For Love of Paper

Boo Crew Layout

First, let me tell you why I've been MIA for a week. I spent the entire weekend in downtown Austin at the Mama Cents Children's Consignment Sale. It was awesome! I highly recommend shopping here if you have kids. I was able to get my son, Jack, a ton of clothes and a few toys for very little money. Don't feel bad if you missed this sale there will be another one in March so we can all get our little ones outfitted for the spring and summer.

Not only did I shop at Mama Cents I also was a volunteer for their VIP Baby Shower and a vendor. What can I say? I was busy!

So back to the land of paper. This layout is one I designed for a recent workshop (hello Cynthia and friends). Lately I've been drawn to pages that have a few accents of patterned paper and a stamp here or there with the focus on the photos. Really shouldn't the scrapbooking part of it be there to enhance your photos rather than distract from them? It's very much like what mom always said about make-up . . . it's there to bring out your natural beauty, not cover it up.

While it may look like I have a 12x12 printer, I don't. I just printed my journaling on regular size Whisper White CS, cut it to the appropriate size and adhered it onto my page. You could also do hand journaling right on the page, just be sure to use an acid free marker or pen such as a Stampin' Write Marker. These are great because they come in all of the SU! colors and have two ends, one a brush marker and the other a fine tip, great for journaling.

You can get a complete list of supplies and instructions for this page by clicking the link below.

Boo Crew 12x12 Layout Instructions

(And a special thanks to Becky for providing the adorable pumpkin in the photos.)

These days we are all so busy, give simple, photocentric, scrapbooking a try again and see how much fun it is all over again.

Pillow Box Pumpkin Tutorial

As promised here are the instructions to make this super cute little spook.

Pillow Box Pumpkin Instructions

Don't have the Sizzix Pillow Box Die or any of the other supplies you'll need to create this cute little spook? Remember you can shop online 24/7 or contact me today to be sure you get your supplies in plenty of time for Halloween.

Can you lend a helping hand?

I was recently asked by a fellow home business owner if I would like to help out with a charity project her business was involved in called Lifeworks.

Lifeworks provides life skills for young adults who have fallen on difficult times and who have reached out for help. They provide life skills classes and in some cases, living accommodations to help get them back on their feet. 

So how could I help? The young women they had agreed to sponsor this year listed scrapbooking as one of her hobbies. Not only does Lifeworks try to step in on essentials like a decent place to live and life skills classes they also do their best to meet other needs of the recipient. I was asked if I could donate new, like new or gently used scrapbook items.

So what can you do?

• Read more about Lifeworks and Vanesha
• Clean out your stash of paper crafting supplies and see what you could live without to make someone elses life a little better. 
• Contact me to set up a time to donate your items.
• All donations must be to me by next Wednesday, September 23rd.

Too Cute to Spook

As I was perusing the online world of paper crafting I came across this "too cute to spook" pumpkin basket. He would make a wonderful piece of home decor or would be great to fill with treats for the kiddos, though I don't recommend anything heavy.

What makes this even more amazing is when you find out what he's made of. Any guesses? Pillow Boxes cut from the Pillow Box Sizzix Die!

Stay tuned over the next couple days for complete instructions on how to make your own Pillow Box Pumpkin!

Monkey Business

Have you ever thought about making invitations for a birthday party? How about little goody bags to match? All you need are stamps and paper. 

These two things and a few more supplies allow you to create invitations, decorations, thank you notes, goody bags and lots more. And you have to admit creating your own custom party pieces is way more fun than running to the party store to get what everyone else has.

This little party set was made using the Sock Monkey stamp set found on page 90 of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog. There is also an accompanying set on the same page called Sock Monkey Accessories that give you even more versatility.

Not a Sock Monkey fan? Just choose another stamp set and put the same concepts to use. Like the Build-a-bear stamp sets, Beware Pirates pg. 81, Lots of Bots pg. 82 or Pony Party on page 86. The possibilities are endless!

Start thinking about your next party and how you can actually enjoy the getting ready process by stamping some or all of your party pieces.

Do you have an idea already?

Place your order online by clicking here or contact me today.

Mommy & Me Build-a-bear Workshop

The first class designed just for kids!

