Paper Woods

Supplies: all cardstock from Die Cuts With a View, Signature background stamp from Rubber Stampede, VersaMark watermark ink from Tsukineko, brown chalk from Chalklets by EK Success, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink from SU!, hemp cord from Darice, brad from Making Memories, font is “Cowboys” from www.1001freefonts.com.  I made the scalloped edges with my slot punch tool by Making Memories.

I made this card last week for the Gallery Idol Challenge over at Paper Crafts Magazine.  I really love it!  It was one of two I entered.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get chosen for the contest (totally bummed!), but there are some pretty amazing cards on there.  Check it out, and make sure you vote before Thursday!

This week’s Frugal Friday tip could also be considered a “neat link,” but it is a way to get free stuff, so I’m categorizing it as frugal!

Have you ever seen those books that are chock full of really cool images that you can cut out, photocopy, or use as clip art (most of them also come with a CD with all the images in electronic format)?  Well, chances are that 90% of those books you see are from a company called Dover Publications.  Dover has books covering every topic you could imagine, from blacksmithing project instructions to activity books for kids.  However, their specialty is in providing copyright- and royalty-free images for artists to use as they please.  Their images are gorgeous, and you can manipulate them however you want! 

Well, I recently discovered that Dover offers free sample images from their books delivered to your email - every week!   All you have to do is enter your email address on the Dover Sampler web page and you’ll soon be receiving dozens of free images every week!  This week I downloaded some beautiful Chinese designs, historic photos of New York City from the 1940s, and even quotes from Mark Twain.

Here’s a quick card I made using one of the images I downloaded from the Dover Sampler.  I simply printed the image onto cream cardstock and glued it onto my card front - easy!

Happy Crafting!

A friend of mine got married over the weekend, so I made her this fun little card.  It’s very simple, but I like how it turned out.

Supplies: patterned paper from Memory Boutique, chipboard heart from Stampin’ Up!, “Blessings” stamp from Be Authentic set by The Angel Company, white craft ink from Stampin’ Up!, ribbon by Offray, peel-and-stick rhinestones from Jewelry Fundamentals

I used Nicole’s great tips on covering chipboard to cover my little chipboard heart with patterned paper.  Her best tip was to leave a little extra paper hanging over the edge, and then file the edges down.  I was always a little nervous to try covering chipboard shapes with paper because I didn’t think that the edges would look that clean - how could I cut it just perfectly so that it didn’t look ragged, you know?  So I was excited to try her tip!  I used a sandpaper sponge I keep with my craft stuff and took off a little more of the paper than she did in her tutorial, but I really like the way it looks - nice and clean.  Thanks for the tip, Nicole!

This week’s frugal tip:  Don’t go into a craft supply store looking for inspiration!

Don’t do it!!  This is like going grocery shopping when you’re hungry. There are a lot of great ideas and examples on display in most craft stores, but their main goal is to sell you new products and tools, instead of showing you what you can do with what you already have.  They just want your money!!  And, I know, you really want to give it to them, don’t you?  But you can do it!  You can resist!  So instead of going shopping the next time you’re feeling a little low on the mo-jo, hop on the web and check out your favorite blogs or galleries.  Or, better yet, call a buddy and confess your weakness!  It is an addiction, after all, and the first step is admitting it.  

I was so surprised to get an email from Sarah over at the Craft Critique saying that they chose me as a finalist in their Fabric Challenge Contest!  WOW!  There are just 5 finalists, and they’re all beautiful projects.  Now it’s up to the public to vote for their favorite.  So go check it out!  (My project is letter A!)

I submitted this card that I made for a previous Valentine’s Day:

I made the centerpiece with some scrap velvet fabric from my mother-in-law’s old sewing box she gave me (Thanks, Mom!).  I cut a heart shape out of the center of a piece of cream cardstock, hand-stitched the velvet to the back of it, and then glued a piece of black cardstock behind that, making a sandwich.  I left an opening at the top of my “sandwhich” so that I could stuff some batting behind the fabric to make it pop out a bit.  It was very easy!

In an effort to be more regular with my posts I’ve decided to start some weekly categories.  From here on out every Friday will have a new post on ways to save money with your paper crafting hobby.  I’m calling it Frugal Friday.  So, welcome to the first edition of Frugal Friday!

This week’s frugal tip: get free envelopes! 

If you’ve ever been into a retail store that has a large card section, I’m sure that you have experienced how messy and disorganized those card display racks can get.  Lots of envelopes get misplaced, lost, and separated from their cards.  My husband used to work for a retail store that had just such a card section.  So one day I happened to ask the woman there who organized the cards if she had any extra envelopes lying around, and low and behold, she had hundreds!  She was delighted to let me take them off her hands!  So now I have a huge bin full of envelopes, enough to last me years! 

Now, keep in mind that these envelopes are all different sizes and colors, and most have a logo imprinted on them, like Hallmark or American Greetings.  But I’ve found that that doesn’t really cause a problem when I’m just sending my cards out to friends and family.  So why not go and ask your local card store for their extra envelopes?  It certainly can’t hurt, and you might just never need to buy an envelope again!

My classes at Stamp On It have finally been rescheduled!  Yay!  Here is the information, including the new dates:

• Introduction to Invitations
  Location: Stamp On It - Grand Rapids, MI
  Date: Saturday, May 12, 2007 1:00-2:30pm
  Cost: $13
  Level: Beginner to Advanced – something for everyone!
  To register call: 616-988-8375, or email Deb

This class is an introduction to the basics of making invitations. You will learn tips and techniques for making quick and easy invitations for any occasion. Do you need to make large quantities of an invitation? This class will teach you what you should avoid, and how to get them done quickly. You’ll also learn about standard invitation and envelope sizes, and postal mailing requirements. Participants will make three different styles of basic invitations, and will have the opportunity to personalize each design.

• Creative Invitations
  Location: Stamp On It - Grand Rapids, MI
  Date: Saturday, May 19, 2007 1:00-2:30pm
  Cost: $15
  Level: Intermediate to Advanced
  To register call: 616-988-8375, or email Deb

Unique invitations don’t need to be hard to make! In this class you will learn how to make several different styles of invitations that are simple but unique. Learn creative folding techniques, how to use specialty papers, and how to add simple little touches that make a big difference. Participants will make four different invitations, and will have the opportunity to personalize each design.

 I am so ecstatic to share with all of you that Ready, Set, Create! has published not one, but TWO of my cards in their April/May 2007 issue!!  Woo Hoo!!  This is the first time I’ve ever been published, and that was one of my major goals for this year, so I’m definitely patting myself on the back!

Ready, Set, Create! is a beautiful electronic magazine available for purchase as a download.  To subscribe, visit the Ready, Set, Create! message board at www.readysetcreate.com and register.  During the registration process you can choose to purchase paid subscriptions of six months, or one year, or the entire 2006 year on a CD to be sent to you!  It is a great price (only $6 for a full year of downloads!) and believe me, you get a LOT for that money!  The April/May 2007 issue is 224 pages long! - all packed with gorgeous pictures and articles to inspire you.  You can see a free sample mini version of the April/May 2007 issue by clicking here (my projects don’t appear in this mini version, but it’s still pretty great!).