Easter Basket...

Here is the basket that I'm going to use to hold all the "stuff" I'm going to be sending to my swap partner for the Vintage Easter swap. I need to get some lovely ribbon to wrap around the handle... I love the shape of this basket. I've got a vintage basket (that I'm keeping for myself I'm no dummy!) that is shaped just like this one. Here is the before photo of the basket~ I also picked up some chicks & rabbits from the dollar store. I especially love the chicks... the little chicks hop :-) I added some embellishments and taaaaaa daaaaa instant cauuuute!! Some are going to my swapping partner and some are going on my hutch! I may have to go buy some more of those chicks...they are so darn cute!! Don't they look happier now? There is still time if anyone is interested in signing up for this vintage Easter swap, you've got until March 8th.... go on over to Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly and sign up! Hurry!

Cauute!

I've made a little banner with my grandaughter's name on it... caute! (she'll be born in February) I love how the flowers turned out on this piece. Very time consuming to make them...but well worth it~

Valentine swap~

Here are two things I've made for the Valentine swap I joined. My partner and I have extended our mail out date for this upcoming Wednesday :-)

Here is a two sided swag. One side says "I love you"and the other side has the last name of my swapping partner "Roberts"I used the Martha Stewart antique silver glitter. The glitter is super fine like powder-- I'm not so sure I like it. The upside, the glitter doesn't stick to your skin. The downside... it floats around and covers everything! I will probably add more to this swag tomorrow as it looks like it could use some more doo-dads :-)

I am also sending along a captured cupid in a jar. This is my last cupid, I've got to make more!I've got bunches of other things as well to work on and box up, but this is just what I've completed this evening :-)

One World One Heart~

This year as a participant in the One World One Heart I will be giving away this mixed media altered tin....

The drawing will be held on February the 12th. Please leave a comment to be included in the drawing! If you have come from the OWOH site and wish to view more of my blog you can see more posts by clicking on this link :-)

Altered Tins~

Well....here is my altered tin all finished for my swap partner Marilyn whose blog is called "Unshelved Words". The second tin I made is similar to this one-- I think I'll hold onto that one for the upcoming One world/one heart event on January the 19th.It is a winter wonderland swap. Here is a close up of the inside. I have never made an altered tin before.... it was fun and I like how it turned out~

Altered tins~

I've started working on my altered tin for the "Altered tin Swap" I joined. I have no idea when I've to mail it out. The devil is in the details right? Well.... lets just say, I don't believe in the devil lol

Here are my two tins I've been working on:

I've never made an altered tin.... so my partner is in for it lol. I've made two, one was to practice on. However-- I worked on them both at the same time, and I could never remember which one was the "practice one" I think they both are turning out kinda cute if I do say so myself. All of the altered tins I've seen are rectangle.... so of course I had to do a round one.

One tin has a woven nest with eggs.... I think this one I'll mail to my partner. The papers...not that you can see them are from an old school text book from 1818.

The other tin is smaller...

Being that I firmly believe in "more is better"... I am about half way finished with these.

Mixed Media Monday~

This weeks theme is: Ornamental Christmas. I've made 6 of these cones~ They were made using discolored pages from a 1920's newspaper. (don't you just love the color?) I cut the cone shape from a heavy cardstock and glued the newspaper on the inside as well as the outside. I didn't have to do the inside, but it was so white-- it just screamed "cover me!" Once they were dry, I shaped each one into a cone, you should always do this before glueing, just so you know it is going to work! I then used my hot glue and attached it quickly to hold the shape :-) *hugging glue-gun* I lovvvvvvvvve my glue gun! I then added vintage gold tinsel garland around the top and stuffed it with odds & ends. Nothing is glued in place, just stuffed-- just like the holidays! I also added a metal hole thingy on each side, what do you call those? Anywho, I just punched them into place and added a ribbon hanger. Soooooooooo easy-peasy! I'm going to hang these in my living room for some added Christmas decor~

Here is a neat "cone holder" that I picked up for $2 bucks at a thrift store--- it makes it so easy to stuff a cone with this little cutie holding it~

