Regency Paper Doll Room No. 2

This one is called a "morning room," as time was spent in such rooms for the sake of better light.

Imagine a world of candles and lanterns, with gaslights only in larger towns or cities, and then certainly not in most homes. Daylight was a precious resource in the times prior to gas and (later on) electric lighting.

Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.

This project began using a charming antique watercolor painting. It really needed to be updated and refreshed, so I used Photoshop processes in order to change its appearance. The scale was not quite right at first, and that made the doll look gigantic! This also was changed for a better fit. At that moment, I simply fell in love with the details in this painting. It almost seems to tell us a story, doesn't it?

The room is cosy and full of color. There is mid morning light shining abundantly through a pretty window that has a lively swag atop  a set of semi sheer curtains. The lady who is seated by the fireplace is busy sewing by the light from that window. It looks like she will be there yet a while, as her mending basket is very full. Everything had to be sewn by hand using a needle and thread during the Regency times, as sewing machines would not be invented until Victoria's reign. The lady's feet rest upon a colorful hearth rug. Perhaps she has made that rug with her own two hands?

The comfortable looking sofa has thick cushions in a very bold and sunny color, doesn't it? I like the cute embroidered footstool.There are a number of paintings adorning the wood paneled walls of this cheery room. Notice the very large mirror above the mantlepiece. Such an item would have been afforded only by people with very good incomes during Regency times. It would have reflected light from any windows as well as from any possible candles. In front of the mirror there are three bell jars with very precious things displayed inside each of them. At the center is a very fine clock, while on either side sit matching vases that look quite fancy indeed.

There is more going on in this lively room, however. A (possibly naughty) little dog is playing with someone's slipper! 

As per usual, all 4 downloads are included, one for each portion of this antique watercolor picture that is the newest room. You'll note that I have labeled them with "UL" for Upper left, and so forth. The assembly is fairly straightforward. There are hints and instructions to be found at this link HERE. 

I hope to be able to add to my Regency Paper Doll collection in time for Jane Austen's birthday (in December).

Happy Playtime Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Regency Paper Doll Room No. 2

Display version with a doll

Download UL HERE

Download UR HERE

Download LR HERE

Download LL HERE

You are free to:

play with or give or trade

this paper doll room.

You are not free to:

ever sell it in any form

or for any reason.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

His and Hers Bookplates

These might make a fun gift or party favor.

These two separate sets are based upon an old bookplate that was designed by someone else. I have chosen to take the idea and to run with it, so to speak. Originally, this bookplate was only a "His" bookplate, and with a man's name above the cat and its book.

Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.

Several changes had to be made to the original. I took apart the man's name (that very handily allowed me to use the required "E" and "R" for "HER") and reassembled a few bits. I've also had to make some repairs to both cat and book. I then shifted direction by making the whole thing look like new without (hopefully) losing some of the antique charm provided.

Happy Reading and Book Arts Creativity!

PPSBookArts™: His and Hers Bookplates

Download "Hers" HERE

Download "His" HERE

Display version of Hers

(lower quality than the download)

Display version of HIs

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

give or use or share

these bookplates.

You are not free to:

ever sell them in any way

for any reason.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Victoria's Autumn Sunday Best

Her style has become more grownup as she has gained a little more maturity, hasn't it?
:)

Today's outfit is to be worn mainly for church services but also for special occasions. Victoria's grandmother has had this pretty fall dress tailor made for her granddaughter. To complete this new ensemble, Grandmother Lacey has ordered a very fashionable and grownup style of hat. This gift of new clothes has been presented to Victoria on a Saturday, so that she might wear it the very next day.

Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.

Now back at home following a few weeks at her very first tutoring position, Victoria's mind is turning towards her home life once again. She won't have to attend classes until after the turn of the new year. Despite this, she will practice her conversational French daily with her Grandmother as her teacher and also continue her reading schedule.

Soon, she will be able once again to enjoy the company of her cousin, Mercy, who (unbeknownst to Victoria) has a few surprises waiting for her. The two are due to have what we might call a "sleepover" or a "slumber party," just the two of them, as best friends often like to. But there has also been proposed a small tea party of a quieter sort. To this Mercy plans to invite only a few guests, mainly family members and a few very close friends. But we'll save that for another day.

