I Heart Swapping

Me in my new Idyll Hands necklace

I've only participated in 3 swaps but it is so much fun and this last one was by far my fave, to make and to receive! It was called Spring Tweets and the challenge was anything with birds. I was thrilled when I learned my fellow swapper would be Erin of Idyll Hands on Etsy, since I had long admired her delicious jewelry. Now I get to strut about in an Idyll Hands creation of my very own! My taking a photo of myself photo just doesn't do her work justice so be sure to head over to her shop, you won't be disappointed! I was so excited when it arrived yesterday and have been wearing it all day today, it's perfection!


I wanted to break away from scrapping a bit with this challenge so I made a shadow box. Erin has another shop on Etsy called Wooly Hands where she sells her hand spun yarns and roving. So I thought it would be appropriate to make her a little knitting birdie, the idea is that the bird is stealing a knitter's yarn to cozy up its nest. I didn't stray far, I used a pattern scrapbook paper background,diecut tree trunks and branch shadow out of black paper and mounted those flat. Then diecut a brown branch that I raised off the surface. When I put the shadow box on my new bookcase to try and get a good photo of it I almost kept it for myself! I will definitely be making one of these I can keep.

Secret Santa

click image to enlarge

Arkansas Artists On Etsy (AREtsy) held a Secret Santa swap. I've only done two swaps but I've decided I love them! Here is what I came up with for Punkinhead (of punkinhead.etsy.com).

I received this great organic cotton Christmas tote bag fromVickie (of vhsfree.etsy.com). Click here or on the image to purchase your own Christmas tote!

One AREtsian Gal's Trash is Another's Treasure

I hope it is anyway! I recently joined a swap, my first one ever, and it was alot of fun. The rules for this swap were to make something, a nice something, by recycling, reusing, and repurposing. I was so pleased with what I made I was tempted to keep it for myself.

The low down: This is a mini album made with paper lunch bag pages bound with an old shoelace and a cardboard cover upholstered with my old belt and beloved cords. Inside are bottle cap flowers and can tab embellishments and my favorite feature, tags made of old postcards! I was so excited about this simple idea, postcards are the original journaling spot. I also threw in a few can tab snakes for her kiddos.