Vintage Dragon Fly's Halloween Match Box Swap

Last month I participated in a Halloween Matchbox swap hosted by Vintage DragonFly. We also had to make four items to go with the swap. My partner Peace, said she loved dark ghoulish and gothic halloween themed things. So I tried to keep with the theme she liked. The match box I made for Peace:


A Lizzie Borden Paper Doll:


A SPo0ky Tag:


A necklace and a couple of Charms:

And as you can see the matchbox is filled with other spooky goodies too!

Although I am not a Huge fan of Halloween, I do like the vintage and Steampunk Halloween themes. And this fabulous matchbox below is what Peace sent me. I love it!



And my cute "BOO" Banner and Spooky Pin:


A mini matchbox with 13 days of inchies inside, and an altered domino:


And a Vintage witch hanging collage:


Peace did such an amazing job! Thanks so much! VIntage Dragonfly hosts themed matchbox swaps every month, so if you are interested in joining, just click on the link here and it goes to the Vintage Dragonfly Flickr group and gives all the info.

Fall In Love With Buttons Swap Linky Party! And Vintage Connections Creative Button Swap reveal

A few weeks ago I joined in the Button Floozies "Fall in Love with Buttons" Tin and button swap. My partner was DeeDee Johnson. I altered this Altoid tin and filled it with vintage, old and new buttons in fall colors and themes. The image on the tin is an altered one by me. I also used some script paper for the bottom of the tin. I painted the sides with chalk paint and embellished with buttons and flowers. I found some really nice old buttons for DeeDee.



This is the beautiful tin DeeDee made for me and all the wonderful buttons she included in it. She also made me a needle keep. It is lovely. I have never had one of these before and am so thankful she shared one with me. Thanks DeeDee!


I am learning about old buttons since I stumbled onto this group. Laurie, Tami and many other amazing women share tons of info and pictures on collecting and preserving old buttons. They also share some unique ways to display them as well. In fact, Laurie is doing a Linky party for this button swap at Button Floozies, so please drop on over and check out all the other blogs and the awesome tins that were swapped!



I also joined in Tami Hacker's Creative Button Swap. We were supposed to send a few buttons that our partner enjoyed and display them in a creative or unique way. My partner was Joni Reinhardt. Joni sent me this adorable pumpkin adorned with lace and buttons and a whimsical crow on top! I love it! The buttons were all so unusual and were placed on the pumpkin with pins so they are completely removable. What a clever idea. Thanks Joni!



Joni collects Picture buttons and China Stencil buttons. I was able to find a few of these and added a few of my favorites as well. I made a pocket pillow out of old linens and lace, then tacked the buttons onto the pillow. I also added some other goodies in the pocket pillow for Joni.

Sassy Marsha's Sassy Apron

My friend Marsha Mees (Sassy Mini Dolls Blog) is one of the sweetest blog friends I have ever met. And I did have the opportunity to meet her in February at Cassandra's Marie's Danses de Fleurs event in Florida. What is so interesting is that Marsha and I both live in California and we traveled all the way to Florida to meet in person!!! Crazy World this blogland!


Anyway...Marsha makes the most beautiful porcelin mini dolls. They are amazing! And I mentioned that I wanted to learn how to make one. So we decided to do a swap after the event. That was in February. Well Marsha promptly contacted me and then sent me the doll head, arms, and legs, She actually made them and fired them for me. I just have to finish painting them and putting the body together....I have to admit I am a little intimidated!

Marsha wanted an apron since she knew that my sister and I have been making them. I wanted it to be special and her only request was that it be pink and black!

And, if anyone knows me they know I CAN DO PINK!

If any of you know Marsha she is Outrageously talented and Outrageously fun! I know she loves all things French, all things Foofy over the top blingy and all thing Audrey Hepburn.
So, this was my inspiration. I wanted it to be a little vintage too, so I used vintage lace pieces and vintage buttons and jewels for the accents.
The apron is my own design and it has evolved since I started making them last year. My sister does most the machine sewing because she sew straignt and I definately do not! LOL We work good together (most of the time).
The apron has a black lace overlay and 5 rows of ruffles. The pocket is a printed photo on fabric of Audrey H. I also made the flower pin which can be removed and worn with anything else. Marsha was so patient!
As I said earlier, She mailed me my little doll within a week of getting back from Florida! OMG! So, needless to say, this apron was long overdue to arrive to her today! And it did and I think she loved it! IT is perfect for her and I can't wait to see a pic of her wearing it.

Marsha my friend I cannot wait to meet you again and do some JUNKIN' Woo Hoo!!! I have some more things to show off for a show I am doing in a week, so stay tuned...Becs

Grandma's Attic Match Box Swap 1 & 2

Part 1!

