The book post

Since I've been MIA from the blog, you all have missed out on alot of mail art and crafty action! But no worries! I'm here to fill you in! First we will start with the bookish crafts!

I had an urge to make a book...from scratch...from  recycled stuff...for a secret santa thing (the game where you can steal each other's gifts) at work because I didn't feel like spending the allotted $20. So the paper is actually the old ugly work stationery that came from my dad's old company (some of you have probably seen me use it for letters!) that I cut down to size so you wouldn't see the logo. The fabric I actually saved from going in the trash at work. And the "hard" part of the binding is just a wheat thins box. I mostly followed this tutorial on instructables. Even though book binding is tedious and a bit time consuming it is extremely rewarding once you finish it! I'm actually making a min-notebook from the scraps of paper leftover from making this journal. Woo for reusing!

 I've been working on my smashbook/junk journal thing! It's so full and there's still so many blank pages! Do your junk journals look as messy as mine or is it just me?

So stuffed it can't even close!

Changed a few things around on the cover!

And last but NOT least a real book! okay a craft book with lots of pictures, but that still counts right? This gem of an art book is called Artist Trading Card Workshop. I borrowed it from the library last month and my boyfriend got it for me for Christmas! He's so thoughtful! Anyway I really recommend it if you're looking for new techniques to try out on your ATC's but I think most of these ideas can be used for whatever you feel like!

Anyone else try to bind their own books while I was away?

Paper Swap

I'm hosting a swap on swap-bot for destashing craft paper! So if you're looking for an opportunity to diversify your collage supplies this is your chance! I am discovering that I am an absolute paper junkie, and I love adding new bits and pieces to my stash. I can't be the only one right?! My boyfriend even got me scrapbook paper for Christmas! Things that can be sent are of course scrapbook papers, origami, magazine pages/images, wrapping paper, cardstock, comic strips, old cards or postcards, postage stamps, tissue paper, ATC backs, book pages, envelopes, playing cards, photographs...did I forget anything?! Any kind paper product that isn't dirty, smelly, or otherwise unusable (also known as trash!) is accepted! If there are any confusion on sendability you can ask me or send a message to your swap partner!

A small sample of my stash!

The last day to sign up is January 9th and all packages must be sent by the 17th. Let me know if you have any questions!

Weekend in Maryland

Back in October I went to visit my friends from college in Maryland! We went hiking, carved pumpkins (which I hadn't done since I was a kid), and my personal favorite, antique shopping!!

Random parade of old men in old cars.

Pretty woods!

Waterfall!

Twin 1: Alicia

Twin 2: Kristina

Look at the face!

We quickly discovered that my mini pumpkins were harder to carve than normal sized ones!

Taking out its braaains

My mini pumpkin all lit up! I wish I had one before haha

Jack from the night before Christmas!

Alicia's shocked cannibal pumpkin!

My favorite find at the antique mall! a Post office piggy bank! I also got some floral trays, a mason jar, and a necklace. Everything was really well priced!

Now that I'm totally in the wrong season, how was everyone's winter holidays?

Happy 2013!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time saying goodbye to 2012 last night! I wish everyone a marvelous and crafty 2013! Who has there new year's resolutions ready? I'm terrible at keeping them but I think I will set some guidelines for myself of wanting less, giving more, and being happy with what I am so fortunate to have in my life.

I know I have been absent for awhile from the blog, I've been having some issues sorting out the number of pictures I can have on the blog and whether I should pay to have them stored on the site for each month! I love picture heavy blogs as I find them inspiring and interesting so I think that's what I'm going to have to do! I look forward to catching you all up over the next few weeks!

Mail Pile

Its been hard keeping/catching up with blogging over the past few weeks! Here is some of the mail that I've gotten and sent while my computer was being super lame!

Incoming:

A swap-bot note from someone I've started writing to.

Someone who I sent a FB home to actually responded to my letter! Still need to write back...

Swapbot note with lots of extra postcards!

Second note from Miss Hoffman!

I love doughnuts too!

My favorite Christmas card so far. I joined a huge xmas card swap on  swap bot.

I'm not sure I was prepared for so much holiday cheer already!

Polish Steampunk kitty. Courtesy of a postcrosser!

You gotta love foreign stamps! Or are you a mail hater?!

Some more xmas cards! I still have about 20 more to get haha. What was I thinking?!

Really pretty stamps

Inside the great stamped envelope (from a postcrosser in Russia) I found these two lovely postcards, one left blank for me to use :)

A Lovely note from Kim on swap-bot with some much loved extras! (Atc sleeves, stamps, and  postcard with a stamp already on it!)

Outgoing:
Apparently I have been slacking on taking pics of outgoing mail even worse than for the incoming! I wish you could have seen the giant stack of xmas cards that went out last week. Or some of the pretty packages I sent off yesterday :T Ah well, here is what I DO have to share! :)

Woo stamps! This one has an APC in it and is on it's way to Australia!

This Beauty is headed to my new pen pal over in Germany

Fun tape!

A thrift store find swap box for Lin! I didn't have any mailing boxes so I grabbed a cereal box from the cupboard. They work just fine!

Anyone else send or get some cool mail over the past few weeks?

Random Crafties Galore!

So I haven't stopped crafting while I've been away from the blog! This past weekend on Atcsforall.com there was an APC-athon! APCs are alot like ATCs except they are on playing cards and usually show a corner of the card so you know which card of the deck it is. People like collecting different themed decks and its alot of fun once you get into it! Here are some of the cards I made this past weekend! Let me know if you have any cards you'd like to trade, I'd love to add to my collection!

Traded!

Painted background with a cut out from a card

Here are some older APCs I made earlier during the summer:

All fabric and ribbon experiment

A pile of old cards! Anyone want to trade?

A few weeks ago I decided to try my hand at making a Dottee Doll. A Dottee Doll is a little plush doll that has a hanger and a tail and usually has a very stylized face. They are ONLY traded and never sold. I wanted to give it a try since I have so many fabric bits around that I can't seem to find a home for. I think this is a great scrap busting project, it's just time consuming! I had a little trouble figuring out how to sew the hanger on right but I think I'll get it better the second time. What do you think? Does anyone else out there make Dottee dolls or have any tips?

ALSO I started another scrap busting project! I decided to try and make a draft blocker with the swatches that I have to cut for people at work that come back or would otherwise just end up in the trash. I am trying to only use the upholstery weight fabrics (so its a bit warmer/sturdier) so it will probably take a little while for me to finish it. But! I do have a whole boot-shoebox full of these swatches to make something awesome with! Among all of my other salvaged fabric haha. I'll put pictures up of it once it actually starts to look like something!

Anyone else planning cozy winter crafts? Scrap busters? I'd love to know what you're up to :)

Back up and running!

I hope everyone survived Hurricane Sandy! It didn't hit too hard here in Northern Virginia, just some strong wind and alot of rain. I know alot of people are having a hard time cleaning up in Jersey and New York and I wish them the best of luck with getting back on their feet.

I am in the process (as I type) of fixing my computer! I had to reinstall windows to fix my issues so it has been *fun* reinstalling all my drivers and programs and trying to remember username/password combos.

Look forward to multiple posts in the VERY near future to catch you up on my crafts, buys, and travels! Just as soon as everything is installed and running perfectly!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Any good mail?