Happy 2013!

 Tabitha of Creative Wings hosted the most fabulous swap, "A Very Happy New Year Swap"

 Because I love everything I have ever gotten in a Tabitha hosted swap of course I signed up.

But I went a little overboard...couldn't help myself, inspiration struck and it struck hard.

 The swap was supposed to be a simple matchbox swap. 

 I swear there is a matchbox in what I created...literally, it is inside the ball.

 And Leslie over at Alpha Stamps has started carrying fiber optics and I just can't get enough of them.

 Originally it was just going to be the ball on a dowel rod with winter esk items all around the base, but then I thought, "Oh it needs a clock!"

 So off to the store I went

 Yep, it works!

 Yep, I hand cut all those mirror bits myself.  You can buy them pre-cut at most hobby stores but I had a broken mirror (not mine, found it at a yard sale) that needed a good purpose.

 The Happy New Year sign really was a last minute addition, I wanted something to balance out the fiber optics which looked like they just kind of stuck out without the rest of the height.

 See, See there's my matchbox! 

 The fiber optic controls are on the inside (they don't take up much space at all).

 Had to have some snowflakes

 And a view from the top.

The other requirement of this swap was to include 13 things for our partners.  I fit all but the little baggie inside the matchbox. 

 

My poor partner is sick :(  I feel so bad for her, to feel like yuck at this time of the year.  I can't wait to see what she has made for me and I will share it as soon as I can.

 

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful 2013!

Celebrate in style

Create with abandon

And never doubt yourself!

 

Hugs

Caroline