Enchanted Affaire Swaps

 In the weeks prior to Enchanted Affaire I was busy working on projects for the 2 swaps I signed up for.  I couldn't share them here in order to keep it a surprise 'cause you never know whose gonna visit your blog.  Above is the locket I made for Nora.  Nora gave a hint that she likes pink and a romantic theme.  You know I fretted and dithered on should I use this, or that, or these?  I ended up using elements from Michaels along with beads I strung together, an old dangle from Gramma's earring and an image from an Alpha Stamps collage sheet. 

 It so happens that I drew Nora's name for the photo album swap, too.  This project is intended to make it easy for us ladies to put all of the pics from the fab Enchanged Affaire into a pre-made photo album.  Finding an album as a "blank canvas" took a little shopping.  I think I found it at Joanne's.  Then the hard part fun began.  I wanted to use pink colors, the overall theme of royalty, with a vintage feel.  I decided to use pages from my old French encyclopedia for the background.  Just my bad planning luck,  the album had of course the front and back covers, but also 2 plain white front and back pages before the photo sleeves; meaning I needed to actually cover 8 sides. 

I incorporated fabric in a number of areas.  On the front cover, is a bit of special heavily embroidered lace netting I found on eBay.  Here is some ivory cut-work embroidery, bordered by old crochet and a strip of old lace to form a pocket. 

 Here I altered an old prize ribbon with an image from Alpha Stamps, a piece of old handkerchief and roses. 

 I just had to get in this "I like to cut and paste stuff" sentiment (from MaryAnn Moss) since this is near and dear to us paper crafters.  I printed it out on an inkjet fabric sheet, then sewed it onto the old hanky.  There are more pages, but you get the idea. 

 OK.  Now I'm on the receiving end.  My locket was made by Teresa Young, shown nervously hovering as I opened it.  She was truly nervous, bless her, yet this locket just blows me away.  I TOTALLY love it.  She packaged it in an old cigar box, with a crochet doily, ribbon and an old photograph.  Awesome. 

 

 

 Close-up of the locket.  Do you see what I mean?!!! 

My photo album was made by Julie Weller, and it is just lovely.  She used the snow white theme that was the backbone of Enchanted Affaire.  It is done with so much love and imagination.  I learned later that Julie is going through a health crisis, which makes it all the more precious because she did not let that get in the way of her joy.  Come on back because there is lots more to share.