Fawns are back in stock!

Its been a awhile but I have some new fawns in a variety of colors including two new ones, chocolate and tan! Get them in my Etsy shop while they last.

Fabric magnets now available!

New to the Etsy shop! Two sizes of fabric magnets with all your favorite characters. Available in 1 1/8" and 1.5" in packs of two and three.

Mermaid and Fairy Printable Playsets

Two NEW printable playset additions to the land of Mushroom Hill. Meet Sandy, Shelly and Pearl! These playful mermaids live in a sand castle on the sea floor. They love to explore the ocean and play with their sea friends.

Three darling fairy cottages in three different styles including birch wood, rose arbor and wood grain. Roof can be removed to keep fairy treasures from your nature walk or gifts for your fairy tea party.

Dress Up Play! - Paper Dolls and Wardrobe Playset

Ki Ki and Pow Pow love to play dress up! With 9 outfits and matching hats who wouldn't! This paper doll playset even includes a tiny wardrobe to hang their cute clothes. Some of the clothing included in the playset are a princess, baking, gardening, and crafting outfit. This playset along with the complete dollhouse collection can be purchased in my etsy shop.

Pinocchio Printable Paper Marionette

One of my favorite memories from childhood was watching a marionette show at a summer picnic. I was so enamored by the show that the kindly elder puppeteers invited me over to their home to show me their collection of puppets. Ever since then I've been fond of puppets and have made many over the years including marionettes.

This charming Pinocchio marionette really works! It is constructed just like traditional marionettes except this one is made of paper. You can pretend to make him walk or dance by moving the controller he hangs from. Any young inspiring puppeteer would love to have this delightful toy.

Now that I have the basic puppet template designed I'm thinking of making more characters. What character would you like to see next?

On the workbench...

Ok, so this may be my favorite paper toy I've designed so far. A working paper marionette of Pinocchio! I've been cooped up all weekend because of the snow storm and was able to make a lot of progress. I have the character down and the technical aspect of making him move correctly is finished. He's fully jointed and will move and dance just like any other marionette. I just need to design the controller and string him up! He should be available shortly.

Nutcracker and Mouse King Holiday Paper Printables

The classic story of the Nutcracker and Mouse brought to life as printable paper toys. Now you can reenact the epic battle between the Nutcracker and Mouse King. I'm not sure what they were fighting over, the Sugar Plum Fairy or just peanuts?

The Nutcracker even has a movable jaw! Although I wouldn't try cracking any nuts with it. The Mouse King has this cool feature which allows you to roll it on the floor. Not only will the kids love the rolling mouse but your cat just might too.

North Pole Printable Gingerbread Collection

Three new paper toys for the holiday season available in my Etsy shop. I've been wanting to add more PDF playsets to my original gingerbread cottage and now its starting to look like a Christmas village. I like the choo choo train best... you can add small treats to the carts behind. The new cottage features elves having fun in the Winter snow.

Yesterday the giveaway for the white reindeer ended. I always feel so bad having to pick one winner from all the comments made. I thought it would be great if I had another quick giveaway for fun. I will give all 3 playsets from the gingerbread collection to 3 winners. To participate tell me your favorite Christmas song along with a way to email the PDF's to you. I grew up in the 80's so my favorite tunes are "Do they know its Christmas?" and "Peace on Earth" by David Bowie. Giveaway ends December 6, 2010.

No Coast is less than two weeks away!

 No Coast Craft-o-Rama 
Midtown Global Exchange building
December 3, 3pm - 8 pm
December 4, 9 am - 5pm

Don't miss in my opinion one of the best craft shows of the year. I look forward to this event every year. So many creative, talented artists participate. It would be hard not to find that unique holiday gift. Sara from Too Many Suitors, one of my favorite artists, designed this awesome poster for the event.  

Below are some of the kawaii ornaments I'll have available. Five new designs including ice skate, mitten, gift, gingerbread cottage and sad fruitcake will be for sale along with softie ornament designs from past years.

Christmas Collection 2010

The holidays are fast approaching and I have finally finished my Christmas inventory. I now know what an elf must feel like getting ready for Christmas. As I mentioned in my last post my home has been scattered with red, green, pink, and white felt since August. My Etsy shop is now filled with Christmas goodies! These adorable snow people available in 4 styles and are the newest addition to my Christmas Collection. 

Its also time for the Christmas giveaway. The last two years I have given away a white reindeer and fawn. This year I thought I would leave it up to you guys. What should I giveaway this year? Which of the following would you choose?

