vintage paper/collage art – Page 30

All Business

By Karla Nathan / June 5, 2009

Today I made new business cards. My old ones didn't have the Boutique address on them. Plus, my old set of cards didn't have any vintage wallpaper on them at all. Now, that just didn't seem right to me!

For these, I used another business card as a template, traced it onto card stock and with a ruler, draw out the shapes of enough cards to fill the page. (ugh, yes, I had to measure, sometimes you just have to whether you want to or not. All the cards have to be the same size so they can be cut out).

I drew around each shape with a dark brown marker, so that the edges would look "aged" and if they weren't perfectly lined up (even though I did try to measure them) there wouldn't be strips of white paper showing.

I printed all my info on the computer. I made up extras, so I could play around with cutting out different shapes.

Mostly, I used a block shape for the wording, but on some, I changed it up a bit.

These really went quickly. I made up 10 tiny collages, with the text added onto them, and then did some hand drawing with inks. I didn't bother with using glitter, because I knew it wouldn't copy well. Neither does metallic ink.

A few 3-d type pieces work out ok for copies. Like tiny flowers and ribbons, nothing too thick.

This might be my fave. Beth had given me a teeny wallpaper covered tag, and I used it over a pink flowered wallpaper on this card, then added the text and a flower. It was super simple to do.

Now, I just need to drop the page of cards off at the UPS store, they have the cheapest color copy prices in my town, 39 cents each. It will be a bit more for card stock, not much. I'll have the store cut them all out for me, and I'll bet they'll have them done in an hour or so, that place is quick.

One thing I always do with color copies, is to ask for a proof to color check before okaying the job. Sometimes, the copier will need adjusting a bit to match the original.

Thank you all again, for your concern and well wishes for my aching back. It gets a little better each day. I'll be back into Kung Foo Panda style kicking soon.

pages and pages of fairies plus the June Giveaway prize

By Karla Nathan / June 3, 2009

The sketch I showed you last time is finished, and photocopied to use for a swap I am in with a few of the friends who attended En Le Jardin, the art and garden party hosted by Jenn.

This flower fairy (as Jenn called all of her attendees) is inspired by a cute little sprite, Jessi.

This photo by Tiffany, was so adorable, that I had to use the pose and the fountain for my page in the memory books.

I first, cut out card stock paper to the size of the book pages we were to make. Then, I glued vintage wallpaper over that.

The pocket added to the page is made from another wallpaper, that is old, but sturdy and thick. I started out folding the edges of the pockets over and gluing them down, but soon I switched to sewing them onto the page. Same thing with the lace border. On some pages, it is glued, others, it is sewn.

Then, I cut the fairy picture out, glued it down and drew the vining arch with silver ink and black ink. To dress it up a bit, I used a glitter pen on the fairy's wings and dress. (that doesn't show in this picture, but it is sparkly in real life).

Since I don't measure, all the pockets are different sizes, but I figured that certainly didn't matter. They were all okay to put photos into, so all was fine. And it was quicker to not take time to measure. Measuring is always the worst part!

All of the background wallpaper is the same on the fronts of the pages, but for the backs, I used a variety.

It gets boring if each and every one is just alike! Its hard enough to make 12 of the same thing, I had to be able to vary them as I went along.

For the backs, I used copies of logmachy cards from Mary in the initials of the person receiving that page. Its is kind of an inside joke, from a game we played in the limo, involving vintage style flash cards and the alphabet.

Those cards are sooooo lovely! Mary has the copies for sale on a disc if you are interested. I foofed them up a bit with some gel and glitter pens and added the girl's names to each. And since we were flower fairies, I had to add butterfly wings to each picture!

I just can't wait to see these books assembled. We are shipping our pages off to Kim. As soon as I get mine back, I'll be showing you what everyone else did.

Before I go, I wanted to tell you what the gift for June is. And I am actually on the ball and at the beginning of the month with my announcement for once!

As always, all month, all comments count as an entry. Thanks for visiting me, I appreciate hearing from you!

Playing tag

vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / June 1, 2009

Thank you, to all of you who sent well wishes my way for my bad back and for Aunt Caroline's health. There are a lot of caring people in blogworld.

