Altered State: A Round Up of Altered Books

06 Sunday Jul 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Mini Album, Mixed Media, Paper Sculpture, Papercrafting, Soft Sculpture, Textiles, Vintage

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

altered book, art journal, Cappucinoandart, etsy shop, flyinpurplemunkiez, heart shaped book, Ingrid Dijikers, journal, MacLean County Arts Center, Melissa Thiese, Raidersofthelostart, scrapbook, Sharen Chatterton, TarnishedandTattered, Through the Rabbit Hole, travel book, vintage ephemera

Altered Books, Art Journals, whatever you like to call it I call them amazing! You can take any book, paint it, collage it, fold it or tear it and make it yours. Add some swatches of fabric, paint chips, some vintage ephemera and you have a great piece of art to enjoy that you personalized and created on your own. Here’s a round up of interesting, eclectic and artistic altered books for you to enjoy.

At the end I’ve posted the name of the winner from my last post! Maybe it’s you!

1. This is a pretty incredible example of an altered book way before Altered Books became cool.

This great blog post is brought to us by CappuccinoAndArtJournal and you’ll want to check out the other pages that she has posted from this antique journal, great stuff!

2. How incredible is this?

This book was taught at the MacLean County Arts Center in Bloomington, IL a year ago. How amazing is this? I would love to take this class! “Bring in some of your old books and turn them into art by cutting, drawing, gluing, collage, and just about anything you might think of to alter the state of an almost forgotten form of literature.” WOW!

3. I love the whimsy of this incredible book by Raidersofthelostart.

It’s available for purchase in their Etsy Shop.

4. Setting Them Free Altered Book by Sharen Chatterton

This is a stunning example of objects bursting out of the page, so lovely! The contrast between the plain images in the book and the colorful dimensional butterflies is wonderful.

5. One of my favorite artists is Ingrid Dijikers. I feel very fortunate to have taken a class with her at Art & Soul in Portland, OR several years ago. We created the beginnings of a book in her class “Through the Rabbit Hole”.

All of her work is so incredibly artistic and even her doodles are perfectly placed. Check out her blog to see more of her amazing work!

6. This is super cute!

I found it on Tumblr so I’m not sure who to give the credit to. If anyone knows, let me know and I’ll update this!

7. This gorgeous altered book was created by tarnishedandtattered

SWOON!

8. Tarnished and Tattered also created this gorgeous Wedding Book as a present for her cousin.

Unbelievably gorgeous!

9. I am also loving this travel book by Melissa Thiese.

I’m planning on borrowing some design elements, (like the folded over page to create a pocket!) from it to document my last couple vacations when I finally get around to creating books about them!

10. And this heart shaped book is stunning. I believe it was created by FlyinPurpleMunkiez.

I love how it has hidden spaces to keep treasured items!

Thanks for joining me on this journey through altered books!

Have a wonderfully creative week!

xo,

Christine Barker

PS: The winner from my last post is number 8, which is Patty Antle!!! Congrats Patty! Please visit my Etsy shop and choose one of the Pin Cushions priced at $15 and email me at kryztyne @ gmail.com (remove spaces) to let me know which one you’ve chosen. Thank you to everyone who left a comment, I appreciate you playing along!

Blog Hop: Lovebug Creations and Fleurette Bloom

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Blog Hop, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Lovebug Creations, Mixed Media, Paper Sculpture, Papercrafting, Sewing, Textiles, Vintage

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

ANTIQUE FRENCH LARGE GLASS BRIDAL DOME, Antique French Wedding Crown Display Globe de Mariée, arlene baker, beaded tiara, blog candy, blog hop, Digital Papers, Fleurette Bloom, FRENCH Globe de Mariee Wedding Display Case, gilding the lily, globe de mariée, LOveBug Creations, Peony Cutting File, Rumple Ribbon, souvenir de mariée, SVG Cutting Files, SVG Peony, SVG Swan, Swan Cutting File, wedding globe

Welcome to the Fleurette Bloom and LoveBug Creations Co-Hop!

If you’ve come over from Chantel, you’re in the right place. But if you’ve landed here and want to begin with the first stop, head over to Fleurette!

The pairing of Lovebug Creation’s fantastic Rumple Ribbon and trimmings with Fleurette Bloom’s outstanding SVG’s (Scalable Vector Graphics) and digital delights is a great way to freshen up your projects. Who wants to be ho-hum? Not us!

You’ve seen some fabulously fresh projects so far and there’s more to be seen. Are you ready to see what I’ve made?

