Weekend catch-up crafting

I've been finishing up small projects (nothing major) this weekend.  It feels good, though, to do those little odds and ends that I've been dying to get to.  First, I had to revise the "Joy Within" art piece I made at Silver Bella.  Here's the before:

Notice the area to the right of the heart tag.  That's what I changed.   First I gesso'd it, then I layered some pieces of transfer paper (thin, like pattern tissue paper), then I stamped it with some vines in blue, and then the words, "Tell the Story" -- once like a shadow, and again darker.  Do you think it's an improvement?

Then, I repaired a pin I've had for at least 10 years, which was missing a button from the middle.  The button has been missing for so long that I can't even remember what it looked like!  I replaced it with an antique black glass faceted button:

 

Now, in the world of button collecting, this would be a "no-no" because it's not a no harm way of creating with buttons (I used glue.)  But, in my defense, I bought the brooch long before I knew it was bad to use glue, and, more importantly, the glass button I used was already broken on the shank and couldn't be used.  So there.

Then, since the Christmas decor is almost completely down now, I was able to finally hang the beautiful paper wreath that Suzanne gave me for Christmas.  I just love it in my little wall vignette!  I also framed a print I've had for years but never framed.  I reused the frame of a store-bought picture I was tired of, for over my bed.  But I don't have a photo of that one for you, sorry.

I also sewed my own "three inchey" square from the Silver Bella swap onto a pretty tan muffler I bought for $8 at TJMaxx.  I think it looks adorable!

...And, along those lines, I'm also finally sewing some of the other squares I received in that swap onto a sampler that I will later hang up.  It's a fun, relaxing project!

I also spent some time -- finally! -- updating the pages that you can visit from the headings at the top of my page (About Me, etc.)