I'm having a great time in my studio these days!
My work area has been invaded by heart of all colors, shapes, and sizes... sweet vintage Valentines.... doilies... laces and more laces.... ribbons... buttons, sequins, pearls, vintage beads, millinery.... (and hundreds of other little things that I have no clue how they got there).
Several of my Valentine swaps are finished and enroute. Here's a sneak peak at the sweetness...
For art JOY stuff's Valentine Swap, we were to create five Valentine ATCs and send them to our hostess, Kimberly.
We will receive five ATC's in return; how fun is that?
My ATCs were individually and lovingly wrapped in a doily envelope...
And inside each pretty doily, my swap partner(s) will find any one of these...
And although I may be spoiling the surprise just a bit by revealing them now, I don't know which five participants will receive my ATCs, nor which ATC will go to whom... so still a surprise for the recipient!
For this group of ATCs, I finally broke down and "cut" (gasp!) several of the vintage greeting cards from my stash (I must own hundreds that I've collected over the years). Thank goodness for scanners, as I will have a digital image of each for future use. My husband asked me if (maybe) I wasn't going about this backwards... 1. scan the image, 2. use the scanned image (not original).... Makes sense, right?
But I really wanted to use the "real" stuff on these; it made them feel all that much more special, that a little piece of a card made in the 1940's, 50's or 60's made its way onto an ATC in 2012. I bet the American Greetings and Hallmark folks back then would have never, ever guessed that this is how their cards would end up 60+ years later!
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Another package on its way to the recipient contains ribbons; yummy ribbons in all sorts of colors, textures and widths...
The assignment was to share 6 different ribbons (in 2 ft. lengths) with our partner.
This clever swap is being hosted by Elysia and is my very first ribbon swap.
One more pic, but I have to be careful not to spoil the surprise!
"The Colors of Spring" ribbon collection
Hope my Canadian partner likes her gifts!
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linking up to Beverly's Pink Saturday!
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h.e.l.p.
ON A SEPARATE NOTE, I RECENTLY PURCHASED ADOBE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS AND AM FIDDLING AROUND WITH IT. HOWEVER, IT IS SLOW GOING AND I'M FEELING A TAD INTIMIDATED BY THE WHOLE 'LAYERS' THING.... SO, PLEASE PLEASE COMMENT OR EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON STRAIGHT-FORWARD (AKA "EASY" AND "clear") TUTORIALS YOU KNOW OF!
I'm hoping I'm fortunate enough to receive one of your atcs in Kimberly's swap Mercedes. They're beautiful and I love the doily envelope!
Posted by: JoAnne | Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:16 PM
Thank you for the referral! I'll check it out
Posted by: mercedes scott | Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 01:47 PM
Hi Mercedes, Try this website: http://cindylewsstudio.blogspot.com/ then click on the "tutorials" tab at the top of the page. I think she's great - I too am fiddling - but not near often enough. Your work is beautiful. Happy Pink Saturday to you, Dru
Posted by: Dru | Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 09:06 AM
You did very good I also love swaps Have a great week
Posted by: laura | Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 06:07 PM
Wow! What a treat for the recipients. Beautiful, gorgeous and lovely!!! So thoughtful...Especially the doily envelope!!!
Posted by: annie! | Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 03:55 PM
Everything is simply beautiful! Swaps are just soooo fun!
Be bessed,
Lorena
Posted by: Lorena | Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 08:51 AM
All are beautiful....a lovely post!
HPS!
Jil ♥
Posted by: Jil | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 06:36 PM
bonita como siempre mami :)
Posted by: Bianca Scott | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 06:33 PM
What wonderful work you do. Everything is so pretty and pink.
Posted by: LaVoice | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 05:11 PM
Your Valentines are adorable and I especially love the way you packaged them in a doily Very creative. The recipients will love them! Happy Pink Saturday! ~Marti
Posted by: marti | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 04:33 PM
Your ATCs are soooooo pretty! I love swapping too! I have some posted on my blog. Your partners will be happy! Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Saturday!! ~Lorraine ♥♥♥
Posted by: Lorraine | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 03:42 PM
Those are lovely!
Posted by: Ms. Burrito | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 03:16 PM
all very pretty :)
Posted by: Tinas Picstory | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 03:09 PM
Wow, I've never made ATCs but these are certainly gorgeous. I think you must have lots of fun in that studio!
Posted by: Loretta Houben | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 02:57 PM
Mercedes, your ATC's are beautiful! Love the sweet images and embellishments you used. And someone's going to be happy with those pretty ribbons. Looks like you're having lots of swapping fun!
Posted by: debi | Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12:12 AM