Happy Autumn Playtime!

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria's Autumn 

Sunday Best

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

play with or share or trade

this paper  doll outfit.

You are not free to:

ever sell it in any form 

and for any reason.

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Playtime Accessory: Horseback Riding Action Figure

Victoria is enjoying her autumn times off from her new tutoring job!

This is a card stock project.

With her newest adventure in growing up has come this wonderful surprise of being allowed to wake up nearly every morning and go out riding. The name of the horse she has been leant is Star, for the pretty white marking on his forehead. The family who have leant her this sweet horse are friends of her family's, and whose daughter needs to be helped with her studies for a while until a new governess can do the job. This will supply Victoria with some fine references to go along with both her excellent test cores and her experiences of foreign languages abroad over the summer.

Please respect all copyrights, including the ones in red that are listed at the foot of this post. Thank you.

Riding out freely in the fresh country air is a special privilege, as it is an expensive venture to keep a horse, especially if one is living in a large town or city in Victoria's era. She intends to spend every precious moment out galloping over the green grass and fallen leaves of the family's estate. On her arrival home again, she is generally greeted by a healthy breakfast with some warming tea in her friends' Breakfast Room - a cheerful room which faces east in order to catch the morning sun.

Her evenings may be spent with her own studies.these must be kept up with, for her next term will require more of her than ever before. The head of her academy is quite confidant in allowing Victoria to skip one term in favor of finishing her sojourn abroad along with this rare opportunity to teach before graduating. Come springtime, she will be preparing to take a number of tests, as well as for life as a newly graduated young scholar.

The Action Figure has its own custom standard. Simply follow the instructions printed clearly on its middle, and you should have complete success with this project. The one tricky part would have to be the cutting out of the Figure itself. I recommend smaller scissors, used with care, for the trickier parts. As already mentioned, this is a card stock project. To use paper would only lead to disappointment almost immediately.

This Figure has had to be redone several different ways. After all, the paper doll itself is much too short to accommodate the height of a horse to match in scale, and so I had to decide for the Figure rather than an outfit with a horse involved. Please see the separate Paper Doll Riding Costume by following this link HERE. 

This Action Figure could not be a very high quality image - certainly not as high in quality as most of the Paper Doll collection here at PPS. All the same, I think that it will be a fun addition for anybody's paper doll set!

In any case, Happy Playtime Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria as Horseback Action Figure

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

play with, trade or give away

this new Action Figure and Standard.

You are not free to:

ever sell either for any reason.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Forest Coloring Page No. 2

From an old engraving or print of a peaceful scene of two gracefully shaped trees.

Suitable for framing, this could either be tinted or else completely colored in using colored pencils, etc. and made to look either summery or autumnal. Actually, spring's lighter greens might work well for this printable too. A further option might be to leave it just as it already looks.

As this was a very simple printable to make, and required very little alteration at my end of things, I have chosen to leave this one in the wide open world of the Public Domain.

FREE 

Use this one anyway you wish.

Happy Autumn Creativity!

PPSColorMe™: Two Graceful Trees

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

A CS Lewis Quote

A blessed good Sunday to one and all.


As I have family coming over this morning, I won't be available much until later on.

This graphic was a genuine challenge for me, especially as I am not quite happy enough about the angles in it. But let's just focus on the wise words of CS Lewis for a moment, shall we? I love his definitive, "There is no such thing."

PPSFaithGraphic™: CS Lewis Quote

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

share, download, and 

use this particular graphic freely.

Free Forest Coloring Page

From an old engraving or print of a peaceful scene among some trees with a herd of wild deer.

Suitable for framing, this could either be tinted or else completely colored in using colored pencils, etc. and made to look either summery or autumnal. Actually, spring's lighter greens might work well for this printable too. A further option might be to leave it just as it already looks.

As this was a very simple printable to make, and required very little alteration at my end of things, I have chosen to leave this one in the wide open world of the Public Domain.

