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)

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 View on Old Philadelphia

I'd never read anything about this tree during my school days. I mainly chose this picture for its autumnal beauty.

Any landscape painting needs to be interesting to our minds even after it has been looked at several different times, wouldn't you agree? I found this one in a file while searching for something else recently. I've decided to give it a bit of a "face lift," so to speak, as well as giving it  a new format to fit 8.5" by 11" sheets of paper. I think that it might be nice to use in a collage or perhaps on a greeting card (reduced in size, of course).

To learn more about the city of Philadelphia, you may click on the following link HERE. At the same webpage, if you scroll down for a bit, you will see the very same tree in a different painting.

Half inch margins on this one. Please check your printer's settings before printing.

Happy Autumn Creativity!

Historic Landscape with Famous Tree

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Another free

Public Domain image

for your use.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Antique Cornfield Graphic

Antique graphics are a lot of fun, aren't they?

This pretty farm graphic from (I am guessing) either the late Victorian or perhaps Edwardian era really caught my eye! I began with the enlarging process, as it wasn't too small a file. Next, I began to revive the colors till they could reveal some of their prior beauty. Other than that, I have left all of its luscious wrinkles and tattered edges.  Every sign of age can be beautiful. Sometimes it can be a little too easy to want to make something like this look too new.

This will be my second Public Domain post of the day.

Happy Creativity!

PPSHarvest™ Graphic:

Cornfield and Swallows

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Public Domain

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Garden Set: A Late Summer Butterfly

Or, a "pocket full of posies," as the old rhyme says.

I ran across this set of pockets when I was looking for something else in the Studio's files recently. I've decided to finish it and to also add two styles of the same patterned background.

Please notice and mind the copyrights and red letter Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.
Note: Background Photoshop Lace Pattern is by babypink (name is a link) over at Brusheezy. The copyright for the 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."

The basis of this pocket duo and their accessories and backgrounds is, of course, a lovely old painting of a basket full of flowers and a charming butterfly on a windowsill. It is a favorite still life painting of mine, almost in my Top Ten list. I hope you will enjoy it too.

The items in the Set barely fit the dimensions for the average copier paper. Consequently, the borders are very narrow, a mere 1/4 of an inch. If your printer has the capability to print without any borders or margins, I'd recommend using such a setting. Otherwise, the narrower the better for this particular Set.

I'd also like to recommend card stock or stiff paper such as matte photo paper. This will make your pockets and accessories last a lot longer. The flaps or tabs, of course, are meant to be folded under, tucked out of sight and glued to your chosen surface. Double sided tape might be wise, or perhaps Uhu brand glue stick glue.

The Lace backgrounds I have made to work in two separate directions: Horizontal and Vertical. The Horizontal one I have featured in the suggested use Display, shown first below. Both colors come in both directions.

Let's enjoy the last few weeks of real summertime with our
Happy Creativity!

PPSGarden™: Late Summer Butterfly 

Display of ideas for the set's use

(lower quality than the download)

Download the Set HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Horizontal Blue Lace Background HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Horizontal Goldenrod Lace Background HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Vertical Blue Lace Background HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Vertical Goldenrod Lace background HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use the set and the backgrounds shown above

in works of art 

PROVIDED that

you will follow the copyrights and Guidelines 

that are listed here with them.

Please attribute as requested.

You are not free to:

ever sell the designs in the Set shown above.

Please respect all copyrights.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Victoria and Mercy Visit Friends in the Rheinland

Victoria and her two family members are enjoying themselves in the countryside not far from the scholarly German city of Bonn.

The scene this time will be out of doors, so that our Victoria and her cousin, Mercy might enjoy the fresh breezes near the banks of the River Rhein. Both of the dolls' outfits and the outdoor travel scene will be provided together in this single post.

Please respect my red letter Guidelines and the copyrights listed below every post in this blog, including this one. Thank you so much.

Mercy's new husband, Tom has connections with some friends of his own family there in Germany. Such friendly connections will allow all three busy travelers some time to relax together at a pleasant countryside estate that is located south and east of Bonn, and on the River Rhein.

The pavilion in this picture offers everyone a cooling place to sit on sunny afternoons. Tables have been left standing inside of this nice outdoor building. These tables have been used many times during spring and summer outdoor teas and luncheons. 

The garden pavilion is also a good place from which to view the lovely sky at evening. As we gaze eastward over the water, there is a sudden rise to the landscape. These hills comprise the "Siebengebirge," or the Seven Hills range overlooking the river.

It is a very picturesque view. Victoria is dressed in her dinnertime best in the Display picture (shown first below). This is her best dinner "corsage" or blouse she is wearing. The apricot tone of its cotton fabric is a flattering color for her pretty face, isn't it? 

