Quilled jewelry (you meet the nicest people in blogland)

I mentioned yesterday how I've discovered that there are some really wonderful people out there in blogland. Here's another example.

Look at this piece of gorgeousness!



It was a wonderful gift from Ann, who does the most AMAZING things with little strips of paper.

I think I may have heard something about quilling before I "met" Ann, but I didn't really have any idea of the fun you can have with it. I've really enjoyed getting to know Ann through her blog, All Things Paper, where she features the work of paper artists as well as some of her own creations. She's also very generous with her talents and offers numerous tutorials. I continue to promise her that one day soon I'll sit down with her tutorials and try my hand at quilling. It's going to happen, it's just a matter of finding some free time again (hopefully before Lachlan goes away to college)!



Ann creates the most beautiful and fun cards and jewelry, and she's made some quilled marriage certificates that will knock your socks off! (I want to get re-married so I can have her make one of these for me!)



For now this beautiful work of art is stored safely away with the rest of my necklaces, because I don't even want to think about how quickly Lachlan would destroy it (his hands are tiny, but they can shred stuff pretty quickly!). I'm really looking forward to the day where I can wear it again!

Thanks, Ann, for such a beautiful gift and for all the inspiration you provide on a daily basis! :)

Bulk envelopes

I have a lot of things in mind for my Etsy shop this spring. It's just taking some time to get things done, seeing how I can only work on it for small bits of time each day. First up is something I've been planning for awhile: offering colored envelopes and flat cards for sale in bulk quantities.

I've started with the envelopes, and I'll be offering them in packages of 24 in assorted colors. There are three colors for each package (8 envelopes of each color), but I can swap the colors around if someone has a need for a particular color(s).



These are great for people who like to make their own cards or who want to dress up their regular mail. And just between you and me, these are the same envelopes sold by a major paper retailer but at a lower cost (because I like you. :). You can find them in my Etsy shop here.



The envelopes are A2 size and hold one-quarter of a sheet of paper (4.25x5.5 inches) or half a sheet of paper folded in half.



I also have some A6 envelopes leftover from various projects that I'll be offering at clearance prices, in case anyone has a particular need for these. They'll go in the shop in the coming days.

I'll also be adding the bulk flat cards just as soon as I get time to get them cut, packaged, photographed, etc...

I have a few other things in the queue that I'll tell you about soon! Hint: Think pretty envelopes and new letterpress goodies! Oh, and I'll be having a little giveaway very, very soon. :D

Pretty envelopes

I have a stash of decorative paper like you can't believe. The other day I finally started doing something with it. Now, each day while Lachlan takes his short naps or spends time on his play mat entertaining himself, I'm making envelopes look pretty.



I'll be putting some of them in the shop soon.



I have special plans for some of the others, and I'll tell you about it next week.

Giraffes for Mary

Last September I was lucky enough to be in the wedding of one of my best friends, Kathleen. The morning of the wedding, her mom treated all of the bridesmaids to hair appointments at the local salon.

I wanted to thank her by printing a set of stationery for her, but the holidays came, then I hurt my foot and couldn't print for ages, and then I got completely sidetracked with the house renovation.

But finally--finally!--I contacted Kathleen to get some ideas about what kind of cards her mom might like. Her mom likes giraffes and has four kids--two boys, a girl, and another boy. So here's what we came up with.



I printed the first color on Saturday, including the envelopes with her return address, and I printed the second color yesterday. Today they will be packed up and shipped to their new home in Pittsburgh. I hope Mary likes them!



It's so awesome to finally get back to printing, and I have several projects in the works right now. It's a little tricky to print while the press is in the middle of a construction zone, but I'm having a great time. And with the motor on the press now, my bum foot is a lot happier!

Great white gift wrap

I feel like I've been MIA from blogland for ages. I'm catching up on posts in my google reader, and I've saved so many pretty images to my inspiration folder.

What really caught my eye in today's posts are these ideas for some simple but gorgeous gift wrapping by Grey Likes Weddings featured on Style Me Pretty. Each year I pick a main color for my holiday gifts. This year is red, but I think next year I might just go with this white, cream, and beige palette. I love it, and I especially love that I can buy all the pieces in bulk and be able to use them for gifts throughout the year, with just some small tweaks to make them occasion-specific.

You can find the DIY tutorial for all these lovelies right here.

Origami koi

I just watched Mabona Origami's absolutely stunning stop motion video of how to fold an origami koi. Wow!!

