text: A couple of weeks ago the challenge over at City Crafter Challenge Blog was to make an A.T.C. and as an optional extra you could take part in swapping your A.T.C. and some vintage goodies over at City Crafter Party Blog. My swap partner was Linda B, if you love handmade vintage cards check out Linda's blog Hands to Work,Heart to Love,for some great inspiration.
  Yesterday morning my parcel arrived all the way from the U.S.A.,I opened up the box and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw all these pretty,little packages wrapped up in tissue paper and tied with beautiful lace and flowers.
  Here's the beautiful A.T.C that I received from the swap.
  and handmade card with a beautiful message.
  Here's what was in those lovely wrapped packages.
  I took great pleasure in opening each seperate package,I love every single item that Linda sent me and truly honoured that she sent me items that she has had for 30 years like the yellow calico,ecru cotton lace and the green sequin trim. The spoon was from an antique shop in Virginia,the photo doesn't do it justice,the embossed pattern is so pretty,take a look here at the card Linda created using a spoon from her collection. I just adore the little vintage mitten ornament,it will be displayed in my craft room for a while and then maybe I will use it on a LO but it will have to be a very special page.
  I'm a regular reader of Linda's blog and every now and again she show's some of her husband's (also known as "The Penmaker") handmade pens which are absolutely stunning and I couldn't believe it when I saw that I had also been sent one of those amazing pens.
  I can't put into words how I felt when I received this wonderful package and would like to thank Linda from the bottom of my heart,you are such a kind,caring,warm-hearted lady and hope that we will keep in touch and also a big thank you to "The Penmaker" for my gorgeous handmade pen.
  Today is my friend's birthday so I would like to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIA",hope you have a good day. Of course I had to make her a birthday card with my new vintage goodies and that pretty 30 year old lace.
  Do you think my photo's are looking brighter and better quality than what they use to? While I was around my friend Kerry's house the other day,I got talking to her dad,Tom,who is a keen photographer and I was saying my photo's on my blog always looked dark and not the true colours. He told me to take it off auto,lol and then told me what all the different settings did. Since then I have used it on manual and my photo's do seem to have got a little bit better.
  Have a great weekend !!!!!