April ATCs, an Update on The Necklace Round Robin and The Bead Soup Party Is Back

UK Handmade April 2010 ATCs themed: SONGS are winging their way to or have already arrived at their intended recipients see some of the cards here at the flickr groups page. I received mine last week but I was waiting for my recipient to receive mine before I posted about them both.

Here is mine:

April 2010 ATC: Songs - Titled GOLDEN

Jill Scott - Golden

It was inspired by one of my favourite recording artist Jill Scott, the song is titled Golden, this song always lifts my spirits and reminds me to believe in myself.

It was sent to Jane of Hooked Yarn.

I made it with upcycled cereal box card which I cut to size and then wrote the words with fabric puff paint. When the paint was dry I activated it with a heat gun.

I then applied the gold leaf sizing adhesive to the entire front of the card and the puffed painted words.

Once the adhesive was tacky to touch I applied the gold leaf sheets (using a soft paint brush to manipulate it into all the nooks and crannies). I repeated the sizing and leaf application steps till I acquired the look and coverage I was after.
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Now on to the ATC that was sent to me.

The ATC was made and sent to me by Lesley Purcell and it represents the song titled 'I Like Birds' by Eels you can visit her blog: Wild Things to learn more about her beautifully created art and wearable art pieces which are inspired by nature.

And here is the cool ATC I was lucky to receive:
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She explained in her note that besides being a big bird fan and a fan of the group's whose music she represented. The painting of the House Sparrow is one she took a picture of when it fed on the crumbs of a sandwich she was eating, I think her talent for detail is phenomenal. The added embroidery touches adds a certain whimsy to the piece as well.

At the back of the card if you just look past the vellum type paper which she has hand written her details, you can just about make out the collage of birds, rockets and other items, I thought this was a cool touch and completed the card beautifully.

Thanks Lesley for taking part in the swap and for sending me such an enchanting card.

Now for a quick update to the Necklace Round robin I am taking part in which I blogged about here.

Feel free to visit Victoria's Blog to read an update on Jane's piece, I am waiting on tender hooks to find out what has been added to mine.

The Bead Soup Party is back for it's second run and I'll be taking part in it again.

Sorry for mentioning it so late in the game but you still have two days left to sign up, so do so if you would like to play along.

I would also like to explain why the Blogshop hasn't been updated with new stock on Monday like I promised it would have been done. My home was inundated with illness last week which certainly put a spanner in the works, you can read up more on that story in this updated post of my gardening blog.

Blogshop: http://kellascreativewishes.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.storenvy.com/CreativeWishes
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CreativeWishes
My Gardening Exploits: http://kellasvegeplotandothermusings.blogspot.com/

How Come No One Told Me - Winning Stuff Is Fun

I swear I have never been lucky at carnival games, raffles or any games of chance really but since I started entering blog giveaways my luck has changed immensely.
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Already for the year I have won four giveaway prizes, two I have blogged about here and the second one I blogged about here & here.
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The other two are the newest ones which I'll share with you now.
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First I took part as an international entry for a bead grab giveaway hosted by the fabulously gifted artbead creator HumbleBeads.

Thanks Heather

The beads arrived yesterday aren't they fab, receiving these are extra special because my wallet doesn't allow me the opportunity to really use designer produced artbeads at this time and so I am really looking forward to incorporating them into my designs. If you want a piece of her magic in your designs too, then visit her shop to see what goodies she has available.
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The most recent was the blog candy blogoversary giveaway from Devotion To the Dream Blog.

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Thanks Emma

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I had taken photos of my giveaway prize when I received it but blow I can't seem to locate them anywhere on my computer, so I have used Emma's photo (hope she doesn't mind) to show you what I received.

• Beautifully double tip felt markers.
• Vintage buttons.
• Paper and felt flowers.
• Gems.
• Vintage ribbon.
• A tag making kit.
• A collection of rubber stamps.
• And some inspirational word stickers.

This package has been a welcome injection to my paper crafting supplies, so watch out for some new paper crafted products in my Blogshop in the future.

