SUMMER'S ENCHANTED GARDEN DOMINO BOOK SWAP

I posted here what I created for my swap partner Luna Lilly for this Vintage Dragonfly Swap, this is the beautiful creation I received.  Isn't it sweet!

SUMMER'S ENCHANTED GARDEN DOMINO BOOK SWAP

I have been a member of The Vintage Dragonfly Swap group for several years, Joanne does the most creative swaps!  This latest one is for a domino book, here is what I created for my swap partner.

The front (I forgot to take a photo of the back).  The Garden Fairy image is from Retro Cafe Art.

The inside.  These images are from "Gallery Cat".

MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES CHALLENGE (APRIL 2/14) EASTER (OR FLOWERS)

It's time for the 1st of Heather's monthly challenges at MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES !  Make sure you check out what Heather, Helene, Carol and Shea are doing for this challenge - I am working with such a creative group the ideas just keep coming!

Have you been to Heather's Etsy shoppe?  Run over there and check out the goodies!  It's a great place to shake out those "crafty voices" you are hearing!

I love crafting holiday projects and chose "Easter" as the theme to go with.  I had to do a "spring twist" on the Christmas themed peat pots I have started doing.  Vintage of course!  You might notice that I get onto doing a particular project and twist it every way possible until the next project captures my imagination.  And as luck has it the Vintage Dragonfly Easter swap is altered peat pot baskets, so my little bit of fun already has a home.

I used Heather's Vintage Easter Eggs to create the main focus in my basket.   Each egg is double sided, I stuffed them with a tiny bit of cotton batting for dimension.  I used Glossy Accents Crackle and Distress Ink to age them and Stickles around the edges for more sparkle.

The base is a 3" peat pot which I painted with white gesso as my first step.  Make sure you let it dry, the peat pot will be doing the job it is supposed to do and sucking up the moisture LOL  I cut an embroidered doily apart for the next layer.  I used DST (double sided tape) to adhere the doily and ribbons.  At the bottom are two layers of trim; ruffled gingham topped with a pansy trim.  Next I punched the holes on each side (Crop A Dile) for the handle which is two chenille stems twisted together.  I trimmed the top edge of the pot with some mini purple tinsel garland (E6000 glue) for a little bit of sparkle to show through the crocheted doily which I then lined the pot with.

I have stuffed my basket with white waxy paper grass (more like the Easter grass from my childhood) some tiny speckled eggs, a chenille chick and tiny flocked flowers.  A satin ribbon bow finishes it off.

SWEET SENTIMENTS VALENTINE BOX

I covered  a small 3x4 oval paper mache box with papers from the Graphic 45 line "Sweet Sentiments" for my "partner" in a Valentine Swap hosted by JoAnne of Vintage Dragonfly.  We have such fun!

The images from G45 stand on their own, it's hard to cover any bit of them up!  I edged the top with Perfect Pearls, created a bouquet with some of the tiniest blooms in my stash, tied it with a bow and added a banner from My Artistic Adventures Etsy.  I adore banners!  I find them finicky to do from scratch so having a sheet of banners to choose from is my idea of perfection, a couple of little folds at each end to make them pop up and voila!  Heather has also now done alpha sheets sized to use on her banners - heaven!

The top and bottom are edged with a row of white Dresden trim which I inked to match the paper.  I used my favourite Platinum Stickles to add some more sparkle.  When I want my projects to have a vintage look (and I almost always do) I lightly trace all of the edges with glitter, typically Platinum Stickles which sparkles but is more neutral.

and packed with Valentine goodies!

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS - VINTAGE DRAGONFLY MATCHBOX SWAP

Mine arrived from Sue in Massachusetts!  What a treasure, loaded with all sorts of goodness, I feel quite spoiled.  All of the lace, tulle and trim, vintage jewels and so much more...going into my stash once I have looked them over to my heart's content :)   I posted what I made and sent here.

MAY FLOWERS MATCHBOX SWAP - THE VINTAGE DRAGON FLY

Once again JoAnne of The Vintage Dragon Fly has hosted a great swap.  The theme this round was "May Flowers".  We each put down our fav colours etc and then were matched up with a swap partner.  My partner likes antiques, primitives and muted colours.  I hope that primitive was the right clue because I really went with that.

 Here is what I did; the paper is from Farmhouse (new paper company to me) muted blues, brown, ochre and green on a cream background, Belgian lace trim, the main flower is also from Farmhouse, Prima leaves inked up a bit, stems from my stash, a vintage (real!) keyhole and key (not real).

and the treasures inside;

A strip of vintage blue cross stitched trim, soft cream and blue lace, cobalt blue stickpin, butterfly twill ribbon, twine flower, tiny clothespins, waxed linen and baker's twines (think laundry lines), vintage corsage pins, a vintage pink beribboned sachet, spun cotton mushrooms and a handful of bakelite and plastic vintage buttons.

FAIRY CHILD TAG SWAP - VINTAGE DRAGONFLY

These are the tags I received in JoAnne's "Fairy Child Tag Swap"...you pick a favourite, I am lovin' each and every one!


