Posted in Uncategorized at 12:59 pm by PaperDesigns
Have you ever seen the Bagamites? These are cute little gift bags you can make with the Bag Templates from Green Sneakers. I think they’re adorable, and I make them all the time – Halloween treat boxes, birthday party favors, school parties, etc. I only mention this because due to a warehousing issue, Green Sneakers is selling three of their top kits for about 1/2 the cost of one. If you like to make altered projects, or your own gift bags, boxes, or frames – well, I’m just saying it’s a great deal. And templates last forever!
Here’s one my coworker, Jessica, made using digitally created papers for the bag and card.
The blog challenge asks how do I define “goodness”. I assume they mean ‘of character’ not design quality. But maybe they don’t. Oh well – I guess regardless of how I define “goodness” – every one will define it by their own standard. I suppose that becomes, then, the definition. Goodness to me means ‘better than average’. In my art, if I like it, then I think it’s good – some one might not, on the other hand (being my own worst critic) if I think something isn’t good, then it isn’t to me – but some one else may think it is.
I suppose I define “goodness” as doing the right thing. I understand that it doesn’t always work out that way – but if people are doing the right thing for the right reasons – then there is goodness in action.
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:00 pm by PaperDesigns
I’ve been a card making fool! Yep, I just finished over 30 new cards, and, to answer the blog question – my plans are to make 30 more by this week’s end. The crazy part is that they are all different. I know, I should have stuck with one design and made several of those. But I just couldn’t. I’ve been using Figgy Pudding by BG, and by cutting a sheet in half – I have 2 6″ x 6″ cards. Then, I just use the templates from Green Sneakers and create the coordinating envelope. Too easy.
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:55 am by PaperDesigns
The blog challenge question asks what is the biggest step I’ve taken this year. I must say that finishing the downstairs has been the biggest project I have ever tackled. We have been working on getting started for years. We had contractors in to give bids, accepted bids – they never show, write or call – they obviously didn’t want the job. So, I just went ahead and became my own contractor – and personally undertook hiring and coordinating the framer, electrician, dry waller, plumber, and finishing carpenter. I did all the stuff I could do – 5 coats of paint, laid the vinyl flooring, and, of course, all the decorating and organizing of the space. But when all was said and done – I now have space for all of the things I wanted it for. The exerise equipment has its own room and a full bath, a full living area with kitchenette, dining table (for games) and living room – all for the kids to play in without worry. Needless to say, my favorite area is my own art studio. A place to call my own, and I have my supplies out and at hand – but not where any one dropping by would see the mess!
By doing the contracting and some of the jobs myself – the overall cost was less than a third of the bids we had received. I am happy we did it, I’m glad it’s done, and I don’t think I’d be up for such an undertaking any time soon (or ever, perhaps!)
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:11 pm by PaperDesigns
This blog challenge question for me is an easy one…. When I have an occasion to go to and I bring a food item – it’s Challah. Challah is a gorgeous, delicious eggy bread that you braid before baking. Also, it gets an egg wash – so the crust is golden and shiny. Every one who knows me knows that I’m bringing the bread.
I had made so many cards using Figgy Puddin – that I ran out of it – so I went back and bought some more. I can see using that pretty paper for a lot of Christmas projects, layouts and cards. I’ll get some more posted up soon!
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:29 pm by PaperDesigns
Of course, I love Christmas. For us, it is a family event – just the four of us, settled in for a week of gifts and food. But my favorite occasion has to be Thanksgiving. That is a celebration. We go over to our friend’s house and they have family in from out of town, and we all make food and laugh, watch some football, and have a really good time. It truly reminds me that we have so much to be thankful for – and what better way to spend the day than with good food and great friends.
Most of you know I design for and write the blog for Green Sneakers. Well, they just happen to be having a once in a lifetime deal going on right now – that’s all I’ll say.
