Botanic Bleu

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

The Inspiration Gallery @ Craftberry Bush

FRIDAY

Amaze Me Mondays @ Dwellings, the Heart of Your Home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bird Ornament Tutorial And The Winner Is...

Thursday, September 5, 2013

The first anniversary of
the Botanic Bleu blog was
August 26, 2013.

In celebration, I had a Give-Away
for a white ceramic message board
with a fleur-de-lis.

❦
Congratulations!
The winner is
Lisa @
Life Away From The Office Chair

Lisa is a North Carolina blogger who shares
recipes, crafts, and random thoughts.
You have to see her Best Fried Pickle recipe!

Hop over to Life Away From The Office Chair
and leave a congratulatory comment for Lisa on
winning the white ceramic message board.

Then come back to read how to create
Bird Ornaments.
~~~~~~~~~~

More inspiration from The Graphics Fairy...

Using Microsoft Word and

free (yes, free... can you believe it?)

images from The Graphics Fairy,

I created four small bird ornaments.

Supply List

Free images from The Graphics Fairy
Computer Color Printer
Canvas Cloth, 8.5" x 11"
Mod Podge glue
Art Mat Board
Paper Cutter
Ribbon, four 6-inch lengths
Hot glue gun

Here the little birds sit before getting their hanging ribbons.

Step 1: Create the four bird images to print.

Using landscape in Page Set Up, I copied the four images from

The Graphics Fairy and pasted them onto the same

Microsoft Word document.

Bird print #1:

External Parts of a Bird

The Graphics Fairy image was black and white.

To change its color, I used the Picture formatting options in

Microsoft Word.

There are so many kinds of computers, but there is a

strong possibility that Microsoft Word

works similarly on all brands of computers.

I use a MacBook Pro laptop.

TIP: Make a copy of the downloaded image.

Make your changes to the COPY so if you

are not happy with the results, you can start

over with another COPY of the downloaded image.

First, click on the bird print you want to change.

You should be able to see an outline around the image.

A "Picture" submenu appears in the Formatting Palette.

Above is what the screen looks like on my computer.

The very first option is titled, "Recolor."

Its drop-down menu has three more submenus,

"Color Modes, "Dark Variations," and "Light Variations."

I could not get a picture of those.

The third submenu titled, "Light Variations" has

several options. I chose "Accent Color 3 Light."

You know, I just discovered this feature within

the past week, and I've been using Microsoft Word

for years and years...

So much to learn...

I added a Box behind the image and

added a colored line Border around the image.

I did not see a list of what the external numbered parts are on a bird.

Bird print #2:

Tulip Soap

The Graphics Fairy image is exactly as you see.

All I had to do was to resize it.

The canvas cloth texture makes these photos extra special.

The colors seem much brighter on the canvas cloth than

the colors looked on the practice paper pages.

Bird print #3:

Bird with Mistletoe

Superimpose the bird image over the mistletoe image,

both from The Graphics Fairy.

Use Microsoft's "Ordering" options and

adjust "Transparency" to allow the bottom image

to show through the top image.

Bird print #4:

Bird with Fleur-de-Lis

The Graphics Fairy has links to sets of free fonts.

One set is called, "Best French Free Fonts."

The French font is all fleur-de-lis characters.

Create a Text Box and fill it with fleur-de-lis.

Create a Rectangle Box behind it as a border.

Use "Layer" options to place the bird image

over the Text Box which is over the Rectangle Box.

Create colored line Borders around the Rectangle Box

and the bird image.

Use "Transparency" to show the Text Box image

through the bird image.

Step 2: Print the four birds.

After formatting the bird images, print practice pages

to check placement, colors, and sizes.

Then print out these fine-feathered friends on

canvas cloth paper from Office Depot.

I printed all four prints on one canvas cloth page.

I use an HP Photosmart C5500 printer.

Let the printed canvas cloth images dry for several hours,

preferably overnight.

Notice the packaging descriptions:

brilliant color printing

quick drying and fade resistant

When I glued the birds to the art mat boards,

I used a slightly damp heavy paper "shop" towel to smooth down

the canvas and to clean off stray Mod Podge glue

that was on the canvas from my fingers.

The color did not run,

and it did not rub off onto the paper towel.

No compensation from Office Depot;

just thought you would like to know.

Step 3: Attach the four canvas birds to art mat boards.

Cut out the four bird rectangles from the canvas cloth.

Trace around the perimeter of the four birds

onto art mat board.

Use a paper cutter to cut the four art mat boards

that will be the backs of the images.

The mat board makes a nice stiff board for

hanging on a tree, the wall, on a hook, etc...

I glued the bird prints to the BACKs of the mat boards,

allowing the fronts of the mat boards to show as the backs

of the bird canvas ornaments.

This is a nice finish on the back of the ornaments.

Cover the back of the mat board and

the back of the bird-printed canvas cloth

with Mod Podge glue.

Smooth down the bird canvas cloth image

onto the art mat board BACK making sure

there are no air bubbles and

all the edges are firmly attached.

Allow to dry.

Step 4: Attach hanging ribbons to backs of the art mat boards.

Find the center of the back of each of the small canvas bird/art mat boards.

Use a hot-glue gun to attach both ends of a 6-inch ribbon at the

marked center back.

I glued my ribbon ends about one-quarter inch to one-half inch below the

back top edge of the bird canvas/art mat boards.

This allows the ribbon to be folded down behind

the bird canvas ornament in case you want to display

the bird canvas ornament

on a small easel instead of hanging it.

Hang or prop and enjoy!

Missed the tutorial on how to make the mossy hydrangea heart?

Details are in the post entitled Hydrangeas and French Script

That little blue Eiffel Tower in the background

will be discussed in a tutorial in an upcoming post.

Oh, what fun I am having!

❦