To begin, I used the Fleurette Bloom Swan Lake SVG Card Collection which includes everything you see in this picture.

Swan Lake SVG Card Kit / Collection

And I used the “Lush Flowers” 3D SVG Collection.

I created a replica of an antique French Globe de Mariee using Panther Pink Rumple Ribbon and a gorgeous mystery product from Lovebug Creations (check back for the reveal tomorrow!), and some adorable Swans and a Peony from Fleurette Blooms SVG Cutting Files.

Here it is without the glass. What do you think? Each detail in these Globe de Mariee’s symbolized a different aspect of a French bride’s marriage and French Garden House has a lovely blog post about the history of them if you want to learn more.

Doesn’t this Pink Panther ribbon look dreamy against the silk velvet cushion? I’m absolutely swooning!

Ooh la la!

My love for swans burns brighter than ever and these SVG cutting files from Fleurette Bloom are incredible. The detail on the wings is amazing and their little eyes and beaks are just precious!

This beautiful, dimensional Peony is from the Fleurette Bloom Lush Flowers Collection.

And some detail shots. I made the crown in a Beaded Tiara class with Arlene Baker and I’m just so tickled with the way it turned out! Dresden is from Gilding the Lily in Fullerton, CA. Vintage millinery flowers and fruits are from Michelle Hurtt.

Now, how about some BLOG CANDY??

Fleurette Bloom is offering a $10 gift certificate to her ONLINE STORE

AND

LoveBug Creations is offering a $10 gift certificate to their ONLINE STORE

AND

I’m offering a $5 Giftcard to the Lovebug Creations Shop!

So what do you have to do to win this great stuff? Easy!

1. Become a follower of each crafter (if you’re not already)
2. Leave a love note in the comments at each blog spot with your email info (so we can let you know if you win!)
3. For extra chances to win “Like” our Facebook Pages and leave a comment at Fleurette Bloom Designs and LoveBug Creations
4. Check back on Wednesday for the announcement of the winners

The co-hop line-up:

1.   Fleurette
2.   Kimi & Pamela
3.   Stephanie
4.   Dawn Mercedes
5.   Connie
6.   Kristin
7.   Katie
8.   Ilda
9.   Tanya
10. Chantel
11. Christine <– You’re here!
12. Kathy <– Go here next!
13. Cheryl
For your next burst of Spring inspiration, please visit Kathy!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderfully creative weekend. Don’t forget to leave a comment to be able to win some blog candy! And, I’m sending out a great big THANK YOU and hugs to Connie for cutting out this file and mailing it to me. I’m still in the stone age using a Cricut and she was so sweet to cut out my swans and flowers for me on her Silhouette! I couldn’t have done it without you, Connie! ❤

xo,

Christine Barker

PS: Lovebug Creations will be having another Blog Hop tomorrow to reveal the newest spring colors and trims. Stop by and be the first to see what’s new!

Design Team Call: Graphic 45 Design Team Call 2014

20 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Cardmaking, Collage, Design Team Call, DIY & Crafting, Glitter, Jewelry, Mini Album, Mixed Media, Paper Sculpture, Papercrafting, Rubber Stamp, Rubber Stamp, Scrapbooking, Tags

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

2013, Altered, announcement, antique, art, audition, craft, Crafting Design Team Call, Create, Design Team Call, diy, Family, graphic 45, Graphic 45 Design Team Call, Home, idea, mixed-media, scrapbook, scrapbook paper, vintage, We Want You

It’s that time again! Time for the Graphic 45 Design Team Call!

Terms and conditions are here DTcallG452014-2. For more details, check out their blog.

Good Luck, Friends!

xo,

Christine Barker

Field Trip: Winter CHA 2014 Part 1

16 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Cardmaking, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Glitter, Jewelry, Mini Album, Mixed Media, Papercrafting, Rubber Stamp, Rubber Stamp, Scrapbooking, Tags

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Artist Trading Blocks, arts and crafts, authentique, brenda walton, card making, card making trends, Carolyn Peeler, cha, CHA 2014, cha 2014 booth, cha winter, CHA winter 2014, craft, craft and hobby association, crafting, eileen hull, Everyday is a Holiday, Jenny and Aaron, Jenny Holiday, jo packham, Julie Weller, melissa frances, mixed-media, Mixed-Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron, Petaloo, scrapbookimng, scrapbooking, scrapbooking trends, sizzix, Susan Shintaku, The sweet life, tim holtz, Where Women Cook

Living the creative life is an extraordinary experience but sometimes you have to work for it. Luckily for me, I only had to work a little bit (and had a lot of fun), in order to attend the Craft and Hobby Association Winter convention (CHA) this year. CHA is the big show where scrapbook store owners, designers and instructors get to see all of the new craft products from the manufacturers.

