PaperCraft Princess

The Craft & Hobby Winter Trade Show Has Left the Building

2012-02-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

I'm just returned from the 2012 Winter CHA Show. I had a great time and for the first time ever even placed a few orders. That took some extra thought for me because it's not what I usually do.

Usually, I'm there as part of the sales team for the first few days. (This year I was in the Heidi Swapp booth and had a blast!). Then I spend a bit of time scoping out what's new so that I can plan classes and stock my boutique. But I always place my orders after CHA, not while I'm there.

Since I hadn't planned to shop, I had to shift gears and quickly get into planning mode. I have got a few stores out there that have invited me to guest teach, so thinking about class ideas was a great place to start. I'll also be vending a weekend crop again for National Scrapbook Day weekend, so that gave me some good direction too.

I'll be sure to share what I've got in the works as I get further along in the process. And I'll be sharing photos and impressions of the CHA show on my other blog for any readers who might be interested. I'll leave you with a pic of "Team Heidi".

The team at Heidi Swapp booth

How to Tie a Perfect Tiny Bow

2012-01-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is a fun little video tutorial on tying tiny bows (think twine, floss, etc.) using a fork.

Genius!

A New Year, A Fresh Start

2012-01-25T09:32:00.000-08:00

Just when I felt like I was getting some momentum with all things PaperCraft Princess last spring, and working hard to get some routines going and the Etsy store stocked, everything came to an unceremonious halt. I had a big party looming heavy on my mind and burdening my schedule. As if that wasn't enough Party #1 was to be followed by Party #2 - a smaller party in terms of guest list and budget, but not in terms of planning and details. These were the graduation and promotion parties for my two kids. My son (and eldest child) graduated high school and we threw a large-ish costume party. My daughter (and youngest child, since I only have the two) was done with middle school and wanted a Phantom of the Opera themed formal event (so also a costume party).

Frankly, there was just too much to do. It was all I could do to stay on top of household projects and party planning, purchases and projects. Etsy went by the side. The blogs went by the side. (Though you can see a few pics from both parties on my other blog: Grad Party and Opera Party.)

So here it is 2012 and I am ready for (yet another) fresh start. One of the unplanned projects I started last summer was a scrap space re-do. After removing most of the furnishings from our living room for the first party to make room for a dance floor, it seemed like perfect timing for re-painting. That in turn led to purchasing my dream storage piece, an Expedit wall unit from IKEA.

My re-designed (but not yet organized) scrap space

So, now I'm on my way to more efficient, streamlined crafting and working. However, the purge/organize part is still a work-in-progress. So, I'm taking that on in little chunks.

I'll leave you with a great blog post from Beth Dargis at My Simpler Life. It's all about decluttering storage areas. This is my next Big Project. Gotta tackle that storage space so the long term stuff has a place of its own. I'm reminded of that saying that "you gotta break eggs to make an omelette".

If all goes as planned, you'll start to see more shaking and baking here at the PaperCraft Princess blog as well as at my little neglected Etsy shop.

Twine Giveaway!

2012-01-24T15:03:00.001-08:00

Want to win some fabulous baker's twine? Head over to the Itsy Bitsy Paper by Lindy blog to see how you can win a Sampler Pack from The Twinery!

We've got a winner!

2011-05-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

There were seven blog comments in by midnight yesterday, so I ran the numbers through Random.org, and the winner is.....

Drumroll, please...

#1 Logan Manuel Carver

Logan Manuel Carver said...: Loved your make and take . . . I think it was the busiest one all night. I couldn't even get in. I hope I win so I could have your lovely creation! Can't wait for your Etsy to be filled . . . more yumminess for me!
May 30, 2011 10:42 AM

Thanks, so much to everyone who commented and congrats to the winner. And to the winner, please email me your contact info so I can send your package on its way:

Congrats!

Greetings!

2011-05-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

Greetings from beautiful Palm Springs! Although truth told I'm already back home. But since this post is all about my recent trip there, the postcard is still a nice touch. (Hey, don't we all sometimes get back home before our postcards arrive? ;-D)

I was in this lovely city to attend the Art-Full Horizons Grand Garden Tea, a lovely kick-off event to the weekend event. I brought along my traveling boutique and a little make-n-take project that you may have seen in previous posts.

