ATC and Tag

I signed up for an ATC swap that required something punched and something yellow for two partners.  Here are my offerings...

Spritzed glimmer mist over a bamboo card, then applied the magic mesh and painted over it with twinks.  I punched the grape leaves first from scrap paper, then from the cover of an OLD hymnal.  There was actually a song printed on the cover, but it was tattered and the edges pretty beat up.  Anyway, then I added the layered paper Prima flowers, and stuck in a pair of old brass clock hands.  I was actually very pleased with the result!

This second card has Rusty Hinge distress ink stippled on over the stencil.  Then I punched more from the cover of the hymnal and added some yellow paint and a game spinner to that.  A strip of yellow inches went on next, followed by two punched paper butterflies; one is a double piece so the print is on the top and bottom of the wings, the other is glued flat, so just one layer.  I added some yellow stickles glitter to the body and drew on some antennae.  I am not sure if I am done with this one yet, but I think it meets the swap requirements as it stands.

This is the tag I made for my first private swap.  I started with a kraft tag, added part of the hymnal cover on one edge, then painted over the whole thing with African Jade Twinkling H2O paint.  I added black magic mesh to the corners, then punched some grape leaves and added the paper flowers.  The little raised paper that says peace on it is a punched tag that I punched again to make narrower, then I added the rub-on banner.  The brads do not go through the tag, but I put a little circle of paper beneath the flowers for the brad to brace against, then I glued the paper to the tag.  Finally, I finished it off with a piece of jute twine mixed with a piece of eyelash yarn.  The colors don't really come through in the picture like they do in person, but the tag is very pretty. :)

Valentine's Gift Tags

My daughter has an etsy shop where she sells woven shawls.  She recently sold seven of them to a co-worker and the customer requested gift-wrap.  Since Elizabeth wanted to do the job as inexpensively as possible without it looking "cheap" we decided the best option was to put them in robe boxes and wrap them with red paper and add a tag.

Paper crafting is not her favorite pastime, so I offered to do them for her.

Here are five of the tags.

Here is a close-up of one.  The little square is for the name of the recipient.

New Directions!

It seems like I have been doing the same old thing forever, although I am sure given my propensity to change things up that can't possibly be true!  I have noticed that this fall I have really given some time and thought to new directions. I am not just sitting still and making cards anymore.

I have added new dimensions to my dominoes, mixing colors like I never was brave enough to do before...

I came up with an original idea--although I did borrow the ribbons on the clip idea from someone else...

I started using more stamps and punches on the cards I make--and of course the addition of those lovely crocheted flowers...

I have started helping Ornery with his wood crafting.  He makes all the cuts and I do the finishing. Here is a set of baskets he made...

Folded books, faux mercury glass, alcohol inks blown on glass--all new arenas for me!

I have even started working with fabric again!  It has been years since I was interested in it, but lately I am starting to amass a stash--although it doesn't come close to rivaling my paper stash for size!

I made these little tags for my daughter's entry into the cookie exchange I am hosting in December. (She is making a cherry shortbread cookie) While this isn't really a new thing--it is different from any I have made before. Each project has been a learning experience.

I am in the process of painting a garage sale table with a real picture on the top. I have procrastinated on it because I am afraid it won't look good, but I am slowly working my way up to the top, at which time I will have no choice but to just do it!

Tastes and styles change over time, and I seem to have had quite a bit of change in my life this year!