I'm sticking with my recipe for curing the back pain, plus added a trip to the Physical Therapist today. Also, a new addition to my cure, is that Sugarwing's Daddy is a massage therapist. He is a handy person to have around! That guy can stop a migraine before it progresses and has been great for helping out with back aches too.

But I was getting so bored with just watching movies and taking care of the aches and pains. I figured I could do ice and heat just as well from my desk chair in the studio as I could from a recliner in front of the tv. So, I worked off and on yesterday, making these books. I needed breaks to stretch and move around, but was able to get quite a few done.

Yep, quite a few. I think about 15 or so. Some are for a special event that I have planned, and others are for sale.

They were all Beth's idea. I couldn't think of something to make for the "special event" coming up, so she told me to get out my binding machine and make some tag books.

I make little wallpaper books a lot, but these are different. They went much faster for me since only the front and back covers are embellished, the rest of the pages are all plain tags ready for the new owner to add what ever they want, like photos, collages, or rambling notes.

Making these really cheered me up, I always feel better when I play with my vintagey pretties! And it was a great excuse to get out the good stuff. What use is a pile of wonderful things if I don't make it into something? I am a big believer in using all the best items and enjoying them.

I'd love to see one of these finished by its new owner, they have so much possibility and will be cute with all sorts of ribbons and charms tied to the tops of the tags and trailing out. I've listed a few of them in my Boutique for $26 each, if you'd like one. And if you get one, please let me know how you use it!

While recuperating, I also got this sketch started. Its for a swap I am in, and I really am not quite sure how I am going to make it work for the pages, but since I have nothing else to do right now, I have plenty of time to figure it out.

The hardest part of getting my back better is that I can't play with Sugarwings much. If I do, I pick her up, or she dive bombs me and expects to be caught, held, and cuddled. She's a boisterous kid, not one to sit quietly and play, she is a rough and tumble, no holds barred, hard playing, firecracker of a kid. Just going near her is painful while my back is hurt! So, I am taking extra good care of my poor old back, so I can be in shape to play with her. I want to go right back to doing kung foo kicks and leaping in the air, while we watch Kung Foo Panda on TV together. (which is how my back got this way in the first place)

edit- I swear, some times I HATE typepad!!!!!!!!! My screen has locked up 6 times while trying to correct something in this post!!!!!!!

The tag books are $18 not $26, sorry.

Back Pain Relief Recipe

antiques/junking, how to's, show and tell, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 30, 2009

Before I hurt my back this week while on vacation, I started a few tags. I was thinking about making some tag books, but decided that these wouldn't fit into the binder with all the 3-D stuff on them, I'll need to add doodads after binding the tags, not before.

These colors are a bit different from what I usually pick out. Beth and I have a Wallpaper Pact, when one of us scores some vintage paper, we share with the other. She gave me the border that I used across the bottom, and if went perfectly with a playing card I got in the En Le Jardin swap.

When my back cooperates and I can sit at my desk again, I'll be adding ribbons to these and calling them finished. Then, I'll start over on the tag books. So, this batch isn't exactly a waste of time. I just about always finish what I start and make it work somehow.

This is the statue that I bought from Carol. For now, she is gracing one of the dining room tables in my studio. I might bring her into the living room later on. I already have a couple in there now, and I do think a collection makes more impact when it is grouped together, but on the other hand, I like having my favorite things all around me. So, maybe she'll stay out here in the studio to keep me company while I work.

Last Saturday, at the world's greatest estate sale, I found this punch bowl. I've been wanting one forever, but didn't want to spend much. This one is cracked, so it was cheap, only 5 bucks. I don't mind the crack, since I am using it for something that won't leak, not punch.

There was also a giant box of cushion sized slip covers at the sale, and they were only $7.50! I immediately put some on my porch furniture. The rest got washed up and look even better. The pink background shows up a lot prettier when it isn't dirty. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the rest of them, its gorgeous fabric, some of the prettiest that I have found. And while it isn't old-old, it is older. Hmm, does that make sense to you? Not antiquey old like bark cloth, but not made all that recently either.

There were a few round pillows in the box too. And I almost didn't buy any of it, I wasn't sure if the size was something I could use, but Beth told me that the fabric was worth a lot more than $7 to have for cutting up. She's right, I'm glad I listened.

