Something French matchbox shrine swap

Now, silly me but I signed up to do two of these, so here is my second shrine on the theme of Something French. Having made this one along the same lines as the Burlesque one there are also two bits to it. you can't say you don't get value for money with my swaps!

I made another suitcase from a matchbox, covered in dry embossed and sanded coredinations card (love their stuff!). I added a chain around the handle, sort of a luggage tag, with an Eiffel tower and “Je t’aime” charms and lined it with vintage french fabric.


Inside the suitcase are some things to represent France – a French coin, some stamps, a little tag, a miniature Limoges pottery plate (with a picture of Carcassone), a tiny Louis Vuitton handbag, a miniature bottle of Chanel No. 5 (just glass beads), a plate of baguette, wine and cheese and a photo album with various pictures from around France. I also made a pair of clip on earrings and a keyring with fleur de lys charms. Finally there are a couple of Graphic 45 French themed stamps to play with.

Having again decided it really wasn’t very shrine like yet another matchbox was sacrificed to make a mini Paris diorama, which I hand stamped and coloured. The background was an old French scene stamp and the other bits came from a miniature paper Paris set here. The outer case of the matchbox was then decorated with an assortment of Tim Holtz French themed stamps, and a key with an old French coin at the top (how appropriate was it to find that in my stash!). There is also a tag that goes with it but idiot me forgot to take a photo (doh!).

And just for fun, I'm entering it in the Simon Says Stamp "Anything Goes" challenge blog too.

I really enjoyed making both of these and I hope you like them Pauline.

Burlesque matchbox shrine swap

I have been hosting a matchbox shrine swap over on UKScrappers. The idea is to make a little homage to your swap partner's chosen theme from a matchbox, so here is one of mine on the theme of "Burlesque".


I started making a suitcase from the matchbox, covered it in black vinyl and overstamped pouting lips in black. I lined it with stiffened red fabric stamped with leopard print in black. The chain attached to the handle has a vintage solid silver charm of can can girls dancing – there is a little lever at the back so that you can make their legs kick up and down. Not quite burlesque but so cute I couldn’t resist it.

I filled it with things a burlesque dancer might have – fans, a mirror, miniature top hat with feather (bye bye monopoly piece!), nice undies, stockings, silver topped cane, two miniature books with (tasteful) erotic prints of vintage dancers, a feathered mask, glitzy high heeled shoes, feather boa and a miniature necklace. I also made you a pair of clip on earrings and a key chain with pin up girl charms and a little heart shaped scented pillow. The clothes and pillow have been doused in perfume by Dita Von Teese for a little extra zing. Finally there are a couple of Graphic 45 stamps from one of their curtain call sets, which I thought went with the theme.


Now, having done all that I decided it didn’t really fit the brief of a matchbox shrine, hence part two of the swap. This is definitely much more like a shrine. The inside is sort of a diorama of a vintage burlesque show. The tassel hanging down is the one that was attached to the Dita perfume bottle. And finally, I added a burlesque paper doll, from curly cue design, printed onto fridge magnet paper. She does have an outfit which is removable and nothing is left to the imagination underneath. My swap partner did say risque was okay by her.


I really enjoyed making this and I hope you like it Hannah - it's on its way.

Chunky ATCs

I showed before the chunky ATC I made. Well I have not one but two back (kind of makes up for the fairy door!). My theme was Dia de Los Muertos - Mexican Day of the Dead.

Now the first one I got back if from my friend Karen. She wasn't my official swap partner but she did this one for me anyway and I love it!

Her blog is here if you would like to see more of her fab creations. Thank you so much Karen.

My second chunky ATC came from Claire at Creative Momenets. It's gorgeous and I love seeing the way two people have interpreted the theme, both different and yet both have captured the theme brilliantly. Claire's blog is here and it is full of fab lovelies.

Thank you both - I love my chunkies.

And while this isn't a chunky it did arrive in the parcel with Karen's ATC. It's a sculpture carved from a beach rock by Karen's super talented hubby Tony. I wish I was half that talented. Thank you so much Tony.

And finally, here they all are having pride of place on my mantlepiece.

Magical Fairy Door

I did this a little while ago for a swap on UKScrappers and I have been waiting for mine to arrive so that I could pop it on my blog. Well, it's been a month since I was told it was on its way so sadly I have to consider it lost. Unfortunately I can't get hold of my swap partner at the moment to even see if they took any photos. Oh well, these things happen.

Anyway, here is the door I did for my partner, Vivienne. It's modeled on the doors in Szentendre, Hungary, all old carved wood, shabby paint and stone surrounds. I took a wooden door shape (I'm not good enough to cut wood myself so I got it from ebay) and painted it to within an inch of its life and added some perfect pearls and gold rub. The flowerpots were doll house miniatures. The carving around the edge of the door was the frostyville die from Memory Box, cut from card, glued on then painted over. I also added a couple of vintage style metal bits in the centre and at the top of the door, all coloured to match. I've never done anything like this before so I'm quite pleased with the result and I hope Vivienne likes it.

Chunky ATC swap

I had great fun doing this swap over on UKS.

The theme was freedom so this is what I did. The feet are Tim Holtz memo pins and I put one in the top too to hang (Prima?) birdcage and bird and lock and key dangle charms. I also added a ribbon to this so it can be hung up (or she can cut the ribbon off if she doesn't want to do that). The wings can fold in to cover the quote or fold out. The paper is Bobunny with Tim Holtz overstamping. The quote is "caged birds sing of freedom, free birds fly". I really hope my swapee likes it - it was fun to do.

And a HUGE thank you to Karen for supplying the wood - I couldn't have done it without you.

Little Book of Secrets Swap on UKS - part 4

And here's the final one - my Day of the Dead book of secrets made by Sian (violaceous). There are much better photos on her lovely blog here but I'll share a few extra.

Beautiful book Sian. I now know that she didn't really know much on the subject before she started so that must have been pretty tough, but she rose to the challenge beautifully. I love it all. She's done so much great research too, even watching an episode of Murder She Wrote - above and beyond the call of duty I'd say! The drawers were also wonderfully filled with appropriate things - skulls, paper marigolds, candles and charms.

Thank you Sian.

Little Book of Secrets Swap on UKS - part 3

Now that I know my swap partner has received it, here is the second little book of secrets I did for Sian (Violaceous). I struggled with the book part (again) but certainly enjoyed shopping for the bits. I hope she likes the samples of space and moon dust that she has both on the cards and the necklace.

And Sian made one of mine - Mexican Day of the Dead. Now sadly I can't show you yet as I've lost my camera (again!) but there are details on her blog here (although it's even better in real life). Also, check out her CJ on Marilyn Manson here - it's just so perfect Sian.