Wahooooo.... Prizes and Swaps!!!

With all that has been happening around here just lately....
I have been a

 LAZY blogger !!

I hope you all had a great Christmas Holiday time with friends and families...

 .....me getting a Merry 'Kissmass' from my Barney!!

 "What? No Turkey left!!"

Hope you all had been good girls (and boys!)

...and Santa brought you lots of arty, crafty goodies ;)

(I got a few nice bits to play with :) !!)

-oOo-

Well, not much craftiness going on in the Smifferoo Household over the Holiday Season, I did make a start on a Shabby Festive Configuration box, but didn't get very far with it!!

It's still sitting on my craft desk as I type!...and will most probably remain with my other un-finished (work in progresses!!) until next Christmas now!! LOL

-oOo-
I'm feeling a little sluggish in the crafting department, so am on the look out for some new creative challenges and Swaps for Inspiration in 2012.
Any good ones you know about?...Please tell ;)

.....
GOOD NEWS
It felt like Christmas morn all over gain today!

 I  received  some amazing artwork pressies in the mail to share with you all now....
All the way from the other side of the world in Australia....
A couple of weeks ago
I WON
some Gorgeous Gifties
from two lovely ladies...
Jen (Jenxo) and Jenny (A Simpler Life)
over at
Pink Possum

WOW!!

I entered into their
tricky guessing game
(..and boy, it was a TRICKY one!!)
...you had to guess what Jen was making from this here pic
..and I was so ever pleased and excited to win, has they are both amazing inspirational artists!!
-oOo-
Some close ups of the gorgeous gifts...

Paper Luminarie
This pic doesn't show the true beauty of this piece!
I admired these Luminaries on Jen's Blogs, Here ...(where you can see some of them beautifully lit up).
-oOo-
.a gorgeous  Shabby (Just my style!!)
'Scrappy doily Brooch'
'Swoon'!! (also created by Clever Jen).

and the fab card in the background is also handmade by Jen!!

-oOo-

and last but definately not least....

a fabulous tin altered (in her fantastic style)

by Jenny.....

WOW!!
So having these little beauties in my hot little hands today, I was not surprised to hear that you both had a fab selling day at market girlies!
-oOo-
..and meet
Prudence

she was also created by the talented Jenny of a Simpler Life.

I Love how Jenny paints her girlies eyes and sweet little blushing cheeks!....

-oOo-

I've been seeing a lot of wooden block artwork (Chunky atc's) in Blogland.

..and I marvelled at this little wonder on Jenny's Blog,

.... and feel ever so lucky and pleased when she agreed to do a swap with me for her first wooden block art piece!!

....and I'm so honoured to be the new owner of her first ever one :)

She looks great in my craft-room, fits in beautifully with my shabby style and colour scheme!
Thanks Jenny!

(If you adore this lovely style of artwork as much as I do, Jenny has a etsy shop here...where she has a few of 'Prudences' friends up for sale! Go over and take a peek...you won't be dissapointed :)
-oOo-
...Well, I've finally got my hand on some wooden blocks now...
just got to make some time to create my first chunky atc for Jenny...
So watch this space ;)
-oOo-
Thanks you both again Jen and Jenny...
for the awesome gifts
and a stunning swap!!
I adore everything!!
It's such a pleasure to have both your artwork in my home.

-oOo-

Now that just leaves me to wish all my Blogging friends
A Happy and Healthy
New Year!!
Heres to a creative 2012!!

Thanks for peeking
and for all your lovely comments!
Jan x

A Swap for all Seasons - Vintage Brooch Swap

Mmmmm, not quite sure where the time has gone since my last blog post !!
'real life' seems to have got in the way in the Smifferoo household !
...not much crafting or blog-hopping being done here !  :(
...but I did manage to get a little painty last week, not the crafty fun variety though, a spot of bathroom re-decorating !

So back to some show and tell....
Linda from A Swap for all Seasons

Runs the most fantastic swaps

...and this one was no exception!

The theme this time was..

'Vintage Brooch Mother's day Swap'

We were to send a vintage brooch and package it very prettily...

I did show a little teaser in a previous blog-post
so now for the full reveal...

..First, this is what I received from my swap partner the Uber Talented

Michele from

Michele's Treasures, Teacups, & Tumbling Rose Cottage

.....a beautifully embellished box with gorgeous paper, vintage butterflies and jewellery pieces.

Lookie at the sweet butterfly trails made from pink glitter and the cute little bumble bee embellie.

...and nestling inside the shredded paper box

...was this beautiful brooch!

Gorgeous !!

I love the stunning sparkley blue stones and the golden leaves!

Thank you Michele.

-oOo-

....and this is what I made for Michele

It all started with a paper-mache book blank

...which I altered/collaged with various tea-stained flowers, lace, binding, altered memory frame, Ooh La La papers (from craftworkcards) to give it a Parisian theme.

(I also added a painted little eiffel tower charm)

the edges were coated in Viva Inka-Gold

...love this stuff

It's a creamy metal gloss paint

and after a little buff it turns into a beautiful shiny finish.

another sweet little lacy heart applique

...all wrapped in some cherub tissue.

 

this is the brooch I chose for Michele

a little Mothers day bunch of blue-stone flowers.

-oOo-

A big big Thank you again to Michele for my beautiful brooch and box and to Linda for hosting another awesome swap!

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x