Snowman

Snow Seal

Polar Bear

Ornament Set

Fawn

Free Printable Pink Paper Fawn

This pink fawn has been with me since the beginning of Fantastic Toys. One of the first plush toys I made was this darling. After posting pictures on Flickr I received so much positive feedback I knew I was on to something. Since then Fantastic Toys has grown to include many soft toys, paper toys, fabric and kits. My ideas for new toys are endless and I hope the next 5 years will be just as productive and successful.

For those of you who have always wanted a fawn from Fantastic Toys I am offering this special paper version just for you. This 3 page PDF includes fawn, two mushrooms and instructions for assembly. I recommend printing on 60 lb. or more cardstock. Thanks to all of you that have supported Fantastic Toys over the years with your kind comments and feedback. Enjoy!

Download Pink Paper Fawn

Good Morning Lovlies!

A little something I'm working on. :) Happy Blossoms Jewelry will make their debut at the upcoming Centennial Lakes Arts Festival next weekend. Will post more pics of entire collection later.

Kawaii Fabric Design Available at Spoonflower

FYI, Spoonflower now has a feature which allows you to purchase fabric that other indie crafters have designed. For each fat quarter or yardage sold the artist receives 10% of the sale price. Its optional of course. If you design some fabric you don't have to have it available for sale to the public. I now have two kawaii designs available at Spoonflower which can be purchased at my profile. I have some more ideas which I hope to have available as well.

If you've been on the fence about giving Spoonflower a try, now is the time. For one day only they're have a Free Swatch Day. In the past I have used this offer to purchase a color chart swatch which has been invaluable when creating new fabric designs. You can also use this offer to get a swatch of not only your design but designs offered by others too.

Kawaii Sewing Friends Accessory Kit

OMG These are soooo cute! Very happy with my latest from Spoonflower. I couldn't just stop at one item I had to make a bunch! Kit includes zippy pouch, five fabric buttons, tomato pin cushion and a needle book declaring, I sew cute!

Mushroom Hill Printable Paper Playsets

Welcome to Mushroom Hill! I have always imagined a land of rolling hills covered with mushroom cottages where my characters could frolic and play. Its hard to believe that every one of these characters I've illustrated here have been made in a plush version beforehand. Typically an artist will make a soft toy from an illustration but I tend to work the other way around. I like to work out the form and character by sculpting it in fabric, then I capture it as an illustration.

My first paper toy was the gnome mushroom cottage pictured last. I have now added two new cottages to the collection. A fairy mushroom cottage and a mushroom cottage dollhouse complete the collection. I have to say the dollhouse with the tiny paper furniture is my favorite. It features Gnomie and all of her animal friends. Gnomie tends to the animals of the forest and they are always welcome at her home for tea and peanut butter cookies.The playsets can be found in my etsy shop.

Sewing Friends Fabric Design

I love these characters and I've been working on some sewing accessories that feature them. I've just about finished the prototypes and will send the file to Spoonflower for printing within the week. This pattern will be used to for some mini zipper pouches. I plan to design more patterns featuring Mushroom Hill and my storybook characters.

Only 3 Days Away!

I'm just about finished crafting for this weekends Craftstravaganza event. This is one of the funnest craft shows around! Lots of creative young people participating. Not at all stuffy and pretentious like some art shows can be. Don't you love the promo poster? It couldn't match my blog any better. I swear I didn't have anything to do with the design. :)

Above is a pic of some new strawberry sweeties. This year I will have more items than ever so please drop by and check them out. Its only one day, Saturday, May 1 at the State Fair Grounds from 9am - 5pm. If you can't make it to this event I just secured my booth for the Powder Horn Art Fair held in August. More details about that show later.

Busy, Busy - Upcoming Show

I've been busy working on some inventory for the upcoming Craftstravaganza show on May 1. As with every show I like to have new items and this time I have a bunch. This year I'm introducing mermaids and mermaid friends including turtles and octopus. Check out the show if your in the area it should be an exciting year with some new talented artists.

Cupcake Cottage Favor Box

Yay another item checked off my list of toys to make! The cupcake cottage favor box can be used to hold novelties or even as a cupcake box. The best part of this photo shoot was getting to eat the cupcake at the end. :) Available as a PDF download in my Etsy shop.

Sewing Machine and Friends

A couple of weeks ago I posted a sneak peek of this set and now its finished and available in my etsy shop. Meet happy sewing machine and his friends the iron and tomato pin cushion. Eventually I'd like to do more with these characters. I'm thinking a little paper tea set would also be cute in this style. Right now I'm working on two other paper toys that should be finished shortly.