My Brown Paper Bag Projects for this Year

This year for the 4th Annual Brown Paper Bag Swap I came up with something I really liked and really last minute.  I always have great ideas, but never seem to come up with the one I want to send or am happy with until after the mail out date.  Strange.....I know....but it is just the way my brain functions.

Any therapist out there with an answer to my problem???

 I made some eggs by covering plastic Easter Eggs in brown paper bag strips and then painting them.

I used a deli style plastic bowl for the nest and covered it in brown paper bag strips first and then added some ????, I can't think of what you call that stuff.

Brain Fart!!!!

I also made my partners a matchbox ornament. 

I covered the box with brown paper bag and then added a paper rose to it.

 I also made each of my partners 4 cards out of brown paper bags.

I made the owl out of brown bags and then embellished with printed paper and colored pencils.

and then I made the envelopes for the cards out of brown bags and lined them with printed paper.



I'll post the beautiful piece I got from Ellen tomorrow.

Something Old, Something .......

I participated in Linda's Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue Swap and Stephanie was my partner. I am so far behind in posting this, sorry Stephanie, my pictures turned out really bad!

Stephanie sent me a bag with some old sewing pins in it, some pretty cards, clips and yo-yo's, a pretty vintage hankie that she made into a sachet and it was put in a pink box with a daisy on it, some postcards with some pretty blue flowers, a necklace with a "S" on it and a neat wedding photo. Thank you so much Stephanie for everything you sent! I love the sachet and it goes perfect with my hankies collection!

I made her a Tussie out of a vintage hankie and my sister, Robyn, let me "borrow" the roses and the rose petals that are in the other bag. Thanks Robby!

I used the wedding images to make cards that can be used for weddings or anniversarys and included some little inserts and confetti. I made a couple of other things, but my camera is only working when it wants to. Stephanie has some gorgeous pictures on her blog, so make sure you go check them out and say hi to her!

Thanks Linda for a fun swap and Stephanie for being such a great swap partner! I had fun with this one!

Valentines Card Swap

I participated in Altered Art Junkies Valentines Swap again this year. We each had to make 19 cards and send them to our partners. Here are the cards I received this year. They are all so pretty and my scanner definitely doesn't do them justice!




First Row: Mine, Carrie F., Laci J., Ginny B.

Second Row: Olivia G, Rebecca J.S., Kristi W., Stephanie A.

Row Three: Erin H., Desi A., Pam O., Debbi L.

Row Four: Samantha L., Celia A., the next 2 are from Debbie M.

Row Five: Candice M., Kristin T., Ramona A., Kathryn

Thanks for a fun swap! I love all of the cards and it was so much fun to get "Fun" mail everyday last week!!

Valentines

I joined 2 different Valentine Card Swaps for a total of 19 cards. I kept coming up with different ideas as I was making them and now that they're done I have a totally different idea that I like better, but it'll have to wait until next year. These are all done and that's that!

I also found this cute free crochet pattern on the blog, Undisthreadness. The first heart I made I hop to rip out a few times, but once I got it made.......well, there a breeze now. I hand stitched a piece of felt to the back of four different colored hearts, then sewed on a button and attached each heart to a piece of ribbon for a little hanging for a couple different people. I used #3 cotton crochet thread and changed the colors on the borders. I think they turned out pretty cute!

I haven't attached the felt or buttons on these and my loose threads aren't woven in yet.

Anyway, these are some of the Valentines that I've been working on over the last couple of weeks.

My Weekend Projects

Here are a couple of things I've been working on over the weekend. These are for the Alice in Wonderland Shadowbox Swap. I have 4 different parts of pictures layered on top of each other to make a more dimensional look. Except for the rabbit, I forgot to order 4 sets of prints on him. (brain fart!)

These are the backings to the 4 little shadow boxes that I am using. I glued pages from an old Alice book to them.

and these are 3 of the little shadowboxes. I bout them from the Dollar Tree. They had some corny thing on the inside, but the boxes are really nice. I'm sanding them down and repainting them.

I made 4 sets of cupcake cards and tags for a swap and for my Etsy Shop. Here are 2 of the sets.

Anyway, this is what I worked on over the weekend. I can't wait to get the shadowbox done. I've never done one before and I'm hoping it turns out like I've imagined it!!

LunchBox Swap

Yesterday I received the sweetest bag from Regina, the person who sent me a Lunchbox Swap item. Isn't this bag just so pretty and functional! I love the bag and I love the little birdie pocket on the front of the bag. Regina also sent me a cup with the ice thing that goes down the middle (Ezie stole that as soon as he saw it), a sandwich container and a Freez Pak. She also sent some really cute note cards. Check out her blog and her Etsy shop, she has a variety of really nice things. Regina has plaques, jewelry made from yoyo's, potholders, etc.....

Thanks again Regina!!