Pocket Letters Galore

It's been a while since I updated!  I've been spending most of my times swapping Pocket Letters and ATCs with my new pals at Swap-Bot.

Here are some of my most recent swaps - please forgive the photo quality, those shiny folders are a bitch to photograph.

This one is my favorite by far:


Classic Monster

Here are some others:


Owl Pocket Letter


Halloween

I'm also swapping ATCs, handmade postcards and I'm working on my collage skills.  What is up with that?!

If you'd like to swap, let me know.

Thanks for looking!

Pocket Letters

So I recently found a new craft - Pocket Letters!  You can check out the basics via the creator, Janette Lane, on her blog here.

I joined her Pocket Letter Pal network and agreed to my first Halloween themed swap.  I decided to go cute and went to town - I started with some Project Life Halloween cards that I had for unknown reasons since I don't actually scrapbook.  I was thinking I'd do ATCs but then I decided I wanted my swap partner to be to use the supplies on the front of the pockets as well as the back (I'm not sure if that's the intent, but I liked it).

Here's the front:

And here's the back:

  

In my first pocket, I did some ATC papers wrapped ribbon and added a handmade matchbook to the back.  The next pocket is my glitter/confetti pocket - I think I may have muddied this up a little to much with glitter.  It's sealed with washi, so I may redo it before I send it out.  My swap partner is momma to some fancy rat babes, so I made her a rat pocket with chipboard rats on the front that she can remove and some stickers, labels and a few tickets in back.

   

The second row has a spider charm, some black and orange rhinestones with spider and web die cuts and some hand-dyed crinkle ribbon and washi tape in the back.  I'll put my letter behind the card with the owl.  I'm not sure if I should add more the front pockets in this row?

The last row has my swap partner's initials, some more removable die cuts and a free floating bat.  Additional pumpkin and bat themed papers, ribbon and embellishments are tucked in back.  I made some really cute little file folders too.

I can't wait to get started on my next one - it's an owl theme!

I'm entering the above into the following challenges:
Hiding in My Craftroom - HMCR218 - Any Holiday (Halloween)
Corrosive Challenges - Halloween Bingo - Bat, Free Space, Moon  (CORROSIVE233)

Thanks for stopping by!

Gingersnap Creations Art Exchange - Magnets

Gingersnap Creations is having another art exchange - Encouraging Words Refrigerator Magnets.  I decided to try for a heart theme and set about making my magnets. 

I did a shaker magnet.

I tried a new technique (the 'puddle' of white embossing power with the sentiment 'embossed' in it).

I used my new Papertrey Ink set for the first time.  I love this house!

And then I stalled.  I had the quote: "A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."  The sentiment was too large, I didn't like the color on the vellum, I couldn't think of anything else to do, blah blah.  I dithered and I dallied and I finally came up with a magnet that was... done.  I didn't love it, I didn't hate it.  I hung them all on the fridge to test the magnet adhesive overnight.  

This afternoon, I started taking pictures.  I did the first three and went I went for the fourth...it wasn't there.  The magnet was still on the fridge but the actual piece was missing.  I asked hubby if he'd seen it - nope.  I searched high and low - it's not under the fridge (yes, I made hubby move it), it didn't fall down the side, it's not on the counter. It's gone.  There are two suspects who have a long criminal history when it comes to crafting mishaps but this is impressive, even for them.

They're not talking, of course.  I suspect the mystery may never be solved.  So, I'm off to make another magnet!  I think I'll have to give the heart theme a pass this time and skip the fridge test. 

Wish me luck!!

Gingersnap Coaster Exchange!

My husband has had strep throat and an ear infection for the past two weeks and I'm exhausted.   I haven't got to craft at all, so I'm just going to post the coasters that I made for the Gingersnap Creations yahoo group Coaster swap.  The theme was hearts.

This one took me the most time - the entire thing is hand punched hearts and then each heart was individually curled with a awl and then glued down. 

This beast was a pain - I had the coolest gold paper incorporated but I decided at the last minute to add some gold embossing powder to cover up any glue overlap.  When I used my heat gun, all the gold bits melted and I had to go back in with a glue pen and more embossing powder.   Note to self: don't apply heat to things that melt!

Years ago, I purchased a shoebox full of stamps at a garage sale.  The stamps are still attached to envelopes, so I sat in front of the tv and peeled stamps off bit of paper and sorted them by color during a horror movie marathon.  Go Friday the 13th!    

Last, but not least, is this cute little clown girl.  The background was embossed with a Tim Holtz folder and then randomly heat embossed.   I was in the throes of a short-lived ruffle fascination for this one and the one above.   I have odd interests. LOL! 

Enjoy and thank you for looking!!