Red Lead Charm Swap

My charms from the November swap at Red Lead came today and they are SO sweet! I received charms this time from Susie, Chris and Kathy. Susie made the quilted square charm...isn't it cute? Kathy made the dangling charm with the vintage image...love it! And Chris made the faux resin charm pendant. I actually got to watch Chris make some of these when I went out to Red Lead in October...I feel so lucky to own one now! Thank you ladies...I love the charms! And look at the little box of goodies that came with the charms! Here's the charm I made for the swap...it's a chipboard and mica charm using the adorable Red Lead pixie stamp. This has got to be one of the sweetest stamps ever! We're not trading charms in January...it'll be altered dominoes...can't wait!

Snow People

I was so inspired by this article in Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine and by Tami B. of Dapple Designs that I had to try making my own group of snow people! I thought they'd be the perfect small gift to give each of the women in my monthly lunch group. It was amazing how each one developed its own personality as I added different pieces to the bottles and how it became clear just which bottle would go to each person. I even made one for myself and the minute I stuck in that red hat pin I new that one had to be mine! This was such a fun project and the instructions in the article are very easy to follow...plus I got to play with glitter...who doesn't love that?! Here are a few photos showing the bottles' transformation. Now, don't you want to go make some snow people of your own?

Ornament Swaps

I love making ornaments! This year I've taken part in two ornament swaps. The first one is is for the Winter Whimsy Mitten swap (the mitten, of course!) and the second (the vintage tin) is for the Red Lead Paperworks swap. Both of these were lots of fun to make. There's a wonderful tutorial on The Feathered Nest for the mitten ornament. Be sure to check out this site when you can sit down with a cup of tea and a few hours to spare...it's full of beautiful things. Dawn graciously shares many of her images and tutorials and presents everything is such a gorgeous way. The second ornament is a vintage tart tin with one of Red Lead's sweet collage images. I colored the image and then used some Crackle Accents to further age it. These have just flown the coop so I'll be sure to post photos of the ornaments I receive in return.

Vintage Veranda Challenges

Here are two pieces I made in response to challenges on the Vintage Veranda. The first challenge was to use an inchie to create an ATC then use the ATC in a card. I'm still learning to work with digital kits so I chose to use one of these to make the card. This is a free set called Christmas Blessings offered by CuddleBeez Scraps. Be sure to check out her site...she is very generous with her freebies! The second challenge was to make a vintage tag. I've used one of the Jenni Bowlin Christmas Bingo cards in this tag...I just love using them.

November ATC Swaps

Here are two sets of ATC's I received from November swaps. The first set is from the Stampin D'Amour group and the second is from the Red Lead Paperworks group. Aren't they just great? Each card is a small masterpiece! This is the ATC I sent in for the Red Lead swap. I loved the hint of a mile on this woman's face...usually people in these old photos are so stern...but I think her eyes are actually twinkling!

29 Day Giveaway

Chrysti of Art by Chrysti has joined the 29 Days of Giving Challenge and will be having a giveaway on her blog for the next 29 days. The idea behind the challenge is to give something away each day in order to "become a part of the global giving movement that inspires more generosity on our planet." Chrysti has asked everyone to spread the word about the giveaways so that as many people can be touched as possible. Why don't you go have a look?

Holiday Countdown at Ten Two Studios

Well, it's time to start the holiday count down with Lisa Vollrath at Ten Two Studios. Lisa is generously sharing with us again a new holiday image every day! The card here is one of the images from last year so I know you'll want to see what she has in store for us this time. If you're the impatient sort she even has a way to get all the images at once! Be sure to look around Lisa's sites...she has a lot of great info to share along with wonderful collage sheets and printables, project ideas, contests, swaps and more! Start the countdown now and have fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

4 x 4's

Here are two 4 x 4 pages I made for two separate books. The first is for a "Get Well" book and the second is for a "Cheer Up and Hang in There" book. I'll try and post pictures of the entire books when they're completed. These are two projects headed by Mary Ann at Follow Your Bliss. If you enjoy creating itty bitty books or 4 x4 books take a look...you just might want to join us!

