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!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 1

Yes, it's begun - the Countdown to Christmas!

Every day from now until 25th December one of the 25 matchboxes I received in the Countdown to Christmas swap hosted by Linda on her blog

 'A Swap For All Seasons'

will be revealed in all it's glory.

My first matchbox was made by Marcia from Vintage French Hen

What a way to start!!!  The box has been covered with fabric and made into a wonderful little house, the number on the door is of course number one!  Inside, has been lined with some Christmas fabric as has the end of the drawer and attached to that there is a little red pom pom knob.

Marcia's gift inside the matchbox is a strip of stamped fabric which is simply beautiful, I love it!  I asked Marcia what sort of fabric it was, she said "the ribbon is cotton from a vintage napkin. I tore it into strips and stamped away"

Thank you Linda for organising this fabulous swap, and to Marcia for her beautiful matchbox and gift.

Matchbox number 2 will be revealed tomorrow!

If you're matchbox or Christmas crazy and would like to see some more, hop along over to Linda's blog where on her sidebar she lists links for all 70 participants of the swap - oh, and you'll hear some Christmas music there too!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday, week 77

On my craft desk today there are three things mainly

1.  Two new Texture Fade Embossing folders which arrived in today's post after my hubby very kindly 'won' them for me on Ebay.

2.  Towards the back a plastic wallet with some fabric scraps in, I've been doing a bit of hand sewing patchwork in front of the TV so I can keep hubby company for a change instead of disappearing upstairs to the craft room, only to reappear when it's bedtime - lol.

3.  A bundle of ribbons so I can choose some to make a hanger for the baking tray which I've been altering to display my 25 Christmas matchboxes - another post about that will follow later today.

If you'd like to see some other desks go along to Julia's blog Stamping Ground where she has links to 94 others and by the time I add my own link there'll probably be a few more too - so I'm not the only one addicted to this WOYWW lark!

I'll leave you with the snowy view of our little back garden 

I know we've got off lightly compared to other parts of the country, but it ain't 'alf cold!

Thanks for looking and if you let me know you've been, I'll come and visit you too.  Stay safe and warm, until the next time xx