MY FALL COOKIE CUTTER SWAP GOODIES!

I participated in Sandy and Deb's HALLOWEEN/FALL COOKIE CUTTER SWAP. They were a bit strict, mind you. Things like, "Make the package fun to open" and "Manners count, saying Thank You is a must". I dunno . . . I did my best! 

My partner was Pam of Virginia Retro. She sent her package to me a bit early as she was going on vacation. I was dying to open it, but I hadn't finished up mine yet and didn't want to be influenced by what she sent. It was hard to wait, but I sent her box out this past Saturday and opened mine on Sunday. That worked out well because the New England Patriots weren't playing yesterday (they're Monday Night this week) and I needed something fun to occupy my afternoon (although it didn't take 3 hours to open the box!).

Everything was wrapped up so cute in pretty colored tissue papers and tags of all sorts.

Here's what she sent:

This is the cookie cutter decoration she made. It's so lively with all the little punkins and buttons. I love the color combination!

She made a few cute little magnets:

Aw heck! I was gonna photograph, then open, each little package but I just plumb ran out of patience! Here's all the rest of the goodies: Pam went tag-happy and I'm glad she did - they now decorate my house!

Look at all that fun stuff! Vintage playing cards, yo-yo's, Fall-themed ribbons around spools, buttons, CANDY, and more!! Isn't that pumpkin face the happiest looking little guy? Of course, my favorite is the fat quarter of cherry-printed fabric!

Thanks so much, Pam, you did a great job with what you sent me - I'm happy and content (especially after eating the candy bar!). :) SPOILER ALERT: Pam, don't go below this paragraph if you haven't opened your package yet!

This is the cookie cutter and large tag (along with other goodies) that I made for Pam. I didn't have, and couldn't find, a round vintage cutter so I used a leaf-shaped one that I had. I just love craft swaps!

PATRIOTIC BANNER REVEAL!

Here it is, folks! All the pieces of the patriotic banner swap - all five of them, lol! They're all great, and unique, though!

First is Sarah's (Hope In Every Season):

Because there were a few extras she had sent along, and they were longer than the others, I made a banner by themselves for my living room window!

Next is Debby's of Cozy Blanket. I like the boldness of this design:

Then there's Pam's of Virginia Retro, all picnic-y and fireworky! Summer at it's best!

Here's mine. I couldn't decide between which girl image, so I used them both and made a two-sided piece.

The above ones I strung together and the banner is hanging on my hutch:

Lastly, we have Judy's of 20 North Ora. She stitched a wonderful fabric mini-banner!

Mine is hung in the kitchen window!

At first, I was disappointed that more women didn't join in, but I think I got the cream-of-the-crop here!

Everyone have a safe (especially East Coasters) and fun Fourth, remembering the freedom we fought for!

SUMMER POSTCARDS

I have been putting up some of my summer decorations this past week, and was delighted to place my Summer Postcards around. A few years ago Elizabeth, of Creative Breathing, had a swap where you made a postcard of your state. That was one of my favorite swaps! So here are a few photos of some of the cards.

 (china: Homer Laughlin 'duBarry' pattern)

(my collection of red Restaurant Ware)

PATRIOTIC SWAP DEADLINE + FLEABANE

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, the 13th is the mailing deadline for your banner pieces!

I found a new wildflower/weed this past week. There is a clump of Fleabane growing in the middle of my dirt driveway. I'm so excited - haven't had a new plant on the property in a while! So, of course, I transplanted some up to my garden.(not my photo)

BANNER SWAP, AND FERNS

YES, LADIES, THE BANNER SWAP IS STILL ON! Even though we only have five participants at present, I see no reason why we can't have a five-piece banner. So, craft away! I've got mine ready to roll:

I have a long driveway, about 1/8 mile long, and our lot is around 1-1/2 acres. I've always been amazed at how many varieties of wild flowers and "weeds" there are in this little parcel of land. Walking to the school bus this morning I noticed the Cranesbill (wild geranium) blooming, the Jack-In-The-Pulpits unfurled, Canada Mayflowers popping up everywhere, a multitude of Wild Sarsparilla, and a few others (that I don't feel like looking up their names because I can't remember!) - and all these along the sides of the driveway, fighting for space with the poison ivy!

I do love ferns, they seem so tropical to me. I have three varieties that I know of along the driveway. I don't know their names, but the first one might be that Cinnamon Fern. Here they are:

PATRIOTIC SWAP - TIME CHANGE

Okay, ladies, sorry I haven't been on here lately - it's gardening season, don'tcha know! Anyways, regarding the Patriotic Banner Swap, I think I jumped the gun by announcing it so early. Everybody was probably reeling still from Easter and time was tight between then and Memorial Day. So I decided to changed it to a Fourth of July time frame.

Here are the instructions, from my previous post:

I was going to make myself a patriotic banner this year and then decided to have a swap, and share banner pieces! What I would like to do is involve 7 others besides myself. You would need to make 8 banner pieces - 7 to share and one for yourself. The size would be 4" x 6" at the largest, and you can choose your shape: pennant/triangle, rectangle, circle, star, shield, whatever! This is an indoor paper craft, not for outside weather.

If you would like to join, sign up (or re-sign up) in the Comments below. Make sure you are an active blogger, and that your email is somewhere on your blog for when I need to contact you. I will take the first 7 signer-uppers and will email you my mailing address. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE WANT TO DO THIS, I CAN MAKE A SECOND GROUP!

