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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Diva Days of December


I have been a member of PBS for five years now and every year (except the first) I have taken part in the Diva Days of December.  Who and What are the Diva's?  Well, we are just a group of women who enjoy reading (not necessarily the same things) that are member of PBS (see my side bar) that love to exchange gifts and chat. 

This year we are doing 7 Days of Diva (because 12 was too many and 6 wasn't enough LOL).  And I am exchanging with my very bestest friend in the whole wide world (who I suckered into PBS and into the Diva's)! 

Here are my 7 packages for Heather, I decided to indicate which day to open by putting that number of flowers on the box. 

So this is box 5.

We start opening on December 17th and I already have 4 boxes from Heather sitting next to me, one of them smells scrumptious, I half want to open it and make sure somethings not broken but she told me not too ;)

So I'll see you December 17th to share the lovely items Heather sent me.  Don't you wish you were a Diva!

Art Share ~ Susan Salyer


Today I am sharing the last of the wonderful tea pots created for Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group Alice's Tea Party Swap that I'm hosting.

This one is by Susan Salyer, don't you just love how she used the Flamingo's!  She also has tons of glittery touches throughout the piece and many different fabric textures. 


Make sure you stop by the Alpha Stamps Gallery to see all of her wonderful teapots and the other participants. 

It's so sad that this swap is over, but I have something new and fantastic up my sleeve so stay tuned and make sure to check out Alpha Stamps Yahoo Groups for upcoming swaps.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Ruby Jean's Katies Rose Cottage Giveaway Winnings


A few weeks ago I got fantastic news, that I was the winner of Ruby Jean's Katies Rose Cottage Giveaway!


And today I received my fabulous goodies and oh my are they even better than I could have imagined.



The prize was $50 worth or whatever my heart desired, well alas my heart desired everything but I controlled myself and only went slightly over the winnings.  Now I wish I had gotten more


I selected this fabulous old very rustic (which to me adds character) grain bucket and a wonderful holiday pillow.


I don't know what I'm going to put in the grain bucket yet, any suggestions would be much appreciated, but dosnt' it look lovely on the hearth (FYI I hate my fireplace, one of these days it is going to get a major overhaul).


And here is the gorgeous pillow (so wish I had ordered more of these!).

Thank you so much Ruby Jean for hosting such a fabulous giveaway and Katie Rose Cottage for making such wonderful things!  Today was better than Christmas!

Art Share ~ Sandra Hawkins-Bolliger


Today I am sharing another wonderful tea pot created for Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group Alice's Tea Party Swap that I'm hosting.

This one is by Sandra Hawkins-Bolliger and I love the bright color she used on the background, it is really eye catching and so very Alice with the bright red roses. 


Make sure you stop by the Alpha Stamps Gallery to see all of her wonderful teapots and the other participants. 

Early this morning I braved the wet and cold and took all the wonderful Swap packages to the postal office.  They are now on their way to their new homes!  I hope everyone loves what they get. 

It's so sad that this swap is over, tomorrow I will share the last featured Teapot on my blog :(  But I have something new and fantastic up my sleeve so stay tuned and make sure to check out Alpha Stamps Yahoo Groups for upcoming swaps.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Art Share ~ Nicole Harding


Today I am sharing another wonderful tea pot created for Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group Alice's Tea Party Swap that I'm hosting.
 
This fabulous creation (which I must say photographed very poorly) is by Nicole Harding.  It's entirely outlined in mini pearls and has tons of glitter throughout the image.  I just love how she has the stamped bird sitting on the hands finger.

Make sure you stop by the Alpha Stamps Gallery to see all of her wonderful teapots and the other participants. 


Today I am also swapping out all the pieces and getting them all ready for their new homes.  Look I have help, I wonder if she will make it easier or harder to swap these.  Tomorrow I mail!

Friday, November 25, 2011

You'd never know it's a Bottle Cap ~ Ornament Tutorial


It's that time of year, time for handmade ornaments and you'd never guess what this one is made out of!

Supplies:
2 Bottle Caps
Collage Images (I used Round Pendants Sheet - Christmas by Alpha Stamps)
Circular Metal finding (I used a Large Snowflake Filigree from Alpha Stamps)
Glue (quick drying, clear, and E6000)
Gold Leaf pen (or paint)
1" Round punch (or scissors)
Glitter Glue
Fibers
small gems (optional)

Step 1:
Select 2 bottle caps that are in good condition. There are a number of places you can buy these but I get them the good old fashioned way, drink the tasty contents of the bottle ;)


Paint the outside and inside edges.



