Pigs Might Fly! 🐷

Pigs might fly! The expression is quite easy to understand. Basically a sarcastic remark on something never to happen or something never being done. Where the phrase 'pigs might fly' comes from is something of a mystery though. There are many variables to the phrase depending on what century or country it's used.  Some researchers say the origins of the phrase descended from the Americas, because of the difficulties of farming pigs, others say it originates from Scotland from 1616 list of proverbs by John Withals's English-Latin A Shorte Dictionaries for Yonge Begynners. Where it mentions 'pigs fly with their tails forward'* which became a phrase for many years.  As for the image of pigs flying in the sky going back further into the 16th century a book called 'Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel' by François Rabelais features a beautiful woodblock print illustration by Paul Gustave Doré of a flying pig monster with bird like wings.

Original translation *'Pigs fly in the ayre with their tayles forward.'

To make your own flying pig hanging Ornament you will need. 

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/pig-mdf-wood-shape-style-4.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/pig-mdf-wood-shape-style-3.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/sheet-of-mini-mdf-wood-wings-style-4.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/sheet-of-mini-mdf-wood-wings-style-3.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/rounded-rectangle-greyboard-mixed-media-board-style-18.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/wooden-word-elements-blank.html

Assortment of acrylic paints including matt white and metallic gold, plus paintbrushes. 

Crackle medium. 

Texture paste and spatula/tool for applying. 

Gold pen and black pen. 

A slice of wood. 

Glitter or gilding flakes. 

Super glue. 

String for hanging. 

Firstly I painted all my mdf shapes with an undercoat of matt white acrylic paint. This helps to give a nice base for adding lighter colours to MDF. 

I then painted on two coats of a pretty piggy pink paint to my pigs and also their wings. To give my pig wings an angelic look I added gold metallic tips using metallic gold acrylic paint. 

I then painted my slice of wood and word plaque with the same matt white paint. Edging the wood slice with the same gold metallic paint used for my pigs wings. 

Once dry I glued on my largest pig to the wood slice. This will be my centre piece. 

To create the background I painted a mixed media board with light blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Once dry I painted on a crackle medium to create the look of an old painting. I left the crackle to dry naturally for 24 hours before continuing. 

I then edged the whole background with texture paste to create a chunky gold frame. I mixed in gold metallic gold paint into the paste and once dry went over again with metallic gold paint to really make it glisten. 

I then arranged all my MDF shapes and glued in place with super glue. 

I then added texture paste and gilding flakes to the joint of the wings, where the wings would be joined to the pigs body.  I then added little extra details such as face and body shape to the pigs using a gold pen. 

To finish off I added a length of string for hanging and wrote in black pen 'Pigs Might Fly' on the word element. You could of course add a different phrase or glue on typed wording. But I wanted mine to be more hand-made in appearance. 

Well I hope you enjoyed another 'Kat make'. I hope they inspire you to have a go at creating your own.
If you have any questions please get in touch I am always happy to help if I can. 
Another 'Kat make' coming soon.
Until then happy making, 
Kat 😊

Happy Easter card + Giftbox

 

Welcome creative friends!

 

 I was inspired to create a delicate card

as easter greeting. Together with a small box

a beautiful gift to easter.

 

 

 

 

use this beautiful egg as center point

primed with white gesso

and dry brushed with brown acrylic paint

 

used MDF shapes from Calico Craft Parts

 

Easter Egg MDF Wood Shape with Rabbit & Butterflies

 Daffodils MDF Wood Corner Embellishment - Style 22

sheet of Mini Hares - MDF Wood Animal Shapes

 

I wish you all a very Happy Easter, and together let us

share the hope

to conquer adversity to live in peace with justice and freedom.

 

Thanks for your visit!

Kerstin

 

The Easter Witch by Kat Hazelton.

Just before Easter in Sweden and Finland there is a tradition for children to dress up as Witches. Very similar to Halloween's trick or treating the children go from door to door wishing their neighbours a happy Easter and handing out handmade cards in return for sweets and treats. The tradition of dressing as Witches goes back to the 19th century though during this time it was generally done by teenagers and young adults. 

The reason behind this tradition is based on an ancient scandanavian legend. Around the time of Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Good Friday, it was said that Witches would ride off on their brooms to the island of Blåkulla. Where it was reported they would gather together, feast and dance with the Devil!  Villagers worried by this event of 'Witches Night' would lock away brooms and their cattle for fear of witches using them for transport. They also worried that witches would  also drink their milk! As a deterant they would also light bonfires to keep the witches away! Even now many centuries later villages often organise bonfires and firework displays over Easter weekend to commemorate this tradition. 

To make your Easter Witch decoration you will need. 

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/witch-on-broomstick-mdf-wood-shape-style-2.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/oval-shape-greyboard-mixed-media-board-style-22.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/sheet-of-mini-rabbits-mdf-wood-animal-shapes.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/short-haired-cat-sitting-mdf-wood-shape-style-8.html

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/teacup-saucer-mdf-mixed-media-board.html

 https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/round-shape-greyboard-mixed-media-board-style-21.html

Assorted acrylic paints, metallic paints and brushes. 

Sculpting paste. 

Liquid pearls or flat backed gemstones. 

Either cotton lace or die cut paper lace. 

Tacky glue and super glue. 

Paper scissors and pencil. 

Assortment of marker pens. 

Assortment of patterned paper. 

Little flower sequins or paper flowers. 

String or ribbon for hanging. 

Firstly I painted all my mdf shapes with a basecoat of white acrylic paint. I used a matt white. 

For my Witches clothes I drew around my witch shape onto several pieces of patterned paper. Using a pair of scissors I cut out a paper hat and skirt.

For the witches face I used pens to draw her features, adding rosey cheeks. After all she is going to be riding her broom in the fresh air! 

I then glued on the Witches paper hat and skirt pieces using tacky glue. Using my black pen I added additional hair over the brim of the now paper covered hat. 

To add some texture I sculpted her cloak and broom using texture paste. I allowed this to dry for 24 hours. Before I applied the paste I did draw in the broom with a pen this helped to give me a guide on where I wanted the bristles. 

To decorate the teacup and egg I used paper. Using the same method as the witch I drew around the whole mdf shape and cut out and glued with tacky glue. 

To add chipped markings on my tea cup I used texture paste and white acrylic paint. I then added spots to the top part of my Egg using liquid pearls. You could use gems or apply spots with a pen. 

For the grassy background I painted the round mixed media board with a mixture of metallic green paints making grass like marks with an old paintbrush. 

To give the MDF bunnies a bit more texture I used texture paste again. Leaving to dry for 24 hours before painting with a gloss white acrylic paint. To give my bunnies more character I added little pink ears and noses. 

I then positioned and glued on all my MDF shapes including my Easter Witch and her faithful companion using super glue. The cat was painted with acrylic paints and I also painted the witches cloak with some metallic blue paint to add a bit of bling! 

I then added extra details such a white highlights to my Witches hair, some paper lace trimmings, and pretty flower sequins on the grassy background. 

Then to finished off I threaded a length of string so I can hang up my Easter Witch for Easter! 

Well I hope you enjoyed another 'Kat make'. I hope they inspire you to have a go at creating your own.
If you have any questions please get in touch I am always happy to help if I can. 
Another 'Kat make' coming soon.
Until then happy making, 
Kat 😊