Her long white gloves propose a challenge that every woman of a certain status understood during the late 1800's.
"A compromise was achieved with the mousquetaire wrist opening, through which ladies could slip their hands out of the gloves for meals without removing them altogether (it was and is against etiquette to eat or drink with gloves on). " {A reference link for the page I've just quoted from may be found HERE.}

Her soft grey skirt reveals a touch of a snow white petticoat along with one of her more formal shoes. The cut of her skirt you may recognize from the skirts of her Sunday dresses from last year, but it is still a fashionable style for a refined and modern setting such as this one. The house just beyond the garden may not be seen from here, but it is very ornate and grand. Each guest will have his or her own bedroom. Mercy and Tom have whispered together in the small sitting area in Mercy's room about the place being more of a "palace" than it is a house.

She and her cousin have a trip planned for the nearby University, where the two hope to practice a few of their language skills with some students their own age. Tom will not be along at the time, for he will be once again engaged in doing business for the day. 

In the meantime, there is to be a delicious and unique dining experience inside the spacious country home. Among the items on the evening's menu will be Spätzle, a very tasty kind of egg noodle dish known throughout Germany. Other items will include a choice between roasted chicken with currants or baked fish, a Gurkensalat (a  kind of fresh summer salad made from cucumbers), and a cake of strawberries made with meringue. But of course, that is just a sampling from a rather extensive menu from which Victoria, Mercy and Tom will be able to choose during this evening's meal. 

Their hosts are both prosperous, wealthy and very friendly. Their children will be supping with their nanny, but these happy youngsters will make a special appearance in order that they may be introduced properly by their parents to the family's guests.

The event promises to be very delightful, as their hosts are highly educated and interesting. The husband, a Mr. Charles Browne from London, married his charming and talented German wife, Klara ten years ago. They already have three admirable and talented children to their young family. Klara is to play the piano for her guests in their Music Room directly following their lavish meal.

Victoria has taken her sunset walk in the cool of the evening in the garden. Soon, a small gong will be struck by a groom on that garden lawn to summon everyone indoors to the dining room.

NOTE: Instructions for the assembly of the Rooms and Scenes of the Paper Doll Collection may be found by following this link HERE.

Happy Creative Summer Playtime!

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria Visits the Rheinland

Display of the Garden Scene

(lower quality than the downloads)

Download Upper Left Portion HERE.

Download Upper Right Portion HERE.

Download Lower Right Portion HERE.

Download Lower left Portion HERE.

Display of Victoria's Outfit Alone

(lower quality than the download below)

Download Victoria's Dinner Outfit HERE

Display of Mercy's Outfit Alone

(lower quality than the download below)

Download Mercy's Dinner Attire HERE

©RHMcGuinn as are all of the rest of the Paper Dolls, outfits, rooms, Scenes and Accessories, including standards. 

Thanks for the courtesy.

Guidelines

You are free to:

play with or give or trade the Paper Doll items

offered in this post.

You are not free to:

ever sell them for any reason.

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free  things free!

Daisy Chain Spring Garden Set + Backgrounds

An antique Victorian embroidery pattern is the basis for this new set.

This blog post's entire contents have copyrights. Please respect the rights of every artist whose work has made this project possible. Guidelines are located at the foot of the post. Thank you.

Did I mention before how much I love to garden? Or that I enjoy almost every color of green that nature shows me? Or that I also like a good, deep, earthy chocolate brown color as well? (I know that most of you would already know how very much I like antiques!)

I've combined all of those fun things into one set. This time, the pocket (or pouch) has a whole new shape for guests to play with. I chose not to make any of the basis for it look too perfect, as I really like that old fashioned appeal as well. Despite its Victorian charm, I confess that I have added just a touch of Art Deco appeal for the fun of it, as you will see in the first image (Example display) below.

Please observe the red letter Guidelines to this post, found underneath the last image shown in the post. Thank you.

This took a lot of work. The initial image had a few quality issues, and needed to be remade entirely before it would fit the idea I kept having.

For the background pattern, as well as for the main trim, I used a copyrighted digital brush set by MelsBrushes (to find the site, guests can follow the link HERE). 

The new pouch shape comes in 2 parts, with one base and one top. Both have flaps. (I guess we could even say that even my pocket flap has its own flap! LOL) These will naturally need to be folded under prior to gluing to the chosen surface. The buckle was added to the opening cover or top bit in order to simplify the construction process for you, but I have also included the same buckle separately with accessories. 

