Vintage Charms

Howdy!  So, I wanted to share a few projects I have been working on.  As you may know, I am hosting Bunco next month, and I make all the prizes (and dinner, of course {smile}).  I typically make all of their prizes out of paper.  But, this year, I wanted to try something a little different.  Still hand-made, but a bit more versatile.  So, I have decided on jewelry.  I know what you are thinking, 'what?' that's a bit more complicated.  All of these ladies have several black greeting cards (from me), and I wanted to change things up.  

I came across some jewelry making supplies, when I was looking for a specific vintage cotton trim, and so I decided to continue to use what I have, and not spend more money.  (my husband will love that part {smile})

my first bracelet:

and my first necklace:

I know what you are about to say, 'where are the jump rings to hold the charms on?'.  Well, I know I have a package or two around here somewhere, I just haven't located them, yet.  But, I wanted to share with you, my progress.  {smile}  The oval charms, are from a jewelry making kit I purchased probably 3 years ago (ok, maybe longer) Craft Fantastic.  I just never gotten around to crafting them {frown}.   The various charms I already had in my stash.  I use charms on several crafts.  They make great little additions and pretty surprises to packaging (gift card holders, small boxes, fancy cards, etc.).

Recipe Love Bracelet:  The bracelet strand is from a big box craft store (HL).  The pink resin blossom is from another big box store (M).  The key and heart charms are retired products from Stampin' Up!, when they use to do a jewelry line.  And the round pink rhinestone charm is from wally world.  The image inside the oval pendant tray is from Crafty Secrets, from their Heartwarming Vintage Creative Scraps sheet.

Recipe What I Hold in My Heart Necklace:  The chain and the rhinestone cross are from a big box craft store (HL).  The heart lock charm is retired from Stampin' Up!, when they use to do jewelry.  The image inside the oval pendant tray is from Crafty Secrets, from their Heartwarming Vintage Creative Scraps sheet.

My plan is to make 10 necklaces and 6 bracelets.  At this point I only have 4 bracelets 'done'.  And 6 necklaces 'done' and 3 in the works (I can't decide on the image inside the pendant trays).  And whatever jewelry doesn't get selected by my fellow Bunco ladies will go in my Etsy shop for sale.  So, look for those items around mid July.  Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired to use the various materials you already have, and make something beautiful and unexpected! {smile}.

Vintage Blue Bags

Howdy!  I have another trio of party favor bags to share with you today.  These are a bit different in color.  But, the same large label is heat embossed in antique gold.  I know not everyone loves pink.  Shocking, but true.  

The front and back panels are made from Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up!  I love their solid card stock.  Its a very nice heavy weight.  So, it stands up beautifully.  The pattern paper is a mix from a pad by Color Blok: Signature.  I love this pattern paper collection because of the beautiful graphics, the mix of polka dots and floral, and the colors themselves remind me of days past.  

I added paper blossoms, vintage buttons, pearls, and a strip of crochet trim.

I have two more trio sets left to share.  I'll post them tomorrow.  Enjoy your weekend!

 

Bunco One

Whew.  I'm at the end of my big reveal!  I hope you have been inspired and found something creative.  This last prize, number one, is certainly more 'farmland' than you can imagine!
So, let me start with the gift tag.   I used retired pattern papers from Cosmo Cricket and Stampin' Up!.  Both pattern papers embrace farm cooking!  I used the same layout as the previous cards.

the prize:

Ok.  barn red.  chicken wire.  altered clothes pins.  and a retro pattern.  I purchased the simple frame from a big box store.  Painted it literally bard red.  I used sand paper to distress the frame.  I sealed the distress with a clear coat.  I used my husbands staple gun to adhere the chicken wire to the inside of the frame.  I cut the pattern paper to fit inside the frame.  To decorate the clothes pins, I painted them white.  Then adhered a small strip of the pattern paper to the top of the clothes pin.  I stamped a few inspiring words at the front of the clothes pin.  I hot glued a paper blossom and vintage crochet trim bow over the middle section of the pin.  I also added a small wooden button below the bow.  I felt it gave a more 'finished' look.  

This beauty can be hung on the wall, or stand on a counter.  I wanted the recipient of this prize to have choices {smile}.  Choices are good!

Thank you for stopping by and having a look around!  Hope you get a chance to create something today!

