tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66006566276343834792024-03-12T17:58:42.981-07:00Scarlet Monkey See~See~Buy~Cherish~Create~Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-23781083169660957232010-11-13T20:11:00.000-08:002010-11-13T22:28:34.600-08:00It's Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas..........<span style="font-family:georgia;">Or not.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But I would like it to look like Christmas, which is strange. I was just lamenting to one of my more decorator inspired pals that I hate how we go from Halloween decorations (in early September) to Christmas taking over before we are even allowed to Trick or Treat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Then last week, I went in to Michael's. They had row after row of Christmas decorations, </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">ribbons, garlands, ornaments. Don't even get me started on the craft supplies. To push me over </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">the edge once and for all, they threw in a huge container of those cinnamon and orange soaked </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">pine cones.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Screw Thanksgiving. I'm already fat and don't need to eat and entire left over pie as a consolation for staying out of the mall on Black Friday.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Besides, I think I am ready to switch out my current fall tablescape.........</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9sY8_gdUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/dQZRF-BSOQY/s1600/11-04-2010%2B093.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9sY8_gdUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/dQZRF-BSOQY/s400/11-04-2010%2B093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539265242634155330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />Yes, it really does look like that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have a confession to make. Last Christmas, I was a bit of a grinch or bitch or some other four letter word, depending on who you ask. I didn't decorate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not a bit. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I didn't even get a tree. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I was having one of those....."Christmas is so much work and I have to do everything and none </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">of you ever help because you are all jerks incapable of appreciating me or anything that I do for you</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">which is everything by the way and none of you care any ways because if you cared you would say the house looks lovely and thank you and I end up working so hard for nothing and so we will have no Christmas and that will show you because that is all you deserve because you all suck so there."<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">About 3 days before Christmas, Austin said "I can't believe you really didn't get a Christmas </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">tree." So, of course, the only person that really sucked was me. I tried to turn it around and say </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">that we are going for that whole minimalist thing. We will still be all together as a family and that is all that matters, which IS true, but I missed the spirit of the season. Missed it by about </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">1,000,000 miles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I adore Christmas. My favorite childhood memories are of my mom going all out in every room in the house. Unpacking the Christmas boxes, unwrapping the decorations. It was almost as good as Christmas morning, oohing and ahhing over the beloved treasures only seen a couple of week</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">s out of the year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, this year, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I</span> am going all out. Day after Thanksgiving. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I will still eat a whole pie, but it will be for the energy and sugar rush needed to deck this house out. I will put Buddy's spin at Gimbel's to shame.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >It should be fun as it will give me a chance to put to use all the vintage goodies I have acquired </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >over the past year of estate sale-ing to use. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Following is the equivalent of the scrapbooking sticker sneeze......the blogger's picture sneeze.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are some of my favorite finds that are helping me to get in the mood...................</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qpNXwKlI/AAAAAAAAAP8/NMq6mtIzOCs/s1600/02.26.10%2B8570.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qpNXwKlI/AAAAAAAAAP8/NMq6mtIzOCs/s400/02.26.10%2B8570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539263322885466706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Vintage Chenille covered ornaments with mercury glass centers.<br />Can I just tell you how much I adore the 70's colors....avocado, orange and harvest gold. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN91J9pqsGI/AAAAAAAAAQU/l615b1ZOUYg/s1600/02.26.10%2B7351.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN91J9pqsGI/AAAAAAAAAQU/l615b1ZOUYg/s400/02.26.10%2B7351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539274880717598818" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Snowman ornament. I am not sure of it's origins, but it looks very Made in Japan to me. Since he has a Styrofoam head instead of spun cotton, I am thinking he may be a reproduction.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qz3jaNGI/AAAAAAAAAQE/cCydbroDvjk/s1600/HoltHoward.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qz3jaNGI/AAAAAAAAAQE/cCydbroDvjk/s400/HoltHoward.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539263506007340130" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">1950's Holt Howard winking Santa mug</span>.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN93lKBXmlI/AAAAAAAAAQk/AWWdDs8U60c/s1600/11-04-2010%2B103.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN93lKBXmlI/AAAAAAAAAQk/AWWdDs8U60c/s400/11-04-2010%2B103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539277546917960274" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Two cute Made in Japan ornaments. They have all the best features, don't they? Velveteen paper, rhinestones, perfectly tarnished bells and Dresden golden paper trim.</span> </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qB0KvCPI/AAAAAAAAAPs/ooNm8KnknCs/s1600/11-04-2010%2B158.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qB0KvCPI/AAAAAAAAAPs/ooNm8KnknCs/s1600/11-04-2010%2B158.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9qB0KvCPI/AAAAAAAAAPs/ooNm8KnknCs/s400/11-04-2010%2B158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539262646105082098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I nabbed over a dozen of these vintage pins at a very recent estate sale. They were .50 each. Yes, all that chenille pissed off snow man face goodness for .5o!<br />I adore them. Adore them. Seriously. Adore them.<br />They are new "old stock" and even though they are completely the Made in Japan style, they are tagged Marshall Fields & Company and even cost $2.50 back in the day!! </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9o8BZWRFI/AAAAAAAAAPU/fZjVwBKnT0E/s1600/11-04-2010%2B194.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9o8BZWRFI/AAAAAAAAAPU/fZjVwBKnT0E/s400/11-04-2010%2B194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539261447065191506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">These two cuties are a bit worse for the wear, but for $1 each, I could not resist their faces. I really need to figure out a way to clean them up without ruining their flocking or vintage appeal. For now, though, I am happy with their holiday sweetness.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN91-2_yi7I/AAAAAAAAAQc/L_FSqsrEUVk/s1600/Wrapping-CandleElves.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN91-2_yi7I/AAAAAAAAAQc/L_FSqsrEUVk/s400/Wrapping-CandleElves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539275789464406962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Vintage elf Christmas paper scrap.<br />I really want to frame this somehow, but not sure how to make it work. </span> </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9oz5nHn0I/AAAAAAAAAPM/FcrbdoepR1M/s1600/11-04-2010%2B207.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9oz5nHn0I/AAAAAAAAAPM/FcrbdoepR1M/s400/11-04-2010%2B207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539261307536514882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The colors on this one lands this in my top 10 favorite angel finds. Because at this point, I have bought so much shit that I need to break it in to top 10's by categories.</span> </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9618YrJbI/AAAAAAAAAQs/EFxEJ06xZwE/s1600/02.26.10%2B2366.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TN9618YrJbI/AAAAAAAAAQs/EFxEJ06xZwE/s400/02.26.10%2B2366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539281133850273202" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Finally, this is one of my favorite "vignettes."<br />Yes, I said vignettes.<br />So there.<br />This one has some of my best treasures. I adore bottle brush trees and have tons of them everywhere. Add in a sculpture of, well, I don't know what it is, but I adore him. I have his brother (who is done up in shiny eggplant and gold) in my bedroom. I should do some research so that I know what I have, but I do know that they were from an artist in San Fransisco. They are tagged '04 and with the initials HL. Blizz is the amazing snowman done by an incredible folk artist, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PineStreetJunction">PineStreetJunction</a>. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Finish it up with my childhood favorite Hagen-Renaker minatures...this one is a deer.....and a Made in Japan golden flocked velvet angel. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Are you in the mood yet? I am. Check back in on me on Black Friday. Hopefully all that pie won't change things.</span><br /></div></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-22588967723793458552010-11-05T15:40:00.000-07:002010-11-05T17:24:20.290-07:00Halloween Crafts in November<span style="font-family:georgia;">Of course I am late...........did you expect any less?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are two projects that I completed for Halloween. They were both fairly simple in design and once I made up my mind, they were quick to put together.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">These were both for swaps hosted by the wonderfully creative Kellylo. They both had a bit of a twist and I enjoyed the challenge.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The first was for a set of ATC's that needed to use canvas as the main element and Halloween as the theme.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I decided that I wanted to try and use a beeswax technique on this one in addition to the canvas requirement. Now mind you, I have never used beeswax before. I had once received a very nice tag that was coated with it and liked the finish. Of course, planning is not my forte, so instead of reading up on the technique, I just decided to buy me a big block and dive in! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I didn't use a melting pot, instead, I thought I would just hit it with my heat gun. It does melt really, really quickly. Turns out, it firms up just as fast. More about that later.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSP7L109aI/AAAAAAAAAO8/KNO7sWxizdE/s1600/ATC2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSP7L109aI/AAAAAAAAAO8/KNO7sWxizdE/s400/ATC2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536208088898794914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I originally tried to put some alcohol inks in it to add a bit of shimmer. Not surprisingly, that failed. It just balls up and can not be used, which anyone with any knowledge of science would have probably guessed in advance. Oh well, it's not brain surgery, it's paper crafts, so what do you expect from me?? Once I fished through the wax and picked out all of the unusable globs of hardened ink, I switched it to Perfect Pearls powder and that was.....well......perfect! </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSPtqdCD8I/AAAAAAAAAO0/Tm4rsvD_qjI/s1600/ATC3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSPtqdCD8I/AAAAAAAAAO0/Tm4rsvD_qjI/s400/ATC3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536207856598126530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">After picking a picture of an old Victorian style mansion, I copied it over to Photoshop, cropped it up a bit; changed to to black and white and finally, recolored it in shades of blue.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Now for the wax. Once I brushed it on, (which by the way, took about five re-heating sessions to keep that crap slightly liquid enough to even apply) it definitely didn't have the look that I was trying to achieve. It was lumpy and thick, not at all shiny and antique like I had expected. Again, had I read up on the technique that might have helped. Also, I was using it on canvas, not on paper. I am pretty sure that made a difference as well. Now I just needed to find a way to fix it. </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSPk4_sF8I/AAAAAAAAAOs/DX0ZxrHB8QM/s1600/ATC4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSPk4_sF8I/AAAAAAAAAOs/DX0ZxrHB8QM/s400/ATC4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536207705882761154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Thank you, heat gun. I blasted it for a few seconds and it melted down in to the canvas quite nicely. It is a subtle change, but I really like it. It adds a richer dimension than just adding some distressing or ink. I am definitely going to try this again on all types of fabric, wood and paper. I think it will be one of those things that turns out a bit different each time. Besides, I have this big ass block of wax and I need to justify the purchase, you know?</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSPET0EqMI/AAAAAAAAAOk/eWI5bPb1D9c/s1600/ATC4.5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSPET0EqMI/AAAAAAAAAOk/eWI5bPb1D9c/s400/ATC4.5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536207146146113730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Gasp! I use spray paint, hot glue, wax and all sorts of crap that is not archival. I guess I should apologize, but really, I don't. I guess I just find it hard to believe that of all of the things that get passed on to future generations, this card is going to make the cut. Anyway, back to crafting. I used this great Martha Stewart punch for the fence. I had liked it, but could not justify the $15 cost when it was first released. Found it on sale for $7 and that was about all the justification I needed, so it is MINE. I really do love it and can see using it for other things. Just a snip of the scissors and the bats will be gone and it can be used for any season. After punching it out on scraps of cardstock, I hit it with some paint. I love Hammered spray paint. Actually, I love all spray paints, but not has much as the Hammered ones. I own it in every color and if we go to a store that sells Hammer paint, I am checking to see that they haven't slipped in a new finish without notifying me.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Is it just me or does the mere mention of the word Hammer start </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> the mindless humming of that </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">damn "ooh ooh..you can't touch this." Or maybe the huffing of all these paint fumes is one of those things that leads to the repetitive singing of MC Hammer tunes?</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJ_sVLYzI/AAAAAAAAAOc/4HSYbbQZElY/s1600/ATC5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJ_sVLYzI/AAAAAAAAAOc/4HSYbbQZElY/s400/ATC5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536201569269932850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >I don't know if I am in a rut or if I just like what I like.......... I used my favorite image, printed on cardstock, inked the edges and tucked her behind the fence, which was pop-dotted for a bit of dimension.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJvCAUliI/AAAAAAAAAOU/LVC9j6PUk98/s1600/ATC6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJvCAUliI/AAAAAAAAAOU/LVC9j6PUk98/s400/ATC6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536201283030259234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >I added 2 of my beloved, vintage bat rhinestones and called them done.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second swap was for altered Halloween coffins. Isn't that just the best idea? How could I resist a coffin? I was paired up with one of my favorite peas, Lisa (JoyNewYork) and was a bit nervous to start. She is an amazing swapper and I have always admired (okay, coveted) her talent.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJecD5lxI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ak8ygOHc3wI/s1600/Cof1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJecD5lxI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ak8ygOHc3wI/s400/Cof1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536200997966812946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The swap started with these small wooden coffins that were purchased at Michael's for $1.99.<br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJYkj-ArI/AAAAAAAAAOE/OePvEwKVsOg/s1600/Cof2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJYkj-ArI/AAAAAAAAAOE/OePvEwKVsOg/s400/Cof2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536200897169588914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Of course, I had to pull out my beloved spray cans. I removed all of the hardware and gave it a blast with some black textured paint.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJTsGYIeI/AAAAAAAAAN8/XAmmBRBhX2w/s1600/Cof3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJTsGYIeI/AAAAAAAAAN8/XAmmBRBhX2w/s400/Cof3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536200813293609442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >I can't sew. I will do lots and lots to avoid pulling out a sewing machine and even attempting to sew. So, I made a template of the inside of the coffin. I cut the fabric slightly larger than the templates, turned over the edges and hot glued the hell out of it.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I was really drawn to the velvet with the touch of gold glitter, so I was glad to finally have a reason to use it.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJIiRiWGI/AAAAAAAAAN0/n2o53HFyEZc/s1600/Cof4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSJIiRiWGI/AAAAAAAAAN0/n2o53HFyEZc/s400/Cof4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536200621677500514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once it was lined, I added a bit of moss, a few coffin flowers and a skull with glittery, Stickled eyes.