One side of my 'booth'

Loved having BFF Julie at my side

The event took place at a truly gorgeous hotel, The Renaissance. Gonna have to get back there for a stay sometime soon. The event room was jam-packed with vendor tables, deminars and make-n-takes, lots of delicious goodies, and a mini garden tea vignette setting for taking fun photos. My only regret is that I was SO busy that I wasn't able to walk around and take photos. I'm looking forward to the photos that others have taken that will inevitably find their way to Facebook and blogs etc.

This is Tammy I's booth, with the delightful Tammy on hand. Her booth was so cheery and colorful and full of eye candy and delightful goodies that every papercrafter needs. You can find her "tammy i" Etsy store here.

tammy i Etsy boutique

Julie and I stop for a spot of tea

Sassy wisecracks lead to some general hysteria

I met some terrific ladies last night and just wish I could have spent more time getting to know everyone a little more, but we were on a schedule. To those of you who were there and follow my blogs or are friended with me on Facebook, thank you so much for introducing yourselves. I love putting faces to names. To the rest of you, thank you for visiting my 'booth', for taking the time to do a make-n-take with me and most of all thanks for your business! Be sure to stay tuned to my blog for more news on my Etsy store re-opening. (You can follow my blog by email now-- look for the button in the navigation column at right------>)

Make-n-Take table

We ended our night with a midnight breakfast at the local iHop and then we seriously CRASHED. Today was a fun day of kicking around some of the consignment shops that Palm Springs is known for. I was glad my good friend Julie was with me - we had a great time window shopping and real shopping and relaxing and dining and just seizing the day (something we both agreed we probably don't do enough of).

A dress once owned by Julie Andrews

Consignment furniture shop

A leisurely meal at Kaiser Grill

Now that I'm back home, I'll be spending the rest of the weekend loading my Etsy store. I'll be sure to shout about it once the store is well stocked. Stay tuned...

Here's a piece of good news (and a reward for those of you who got this far in my chatty post), I was able to put together a few more of my make-n-take kits an I'd like to send out a little piece of Art-full Horizons to one lucky crafter. Just leave a comment here on this blog post and let me know what you think of the project. Post your comments by midnight PDT on Monday, 5/30. I'll pick a random poster and let you know who the winner is on Tuesday 5/31.

Art-Full Horizons Grand Garden Tea

2011-05-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

Next on the agenda is the Art-Full Horizons Grand Garden Tea on May 27th. I'll be taking my boutique on the road and setting up shop for the tea in the lovely Renaissance Resort, Palm Springs.

I'll also be doing this little perfect bind mini book make-n-take, "Amour":


"Amour" mini book by PaperCraft Princess

This book features patterned papers from Making Memories and GCD Studio. We'll be creating the book and decorating the cover. The inside has six pages for attendees to decorate on their own later.

There is still time to snag a ticket for The Grand Garden Tea (even if you are not attending the rest of Art-Full Horizons event). Tickets are just $20 and include all the make n takes (free), gourmet appetizers, shopping til you drop, meeting the instructors, and more. Check it out here.

Hope I see you there!

ETA: Download basic instructions for this project here.

Photos from NSD 2-Day Crop

2011-05-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from the crop earlier this month. At nearly the last minute, I added a second table and I'm so glad I did because it gave me the chance to bring kits and have the samples on display as well. (Oops, my "slip is showing" in this first pic -lol!)

The new display pieces really worked well

I had such a marvelous time. Met lots of lovely scrappers and reunited with others that I just don't get to see often enough.

Me with Jennifer Priest (taken on her camera--notice the great quality)

With Kristen (and why oh why didn't I get a pic with Susanne?)

With PJ

Taking My Show On The Road

2011-04-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited that PaperCraft Princess will be vending its first 'public' crop. The crop is in one week and I'm as busy as can be prepping kits and products for my sales table.