Besides blog giveaways I also truly enjoy receiving blog awards, they are extra special because it means I am not talking to myself but that what I write about is actually being enjoyed by others. I appreciate and enjoy reading all the comments that are left by those of you who do leave them (its like getting a piece of cake with a cup of tea, so please feel free to leave me LOTS comments :)

Well a blog award is like the icing upon the cake (I am not trying to canvas awards I'm just explaining how it feels to receive one). They always come as a surprise and always add a bit of feel good factor to my day.

Here is the first craft related award I have ever received and it is the first I have received for this blog as well , so thank you Fabi of the blog Con Tus Manos, please check out her blog and her Etsy shop. Her polymer clay creations are out of this world and she is equally talented in other mediums as well.
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Roughly translates to: Award Friend Craftsman.

The rules attached to the acceptance of this award is to link back to the person who gave you the blog and then pass it on to five other creative bloggers. Now I follow a lot of crafting bloggers and would love to pass this blog on to all but I'll just pick five as specified plus a cheeky one more ;)

• Maureen of Crafts and Recipes from Allotment Heaven.
• Shannon of Missficklemedia.com.
• Ali of Hooked!!
• Marie of maridodd.
• Jane of The Seventh Magpie
• Eve of Eve's House.

Now there is no obligation to receive it, I just wanted to let you know I'm inspired by your craftiness and creations.

So that is just a little bit about what has helped to add sunshine to my life over the last few weeks. Thanks for reading and I'll catch you all soon in blog land.

PS life has been extra hectic in my life of late especially as this is the active growing season in the garden. So If you aren't hearing from me through your blog's comments, don't think I am not reading, it just means I may not have time to leave comments. I am also trying to commit to creating an item a day towards my Blogshop along with a daily bike ride, I gotta shift 11lbs, ugh!! So bear with me or with my lack of comments.

Toodles for now,

Blogshop: http://kellascreativewishes.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.storenvy.com/CreativeWishes
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CreativeWishes
My Gardening Exploits: http://kellasvegeplotandothermusings.blogspot.com/

A Cool Blog To Follow

I just stumbled upon this blog via a twitter link and I so love the idea, thought I would share it with you all.

Clicking the picture will take you to the blog.

The following info was taken from their blog's 'About Page':

• Anonymous handmade gifts for perfect strangers
  The Toy Society is a world-wide collective of toy makers – of varying skill levels– who make toys and leave them as gifts for perfect strangers.
  The project was started in Australia in June 2008 by a local crafter, Bianca, as an attempt to create a ‘something for nothing’ experience for anyone who discovered a toy.
  What started as a small personal project has now spread around the world and become known as a Random Act of Craft.
  There are more than 2500 members throughout the world who have collectively gifted more than 1200 lovingly handmade toys to perfect strangers since the project began.
  When a member leaves a toy gift it’s called a “Toy Drop” and is posted here on the blog and assigned a drop number.
  Each toy is safely sealed, with a note to the finder, inside a press seal bag – to protect from the elements. The toy is then left to be found with a tag attached inviting the finder to “Take Me Home I’m Yours”.
  Finders are invited, but not expected, to let The Toy Society know they have found a toy, and these notes are also posted here on the blog. But it’s not expected to hear back from finders; The Toy Society is about giving someone something and expecting absolutely nothing in return, which is a real rarity these days.
  Drops and finds can be tracked on the blog, either in numerical order as they are posted, or by country tags (see left column) or by themes (also see left column). The blog is maintained by a team of volunteers from around the world.
  Membership of The Toy Society is open to anyone, who wants to contribute and believes in the spirit of the project, and is easily attained by completing a brief sign up form on the blog (see left column on the main page.
  Crafters of all levels are welcome to participate – even beginners and kids.

I am really enamoured by the idea and hope to take part in this most feel good project in the future.





Blogshop: http://kellascreativewishes.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.storenvy.com/CreativeWishes
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CreativeWishesMy
Gardening Exploits: http://kellasvegeplotandothermusings.blogspot.com/

Blogshop Update

Hi Ho,

The Blogshop has been updated


Blogshop: http://kellascreativewishes.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.storenvy.com/CreativeWishes
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CreativeWishes
My Gardening Exploits: http://kellasvegeplotandothermusings.blogspot.com/