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:15 pm by PaperDesigns
I’ve been back in the studio making up lots more cards. I love playing with paper, the only thing is that I’m all by myself. Of course, the family members are always free to come in and chat – it’s just that if I’m not in the family room, I tend to miss them as they come and go. And especially on a 3 day weekend, I’d like to spend more time with them. And, when they aren’t home…. well, it’s really too quiet in the house to feel comfortable in there. We had to put our 2 dogs down this summer (stomach and brain cancer) – and without them, honestly, the house is just too quiet. Plus, I always knew that if anyone were to come to the door – they would bark like crazy, and I never worried about intruders. But now, it’s just me and the cat – and she’s no help! She’s a bigger fraidy cat than I am – whichever room in the house I’m in – she’ll follow. If it looks like I’m going to be a while – she’ll just find a comfy spot and settle in til I’m ready to leave.
The blog challenge asks about 10 things I’m proud of lately. It’s not that I have done anything I’m not proud of – I just can’t think of anything I’ve done lately that I’m especially proud of. I will carry this thought with me, though, and try to do things in the near future that would have qualified for this challenge.
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:28 pm by PaperDesigns
The blog question asks if I had a million dollars that I had to donate which charity would I donate it to. I’ve lost many family members and loved ones to cancer – I am, however, not convinced that any of the research charities are fully spending their donations on finding a cure. I have worked with the American Red Cross for years, and I know where their money goes, and how it works. With so many training programs, medical programs, disaster relief, and communication for the military – they are a worthy cause. Many people do not realize that they do not receive any federal funding for any of their great work – it is kept running solely by the generosity of the American People. Much of my time and financial donations over the years have gone to this great charity – and it is where I would donate this mythical million – if I had it to donate!
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:14 pm by PaperDesigns
I would love to write a book that shows people how to make the most of the tools they already have. Have you noticed that the manufacturers don’t really take the time to show their customers all of the great things their tools can do? I think a part of that is that they want you to move on and buy their next offering – but I want to make the most of thing I just bought. So, that’s what I like to write about. I’m not sure it could fill a book – not enough of any one theme to make a cohesive book. But I do like to write technique articles that are all about using what you already own.
The card in the picture uses a fun technique that will work with any corner slot punch – EK Success, Fiskars, Emagination, they will all work to make Multi-Layered Mats and Card Fronts.
And, another of my favorite tricks is to make all my own creative letters – without ending up with extra ‘z’s! Just give them an adhesive backing – and you’ll have perfect letter stickers – customized for your project.
There are a few more technique articles showing some other uses for stuff you already have. I guess writing a book would be fun, but I think I’d rather just write more articles and get them posted up on the site.
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:05 am by PaperDesigns
It may sound pat and contrived to some, but when you really need to think about it – it will help. “This too shall pass” says it all. Bad times happen, they’ve happened before and they will happen again. And since I survived them before there is hope that I will survive the next one. And then, in the really big picture, all that has happened in human existence before will happen again, and we survived it before – there’s hope we will survive it again. “This too shall pass”.
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:40 pm by PaperDesigns
Today’s Challenge~
Is creating “beautiful art” more important than the process of creating?
This is a double edge sword. Firstly, I’m a big advocate for “just do it” – crafting is therapeutic. Create for the joy of the process. Think about the project, design it, add a new twist or technique, and make it something that came from you. One of the things I really enjoy about the projects that my mom and I accomplish while she is here is that now there is tangible evidence of our working together. Who would Frank Lloyd Wright be if none of his plans were ever built? But then, on the other side of the coin, is what good would the time, money, and energy spent be if our built in bookcase were lopsided and crappy? (My mother is a professional woodworker – so of course the bookcase is perfectly plumb) – but would I create it just for the process? I wouldn’t. I’m willing to create for the process while learning a new skill or technique, and I accept that my finished project wouldn’t qualify as ‘art’ to anyone. But, after a while, working, learning, doing, crafting, I do expect my work to be of a quality that I can be proud of.
I guess for me, the bottom line, though, is that the finished project must resemble “art” to me, and not to any third party critic. If I didn’t enjoy the process of creating – I wouldn’t do it. But on the other hand, if I didn’t enjoy the final product – I wouldn’t do it, either.
