Lorajean's Magazine - BLOG

Ghost hosts

2025-10-03T10:40:00.001-06:00

New Work!

Hello, here are my new sheet ghosts in their unfinished glory. I added cute ghostly phrases to each of their banners, I only have one of them left from the recent show were were in, i still have the tall top hat guy who's banner now reads "creepy creep".

Here are all the new pieces in a box almost ready to be packed into the car. The clowns are all that remain, plus that one ghost I mentioned earlier, but the rest are off to live with their happy new owners!

I've photographed the remaining pieces and I'm currently in the process of editing and then posting to Etsy. I'll be sure to post when they're available.

Making a board game!

2025-07-05T16:30:00.001-06:00

Pictured above are some board games my family has created. The Harry Potter one started off as a spin-off of Candy Land and then it evolved over the years as my kid got older and we wanted more complexity. As we played we tweaked it more and more and added some slightly more features! It was so satisfying to create and oh so fun to play. Who knows what robes they'll get when they play each game will it be Professor Umbridge's robes, Hagrid's or even Dobby;s rags. HAHA! I even added a quidditch playoffs board foe the games that are throungh the school year! The other game shown is one my Dad made. It is a hex tile map-building game with intricate rules character development and gameplay. think Dungeons and Dragons type detail. It was a super fun family project and i remember watching him make the board as a kid. 🍓

Want to Make a Board Game too?

Time away from screens
Creative outlet (my fellow creatives, you're going to love this project!!)
Fun time spent with friends and family (seroiusly a goof old board game is great fun but just imagine the fun had when its a custom game you made together!)
Project to get your brain moving (seriously if you love puzzles this is gonna be for you!)
Build your own world (does it need a monster, a fairy, or a teddy bear? You can control that!)

Board games bring people together—and making one is really just as fun as playing it! It’s a real life no screens activity that combines art, storytelling, problem-solving, and a bit of wholesome competition. 😜 Plus, you get to make up all the rules and build the world yourself!!

What You’ll Need:

Paper or cardboard for the board
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils (or paint in my case)
Dice (or make your own spinner!) (you can even make your own dice if you need it to be that custom!💕 )
Game pieces (you can use buttons, small toys, coins, or make some from clay, that's what I did.)
Index cards or scraps of paper for instructions or challenge cards. (I cut card stock into fourths when i ran out of index cards)
Tape, scissors, and glue (and a corner rounder for the cards if you're extra like me)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Choose a Theme
Is your game about cute animals, space adventures, magical quests, or silly family challenges? Pick a theme to inspire your board design and your rules.
Design the Board
Create a path with spaces that players move along. You can draw it like a trail, a map, or a spiral. Add special spots: “go back 2 spaces,” “bonus turn,” or “pick a card!” (One time as a kid we patterned a game off of one we owned that had the board game open up to reveal a new board underneath! Everyone had to race to the hole in the board before it was too late!)
Make the Rules
How do players move? What’s the goal? Is it a race to the end, or a mission to collect treasures? Keep it simple, and don’t worry if you change things as you playtest. Seriously, to start out keep it simple. Even if the game is for adults as you start out just go for basic little kids rules and add more complexity as you go and as your creativity strikes.
Add Cards or Challenges
Make some fun “action” or “question” cards. These can be new items, silly dares, trivia questions, or magical effects depending on your theme.
Playtest and Tweak
Play with friends or family, and keep it open to adjust the rules. That’s part of the creative process! The more you play the game the more you'll start to see any needs for adjustments. You'll be able to fill a dead space or clear out a chaotic phase as needed, but these are often only recognized as you play and play again. Honestly it is really fun part of the process.

Bonus Ideas:

Invite friends to create their own games and host a board game night.
Turn your game into a summer-long challenge—track wins and add new twists each week!
Make mini versions, or a simple card game, for travel or picnics.

Final Thoughts

Making a board game is more than a fun craft—it’s a memory-maker. It encourages creativity, collaboration, and lots of laughs. So gather your supplies, bring your wild ideas, and let the games begin! Let me know if you guys try this fun project in the comments I'd love to see what you make.