~~~~~~~~~~

Please join me at these inspiring sites...

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

The Inspiration Gallery @ Craftberry Bush

FRIDAY

Amaze Me Mondays @ Dwellings, the Heart of Your Home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vintage Bird Prints on Dictionary Pages Tutorial

Monday, September 2, 2013

We have all seen the beautiful

Bird Prints

in catalogs right now.

And we have seen the prices for those beautiful prints...
Sometimes into several hundreds of dollars...
Especially if you want a matched pair...

tutorial-for-making-bird-prints-on-vintage-dictionary-pages

Graphics Fairy inspired me to make my own bird prints
using her free graphics for colorful birds, feathers, and eggs.

Supply List

8"x10" mat board, as a back for the bird print
Aviary images from Graphics Fairy
Page from an old book, preferably a gardening book of some kind
Color printer
Spray Mount glue
Photo frame - 8"x10"
Exacto knife
Ruler
Ribbon for hanging, optional
Hot glue gun, optional

Remember the old 1973 Western Garden Book dictionary
I used to make butterfly boards?

Its pages are also perfect for creating bird prints.

framed-bird-and-feather-print-on-dictionary-page

Dappled shade and sunlight cause the trees and blue sky
to reflect in the glass hiding the bird's true coloration.
Without trying to purposely create a work of art,
my photos turned into collages.
I am enjoying how these photos look.
Somehow I know that I could never have created
these on purpose, nor do I think I can recreate this effect.
Such a marvelous unexpected result that makes me smile.

Step 1 - Select pages on which to print the images.
I chose to use pages with text only on which to print
the free Graphics Fairy aviary images, saving the dictionary pages
with detailed drawings for more butterfly boards.

Using an Exacto knife, cut out the pages from whatever book
you choose to use as the pages on which to print your birds.

framed-speckled-bird-colored-feather-on-dictionary-page

Using the bird graphics as guides,
choose dictionary pages that complement your birds.
For instance, place the large alphabetical letter in the margin
of a dictionary on the opposite side of the bird's head.

Step 2 - Cut mat board on which to attach the prints.
Craft stores, such as Michaels, have large 16"x20" mat boards
that they will cut to whatever size you want.

An 8"x10" board is a good size since
ready-made frames come in that size,
both giving a large selection of ready-to-use frames and
keeping the price low by avoiding custom framing.

I was able to get four 8"x10" mat boards
from the 16"x20" board.

