'Charmed' to be back!

I hadn't planned on a one-month blogging hiatus. Life just happened. Thank you to those who have visited faithfully waiting for me to get my sh*t together this summer! So how about we kick it off with some charms from a Charm Swap I participated in this past weekend?

I have a ton of old keys...but some aren't too sexy, so I decided to cut off the part that goes into the lock and then they started looking more interesting.

I added a dangle I made from an old turquoise-y shell necklace I had, a mother of pearl button and a bead along with a 'fancy' rhinestone button. Love them!

I added a key-shaped tag and I was good to go.

Here are the charms I received in return! Stunning!

And a few folks put together charm kits or provided interesting objects for displaying charms as jewelry.

Thank you, Swappers!

Charming Friends!

I participate in a delightful charm swap two times a year. I missed attending the spring swap in person this year but Caroline proxied for me and so I wouldn't miss any charm goodness!

I created charms from vintage bingo balls. I made a jig to hold the balls so I could drill through them with my drill press. Gotta save those fingers! Then I patinaed some copper wire with a small blow torch and wired up the charms. Vintage sequins, a few beads and some homemade pounded wire eye pins completed the bauble.

And good presentation is part of the 'charm' so they were displayed on an old copper floral arrangement dish. A flower frog held my charm description.

Here are the treasures I received in return:

I am a lucky girl! Thanks for all the beautiful charms!

A Charming Noel

Today is our annual holiday charm swap...just a small group of great friends sharing a potluck lunch, laughs and charms...Heaven!

I created these charms from some pieces of metal probably from the front of a file cabinet. The bits of red paint were already on the metal. Bonus! I Mod Podged Midori paper on the back and printed out the NOEL on sticky-back clear paper (I use it in landscape design to label drafted plans on vellum) that I also Mod Podged over to protect the writing. Then I attached some bits of bling and a charm is born.

My fruit salad is made; hostess gift is wrapped; my charms are ready; now off to my charming day!

PS...I will post photos this afternoon/evening of the charms I received in return!

Simply Charming

Saturday was Charm Swap day! Take a look at my new treasures...and how beautifully they are presented.

This twice-annual event is one of my all time favorite days. Thanks to all my swap buddies for your little gems and your continued friendship!