Countdown to Christmas - Day 23

Day 23 of the Countdown to Christmas swap!  These December days have  whizzed by - just two more sleeps before the big day!

Today's matchbox has been made by Amanda who has a year long Christmas blog called

Whispering Christmas Dreams

Inside her delightful box was a cute little hanging gingerbread star decoration.

Thank you Amanda, for a lovely box and gift!

Hope you come back tomorrow to see the last two matchboxes.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 22

Naughty but nice!! 

 This is box number 22 I received in the

Countdown to Christmas matchbox swap.

Well, it's more than just nice it's wonderful!  I love the vintage image showing the three girlfriends who look as though butter wouldn't melt, but they've obviously been up to something!!   I wonder if they got what they wanted for Christmas that year - lol.

This lovely box was made by Linda from Pennsylvania, USA of

Country Pickins

Here's what's inside

A lovely beaded bracelet!

Thank you Linda for the great box and gift!

Not many to go now, hope to see you tomorrow for box number 23!

Countdown to Christmas - Box 21

Here's today matchbox for the Countdown to Christmas swap.

This was made by Angela of

Pages by the Sea.

I think this one is simply beautiful and full of vintage-y goodness!

I love all the detail Angela has put into it, I think this has to be another of my (many!!) favourites!

Inside the gift was some handmade flowers, two poinsettias and two little sprigs of what look to me like mistletoe, or snow berries - made with wire and glass beads, they're so effective!

Many thanks Angela, I love it!

I leave you with a photo taken yesterday of my niece and nephew - it was snow-time in the garden!

They'll be back again today - so I know it's going to be another exhausting day - bring it on!!

Thanks for looking and I hope you'll come back tomorrow to see matchbox number 22.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 20

'It's the final countdown' .... who remembers that song by the group Europe!  I shall now have it running around my head for ages!

It is though, day 20 - it's getting very close.  I finally finished wrapping all my presents today - I always feel I haven't bought enough, still there's a few more shopping days left (snow permitting!)

Anyway, back to today's matchbox in the Countdown to Christmas swap. 

Box number 20 was made by my blogging buddy, the very talented Mrs A of

It's An Alien Life.

It's a very cheery box featuring our favourite reindeer - Rudolph!

Mrs A made all her gifts inside each matchbox to correspond with the fronts of her boxes - so inside this one, was of course Rudolph himself in the form of a little brooch (pin).  Look at his shiny red nose! 

He's so cute and I'll definitely be wearing him on Christmas Day!



Thanks Mrs A, I love him!

Come back tomorrow to see matchbox number 21!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 19

It really has felt a lot like Christmas today as we had very heavy snow fall earlier and it does look very pretty.  It also lights everywhere up even at night time which is quite surreal. 

Today's matchbox, number 10 was made by Cami of

Creating Myself.

It is covered with sheet music and sprinkled with sparklies and mica.  Even the wired tinsel hanger sparkles!

Inside Cami created a beautiful little scene with a dove and the word 'peace' and yes, you guessed it, even more sparkles!

This is the second box I received from Cami - I also got her number 8 containing a domino charm.

Thank you Cami, I love the sparkly box and scene!

If you don't know yet what this countdown is all about hop over to Linda's blog

A Swap For all Seasons

where all will be revealed.

Hope to see you here tomorrow for box number 20 where you might find me singing
 'Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer' - !!!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 18

Will you sing along with me - lol

'O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree' ......

Day 18 - just one week to go now - are you excited? 

Today's matchbox was made by Elena of

The Life of a Traveling Princess.

The box is decorated on the outside with a

beautiful metal Christmas tree charm encrusted with glittery snow!

This is a very poignant box as at the top of the tree is a little

breast cancer charm.  The theme continues on the inside

with the message of 'hope'

inside the little wrapped parcel was this

A hand painted heart shaped charm.

It's beautiful Elena, thank you!

If you'd like to see more altered matchboxes go over to

 A Swap for All Seasons

where Linda who is hosting this swap has provided links

to the blogs of all the participants.

