Gifts from far and near

This is a scheduled post.  I am out of town putting flowers on my Grandparents graves and will be back soon.

Today I want to share some gifts I've received recently.  I feel remiss because I simply should have shown them sooner.

I was so mad when I found my postal carrier had marked through these beautiful stamps.  I couldn't understand it, because they had already been canceled.   She told me it was acceptable to mark through ANY stamp with a magic marker, whether canceled or not.  She told me to call the PO and they would tell me the same thing.  The PO wants to make sure they aren't reused.  She did the same thing when I received a birthday gift from Chris in England.  I practically got down on my hands and knees and BEGGED her to not do that again, because some countries charge extra for real stamps, but not metered mail.  And since my friends sent stamps that I could use in art, these were now worthless.  I'll try to get off my soap box, now. 

This package came all the way from Germany, and it was resent after the first one was lost.  It came from Gaby at Colorful Adventures, but more on that soon.

Here are the gifts I have received recently.

I took 12 photos of this gorgeous post card that Cindy at Pink Bird Studio sent me, and it never got into focus.  Not sure why, since everything else came out crystal clear.  I know you can't read the sentiment, but it reads "All too often."  She sent it to cheer me, since it's been such a hard month, and it did!  I simply adore the beautiful abstract she created.  Check out the image above this one to see it clearly.

I actually received this last.  It is from Pamela at Cappuccino and Art Journal.  I think I'm going to start a campaign to eliminate metered mail!  We artists like postage stamps.  However, I DID like the kitty stamps she used.

I won this pen/pencil case when I left a comment on her blog.  She had two different styles she was giving away and, since I visit every time I see her blog is updated on my left sidebar, I must have been lucky.  Of course, Bleubeard and I chose the kitty.

Here are the front and back sides of the case, as well as the front of the envelope she mailed the note in.

She even sent me some awesome masking/washi tape.  Isn't it grand?  Bleubeard loves it.  He thinks Squiggles is on the right at the bottom, but I know Squiggles has a pink nose.

This is the package I received from Gaby at Colorful Adventures.  I was SO lucky to win this giveaway from Gaby's blog.   She announced I was the winner on Feb. 13 and sent all those goodies shown in the photo on her blog a couple of days later.

We both waited and waited and waited and . . . . well, you get the picture.  At the end of April, I finally concluded the package was lost.  I was sick and so was Gaby.  I know whoever has the package had a field day and must have thought they were receiving manna from heaven.

Although I told Gaby she didn't have to send anything, I was thrilled when she said she had mailed a second package to me.  I know she took as much time and care with the first package as she did the second one.

I wish I had photographed everything as I unwrapped it, but I was being so careful not to tear the beautiful paper and washi tape she wrapped everything in, it didn't occur to me to stop and photograph each package I opened.

All these beauties were in the incredibly beautiful Match Box.  The pen nibs and the locket were placed carefully and wrapped in tissue.  It was quite obvious I was unable to get everything back in after they were removed.

All these beauties, with the exception of the frozen Charlotte and handmade book, were in the bag to the left (the one with the tiny Monopoly house sitting on it).

Although the lighting is terrible and the glare is unbelievable in my craft room, I simply couldn't believe everything that was included in the one package alone.

And of course, I fell in LOVE with the frozen Charlotte.  I can't wait to use it in some way.

I fell in love with the little handmade book

that is filled with papers I can write on.

Later, as I was putting it on my dresser to display it, I was shocked to see I had been photographing the back before.  Some days my blond is showing!

I have never had real foamy foam.  I've made my own using a cut up garden knee pad, but the purple stuff is absolutely incredible.   I can't wait to try it.  If you aren't familiar with it, you heat the foam, then press various pieces into it.  Once cool, you remove the pieces and the indentations are left.  You then use your dye ink to create a made to order stamp.  Don't like what you got?  Simply wash the product in soapy water and heat.    All traces of the original stamp image is gone.  I look forward to using both of these.

Also shown are what appears to be tiny monocles on the left.  The packages on the right

contain various and sundry items I can use in mixed media or assemblages.  Another thing I simply adore is Gaby separated everything.  That was SO thoughtful.   I especially look forward to using some of the metal pieces.


Each package was carefully wrapped and held together with bits of clear tape and washi tapes.

Since I'm the Queen of Free, I saved every piece, including the mostly postage inspired washi tape.  I know I'll be using it in my 7 Continents altered book.

I am so grateful to Gaby for sending this second package.  Thank you beyond words.  And thanks for my gifts from Cindy and Pamela, too.  And thanks to all my readers for sticking with me through this very lengthy post.  I will be around to visit once I'm home.