Sunday, October 14, 2012

A SWAP and recent x-mas finds!

Hi Friends! Can you believe that I saw two different Christmas commercials today?
Yes, they have started! I know you're still thinking about Halloween, and I am too. I'm a little bummed that I wasn't able to do a single post about Halloween decorations, but with my foot in it's current condition I wasn't able to dig out the box of stuff. Oh well...on to Christmas! Haa!

So the other day I made some "vintage inspired" PUTZ houses! And it got me thinking that it might be a fun theme for a swap. I'll make it simple, and each friend will make either ONE LARGE house, or TWO of the small ones if you're unable to find a large house at the craft store. You'll send your house (along with any little tuck-ins) straight to your partner. 

The houses are inexpensive and light-weight, so this should be a cost friendly swap! I decided to use this glitter paint for the first time. It gave all the houses great texture and just a bit of sparkle.

Mod-Podge is perfect to slather all over the roof, then dust with Martha Stewart's "Crystal Fine" glitter!

Here is a little tip to get your bottle brush trees to fit. Pull off their base, and snip off the wire stem. I put hot glue along the corner of the house, and then smashed it up tight against the house.

You might remember that a couple posts ago I said I have an addiction to these little spun cotton snowmen.
They worked perfectly here!

My sister surprised me with the December Angel the other day! Our birthday (we are identical twins) is Dec.29th, so I'd been looking for one. I love her! The angel, and my sister! :)

 OK so just let me know if you'd like to be part of the swap by SUNDAY, OCT 21st. I'll let you know your partners shortly after that. And lets have our packages mailed by Nov. 15th.
I hope you'll join in the fun! :)

I couldn't do a post without some recent finds!
 And when I say "FINDS" I mean that I found EBay!
But I'm obsessed with vintage x-mas! I added one these old wreaths to my large putz house. And I couldn't resist this vintage corsage in it's original box!

I decided that the corsage was missing something...so out came my stash of those darling snowmen again!

I love the graphics on this little box of bells, and they'll be perfect for a table-top tree.

Love those jewel tones!

This vintage lollipop holder was actually at an antique store for only $2.00!

 These were an Etsy purchase. They're a cross between a tag and a x-mas card.
They're large (like 4x3 inches), but are one sided and have a hole at the top for a string.

Each one has glitter accents...and I adore them!!!!

And lastly, an empty box that used to hold x-mas lites will look good with my other vintage boxes of lites. For $3 I didn't care that the lites were missing...such a cute display piece!

OK Friends, let me know if you want to join the swap.

P.S.  Many of you have kindly asked how things are going with my recovery. Thank you so much! Here is the latest: On Tuesday I went back down to the Mayo and had the 5 INCH!! pin taken out of my foot. I got a shiny new pink cast, and best of all they gave me a walking boot! I wasn't expecting that yet, so I'm thrilled. Of course I went to an Estate Sale on Saturday because I finally could! Ha!
In 4 weeks I get the cast off and this whole mess will be over with! :)

Love, Erica

31 comments:

  1. those are so cute! if it wasn't my busiest time of year i would totally want to join the swap! and those are some great finds! i'm vintage christmas crazy too!

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  2. If you don't mind having a new blogger, I would love to join. Putz houses are a favorite of mine. I recently did the Halloween swap over at Viv's and had a fun time.
    Chris =]

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  3. That's wonderful news about a mobile cast. I remember the freedom when I could finally get rid of my knee scooter during my recovery. Even though I'm going crazy in preparation for our annual Halloween party right now, count me in too. There isn't a holiday that I'm not crazy about.

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  4. so wonderful that progress is coming with your foot. wonderful christmas decortaions.
    Cathy

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  5. I'm back!! What great news to hear that everything is coming along so great!!

    Love this Christmas post, Erica - will email soon....

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  6. Your little houses turned out so cute! love them!
    I am not ready to think about christmas yet.. but I know that it will soon be necessary!
    Im dreading the thought of having to pack all my halloween stuff away!
    have a great week!
    xoxo

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  7. Your little houses are adorable. Love all your Christmas finds. I'm so glad you are on the mend-isn't walking wonderful after being laid up?

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  8. Hurray for the new pink cast and progress!

    I'm going to *think* about joining this swap, Erica! The last swap I joined, I had to back out so I better be sure before i commit.

    Thanks for posting all this Christmas fun. This post made me feel happy and I need that right now! ♥

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  9. I'd love to be in on the "houses" swap. Sounds like fun.
    Glad you have moved up to a walking cast. A long hard road that you have had.

