≡ Menu

Building a House for My Muse

I built a mixed media house for my muse!

I want my muse to feel welcome here at my studio, so I decided I’d build her a mixed media house of her own for the StencilGirl and Eileen Hull Designs blog hop!

I started with the roof.  I grabbed a sheet of paper made during some stenciling play and cut strips of scallops from it.  Just some of the stencils in here are Eddy Rose, Seeds, Wonky Eyes, Scribble Scratch, Straight Stems, Greek Border, and more!

Stencil paper I used as I built a mixed media house for my muse!

 

I built a mixed media house for my muse!

 

These random, wonky pieces will become the shingles on the roof.  To assemble the building the

 

I built a mixed media house for my muse!

 

  1. Using Eileen’s Die-Blocks/Cubes 3 Sizes Sizzix die I cut 3 pieces of mat board.
  2. I stamped on 4 of panels with Eileen’s Barn Wood stamp- since those are the only ones that will be seen my touch of experimentation on side #5 won’t show.
  3. Using Dylusions spray inks, I covered both sides in yellow.

To assemble the house, put one cube together but leave the top open.  Then slide in the 2nd roof piece to form the roof, pushing it agains the side so that one square sticks out and forms the roof.  It is so hard to put this into words, but I promise when you are holding them in your hands it makes sense…lol

 

I built a mixed media house for my muse!

My muse needed  a welcoming walkway and the center curve of  Zen Landscape stencil was just what I needed.

 

 

 

I built a mixed media house for my muse!When assembling my muse’s house I left it open on the sides for a very important reason.  I wanted to be able to slip notes of gratitude in there in appreciation of all that my muse does for me.  My life is so much more complete when I am creating, playing with color, and exploring thanks to my muse!

 

 

This is a week long hop so there’s plenty of inspiration to be had!  And yes, a giveaway too!  Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win and if you’d like more chances, leave a comment on any and every blog post in the hop this week!  Of course, just one comment per blog please. And it ends Sunday at 11:59pm CST – so get your comments in before then!

Giveaway!
{ 99 comments… add one }

Leave a Comment

  • Heather Thompson August 21, 2014, 1:50 am

    What a great Idea. Maybe in need one for my source of artistic inspiration. Very bright.

  • Татьяна August 21, 2014, 2:43 am

    Wonderful house!

  • Ruth L August 21, 2014, 4:22 am

    Wow Carolyn, loved your house, it’s so cute, and loved that beautiful stencil collage on your roof!

  • Laurie hunt August 21, 2014, 4:39 am

    I think any muse would be very happy to have such a colorful house made with love!

  • Monika August 21, 2014, 6:15 am

    I am off to make safe cosy house for my muse now! Thank you for that amazing idea and inspiration! Xxx

  • Mary C. Nasser August 21, 2014, 6:32 am

    Love it, Carolyn!
    Your welcome walkway is so clever! 🙂

  • Jenny August 21, 2014, 6:38 am

    what a wonderful idea, and something i will be adding to my new art studio hubby is making for me in a part of our cellar. no worries, it has huge full sized windows, so it wont be a dungeon down there. i would love to add some stencils to my supplies, as i only have one!

  • Vicki Loichinger August 21, 2014, 6:40 am

    what a cute dea

  • Jackie P August 21, 2014, 6:45 am

    WOW Did you ever rock those stencils Carolyn!!! I love how you cut them up and rearranged them! Awesomeness! And your lil house is adorable!

  • Lynn Wayne August 21, 2014, 7:05 am

    I think I saw my muse peeking out of the window.

  • April Lopez August 21, 2014, 7:54 am

    I love this. I love the colors used.

  • kirsten reed August 21, 2014, 8:06 am

    You ROCKED this!!! I love your house!!!

  • Boo August 21, 2014, 8:12 am

    Love your house.

  • Gunvor August 21, 2014, 8:28 am

    The muse’s house is awesome! I love the vibrant colours. Such a great idea with the gratitude notes too! Thanks for the inspiration! I love watching your art work and often watch your Youtube videos while commuting to or from work.

