Antique Shampoo Advertisement: Only Her Hairdresser Knows For Sure

Hidden in the archives here at PPS there are some really fine examples of advertising art from the Edwardian era. A Lady's Maid has her hands full with the singular task of bringing her lady's hair into its best shape. And what a job! All that bunching at the back so hats might fit correctly, along with all the daily needs to neatness in one's "toilette." A lady's maid was indispensable, being responsible for so much more refinement in her employer's life than, say, an upstairs or parlor maid. Her clothes must be kept refreshened, her high buttoned shoes just so, her gloves pristine, her mind at ease due to the constant caring ways of her principle servant.
In honor of the lady's maid, then, here's today's selected imagery.
Happy Creativity from all of us here at PPS!
Rose & Studio

Ivory Soap Shampooing Scene

Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Antique Travelog: Three Views on Budapest

These pictures come to us by way of the archives, and are from about 1900. It would be fascinating to hire an antique car of that era (see our Atlas Motor Grand Touring Car HERE) and step back in time to the very scenes we have here. If you look closely enough, you'll find wonderful details. The horse and buggy era wasn't over, and those street cars sure look quaint. I love the lady's parasol, tipped just so. Our panorama shot boasts a clear view of the River Danube which I would very much like to take in today. The Royal Palace sends a thrill. What this place must have looked like in person back in those times!
For more on the city's layout, along with its major monuments, architecture, and so forth, take a gander at this Wikipedia article.
Happy Time Traveling and--
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Budapest Royal Palace Gardens

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina

Downloadable Version HERE

Danube Overview

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina

Downloadable Version HERE

The Museum Ring

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Plush Page Frames: Jewel Toned Scroll & Books

This is without doubt a pretty frame. I've no doubt some of you would enjoy using this image for a set of bookplates, perhaps as a gift for someone who collects antiques. It would be lovely in all sorts of projects. It might be a nice way of saying Thank You to a school librarian.
As is our habit here, we chose several gem-worthy colorations for this frame, still including handy black and white.
But this time, another colorization is added, that being the old patina of its original look on first scanning. I like this one too, very much. It could come in quite handy even in the making of art, whether via mixed media or by digital means alone. we hope you'll enjoy these various hues and find endless uses for them in many projects to come.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Ruby

Downloadable Version HERE

Fire Opal

Downloadable Version HERE

Topaz

Downloadable Version HERE

Emerald

Downloadable Version HERE

Turquoise

Downloadable Version HERE

Sapphire

Downloadable Version HERE

Amethyst

Downloadable Version HERE

Garnet

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina

Downloadable Version HERE

Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

A Three Muses Challenge: Underwear in Art

Over at The Three Muses, there's a new challenge underwear--I mean, underway. 
It's all about the underclothes women have had to put up with/enjoy throughout time.
I decided to test my mettle with a corset's shape using PSE8 (I know, I know... just haven't had time to try the new CS5 yet or even give it a test drive!), and make fun of this hot air balloon at the same time.

NOTE: Any images you see here that are genuine originals are NOT for the public to use. (You are the public.) They are for enjoyment here and here alone. The one exception in this case is for it to be a part of the Three Muses Challenge #100 of Underwear. 
Thank You.


So here's my take on the theme that The Three Muses have cooked up. Say hello to "Aunt Maisie Aloft," a new ATC design for you all to hopefully get a giggle from..........

this item ©Rose McGuinn

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

My apologies to any of the sources for the elements of my design. I completely forgot to keep track. My bad! If I do recall correctly, the corset's a Graphics Fairy item, while the tattered paper window may be form Creative Path (?). The balloon, however, eludes me. Must trace it soon! Digital Brushes by the following Brusheezy artists: alex-dukal, gojo123, punksafetypin, Indo Dreamin, Hilla29, the Krako. Thanks to all these great artists for giving me such good brushes for use here!

Plush Victorian Page Ornaments # 3: Curly Floral Gemstone Brights

This set is one I have a fondness for. it has everything all in one from the curling vines, to leaves, to flowers and fruit. I've dressed these up in those jewel toned colors you all seem passionate about here. Also, I've added Turquoise as an added bonus. The original design is from the latter part of the Victorian Era.
Hope you'll find many uses for them for many projects to come!
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Peridot

Downloadable Version HERE

Turquoise

Downloadable Version HERE

Sapphire

Downloadable Version HERE

Fire Opal

Downloadable Version HERE

Ruby

Downloadable Version HERE

Garnet

Downloadable Version HERE

Amethyst

Downloadable Version HERE

Original

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

In Time for Shakespeare's Birthday

Now, I realize nobody can really tell us the exact day of the Bard's birth, but it is a long held tradition to celebrate it right around this time of year. Some say he wrote the sonnets I've posted as a nudge toward his patron to kill his lazy ways and start doing something with his life besides party and have a good time down in Merrie Olde England. Having reread it (for the first time since college days) during the process of preparing it for print/digital art-making for you all, I came to believe the same.
Also included this time will be a portion of All's Well That Ends Well, one of his comedies. (Okay, so no one's certain if he wrote it or not, but we'll say he did, just for his day)
Best of all, I have that old portrait (not the best likeness, so I hear), in both the "rough cut" versions with no cleanup, and in the Black and White, cleaned up version. We hope you'll make use of them all in fun or for serious study, take your pick, it's up to you.
The book scanned for these images comes to us from the late Victorian era. I lost the frontispiece to this one in the shuffle of moving 2 years back, and haven't found it in among the things it was with--so far. However, I can recall it as having been a late 1800's edition, so we'll call it good.
I love its pages, so lightweight and almost see-through, with gilt edges that still retain their gloss. I suppose this must have cost a fair amount in its time. It was coming apart at both ends by the time I spotted it and gave it a home.
So Happy Birthday to "Willy the Shake" and
Happy Creativity, everybody!
Rose

