Craft weekend Teaser

Here are some shots of my craftastic weekend with Karen.

Matchbox Swap - What I Received!

Here are the two matchboxes i received from the Curiosities Swap.  The top one from "jay" and the bottom one from "ell".  J's box was so charming and vintage looking with the tea stained floral fabric and gently aged floral lace applique.  L's box was more traditional halloween colouring with graphic patterned paper and nice crinkled ribbon holding a date charm.

Imagine how wonderful it is to take the first peak inside!  These babies are jammed packed with goodies!

Here are L's contents - i love the crisp colour palette especially the addition of the chartreuse.  Along with the paper medallians were some scatter sequins, two brass name plates, some creepy potion labels, spider web playing cards, black wings, feathers and beads.

I thought this was a clever way to "trade" washi tape.  Attach to a glossy card for easy removal.

Like me, both gals added some "extras" that were not inside the matchbox.  Ell included a six pack of glitter, some sparkly foam stickers, pipe cleaners, pencils, ribbons all contained in the coolest halloween goody bag!

Here are the contents of J's box - some lovely vintage lace and ribbon, a collection of shell beads, mini acorns and pumpkins, a spool of linen twine and a sweet little metal salt shaker.

J's little "extra" was not so little!  She cleverly used a charming book cover to sandwich a stack of goodies, tied with rayon seam binding and a vintage key.

Inside the bundle was an assortment of fabrics in rich tones, a cabinet card, a cool brochure and a couple of those illustrated items from Michaels - in this case some key rub-on's and a notepad with biniculars.

Thanks to both ladies for participating in this swap!  Sound like something you'd like to do?  Stay tuned to Heather's website and blog for the next Petite Inspiration Matchbox Swap!  Maybe we'll be swap partners!

Curiosities Theme Matchbox Swap

I participated once again in Heather's Petite Inspiration Matchbox Swap.  The theme was "Curiosities". 

 You could choose to do black and white, halloween, or just vintage.  I chose to do a sort of halloween steampunk collection of goodies - and used Heather's graphic as my inspiration, even included a large faux vintage key!

 I covered my box with text and images from an old Sear's catalog (reproduced) with various potions and elixers.  I added some purple and black ribbon to the edge and applied purple lace with a black button to the end of the box. 

 Here is the array of doodads i wanted to put INSIDE the box! I pulled together an assortment of cool vintage, metal and halloween themed items.

 Here is a cool idea - stamping on muslin. The spectacles and  bicycle are stamps from Michaels dollar bins.

 I purchased several containers from TAP Plastics to house the little things like buttons and metal findings.  You can see them in the middle above, little plastic vials, the clear purple box, the flat box, a square box.  And no, you are not seeing double!  I always make sure each of the two boxes contain the SAME items!  Not required - but it makes it fun to set my own restrictions!  Or else i'd never know when to stop!!

 Here are some small vintage-y images i put in a glassine envelope with a cool eye sticker.

 Here are large items that would not fit in the box - but i added along for the ride.  The vintage illustrations attached to a sheet of orange trading stamps are rub ons from Michaels.   I put them all in the black paper goodie bag with the cat's eyes.  The orange "happy halloween" is one of those foam cut outs.

 Here are more of the papers, napkins and transparencies i included.

 Here is how everything looked when it was ready to get packed up. The purple coffin is some kind of putty from CVS - more "modern" than i like - but i liked the colour matched my theme. I just love that butterfly ribbon. You can see what fit into the box, including a porcelain doll arm and some ribbons and lace.

 Here are a few more shots of my completed box.  I created a black tulle ruffle along with some purple shimmery ribbon to create a "nest" for a black raven bird from Michaels.  I made a crown out of a gold wire star, by bending it into a crown shape - then added some additional bling with sticky rhinestones.

My final touch was another muslin printed with the word SECRETS tied with a bit of ribbon and loosely draped over the bird. 
Be sure to check out examples of the other participants swaps here on flickr.
Here is my swap last year.

Card Making Play Date Part Two

 Back in August on vacation, i painted a bunch of birds and other winged creatures. Some on cards and some on muslin.  Yesterday at the second day of our play date, with a "work on your own project" theme - and i thought this was the perfect time to finish the cards.

 Here is the first group i completed.  The birds were stamped onto nice watercolour paper postcards using Martha Stewart stamps.  Then hand painted with guache paints.  Yesterday i added the script background with light sepia ink.  then grounded the artwork with a collage of old letters, wallpaper, decorative florentine paper, bits of lace and stamps and butterfly stickers.

