handmade gift ideas

It's funny that while I've been trying to come up with more gift ideas for the holidays, I've forgotten that I don't need to reinvent the wheel. I was going through my library of craft books looking for some inspiration (and to move my thoughts in a more leisurely direction) when I decided to give my own book, Home, Paper, Scissors, another look. Kind of silly I hadn't done that sooner, huh?

I almost decided against posting this because there are those of you that already have the book (a huge thank you!) or have seen it—but I think there are some (budget friendly!) ideas here that may help those of you in need of some inspiration. These are just a few of the 30+ step-by-step projects that you can find in the book.

Monogrammed Journals Set
This is a set of twelve books—one for each month of the year. How about giving this set to a new mother to record her first year experiences with her new baby?



Just a Note Stationery Set and Folder
This is a basic design, but imagine the ways you can customize both the stationery and the folder—endless possibilities. This is another project I think I'll be working on.



Pocket Photo Album
Here's another project that that lends itself to customization and embellishment (this is where I included a photo of my two little ones)—the right side has a pocket for extra photos or a card.



And lastly...
If you need ideas to wrap small gifts, there are instructions for making these bags and boxes in different styles and sizes. My favorite design is the yellow box, which was inspired by a little girl's toy purse.



If you're interested in a copy for yourself or to give as a gift, Home, Paper, Scissors can be ordered at Random House, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Paper Source among others.

• • •

I had other plans and ideas for the blog this week but as I'm sure you can understand, things got a bit derailed this week. So bear with me while I catch up again. Meanwhile, thank you so much for all your kind comments on my previous post—I really appreciate them all. XO.

last day

The kids will be going back to school tomorrow, which means we're still not quite into the routine everyone else jumped into today. To enjoy our last full weekday together the kids are using some of these this morning...



and I'm using some of this.



I derive the same pleasure from seeing rows of embroidery thread as I do a stack of neatly folded towels in the linen closet. Is that strange?

• • •

In other news... I found out that the magazine bowl project found in Home, Paper, Scissors will be used as a class project in a special needs organization. That makes me so happy.

teaching + book signing

We are safely tucked away in a hotel (below) watching the some rare snow fall. It has been a crazy week but at least the house is on its way to getting fixed. I'm just hoping that we can be back home in time for Christmas. Crossing fingers!



If you live in Houston or surrounding areas this may interest you - I'll be teaching a beginner level paper crafting class at 10:30am tomorrow at SewCrafty. It will be my first time to teach an 'official' craft class and I'm really excited about it. There will also be some Home, Paper, Scissors book signing going on — bring or purchase a copy there. I hope to meet some of you in the morning!

Have a great weekend everyone!



One of the two projects we'll be working on in class.

gift giving with paper

I've been asked several times if I use my projects as gifts and the sad reality is that the majority of the times I don't. I'm trying to change that. At a minimum I want to make changes in the gift wrapping department and I started this morning.



Instead of starting from scratch, I decided to reach for my own book, to work on a project for a gift that we'll need for one of little C's friends. I remember that the minute I sketched this project out, I knew it was going to work and that it would definitely make a cut for the book. I love it when I have an idea that goes from sketch to paper without any glitches—VERY rare.

I like the box as is but my little C may want to add some cut out shapes to the base. We'll see what we come up with. I'm just happy that the main part is done—and it's ahead of time!



If you need other gift wrapping ideas, here are some more. This is a photo that didn't make it into the book but all the projects are included—templates and all.

• • •

Thank you all for your kinds comments and for sharing your hostess gift ideas in my previous post. I'm in the flowers and wine camp.

The winners (via Random.org) for the Thank You PDF idea are: Jessica Jo and Abbie. Congratulations! Please get in touch with me and I'll send you your file.

Happy Thursday!

mini-break

There are several projects that I'm working on that will keep me quite busy for the next few days. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be taking a mini-blogging break so that I can take care of it all. I'll see you next week.

Be well!


Flower Favor Box project found in Home, Paper, Scissors and featured in DIY magazine.

do it yourself magazine

Thanks to the heads up from a friend (don't you love online friendships!) I purchased the latest Do It Yourself Magazine (Winter 2009) and found that four pages were dedicated to four projects found in Home, Paper, Scissors. It's so exciting to see the word spreading around about my book.