Making a folk art papier-mâché Halloween cat

2024-10-25T23:23:00.006-06:00

Hello my friends I have been in the spooky spirit and thought it would be fun to make a little black kitty coming out of a pumpkin. I tried a new painting technique and it was really fun to kind of get a rustic look! I’m having a blast :-) I think I might have my husband make a mold of it for casting reproductions. We’re so excited because we just learned how to do silicon mold making! My husband and I enjoy making Halloween things together and if you are interested you can check out our Etsy shop frosthollowfarmco.etsy.com

I’m incredibly excited to make more papier-mâché in the coming months!

I’m here!

2024-10-25T19:27:00.002-06:00

Hello there, I have been meaning to post more often here on the old blog. I have been taking a break from all things social media and feel have found myself again! Social media is a blessing and a curse, when you misuse it or have the wrong mindset, it can be harmful to your mental health. Basically I was seeing what others were doing and I felt like I should be doing that too and if I would try and then feel unsatisfied because it wasn't really what I wanted. I felt like I was late all the time and too pressured and in a hurry. But now that I've had a break I feel incredibly whole and I'm excited to share what I've been doing.

Lately I have been into papier-mâché sculpture again :) those of you who have followed along in the beginning of this blog remember that papier-mache has been a staple in my life. I am happy to be at it again.

I made these witches a few years ago but this blog didn't get the update so I thought I needed to share her here. :)

Another fun project I'm working on with my husband is Frost Hollow Farm ! We are both so passionate about beautiful old architecture and immersive whimsical art, so were beginning a new project on our 7 acre abandoned dairy farm, where were building an old world Dickensian downtown and creating a theme park with shops and hand made life size sculpted whimsical shop owners and all the details of their fantastical world.

I am in the process of creating a shop to feature my cartoony style specifically, it'll feature printable downloads, coloring books, stickers, journals and merch in that same style. Much of it will be featuring the cat named Sebastian and his many friend who seem frequents that art style of mine. I call it Sebastian and Friends. :) when I have it all put together ill announce the launch.

Thanks so much four joining me on this fun update post!

Making cute things again

2022-10-25T12:42:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone, I'm excited to update you with some art I have been making this year

These cartoon-y animal characters are such a blast to create, I really have found a happy place in creating them!

More Halloween characters coming soon!

I have been showing my wares at the local gardeners market this year and I have enjoyed it so much! It great meeting people who are passionate about cute art, and making new friendships. I am sure to do it again next year!

Benny Bear! Paper mache sculpted figurine!

2020-12-05T14:50:00.003-07:00

This is Benny, my cute little bear OC (original character) and he's all cuddled up in his golden yellow hand knit cowl scarf! ^^ He is hand made by me with my homemade paper mache clay recipe! I love working with paper clay because of the rustic looking aesthetic but also because it is made from recycled newspapers!! I love his adorable little face!! ^﹏^ He would be the perfect addition to your office space or desk area.

I'm Back In business and having fun!

2020-08-13T19:10:00.003-06:00

Hello Hello!

It has been a while since i have given any updates on here. I thought it was about time I revive this blog and get it back to somewhat resembling of its former glory. :) I have always been obsessed with art and stationary and that is basically the theme of my Lorajean's Magazine shop. YAY! :)

I have been having a blast creating art and using it to design art prints, stickers, notebooks and various stationary items with it. My latest design it this "God Speaks to ME" journal for personal revelation. I just got my first inventory shipment yesterday and I am so exited!

I have added this journal and a few other things to my Etsy shop as kind of a soft opening. I am still getting my designs finalized and printed. I had been researching journal printers and sticker companies and I have finally found some companies I like and am thrilled with the quality of the products! Woo-hoo! I am so excited!

