For Love of Paper

August and September Workshop Projects

Here is a sneak peak at the projects my August and September Workshop Hostesses and their guests will be making. The first project is a 3-D Witches Hat Treat Holder. If you have small children you won't want to miss this project. It is super simple and very fast for a hand made treat holder. You're friends will thank you for showing them such a useful project. Or if Halloween isn't your thing there are more choices below.

Two fairly simple cards both featuring the Tearing Edge Ruler, one of my favorite tools. August and September are a great time to get your creative juices flowing again just in time for Christmas crafting.

Even better all hostesses in the month of August will receive an additional $25 SU! Shopping Spree with a qualifying workshop. Click here to read more.

Be sure to contact me today, my calendar will fill very quickly with a special like this. You can call me at 512-259-5575 or email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com.

Spooky Haunted House Card

Hmm, what to say about this card? It's Halloween, which I love. It uses the Top Note Sizzix Die, which I love and also uses the awesome 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, which I love. So . . .  I'm loving this card and it is simple to make. I know because I had first time stampers make this card at a recent workshop I conducted near here in Cedar Park.

Want to give it a try?

Here's what you'll need:

Stamps: House of Haunts and Sanded

Inks: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Summer Sun Classic Inks

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie Cardstock

Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, 1 1/4" Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Sizzix Big Shot with Top Note Die, 2 Stampin' Sponges and Stamp-a-ma-jig (optional)

1. Begin by cutting the following pieces.

• Whisper White Card 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and a Top Note
• Pumpkin Pie Card Front 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Basic Black 2 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• 7" length of 1 1/4" Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

2. Stamp the Sanded Background stamp onto the Pumpkin Pie CS using Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink. Then sponge the edges using more Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink.

3. Adhere the Basic Black strip of cardstock onto the Pumpkin Pie Card Front about 3/4" up from the bottom.

4. Adhere the Old Olive Striped Ribbon over the Basic Black CS and adhere the ends to the back of the card front.

5. Stamp the haunted house and Happy Halloween onto the Whisper White Top Note using Basic Black Classic Ink.

6. Using the squeeze technique with an Aqua Painter, first color Summer Sun Classic Ink onto the top portion of the moon, windows and doors. Then repeat the technique with Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink on the lower portion of the moon, windows and door, blending the two colors where they meet.

7. Sponge Old Olive Classic Ink on the edges of the Top Note and adhere over the ribbon using Stampin' Dimensionals.

8. Adhere finished card front to Whisper White Card Base.

Remember you can order your supplies anytime 24/7 online, by email or over the phone. Get your supplies today and make your own spooky creations.

Click Here to Order Online

Email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com

Call me at 512-259-5575

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.

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!

September Technique Club Project #2

I love Halloween, so I was quite excited to be able to incorporate this little Frankenstein box into next month's Technique Club.

If you're not familiar with Technique Club this is what it is in a nutshell. Club will begin again in January 2010. At that time 12 people will agree to attend class once a month, make a minimum purchase each month and the hostess benefits rotate through the twelve people.  The class is held the same day and time each month at my house in Leander, Texas (just outside of Austin). This is really a great way to learn how to use products you have already and try out new ones. And it easily puts your stamping addiction, uh, I mean hobby on a monthly budget.

While the next club doesn't begin again until January if this is something you think you might be interested in be sure to drop me a note and I'll put you on the list to contact later in the year. And beginning next year there will also be a monthly scrapbook club!

What: September Technique Club

When: Saturday, September 5th 9am to Noon or Tuesday, September 8th 6 to 9pm

Where: My House in Leander, TX

Cost: FREE to all Technique Club Members or $5 for non-members

To reserve your seat simply email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com or give me a call 512-259-5575.

To see Project #1 visit this blog post.

On a more personal note I am having all four of my wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow morning so if I'm MIA for a few days I'm just recovering on my couch.

Happy Halloween Eve

I love Halloween.  I've always wondered if it was because I was born near Halloween or just because of the colors and a chance to dress up as anything you like.

One of the things that has drawn me to stamping and crafting is making fun little things for people, just to brighten their day.  I'm amazed I actually managed to make these cards and get them in the mail before Halloween!

I made this card for my nieces and one without the bow for my newphew and a couple other little boys including my son. 

What started it all was purchasing one of the $5 containers of fun foam Halloween shapes.  I had no idea how many pieces were in one of those containers and I knew there was no way we'd be abgle to use them up.  So I added a little packet of them to the inside of each of the cards. Come to find out that little bit of fun foam really makes for a lumpy envelope, which means you have to put extra postage on them because they have to be hand sorted, but definately worth it.  Little kids LOVE to get mail.  I even mailed my sons to him so he would get mail too.  He opened it last night and you'd have thought he's won the lottery.

The design of the card is CASED from one my mom did, which she mostly CASED from someone on SCS.

Happy Halloween Card Recipe (one per page)

Happy Halloween Card Recipe (four per page)