As some of you know, I took part in a "Grandma's Attic" match box swap this month hosted by JoAnne, over at Vintage Dragonfly. She hosts a cool matchbox swap every month. This next month is a halloween swap and there is still time to sign up! Just pop on over to her flickr group for details. Or click on the icon on my side bar>>>

As you can see, I received the cutest Grandma's Attic match box filled to the brim with goodies from Michele over at "Something Special" Blog. Michele did such an amazing job with the box. It is so vintage and I loved everything she sent! Here is the box with an old fan, postcard and notecard.


She sent me these lovely old buttons.


A hand crocheted pink lace square, porcelin salt shaker, vintage jewelry and jewelry bits, crystal chandy pieces, pearls...


Vintage ephemera and dresden pieces, a jeweled hair comb, metal charm frames, and a frozen Charlotte head


Thanks so much Michele!

Now for Part 2!

This is the match box I made for Laurie, Indulge Your Shelf. I used a flocked vintage wall paper with a damask pattern for the cover in a beautiful chartreuse green color. The drawer was covered in a coordinating flocked striped vintage wall paper with a vintage button closure. I made the rose on top with a piece of vintage trim.


I knew Laurie liked alot of the same things I did so I just pulled from my beloved collection...hoping she would enjoy them. The next few pictures are courtesy of Laurie who shared her pics with me as I did not get photos of all the goodies inside. Thanks Laurie! I packed everything in this cool vintage candie box.



A collection of laces and trims


Vintage cards, ephemera, and vintage wall papers


Trims, rhinestones, buttons, jewels, spools, ephemera, Frozen Charlotte, etc...


And this cute little tin I found at a local antique shop, perfect for tiny vintage buttons and bling!


I am so sorry it took so long for me to post about these gooides. I have been a little busy with school starting back up and then caught a cold the first day! I am so excited to make some things with my goodies soon! Take care! God Bless! Becs

Bird Song Tag Book Has Arrived! And Trash to Treasure Giveaway Prize!

As most of you know, Karla Nathan, Karla's Cottage, hosted a swap called "Bird Song Tag Book Swap". Everyone was to make and send in seven tags to Karla and she sorted them out then sent us a book of eight tags (including hers). I previously the tags I made and sent in and today I got these wonderful tags in the mail! If you want to read more about the swap click on this link, and read all about the tags. "Name that Tag"

The tag on the left is the one that Karla made and it was the cover for the tag book. The cage is glittered and the bird is painted. It is just beautiful! I just love the little silver bird cage charm attached!

The tag on the right, made by Tina S., BeansieBabbles, It has the most adorable pink cut out bird and a polka dot birdhouse!!!


The next two tags are in turquoise blue colors! ANd they both have bird feathers on them! They are adorable...The one on the left is made by Kathy, A Spectacular Mess, Birds on a nest with pearls and a scrabble tile.

The tag on the right is made by Jennifer, Eat Peanuts Blog, Jen was my partner another time and I was glad to see I received a tag from her. She made a framed peacock and added a peacock feather to her tag! Love it!


These two coming up are the cutest pink tags ever! The one on the left is made by Tami Hacker, Vintage Connections Blog, THis is one of my favorites! It is pink with glittered damask and pink roses, lace and little buttons, and the cutest lil bluebird ever! And the back is just adorable too!

The tag on the right is made by Michele, Nook and Cranny Gifts,This beautiful tag is covered with laces, ribbons, birds and flowers, It's perfect!


These last two tags are in blues and creams and so darling! The tag on the left is made by Robin Sanchez, Once Upon a Pink Moon, Robin and I have been swap partners before in a ning group. She always does such, beautiful work. The tag has a bird nest made from a baby bootie and the bird is adorning the cutest crown ever!

The tag on the right was done by Becky Handforth, becky-handforth blog, the base of this tage is on sheet music with cream lace and a cream rose. She added a nest under the cutest lil multidemensional blue bird. It even has pearls! I love it!


Thank You ladies for these wonderful tags! I will cherish them always!

Annnnddddd.....For those of you that were aware of Lynn's HUGE giveaway on her blog, Trash to Treasure Art,
I was chosen as one of the lucky winners! She gave away some amazing handmade items and I adore the journal that I received! Lynn you are an amazing artist! Thanks so much!!!


Until next time, God Bless my blogger friends! Becs

Karla's Cottage's Bird Song Tag Book Swap

As many of you know, Karla Nathan, over at Karla's Cottage is hosting HUGE Tag Book Swap. I was excited to join and have seen some AMAZING tags!!! Here are my tags that I sent to Karla. She is mixing them up and putting them into books for each of us and returning to us an amazing book of Birds from other participants!!!

I had so much fun making these and can't wait to see all the tags that come back to me!


I think that Karla will be up for days sorting and putting tags together...I so appreciate all that she is doing for this swap! Thanks Karla! If you want to see Karla's Amazing blog and her studio, just click on Karla's Cottage link and check it out.


And if you would like to see some amazing tags from this swap check out the Flickr group.