paper valentine fortune cookies...

these are adorable and simple to make.
http://celesterockwood-jones.typepad.com/designwashrinserepeat/2009/02/freebie-fortune.html

CEU's

Not free but they do seen inexpensive.
http://www.apcounsellingservices.com/apcounsellingservices/app/WebinarSeries/RecordingsofWebinars/tabid/159/Default.aspx

site for vintage imagery... lots of good stuff!

You can pay 10 dollared to download the entire collection
www.vintageimages.org

ATC for 6 degrees

I made this little ATC for Lani's lesson  "looking for angels" over on 6 Degrees of Creativity on Ning. Lani asked us to make a portable piece of art (like an atc) with a "Duchenne smile."  This is a picture of my grandmother sitting in a field of daisies which was taken over a hundred years ago.

 (She is about 16 in the picture, and she passed away around age 60, roughly 60 years ago.)
The flowers were a gift from a swap I did recently, I put some stones in them and touched them up with glossy accents. Around the card is ball chain.  The banner reads "love begins with a smile" which is my spin on a quote from Mother Theresas,"Peace begins with a smile."

Botanical matchbox swap received!

I just got tons of art mail in the past two days.. Last one to post today will be this matvchbox from deedee for our botanical matchbox swap.
its quite lovely, and it came with some tiny extra flowers and beads.

Swaps received!~

Got this cool pin from Charlene C. It looks like metal up there on top but feels like maybe its friendly plastic. the charms hanging below are really interesting!

This pin came from Ruth Daily. love this Cat! I think it is shrinky dink fabric.. and to the left of that she also sent a zentangle type of  atc.. very nice!

this pin came from Gina in England... It has a lot of texture on it and possibly some melted plastic? she also sent along a bunch of other goodies you can see some in the picture.

I also got this one from Joy. this is like a collage with various textures, and has a shine to it from the materials.

This was a great swap!

Valentine goody box

So, I am in this Valentine goody swap, I am surprising myself that I am doing this since I am still waiting on my Christmas goody swap box too show up. The person said she mailed it... late.. but that was Jan 6th. I do like to beleive it will be here any moment and I am going to be so delighted.
I have not had much luck with swaps lately, between the Christmas goody box not showing up, and the christmas matchbox boxes, one no show, one came long after Christmas (but it was lovely).
Not in such a good mood either, still hurting from my injury last fall.

Hmm not very impresive in the photo either. It has little legs and antique sides. the top velcros close. those flowers (lol) they do not look so dreary to me in person!

So, as too keep busy I am doing this...  So far I have used a large matchbox I began altering during the holdiays, did a few... I also decorated a little notebook to go in it, ... but it dosn't fit! I made some clips for the notebook too.  trying to come up with some other ideas to put in it.. got some fun stuff from the dollar store (self inflating balloon, erasers) and some candy. Anyhooo... blah blah blah.. here is the picture..
think I will have to do more to this box.... no rest for the weary.  oh, and here is the book...

                                                                             I may be doing this over again too. I am trying to find out if I can cleanly cut one of these tiny notebooks in half. If so, will re-do.. would love it to fit in the box. Also, it is was coordinating.., but it sure as heck does not look like it does from these pictures!