This long and thin card is a thank you card designed by Stephanie. Stephanie had several different colored and patterned paper combinations for us to choose from. If I remember correctly she also had different colored sheer ribbon. It is always nice to give your fellow card makers a few choices.
In July we had a Get Well or Sympathy theme for card party. Here is what Greta came up with. She borrow my sizzix envelope die for the mini envelope. Greta told us she didn’t want us all mad at her so she stamped and cut out every single bandage stamp herself. I want to say it was close to 100 of them that she cut out. Yep that is one of the reasons why we all love Greta!
sizzix, stampin’ up, card making, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, all paper arts
When I made my post about showing off my friends’ cards this week I forgot to mention most of these were designed by my friends. Remember what I have told you about how card parties work. You design a card, make a sample, and then have all the materials for everyone to make their own copy of your card. So although this was Carla’s design I made this one which I can assure you didn’t come out near as cute as Carla’s. This card has several elements from embossing to cut and adhere pieces.
embossing powder, scrapbooking, card making, rubber stamping, stampin’ up, all paper arts
Okay, I will admit things here have been even more hectic then I thought they would. Since I am still getting in the routine with the girls school and activities, my school and activities, and getting ready for baby, I am going to post some of my favorites cards all this week. A card a day, each one by one of my card party friends. To start it off here is Angie’s card. I love this set and have even been tempted to buy it a few times.
Here is a sample of a boy card I made using the Tag Pad I disscussed yesterday. We made variations of these at the August card party. I used a journaling tag on this one so somebody could either stamp or hand write the receivers name on it. The little tugboats are a sizzilit die. The green one is out of vellum. I used embroidary floss for the fibers on the hole.
K&Company, card making, scrapbooking, tags, sizzix, all paper arts
K&Company has some really great papers out right now for children. I especially like the boy paper they have out. The ones with the old cars and fire engines are my favorite. Of course I don’t have any boys so unless I am making something for a client or a friend I hardly buy much boy stuff. This Tag Pad was way too cute to pass up. The little pad comes with 24 assorted tags. Some have lines for journaling or open spaces in the middle of the pattern for pictures. Of course the pad is already shaped like a tag including having the hole punched. So it is a nice effortless and quick way to add tags to any paper arts project. I am sure I wouldn’t have been able to pass up on the girl tag pad either but it was sold out.
K&Compnay, Tag Pad, scrapbooking, card making, all paper arts
Once I thought things were getting to normal I end up having a week full of surprises. Yes once again in the month of August I have been on emotional rollercoaster. As I have already talked about Monday my girls started school including my youngest. Tuesday I started school. What I did not tell you was that on Monday I found out I was expecting another baby. 
I went in Tuesday to get a blood test to make sure this wasn’t a joke. On Wednesday my doctor’s nurse called me giggling to say I was pregnant and that I had been for awhile. So I went in that afternoon. Well no kidding I have been for awhile the doctor told me it looked like I was 20-22 weeks. 20-22 weeks??? And I didn’t have any clue? So Friday my hubby and I went in for a sonogram yet another surprise looks like I am more like 24 to 25 weeks!! The actual day the sonogram tech gave was December 13th which happens to be the day of my final exams for college. I know you are dying to know is this one a girl or a boy right? It’s a girl or as far as the tech was concerned and despite not even knowing I was expecting everything looks good. So how is that for a way to round out the month of August? Looks like you will soon be seeing baby girl paper art projects.
This week has begun as a very hectic one. Yesterday was the first day of school for my girls. Including the very first day of school for my youngest who also just had her sixth birthday the day before. Today was my first day of school in over 15 years. I was so worried I was going to be the oldest person in class and was very relieved when I wasn’t. As a matter of fact one class has two women who were going back to school after over twenty years. Isn’t it great to know it is never to late to fulfill a dream? I am excited to be back in school. I am even more excited that the first day is over. I am sure I was more nervous then my six year old was. What was really meaningful today was when my dear friend who is so excited about me going back to school waited for me at our daughter’s school so she could take a first day of school picture of me. She told me it was going to be for a scrapbook page. I would have never thought of making my own first day of school scrapbook page. I had taken pictures of my girls yesterday especially for scrapbooking. Isn’t it amazing how the artist forgets about themselves? Why not make a scrapbook page about you? If you care so much to record special moments in others lives don’t you think they would like to see something about you as well? One of my professors today said that getting up everyday and doing something is like walking over a bridge. On the other side of the bridge there is some kind of change no matter how little. I think that wraps today up pretty well.
