Blogger Swap!

Hey Friends-

I recently participated in a fun blogger swap hosted by Miche of Buttons and Birdcages.  We were all paired up with another blogger and sent each other fun gifts in the mail!  I was paired with Alexa of Almost A Hippy.  Look at all these goodies she sent me!

Some treats for me, including a lovely scarf, some eye shadow and lipgloss, a chocolate bar, and a mini frame crafting kit.  I'm pretty excited about all of it, but come on, chocolate.  After my year spent studying in England, I got pretty hooked on Cadbury chocolate.

She also included this cute, fleece fabric.  I want to make something for my little girl with it but am not sure what yet.  Any suggestions?  I have about a fourth to a half of a yard.

If you want to check out any of the other blogs participating, check them out below.  We were a little late to share our posts because the first package I sent got lost in the mail.  Yikes!

Buttons and Birdcages and Aligator Toe

Spoolish and Mrs Fox's Finery & Fancies

Frou Frou by Love Nicky and Thrift Your Heart Out

Lemonade Runway and Fun Crafty Savy Mom

Dash of Rose and Being Zhenya

Extra Extravagant and That Cold September Night

Handmade Gift Exchange

Hello friends!

Is everyone getting ready for Christmas?  I'm mostly trying to keep the baby from pulling off ornaments and eating them.  However, with my little bit of spare time, I participated in a fun gift exchange hosted by Craftaholics Anonymous.  I was paired up with another crafter and we sent each other gifts.  Here is what I sent:

I decorated this wooden box by decoupaging a floral napkin onto the top.  Before attaching it, I cut out the word CREATE to leave the wood poking through.  Next I filled the box with lots of little crafting goodies.  When you are a craft hoarder like me, you build up quite the supply.  Everything was color-coordinated of course :)

I also wanted to send something a bit more "handmade" so I created this little owl ornament.  I was so happy with it that I made a few more to add to my shop.  You know, it happens.  I was a little late sending my gift so I also threw in one of my peacock prints.

In exchange, I got this wonderful chalkboard bunting.  I had a hard time getting a good picture of it because we hung it over a glass door.  Hopefully you can see it alright.  It's very cute.  Right now, it says "Happy Christmas" but it will be very fun to change it up for parties.

I loved getting such a beautifully sewn gift because my sewing skills are still developing.  That's the fun of an exchange like this.

Has anyone else tried something like this?  Any exchanges that you have really enjoyed?

Harry Potter Crafts

I'm currently participating in two Harry Potter swaps through swap-bot.  It started as one and split into two.  But this just means I get two people to create for!  Let me show you what I made.  I'll include brief how-to's, but feel free to ask if you want more detail.

My first partner claims to be a Ravenclaw, so I made her lots of Ravenclaw goodies.  Here they are together.

First, I made a Luna Lovegood inspired necklace.  Instead of radish earrings, I went the necklace route in case my partner didn't have pierced ears.  I just put a crochet bead together with a metal flower using a head pin and hung them from a chain.

Next is a Ravenclaw scarf.  I actually had these two scarves that I bought awhile back at the dollar store.  I thought they would come in handy for a scarf project.  Guess what, they did.  All I did was sew them together along the two edges. 

Finally, a button set that I made with my button maker.  I just found some graphics online to make the Ravenclaw and Hogwarts crest. 

For my second partner, I made more general HP crafts, but did include a Slytherin goodie since that was the house she would choose.

She mentioned that she loved tea, so I made her a "Muggle" teacup.  To be honest, I was worried calling a Slytherin "muggle," but hopefully it will be okay :)  I just found a teacup from a thrift store and then wrote on it with a porcelain paint pen.

Next, I made a snitch necklace like the one I made for myself awhile back.  I still had some wings and I just attached them to a gold bead using an eye pin.

Finally, another pin set.  However, this time I included the Slytherin crest.

Whew!!  That was a lot of HP crafts.  Now I just get to sit and wait to see what I get!

Postcard Swap: My Creations

If you've been reading my blog for awhile now (thank you!), then you might remember the post-card swap I participated in last year.  I had so much fun, that I had to participate again this year!  First, a big shout out to iHanna for organizing this event.  Second, here are the postcards I created!  It's a mix of random illustrations and collages.  I really enjoyed playing with my paper crafting materials; I will have to do that more often!

My postcards are slowly trickling in and I will show them here once I get them all.  Want to see even more postcards?  Check out all the postcards in the flickr group!

Awesome Scarf Swap

I recently participated in a really awesome swap, a scarf swap hosted by Why Girls Are Weird.  I didn't take a picture of the scarf I sent, but check out the stuff my awesome partner Carrie sent me.  She kind of rocks; look at all the extra goodies!

Jersey Infinity Scarf by Home Room Studio

White Flower Pin- This picture doesn't do it justice- Also by Home Room Studio

Bobby Pin Set from Carrie Loves

Adorable Pouch

Mix CD Swap

It finally happened.  What I have been waiting for since I started doing craft swaps.  It's a mix CD swap.  Many thanks to Where the Lovely Things Are for hosting this magical event.  I already sent off my CD a few days ago and I wanted to share it with you.

This is the "fancy" cover art I drew.  The theme of the mix was "Good Times" so I drew a bird rocking out with sunglasses.

And here is the playlist I created:

1. See the World by Gomez

2. Modern Nature by Sondre Lerche

3. Mushaboom by Feist

4. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

5. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police

6. Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti and Spearhead

7. Ain't Nothing Wrong With That by Robert Randolph and the Family Band

8. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend

9. All I Want is You by Barry Louis Polisar

10. Dancing with Myself by Nouvelle Vague

11. London Girl by The Pogues

12. Let My Love Open The Door by Sondre Lerche

13. Tanglin' by Gomez

14. Ace in the Hole by The Radiators

15. Get Lucky by Dragonette

16. Beast of Burden by The Rolling Stones

17. Can't Stand It by Wilco

18. (I Wanna) Call It Love by Sondre Lerche

Another Swap

I've been doing lots of craft swaps this month.  Most recently, I participated in one where we made each other little gift pouches.  You can check it out here.  The only requirement was to send the bag, but you were welcome to include an extra goody in pouch.

I created my pouch using two vintage handkerchiefs and satin ribbon.  I also included one of the new initial necklaces I have been working on.

In return, I received this sweet little bag, complete with a ribbon and button Christmas ornament inside.  Fun!  It came to me all the way from Australia.