Dress up your door

Yarn Wreath Tutorial.

Crumb Cake

Who would've thought?

Coconut Sugar Scrub

A simple, yet luxurious gift. Don't forget to make one for yourself!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Home from the Olympics!

Actually I got home on Sunday. But I’m still glued to the TV.

Until the Games are over, that’s where I’ll be.

I’ll be back next week with some new items and lots of pictures from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

GO CANADA GO!

Ciao for now,

Friday, February 12, 2010

I’m going to the Olympics!!

I leave in two days to go to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics!

I am a huge Olympic fan and I still can’t really believe that I get to be a part of this Olympics in my home country.

My uncle played in two summer Olympics for Canada and I have always wished I was old enough to see him play (I was two years and four years old at the time he played).

I became a Kinesiologist because I had a dream of being on the Olympic training team, assisting and treating Olympic athletes. (Ok, so I went the other way on the career path and help people go back to work).

DSC00913I have my Canadian Hockey Jersey all ready for the two hockey games we’ll be going to.

 

 

 

I have two giant Canadian flags, many little Canadian pins to trade, two Canadian toques, and a suitcase full of red and white clothes!

I will be tweeting from the Olympics, so follow APaperBuffet on Twitter to get updates from the Games!

If you’re Canadian, you know the theme of these games are “I Believe”.

I believe.

I believe in Canada.

I believe in Canada’s athletes.

And most of all, I believe dreams really can come true.

Ciao for now!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I love a good ribbon smooshing

A friend asked for a wedding card, and said she didn’t care what it looked like, “just make it pretty”.  And pretty it was!

I used SU white cardstock for the base and layered SU Chocolate Chip on top.

The DP is SEI Chocolate Mint; it came out at Christmas but it has this gorgeous pattern embossed on it which is hard to capture with the camera.

 

 

This angle highlights the embossing on the DP.

 

I used Jac’s ribbon smooshing technique with some satin chocolate ribbon from Michaels and made a small bow to match.

 

 

It’s a bit hard to see in the picture, but the ribbon is a really luxurious chocolate colour.  I stamped the main image in Versamark, then in SU Chocolate Chip ink and heat embossed for extra sparkle.  I added a tiny pearl to the bride’s hair, to compliment the three pearls in the bottom left corner.

 

On the inside, I kept the SU Chocolate Chip paper as the matting and stamped “to have and to hold” inside the frame, also stamped.  I just love this SU “To Have and to Hold” stamp set!

 

 

 

I stamped the flower flourish in Chocolate Chip ink as well, and added two small pearls to the flowers to match the front.

 

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

Monday, February 8, 2010

“I had never bought a handmade card…”

I have many friends and visit many blogs who are card makers and when I see their work, I can appreciate them from a card-maker perspective, and admire new techniques and colour combinations.

However, sometimes I forget what it’s like to see a handmade card for the first time. 

I donated this Valentine’s card to the Hearts For Haiti Etsy shop:

and on January 27th, 2010 it was purchased by Rachel, owner of Leila’s Loft on Etsy.

Since the sale was through Hearts for Haiti, the ability to leave feedback for the buyer and for the seller was a bit different.

I received a convo from Rachel when she received the card, and her words made me stop and think.

“…I had never purchased a handmade card before, and I just can't get over how special and wonderful it is.”

I was thrilled she received the card and loved it, and it allowed me to understand what it’s like to see a handmade card for the first time.

Rachel gave me permission to use her statement, and was touched that I wanted to…I think it’s the perfect reminder of what handmade really means, it’s special and wonderful.

Whether it’s a handmade card, necklace, or pottery, handmade items have a little something extra…I believe, a piece of soul.

 

ladybug

Rachel herself hand paints decorative knobs  for dressers and faceplate covers and is incredibly talented. 

 

 

I encourage all of you to visit Leila’s Loft  and Etsy and discover how truly special and wonderful handmade can be.

Happy Monday!

Ciao for now,

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Why am I covered in Feathers?

Quite possibly the best line in Breaking Dawn, my favourite book in the Twilight series.  Ok, so maybe not the best line in the book, but a memorable one at least.  I have this scene in my head and I’m just really hoping that they get it right in the movie.

I finally inked up the Artful Inkables set I won on the TwilightTuesday.com site months and months ago and created a new Twilight Inspired bookmark.

I struggled with the design a bit because I wanted to keep in line with the other bookmarks in my Etsy store but be unique in it’s own right.  It was tough-- there’s really only so many layouts you can have on a bookmark!

I used black and grey instead of black and red and I like the effect.

Lots of sparkle ;)

 

 

Here’s a close up of the sentiment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used a black Sharpie to draw the feather.  Yes, I said draw! I was so happy I could actually draw a feather!  I used my Spica glitter pen overtop, but it’s a little hard to capture in the picture.

The background was heat embossed with sparkle embossing powder; the stamp is also part of this Artful Inkables “Fictionally Inspired” stamp set.

This store, along with the other Twilight-inspired Bookmarks are available in my Etsy store.

I’ve got some different things coming up over the next few days for the blog; I’ve always wanted to create a treasury, but can never get in, so I’m going to do my own version.

I’ll also be sharing some very touching feedback I got from a customer and featuring her wonderful Etsy shop next week.

Ciao for now!

Ciao for now,

Monday, February 1, 2010

I vote for Jelly beans! or cinnamon hearts…

I LOVE making these little paper boxes; originally made to fit chocolate, I think they’re perfect for any little treat.

I just can’t get enough of these little guys…so many options for so many occasions.

 

 

 

I’m also having fun playing with my new camera…I feel like I’m moonlighting as a photographer whenever I set up my little photo shoots.  It’s really quite glamorous.  Seriously.

Clever, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one reminds me of Jenga!

 

 

Detailed ribbon shot:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used SU Chocolate Chip for the box itself, and Pretty In Pink for the mat and scalloped circle.  I stamped the mini hearts from the SU set “you and me” in Pretty in Pink on Very Vanilla cardstock and topped it off with Pretty in Pink ribbon.  Bo Bunny DP and some distressing completed the look.    I do love brown and pink!

I’ve added these to my Etsy store, but I want to know:

What would you put in the treat boxes?  Leave a comment and let me know!

Happy Monday!

Ciao for now,

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