Notice these photos are focused only on the chairs? I've not done any planting and my porch looks desolate and lonely without flowers! Of course, with a sore back, I won't be doing much gardening this weekend, so it might be a while before I get plants set out.

Years ago, I fell off a pony and fractured a couple of vertebrae. Now, I wasn't thrown from a horse, I just carelessly slid off the back of a small pony. Like a klutz, nothing dramatic about it.

I had a few surgeries, cortisone epidurals, lots of rest. But, I was in bad shape for a LONG time, till I finally found a Dr. who got me to physical therapy. Since then, I've controlled the back problems by sort of keeping in shape. Not the kind where I look good, but the kind where I stay flexible and can move.

There is also a routine I go through if my back gets sore and it usually works in a day or two, I no longer have months of pain like before. My trouble now, is that my back went out on me while on vacation and I didn't follow my recipe for healing, since, not only was I staying at a hotel, we were sightseeing and hauling around a 2-1/2 year old.

Here is what I usually do, and am doing now. It doesn't work as well if you don't do it right when injured, but it still helps:

Back Pain Relief Recipe

Equal parts of rest, laying and sitting. Do not stay in one position too long.

Equal amounts of ice and heat, taking turns with each.

Walking and stretching in small amounts to start with, then building up to more. DO NOT rest too much, you have to MOVE or you'll cramp up.

And last, anti-inflamatories and muscle relaxers. I use Ibuprofen and Skelaxion, neither make me drowsy.

You will also need a stack of movies to watch. I'm going to go watch Diary of the Dead, it seems fitting, since I have the zombie shuffle walk going on right now.

And for now, I have probably sat too long at the computer, I need to walk and stretch. But before I go, I'll tell you the winner of the Cottage Charm giveaway, my May prize. Thanks, Kim, for hosting this annual event!

And the winner is:

Jenny

By the way,Beth is having a fantastic giveaway full of Victorian scrap! Go enter before its closed!!

More En Le Jardin with Jenn

celebrations, Etsy Goodies, flowers, parties, show and tell, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 20, 2009

Everyone is asking what we made at En Le Jardin. Here is my flower pot, I didn't exactly follow directions…. They are supposed to be covered in chicken wire and then the embellishments added to that, but I left off the wire. I also went a little crazy with the foofs, its about as gaudy as can be, huh?

I'd brought lots of goodies to embellish with, plus we were given loads of treats to use in our swap bags. But when I saw this vintage gift wrap paper that Jenn had out for us to use, I had to go for it. Its actually two different papers, the little ladies were cut out and glued onto the floral paper. All the glue is still wet in this photo, so it looks a bit murky.

The day started out blistery, smelty hot. But then, the sprinkles came, not bad, just a little steamy. We were all having so much fun we didn't even notice, really. But, then the skies let loose! There was something about being under the tent, all together working away while the rain poured down around us that was kind of intimate and cozy.

But not so cozy, that I didn't want to get out and splash around in the "water slide" with Tiffany!

I think that if Tiffany and I were neighbors, we could get into some trouble. That girl is a blast.

Our other project was a fairy ball. Cheryl had the idea of adding the streamers, so Kim and I both used it. Mine is the one in the middle, the left is Kim's and the right is Cheryl's.

Mine is a little different. Instead of a little girl's photo made into a fairy, I used a fairy ballerina perched on top of a faux cupcake. Then, I drenched it in rhinestones and jewels and millinery.

Just like the photo of the planter, this one still has wet glue. The rain might have been fun, but it made the air so humid that my creations were still slightly damp when I packed them up the next day.

Since this was the fairy's nest, I added some pastel eggs to the top of the cupcake too.

Although, what do fairy eggs really look like? These might be pretty pastel colors, but they are a bit blah to have been laid by a little sprite. I should have tied little ribbons onto them and added millinery flowers. (Ouch-that might be a bit painful for the fairy to lay, huh?)

To the top, I added a vintage chenille bee, and one of my plant markers, this one says "Fleurs" in honor of the event.

The day in the tent was remarkable and the craft projects were really interesting. But, my favorite part of the trip was in our downtime, when we chatted for hours. Evenings went on way into the morning hours, and the sharing never slowed.

