Naughty Inchies and Firey Foxes

My last swap before the next big move is the Alphabet Inchies Swap on craftster. Group 2 are all the ladies who said they don't mind (or even prefer) "naughty" words. I had every intention of being truly foul mouthed. God knows I have no problem with that. Instead, my words tended towards innuendo and the pictures to sexy. Of all the inchies I've made this set was the hardest to split up and send. They look so great together and I just love the combination of vintage images, modern photos, hand drawn images and 3D objects. I'm just crossing my fingers that they all get to their new home safe and sound.

About halfway through living in Germany I started my infatuation with foxes. Around that same time I came across a pattern online for a paper banner of little foxes. (sorry, can't find the original source) I downloaded the artwork but it took me a while to find just the right paper to use. It was 6 coordinating purple and green florals. They looked so great in an open window against the spring background of our neighbor hood. Then.... I got a cat. He liked my paper foxes too. I repaired them 4 times before deciding on a needed change. Thankfully, I had just the right batik fabric and grommet setter. Now these foxes are stylish!

Obligitory cat pic: Vash is so cute when he sleeps.

Vintage Papercraft and Obligatory Cat Pics

After a month of not posting I have plenty of to share. I seem to be in a papercraft state of mind so lots of ATCs and inchies lately.

This is the set I made for the 3x3 ATC Swap on craftster last month. Alwaysinmyroom gave me 9 themes to try to incorporate in the spread. I was able to fit most. The prominent ones are Asian, sewing and red. Also included are cats, wildlife and technology. To pull together all of the varied themes I made all 9 from the same background paper. I Mod Podged a vintage sewing pattern to some card stock and toned down the shininess with gesso. Then I scoured my ephemera collection. I pulled together all the mismatched items with the color red. Always adores it and even called me her new craftster crush. *blush*

I usually try to make a copy of all ATCs for myself. In the case of the 3x3 Swap I really couldn't. Most of my found objects were one of a kinds so it really was impossible. Instead, I took a second background page of the decoupaged apron pattern and added the bits of the rest the sewing pattern. The first row is from the front of the envelope. The second is from the back. The third row as bits from the instruction pages inside. The set is pulled together by scraps of lace, ribbon and rick rack repeating in each row. I love the vintage feel of the set. It is so cute.

With the leftovers of the leftovers I had just enough to make a matching set of inchies. I added drawn on stitching lines to define each object.

Between sewing projects Vash entertained me by running around like a freak. Mike started calling him Super Vash after he started taking corners by running up the wall. I new then that he needed a cape. I used scraps of fleece and a bit of ribbon. It slides around a bit but it is so cute.

Here is Super Vash preparing for a day of crime fighting.

Taking a break but staying vigilant by watching for evildoers out the window. Or is he watching squirrels? Or are they EVIL squirrels?

Inchies and One Tiny Thing

A crazy month of swapping is almost over. Most of my partners have received in the Inchies, It's a New Year Swap and sloth003 got her One Tiny Thing yesterday.

I sent Miss Slothy a wallet because she hinted at it in the last OTT swap gallery. She said she liked bright colors and geometric paterns. Here is what I came up with.

And here is the prototype I made for myself. My last wallet made from a comic book was getting a little small with all the discount cards in it. My version also has no pocket for cash since I don't carry any. Oh, and button and ribbon closure (like the DS case) because I managed to forget to sew on some velcro.

Can you tell where my priorities lie? Fabric, books and books, baby!

This is the full set of inchies. 56 in all. I started with some crazy quilt blocks made from shiny bits of scrap. Cut those down and added embelishments. Way more hand sewing than I originaly planned on but garsh they look good.

Then I had this great idea that all my partners should have personalized inchie boxes to store them all in. I drew the boxes out in Corel, colored the base design with markers then stamed on the detail. I narowed the stamps down to two sets so I would go completely crazy. I really thing I had too much time on my hands that week.

When the boxes are put together they look like this.

I need to go get pics of the Ongoing ATCs I sent out as well as the 3x3 ATCs when they are finished off. I really impressed myself with those ones.

Inchies From Heaven

I just finished a great swap of inchies. I received my last set today. It was a welcome gift after pulling weeds at the demand of the army for 3 hours. I sent mine out last week and enough people have received that I think its safe to post my sets. (that and no one will probly read it anyway)

These buttons are attached with Diamond Clear. They are super shiny. I wish that I would have stitched them before glueing, oops.



These are called "In Stitches." Embroidery is done on denim squares filled with my favorite stitches.

From top left: Chain, Couching, Cloud fill, Button Hole, Basket Weave, Brick Stitch, French Knots, Sheef Stitch.



Here is a set of Origami. The animals are folded from one inch squares making it doubley inchified.

From top left: Crane, Blue Bird, Pig, Cat, Whale, Turtle, Butterfly

"Poker Night" set was made from a deck of mini playing cards to hold even mini-er cards.

From top left: CHEATER!, Flush, Aces and Eights, Pair of Jacks, Full House, Duces Wild, Straight Flush, Stright

Embossed copper sheets make up the "Copper Texture" set. I was going to add some patina or aging but they were so happy looking when this shiny. Oh, there is another four letter word but I decided to keep that one for myself. *snicker*

I cut out some mutants and other Marvel comic characters for the set "My Hero". This is my favorite set and my husband almost didn't let me send them out.

From top left: CPT America, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Spiderman, She Hulk, Thor, Hulk, Ironman.

These are the least inpresive looking set untill you hold them up to the light. The black squares are slides from a Veiw Master reel about sea life. I am very proud of myself for this set as I love to have art you can play with. I call the set "Look" in honor of being interactive.

I can't wait for all my partners to receive. I hope they all like what I made. I know I had a great time putting them all together.

I super excited to put there peices in the inchie frame to fill in those blank spots. I have just the place in my studio to hang the finished collage.