Saturday, March 5, 2011

Matchbox Swap - Flea Market Theme

I participated in yet another petite inspiration matchbox swaps last month.  The theme was "flea market" and we were paired based on our response to this question:
Please select which best describes your "Flea Market Style":

    (a) Neutrals, whites, aged, chippy, rusty
    (b) Victorian, pastels, florals, foof, cottage
    (c) Bright, bold, kitsch, retro, funky
    (d) Anything goes!
Although i picked "a" - i actually like anything goes! Anything that is that is vintage and pretty and i can use in collage or assemblage.

I received two lovely boxes from Erica and Michelle.  They both went with a primarily white and ecru theme.  it still amazes me how much fun a person can back into a tiny little box!
Erica covered her box with vintage sewing pattern images and lace.  Inside was a nice chunky piece of chenille - probably from a bedspread.  Also some doilies and little spools of lace and a lovely vintage gold pin, some dominoes and a pretty little heart charm.  Inside two vellum envelopes were a nice assortment of buttons and pearl beads.  She used that cool new printed washi tape to close the envelopes.
Michele sent a more eclectic mix, including buttons and lace, interested bits of paper, a plastic tin of goodies, some victorian scrap, and some some vintage christmas embellishments.  her box was decorated with sepia toned paper with lace and stickers and golden goodies.

You can see more pictures of other people's creatively decorated and lusciously filled boxes on the flickr site HERE.
  I went with a vintage office theme - using my latest paper acquisition from Cavallini.  I just adore their papers.  I went to the infamous Flax store in San Francisco and had to exercise great restraint and only purchase 4 sheets of paper!  One sheet was filled with reproductions of vintage ephemera, including two ads for typewriters.  I cut them out and glued them to the boxes.  I added some vintage red Cotton seam binding to the edges and added some two tone twine with a jaunty bow.
To enhance the "office" theme i added each girls initials with old typewriter keys.  And a plastic rosette pin set that off nicely. 
  Inside the box i was challenged to fit everything i wanted to add.  Then i realized that my boxes were a bit smaller than the ones i received.   no problem - they'll just get a little bonus stash outside the box!  The loot included ads from an old magazine, stamps and stickers, flash cards, buttons and floral doodads.  I stayed with a red/orange/yellow theme.  That helps decide what to include!  Inside little key tag boxes are some , you guessed it, keytags! plus old spinner erasers, brass tabs, watch faces, playing pieces and buttons.  I also threw in some parrot embroidered napkins, little tubular pencil lead boxes, rick rack, striped paper coin holders, some linoleum samples and a large plastic number.
 
I hope the gals love their boxes as much as i love the ones they sent me!

3 comments:

curlyqmosaics said...

I absolutely ADORE the swap boxes you created! The imagery on the boxes alone is so fantastic! Your goodies inside are to-die-for as well!

Zenetta said...

OK, so being your neighbor, I actually saw your boxes (pre-filling) and did not register in my mind that they did not come that way---duh. Your creativity never ceases to amaze me!

Erica said...

This was a fabulous treasure box! I had so much fun with this swap. Thanks for being a great partner!