Rosella.

Rosella lived with her grandmother in a modest cottage in the woods. Her grandmother, the wisest woman she knew, told Rosella stories of the Guardian of the Forest, Patrin (his name meant "trail of leaves"). Patrin liked to leave gifts for humans to find, humans who had shown kindness to nature. Gifts like feathers and flowers and small tumbled stones. Rosella had already accumulated quite the collection of these gifts for she was always mindful of her environment. Her grandmother would tell her ,"You can't stand for what you believe in if you have no ground to stand upon."  Rosella loved her grandmother and the forest where she lived.
 

Her favorite spot in all the world was beneath an old tree in the middle of a field of flowers. Its outstretched branches were home to many birds and squirrels. Its roots merged into a mossy tapestry; and in that tree's shade, Rosella would sit, rain or shine, and feel completely at peace.

One day, just as Rosella arrived, she noticed a man with an axe about to chop down her beloved tree. She pleaded, "Please Sir, I love this tree."

The man explained that he had no money for firewood which he needed to keep his family warm and fed. Rosella had no money either. But she did have a heart necklace! It was a gift from her grandmother... "Grandma would understand," she thought. She gave the man her necklace to sell. He thanked her and agreed to never harm the tree.

When Rosella returned the next day, to her delight, she found a wooden heart pendant, bound in strings woven from wildflower petals, hanging on the tree's lower branches!

It was from Patrin and never had she seen a more magical gift!  Rosella thought to herself, "What they say is true! If you take care of nature, it'll take care of you!"

The End

Supply List:

Relics & Artifacts Chivalry
Apoxie Sculpt
jewelry findings
embroidery thread
DecoArt acrylic paint
silk sari cord
imagination

"Treasured Memories" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

My mother, my children, and I enjoyed a quick trip to the beach last October. Our time together was short-but, the memories we made will last a lifetime.

Memories are the most treasured souvenirs we gather from any destination traveled to and any moments shared.

It's sometimes surprising which memories remain the most vivid. While the beach itself was quite fantastic,  our time together laughing and talking was magical.  And oh, how we hunted for seashells! Paying particular attention to the broken and usually less-desirable ones. Those were our favorites.

This heart is bejeweled with our seashore finds, just as my heart is full of treasured memories of our trip.

As I write this post, this "Souvenir Heart" is making it's way to my mother. It is my gift to her.

I love you, Mom!

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Chivalry
Apoxie Sculpt
Ice Resin
Iced Enamels Medium
Iced Enamels Turquoise
DecoArt Acrylic Paint
Tim Holtz vignette box
Tim Holtz IdeaOlogy Word Bands
Seashells
sand
coral
E6000
Letter Stamps

"Spring is Sprung" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

The changing of the season is a bit like a changing of the guard.  Perennial bulbs begin emerging ceremoniously through the blanket of winter's debris, ready to stand at attention and mark the reveal of possibilities that "spring" forth. Mother Nature hoists her colors of blooms and foliage.  And my green thumb has sprouted.

These flaming heart pots were created to coordinate with the colors and style of my garden. But like Michael Franti said, " Every flower got a right to be blooming."

There are numerous ways to incorporate Relics & Artifacts® resin blanks into your personal patio decor. Papillon butterflies would be amazing on whimsical stakes fluttering above a plant or two and for a classical and elegant look, how about a piece from Facia Familiaris or a set of wings attached to a pot, all painted to resemble marble or terra cotta? 

Apoxie Sculpt is great for outdoor use too! It can be used to attach the resin blanks directly to the pots or to make plant markers and other adornments. 

To help you along, I've put together a quick Snapguide tutorial because with so many fabulous Relics & Artifacts® pieces to choose from,  you are really only limited by your imagination!

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Flaming Hearts Ex Votos I
Apoxie Sculpt
DecoArt Patio Paints
 

Day 7 with That's Crafty! and A Recap with RELICS & ARTIFACTS®

What an amazing week it has been here at Relics & Artifacts®.  This week, we had the opportunity to collaborate with another company and show the world just how versatile not only Relics & Artifacts® craft blanks are but how equally versatile the products offered by That's Crafty! out of the United Kingdom are.  We were able to work with MDF and acrylic pieces, stencils, stamps and really flex our creative muscles.

We find inspiration and creativity in places we least expect it and in arenas we swore we'd never enter. 

 Day 1:  "Inspiration in Unlikely Places" by Chrissy Colón

All week long, we showcased individual works from each of the Relics & Artifacts® Ambassadors in a parade of creativity, vision, and one of a kind design, like simple everyday items which become intrinsic to our identities and personalities.

