Birds and Bonnets (Please join us!!)

Beth and I had a fun day Thursday, one of our stops was Curious Sofa.  Deb Dousenberry has such wonderful taste, her shop is an experience.

So many simple ideas, and simple everyday objects are made special just by the way Deb puts them together and displays them.

We also went to see Amy of Vintage Workshop, then treated ourselves to bakery goods from Andres to sort out ideas about our next swap.

Vintage Workshop is providing the images for our swap! Here are a few of them.

I like to download the pictures, then print them in multiple sizes.

Especially the wallpaper backgrounds.  I print those in at least 3 sizes. Having the same image in different forms is really fun to play around with.

Sugarwings stayed all night again last night and I am afraid I didn't get finished with everything I wanted to show you for the swap we are doing, but here is a sneak peak.

I made these four "panels" from the Vintage Workshop downloads and then doo-dadded them up.

I haven't decorated the backs yet, that needs to be done so they can fit together like a screen.

This screen is one that Beth has made (hers is finished, unlike mine!) 

Here are some of the details of the swap:

Everyone will make 4 of these panels using at least one image from Vintage workshop.

You can decorate it up as elaborately or simply as you'd like.

By everyone using the same 3 Vintage Workshop collections, we'll have a cohesive look, so that all the panels will look lovely together.

But by having so many artists do the work, then putting 4 different person's work into one screen, they will be eclectic and fun.

By using the various sizes of  the pictures  and printing some of it on textured paper (the lovely lady is printed onto fabric paper that Amy sells. She gave me some to try and I have to say I am hooked on it now!) you can get lots of different looks from the same imgages, so the choices are limitless!

Mine are done with using some added millinery flowers, crystals, pages from an old book, then crackle or paper glazes for texture.  On this one, I outlined the details in a shimmering ink (shows up better in person) and then used paper glaze over the central design, rubbed the edges with a walnut ink pad and glued down crystals to the pattern of the paper. 

This one wasn't much more complicated, I layered the different papers I had printed out from the wallpaper background collection, then added a page from an old French book, inked the edges, glued them down, and cut a bird out of one of the collections. 

She is nesting in the scraps from cutting out the French book page, and is accented with crystals and a couple old buttons.

I'll get more examples made up, and also some panels made so I can swap too!

What I am trying to show you with these, is that you can do a lot of different styles with these 3 collections Vintage Workshop is providing for us (We get to play with her fun papers for FREE! YAY, Amy!)

Amy is also supplying us with PRIZES!  We'll have a drawing from all of the entrants in the swap and 6 will get gift certificates to download more images to create with.

Vintage Workshop sells these purses to embellish, and I got a few to foof up with the printable fabric, sticky back paper.

One, I will give as a drawing prize for the swappers, and the other will be  a drawing prize for all the kind people who are making a card for my Aunt Caroline's 100th birthday.

These clutches are so fun to make, I made up the 2 of them, with the fronts and backs different.

I lined the bottom with a wide velvet ribbon in the best shade of faded pink on both of them, and added some old rhinestone buttons, millinery flowers and crystals.

Beth will make a prize too. And knowing me, I will make more. I like to give presents!

Exact details of the swap will be added later. Beth has it all written up and ready to go, and sign ups will be on her blog.

So, I hope we get a lot of sign ups! This will be a pretty swap, who doesn't love Birds and Bonnets?

And I want to thank all of you who have offered to make a card for my great Aunt Caroline's 100th birthday. 

I have 68 so far, am almost to 100, so could use a few more people to surprise her with 100 cards.

I will be showing the cards on my blog as they come in, so we can all enjoy them, and will draw a name from the 100 people who help me out and send one a Vintage Workshop clutch.

Here is the flickr site if you want to post a photo of a card you have made:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/679216@N25/

Comments

[jessi nagy]

so fun!!!
i checked on beths blog, i did'nt see anything yet?
ill keep checking!!!
oxooxxo,
jessi

[Mahala]

Sounds fun!

[Samantha]

This sounds fun, Karla. I'll have to run over and sign up. Please add me to the Birthday Card list...I'd love to make one. And WOW is she ever gorgeous!

[Kathy]

I'd be more than happy to be added to the birthday card list!

Andre's!!! Wow, my mouth is watering just THINKING about that place. It's the best bakery in the world! I had my wedding cake made there. Wish I was closer....

Kathy

[Lili M.]

Sounds like fun, I'm going to check Beth's blog.
Next time i'll make a blogpost I'll mention your aunts 100ths birthday and hope that some of my dutch blogfriends will join. Have a nice weekend!

[hoganfe handbags]

Absolutely gorgeous work Karla!!

xo
mary

[Paige]

So creative!

[Lori]

that sounds like a lot of fun Karla, but i am not signing up for any swaps for a while...when i am in the middle of them i just can't seem to create like i want to...i really hope you get more girls to sign up for the card for your great aunt...did you post this on flickr by any chance, i think that would be a good place to advertise.

[Shawn]

Love all your creations and I'll be sending off our cards on Monday! Waiting for signups that sounds really fun!

[Karen Young]

Karla, what fun, I look forward to the swap it sounds wonderful. Loved your samples.

Karen

[karen]

Making cards is one of my favorite things to do. I would love to participate in your 100 Birthday card list. Karen

[Ele at A bit of Pink Heaven]

This sounds like a great swap. You two are the divas of swapland!

[Kathie]

I love those purses. I bet they could get addicting!

Kathie

[Making it lovely]

Absolutely beautiful creations you have made!
Have a good week.

[Rachael]

Great post Karla, you and Beth make up very innovative swaps:) Rachael

[Louise]

I will be happy to make a card for your grandmother....
wow, 100 that is amazing..

What Lovely things you have made....

Louise

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I would love to make your aunt a card, Karla. That swap sounds fun. I can't wait to use that wallpaper. Your collages turned out beautiful!

[Cindy]

I signed up for the Birds and Bonnets swap over at Beth's. Your draw out looks like it was great fun! I would LOVE to go to Curious Sofa. Also, yes, I would love to do a card for your Aunt. Do we just send to you?

c

[Paula Kay]

I am sending you a card for Aunt Caroline. What an amazing birthday she will celebrate!! I visited with a couple other cousins of ours.. so six of us are wishing her a birthday wish in our card!! Enjoy!

[corina]

Dear Karla, I think I have a perfect card for your aunt, a textile card if you agree (you can see it here:
http://360.yahoo.com/corina_jansen)
Just let me know where to send it.

[carlene]

Looks like you've been having a blast as usual! And gorgeous images from the VW! Is the pic 2 posts forward of your Aunt in front of your painting recent?

[Kirstie]

Karla, beautiful post, I've finished my first card, I'm making one extra incase you don't have enough.

Also thank you, thank you, my vintage wallpaper metal box arrived today, it is more beautiful than the photo you had posted, I think I've looked at it a millon times, major eyyyee caanndy! and thank you soooo much for that extra vintage wallpaper too!

Hugs
Kirstie

[Julie (Fab.)]

OOh I love the Curious Sofa blog and Vintage Workshop! I wish I had time for this swap right now..I will have to MAKE some time in the future because this looks like so much fun.

Best Wishes,
Julie