Art Creations Friday

Vintage Wil and some friends have started a new Friday challenge site called Art Creations Friday. Their first challenge was to use this gorgeous image in an art piece of some kind. Be sure to stop by to join in the challenge or just to take a look at all the beautiful creations. Here's mine:

Make a Moo or Two

The theme this week on Make a Moo or Two is Pets. Here's mine...what kind of pet lover are you? Be sure to take a look at all the moos here!

Treats from Linda S.

My sweet blog friend Linda has sent me the most wonderful little package! She was sending me a pair of her handmade earrings (thank you so much...they're lovely!) but she also included a fun deck of Washington state playing cards and a vintage Avon sheep perfume bottle! I've never seen one of these...it's adorable. Isn't it amazing how someone I've never met in person can know just what I'd love! Thank you Linda...you're the best!

Gothic Arches

The Gothic Arches Challenge site is holding a Yuletide Gothic Arch contest through Saturday. The challenge is to create a gothic arch with a "yuletide" theme. On November 24th the winner will be selected and will receive a lovely sheet of stamps from Sugar Lump Studios called Yuletide Blessings. Be sure to take a look at all the beautiful arches. Here's mine...

Home for the Holidays Swap - Part 2

Well, you've seen what I sent my swap partner Carrie...now you can take a look at what she sent me! She created a gorgeous package all tied up in cellophane and looking like a little snow globe inside. She made some darling things...an adorable pin cushion jar filled with holiday trims and pins, a beautiful hanging card, lovely ornaments and a gift bag with an angel image on it filled with lots of vintage sewing notions...just the kind of things I love! She also included a handsome nutcracker, two shakers filled with glitter (how fun!) and lots of ribbons and pom poms, sequins and shiny bits...just perfect for making some holiday treasures of my own! Thank you Carrie...I just love it!

Home for the Holidays Swap

CuppcakeDD is the host of some wonderful vintage ephemera swaps and I've just had the pleasure of participating in my first one...the Home for the Holidays Swap. I made my swap partner Carrie an ornament and a wall hanger then filled her package with all kinds of vintage Christmas ephemera. I had such fun finding just the right things to include in her package. And I also had fun decorating the mailing box so she could enjoy it from the moment she saw it. Here's a look.

Christmas hanger

I love these vintage Christmas card images. Here's a small hanging card I made for my sister.

Generations

Here's a digital atc I made today for the November challenge at the Vintage Veranda. I'm still of two minds when it comes to creating digitally. It's fun and a challenge to create something in a totally new way and it's very convenient to be able to take an element...such as a button for instance...and change it's size and color to fit my needs at the moment. On the other hand there's something about it that leaves me feeling dissatisfied. The piece never looks as good to me in my hands as it does on my computer screen. Anyway...the theme this month is "generations" and the challenge is to create a piece with "women and child/children" as the focus. I've chosen this particular photo because of the small smile on the mother's face. So often in these old photos the people look so stern. I just love the serene smile this woman wears. I bet she was a wonderful mother. This photo was generously shared at The Vintage Moth.

SDA - November

I've had so much fun today playing at home in my craft room. I love having Mondays off especially when I don't have anything else pressing. I can get lost for hours cutting and pasting. I finished up my set of atc's for the SDA November swap. This morning I came across this lovely Sunflower Trade Card so generously shared by Hophopjingleboo (don't you love that name?!) here. I just knew I had to make a card with her...she's so golden and autumny. For some reason, my scanner just can't get the colors right on this card...the little gem at her throat is orangey but it insists on scanning as green! And all the glowing gold colors look a little flat...but you get the idea.

TMTA - Purple

Purple is the theme this week on TMTA. Purple is my mom's favorite color and I always think of her when I make anything in purple. So, my dear little mumma...this purple fairy girl will be flying to you soon! This sweet image is from Lisa's Altered Art and the background was shared by Gaby here.

Home for the Holidays Swap

I know, I know... it's not Thanksgiving yet but I've already been working on a few Christmas swaps this weekend. Here's one I've finished...this is an old book cover that I've turned into a small hanging ornament of sorts. I have one more small giftie to make for my swap partner and my package will be complete!

