Kim's Inchies

I was recently in an inchie mini swap with Kimmie of Art in Red Wagons
I am relatively new to inchies- but Miss Kim is the inchie queen extraordinaire!!!!

I was sooo excited to get that little piece of happy mail, I didn't even wait til I got home! DH was driving, so I opened the package in the car. It was all wrapped in a cute floral napkin, that will be used in some project very soon, I know!!!

Each inchie was better than the last - and they are all so creative! One of the bird inchies (and I love birds) even has a tiny feather! You can click on the photos for a closer look.

But, underneath them all, was an extra goodie that brought a tear to my eye............Kim drew me a little portrait of my precious Miss Lilly. It's still kind of hard for me to look at a picture of her - but this is too sweet to not look!! She got her personality perfectly- thanks so much, Kim!!! This little treasure is going in a special frame, and will be up on the wall soon!!!

Swapamania & Challenges

Online swapping is fun, and certainly addictive!!!
I think I have caught up with all mine-all completed and mailed out!!!
The Collage Box Swap, created by Lawendula  arrived after traveling thru' Europe. Very exciting- a box full of wonderful bits and pieces- I had to choose 12 - very, VERY hard- and put back the same.I think I actually put back 15, but who's counting??? LOL

The above photo is what I chose from the box. Two of the pieces I picked, were able to be cut in half and replaced - they were a duplicate image. Below is what I put back....................

Above is the little booklet that was included. All participants signed and added a "snippet"- I put in an inchie, since I am so inchie obsessed lately!!.
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Another swap from the same blog was a mini journal swap (see the icon on my sidebar).
Mine are off in the mail- going across the pond!!! My postmaster informed me that there might be a delay, due to the Icelandic volcanic ash- hopefully not! So, Vera, no peeking- if you want to be surprised!!!

The first journal was made from a vintage photo mat that I cut and tied together with twine and assorted blank pages. I used alot of the papers that I picked out of the collage box for the cover of the journal!!!The letters were from The Graphics Fairy, I believe-see her link on my sidebar.

The 2nd tiny blank journal is made from brown paper grocery bags, with brass grommets, and paper from RubyFloy . Very appropos, since it was Earth Day - the paper is handmade, with leaves, grass and rose petals. The little "journal" stamp on the cover is also from Nathalie's Etsy shop, Ruby Floy.

The outer frame/mat on the brown paper journal below, was a mailing label, trimmed and cut to fit, from Where Women Create- it just seemed to work!

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These inchies were challenges from Inchy by Inchy- I think!! One was a "royal lady", the others are letters of the alphabet. I am a bit late, so am starting mid alpha!!!

It's hard to tell - but the letter "M"  has a tiny little person in yoga position holding up the "ommm"!



Last, but not least, this went out in the  mail to "someone".............the last of the altered matchboxes and 2 inchies.

Inchies, Matchboxes, and Zentangles

Two swaps down, one to go...................!!!Finished and mailed my inchies, but I still have alot left over, if anyone feels like swapping, one on one!

I am also "playing" in a swap over at Bad Penny's blog- 10 altered matchboxes. Thanks to some papers I received in Lawendula's swap, some from Patty, and some that I bought from Nathalie at RubyFloy, plus my own small stash, I was able to create some little boxes in the swap's spring to summer theme. I hope they like them!!!You should be able to click on the photos for a closer look.

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I am finishing up a mini blank journal- another one of Lawendula's swaps-then, I should be all caught up!!!

 

The little journal matchbox is a work in progress, with a stamp from

Ruby Floy and some lovely paper from Patty at Magpie's Nest.

If you want to learn more about Zentangling, check out their blog - they have links to lots of fabulous 'tanglers!!

Another Giveaway in Blogland

Run right over to Inchy by Inch for a fabulous little giveaway!!
I am new to creating inchies, and even if you are not involved in inchiedom- the goodies in the giveaway are useful in any medium!

Tea on Tuesday

We are back to regular T.o.T., without a set theme, just winging it- writing whatever comes to mind!!!I want to thank Kimmie for organizing our themes last month!!!

I haven't a thought in my head today, so I skimmed thru' my little book, 365 Things Every Tea Lover Should Know.

I opened to page 40 to this quote from Sir Arthur Pinero:

"Where's there's tea there's hope."

That's so true, when you need to relax, or are having a bad day, sit back, relax, with a favorite mug, filled with your favorite tea. Just clutching the hot mug, and inhaling the scented steam, can clear your head, and calm your mind.
My favorite of late, is lemongrass tea- the soothing lemon scent and flavor is a definite favorite!

In keeping with the tea theme- look what I found at the local thrift store yesterday!!
This precious little teapot clock just needs a new battery! The tiny dinerware style cup and saucer, with its faded painted flowers, will become a pin cushion or a candle. The cute little tin floral dish is so sweet- and perfect for spring!!! Total spent- about $2.50!!!

The little postcard is a work in progress- for Sunday Postcard- the theme this week is tea! On Pieces of D, I spotted another challenge, using the backround paper from Art Creations Friday. With lovely graphics from The Graphics Fairy, this is a work in progress - I had hoped to have it done by today, but still have a few more things to add to it!! I am really getting into this paper thing this week!!! This, along with the inchies I am working on with my cute little inchie supplies from Inchie Arts LLC, and the Travel Postcard Swap- I'm keeping busy!!!

Inchies, Inchies, Inchies!!!!!!!!

I am surrounded by inchies- a new found passion!!!!!!
Altho' I have seen these before on many blogs, including Patty's, I read a post the other day, on Kimmie's blog.
Her pictures and description made the process very clear. She was describing the idea of "bricolage", which led me to a post on Elizabeth's blog, which in turn led me to Seth's blog........ You can see why a few minutes on the computer, can turn into hours...............

Anyway, one thing led to another, and I have to thank Kimmie- for affording me yet another distraction from the banalities of daily living!!!!LOL

Kimmie kindly sent me a link to Inchie Arts, where Ellen Hutson stocks an inventory of chipboard inchies, twinchies, inchie +'s, and more!!!
Boggles the mind - I had to bug Kimmie with a few questions about which was what- and placed my order for a package of 72 inchies. I got them in a day or two - fast service, with a nice little thank you note and an extra surprise goodie baggie of St. Patty's Day green ribbon!

These are mine - so far - there is more work to be done on them-and I am already swapping those! I have 40 or 50 more to work on. The recent paper swaps I was in, came in handy for working on these!

When I received the chipboards, I just had to grab one and do a little zentangle on one. My favorite inchie -so far- is the "wee zen angel", the top row, 1st on left. The zentangle is middle row, 2nd from left. I am sure they will all be favorites when completed!!!

So, if anyone is interesting in swapping inchies with an obsessed newbie (that would be me!)- please let me know! We could do 1, 2 or 10 - your choice!!!!