Lots of the attendees have been posting photos, if you'd like to see more, Jenn has a really good sampling on her blog. She has complied photos from our Flickr site and used some from different photographers. From her blog you can follow links to other people who have posted pictures, if you'd enjoy seeing more. I gotta tell you, the details that went into the weekend were pure perfection!

And while talking about details, I have to tell you how much I am loving my new camera!!!!!!!! Tiffany and Carol both gave me priceless tips on how to use it better.

They convinced me to be brave enough to venture on from the point and shoot options, which I figured would be all I could handle and since I refuse to read how to manuals, thought I'd be stuck with just doing that. I learn much better from Show and Tells, and these two always took time to show me.

Look at the center of this partial roll of vintage crepe paper! yep, I LOVE that camera!!!!

I've been adding a few odds and ends to Etsy and to the Boutique. I'm plugging away at it. I have a goal, to get 50 items back in Etsy, mostly craft supplies. As far as the Boutique goes, I really don't know what works well for it. I'll experiment with inventory levels and see what works best. I know I prefer fuller to emptier myself, but I'll see.

Look what I saw today, on the Vintage Workshop newsletter- a project I did for Amy last year:

NEW DOWNLOAD COLLECTION –
Garden Collage

The Vintage Workshop would like to introduce a new type of multi-image collection called Elements . These collections will contain a series of coordinating elements including single images along with background images. The number of images in an elements collection will vary. Elements collections will still come in two versions – the resizable Designer's Choice and the pre-sized Click-n-Cut (all backgrounds in click-n-cut version are sized 8.5” x 11”).

The first collection in this series is Garden Collage – emt100. This collection contains four vintage seed packet images, two sheet music backgrounds, and four different vintage wallpaper backgrounds.

The sample note cards shown here use images from our new Garden Collage collection. Use these as inspiration to create your own projects.

Click here to view more garden imagery.

In the land of never ending cupcakes

celebrations, fairies, Food and Drink, give away, paintings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / May 18, 2009

My weekend at Jenn's retreat was such fun, I'm still running it over and over in my head today. So, I gave in to the daydreams and did a little cartoon of the event. Here are a few highlights, hmmm, maybe you needed to be there to get it?

Maybe this one will explain the cupcakes all over the drawing? It was a weekend full of never ending cupcakes!

Jenn was the Queen Flower Fairy, so she is the one flying in the center of the painting, wearing a crown.

The luncheon and craft tables were set so beautifully with pastel colors, lots of flowers, and each had a concrete cherub.

The crowns that Jenn made for the lil angels inspired the one I drew on her fairy portrait.

Jessi and Kim were across from me at my table. I also got to sit with Carol, Suzanne, and Analise.

Poor, sweet, Carol had a painful black eye. That explains the big purple smudge on her face in the drawing. She and I were roomies, and I am afraid that in the middle of the night when she had a leg cramp and fell face first onto the floor, I laughed way too much.

Honestly, I didn't realize she was hurt! But it might just be one of the reasons why Angela said that she was so surprised when she met some of the people whose blogs she read. She says we aren't at all what she expected. I asked her what she meant and she said, "I thought Karla would be NICE!"

That has to be my favorite quote from the whole weekend. And there were lots of good ones!

I'm afraid that Typepad is giving me fits, and I can't do links to the people I am mentioning. If you'd like to visit them, all of their links can be found on the En Le Jardin site, here.

We had such a lovely luncheon! Jenn had set up the room ahead of time and kept it under lock and key till the surprise unveiling at lunch time.

Definitely worth waiting for!

Carol is a pro with her camera, so we got in early to get some good shots. Don't tell anyone, but while we were getting a sneak preview of the room, I also got a sneak taste of some of the treats.

Tonight, Typepad is being extra unkind to me, I need to finish before my screen locks up again. There are plenty more photos of En Le Jardin and I'll be back with more later on. But I wanted to remind you that all comments all month of May are entered into the drawing for this hand painted charm, and vintage paper tag.

Also, I added some tags to the Boutique. I'll leave you with a few photos of the newly listed pretties.