Step 2:

Select your images and punch them out. 

 I decided to use some images that were a bit smaller than the bottle cap but you could also use bits and pieces of larger images or create your own.


Step 3:

Glue your images into the bottle caps.  Make sure to get all around the edges, it's okay if some of the glue squirts out, just make sure you are using a clear drying glue, I like Quick Dry Tacky Glue.



Note how my image isn't a perfect circle and that it has a white border, that's okay it will get covered up once all the steps are done.  Allow time to dry completely.


Step 4:

Add glitter and any additional jewels you desire. 


Allow time for the glitter to completely dry.  You may also want to go back and add more if you missed a spot.


Step 5:

Fill the bottle cap with a clear coat of glue.  I used Glossy Accents but I prefer Diamond Glaze (alas I can't find it where I live).


Make sure to pop any bubbles that may form and allow time to completely dry.  I did two coats.


Step 7:

Attach the bottle caps to the metal filigree.


 I attached one bottle cap and let it set before attaching the other one.  I did this to make sure that I got the bottle caps on exactly the same.


Step 8:
(optional)

Fill in the open back spaces with glitter.



Step 9:

Attach fiber to hang your ornament with.


All done!


I made a bunch of these at one time with all different images and I can't wait to hang them on the tree.  I'd love to see what you create!

Linking to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Night Special

Art Share ~ Lynn Fox


Today I am sharing another wonderful tea pot created for Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group Alice's Tea Party Swap that I'm hosting.

This lovely creation is by Lynn Fox.  When I was putting together my Tea Pots I wanted something to come shooting out of the spout just like Lynn has done but unlike Lynn I couldn't figure it out.  I just love how she has the red sprigs pouring out!


Make sure you stop by the Alpha Stamps Gallery to see all of her wonderful teapots and the other participants.  

Thursday, November 24, 2011

I am Thankful!


I just wanted to take a moment to say how thankful I am to all of you for following, reading, commenting and inspiring.  Wishing you the most wonderful Thanksgiving (or just plain ole day for you that don't celebrate) ever. 

So a toast to you!

Hugs
Caroline

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Art Share ~ Lisa Hess


Today I am sharing another wonderful tea pot created for Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group Alice's Tea Party Swap that I'm hosting.

This is one of Lisa Hess' and I was floored when I opened the package and discovered she had come up with a way to include an actual tea bag in the swap piece.


Look at all the wonderful blue highlights, it reminds me of all the lovely blue and white antique china patterns.


Yum!  French Vanilla!


And she created mini domino's for the backs.

Make sure you stop by the Alpha Stamps Gallery to see all of her wonderful teapots and the other participants.  

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose & Mermaid


I just found out that Ricky Jill of Art @ Home and Bonnie of The Boatwright Family Blog will no longer be hosting the Linky Party and I am quite heart broken about it.  I loved their format and even though I just discovered them last month I found quite a few books that I want to read because of the party.  Maybe I'll come up with something but I don't want to step on their toes.


This past month I read The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation, Bk 4) by Lauren Willig

Determined to secure another London season without assistance from her new brother-in-law, Mary Alsworthy accepts a secret assignment from Lord Vaughn on behalf of the Pink Carnation: to infiltrate the ranks of the dreaded French spy, the Black Tulip, before he and his master can stage their planned invasion of England. Every spy has a weakness, and for the Black Tulip that weakness is black-haired women-his "petals" of the Tulip. A natural at the art of seduction, Mary easily catches the attention of the French spy, but Lord Vaughn never anticipates that his own heart will be caught as well. Fighting their growing attraction, impediments from their past, and, of course, the French, Mary and Vaughn find themselves lost in the shadows of a treacherous garden of lies.

Lauren's Pink Carnation series is a blend of contemporary chick lit, historic romantic suspense and historic fiction.  It follows a group of English and French spies during the Napoleonic era (historical line) and a woman working on her dissertation (chick lit line). I'm not a huge fan of pure chick lit or of contemporary romantic suspense, but this series hits just the right balance for me.

It has been quite some time since I read the previous books in this series and it took me a bit to get into this one because for the first time the historical line picked up almost exactly where it stopped in The Deception of the Emerald Ring (See my review HERE).  So I suggest, if you do pick up this series, that you read books 3 and 4 close together (I fear I might end up saying that about book 5, but I haven't picked that one up yet). 