Front door~

Here is a little something that I whipped up for my front door for this winter/holiday season... I had seen something similar in a magazine and thought "I can make that!"I used a pair of small ice skates (originally black) I picked up for$5 bucks (which I painted pink) I added some textured paint to the blades for the appearance of snow then while still wet I sprinkled on some diamond glitter (Michaels $5 bucks) The snowballs were made using styrofoam balls (a box full for free!) and some joint compound which I had on hand in the garage. I poked a wooden skewer into each ball to use as a handle while I covered each ball with the joint compound-- this also made it easier to let each styrofoam ball dry completely because you can insert them into cups/vases etc to let them dry. After the snowballs were dry I put some glitter randomly onto each ball. I picked up this huge baby blue syrup bucket for $1 buck this past Saturday at a yard sale :-) The greenery was a wreath I had that I just smooshed together into a greenery blob. I then just stuffed it into the bucket, tied on the skates.... poked the skewers into the greenery...and added two white glittered bows. Taaaaaaa daaaaaaaaaa instant cute!Just a girl is hosting a craft party, be sure to go over and check it out! Also, The Inspired Room is hosting a "Holiday Linky Love" event... check it out as well!!

Bloggy giveaway!

Here is my contribution to the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival... If your name is drawn on my blog as the winner of my "bloggy give away" you will be receiving this little fairy thats made a snow ball her little home. Glitter & vintage flowers adorn her home-sweet-home... while she sits inside atop a thrown of glittery snow with found rhinestones and pearls which lay at her feet. She has been fluttering around my studio picking up odds & ends to furnish her quaint abode.... she is very victorian in her thinking of "More is better" A true girlie-girl!

Here is the opening with the fairy sitting inside-- reminds me of those sugar eggs at Easter time~
Here is a closer look at the top of the snowball...... Please leave a comment with a link to your blog or an e-mail address if you'd like to be entered into my drawing to have a chance at winning this little fairy.

If you want to check out more blog "giveaways" please click here ---> Bloggy Give Aways Coolio huh? One site that lists zillions of giveaways!

If your interested in viewing more of my blog you can click "here" I just posted two yummy pumpkin cookie recipes that are a "must try" for the upcoming holidays!!! Soooooo simple and soooooooo good!

Goofing around~

Just not feeling like doing much of anything lately.... I think its the change in the weather..yes, thats it, thats the excuse I'm going to use :-) I did make a "tag" of sorts to put on a baby shower gift that my daughter is giving to one of her girlfriends. She got her a huge rug...so I made a "tag/swag" to put on the wrapped rug with the new babies name on it "Emily"...I used the new glitter from Martha Stewart--- I must say, it was super fine stuff and I'm glad I purchased it. I also was goofing around with some pipe cleaners...I like the "vintage" look that this piece ended up having.
Nothing "fabulous" just poking along....

Mixed Media Monday~

This weeks theme: Texture
Ok....... Finally finished it, here it is in all its glittered glory~ Behind the gal in the pink dress is the glittered word "Wish"

I created this piece using an old wooden gold frame as the base. I created a shadow-box effect by backing the piece with a piece of foam core. I then went around the edge with pleated gold crepe paper to hide the joint between the frame & the foam core. I used a china torso & legs with which I've created "a dress that flows like music" lol (Her dress is created using vintage sheet music) I first wet the paper with water, then hot glued it to the dress form (which was chicken wire) I then painted a wash of pink over that.... then I highlighted the dress with some chunky pink glitter. I even gave her a matching head piece~ She is standing in front of gold glittered chicken wire, gold glittered leaves, gold glittered berries... and a little bird nest which houses a silver glittered bird~

:-)

I finished up the swag I was making for my swap partner Amy. I found out she is going to be having a baby at the end of May....so I'm thinking I want to make her a "baby" swag as well :-) I am so happy for her! I also worked up some "pirate" swags for my grandson's first birthday. I have yet to string them together as I'm unsure if I want keep it all solid black or add another color.... still thinking on that.
Well here is my little house that I'm making for the cute cottage swap. So far so good. I used 60 grit sand paper for the roofs shingles. I am unsure about the steps, I may go a whole different look.
I am making it so that the roof can come off so you can see inside. I've lined the inside of the house, and I made a brick floor as well. I have in mind to have one of my baby fairies take up residence in this little cottage. I am anxious to complete it so I can add the glitter and snow and see it in all its glory :-)
Here is little Harry sitting and contemplating life~and this little cherub is Margaret~