Mas ATCs

These are ATCs that I made over the weekend.  Crafting is my coping mechanism for the death of my little Princess Franki :(

I started by making backgrounds with watercolors, all are on bristol.  From there I just tried to think of what the colors reminded me of and I went from there.

 The lion card managed to use a few of my pre-cut squares.  Yay, now I only have 899,935,867 more squares to go before they are gone.

This lovely bride features vintage lace and buttons from my stash.

 

Apparently, stitching baby onsies put me in the mood for this one. More vintage lace.

 

Glitter is fun!  (I used to hate it, I'm finding a new me, lol)

 

 

I love mail!!!

I received my first trade in the mail yesterday, all the way from Holland!  Margreet sent a lovely fabric ATC featuring an image of one of her paper cuttings and delicate hand embroidery.

I love that she incorporated a little signature into her piece.  I've been doing it on my embroidery pieces, but I didn't even think about it for my cards.

 After seeing the back of hers I feel bad that mine was so sloppy.  When I first started it didn't occur to me that someone would actually want them, so I didn't care.  I'll have to work on that :)

So little....

Doug called me up with a special request, an "I'm with Stoner" onsie as a joke for someone he knows having a baby.  We negotiated and a deal was struck.  Personally, I think it's stupid but Doug was persistent.  And frankly, money talks and bullshit walks.  I can honestly say that I was shocked at how darn small these things were.  Obviously, it's been a long time since I've held a baby!

I used variegated floss, so that it was purposely a bit hard to read, in the event that someone with absolutely no sense of humor happens to glance at the baby, there less likely a chance of a freak-out.

Even though he explained he didn't want a cutsie gift, I threw two more in there free of charge out of sheer pity because I think little bebes, especially girls, need darling little clothes!  Plus, what the heck I'm I going to do with baby clothes??

My favorite one!  Made with a Mitch o'Connell Pattern and crayon tinted.

 

It's just sublime!

A recent project.  Can't say who  it's for just in case they look on here!

This one shows the square beads nicely.

 

It's the chandelier pattern from the Sublime Stitching Craft Pad.

The candles feature glow-in-the-dark thread as a little surprise.  The beads look like crap in this photo, but not so bad in real life.  I used satin, split, and back stitch.

Mmmmm, Pie!

I love this picture!

The fabric is so darling!  And you can catch a glimpse of my pie (completely made from  scratch with locally grown  Sonoma County  apples...*GASP* I'm officially domesticated!)

Alright, bragging shot just for fun! (Baking is an art form too!)
Our home-made "Ugly" Apple Pie!
A Dill-bot and Jackson 5 Collabo.

2nd Batch of ATCs

This was my second batch of ATCs.  Starting out with this-

The shiny surface created by the modge-podge makes it hard to photograph (it's ok, I still love ya MP)  All of the trim and ribbon is vintage.  It's tiny left over pieces from when I was cutting and packaging yardage for my etsy.  I couldn't resist the jeweled eye, because like every gal with an inner pin-up, the thought of frilly "unmentionables" puts a sparkle in my eye.

Then this little window.

The shingles are also left over from my etsy packaging exstravaganza.  The yellow fabric came from my scrap jar, some may recognize it from my Lazy Daisy Crafting Kit.   The rest is card stock and watercolors on bristol.  There is actually a tiny piece of plastic for the window, but you can't tell here.

And finally, Hope.

Featuring my official ballot and the one, the only President Barak Obama.  Almost entitled, "PILF" however, I figured that was just plain inappropriate. Ha ha, sometimes I just can't help myself.

Blue Art Deco Jar

Blue Art Deco Jar
Originally uploaded by Mafiosagrrl

One more down... I'm slowly getting there!  I need to figure out a cool set-up.  I feel like my stuff is looking a little boring, which can't be good for my sales!  The important thing is that I'm learning.  Available now for $30 at my  etsy.