Thanks to one of my friends, I was able to work for a while in the Melissa Frances booth and the Petaloo booth. And, I also had time to walk the show floor and take pictures of the new products and say hello to friends.

Melissa Frances

I started my day in the Melissa Frances booth. I LOVE Melissa Frances products. Her product line includes gorgeous, vintage-inspired papers, trims, sparkling embellishments, miniature cloches and now chalkboard canvases. The time went by so quickly and I wish I’d been able to spend some time getting to know Carolyn Peeler. Luckily for me, Jenny and Aaron of Everyday is a Holiday were in the booth and we got to talk a little bit in between chatting with customers.

I’ve known Jenny and Aaron of “Everyday is a Holiday” since I met them at a creative event in 2011 and they’ve become two of my favorite people. Not only are they super talented, but they’re down to earth and have really big hearts. I’m so happy for them that despite having a tough year they’ve persevered and have created some awesome opportunities for themselves.

Recently, they released an amazing book, “Mixed-Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron” which I ran out to buy as soon as it hit the shelves.

They also designed a line of hand-painted (vs created on a computer) product for Melissa Frances called The Sweet Life. I can’t wait until their scrapbook papers, journaling cards and other coordinating embellishments are in my local scrapbook store!

Are you ready for some Authentique Papers?

After my quick shift in the Melissa Frances booth I had a couple hours to walk around and see the new products from my favorite crafting companies. My first stop was at the Authentique Paper booth and they had some gorgeous papers and projects on display.

Next, I hit up the Sizzix booth.

Designer Eileen Hull has some wonderful new dies to create Artist Trading Blocks (like Artist Trading Cards, but with more dimension!).

And I always love to see what designer Tim Holtz has been working on. (And I figured out why I can’t find vintage trophy cups in vintage shops anymore! They’re all in Tim’s displays!)

Designer Brenda Walton has added 8 enchanting new dies to her collection, including flowers, leaves, a butterfly gift card, cupcake stands, a heart pendant, and also some textured impression embossing folders. I met Brenda for the first time at the French General Soiree on Sunday evening and she is a lovely, talented artist!

The latest news in the Sizzix booth is the line of incredible dies from Jo Packham, the editor of “Where Women Create” magazine and an amazing, modern renaissance woman. I had a chance to chat with her about her new line for Sizzix, “Where Women Cook”, on Sunday night at the French General Soiree. I’m excited to see how crafters will use her new dies to create gifts, favors, party supplies, and packaging for their home made baked goods.

Petaloo

Next, I had the opportunity to help CHA attendees create some beautiful Make and Takes in the Petaloo booth. If you haven’t checked out their beautiful blooms in your local scrapbooking store, you must! They have every size, shape and color you could ever want to embellish your projects! We started off making beautiful bracelets featuring gorgeous Petaloo silk rose petals and blooms and ended the day creating some gorgeous vintage-inspired mini valentines.

My friend, Julie Weller, worked the shift before me and our friend, Susan Shintaku, happened to visit the booth while we were both there.

Thank you so much for joining me for this field trip. I’ll have more pics to share soon!

xo,

Christine Barker

Sew Perfect: Valentine Mini Quilt

07 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Lovebug Creations, Sewing, Textiles

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

brass key, Cabbages & Roses, Cabbages and Roses, Cori Dantini, embroidery, free motion stitching, lace, love, LOveBug Creations, Mini Quilt, Moda, mother of pearl buttons, Rumple Ribbon, seam binding, sewing machine, Simply Blue, Simply Red, stamped brass charms, Valentine Sewing Project, valentines day, zig zag

Cooler weather inspires me to play with my fabric and sewing machine and I just love the chance to use up some of the many fabric scraps in my stash. This project is inspired by a mini quilt I found on Pinterest created by Kristen Robinson.

I created this mini quilt featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon in Simply Red and Simply Blue from the Star Spangled Collection. I just love how blue and red look together. They may not be a traditional duo of Valentine colors but I’m just smitten!

A simple straight stitch with some Simply Red Rumple Ribbon balances out the colors on the corner. Isn’t this girl print the cutest fabric? It’s designed by Cori Dantini, an artist I met in Minneapolis at The Creative Connection event hosted by Jo Packam in 2010. I added some red embroidery to one of the flowers.

