Chunky Charm Bracelet

I have another handmade item today that I made for CoyoteKim to go along with the "Whats in your vintage purse" swap. As you all know by now the theme for this swap was "Paris", and we were to not only alter a purse and fill it with goodies but also make some handmade items. I figured by now that Kim had enough Chunky charms in her collection from all the charm swaps she has participated in.......so I decided to make her a charm bracelet instead. I bought the chain and the toggle closure at Michael's......and then was able to find all these cute "Paris" charms at M's and Hobby Lobby! The charms include a tiny carriage, Umbrella, a heart charm with a cameo, an Eiffel tower, a fan, a ladies boot and a suitcase. This charm bracelet was actually easier to put together and quicker than making the chunky charms we all love! some of you may recognize the design on the background card......I inked it and de-bossed it with my letterpress printing plates, and then wired the charm bracelet to the card. Thanks for looking!

Altered mini Canvas & Easel

Today I wanted share another one of the altered items I made for CoyoteKim for the "whats in your vintage purse" swap. This is a mini canvas and easel I altered with the My Minds Eye Lost & Found 6x6 paper stack. I believe this collection is called Madison Avenue.  I'm not a big "pink" lover but I really like this paper stack with all the vintage dress forms, newsprint etc. and thought it would be perfect for this little canvas. I started off by painting the canvas with Pink Acrylic paint. Then I took one of the newsprint pages from the stack, cut it slightly smaller than the canvas and inked it with pink & brown ink with my blending tool. Next I tattered the edges with my Tim Holtz paper distress tool, and then inked the edges brown. I also cut another piece of paper from the stack with the dress form and sewing machine image (I think I cut this at approx 2x3 inches) and once again used my blending tool to add a little bit of pink and brown ink, tattered the edges etc. The flowers are from my stash and are Recollections and then I added the vintage sewing needle tag, a few stick pins and a sewing needle and a button to finish it off. Super simple project and these little canvas's are sooooo addicting! Can't wait to make another one.  Thanks for looking!

Part II of the "Parisian Purse Swap"

As Promised here are the details of the inside of the Parisian Purse I made for CoyoteKim in the "Whats in Your Vintage Purse Swap".................this purse was a little on the small side so as you can see I literally stuffed it with all kinds of goodies. I covered the inside of the box with more paper from the DCWV Mariposa stack and created a little pocket on the inside of the lid. All the goodies you see are just tossed in there loose. I sent Kim a bag of the Tim Hotz wire hanger clips, a crystal letter "K" for her to use on a project. A bag of tiny doilies and then a couple larger doilies (that are in the bottom of the box under all the other goodies) the Large white Flower and butterfly are recollections. I also sent her a metal Fleur De Lis, a bag of Paris buttons with cameos, a wooden "eyeglasses" stamp..............and the rest are handmade goodies like the small altered wooden hanger, Key chain and Picture holder clip.

I love this little wooden hanger, Isn't it cute? Why the heck you would have one in your "vintage purse" is beyond me, LOL! But I altered it and added it anyway! Actually Kim had sent me a Large wooden hanger she had altered for me in another swap, so when I found these little ones I decided to make a "smaller version" for her.  I covered the hanger with My Minds Eye paper and then sanded and inked the edges, Added the black double bow and then hot glued a Cameo button to the center of the bow. On the back of the hanger I attached a small wooden clothespin so the hanger can serve as a photo holder........the size of this hanger is perfect for a 4x6 photograph. 

The next photo clip is one I found at Michael's in the dollar bins, this was the one with the clear acrylic block that had a bright green flower image stamped on two sides. I simply took a paper towel and some Acetone and gently removed the image so the acrylic block would be clear, this worked really well and left no trace behind on the block. Then I wrapped the block in black tulle, tied it with a black ribbon and hot glued a beautiful black flower to the center of the ribbon.

Last but not least is the key Chain I made for Kim's purse. This a "Mix and Mingle" key pendant you can find in the Jewelry section of the craft store. The top of the key twists off so you can add your own beads and decorate the key anyway you like. These keys are intended for the metal lined beads, but I liked these beads better so with a few twists of my bead reamer I was able to make them fit.

Stop back tomorrow and I will post pics of the other handmade Goodies I sent along with this swap that did not fit "INSIDE" the purse! And as always, Thanks for looking! leave me a comment if you'd like!

Parisian Purse Swap

Today I have the first of several projects I made for Kim, aka CoyoteKim for a "Whats in your vintage purse swap" And the theme for this one was "Paris". I started out with an unfinished wooden purse I purchased at  Michael's.....and then I painted it with an antique Gold Acrylic paint, after the gold paint dried I applied a coat of black satin Acrylic......and then I sanded it so the Gold would show through. I had such a hard time finding Paris themed paper and embellishments at my Local Scrapbook stores.......so I ended up using this yummy black paper with the tiny gold fleur de lis from the DCWV Mariposa stack. After I adhered the paper to the purse..........I liked the matte look of the paper with the shiny gold fleur de lis....so I chose to NOT mod podge over the paper on this one. The beautiful background label is also from the same stack......I fussy cut it out and applied it to the front of the purse with Fabri-Tac glue. The flowers are from Recollections and the Eiffel Tower is Jolee's. I made the black butterflies with an EK Success 3D punch. I punched all three layers of the butterfly and then adhered them together in the middle only....and then added antique gold stickles to the body of the butterfly. Then I added a little bling and a butterfly stick pin. (Lots of butterflies on this one.....not sure if butterflies are a  "Paris" thing though. LOL but I think they look pretty with the Eiffel tower.)Below I have pics of the top and back of the purse. I will post pics of the inside and the goodies I made to go along with it over the next few days! Thanks for Looking!