New Charm Swap: Winter's Night Sky

Winter's Night Sky (hosted by Art Charms Yahoo Group)

Look up into the dark clear night sky and think of all the charms hiding there--stars, the moon, maybe a few clouds, and of course, some angels.  Now lets create some of those charms!

You can make charms or dangles.  Manufactdured charms or beads are okay, but they must be altered in some way and must fit the night sky theme.  Colors must be clear crystal and silver, with silver findings.  Any materials are welcome.  Charms may be up to 1 1/2", including jump ring.

This swap is in groups of 10.  You can sign up for more than one set, but your second set must be different from the first.  

SIGN-UPS until November 15, 2013

FINISHED CHARMS due to hostess December 15, 2013

Complete Info here

Sign-ups http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ArtCharms/database

Come join us!  

Art Charms
Art Charms Facebook Group

Art Charms on Pinterest

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Christmas Charm Swaps

Christmas charm swaps are one of my favorites.  Currently there are two posted that will be a lot of fun! They both close for sign-ups November 1, so if you are interested, see links below.  

"Childhood Memories of Christmas" Charm Swap. Make a charm reminding you of your favorite decoration, Christmas ornament, a special gift you received, or favorite food--anything that is reminescent of a childhood memory.  (These charms should be no longer than 1.5" including jump ring, and require using silver findings)  See full details here, and sign-up for this swap here.

"Christmas Ornament" Charm Swap.  What a fun way to have some very special one-of-a-kind ornaments for your tree--or to give away.  Think snowflakes, snowmen, santas, gingerbread men--or whatever comes to mind.  (They can be up to 3" in length and you can use any medium, and any color findings)  See full details here, and sign-up for this swap here.

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Art Charm Swap -- Altered Keys

I am so far behind on getting photos posted from my art charm swaps.  I have participated in several and they need to be shared!  The following swaps are from my Art Charms Yahoo Group .

Altered Keys Swap:
For this swap, we had to alter a metal key, any length. 

The above keys are the keys I sent for the swap.  

The altered keys I received:

Top Row, L-R:  Anne Savage, Lorie Garver, Rhea Freitag, Cheryl Reese, Kimberly Roylance, Bella Richey, and Pam Hartman. Bottom Row, L-R: Kathleen Leanna, Denise Mitchell, Pam Crawford, Mary Higby, and Peg Krzyzewski.

L-R: Cris Peacock, Deb Patrick, Twyla Marti, and Jan Hamill.

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Happy St. Pat's Day!

"May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine on your windowpane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."

I love the image above and use it often when doing something for St. Pat's Day.  I recently did a charm swap with a St. Pat's Day theme with my Art Charms Group on Yahoo and used this image along with some of my other favorites.  Each charm could be no more than 1.5" long, so I resized the images to 1" and did an image transfer process to create each charm.  

 

Here are the charms I received . . .   

Top Row, L-R:  Charm by Denise Mitchell, Elaine Paullus, Bella Richey, Bella Richey, Kerri Creasy, and Mary Higby.  Bottom Row, L-R:  Bev Breisinger, Linda DeWitt, Kathleen Leanna, Donna Butcher, and me.

Another one of the Art Charm swaps I participated in this past month was a "Color" Swap with the theme of Green/and Gold. It was perfect for building a charm bracelet along with the St. Pat's charms.  

Here are my charms:

and the charms I received . . . 

Top Row, L-R:  Charm by Bella Richey, Bev Breisinger, Mary Higby, Donna Butcher, Kathleen Leanna, Kerri Creasy, Kathleen Leanna, and Leanne Olsen.  Bottom Row, L-R:  Bella Richey, Pam Hartman, Leannne Olsen, Denise Mitchell, Pam Hartman, K. Carroll, Denise Mitchell, and K. Carroll.

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Spooky Charms

"Witch and ghost make merry
on this last of dear October’s days."  
~Author Unknown

What better day than today to share some Halloween charms I made, as well as the amazing charms I received in a couple of charm swaps.

Art Charms Yahoo Group:

The charms above were all made using various rubber stamps stamped on shrink plastic, except for the little ghost.  All are 1 1/2" long, or smaller.  

Ink Stains with Roni Johnson Charm Swap:  

The two charms above were my contribution to this swap.  Both are images stamped on shrink plastic.