I’m just loving this Rumple Ribbon petite bow tied on the metal key.

I used fabric from different fabric lines here, attached with machine stitching to a muslin background. The number 14 is done with a simple zig zag stitch with the length at the smallest possible measurement. The heart shape is free motion stitched and the word LOVE is hand embroidered. I added some bits of lace, some vintage mother-of-pearl buttons, and stamped brass charms.

Thanks for stopping by to see my project! Let me know what you think!

xo,

Christine Barker

PS: Want to see what the other girls on the Lovebug Creations Creative Team have been up to? Visit their blogs to find out!

Happy New Year: My Wish for You!

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Blog Hop, Cardmaking, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Field Trip, Lovebug Creations, Mixed Media, Papercrafting, Scrapbooking, Swap, Textiles, Vintage

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2014, altered book, apron, book art, cha winter 2013, dry erase board, happy birthday card, Happy New Year, home decor, LOveBug Creations, paper rosettes, prairie chic, pretty dry erase board, rosette tutorial, rubberstamping, Rumple Ribbon, scrapbook layout, shabby chic apron, spring, spring banner, spring garland, valentine, valentine heart, valentine swap, Vintage marketplace, vintage music, wedding, wedding cake topper

As we wind up 2013 and look forward to a brand new year, I’d like to wish you a wonderfully creative, successful and whimsical 2014.

Need some inspiration for the New Year? Here’s the top 10 posts of 2013 for Scarlet Calliope:

1. Home Decor: Pretty Dry-Erase Board

2. Card Making: Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

3. Crafting: Glamour in Pink Layout featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon

4. Wedding Blog Hop with Lovebug Creations and Jaded Blossom

5. Swap: Valentine Swap Revealed!

6. Crafting: Spring Banner featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon

7. Sewing: Prairie Chic Apron Featuring Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon

8. Paper Crafting Tutorial: Vintage Music Rosettes

9a. Field Trip: CHA Winter 2013, Part One

9b. Field Trip: CHA Winter 2013, Part Two

10. Field Trip: The Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA

Thank you so much for joining me for the last Scarlet Calliope Blog Post for 2013. Have a safe and wonderful New Year’s Eve!

xo,

Christine Barker

If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be.”

-Roald Dahl

Paper Crafting: Stunning Birthday Crown

09 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Papercrafting

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

birthday crown, collage, Pam Munns, paper collage, vintage images

I celebrated my birthday last month for pretty much the entire month. It only comes once a year so I try to make the most of it!

My friend, Pam Munns, whom I met in a Sally Jean Alexander soldering class, created a delightful, turquoise crown that is an incredible, colorful and personal gift. I’m so happy and lucky to have a lot of really talented friends! While visiting Pam last month I admired the collages that she creates for her soldered ornaments. I also coveted a beautiful paper crown that she had made and had displayed in her incredible craft studio.

I was completely surprised by her thoughtful and personal gift and all of the hard work that she put into making it. It starts off with one of my favorite vintage images, an angel resting on the moon, with Scarlet Calliope across the front. There are so many visual delights that I’m still discovering elements in the collage that I didn’t notice before.

Knowing how much I love swans, she placed images of swans on either side of the “Birthday Girl” banner. On one side of the crown there’s images of tea cups, a rabbit, the letter C, the Eiffel Tower, images that we both have on our Pinterest Boards, and a picture of my husband wearing a top hat (she really pays attention, I adore top hats! And my husband, lol!).

A funny thing happened while my friend Michelle Hurtt and I were spending the weekend with Pam. We hit up a dollar store to see what we could find and I found Candy Corn and grabbed a bag for us all to share while crafting later that day. I later discovered that there are people among us who are candy corn SNOBS! Seriously! I’m not going to mention any names but her name begins with the letter M. She will only eat Brachs Candy Corn and scoffs at anything less. So Pam added in some pictures of of Candy Corn and a sign that says, “Not Brachs”.

On the other side of the crown you see a vintage picture of birds in a cage, a corset, a Steam Punk Car, a picture of the Lemon Drop that Pam’s husband, Dwight, mixed up for us, and a picture of my favorite furry nephew, Ghillie. Ghillie is Pam and Dwight’s border collie puppy who kept us all entertained with his sweet antics while we were visiting. I miss him!

