Star ornament swap is completed & sent!

Thanks to everyone who participated!! What a great swap - if I may say so myself : )
Enjoy the slide show showcasing the beautiful stars sent in for the swap, below:

Star Ornament Swap! Teri Calia - California *Winner!*

Sometimes I give prizes for the most creative entries in my art swaps, but not for every swap I announce. I did not mention that I would give a prize for this particular swap when I put the call out, but . . . . when I saw Teri Calia's "cat" Star Ornaments, I just cannot resist making a 'surprise' First Prize winner! Just look at her little "star" Kitties!

~ *I am awarding Teri Calia FIRST PRIZE for the most creative star ornaments! * ~

Teri sent me an E-mail, describing how she made these cute, cute ornaments!! --

"Per your request, here are some instructions for the blog:
I hope my ornaments are star shaped enough, because I couldn't resist making them into kitties. I was inspired by vintage chenille ornaments. They were soooo easy to make! I bent bumpy chenille stems (pipe cleaners) into star shapes. Then I cut cat heads from some Victorian scrap. I decorated the cat heads with Dresden crowns and silk ribbon and glued them onto the stars. Then I bent the bottom "points" up for feet and added a piece of Merry Christmas ribbon as a banner. I finished them off with thin wire for hanging. Thanks for hosting, Lenna! I really enjoy your swaps because they are so organized and have wonderful themes that really spark my imagination.
xo, Teri "

*I will be sending Teri a delicious assortment of collage goodies for her to have fun with, when I return her swaps to her next week : ) Visit Teri's blog: Artistic Catnip to see more of her awesome art. She is a very talented illustrator and mixed media artist.

Wow, this is last very last post of uploads from the Star Ornament swap! If I have forgotten to add a link to your own blog where you have showcased your stars - just send me an E-mail and let me know -I'll edit the post & add the address. Same if I forgot instructions.

Now, I will really get busy and work on the physical swapping out of the ornaments. Thanks for your patience, and I will keep you updated as to when the swap is complete/sent home to participants! Thanks for all your lovely comments, too ~ Lenna

Star Ornament Swap! Cynthia Zdanzukas - Connecticut

Look at these beautiful Star Ornaments from Cynthia Zdanzukas! The colors are just gorgeous and the flowers an added treat. Cynthia lives near me in CT and I can't resist quoting the note she emailed me before dropping these beauties off:

"As usual, I'm last minute and will be dropping off the stars I made today in your mail box. If I didn't live close enough to drive to Avon, I'd be in deep trouble with these deadlines, being the procrastinator that I am!



Can't wait to see all the beautiful stars - the ones we've seen already are truly unique and lovely...always the outcome in one of your swaps! Thanks as always for hosting this fun diversion from everyday mundane life!"

So sweet. Thanks ever so much, Cynthia!

Star Ornament Swap! Margaux Lashbrook - UK

The beautiful glass stars you see here are made by Margaux Lashbrook. They arrived safely in CT (and on time) all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland. It has just taken me some time to upload these last few packages.

I love these stars! Thank you, Margaux, you knew I would love them & so you made an extra one for me too : ))) -so very kind of you.

Margaux even sewed these wonderful little felt pouches to keep them cozy and safe. Awesome!

Star Ornament Swap! Lorraine Beaumont - California

Lorraine Beaumont from San Diego, California has sent in a set of five wonderful Santa themed stars for our swap! Lorraine collaged the background of her stars with patterned tissue paper before she added her Santa image. The back of each star is covered with pretty scrapbook paper.

I believe this is Lorraine's first swap with me here on creative swaps -welcome, and thanks for joining us!

(click on any photo for more details)

Star Ornament Swap! Carol Campbell - Pennsylvania

Carol Campbell from Pennsylvania has sent in a set of glittery edged stars with a polka dot background showing off a cute little girl. Each one has it's own little bell!

Thank you, Carol. So glad to have you with us! You can read more about how Carol made her ornaments on her blog, Sassafras and Lulu.

Star Ornament Swap! Betty Lou Cassidy - New Jersey

Betty Lou was so kind to write me an email when she sent her stars about how she made them . . .

"My little stars were made by embossing silver dryer duct tape (cut to fit ) inside a small paper mache' star-shaped box lid over a smaller die cut wooden star. I fine glittered the inside edges and another die cut wooden star for the back. I glued on square shisha mirrors for more sparkle. The front edge was trimmed with self-made cording strung with white pony beads that were attached at the points of the star. Finally a gold hanging cord was pushed through the top."

They are so petite and pretty! Thank you, Betty Lou!

6 new uploads for the star ornament swap!

