Monsters and Pin-Back Buttons

It was back in March that the Monster Pouch Swap ended on Craftster; I sent packages to two partners.

This one went to CraftyMamaBee.  In case you couldn't tell, she loves pink, and cupcakes!  I made this girly monster to fit her Kindle Fire.  I also included a lavender sachet with a scripture quote, because she likes both lavender and scripture, and a piece of fabric with cupcakes on it.

I made a pin-back button for the monster to wear:

I had a second, unofficial partner, Photochris.  She hadn't been a member of Craftster long enough to be eligible for the swap, but when she sent me a message inquiring about it, I was interested in her as a person (she is German, but living in Russia with her husband and children, and has recently spend four years in New Jersey!) that I wanted to do this swap with her as a personal swap.  I sent her a package similar to CraftyMamaBee's--the pouch was the same size and style, in colors she likes, and with a slightly different monster face (I guess a third eye is only slightly different, if you're a  monster!)  I also included a tissue cover with tissues, and a piece of scissors-print fabric.

Her monster also wore a pin (it's either "his" girlfriend or "her" boyfriend...I'm not sure if this monster is a girl or a boy...)

Here's a group shot (below) with the first monster pouch I made in the middle.  After making it I realized that the teeth were wool felt, and CraftyMamaBee is allergic to wool!!  So I made the pink one for her, and used the gray one in my Seven Days of Giveaways in March.

The cupcake monster arrived at her new home in California on March 8th, a few days after I sent out both packages.  But--the blue monster IS STILL IN TRANSIT!!  Yes, that's right, today is May 4th, and still no sign of it.  Apparently, mail to Russia moves slower than a snail's pace.  I received my package from Photochris about a week after it was mailed--but she mailed it from Germany, where she was visiting her parents.  I haven't given up on it though; maybe she will get it for a Christmas present!

 And now, a gratuitous repeat of the picture of the pin-back buttons I made for all the bloggers who gathered for Craft Gossip's Fork and Talk luncheon in Little Rock two weeks ago.  It came to my attention that the quilting editor, Scarlett, ran a short post about these buttons yesterday!  So if you are visiting my blog from that Craft Gossip post, welcome!  You can read my post about making these buttons here.

Hmm, that gets me to thinking...maybe I should do a button giveaway sometime?

Craft Gossip Invitation!

I've gotten my invitation!  On Friday I will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, to attend the second "Fork and Talk" blogger's meet-up, hosted by editors of the website Craft Gossip, and sponsored by EK Success Brands (which produces crafting supplies and kits, including Martha Stewart and American Girl Dolls).

I attended the first Fork and Talk last September.  Since then I've had several of my projects featured on the Craft Gossip website, which has really helped to boost my readership, and inspired me to constantly work to make my blog as interesting as possible.  I love Craft Gossip!  Since I also love making little crafty things and giving them away, and I know all the other bloggers at the meet-up love Craft Gossip too, I decided to make pin-back buttons to bring with me and distribute to everyone at Fork and Talk next Saturday.

I got this wonderful button-making machine for my birthday last year.  It makes high-quality buttons, and I've discovered that I can be very creative with them--often I print words from the computer, like I did for these buttons, but I can also draw a tiny piece of art and turn it into a button.

The words are printed on pretty scrapbook paper, and the hearts are stickers (I started out cutting each little heart from paper...it was taking too long, so it was stickers to the rescue!)

I'll be blogging all about it next week--I can't wait to see what new products will be in the swag bags--I'll show you everything, and I just might be giving some of it away to readers!