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSImSd46YI/AAAAAAAAANk/WRfolcv6tjM/s1600/cof6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSImSd46YI/AAAAAAAAANk/WRfolcv6tjM/s400/cof6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536200033318791554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">For the outside, I used a Tim Holtz bookplate, which I just adore. The picture is a fairly famous print "All is Vanity" and I changed the colors to antique before printing it on fabric-textured paper. I added some more moss, a small skeleton hand and another paper flower. </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSIghbUHeI/AAAAAAAAANc/PmUULsNbwQ8/s1600/Cof7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TNSIghbUHeI/AAAAAAAAANc/PmUULsNbwQ8/s400/Cof7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536199934255308258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Adding more didn't seem to help the overall look in this case, so I kept it a bit simpler than I normally do. All and all, very fun swaps.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Now, on to Christmas crafts...............</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-83568379014150301562010-10-31T21:50:00.000-07:002010-10-31T23:12:48.231-07:00A Happy Halloween from a Girl Named Sweet Pete<span style="font-family:georgia;">I write a bunch about swapping.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The trials and tribulations of my poor time management, the drive to be creative and grow, the endless acquisition of supplies. Now I don't want to get all deep and profound on you all, but one of the best things to come out of my crafty endeavors has been the people that I have been able to "meet" through the message boards and blogs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">As a little background, I am a bit anti-social. For the most part, I prefer to be alone. I am quite happy to go days and days without any extended human interaction. I find it hard to make a lot of friends and keep up with acquaintances, not because I don't care about people, I do. Deeply. It is just that it is not something that comes easy to me. On those four corner tests, I am SO far in the introverted column, they often need to send out a search party to find me and trust me, when they show up, I'm not all that welcoming......</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Part of the reason I started swapping was to get more connected ~ to find people with like interests. I thought going the message board route would be a good start. You can connect and keep your distance all at the same time. Interestingly enough, I still found it hard to completely jump in and stuck more to crafting than to posting.<br /><br />Then I met Pete.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It was the strangest thing. We had never really interacted much, in fact, I don't think we had even swapped with each other before we got paired on a Christmas partner swap. Then it just was, I don't know, Kismet? Eerie? Lucky? Fate? All of the above?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">As part of the swap, you had to fill out this long questionnaire so your pal could get to know you and find out your likes, dislikes, things to make and buy. As soon as I opened hers up, it was almost like reading my own questionnaire. So many similarities. Almost like spooky similar. I kid you not. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We both have partners that love to garden while we both prefer to stay inside covered in glitter and glue. We both have 1 boy, close enough in age, and they are both named after cities! We love the same supplies, collected the same things. We both love Rock-a-Billy, 80's Rap and Patsy Cline. We liked the same movies. It went on and on!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Since that time, we have spent hours and hours chatting. Jon and I planned our last vacation out her way so that I could meet up with her. We spent a lovely day talking non-stop as we wandered through craft stores and antique malls. We spent the evening listening to a great band while sharing food and drinks. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I feel like I have known her forever. She understands when I go MIA, get stressed out over stupid crafting issues and cheers me up when I am down. She has a wicked sense of humor and we share a snark that really makes me LOL. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">As if that weren't enough, she sends me happy mail!<br /><br />I recently got a package from her and in going through it, I was reminded how lucky I am to have a few really good friends. Jon, who is there for me every day, no matter what. Lori, who shares all my silly dreams, knows my youthful indiscretions and still rocks out with me even though I am old and gray. And Pete, my glitter loving pal who understands my need for ribbon and rhinestones; sarcasm and snark; and why some days you need to just "Glue, Bitch, Glue!!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Oh. My. Holy. Hell.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This was supposed to be a quick and easy "looky what I got" post and has embarrassingly morphed in to an "I love you, man........." post and I haven't even been drinking.<br /><br />Much.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">On to the good stuff!!!!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5H_3U2XII/AAAAAAAAAMQ/UUd8MiNC0eI/s1600/09-16-10+622.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5H_3U2XII/AAAAAAAAAMQ/UUd8MiNC0eI/s400/09-16-10+622.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534440154593647746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">What girl doesn't love being showered in gold?</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5IQM-U__I/AAAAAAAAAMY/HmWMeRRqk4s/s1600/09-16-10+635+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5IQM-U__I/AAAAAAAAAMY/HmWMeRRqk4s/s400/09-16-10+635+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534440435282673650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I bought some of these for a swap and really, really wanted to keep them for myself. Since my estate sale addiction had drained my discretionary income, I was hoping to find some left after the holidays at 50% off. How did she know I needed these?? She actually mails her holiday cards, too! Which really makes her a bit of a show-off, come to think of it. I'm still working on last year's Christmas cards and I don't know that I appreciate her tossing this up in my face.......</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5IfgnOblI/AAAAAAAAAMg/8KRElKE8R2A/s1600/09-16-10+624.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5IfgnOblI/AAAAAAAAAMg/8KRElKE8R2A/s400/09-16-10+624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534440698252521042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Glitter AND Glue.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;">Together.<br />Does it get any better than that?<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5IrVAb4NI/AAAAAAAAAMo/-TDzc3GcSLY/s1600/09-16-10+634.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5SoKQYcpI/AAAAAAAAAM4/0pVW-P5E4-o/s1600/09-16-10+634.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5SoKQYcpI/AAAAAAAAAM4/0pVW-P5E4-o/s400/09-16-10+634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534451841986228882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I love this plaque. It now has a permanent place on my bookshelf. And the skull.....like minds and all......I got her the same skull in white. I was holding out for a crown for hers to wear, but UNLIKE Pete, I turned out to be more of a thinker, not a do-er. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maybe next Halloween it will make it her way.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5I5yhl_qI/AAAAAAAAAMw/IEo46wLGKcA/s1600/09-16-10+629.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 360px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TM5I5yhl_qI/AAAAAAAAAMw/IEo46wLGKcA/s400/09-16-10+629.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534441149737336482" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I love fonts and glitter and vintage, so of course, she knew I would just love this sign. And I do!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Happy Halloween all! I hope it was filled with your favorite treats. If you have read this far, I would like to state that thankfully, I seem to have completely drained away my limited ability to be sappy and nice.<br /><br />The tequila bottle will soon be empty as well.<br /><br />Our next post will be back to the regularly scheduled angsty, whiny crafting and mindless shopping. Stay tuned!</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-35703407092037737492010-10-27T00:06:00.000-07:002010-10-27T01:44:14.932-07:00To Bead or Not to Bead<span style="font-family:georgia;">Back in the day, before I became a "Scrapper", I was a "beader." </span> <span style="font-family:georgia;">It all started with those </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.crystalage.com/online_store/agate_moss_power_bead_bracelet_138937.cfm">power </a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.crystalage.com/online_store/agate_moss_power_bead_bracelet_138937.cfm">bead bracelets</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. Remember those? Well, when they first came out way, way back when, they were about $25. There was NO way I was paying that much for them because I just </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >knew</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> that I could make them for so much cheaper. What a mistake that was......</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;">It was the start of my first crafting obsession. </span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Like all of these things seem to do, it started small. Just a handful of crystals and some elastic thread. Then a few silver colored beads. </span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Shit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Somehow over the course of many years, that turned in to at LEAST a gross of every single damn color of Swarovski crystal in every size and shape. Silver colored became ONLY sterling silver, preferably hand made by artisans in Bali. