Two Decos for Swap-bot

So, here are some of the almost finished products, and then the finish products. The first picture is of a Valentine Heart Deco that I am making for a swap on Swap-bot. It was tons of fun to make...then there is the purple stenciled envelope that I am making to hold some die cuts that I am sending in  a swap. 

Below is another envelope that I used one of my doily type die cuts on to decorate over a gelli printed envelope I made a few weeks ago. It turned out okay, but I honestly don't like spending so much detailed time on envelopes!! Ah....yea, I said it...so I don't mind if they look just decent and not all perfectly flowing with art...lol.

Finally, below is the Deco from the first picture that I have finished. Anyways, it was tons of fun to make, I especially like the messy sewing stamps that I have.....I do have a sewing machine, but it's messed up or something. I want to ask a friend to help me better understand it;)

Below is another Deco I made for a swap via Swap-bot.

The Deco above went to my partner on in the White envelope below. I loved how that gelli print turned out. The red envelope was mainly stenciled. 

So, this is how I have figured to lighten up an area for the address of my partners, just so it's easy for the postal people to read it...or the machine...or whatever....I'm sure it helps in some way;)

Below is one of the two die cuts I sent in a swap to my partner, via SB of course. 

And below is Kingy....who got the dinner bread....same old dog that tore the Literature book up that I use to gelli print on now. Good thing I have cut my bread carbs and wasn't looking forward to eating that for supper;) We have four dogs, all are around 65lbs. This one is around 12 years old, he has went deaf, so now he cannot hear us when we want to let him know that he should stop what he's doing....so now he thinks we never "get on to him", and he is getting into more mischief then usual. He was a very well obedient boy about the rules, only needed a quick verbal reminder every now and then....now since we've had him so long, we just let him basically have anything he gets into...unless it will hurt him of course. 

Thanks for reading!! HAPPY CRAFTING Y'ALL!!!

Random Gelli Prints

Here is a ton of gelli prints. I did some on envelopes and some on an old literature book that one of my dogs got a hold of and tore to pieces....so instead of just throwing it away, I thought I'd try to print on it...and it worked out really well. Also, it has very interesting stories on the pages, with some cool quotes that peak through, when all is "said and done."

I think this is a pic of the finished stack.

Some of my favorites...the ones that have text, I sprayed water on the remaining paint on the gelli plate to get the water color look. 

I used a few stencils on some of the pieces, I am learning more and more about using stencils and just love it. I think I will have a stencil buying session thingy....I can't think of the word! uh! Crop...hog...hoard...what is the word????!!!!???? HAUL!! Ha...I had to search on youtube to find the word. I'm not going to do a video...I 'm just gonna shop for some stencils...I might watch a few videos though.

I still feel like I am very messy with the gelli printing, and that is okay. I would like to become more...organized and focused in a particular direction when printing. There are a few techniques that I have learned that I love, so that is nice. Anyways, HAPPY CRAFTING Y'ALL!!

Swaps going out!

So, some of these have already went out. The others I plan on swapping at some point. The one below has went out already. I loved how it turned out. There for a bit I could not remember what I wrote around the flowers, then somehow I just remembered. My memory is not the greatest.

"Learn to work with anyone. Do your best to bring out the best in everyone." Or something like that! LOL!

The two unicorn ATCs below will probably go out in a swap I am "watching" on Swap-bot. There will be some more Mail ART elements and things to go along with that swap. The swap is posted in a group about mail art and we choose what we send. It can be anything handmade, but also the envelope needs to be decorated as well....cause well that is basically "MAIL ART".

Below are a few inches, twinchies, and moos. Hhahahha, that is what the group is called on swap-bot too. So, I thought I had signed up for a swap with that group, but turns out I had only put it on my watch list....and so it went away, but I had made the stuff already. I am an officer in the group, so I can host my own swaps....and will probably end up doing that with these that I made.  And on top of that, I made the cupcake, butterfly, and heart ones, but the swap I thought I joined was for flower ones....and yea, so I made those too....to only find out I was not signed up...lol! I am new to these little ones, they are basically like making ATCs, but just smaller. 

I am not totally done, I will probably try to blend the yellow "sweet" in a bit, and add some more to the hearts one.  Then add few more small embellishments...and call it done. 

These I will probably keep adding to too. I like how they turned out...there is some journaling on them as well....I coated it with some thick stuff and it's not yet dry in the pic.

Okay, so below is an art deco, I made for myself. I have sent it to my first deco swapper that I have since starting back with swapping them. She is one of the signers in a deco homer I recently received after 5 years. So, maybe I will receive this one back in the next few years.

This one below went out via a SB swap. It was pretty fun making. I made it for myself also.

Below, are the envelopes that I decorated to send out my swaps above, and a couple others. At the moment I am only letting myself join 4 Swaps on SB. If I have those ready, then I can join for more. I just don't want to overwhelm myself. When I was swapping heavily years ago, I would sign up for a ton....still got them out ok, but it would get to where is was an obligation...probably one of the main reasons whey I quit for a bit. 

The one below is of a wish swap for the Facebook group Snailmailersrus.....I think that is how the name goes. It's a very active group with wishes. To do a wish, you just list different mailable craft related things you would like to receive in an envelope, then someone in the group will grant one, or a few of them...depending on how expensive it is or what they have on hand. These are not meant to be costly, more of a small gift under $5.00 if anything. Also, if you have someone comment below you that they will grant a wish, then you have to find someone and grant their wish. I always look for someone that does not have any comments under their wishes. 

This one went to Mexico, YO! lol!

Ok, that is it for this post...I forgot it was in my drafts, and thought I had posted it already....O'well. Have a nice day!!

Deco Swapping and ATC

So, below is an ATC I received in a  swap via Swap-bot.com. We could only use black and white with maybe a little bit of another color for the ATC. This is more of a scrapbook type style.

This is an Art Deco I received through a SB swap. It is cute and was fun to decorate. 

And below is my decorated page on the little Deco. I do not have any labels yet, so I had to handwrite my information....which I don't really like to do, but I guess it turned out okay.

Thanks for looking!

Art Deco Homer

Hello! Here is an Art Deco that I received a few weeks ago. I made it in 2012 when I was heavily swapping Friendship books and Art Decos. It has been filled and now I get to enjoy it. I have about 15 of these full Decos that have came back to me. But, I probably made 10 times that many and sent them out. Still it is pretty neat to receive one after so long. I am slowly getting back into deco swapping....mainly through Swap-bot.

If you look closely at the pictures, you will see the different countries that it has been signed in. France, Finland, Germany....etc. I enjoy decorating decos. I use to be very concerned with quality, because in some groups it is high quality only, but now I am not so concerned because I do not have to keep up with the standard of a group. That is the nice thing about Swap-bot, we can choose for each individual swaps exactly what we want to agree with. 

ATCs...Possible Swaps

Okay, so this post has been sitting in my drafts for a bit. Plus I have some pictures on my phone of some things I need to post...AAAHHH. This one is gonna be less talking...if that is possible...seriously I am actually a quite person. It's just so easy to say things here...it's like I'm talking to myself...I guess I am....BURN! hahaha! So, yea, below are some halfway done ATC back grounds. I love the Julie Nutting stamps...I first typed out Nutmeg...lol. I was wanting to do some paper piecing...and it looked good, I just get so impatient, so most of these ATC are still like this, just started.  I would paint them, but then it takes away from the almost vintage look, and makes them seem cartoony and I don't want that style. Anyways, just check the pics out....no more talking;)

 Thanks for looking!!