Getting "Punchy"

 All of these flowers were made with paper punches...many with basic shapes like circles, squares and scallops, just used in different ways.  There are also some made with border punches and corner punches.  All of these flowers are simple to make and don't take very long to do.  If you click on the images, you can view them larger to see more detail.  I will be doing a class on making these flowers at Paper Wings very soon, so keep your eyes on the schedule.  The class will also cover getting the most out of the punches you have.  I will show you how to make a double border from a single border punch and how to make frames using border punches.  I will also show you how to use corner punches in unexpected ways, including making circular frames.  This class will happen shortly after the move to the new store space in Tuckerton.  So, if you need a good excuse to come see the new store, sign up for the class!  I'm sure it will be a lot of fun!   I hope to see you there!  Until then, enjoy what's left of the summer!  www.paperwingsnj.com

Off to see the Wizard....

 I can't believe that it's almost time for back to school...and all of the things that go with it.  I'm just not ready for all of the back to school shopping and school and sports schedules.  Make it stop!!  I do LOVE the fall, though.  Autumn is my favorite season and what better way to capture those fall memories than scrapbook pages.  This is the right side of a layout that I just finished for www.paperwingsnj.com.  The "Wizard of Oz" collection by Graphic 45 captures Baum's characters in all their glory...such a beautiful backdrop for my little "Dorothy."

Good Day Sunshine

I am so fortunate that the girls at Paper Wings love the same kind of papers that I do!  Every design team project turns out to be papers that I already have my eyes on!  This line, Good Day Sunshine, by My Mind's Eye, is no exception.
The retro surfer theme was perfect for my photos of a day at the Jersey shore! I also love how the papers worked for these cute little baskets.  I'll be doing a class on these soon, so keep your eyes on the schedule at the store!  Part of the class will also be devoted to getting the most out of your punches.  We'll be playing with border and corner punches in different ways as well as making flowers with various punched shapes.

Springtime...

 

This was a fun layout to do because I got to play with a lot of my toys...I mean, TOOLS.  I had purchased a few punches & was anxious to test them out. I also bought a new Sew-Easy piercing tool, at Paper Wings, along with a little Tim Holtz tiny attacher.  I also used a few older tools, as well.  Colleen, at Paper Wings, thought that it sounded like a good idea for a challenge, so check it out at www.paperwingsnj.blogspot.com.

Paper Wings Blog Candy

Fun little package to win from Paper Wings.  Lots of great items

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Celebrate Easter with some BLOG CANDY!!

Good Afternoon bloggers! I don't know about where you are, but here on LBI, spring is in the air. It is beautiful. So beautiful in fact that I am inspired to offer you all some yummy yummy blog candy. Winning is simple, just leave us a comment if you are already our follower. www.paperwingsnj.blogspot.com If you're not (and why not!), become a follower and leave us a comment telling us you're new. Also, for an extra entry, post our blog candy offer on your blog (leaving us a comment to let us know that you did!) and we'll slip your name in the hat again! Simple right? want a third entry? Just become a fan of the Paper Wings facebook page and leave us a message on our wall. This offer will run until midnight May 1st, 2011 and we will announce the winner by noon on May 2nd. We can't wait to meet you all here. Have a wonderful day! here!

Tea anyone?

This was originally a box of specialty teas that I had received as a gift.  I knew that I would use it for something one day, so I whitewashed it and set it aside.  When I saw these lovely "Little Girl" papers from Echo Park, I knew that they would be perfect to make a little shadowbox for my daughter.

First, I measured each opening and cut patterned paper to size, decoupaging it in place.  I also covered the lid with heart paper.  I added a second coat of decoupage medium and let it dry overnight. 

Once that was dry, I added the cloud, grass, punched flowers, sign and the bottom layer of my tree frame to the lid.  Another coat of decoupage medium and a bit more drying time.  Then it was time for the fun part:  Embellishing!

Some photos, ribbon, 3-d embellishments, and some pop-up adhesive under the photo on the lid, and it was complete!  So, don't forget to look at packaging in a crafty way...You never know what treasures you may find!

Clowning Around

I was so happy when Paper Wings gave me this wonderful Echo Park "Little Girl" paper to use for my design team project. Even though these papers say little girl, they can be used for so many things.  They're bright and colorful and fun.
I used Fiskars punches for the trellis frame, the banner, and the flowers & sprayed the chipboard frame with glimmer mist and added rhinestones.

 

I made the carousel frame, on the right hand side of my layout, by cutting various patterned papers and layering them over a chipboard base.  Then I added gems and beading.  The trims are from Maya Road and were also sprayed with glimmer mist.  Since I didn't have a lot of room to work with, I took advantage of the white space, in the smaller photo, to print my journaling.


                                                                                                                                  

Wishful...

The following projects were done for the Fancy Pants design team call, last fall.  I didn't make the team, but what I have are three layouts and a project that I wouldn't have spent as much time on, otherwise.  I love taking on challenges.  It's a good way to
hone your skills and try new techniques.  For this layout, I created a branch with beading wire, covered with embroidery floss.  I cut floral accents, for the branch, from patterned paper, popping some up with 3-d adhesive.  I used a border punch to create the frame and printed the photo in sepia on canvas, to give it an aged look.  There is also a lot of machine stitching on this layout.

Island in the Sun

For this layout, I cut along the edge of the flowers on this paper from the "Rustic Sun" line.  I aged the paper a bit, with chalk, and inked the edges. 
I popped up the edge of the paper with 3-d adhesive, and also embroidered the flowers, adding beads to the flower centers.  There is a stamp of a little bird in the sky, to give Timmy something to be looking at.  I love this shot of Timmy.  He loves laying in his little sunny spot, on the doily that my mother made, all nestled into the plant.  It's like his own little piece of paradise.

Mirror, Mirror...

I absolutely love this photo, taken at a Renaissance Faire last summer.  I used paper from the Fancy Pants "My Family" line for the background, taking advantage of a large journaling area.  I created a mirror image of my photo, for this spot, and printed it on vellum, placing the original opposite, then stitching each to the page.All of the accents are hand cut from patterned paper.

Altered table

 One of the requirements of the design team call was to do an altered project.  I chose to do this table.  I decoupaged papers from a few different Fancy Pants lines, both on the table top and on a piece of illustration board that I attached as a "topper" with velcro.  I also used adhesive backed velcro to attach the tulle skirt to the topper.  This was a fun project to do and my daughter loves her new table!