A few weeks ago I wrote about my grandmother passing. The last few days she has really been on my mind even more than usual. I wake up from dreams of her being like I remember red headed and a ball of fire Jitter Bugging and singing Rum in Coca-Cola or Watermelon Wine. Making an army of food for just me and a few friends. Her funeral was very hard for me. I am not one to go to funerals. Maybe it because I am such a visual person but I just have this thing about wanting to remember people the way they were. To this day I have been to three funerals the first two were both curb side services one for my dad and one for my husbands hero his Paw Paw in both cases they had been cremated. My grandmother’s service on the other hand was an open casket at the funeral home. I know to some it may seem dishonorable but I did not go up to the casket. I just couldn’t like I said I am visual and what I could see when I walked in to the funeral home and during the service was more then I was expecting. Still two weeks later I have to block that picture from coming into my head. So instead I start thinking of moments with my grandmother. Some memories I had totally forgot about like every time I went to the grocery store or commissary with her when I was little she would by me a bag of puffed Cheetos. They were such a treat because that would be the only time I would get them.
Another memory is when I was in my second cousins wedding. My great aunt and grandmother had made flower girl and my dresses. The night before the wedding I went to put on the dress and in just a couple of months I had grown a good 3 or 4 inches. The sleeves were to short and the dress was tea length when it was suppose to be ankle length. The other little girls dress fit perfectly. I remember crying my eyes out. 
My grandmother and my aunt were both astonished so they had to come up with something quick. Luckily this was the late 70’s and ruffle and lace were a common embellishment for the dresses. So grandmother found some ultra wide eyelet lace and added it to the hem and sleeves of my dress. Viola it fit perfect. However it no longer looked exactly like the other little girls dress and she made a comment about it. I don’t remember what she said but I remember it making me cry all over. I don’t know what my grandmother said to me and I am pretty sure my mom god bless her was telling me to suck it up but I some how stopped my bawling and by the time it was to walk down the aisle I was okay. 
I don’t know what would have happened if it wasn’t for my grandmother and her quick thinking. I remember not wanting to be in the wedding because I felt like a freak show in the dress that was too short.
Me in another dress made by my Great Aunt Char (left) and Grandmother (right)
That seemed to be the way my grandmother was no matter how bad I was feeling she always would find a way to make me laugh. She was always able to laugh at any situation and more importantly herself. Although it has been a long road I am great at laughing at myself. Sometimes to the point it makes others uncomfortable that I can come right out and make fun of myself and look at what is happening in my life as funny. My girls are all ready starting to learn this and I hope this helps them to have a better self esteem then I did when I was their age because if you can laugh at yourself then it really doesn’t matter what others think does it?
As my grandmother always said I’ll drink to that!
My mom (left) with my grandmother on New Years many years ago.
Today I am just going to let you know about some great deals going on this week. I will start with Joann’s. I went there yesterday and they have so much scrapbooking and paper crafts stuff on sale. There was more on sale then there wasn’t on sale. From stamps and inks to embellishments and stickers. I don’t mean 15% or 25% off either we are talking about 40% off. Punches and cards it really is worth looking into. If you don’t have a Joann’s near you don’t worry the sale is online too.just check out their site
Have you ever signed up to be on Sizzix’s mailing list? If you have a die cut machine or are hoping to get one this is the place to go. Especially on Tuesdays. Just check out their great Tuesday only deals and take a look at their last chance items as well.