I hadn't had a chance to really take a better look at this magazine. There are some fun projects in it and they're inspiring me to look inward a bit. Inward in the sense that it is high time to apply some of my ideas to our own home. I've been concentrating on work so much that I've neglected to make our little corner a little cozier. That will be changing and hopefully the results will be good enough to share with you.

• • •

Thank you to Apartment Therapy - OhDeeDoh for featuring my Numbers Flash Cards on their site. Welcome to those of you that are visiting via their site.

I've had some serious thoughts about using the illustrations in my flash cards for to be used for paper or fabric designs (maybe even digital applications?). I'll have to do a bit more of research to see what direction to take. Hmm.

craftypod goodness & a book giveaway

Saturday, Diane posted the chat that we had a couple of weeks ago for her CraftyPod podcast. I loved finally getting a chance to talk to her.

Diane's podcast is one of my very favorites. My only complaint is that it's too short. I'm always wanting more because I learn something new every time I check in. It also happens to be the perfect thing to listen to when I'm in the middle of a crafty project. Visit her site to listen in on our conversation.

Thank you so much for having me Diane!

• • •

The house was full of kids and parents yesterday afternoon because we hosted our son's cub scouts troop meeting. They were working on their art requirement. So, guess who lead the activities? The kids talked about paintings and constructions they'd made at home. I helped them make mobiles and they had fun making their parents' profile outlines. By the end we had a big mess of paper, scissors, and whatnot. After a quick clean up we finished off the meeting with juicy watermelon slices—perfect for the persistent afternoon heat.

The only crafty thing I've done (aside from yesterday) is covering my ugly, ugly mouse pad with a piece of my yellow mod-spoons fabric. Why, oh why hadn't I thought of doing this sooner?

:: Sunburst Wreath project found in Home, Paper, Scissors ::



What have you made recently? Let me know in the comments section below and you will qualify to win one of the two signed copies of Home, Paper, Scissors that I will be giving away. If you're like me and haven't had any crafty time share a good (easy!) recipe link with us all. I can always use some help expanding my culinary repertoire.

Please make sure to include your email so that I can contact you. The drawing will close tomorrow at midnight (ET) and I will announce the winners on Wednesday morning.

Good luck!

still learning

I don't know what I'd do without my husband. This is true in more ways than one, of course, but this weekend he was so patient explaining the ins and outs of making the simplest of web sites. He could've done it very quickly but I was the stubborn one that wanted to learn more and do it myself. I know I asked a bunch of silly questions and he was a very patient teacher.

The site is very simple and it's for Home, Paper, Scissors. I'll be posting updates and events surrounding the book. I've also created a Flickr group so that any of you that are interested in sharing the projects you've worked on that are inspired by the book can share with the rest of us.



By the way, I was just visiting my Made with Linen Flickr group. There is always such inspiring and pretty work there.

This was a very slow weekend for us but it was nice to have some cozy time at home. There wasn't any time for crafting but I promise to share something other than book info soon.

I hope you had a great weekend!

home, paper scissors - the day is finally here!

Yeessss! Finally! Home, Paper, Scissors is out for the world to see. I'm so excited! Let me just say that I could not have put in all the hours I did to complete it without my family's patience and undying support. Mr. Z and the kids were absolute troopers!

And another sneak peek...



For those of you that listen to Sirius radio, I will be interviewed live on "Morning Living with Kim and Betsy" Martha Radio's morning drive-time show at 7:30am EST tomorrow (Aug 19th). Hopefully I won't get all tongue-tied. Wish me luck!

Thank you to Alison from Craftcast for the lovely review on her latest podcast. I was listening to her show and didn't expect to hear my name mentioned. Quite surreal.

Now to tackle the next big project!

the end, the beginning

Last year, the summer was all about writing, writing, writing Home, Paper, Scissors. This year I vowed that the kids wouldn't be so bored waiting until Mom either took a nap to recover from late night work, finished shooting just one more how-to photo, answered just one more email or any other number of things on the to-do list. I think I accomplished the goal, but something had to fall through the cracks, right? That's primarily why my bloggity blog has been picking up a bit of dust lately (being sick last week didn't help much either). I'm back and ready to roll again but I can't deny that I will miss the long lazy days and the hours at the pool.

Good-bye summer.



The kids had their first full day of school today and I thought I was going to get so much done. Ahahaha. I should've known better. But that's OK. I'll be back into my routine in a couple of days—my to-do list demands it.

