Hey Pumpkin!

I have to admit that Halloween is not really my favourite holiday.  As a kid living in Northern Ontario, we always had to have a costume that over a snowsuit (seriously).   It may not have always been snowing, but it was always nippy out. 

If your costume didn’t fit OVER the snowsuit…it had to go UNDER, which meant no one actually knew what you were when you rang the doorbell.  No kid wants to explain over and over again what their costume is.

I do love, however, this Halloween stamp.  Maybe it’s not so much Halloween, but it’s definitely a Fall stamp and super cute.

I made some simple gift tags and they’re available now in my Etsy store.

I think they’d be great on Halloween gift bags, a loaf of pumpkin bread or muffins, or any other fall treat.

I might make more and keep them for myself to use; I’m determined to find a great pumpkin bread recipe. I think it’d be a great little gift for friends, and an excuse to have a visit with some cinnamon tea.

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: pumpkin,Halloween,gift tags,A Paper Buffet,Etsy

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Bookmarks back from the dead

My vampire bookmarks have been doing quite well in my Etsy shop, with 3 variations, plus a few werewolf bookmarks,  they’ve sold well.

 

 

However, it seems there’s another untapped genre of mythical creatures…zombies!  My friend Karin of KarinSF asked for some zombie bookmarks and gave me full creative power over the design, colours and quotes.  This was a bit tricky since I’ve never actually read a zombie book.

I contact my sister, who involved her fellow Zombie-loving friend and they provided me with a list of memorable and recognizable zombie related quotes.  It was a group effort and I’m very pleased with how they turned out.

I made a total of 4 bookmarks for Karin and had a blast making these look like they came back from the dead.  I think my favourite part is the ribbon tails.

 

Happy Thursday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Zombie,bookmarks,custom bookmarks,Etsy,A Paper Buffet,vampire,werewolf,handmade paper items

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Knitting: not just for old people.

While I often feel I’m an old soul, I have fully embraced my desire to knit. I’m ready to receive the “oohs” and “ahhs” and the “YOU made THAT?”

Initially taught by my Italian grandmother (Nonna) when I was younger, I couldn’t purl to save my life and shoved the needles through the tight stitches with such force it’s a wonder I never punctured my hand. I put the needles down for many years, and have recently picked them up again.

I’m great at knitting scarves; they’re straight and simple. I upgraded to cable knitting, not as hard as I thought and very impressive.

Last year I graduated to circular needle knitting and created my Latte Love coffee sleeves.

I was told by a fellow crafty friend about the site Ravelry, signed up and started searching patterns for beginners. It was about time I tried something new.

For some reason, I was drawn to slippers. I hate socks, and am often barefoot, which is fine in my apartment, but when I go home to my parents, or visit Nonna, I’m thrown some slippers brought back from Italy before I was born…not always stylish.

I found a pattern, took a deep breath and got to work.

Who knew they’d actually be pretty easy? and turn out fantastic?!

The pattern is from French Press Knits, and she sells the pattern on both Ravelry and Etsy. So now that I have some knitting confidence, I’m going all out.

I picked up a knitting book over the weekend when I was at home for a wedding- More Last Minute Knitted Gifts and I can’t wait to get working. I also picked out another, intended to go on my Christmas wish list; however since there was only one copy, my Mom swiftly grabbed it off the shelf and stated it would be wrapped for Christmas.

Pints and Purls encourages you to knit their portable projects whilst drinking beer in a pub with your best knitting/drinking friends. I browsed through the book before I had to hand it over for Christmas wrapping and I’m looking forward to the Drunken Sweater.

Since I’ll get the book for Christmas, I’ll have some time to answer this question…

Do I teach my drinking buddies to knit? or my knitting pals to knock one back?

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: knitting,cable knitting,French Press Knits,slippers,Etsy,Ravelry,More Last Minute Knitted Gifts,Pints and Purls

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It feels good to be organized.

I’ve got a million things on the go…or at least that’s what it feels like.  We’re revamping A Paper Buffet.com to make it easier for customers, I’m editing photos and listing over 200 mini envelopes in my Etsy store, I need to start making Christmas cards, (and actually make MINE this year), yadda yadda yadda.

You get it, right?

And each and every time I walk into my living room, my eye is drawn to the 3 canvas bags and one plastic shopping bag full of wool. Ugh. I keep saying I’m going to do something to organize it, but yet it goes untouched for months. 