You make the 8 banners and mail all of them to me no later than Friday, June 13th. That will give you six weeks to make them, and me enough time to get them mailed back to you in time for Fourth of July. Make sure your return address is on the envelope! I will then sort them into groups and mail each of you one group.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

A NEW PATRIOTIC SWAP!

I was going to make myself a patriotic banner this year and then decided to have a swap, and share banner pieces! What I would like to do is involve 7 others besides myself. You would need to make 8 banner pieces - 7 to share and one for yourself. The size would be 4" x 6" at the largest, and you can choose your shape: pennant/triangle, rectangle, circle, star, shield, whatever! This is an indoor paper craft, not for outside weather.

If you would like to join, sign up in the Comments below. Make sure you are an active blogger, and that your email is somewhere on your blog for when I need to contact you. I will take the first 7 signer-uppers and will email you my mailing address. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE WANT TO DO THIS, I CAN MAKE A SECOND GROUP!

You make the 8 banners and mail all of them to me no later than Monday, May 12th. That will give you three weeks to make them, and me enough time to get them mailed back to you in time for Memorial Day. Make sure your return address is on the envelope! I will then sort them into groups and mail each of you one group.

This will be a lot of fun, so get out your reds, whites, and blues and get crafting!

(If I forgot anything, let me know!)

VALENTINE SPOOLIE SWAP!

LIST OF SWAP PARTNERS HERE.

I have thought long and hard over whether to have a Valentine swap, and what kind. I finally decided to do a spoolie creation swap. Sandy, of 521 Lake Street, had an Easter Spoolie swap last year and I loved it! So, here we go!

This is a sample picture of what a spoolie craft looks like:

You can look on Google for more ideas. If you don't have, or can't get, a thread spool then "think out of the box" and use something else like a mini candle stick or a small salt shaker!

You can also add little gifts like candy, craft supplies, trinkets, and whatever you may think of.

If you would like to join, you must be an active blogger, and sign up below by Friday, January 10th. (I always accept stragglers, though!)

I will let you all know the details on Monday, January 13th.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SWAP PARTNERS

Hi all! Including myself, we have eight signed up for the Christmas Swap. Here are your partners:

Suzanne the Colorado Lady and Dorothy whose Hens Rule
Lori with Red Shoes and Glitter and Catherine who says It's All About Me
Lynn whose Life (is) On the Wienee Ranch and Joanne who talks about My Random Insanities
Me (Sue) who lives in A Very Cherry World! and Becky who is Crafting Capriciously

Okay, ladies, let's get crafting and have fun! Make sure you contact your partner for her mailing address, and refer back to this page for instructions and deadlines, etc.

REDNESDAY

Welcome to Rednesday! I couldn't wait for today to show you what I received from the two Valentine Swaps I joined this year. But, first, I just have to show you what my Becky (15, Asperger's) made in Ceramics class this month. It's a box with a raised relief of each of our cats on the sides! On the top is a handle (that looks like Stonehenge or something!), two cat cushions, two bowls, and a toy mouse.

I like this so much better than her last project, which was a mug in a nice shade of red. Only problem was she was in a foul mood that day and, right before firing, she scratched the word "hatred" on it! So I haven't figured out how to use that yet!

Here goes: first is my card swap with Paintin' Patti. Some of you have seen the ones she made for everyone, and this is what they look like ~ I'm lovin' it, especially since I'm a gardener!

You can view the card I sent to her on her blog, at the link above. (I forgot to photo mine - sshhh!)

Now, for Erica's Valentine Candy Box Swap (Golden Egg Vintage blog) I was partnered with Linda from Texas. She has a blog, but hasn't used it in a year. We're now Facebook buddies! Here is the awesomeness that she sent me ~

Awesome vintage-style paper on the heart-shaped box, wrapped in tulle!! And a smaller box of chocolates which, by the way, didn't make it past the photo shoot - no surprise there!

An awesome foursome of crocheted hearts, a vintage hankie, a heart candle, a vintage Valentine card, two cute little bookmark magnets and a pretty floral notebook!

 . . . a beautiful calendar made with a vintage card, some Valentine stickers, two gorgeous glitter heart tags, and a bunch of so-cute quilt hearts! I think I might want to make a banner with those! All throughout the box were sprinkled chocolate-scented rose petals!!

Now, what more could be asked of for Valentine's Day? (besides a new sports car, I mean)

Here's what I made and sent to her ~

(inside cover)

(inside bottom)

I also made a tag and tucked it in ~

Here are most of the goodies I tucked inside: some Boston Baked Beans candy (cuz I'm from the Boston area!), a beautiful large chocolate heart made locally, a small pouch of red and pink tiny flocked bears (cuz Linda likes bears!), a bag of Valentine erasers which also includes bears, and some Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria-scented soap and lotion. There was also a fabric country-style girl holding a heart that I got at a thrift store, but I forgot to include that in the photo.

As much fun as I have receiving gifts like these, I have even more fun making and sending them. (Easter is right around the corner!!)

REDNESDAY

Greetings, everyone!

Today I'm going to show you the swap gifts I received from my Shape-It-Up Christmas Swap. My partner was Denise of Old Fashioned Days. Click on her blog name to see what I sent her. I'm so glad you enjoyed your goodies, Denise! I sure love mine!

Looky here - a big cherry potholder, a tin cookie cutter, a wind-up Santa (I've always loved these things!), a stenciled cherries napkin, a pass-along tin, candy cane ornament, a Mary Engelbreit notepad, home-made tree ornament, a box of vintage Hallmark cards, and an oh-so-cute vintage card that she wrote a note in!

I absolutely love this ornament with the button trunk!