Confessions and Obsessions of a Paper Crafter

Thursday, October 20, 2011

New Baby Card


We are invited to a baby shower this weekend. (Notice the "we". It seems now that men are included in these once "ladies only" parties. Not that I mind. I just wonder how the men are coping.)

I realized that I either had to make or buy a card. And since I have an abundance of PAPER, I thought it had better the latter. Besides, it gives me an excuse to go and buy more paper to replenish my dwindling stash. (Insert a "wink" here.)

It didn't take long to find this paper, once again, Graphic 45. This is the Springtime line, and it has these very cute post card sized pictures, one of which I cut out and pasted in place. A bit of trim and fussy-cutting of flowers and microscopic butterflies and I was done. (Of course, I have neglected to tell you about the time spent agonizing over card stock colour, flower placement, and the exact wording of the inside sentiment. )


I really like this card. I'm glad I have a picture of it, because I'm getting separation anxiety already. At least I know it's going to a good home, where it will be appreciated. I'm a bit funny that way, I don't like giving handmade cards to people that don't understand the BS&T (blood, sweat and tears) that go into them. I hate the thought of my creations (not to mention the EXPENSIVE embellishments that often go on them!) going into the recycling bin.

So if you get a card from me, I know you're going to keep it for a while, or at the very least, take off that embellishment and re-use it on a card back to me!

Until next time....












Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Hawaii Journal


I thought I should post a picture of my Hawaii Journal, I would like to show you the inside as well, but there is not much to see except my scrawl.

The paper is Graphic 45 (my favourite!), the Transatlantique line. I bound it use Zutter's Bind-it-All. And now, a note about that. Well, I had bought these nice thick covers (also from Zutter), and wouldn't you know it, they don't fit in the Bind-it-All (darn-it-all!) machine. Turns out they fit in the NEW model of the Bind-it-All, and I have the OLD model. So I had to take the paper off the covers, punch everything separately, and glue it back together.

I had bought the biggest binding coils that Zutter makes, but they are still not big enough for the covers and my pages. I may have to remove some of the pages so it closes properly.

NOTE TO SELF: Next time I make covers, they are going to be made from nice thin cereal boxes.

The other thing I was going to do, was collect some sand from the beach at Waikiki, I even took along one of those cute little glass containers that Tim Holtz makes. I wondered about taking sand across the border, and if there was some law against it. But it didn't matter in the end, because I forget to collect the sand.

I did remember to go to the post office to get a stamp, but since Hawaii is part of the USA, they didn't have any stamps that looked "Hawaiian". So I ended up getting a stamp with a ship on it, that had visited Hawaii at one time. Close enough.

Well, I have to go now. My precious husband is home, and we have a date to go to the gym. We're still working on losing the extra pounds we gained on the cruise ship. I blame the cookies!

Until next time....


Sunday, October 16, 2011

Aloha!



We are now home from our vacation, and two guesses where we were, I cannot believe how fast time passes when you are enjoying yourself!


Needless to say, there has not been a whole lot of paper crafting going on around here. I did make a lovely travel journal, which I wrote in diligently every night on our trip (even if it was 1 o'clock in the morning!). I took some scissors and adhesives, and added little bits and pieces as I went, but I think the journal is too structured, and I need to add my photos before I go too crazy with pasting in the ticket stubs and memorabelia I collected.


We were on a cruise to Hawaii (there's your answer!), and I was thrilled to discover they had scrapbooking classes on board. They even gave us free kits! Naturally I attended as many as I could.


Once in Hawaii, I was hoping to find a scrapbooking store or two, but I think we were in the touristy areas, and I couldn't find any. I had the address of one that was within walking distance to our hotel in Waikiki, but unfortunately they had closed down. There were quite a few quilting stores, however, and lots of galleries with paintings and sculpture, so I was able to get my "art fix" that way.


And now, back to reality (and work). I am hoping to be a good girl and get some of my journals completed. I have THREE waiting for me to finish them!


Until next time.....