The Evolution of a Tag

Anyone who has ever had to make more than one of the same thing knows that the hardest part of the project is creating that "first one". It begins with an idea and then proceeds to making several prototypes before deciding on a pleasing final design.
When you are creating a tag for a tag swap of Elizabeth's (of Creative Breathing) group of high caliber paper artists, it's important to get it just right! With that said, I thought I would take you through the steps I took to create my tag for Elizabeth's Retro Kitchen Tag Swap....a project that I had lots of fun with. This is heavy on photos so if you want to go throw a load of laundry in or make yourself a sandwich first, I'll understand. Here we go...

My choice of subject for my tag was the refrigerator..... I had to design my tag and include a recipe on the back. Sounds simple enough, right?

My first model...

I decided to mount the frig on a backing to make it sturdier and allow me to punch a hole on the top.

It was OK but not great....too, too plain! I needed a different background...

Love the October Afternoon flowered paper....

Much better choice...but the front is still a little too plain. I know, a funny phrase...

OK -that's it!

 (The glue stick is my favorite brand..it smells like almond and holds really good!)

Now on to the assembly...

all ready for the trimmings....first the fringed towels...

then the stitching....well, my kind of stitching with a pen...

then the handles, cut out of shiny silver cardstock

and the grill...

then on to the inside of the frig...the housewife is printed on the cardstock

and the food is all hand cut....

and then I redid the recipe in a different font (Enviro) to be easier to read...

Ready to mail....Elizabeth, you should receive them by Friday!

If you would like to see the rest of the tags made by the other artists,

Elizabeth has been posting photos on her blog as she receives them

and I will post them all when I receive them in the mail.

This was a really fun challenge and I look forward to whatever Elizabeth is

 "cooking up" for the summer swap!

Joyce

XOXO

Welcome to the Vintage Easter Blog Hop

Pull up a chair and spend a little time if you can and visit the blogs participating in the Vintage Easter Blog Hop, hosted by Joan at Anything Goes Here. There are many bloggers participating and some beautiful things displayed. When you go to Joan's blog, you will see all of the links to make it an easy hop.

I have a combination of Vintage and Vintage style items for you to see...

First is something very, very vintage. It is an Easter picture of my older (sorry Barb) sister and me in 1953...

Easter was not in June in 1953. Apparently it took a long time for my parents to finally develop the camera film from Easter. Back in those times, you always got a new dress, hat and white cotton gloves for Easter. Our Mother made many of our dresses but I'm not sure about this one. I was 4 in this picture and my sister was 12. I'm sure I was looking so stern becasue she was probably bossing me around.

Some other vintage or nearly vintage items...

Will you think it "odd" if I tell you that I kinda collect carrots? I didn't mean to start this collection ...it just sort of happened when I kept seeing more and more cute handmade ones. I think the bunnies are happy about it.

My prize handmade velveteen rabbit, complete with Easter bonnet. She is signed and dated (1986, which is when I adopted her)) by the New Jersey folk artist Lou Souders. I have several of Lou's pieces but she is my favorite.

 

Ooops, how did that sneak in there? He's not vintage but he sure is cute!

Enjoy hopping everyone and thanks for stopping by...I love to have visitors!

XOXO

Just peeking out.....

I have been so busy making swap gifts and swap tags that there hasn't been any time to post. I didn't want you to think I had gone on a fun trip without you.....I'll be back very soon with lots to share. It's not like me to be quiet for very long but I know you understand how it is with deadlines......

xoxo

Welcome Spring!

When I went into work on Tuesday, I spied this bunny at my desk..

and immediately fell in love! My dear friend Pam, who has known me for many years,

saw her in a store, and knew how much I would love her. She has the sweetest face,

and is all decked out for Spring with her fancy pink collar and chickie pin and her party hat....

and is even holding a little banner that says "JOY" all glittered up...

Sigh....I am in love!

More Spring lovliness...

This beautiful Spring garland is a gift from my friend Jacqueline. I have to figure out where

 to hang it as it is very long. The colors are so vibrant and fresh. I am so blessed to have

such great friends who know me so well!

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

A month ago or so, I purchased some Spring tags from my friend and

former swap partner, Sharon, of My Vintage Studio. When Sharon

and I were swap partners in the Swap for All Seasons Cabinet Card Swap, 

she sent some beautiful Christmas tags she had made. Her work is

so exquisite and each tag is a little art masterpiece. When she started to sell

Spring tags in her Etsy shop, I just couldn't resist them!

 

Wonderful images, dreamy flowers and beautiful ribbons...

when they arrived, I couldn't believe that they were all prettier

in person than in photos. The ones decorated with flowers are my favorites...

 I went back and ordered two more!

Isn't this lovely? The bling is like the icing on the cake!

I think Bunnie likes them, too!

It's never too late to send some love. Thank you Bethanie!!

 xoxo!

More Sping and Easter decor to come!

Did you notice that link on my sidebar to Michelle Palmer's giveaway?

You could win this original art drawing on fabric made by Michelle

Visit her blog, go to her Etsy shop and sign up to win!

Look at that detail!!!!! So cute!

xoxo

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Our favorite verse...

May those that love us, love us;

And for those that don't love us,

may God turn their hearts;

And if he can't turn their hearts,

May he turn their ankles;

So we may know them by their limping.

an Irish toast

We will not be eating our celebratory St. Patrick's Day meal until tomorrow night,

when we'll dine on corned beef and cabbage and Irish Soda Bread

while we're watching this...

The Quiet Man

is a story about a man, Sean Thornton (living in Pittsburgh),

who retires to Ireland to reclaim his family's farm in Innisfree.

He meets and falls in love with spinster Mary Kate Danaher and then the sparks begin to fly!

It's a wonderful, funny story made even more fun by watching it with a man who does

a Barry Fitzgerald (who is also in the movie) impersonation almost perfectly.

I'd like to share some of my favorite images of the day...

(courtesy of Suzee Que-Flickr)

(Lulu at Home-Flickr)

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

The Ides of March....

We all learned about the Ides of March when we were in school....it is the day Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by Marcus Brutus in 44 B.C. (I was just a small child then and  had nothing to do with it!) On a lighter note, it is also our Daughter-In-Law Jane's birthday! Happy Birthday Jane!

We had a great time when Eric, Jane and Charlie came for a visit last week. We mostly just hung out together and had fun at home but we also took a trip to the Children's Museum here in Pittsburgh.

(Charlie checking out his shadow)

Charlie had a lot of fun with all of the interactive displays. One of the highlights, especially for the adults, was Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. They had some of the props used in the television show on display and I think Eric really had more fun than Charlie did.

As usual, my intentions to take lots of pictures got lost somewhere in the enjoyment of the happenings of the moment! I did get this photo of David and Eric on their way to the Penguins game on Saturday...

On Sunday, Charlie got a chance to say Hi to Papa before church started...

On Monday morning, I came downstairs to find that Papa had turned Charlie's chair around to face the window and they were watching the birds at the feeder while Charlie ate his breakfast.

We read many books, played with puzzles and cars and watched a movie or two. My photos are sparse but I had a great time. It went by too quickly and on Tuesday they left to go home.

We missed you as soon as you were gone from our sight Charlie...

don't grow too fast before we see you again!

xoxo