I have a lot of fun planned for the official shop opening like:

bookmarks

notebooks

paper mache' sculptures

clay pins

stickers

art prints

and,

post cards

I will keep you updated when I finally know the date the official grand opening. Also, if you haven't already subscribed to my blog by email, please do so and you will get these blog posts right in your e-mail in box! :)

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Samantha, a crocheted bear

2020-03-28T13:22:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love to crochet toys. I think most of my crafting life I have been making more toys with yarn than making blankets or clothing. Often we associate crochet with afghans and hats or sweaters, but I don’t have the patience to finish a project that large most of the time. I apparently have a small attention span. 😆

I am super excited to share a sneak peek at a new crochet pattern I am creating! :) I plan on posting the pattern up on my Etsy shop as soon as I have it ready. I actually am planning on doing a series to animal character patterns so Samantha can have some friends! :) I am so excited. Stay tuned for more Crochet toys and patterns. Don’t worry I’ll keep you in the loop.

Morgan, a new papier mache witch sculpture

2019-01-24T13:12:00.003-07:00

(Note: I use amazon affiliate links in my articles. )

Witches aren't just for fall :) Sometimes Halloween is for all year. What are your thoughts are you a Halloween fan? I cant say enough how much fun it has been getting back into sculpting again. Paper mache is so much a part of my artistic outlet.

I never thought that having no artistic outlet would hurt me, but I have had time where I was emotionally suffering because I didn't have a voice or a vehicle to express myself. I am so glad to be at it again. :) Also it is totally OK to let yourself take a break when you need one, sometimes you need different outlets and different times. but never rob yourself of an outlet you are craving. There is time, there are so many ways to create, just go out and do it! :)

Have you ever taken a break from your art or outlet, and ended up right back again because it was an innate part of you? let me know in the comments.
If you want to see whats available you can visit my Etsy shop by clicking HERE. :)

Rustic folk art Christmas village

2018-12-08T14:08:00.001-07:00

I love Christmas and I love old architecture...so why not mix them together! This is me Dickens village I also have a one with more glitter and Christmas lights that I'll feature later. These are at a live show so be sure and check back after the 15th to see if you can snatch up one... or five for your very own :)
-Lorajean
Instagram- @lorajeangudmundsen
Facebook- @littlelolaspapermache
Pinterest- Little Lolas

Sculpting again

2018-10-17T15:48:00.001-06:00

I'm back into my sculptures and I had to share it here! Www.Etsy.com/shop/littlelolas

a motto

2012-06-02T16:39:00.003-06:00

Source: urbancomfort.typepad.com via Lorajean on Pinterest

Some of you bloggers and creators may understand that sometimes we have to create or we go crazy.
While other times there seems to be nothing to create.

Sometimes we are so excited to share our spin on a classic, or new ideas, with the world.
Other times we feel there is nothing we can offer to the creative world, it isn't really true but we seem content with what has been, and is being, created by others.

Sometimes inspirations and creations comes all at once and we cant keep it in, we create and create till the wee hours of the morning and still we are overflowing with ideas and the right amount of enthusiasm to make the ideas come to life.
Other times we are happily wrapped up in other things that are still creative but not in the same way we usually define creativity.

Lately I have been happily wrapped up in other things like homeschooling, landscaping, mothering, nursing, and cooking. These all seem so day to day and normal and perhaps even seem boring but I am immersing myself in these things and dare I say happily avoiding the blog scene. I noticed that ever since our camera broke the desire to take photos let alone upload and edit them as all but disappeared. Don't you worry my blog muse always returns but till them you can always refer to my Pintrest for inspiration! In my blogging absence I have been pinning up a storm. So head on over to my pins and have some eye candy.

freehand painted t-shirt

2012-05-08T21:42:00.000-06:00

Here is a pic i had in my drafts file and its so fun to see i had a style foe painting my animals even back then! :)( This was a draft post from 2011)

New bunk bed and a kids room makover

2012-05-01T16:53:00.000-06:00

I am so super excited to share my finally-finished kids room! For a good long while I had been planning, dreaming, and wishing to get the kids room to be to a place I was happy with decor and storage. I wanted a place that felt thought-out and intentional instead of looking like crowded mis-matched furniture from the side of the road (witch is pretty much what it looked like before).

