Alpha Stamp/Tallulah's Swap: Shannon Sawyer

From Shannon Sawyer in Gold Canyon, AZ we have received TWO sets of 5 very creative postcards. Shannon wrote to say she was not really sure about her first set of postcards, so she made another . . . and then decided to send both! Well, as I told Shannon, I am quite impressed with both sets she created. This goes to show you how you can doubt your own work -only to find out later you may have been too hard on yourself!

Shannon sent her swaps in a richly painted padded envelope and enclosed a handmade card and a 1/1 special edition ATC as a gift; MUCH appreciated -thank you Shannon! As always, click on any scan for more detail.

The first 2 cards here use collage images from Tallulah's Beauty Queens and rubber stamp images from Alpha Stamps Pen & Ink Clear Stamp set.

Shannon's card & ATC for me:



Just wonderful!
You can see more of Shannon's art in the Alpha Stamps Gallery. I love this Harlequin piece she created especially for Alpha Stamps.

Alpha Stamp/Tallulah's Swap: Gayle Gross

Gayle Gross from NJ has sent in 4 postcards/flat cards and one folded card. I love the way she created the backs of her flat cards; just beautiful.

Clicking on these scans will open them in a new window, much larger.

Gayle used a variety of collage items, images from the Kisses collage sheet, Bathing Beauties and Modern Romance - all Tallulah's images by Alpha Stamps.

I love this postcard below, Gayle!! Thank you for your lovely hostess gifts as well. Lenna

Alpha Stamp/Tallulah's Swap: Janice Perkin

From Janice Perkin in the UK, we have 4 yummy fabric postcards and one beautiful card using the Alpha Stamps Tallulah's images . . . . please enjoy.


Thank you for the beautiful piece of lace you sent, Janice!

Click on any scan for more detail.
Some of the swap postcards coming in have plain backs - ready to be addressed and used. Other postcards have decorated backs with the artist's info included there. EITHER way is fine!

Alpha Stamp/Tallulah's Swap: Caroline Ouzts Hay

From Caroline Hay in MS, we have a variety a beautiful cards created from Tallulah's Pierrot collage sheet. Click on any scan for more detail.

Caroline included a special ATC for me as a gift - thank you!
Visit Caroline's own blog for more on her art -once there, scroll down to March 5th for more on how she created these lovely cards.

March 8 update

Most everyone who visits this blog knows I have been out of town visiting my parents, but just in case, I wanted you to know I will be home late on Monday night and will catch up with our swaps as soon as I can . . . especially with any packages that have come in while I've been gone. There is a bit more about my absense on my art blog if you are interested! Please contact me with any questions: lenna at creativelenna dot com
Thanks, Lenna

Creative Bag Swap Congratulations!

I have great news! All of the creative bags for our swap have been packaged up and were MAILED today, phew! I forgot that it is always a little bit of a challenge to package such varied types of items . . . . but was it worth it? Yes! I hope you all enjoy the swaps I made for you and you like what you receive as I tried to pair you with someone who's art & creativity I thought you would enjoy. This time, whomever you received a creative bag from, has your bag. It was an equal swap 1 for 1 with no switching around to make things work out. Too cool!

Speaking of CREATIVITY, I have a First & Second Prize to award two participants in this swap. Was this hard to do? YES!! There were so many really creative bags . . . you all did fantastic. The 1st prize for the most creative bag is awarded to Catherine van der Hoeff from the Netherlands. YAY!
I had some ideas of a winner before Catherine's bag arrived, but when it did I knew hers was the one! The felting, beading, sequins, bells, the button fairies - oh MY! I think Catherine's bag really stands out and she really deserved first prize! ~ : ^ ) A close up of her bag is above right . . . and her prize is below. I gathered fabrics I thought she would like, a pattern for fabric bags, bits of my favorite marbled paper, and some fabric images from Alpha Stamps.







I am awarding the SECOND place runner up prize for most creative bag to Mercedes Jiménez Campuzano of Madrid, Spain!

Oh my, Mercedes bag has so much stitching and detail . . .
just beautiful! See the bag to the right.


You can read more about it in my original post or directly on Mercedes' blog . There is a translator on her blog if you do not speak Spanish! For Mercedes' prize I gathered together fabrics and lace I thought she might like; see below - click on any photo for more detail.














Congratulations to everyone on a succesful and beautifully creative swap.
I may orchestrate it, but YOU create it!
NEW SWAPS will not be announced until I return from visiting my parents in Florida; around March 12th, but there is a teaser in the sidebar to the right about what's to come.

yours, creatively, lenna

Creative Bag Swap: Catherine van der Hoeff

Sorry to be a little late in uploading our last creative bag. Here is Catherine's bag, all the way from the Netherlands; I am so glad it made it as it is such a beautiful felted bag. Catherine's note to me, enclosed with her bag, said that she put wool and silk rovings on a scarf and felted everything together. You can see some of the original scarf hanging off either side of her bag. I don't know anything about felting really, but I do love the look!

