SIMPLY CHARMING...

A couple of weeks ago, I made a post about an upcoming charm swap hosted by Roni over at Ink Stains.  There's still be time to get involved...click on the "charm swap" link to check it out.  Charms are due in Roni's hands by 8-6-11.  

I made 5 charms for the swap and I need to get them in the mail.  But, before I do, I wanted to share them with you.  This is my first attempt at something like this...and it was FUN!!

We were to make different charms in groups of 5 to be swapped.  I only made one group of 5, but I'll get 5 charms back!!  And my charms will go to 5 different people!  I'm really excited to see other people's creations!!

I made the bird and nest charm using Tim Holtz' Ideaology Adornments bird and then used the technique I learned from Tim at a class to make the wrapped wire nest attached to the bird.  The other four charms are in metal pendant frames I found at Michaels.  I loved those frames!  I turned them upside down and attached a bale to the top so that I could dangle charms from the bottom of the pendant.

I fooled around on the computer and created the artwork to put in the little metal frames.  I found the images and added my own words to them then sized them to fit into the frames and printed them out.  The BEE CREATIVE background is colorized using Scattered Straw Distress Ink. I secured my images in the metal frames with Glossy Accents and then placed the cabochons on top.  (They came with the frames).  

 I made my own artwork for these two charms on the computer as well.  The "LET YOURSELF FLY" charm was covered with Glossy Accents to seal it as it did not come with a cabochon.  Then I went digging through all my beads and little charms and my findings to create little dangles to wire onto the pendants I'd made.  Such fun!!! 

Now to get them securely wrapped and off to Roni's house!!  I'll share the charms I receive on my blog after I get them.  I sure hope the people who receive my charms like them!