SAYING "SO LONG, PARDNER!" TO OUR WILD WEST SWAP!

Greetings, dear reader!

Today marks the end of the Wild West Tag Swap...the tags will be galloping out via "Pony Express" and making their way to each of the homes of the Wild West Tag Swappers! I want to thank each of you for making this such a fun and exciting swap...I cannot tell you how giddy each of your tags have made me! It's been WONDERFUL hosting this event!

Here again, are the tags contributed:





































Hope I didn't forget anybody's picture...if I did, DO let me know! It's just an oversight, not intentional!

Be looking for your wild west envies in the mail soon! Hugs!

Paula Clare

FROM THE WILD WEST...OF NEW ZEALAND?

Greetings all you cowpokes!

Well, I've rounded up one of the last tags for this wild west tag swap! It's been a rip roarin' good time, and our dear friend Cat from New Zealand (our one and only international entry) has added to the fun...

Tags, fabric leftover from cowboy quilts (perfect!) and sheets of cowboy ephemera! YEEHAW!

I SPY Cath Kidston fabric pieces! EEK! How wonderfully wonderful! They'll end up on a tag somewhere...just wait and see!

And look at these yummy paper images?! The ads and Wells Fargo images are truly unique!

Using one of the Wells Fargo receipts, Cat has added Annie Oakley...when I saw it I immediately thought of "Annie Git Yer Gun"...and HOW! Look at the size of that thing! She could do some serious shootin with that one!

And then just look at the face of this dear little cowpoke! Who could NOT love this sweet little guy?! Cat just threw a cowboy birthday party for her five year old...check it out! It's downright inspirational!

All of you "ol' timers" to our swaps be sure to let Cat know that her tags are jist as adorable as can be...and she need not feel her contribution did not "measure up"! I'm grateful for ALL of you who went outside your comfort zone to join my lil ol' swap! It's been a hoot, hasn't it? Our last tag, from Kari at DharmaWaits should be here anytime. Meanwhile, I got some swappin to do!

Hugs,
Paula Clare

MY CONTRIBUTION: WILD WEST TAGS FINISHING STEPS!

Greetings, again, dear reader!

As promised, here are the steps left to complete my Wild West Tags...the first steps can be found here:

Step 7. Using black ink I stamped images onto white cardstock (1 image of each stamp) (stamps from Oxford Impressions: Cowgirl Blues)

Step 8. I then scanned the sheet of images and distressed and faded the now digital images using Photoshop Elements 7.0. (this method saves on ink, and allows me to get the aged effect I want from the rubber stamps!)

Step 9. I (tediously) cut out each image, and then using Rangers Distress Ink (Walnut) in a spray bottle, I spritzed each image until saturated. Let dry.

(Here are the images after they dried...)

Step. 10. I tend to want each tag to be a bit different, so I randomly glued vintage sheet music, tickets, images, to the front and back of each tag.

Step 11. Then tied the strips of bandana, muslin, and denim to the top of each tag. Voila! Wild West Tags-o-plenty!

I hope you gals in the swap like them! I just LOVED making them for you all! Now I just need to get the tags swapped out and the surprise goodies put in each envelope...the last two ladies (whose tags I've not received yet) will be included in the swapping process...no one will be left out!

I will share the final two swappers tags as soon as they arrive! Meanwhile, I will prepare the mailman for his "mother lode" of mailers and envelopes! I'm sure he'll be thrilled beyond measure!

More soon! Hugs!

WILD WEST FABRIC SURPRISE!

Greetings, ya'll!

I have just photographed what looks like a wild west extravaganza in my home! Lisa (Barncat) snuck an email to me that said she had found some fab cowboy fabric at the Goodwill, and did I want any?!?! DID I?!?! Just look at this wonderful stuff...enough for a couple of pillows for the canned ham...and more!

Here are a few of my favorite images:







And I couldn't help but take a picture or two of all the tags with the cowboy fabric!









I can't tell you how happy seeing all this wild west creativity makes me! I've had a little tune in my head this evening...I think if I share it here it might "get out" and leave room for somethin' else...

How many opf ya'll remember Donna Fargo? Blast from the past, right?

Shine on me sunshine,
Walk with me world
It's a skippedy doo dah day,
I'm the happiest girl, in the whole USA...

That song and "Happy Trails" have been reverberating in my head ever since this swap started! Anybody got another Old West tune you could tell me about so I can at least have a variety? lol

Next post: The finishing steps to complete my Wild West Tags!

Hugs to all, ya'll!

ITS THE WILD WEST MOTHER LODE!

Howdy, ya'll!

You will NOT believe what I found in my mailbox the other day! It took me forever to photograph it all! Okay, are you sittin' down? (without yer spurs on I hope!)

From Nan at Bubbles of Joy:





Her Tags! ORIGINAL drawings! How incredible are these? The little cowgirl and sweet pony just steal my heart! (Nan tells me its her alter ego as a wee child...what a fun and adorable alter ego!)

(I am honored each of you ladies chose my little swap to create original art...I continue to be blown away by your creativity!)

See the amazing Wild West town in the background? Compliments of Nan!



And the FABulous covered wagon and horses? Nan!



And Jessie the Wild West Cowgirl Pez Dispenser? Yup! NAN!

And another surprise (not shown) that each of ya'll will have in your Wild West Tag package! This woman is just totally OVER THE TOP!

THANK YOU, Nan for your kindness and generosity! Your hostess gifts are everything a would-be wild west aficionado could ask for!

Two more contributors to go! I just can't wait to see what else is in store for us! This has been the most fun swap EVER!

(DISCLAIMER: I fear the exclamation mark police will be ticketing me for my overindulgence in this post...but I just HAD to find some way to convey my excitement! All of you grammatical gurus please forgive my superlative and punctuation overuse!)

Excited hugs to you all!
Paula Clare