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Don't even get me started about how I started buying actual stones. Tourmaline, pearls, garnets, turquoise, oh my!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">On the plus side, it is SO much easier to hoard beads. Those suckers are small and easily hidden. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cost wise, well, hell. </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Let's just say, I could be driving a Volvo. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Thankfully, I have never pined for one. Besides, there is no way I could park it in the cabinets under my bar (hey, I take space where ever I can find it.....) and while it might be a feat of Swedish engineering, they are just a bit too suburban for me. No sparkle. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This on the other hand.........</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfc2TgZ7ZI/AAAAAAAAAMI/jkIpJjk3omw/s1600/mirror.rolls.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfc2TgZ7ZI/AAAAAAAAAMI/jkIpJjk3omw/s400/mirror.rolls.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532633492755180946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I might happily be able to trade in all my supplies; paper, metal, crystal and vintage alike for the chance to roll up to the Waffle House in this bitch. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I wandered off again, didn't I?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">My awesome pal </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://agirlnamedsweetpete.blogspot.com/">Pete</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> hosted a recent Halloween swap that included making a piece of Steampunk inspired jewelry. In addition to being full of some awesome paper crafts, it made me go back and fall in love with my beady friends all over again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">To get back in the groove, I started going back through my stash and pulling out some of the things I had made in the past. </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfQxFcBu0I/AAAAAAAAAKw/vdnSBrFIqnc/s1600/09-16-10+509.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 315px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfQxFcBu0I/AAAAAAAAAKw/vdnSBrFIqnc/s400/09-16-10+509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532620208939842370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have a deep love for all thing Swarovski. Add Bali sterling silver and *sigh*...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfRPYjkffI/AAAAAAAAALA/Joq6kK5zhuQ/s1600/09-16-10+498.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 425px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfRPYjkffI/AAAAAAAAALA/Joq6kK5zhuQ/s400/09-16-10+498.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532620729467829746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This was a quick little one to put together, but it probably got the most wear.</span> I find the<span style="font-family:georgia;"> faceted fresh water pearls just lovely and these daisy spacers are like the</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Bazzil card stock for the beading set.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfTpXvLtZI/AAAAAAAAALQ/e31WtPw8l4g/s1600/09-16-10+530.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 440px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfTpXvLtZI/AAAAAAAAALQ/e31WtPw8l4g/s400/09-16-10+530.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532623374947956114" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I had a love of all things Sundance catalog and did my best to copy a many of their styles. Besides, it has a monkey. Everything is more awesome when a monkey is involved.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfRWQdOdsI/AAAAAAAAALI/wTPNsP6I1dE/s1600/09-16-10+556.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 326px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfRWQdOdsI/AAAAAAAAALI/wTPNsP6I1dE/s400/09-16-10+556.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532620847552820930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This was actually one of the last bracelets that I made. It was after I had started hoarding paper products in lieu of beads, but I busted them out for one last grand huzzah about 2 years back.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfRGY-sifI/AAAAAAAAAK4/_rv82m7VSeY/s1600/09-16-10+489.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 440px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfRGY-sifI/AAAAAAAAAK4/_rv82m7VSeY/s400/09-16-10+489.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532620574962780658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;">This was very simple, but I still love, love, love these micro-mini seed beads.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfT0ts-FKI/AAAAAAAAALY/6mxZFT3I3B0/s1600/sundance.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 308px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfT0ts-FKI/AAAAAAAAALY/6mxZFT3I3B0/s400/sundance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532623569822815394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">More Sundance style, with turquoise, sunstone, amazonite and silver.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">On to the swap. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I decided that this needed a bit more chain and wire work to go along with the theme. I picked a bronzed metal along with purple German glass beads, both new and vintage. There is a little carved skull bead. I can't for the life of me remember where I got him, but looking back, I wish I had bought more than one. What the hell was I thinking? Since when do I have one of anything??!?! I had an awesome partner, though, and was glad to let him go to a new owner.</span><br /></div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfVv69E6rI/AAAAAAAAALo/JXNACx_Ua6g/s1600/necklace.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 665px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfVv69E6rI/AAAAAAAAALo/JXNACx_Ua6g/s400/necklace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532625686503942834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfV4PePriI/AAAAAAAAALw/deDKtiPF0ww/s1600/09-16-10+462.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 326px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfV4PePriI/AAAAAAAAALw/deDKtiPF0ww/s400/09-16-10+462.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532625829450722850" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfVv69E6rI/AAAAAAAAALo/JXNACx_Ua6g/s1600/necklace.jpg"><br /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">To keep a bit with the scrappy theme, I used a Making Memories garment pin to attach the skull dangling charm. In addition to feeling clever, I also thought that it would make the necklace more adaptable and give my pal a few different ways to wear it if she so desires.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfWFLnVMJI/AAAAAAAAAL4/ijXkgXr0RtI/s1600/09-16-10+466.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 440px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfWFLnVMJI/AAAAAAAAAL4/ijXkgXr0RtI/s400/09-16-10+466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532626051753390226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here is the necklace as just a solo piece. It is about 20' long, without the charms. I guess she could also triple wrap it as a bracelet, depending on the size of her wrist. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfXCYA4_lI/AAAAAAAAAMA/UqYCxV1gqmc/s1600/09-16-10+479.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 440px; height: 329px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TMfXCYA4_lI/AAAAAAAAAMA/UqYCxV1gqmc/s400/09-16-10+479.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532627103053839954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Finally, I made another set of charms without the Halloween theme.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I had a great time revisiting my old hobby. It made me want to start creating again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Oh if only I actually wore jewelry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Meh.....who cares?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have decided that I aspire to being creative, not productive. I mean I call myself a scrapper while I have yet to complete a single scrapbook. Nope. Not one freaking scrapbook. I have about 10 pages. That counts as a start, right? </span><br /></div></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-16528636326244328462010-10-16T15:46:00.000-07:002010-10-16T17:51:48.673-07:00Fun and Games<span style="font-family:georgia;">I have been so busy that a large amount of the "Estate Sale of the Century" finds have been sitting just waiting for me to take the time to open, admire and share.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I think it says something that I haven't gotten around to going through all the packages that I purchased, but more about that later. On the plus side, it should help me from doing more shopping since I can just dig in to this bag of treasures when I feel the need.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Yeah, like that happened.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I just </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >had</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> to stop at another estate sale this Thursday. Hit the mother-lode of "Made in Japan" vintage chenille package ties and vintage velvet ribbons. I try to kid myself that I do not have a problem by hiding them in the stash of items from the last sale. So if it seems that I post time and time again about the incredible finds of this sale, I might be lying. But I digress.