Hope you can come back tomorrow to see box number 19!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

I am sixteen going on seventeen .... well not really, not for a long time in fact, but the number 17 matchbox reminded me of that song from The Sound of Music - and the film usually makes an appearance over Christmas on the TV - no complaints from me though as it's one of my all time favourites!

Anyway, back to today's box - isn't it lovely!

This one was made by Angela of

Down to the Darling Details.

I love the pretty papers she's used and the trimmings, it really does have darling details!

Here's the inside

The gift is a lovely little tree decoration which appears to be made from part of an actual wreath.  The button topper is much more sparkly than it looks in the photo.



Thank you Angela, another little treasure for my collection!

If you don't know yet what this countdown is all about,

 go and have a look at Linda's blog

 A Swap For All Seasons

where all will be explained!

Hope to see you again tomorrow to share what matchbox number 18 has in store.

Thanks for looking! 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 16

Another day, another matchbox!  It's getting nearer .... here we are at day 16 of the Countdown to Christmas swap. 

(All details are on Linda's blog

 A Swap For All Seasons)

This is one of my favourite matchboxes altered to become a little house.

It was made by Heidi from

Queen For A Day

Here it is opened with it's contents -

It's a cute vintage image of a little girl wearing a Santa hat.

Thank you Heidi if you're looking in!

There'll be another matchbox to see tomorrow if you come back! 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 15

Matchbox number 15 was made by Jill from

 file under misc. 

and is very prettily decorated with patterned paper, cute trimming and felt flowers.

(For some reason I'm unable to upload my photograph of the closed matchbox, but you can see most of it in the next photo)

Here's what's inside

It's a large paperclip decorated with a fabric covered button.  I've never seen one altered like this before, but I like it!

Perfect for keeping all those papers together to 'file under misc.'!

Thank you Jill.

I should add that the Countdown to Christmas swap is hosted by Linda over on her blog

 A Swap For All Seasons

where you'll find all the details if you're interested.

Wonder what matchbox number 16 looks like?

Come back tomorrow to find out

 (hopefully I'll be able to upload it)!

Thanks for looking.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 14

"Oh the weather outside is frightful,

but the fire is so delightful,

and since we've no place to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

I've just heard Dean Martin singing this over on Linda's blog

A Swap For All Seasons

where all the details for this 'Countdown to Christmas' swap may be found.

Today's matchbox is from Tracy of

Daily Bubbles

She covered her matchbox with a combination of sheet music and sheep paper and very effectively burnt the edges of the music paper - I just know I wouldn't be able to do this for fear of catching the whole thing alight!  I wonder if she used the matches from the box!  

Here's what's inside

Some lovely earrings - I think they have something of the Eiffel Tower about them - more oo-la-la than ho-ho-ho.  I think Santa may have picked them up on his visit to Paris - lol.

Thank you Tracy, I love both the box and the earrings!

There will be another reveal tomorrow - of box 15!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 13

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."

 no, not me!  That's what I just heard sung by the Drifters over on Linda's blog

 A Swap For All Seasons 

where all the details about this 'Countdown to Christmas' swap may be found.

It's day 13 and here's the beautiful matchbox I received from Amy Harrett of

Crazy for the Country

My photography skills aren't good enough unfortunately to show just how sparkly the embellishments on this box are - it looks encrusted with glitter!  The colours are much brighter than the photo shows too.

Here's what's inside

A delightful little candy cane to hang on our Christmas tree!

Thank you Amy!

Hope to see you here tomorrow for box number 14!

Thank you for all your anniversary wishes yesterday, they were all duly passed on to 'Mr Sherry' - he loved that title - lol. 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 12

Day 12 of this swap - all details may be found on the A Swap For All Seasons blog where there's always lovely Christmas music to be heard too!

My box number 12 was made by Michelle Cummings of Faerie Dust Dreams.  I've had the pleasure of joining in with one of Michelle's charm swaps in the past and she is another lovely, sharing crafter so I'm delighted to have received one of her matchboxes.

Inside the box was decorated with fabric with music score on and of course, the all important glitter!!