Shakespeare's Portrait

Downloadable Version HERE

Sonnets, First Page

Downloadable Version HERE

All's Well That Ends Well Outtake

Downloadable Version HERE

Portrait Page--Rough Cut

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER!

Well, we are all here, and on tenterhooks!

Let's have a drum roll, please!


The mask goes on...........
One arm dips into the deepest paper bag available......
And..............

The Winner and Recipient of our 100th Post Giveaway is---

Ann

of

annsimaginationcreations!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, ANN!!!!!

You are now the Winner of Plush Possum Studio's 

100th Post Giveway!!!!!

A BIG, BIG THANK YOU

TO EVERYONE PARTICIPATING!!!!

We just would not go anywhere without you all.

Ann, please contact us with your snail mail address so we can round up the stash and get it sent off to you.

Rose

Tonight's the Night of Our Giveaway's Drawing !!

Yep. That's right. By 10:00PM EST, we hope to be ready to unveil the Winner in our first Giveaway!


And if you haven't yet signed up for it, please make certain all directions are closely followed, for we are checking as we speak. For all that info, simply click on our right column's top button, with Nick Bantock's book as its symbol.


Again, we hope you'll play, and with only a little more than 7 hours left to try for it, you may wish to hurry!


A way, big, PPS Thank You  to everyone who chose to take part! We can hardly wait  to see the outcome!


Rose

Spicing Up Our Giveaway!

Here it is, our final call for our 100th Post Giveaway!
In it, we have already included, for your enjoyment, "Urgent! 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents, and Other Art from Ephemera" by Nick Bantock, the antique and vintage ephemera hound's ephemera hound! This guy can make almost anything look fascinating! His unique tips and ideas have had all of us here at our Studio trying different ways of creating for several years now, and we all admire his work immensely. Under his eyes, a simple diagram, for example, or an old engraving, can suddenly become a new way to make art liven up and keep looking fresh. Some of our readers may recall his most famous works, the Griffin and Sabine series. These are some of our favorites as well. He has written many more since then, and this is just one of them. I would say this one, along with the Griffin & Sabine books, would have to be my faves of his.  

So, what did we add this week?

 Look for yourselves and see:

But that's not all!

You'll find a few more extras thrown in by the time we're through, all of it to thank our many readers for hanging in there for us!

So, if you haven't yet signed up for this unique chance to add some extra oomph to your stash, better hurry up quick, 'cause time's almost up!

For more Giveaway info, go HERE.

Tomorrow evening, (Wednesday, April 20th) at approximately 10 PM EST, one of us will don a blindfold and draw the winning entry from a deep paper bag.

Are you ready?

We can't wait to find out who our first Giveaway Winner will be!

Be there or be square!

Rose

Having a "Blissfull" Good Time!

As some of you may already know, I'm in the mood for Steampunk! And this week, when I finally got the chance to break away for the Studio's Mail Call Day (we have them a few times a month), I got this wonderful ATC in the mail from my Blissfull April trading partner, Penny (see her blog HERE):

(These are copyrighted, so please don't steal)

Just look at those lovely details in metal and design!

But wait......

The Door Opens!!!

(I love this part!)

She also very sweetly made me a card 

And the note is adorable

Penny, we here at our studio do believe you "grasped" that concept

and then ran with it!

Thank You!

Hugs,

Rose

P.S.: I think our fortuitously both using the numeral "17" 

in our designs-separately- is amay-zing!!!!

Postcard: "Bonjour, Mam'zelle Therese!"

En Francais, here we have a little bit of fun from the turn of the last century, where two (perhaps then famous) stage actors are cutting it up before a live audience. The backdrop is of a forest or park-like glade. The front sports a lovely French postage stamp, the cancellation date for which is indistinct, unfortunately.
The back has what, for me, pleases the eye most of all: all that lovely old fashioned French script. It's a page out of history, in a way, don't you think?
The message seems a bit indistinct as well, for it doesn't contain any complete grammar. The basic gist is about someone whose brother shook hands. Very curious. I tried Translator twice, but got no better result.
This one took a good bit of cleanup. it really looked a sight before we got finished.
Let's just say, it's working and call it good.
Bonsoir, mes amis!
and Happy Creativity!
Rose

French Comedic Postcard

Downloadable Version HERE

Reverse

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Family Fun Project: A Church Model Out of Paper

So much fun may be had, so many memories made, by each family project. For those of us with minds on church life, a project like this one we are posting today can really be a crafty way of introducing young people to the shape and styling of some old church buildings. And from a hands-on standpoint, this could be quite the involving process. Kids may have their own ideas as to color or detailing. In making it their own, this could turn into a keepsake to be brought out for every religious holiday, such as tomorrow's.