I added to the pile a few months ago when my Nonna (Italian for Grandmother) gave me more wool, (and gorgeous stuff from Italy) because she’s not knitting any more (there was a subtle hint that if she had grandchildren to knit for…).

When I went home a couple of weeks ago to go to the cottage, my mom asked me to clean out my closet and let her know what she could give-away/throw out.  Low and behold, I have 3 wicker baskets, just sitting and begging to be used.  I put the biggest one aside to make sure I remembered to bring it home.

The basket I chose had a cotton liner, I washed and dried it and was ready to organize!  After 45 minutes of stretching the damn liner back onto the basket (yes, I even washed it by hand, in cold water so it wouldn’t shrink!), I was finally ready to organize all that wool.

I organized by colour, as best as I could, and still didn’t fit all the small half skeins I have, that’ll have to wait until I go home again and pick up another basket.

It feels really good to have this looking much cleaner and presentable in the living room. 

Now if only organizing the wool into the basket gave me time to actually play with it…

Ciao for now,

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Back to the grind.

Things have been a little hectic around here the past little while.

I had some sad news a few weeks ago; my dog Bailey, who lives at home with my parents passed away on July 19th.  Bailey was 13.5 yrs old, which was very good for the large breed she was (Labrador/Golden/Chesapeake Retriever Cross).  Bailey passed away peacefully in her sleep, at home.

I took this picture at Christmas time; she loved to be outside, sit in the snow and bury her face in it.  For anyone who has ever lost a pet, it’s a terrible thing.  It’s been tough, but I am getting better.

I travelled home to go to the cottage last week, it was very strange to be in the house without Bailey.  Terrible, actually. I kept thinking she was just downstairs, or outside, or around the corner. 

We went to the cottage for a week- a planned vacation every year- which turned out to be good timing.  I was busy visiting with the other families, reading, playing with paper and was occupied, thank goodness.

I finally had some time to make the mini envelopes  and I’ve got a few up in my Etsy store now.  I’ll be adding more, I was able to make over 200 envelopes at the cottage.

 

Cutting, folding and gluing the envelopes was surprisingly therapeutic.

The envelopes are available in a variety of colours and patterns, in matching sets of 8, 10 or 12.  I’ll also have some mixed bunches available too.  I’ve used envelope adhesive on the flaps so they can be sealed just like regular envelopes.

I hope all of you are doing well.

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: handmade envelopes

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Sometimes I forget…

…that I actually have to mail a card and keep adding and adding and adding…

Such is the case with my sister’s birthday card from a few weeks ago.

I used my all-time favourite colour combination of SU Chocolate Chip and Old Olive.  I seriously can’t get enough of this combo.  I might need a support group to get over it. Really.

I grabbed the great Bo Bunny paper, my favourite Birthday stamp set (SU Birthday Whimsy) and set to work.

 

This card was heavy! Many layers of cardstock, plus knotted ribbon, paper flowers on the inside AND out with rhinestone brads…I wasn’t sure if it would fit through the slot of doom!

FYI- for my non-Canadian friends, our postal system has a height restriction of on our letter mail.  The envelope must be under 5mm high and under 30 grams for it to be sent with one stamp. Our next slot of doom for oversized envelopes is 20mm, just shy of 1” high…if it’s higher than that, we have to call it a parcel and the prices jump astronomically!!! There’s tons of threads mentioning it on Etsy if you’re so inclined to do a search…so when a Canadian seller quotes a  shipping price for flat items…please be understanding!

Good news- after a few nervous days of me watching my mailbox for a returned card demanding more postage…my sister let me know her card arrived safe and sound (it did measure EXACTLY 30 grams).

I’m actually taking my sister to see Sting tonight as her birthday gift; our mom is joining us, then mom and I and a few of my friends are going to see Lilith Fair tomorrow.

I’ll have a timed post for the SUnday Case Challenge #2, but there’s still time to join in on Challenge #1!

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,handmade greeting cards,birthday cards,card making challenge,card challenge

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Hello Little Baby

I’ve made this card a few times, it’s one of those layouts which works perfectly, and this paper…ahh this paper! I’m going to be so sad when I run out!

So in case you missed it the first time around, here it is again, and now available in my Etsy store (the first round was for a custom order)

I changed up the ribbon from the first edition, using wider satin brown ribbon and tying a different knot.

 

I just love it!

 

 

 

 

I don’t think I’ve ever made so many of the same card…besides when I’m making a set of course.

 

This card makes me happy!

 

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

 

WAIT- don’t forget to enter my CASE challenge here!

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