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}.

Pretty Pink Bags

Howdy, and welcome!  I am popping in real quick, to share with you some treat bags I made with some new pattern paper from Authentique: Legacy Collection.  These little bags will hold party favors for the High Tea I am hosting at my house next week.  I made four sets of these bags.  Each set of three uses different papers.  I'll share photos of the other bags soon.  {smile}

Pink Pirouette card stock makes the bag front and back panels.  I used the For a Friend Occasion stamp set by CTMH, for the 'label'.  I used the same 'label' of each of the bags.  I heat embossed it with antique gold embossing powder.  

I decorated each bag a little different, with paper blossoms, pearls, vintage buttons, crochet trim and a pink paper doily.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Stay tuned as I share other creations for this party {smile}.

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 Six

Prize number six.  Remember we are counting backwards from eleven.  Let's get started with our prize reveal!  [sorry, with a lot of last minute juggling of different problems, some photos were 'forgotten' to be taken, and therefore, I do not have photos of prize number seven.]
Now, with a lack of time, due to work, family, and some last minute decorating changes and menu items, these photos are not the greatest, or the clearest.  Deepest apologies!

A fabric covered composition book.  The greatest thing about this book cover, is that, once the book is used up, simply remove the book, and slide in a new one!

I used a mix of cotton and linen fabrics, along with a sweet trim.  The wooden button, helps keep it rustic!  While keeping the overall look shabby chic country!

To keep the gift card matching the gift bag, I used the same trim, and grey polka dot pattern paper.  I added a kraft seam binding to help coordinate the gift card to the kraft paper bag.  The added silver cord bows on wooden buttons, adds charm {smile}.

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.