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Every crafter, scrapper and altering artist knows that we have a thing and I mean a </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >thing</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">, for games. Vintage game pieces, bingo cards, and the like just seem to send us in a frenzy. I don't play bingo, Scrabble or checkers, but I'll' be damned if I can't find a way to stick a game piece on any random layout, card or tag and trust me, I am not alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, of course, when I saw they had a table full of toys and such, I was there throwing things in my bag almost sight unseen. </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo8aiTklOI/AAAAAAAAAKA/r-K9a7CmU2I/s1600/F%26GC.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo8aiTklOI/AAAAAAAAAKA/r-K9a7CmU2I/s400/F%26GC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528797919133865186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There was a bag of about 40 mixed vintage wood checkers for $1.50. In addition, I grabbed two more complete boxes of 24 for $1.00 each. What I will do with 70+ checkers is not really the point, so don't ask me about it again.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo70nYaukI/AAAAAAAAAJo/cLLlZuO0UP8/s1600/F%26GR.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo70nYaukI/AAAAAAAAAJo/cLLlZuO0UP8/s400/F%26GR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528797267661339202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo7iIVLeUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/hup6XOIkTBk/s1600/F%26GR1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo7iIVLeUI/AAAAAAAAAJg/hup6XOIkTBk/s400/F%26GR1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528796950088612162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Okay, this find really made my heart skip a beat. A while back, my awesome pal Pete had sent me a link to an Etsy seller that had some of these cards for sale. My exact comment to her was "Why can't I ever find these?" Low and behold, three weeks later, here they were! Now they weren't black like the cards we saw, but I grabbed them up for $2. I wasn't sure what I would do with them since the red didn't really jive with the Halloween vibe I was going for, but once again, it was Pete to the rescue.....Vintage Inspired Gothic Valentines. How</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> cool is that? </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Almost as cool as having a friend with inspiration to spare.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo5wlH_6OI/AAAAAAAAAJY/OmCz7h0auAY/s1600/F%26GB.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 285px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo5wlH_6OI/AAAAAAAAAJY/OmCz7h0auAY/s400/F%26GB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528794999312869602" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo5mCrei0I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/OOC9FSCLeGw/s1600/F%26GB2.jpg"> </a> <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLpBrVZ019I/AAAAAAAAAKI/4jFt1S3whXw/s1600/F%26GB4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 259px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLpBrVZ019I/AAAAAAAAAKI/4jFt1S3whXw/s400/F%26GB4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528803705286350802" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo5RvE9DhI/AAAAAAAAAJA/ndCM1EyqHiI/s1600/F%26GB4.jpg"> </a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLpGnCCdeSI/AAAAAAAAAKY/yK1HjPBlILI/s1600/F%26GB2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLpGnCCdeSI/AAAAAAAAAKY/yK1HjPBlILI/s320/F%26GB2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528809128926738722" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What is it about Bingo that we love so much? Again, I have cards on layouts, tags and all sort of altered items, and don't get me wrong they look awesome. I can't resist them, but why? I don't play Bingo. The only person I know that plays Bingo is my Ex and as much as I would love to do a layout about him only leaving the house to go gambling at the Bingo parlor with his Mommy and his Aunties, I think it might be seen as mean....... Okay, back on topic, now. I found this complete vintage Bingo set including cards, markers and all for $2.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo1bK4775I/AAAAAAAAAI4/CufM_MBzU-Q/s1600/F%26GD.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLo1bK4775I/AAAAAAAAAI4/CufM_MBzU-Q/s400/F%26GD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528790233446608786" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Get a load of this awesome set of dominoes. Do you see the lovely dotted texture on the marker side? How about the incredible detailed engraving on the back. The fact that they are tagged Japan..... *sigh*.........and all for the price of a candy bar.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLosE15CpHI/AAAAAAAAAIw/dP60KimMtjI/s1600/F%26G5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLosE15CpHI/AAAAAAAAAIw/dP60KimMtjI/s400/F%26G5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528779954248131698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Finally, I found this huge bag of vintage letters. I am assuming they were from some game. Maybe a spelling or school game? I thought they would be great to spell out a page title or one of those altered and inspirational sayings like this.........</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLoryleAQCI/AAAAAAAAAIo/2k9XG2m4NS4/s1600/F%26GD.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLoroBt_D0I/AAAAAAAAAIg/iBkpB051SUk/s1600/F%26G6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLoroBt_D0I/AAAAAAAAAIg/iBkpB051SUk/s400/F%26G6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528779459206778690" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Or maybe this.........</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLord-bYaMI/AAAAAAAAAIY/jBMIUdBmL6k/s1600/F%26Glast.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TLord-bYaMI/AAAAAAAAAIY/jBMIUdBmL6k/s400/F%26Glast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528779286524750018" border="0" /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-87743429513855603762010-10-05T18:47:00.001-07:002010-10-05T20:20:52.033-07:00Halloween Ornament Swap<span style="font-family:georgia;">I always tell myself, I won't get over my head. I won't get over my head.<br /><br />Really.<br /><br />I won't.<br /><br />Well, let's just say we can all see how that turns out.<br /><br />This swap just about put me over the edge. Well, totally over the edge. I had all these great ideas, <span style="font-style: italic;">none</span> of which worked. I wish I was better about going with the flow. Unfortunately, not on my list of positive traits. Once I get an idea in my head, I just swear it is going to work, regardless of all the obvious signs that it is not.<br /><br />That said, this was my third attempt at at a Halloween ornament. I am happy with the way that they came out and I definitely have a list of do's and don'ts for the next time I attempt to make them. Which checking on my list of swaps, appears to be next week.<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />Next week.<br /><br />The first issue with this was the sheer number of them. I needed to make 20. TWENTY. Regardless of the fact that I had lots of time to do them, that is a LOT of cones, especially to someone with no and I do mean <span style="font-style: italic;">no</span> time management skills.<br /><br />Let's get started...........<br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvYFoN7AjI/AAAAAAAAAII/uP88cOE10eA/s1600/ornie1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvYFoN7AjI/AAAAAAAAAII/uP88cOE10eA/s320/ornie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524746959106802226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I started making the cones out of my absolute favorite go-to Halloween paper from Making Memories. It is an older release, but I find it very versatile and a great base. I lined them with vintage crepe paper and I will never do that again. It didn't stick well and once I did get it to stick, it tore easily. After all of the stress of getting it all to stay together, you can barely see it in the finished product. On the plus side, the unseen grommets are a definite yes. They added to the strength of the cone, the hanging ribbon and will help it last through repeated use. I was able to throw in a small vintage detail with the silky covered ornaments used to finish out the bottom of the cone.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvXa2PvGdI/AAAAAAAAAIA/4yZvmyx7Eks/s1600/ornie2.1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvXa2PvGdI/AAAAAAAAAIA/4yZvmyx7Eks/s320/ornie2.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524746224138131922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love my new Martha Stewart scoring board. At first, I thought it wasn't really necessary but after hearing so many rave reviews, I caved. It is totally worth the cost. I made little medallions out of Basic Grey paper and it went so much quicker with my handy new tool.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvWchWyBjI/AAAAAAAAAHw/_6H9LDGR0w0/s1600/ornie2.5"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvWchWyBjI/AAAAAAAAAHw/_6H9LDGR0w0/s320/ornie2.5" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524745153378649650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I die-cut some pumpkins out of more Basic Grey. In order to dress them up a bit and make them special, I heat embossed the body with black glitter, inked the edges, and backed them with a layer of black card stock for a bit of dimension and definition. I added some Patina Stickles to the stem, hand typed * Halloween * on a little manila banner, inking the edges with some Distress Inks. </span> <span style="font-family:georgia;">I finished them up with some tinsel trim around the top and tinsel pipe cleaner around the bottom.