These are the charms I received in response to the swap.  The artists, left to right:  Julie Case, Roni Johnson, Carol Workman, and Olga Brock. 

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Art Charms Group: Button Charm Swap

Hosted by Dana James, this was a fun charm swap.  We could use any kind of button, old or new.  Any color of findings was acceptable, but the charm could be no larger than 1" wide and 1 1/2" long (including jump ring).  Each charm must include a real button.  

1st Charm:  I took a tiny wooden spool and wrapped some blue thread around it--then added a blue button and a couple of clear beads.  2nd Charm (steam-punky button):  I used a clear button; added an image from the Steampunk Debutante Collection from Graphic 45, and attached a "gear" on the back. Button was sealed with Judikins Diamond Glaze.   3rd Charm: The idea for this button was created from seeing a similar design for earrings using a button, wire, and some small beads.  4th Charm:  I stamped "A Sweet Spring Story" Stamp from Red Lead Paper Works on frosted shrink plastic.  After coloring it and heating it to shrink, I added a button, a small yellow bead, and Diamond Glaze. 5th Charm:  Using a button, some wire and a bead, I came up with this charm.  I really liked it, but it turned out to be too long (1 3/4"), so I didn't go ahead and send it in.

These charms (except for the one in the middle) were created by downloading some "button-card" images, resizing them, and printing them on inkjet shrink plastic.  I then added a button, bead and a tiny tassel.  For the charm in the middle, I used a button, some wire, and a black snap.  

   

Here are the charms I received from my Art Charm sisters:

Top Row:  Pam Crawford, Kimberly Royance, Kathleen Leanna, Kerri Creasy, Donna Butcher, Linda DeWitt, Lorie Garver, Twyla Marti, Dana James, and Cris Peacock.

Bottom Row: Jan Hamill, Denise Mitchel, Elaine Paullus, Mary Higby, Peggy Recker, Cheryl Fritz, Pam Hartman, Phyllis Boggs, Theresa Bennette, and Minette Miller.

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Tim Holtz Creative Exploration of the Caribbean

I will probably never quit talking about this cruise {grin}, so be prepared.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE CRUISE, THEY ARE HERE: Remembering Today.

I participated in a charm swap put together by Liz Thogersen, Liz collected all the charms before the cruise from the 31or so participating and had them all ready for us at the Welcoming party the first night of the cruise.  I thought you might enjoy seeing them.  Each charm had to be made with something from Tim Holtz products and finished with a lobster claw clasp. 

 I made a few of these to give away. 

 

Above are a couple of charms I sent in for the swap.  I did an assortment using something of Tim's, shells, and beads.  On some I used a Florida map (2nd photo) to make a paper bead.  

 

Valerie Callaway

Pam Austin

Liz Thogersen

Judy Snell

Sandy Young

Veronica Rozic

Sheri Brainard

Margaret Rodgers

Michele Lyons

Paula Morrison

Susie Gemeinhardt

Susan Delgado

Barbara Burgs

Christie Hund

M. C. Sparks

Carol Dickhaut

Mary Ann Sumner

Nancy Arbuckle-Mayer

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August 2011 Charm Swap with Roni

I recently participated in my first charm swap--and was it fun!  The hostess of the swap was Roni from Ink Stains. I've been following her blog for a long time and love reading all her tips and how-to's.  I would drool at the cool charms each time she had a swap, and all the awesome ones she creates as well.  This time I got to participate!

I was so excited when the package arrived with my charms.

Brenda Stringer made this fabulous charm from a guitar pick and
vintage jewelry.  I love it, Brenda.  Thank you.

I love steampunk and was delighted when I saw this charm made
by Lori Williams.  She made a cool, matching tag to display it. 
Thank you so much, Lori.

"Journey is best measured in Friends, rather than miles."
I love this!  You probably already know--this was made by
Roni herself.  I am so thrilled to get it!  She has a tutorial on her
blog for making it.  She shares so much and literally step-
by-step.  She has been my inspiration on so many projects.

This charm was made by Hecate Leigh.  This is so pretty with the
vintage image in a soldered frame.  Thank you so much. Check out
some of her other cool jewelry on Etsy.  

Last, but not least--Helen Cleary make this awesome beaded 

charm topped off with a bright orange eye bead.  Thank you,

Helen.  

  

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