The crown is tied with a gorgeous turquoise ribbon. What I adore the most about this beautiful gift is the time and thought that Pam put into making it special for me: My favorite colors, images, person and furry nephew. What’s interesting is that last month was the first time that Pam and I have spent time together aside from sitting across the table from each other in a soldering class. And in one weekend she absorbed and understood me by simply observing, seeing what I post on FB and Pinterest and by paying attention to what I was shopping for while we went to the 2 Speckled Hens flea market. I think that this ability to absorb someone merely by observing may be a talent shared by Libra’s but I’m sure that there are other people from other birth signs who are awesome like that as well.

I love when you have an instant connection with someone and I cherish my friends who make my life burst with happiness. Thank you Pam, for a gorgeous and special gift that I’ll treasure forever! I heart you!

xo,

Christine Barker

Creative Team Call: ICE Resin 2014

14 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Collage, Design Team Call, DIY & Crafting, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Scrapbooking, Textiles

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Adventurous Scrapbookers, art, Cat Kerr, crafting, creative team call, Design Team Call, ICE Queens, ICE Resin, Jen Crossley, Jewelry Makers, JoAnna Pierotti, Kristen Robinson, Mixed-Media Artists, paper artists, scrapbooking, Susan Lenart Kazmer, Thespoena McLaughlin

Cat Kerr

ICE Resin is looking for new creative team members!

Due Date: Friday, October 25, 2013

Kristen Robinson

Who: Jewelry Makers, Mixed-Media Artists, ICE Queens, Adventurous Scrapbookers, and Paper Artists

Jen Crossley

Why: As an artist based company, ICE Resin offers their team members generous product packages shipped directly to your home, compensation for publication, trade show designs and the support of their social media.

Susan Lenart Kazmer

Each designer is asked to create:

28 projects per year
7 short “How To” videos over the course of the year
several blog hops

Each year ICE Resin participates in various trade shows, like CHA, and workshops and they rely on their Designers to come up with artwork, jewelry and assemblage to be used in the displays. (Designers receive compensation and/or credit).

JoAnna Pierotti

How to Apply: All you have to do is to cut and paste the application questions into an email or Word document, answer them and email them with 3 photos of your work to Carol@iceresin.com by Friday, October 25, 2013.

Thespoena McLaughlin

New Creative Team Members will be notified by November 11. Mid-December the new ICE Resin Creative Team will be announced to the world!

I hope you apply! Good Luck!

xo,

Christine Barker

Event: An Evening in Paris at Paris in a Cup

01 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Collage, Mixed Media, Papercrafting

≈ Comments Off on Event: An Evening in Paris at Paris in a Cup

Tags

an evening in paris, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness month, Cheryl Turner, Evening in Paris, Evening in Paris Dog Tag, glassell street, hope canvas, Julie Weller, mixed-media, orange circle, orange county tea shop, paris in a cup, tea house, tea salon, tea shop, team think pink, Team Think Pink for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness, w.h.o.a, whoa

In April of this year Breast Cancer became very personal when my friend, Julie Weller, was diagnosed. As scary as it was for her to be living with the uncertainties, she was strong and brave and has been kicking cancers ass since May. I created this HOPE mixed-media canvas in honor of Julie for a very special breast cancer research fundraising event happening this Friday at my favorite Tea Shop, Paris in a Cup. This canvas features my Swan Hot Air Balloon with Mr. Bun Bun riding along dreaming and hoping for a cure for breast cancer. At one point I got very stuck on what the canvas needed and wouldn’t you know that Julie was the first one to respond to my call for help on Facebook? She told me it needed clouds and man is she a creative genius! That’s exactly what it needed!

This canvas and others will be on display at the W.H.O.A. (Women Helping One Another) table this Friday, October 4, 2013 at the “An Evening in Paris” fundraising event at Paris in a Cup. After that it will be available for purchase online with 100% of the proceeds going to Team Think Pink for Breast Cancer Research and Awareness.

Paris in a Cup is a lovely tea salon located in the historic Orange Circle in Orange, California. From french macaroons to gourmet chocolates to a full formal afternoon tea, Paris in a Cup is a wonderful destination and I have enjoyed many an afternoon nibbling on finger sandwiches and sipping some delicious tea.

The staff of Paris In A Cup in Orange has joined forces again this year with Team Think Pink, Inc. in the fight against breast cancer. This Evening In Paris Event marks their 5th anniversary.

Paris in a Cup owner, Cheryl Turner, is a breast cancer survivor and has declared herself a soldier in the battle against this terrible disease. Every year she recruits her staff, friends, family and neighbors and enlists them for this evening of fun, food and door prizes. Please join them on Friday, October 4, 2013 and help win the war and defeat breast cancer once and for all!