July 2017 Update: My thanks to All Free paper Crafts (just click on their badge, upper left of this blog to see what else they feature) for promoting this set of downloads. 
:)

The Backgrounds come 4 ways this time. The chocolate brown one comes with either white or green daisies and the green one comes with either brown or white daisies. All of it is meant to follow the same theme and to mix and match or contrast. 

I could easily see one of the 4 Backgrounds being used for a lining to the new Pouch style Pocket. Also, I could see this set used with other sets from elsewhere.

Actually, I could even see a tiny hand bag being sewn using both pouch parts, but printed onto an iron on fusible material of some sort. The reverse side of such a little bag could be one of the backgrounds below. It might look really cute! If anyone chooses to try such an idea, I do hope that they will let me all know about it so that I can add their pictures here. That would be a lot of fun for me!
:)

Happy Spring and Thank You for stopping by with your~
Happy Creativity!

PPS™ Spring Garden Collection: Daisy Chain

Example:

Download pouch or Pocket Top HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download pouch or Pocket Base HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Accessory Set HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Background 1 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Background 2 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Background 3 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Background 4 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

This set is copyrighted 2 ways.
You are free to: use the items shown here in
this Daisy Chain Set in art or craft projects
which may be either given or sold.
If you sell any finished project that includes
any of the items in this set,
copyright law dictates that credit must be given to both www.plushpossumstudio.blogspot.com
and
www.melsbrushes.co.uk 
You are not free to: ever sell any of the items shown here
for any reason, either as is or in any sets
(digital or already printed) made by you,
even if you build on any of my designs.
Thank you for helping me to keep free things free!

Antique Coffee Botanical Graphic

Coffee, anyone...?

Still really overloaded with things to take care of in my private life. Sorry I haven't been around here much lately.

Public Domain:
This one has had to be updated by me a fair amount, so please credit me for it if you use it in art that is to be published online whether for sale or for leisure. Thanks!

Happy coffee time creativity!

PPS™ Antique Coffee Botanical Graphic

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Springtime Book Art Set

I know, I know. Spring isn't due to arrive for weeks yet.

Be that as it may, I simply couldn't wait for spring's arrival before sharing this spring themed set. Friday afternoon seemed about right, and just in time for weekend Book Art fun.

Please see the red letter Guidelines below. Thank you so much.

Pockets! I have become a pocket fanatic! (This actually inspired the entire Spring Garden Collection) LOL But who doesn't enjoy using tucking places in journals, altered books, card-making, scrapbooking, and so on? I'm really getting enthused about it all from a design standpoint.

Previous posts including fun colorful playthings for book artists may be found in my Book Arts Category HERE.

For this one, I've chosen to use a slightly textural effect on the illustration I've chosen. The background and all of the fancy bits and bobs (buttons, etc.) in the set are intended to color coordinate or work together well.

The lace covered ribbon in the set has been given a little extra green at the ends for tucking under before gluing. Two sizes of buckle are intended to fit the 2 ribbons in the set, or any other ribbons or paper strips you might happen to choose.

The flaps on the pockets are really self explanatory, aren't they? Simply fold them under and apply glue or double sided high tack tape to each one prior to adding to your choice of page.

So here is to enjoying thoughts of spring even as winter lingers on.
Happy creativity!

PPS™Book Arts Rose Garden Set

Download Set HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Matching Green Background HERE

(matches the ribbons in the set)

You are free to:

use the items in this set

in work that may be either given or sold.

You are not free to:

ever sell anything from this set in sets of your own.

Thank you 
for helping me to

keep free things free!

Jane Austen Celebration: Regency On Ice!

3 Regency Era Illustrations in Color!

The Regency era lasted over many years, from 1795 to 1837. The more formal term for The Regency has other dates: from 1820 to 1837.

Let us be informal today! That would be my excuse for including a late 1700's item in this post. I do hope that no one will mind.
:)

The first of the 3 is a lively ice skating scene. Second is a silly one about icy roads, lanes and walkways, "Slippy Weather." (yes, you read that correctly--"slippy," and not slippery). Third and last is another, earlier illustration showing ice skating, likewise in color.

I've resized them as well as fixed a few flaws. They are fun to look at, so this was no chore.

Happy Regency Wintertime fun!--and mind the "slippy" conditions out there!

PPS™ Regency on Ice

Download Skaters 1 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Slippy Weather HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Skaters 2 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use the above images in art for fun or for profit.

They are all 3 in the Public Domain!

For Autumn: A Free Harvest Graphic of Nuts

Antique Autumn Harvest print

I love old pen and ink drawings on parchment, don't you? The way the parchment ages, and the ink with it, generally makes for a soft, warm set of tones for us to enjoy.

