Matchbox Swap--to My Partner

Well, this promises to be a hot weekend here in Wisconsin.  It has been very dry lately, so hopefully the storms the weatherman says will come will indeed come.  However....hopefully only during the evening/night.  Tomorrow is the start of a city-wide garage sale hop at one of my favorite local towns, and Saturday morning Mom and I are planning on going to the Princeton flea market.  Yes, the flea market is every Saturday...BUT the holiday weekends are supposed to be the best.  Hopefully neither will get rained out despite needing the rain!

Thought I show the matchbox I created for Karla in the Vintage Dragonfly's "Partner's Choice" altered matchbox swap.  Mine hasn't arrived yet (it isn't coming from Karla but from someone different), but I'm sure it will in time. ; )  Each person was to list what they liked--themes, colors, styles, etc., then we were to alter a matchbox and fill it with things that they especially would want.  I made Karla a box with an aqua, beachy theme complete with glitter "sand", sea glass, jewelry shells, and a shell button drawer pull.  I didn't take a picture of the contents...but it had plenty of bits and pieces and blings.  Karla is just the nicest person...she told me she was married at a lighthouse.  Now, how romantic is that?  Hop over to her blog when you get a moment and get to know her. 

My Kids' Sailors' Valentines

I'm not overly wild about things made with shells, but sailors' valentines can certainly be compelling. Of course, I know what they are about--sailors gathering shells while on shore when away at sea. They think of their sweethearts back home and make elaborate valentines (or boxes or whatever) to give them upon their return. Well, in a lot of jewelry I purchased a bit ago, I found two necklaces of rather beautiful little shells and instantly thought of an art project for my kids. A quick Google search of sailors' valentines turned up some amazingly beautiful and elaborate examples--I was in awe of some of them. Well, the ones above are my kids' results! I was pleased and quite impressed actually what a 9 year old boy and a 7 year old girl could do. I think they turned out beautifully--and it gave them a unique, interesting, and inexpensive art lesson not to mention a pretty way to use up those shells.