 

The new Holiday Mini Catalog features both Build-a-bear stamps and die cuts for use with the Sizzix Big Shot. The stamps are adorable and incredibly useful with sayings like "Happy Bearthday." But the dies turn scraps of paper into Build-a-bear paper dolls! They are so fun and I knew the kids would enjoy them to no end.

In this class each adult and child pair (it doesn't have to be mom) will create a personalized room sign. The sign itself measures approximately 6" x 14".  

This class is appropriate for children 3 and up if they can use a glue stick and have a decent attention span. They will basically be gluing, stamping and assembling their signs. Everything will be cut and ready for them.

Parents/adults may bring up to two children. The cost of the class is $25 for the first adult/child pair and $20 for each additional child.

What: Mommy & Me Class

When: Saturday, October 10th from 9 am to Noon or Sunday, October 18th from 2 to 5 pm

Where: My House in Leander, TX

Cost: $25 per adult/child pair and $20 for each additional child

RSVP: Prepayment must be made via check, cash or paypal by Monday, September 28th

$25 For one child with adult

$45 For two children with one adult

Baby Bootie Box

I was cruising through the grocery store the other day and came upon a display of clearance items. Clearance, sale, percentage off, all words I can't resist! Unfortunately it was tiny baby stuff and I don't have a tiny baby . . . but I do need baby things to display at Mama Cents (read my previous post about Mama Cents here). So yeah for me I had a "valid" reason to purchase the tiniest little bear baby booties! I had seen another wonderful stamper make a similar box for a pair of baby booties so I knew just what I was going to use these sweet little shoes for.

This is one thing I love about paper crafting. You can take an average gift and turn it into something extraordinary with a little paper and stamping.

Here is another view the project.

They also had little girl booties with a flower and another pair with baseballs on them. I sooo wanted to buy them all but tried to behave and told myself one pair was enough. But I was thinking you could easily change the colors and image on the box to go with anything.

These booties are tiny newborn size and they just fit in the box. I actually put the booties in and then added the crinkled paper around them to make it all fit. So if you decide to make one of these for larger shoes you'll need to increase the dimensions on the box a little.

Try making a box for your next gift following the directions here.

Fall is a sweet time for hostesses.

September 1st through November 30th Stampin' Up! has introduced a terrific promotion for workshop hostesses. Anyone who hostesses a workshop totaling $250 or more will be able to choose any item (excluding My Digital Studio) from the Holiday Mini Catalog for only $10. This means you could save up to $32!

Choose from award-winning stamps, beautiful new Simply Adorned™ jewelry, exclusive Build-A-Bear Workshop® products, or latest dies for the Sizzix® Big Shot™.

Best of all, this amazing offer is in addition to the already fantastic benefits we offer to our hostesses.

You can find out more about hostessing your own workshop by clicking the links below.

• Workshop FAQ
• Hostess Info
• What happens after my workshop?

Did you get a Holiday Mini in the mail?

If you didn't receive a copy of the new Holiday Mini Catalog in the mail please email me (chris@forloveofpaper.com) your address and I'd be more than happy to get you one right away. I can say without a doubt this is the best mini catalog I have ever seen!

Can't wait any longer? Click here to download a pdf copy of the catalog right now.

Remember you can order online anytime 24/7.

Just click here and then click the Shop Now button in the upper right corner of the page.

Gifts Galore

Do you find yourself searching for inexpensive, small, but meaningful gifts at the holidays?

Take a look at three quick and inexpensive gifts you can complete in the upcoming Gifts Galore Class on Saturday, October 3rd.

These gifts are perfect for for teachers, office mates, friends and that one person that slipped your mind.

Each participant will make a set of four coasters wrapped and ready to go (there are two choices for coasters, one is great for guys), an acrylic post-it note holder with matching pen and a Top Note chipboard wall hanging. You will receive complete written instructions for all three projects. Making them easy to recreate again and again. Change up the paper and stamps used and you've got an entirely new look. Not only are these fast but they are fun. 

Get a jump start on your holiday to-do list and sign up for class today!

What: Gifts Galore

When: Saturday, October 3rd from 9am to Noon

Where: My house in Leander, Texas

Cost: $25

RSVP: Prepayment by check, cash or Paypal is due by Monday, September 28th.