Did She Say FREE??

A few weeks ago, on a whim, I threw my name in the hat for the Etsy "Weekend Deals" post...

What the heck, think positively and all that stuff...




Well, I got an email from an Etsy admin yesterday afternoon...

That meant burning the midnight oil last night (and that's OK, because boy child's birthday sleepover was last night. I still went to bed before they did!)...tidying the shop, sweeping the floors, adjusting shipping info...

I looked like this by the time I went to bed last night...

But the great news...
These stickers were chosen to be one of the featured items for this weeks' "Weekend Deals" on Etsy....


In exchange for this lovely, free PR, I am running a sale....a pretty darn good sale...FREE (yes, she did say free) shipping all weekend long!
Anywhere I ship (which really is anywhere), the shipping's on me, if you order and pay this weekend (through 11:59 EST, August 16).


And if you are a fan of my FB page, make sure you head on over there....I've got a little bonus "thank you" for you!
Heck, even if you become a fan this weekend, you're still eligible ('cause I appreciate you too!). Check it out!


So I hope to have a busy weekend, printing all sorts of FREE shipping labels....

Until Next Time,

Dum Dum De Dum...

...as in "Here Comes the Bride"...

Since I started making and selling paper stuff, I have repeatedly gotten requests for wedding stuff...

...gift tags, save the date cards, thank you's, table markers, etc....


I'm not quite sure why I have never really pursued this...pretty thick-headed of me, I suspect. Not necessarily because I think brides will now be beating down my doors, keeping me busy forever. Honestly, I should have done this earlier because it is fun!


I am enjoying thinking a little bit outside of my usual cardboard box...not too far, not yet. I don't think I could handle doing invitations at this point (and I suspect that because of the time involved, I would have to charge an astronomical price- wouldn't be able to compete with printers, who make one proof and start the machine rolling), but I do like working on the little touches.


Items like these beach-y "save the date" bookmarks are more my speed for the time being...


Even though I am now officially in the wedding biz, I have been making custom tags and stickers for the occasional bride pretty much since I opened my Etsy shop. Brides and Babies have always been my favorite custom clients. I love the fact that they are celebrating life...just seems like some of those good vibes always make my day happier. And who couldn't use all the happy thoughts that they can get these days?


So if you're getting hitched or you know someone who is, let's talk...

Until Next Time,

A Few New Things...

Got a few new things to share with you.

Not too many..sorry. I have recently started going to the gym right after the kids get on the bus...still adjusting because morning is usually my most creative time. The trade-off is worth it though, because I feel so much better!

I've also added a new music player...cute, isn't it? With a few new songs and a few accoustic versions of some old faves...

But anyway...on with the photos....


I think my bowhead lollapalooza from a few weeks ago "girlied" me out (say it ain't so!)...been drawn to very vintage, graphic images with not so much femininity to them (but there's always a touch- I am a girl, after all).


Right before the big move, I got a huge order of stamps that I had been waiting on for what seemed like forever. This particular company makes your stamps to order and stamps are not their primary product, so you have to be patient. My bowheads were part of that order and so were these vintage cat and dog toy images...LOVE them!

And...finally...the black ink is growing on me again ( I willl never give up the sepia, but variety is good). I like to keep the main image simple, simple, simple, that's why most tags will feature a sepia or black image, with the highlight color in the background...

Summer is moving season...have a new neighbor? Going to a BBQ with a hostess gift? Housewarming? How fun would it be to attach one of these tags to a kitchen themed basket filled with flavored oils, pestos and crusty breads?

The background of the ENJOY photo is a page from one of the few books I did not share *here* ...it's a shopping directory from Watertown, NY dated 1880. I think this was the ephemera find of that shopping expedition...it's a whole post on its' own, but I'll share a snap of the inside cover...

Last but not least, in that same huge stamp order was a series of vintage transportation images, from scooters to sailboats. I will be doing allot with these and some of the antique books I have been rescuing (these were bound for a dumpster- obscure fiction with no prized illustrations), and here's the first- an antique convertible...love it! And just in time for Father's Day...

Happy Wednesday to ALL!