If you have the time, browse through their website's gallery, blog, and flickr page (make sure you look at the praying mantis!) for more amazing origami creations.

Found via Soolip.

Jessica Hische illustrated letterpress goods

This birth announcement, designed and letterpress printed by Jessica Hische, is stunning. The small pink birds are too cute for words.



And her alphabet print, also designed and letterpress printed in three colors, is a true work of art! I'm in awe of the excellent registration she got with the three colors.

Paper art by Hellen Musselwhite

Hellen Musselwhite does the most amazing paper sculptures and collages. Love, love, love.











She lives in the UK, but I'm seriously thinking of commissioning her to do a paper sculpture of my old dog, Simon.

So glad to have found her via Thoughtful Day.

Studio on Fire business card

Holy cow! I love these ninja throwing star business cards for the phenomenal letterpress printers at Studio on Fire.



If you want to drool and go ga-ga over some fabulous letterpress goods, check out their blog, Beast Pieces.

The Lettered Set

What a great article in the New York Times on Wednesday about the use of fine social stationery. The art of writing a letter by hand is not dead!



They featured some gorgeous paper eye candy. You can read the article here. I laughed when one gentleman (a designer for Polo Ralph Lauren) said his stationery was as diverse as his wardrobe. The best line: "And don't get me started on ink color. I have five different shades of navy." Awesome.



I'd give my two front teeth for a collection of stationery like this!

Thanks for the story, Sarah!

DIY cupcake cards

You can make your own super cute (and easy!) cards with a little pizzaz. All you need is a paper hole punch in a neat shape, some glue, paper, and a little imagination.



Find the complete DIY instructions over at Paper Source and don't forget that their offering 20% off everything online through July 4!

Paper Source discount

Be still, my beating heart.



Paper Source is offering 20% off everything online (except workshops) through July 4.

DIY tissue paper garden centerpieces

The other day I showed you the adorable wedding invitations and cake from Anna Bond's wedding.

Well, now Anna, of Rifle Design, is sharing her creativity with DIY projects over at Once Wed. Her first project is this tissue paper garden centerpiece, which she used at her own wedding. They don't require anything fancy, and at just about $7 each to make, they are quite affordable. They'd also be perfect for other events like birthday parties or bridal or baby showers. Or even just as a unique centerpiece for your own kitchen table!



For her own wedding, Anna also added some small paper animals among the moss so that it became a little miniature forest. Too cute.

See the complete instructions over at Once Wed.

DIY catalog of love

My friend AJ just alerted me to this completely awesome DIY project featured on Design Sponge.

Grace Light from Poetic Home made her husband this gift to celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary. She created her own Dewey Decimal catalog cards, where the book number is replaced by milestone dates, chapters of their love take the place of book titles, and important locations take the place of publisher cities.

I love it. And I realllly love that vintage card catalog box!





See the complete DIY instructions here. And be sure to spend some time at Poetic Home--there's some great stuff on there (I'm busy drooling over the refinished horse carriage seat!).

Lovely tea cups

I love this packaging created by Sarah Walsh for a tea company in the UK.

Via designworklife.

Paper swap

I was recently contacted by Laura over at The Suburban Pen Pal about participating in the paper swap that she's hosting this year.

If you're a crafty kind of person, you might be interested in this. You can read the full details over at Laura's blog. Basically, you make a hand made item that involves paper. Laura sends you the names of everyone participating in the swap, and then you send one of your items to each person. And then you watch your mailbox for all the fun goodies you'll be receiving from the other swap participants.

My swap item will be one card of these love birds on a wire, letterpress printed on a flat 4.25x5.5 note card. Note that the color of the card for each swap participant may vary from the green color shown here.



Happy swapping!

Courtney Khail stationery

It seems like it was months ago when I first saw the work of Courtney Khail, but I was just reminded of it again today over at {frolic!}.



I love that she combines her watercolor art work with printed designs. It's something I've been wanting to try for a long time. If only I could finish this house and have more time to play and be creative...

Her zinnia and peony cards are my favorite, but all of her designs are beautiful!

Donovan Beeson paper creations

I love these fun goodies by Donovan Beeson!

Letter portfolio



Mini file folders


Envelope book



Found via Soolip.

Bob's Your Uncle

I love these animal flashcards, especially the anteater, from Bob's Your Uncle.

Garden of Eden

I love, love, love these photos by Elizabeth Messina on her site Kiss the Groom.

Found via The Ritzy Bee Blog.