Bunco Three & Two

~ lots of photos ~

Just a quick reminder:  we are counting down backwards from eleven.  Also, with several time contra instants and missed opportunities, these photographs are less than perfect.  Please look upon this post with a kind eye.  My deepest sympathy for the crummy photos.

prize three:

here is a close-up view of the gift card: 

 I used some sweet, country charm pattern paper to create an unique gift card.  I used some of the same elements when creating the altered spiral notebook.  I did add some machine zig zag stitching to this small gift card, and a small vintage button.

and here is a photo of the gift (prize) set:

I altered the front of a spiral notebook.  I took some gorgeous vintage-y pattern paper from Authentique.  I added some coordinating tags and paper embellishments.  I added some white resin architecture pieces, a resin blossom, a hand-made paper blossom, a hand cut mannequin, and a large white satin ribbon.  There is a pink polka dot ribbon book mark that is attached to the top spiral.  

prize two:

ok, another crummy photo, but I did want to add a pic of the prize set:

about the only half decent photo of the gift card.  I wanted to keep with the blue and white color theme.  I added two different, but I believe coordinating digital paper.  I added a neutral polka dot pattern piece of digital pattern paper, and topped it off with a digital collage pattern paper for the gift card front.  I added a metal rimmed circular tag with a pearl brad.  To help add another metal accent, to add a crisp element, I stapled a piece of crochet trim and seam binding to the left side of the sentiment banner piece.

the actual prize:

I truly enjoy crafting these little cuties!  I took an over-the-top rhinestone and pearl mini photo frame (2" x 2" square) and transformed it, into a pin cushion photo frame.  Yeah, it is functional, but it is intended for decorative purposes.  I added two different stacks of button pairs.  I stuck them into the pin cushion with a tiny vintage safety pin and a butterfly stick pin.  I thought that the mix of these two pieces added an unique farmland/country charm.  To help add some glam, I added a rhinestone-pearl stick pin.  My original thought for this is to hold a ring while doing dishes (kitchen accent), or washing hands (master bath charm).

I selected a fabric that is sweet, and sorta neutral.  I know it has some hard blues, but I think that the small pattern helps hide the boldness {smile}.

Thank you for stopping by today.  Again, my apologizes for the awful photo quality.  But, please return tomorrow, for the final reveal! Prize number one!

Bunco Five & Four

As with some of the photography problems as stated yesterday, these crummy photography problems continue {frown}

I kept the colors of these two prizes soft, sweet, and vintage-y, that way they kept with the over-all look of vintage, shabby-chic farmland!

Prize number Five!

Ok, you have seen this prize before.  It is an altered vase (glass bottle) for the distressed hand-made paper flowers.  HERE are some previous photos of the paper flowers.

Prize number Four

This prize was shared earlier, too!  HERE is a few photographs of this altered frame with quilted insert!  For the gift card, I added a layer of vellum to the sweet floral pattern paper.  I heat embossed some doilies onto the vellum to keep a sweet, feminine look.  I added a button card label for the banner.

Bunco Eight

Whew.  Sorry this is so late this morning.  My youngest granddaughter sleeps over a few Mondays a month, and yeah, yesterday was her sleep over day {smile}.  She will be two next month, so as you can imagine, her activity level is a bit higher than this grandma's.  

So, back on track with our Bunco prize countdown, from #11 to #1.  (#11 prize is the least in dollar value, and #1 is the largest.)

You have seen this prize before, it is my altered salt shaker photo holder and trinket holder.  I have to admit, I just love this!  I foresee me having several of these on hand at my holiday arts and crafts shows.  {yeah!}

Since I have shared a few photos of the altered salt shaker with you before, I'll start with a close-up photo of this adorable gift card.

I have to admit, I really love these two pattern papers together.  The mustard yellow and shades of blue pattern paper, remind me of wall paper in a country kitchen.  I know that sounds pretty weird, but I really like these two pattern together, and I think they fit my theme perfectly!

The mannequin is die cut and stamped from one of my favorite sets from Paper Trey Ink.  The little banner is stamped with the Friendship Jar stamp set by Paper Trey Ink, as well.  The buttons are a mixture of Stampin' Up! (two yellows) and Dress It Up.  

Now, two different photos of that adorable altered salt shaker:

In this side view, you can see some aqua mist colored buttons, a tiny clothes pin, a pair of tiny safety pins, and a few pearls.
The glass piece hanging from the glitter paper blossom, was purchased from the jewelry section of one of those big box stores.  I wanted a dangle and I think I found the perfect one {smile}.

And from this view, you can see a tiny wooden spool, a few more loose pearls, a cream fancy button, a clear faceted button, and a few stick pins.  All of which are laying on a thin layer of super fine glitter.

Ok, now that I look at my photo, The back of one of the tags, I see I was thrifty!  In that, I stamped on the other side of a already stamped card stock piece.  UGH!  Let me get back into my craft room, and 'fix' that.  (AKA re-do the tag, and re-string it through the knot.)