1st ATC Trade

Apparently this will be the year of crafty firsts for me.  I'm officially doing my first trade with Margreet, for my "Waste not, Want not" fabric collage card.  I'm pumped that my first offer came all the way from Holland!  Not only do I get to use super awesome air-mail envelopes but I'm also making friends all around the world.  I don't know what I'm getting yet, I asked her to surprise me.  Hope that was ok, as I am not yet savvy to trading protocol  :)

Lazy Daisy Crafting Kit

Lazy Daisy Crafting Kit
Originally uploaded by Mafiosagrrl


Another first for me! Finally opened my shop, www.MafiosaGrrl.etsy.com
and this gorgeous pile was my first item.  It's the "Lazy Daisy Crafting Kit" using a re-purposed jar and featuring a handmade pincushion of calico and vintage lace.  Stuffed inside is bunches of goodies like vintage ribbon/trim, buttons, fabric swatches, ruffle trim, vintage bias tape and a plain cotton bandanna to personalize.  Perfect for any cowgirl(or boy) looking to craft the day away. Many more items to come. YAY :)

Banner- in progress

Banner- in progress
Originally uploaded by Mafiosagrrl

This will eventually make it's way to the top of this blog and my etsy. I plan on going over the gray with a brighter color so it's a little easier to read. I'd also like to try out some English Paper quilting on it and perhaps a little fabric collage embellished with more embroidery. I made this on a piece of fabric cut from an old favorite pair of pants. Couldn't bare to part with them just because I've gotten a little too chunky for them :) It's just cotton, but the outside is ridiculously soft, like micro-suede.

The bottom part says, Keep your friends close and your crafts closer.  This is going to be the motto on all of my packaging for my etsy.  And yeah, it's pretty much my motto in life.  The gray does not photograph well at all.  I'm thinking of satin stitching  it in white.  More pictures to come soon!

ATCs.

I've decided to try my hand at ATCs.  I've always loved looking at them, viewing each as tiny little works of art.  These were the first two I whipped up.

 

For this, I combined my love of fabric and proverbs.  I collaged scraps from my jar onto the cards with Modge Podge (love it!!) and let it dry overnight.  I used Glad Press and Seal to write the words on top and punched holes with a straight pin... it was a pain with all of that Modge Podge to go through.  I embroidered the words with two strands of floss.  I wish I had either used more floss or a more visible color.  I had intended on hanging it in my studio area as a little reminder to use every possible material to it's fullest.  In an attempt to make it more visible in the little frame I was going to use I colored the white floss with marker... however, this didn't really work.  Oh well, in the album it goes instead.

The second one, because I'm sassy and sweet at the same time!  I've had that polka dot tissue paper forever, ha ha.  My Mama wrapped a few of my Christmas presents in it a few years ago.  I'm not a pack-rat, I just see potential in things others throw out!

 

Another 1st for me!!

So, I squealed with joy (well actually, it was mainly shock) when I saw this-

 

I was showcased in my very first Stitchgasm over on www.mrxstitch.com.  I'm so flattered to be among so many talented people.  I look on there all of the time and think, "Wow, these people are amazing!" Never thought my stuff would ever be up there.  Thank you so much guys!    

More little lovelies.

I made more clips!  Normally I wouldn't include pictures of myself, however, I love the coincidence that I happen to be wearing the same shirt as the day I made some of them.  My "I <3 NY" shirt, after all today is September 11th.  (ha ha two NY posts in a row!)  And yes, I like to enjoy a cocktail or two when I'm crafting ;)

I finally figured out the packaging.   Of course, incorporating my favorite, super-awesome font, Corleone!

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

i <3 New York!

Some recently thrifted goodness.  

Excuse me, my East Coast side is exposed here. 

A lovely print of Buffalo.

Awesome tin tray.

I love that it's old and not one of those Remember... souvenirs 

with the Towers.  Don't get me wrong, we should remember.  I just hate the opportunistic, ugly junk that gets pumped out after tragedies or the death of a celebrity.  Another way you can tell it's old, it's surprisingly heavy.