This book concentrated on Mary and Lord Vaughn, two characters I already formed opinions of in The Deception of the Emerald Ring.  While I enjoy having my mind changed by authors who transform their characters I think I was a bit to busy trying to remember them from The Deception of the Emerald Ring to really appreciate the characters turn around. 

For the past three books the "bad guy" has been The Black Tulip, in this book you finally discover who that is, which was good and I loved the twists behind this individuals character, what motivated them.  What I wonder now is who will be the "bad guy" in the next book. 

As always Lauren has a great way of wrapping up a story but yet leaving you hanging, I will be reading The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation, Bk 5) soon!



I also read Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

Two sheltered princesses, one wounded warrior; who will live happily ever after? — Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart....

A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. Beautifully written and compulsively readable, it will make you think twice about the fairytale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page.

I am in love with modernizations of old twisted fairy tales and the Little Mermaid is one of my favorite stories so I just had to read this and it grabbed me right off.  There is just something about Carolyn's writing style that pulls you in. 

I think the reason I love re-tellings dosn't try to glamorize her version at all, it may start off kind of sweet but it is dark and sexual and sad just like the real story (which I am going to re-read).

I'm not going to say anymore about this book because this is going to be my Read Along Book for January.  If you didn't take part in my last read along then please check it out, we read Practical Magic and had great fun!  I am right now working on setting this one up, getting all the questions and prizes together.  The official announcement will come shortly after Christmas, hope you can read along with us.



And right now I am reading Midnight Alley (Morganville Vampires, Bk 4) by Rachel Caine


Claire Danvers's college town may be run by vampires but a truce between the living and the dead made things relatively safe. For a while. Now people are turning up dead, a psycho is stalking her, and an ancient bloodsucker has proposed private mentoring. To what end, Claire will find out. And it's giving night school a whole new meaning.

There is nothing special about these books, they are just light little mysteries and I enjoy them because of that.  I also didn't want to start anything long because my fabulous sister brought me a copy of a book I have been dying to read.  So next time (and I plan on continuing to post my reviews on the 20th of the month) I will tell you all about that one.

Thanks for stopping by, please share with me what you are reading!

Breaking Dawn Part 1, Great Friends and a T-shirt design


Wow, it's amazing how much has happened since I last posted.  My best friend and my sister came to visit so we could go to the Midnight showing of Breaking Dawn.  This has become an annual thing for us, we enjoyed the books and have fun making a date out of the movies.

It was strange this time.  Every time I've gone the theatre has been completely sold out and everyone is really energetic and has made t-shirts.  In other words everyone is having a Great time.  Well, B'ham you disappointed me, no one was dressed up and half the theatre napped before the movie came on.  But the girls and I still had a Great time!


This was the image I came up with for the breast pocket of our t-shirts. 


And here is what we put on the back (in all my infinite wisdom not one of us took a picture of us wearing the t-shirt from the back).  My sister helped mix the images a bit she is really good at the highlighting and shadowing (I can't do that stuff). 

I had a great time with my friends and making the shirts, while the movie may not have been the best it was still a great time and I can't wait to get together again for the final chapter.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Art Share ~ Diana Kelly


Today I am sharing another wonderful tea pot created for Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group Alice's Tea Party Swap that I'm hosting.
 
This one is by Diana Kelly, I love how she used the red glitter in dots all around the edge of her pot and the plush hearts are the perfect additions. 
 

Make sure you stop by the Alpha Stamps Gallery to see all of her wonderful teapots and the other participatns.  

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Circle of Friends, literally!


Many of you that follow me know about the Circle of Friends Yahoo Group and our Round Robbin Journals.  Well, here is another one and this one is very special to me. 

This one is Sandy P.'s "Round Journal" She had no restrictions but the shape and to be honest when I got it I went eap!  What am I going to do with this???  Then I was hit with inspiration, it's a circle and well, we are the Circle of Friends so I am going with that.  And as you can see I did. 



I had to keep my 3D elements to a minimum, each CD fits into a very skinny slot in her journal. 


I decorated both sides with members lovely images, tried to keep everything I could circular.  The only thing I wish I could have done is found a way to attach images of future Circle of Friends and those that I don't have pictures of.  I was scared to drill a hole in the CD.


This was a very fun project to work on, to finally put faces to the e-mails that I've passed back and forth for almost 6 years. 

As always the Circle of Friends is open to new member's just stop by and see if we are the right fit for you. 

I'm looking forward to the next journal but I have to be honest so far the rotation this year has been fabulous and I just don't know how I am going to keep up the good work.