Another little project I made for ETSY.   I’ve had a couple of people buy up a bunch of my projects (a good thing) so I have been frantically trying to come up with some new ideas/mini books for my store.  

It’s all good, right?  I am having fun with these projects and am amazed at how much I can get accomplished while the kids are in school….so this is what freedom feels like.  Ahhhhh…

Again with the “My Minds Eye” paper.  And yes, I am a little obsessed with birds lately.  I think they’re so beautiful.

OK,  the title of this blog is  actually called Pretty Paper Blog.  AND scrapbooking is my favorite hobby.  So, I figured it’s probably about time I posted photos of projects I’ve been working on. 

The following photos are the “little details”  from one of the mini albums I made to sell on Etsy.  I used the 29th Street Market Paper from My Minds Eye. 

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I’m so inspired by this new Halloween paper!  I know, I know…Halloween is still awhile off but I couldn’t help myself!  I came up with this little diddy last Saturday night while cropping at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique (LOVE it there)!

Check it out:

What do you think?

I’ve been working on a few things for my Etsy Store.  I still have plenty of irons in the fire.  Lots of projects started (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) that need to be finished. Hopefully that will happen some time soon.  

I used the lovely new Graphic 45 papers (of course).  Speaking of Graphic 45 click HERE if you want to read my most recent blog post on their site, it’s called “Scrapbook Treasures”.

Here’s a little Christmas Garland I whipped up:

I spend all day Saturday at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.  First teaching class, then just hanging out with the girls for the Saturday night crop. 

I didn’t realise how much I needed this little “getaway” until I was there.  I had so much fun!  I laughed so hard I cried.  I talked about my husband and children and discussed similar experiences with other women.  I visited with a Mom with an Autistic child (like myself).  I bonded with these women.  I love my scrapbooking friends! 

I came in to Paradise Scrapbook Boutique Saturday morning with my cup half-empty and left that night with my cup overflowing.  

It is amazing how what friends and scrapbooking can do for my soul.  Thanks ladies!

How to make Accordion-Style Paper Flowers:

1.  Start with a long strip of paper (8 to 12 inches).  I cut this strip about 1-1/2 inches wide with scallop-edged scissors.  And yes, I used the beautiful new Graphic 45  paper again today.

2.  Fold the strip of paper accordion-style from one end to the other.

3.  Gather your edges together and tie twine (or ribbon) in the center.

4.  From the center (where the twine or ribbon is tied), gently fold out the top and bottom edges from the right hand side and glue together.  You should probably use some strong glue and hold it in position for a few seconds until the glue dries a bit.  Repeat this process with the left hand side.

Ta-da!  Your Accordion-Style paper flower is complete!

Mix and match these Accordion-Style flowers with the Circle-Punch Flowers from yesterday for a interesting twist!  Have fun!

How to make Paper flowers using your circle punch:

First of all, I must apologize for my photo quality, I made these flowers late at night, therefore I had poor light for taking photos.

I used the new Graphic 45 paper to make all the flowers pictured.

1. Punch Six Circles from your choice of patterned paper using a circle punch.  In these photos I used a 1-1/4 inch circle punch but you may use smaller or larger if you prefer.

2.  Crumple each circle and then smooth it out again (I like to chalk the edges of each circle with liquid chalk for added character).

3.  Arrange five circles in a flower shape and staple the center to hold them together.

4.  Use glue dots to add a silk flower of your choice to the center of the stapled circles.  Then use glue dots to adhere an additional circle to the center of the silk flower.

5.  Tie ribbon or twine through a button and use glue dots to attach it to the top of the circle. 

Your first paper flower is complete!    I prefer to make several different flowers and bunch them together.  I’ll post another paper flower tutorial tomorrow! 

It’s official!  Time for another give-away! 

I call this little 6 inch by 3 inch mini album my “Vintage Sweetheart” – I thought it would be perfect for black and white photos…(it would be good for any photos you want to put in it, really).  Are you interested in winning?  If you are, leave a comment on THIS POST…spill the beans on what you like to take photos of.   Do you have beautiful children that you’re constantly snapping pics of?  Pets?  A hunky husband?  Flowers? 

Leave a comment here by next Saturday (June 28, 2008) and I’ll enter you in a drawing to win this Vintage Sweetheart Album.   The winner will be announced Sunday, June 29th.  Please only one comment per person,  thank you and good luck!

Hello friends! If you didn’t notice…I took a day to “unplug” from the computer. I’ve been a little obsessed with reading blogs the last few weeks, especially since I found my new “SITS” (The Secret is in the Sauce) sisters. I can’t believe how many amazing blogs are out there. So many amazing women (and men). So many true stories, women sharing my struggles and making me laugh that before I know it, I’ve lost 3 hours in cyber-space. So, I had to take a break.

The break did some good. I finally got caught up on the HUGE pile of laundry, vacuumed my carpets, etc. You know…the normal daily stuff that I’ve been slacking on.

I’ve also been working on some fun projects and pages for Graphic 45. I love working with their paper and wish that I could show off my projects. Alas, I must wait until early July (after their release date). I promise I’ll show you some of the fun things I’ve been working on. For now I posted a picture of a book I made awhile back…just to keep you all wanting more, right?

Speaking of Graphic 45, they’ve asked me to teach a class for them in Southern California this August. I don’t have all the details yet but I’ll share them as I find out more!

Well, now that I’m “Back in the Saddle” with my blog…stay tuned – I’ll be giving away a homemade project soon!

The other day while at a crop up at PSB I designed a little mini-garland for Father’s Day.  I’ve found myself addicted to making these little mini-garlands.  I just made a “Home Sweet Home” garland using the new Jenni Bowlin Paper.  I love this paper…it’s so much fun to use!  I painted one of the Maya Roads mini chipboard houses red and stuck it in the middle.  And of course I had to tie the whole thing together with the heart paper clips.  No garland would be complete without some sparkle…had to hang some from the hearts!

I’m thinking a Independence Day garland is coming up next (I’m sure the red-white-and-blue brought on the urge).