So I didn't want time to get away from me without showing all the lovely goodies I was gifted with, in the recent Halloween Swap, by Julie Jayne of http://juliejayne.blogspot.com/. She really outdid herself! Even the box was a work of art!

But then it opened to a bevy of goodies!




There was a sweet card, a stamp, halloween berries, trim, a spooky dried rose, a glittered skull, a game piece, a fabric scrap, and a beautiful lace wrapped picture that I can't wait to hang. There was even a pin wrapped in pattern paper. So cute!

Of course Sylvester thought this swap box was also for him. Like he does with all boxes that come in the house. No Dice, Kitty!

But everyone who knows me knows I'm all about the chocolate. This was especially yummy chocolate. I have it sitting beside my chair waiting for the next chocolate emergency.

Thanks again Julie! Can't wait to meet you in person at Silver Bella. Seven weeks? Really?

Give me a Deadline

Ok gimmee a deadline and I'll blow it by at least a day. This is why I found my self trudging thru a flooded parking lot, clutching my package, no umbrella in driving rain on Monday. I deserved it. I was late with my swap partners Halloween package. Hopefully she'll get it by tomorrow. Mine came yesterday. I can't bring myself to open it. THE GUILT! But this is what I put together. I really hope she likes it.

This was hard to let go. A black feather pen and perfectly aged papers and envelopes. Perfect for writing those Halloween greetings. I got this at my favorite place in Smithfield Va.- Wharf Hill Antiques. I could seriously live in that store~ but I digress.

Next up was a window hanging I made. I used orange pearls from a necklace I played with as a child, vintage rondelles, felted(yes felted) black and white balls and a great big chandelier crystal I got on my last trip to Silver Bella at 2nd Time Around.

Sure to please any glitzy divas!

A little of this and that for her own crafty holiday projects.

Next up was some candy. Heather told us to go easy on the candy (boo) so we could watch our girlish figures. This was one of those things you wouldn't buy for yourself. It was just cute and kitschy. And it's Marshmallow so no calories!(that's my story and I'm sticking to it)

Viola finished package! I can't wait to meet Julie of http://juliejayne.blogspot.com/ in person at Silver Bella!

Where is the time going?

Finally got my banners done for the Silver Bella banner swap. They weighed heavily on my mind. Just didn't have the inspiration to do them. Also tell me to make something colorful and I'm like ummmm define colorful. Cause when I think color I think faded pink, aqua, white, celadon green, lavender. So I'm hoping this is colorful enough for the Bellas. Now I just have to push out the cupcake chipboard page swap.

They were made, photographed, eaten(duh 3 teenage boys). They were yummlicious. I'm just having motivational issues. I know this book is gonna be cute as a button.

I've also been working on some tags and such from Karla and Beth's romantic Gothic Ghosts class. This has been fun. I'm hoping to get down to Halloween decorating this weekend. So these need to be strung and foofed.

The projects were big fun. The images were awesome. I know they'll be used in other projects. such a fun class. Love learing new techniques and stretching a little. Not totally out of my comfort zone but just a little umph.

Where has the Summer Gone?

Have you felt it yet? That slight shift. The heat that isn't quite so intense. Kinda like summer's heart just isn't in it anymore? Fall is coming. Just before the kids went back to school we took them to Busch Gardens.

It couldn't have been a more perfect day. We chose a Tuesday with the hopes that every other vacationer wasn't thinking the same thing. Busch Gardens isn't far from us. Just a short ride across the bridge to the Peninsula. We were so lucky. Beautiful 80 degree day. Low humidity. No crowds. We literally walked on every ride. Even the roller coasters that people typically wait 2 hours to go on. Kinda like Griffin...

Yep I rode it. Three times.

That's a heck of a drop. I'm juss sayin. Of course after all that fun you just gotta have a little treat. Busch Gardens does divine candies like no other.How many kinds of fudge does one need?

Monster cupcakes and cookies anyone?

Divine. But I chose these

Chocolate dipped strawberries. Hello!

But the real stars of the day were the butterflys who were enjoying the beautiful flowers that Busch Gardens grows.

I've never seen so many in one place. All different varieties. I can't blame them. If I was a butterfly I would hang out at Busch Gardens also!

You Have Screwed Me Again, Pennypacker

Well Typepad you really did it this time. We have officially broken up. You lost my posts- you did weird things with my pictures and even when I tried to import you over here you still couldn't help it but continue the weird picture stuff. I hate to say it but you've been dumped. Now as soon as I get used to blogger I will be unstoppable. Ok getting off my soapbox and putting it away. Cleanliness is next to godliness!

Silver Bella Journal Swap Peeks

I've been busily(and happily) plugging away on my journal swap pages for Silver Bella. They're not due until October(I think?) but I thought I'd get them out early since life will start moving in fast forward for me very soon.

Want some more?

I'm so happy with the way these are turning out and I love working with my vintage stash. The more I use up the more I don't have to pack right?

After this I get to start researching and baking and taste testing vintage cupcake recipes for the cupcake chipboard book swap. Poor me! I better not get used to this.  
 

Antique Mall Serendipity

Rarely do you get a second chance when antiquing. So when I left behind the lovely pink enamel pot behind last April I knew I was making a mistake. Sometimes its the non purchases that sit in the back of your mind and niggle at you. At the time I thought they were asking a little too much and surely if there was one there had to be more, right? Wrong. Haven't seen one since. So imagine my surprise when I visited my favorite little antique mall (it's like 1hour away)and that pot was still there waiting for me. To sweeten the deal it had been marked down and it was on sale. Are you kidding. I picked that puppy up quick fast and in a hurry. So now I am the new owner of a really big pink cast iron enamel pot. Lookee!

And of course I have to bring home a random picture of some kid I don't know cause that's how I roll.