a lighthouse!

This has been one of those projects that I've been mulling over for a while. Once I sat down to actually make it I couldn't stop myself from just finishing it. Let's just say that I was a few minutes from sunrise on the day I completed the design (can't get over the night owl habit)!



I decided to give it a bit of functionality. It can be used for several things:
1.  a cake topper (not using the bottom of the box). I can see a sea themed green/blue cake that follows the lines of the box. I think that would be cute!

Oh- suggestion: how about cutting out an octagon piece of parchment paper to put under the lighthouse so that it doesn't get frosting on it and it can be saved after a party. Yes?

2. an event centerpiece
3. a gift or storage box (inspired by my idea of adding a matchbox to the Nutcracker instead of making a simple base).
4. tea light holder or nightlight (ONLY use LED tea lights please!)

- or how about just a crafternoon with something fun to make! :)



This project has 42 pieces but it's simple to make—really! If you've made my Gazebo or Nutcracker you can definitely make this.

You can order the lighthouse in the shop here! 

 

And don't forget that today is Friday and there's a new freebie on the site!
Have a great weekend everyone! 

slide lock boxes - the tall version!

I have a new winner for the FB giveaway that many of you participated in yesterday. Thank you for sharing the crafty projects that you're working on. It was very interesting to see what other types of crafts you like to work on. Aside from paper, I'm with the crocheters! It's so peaceful when you get into a rhythm.

The winner of the giveaway is Robin Wyatt! Please get in touch and I'll send you your gift certificate code. Congratulations!

• • •

Speaking of gifts...

I just checked and I can't believe that I designed the first Slide Lock Boxes three years ago. Where has the time gone? These taller versions came about because I needed to wrap something that was a little longer than the square versions would accommodate. Voilá! Out of all the boxes I've ever made the closure on these has always made them special to me.

This time I used flat balsa wood strips as the locking mechanism. But you can use anything that will fit through the slits (just like the different examples I show in the original boxes).

spreading my wings

There are more prints and patterns available on Society6!

I'll have to explain one of these days why diving into licensing has been a little harder for me than you'd expect. Needless to say, I'm letting go of those feelings that were holding me back and now I'm going for it. You never know about something until you try it, right?

Hopefully this will be just the start of more things to come. I love the feeling of spreading a little joy with my work.

Visit my Society6 page here!

simple monday: sunny greeting card

If you downloaded Friday's freebie over the weekend you'll notice I changed it just a bit. I made it two-layered so that you can use the sun separately. In addition to the wine tag I used my sun for a card and matching gift tag. Here's what I did:

- Cut two sun shapes in different colors.
- Lined up the circles one over the other and cut them in half in the same place.
- Attached two different colored halves to the card. The left yellow side of the circle is attached on foam squares—tiny ones that I had to cut in half.
- I cut a separate white sun and glued the other half of my yellow sun onto one side. If you're keeping count, I still have the second half of the orange sun which I can use for anything else (I'm thinking of making myself a bookmark).

All I need to do is add an appropriate stamped sentiment or hand write it (my usual go to!) and I'm done. Simple!

Download the freebie here.

Happy Monday!

inspiration turned reality

One of the questions I am most often asked is where do I get my inspiration for projects. The obvious (and probably least helpful) answer is that it can come from anywhere. Many times it's from nature but in reality I think my ideas are formed from of a string of ideas that get put together like a puzzle. That's why many artists say it's so important to be open to opportunities and experiences. You never know what will get you going.

This simple illustration started here (a version I deleted since then) after our first week of summer activities. It just wouldn't get out of my head. Now it's on 'paper'—Done!

EDIT :: I'm selling this as a print here! 
 

PS - I'm loving Instagram—and now that it has video capability even better. It almost feels like a daily life/image type of blogging.

paris!

We are headed to Paris in a couple of weeks (still can't believe that!) and I can't wait. Can't. Wait.

I've had Nicole's Paris in Color book for quite some time but when I came across it (even our book case is getting a good spring cleaning) I just had to flip through it all over again—with more intention and deliberation than before. The photographs are just beautiful and the fact that it's divided into color chapters is brilliant. It's definitely giving me a great taste of what's in store for us.

So now the question is, where to head to and when. I'm setting up our itinerary and it's proving to be a bit more daunting than I thought. I want to see the usual 'suspects' (museums, land marks) but I also want us to see the out of the way places. If a paper/scrapbooking shop is in the mix that wouldn't hurt, would it? (Side note: I've always wanted to teach a paper crafting class in a far away place like this. Would be so fun!)

Do any of you travelers or French readers have suggestions for us? Please share!

go fish!

It's our favorite card game at the moment. It's just what the doctor ordered—some laughs with the kids and no high brain functionality required (that's a must for my brain recovering from what I can only guess was burn out). Now you can guess why I thought of showing you this which hadn't seen the light of day yet. It's a peek of a new collection that I'm developing.

I'm loving this style of illustration that is flowing out of me right now. It feel very me—true and fun—and that's the best way of working.

hands on for a change

I hadn't made something like this in a while. It felt great to use simple tools for a change. This will be a birthday present for a little someone that I had to ask not to peek at this online until tomorrow—heehee! You can see how I made it here.

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Father's Day to all you awesome dads out there!

simple father's day ideas

Pockets are easy to make and they can be the central idea of many types of projects. I used one for this week's freebie file and it can llend itself for different occasions but with Father's Day around the corner (and my Mr Z's birthday is Saturday—he was actually born on Father's Day) this will work out great.

You can't see it too much in the photo, but I attached the pocket with dimensional dots between the tops of the red pieces and attached to whole thing to the card with dots as well. Really easy.

I was inspired to make this card by the simple but stylish Father's Day project in this month's issue of Martha Stewart Living. These iPad cover designs are right up my alley. I really like the non-traditional take on the color schemes and the fact that if you're cutting it close to Sunday there's still plenty of time to make these (instructions in the magazine). I see the red one and think—Father's Day?—I want one! ;)

Feel free to download the cutting file freebie here.

Photo by Kate Mathis. Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living. Copyright ©2013. 

slowing down

It happens at the start of every summer and I think even more so since getting back from NYC and needing some serious rest—we slow down things a lot. Bubbles, kites, pool, games, tv and some movies—that's what our world with the kids has been mostly about.

Somewhere in there I've managed to get some work done and this Little Red is my absolute favorite as of today. It started out as digital work because I made a pattern collection around it (not licensed yet—just personal work). I wanted to see what it'd look like in paper and this is the result. We're now enjoying it on one of our living room walls as you can see here. :)

summer! (psst! a sale and new work)

Happy Friday everyone! Here is my latest set.

New for today are on my newsletter—psst! some of you have been asking when I'm having a sale! You can find the code on the newsletter here.

This Feather Tribe collection above represents what I hope to do more of in the future (can you tell I love this pattern? hee-hee!). I want to make sets that will include all types of options: paper projects, fabric, wrapping paper, etc. Yes, stamps is on the wish list too—but if truth be told I'd much rather license my designs to a manufacturer to have more time for designing—the fun stuff!

Speaking of licensing — I'm still looking for a paper craft manufacturer that would be interested in carrying my product lines. I'd LOVE to create projects with my own paper—fun, fun!

Well, I'm off to enjoy some family time (aka pool time—the summer is in full swing around here!).

I hope you all have a great weekend!
XO
Patricia