All Paper Arts

Well, for those of you who just couldn’t picture the quick tip I gave you yesterday here are some pics. My youngest keeps calling them ribbon women. Which sounds weally…ooops really cute when a five year old says it. Remembering that most 4 and 5 year olds turn all their R’s into W’s. Of course in my head I was thinking boy these are cute! Just add a little hat and a face and other fun accessories what a fun project for kids.
At my daughters’ school every Friday they have Friday clubs. This is where parents or other adult volunteers teach something to a group of kids for about an hour. Last year I did 2 clubs a Friday (all year long i think it came out to 6 or 7 different clubs) four for my now 3rd grader and three for my now 1st grader. This year I have only been fortunate enough to do one for the First graders. However, this Friday I will start doing a jewelry making class for the 3rd graders. (yes, some of that jewelry and accessories will involve paper if you were wondering..)You see this year both grades have clubs at the same time. My partner in crime for 1st grade is going on without me boohoo. I know she will do great! Plus, she always knows where to come if she runs out of ideas. So maybe she’ll be inspired by these ribbon women that were orginally just a way to eliminate clutter.
These can be grouped together in a bowl/vase, jar, or if you don’t want them displayed put them in an old cigar box. I love wood cigar boxes they make great storage spaces for a lot of my art stuff. A lot of times you can get used ones free or very little from cigar bars or shops.

From time to time, some of us more times then others, we find ourselves in a big hurry. This morning is one of those times. I have my bookmarks/pouches that I am still trying to finish for this morning. Really all I need is ribbon. So grab some rolls of ribbon and go right? Not that easy. Every roll I grabbed ran loose. Oh what a mess. So here is a quick tip for you. Next time you go to one of those stores where everything is $1. You know what store I am talking about right? Buy some of those old wood clothes pins. The kind with the ball on top that make great Holiday crafts. Then get your ribbons out and start spooling them on the clothes pins. You can use a small piece of tape to start the first bit. This should work on most smaller rolls of ribbon. If you have a big canning jar you might even be able to store some of your finished ribbon spools in the jar. Or a nice basket these will not only help get some things contained it will make a nice decoration.
Now next time you go to a craft store look to see how much they are charging for one little spool of ribbon on a wood bobbin. Yes, they are cute but start getting the ribbon at home in order so you can see how much space you have for the ones already done for you. Trust me I have already bought some and haven’t organized what I had first. Now, I have a few that are very similiar. However, I am almost as much of a ribbon hound as a paper hound so I’m not to upset!! Have a great day!

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I hear a lot from people that they are afraid to get to into paper arts. In my mind I think how could you be afraid? However, out loud I ask why do you say that? Several times I hear “I’m just not creative”. Even more often I hear “I can’t afford to buy any new tools or materials”. Buy tools and materials? Whoever said you had to buy new tools? I admit there are a number of gadgets that I just love but you can still be creative with the bare minimum. What is the bare minimum? Here is a list of things most everyone has. I’ll go by category.

Adhesive. Everyone has their favorite. If you ask me some adhesives like some people better then others. Seriously, there are some adhesives I swear by but my friends just can’t stand. On the other hand there are some they love that just won’t work for me. Yes, I realize that is the operators failure not the actual product but hey the adhesive can’t talk back.
A good glue stick is easy enough just make sure it is acid free.
Double sided tape is great. I never thought I would think that but it has become my adhesive of choice. It is especially a good deal if you buy it from the super club stores. Those rolls have more on them then at regular discount centers. Trust me I didn’t believe it either but compare just one of the rolls from the club store to the super discount center and you will see what I mean.
There are a lot of little adhesive roller things out there and they are good if you just love them. My only complaint is even if I fill it with a brand new refill at a card party or crop I run out before the event is over. Which is aggravating when I think about how much I spent on the refill?
Later down the line you can worry about some more great adhesive products like glue dots, foam, and photo corners. Although these aren’t bad investments because one box usually last for a while. You can usually get a box of any one of the three from about $2.99-$4.99.
Cutting implements
Scissors easy enough
Whole punch just a basic whole punch can do a lot. When you decide to invest you will find all different size hole, hole punches.
Paper trimmer preferably one big enough to measure anything up to 12X12. If you like to cut and can cut straight (I can not) then by all means stick with your scissors and ruler but I’ll use the trimmer. Usually, you can find them on sale or use a coupon at a craft store and get them for under $13 for a good one
So there are your major tools. Later this week I’ll let you know what some of my can live without but don’t want to tools are.
Now on to materials
Paper (I know that was a given)
Ribbon, yarn, embroidery thread not all the time but most of us have some around the house
Markers, pencils

There you are the bare minimums! I bet if you look around you’ll probably have all of the above. Anything else you have is just great!
If you plan on using a lot of embellishments, especially, grommets /eyelets then you are going to want something to push the grommet down. There are all kinds of little hammers and eyelet setters out there at pretty reasonable prices. I know a lady who says she takes hers out to the garage floor and just uses a hammer! That is totally an option. I myself would get tired of that but I guess it depends on how much money you want to spend. I have two grommet/eyelet tools that I love and both were under $30 each. I know that might sound high but both have some extras that really make it worth it.