Packing up

fairies, Sugarwings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 12, 2009

Oh, I am so far behind! I'm leaving Thursday for Jenn's event- En Le Jardin and had hoped to make up goodies to take to the mini market that Jenn is setting up for us during part of the weekend. But between Sugarwing's Daddy being ill, and a few other unplanned issues, I've got nothing ready.

Some weeks, there just isn't enough time in the days. Well, most weeks.

I thought I'd make up some tags, some wallpaper packs and then bring a bundle of bling. Vintage jewels are always a hit! But, even though I ironed and sorted wallpaper and made up a couple dozen tags, and piled up some old jewels, none of them are quite ready to go. Pricing and packing are holding me up.

Creating never seems to be the problem, that is the fun part to squeeze in! Its the marketing that gets me.

My revised plan, is to just get my necessities packed and ready to go. Then, if there is time (and space in the suitcase!), I'll gather up some of these goods and toss them in the bag.

Some how, I doubt there will be time. I have the fairy grand baby for most of this week till I fly away to Atlanta with my good buddy, Carol.

Plus, its a vacation! I don't want to stress out about getting ready. This is going to be fun and relaxing, I don't think I want to turn it into work. Plus, its not like these tags will go to waste. I listed a few in my Boutique already, and can add the wallpaper and the rest of the tags when I return from the Deep South.

This trip is something I have been looking forward to for so long, I can't believe that it is already here! I really do need to pack. I have about 12 hours straight tomorrow with Sugarwings, who can pull things out of a suitcase as fast as it goes in, so I should pack early and get it done tonight after she goes to bed.

She has been so funny this week. Life with her has been a parade of one costume after another. Here she is as "Glenda" from Oz. Its really just a princess dress from Target, but to her, she is a Good Witch now. I've had her helping me with potions too, we are making up all natural bug repellent.

I really dislike the smell of citronella, and don't want to use pesticides on her, so here is what I came up with, water in a spray bottle, with some of each of these essential oils plus some no-foam biodegradable soap. I'll let you know if we end up covered and chigger and mosquito bites anyway.

Besides taking care of Sugarwings and her poor, sick Daddy, then making tags and cutting wallpaper after her bedtime, I've done a little sewing. Yes, I know, I complain about sewing a lot, but I do it anyway. It isn't as if I like the action of doing it, I like the stuff I get out of it.

So, I put up with the stupid machine.

Remember when Scarlett O'Hara made a dress out of drapes? I feel a bit like that, decking out a tee shirt with doilies.

I figured it was appropriate for visiting Georgia.

This one is made from a couple of vintage pictures I downloaded and printed onto fabric and sewed onto the shirt. I sewed the girl onto the butterfly to create a fairy.

Then, I further goobered it up with dye markers, glitter pens and ribbon. Oh, and a ritzy rhinestone button from my hoarded stash of old buttons. I hate clothes. I hate shopping for and buying clothes, and really hate packing for a trip. All I like to wear are tee shirts, so I thought I'd foof a few for the trip.

But on the other hand, I am worrying that I am turning into my mother who used to sew quilt squares and appliques onto her sweat shirts. Scary thought. I love my mom, but I really don't want to dress like her…..

The 3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway

antiques/junking, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), paintings, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / May 4, 2009

This is the 3rd year in a row that I will be participating in the Cottage Charm giveaway, hosted by Kim.

And once again, I am taking it literally and offering a Charm as the Cottage Charm prize! This one is a hand painted white rose, and it is accented with a genuine pearl. I've tied it to a mini tag made from vintage papers, but you could add the charm to a necklace or bracelet instead if you'd rather.

I've only been at this blogging life, for a little over two years, but it is fun to see traditions building up and things to look forward to year after year. Thanks, Kim, for this "charming" tradition!

Plus, you guys know I love giveaways, and I am on a charm kick lately. Here is the painted cup cake charm that is the gift I'm sharing for my 51st (ouch) birthday tomorrow. All comments, any post between May 1st and 5th count. For the Cottage Charm prize, any comment, any post until the 30th counts too. So, leave as many as you'd like.

I was asked if giveaways help build up my following. Honestly, I don't know if it does. I know I get more comments, and I do enjoy the feedback. Also, I get a LOT out of blogging and like to give back. Plus, I make a LOT of crap or find a lot of good junk at great prices and like to share. Ask any of my non-cyber friends and they'll tell you the same thing. Its fun to give little pressies!

