Altered tea light holder for the Let's get Shabby challenge

 I didn't think I would be able to do this month's challenge at Let's get Shabby until I brought this little tealight holder at the church fair yesterday and then I started getting an idea for it...... Was concerned about the colours but I think I have been able to incorporate most of the colours into my otp project.

CHALLENGE #11

IT'S ALL ABOUT COLOUR!!
Here in Australia at the moment its Autumn!
And maybe where you live its Spring!!
Either way, look at this incredible Quilt.
Be inspired however you like....it would be nice to see you include some fabric somewhere
but remember...
its a

COLOUR CHALLENGE

I've used a prima paper at the top, a tulle bow from a present I just received, loads of flowers I have finally used up the big roses I got from Spotlight so need to go and buy some more of those, Ive used a little birdie pick, for the material I've used part of a sleeve collar.....
This is the before picture

And this is the finished project

And then just a close up of the top

So ladies thanks for a great challenge and if you haven't had a go then click on the link to play along http://letsgetshabby.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-al-about-colour-here-in-australia.html

Mother's day and a sweet tussie mussie surprise

On Friday I was waiting for that knock at the door I knew my tussie mussie from my swap partner and good friend Lou was turning up today, now normally my postie guy never rings the bell so this time I opened my windows to signal I was at home and you guessed he rang the doorbell.....
Presented me with a heavy box now normally I just rip it open before I even get in the door but I wanted to wait until I knew Lou was in the process of opening her's we wanted to open our's up together.......

So waiting  waiting for Lou to get online lol felt like forever but finally she did and I started to open up the jam packed boxes to start was this gift from Lou to my daughter Alicia and then all these beautiful goodies for me....
My tussie mussie I have hung on my prison mirror in the hallway where I can see it all the time, it's truly just beautiful Lou really has made me one that I truly love, and my gorgeous little birdie box is just so precious....
What did I get in my swap hello what didn't I get Lou gave me so much stuff it brought tears to my eye's everything she sent me I love.......
I got two pink Tim distress inks
Got loads of Prima flowers and the ones she got me were the ones that I had wanted but were sold out at my scrapping store this lady sure knows me well.
a Cavallini folder filled to the brim with some bird cards, a whole bunch of cavallini stickers, pink and cream dyed coffee filters and these ones are massive, prima journalling cards, some floral german scraps, and two sheets of printouts one with Marie in them.
And also some Pink Paislee artisan element swirls I so love these their gorgeous......
A charlotte doll
I got some much gorgeous ribbons, laces and trims
a box filled with art moulds
a floral tin filled with little paris tags, ruffled paper trims, the sweetest cherub's and more goodies galore.
Here is a photo of all the stuff Lou sent me I hope you can see it had to take at least four different photos to show it all off....

I have to say I was so gob smacked when I saw it all, but I have to say her friendship is the gift I treasure the most and I'm glad that we got to partner up and get to know each other thru this swap.......

Okay long post with lots of pictures but it's Mother's day today and I got most of my mother's day stuff yesterday as hubby was hoping to be working today the kids all put together and got me this little handmade quilt

From my hubby I got this little set of shabby cups and saucer's their so small and dainty and Alicia surprised me with this little cameo yesterday she spotted it at the craft table where they got my quilt how gorgeous is it.....
This i will treasure as she handpicked it for me with her own pocket money.

How lucky am I to have such a beautiful family and a lovely friend I am so spoilt.....
Wishing you all a fantastic day this mother's day......

A new partner, an early mother's day pressie my cup is overflowing

Well this week our swap partners for A Swap for all Season's were emailed to us and my partner for this swap is Peta who comes from the other side of Australia so it's going to be a nice journey getting to know her and what she likes...And creating and finding something special to brighten up her day.... Got my thinking cap on I have one thing in mind already just have to wait until it comes in the mail so I can start working on it.....

I have to say my last partner Lou has become a friend for life so I'm so blessed to have had her as my first swapping partner and can't wait until we finally get away and go go on our girly retreat.

Found this amazing new shop on etsy  thru a Mind wide Open and this is what hubby has got me it's part of my mother's day present from the kids, but I really love it even though I'm not much of a jewellery person the artist is really talented and I could buy everything in her store I'm hoping to get a necklace of Anne Boleyn next week when she updates her shop.... Okay shop is called http://www.etsy.com/shop/meluseena

Preview

Now when I was buying this one I was umming and ahhing over which necklace to get as I liked this one of  The Queen and the Explorer, but I also have these saved on my wish list these prints of Marie and Anne Boleyn aren't they beautiful.......

