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Sunday 10 May 2009

'Things With Wings' Charm Swap





I was invited by Michelle of 'Faerie Dust Dreams' to take part in her 4th Charm Swap - how could I say no!

I'm fairly new to making charms and so far this year been in charm swaps where I used Mah jongg pieces, scrabble tiles and jigsaw pieces. For Michelle's swap there are 25 participants (yes 25 - I do love a challenge!) and I struggled at first to decide what to use to make the charms with. Eventually I settled on some crystal chandelier droplets - I acquired these about 15 years ago when my parents moved into their current home and the previous owners left behind a very dusty crystal chandelier in the hallway. Unfortunatly they aren't real crystals, but do have a lovely reflective cut glass quality about them. I saved them from going in the dustbin - so what a good girl I am for recycling some of them all these years on - lol!

The theme of this swap is 'Things With Wings' and the images I used came from either used postage stamps or magazines. They are mainly butterflies but there are also a couple of dragonflies, birds and even an angel! My favourite image though is a bumble bee which I cut out from an old cardboard tissue box.

I adhered the images onto the back of the crystals with Glossy Accents. Once dry, I wet the back and rubbed off most of the backing papers which left an image transfer kind of effect. It worked better on some than others. I tidied up the backs by rubbing a little Perfect Pearls over and sealed the whole thing with some more Glossy Accents.

I'm pleased with how they've turned out and although they may seem a little bit on the large size (one and half inches long approximately) I think this will be ok as Michelle said ' there is no size limit as many will not put these on a bracelet, but instead make wall art, necklaces and other adornments'

I can't wait to see what charms I get back although I'll have to as the swap doesn't end until 20th June!

There is a Flickr group 'Things with Wings Charm Swap, 2009' for participants to post pictures of their charms once done.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow Sherry these are gorgeous what an amazing thing to save then use up so many years later - Im sure the people receiving these will be sooo pleased xx Love your choice of music too crystal chandliers a really neat touch x

Unknown said...

cor these are fbby and ant you a clever girl...very beautiful charms hugs sassyxxx

Jan said...

Wow - I just LOVE these Sherry. Fantastic idea. They look really good.

Pattie said...

BEAUTIFUL ! Lovely idea they look so pretty,now you got me going I have some crystals from an old lampshade ,I saved too,will I ever have time to do it tho errrrrr LOL

Trudy said...

love love love them...got a spare one..lol

MARGARET FIELD said...

OMG THESE ARE TO DIIIIIIIE FOR .
love love love them you clever thing you...lol xxx

Dee said...

These are really beautiful. Love them. Dee x

nancy said...

Sherry, how very clever. And they are beautiful!

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

I just came by to tell you I'll be sending some flowers for the month of may you way and then I saw these gorgeous charms! Great job!!!

My name is Cindy said...

Well they are a bit different, you clever thing you,