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Tah-DAH.............................20 finished ornaments.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span><span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvnShwa4CI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/vAFu86bbRH0/s1600/orniedone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TKvnShwa4CI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/vAFu86bbRH0/s400/orniedone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524763673385164834" border="0" /></a></span></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-66011151281037613432010-09-21T20:18:00.000-07:002010-09-21T21:29:43.391-07:00Estate Sale of the Century<span style="font-family:georgia;">Last Friday, I hit my personal estate sale lottery. It was just the most amazing sale. A break out in cold sweat, oh my word I must have everything in this house, heart pounding, frenzy of an estate sale.<br /><br />I know, I need help.<br /><br />I know I do.<br /><br />But really, you had to be there.<br /><br />I walked out with about 5 bags stuffed full of all of my favorite vintage finds and more. I just have to share with someone, so its going to have to be here. It will take numerous posts and I hope you stick with me and share my excitement. If not, I hope you realize I *know* that I have issues and this is one of them. Besides, my only other option is to share with Jon and I fear that will lead to an episode of "Hoarders" in my near future.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />On to the good stuff!! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This was in the garage. On the floor. Tossed aside. I picked it up because I am nosy and pick up everything not nailed down. Then I started a little bit of hyperventilating. That is not an exaggeration. It was about 110 degrees in the garage, so can I blame it on that?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I saw a glimpse of something special in the bag, but didn't want to let on and perhaps jack up the price. See how I am slick like that? So all nonchalant, I asked for the price. He said, "Is a dollar too much?" I said I had a dollar handy and I was good to go! When I got home, look at the treasure I found..............</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl7YpzP_QI/AAAAAAAAAHI/wzbznKEbF_U/s1600/estatebag1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl7YpzP_QI/AAAAAAAAAHI/wzbznKEbF_U/s320/estatebag1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519578481787141378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This was the $1 bag as I found it.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl7McRj7oI/AAAAAAAAAHA/dGehxtgaX9g/s1600/estatebag2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl7McRj7oI/AAAAAAAAAHA/dGehxtgaX9g/s320/estatebag2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519578271997750914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is a peek in the bag, a glimpse of what I first saw.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once I sorted it all out, this is what I found.....*sigh*</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl7E4lPViI/AAAAAAAAAG4/Cm6W05yRcco/s1600/bells2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl7E4lPViI/AAAAAAAAAG4/Cm6W05yRcco/s320/bells2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519578142157526562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There were about 3 dozen of these pink, sugary, glittery bells. I have never seen them this small before, just about about 1/4 inch tall. Made in Japan and with perfectly tarnished mercury glass beads in the center of each.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl68VUQhJI/AAAAAAAAAGw/fXVi3ZoyHAU/s1600/birds1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl68VUQhJI/AAAAAAAAAGw/fXVi3ZoyHAU/s320/birds1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519577995252106386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">There were some small spun cotton birds, dainty and covered with clear glass glitter.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6v1GjdgI/AAAAAAAAAGo/BrSFJYeaIY0/s1600/flowers2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6v1GjdgI/AAAAAAAAAGo/BrSFJYeaIY0/s320/flowers2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519577780446262786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The majority of the bag were these vintage flowers. They are perfectly aged in a way that tea dying just can not achieve and so delicately made out of amazing crepe paper.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6oMVfo_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/xII9CjFSKsQ/s1600/flowers3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6oMVfo_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/xII9CjFSKsQ/s320/flowers3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519577649243988978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Look at the subtle hint of the original pale pink in each of the buds. </span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6dKewSPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/oc_mJ5YV9Gk/s1600/mercury2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6dKewSPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/oc_mJ5YV9Gk/s320/mercury2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519577459767396594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">A handful of aged mercury glass beads.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6Txu3kyI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/1g4PD3eT90I/s1600/acorn.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6Txu3kyI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/1g4PD3eT90I/s320/acorn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519577298505274146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Aren't these just the most adorable acorn tops? </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6KYWpMyI/AAAAAAAAAGI/lJyAvPGYxQY/s1600/oddangel.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6KYWpMyI/AAAAAAAAAGI/lJyAvPGYxQY/s320/oddangel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519577137073959714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Okay, this one is just weird. Strange angel face. I don't know if he would bless me or not and that is the most un-fluffy cloud I have ever seen, plastic or not.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6A_wfhgI/AAAAAAAAAGA/KOIe1dEaabU/s1600/pinkangels1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl6A_wfhgI/AAAAAAAAAGA/KOIe1dEaabU/s320/pinkangels1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519576975852668418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">An orchestra of pink angels. Look at the way the gold on the wings has achieved the perfect patina. The worn gold with a tinge of aqua and green. These normally wouldn't be my style, but I admit, I don't see myself giving these up any time soon.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl5znlQIyI/AAAAAAAAAF4/J4lkTaLTXwc/s1600/greenangels1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl5znlQIyI/AAAAAAAAAF4/J4lkTaLTXwc/s320/greenangels1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519576746024772386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are the lovely angels in chartreuse. </span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl5m2z1ntI/AAAAAAAAAFw/VX8mtWGuG5A/s1600/blueangels1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl5m2z1ntI/AAAAAAAAAFw/VX8mtWGuG5A/s320/blueangels1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519576526774181586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">And again in baby blue.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl5gU_8T8I/AAAAAAAAAFo/tSahYks4SvQ/s1600/groupangels1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJl5gU_8T8I/AAAAAAAAAFo/tSahYks4SvQ/s320/groupangels1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519576414618931138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">The complete Heavenly band.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I can't tell you how happy these kinds of finds make me. It is such a silly thing, but it just seems like such a </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >score</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. I know its not important in the grand scheme of things. Its just stuff. Stuff. Stuff that will probably end up in a bag in <span style="font-weight: bold;">my</span> garage 20+ years down the road from now. Stuff that will make my son wonder why did she keep all this crap? Make him say "I knew she was crazy for craft supplies and Christmas decorations but damn, this is kind of just ridiculous." "Let's just put a $1 price tag on all of it and hope it sells."<br /><br />I know that stuff won't make you truly happy in the end.<br /><br />But for now, it does.<br /><br />And I am okay with that for the most part.<br /><br />Besides, its officially my stuff now. Mine. While I have it, I am going to love it, enjoy it and maybe even eventually share it. </span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-51652123223277270882010-09-18T22:21:00.001-07:002010-09-18T23:27:36.014-07:00In the Midnight Hour<span style="font-family:georgia;">I posted last about the tag swap on </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://twopeasinabucket.com/">Two Peas in a Bucket</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. I signed up for two spots and following is the tag that I completed for my Vintage Halloween group.