Vintage Dragonfly 'Things with Wings' Matchbox Swap

This is the first swap for this new swap group.  Our theme was 'Things With Wings."  So I chose butterflies.

I covered the top of my matchbox with matchsticks and then covered the sticks with gesso.  I wanted the top to look like a white picket fence.  On the 'fence,' I put a small silk flower, some die-cut leaves and two gorgeous blue butterflies.  I added stickles to the flower and leaves.

The drawer pull was made with a metal butterfly bead

This photo shows the little wooden legs on the box.  I covered the sides of the box with spring-green acrylic paint and stickles.

Here is what was inside the box:

Look what I received today!

I received this fabulous altered matchbox from Jonathon805 today in the Matchbox Swap.  This is so gorgeous!  This photo does not really do it justice!  The colors, and the way the background terrain was achieved through layering are really remarkable!  I'm so happy with it, and I wanted to share it with you.

What's inside the February matchbox

A piece of the strung sequins that I used to create the box.  Some Valentine brads.  A Swarovski crystal heart, some pink German Scrap, some 'jewels,' some pink bead, two lovely buttons, a pink silk flower and another of the lovely crepe paper flowers.  Also a pair of bubble earrings that I made using Swarovski crystals and Swarovski pearls.



February Matchbox - Romance

This matchbox has a drawer pull made from a Swarovski crystal heart.  The box is covered with brayered paper - which I love to use every chance I get!  The heart is raised up a bit from the matchbox.  I love these artificial flowers that I purchased at Cappels in Cincinnati during one of my visits home.  They remind me of the crepe paper flowers that my grandmother used to make. I have to admit that this box looks better in person that the photo!  The shiny sequins made photographing the box difficult.

Here is what was inside the matchbox

I posted this photo of the matchbox I made for Sherry in our Flickr matchbox swap:

Now that Sherry has received the matchbox, here is a photo of the goodies that were inside the matchbox.

Vintage rosebud, altered mini domino, pair of homemade earrings with Swarovski crystals, dried flowers, German scrap, Swarovski pink crystal heart.

Matchbox Swap 2011

Here is my January matchbox for this brand-new Flickr swap.

First, I covered the matchbox with gold paper that I had found inside of an envelope that had contained a Christmas card.  Then I added Gold German scrap, and pink German Scrap.  Then the glamorous image and flowers.  The image was originally on the cover of sheet music.  Finally, I embellished the box with Delica beads and Austrian crystal. A brad acts as a drawer-pull.  Can't see what I get in return!

Christmas Advent Boxes

Thanks to the Lovely Leslie for sharing this great tutorial!  As soon as I saw it, I knew that I had to make one for each of my daughters and their families.  Each box requires 24 small match boxes!  Now what to do with the matches!

The match boxes are VERY tiny, so if you plan to make one, be sure to take a box with you when you shop for the trinkets.  I was surprised at how difficult it was to find items to fit!

Altered Matchbox - for a Yahoo Inchie Swap

The tissue paper I used to line the box is actually the placemat from the Atlanta Cheesecake Cafe where I have lunch sometimes. (Everyone who eats there now knows to bring me back their placemats!) The tigers and balls are actually beads I bought to make earrings. My daughters who live in the Cincinnati area are (or were) fans of the Cincinnati Bengals football team. Unfortunately, the team has not been doing so well, so I never made the earrings. I like the beads much better on the box! The brass medallion that the tiger is standing on is also an item I purchased to use with beading.

This is the bottom of the box.

The group that sponsored this swap is Addicted to Inchies, and if YOU are 'addicted to inchies,' please join us! We have a lot of fun and the members of this group are SO creative!