Getting the kids room to this point has been a long journey of slowly collecting things from thrift stores and yard sales. The black trunk was from the local thrift store as well as most of the toys. The ottoman under the window (also from the thrift store) is so great for reading books and nursing the baby. The wall-mounted doll house is something I love! Trent made it for Lizzy for Christmas last year. It's great for storing all her doll stuff and I really love how it looks in the room. I am a sucker for doll houses and dolls (as evidenced by my doll house and dolls pin boards). Can you spot three more doll houses in the photos above? I realized the other day that I have bought so many doll houses through the years that it is kind of silly. A while ago I decided to donate my least favorite ones to local thrift stores because they took up so much room. What can I say, when I see cute dolls or doll houses I honestly want every single one! Maybe someday when I'm rich I can own a doll house museum.
Something I had wanted for a while was a room with enough room to play while simultaneously sleeping three kids. A few weeks before the baby was due, Everett, our third, was still sleeping in his crib in our master bedroom and we knew we had to figure something else out. With two twin beds filling the room, there was barely enough room to play on the floor, so there was absolutely no way a third bed would fit into the room. Thus the triple bunk bed was born! Trent built it in the closet space. He knocked the back of the closet out to take advantage of some unused closet space behind it (from the bedroom-turned-living-room remodel from several years ago).

One of my favorite parts of the room is the apple crates we mounted on the wall (25 cents each at a yard sale!) They are a really fun way to store and display all the trinkets the kids collect. The metal basket has an awesome DIY story: while at the thrift store we found two stacks of six square metal grates; I decided to buy them and used cable ties to make two baskets with lids on them. The finishing piece was the dresser we got last week (we got it for $15 from some friends who were moving). We are so happy to finally have a place to put the kids clothes away. Ever since the closet was turned into a bunk bed we had no place for the clothes, so we had been shoving them in the colored crates and the toys were never really put away. It was kind of a disaster! Now that everything has a place, and when everything actually is in its place, the room is a dream come true for me and the kids!!

P.S. Right after this photo shoot things literally came crashing down! The tripod leg gave, the camera fell, and the lens broke! :( It was only yesterday when the camera broke but I miss it already! Waah! Today is Evangeline's two month mark and I was planning on taking photos to document. My needs are nothing to Trent's though, he needs the camera to take photos of his paintings to send to galleries, collectors, for his website, and for prints. Nothing that important though, he just needs it to make a living! Hopefully we can get a new lens at a good price. I'm OK with getting a nicer one though. :) We'll see, but for now I'll have to post using photos I took previously or really crappy ones taken with the kids camera or the camcorder. Sadness.

suprise baby shower

2012-04-24T17:13:00.001-06:00

Last week my mom and two of my sisters came to visit me and see the baby. While I was out for lunch with my mom, my sisters set up a lovely surprise shower for me. It was so nice of them! I wasn't expecting them to do anything since it is my fourth baby, so it really meant a lot to me that they did it anyway. I even got all choked up when I turned the corner and they yelled surprise! My living room was transformed into a party room! Everything was neon and craft paper. I love the combo of neutrals with neon and they picked up on it. I was surprised to find out that they purchased a lot of the party stuff at the dollar store. So if you want a neon party for cheap you know where to go! After I opened the wonderful gifts of handmade baby clothes, a handmade quilt and cute matching outfits for my two girls, my sister pulled out a huge box full of hand me downs from her four girls!

I just want to say thanks to my mom and sisters for the super awesome baby shower I really loved it. I was so happy just having you all come visit so I feel super duper loved that you went the extra mile to did this for me. :) It was so fun having everyone over to play and I miss all of you! :)

gifts received

2012-04-23T18:33:00.004-06:00

I have been spoiled lately and have to share the loveliness with you all. My sister Merrilee made me this adorable baby quilt, similar to this one she made last year for our nice, but instead of sewing a herringbone pattern she did a zigzag pattern for the quilting. I love it so much! To me hand made gifts are some of the most touching and memorable. I have received quite a few handmade baby quilts throughout motherhood.

I come from a crafty family so you an imagine how many baby blankets, quilts, and afghans the four of them have all together. I honestly cherish all of them though! As do my children, they sleep with each one.