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />I was immediately drawn to this image of the woman in the Victorian bat costume. I think the fact that she was also a "lady"made me feel like it tied in to the first group as well. I went round and round with ideas but none of them seemed to work out, including a lid on the coffin or "lining" the coffin somehow with fabric. This one came together at the very last minute, of course, and was nothing like I had originally imagined. All in all, though, I really like the final result.</span> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />Here are the pictures of the finished project along with a listing of the techniques and embellishments used.</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWnP2VlKiI/AAAAAAAAAFg/nvVxQA19gys/s1600/HTag1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWnP2VlKiI/AAAAAAAAAFg/nvVxQA19gys/s320/HTag1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518500809138317858" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWnEU3MO9I/AAAAAAAAAFY/cc0W3kN2Sv0/s1600/HTag2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWnEU3MO9I/AAAAAAAAAFY/cc0W3kN2Sv0/s320/HTag2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518500611173923794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWmjeeOtII/AAAAAAAAAFQ/1nBPTjn3m7U/s1600/HTag3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWmjeeOtII/AAAAAAAAAFQ/1nBPTjn3m7U/s320/HTag3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518500046817899650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWh23d3ijI/AAAAAAAAAFI/oZGiBUwwjJg/s1600/HTag4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWh23d3ijI/AAAAAAAAAFI/oZGiBUwwjJg/s320/HTag4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518494882386643506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWhcZeWf5I/AAAAAAAAAFA/rZzkNBes6Is/s1600/HTag5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJWhcZeWf5I/AAAAAAAAAFA/rZzkNBes6Is/s320/HTag5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518494427659009938" border="0" /></a><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Hand cut coffin shape from textured Bazzill paper;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Hand cut and dry emboss wood grain texture on purple metallic paper;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Hand cut, piece and layer lady image; ink costume; glitter shoes; attach with pop dots; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Add vintage bat rhinestone from </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BumbershootSupplies?ga_search_query=bumbershoot&ga_search_type=seller_usernames">one of my favorite Etsy sellers</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> as belt; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Die cut, dry emboss, ink and glitter clock base on gold textured paper;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Add Mother of Pearl button for clock face; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Modge Podge vintage moon image to vintage bingo marker and add to clock face; </span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Glue Moss bottom of tag;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cut piece of velvet embossed tulle;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tie bottom with beaded trim; add gold painted devil cocktail floater as charm;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Deconstruct paper flowers; ink leaves; glue to material embellishment;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Die cut; hand distress and ink fence to hold tag information;</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Take headstone image, add information in PSE; print on cardstock; cut and ink.</span></li></ol><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This has been a great swap and I have tried to stretch a bit and promised myself I would try at least 1 new technique every tag. This one was the dry embossing and I really do like the subtle extra that it adds. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Now, a slight break until I start the groups coming due in the next 30 days!</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-76527156127732917292010-09-16T21:59:00.000-07:002010-09-16T23:48:17.901-07:00Vintage Tag<span style="font-family:georgia;">When I first decided that I wanted to start doing paper crafts, I found this <a href="http://twopeasinabucket.com/">web site</a> and was immediately hooked. I haunted the gallery for years, but never really posted or participated.<br /><br />Then one day there was drama. Swapping drama! It hit the "Hot Topics" and well, people were getting pretty heated. What was this? I mean I had seen grown women arguing over politics, shopping carts and the endless Stay-at-Home Mom versus Working-Mom debate, but this was different. They were going at it over paper crafts!<br /><br />I admit, I found it pretty awesome; and the way I feel about my crafty supplies, I totally got it!<br /><br />Anyways, that was my introduction to swapping. I started small, with a St. Patrick's day ATC and a Rainbow inspired tag. A very nice hostess named Alaina let a newbie join her swap and </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">once I started, I haven't been able to stop.</span><br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL_KLxs44I/AAAAAAAAAEY/ecVkDyHzaig/s1600/02+07+09+001.JPG"> </a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL_KLxs44I/AAAAAAAAAEY/ecVkDyHzaig/s1600/02+07+09+001.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 205px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL_KLxs44I/AAAAAAAAAEY/ecVkDyHzaig/s320/02+07+09+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517753043907306370" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Look ~ my first ever ATC </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >and</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Swap</span><br /><br />I <span style="font-family:georgia;">am still learning some hard lessons about myself, time management and forced creativity, but all in all I'm so glad I found this outlet.<br /><br />One of the latest swaps </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">is a vintage inspired tag swap. Every month, there are two categories, with the requirements being that you use vintage inspired images along with 5 - 7 techniques or embellishments.<br /><br />The first group due is "Vintage Lady" and I chose a Geisha as my inspiration.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL3clVsfbI/AAAAAAAAAEI/IFkSzftRBoE/s1600/tagpic1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL3clVsfbI/AAAAAAAAAEI/IFkSzftRBoE/s400/tagpic1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517744563913784754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The first thing I do is go through my stash for things that might work with my current theme. I am still not sure why I feel the need to do this as I tend to get overwhelmed with too many choices, but I do. Then, to add to the mix, I shop (and shop, and shop some more) for that "perfect" thing that will make this swap better than any other. In the end, I just seem to end up with a lot, and I mean A LOT, of extras. I swear, I could complete about 20 vintage / Asian inspired swaps and still not use everything I have.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL3RhHQ9bI/AAAAAAAAAEA/UMl7B_Fct38/s1600/tagpic2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL3RhHQ9bI/AAAAAAAAAEA/UMl7B_Fct38/s400/tagpic2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517744373800957362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For some reason, I was determined to make these Hors d' oeuvres picks that I found at World Market in to a frame for my image. After purchasing 2 styles of toothpicks, 2 different packages of chop sticks, bamboo beads and bamboo paper, the picks won out! It was more work than I ever imagined. But once I got it started and figured it out, I glued them together and then bound all the corners with gold embroidery floss as an accent.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL3GMOMIiI/AAAAAAAAAD4/MLavt0OmsQg/s1600/tagpic3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL3GMOMIiI/AAAAAAAAAD4/MLavt0OmsQg/s400/tagpic3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517744179214295586" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I decided I had to use my vintage dragon dominoes. I drilled a small hole in the bottom of each one and added wire wrapped beads and a coin charm. The tag shape was taken from my </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/">Tim Holtz</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Sizzix die. I love this shape, but unfortunately it was not the right size for the tag. I enlarged it in my copier machine and hand cut the tags from a light chipboard. Covered both sides with Basic Gray paper and inked the edges with black gold.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2yEF2BzI/AAAAAAAAADw/r7zFTTw12Mc/s1600/tagpic4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2yEF2BzI/AAAAAAAAADw/r7zFTTw12Mc/s400/tagpic4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517743833434425138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I assembled them using some vintage kimono fabric I had picked up at an estate sale, ribbon, vintage buttons and skeleton leaves.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2nujxDcI/AAAAAAAAADo/VzmNYOBAIOA/s1600/tagpic5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2nujxDcI/AAAAAAAAADo/VzmNYOBAIOA/s400/tagpic5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517743655855656386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I have recently fell in love with </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.rangerink.com/products/prod_perfectpearls_jars.htm">Perfect Pearls </a><span style="font-family:georgia;">and added some in a deep blue to spruce up the image, which I printed on some vintage manila paper. I added a small flower to her hair, distressed and inked the edges in gold, and she was ready to go.