  • Amy* August 21, 2014, 8:31 am

    Who wouldn’t want to live in this colorful abode? Carolyn your colorful creativity always inspires you are a muse yourself 🙂

    Amy*

  • JEdmundson August 21, 2014, 9:27 am

    So cute!

  • Dolly aka scrapthat/scrapscrapthat August 21, 2014, 9:31 am

    Great use of your playing!!
    TFS

  • Marcella Rutledge August 21, 2014, 9:44 am

    very clever use of the stencils –

  • Ruth Reaves August 21, 2014, 10:01 am

    The house is soo adorable, love it

  • Shari Czerwinski August 21, 2014, 10:16 am

    Cute little house 🙂

  • Phyllis Y August 21, 2014, 10:20 am

    What a great idea! I wonder if my muse hasn’t felt welcome in my home. Time to change that!

  • Anne R August 21, 2014, 10:57 am

    I love that you built a home for your muse! And what a fabulous house it is too!

  • Janet August 21, 2014, 11:06 am

    This is absolutely darling!

  • Tasha F August 21, 2014, 11:22 am

    Carolyn…always one of my favorites 🙂

  • ConnieND August 21, 2014, 11:24 am

    What a great idea. Love the results. Great instructions, too.

  • Ellie Taesali August 21, 2014, 11:38 am

    I love your ideas! My muse would love her own house!

  • auntie em (emily) August 21, 2014, 11:55 am

    I think your muse will be right at home in her pretty new abode! I love the wonky shingles and the winding path. Beautiful colours and a sweet design. Thanks for sharing the great tutorial! 🙂

  • Denise Huntington August 21, 2014, 11:58 am

    Another colorful and fun project, Carolyn! I love the idea of a house for your Muse! Thanks for sharing.

  • Gwen L. August 21, 2014, 12:01 pm

    This is so cute! I love your colors and all of the layers of pattern and texture. Very fun project 🙂

  • Glenda L August 21, 2014, 12:04 pm

    I love that house. It would be great for all kinds of things: prayers, thank you notes, concerns, etc. Must make one. Thanks.

  • Aleta Walton Totire August 21, 2014, 12:10 pm

    So clever and adorable! Love the walkway!

  • mindy August 21, 2014, 12:12 pm

    love LOVE LLUUUUURVVVE that ZEN LANDSCAPE ….soooo different than 1000 other stencils !!! well, to me anyway it is. BLESSINGS !

  • ros August 21, 2014, 12:41 pm

    love your quirky house

  • Donna Harris August 21, 2014, 12:48 pm

    Ooo I love your house! Makes me want to build one for my muse!

  • Carol Samsel August 21, 2014, 1:16 pm

    What an adorable little house!!! I’m seeing Fairies ♥

  • sherri scott August 21, 2014, 1:22 pm

    Carolyn, every Muse needs a place to be welcomed and thanked. Yours is surely blessed to have such a beautiful home.

  • Margaret Griffiths August 21, 2014, 1:28 pm

    Always love to see what you’re doing. Thanks for the inspiration

  • Carol P August 21, 2014, 1:32 pm

    Great idea and fun project! Will have to attempt one of my own. Nice to meet you in person at Stampaway.

  • MaggieM August 21, 2014, 1:38 pm

    What a cute idea, Carolyn. I love all the colors you used for your roof’s shingles! Your blog is truly a colorful journey for me!

  • Martice Smith II August 21, 2014, 2:32 pm

    Oh my goodness, Carolyn! This project is toooo cute! I have no doubt that your ‘muse’ will love her brand new house. How nice of you! You have such a clever way of working with stencils.

  • Jo Murray August 21, 2014, 2:35 pm

    Your muse will never leave home with such spectacular accommodation! LOVE the shingles.

  • Pallavi August 21, 2014, 2:45 pm

    Your muse will be very happy with her house.It turned out adorable.Love the painted paper and the shingles and the walway.Very cute.

  • Amante del Papel August 21, 2014, 2:47 pm

    I want a house like this but for me! is so beauitful, full of color, I love it!