TMTA - Angels

I've always been fascinated by angels ever since I was a little girl attending Catholic school. We'd go to mass every morning before class and I loved the days when we got to sit on the right side of the church because there was a huge statue of an angel there that I thought was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. She had a lovely, serene face and when I was restless I'd just look at her and wonder what she might be thinking...I think she smiled at me at times.

Booklace Two

Ann, an online friend from the Netherlands, admired my booklace necklace and has struck up a trade. I've made her a booklace of her own. It's smaller...only 4 pages...and I find I like the smaller size just as well if not better. I've used two of the same images that she admired from the first booklace but tried something a little different and added a brass stamping to the mica page. I hope she likes it! She'll be sending me one of her mixed media wall hangings. She does lovely work and I'm thrilled to be able to have a piece of her art for my own. Be sure to take a look at Ann's blog and see for yourself.

Pumpkin Harvest

A card I made for the challenge at the Vintage Veranda. The theme this time was "harvest." I love this simple image of these two girls with their pumpkins.

ATC Swaps

I hope everyone had a spooky Halloween...I did! I love vintage Halloween images so I really enjoyed seeing all the ATC's from my two swaps this month. The first set is from the SDA swap...this is such a great group of swappers. I'm always delighted with these cards.






Top: Kris, Julie, Lyneen
Middle: Alice, Kathleen, Sarah
Bottom: Pam, Louise, Mine


The second set is from the swappers at Red Lead Paperworks. This is another great group! I feel so lucky to be part of both of these groups!










Top: Jan, Sally, Kim
Middle: Linda S., Linda B., Nela
Bottom: Debbie, Denise, Becky

Vintage Veranda

The Vintage Veranda is a new online community dedicated to creating in a vintage style. The site was created by Pam, Sarah and Louise as a resource and a place to share our love for vintage style creations. Twice a month they hold a challenge...the first challenge this month was to create something using a recipe. Lucky me...my entry was randomly chosen to win a wonderful package of vintage goodies! My Vintage Veranda fun pack arrived today and just take a look...there's all sorts of vintage things...buttons, ribbons, lace, foreign money, photos, lots of wonderful paper ephemera, tulle, golden doilies, flowers, playing cards and a big beautiful bingo card! Thank you ladies...what a treat! Here's a photo of all the goodies and the atc I made for the challenge...Making Cookies. If you love a vintage look be sure to stop in for a visit at the Vintage Veranda!

Make a Moo or Two

This week's theme on Make a Moo or Two is "Tone in Tone." My favorite color is red so here's my little red moo. You can see all the other colorful moos here.

Red Lead Charm Swap

I received my charms from the Red Lead charm swap and they're just great. There's a lovely microscope slide charm from Laura with wonderful images on both sides, a colorful domino charm from Kathy reminding me to Laugh and an adorable charm from Andra with an Owl (sorry for the glare) on one side and the Pussycat on the other...too cute! I forgot to post a photo earlier of the charms I sent this round so here they are. I used brass chick charms from Red Lead and pieces of an old ruler to make "art chicks rule" charms. As usual, Kitten included some fun goodies when she returned the charms. Just look at that bony hand! I thing I'm going to have to just drill a hole in it, hang it on a chain and wear it to work on Halloween!

Digital ATC

Here's my first attempt at creating a digital ATC. I used a vintage photo that I had, then added elements from a digital Halloween kit from Tangie Baxter Designs. I had fun making this and learning a little more about how my Photoshop Elements program works but I realized I missed the actual cutting and pasting. This is my October atc for the RedLead group.

Two more atcs...Halloween and Day of the Dead

Here are two atc's I made recently...the first one for our lunch group and the second one is for the October SDA swap.

TMTA - Halloween

Don't you just love Halloween? It's always been one of my favorite holidays. There are so many Halloween-y ideas and projects I always want to do and never enough time to do them all. Kris from A Nostalgic Halloween has the right idea...an entire blog devoted to all things Halloween...all year long. If you haven't seen it go take a look!