Valentine Ornament Swap!

Wow! All the valentine ornaments came in on time, were swapped this weekend, and I sent out 32 packages this morning -- now I need a nap!!
: ^ ) It was well worth all the work; thank you for a fabulous swap. Thanks also to Casie Metcalf of Vintage Image Madness for providing romantic goodies for all the participants. Enjoy the slide show below!

Valentine Ornament Swap is all in!

All of the swap pieces have arrived and they ALL have been uploaded to our swaps blog - WOW! It is a good thing Steven & I put up a very large mailbox upon moving here last fall, as it has literally been stuffed with packages lately! I need to make a card of thanks (perhaps a Valentine?) for my mail carrier Barbara, as she has been working extra hard this week.

But first I want to thank all of the valentine ornament participants, and also thanks to those who visit & leave comments; much appreciated! I will start a swap list tonight and if all goes well, swap everything out tomorrow so I can mail out to you on Monday. Fingers crossed : ))

Valentine Ornament Swap: Casie Metcalf

Last, but certainly not least, here are Casie Metcalf's Valentine Ornaments all the way from Maine! Casie did a beautiful job creating pendant ornaments with images from downloadable sheets like Wedded Bliss -available from her very own online company called: Vintage Image Madness. You can read more about the company and their downloadable sheets here on this page.

I worked with Vintage Image Madness collage images recently to create a calendar page as part of a collaborative project organized by Casie. I was given the month of February! You can see all the months and read more about the calendar here - so exciting!

When Casie signed up for the Valentine Ornament swap, she asked me if Vintage Image Madness could sponsor the swap by providing a goodie pack to go along with your swaps. Of course I said yes! Below is a peek at what you will be receiving as well as a close up view of one of Casie's beautiful pendant ornaments. Thanks so much, Casie!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Vicky Martindale

From a long-time swap participant of mine, Vicky Martindale in Michigan, we have 3 awesome ATC Valentine ornaments plus an extra one for me - thank you! Vicky used embossed felt and images from the new Valentine Bird Hearts sheet found here at Alpha Stamps.

I recently ordered this sheet (designed by Amber Gibbs) and was glad to see how Vicky used it, as I have not made time to play around with mine yet! I simply loved Amber's images -very cool. You can see all of Vicky's ornaments that she sent in, below -of course, click on the smaller thumbnail for a larger view.

Valentine Ornament Swap: Melissa Woolsey

Melissa Woolsey from Oregon sent in 3 handmade and hand stamped fabric ornaments for our swap, thank you : ) Along with a couple of other packages, they made it here just in time -yippee! It looks like Melissa used a few coulors of Lumiere paint along with black fabric paint to stamp some plain fabric, and then she paired it with peacock fabric and pink velvet ribbon to create her ornaments. There is a close-up of the really nice fabric stamping Melissa did to the right, and another of ALL of the ornaments Melissa made, below. As always, click on any photo for more detail. : )

happy valentine's . . .

I took this photo of my office window last night when we were having an icy rain storm here in Connecticut . . . this is just one of the places I am decorating with your 'extras' - thanks so much!

The mail will be here soon, and today is the final day for me to receive. I'll scan the last pieces, upload them, close the door to keep the kittens out & start swapping!! : )) lenna

Valentine Ornament Swap: Bella Ayers

From Miz Bella Ayers, who is our Alpha Stamps Design Team Coordinator extraordinaire, in Georgia, we have the most adorable little felt valentine doll ornaments. These just make me smile! I love the little bags she wrapped them in, too! Click on the picture --The ornament/doll on the right has cutest little pewter arms. You can find them, along with lots of other cool charms for dolls on this page at Alpha Stamps.

~Here are some more pics:

Thank You Miz Bella!!!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Linda Schultz

Wow! My swap participants never cease to amaze me with their creativity. Look at the beautiful Valentine Ornaments my friend Linda Schultz from Pennsylvania sent in. So cool! Linda was able to make 4 ornaments, so I'll get to choose one for myself and swap the other three. Making an extra swap piece for me is not a requirement!! If you have time, please do, I love it! Or you can enclose a tiny gift instead if you like. Something like collage papers or whatever you think I might like : ) why? Hosting swaps is a lot of work, huge sometimes. Although, I LIKE the work, it has many rewards, I am a good match for the job, and at this time in my life - I have the TIME to do it, so I do. Any hostess gifts sent in are appreciated, but please understand, they are not a requirement. I really understand if you can't. If you are scrambling just to create the swap pieces do not worry!

Back to Linda's ornaments, please see the scan below to view ALL of these gems. Don't you love the beautiful tags she created to showcase them? ENjoy & keep your fingers crossed - you could be receiving one!

Sometimes people wonder or ask me HOW I choose who receives what - when I swap out. I probably vary how I physically arrange it each time I do it, but I typically start with a list on paper before I actually swap them. The one thing that always is true is that I look at the artwork that you send in as a participant and I try to trade your work with the work of someone I think you will like/love or at least appreciate! I cannot always "trade" - my piece for Mary's & Mary's piece for mine - because sometimes the swapping does not work out evenly & I have to do a few more trades . . . but I try my best and believe I succeed most all the time as I have many participants write me, thanking me and telling me how much they love their swaps or how I sent them what they were secretly wishing for.

Let's hope I have continued good luck with my methods!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Lori Guerin

From NY, Lori Guerin sends in her first attempt (? wow!) at needle-felting. Boy, am I am impressed! These little hearts are beautiful. thanks so much for the extra one as a hostess gift!
I am feeling quite happy (and romantic) with all these extra valentines hanging in windows and doorknobs - and in more than one room!