Another thoughtful gift I received recently was a pretty blue circle skirt made by Dana Willard! I was so surprised when she sent me an email asking me for my address. I later received a lovely little package with a cute card and everything! She is such a sweet blog friend and I hope to meet her in person some day so I can give her a huge hug! Thanks Dana! :)

With home school, baby laundry, and two kids in diapers, it makes even finding time to make dinner hard, so blogging has slowed . But you needn't fear, I am still creating and crafting I just need to make time for taking nice photos and sitting at the computer. My sisters and mom came to see me and threw me a cute little shower. I am getting that post ready so check back soon .Our life is full these days, mostly full of love from family, and love for our sweet little Evangeline!

new wardrobe

2012-03-28T13:39:00.000-06:00

It's getting warmer around here and that means it's time for light and airy spring time clothes. I have pinned a lot of really pretty kids clothes ideas lately, (see them here) and really wanted to make new clothes for lizzy since she is out growing a lot of her clothes. I sewed a super simple but really pretty floral top for Lizzy the other day. I got the fabric for a $1.50 a yard at Walmart. :) I have had some time to sew lately because the kids have been sick these past few days, and homeschooling is on hold while they cuddle on the couch watching movies. Lizzy got hit the hardest with a fever, bad sore throat and a cough. She slept on the couch for practically a week and finally perked up yesterday afternoon. So just us 3 girls went shopping for sandals, it was nice to spend "alone" time with Lizzy and have a little get away. It's so funny that going shopping with only two kids is a relaxing treat now that I have four. I feel a little frazzled at times but I really love having four kids. We already feel like Evangeline has always been with us. We forget that almost four weeks ago she was still inside me and we hadn't met her yet.

sewing again

2012-03-22T20:16:00.002-06:00

Hello! I'm still here. I am recovering and we are all adjusting well over here. I have even found some time for sewing for Evangeline. I made her a kimono onesie with a pretty knit print I had left over from another project. I am editing the pattern a bit and planning on making a tutorial so be sure and check back soon. We all love out newest family member! She gets more beautiful every day.

Look what I made....

2012-03-04T20:00:00.002-07:00

Baby Evangeline was s 6 pounds 6 ounces and 18 inches long, I did pretty good considering shes only the fourth one I've made. :) All 4 turned out perfect in my eyes. I went into labor before we could turn her head-down and since my water broke there was no turning back, I had to have a C-section. I'll elaborate on that story in a later post for now I'll be taking it easy. :)

last second preparations

2012-02-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

With my appointment to turn the baby and a very probable induction coming this Thursday, I have been keeping busy trying to get things in order. Its isn't often that you know the real due date a week ahead of time so I am trying to take advantage of it. One of the things on my to do list was to get the baby's quilt made. This is the fastest quilt I have ever made so far. I finished it in two days! I would've liked the top stitching to be a little straighter but I am not a perfect quilter. But I believe when something is made for you by someone you love it is treasured even with all it's flaws. I love that all the patchwork fabric is from the thrift store, most of it vintage, because that makes it a little unique. The color scheme evolved by itself after I saw the fabrics in my craft room unintentionally stacked together. It was super fast to make because of the simple square patchwork pattern. I wanted it to be a soft blanket so I chose this super furry plush stuff for the backing. (I got it on sale at Jo-Anne's.) It is sure to be her favorite blanket since all of us think it is fantastically soft and cozy. Seriously we cant stop rubbing it!

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Happy Anniversary

2012-02-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

Today is our 9th anniversary and I wanted to share some old school photos of us as brand spanking newlyweds! Trent looks so young with out a beard. I definitely prefer the beard, I think it makes him look like a mountaineer/lumberjack/pirate/artist/hottie. ;) I can't believe its 9 years today. I am so blessed to have such a loving husband. I really believe there is no one in the world better for me! Here is the quick version of our love story. I was 19 when we met and I invited Trent to join the church choir. We had mutual friends, therefore making it easy to run into each other often. We started hanging out a lot with friends then after two months we noticed our friends asking us where we've been. We thought "What? We've been hanging out with you all this whole time." To our surprise we realized we had really been exclusively hanging out with only each other for a month and a half. (Mostly at the bookstore.) We realized quickly after that that we couldn't keep away from each other for more than a day at a time and then soon came to the conclusion that we could and should never be apart again period. The main turning point was one night when I was day dreaming about kissing him (we hadn't actually kissed yet). I was thinking about my physical weaknesses and how unnecessary broken hearts and devastation can come from having a serious physical relationship before establishing a healthy committed emotional and spiritual relationship. I proceeded to tell Trent that I wanted him to kiss me, but only if I was the only one he would ever kiss again. I knew I was asking a lot but I felt strongly about it. He thought about my request and then kissed me one week later. :) And boy am I glad he did!! He did propose with a ring a week later, but that kiss will always be the "real proposal" to us. In some ways it feels like we have always been together, like we've known each other forever, and yet sometimes it feels like we're still those goofy teenagers who hung out at the bookstore. Thanks for the most incredible 9 years of my life honey! Here's to all the amazing years that are sure to come! I Love you!