Spring seemed like the perfect time to spruce up my displays too and get some better risers to get more use of my table's real estate. Changing up the boutique gave me an excuse to do some shopping - yay! It wasn't all retail therapy (though there was some of that). I was also able to do some thrifting which is extra fun because it's such an adventure. You never know what you'll find --might be that what you find is even better than what you set off looking for.

I've already repainted everything I found before today. I just wish I'd remembered to take "before" photos so that the "after" pics would be more meaningful. But here's a pic of a shelf I found today. What I liked about this is that the posts in the back look like a picket fence. They'll coordinate with a picket fence tiered shelf that I'll also be using.

Thrifted garden inspired shelf (before)

Picket fence shelf riser in background

Spring is the perfect season to freshen up. I'm adding touches of green and along with new white shelves & risers, I'm just loving the whole look. Can't wait to share photos of my finished table.

Sweet Things - interior pages

2011-01-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have the "Sweet Things" kit and need to see what the sample looks like, here are the inside pages. Let me know if you have any questions.

Products
The papers in this book are all by "The Girls' Paperie" designed by Margie Romney-Aslett. The line is called "Paper Girl". (Also used papers by K & Company and Making Memories). The page shape is from a Sizzix die by Tim Holtz (the small tickets are by Tim Holtz too). Plastic tag is by American Crafts, and the decorative brads are by Making Memories. The entire book was inked with Colorbox Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown.

Purchase
I have three "Sweet Things" kits available for purchase $7 (plus shpg/handling; also sales tax for CA residents). These kits do not include instructions, but the instructions are detailed below.

Also, I have limited quantities of "Paper Girl" patterned papers in stock now (ninety cents per sheet), and die cut chipboard 4/$1.50. Tim Holtz products are available by special order

Instructions

Note: both front & back covers are made by attaching your patterned papers to chipboard. However, interior pages do not use chipboard --just glue your patterned papers and/or cardstock back-to-back. Be sure not to glue the back-to-back pages together until the end, so that you won't run into problems attaching brads and/or staples on some pages.

Ink all pieces, if desired. The "sweet things" title on page below was inked, then adhered to the pink cardstock, then cut with zig-zag decorative scissors (ink pink mat after cutting, if desired). The green dot frame was glued down flat, but the title was pop dotted up. I poked the tip of the hat pin into the green dot frame so that the sharp tip wouldn't be exposed and prick anyone.

Since all your background pages are double sided, you can choose to use whichever side you like best. You have plenty of borders too - cut down the ones you like to use on the pages as you please. IMPORTANT: be careful to put adhesive only along the lowest/furthest (straight) edge of borders so that you can tuck the photos behind the borders later.

Note: the pink plastic tag in your kit for the page pictured below may vary from the sample. I used a stamp with brown Stazon ink to decorate my tag, or you can use the tag for journaling (add the date of the photo, or tell who is in the pic), or decorate in some other way. You can even leave yours blank. If you decide to write on it, be sure to use a Slickwriter or Sharpie so that you won't run into trouble with the ink resisting on the shiny plastic. And be sure to let your stampwork or writing dry so it won't smear. (I added one of the brads to the tag, but you don't have to --you can save the brad for a different page.) Add the pink floss to tag (you won't be able to attach it to the snap ring until the end). After the book is finished and the ring is in, secure the tag to the page with a glue dot or other adhesive.

Once again, choose whichever side of paper you like best and choose the borders you like. Also remember to only glue the straight edge (furthest to right in pic below) so you can slip your photos underneath the decorative border.

The green patterned border on the pic below is the only one that is NOT in your long bag of borders. It will be with the smaller bag of pages. It is also already cut to the correct length and it's the only one cut with this particular style of punch. However you can substitute one of the other borders if you like.

Your background for the page below will be a different green pattern paper (from the Girls Paperie line and double-sided). The one I used on the sample was from Prima Marketing and is not double-sided). Once again, leave the scalloped edge of your border free so you can lift it and slide your photo underneath it. Same thing for your ticket --attach it with foam tape or pop dots that are only adhered to the side of the ticket that is not on top of the ledger paper mat. This is so your photo can easily slide under the ticket.