Tomorrow is the big day. Home, Paper, Scissors will be officially published. I can't wait to take the kids with me and share the great day with them (and Mr. Z of course!). When I signed my contract I promised them that one day we'd all be able to walk into the bookstore and see my book on one the shelves. Yes, I'll be making a total fool of myself taking pictures of it, thank you very much. It'll feel like Christmas in August.

the countdown begins

My book, Home, Paper, Scissors: Decorative Paper Accessories for the Home will be published one month from today! I can't believe that the day is almost here. The photo below is another little sneak peek. Pre-orders can be made here.



I've been alternating between wrapping up some projects and taking the kids to the pool and other activities. Today we're headed out to the dog show and a family get together. It's been an active summer on the work front but a lazy/slow one with the family—a nice balance.

I hope you all have an awesome weekend!

what I got in the mail today

I've waited for today to come for a long time. It's finally here. I don't know exactly what to say and I find myself unexpectedly choked up a bit. All I can coherently say is that I'm really happy and proud. I think I just need a quiet moment to sit and read it as if it were the first time I laid eyes on it.

So. Very. Happy.





Home, Paper, Scissors can be pre-ordered now. It will be published on August 18th of this year.

• • •

Thank you Natalie for posting our homemade paper project on Craft yesterday!

39!

My husband has been teasing me all week because he knows that the knowledge of getting ever so closer to 4-0 isn't too thrilling to me. But if I'm honest, I really am OK with it. Life is good. I can't complain. I realize that even though there are so many things that I'd still like to accomplish, that I'm in a good place right now. I'm doing what I love and there's always room and ideas for more. I'm always moving forward and that's what counts.

Today will be all about getting one big thing off my plate and then some relaxing time by making something. I don't know what yet but I want it to just be something for fun.

I'm really looking forward to tonight because the whole family will be going out to eat. It will be a real treat because schedules and distances rarely gives us the opportunity too see each other on a weeknight. After dinner, my parents will take care of the kids, and the rest of us are going out for a little latin dancing. My feet may not be too happy with me in the morning but I know we'll have fun.

I didn't have a photo planned for today so here's another sneak peek of a project from my book. It seemed appropriate for the day.



Thank you to Adele for inviting to an interview for her Paper Cuts series and to Jessica for the lovely post about my hurricane cover project. Thank you ladies!

Have a great weekend everyone!

weekend gifts

- A slow and calm couple of days.
- Incessant rain on Saturday which gave us the sloth time we all needed.
- A sketch book with new ideas that came to me between games and movies.
- A sunny Sunday. Our family room gets the best afternoon sun. The Sunburst Wreath is a project I made for Home, Paper, Scissors.
- Waking up later than usual to the announcement that breakfast was ready and served.
- Playing an 'I Spy' type game, made up by D, using the latest Michael's advertisement. Talk about cheap after-breakfast entertainment.
- Getting my butt kicked by my little C playing Guess Who. She was beyond delighted.
- Going to church without incident. No children complaining.

I feel ready to tackle the busy but short week. We're leaving on Thursday to celebrate my brother's wedding in Cancun. The only downside - the dreaded bathing suit purchase which I've been avoiding. A huge gift would be to find it effortlessly.

I hope your weekends were good ones too.

thinking

That's what I've been doing a lot of lately. I'm in the middle of some big decision making. It involves expanding and I don't know if I'm ready for it. There are a lot of doubts and questions. So, while the production work I'm doing is rhythmic, my mind is going crazy. It doesn't help that I'm coughing every 2 minutes (so over it!).



I was thinking that flowers will help calm the mood around here. Before you ask, you can learn how to make this flower in my book. Can you tell I'm dying to show more of it?

In other news I've registered for Mom 2.0 Summit which will take place here in Houston. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of people and learning whatever I can. Anyone else going?

And totally random... How cool are all these? Love them all.

Have a great weekend everyone!

home, paper, scissors

So here it is! I'm so excited that I can now at least show you the cover. I found out a couple of days ago that my book is now in pre-order status. For more info and ordering details click here.


Even though the official publishing date isn't until August it's fun to finally start unveiling the work that consumed me last year. The Nesting Bowls project that you see is one of my favorites. I'm particularly proud about the designer picking this shot for the cover because I took it. I worked with a professional photographer for all my beauty shots (I took all the how-to photos) so I didn't expect this one ending up on the front. I really like it.

Now all I have to do is wait to get a printed and bound copy in my hands. Then it will really hit me.