  • mary warren August 21, 2014, 3:06 pm

    This is a delightful idea! So glad you shared it. As usual. your colors are fresh and inspiring. Thanks.

  • kathy adams August 21, 2014, 3:21 pm

    I love the idea for your project! I think your muse is bright and happy!

  • Gill August 21, 2014, 3:40 pm

    Fabulous house!

  • Anna-Karin August 21, 2014, 3:41 pm

    What a fabulous house! Love the all the colour and that you left it open as a space for little notes.

  • Nancy Carroll August 21, 2014, 3:44 pm

    Wow, adore the hop, this is soooooo adorable, thanks for the inspiration.

  • daw August 21, 2014, 3:49 pm

    What an adorable house. My muse has been inspired.

  • Jennifer August 21, 2014, 3:53 pm

    I love it!

  • Kay Wallace August 21, 2014, 3:57 pm

    I guess having her own home is better than what they would have done in the old days to keep their “women” home…barefoot in the winter and pregnant in the summer! Ha! Take *that* you old muse, You! On a more serious note, Carolyn, I love your wee house!

  • Cecilia Swatton August 21, 2014, 4:03 pm

    This is very pretty, Carolyn — I especially love the way you did the roof!

  • Linda K August 21, 2014, 4:06 pm

    wow, maybe I need to build a house for my muse too so she stays around longer 🙂 Great project.

  • marylouh August 21, 2014, 4:33 pm

    Love the little house. It could be adapted for so many things. Would make a great “village” for Christmas, a gift holder,…..
    thanks for the idea and the directions.

  • Shari T. August 21, 2014, 4:54 pm

    This is the most darling little house ever!! I think you’ve just come up with a great gift idea–‘wish houses’ or ‘prayer houses’ that you can make and give with the idea to write little notes and drop inside!! Fabulous, Carolyn!! I think our Muses can use a little thanks!! This is a Wonderful creation for the EH/SG Blog Hop! I’m glad I’m hopping along! XOXO-Shari T.

  • Stefanie August 21, 2014, 5:00 pm

    Wow! What a brilliant idea :o) Might have a go at that myself x

  • Barbara I. August 21, 2014, 5:14 pm

    I always enjoy seeing what you’re up to, Carolyn. Love the house. Thanks for a chance to win the prize package.

  • Denise August 21, 2014, 5:15 pm

    Wonderful house. Clever lady!

  • Brenda August 21, 2014, 7:27 pm

    The colors on the roof are wonderful! The zen stencil is has so much potential.

  • Bea Savellano August 21, 2014, 8:11 pm

    Very Cute!

  • Robyn C. August 21, 2014, 8:12 pm

    What a creative and inspirational project!

  • Elizabeth August 21, 2014, 8:45 pm

    Always love your colorful playful creations! The candy colors in your little house are yummy!

  • Mary in IL August 21, 2014, 8:52 pm

    Haha Carolyn! You never fail to inspire!

  • Cheryl August 21, 2014, 8:55 pm

    I think my muse left home to go live in the house that Carolyn built! It’s way more bright and colorful than my messy studio. I’ll have to make one of my own and coax her back…

  • Sylvia Tabor August 21, 2014, 9:21 pm

    Perfect, just perfect!!! Every Muse needs a home, and quite the charming abode you created, Carolyn. She will be most happy residing in that colorful, open air cottage, as long as you keep feeding her!!!

  • Alice August 21, 2014, 10:21 pm

    Carolyn, love your work and your posts regarding using the stencils we have invested in. Thanks for the inspiration. Alice

  • Raine August 21, 2014, 11:03 pm

    This is absolutely adorable!

  • Debbie Kaste August 21, 2014, 11:26 pm

    Adorable little houses! The stencils are great too. Thanks much for the tutorial. Will have to try making some myself.

  • Denise Bryant August 21, 2014, 11:45 pm

    Love this cute house! Awesome colors and textures!

  • Shelly Jackson August 22, 2014, 12:07 am

    Thank you. I really enjoy your blog.

