Friday, February 22, 2013

Pink Saturday Mail out for Easter Egg Carton Swap

Today is the official mail out day for a group of Facebook friends who are swapping vintage egg cartons. Not really “vintage” in the true meaning of the word, but vintage because they’re  like the old cardboard cartons of yesteryear…first, I had to FIND the 3 X 4 row size I wanted…
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ETSY to the rescue! Just what I wanted for my partner, Louisiana girl, Tonya. She is also an English teacher! She has had a pen-pal in France since she was in middle school and loves everything related to Paris and France! We decided to swap Easter in Paris…her favorite colors are reds and browns…mine are soft greens and blues.
First I covered the carton with a coat of gesso. Then I decopagued layers of a beautiful napkin in her chosen colors…
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A bright red tassel and a gilded knob  tops the lid and another layer of designs highlight the bottom…
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I started adding French language bits of paper and washi tapes to the eggs that would hold the Easter treats.
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The inside lid has a vintage look map of Paris so Tonya can find her way around when she fulfills her dream to visit the City of Lights.
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Each of the half dozen eggs holds an Easter surprise…
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White doves…
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Brown glitter doves…
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a collection of tiny crosses for Tonya to use in her own Easter card making…
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Three little wooden rabbits and vintage flowers…
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and spools of fibers and washi tapes mingled with gilded eggs… and one of my very favorite additions, matchbox drawers covered with the map and filled with punched die cuts…
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using vintage sheet music and dictionaries and beautiful papers I cut crowns and birds and butterflies and tea pots and tea cups…I would love to get a package like this.
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I filled the egg carton and the rest of the contents spilled out into the box…rolls of ephemera…a 1900’s ledger sheet,  a French newspaper from the 1920’s, pages from an antique French grammar book. A few antique Easter cards, seam binding, some beautiful  Victorian Easter  scrap. And I tucked in a few containers of that beautiful Martha Stewart fine glitter in reds and golds and browns.
I love swaps…a little imagination, a few vintage finds, and someone else’s perspective on a common theme.The swap was organized by my Paper Cowgirl friend, Sarah. Talk about a talent; she and I have been swap partners before, and she knows how to fill a carton!  Next week will be super exciting as I wait for Tonya’s package to arrive. In the meantime, I’ll head over to Beverly’s How Sweet the Sound blog for Pink Saturday and all the lovely posts. And you have a Pink Week!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Love is in the air…

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Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! It’s the first celebration of the new year…it’s a signal that spring is near…This year I had a new sparkling wreath that I won at a luncheon the week end before the 14th. Just perfect for the front door!  But the best Valentines are inside…

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Valentines hand made by my Pink Saturday friends in Beverly’s Circle of Friends Journal group…we’ve grown pretty close during our journaling for each other and Nancy had the idea that we make Valentines to swap among the group. What fun it has been…the first one to arrive was Nancy’s cute Scottie card.

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the vintage “To My Valentine” arrow just really sets it off! It went right on my swirly tree…Her card was joined by one from Shelia…a cute little girl just as sweet as she is.

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Look at all the details and the cute birds! Right to the top of the tree it went! During the week Dana and The Stone Rabbit set a darling card with a real key on it!

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Aren’t my blog buddies just the most clever people ever?  Two days later two more cards came…Jeanne’s with lots of vintage elements…

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and a perfect sentiment, “Enjoy the simple things of life” Her card is anything but simple! That wasn’t all;  in the same day’s mail, I found Beverly’s beautiful card with original art work! Now I can cut and paste for days on end, but original artwork? No, Beverly’s card is in a class of its own, layers of detailed paper and a cute necklace on her pretty lady!

valentines 2013 045 Did anyone know she could draw? I can’t thank her enough for sharing her talent!

Within another day or two, Kathy’s card with its handmade teabag arrived! As usual, her work is so rich with details that you keep discovering details!

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There is a little verse about tea inside the tag and a handmade cup cutout. Artistic talent and poetry in one package.  This has been so much fun to participate with the group and I love displaying the group’s creations on my swirly tree.

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Before they are packed up at the end of the month, I’ll make a mug of hot chocolate and sit savoring the beauty of each one. I’m still watching for Grace’s to arrive and then the circle will be complete. I cannot thank everyone enough for sharing their talents and hats off to Nancy for creating the group and organizing us.   I’mm off to Beverly’s How Sweet The Sound http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ to see who is posting today.



Limping Deer and the Twins

Limping Deer and the Twins
They are still spotted at this time.

Show and Tell Sunday June 15

Flea Market Finds...sounds like my whole house and yard...

Milk Glass Collection

Milk Glass Collection
Who knew that a 25 cent flea market find would unleash such a collecting frenzy? I never pay more than a dollar unless it's a really nice piece. They are great grouped with a single daisy in each.

These used to be inexpensive florist vases in the 50's and 60's. Everyone's Grandmother had bunches.

Mexicana Dishes

Mexicana Dishes
My sister found these for me at Bussy's Flea Market in San Antonio, Texas. I had seen pictures in her Fiesta reference book. Mexicana was also made by Homer Laughlin in the 30's. I had been looking for several years without ever finding even a single piece when she found the set...with a promise to hold it for us, she came running to find me and I bought the entire set...60+ pieces for $50.

Mexicana

Mexicana
I've added to the set over the years, but the price and experience will never match that first amazing find.

Vintage Kitchen Hutch

Vintage Kitchen Hutch
When my hubby found this hutch it was Pepto pink and I was not 100% sure about it. But with a new red back and fresh white paint and refurbished hardware, it became one of my favorite pieces.

Nancy made me save the vine

Nancy made me save the vine
The vine and flowers painted on the inside were in such bad shape that I was ready to remove it all. Nancy -My Crafty Little Page convinced me to keep it and after some touch-up work, I'm glad I listened to her. My husband restores vintage Cushman motorscooters and he tries to make everything "mint" condition again. The Shabby Chic movement came along just in time to keep me from making some terrible mistakes.