Thrifty tins and the things you find inside them

It's time to share some thrifty finds with you, and this time I want to show you some tins I've found in the last several weeks; but first, if you haven't already heard about my Blogaversary Giveaway, all the details are here!

Okay, now on to the tins:

These came from a garage sale and an estate sale, respectively.  I recognized the art deco design one on the far left immediately as being an old Nabisco tin; you can tell this from the imprint on the bottom:

"Uneeda" from the National Biscuit Company.

The one on the far left is very old and grungy, just like I like them to be sometimes, and what a color (swoon!)

And this little aluminum one is a soap holder for when you travel -- nifty!

That same estate sale had this little Wedgewood-esque tin, plus the flower frogs and the little baking tin, too, all nicely aged.

 

Not a tin but a box, or actually...

many boxes or "smoking mixture"...

and I love everything about the boxes -- their size, the print, and the graphics on the outside of the outer box with that Santa!  (At least he's not smoking in the picture!)

Then on Saturday I bought this big ole' tin at an estate liquidation store in town.  You know what comes in big old tins, don't you?

Of course you do!  I just couldn't resist it.  As if I need even one more button.  (I'm hanging my head in shame.)

Some of what I found when I was poking through the tin...

That little red button with the goose is glass!

This lion is also glass.  Or maybe it's a bear with a collar?

I love all the fancy buttons...but...

I love stuff like this (above) almost as much.  Can you imagine her sitting there, sorting and sewing all her buttons onto scraps of paper?  And counting them, and writing the count on the scrap?

 Of course, everyone knows that every button tin contains more than just buttons...

I'm linking up to some blog parties today; go visit them for more thrift store finds!

(And don't forget to comment to enter my Blogaversary Giveaway!)

Thrift Share Monday

 Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Her Library Adventures

 2nd Time Around Tuesday

My Blogaversary *AND* my 500th post are coming up soon!

That little counter in the right sidebar that ticks away the days to my blogaversary tells me it's coming up in two weeks!

My blog will be two years old and not only that, I've just about reached 500 posts, too!  I'm excited about both of those milestones and would like to celebrate with everyone who reads this blog.

 Yes, I'm talking about a giveaway!

How to get the giveaway gift:

• If you're a follower, "old" or brand new, just comment on this post and say hello!  That is your first entry!
• Then, every comment on every post between now and December 10 at 11:59 PM will get an automatic entry - no need to mention the giveaway!

I'll choose the winner by a drawing of names and announce it on December 11.

Bonus: currently, 183 friends follow this blog, but I would love reach an even 200 followers. So, if by the time this contest ends, I have at least 200 followers, I will give away a second gift (and it's a surprise!)

So, recommend my blog to friends you think would like it, and then there will be two winners!

I gave a lot of thought to what I'd like to give away to you.  There's really nothing I own that can give back what you all give to me by visiting me here like you do.

I've learned that bloggers and blog readers are some of the kindest, most generous and open-hearted people there are!

Some of you have become great friends, 'though we've never met in real life.  Others I have had a chance to meet, and you're just as much fun in person as you have been on line!

I enjoy each and every comment, and the conversations we have had as a result.  I've loved reading your blogs, and learning from you, and being inspired by you.

First, I knew I wanted to give away something I made myself, and so, just for this giveaway I created a journal.

The front and back covers are from a vintage book, in warm coral and pink tones,

to which I added a fashion plate picture

I embellished the front with a big piece of bling, and vintage seam bindings and lace.

Inside, there are 14 leaves, for a total of 28 pages.

One side of each page is decorated with vintage and antique papers

to inspire your thoughts - or photos - or whatever you'd like to fill them with.

  'Just about every bit of it is an antique or vintage original piece from my ephemera collection.

 'Though I have added a few newer embellishments,  and scans of antique originals, here and there.)

  But mostly you'll see original pieces, for an overall "old" feeling.

 There is plenty of space for writing...

 and places to slip things in,

  or tie them on...

 and extra pages to open up...

 and write inside of...

 or decorate as you like!

Plus: the rings are large enough that you can add your own additional pages if you want to!

I put many hours into this journal and I can't wait to send it off to one of you!

But, I also wanted to be able to treat you to something you really want...so, I'm adding to this giveaway a gift card in the amount of US $25, to the store of your choice!  (Note: it must be a store that I can purchase a giftcard from online.  Some suggestions are: HobbyLobby.com, or Amazon.com, or Starbucks.com, etc. )

Thank you everyone for being here, for being a friend, and for helping me to celebrate

2 years

and

500 posts!

Remember, comment along in the coming days and you may mark the day of my blogaversary with a gift from me!

Thank you to The Graphics Fairy for all the cute antique pictures and photos at the beginning of this post!

Beyond fun: hats, Joy Within, Josephine's Jewels, and the Tea Cup Fairy; or, the last of my Silver Bella posts

The Friday night of Silver Bella was the night of the Vendor Fair, and time for us to break out our great Silver Bella hats.  I bought mine from a local Colorado artist, and added my beautiful studio button to it for some extra fun:

Suz and me

with the original Bella, Teresa McFayden and Suzanne from Colorado

with my new BFF (I wish!) Miss Lynn

Suzanne's button-covered shoes!!

I had to photograph Denise Nelson's amazing hat...

from all angles!

Amazing!

Look at all those fabulous hats!  It was so much fun!  The vendor night was so wonderful, too: you know how when you go to a regular art show and you find maybe two or three booths that have stuff you love?  Well, Silver Bella vendor night had a whole room full of only those great booths!  Beautiful stuff!

Here are the other three class projects I made at Silver Bella:

"Joy Within", where instructor Lisa Kaus taught us to make a collage; I brought along the papers and found objects like the little crown, the watch, the fountain pen nib, and the key.   I enjoyed trying new methods and stretching myself a bit!

This was Josephine's Jewels, taught by Kaari Meng, where I made a bracelet in my first ever foray into making jewelry!

We were given all these beautiful jewels and pieces from the instructor's line, French General.  She was a great teacher! 

That's Miss Lynn's sister Karla on the left

My finished bracelet -- I had so much fun that I decided to buy the matching necklace and make it myself at home.

My final class was great -- it was Teacup Fairy with Beth Quinn, where I took all of this...

 and created a beautiful tea cup fairy!  It was SO MUCH FUN! 

My fairy back at home with some of my other Silver Bella belongings

After the last class, we had a lovely dinner with guest speaker Jenny Doh.  You can read the transcript of her talk to us, on creativity and real life, on her blog here.

Then, it was over.  Lots of gals left Saturday night, but I stayed another night.  Sunday, I had breakfast with my buddy Suzanne . After that, all I could do was pack up and leave.  Which sounds easier than it was!

Just some of the stuff I didn't come with that I had to get home!

I think I did a pretty amazing job of getting everything packed and home safely!

Thanks, everyone, for bearing with me as I downloaded all this beauty and inspiration from my brain to my blog, trying to get it all down and express to you the momentousness of the experience that was...Silver Bella!