Buy your Evening in Paris Dog Tag today with a $10.00 donation to Team Think Pink, Inc and then join in the fight (fun) on Friday, October 4th from 4:30PM to 8PM for shopping, nibbling, sipping, networking, door prizes and fund raising. Call 714-538-9411 or visit the Evening In Paris link to purchase your dog tag.

Paris In A Cup

119 S Glassell St

Orange CA 92866

(714) 538-9411

Thanks very much friends!

xo,

Christine Barker

Swap: Sweet and Sinister

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by kryztyne2012 in Art and Crafting, Christmas and Holidays, Collage, DIY & Crafting, Mixed Media, Swap, Vintage

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

apothecary, artist printers tray, artsymama, boxwood cottage, cat lady, cat woman, craft swap, creepy baby, crow, crystal ball, disneyland, halloween, halloween swap, haunted mansion diorama, haunted mansion vignette, haunted mansion wall paper, madame leota, mantel, mantle, mourning cockade, owl, pink in the city, poison, raven, rusty key, Sweet and Sinister, Sweet and Sinister Swap, the junque seeker, vintage, vintage tea towel

Now that my children are older we don’t celebrate Halloween the way we used to. Thankfully my friend, Julie Weller, started hosting a Sweet and Sinister Swap. Our swap has some basic ground rules and some guidelines. The theme is Vintage Black and White or Cream with a splash of orange, green, purple or red.

For the swap we send our partner:

Something Sweet
Something Sinister
Something Handmade
Something Thrifted
Something Home Decor

Once partners are assigned we contact each other and say if there’s any particular aspects of Halloween decor that we don’t like. I’m easy, I like it all! Ok, I don’t like blood and guts, but otherwise I’m good.

Last Halloween my partner was Julie and knowing how much she loves Disneyland I made her a Haunted Mansion Vignette starring Madame Leota for her Something Sinister.

It has an awesome special effect in the roof that flashes lights into the room and makes scary noises. Madame Leota’s glow in the dark head is in a crystal ball and she’s surrounded by floating objects that you would see inside the Haunted Mansion, like a trumpet and a candelabra. The wallpaper is the same as the Haunted Mansion with creepy eyes that glow in the dark.

There’s a bell for ringing, a pile of spooky skulls and one of my favorite details is the picture of the reclining Cat Lady.

I packed up Julie’s goodies in a box that I decorated with a antique-inspired Mourning Cockade.

Luckily for me, the avalanche of presents from Julie was amazing! I love how all of my wrapped prezzies look sitting in my dining room. (Louis, in the back, is totally photo bombing!)

Julie made an incredibly sinister and spooky crow in a cage. I ADORE this guy and all of the weird creepy crawlies that keep him company in his cage.

An adorable owl candle and a frightening artists printers tray decorate my mantel. The printers tray has some phenomenal details, like a creepy baby trapped in a spiders web, pumpkins, poison, a rusty key and an odd, ghoulish looking lady stuck in a spider web. I really hit the partner jackpot when Julie assigned herself to me!

Some licorice in a jar that looks like it’s from an apothecary and a charming skeleton photo holder.

And, knowing how much I love Hello Kitty, Julie found some Hot Chocolate with Halloween Hello Kitty and a fun vintage printed tea towel.

Check out my Sweet and Sinister Swap presents adorning my mantel.

Here are some links to other Sweet & Sinister Swaps, including the one that inspired Julie to launch her own, hosted by ArtsyMama. You can get a great idea of the types of items that are handmade and you can see the love and care that goes into selecting each and every item.

ArtsyMama 2007

ArtsyMama 2008

Boxwood Cottage

The Junque Seeker: Featuring prezzies from Terry Frias

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you’re inspired to participate in a Sweet and Sinister Swap of your own!

xo,

Christine Barker

{PS} Don’t miss my FREE Halloween Printable: You’ve Been Boo’d!

The full set of printables plus instructions can be found here!

Would you like some more Halloween Crafting Inspiration? Don’t Miss:

My FREE Printable, You’ve Been Boo’d, to spread some Halloween spirit around your neighborhood.
There’s also the Something Wicked This Way Comes Blog Hop with lots of fun ideas on crafts to make for Halloween.
I also have a FREE Bewitching Hat Tutorial with easy to follow instructions and a free pattern.
And if you need some petite Vintage Halloween Images to decorate with, I’ve got a cute Vintage Halloween Collage Sheet in the Scarlet Calliope Etsy Shop.