And it's such a pretty old document, that it seemed irresistible. It has had to have a few things done to it, of course. The size could only be expanded so much before it began to lose a bit of its clarity, so it is neither very large nor very expandable. However, it was just pretty enough to make it useful for collage, decoupage, Book Artistry, etc.

It is fast becoming one of my favorite finds in years.  A few clean-up skills had to be applied, as the machine it was scanned with had some dust, lint and possibly even a hair or two on its surface during scanning. It's always a matter of choice, as to how much cleaning could ruin the antique tone of any image, and so any try at so-called "perfection" would have simply ruined all of its antique charm. After all, it is well over 400 years old, and thus it has earned the right to look its age! But this just makes it more fun to look at, doesn't it? 

This one is in the Public Domain, and that is where I think it needs to remain.

From the 1600's, a very volatile yet interesting century, and in the same year as the Great Fire of London, here is our latest Public Domain gift for our guests.
Let's keep free things free!

Happy Creativity!

PPS™ Harvest Ephemera Sepia Nut Print

Download Printable JPG HERE

Our Display copy 

(at a lower resolution than the download)

Simply click on the image below for a closer look 

at this lovely old image!

New Free Autumn DigiScrap Leaves: 2 Sets 2 Ways

Update: 2 New Russet Autumn Leaf Cutout Duos for Scrapping + General Crafting

I adore autumn weather. I have been known to take a not-so-secret delight, even as a grown woman, in walking through piles of fallen leaves, just to hear them rustle about my ankles. The colors of autumn do please me the best. I actually find the best colors to fit my personal coloring in the Fall range, as well.

So here are the newest Leather cutout sets, now larger and in russet red, a favorite color of mine. These are both available in Digi and Print versions, so please read the Download choices below.

Also please notice our red guidelines below, along with any credits in each one of our posts here. Some things are in the Public Domain, while other things do have a few guidelines to follow out of fairness to the suppliers of the images being altered or used. Thanks for stopping by with your

Happy Creativity!

PPSDigiScrap™ Russet Leather Leaf Duo

Download Digi PNG version HERE

Download JPG For Print version HERE

Our Display Copy (lowered resolution)

Duo Number 2

Download Digi PNG version HERE

Download JPG For Print version HERE

Our Display Copy (lowered resolution)

These are now in the Public Domain,

although we'd enjoy credit for the work

being offered.

So please do not sell either of these leaves as part of a set.

Let's keep free things free!

Thank you.

Free Swimming Graphic

Let's go swimming today!

Here is an old swimming graphic from 1890's France. It's been altered somewhat in order to make it hopefully a little more usable than before. The original was a bit messy, and so needed cleaning up and freshening.

It may well be that this was considered a slightly bawdy cartoon in its day, but we will never know, as jokes do change through time.

I love to look at all of the fashions that they wore! But would we be comfortable wearing such outfits today? Believe it or not, they were mostly made of knitted worsted wool. That must have been an itchy and very warm experience indeed. I actually was once able to closely observe a man's swimming suit from the very early 1900's and, while it had been cleverly constructed, it looked very uncomfortable to my modern eyes. But then, most modern day clothing frees our bodies and most nineteenth century clothing was extremely confining.

I think that today we'd all much prefer our modern cottons with stretchy spandex or latex to those old "bathing costumes," don't you?

But no matter. Let's all enjoy today's swimming lesson with our

Happy Creativity!

1890's French Swimming Graphic

Download HERE

You are free to:

Use the above graphic in artwork for fun or for profit.

You are not free to take the credit for our processing of this item

by repackaging it for sale in any way.

Please respect our copyrights and those of others.

Likewise

please respect our gifts for the public's use.

Thank you.

Plush Possum Studio

Fun Farm Graphic

Isn't this colorful illustration delightful? I think this would do well in a kitchen or in a child's play area. But it could also be used for a pillow cover or greeting card, couldn't it?
The little chicks are as cuddly looking as the real thing, and the rooster is obviously a good dancer, isn't he? ;)
We hope you'll enjoy our latest harvest time image with lots of your--
Happy Creativity!
Rose
P.S. Check comments for the key to the meaning behind the picture. Rhissanna had the answer!

Farmyard Dancers

Download Digi PNG Version HERE

Download For Print Version HERE

Credits: Original antique image (prior to our fiddling) from

the New York Public Library at nypl.org

We fixed this one up to a certain extent. It really was quite messy when we found it, but we could see its potential underneath the mess.

Please credit us for that process should you intend to sell 

art made using our version of this image. 

Otherwise, have fun, and enjoy!

:)