I had a wonderful class today teaching Image Transfers (which can be tricky) that kept me busy until this afternoon. Then I took a long walk with the dogs - a beautiful day here in CT, and I am trying to do this with them daily. Then Steven called and said he had to work late, so I took advantage and ran up to my computer to upload a few more of the star ornament packages I received late last week. I have six more packages to go and will get them up soon . . . . I hope you enjoy. I feel that the ornaments that have come in are just lovely and varied -just what I like!

yours creatively, Lenna Andrews

p.s. I have 18 signed up for the Alice in Wonderland ATC swap - would love to have you join us - I am taking up to 40 participants & it is due in my hands January 24th (extended to) February 3rd, 2009.

Star Ornament Swap! Linda Schultz ~ Pennsylvania

Linda Schultz, from Pennsylvania send the most interesting "shooting stars" in for our exchange. They came all beautifully wrapped as you see here. Linda very graciously made an extra ornament for me, so I unwrapped it to see what it looked like hanging . . .


Wow!

Linda had written me an email to let me know they were on their way and told me she created these with rebar wire -something I had never heard of before! The are very interesting & beautiful. Thank you Linda!

Star Ornament Swap! Patricia Schweitzer - New York

From Patricia Schweitzer in New York, we have the cutest mouse star ornaments!

Thank you, Patricia! I am not sure what the base of the stars is made from, but they are covered with various patterned scrapbook paper, which makes a nice background for the whimsical hand-colored mice that are dancing and playing on the stars! The sequin trim is a perfect finish.

Star Ornament Swap! Linda Ritter ~ California

All the way from California - six very lovely and soft, almost puffy star ornaments, from the creative hands of Linda Ritter. Thanks very much for the extra one for me, Linda! On one side the stars are an iridescent satiny green, and the other side is the lovely pattern you see here. A photo of all of them is below.

Linda has participated in many swaps with me before, but perhaps this is her first swap through my creative swaps blog . . . you can view all of the creative swaps participants & also link to all of their swap art by finding the 'Creative Swaps Labels/Links' column in the right hand side sidebar ~ it is below the 'Blog Archive'.

Star Ornament Swap! Anne Hartman ~ Iowa

Anne Hartman, from Cedar Rapids Iowa, sent in 5 lovely papier mache star ornaments that she painted and collaged. Just beautiful! As this Anne's your first swap here, I want to welcome her to Creative Swaps. Great job! I am looking to receiving your Forest Quilties as well.

Star Ornament Swap! Cindy McMath ~ CANADA

From Cindy in Victoria, British Columbia we have a set of 5 stars plus one extra (not necessary, but appreciated!). Cindy's ornaments are painted papier mache. I love the way she did the backs and painted the red dots on the side. Thanks, Cindy!

Star Ornament Swap! Vickie Jones ~ South Dakota

Vickie Jones from Sioux Falls, SD sent in TWO sets of 5 star ornaments -plus 2 extra ones for me, thanks so much! Vickie created her stars out of felt. Some are open in the middle and have "danglies" and others are beaded with sequins.

Fantastic!

Here is a close up of one . . . (click for more detail)

update: star ornament swap

Yesterday was the deadline for all of the star ornaments to be in my hands and most everyone made it. Thanks to everyone involved for working hard and getting them to me on time! This swap seemed to all come in at the last moment this time. Each swap is different! I was away visiting my parents until Thursday late, so now there is a bit of a backlog of recording work that I need to catch up on. I had uploaded 7 participants artwork for the swap (including myself) before I left, and since then, I have done 6 more. There are still 12 more to upload ~ A total of 25 participants finished this swap, which is great! I have taken all the necessary photographs, but I need to edit, resize & then upload the photos with descriptions. My plan is to do a few each day over the next few days . . . . When I am done uploading you will also see stars from: Teri Calia, Vickie Jones, Patricia Schweitzer, Anne Hartman, Cindy McMath, Betty Lou Cassidy, Margaux Lashbrook, Cynthia Zdanzukas, Linda Ritter, Linda Schultz, Lorraine Beaumont, and Carol Campbell.

I have a 5 hr class on image transfers in my studio this Tuesday, and on Wednesday and Thursday I will be putting in a few hours at Stonewall Kitchen -here in Avon, CT. I worked there for a number of months last year, and they asked me to fill in for the Holiday Season. So -- I am a little busy this week and the actual swapping of the star ornaments may not take place until next weekend -just wanted you to know. I will try to get to it as soon as I can because I love sending them out to you. They should be leaving town by November 12th - I will keep you posted! Watch the blog for the remaining stars I need to upload. The FeedBlitz notification service (free) is a great way to keep track of anything new here!

