100

I have signed up for a swap in which we must each write down 100 blessings.  I started yesterday and got up to 33.  Tonight I added 31 more.  I'll share the complete list when I get it finished.  Some highlights:  restored gospel, hubby, kids, home, soft bed, medication, good freinds, ability to read, a college education.  What 100 blessing would you write down?  Do share!!!

EXCITING EXCITING EXCITING EXCITING........

Tomorrow is the first day to sign up for the Star Library Summer Reading program.  Woot, woot!!!  I've already chosen 3 books to start reading.  I think all the prizes are for he kids, but just the chance to read & fill in a chart---just too much to resist!!!  (Please don't make fun of the Idaho book nerds!!!)

Mail Art Envie

Envie is actually short for envelope.  Here is a really cool one I received this week:

I covered the address, but the rest is original

How come my doodling never looks cool?!

Outside of card

Goodies

More goodies

Inside of card

Artist Trading Cards

Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern baseball cards,^[1] or 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches (63 mm X 89 mm),^[2] small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets.^[3] The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland.^[4] Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals or cloth. The cards are usually traded or exchanged rather than sold. (Wikipedia)


This is one I made for a swap that was one in a series of each of the 50 states.  I just happened to come in as they were doing the state of Idaho!


I have made two Paris themed cards, but in my excitement to send them out I forgot to get pix.  :(

This just in!

Butterfly Kisses

In the mailbox today was a postcard from Elena in Russia.

Next to that was one from Spain!  Not cool stamps, though.  Oh well.

My Junior Swapper has been assigned to send cards to:  China, New Zealand,  Poland, and Belarus.

Letter Box

It has come to the point where I needed (ok, wanted) a cute place to contain my growing letter collection.  So this morning I enlisted the help of an empty shoe box, a free map of Iowa, and a very large roll of tape that my brother found somewhere.

The label you see on the top is actually one of the postcards I had printed up on Vistaprint.com with my STUFFellaneous logo.  (Anyone sending me blank postcards will receive one of these collector editions!!!)

Last night, Lucas signed up to be a postcrosser.  His first card is headed to Russia.  (Yes, this is bordering on obsession.)

Here are the newest arrivals from yesterday's mail.

Ukrain

Brazil

From the Harry Potter Closet

In our current residence, we have a closet that is under the stairs.  I call it the "Harry Potter" closet.  All of my crafting supplies have been banished to this closet after losing their home back east.  (This house is smaller & I have no more "studio" to work in.)

One of the things that I moved cross country was a great find from the World's Largest Garage Sale that I shopped at with my mom and brother before moving.

I purchased a stack of "The Art Amateur magazine; devoted to art in the household."  They were published back in 1893-1894.  I was thinking about some ideas for crafts, decor, and swapping last night so I pulled them out of the HP closet to peruse.

Although it is too large for me to scan an entire page, I do have some cool images that I wanted to share:

Of course, like anything today, this magazine began with several pages of advertisements.  Obviously from the title you have guessed that everything is art themed.  Some of my favorite images from the August 1894 issue are some of the book plates:

I posted this whole section so that you could read the information that accompanied the book plates.  Nifty!

Anyone wishing to share some craft ideas using these images, feel free to comment.  I have a couple ideas bouncing around in my head; just need them time to make them happen.

France Inspired ATC

These were some extras from my swapping buddy Pat.  Stamps, Eiffel Tower Ribbon, and some Hello Kitty Paper.

This is the actual item/reason for the swap.  This is called an ATC or Artist Trading Card.  These are cards that artistic people make to swap with others as a sample of their artwork.  They are to be traded not sold.  The only rule is that they be 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.  You can paint on them, draw, stamp, glue, whatever suits you.  And, the great part is, you don't have to be a full blown artist (pronounced arteest) to make/trade them.  I actually made two French inspired ATC's but forgot to get a picture of them.  Dang it!

New Postcards

Ivan found some more postcards from his road trip. These are from Utah.  Coalville.  

So here's the part where I ask my lovely friends if they ever come across a cool postcard or two to send them my way.  (With a lovely message, of course.)

Saturday Night Conessions

I don't really want to go to bed.  It is so nice and quiet.

Boys, boys, boys!

These came in during the Postcard Swap for Postcard Lovers this past week.  A young lady from Kentucky who is in the process of buying her first house.  She, hubby, & baby will be able to move out of their mother-in-law's place.

Art on a postcard

This arrived yesterday from Australia.  It's my first postcrossing postcard to arrive.  It's the "Rashi Racers" oil and acrylic on canvas.  Original artwork by Andy Baker and the Bald Art Company, part of the "tight caps and white zinc series."

baldart.com.au

Postcard Swap for Postcard Lovers

Ivan brought me back a whole bunch of postcards from his recent travels.  Just in time, too!!!  You may recognize where some of these are from & and can say, "I've been there!"

Headed for Chicago

Oregon bound

To a fellow Paris lover in Texas

Sailing for Malaysia

En route to Ireland

Headed to New York

Going to Pennsylvania 

Delivery for Maryland

Vampires, anyone (Washington state)

Calgary cousin