One note of caution on the page below - if you let your ticket hang over the edge of the page like I did *AND* if you use a brad in the bottom corner (like I did), it will show from the back and you will need to cover it with a small scrap or coordinating paper. (By the way, you have extra tickets so you can use them throughout the book wherever you like - or save them for another project.)

The lace was attached with a Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz, but if you don't have one any stapler will do, or just use adhesive (the Sticker Maker by Xyron would work well).

Below is the last interior page. Again, choose your favorite side for your background page and be sure to leave the decorate edge of your border free so that your photo can slip behind.

Lastly, the back cover (below). I left mine plain since it's a cover, but you can decorate yours if you want to with the extra borders in your kit.

Once all the pages are assembled, punch holes (a Cropadile or heavy duty hole punch will do the trick), add your snap ring (go back and attach the tag on page 1 and secure it to the page) then decorate with ribbons and you're done!

Be sure and let me know if you have any questions!

New samples to share

2010-12-10T23:08:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the samples for "Just Us Girls 2010" (a private event I teach at every December). If I have any kits left over, I'll be listing them on Etsy. Looking forward to having lots of fun once again!

Card Party 2010

Embellished Gift Bags

Sweet Things mini book

PaperCraft Princess: on the Prowl Again!

2010-08-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be teaching a little mini book class at a private crop in Diamond Bar. Here's a peek:

"Lazy Days" Mini Book Class

This will be the first large crop that I'm taking my traveling boutique to so it should be interesting to see if I've really got this down to a science or not.

I guess I haven't mentioned it here (seeing as I haven't blogged for many months), but my adventure in traveling has been quite a learning experience. I've simplifed my trunk show and can actually get the whole boutique set up in about a half an hour or so. I'm not schlepping as many cases and things as I was at the onset, so that's a plus too.

Of course, part of what has made it all about a gazillion times easier is my awesome assistant Celina, who is better than my right arm. She can jump in and do whatever is needed from setting up, being teacher's aide to writing orders, tearing down and cleaning up. She's the bomb!

I won't have Celina with me tomorrow. (Stops to cry big salty tears...)

But I'm a big girl. I actually do the whole set-up & tear down for my monthly crops all by myself. And this is just an extension of that, right? (only with about four times the people -lol!)

Be sure to check back for post crop update.

PaperCraft Princess' Traveling Boutique

Scrapbooking Boutique Flea Market!

2010-03-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars because some of my crafty friends and I are having a SALE you won't want to miss! As you might know I've been teaching scrapbooking and papercraft classes for four years now (wow! I can't believe it's been that long!) Being a teacher means I buy and use stuff in BULK QUANTITY. I usually try to cull the inventory a few times a year, but it's been awhile since I've given it a good thinning so I decided to host a flea market!

I've got some other crafty peeps & teachers selling at this event, so I'm expecting a good variety of stuff. Some of it will be new in package, some nearly new or gently used. There will be kits, tools, alterables, and who knows what else. There may be some newer releases in the mix along with older lines (who knows, we may just have that now hard-to-find item you've been searching for), but everything we sell will be in good, usable condition.

So, here are the deets...

What      Scrapbooking & Papercraft Boutique Flea Market
              where one crafter's trash is another crafter's treasure

When     Friday 3/26 and Saturday 3/27 - 9am until 1pm
              (Come early for the best selection!)

Where    My home (if you don't know or remember where I live, shoot me an email)

Hope to see you there and be sure to tell your crafty friends!

A New Year, A New Me

2010-02-20T23:42:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are nearly two months into 2010. Time sure flies, doesn't it?

I thought another little update was in order for the goings-on at PaperCraft Princess. If you follow my not-so-frequent blog updates, you might recall that there were some Big Changes as 2009 came to a close. For one thing, the scrapbook store I've called "home" as a designer, instructor and customer for the past four years closed its doors. As the store was winding down, I joined the consultant team at A.C. Bailey a direct sales scrapbook supply company. It seemed like a great solution to the loss of my LSS. It would give me a way to supply my classes, stock my own "stash" and stay involved in the industry via a new avenue -- in-home scrapbook parties & workshops. Well, there's been another little twist in the adventure. The AC Bailey consultant program was terminated. Bummer.