Thank you for stopping by.  I will post another prize(s) tomorrow.  And on Thursday, I will share a few of my decorations.  Friday a few more prizes, and hopefully on Saturday, I will have some pre-party photos.  I hope you have been inspired to create something wonderful!

Bunco Nine

~ photo heavy post ~

As promised from yesterday, I have another Bunco prize/gift to share with you today.  We are currently at number nine.  (Counting down backwards from eleven)

If you are just joining me, I stamped and heat embossed this little mason jar in early espresso embossing powder, onto very vanilla card stock.  I punched a 3/4" circle from the same digital paper I used to make my reminder cards, and added (alternating) a gold or silver sticker number.  I fussy cut the jar image out with scissors and sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  I wrapped the top of the little mason jars with coordinating bakers twine.

As with all of the prizes, a kraft gift bag decorated, along with a matching little gift card.  An altered clothes pin to hold the prize number.  And of course, the prize!  But before I share the prize, I wanted to share a quick photo of the gift card.

This prize is a desk top calendar.  The finished size is 4" x 4".  That way, it doesn't has a large footprint, and is super sweet!  Here are the photos:

the cover.  super plain, but you won't see it.

I used Market Street pattern paper, from My Mind's Eye.  I just love this rustic, vintage-y look.  I wanted to keep the months kinda flat.  The pages lay better.  I used my Bind-It-All to put the spiral piece thru the little 'book'.

Thank you for stopping by!  See ya tomorrow!

Bunco Eleven & Ten

Whew.  I have been a bit busy with creating and crafting.  I am hosting Bunco this month.  We will be meeting this week at my house.  How we do Bunco in this particular group of 12 great ladies, is the hostess serves dinner and provides the prizes.  So, every month we get together, have dinner, play a dice game, and get a prize for how well you played that night.  The best part is that you get to play each month, but only have to do the work once a year {smile}.  Pretty cool, huh?  And, this is really our excuse to get together once a month to chat, laugh, and basically keep in touch with each other {smile}.

Now, if you have been following my posts, (here, Instagram, or Facebook) you know that my theme is 'farmland'.   I make my gifts.  It's really an excuse for me to craft and share one of my passions (crafting) with my friends.  But, I can't give just a 'gift'.  So, I made a coordinating gift bag (and card) to hold the gift/prize, and a special altered clothes pin, for each person.

For the next several days, I will be sharing what I have created with you here, Instagram, and Facebook.  So, please stay tuned.  Also, not all the posts will be the same.  So, lets get started!  Here are prizes/gifts # 11, and #10.  (I don't make a gift/prize for me: 12 - 1 = 11)

Let's get started!

prize number: its a small mason jar

The kraft gift bag is heat embossed with my 'name' : Designs by Sharon.  I made this the focal point of the decoration.   I machine stitched the chocolate chip ribbon to the lace and adhered it the top of the bag.  I hot glued a button tied ribbon piece to the left upper corner.  

The prize number is clipped to the right side of the bag with an altered clothes pin, the recipient gets to keep {smile}.  

The matching card, is 'gift size' in that it is not large enough to be mailed thru the postal system.  I used digital paper for this card.  Along with some pink pirouette seam binding and a glittered button.

The prize is a refrigerator magnet that holds a wallet-size photo.  I used digital paper to decorate this, as well.  I also added a clay embellishment and a hand-stamped postage stamp.  (close-ups to follow)

and here is #10:

I used the same lace on each gift bag.  I heat embossed my logo on the front of each bag.  I also added an altered close pin to each gift bag.  I wanted to keep things the same, so everything would 'belong' and not seem random.

The gift card that goes with each gift bag, have the same layout and are the same size (2 3/4" x 4 1/4").  The cards don't have envelopes, due to their odd size, so I tucked them into glassine bags.  I thought it added a special touch to them.

This prize is a pair of quilted fabric coasters.  I used material I had on hand, to help keep costs low.  I'm not a very good sewer on fabric.   But I thought these little darlings fit my theme.  (Yeah, I'm a theme girl)

Well, thank you for stopping by!  I will post about every day this week, with prizes, food, decorations and various other 'pieces' of my hosting Bunco party.  Take care, and stop by again soon.

Paper Flowers

Happy you could drop by {smile}.  I wanted to share this sweet 'forever bouquet' with you.   It is another Bunco prize.  This sweet small bouquet has 4 pink paper blossoms, 4 vanilla paper blossoms, and 8 tiny white blossoms.  

