Collage Swap

Some friends and I recently completed a Bits & Pieces Collage Swap. There were 8 who participated, 4 pairs of partners. The challenge was to create an 8X8" art board or canvas collage for our partner incorporating their likes in terms of color and style. Everyone made wonderful works of art and if you follow the links at the bottom of this post, you can see them all.

 My partner was my blogging friend, Mary of Thyme To Spare.We have done some one-on-one swaps before and Mary has sent me lovely gifts over the years. She is a wonderful paper crafter and a good friend.

This is the beautiful canvas she created for me...

Mary knows that I like soft colors and the base of the canvas is painted and stamped.

Each little square is like a work of art...my favorite hydrangeas and peonies are featured in addition to pale pink seam binding, a nest and bird and bits of crocheted lace and buttons. Great care was taken in creating this piece and I will treasure it!

Mary also included some fun supplies...

Mary knows me pretty well don't you think?

Of course I had to chuckle when I saw the canvas at first because our tastes are very similar...

why we were good partners. I thought I would give you some step-by-step pictures

 showing how I created Mary's board...(feel free to run and get a snack and a cold drink)

First, the supplies are gathered...

the background of the board is vintage looking ledger paper.

The the scalloped squares are added....I don't measure, I just eyeball the placement

Then the fun of assembling begins...M is for Mary of course

Birds and nests

some vintage buttons and a vintage looking flower...

I used 3 images of garden fairies to represent Mary's 3 Granddaughters, printing them twice and making them dimensional...

So much fun to create...

Now on to the other swappers.

Please take time to visit the other ladies and feast your eyes on their collages.

Everyone did a wonderful job and I'm so happy to be friends with all of them!

Marie of Spun By Me

Linda of Grace Filled Moments

Nan of Bubbles of Joy

Susie of South City Hues

Jo at Hybrid Simplicity

Laurie at Laurie Star

Aren't they all wonderful?

xoxo

Joyce

Michele's Birthday & other fun...

This is going to be a quick post because I have lots to do in preparation for my Book Group gang (and husbands) coming for a cook-out on Saturday.

Today, Mimi & I went to visit our friend Michele and celebrate her birthday. When we arrived, Michele had Constant Comment iced tea prepared for us with honey bear stirrers to sweeten our tea. We sat on her patio with our tea and these goodies....chocolate ganache, white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate mousse and a cookie crust. Decadent but delicious! (No, I didn't make them, Sam's Club is my friend!)

This is what I made for Michele....

a little Birthday Fairy artboard. Everyone has to have a cupcake on their birthday...with glittery sprinkles, and of course, a gold crown. Vicki Chrisman has me loving fairies and I have purchased a number of digital collage sheets from Patty at Lisa's Altered Art. She has great images and always a $1 special on Wednesdays. The Bingo card is a flea market find (I got a whole box of them) and this one actually has Michele's age on it but....I'm not telling!

This is the card I made for Michele, which was my adaptation of this card made by Dawn McVey. I loved the simplicity of it and the dimension of using the butterflies. Thanks, Dawn, I'm always inspired by your cards.

OK-I'm almost done now. Don't you think these flowers are cute?

I didn't buy them in a package......They are a font!Each flower is a letter of the alphabet. You can size them up or down. I printed them in black on cream colored cardstock, cut them out, layered them and used a brad for the center. How cute are they! Flowers, any time you want them! I love it! (my friends all know I am a font freak-I think I have about 550 fonts-YIKES!)

Well, that's it for today. Had a great time with some fun friends.....Happy Birthday Michele!

Until next time.......enjoy!