Catherine also wrote, "When I saw the little button faeries on the ARTchix site I knew I had to make some and find them a good home (. . . or garden!). " There are 2 little button fairies on Catherine's bag, click on the photo to see them better.

Now that ALL the bags are in my hands, I have made my decision on the most creative bag in this swap and a runner up, and I have a prize for both . . . even though you ALL were so creative! As I told the participants in an email, this swap was really amazing as far as creativity - thank you!

I will wait to make the announcement of the winners until ALL the bags are packaged & on their way back to you, hopefully by late tomorrow - check back here please! below, a few more photos of Catherine's felted bag . . . . . (the back and inside, below)

The alphabet beads she added spell out "PICK MORE DAISIES" : ^ )

Creative Bag Swap: Melissa Woolsey

From Melissa Woolsey in OR, A wonderful ART satchel to hold your supplies in!

This is that last bag I received in the mail on Saturday. Catherine Van der Hoff from the Netherlands sent her bag out on February 13th, and that is the one bag I am missing. Parcels to the US usually take a week to 10 days or so, and Saturday marked 9 mailing days. What I am going to do is start to swap these bags out, meaning match them up, tomorrow. I like to try to match you up with someone I think whose work you will appreciate! But if I need to, I may hold a few pieces back for a day or two to see if I can make a swap happen for Catherine. She has been in my swaps previously and has always been very conscientious. If a day or 2 go by and her package is not here, I will send the remaining ones out. I hope this is acceptable to you. I am strict about due dates but would rather bend a little in this case!!

OH! And I will award a first place and a 2nd place runner up with a prize for the most creative bags! That announce will come before all the bags are sent out!
Here are more photos of Melissa's tote, and I want to THANK YOU ALL for participating. If you click on the "creative Bags" tag you can view ALL of the bags that have come in. I would say this swap has excelled most swaps I have hosted because of the creativity displayed. Each package was like opening up a surprise, what would it be?? EACH bag was different from the next, it has been amazing! I am going to have a difficult time picking a first & second prize for most creative . . . . till then! xo lenna

Creative Bag Swap: Rena Matus

Rena dropped off this COoL cigar box purse yesterday, as she does not live far from me here in CT. Rena painted the cigar box, added hardware, decorative stamped paper and rubber stamping, beads and a red satin lining!! wow.

Thanks, Rena!!


You can click on any photo for more details.

Creative Bag Swap: Linda Garcia

Linda Garcia from New Mexico came up with a fabulous idea to Rubber Stamp 2 purchased bags with permanent ink for our swap. They reflect her love of the Southwest, where she resides. I think this was such a great idea!

She has stamped both sides of this bag.

Here is her second bag . . . .

AND, she decorated a bag for me with 2 ATCs and a cute little Gecko all decorated with wire & paint!! Click on it to see it better. . . Awesome, Linda, Thank you!!

Creative Bag Swap: Judy Bernard

From Judy Bernard in LA, another creative bag! I believe Judy crocheted this bag . . . or maybe she knit it? I am not sure. Judy will have to clue us in! (check out the comments!)



Click on the photo to see more details of the great bag Judy made. I love the additions of beads & buttons . . . and the clear handle is fab! Thanks, Judy!

Creative Bag Swap: Cynthia Weed

From the creative Miz Cynthia Weed in WY, we have a delicious Cowgirl Bag! I love the green checker paper bag Cynthia placed her bag in. It greets the receiver of the bag with these words: Best Wishes from Cynthia Weed - A School Teacher in Wyoming : ^ )

Here are a few more photos, please click on them for details. The back of Cynthia's bag is loaded with "Cowgirl Wisdom" and you can just about read it when you enlarge the photo, plus then you can see that Cynthia put a lot of work into this beautiful bag.

Very cool! Thanks so much Miz Weed!

Creative Bag Swap: Melinda Fulkerson

From Melinda Fulkerson in GA, we have an elegant quilted evening bag with a snap closure. Melinda slipped a card inside the bag that said, "Quilting by Melinda" Long Arm Machine Quilting . . . this bag is so beautiful! The stitches Melinda used are amazing. Thanks very much for participating in this swap Melinda!!

Creative Bag Swap: Cathy Johnson

From Cathy Johnson in Texas, a bright & beautiful Quilted bag! Visit Cathy's blog, Altered Fabrications to read more about her bag. Thank you, Cathy. So glad you joined this swap!



A close up is below -click on any photo for more details.

Creative Bag Swap: Heather Alwaisi

Heather Alwaisi in Coon Rapids MN has sent in this hand knitted bag she created just for our swap!

It's so lovely! The yarn is nice & thick so the bag is sturdy. Here is another shot of it, sitting on my desk; click on any photo for more detail. Thanks so much, Heather!