Now today I haven't got much planned I need to go to the Post office and pick up a package I'm hoping it's my first round robin journal to start on, and then I plan on stalking the postie and doing something creative not sure what but want to do something......
Went to the movies last night to see The Girl with the Dragon tattoo now have to say this movie was good I haven't read the book but now I think I will be getting all three this week as it was such a great movie, fabulous plot it just had you on the edge of your seat the whole entire movie......It is with sub titles but it really didn't make a difference at all, so if you haven't seen it check it out.... I think this one will be one for my DVD shelf when it becomes available......
Now I must go and get the kids out the door for school, I can hear them protesting already.....

altered mini frames and Marie matchboxes x 3

Morning ladies well my last Queen's matchbox swap for The Scrap artist within is finally done it's the top photo, first I used one of the frames I had altered in the morning and then used a contact image transfer which I have then layered onto fabric. I've then added that to one of those little small sheer drawstring bags for something different, have to say this is my favourite and I want to keep it, but alas it will be going to either Maree, Lou or Ngaire lol.....
Now yesterday I had some cheap little frames that were silver that I wanted to see if I could do something different with it, so first I soaked the three frames in the rust technique this actually stripped it and they turned out nearly black which I didn't mind, then had a play with some gesso, alcohol inks, perfect pearls and some clear utee.

I have used one on my round robin this one was just altered with gesso, distress inks and Heirloom gold perfect pearls.... I also dusted it again with some of the green patina.
Right just a short post this morning it's Thursday so it's grocery detail for me as well as a trip to the post office have a wonderful day everyone...

Trying my hand at altering a bottle

Well Sunday was such a long day, hubby marched in his first Anzac Parade and to our good luck when we turned on tv and watched the coverage on ABC we saw him on tv, and what was great is that the camera man just kept zooming in on and him .
Hmmm that's maybe how he fell out of step but at least he had his army face on lol the kids went crazy saying that's daddy, of course Max comes out with wow mom dad looks fat on tv, I seriously do agree that tv adds pounds to you because my hubby is so not fat all....
So now of course all his men are calling him a celebrity and it's gone to his head.
Today I decided to try my hand at altering a little bottle I have seen these on blogs and have always wanted to have a go at altering one, so this is my first one..... I've used a little atc image, just a mixture of flower's a couple of charms and a few pearls for decoration....

I have to say I have been pretty good with sticking to my scrap budget unlike somebody I know lol, I haven't brought any paper in quite awhile which is weird.
But I really like hunting for vintage items like these I got from Beth's store at Gathering Dust, this is what I just snapped up yesterday. Some gorgeous metal ware, an old vintage ledger, and some french playing card's my favourite is the metal ware now what will I make with those hmmmmmm.....

Swaps received, new Creatologie kit ordered and a new class to attend

Evening ladies just a short post today it's just been such a long day today, gosh I hate these days when they just seem to never end....
Just received an email from two of my swap partners one from Lou saying she had received her tussie mussie swap and one from Debi saying she had received my Secret garden swap so I'm so pleased they both got there safely... I can show and tell my photos of what I made for Debi now as she has opened it, will do another post when Lou open's her's....

Now I know Debi loves Marie so had to do her a little matchbox to hold some goodies in, I really delight in making these, something so little can turn out to look so pretty .
Now just got one more swap to be received and I'm all good it should be arriving any day now to Sarah my little petite box that I have made instead of the basket that went horribly wrong....
Other than that I have just ordered the new SHE kit from Creatologie by Carol Wingert so I am so looking forward to making this gorgeous binder I so can't wait for this to arrive in the mail. http://carolwingert.typepad.com/creatologie/2010/04/she.html

Another thing that I am going to do is buy this class from Mary at Green Paper it's a Vintage glue book class that will have you making a gorgeous gluebook from start to finish, a gorgeous collage project  I so can't wait as I haven't done one of these before so I should start hunting for that perfect book for it. http://greenpaper.typepad.com/green/2010/04/announcing-your-vintage-gluebook-class.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greenpaperpackages+%28Green+Paper%29

Thought I would just add to this post instead of doing a new one ever since I got my little cuff from Debi I've really been wanting to give it a try and make one, I can't sew to save my life   so don't look to close lol, it never was my favourite subject at school that and art so it's a wonder I do anything creative.....

For mine I have used a cut up doily and a tea dyed broderie anglaise material, I've done my one one sided I tend to wack things and break them probably the reason why I don't wear watches so mine is enclosed by the pink button...
And here is my first page in my round robin I just have to do my sign in page and it will be ready to send off to Lou....Speaking of Lou my lovely friend I just gotta a sneak peek at what she is sending me and oh my gosh it's just all so beautiful she is so spoiling me.......

Congratulations to Jan for winning the Let's get shabby challenge her Easter inspired matchbox was just a masterpiece of shabby perfection, and thanks girls for including me in the Honourable mentions that was a nice start to my day......
It's  Anzac day long weekend let's not forget our soliders past, present and future who protect and serve our country, to my beloved Officer who serves you make me proud to be your wife.....

PS Just got my confirmation email from Linda who hosts "A Swap for all season's" to say that I'm accepted into the swap so woo hoo these are so addicting......