From Jo Wash...the sweetest gossamer and feather wings and stickpin sceptor;

From Michele Askeroth...all of the sweet details..love the little banner

From Mercedes Scott...baby fairy and "Where Do the Fairies Hide?" music sheet background

From Peggy Gatto...the little Prince of Fairies...sweet little waif

From Kelly Deal...an adorable flower fairy

From JoAnne (our fearless Swap Queen)...I am pretty sure I have had my "knickers" in a similar knot!

Thank you JoAnne for yet another fabby swap and to all of my partners for endless enchantment!

BE MINE - A VALENTINE SPOOLIE

A VALENTINE SPOOLIE SWAP

THE VINTAGE DRAGONFLY

What a fun swap!  This one was inspired by Lynn Stevens who agreed to let her take on spoolies be the inspiration.   I first saw spoolies a few years ago, little halloween creatures with clay heads on a spool and many variations since.  Now that I have finally tried my own take, you can expect to see these cropping up!   

Here is the one I did for my swap partner Karla.  I started with a sheet of vintage scrap circa 1920, the sheet was wedding themed with little flower girls and boys, cupids and I knew they would be perfect here.   

WINTER WHITES MATCHBOX SWAP - VINTAGE DRAGONFLY

For this first 2013 swap from Vintage Dragonfly we were to think soft wintry images and pack the inside with winter inspiration.  Using white, off white, cream, ecru, beige as our main colour scheme.  We could use touches of soft, warm, muted colours and bits of silver.My swap partner this time is JoAnne herself and yes this does make me nervous LOL

I knew the image I wanted to use, it is from one of my own vintage postcards dated 1908.  It's inscribed "New Year Greetings, To Baby Verna, From Dodo.  I am drawn more to the Edwardian style and decorative arts than Victorian.

The young girl in my image is holding what looks like a huge bouquet of lilac hydrangea so that was obviously my muted colour ..ok so I took liberty on the palette but I couldn't control myself.   I covered the image in sugar beads and the rest of the matchbox cover in a silvery pale lilac paper.  The inside and outer ends, I covered with a rich flocked plum paper, the edges all covered in silvery or lilac Stickles.  I added a sheer cream ribbon, touched with silver Stickles around the outside.  I really like the lush and elegant look and decided not to add anything else.

It has arrived and I received a lovely note from JoAnne this morning.  If you aren't familiar with the Vintage Dragonfly do check it out!

SHABBY CHIC VINTAGE CHRISTMAS GARLAND SWAP

Did you know that "hangie things" are my absolute favourite!  Banners, bunting, drops, flags,  garlands, pennants, swags - by any name!  Of course I was going to be in on another of the fabulous swaps hosted by JoAnne of the Vintage Dragonfly. 

JoAnne supplied the pattern (choice of two) and we are required to create 6 pieces to swap.  We were to use white, cream and/or  ivory and perhaps the barest touch of other colour along with vintage images. 

I have made all of mine the same; background pps are Graphic 45, the holly border along the top is a MS punch which I embossed in clear for a bit more shine,  the rest is bordered with Opal Liquid Pearls which pick up a bit of the Evergreen Bough Distress Ink which I did the edges in, my vintage image (I'm sorry source forgotten!  Still haven't recovered brain cells lost from anesthetic!) is layered on cream cardstock which is edged with Platinum Stickles, the image is covered with Sugar Beads (translucent microbeads), at the bottom I have used a Prima ivory flower, some ivory stamens from my stash, glittered leaves from a floral pick and a coil of gold bullion wire (both Michael's) and finally a cream tassle.   

JoAnne will put six of our contributions together and mail us back a completed garland!  I can hardly wait! 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS MATCHBOX ORNAMENT SWAP

Except for a few touches here and there, I am ready to send off my ornaments for the "Very Merry Christmas Matchbox Ornament Swap" hosted by Joanne of "Vintage Dragonfly".  We are to do eight ornaments using the small 32 count matchboxes.

My idea was to recreate a snowy Victorian or Edwardian style house. The bottom four I used Liquid Embroidery puffed up with my heat gun for the snow.  Ran out!  And couldn't find it locally.  The top four I have used "Polar"  Flower Soft for the snow which looks nicer IRL than in the pic.  I have glittered each one with "Warm Highlights" microfine glitter from GlitterRitz.  Inside I have adhered an angel image from Digital Collage Sheets outlined with Stickles.  I will put a small chandelier bead and some other goodies inside each one.  Thanks Joanne for yet again a great fun swap!

E

SUMMER OF COLOUR #2 - ICE CREAM INSPIRATIONS WEEK 5

It's not too late to check out Kristin's Summer of Colour 2 for an amazing variety of inspiration!  This week's inspiration "Wild 'n Reckless" sherbet.

Purple, blues and green - wow!  I'm still multi-tasking with my projects, these are the perfect colours (not as subdued as this scan appears)  to work into the Mermaid themed mini card swap with JoAnne of The Vintage Dragonfly.  

Images are from Steam Dust Studios on Etsy and are mounted on a background I created in Colour Love 101, not sure that you can see the beach I created at the bottom with Glossy Accents and sand, I embedded sea  charms and shell sequins from AlphaStamps, hotfixed Swarovski crystals and framed it all with a lovely blue green Twinkling H20.