My friend Lori sent me this link yesterday. She always finds the greatest blogs and websites. I wish I could be half as organized as Nancy at iStamp My goal as soon as the girls and I are back in school is to try to get my house better organized. Especially my craft area so I can start working not only on things for my website/craft fairs and gifts for the upcoming holidays that will be up soon but for my clients. Do you have a great craft area? I’d love to see it. I am sure many of us would
When you think of maps you usually think of directions. It is no wonder why maps are a great tool for scrap booking and card making. They are especially helpful if you have plans to go to a crop or you don’t have as much time as you would like to scrap. When you already have maps to follow you can pack the tools and embellishments you need ahead of time. You are also more likely to knock more pages out at a crop with maps. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a doodler. It is hard for me to just sit and listen. So many times you will see me writing or drawing during a class or a study or while waiting for an appointment. Don’t think that means I am not listening usually I am listening better then I would if I was just sitting there because my mind isn’t wandering. It is during these times I have learned to carry a notebook and pen with me. That way I can sketch some maps for my paper arts. It is also helpful because if I have an inspiration hit me I can draw it out right away. Otherwise I might forget a fab idea. Here are a few examples of some maps I did during a MOMS group. You can find map places online. Many of the paper arts magazines seem to be adding maps too. Remember maps aren’t just for scrap booking. You can use maps for cards, ATC’s, altered art projects and anything else you can think of. Please give credit to the artist whose maps you use. 
Does your honey like going to the local do it yourself centers? Or do you have some projects that need to be done around the house and unless you go with him/her you know the supplies will never be bought? Look at the hardware store as a new place for scrap booking and paper arts supplies. What could there possibly be at the do it yourself stores that you can use for paper arts? Just think about it. How about the colored electrical wire for binding mini books or for making wired titles or 3-D stems for die cut flowers?
Of course in the paint section you have paint chip samples but how about the $1 to $5 mixed paints that people decided against after it was mixed (sometimes there are even textured paints) or mini sample paint jars. While you are still in the paint aisle the blue masking tape is as great to use for your paper projects as it is for painting as are the different textured sponges and brushes.
In the hardware section how about the cute little screws, bolts, and nuts for a cool boy or home improvement scrapbook page. The nuts and bolts are also cool for binding mini books or for applying a tag to a gift bag. Clearance wall paper is great for gift wrapping or making paper gift box and bags with. These are just a few ideas to endless possibilities. I bet next time you get dragged to the home improvement store you will see it with new eyes… your paper art eyes. Don’t forget the sand paper it makes great sand for summer cards and it also is great for distressing your papers.
home improvement stores, Home Depot, Lowes, Sherwin-Williams COLOR System, scrapbooking, card making, altered art, all paper arts
Her is a little pillow box I made. I plan on making at least three of these for each of my girl’s teachers. If I have time I will make some for their past teachers as well. I am going to let the girls pick out some little treats to put inside like candy, paper clips, mini post it pads, or whatever inspires us. I always like to give the teachers a card on the first day of school so this year we will add this little treat to go with it. The box is so simple it is just a matter of tracing the template and cutting it out. The dotted lines are the fold lines. You can also buy templates at the craft stores or find free templates on the internet. This is the pattern I have been using it is not perfect because it is free hand but it works well enough for me. If you have a scoring tool it will really help with the folds.
click for larger image
It is really hot here these days. I am talking in the 100’s. The lawn really needed to be mowed so I was up at 7 a.m. mowing to keep from passing out. Let me tell you it was still hot. After taking a shower I sat under the ceiling fan and watched Crafters Coast to Coast on DIY TV. Where I saw this awesome Faux Old World Tapestry Project by Julie Engelau from Round Rock, Texas. There is even step by step instructions on the website. To see more of the artist’s work check out her website. Old World Wall Treasures The good news is even if you don’t want to make your own you can order one straight from her website.
hgtv, diy, scrapbooking, card making, all paper arts, faux tapestries, crafters coast to coast
All Paper Arts is about any arts and crafts that can be made with paper by hand. The Paper Art industry is huge these days. From classic paper arts like collage and decoupage to rubber stamping and scrap booking. If there is an art out there that uses paper and a creative imagination chance are you will find samples and examples here. Everything "A" as in Altered Art and Artist Trading Cards to "Z" as in Zany Zoo Journals. Each and every one of them handmade. So if you are interested in anything from card making to jewelry making and anything in between then this is the blog is for you.
All Paper Arts Author(s)