P.S. I had a Dr.'s appointment this morning and baby is still breech. The Dr. scheduled a "turning" Thursday March 1st. If she cooperates we will immediately induce labor while she is still head down. If she doesn't turn we will wait a week to see if she turns on her own and hopefully avoid a c-section.

getting ready for baby

2012-02-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

I have been crocheting up a storm over here, mostly making baby clothes. I am still working on perfecting the patterns and will for sure be letting you know when they are available! :) Baby Girl's birthday is coming up quickly and we are trying to get all our ducks in a row in preparation. March 11th is the due date, but at my last appointment she was breech. The Dr. said we may induce labor early, after turning baby head down, so we can get her out without resorting to a C-section. A C-section sounds kinda scary since I have never had surgery in my life. Hopefully all will turn out as planned or better! :)
Another thing we have been doing over here in preparation for baby's arrival is building a triple bunk bed in the kid's room! Our 2-yr-old is still sleeping in our room in the crib and he needed a new place to sleep. The new bunk bed is pretty much finished except for a few accents and paint. Because the bed is located where the closet was we are in desperate need of new toy and clothes storage! I am trying to figure out a nice way to arrange the room so it feels effortless but well-styled. I need to be innovative and creative since I want to do all the storage on a super small budget. I'll share before and after photos as soon as it isn't a huge mess in there.

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blogging about...

2012-02-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

I have always admired bloggers that share real aspects of life. I guess I feel a connection with them because I can relate to them personally. Here is the real life version of our house right now. Trent just took down a show and we haven't gotten around to putting the paintings in the art shed yet. There are stacks of library books that are probably over due. (I think our family's over due fees provide the majority of the library's revenue. Seriously, almost every time we go we pay $10 in fees!) My craft table is drowning under a pile of baby girl clothes I've accumulated in the last 5 months. ( I can't believe I have three weeks left!) What you don't see pictured is; the huge beyond huge pile of kids clothes that my kids either don't fit or don't wear, that I am donating to the local DI, a cluttered kitchen, a homeschooling desk covered in papers and books, and toys littering almost every room! :) Real life for us is often messy, cluttered, and disorganized but it is also filled with art, dancing, friendship, learning, music and, LOVE!

relaxed Valentines party

2012-02-15T16:01:00.001-07:00

We had a few friends over for a fun little Valentines party. We made cards, decorated felt flags, ate cookies, and danced to vintage records. :) It was really laid back party. I basically sat and chatted with all the moms while the kids went at it. I loved seeing what the kids made with what I put out, they got really creative! It turned out fun, and the relaxed feel was really nice. You know, with me being eight months pregnant that was all I had energy for anyway. My sis Mer had come into town for the weekend and helped me get things ready. She was super awesome and made the cookies because I was running behind with party prep. They were so yummy thanks Mer!!

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cookie cutter sandwiches

2012-02-08T15:51:00.001-07:00

Make your Valentines Day lunch super fun with heart shaped triple layer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. To make today's lunch feel a little more special we cut our bread into tiny hearts and made PB&Js stacked three layers high. It is so fun to do and super easy for kids to do by themselves. My kids loved the tiny sandwiches but if you want a bigger sandwich just use a bigger size cookie cutter. This is a spin off from the ham and cheese version I did back in 2008, you can she it here. :)

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