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2a1rQzjI/AAAAAAAAADg/bh1s_jjA1Pw/s1600/tagpic6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2a1rQzjI/AAAAAAAAADg/bh1s_jjA1Pw/s400/tagpic6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517743434427846194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">On the back, I used some die cuts and a vintage Nippon Stamp to create a holder for my swapping information. I transferred a vintage post card image in to Photoshop and added my details before printing it out on more vintage manila paper.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I struggled a bit with this one. We had a LOT of time to get them done, so of course I kept thinking my creative mojo would kick in and put them off until the very end. But thankfully Priority Mail will save me and they should arrive to my lovely hostess on time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Off to package them up and finish up the Halloween group before 10 am tomorrow.........</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL168oSN_I/AAAAAAAAADQ/kCxrPSa7PqA/s1600/tagpic1.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TJL2KvBc3xI/AAAAAAAAADY/T6qXHRY3Ljc/s1600/tagpic2.jpg"><br /></a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-52319378657385325022010-09-08T21:05:00.000-07:002010-09-08T23:22:03.573-07:00I Love a Good Junk Drawer<span style="font-family:georgia;">I have become addicted, addicted I tell you, to estate sales.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />It started simply enough. I joined a swap on one of <a href="http://twopeasinabucket.com/">my favorite crafty sites</a> and instead of swapping paper goods as usual,</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">it was a vintage / thrift store swap. How clever! Buy items </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">for each letter </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">of </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">the alphabet and mail them off to your partner. For instance, J is</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> for </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">mini Jell-o mold; A for a</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> chenille angel ornament, etc.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> It was a scavenger hunt and boy was I game!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are a few of the groups that I sent......</span><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhm4DNoUvI/AAAAAAAAABM/8c5VcC4NsDU/s1600/MisforMillnery.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 152px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhm4DNoUvI/AAAAAAAAABM/8c5VcC4NsDU/s200/MisforMillnery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514770856836354802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> M is for Mil</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">linery.</span></span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhnNS2PoOI/AAAAAAAAABU/gjHNLMv5xZE/s1600/KisforKey.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 159px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhnNS2PoOI/AAAAAAAAABU/gjHNLMv5xZE/s200/KisforKey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514771221810487522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> K is for Keys.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhxVD1NWII/AAAAAAAAACM/qpiKuNXt3X4/s1600/PisforPokerChips.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 159px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhxVD1NWII/AAAAAAAAACM/qpiKuNXt3X4/s200/PisforPokerChips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514782350334843010" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">P is for Poker Chips.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhxwIyNJkI/AAAAAAAAACU/s34a8ryRmc0/s1600/OforOvertheGardenWall.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 159px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhxwIyNJkI/AAAAAAAAACU/s34a8ryRmc0/s200/OforOvertheGardenWall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514782815520892482" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">O is for "Over the Garden" Pamphlet.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Of course, I ended up spending MUCH more than the $1-$2 per letter. I was going to those "Antique Malls" we have here in Texas because I didn't know any better. I hadn't much thought of it before, just assumed that there was some special and secret source for their inventory. A source that would never be available to me. Even though I was paying retail prices, it seemed worth it because </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >I </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">could never find or inherit these lovely old things. Don't get me wrong, I still </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">love them to death, but,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">.........Cue the clouds parting, the chorus singing..............</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://estatesales.net/">EstateSales.Net</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Mecca, Nirvana, the Holy Grail for thrifty, vintage loving girls and boys.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I check this site daily, sometimes more than once, just to see what is going on. As the sale days </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">approach, I check it again and again. And usually, just to be safe, one more time. You know, just in case.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Where to go?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What to buy?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Where are the hidden treasures?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">As much as I admire the antique furniture, the lovely depression glass and the vintage clothes, my favorite finds are often the strange little bits of life that you find tucked away here and there. I find that the best estate sales seem to have one person working there that is of like mind. They go through and put together little bags of this and that and I can't seem to resist.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For a few dollars or less, you get small treasures and special trinkets which seem to beg me to question them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Why was this saved? </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Where did they find it? </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">How many homes has it had and how many years has this been hidden away?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">What memories does it invoke? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I can assign whatever value I want and I tend toward the fanciful. It seems appropriate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here is one of my recent favorites.........</span><br /><br /><span><span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIh6u-SFWvI/AAAAAAAAACk/NtPQJZPhQbs/s1600/junkdrawer2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIh6u-SFWvI/AAAAAAAAACk/NtPQJZPhQbs/s400/junkdrawer2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514792691126590194" border="0" /></a><span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIh7ltJK1SI/AAAAAAAAAC0/tRpTA0hv3pk/s1600/junkdrawer1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIh7ltJK1SI/AAAAAAAAAC0/tRpTA0hv3pk/s400/junkdrawer1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514793631418602786" border="0" /><span><span></span></span></a><span><span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIh8Kz6BFAI/AAAAAAAAAC8/0K8UMgH3_Gg/s1600/junkdrawer4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIh8Kz6BFAI/AAAAAAAAAC8/0K8UMgH3_Gg/s400/junkdrawer4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514794268889256962" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Small set of carved wooden feet, the black metal poodle, a ship in a bottle, vintage ink, a wooden rubber duck, a tiny windmill......... aren't they all just lovely?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">For some reason, it reminds me of being a child, collecting shiny bits and hiding them away. A wooden letter in a pants pocket, a mailing label secretly taken from someone's desk, a metal lighthouse that Grandpa gave, taken to school in a backpack. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I guess I like the thought that they carry their own secrets, an unknown history and that maybe I am now a part of it. I like to think that some day, some where, after my time has come and gone, another person puts down a dollar and carries them on down the road to their next adventure.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ow_c3dfhMOY/TIhmbY_QXLI/AAAAAAAAABE/NUpgjtYu1EY/s1600/MisforMillnery.jpg"><br /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br /></span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600656627634383479.post-75927350797478378702010-08-29T19:28:00.000-07:002010-09-16T23:55:41.601-07:00Happy First Post<span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: georgia;font-family:courier new;font-size:100%;" >I guess I started a blog for the same reason everyone starts a blog. Sending thoughts and pictures out in to the wide blue yonder in hopes of a connection? Posterity? A fancy way to talk to myself?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: georgia;font-family:courier new;font-size:100%;" >I'm going with "c." Like they say, the answer is always "c."</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-family: georgia;font-family:courier new;font-size:100%;" >So here I am...........now what?</span> <br /></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01543674357945640982noreply@blogger.com1