The gift inside is an altered bottletop which has the same image on as the one on the front of the box - a vintage postage stamp dated 1932 with two carol singers singing their hearts out!

Thank you Michelle, I love it!

I received some nice post yesterday from Shelley of

 Wild Frogs Artwork and Creations

just for joining in with the kimono challenge she hosted recently.  Here's what she sent me

A Kimono shaped greetings card and an unmounted rubber stamp which I know I'm going to enjoy using. 

 Isn't Blogland wonderful with such lovely, kind and sharing crafters. 

 If you're looking in Shelley, thanks again!

Finally, I don't usually put much personal information on my blog but feel the need to mention that today is special as it's our 18th wedding anniversary.  It was a beautiful cold crisp but sunny day and it seems like yesterday!  Happy Anniversary John (not that he looks at my blog - but you never know - if you do John, I dare you to leave a comment!)

Come back tomorrow to see what matchbox number 13 holds!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 11

How quickly the days are passing! 

 Here's box number 11 in the 'Countdown to Christmas' matchbox swap hosted by Linda on her blog

 A Swap For All Seasons.

This box was made by Jenna from

 CorgiPants Short & Sweet

(what a great name for a blog!)

Lovely traditional design and colours and here's what's inside

Festive stickers and fabric and best of all a beautiful sparkly Santa ornament.

Many thanks Jenna, Santa will be displayed on our Christmas tree.

If you come back tomorrow, you'll see box number 12.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend x

Countdown to Christmas - Day 9

Ho, Ho, Ho!!!  Here' a very jolly looking Santa!  This is matchbox number 9 of 25 I received as part of the 'Countdown to Christmas' swap hosted by Linda on her blog A Swap For All Seasons.

This one was made by my lovely blogging buddy Mrs A, who by co-incidence featured on my blog yesterday - just look what she sent me here.

Back to today's matchbox - Mrs A themed all of her matchboxes - so on mine, there's a Santa on the front (which looks like part of a bauble decoration), and more Santas inside!

A pair of festive earrings featuring not only Santa, but a Christmas tree too!  These are looking favourite for Christmas day now - but maybe I'll have to change my earrings every few hours to make sure they are all worn on the big day as I've received a few pairs in this swap already!

Thank you Mrs A for another gorgeous box!

I don't know if you spotted this or not, but you can see my reflection in the Santa bauble in the first photograph - I realised this would happen so stepped to one side, but I can still be seen - doh!!!!  I would have dressed up nice if I'd known (lol), but as it is, I look a complete mess having spent the morning cleaning the house and have just taken a hurried break to make sure I got the matchbox on my blog today!  At least you can't see my face - phew!!!

Hope you'll come back tomorrow to see box 10, thanks for looking.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 8

Feeling Christmassy yet?  Hop along over to Linda's blog A Swap for All Seasons where you'll hear some lovely Christmas music and find out why myself along with 70 other participants are posting daily pictures of matchboxes we've received every day until Christmas day.

My eighth box was made by Cami all the way from Texas whose blog is called Creating Myself.

Cami's matchbox has a very contemporary feel to it, with lovely clean lines, but with that all important Christmassy sparkly and tinsel added!  Inside she's stamped the word 'believe' (the last 'e' is there although you can't see it in my photo as I didn't pull the drawer out far enough). 

The gift inside is a mini domino and bead charm which is well, simply charming!! 

It's lovely, thank you Cami!

Don't forget there are links to all of the participants blogs on A Swap for All Seasons  blog in the sidebar if you fancy looking at some more altered matchboxes.

Hope you come back tomorrow to see what day 9 brings!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 7

Here's matchbox number 7 of 25 I received from the 'Countdown to Christmas' swap over on the A Swap For All Seasons blog.

This little beauty was made by the hostess of the swap herself, the lovely Linda Smith who with her helpers, worked so hard organising and co-ordinating this fun festive swap.

The outside of the matchbox is decorated with papers, ric rac, string and not forgetting the pom pom on Santa's hat!  There is some sparkly glitter there too (not sure if my photo has captured it though).