Good luck, on all the Cottage Charm drawings, there will be tons of fun blogs to hop around to and visit to sign up for wonderful prizes!

We've had a traumatic day here, poor Twinks broke her water dish and had to be put under to get some stitches in foot. She's still feeling drowsy and is on pain meds for the cut. I could tell she was really hurt, you should have heard her whimpering, I felt so bad for her. Now, she has a solid, unbreakable, tin water bowl. No more pretty, vintage glass for this dog!

I felt bad for me too, you should have seen the blood everywhere, that I had to clean up. It looked pretty bad. I'm glad I went in the house to get something and heard her crying, because I'd hate to have let her go on much longer like that, she was really bleeding. My husband wrapped her foot in a rag and put a rubber band around it like a tourniquet and the vet said that was an excellent idea, and that it helped.

Aren't you glad I didn't take pictures of that mess??

The vintage wallpaper journal kits that I sent to Somerset Life are back now. I'm not sure which issue they will be in, but most likely soon, I'd guess.

Two of the journal kits are listed in the Boutique.

A few more wallpaper packs got added today too. I'm still wrapping and photographing the rest of the rainbow of wallpaper you saw spread out in the studio a few posts back. And some that have been listed have sold out, but there will be more on the way. Thanks so much for checking in to see what is there!

I'll leave you with a more cheerful picture of poor little Twinkle. She's posing with Miss Pink Frenchie, who I bought at the flea market last week.

PS- Cindy, at My Romantic Home (who just had her ONE MILLIONTH visitor, wow!!) is having a May giveaway too, to enter, check HERE

How to cut vintage wallpaper

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), Etsy Goodies, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 29, 2009

If you are going to be trimming vintage paper to use in craft projects, its time consuming and you'll need company to talk to so you aren't too bored. Luckily, I have Twinks to hang with.

For me, vintage wallpaper is simply a billion times better to use in art projects than any scrap booking paper could ever be. Now, I'll scan a really, really wonderful piece before cutting it up, so I'll always have it, but honestly, I don't much like using the copied pieces. The feel just isn't right.

Trouble is, vintage wallpaper can be a LOT of trouble. Its usually curly from being rolled up forever and it is often brittle.

Ironing it makes it much easier to work with.

I kind of go back and forth on what is the best way to iron and cut it. If it is really fragile, or I am just cutting a few pieces, I'll cut it right off the roll, then iron the pieces. If I am on a marathon of ironing and have good movie to watch while doing it, I'll iron it directly off the roll, like the first photo.

Here are some tips for cutting:

Keep a fresh blade in your exacto knife, or the edges of the paper will shred.

Find something the right shape and size to cut around. I use the glass from an 8 x 10 frame. That makes a good size bit to work with for most projects, and if I am making up packs to sell, its easy to mail.

Self healing cutting mats are wonderful! My blade doesn't get dull too fast and I don't slice up the table underneath. I used to try to measure the paper by the grid on the mat, but that was way too much work. Now, I just line up my 8 x 10 piece of glass with the straight edge of the paper and zip the blade around it. Much easier.

Iron the back side of the paper. Old paper is not prepasted, so the back is safe to iron on. If yours is gooey and gluey, its probably not very old. And your iron will be messed up.

The paper is often painted, if you want to protect your ironing board cover, you can lay a sheet of clean paper, or fabric over the board.

Ironing is almost as bad as sewing, but sometimes it has to be done. But ironing paper isn't nearly as bad as ironing clothes, since there are no cuffs or collars. At least, that is what I tell myself to get through it.

The iron can be left on its highest setting and some cut papers can be ironed in a stack of two or three pieces at a time to speed things along.

It has taken me most of the day to do this pile, but I'm still in my organizing mood, and it is rainy outside, so it was a good day to do it. I might even pull out a few more rolls to cut up before I start making up packets to sell. (this is just a fraction of the in my obsessed collection)

I'll let you know when I get them packed up and photographed and listed in the shop.

EDIT- I was able to add a few packs of wallpaper to the Boutique tonight

Man, there are a lot of steps aren't there? Sometimes I wonder why I don't get a real job… but then, I get to play with and sort out all these pretty papers while I sing to the Dorkie who never leaves my feet and think that this isn't such a bad job after all.