Happy Autumn Creativity!

PPSColorMe™: Deer forest

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

Do what you will

with this printable.

This particular one is totally free

and remains in the Public Domain.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

:)

Victoria's New Riding Costume

Some friends of Victoria's family have a stable.

Victoria has been offered her first opportunity to try her wings at tutoring. Some family friends have three children, one of whom is now aged 14. It is this younger girl whom Victoria will be teaching for a while till the girl's parents can find a replacement governess. The sudden elopement marriage of their previous governess took place only a few days ago, and so they have had to act quickly. Who more trustworthy to leave their daughters with than someone who's known them all since they were still in their cradles?

Victoria is to be paid for her work for the very first time in her young life! She is quite excited by this sudden turn of events, and pleased with the behavior and intelligence of her new sweet pupil, whose name is Susan. The other two pf the three children, Mary (aged 12) and John (aged 8) are to be temporarily schooled by their mother and grandmother until such time as the new governess may be hired.

There is time off for Victoria during her busy weeks during which she is being encouraged to ride one of the family's horses! Her riding habit looks very smart, wouldn't you agree? The highly tailored waistcoat has a special curvy front placket, and her high silk covered hat is held in place with some pretty hat pins. (We are allowed to see just one of those pins in this picture.) You wouldn't know it, but her skirt is hiding a secret, for underneath it she is wearing a special pair of riding trousers! This was a common occurrence for women riders of the late 19th century.

The riding crop she is holding has a hard handle at one end and a soft folded flap of leather at the other end. With this softer leather bit, she will gently signal her mount to move ahead or to speed up for her. Her boots are flat soled and lower heeled than most of her shoes are, allowing for greater comfort in the saddle.

Coming soon will be the horse she will ride. Her cousin, Mercy, may join her during a part of her stay in the lovely autumn countryside of Surrey.

"Walk on!"

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria's Riding Habit

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

©RHMcGuinn

(as are all of my Paper Doll items)

You are free to:

play with or give or trade

this paper doll outfit.

You are not free to:

ever sell it for any reason and in any form.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Japanese Style Autumn Set for Book Artists, etc.

Based on some lovely creative artwork from Japan, where the leaves in autumn can be spectacular.

When I first laid eyes on this decorated screen, I couldn't help admiring the graceful design that had been applied to its surface. The gold leaf was looking older than my own design concept for it, so it had to be refreshed a little bit. However, the beauty of it even without any updating has been obvious from the start. The details in this screen made this creative process a real joy.

Please see the red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post and always respect the copyrights of artists. Thank you.

A happy thought occurred to me as I gazed in delight upon the screen's beauty: what if (I enjoy that kind of question) I were to turn it into a set doors for Book Artists and other creative people?

The results shown below are the answer to that question. In addition, I've added an antique postage stamp from my own collection along with some hardware (hinges and a locking hasp), all Japanese.

The Display offers a few ideas as to how this Set might get used. For one thing, a photograph of some rice paper is not really as nice as the real thing, is it? Japanese papers are among some of my very favorite craft supplies, due to their beauty and versatility.

Many art and hobby stores sell Japanese papers. Both rice and mulberry papers would be, I think, very nice to use as backgrounds or as added components for your chosen design. But this is not just due to the fact that they tend to be created either in Japan or using Japanese techniques, but because they are also thin, fine, soft papers which layer well over other types of paper, especially between the pages of some books. (Book artists will understand immediately what I mean) One source for pretty Japanese paper may be found by following this link HERE. And at the link HERE, the patterned origami papers are luscious! They remind me of kimono fabrics! Additionally, there are both Japanese and other Asian style papers at this link HERE.

Adhesives for rice papers can be either just right or could cause buckling and rippling. It is best not to overwork delicate rice paper surfaces. Heavy Matte Gel Medium that is not overly moist might be OK, if your project is left to dry under some flattening weight. I personally enjoy keeping one older jar of my Liquitex Heavy Matte Gel Medium for projects requiring less moisture but fast adhesion, and using my newest jar for damper work. But you are, of course, free to use whatever would work best for you.

