What the postman brought......

Good morning everyone.
Been so busy preparing for visitors (why is it so important to get the "first impressions" right I wonder sometimes?) that I keep forgetting to share this fabulous cigar box I received from Eileen, my swap partner for this swap on the kindred spirits forum.

 I just love all the keys on the lid and the textures of the card are brilliant, almost like old leather.

 The sides have been covered with images and again, the colour and textures are fabulous. Don't you just love the chain "garland around the edges? Eileen has used the wooden bingo letters for feet which I thought was clever too.

The inside is pretty cool too with all the tissue tape on the top lid and the painted and masked paper too.
But it didn't stop there as Eileen had filled the box with goodies too!

A district market note book, a moldable foam stamp. (I've wanted one for ages and never seen one so this was a real blessing!) I love the ATC the layers and texture are fab and the sentiment very apt, then some lovely vintage ephemera and a stamped statue of Liberty. All wrapped in gorgeous rainbow ribbon.

I feel truly blessed to have received this from someone whose blog I have followed almost from when I first started blogging and whose work inspired me; so thank you Eileen. It has pride of place in my lounge as my wife wouldn't let me take it to my studio! Too nice she said!

I've been working in my garden quite a bit too over the last few days so here's a photo. We've a special 80th birthday celebration here soon so it needs to look good!

Enjoy your day everyone. Hope you get some creative time too.