11 Treasures in '11

Yesterday I shared some favorite projects from the past year. Today, I'm recapping some of my favorite treasures I found while out junking.

1. Old advertising cards. Found in Orange, CA.

2. Vintage hats covered in millinery flowers. Found locally.

3. Vintage Christmas goodness. I don't think I paid more than 25 cents for anything here. Found in Blue Earth, MN.

4. Old books, ephemera, photos, and porcelain doll. Found in Ardmore, OK.

5. Dress patterns, Christmas seals (a favorite collectible), old cards, and assorted stuff. Found in Roanoke, TX.

6. Vintage pastel Valentine candy box. Found in Weatherford, TX.

7. Set of 5 vintage Easter mugs. Found in Vineland, NJ.

8. Vintage stick-on alphas. Found in Vineland, NJ.

9. Assorted trims and lace. Found locally.

10. Old cabinet card album and photos. Found in Waxahachie, TX.

11. Assorted linens and fabrics. Found locally.

I hope 2012 brings me as much luck!

Happy New Year and best wishes for a successful and happy one!

11 Projects in '11

What a year 2011 has been! I did accomplish one of my goals - to have some of my work published. This year, I had several projects published in Cards and Create magazines, and I have a few things lined up for next year.

As the year winds to a close, I thought I'd share 11 of my favorite projects from this year.

1. This card was published in the September Cards magazine.

2. Because I couldn't pick just one layout of my niece, I'll let them all count as one together :)

3. An altered book that took me almost all year to complete.

 

4. A soldered charm I made for a friend.

 

5. This tag must use every supply I have!

 

6. I made this fabric banner out of vintage sheets. I have it hanging in the window of my craft room.

 

7. I made this quilted Valentine using an old photo of my grandparents.

 

8. One of the pages in the two travel journals I completed this year. My goal is to complete at least three next year!

 

9. A Christmas tag for a swap. I wasn't liking how it was turning out, but once I added the greenery, I loved it.

 

10. My Halloween cards this year had a much simpler style.

 

11. Pages in a friend's art journal.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

Today is my *favorite* sister's birthday. I'll get to see her in a couple of days, while we celebrate the rest of the holiday together.

I made a birthday card using some of my holiday scraps that are in more of a "winter" theme than Christmas.

First, I cut the card base from kraft paper using my Spellbinders' Grand Caliber and dies.Then I embossed the front of the kraft base. I cut the patterned paper using a smaller die and added a green seam binding bow before attaching to the card base.

I added the jingle bell and tag with twine and placed the birthday candle in the twine's knot.
 

A Home for Christmas

My scrappy friend Diana and her husband purchased their first house a couple months ago. In honor of her first Christmas in her new home, I made a little ornament for her tree. I started with a chipboard house shape, then covered it in patterned paper. Then I got busy decorating. I made shingles for the roof by cutting old sheet music with a border punch, then inking the edges.

I added a border of Liquid Pearls and a door that opens to reveal a vintage Christmas tree seal. A bleached and glittered tiny bottle brush tree and some pearlized holly leaves decorate the front. I added a shiny Merry Christmas sign and draped it with tinsel. To top it off, I added a heart of smoke from the chimney.

Christmas Junk

We had beautiful weather this past Saturday, so we decided to head up to Ardmore, OK for shopping and a visit to their light display.

I shopped in my favorite antique store and scored with some great treasures.

An old Christmas box full of tiny glass ornaments, beautiful glittered glass tree topper, vintage Christmas thank you cards, chandelier crystals, and vintage tablecloth.

Three rolls of vintage shelf paper and oil pastels.

The books. I bought two old dictionaries, two French books, a few old children's books, and a stack of 100+ year old Edgar Allan Poe books. These will be used for an altered project that I'm hoping to teach next year.

We stayed for their beautiful (and free) Christmas light display. Here are just a couple of the elaborate, animated light sculptures. They were so pretty. We're definitely going back next year.

I hope you have all your shopping done and can relax for the rest of the season!

Quick and Easy Cards

Of course, I'm never quite finished with my crafts or decorating or baking for Christmas. I needed several cards, and fast!

I used up some scraps to make a unique card for each recipient. Here are a few of them.

I embellished each card with glitter.

And I couldn't stop myself from making another tag! I used up a few scraps that were laying on my table and added a tinsel hanger.

A Mica-Filled Christmas

I love using mica flakes on my Christmas projects. It gives everything a warm, vintage feel. Last year, I decided to start a new tradition and make an ornament for each of the kids. This year's ornament is a paper clay snowman. I got busy making 10 of these little cuties.

I started with a small Styrofoam ball that I covered with paper clay. Then I molded each face and let it dry overnight. After painting in his eyes and rosy cheeks, I covered each with a coat of pearl paint and let dry. Then came the dusting of mica flakes. I randomly added glue (I didn't want the entire face covered) and then sprinkled on the sparkle.

I made sheet music hats embellished with tinsel. Each recipient's name and date is on the back of the hat.
 

Love Letter

I took some time off from the Christmas crafts to do a layout in my art journal. This month's theme was to use stuff we bought at Junk Bonanza.

I turned the page in my book and saw the text about the woman in a canoe, and knew I had a postcard that would be perfect. After looking in four places, I finally found it! Now to build a layout around it.

I used old wallpaper (purchased at Junk Bonanza) as the background, and then layered on more papers and trims until I was happy. Now for a theme. I wanted an engagement story, but how to tell it? I searched online for images of old love letters, but wasn't happy with what I found. So, I took some old paper and wrote my own. Oh how I wish I had an old fountain pen and ink!

I distressed my letter and added it to the page. I also added a scrap of tulle and small flower (from a hat I purchased at Junk Bonanza) - hints of the pending wedding day.

I further embellished with a scrap from an old calendar and a clock image.

   

Christmas Bling

When Michael's had a big pre-Thanksgiving sale, I bought several strands of sparkly glass beads. They were perfect for making holiday jewelry.

I made this sterling silver set with red and green beads and silver beads and bling.

I made another bracelet in bronze and green beads and vintage pearls.

And a pair of earrings to match.

Now I need someplace to wear all my new bling!
 

12 Days of Christmas Swap

I participated in a 12 Days of Christmas layout swap with my cropping friends. Unfortunately, only half of us had our pages complete by the deadline.

Here is the page I made for 6 geese a-laying:

I had an old stack of 8x8 Christmas paper, so I selected all the turquoise and red patterns to use as the base. I cut sheet music down to fit, then sprayed and inked it to add more color. I made contrasting tags and a punched border. The "nest" is made from old paper, shredded and crumpled, and some silver tinsel. I added a couple of sparkly gold eggs and a goose.

Here are the pages I've received so far.

4 calling birds from Andrea (Did you notice they're on cell phones? How clever!):

5 golden rings from Linda:

The rings are golden bells tucked inside an altered matchbox.

7 swans a-swimming from Debbie. It has so much sparkle, the photo does not do it justice.

10 lords a-leaping from Cheryl. Even her paper gives the sense of movement. What a great eye!

And 12 drummers drumming from Marylee. How clever is she?!

 
I can't wait to see what the other ladies come up with!