Wednesday, October 27, 2010

My Swap with Mary-Part 2

I promised to show you the things I sent to Mary for our one-on-one swap and include a tutorial for the handmade item. I chose a wooden house shape from Say it With Letters (one of my favorite resources).
The quality of these pieces is excellent and I never even have to sand them. I think the hardest part of any paper piecing project is choosing the papers to use. Once I decide on the papers, the work goes relatively quickly. These were the papers I picked for Mary's house.

I like to mix patterned paper with text paper or sheet music and also ledger papers work well with patterned papers also. I love that ruler paper and thought it would work out for the roof line.


It was coming together nicely. I wanted to add a door to hang a wreath on but the
 proportions were not quite right...

I decided to turn the house into a birdhouse....
Here are the wreaths...one for the fall and one for winter. They were made using stamps from Papertrey Ink (another favorite resource) stamped onto cardstock and then mounted on cardboard from a cracker box (the perfect weight, right Elizabeth?)


You can see that I've used small pieces of hook and loop dots (Velcro) on the back of each wreath... there is also Velcro on the front of the birdhouse. This way, the wreaths can be changed out at the seasons.
So that the wreath not being displayed doesn't get lost...on the back of the birdhouse there is more Velcro to store the extra wreath...






Mary needed a tenant for her new birdhouse so I covered a chipboard bird with
some patterned paper and attached it to the front of the house.


Next some details were added. Stamped flourishes were next and a bingo marker with the #26 which is Mary's real house number. Here is the fall look with the twig and berry wreath...

and the winter look with the leaves and berries...

Take some time to visit Deb at Say it With Letters. She has a large variety of wooden shapes and letters in different fonts. Any piece can be cut in sizes ranging from very small to very large. I have been using Deb's products for years now and am always delighted, and, she's a heck of a sweet lady, too!
The other items I sent in Mary's package..some birdie stamps and chipboard birds for Mary to play with..

Chocolate...can't craft without it!

A pretty blue china plate and a bird in a nest...Mary loves blue flowers...
A cute original pumpkin sketch by the uber talented Mchelle Palmer, whose art is amazing!

One on one swaps...they're great fun!
Thanks again Mary, I really enjoyed our little Fall Swap!
xoxo
Joyce

21 comments:

Hearts Turned said...

What a wonderful swap, Joyce! I LOVE your sweet birdhouse--beautifully done!

Hope you're having a lovely night...

Julie

Celestial Charms said...

Hi Joyce,
What a lovely birdhouse for Mary, along with all those other goodies. Thanks for showing us the step by step process of making it. I'm always looking for tips!
Maureen

Paula Clare said...

Hi Joyce,
The birdhouse and swap goodies are wonderful! I am utterly green with envy! You always create in such an orderly fashion...I feel like my craftroom explodes every time I go to make something...I cannot create AND be neat at the same time! How DO you do it?!

Hope you have a great evening!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

How cute is that birdhouse and how clever are you?

Where did you get your labels, Joyce? I bet you designed them. What a nice way to sign your work!

vivian said...

a perfect swappy gift! I bet she lOVEs it all! sweet stuff Joyce!
have a great day...
viv

LaurieStar said...

Joyce - thanks for sharing this! I totally LOVE what you did with the house! I love the little bird and I especially love those wreaths! I had no idea that they were stamped. I thought you bought them. Very cool! I want to try some now. Very cute project overall. I also want to rush right out and buy those bird stamps now too - I don't have those yet for my collection! :)

NanE said...

Hi Joyce, I'm so glad you shared your contribution to the swap! What a very generous gift to your friend Mary, I'm sure she loved every single item. That bird house is so sweet and I have never heard of your source, so thanks for sharing it too. I love Michelle Palmers art, she is so very talented. And I'm right with you on the chocolate, I can't craft, or watch TV, drive in the car..... (you get the picture) :)! Thanks again for leaving such sweet words on my blog this week! Hugs and blessings, Nan

Unknown said...

Joyce,
What a wonderful project!!!! SOooo cute! I love your tutorials....I have got to start looking into stamps!!!! Sshhh...don't say it too loud...LOL

mary k said...

Joyce, Your gifts to me were just perfect! You really picked up on all my favorite things from birds, flowered plates, to chocolate.Your attention to detail is unbelieveable. One would think we have been close friends for years. You are such a loving and generous person, and I am one lucky lady. I am currently using the chipboard birds to create Christmas tags for a swap at www.ColorfulCreations.net ,my wonderful local stamp shop. The candy was delicious and the gourmet jimmies were fantstic. I'll be using the small bird stamps on a baby banner that I am working on. THANK YOU, again,for swapping with me. Your generosity and creativity are remarkable!

Unknown said...

Joyce, thanks so much for sharing that turorial! It's so beautifully done. You always pick the perfect papers to go together!! And I love that you turned it into a birdhouse with wreaths you can change for the season. :) I'll be posting this on our blog. What a nice collection of goodies you sent to her too! So happy to see you posting again.

deb said...

For some reason my comment says "Nash" - that's me. Deb. :)

woodandfabric said...

Oh my!!! Such a beautiful birdhouse! Wonderful papers, you choose, Joyce! So happy to see you back on your blog. I think I write this everytime I come here! But it is so true!
Michelle *Ü*

CHERI said...

Your recipient is one lucky gal. The amount of talent in blogland never ceases to amaze me!

Unknown said...

Oh Joyce, What you create is art! Absolutely, simply beautiful. So much to learn here! E

Sally Annie Magundy said...

Oh Joyce, your birdhouse is so wonderful, so very charming! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. And my gosh, your swap partner is going to be over the moon happy with all those goodies! Lucky gal! & thank you so much for mentioning Michelle Palmer, I hadn't heard of her before and added her to my Monday blog love list today.

Happy week to you,
Sally

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

What a fun Post, Joyce. It was fun to read through all your steps. LOVE the interchangeable wreaths. : )
Mary Lou

Unknown said...

Thanks for the cool tutorial! Mary is going to love everything! Thanks for the compliments on my blog ;)

Sandy xox

Heidi said...

Joyce, That little birdie home is darling! You have the touch for sure! (Mary was one lucky person!) Hugs, Heidi

Mimi Sue said...

So adorable! Great idea with the changeable wreaths. Love all the banners you've been doing too. Mimi

Suz said...

Dear Joyce,
Thank you so much for the tutorial and helping to demystify paper crafting for me! It is the cutest little house! The rest of the things you sent in the swap are wonderful. I love that blue plate and I am dying for some chocolate!
Thank you sooo much for the message about how you are doing. I have really been concerned and am relieved to hear things are improving. I will continue to hold you in my heart and prayers.
I love your comments about your dress with the different tops to go with it. That is just how I dress! I had to chuckle. I don't even wear the jewelry I make day to day.Too much bother and might get glue on it.
Off to glitter birds.Such a good thing to do at five in the morning!!!
Big hugs,
Suz

Pamela said...

Oh how I love your sweet bird house. Congrats on your new grandbaby. So sweet, so precious.

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