Happy Autumn Creativity!

PPS™Book Arts Set: Autumn in Japan

Download Set HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Display of possibilities

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use the elements included 

in this Set

for fun or for profit.

But

You are not free to:

ever sell the elements 

included in this Set in sets 

which you have assembled yourself.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Autumn Checkers - Canadian Style!

This fun game was invented a long time ago, yet it is still enjoyed by millions today!

This new board and game piece set is specially designed to be a part of the Autumn Garden Collection, begun last week here at PPS.

Please observe and respect all copyrights and red letter Guidelines here, especially for this particular copyrighted design of mine. Thank you.

"The most popular forms are English draughts, also called American checkers, played on an 8×8 checkerboard; Russian draughts, also played on an 8×8; and international draughts, played on a 10×10 board. There are many other variants played on an 8×8, and Canadian checkers is played on a 12×12 board." 
This is from Wikipedia's article about the game of "Draughts" or "Checkers" as we call it here in the States.

"Checkers dates back to the 12th century, in France.[2][1] There are two main types of checkers played: the Anglo-American version (which originally came from France) and the Polish or continental version. The Anglo-American version is played on an 8x8 checkerboard with 12 pieces. The continental version (so-called because it is played on the continent of Europe) is played on a 10x10 board with 20 pieces each. There are also a number of variations in various countries."
The writer of that article skipped the Canadian version, didn't they?
:)

For my own game board, I've chosen to use the same size that our Canadian friends like to play on, which is 12 squares by 12 squares in size. 18" x 18" is what my big board will be, once completed. This will allow for each square to be slightly larger than one inch on all four sides.

Some online sources left me puzzling about the varying size discrepancies for both boards and squares. For example, one source said that each space on the board should be 1.5" by 1.5" square. But this made no sense in terms of math for some board sizes. I was quite frankly puzzled at first! After all, 12 squares border all sides of the Checkerboards used in Canadian style draughts (pronounced "drafts.") or checkers. 12 squares x 1.5" = 18".

Other sources later claimed that every square should be exactly one inch square. Some even claimed that the board must be 8" x 8" (such as the article above), yet that would make the board smaller than an average sheet of printer paper, wouldn't it?

Anyway, as soon as I saw all of the varying sizes, etc., I decided to decide for myself instead of following all of that varying advice. In fact, I went with the Canadian style (probably because of an old movie I was watching at about the same time which took place in Canada).

Below, the first thing to be shown is a Display model of the completed board with a pretend game in its first steps. Directly following that Display will be a list of the 4 downloads, each one labeled as per usual.

For complete instructions on how to put together the 18" x 18" board, I'd like to suggest the Instructions and Hints at one of my Paper Doll Room posts HERE. The techniques for both projects should be very much the same. 

This game does have pieces or tokens. I'd like to suggest the use of small wooden discs, such as craft and hobby stores often carry for these. The size should be no smaller than 1.25" or one inch plus one quarter across. That is the exact size of each of the circular pieces I've created for the set. Another option might be for chip board circles of the same size, 1.25". I imagine there are various tabletop die cutters that might be useful for such a project, as would a 1.25" circle crafting punch. Cork or felt padding  on the underside of every piece will help to ensure the life of the board.

Each free printable download comes with 6 game pieces, 3 pieces per design, so that once all 4 sections have been printed, so will all 12 game tokens have been.

As most home printers have ink which runs when wet, some wide enough clear packing tape could be very useful for putting together your tokens (or checkers). Glue stick is an old favorite of mine for paper projects, however, perhaps double sided tape (the strong kind often used by crafters today) would work best, as it is applied without dampening anything and is sturdy. 

Remember that you can always save the 4 downloads as files and reprint them if you need to.

Below the Downloads and the Guidelines, I will offer a video of the game's basics for beginning players.

Happy Autumn Playtime!

PPSGames™: Autumn Checkers (or Draughts)

Canadian Style!