 The gift inside is a cute little snowman decoration ready to hang on my tree.  He has a frayed red scarf and even a little sparkly jewel at his neckline!

It's beautiful Linda, thank you!

Hope to see you all tomorrow for the unveiling of box number 8!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 6

Here is box number 6 of 25 which I received as part of the Countdown to Christmas swap hosted by Linda on her blog A Swap For All Seasons.

It was made by Sherry Wescott of If I Could Set My Soul Free.

My photographs don't show how sparkly it is, but it really is!  The little decoupaged penguin on the front is so cute and he's holding a snowball.  When I opened this matchbox it actually made me laugh out loud!

Lots of little snowballs inside, more sparkly glitter and a note saying 'Snowball fight' - I thought that was so funny.

Many thanks Sherry, you have a great sense of humour, I love it!

Hope you all come back tomorrow to see box number 7.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 4 (and my entire display)

I'm counting down to Christmas with the 25 matcboxes I received from this swap organised by Linda on her blog A Swap For All Seasons.

Matchbox number 4 pictured above was made by JoAnne from Vintage Dragonfly.  The focal point of the box is a beautiful fabric rosette topped off with a fabric poinsettia flower.

Inside, JoAnne has altered a tiny scrabble tile with a vintage Christmas image.

She provided a bale and ribbon so I can decide whether to make the tile into a piece of jewellery or a mini ornament - how thoughtful.  I haven't decided yet, but either way it'll be fabulous.

Many thanks JoAnne your matchbox and gift are both stunning!

A few posts ago I mentioned the goody bag Linda sent with the return matchboxes.  One of the contents was a pair of cute green felt mittens.  They were just crying out for some stitching and embellishment, so here's what I did with them (I know the stitching is a bit rough, but that's the way I intended it to be ...!!!)

I attached a little magnet to the back of the button so they can stick on to the baking tray (cookie sheet) I altered for my entire display.

Onto the bottom right hand corner of the tray I glued on some paper poisettia flowers I made a while back with a paper punch.

Here's the whole thing - all 25 matchboxes on the tray (which I altered with Christmas napkins and Stickles glitter).  I attached a small strip of magnet to the back of each of them so they can easily be removed and put back.

I think it looks fab! 

Can you spot your matchbox on there?

I wish I knew who received mine - so far I only know who received matchbox number one!

Linda does have links to all 70 participants on the sidebar of her blog so I may have to start searching on there!

Come back tomorrow to see what's inside matchbox number five!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 3

Here's the third matchbox I received in the 'Countdown to Christmas' swap hosted by Linda on her blog A Swap For All Seasons.

This beautiful box was created by Ruth Graham.  Unfortunately her blog 'throughmygardensgate' appears to have been discontinued so I can't provide a link to it or say thank you personally. 

Ruth decorated her box with scrapbook paper and edged it top and bottom with some little glass like chips looking like frost - I haven't captured it well in my photos. On the front of the box is lovely snowflake made with glass beads and pipe cleaners (what a great idea!). Inside is lined with red glitter paper.

The gift inside is a pair of silver earrings with beads and the peace sign - they are beautiful.

If you are by any chance reading this Ruth, many thanks for the beautiful matchbox and earrings, they will both be treasured x

Countdown to Christmas - Day 2

Here's the second of twenty five matchboxes I received as part of the 'Countdown to Christmas' matchbox swap hosted by Linda.  You can read about it on her blog A Swap for All Seasons.

This matchbox was made by Sophia from Blue Chair Diary.

Sophia covered the box with Christmas paper and added a cute little reindeer - I don't think it's Rudolph though as he hasn't got a red nose - lol.

The gift inside was a little cameo - perfect for a vintage project.

Many thanks Sophia!

Yesterday I forgot to put this photo on of the contents of a goody bag Linda enclosed with our return matchboxes.

If that doesn't get you in a Christmassy mood, I don't think anything will!  Thank you again Linda for all your hard work organising this huge swap and for the lovely goodies!