Green Valentine's Day Projects

Valentine's Day can be a very wasteful holiday.  All that pink plastic junk that comes around every year ends up as trash anyways.  This year, if you love the forest, consider going green with your celebration.  Here are three projects that are very simple and low (or no) cost...

Make gingerbread cookies and use a wood grain rubber stamp or clean piece of bark to imprint a woodgrain pattern.  Add a mint leaf for accent and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar...

For a forest valentine's day manicure, just use brown nail polish and add tiny leaves that resemble hearts (often found on small wildflowers) They look just like the leaf heart cards you can make too!

Now for decor.  I used a few branches that were already piled up in the backyard to make an 'X'.  The branches were secured in shape with wire.  I added an old wreath to make an 'XO' decoration.  I'll just pack this in a holiday box after Valentine's Day and re-use it each year!

Everyone loves conversation hearts on February 14th, right?  Well I don't, they're too sugary for my taste, so I used some wooden hearts I had in my craft stash with rubber stamps to make wood conversations hearts.  Just put them in an old conversation heart box covered in brown paper and give it to someone as a gift!

Make a custom faux bois candy box using supplies you can get at the 99 cent store!  A generic candy box, wood grain con-tact paper, and scrapbooking stickers can become a customized box to re-use every year.  They're just perfect for storing homemade chocolate leaves in!

Natural Nails: Grass Pods

Here's a quick and bright nail idea:  gather those little balls of seeds pods on your front lawn, crush them up in a mortar & pestle.  Then, paint your nails with clear polish and dip each one into the grass pods.

Natural Leaf Nails

Here's a nail idea I came up with in a pinch.  It's very simple and natural, Just put clear nail polish on clean nails and stick a leaf in the center of each nail.  Press and hold for about 30 seconds.  However, this look is best saved for special occasions as it is fragile without a top coat. Another drawback is that the nail polish makes the leaves color fade after a while.  Just remember...

What blooms green with beauty aflower,

 rots to brown within the hour.  

Botanist's Book Nails

Here's a fun forest nail art idea for spring that is reminiscent of a botanist's book.  Pressed flowers, leaves, and specimens on a white blank page...

To achieve this look, gather some small leaves and flowers from the yard, then set aside.  Paint nails evenly with white polish and let dry halfway.  Press the flowers and leaves onto a slightly wet nail and flatten with a pencil end.  When the nails are completely dry, use a fine tipped sharpie to label them Fig 1, Fig 2, ect....  Finish it off with a layer of clean polish!

 

How to Get Mossy Nails

While browsing the internet the other day, I found an artistic nail concept that inspired me.  I decided to do my own version using craft moss instead of flocking.  This is a simple technique, just paint your nails with a base coat (I recommend green) Then, while still wet press the moss onto nails and firmly hold.  The moss will adhere to the nails quickly.  The end result is a swampy fairy effect.

I also used super glue to add a tiny prop, in this case a tent button, to the “grass” to make a scene.   Wearing these nails reminded me of a fake nail manicure from a salon, but you get used to it.  The best part is, the moss peeled right off perfectly like a fake nail, so I can save them all and reuse them!

Fresh Forest Finds: Wicked Bamboo Nail Decals

I've never really been interested in nail art because I couldn't find designs that I liked and fit my forest style.  Recently, I started challenging myself to create my own designs, like using wood grain shelving paper to do my nails, or sticking leaves on them.  The other day while shopping for a new bottle of green polish, I came across these Salley Hansen Salon Effects Strips in Wicked Bamboo.  I was so exited someone finally atttemped a wood design, I decided to try them out...

These strips are from a limited edition collection, I couldn't even find them on the Sally Hansen website!  You can buy them on amazon.com...

It was my first time using these strips, so it took me a few minutes to get the hang of it.  They seem a bit complicated at first but are actually really easy to use!  They lasted almost two weeks for me, and when they started to chip I just stretched the effects farther with a duotone effect...

 I would get them again, but the only problem was they just weren't detailed enough wood grain for me, I'd love it if Sally Hansen would make a faux bois effect strip!  Until then, I'll stick to shelving paper...

How to Get Wood Grain Nails

Living in the forest, I can't help but have a healthy appreciation for faux bois.  I got bored of my basic green manicure and decided to try out an idea I've had for a while: wood grain nails.  Here's how you can get the look too!

First, you'll need a small piece of wood grain shelving paper.  I get mine at the local drugstore and use it to cover anything and everything, so why not put some on your nails?

Outline the shape of your nails on the back of the paper.  This part can be kind of tricky, I tried to trace mine under the paper, you may need to resize them accordingly.

Cut the pieces out and apply to clean, cut nails.  The paper I used seemed to work better on short nails with a flat surface than long rounded nails.  If you want, you can apply a top coat of clear polish to seal things in, but you might have to keep pressing down on the paper to keep it flat until it dries.

There you go!  Gorgeous wood grain nails!

Leading a Double Life: Librarian by Day, Forest Fairy by Night!

Ever since I got hired at my local library as a Page of Books, I've had trouble juggling my work with my "real" work, blogging and making art.  I try to look on the bright side: I'm like a superhero, living two lives. 

By day, I'm mild mannered Ariel Grimm, the girl who works at the library:

My work style has to be toned down due to dress codes, but I still try to show what I love.  Deep forest greens, tarnished golds, and earthy browns dominate my color palette.   Vintage, glasses, brown leather shoes, brooches, cardigans, granny dresses, vests, and old books are essential elements to the forest librarian look.

By night (and my days off), I transform into Ariele Grymmwood, a fairy of the forest:

When I can really express myself, my style is wilder on my days off.   I like to look otherwordly with the help of  leaves, glitter, animals, wood, elf ears, accessories, costumes, fairy wings, flowers, and clothes dyed green.  I wear dramatic makeup and dress in character.  I wish I could be this version of myself all day, alas, work restricts personal style...

What about you, friends of the forest?  How do you balance the two sides of yourself in work and life?