With this unexpected change, I decided to proceed with in-home workshops under my very own PaperCraft Princess "brand". PaperCraftPrincess was a little scrapbooking venture I started in 2007 as a way to offer leftover class samples (pre-made layouts, albums, and other papercraft projects) online. I originally sold only on eBay, but over time I also set up a store at Etsy for selling leftover class kits. Both eBay & my Etsy store have been "dark" for the last year or so, but it's time to blow away the dust and get the stores "stocked" again. As I mentioned I've also decided to proceed with private workshops and crops, scrap-for-hire projects, private consulations and "instant scrapbook" bookings. (So... if you made it this far in my long post, and if you're a follower of PaperCraft Princess, stay tuned as I fine-tune the "new me".)

Tonight was my first PaperCraft Princess workshop. It was so much fun! We had an awesome group of scrapper's who were great to work with. We did three simple projects and it seemed like everyone had as much fun as I did. Plus I was happy to book two more workshops for March and April tonight. Cool!

Instant Scrapbooks

2009-04-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

Nov, '07 Instant Baby Shower album

One of my favorite things to create is an instant "on location" scrapbook. The idea is that you create the memory book at the event as it unfolds so that the album is ready and can be viewed as the event is ending.

The first one I ever did was a bridal shower recipe and advice scrapbook. This was years before I actually started scrapbooking, but the idea was essentially the same as what I do now. For that surprise shower I gave the guests index cards before hand and asked them to share a favorite recipe (if you do this, make sure your guests do *not* write on the back of any of the items you give them --instead give them "extra" cards to continue their writing on). I also gave out large die cut hearts and other shapes for them to record any advice they wanted to share with the bride-to-be.

At the shower, I set up a work area beyond the view of the guest of honor where I could assemble the instant album. As I mentioned this was pre-scrapbooking days so this particular album was created using a magnetic "cling" photo album (eek! not photo safe). Anyway, I added stickers and embellishments to the recipe cards and inserted them into the album along with Polaroid photos we were taking throughout the shower. As much as possible. I tried to keep advice and recipes together with photos of the guest who had provided them.

When the album was done, I popped it into a pre-wrapped box (the type where you wrap the top and the bottom so that you can easily open and close it) and we placed it strategically on the gift table so that it was the last gift opened. I really can't describe what an impact this sort of gift has, but suffice to say that these are always a big hit.

Nov, '07 Instant Baby Shower album - inside

Now that I've become a more experienced scrapper, I've decided to add Instant Scrapbooks as a service available from PaperCraft Princess. These days I no longer use cling albums or Polaroid cameras... instead I bring a small photo printer with me and custom pre-made albums. The results are quite effective.

Here are a few snaps from an "instant" album that was put together at a baby shower today. This is the book before adding photos:

And some snaps of the mommy-to-be and guests looking at the completed album:

a dance recital album

2007-07-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

These are some pages from an 8x8 album I made for my neice after her recital last year. Mostly done in the Lily Kate line by Basic Grey. (I just noticed that some of the scans are crooked -sorry!)

This one below is a two-page spread (that's why it's tinier than the others!)

Kits: "A Night to Remember" paper bag album

2007-06-30T16:48:00.001-07:00

"A Night to Remember" -SOLD OUT. Kits contain color copy of project and all materials needed to complete this paper bag mini album. This album is perfect for photos from your special night. This project was originally designed as a prom album, however it would also work for grad night, homecoming, engagement, anniversary or any other special evening. (Every kit includes alternate items in place of prom references.)

Cost: Sold out. Kits are no longer available, but I've left images here as an example of my work.

Some of the interior pages...

another new blog and it isn't even July yet

2007-06-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

Yup, I've started another new blog. I guess this means I'm officially hooked on them. Actually there is a method to my madness. The other blog is appropriately titled MammaJamma Blabba and that is exactly what I'm doing there - just yakking it up.

This blog on the other hand will be more focused (well, okay as focused as I can be anyway!) The purpose of this one is more business-like. I'll use it to post new listings at eBay or in my Etsy store. I'll also use this blog spot for selling leftover class kits and the like.

Seems like a good idea at the moment, but I'll have to see how it works out. ;-D