Display model:

Download Upper Left HERE

Download Upper Right HERE

Download Lower Right HERE

Download Lower Left HERE

You are free to:

play with this game

and/or the tokens.

You are not free to:

ever sell any part of this game set

for any reason.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

Checkers basics:

The next one shows a little more skill.

Autumn Label Set No. 2

In the same colors as have been used for the other Autumn sets from earlier in the week.

The first set of labels for this Autumn Garden Collection was more for the Faith crowd while this set is entirely secular in tone.

Please observe and respect all copyrights and red letter Guidelines listed at the foot of this post. Thank you.

I've chosen a number of quotes from various famous authors and poets, among them some of my favorites. We can put Elizabeth Gaskell at the top of that list. Her quote is from the 1855 serial novel, North and South (edited originally by Charles Dickens), a book written to highlight the struggles of the mill workers and owners of the north of England during that era. On top of her novel being very aware and enlightening and exciting, it is also romantic in more than one way. I highly recommend it. The BBC series by the same name is also very good.

So here is to another "golden Autumn," with all of its colors glowing in the trees and at our feet.

Happy Autumn Creativity!

PPS™ Autumn Garden Collection:

Label Set No. 2

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use the above Labels for 

crafting, book arts, gifts, etc.

You are not free to:

ever sell them,

either separately or in a set,

for any reason.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Autumn Garden Set: Croquet, Anyone?

For anyone who's ever enjoyed the out of doors in the early fall, this new set might be for you.

The two main colors I've chosen to use for this new part of the Autumn Garden Collection here at PPS are bittersweet and blue.
Bittersweet, the plant, may be highly poisonous, but the colors it displays certainly aren't. The blue of this set has many different tonal attitudes. I think of it as "blue with a mellow attitude."
:)

Please respect all copyrights and red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.

The bittersweet colors of autumn are some of my favorites. These are shown in the lady's bustle dress adorning the pockets. It is a late afternoon croquet game that she is playing. I have added leaves upon the grass, for that is what you will find in many places on a sunny and warm autumn afternoon.

There are 2 styles of badges for this particular set, Sunflower and Croquet. I have included two lace backgrounds, both made using a Digital pattern by artist, babypink (name is a link) over at Brusheezy. The copyright for the Digital Lace Pattern (entitled, "Spetts") is as follows: "This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. You may redistribute, remix, tweak, and build upon this work even for commercial reasons, as long as you credit this artist by linking back."

Displayed first below are two optional idea images for you, one in Bittersweet and the other in Blue. After that will come the Downloads and the rest of the Displays.

Happy Autumn outdoor Creativity!

PPS™ Autumn Garden Croquet Set

Display of Ideas for Bittersweet

Display Ideas for Blue

Display version of Set

(lower quality than the download)

Download Set HERE

Download Bittersweet Lace Background HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Blue Lace Background HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use the above set

in art that is made for fun.

You are not free to:

ever sell this set for any reason.

Please see the Lace Background 

copyrights listed in the post above.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

Faith Graphic: Keep Calm + Pray

The verse that inspired the change of wording to this old slogan from great Britain during WWII is Paul's first Epistle to the Thessalonians.

Please respect my copyrights and never sell what I give you. Thank you.

The actually design idea came to me in a sudden rush of insight. I immediately went to my computer and found everything that I needed on file - except for the last bit, and that was the change to the slogan. The original slogan is quite well known here in the states, despite its British origins. The royal crown is displayed at top center, followed with the slogan beneath it: "Keep calm and carry on." It's actually perceptive advice for a number of times in our lives.

I wanted Christ's crown of thorns to replace the royal style crown, and to take center stage, so to speak. That part turned out to be quite simple to produce after some experimenting with some images. But what to do about the slogan?

Then I thought, what better thing it is to do in a crisis or as a daily habit than to pray. After that, it was a fairly speedy finish.

This was offered already online at G+ yesterday, when it did fairly well in the ratings. I thought that it would be nice to offer the better quality download here for my Sunday Graphic today.

PPSFaithGraphic™: Keep Calm + Pray

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Free

~ and I would like it to 

always be kept that way.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!