Art House Co-Op 4" by 6" Swap

Here's my art that is going off to the Art House Co-op in Brooklyn to be swapped. I'll get a 4″x6″ piece made by somebody else in return. It could be anyone from anywhere else in the world. I can't wait to see what I get.

Circus Collage

I had my husband cut some 4" by 4" wooden blocks for me so I could collage on them. I love the colors on this elephant act image from a collage sheet from Alpha Stamps, so I mixed up some yellow paint to match and then painted the block. The ringmaster is from a different collage sheet, also from AS. This is pretty much self explanatory if you look at it: layers of paper, some Mod Podge, and some sequined stars.

Voila! The Big Top!

Challenge Swap

I just completed a swap with my friend Lora (cackle) on Craftster. We decided we'd each make each other an altered Altoid tin and an altered matchbook. First, we each sent each other a small box of supplies for use in the projects. Then, we decided on a theme, which was the quote: "It was here that she kept her stories".

Here's what I made for her (thanks to her for supplying the photos; my memory card malfunctioned and deleted the photos I took before I sent):

This is my first rusty tin. To get the finish on it, I sanded it down, and then soaked it in a solution of 2 parts bleach to 1 part vinegar. If you ever do this, do it outside. It's toxic!

The stand is from a set of wooden blocks I found at a thrift store last summer. The bottom opens up and I stuck a secret fortune in there. It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but there's a bird flying in front of the tree. He's escaped from his cage and will soon have stories of his own.

The matchbox has a really beautiful dragonfly button that Lora sent me. It was the inspiration for the rest of the box. There's an old brass bell and some charms hanging from the bottom. Here's the interior:

Here's what Lora sent me. She's so danged talented! The matchbox:

And my absolute favorite, the tin. I can't even express how much I love this, mostly for what she did with one of the clown heads I sent her. Look how amazing it is:

Thanks so much, Lora! It's always a pleasure swapping with you.

Display

I seem to be in the middle of all kinds of projects lately, so I currently have no new art to post. I sent out a couple of swap items yesterday, though, so I can show them in a day or two after my partner receives them.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd share this silverware tray, which is hanging on the wall in my studio. I love things with cubbies, so I was excited to spot this tray at a flea market. I love how beat up it is, the graphics on the side, and the fact that it's red, which I knew would look great with my turquoise walls. Right now it's filled with vintage blocks I've picked up here and there, but I tend to keep changing it up and putting different things in it. It's a great little display case.

Here it is from the side, so you can see those awesome graphics:

I really like hanging interesting, unexpected things in my studio. I find myself wishing I had more wall space.

Out of Season: Witchy Shrine

I know it's almost spring, but I had started this shrine before I moved my craft room, and I finally unearthed it and just had to finish it up.

I started with a masonite shrine from Alpha Stamps. I painted all the pieces of the shrine black, with the exception of the spiderweb, which is a metallic silver that is impossible to photograph nicely. I also gave the web a bit of glitter. The top part is decorated with a number cut from a vintage bingo card, and five matchsticks. The red striking part of the matchstick heads didn't quite match, so I painted them all orange.

 

I added a vintage looking image of a witch, a skull bead, and a stack of seed pods that look exactly like tiny pumpkins. 

 Here's the back. If you look very closely, you may be able to see the red hourglass painted on the little spider, making it a black widow. Beware!