Sunday, August 28, 2011

Summer swap

Before I get to the summer swap.... I just wanted to let everyone know that we're OK! Other than a few branches in the yard, and losing cable.... Nothing big happened at our house..... LOL... and as usual I slept through most of it:)
OK... so

I participated in Cockerina summer swap this year:) It was my first swap.... and I am soooo glad I was a part of it!

This is what I got from Auxi! I've always wanted something crocheted in mini! And was so surprised when this tiny little bikini came... And look- it fits perfectly on my pig:)

Auxi sent a hat and blanket, too! I can't tell you how much I'm in love with this set! This is what I had packed to take on vacation with me.... I had planned on doing a photo shoot on the beach with her, but mother nature had other plans! So hopefully here in the next couple of weeks, I will take her to the beach here and take pictures! I even bought her buckets to build mini sand castles with!


And this is what I sent to Sonya! When I found out she was my trade buddie.... I sat down and went all through her blog to give me an idea of what to make.... And when I saw her American home... I knew she need a red, white and blue birdhouse. I have to say... this is one of my favorites!!!

So I thought I'd show you a little bit about how it was made. I make all my birdhouses this way.. First I build a shell...which is the base for the birdhouse. With the house... I knew I wanted stripes... so I took a few sticks, painted them, crackled them and aged them before I attached them to the house. I used a color called linen instead of white because I wanted it to look old.

One by one they got cut out, sanded down some more... and then were added to the sides.

Next I built a base and went ahead and finished the top. The stars were made using a pencil eraser, lol.... I cut out several before I found one I liked.

After I crackled the base I went back and scraped off the sides, sanded it down and then I went back over the whole thing with watered down brown paint and filled in where I sanded off.

...just a close up pic of the roof- Love those stars!!

And this is what I ended up with... :) And the best part- Sonya loves it as much as I do:)

I am so glad I did this. Sometimes... it's good to challenge yourself to see what Else you can do.

Until next time.....

9 comments:

Caseymini said...

Love the birdhouse Katie! Thanks for the show and tell on how you make them!

Nicole said...

Wonderful birdhouse, Katie! It's always fascinating to see how perfect you made it :)

Audra said...

That is adorable! I love patriotic things!

Lataina said...

Glad to hear you're all ok! =)

I can't tell you how much I ♥♥♥♥♥ this birdhouse!!! Thanks for the pics. You can really see the details better, and it just makes me smile! =D If this is what you get when you start "experimenting", don't EVER stop!

carmen said...

bonitos regalos!!

Judith said...

This looks great Katie! Clever idea for making those stars too. So glad to hear that you're OK. Judith x

Plushpussycat said...

Both prizes are so lovely, Katie! You got lucky, and so did your partner. :-)

Unknown said...

I`m so glad to hear you are ok, been thinking about you.
All the gifts are wonderful, great job on the birdhouse.
Mona

Ana Anselmo said...

I am very glad everything is ok!!!
What to say, the bikini is sooooooo cute and in that tiny pig is just perfect!
The birdhouse is lovely, maybe you can creating a line of birdhouses with colours for each country ;)
hugs
Ana
PS: at work, still 3 hours to go home....