Here is a closeup.

Here is my second batch - using birds and bugs painted on muslin, which i talked about HERE.
The birds were painted and cut out of the fabric and used in collage on the watercolor cards with the same type of ephemera and decorative papers as the first batch.  Once i have a sort of 'recipe' i like to make quick work of cranking them out assembly line style.  I plan to use these as thank you cards (long overdue!) from my birthday party last month.

Mini Shadow Box Play Date

 My friend and neighbour Z. hosted a craftapalooza play date weekend.  She started by setting out supplies all around her spacious kitchen.  Including artfully arranging snacks!  how cute is this "paint pallet" of m'n'm's in a muffin tin?  we enjoyed a nutricious breakfast of fruit, yogurt and pastries and then got to work collecting supplies.

 We were given instructions to not bring anything - that she wanted us to share her loot.  Here are all the chunky doodads in little dishes and jars displayed on a painted cabinet.

 Here are the ribbons, flowers and lace.  K. brought her collection of paper flowers to add to the festivities.

 Here was our project "before".  two mini shadow boxes about 7 inches square.  From the DOLLAR STORE! - Yup, a dollar each.

 Here is my box - not assembled - just trying things out for size and pattern placement.  I kind of cheated.   Another artsy friend gave me a stack of ATC's she no longer wanted - so i just cut them into 2" squares and used them for backgrounds.

 Here are the ATC's and other pretty papers cut to size and glued into the compartments.  I should mention i gave the shadow box a quick coating of white gesso.

 I picked up a blank paper weight at an estate sale on Friday - so i created this background while taking a break from the shadow box.  Pretty background paper - a bird cut from a stamp, another bird charm, some script paper, a vintage postage stamp, and a section of Z's grandmother's tatting.

 Next we broke for lunch.  On our place settings was a gift of some pretty napkins - perfect for future collage - especially with beeswax!

Z. prepared a delicious unconstructed Salade Nicoise.

 After lunch i put the finishing touches on my bird themed shadow box.  Yes - it is terribly cluttered - but filled with all sorts of fun things. There are bird stamps, bird charms, bird nests, bird images and plenty of non-avian things too.  A light dusting of brown ink around the edges, touched off with a bit of metallic paint addeed a nice aged effect.

 And here is my finished paper weight.  These things sell for big bucks at fancy gift shops.  I am so pleased how mine came together for about $2!

 Here is the start of my second shadow box, with a slightly different configuration. A light coat of white gesso to get started.  I had planned to use an assortment of vintage office supplies - cute little boxes and tools - but alas they were all too big for the small compartments.  I had already done a vintage neutral background - so i turned it into a masculine monochromatic shadow box.  Which incidently my husband loves!

 Here is the finished product. I used three authentic vintage photographs along side an assortment of ephemera - sears add for formaldehide, a cancelled bank check, the table of contents from a law book - which just happened to have my family name listed.  Then all the chunky elements like a watch face, optometrist lense, buttons and a key.  The phone and train locomotive are printed on transparencies.  It is hard to see from the photo - but everything is nicely layered for added depth.

 Here is Z's feminine box in progress.  She used an assortment of Melissa Frances papers for backgrounds.

 She carefully chose all the elements to place inside.

And here are the results - a pretty tribute to baby Sophie.  Z even made the tiny copper wire nest with pearl beads! 

 L. made this fun beach themed box complete tieh rick rack trim, shells behind mesh, a little vial of sand, some pebbles and pretty rosey hues - what a nice change of pace from traditional blue.

 L. also made this contemporary styled box with some of the compartments painted green.  Love her white painted stitching and the use of measuring tape. Those french vocabulary pages add a bold graphic statement.

 K. made this shrine to all things bling!  She stained her box and added faded background papers that evoke wall papers from a bygone era.  Then centered a piece of vintage jewelry to each section.  She cannot decide whether to give it away (the original plan) or keep it for herself!

K. also made this charming shadown box as a tribute to her husband who is spending the summer traveling to race car events all over the country.  yeah, like the Indianapolis 500 and Bonneville speedway. Each of those maps is a place he has been, enjoying the fruits of his retirement.  She is not finished adding cars and gears and other many embellishments - but what a fun way to document a memorable vacation!