Hong Bao Bag

About a year ago, Craftster user the_mullet posted this gorgeous purse made from Hong Bao—red packets/envelopes used to give money during Chinese New Year celebrations.

There's no tutorial included, but the_mullet covered the envelopes with Duraseal contact paper and used duct tape to hold the seams together. I'm sure there is a way to add that extra "professional" touch to the purse by fusing the paper to fabric and sewing it, or by using something like contact paper to reinforce and protect the packets and then in turn sew that. Might be something to add to my ever-growing list of projects...

More About Red Packets

• Red Packets for Chinese New Year, About.com
• Red Envelope, Wikipedia

Bursting With Chocolate

In other news, I participated in my fourth craft swap through Craftster. This time, it was chocolates and chocolate themed crafts that were swapped. Also, I yet again had a swap partner in Canada. This time, she was much, much farther away than Vancouver, B.C. I spent much time stressing about my package and whether or not it would successfully sneak it's illegal way through customs (you cannot ship food across the border). I was relieved to find that it did indeed make it safe and sound to my swap partner.

Here's what she received from me: a box of See's chocolates, assorted high-quality chocolate bars, a box of polymer clay chocolates, a scree printed "Brown Cow" tank.

And here's what I received from her: Assorted Easter chocolates, Pocky, Toblerone, Pop Rocks chocolates, fany chocolate in a "travel tin", a long brown tank that reads "I *heart* chocolate", awesome Resse's chocolate flip flops, choclate flavored lip balms, a Chocolate Rice Krispies journal, and a pink and brown pouch to store my chocolate stash.

Blame Canada!

I signed up to participate in an international craft swap through Craftster. While there's a certain amount of risk and trust involved in the other party, craft swaps are a wonderful excuse to make new items and try new techniques. Also, it's just really fun sending people goodies, and getting a nice suprise in return.

Here's what my partner in the not-so-distant Vancouver, BC received from me:

• Cowboy bandaids with a toy inside
• Rubber chicken key chain with a nasty egg that pops out when you squeeze it
• Burt's Bees sampler
• Jesus beads
• Junk Food charms
• Apple magnets
• Zink (my favorite mag)
• Swivel (an awesome female literary mag stationed in Seattle)
• Found Magazine (awesome beyond words, especially if you like collages)
• Three tin cards of old US propaganda posters ("America needs more MEAT", "Let Guns do the Talking", "National Donut Month")
• Jesus Patch
• Bush Playing Cards ("Even more slanted to the right!")
• Assorted stickers that I thought represented "White trash" and cowboys

And... in package #2, I sent her: An "Obey" paraody with Bush, bamboo fiber yarn, various kitschy fat quarters of fabric, a copy of The Stranger, See's chocolates, Moose Munch, Seattle Pork Rub, Cadburry eggs and Peeps, and the much dreaded Applets and Cotlets that have somehow become a Washington novelty food (blech).

And finally, here's the wonderful goodies I received from her.

Package #1:

• A really cute card
• An awesome metal red hanging bird
• Adbusters! (Amazing anti-commercialism magazine)
• Chopsticks
• "Not wanted on the voyage" by Timothy Findley
• Tasty ginger and seasame candies
• Awesome Shea butter soap
• Tasty lip balm
• Vinyage Buttons!
• Seed packets for my front porch garden
• kitschy tourist pen and pencil (perfect for writing in a stuffy "hip" cafe that needs more kitsch to lighten the mood)
• Canadian nail clippers and stickers
• Gold sequins (form Canada, which makes them special magical sequins)
• A crazy crow magnet
• Bangles!


Package #2: A mixed CD with Canadian artists, crazy fabric with rocket ships and He-man wannbes shooting lazer guns, and a cute nest with eggs pin.



04.11.2006
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Rockable
Over at Craftster, I decided to participate in my second craft swap. With a craft swap, you agree to send someone an item (or items) based on a certain theme/subject, and they in turn agree to send you items based on the same theme/subject. Of course, with the annoymity of the internet, someone may flake out and you just lost some undetermened amount of money and time. And while Craftster has taken measures to keep forum members accountable, you're only as safe as your partner is trustworthy.
The first swap i ever did (also through Craftster) was for summer anklets. I had lots of fun making gorgeous sterling silver gemstone and glass anklets for my partner. Perhaps I even went overkill on the quality and materials. However, I had fun. Sadly, the anklets I recieved were less than stellar. In fact, I never wore either of the three she sent me.
Almost exactly a year later, the disappointment had faded enough for me to try again. I picked a modest swap where we were to compile a CD of music and make one inexpensive craft that ideally took only as long the CD we mixed took to play.
Here's what I sent my partner:

And here's the lovely scarf she sent me:

I was so excited by the results of this swap that I signed up for an international swap. Here's hoping for another round of good luck.
03.11.2006
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