Home » Articles

Feb. 2021

Greetings Gnomies,

I finally returned to editing book 2 of the Fairoria series. I know it has been a long time coming but with my health that is just how the cookie has crumbled.

On the plus side I have been working on a second fantasy series this year.

2020 was a tough year. It was a true test of everyone’s mental health. I would like to remind everyone to be kind to one another as you never know what someone is going through. Also reach out to your friends even the bubbly ones. Trust me the ones that make you laugh are the ones who need to be checked on the most!

Be safe out there.

xoxo,

j. lea

Holiday Tidings

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I am currently busy editing and updating formatting and sometime next year expect the website to undergo a major overhaul.

As this crazy year comes to a close I hope the season is filled with joy and hope for all.

Cover reveal for next novel coming soon!!!

 

xoxo,

J. Lea

Spooktober 2020

Greetings Gnomies!

In these crazy times I have been working away writing! Who is ready for the next installments of the Fairoria Series? The second book is currently in editing and I am preparing to write some more short stories. These will better tie into book one and book 2 as for Gnome Tales: The Adventures of Hakala the Gnome quite a bit of time had passed.

If anyone was wondering: there are four books and possibly a novella still planned for Fairoria. I am also working on a few other writing projects (mostly Sci-fi). I am also trying to update both this website and another to better connect with you lovely people.

 

Love you Guys,

J. Lea

Mermaid Crown

Child size Mermaid Crown

Mermaid Crown

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mermaid Crowns a perfect way to celebrate Summer!

Here is what you’ll need to make your own:

– wire cutters
-flora Bond
-Floral wire
-floral pieces looking like coral
-metal headband
-pearls
-shells or starfish
-notions for flare
-a piece of cardboard to place craft on
-disposable gloves (for those who don’t like glue     on their fingers)

Once you have gathered all the necessary things the craft should come together. It will take some time. I took a little over a day to create both of the crowns shown.

Step 1:Start with trimming your fake coral to desired size (I used three different colors on each)

Step 2: Once finished with cutting your coral place the desired bottom piece and flex it around the headband to see where you desire the placement

Step 3: Cut several pieces of floral wire. These will be used to keep the coral attached as the glue dries. You can leave them as added support or remove them later.

Step 4: Place glue all along the path of the coral. Use wire to attach the coral to spots with glue

Step 5: Let glue dry for a few hours.

Step 6: Once dry you can remove wire or continue by repeating the first six steps until all 3 pieces of coral has been adhered.

Step 7: Now for the fun part! Twist any pieces together at one side or the base/bottom of the crown and glue them together. This will be a base to better glue your decorative items.

Step 8: Once the glue has dried you can start sticking your decorations on. I started with the starfish which I glued on. Wait for the glue to dry before adding anything else as they are the star of the show.

Step 9: Twist on beaded and pearl embellishments  on the sides wrapping their wire around the headband.

Step 10: Add pearls around starfish if desired with glue or wire.

For the Child size crown I also glued on ribbon on the sides to prevent the wire from bothering sensitive little heads.

After 24 hours they are ready to go (Got to make sure that glue is dried!)

And that’s it. A bit time consuming but worth it for the Little Mermaid in your life or Mermaid in general!

To see video instruction check out my YouTube Channel J Lea Richardson!

 

 

Fairy Garden

In this weeks edition of Fairy Crafty we created this gorgeous little fairy Garden and the best part about it is it cost less than $20 to make. You can find the Video for making this on my YouTube Channel: J. Lea Richardson Fairy Crafty Episode 1: Fairy Garden

Here is what you’ll need to make your own:

  • Fairy figures and houses (you can make little Fae houses with sticks if you want, but here I went with ceramic for both the fairies and figures) I found the little houses, the Fae bridge, and Fairies at a local dollar store however, thrift stores and 50% off coupons for craft stores can also give you great finds for a craft such as this.  My cost: $4
  • A container of sorts again check your dollar store first for cheaper finds or around the house for something you don’t use anymore like planting pots. The drawer was purchased at 50% off at Hobby Lobby and had once housed an edible arrangement I had made for my mother which she returned to me. My cost: $6
  • Reindeer Moss . I got mine at the dollar store! My cost: $1
  • Floral foam due to the size of my container and wanting one piece rather than two cut to size I purchased mine at a craft store using a coupon. Normal cost$3.50 mine around $2.10
  • The mushrooms were purchased at a craft store with another coupon price $2.99 I got 40% off of that
  • You will also need a hot glue gun and the proper glue sticks for your glue gun (if you don’t have a glue gun they run about $5 and glue sticks cost about the same.
  • Another option would be flora bond a superglue like substance that works on florals if you don’t wish to use hot glue Cost for that around $4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that we have the shopping list completed time for crafting!

Step 1: Place floral foam in your container

Step 2: Plug in glue gun and let it heat up

Step 3: While the glue gun is heating up play around with your figures and decide placement

Step 4: Start gluing figures to foam you can also start gluing the moss down at this point or wait until all figures are locked in place

***WARNING***** Caution: Glue guns are hot so is the glue use as wooden dowel or something other than your fingers to press Reindeer Moss into the glue (unless you are like me and just seem to enjoy getting multiple burns and blisters on your finger tips)

Step 5: After everything is glued down let the glue sit for a few minutes then gently tip upside down to shake out excess greens

Step 6: If you have fairy lights you can drape them over the project but it’s not necessary. It does however, add to the magic!

And now it’s done!!! You can keep it or gift it! Your Choice!!!

My Total cost for this Project was roughly $17 after taxes with glue costs figured in.

Please check out and like the video on my YouTube Channel J. Lea Richardson!!!! (  Please give me a thumbs up and subscribe for more)

Hope you Enjoyed this!!

J. Lea