Free Victorian Calling Card and Valentine's Jewelry for Mom

Halloo!  Today's Madge's Share the Love Initiative offering is three fold.  Three is a magic number, after all.  Firstly, a lovely free Victorian Calling Card for you to download.  Victorian era women and men of a certain status would leave them with friends when calling (visiting) often in a small receiving tray or with a servant if the home owner was away.  The cards and the manner in which they were folded or embellished had a variety of meanings.  Here is a great site with detailed information about these fascinating cards.  I have a small collection of these cards in my coffers, this is one of my favorites.  I also sell a digital collage sheet of calling cards on the website for download (which means you buy the file and can use the image again and again in your work.)

The 12 Retrofabulous Crafts of Christmas: Instant Ancester Victorian Style Frame

Instant Ancestors Beaded Frame Copyright Margot Potter 2005

You will be SHOCKED to hear that I collect old black and white Victorian era photographs.

I know, right?!(Or IKR as my super texty kid says)

I love pondering on the people in the pictures, wondering where life took them. Fascinating stuff, that.

I would also like to state for the record that if they made those shoes in my size, I'd be all over them like glitter on a glue stick.

This project was published in a magazine a few years back. The idea is to buy a cheap metal filigree frame at a discount store, they have tons of these at Target, TJ Maxx or Home Goods. Then you use 20-24 gauge Artistic Wire (soft copper based wire works best for this) to attach SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystals and pearls and swags of chain. I grasp the wire ends, wrap and twist them tightly, cut off excess and tuck the tails under with chain nose pliers. If you can't find this style of crystal chain, any gun metal or aged brass chain will work, just add a few dangling crystals to give it some sparkle. If you have some actual old pics of your ancestors, use those! If not, make up a good story about your new ancestor to go with the gift.

My Great Grandfather was a well known Philadelphia area photographer who specialized in hand tinted photos. His work is in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Unfortunately, I only have one of his pictures and it is not hand tinted. So I just took a pic from my ephemera collection, scanned and colored with cotton swabs and powdered pigments. The colors here are honestly a bit too heavy handed, I find eye shadows work well to give a more subtle look.

This project should take about an hour, so if you're looking for a last minute idea...here you go! 

Cheers!
Madge

Saturday TastyLinks™

“Ain’t it funny how time slips away?”

It could not possibly have been a week since I last posted these links! Have I somehow and without my knowing entered a wrinkle in time?! I feel as if summer is flying at the speed of light, which makes me a little blue because winter seems to last forever. I simply must move somewhere warm and balmy.

Yesterday I dropped my daughter off at her last day of Shakespeare camp and I took a little side trip to one of our local antique malls in search of ephemera. I emerged triumphant! I found two magazines from the early 1900s in pristine condition overflowing with great images, one adorable postcard, a bag of slightly disturbing 1950s circus themed cardboard stand up cut-outs and this absolutely amazing photograph. I ask you. Is this a girl or is this a boy? I can not for the life of me decide. Note the hands and feet...and the awkward body language...and the hair which may or may not be short. I love it! This is a delightfully quirky picture!

I’ve been collecting these old photos for years. My former roommate Melody and I used to tell our guests they were our ancestors and concoct stories about them. I’m particularly fond of pictures of women and young girls wearing hugantic bows. In fact, I think I may need to create a collection of these bows for myself.

Ah, I blather on too much again. Good grief. Here’s your weekly sampling of TastyLinks™! Open wide and say, “AH!”

About Family Crafts I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!’’

Aileen's Musings Your help is needed...Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa shares the mental process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside's got a how-to's on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day's questions to be entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Cross Stitch at About.com Have fun trying out these new free Candlewicking patterns Connie's sharing. If you use one, send in a photo to show it off!

Mixed Media Artist Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book...or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios, oh my!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Drink Mermaids take the plunge into some silver paint and get transformed into some swimmingly fun necklaces inspired by the wonderfully innovative book A Charming Exchange.

The Artful Crafter Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude Drew reviews the new Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine - offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips - and he's giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for I Love to Create!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Check out Vickie's free pattern for a knitted lace iPhone cozy!