If you click on the photo I took you will be able to see more detail of Lori's handiwork . . . and I had to be quick and re-pack them back in their envelope as my 'helpers' seemed very interested in Lori's ornaments : )
This is my kitten, Star (the devilish one!)

Valentine Ornament Swap: Cynthia May

Cynthia May in California sent in a set of 3 cool ATC hanging Valentine ornaments, plus and extra one for me - Thank you!!

She used a variety of papers, images & transparencies, plus a dimensional flower.

Below are all of Cynthia's ornaments - as always, click on the image for a bigger picture. I love the teeny tiny hearts . . . thanks for participating, Cynthia!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Val Duncan

From Val Duncan, down under in Australia, we have received 2 sets of 3 fabric & fiber valentine ornaments - and one extra for me! If you click on this scan you will get a great view of how Val used fibers to create very tactile ornaments!

Below you can see all of the ornaments Val created.

I love quotes, so I am very partial to the back of the ornaments -- thanks Val, for participating all the way from Australia!!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Linda Garcia

wow!

From Linda Garcia in New Mexico -- two sets of 3 'red hot' Southwestern Valentine ornaments! Linda also made an extra one for me, thanks so much! Click on these scans for more detail and see how Linda tooled these hearts. Very original!







All of Linda's ornaments, front & back scanned here:

Valentine Ornament Swap: Carol Murphy

This is a close-up scan of one of Carol Murphy's valentine ornaments for our swap ~ wowser! So beautiful! Carol hails from California and is a mixed-media friend of mine & fellow instructor at joggles.com! Carol used beautiful images from her own Altered by Design sheets - you can find these at joggles too. She also used UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) for the coated/crackly look. So wonderful, thank you Carol.

Click on any photo for a larger picture. Directly below are the 3 ornaments Carol created for our swap:














Carol created this blue one especially for me . . . amazingly beautiful, isn't it?? I feel very lucky!



And lastly, a close up below to show more of the detail of Carol's ornaments -wow!

Well, I have uploaded a lot of files lately and the valentine swap is winding down with just a few more days to go. I am just waiting for about 5-9 more packages and will be enlisting the kittens help to sort and swap soon - NOT! (I close the door!)
They also help me with laundry a lot . . . as you can see below!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Michele Witchell

Michele Witchell in WI has sent in a set of 3 lovely & romantic paper and button valentine ornaments - look right and click on the image for a close-up view!

And below, you can see all of Michelle's ornaments. I turned them to fit my scanner bed! Thank you Michelle for participating. I love the old ledger sheets that you incorporated. : )

Valentine Ornament Swap: Victoria Talcott Wormell

From Victoria in CT -- 2 sets of 3, plus 1 extra for me!

Victoria has created the most beautiful little valentine ornaments!



Here you can see both the front and the back of her ornaments - click on any picture for more detail.

I just love these ornaments!





This is a close up of the back of the one I chose for myself. The front you can see below; it's the one with the man & woman together - I just couldn't resist! Thank you so much, Victoria! The remaining 6 will be traded away after the mail comes on Saturday. I am only waiting for about 9 packages now & for about half of them I have heard that they are on their way!!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Sara Davis

Isn't this just so imanginative? Sara from W. Virginia has made 3 valentine ornaments you can wear!! I also love the little "moo" cards Sara added to each knitted pin. I know you can get these made through flickr (free photo sharing account) but I have also started to see swaps of hand-made moo cards. They are a fun alternative to a business card & great for including your info on your swap pieces.

I think I will have to consider some sort of hand-made "moo" card swap!!

Thanks Sara, for your wonderful addition. You can click on any picture for more detail!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Pam Chasen

From Pamela Chasen in Montreal, Canada . . . .
3 valentine ornaments for the swap and one for me, all made with LoVe, LoVE, Love! I have a close-up here so you can see Pam's wonderful stitching and below, a scan of ALL of her ornaments. As always, clicking on the image will give you more detail!

thank you, pam.

Valentine Ornament Swap: Nicole Ingegneri

From Nicole in Virginia, I have received 2 sets (of 3) very cool and creative valentine ornaments (a close-up).

It never ceases to amaze me -- all of the ideas people come up with when I leave some room for interpretation and creativity in my swaps. This is one of the best rewards for me personally, in hosting. I am sure you get a lot out of seeing all of the pieces too!

Anyway, above is a close-up of the felt & doll face ornaments that Nicole came up with. I did get an email from Nicole - she was concerned and wondering, hoping that her ornaments were up to snuff?? I assured her they were! I know it can be intimidating to see all the creative work that is produced for these swaps, and it might make you nervous. It is understandable, because I am happy to say as we have some very wonderful and talented participants here. But I can tell you from my own experience, that if you put a little effort in to your work and do your best, think about what you are doing a bit, you are going to be just fine!!! No worries . . . and now, enough lecturing - you can view ALL of Nicole's valentine ornaments below.

Thank you, Nicole!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Kitty Mitchell

I had a big smile on my face when I pulled Kitty Mitchell's ornaments out of their envelope . . . she made wooden door hangers as ornaments for our swap - I just love it! Click on the photo for more detail. Thank you so much for participating, Kitty!

Valentine Ornament Swap: Cynthia Weed

From Cynthia Weed in Wyoming we have 2 sets of 3 - wonderfuly whimsical, yet very pretty and almost old fashioned ornaments. I love the kite-like tail she has added to each one.



Thankyou Cynthia, for the hostess gift of very cool ephemera too!

note: "Just a little piece of my heart" . . . I love this, Cynthia! You have me singing Janis Joplin now . . . (grin)