Grandma's Attic Matchbox Swap

I see that my Grandma's Attic Matchbox Swap has been delivered, so I'm going to show you all the goodies I sent:

The theme of the swap inspired me to create a "humpback" for the matchbox to make it look like a trunk or chest.  I built it up with some thin, lightweight stuff that I think is supposed to be used in your house gutters (!), then covered it all with vintage wallpaper in a soft, aqua-y blue.  I added a little jewelry box lock.

Here's a view from the back; I put Dresden paper pieces on to imitate hinges.  I decorated all around it with strips of a second vintage, sculptured wallpaper, and some braided trim to mimic the trunk's lid.

I used the same sculptured wallpaper to decorate the sides of the trunk, and was a bit nervous when I'd filled it and they looked a little wonky where I'd built up the lid.  My partner does this really exacting, perfectly geometrically correct paper art -- and so I hope she likes the not-so-perfect as well!

 

On top, I layered a piece of vintage crochet lace with vintage millinery netting, tulle, roses and rosebuds, a piece of tattered vintage bling, and organza ribbon, which was the only "new" thing on there.

Here's a glimpse of all the goodies inside.  My partner, Lorraine, said she liked rhinestone buttons, lace, pretty paper ephemera, and the whites, pinks, and aquas.

 I was really glad she specified "pretty" ephemera, because so much that is lovely is not necessarily pretty when it comes to old paper, do you know what I mean?  Here you can see the way I lined the bottom of the matchbox with old paper, and a bag of pretty vintage wallpaper pieces I tucked in there.

Pretty paper ephemera -- almost all antique.

Dresden and antique scrap, plus an old glassine stamp envelope

Lace, ribbon, embellishments and bling...

a little packet of paper ephemera that didn't fit into the matchbox...and some vintage millinery flowers that did...

and of course, beautiful buttons!

I haven't heard yet -- but I am hoping she loved it!

In other news...I'm getting ready to tell you about a fun new venture I'm beginning.  Stay tuned!