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  10. Hey! Great pix! I love your little houses! We are victim of Dept 56 little light house addiction and so have LOTS of real estate here. I love the tags/cards and have been in my craft room the last three days working on my vintage cards and making some tags with them. Would you reply and let me know where you found yours? I'll show you pictures of what I made with my mix of old and new...

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  11. Hi Erica! Oh my goodness I love love your little houses!! Those are way to cute!! May I ask where you found these darling houses at!?! WOW your newest treasures are something indeed! LOVE them all! I don't think I could have resisted either! :) Glad to hear you are doing much better!! :) xo Holly

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  12. Erica,

    Your houses are adorable! I love them. I would love to join your swap--count me in!

    Tresa

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  13. Erica, I would love to join your Christmas House Swap!!! So happy to hear that you are now sporting a walking cast!!! Looking forward to hearing the details of the swap!!

    chris

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  14. Well look at you! Aren't you just the little crafy genious? I have been picking up the Putz houses here and there and didn't realize that I COULD MAKE MY OWN!!! This will be an awesome project for Maddie and I and maybe we will get good enough to participate in your swap next year. Glad to hear you are doing better & am loving that you got the shiny pink boot! So stylish:-)

    Erica

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  15. The houses here at Hobby Lobby are a little bit different style, but I have several of them...so I would love to join in the swap...I was going to make some anyway!

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  16. PS...how big is the large house? I can't tell scale from the pics.

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  17. Your houses are so cute! I have always wanted to make some of my own. Maybe this year I will find some time. So glad to hear you are doing better, and have a walking boot! Yay! xo Heather

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  18. Fun project and that will certainly get you in the holiday mood! I have the same box of Merrie Bells and agree that the graphics are adorable. Good $2 score on that snowman!

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  19. I am so happy you are making progress, and a new boot for walking! Yay, you went shopping! I love the little houses and all your new old vintage thingies!!! I would love to join in on the house making, so count me in if you give it a green light!
    Blessings,
    Susie

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  20. Hi Erica,
    I'm IN!!! Darling houses and where did you get them??!! It was great to meet you at that estate sale! They sure had lots of goodies..hubby spent more than he should have! LOL!!
    Warmly,
    deb

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  21. Erica, So glad to hear you graduated to the "boot"! You found some great vintage Christmas treasures. Your house is adorable. I'll be on vacation before your date, so can't join in, but it sure looks like fun!

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  22. Hi Erica, I'm so glad you got your new "boot" and are doing better. Count me in on the swap, I love to make those little Christmas houses, they're my favorite!
    Hugs~~ Dorothy and Ms. Wilma~

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  23. Erica your houses are so cute. I was fingering some the other day but could not get a vision. But oh how I have some now. So glad you are doing much better and you got to go out to an estate sale. I love your treasures. You find the cutest of things.
    Hugs
    donna

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  24. Your houses are so cute! I'm going to think about joining in. With Little Dude's newfound mobility, I seem to have less and less time for crafty goodness. I will let you know for sure by the deadline. Oh, and glad you got a walking cast! Enjoy your regained freedom!

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  25. I nominated you for the Leibster Award. Check it out on my blog.

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  26. Your Christmas Vintage Inspired Houses are darling, I am not able to do any swaps way to busy right now, but I bet you will get a whole lot of girls to join in the fun! Hugs, Diane

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  27. Hi Erica,
    Are you kidding? Christmas commercials already!! Every year I make a mental note when I hear my first Christmas Carol...but, wow, this is really early.
    I love your tiny little house. I found one at the thrift store for one dollar and it's sitting in my garage gathering dust. after seeing yours...I guess it's time to dust it off and start painting.
    Have a happy weekend, my sweet friend,
    Carolynn xoxo

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  28. I found you through Jill's shout out on her blog. I think you and I like all the same things. I have enjoyed cruising around your blog and had to sign up to be a follower. Can't wait to see more vintage goodness.

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  29. so sad I found out about this tooooooo late!

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  30. OMG I just found you. Wish I could have done the swap last year. I have just recently found out what "putz" houses are. I want to create a scene in my apothecary jars and through pinterest I found you. How lucky is that? I would love to make my own - you have truly inspired me with your beautiful house. Where can I find a house? Hope to visit your blog often now. You are truly an inspiration to me. Many Hugs for making me smile!!!

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  31. Where do you find those cute lil' spun cotton snowmen at???

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