Before the skies turned gray and the rain started, I got a few photos of things to add in to the Boutique.

Slowly, but surely, I am getting some new things in there.

And I am trying to build up the Etsy shop too. Mostly supplies over there. But an assortment.

Wall paper packs will be coming soon, probably in both shops. If you see something you want in both, please email me before paying, so I can combine your shipping costs!

(There are some cute vintage swizzle sticks in both right now)

Some one asked me the other day if I wanted to trade links. You know, I rarely update my Pretty Places and am missing out on lots of good blogs.

If you want to trade links with me, JUST WHISTLE!

Also- one of my Etsy listings is in this pretty treasury, if you'd like to take a look.

An ABC of crafting- Aprons, Bellas, and Changes

Miss Frenchie's, Silver Bella, swaps, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / April 14, 2009

Are you going to be a Bella this year?? I wouldn't miss it! The atmosphere created by all those creative types gathered together and sharing ideas, gossip, giggles, as well as glue and glitter is quite something. The timing makes it good kick off to the Christmas holiday season, I come home wanting to spread sparkles and cheer everywhere I go.

Silverbella is more than just classes, it is an Event, with a capital E. If you want to go, check it out here:

http://www.paperbellastudio.com/pages/silverbella.htm

Another fun thing I am trying to plan is a get away to DC with not one, but two batches of friends all in the same week. A group of Lawrence, KS buddies wants to join me there for a Girl's Getaway, during the week, and then when the weekend comes, I hope to meet up with Blog Buddies in Leesburg for shopping.

Heather and Stephanie,who hosted the apron swap I am in, are going to meet me there, as well as some local Virginia area pals. I'm hoping Beth will go too. Last time I was there, I found this wooden hanger for her collection and brought it back as a souvenir. The rest of the pile of goodies is what I pulled together to use to make the apron I did for Zita as my part of the swap.

But does anything ever go as planned? Very little of my pile of supplies made it into the finished product. I took the bag of laces and ribbons and flowers with me to Beth'sthe other day for a couple hours of escapism into craft time, which I really needed. Seems like some projects just need a 2nd person's opinion, and some days, you just need the outlet of a friend to talk to while you work.

I'd been struggling with this one, nothing I was doing was working, and one vintage apron actually fell apart on me, after I tried bleaching, dying, and aging it. But, having Beth around to bounce ideas off of, and to hand me things from her studio to try on it, really helped. She even provided this apron to use, as well as the image of the little girl. She downloaded it from Vintage Workshop and printed it on cloth. I'd done the same thing with a rose picture, but it somehow just wasn't quite right.

Sometimes, the plans just don't work. I've learned to be flexible, do my best to rearrange, make changes, and then do what Tim Gunn always says, "Make it work".

The pieces I had picked out to use for Zita, really were things I thought she'd like, so I used them as the gift wrap for the finished apron.

And I was even able to use the first apron that I thought was ruined, as a liner, no, I guess for fabrics, you'd say, lining, huh?

Its on its way to Canada now, I hope she enjoys it! I barely got it done by the deadline. Some how, I am not keeping up with my life as well as I should. I did have Sugarwings all week, and am trying to get ready for Miss Frenchie's, plus we just had Easter, and I took a week's vacation. Well, any one of those things could explain why I am so behind on everything.

Tomorrow, I go and help Debbie and Carol set up decorations and mark booth spaces for the show, and I need to pack a few straggles up that I don't have tagged and ready yet. But instead of tagging and packing, I have been doing something more fun. I'm making thank you gifts for the two hostesses of the swap.

Its always good to have an excuse to make things! And some how those tags will get on that stuff, and everything will get thrown into the big red, redneck truck I drive. So, I made this last night while I watched "House" instead of making price tags.

For this, I even got my watercolors out. I want to make a gift for Beth too, she was a major factor in me getting that apron done at all.

Ah, it feels good to just sit and make something that I really enjoy. But for now, I'd better get those price tags made. I have a feeling that my fairy godmother isn't going to show up and do it for me. I'll have to create the other two paintings that I have in mind later.