Some pointers will follow.


The plans seem simple enough. If you are a beginner at crafting, this might not be the most satisfying of the projects we offer here. My guess is, it might take weeks or a month of working at it a bit at a time, perhaps every weekend, before it could be completed, especially since the refinements of style and detail may take a while to decide for.


Our team suggests doing a mock-up first, like you would a muslin for a dress pattern you've yet to be sure of. Better to try it first than to regret wasting all the time and any materials you're using on something less than fun.


After all, if it isn't fun, it won't be remembered fondly, and that's what family project time is for, isn't it?


SOME SUPPLY IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
And what materials should you choose? Our guess would have to be card stock, over which you could layer an outside decorated version in a lighter weight of paper. Please experiment on this one. If you want to keep your project looking fresher, our suggestion would include leaving the glue stick for some other project, for it won't hold up, tending to dry out and lose its "oomph." Also, there is no replacement for two of the best and more essential craft tools around, your metal ruler (for more accuracy--standard school rulers often miss this and are out of alignment in ways which might spoil your fun), preferably cork backed, and your bone folder. I cannot stress this enough. They really are essential. And when every fold counts, you cannot be too careful!


COPYING & ENLARGING:
Personally, I always visit the copy center before embarking on such a creative journey, so I can make multiple copies cheaply, and have enough right on hand should accidents occur. This can save me time, and make things more pleasant overall. I relax better, just knowing I may have plenty of back-up handy. Also, there is no doubt the sizes of these sheets could stand enlarging! I'd recommend even cutting and pasting a simple sheet for reprinting of each of the patterns here. Simply cut away each building part from the pattern sheet, then glue  each one to its own plain sheet. You can keep this one and use it to make multiple copies, especially if you're going to experiment with looks or color. But for enlarging, this could be a really important point to keep in mind.


PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
I've found Mod Podge for Paper to be helpful, although I haven't tried it before on a project of this sort. A finer quality paste, rather than this liquid formula, will probably hold up better, dry more securely, even look better overall, as one may be spread fairly thinly, even close to edges where it would show. (You know I LOVE my Mod Podge--it's just a matter of what it's better for.) I prefer Liquitex brand Heavy Gel Matte Medium, while friends have touted Yes Paste to be quite good. It makes no difference, really. What matters most is the delicate joining of each foldable flap, so a hot glue gun isn't going to let you re-handle or nudge that extra 1/16" if you must. It is better to work cold, then.


And, if you're thinking of having your outer or decorative layer fastened well enough to that card stock, it might be best to sandwich your still damp work (lay flat--this would be prior to joining edges with flaps) between 2 sheets of wax paper, then weighting firmly using old books or something of the sort. That way, you're bound to have little problem over buckling and warping. Even a bread board works well. I generally leave things of that sort in a safe spot and at least as long as 24 hours before removing the weight.


AN OUTING:
Basic ideas on all the details that might add to the fun, might take the pressure off, could be to study the way churches look that are old fashioned like this one. It might be fun to go on a field trip, and perhaps take pictures with your children before proceeding. This way, everyone can have an idea of how they might like to see it turn out. Perhaps even a tour via computer might suffice in this case. Google "historic church architecture" or some such other wording. But for those times when a deeper knowledge may be available outside your home, obviously a family outing can't be beat.


In the end, it's up to you to decide. If you haven't time for it today, it certainly could become a long term project towards the other high holidays throughout the year. I could even see a Sunday School class of some of the older children working on this with their teacher for a number of weeks, slowly building and talking about church architecture, what each portion means to church lore, the history of such buildings, and so on.  It could be more about the learning process, even, than about the making.


As for that weather vane, LOL, that might turn out to be a little more complicated than these directions suggest. :) Although doll house artists may differ with me on this one a little.


Happy Creativity from all of us here at the Studio!
Rose






Note: We are including those Original Patina pages for the purpose of other forms of crafting, creating, such as journal-keeping, scrapbooking, collage making, and so on.

Instructions

Page One Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Page Two Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 3 Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 4 Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 5 Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

~*~

And, for those most interested in journaling, scrapbooking, or collage,

we offer the above in Original Patina.

**ORIGINAL PATINA VERSION**

Page 1

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 2

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 3

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 4

Downloadable Version HERE

Page 5

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Easter Postcard #6: "All Easter Gladness" + a Decorative Page Frame

Isn't this a lively, colorful edition? As it never got posted, it still has that same fresh look of long ago. Published by Philip Sander in the early 1900's (right around 1910, more than likely), you can see the registration mark still on the lower left margin. We offer the border alone for the fun of it.
Happy Easter and--
Happy Creativity from all of us to all of you!
Rose

AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN OUR GIVEAWAY!

"All Easter Gladness"

Downloadable Version HERE

Reverse

Downloadable Version HERE

Frame

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use