Showing posts with label altered matchbox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label altered matchbox. Show all posts

Friday, April 11, 2014

Welcome Spring & Vintage Easter Image Freebies!

Welcome Spring
was the theme for our recent altered matchbox swap.
 Here's what I made for my partner.
 The challenge was to create a
mini side by side
 matchbox chest,
filling the drawers
 with spring and Easter goodies and..
 3 miniature artist trading cards.
 This swap was sent to
my lovely partner
Jo.
 
And for you dear friends,
some Easter images
to enjoy!


 
 



Saturday, March 9, 2013

More Springtime Greetings

These little side by side matchbox chests
 are quite addictive....
...particularly this time of year
with an abundance of sweet springtime images.
This is one of my absolute favorites!



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

White Inspiration

I recently hosted a
 Winter Whites Inspiration Matchbox Swap
 in my flickr group.
Create a frosty matchbox for your partner and fill it with lots of white inspiration.
I ended up with two partners as one of the group members asked to participate after the swap closed.
Lucky me.... double the lovely returns!
 
These are the boxes I created....
and I had such fun filling them with wonderful white confections...
glitter vials, bleached bottle brush trees, mother of pearl buttons, laces, florals, beads...
and the almost mandatory frozen charlottes!
 
Sandi created this beautiful box for me. So difficult to capture how truly beautiful it is in all it's sugared sweetness.
And all the wonderful whites and silvers inside....
I thought the feathers were an especially nice touch!
 
This is the box I received from Michele.
Stunning with it's flap closure, pearl feet and many embellishments.
 
Here's a top view...
just a glorious mix of textures!
 
And loaded with tons of inspiration
in frosty silvers, whites and ice blues.
 
There's nothing like swapping with blog friends!
 
If you can't get enough of whites, follow my link to
hosted by Becky at Timewashed.
 

Friday, August 10, 2012

Altered Marie

In our Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group we were partnered for an altered matchbox and domino swap. The matchbox was to be jeweled and the domino had to have a Marie image.
I recently acquired two exquisite estate pieces that were meant for this swap.
After covering the box with an aqua damask I bound it with aqua tulle and seam binding.
I accented the antique ornate baroque style pendant frame with aqua and teal beads and bling. On top of that piece I attached the fabulously shabby fleur de lis embedded with aqua stones.
I pinned them so they could be detached and used otherwise if my partner, Melanie, chose to do so.

I couldn't find anything aqua that I liked for the domino so I switched the color palette to blues and pinks, collaging a young Marie atop an Eiffel Tower background. I gave Marie wings lightly edged with glitter and a crown fashioned out of metal and beads.
The edges are finished with tiny baby blue bling chips.

The sides of the domino were covered with layers of pink and blue dresden trim.
Sometimes the easiest finishing touches are the prettiest!

The domino gets tucked inside the matchbox for giving...
...creating for a partner is always joyful!

And equally joyful is having a partner who clearly enjoyed creating for me. I was thrilled to be partners with the lovely and extremely talented swap hostess, Melanie.
Look at this stunning jewel encrusted matchbox I received!

And Melanie didn't stop with the top of the box.
The sides are embellished just as beautifully.

I love the domino, with the coordinating gold filigree alongside a regal blue Marie.

Merci Melanie....ces't magnifique!

Friday, June 29, 2012

A Midsummer Night's Dream Reveal

Okay, so it really doesn't have a thing to do with one of Shakespeare's most beloved works. The idea was to alter a matchbox and fill it with treasures that capture the feel of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
I had such fun delighting in the details...

lots of shimmering tulle, butterflies, dragonflies, lush flowers and bling...

the perfect paper to complement...

and the inside treasures needed to be magical and ethereal, right down to the bottle of faerie dust and vintage flower-topped spool of blue lace.

There were touches and retouches (and a little bit of a desire to keep this one, truth be told).

But my little box has found a new home with Linda in North Dakota.
I hope you love it Linda and I'll be certain to share yours when it arrives!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Lilla's Challenge, Lavender

You all know that feeling when you come upon a blog that speaks to you? That just happened to me again a couple of days ago when I tripped across
Just Lilla.
What initially drew me in was this gorgeous vintage pouch she madebut scrolling through her posts I discovered a whole new world of vintage and French country loveliness!

A couple of days ago Lilla posted a beautiful antique image along with a challenge to create something simple using it.Isn't her triptych beautiful?

I thought this image would be sweet used as a party favor for a luncheon, tea or some French-themed event so I made a miniature matchbox favor,
collaging the sides with pieces of the side script

and finishing it off with tea-stained trim and a vintage fleurette.

Thanks for the inspiration Lilla!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Good Things Come In Small Packages

At least I hope my partner thinks so!
For the Valentine Swap in my flickr group, we went small, altering the 32 count size matchbox and creating 3 mini atc's that could fit inside.




I'll share my little valentine as soon as it arrives!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Just When You Think You've Seen Every Possible Way To Alter A Matchbox....

.....Someone, aka Lorraine, creates the incredible!

I have to tell you I am absolutely in love with this piece.

We're doing a Secret Santa Advent Matchbox Swap in my Flickr Group and because I'm the hostess my Santa can't be so secret. When you receive something so over-the-top wonderful, who cares!
The swap guidelines were to use 2 matchboxes in any way you wish. But who would ever believe a Christmas chalet complete with glitter, snow and a bottle brush tree?

We also filled our boxes with 25 wrapped little gifts, one to open each day in December until Christmas.
How much fun is it going to be to open these?

I've saved the best for last. See the holes punched in the house?Lorraine included a flickering tea candle to tuck inside. Though my camera doesn't capture it, that little touch makes this the most magical Christmas creation ever!
Big holiday hugs & kisses to my talented friend Lorraine!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

No Tricks, ALL Treats!

Now it's time to show off what I received in the Handmade Halloween Swap from my creative, talented friend, Kimberly of
ArtJoyStuff.The altered matchbox is a gift in itself, so hauntingly beautiful. And she made it so I can use it as a hanging ornament! All of these Halloween treasures are exquisitely handcrafted and now displayed throughout my home. Thank you again Kimberly!
If you enjoy one of a kind Halloween art you really need to take a look at what's being made and swapped in my flickr group.
Here's just a little taste....
Wonderful Witch Hat by Mercedes

Perfect Picks by Jean

A most awesome matchbox vignette by Anna

You may even be inspired to sign up for the Secret Santa Swap. There's plenty of time to put a festive holiday swap together and enjoy the countdown opening your tiny packages from December 1st until Christmas Day!

I have a couple of other treats to share, having been the lucky winner of two blog giveaways recently.
Sharon of Plumrose Lane has some of the most fabulous graphic designs. Her blog is loaded with tutorials and freebies, and her etsy offers a spectacular array of very reasonably priced designs. She also hosts a monthly giveaway and I was the winner for September! I haven't used my gift certificate yet but I think I'll be showing off a little Plumrose Lane for the holidays!

This adorable wall hanging
is a win from my new blog friend Cyn. I hope you'll stop by her place for a visit and check out her new announcement.

If you'd like to enter my Halloween Domino Book Giveaway, you can do that by leaving a comment HERE.
Back to the Halloween work table.......