I originally altered this mason jar to hold the paper blossoms.  However, it looks . . . odd.   I have come to the conclusion that the bouquet is too small for the container.  {frown}  So, I set out to find a 'better' container.  And, yeah, I had a smaller glass jar in my craft room.  Shocking, I know {smile}.

Anyways, I am in the process of painting that jar.  I used 2 coats of cream chalk paint and then a top coat of white chalk paint to create the above (masterpiece) mason jar.  So, I am in the process of doing the same to the glass jar.  Hopefully I will have a chance to share that jar, once it's done.

For the pink blossoms, I used the new spiral flower die from Stampin' Up!.  I ran my pink pirouette card stock through my paper crimper 5-6 times before I die cut the blossoms.  I rolled them, and used my glue gun to hold the blossom together.  I brushed the tips of the petals with clear crackle paint and dusted each blossom with dazzling diamonds glitter.

For the vanilla blossoms, I used the pansy punch from Stampin' Up!.  I punched four blossoms for each flower.  I cut a petal or two off each punch and pieced the blossom together.  I brushed the petal tips with white crackle paint and dusted them with dazzling diamond glitter.

The white tiny blossoms were created with a retired punch by Stampin' Up! (boho blossom).  I punched two florals for each blossom, and used clear crackle paint and glitter to the petal tips.

The leaves were made with the pick a petal punch by Stampin' Up! (retired) along with a pear pizzaz polka dot DSP (retired, too). 

To create the shapes, I used different 'tools' to bend the petals/leaves.  I also used my stylus to create curves.  I sponged all the edges of the papers, so it would give definition to the petal/leaf shapes.  I sprayed everything with water, and used my heat tool to speed the drying.   (This step creates a permanent, tough as steel, shape.)

All blossoms were attached to wires, and the wires are covered with florist tape, to hide the different colors, and to give the bouquet a finished, collective look.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have found some inspiration here {smile}

It's a Shaker

close-up of the multi-loop bow

Howdy.  I have another Bunco prize to share with you today.  Along with a party decoration.   So, the above photo is a close-up of the multi-loop seam binding bow I used on a Bunco prize.  For those of you who don't know, I am hosting Bunco at my casa (home) next week.  I like themes, and this year, my theme is 'farmland'.  So, my prizes/gifts are vintage, shabby-chic, country ~ 'farmland' themed.

Let me start with the prize photographed at the top of this post.  I took an ordinary salt shaker and altered it.  I added some buttons, a few tiny wooden spools, some stick pins, tiny safety pins, a clothes pin, a rhinestone piece, a few loose pearls, and a sprinkle of some glitter {smile}.  Because who doesn't like glitter?  I am using the body of the salt shaker as a holder of trinkets, while the top holds a photo.  And here is the front:

I used a piece of neutral pattern paper to hold the intended photo.  I know what this is, but I'm not sure if someone else will.  So, that is why it is labeled.  Anyways, I tied some aqua mist colored seam binding around the top of the shaker and created a double bow.  I then tied some cream crochet trim around the seam binding.  I used some cream twine to tie the glass bauble and twin tags (Smile & Adore) to the bow.  I used my hot glue gun to attach the paper blossom to the center of the bow.  The paper blossom is painted with white distress paint and glitter was added before the paint dried.

I saw these on Pinterest, and thought they looked so clever.  So, I made some!  I thought that these little cuties would be great to hold table numbers, so I made a trio of matching shakers to hold the Bunco table numbers (1, 2, and 3).  And yeah, I had to use pink!    Here they are:

I did add paper to the tops of the shakers, on the inside.  That way, if they were to get knocked over, the glitter wouldn't get spilled.  I tied a simple bow around each top (2 in vanilla and 1 in crumb cake seam binding).  I added a different crochet trim to each one.  That way they are a little unique {smile}.   I like things to look like they belong, and 'go together'.  I'm not too comfortable with 'whatever'.  So, I used the same paper blossom for the center of each seam binding bow.  I also used the same metal rimmed tag.  I also stamped the sentiment in the same color ink: soft suede classic ink.  I also used the same pattern paper for the middle of the tag.  I used sentiments from the same stamp set, so the fonts would be similar.  I used E6000 glue to adhere the trio of rhinestones just below the sentiments.  I also added the same amount of glitter to each shaker (1 1/2 teaspoons).  Yes, I did measure it out.  We all have our own versions of OCD.  {smile}  The tags say: Wishes, Blessed, and Sparkle.

Well, thank you for looking.  I haven't created a gift bag for the photo holder yet, but I will post a photo or two when I do.  {smile}