It's My One Year Blogiversary Today!

Little did I know 1 year ago today, what a gratifying, inspirational, heartwarming and important role blogging would play in my life. I don't share much of my personal life on my blog, though I have with a few of you I've become especially close to. Therefore it may be difficult to understand why I hold each of you so dear in my heart and thoughts.
The past couple years of my life have been challenging, having suffered great personal loss and having to face many new, often frightening challenges. But you, my dear blog friends were always there with a cheerful or supportive word.
You've shared your creativity and talents. Some of you made me laugh so hard I cried. Some shared their personal trials and problems helping me to remember we all have sorrow in our lives at times. You've all given me a sense of community, a place where I feel I belong.
So thank you for this past year. I've enjoyed the artistic challenges, the many swaps, the fabulous giveaways, and most of all, the friendship. Where else in the world could I have made 372 friends in one year!!!!
Thank you for celebrating my blogiversary with me. Random.org has decided my friend Jeanie, of All My Art
is the winner of my blogiversary giveaway.
Congratulations Jeanie! As soon as I finish stuffing that matchbox full of goodies, I'll be sending it your way.
For everyone else, I'm sending a little more Easter love your way...

Giveaway, Swap Updates & The First of the Easter Image Freebies

Happy Weekend Everyone! There are 14 of us in the first altered matchbox swap, Things With Wings. I'll be sending a partner list via email later today or tomorrow. I can't wait to see what everyone has come up with!
My 1 year blogiversary is Monday and there's still time to enter the giveaway. Simply comment under the next post down. I'm working on gathering and creating the mystery box prize this weekend and will announce the winner on Monday.
Even though there is still snow on the ground here (ugh!), my thoughts are turning to Easter. So I'll leave you today with one of my favorite vintage images.

Matchboxmania, Blogiversary Giveaway & A New Swap

Now that I've settled into the new job a bit and have some weekend time to enjoy, I'd like to catch you up on all the matchbox swapping that's been going on. I participated in another of Heather's swaps at Speckled Egg. This was the Flea Market Edition and as always, so much fun.
This lovely box was from my partner Marian. Marian is not a blogger, but what a great swap partner!
She spoiled me with lots of goodies outside the box as well.

Rhea, of Miss Rhea's Sweet N Shabby Roses created this gorgeous box for me.
It was packed full of all sorts of wonderful treasures
in and outside the box.

My box for Marian,

and for Rhea.


In February the Matchbox Swap group on Flickr did a romance themed swap and my partner Jen from Australia sent me this little package of sweetness.

And this was for my partner, Les, in Canada.
In the flickr group we swapped the little matchboxes and Jen and I were both shocked when it cost $10 for her to mail that tiny, lightweight package to me. As much as I adore swapping with my international friends, it is certainly not within my budget to do so on a regular basis.
So for all my US and Canadian friends interested in swapping these little gems, I'd like to host....
With spring upon us, winged creatures seems like a perfect theme. Butterflies, birds, bees, fairies, dragonflies, angels - really anything you'd like to give wings to!
We'll make it very simple.
Email me with your name, mailing address, blog url and email. Please put "Matchbox Swap" in the subject line.
Alter one SMALL (32 count) matchbox. I buy mine at Dollar Tree, 10 in a package for $1. Fill it with winged and spring things-be creative!
I'll email you an invite to join the swap flickr group where you can post pics of your creations, http://www.flickr.com/groups/vintagedragonfly/, and where I'll post a partner list.
Mail out to your partner by April 15th.
This is a quick, inexpensive but really fun way to swap. I hope you'll join in.

On to the giveaway announcement - my one year blogiversary is the 28th of this month!
Could there be a better time for a giveaway?
I'm going to alter one of the BIG matchboxes and cram it full of surprises for the lucky winner.
To enter once, leave a comment after this post.
Twice, let me know you're a friend (aka follower).
Three times, grab my giveaway button and link it back to this post.
These entries don't need to be in separate comments.
MY GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO ALL MY BLOG FRIENDS WORLDWIDE. THIS IS ONE BIG OLD MATCHBOX READY TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE!!!!!!!!
The swap, for solely economic reasons, is open to anyone in the US and Canada.
I'll announce the winner on my blogiversary, March 28th.
Good luck to everyone!

St. Patty's Day Pretty Image Freebie

I haven't been around much lately but you all have been in my thoughts. I started a new FULL-TIME job this week (haven't worked full-time in several years) and I returned to nursing (a profession I left a decade ago), so needless to say, I am EXHAUSTED!!!!!!
Hope to get a nice, long, artsy post going this weekend but in the meantime,,,,

Now We're Talking Spring!

I just wrapped up my first ever blog swap, and what a fabulous swap it turned out to be. A couple of the people who signed up were old blog buddies but for the most part the participants were people I'd never met.
It couldn't have been a nicer experience. What a lovely and talented group of women! Everyone contributed 10 altered shipping tags - the only criteria being they made you think spring. As the hostess I made the covers, bound them and shipped them back.
Meet my new tag buddies..

Patty Provance
Sweet and Sassy Scrapper

Amy Pytlik
Ruby Moon Art

Jennie Barnes
The Pretty Pekingnese

Wendy Aspinall
Bliss Angels

Nancy Wethington
Art From The Heart

Michele Murray
Nook and Cranny

Jo West
My Paper Playhouse

Paula Williams
Paula doesn't have a blog

Jen Phillips
On A Journey Through Journaling...