: ) happy November, lenna

-- Lenna Andrews, Avon CT http://www.creativelenna.com/ :: http://creativelenna.blogspot.com/ http://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/ :: http://www.alittlecreativespace.com/
Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all:
This too, shall pass. -- Ann Landers

Star Ornament Swap! Sharon Walworth ~ Rhode Island

Well . . . Sharon Walworth really blew me away with her star ornaments. They have a quality about them that is so beautiful, don't you agree? Sharon used images from one of my favorite Altered by Design image sheets, called Marigold ~ which is Exclusive to Alpha Stamps. Sharon enclosed a note in her package . . . .

Hi Lenna! I really enjoyed making these stars, in part because I was able to incorporate a technique I learned at "Art is . . . 2008" last week. I took a class with Leslie Venable, where we made small altered board books. She shared lots and lots of techniques, but the one I currently love is seen on the back of my stars. I used gesso as the stamp medium just painting it on (the stamp) with a little brush. Now you probably know all about that (NO, I don't!! It sounds great, I will try it!) but it was a lightbulb moment for me!!!

~ Well, I LOVE what you have created here, Sharon. absolutely beautiful! And thanks so much for the extra ornament for me. : )) -click on the photos for more detail!

Star Ornament Swap! Liz Aitken ~ Australia

Wow! We have some really wonderful star ornaments with little working spinners that have arrived all the way from Australia, hand made by Liz Aitken. Welcome to Creative Swaps, Liz - it is great to have you with us! I love the beaded metal chains, decorative metal stars and spinners you incorporated. Thank you for participating!

Star Ornament Swap! Linda Garcia ~ New Mexico

Linda Garcia from Albuquerque, NM -has created two sets of 5 star ornaments for our swap.

Linda wrote to me in email:

Ah….my estrellas [stars]! While my sister in law is being a warrior chick, as I like to call her, with her cancer and becoming weaker each day - at least she is at home, her wish and she is as comfortable as one can be under these circumstances----I had trouble getting my “mojo” working but when I did…..the ease and solitude found in creating has helped me through these difficult days. It is this—this creativeness that helps one get through some of life’s most difficult paths. So, my estrellas gave me a light! The “estrellas” were a mix of this ‘n that… a first time for the melting pot. I always try to stretch myself on art exchanges and your exchanges bring out that spirit of sharing and giving. I wholeheartedly enjoy it. The moon faces in paper clay and other molds using the ultra thick with Jacquard paint lightly done. Previously, the adobe casas (row house swap) was my first try at polymer clay chilies and that was fun. A friend shared her techniques and made it so much easier.

Big hug mi amiga, Linda ~Tierra Encantada (Land of Enchantment)

Thank you, Linda for all your art & your support.

Star Ornament Swap! Kiki Finlayson ~ Oregon

From Salem, Oregon, come Kiki Finlayson's textural, almost dancing, stars! They are very lightweight and beautiful. Kiki so graciously sent me a lovely email explaining how she made them...

I cut the stars out of 5" squares using an Xacto knife. I coated each with gesso, touched up the edges with modeling paste, added wooden stars, buttons, and coffee cup insulators. Then I painted the stars gold, silver, and copper using acrylic paints--I painted one color as base coat, then dry-brushed the other two colors on each star. I rubber stamped some text on with StayzOn ink, then added glass seed beads and teeny glass marbles using Dimensional Magic as an adhesive. I punched holes with my giant-sized Crop-A-Dile, then threaded glass beads onto wire and made the hangers using the handle of a paint brush for "curls".

That's it! It was a fun project that evolved as I went along. I thought of them as "Dancing Stars" and that's why the "legs" and "arms" are curved as if they're moving. Thanks for doing this. It keeps me going to meet criteria and a deadline--it's good for me! And I really enjoy everyone's art work-- the world is so full of talented women (I'm sure there are talented men, too, but they have been getting their "due" for thousands of years!) And I love reading the notes from everyone as well--getting a chance to communicate individually with others who are creative makes us all less isolated in this life.
Sincerely,
Kiki Finlayson

::: I could not agree with you more, Kiki. Thanks for putting down in words!

Star Ornament Swap! Dottie Mucha ~ Connecticut

This is Dottie's 8th creative swap and she has created some marvelous star ornaments. Featured as a close-up to the right and below, is the extra ornament that she made for me, front and back -thank you!!

Dottie's stars are lightweight and dimensional; some even have trim on the side edges, which is flat. They are mostly Victorian in theme and she has collaged them beautifully!
I will see you for the image transfer class on Tuesday, Dottie : ))