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Not only did I learn how adorable a Pinata can be by reading this tutorial I also learned that there is such a thing as Striped Crepe paper! I can’t believe how amazing the colors come up in the Pinata just by using stripes. You can learn how by following this link. DIY Hot Air Balloon Piñata tutorial
It’s not really that close to Halloween as I write this, but as crafters we’re always looking ahead and spooky season is one of my favorites. If it’s yours, too, or you just like things on the Gothic side, you should enjoy browsing and stitching projects from Ars Onirika on Etsy.
There’s a lot of pop culture inspired designs with a dark twist, from Harry Potter to Beetlejuice, Lord of the Rings to Edgar Allan Poe.
The biggest section of the shop is just called Easy Cross Stitch, but it covers a lot of ground, from text-only designs to stained glass windows, tarot card-inspired designs (I was going to share this one called The Stitcher as it’s relevant to our interests) and a green absinthe fairy.
I decided to talk more about that one instead just because I wanted to call out that while it’s in the easy section, it is labeled more accurately as being an intermediate design, so check those skill levels if you’re a newer stitcher. This one measures 122 to 169 stitches, which comes out to 8.7 by 12.12 inches or 22.2 by 30.8 cm on 14 count fabric. The pattern notes don’t say how many colors it uses, but it looks like a lot. This would be a great one to make for lovers of Art Nouveau or who have a fancy bar.
You’ll also find a large section of medieval and gothic designs, which includes lots of designs inspired by medieval artwork; a fantasy and magic section, filled with Harry Potter designs, fairies, Outlander and more; and classic art patterns, which is pretty much what it sounds like.
There are also alphabets and samplers you can use to make your own projects, a few literary samplers, and a set of Victorian cat designs you can personalize with your cat’s name.
If any of that piques your interest, you should definitely head over to Ars Onirika at Etsy and browse through their designs. Let me know if you see something you like!
[Photo: Ars Onirika]