Tip
Instead of framing the prints, the mat board can be the
border for the printed bird.
In that case, have your mat board cut so that
a border will exist around the printed page.
For a 2" border around an 8"x10" print,
get a mat board cut to 12"x14".

robin-and-feather-print-on-dictionary-page

Step 3 - Print the aviary images.
To get both a bird and a feather or
both a bird and an egg on the same page,
copy the Graphics Fairy bird image
and paste it into a Microsoft Word document.

Use the software tools to resize the bird
to fit on the page where you want it.
Then copy a Graphics Fairy feather or egg
and paste it onto the same Microsoft Word document.
Once again, use the software to resize and
to position the feather/egg where you want it.

speckled-bird-colored-feather-ready-to-print

Here is a bird and feather on the same page ready
for you to save to your computer.
You may use it to print so you do not need
to create your own page.
Thank Graphics Fairy for her free incredible images.

Place the dictionary page into the printer and
print the bird/feather/egg images directly onto it.
I use an HP Photosmart C5500 printer
and a MacBook Pro computer.
This little Mac computer can do anything!
Well, almost...

Trim the edges of the printed page to match your mat board.

two-birds-and-feathers-printed-on-dictionary-pages

The sunlight makes these two prints look like they are sparkling.
Or like they have star constellations on their wings.
What a metaphor!

Without this photo, I would never have thought
of the image or phrase, "star constellations on their wings."
But, now I am remembering it to think about again...

Tips
If you plan to make a set of prints,
either choose two bird prints that
are facing opposite directions, or
use your computer's software to "reverse"
one of the bird images
so they will face each other when hung.

directions-for-easy-print-of-bird-on-dictionary-page

Print practice pages on plain paper
to check the size and position of your images.
Place the practice page in front of your dictionary page.
Then hold the two pages up in front of
a bright lamp. You will be able to see
the dictionary page through the practice page and
know how your final printed page will look.

Follow your printer's directions about how to position
paper for printing. Some printers print paper face-side up,
but the majority I have used, print paper face-side DOWN.

Step 4 - Mount the printed page to the mat board.
Spray the front of the mat board with Spray Mount glue.
I tried attaching the dictionary pages to mat boards two different ways...
with Mod Podge glue and with Spray Mount adhesive.
For me, the Spray Mount works better.
The Mod Podge glue tends to have dry spots
that causes the dictionary page to be loose with air bubbles in places.
I did not want to put Mod Podge on the front of
my printed bird pages, just on the back.
The Spray Mount glue creates a solid connection
with no air bubbles IF you carefully rub the page
as you attach it to the mat board.

$beautiful-bird-print-on-dictionary-page-diy-for-fractional-cost-of-retail$

Tip
The Spray Mount glue is unforgiving.
Position your printed page perfectly the first time
because you cannot reposition the page once it is
pressed onto the glue.
I begin with matching the top left corner,
then carefully holding the dictionary page off the glue,
aligning the top right corner.
Then I lay the dictionary page down and begin
smoothing the page with downward motions
as I lay the page onto the mat board.
Work downward from the top and outward from the center.

Step 5 - Display the finished print.
If you made an 8"x10" print,
there are many ready-made frames.
All you have to do is open the back,
insert the print, and hang the print.

Michaels had their frames on sale...
buy one, get one free!
This project just kept
getting more and more economical.

colorful-bird-print-on-dictionary-page-diy-directions

Once again the sunlight and trees reflected in the glass
giving this bird print an even more colorful pattern than he really has.

The frames are just the style and color
that fit the bird prints I selected,
and the frames also complement my house.

This view shows the real colors in the bird print better.
I love how you can see the dictionary print through the bird and the egg.
Transparency that shows the beauty of both the images and the words...
Transparency... a life-style worth living, and worth being...

Tip
An even more money-saving way to display
your print is to attach a ribbon to the back of the mat board.
Position the ribbon ends about 4-6" apart and
glue down the ends with a hot glue gun.
Then hang the board.
No frame needed.

What started out as a little project to create bird prints inexpensively
has turned into a revelation of creative images, thoughts, and memories for me.

Vintage 1973 garden dictionaries, vintage bird prints, blue-gray wood frames,

red clay flower pots, and old copper water sprinkler fittings sitting

on a French-style teak folding deck chair bring memories

of loved ones and good times to my mind.

Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words... and

a thousand memories.

❦
~~~~~~~~~~

My blogiversary Give-Away is

going on through Sept. 2, 2013.

Deadline for entry is 12:00 midnight (CDT).

If you would like to win a ceramic message board,

see how to enter at the link below.

Blogiversary Give-Away

Some lucky reader is going to win

the fleur-de-lis decorated board

just in time to write fall messages.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please join me at these inspiring sites...

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage
The Inspiration Gallery @ Craftberry Bush

FRIDAY

Amaze Me Mondays @ Dwellings, the Heart of Your Home

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

French Hydrangeas

Friday, August 30, 2013

French Hydrangeas

What makes a hydrangea a French hydrangea?
Nothing.

Hydrangea macrophylla plants are native to Japan,
and when the plants were introduced to the Americas and Europe
in 1789, they became commonly known as French hydrangeas.

Do you suppose there is a connection to the
French Revolution occurring in 1789?

Hydrangeas were a widely-used garden plant

until the 1900s when their popularity waned.

Why, I don't know.

I love hydrangeas!

My heart is happy that they are popular once again.

These gigantic blooms were in the local grocery store this week.

Four came home with me, and

I have adopted them as part of the family.

I am trying to dry them and hope they retain their colors.

Obviously, these were grown someplace beside Texas

since these blooms look decidedly like Fall,

and it was over 100° here today.

And predicted highs are 104°, 102°, 102°...

Definitely not Fall in Texas, yet.

Not even close...

Won't be Fall for another two months...

As these dry, the veins in the petals become more pronounced.

Just breathtaking!

Recently, I discovered a whole collection of hydrangea-designed

home decor items.

Be still my heart!

Art imitates life.

Surrounding my old butter churn filled with the

real drying hydrangea blooms are the hydrangea-designed

paper plates, bridge card set, scented candle with keepsake box,

matches, soap dish, large wooden tray, and kitchen cotton towel.

SIGH...

Now I can enjoy looking at hydrangeas all the time.

Even in the dead of winter...

The decorated pieces mimic the beauty of the real thing.

The kitchen towel has multiple colors of hydrangeas.

The colors in the real hydrangeas vary from bloom to bloom,

and even within the individual petals on each bloom

the colors vary.

Blues, lavenders, mauves, yellows, pinks, greens,...

From soft pastels to dark jewel tones...

The old butter churn was a find in a yard sale along a country highway

in rural Tennessee forty-one years ago.

We weren't looking for a yard sale as we traveled from north Alabama

to Washington, D.C.

No, the yard sale found us.

But, my car has always known how to stop unexpectedly,

brake for yard sales, turn around for flea markets...

years before junking attracted mainstream America

to the 127 Corridor Sale.

Old French postcards from a Paris flea market

(yes, the metro braked for flea markets in Paris)

are right at home with the script-decorated

French hydrangea items.

Photos taken from different angles cause the colors to look differently.

It is amazing how the entire photo has a different color cast

based on the angle of the shot and the direction of the light source.

From any angle, I love the hydrangeas.

The watering can with the hydrangeas rings true.

Hydrangeas require lots of water.

Fingers crossed the real hydrangeas

will retain their color and shape as they dry.

Regardless, the beauty of the hydrangea-decorated

items will last for years to come.

Each time I look at them I will remember

the real French hydrangeas that filled

our house with their beauty.

And, I will remember the joy of finding

the old churn, used as a hydrangea vase,

along a rural road in Tennessee

during a happy road-trip.

❦

~~~~~~~~~~

Full disclosure---

Botanic Bleu will sell hydrangea-decorated

items in a Country French Christmas event

beginning Nov. 30, 2013, in Mansfield, Tx.

No compensation was provided

by the manufacturer for this post or

at any other time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

My blogiversary Give-Away is

going on through Sept. 2, 2013.

If you would like to win a ceramic message board,

see how to enter at the link below.

Blogiversary Give-Away

Some lucky reader is going to win

the fleur-de-lis decorated board

just in time to write fall messages.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please join me at these inspiring sites...

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

FRIDAY