Etsy Goodies

Once again, I got very little done today. Sugarwings and I snuck out for lunch and a trip to the nature center to look at snakes and fishies.

Before I left, I did make a few tags, I wanted to try something new, I kind of made a big collage sheet, glued tags to the back of it and cut them out, so that they were parts of a crazy quilt type pattern.

The first step was to print my Vintage Workshop images for the swap Beth and I are co-hosting, after editing them in sepia tones.

Since I use an ink jet printer, I always spray my copies with matt finish clear coat before I work with them, so the ink doesn’t run.

I made multiple copies of the same images in various sizes and cut off the white edges so they wouldn’t show in the collage.

Here is my collage sheet, everything is glued to one of the wallpaper patterns printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.

And if you think my odd collection of tags that I glued to the back is kind of unusual, you are right.

I save all tags that come on stuff I buy, and cover them in paper.  Yep, there is a tag from a garden trowel, a file box, and a pair of jeans, among typical shipping tags.

After they are glued into place, I cut around them with an exacto knife.

This was a pretty quick process, I did a whole passel of tags in one swoop!

After cutting them out, I darkened the edges with  a walnut ink pad, and started to embellish the tags with millinery flowers, crystals, velvet ribbons, jewels,  and some complimentary wallpaper.

Beth had shown me some brown and blue things she was working on and I loved it so much, I wanted to try to keep my palette simple, with just these colors too.

This one is done with the same collections of images, but printed in color instead of sepia. I’ve really had a good time with the printer and changing settings to try new tricks.

If you want to play with Vintage Workshop images too, you can join our swap.  Everyone gets the pictures from the 3 collections we are working with for the Birds and Bonnets screes, plus one free download of your choice for signing up!

Did I mention there were also lots of prizes? I’ll be giving out some of these tags, there are purses, and gift certificates, and who knows what all we’ll be giving away.  We like presents!

Join up fast, the clock is ticking!!

Here is what the backs of the tags look like.  Some were done with the left over patch work pieces cut to fit, others are of a single pattern. Mostly, I was using what ever scraps were on the table.

The blue velvet is from the bow on an old hat.

I stopped to visit a friend’s shop today after taking the fairy grand baby home, and look at the goodies I found!  For $24 I bought these photos, 4 rolls of old ribbon, and a bagful of blooms!

And these are perfect blossoms, I love working with the tiny ones.

Since I had way too much ribbon (well, honestly I have to admit that it does happen, I keep buying more than I will ever use!)- I made up some packets of it to sell on Etsy.

I listed 5 of them, if you are interested.

I made one more stop at an antique shop where I had a fascinating discussion about flocked wallpaper with the store owner. He thinks he knows where he can score some for me.

I feel like an addict with a new dealer.

He sold me this grab bag of jewels for $12, as a "taste".  I’ll be going back, I can’t stop myself. 

  Yesterday’s post was my 300th and I didn’t even realize it! Blogging has become such an everyday part of my life, I don’t even notice the landmarks anymore. 

Another landmark coming up for me is my 50th birthday. I am throwing myself a party, but have no details yet.  I should have planned it sooner.

It will be a hectic week, I have to pick my husband up at the airport, go to the best flea market in the area,  participate in an art show, have a family birthday celebration and throw a big party for myself too.

I’ve been making calls to various places to figure out where I want to have the party, because I just don’t think I want to try to fit in cleaning my house to the rest of that schedule.

I’d like to do something special and unique, but the fact that I forgot to plan anything till 2 weeks before, kind of puts a dent into that idea.

Here are some suggestions from Beth for the event. Do you have any ideas?

Ps- most of these are private jokes, that probably won’t even make any sense to you, but hey, it is my birthday and they entertained me, so I am showing them!!!

• Chuck E Cheese
• Skateland
• Cruise the Kaw
• Rent Saturday Night Fever
• Build a Bear party at the mall
• Dairy Queen
• Rent a red convertible
• BBQ party catered by Vermont St BBQ
• kegger & a bonfire
• grown up sophisticated cocktail party
• party with ballon animal man
• rent a stretch hummer and party while cruising the Flint Hills
• antiquing in Texas
• OK, antiquing in Sparks
• all you can eat desserts at Andres
• call yourself queen for a day and make everyone curtsy before you
• glamour shots
• paint ball party
• Outward Bound experience (don’t invite me!)
• ask Padma and Tom if the Top Chef crew can cater your party
• fly to Paris on the Concorde
• change your name to Karkie
• ok, just change your blog name to Karkie
• rent an inflatable bounce house for a party
• do whatever Oprah did- I think she devoted a whole magazine to it
• have a party and make everyone wear bunny ears
• put you business card in 500 helium balloons with a message that tells the finders that if they comment on your blog, you’ll enter there name in a drawing
• start training for a triathlon
• rent a chocolate fountain
• paint your house pink
• OK, just help your friend paint her booth
• square dancing party in your barn—oops, too late
• snipe all the good wallpaper auctions ending about 10 days before your birthday, so you get a butt load of wallpaper on your birthday
• Weiner roast with marshmallows