My August 2016 Found Treasures

My August found treasures are from shopping adventures at a local antique store,
nearby thrift stores and garage sales

 Who could pass this creamer up at .50 cents? Not Me!

Great candle holder to repurpose into a base for nature art!

 Faux mini eggs for nature art & Easter

(again who can pass these up at .50 cents?)

Celluloid Bubble Top 'Pear' buttons, set of 4 for $1.00...score!

Mini animal tins

Mini shape tins

This has been my year for finding awesome bargains on vintage seam binding by the roll!

Gorgeous vintage hat with the sweetest pastel pink flowers.

Pretty vintage lace & trims

Pretty sheer fabric, flocked and embroidered.   

Sweet mini glass dome with gifted vintage child's tin tea saucer.

Belle photobombing...lovely vintage chair.

Have you been treasure hunting lately?

August 12th Deadline...Halloween Altered Matchbox Swap

Feeling artsy-crafty...how about joining an Altered Matchbox Swap?

It was a tough decision for me not to choose a theme that was soft tones, flowery,

blingy and totally froufrou. 

But, with the suggestion of others, time to change it up and go with a holiday theme...Halloween!

Here are the Swap details and guidelines if you are interested in joining this swap:

Vintage Connections 2016 Halloween Altered Matchbox Swap

Sign Up Date:  

• Email me directly at shankful@kc.rr.com by August 12, 2016.
• In your email subject line please include 2016 Halloween Altered Matchbox Swap.
• In your email please include your full name, your mailing address and if you have a blog address or website address.

 Theme: Halloween

• Please NO designs that are gorey or bloody. 
• Suggested Design styles: Nostalgic, Traditional, Steampunk, Whimsical, Elegant.
• I will notify your assigned partner of your email address for correspondence. You may want to converse with your partner on design style and color preferences.

Supplies: 

• Use a large matchbox (250 match count size)
• Your choice of papers, fabrics, decorations, etc. to create your theme as long as all items are secured safely to the matchbox.
• Please enclosed goodies (examples: trinkets, lace, trim, buttons, flowers, artsy craft items, jewelry, etc.) in your matchbox drawer to share with your swap partner. 
• Your goodies can be Halloween-themed, other or a combination of both.

Rules:  

I apologize if these rules seem strict & stuffy, but want to be fair to everyone involved.

Thanks for your understanding.

• This swap is only available to residents of the contiguous USA states.  
• This is a one-on-one swap.  You will be creating one altered matchbox.
• Please sign your artwork.
• Please only sign up if you can commit to mailing your completed altered matchbox by the mail date of Saturday September 24, 2016 (that's a six week window) to your assigned swap partner!
• Every swap participant is responsible for the purchase of their own materials to create their altered matchbox swap and their shared goodies.
• Every participant is responsible for all shipping, packaging and handling charges to mail your altered matchbox to your assigned swap partner. 
• Please carefully wrap your package for mailing.  It is your decision to mail it insured or not.
• Following the Sign Up due date of August 12, 2016, I will randomly draw entry names and pair swap partners. 
• Saturday August 13, 2016, I will send you a private email sharing your swap partner's name, mailing information and email address.

Thanks so much for joining this swap...enjoy and have fun creating!

Examples of Halloween altered matchboxes:

My 2014 Halloween Altered Matchbox (front)

 (back)

 (inside box filled with goodies)

(side view)

Lorraine's 2014 Halloween Altered Matchbox

If you need inspiration, check out Halloween Altered Matchbox images
on Pinterest or other search sites.

Lynn & Tami's Altered Matchboxes

Recently Lynn and I shared an altered matchbox exchange.

Our chosen theme...Shabby Chic & Bling.

Here is Lynn's precious altered matchbox to me

She made her flowers...sweet!

 

Soft muted tones, lace, trim, buttons...pure sweetness!  

Lynn, you know how to spoil me...Thank you!

Here's my altered matchbox to Lynn

Using a plastic doily as a template and tinted modeling paste,

I added texture on the topside. Then highlighted the texture with pearlized paint

and some vintage rhinestones.

Of course we both stuffed our altered matchboxes full of artsy-crafting goodies.  

 If I host an altered matchbox swap, are you interested?

Please email me or leave me a comment and let me know

if you are interested in joining the swap (sorry USA addresses only).