And my tags


These are the covers I made using an image from Karen at
The Graphics FairyI uploaded the image to Picnik to add the title, then collaged some toadstools, fairy kids, bunnies and eggbaskets (courtesy of Lisa's Altered Art) and embellished with flowers, fabric stems, butterflies and bling.

What a scrumptious, fat book loaded with paper, lace and fabric....
bound with a single binding ring covered with loads of ribbon...

all ready to be packed and shipped to my Thinking Spring friends

Thanks to all of the ladies for a most happy collabortive. I was binding them on a wintry northeast day, but was REALLY thinking spring!

I've linked to Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy. Many thanks to Karen for all the beautiful images that contributed to our tag book, including the blog button and thank you tag (attached to book).

Ideas are already swirling round my head for the next blog swap. Stay tuned.

The One World One Heart Gods Have Smiled Upon Me

And I mean smiled upon me BIG TIME!!!! What a fabulous event,and this being my first year as a blogger, was the only time I participated. I met so many wonderful people, explored new and exciting art forms, overdosed on some amazing blog candy and genuinely had a great time connecting with people all over the world that I otherwise would never have had the opportunity to meet.
Now to be blessed with all these OWOH giveaway treasures just puts the entire experience over the top.

Opening this package took my breath away! This extraordinary pixie babe is created and sculpted by Rosanna, of
Rosanna's Art. The attention to detail is incredible. She is very, very special. If you appreciate doll artistry and fantasy art, you have to visit Rosanna. She's also very special.

I'm a huge fan of whimsy and was so happy to receive Elizabeth's email saying I won her moleskine journal.Elizabeth is a mixed media artist who specializes in animal portraiture. You can see more of her wonderfully whimsical creations at
Wind and Honey.

Jill, of Untie The Ribbons is the talented folk artist behind this mixed media shadowbox entitled Soul.I was drawn to it's unique and quirky look and it fits perfectly in my sunroom decor.

Fortunate enough to win another doll? Unbelievably yes! This was a mystery doll so it was with Christmas morning-like anticipation that I opened the package. I call her my haunting beauty though she really has no name. When you visit
Shauna Henry Original Art Dolls you can read the tale Shauna wove for her creation.

This heart makes me smile! This charming mixed media piece was made by Melissa, of Honey Girl Studio. If you're a fan of mixed media and digital art you are going to love her blog.

Another blog you'll adore is Kersten's Altered Gypsy. Her polymer clay shrine is simply stunning. Be sure to check out her altered books, 4x4's and postcard art. Her talents are extensive.

Deb, of Mosaic Magpie touched my heart with her sweet fabric heart.Deb's husband was critically ill in ICU most of February and she still managed to package and send my very pretty giveaway gift. I'm happy to say Deb's post yesterday reported her husband was home and on the mend.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of these talented artists and wonderful people for sharing their OWOH creations with me. Each gift has a special place in my home offering me a daily reminder that blog friends are the best friends.

After my OWOH hangover wore off I visited my friend Jill's blog. Jill was celebrating her 1 year blogiversary at Bucks County Folk Art with a mystery envelope giveaway, and you guessed it. I won! An envelope full of papers, ephemera, stickers, lace and all kinds of assorted goodies.
Treat yourself to Jill's adorable Easter/Spring creations she just posted.

Believe me when I tell you I was one of those people who never won anything. I guess it was catch-up time-lol!

It's Tutorial Tuesday and Giveaway Time

March's Tutorial comes to us from from one of my new blog friends,
Linda, of Random Creativity.
I visited Linda during One World One Heart and commented on a tutorial she offered on her blog and invited her to visit here and check out Tutorial Tuesdays. Fortunately for all of us, she was interested in sharing it......
Grungy Copper Ornament
Gather tools:
Light Weight Copper (cut to desired size)
Stencil
Bone Folder/Burnisher
Stylus
Decorative Edge Scissors
Ruler
Adirondack Alcohol Inks
Alcohol Ink Blending Solution
Felt Blending Tool

Trim the copper sheet to desired size. Cut the copper with a tin snip or old scissors. (Take care, the edges of the copper can be sharp.)
Flatten and smooth copper surface.
Tape the copper piece securely to a padded work surface.
Tape the stencil securely to the copper sheet.
Emboss copper using the stylus to trace around the edges of the stencil pattern.
Trim the edges of the copper with a decorative scissor edger.
They will cut through light weight copper.
Emboss a line down the long sides the copper sheet using a ruler and the stylus.
Draw a row or two of squiggly lines, repeating the pattern of the edger scissors on the ends.
Drop tiny puddles of the alcohol inks on the copper. Use several different ink colors and a metallic mixative.
Spray the ink drops with alcohol blending solution.
Blend the inks and solution until you achieve the desired effect.
Attach the finished copper ornament to your project with your favorite glue or tacks.
Tip: Use trims, Stickles or glitter glue to cover the sharp edges of the copper ornament.
Isn't this an awesome tutorial? It's not difficult and think of all the embellishments, book covers for altered books, pieces for assemblages (and the list goes on), you can make using this technique.
Look at this gorgeous copper tag!!!Visit Random Creativity now and enter to win it!
Many thanks to Linda for this very unique tutorial. April's guest artist will be sharing sugar beads with us. I know I'm intrigued...
I'd be happy to feature you and your technique or project on an upcoming Tutorial Tuesday. All it takes is your idea and an email!