Okay, so not having the tools or materials is no longer an excuse for not doing paper arts. As far as the “no creativity” excuse. There are so many resources out there to get ideas. Magazine, books, and websites a plenty. Not to mention this site! I am guessing even if you aren’t creative that you can make something when given the instructions or seeing an idea. So there! No more excuses! Now have some fun!

Today, the family is going to the Stock Show. This is a family tradition we try to do every year. The girls are out of school and my hubby took the day off. It is also a tradition for the weather to be wet, cold, and miserable. There is truly such a thing as “Stock Show Weather” down here. As a matter of fact this year they even had snow! The girls favorite part is looking at all the animals. It is especially fun if we happen to be there when the young kids are showing off their animals. My husband likes to look at all the cattle and talk about which ones we will have once our ship comes in and we have land. I’m usually not talking much during this part because I am trying to focus on where my girls are stepping. So instead of talking I get a kick out of seeing all the little boys and girls dressed in their cowboy wear. It seems no matter how decked out my kiddos are there are always kids with even cuter duds on. I am sure the adults look cute to but they aren’t exactly in my sight when I am checking the ground.

Where am I going with this? I am sure you are wondering what this possibly has to do with paper art. Well, some of my best scrapbook pages have been pictures from the Stock Show or a friends ranch. You can really get some great pics. Like a the back of a little boy in a big black cowboy hat that swallows him holding his Daddys hand. Or the shilouette of a young girl grooming her prized dairy cow right before a show. These are inspiring moments that make memorable pages.

You would be amazed what little bits you have in your paper arts stash that will make one of these pages pop. Sometimes it might not even be in your art stash. It could be some raffia or jute that you can staple in a corner. Or maybe strips of an old torn bandana that you could lace through a few holes along the border of the page or the picture itself. There are endless possibilties. Next time you go out to a special event in your area see what special moments you can spot.

While we are doing my favorite part of the Stock Show….browsing all the vendors… I will be looking for inspiration all over. From the people to the rustic furniture to all the western wear. I can’t wait to share some of the ideas I get.

Okay, I finally figured out the right way to put an image on here. This is the bookmark that I made for the bookclub in my earlier post today.

Every last Tuesday of the month I get together with a group of ladies for a bookclub. Here is a sample of some bookmarks I am making for all of them. I hope to give them out next Tuesday. Of course that is if I get the time to sit down and finish them. I have decided to make things more time consuming and give each one its own little personality like all my friends.

Now, don’t let bookmark throw you off. Or bore you this is far from boring. This is also much more then a bookmark. This is well…a bookpouch? a booklog? Okay, I am still working on a name.

I start off by cutting a 7 x 7 piece of cardstock. I chose all different shades of purple. It is important that it is cardstock or very think paper.
You then fold your paper square in half.
At your center fold you want to cut down about 1 3/4″. Fold the front flap forward.
For the distressed look I have; I used masking tape to tape the side and bottom together. I also tore some masking tape and stuck it on in random places of my pouch.
After the pouch is adhered you can ink all over your pouch. (to ink means to use a stamppad and just rub it around the paper everybody has a favorite was to ink). I do this mainly to cover the ugly masking tape. To mask it if you will. (pun intented).
After the ink is dry I punch holes (4 to 6 your preference) down the long taped side. You can use ribbon or cloth to tye through the holes. I aslo used some artificial flowers in a few holes. Viola your done.
Well…If you want to be. I will add more with rubber stamps or rub on sayings.
***Inside the pouch I have a pencil and a piece of white card stock for logging the books we have and/or will read. I will also add some little sweet treat inside to eat during the bookclub.

Paper, Paper, Paper. My addiction, my muse. Almost every arts and craft….no, all the art and craft work I do paper is involved. 12X12 in all the many colors, patterns, textures. That is my favorite but I do love it all. Card making, scrap booking, atc’s, bookmarks, and gifts it doesn’t matter they all are my creative release. The only thing that makes me happier then making things with paper is the smile it puts on peoples faces. I am so excited to have this blog and only hope that it will make you half as giddy about paper as I am.

What a perfect time of the year to begin this blog, too. Valentines Day is coming soon. What other holiday is paper such a primary focus? Valentines Day is one of if not the biggest selling card season for the card companies. I prefer making my own Valentines. My daughters and I make the valentines for their classmates every year. We have been known to even get together with other friend and make them together.

You don’t have to be a kid to make Valentines though. I myself am in a card group. We meet once a month. No not to play poker. We make greeting cards. I live for these parties. If for some reason we miss a month I am just not the same.

I promise to have something fun stuff for everyone. Everything from 5 minutes projects up. I got a great printer for Christmas that scans so I plan to have lots of pics of samples.

Thank you for checking out my very first blog. Remember to check me out daily to see whats new!