A thousand thanks to Carol for her inspiration.....

My lovely sweet friend Carol from Australia sent me the Collections Elements Villages and some beautiful miniature detailed papers also made by CE. Check out her Blog Header to see an awesome example of a village and her latest stunning vintage canvas.

These villages are huge in Aussie and the kits and the workshops sell like hotcakes!! The company also make tiny elements like wings and owls and the trend is to run them through a cuttlebug and emboss them then distress them with paints and rubs. (Sue you would love these!!)

Normally made with lots of altered and grungy elements mine is a bit different in that it's all girly and flowery. Fortunately Carol sent me two packs so I promise the next one will be grungy and cool!!

" If I can't afford to live in the house of my dreams then I'll just have to build a village of dreams!! "

I used a combination of Papermania's new papers and Panduro/Tilda bird-houses and Home Sentiments rub-ons.
I used corrugated cardboard, distress paints and a 12x12 watercolour fence paper covered in rambling roses. (make unknown)
I think on the next one I will cut more windows out and cover the insides as it creates more depth and interest to each house. I was wondering if I could put dolls house chandeliers inside them or is that taking it just a bit too far?


I'm not very happy with this flower in the corner but sometimes you just get stuck and can't change things no matter how hard you try. A bit like the tiles in the bathroom, you liked them at the time but now wish you could change them but you know you will have to wait another 10 years!!


A Melissa Francis resin frame and a touch of Glossy Accents. I used some SEI iron on fluffy borders on this house.

Maxine Hazebroek and Audrey have some asweome examples from the classes that they teach, check out their links if you are interested.

The latest trend of canvasses covered in chicken wire is also very cool and about to be replicated in England as soon as I can get my hands on some!!

I have always loved those French chicken wire linen cupboards but thats another story...... for now I'll just have to love the miniature versions!

Once again with love and gratitude thankyou so much Carol for your generosity.

Love and "all good things come in small packages", especially from Australia!!

Ruth xxx

ps: For those of you who have asked the canvas is 8x8 and the houses are set into the reverse side of the canvas.