Day 2:  "Glasses With A Story" by Milagros Rivera

We can rediscover our own spirituality or possibly be inspired by another culture's beliefs systems.  With art and inspiration, there are no wall, no boundaries.

Day 3:  "Ganesha" by Monica Downing

Thoughtful affirmations struck chords within our hearts and caused us to take a step back and truly believe in the power within ourselves to just reach for the stars.

Day 4:  "The Stars" by Lynne Moncrieff

Poetry married with mixed media breathed new life into the basic substrates laid before us.  A vision and a story begin to form and our hearts are unveiled.

Day 5: "The Heart, Unveiled" by Sherry Matthews

Finally, art and the blending of items within our creative arsenal can take us on a journey through time.  We can go back to times long forgotten and rediscover the timeless treasure of inspiration.

Day 6: "Ancient Rome" by Heather Thompson

You see, what this collaboration and celebration of creativity with That's Crafty! has done, is spark a new flame and opened a new realm of possibilities within our own creative selves.  We were challenged and thus inspired to look at substrates we would not necessarily have thought to pair with Relics & Artifacts® and breathe new life into not only our creative souls, but our imaginations.  From this collaboration came pieces we had not dared to try or ideas that were merely ideas collecting dust in our proverbial rolodex of thoughts.

We hope this week has been as inspiring to all of you as it has been for us.  The ladies over at That's Crafty! were a pure joy to partner with and we were honored to work with each of them.  Please be sure to visit That's Crafty! today and see what Lynne Moncrieff has in store on this final day of our creativity celebration. 

Don't forget to visit each day's post and leave a comment to be entered in our giveaway.  A winner will be drawn Monday and will receive **3** sets of Relics & Artifacts® Matte Resin Craft Blanks of their choosing. 

Cheers!

Day 5 with That's Crafty! and "The Heart, Unveiled" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

We are beginning the home stretch in our week-long party with That's Crafty!  What do you all think of both groups of rock stars so far?  It's been such a great feast for the eyes so far, so why stop now?  Today, we have Sherry Matthews with a piece that will cut straight to your heart not only visually buy symbolically as well. 

No beam outshines light from within one's soul,

Nor reflects more purely of words, yet told,

Nothing more powerful than the gilded hold,

That the heart has, once revealed.

No gift is greater than given attention,

No treasure more precious than love's first mention,

No act more heroic than the promised intention,

That the heart gives, once unveiled.

What a provocative and beautiful poem and piece!  Be sure to swing by the That's Crafty! blog to see what Fliss Goodwin has in store for you and remember to leave a comment on each day to be entered to win the prize at the end of the celebration!

Materials:
Relics & Artifacts® Ancient Soul
Relics & Artifacts® Chivalry
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Trim, wrought iron (gold)
Relics & Artifacts Bohemian Jewels, aquamarine
Apoxie Sculpt
That's Crafty Surfaces, Acrylic Uprights-Arch (pack of 3)
That's Crafty Dinky Stencils, Moroccan background (TC069)
Viva! Mirror paint
Gilder's Paste(antique gold, german silver)
E6000 glue
Fabric glue
DecoArt Elegant Finish Paint in "Emperor's Gold"
DecoArt Acrylic Paint Black
Modelling paste, palette knife
Dremel tool, carving bit
Sari fabric scrap
Wood chess pieces

"Caged Bird" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

"The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom."
~Maya Angelou

The inspiration for this piece came directly from my love of poetry.  While pondering the words of Maya Angelou, I twisted bits of rusty wire into a cage. With sepia ink, botanical images were stamped onto the bird.

After a little distressing, the finch was finished. Shreds of sheet music, representing song, form his nest.  This caged bird makes my heart sing.

Are you ever inspired by poetry?

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® "Finch"
DecoArt Media Crackle
rusty wire
tart tin
beaded chain
antiquing medium
sepia ink
tissue paper
sheet music
floral stamps

"Wabi Sabi" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Sherry Matthews

According to Wikipedia, Wabi Sabi is a concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics constituting a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".  The wabi sabi aesthetic embraces characteristics of asymmetry, simplicity, and an appreciation of natural characteristics and processes. With this bracelet, I try to encompass those same attributes.

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." - Scott Adams

Supply List:
Apoxie Sculpt
Ice Resin
Ice Resin tint "Beryl"
DecoArt Acrylics in brown and black
DecoArt One Step Crackle
jewelry findings
embroidery thread