  • Noreen August 22, 2014, 12:24 am

    What an interesting technique to do the roof for a fun little house!

  • Lucinda August 22, 2014, 12:52 am

    Great giveaway! Thank you for all the inspiration .

  • Jackie Beeman August 22, 2014, 1:21 am

    What a fun project, love the tile roof!

  • Jean Marmo August 22, 2014, 6:32 am

    What an adorable house for your muse! Love the idea of leaving it open!

  • Mary Beth Shaw August 22, 2014, 8:08 am

    That paper you made is swoon worthy. I hated to see you cut it up but I think the ‘parts’ made it even better (if that is possible).

  • Pat August 22, 2014, 8:28 am

    Loved the house. The roof with all the stencils awesome!

  • michael August 22, 2014, 9:17 am

    So Stinkin cute!! I want to take this one step further and make a birdhouse now! Love it!

  • Corrine August 22, 2014, 9:38 am

    So darn adorable. I bet the muse will stay for a long, long while. xox

  • Liz August 22, 2014, 10:24 am

    So stinkin’ cute! Love the idea of keeping the sides open to slip notes in. This is something that I could make with the kids at work. Thanks Carolyn!

  • Susan Falkler August 22, 2014, 10:36 am

    The zen landscape stencil is really cool!

  • Susan reiser August 22, 2014, 12:12 pm

    Love your beautiful muse house of welcome. I hope she is as good to you as you are to her,a house! You always crack me up!!!
    like the gratitude slips,hub and I each have old milk bottles we put our in and read them to each other on New Years Eve. Then for me they become a collage in journal. What else!:)

  • Annie Hooten August 22, 2014, 12:39 pm

    I would love a house like that for ME!!!

  • Jamie J August 22, 2014, 1:10 pm

    So colorful (which totally reminds me of your awesome work!) I just love the way the stencils worked with the stamps and the dies. I did not even know about those awesome stamps! Thanks for sharing, a unique welcome to your muse!

  • Melody S. from KS August 22, 2014, 3:00 pm

    Hi Carolyn! I LOVE this little house! I don’t have the diecuts, but I can make a box anyway. I will be doing this and will post my result later on for you to see.

  • Bev Baird August 22, 2014, 7:30 pm

    What a beautiful little house! Love the papers you used!

  • Brenda Meade August 22, 2014, 7:40 pm

    Yahoo! I want to win Miss C!

  • Nanette Church August 22, 2014, 11:06 pm

    Awesomeness!

  • Laura Strack August 23, 2014, 3:05 am

    Your muse is a kind a generous one. When it feeds your creativity, it also feeds mine! Love your little house of gratitude and all the gorgeous stenciled color. Thank you!

  • Sue Chesley August 23, 2014, 4:45 am

    Thank you for yet another darling project, Carolyn! This little house is so cute – must make, perhaps a whole little neighborhood…

  • Suz Warren August 23, 2014, 1:10 pm

    What a lovely idea! I will have to create a spot to welcome my muse!

  • Liz Lumsden August 23, 2014, 4:52 pm

    Wonderful little house! Your muse will be very happy.

  • Arlene D August 24, 2014, 7:11 am

    What wonderful and corolful house for a muse!

  • marci piraro August 24, 2014, 9:25 am

    Smart idea and love the little house!

  • Susan Schultheis August 24, 2014, 3:01 pm

    WOW Carolyn you have done it again! I love houses and you have made this house so cute and colorful. As always thanks for the inspiration.

  • Marjie Kemper August 25, 2014, 2:11 pm

    How fun! Love your whimsical house, and such a creative use of the ATB die.

  • Suztats August 25, 2014, 3:47 pm

    What fun! I find a day without playing with my art is a dry, dull day. I’d love to win the giveaway so my muse can try something new. Thanks.

  • Vicki Romaine August 25, 2014, 8:54 pm

    What a near idea. Love it!

  • Becky Halfhill August 25, 2014, 11:28 pm

    Very cute and colorful!!

  • Mary Ann M August 31, 2014, 10:12 pm

    LOVE the zen spiral walkway.