Until Next Time,

Meet the Bowheads...

Thought I'd give you a sneak peak of things I'll be working on while I'm watching the Survivor finale tonight (now that the "Dragonslayer" is gone- thank goodness- I don't care who wins, but I still have to watch) .

These girls are almost done....Remember back in the 80's when we all used to wear those hair bows on our pony tails?

I suppose it might have just been a Texas thing, but the girls who wore those ribbons were called "bowheads", for obvious reasons...so when I found these sweet baby doll stamps, the first thing I thought: "look, bowheads!"


OK...they don't all have bows.
There's a hat or two and some sort of head dress (feathers?), but they all have some sort of accesory on their noggins...


Every group has its' rebel, though. In this case she's a rebel without a dress as well as a hair bling...

I guess when you're brave enough to go to the party nekkid, you don't need no stinkin' bow...

Wonder if that's why she's my favorite?

Until Next Time,

Something New, Something Blue...

I knew it was coming...I took my chances...

I am officially grounded.

I am not allowed to so much as whisper the words (or even type ever so softly) "beautiful Teenage Girl Child" again until further notice (oops, did I just mention "she who shall not be named"?)...I told her everyone was looking at Molly anyway, but she wasn't buying it....If you have no idea what I am talking about, click here....

So how about some shop talk?

Something that would make every teenager on the planet stick their fingers in their ears and wail "lalalalalalalalalalala- can't hear you!"

I have been working today....working on something new, something blue...something slightly comfortable, but different none the less...


Over the past several months I have had several request for more hand stamped stationery.
Honestly, the idea scares me just a bit. My tags are wee little bits of stamping, a contained field that is very easy to keep simple (which has been part of my stamping mantra from the get-go: soft or faded colors, vintage inspired images and overall simplicity).

They are those little single bites of goodness that the contestants are always making on one of my favorite shows, Top Chef ...they are the amuse-bouche of the stamping world....(thank you Google and Wikipedia for teaching me how to spell amuse-bouche)...


Moving on to cards (to me anyway) is like taking the training wheels off. It's such a big surface to work with...that much empty paper intimidates me...

So how about some baby steps first?

How about post cards?


Perfect for short little notes of encouragement- not so small as a gift tag but not the big, full entree commitment of a note card or invitation (at least in my mind, and in that moment, that was all that counted)...


So what do you think?

Not that hard really...actually kind of fun...

Next (baby) Step: Save the Date cards....
(0;

And what would a post from me be these days if I didn't tell you this:
If you haven't entered my OWOH giveaway, what the heck are you waiting for??

Click here!
Go there and post a reply! When I get to 250 entries, I will be adding another prize...
...and I want to give away more stuff, so help me out!

Only three more days 'til Mr. Sunshine comes home on R&R Leave (almost 9 months to the day since I last saw him)...woohooo! I tried to get through the post without mentioning that but I am so giddy, I just couldn't help myself...

And that makes this a HAPPY, walking on Sunshine kind of Tuesday!
Hope it's been a good one for you too...

Until Next Time,

The Most Wonderful Time of Year deserves a GIVEAWAY!

It's that time again....The October Issue of Create and Decorate is on the shelves!

If that cover doesn't make you ready for Fall...how about this?

This lamp is my contribution this issue...a little whimsical Halloween for your painting pleasure...

For some reason, when I re-subscribed (there are a few issues that I have no projects in, so I don't get complimentary copies), I ended up with two subscriptions. So in months where I also have a project, I end up with four copies. What better excuse for a giveaway?

In case that's not enough....Just because I feel like celebrating all sorts of "new" stuff ...new school year, new season, new issue of one of my favorite mags, new project for me...I'm going to give a couple of those issues away! Our last giveaway was in the winter, so it's time for a new one, don't you think?

All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post. Tell me what your favorite thing about Fall is...

If you write about the contest on your own blog and link back to me, let me know by sending me an email with the link, and I will enter your name a second time!

What's in it for you? I will draw two lucky names who will each get a copy of the October issue of Create and Decorate , the candle lamp used and one set of two silicone dipped bulbs. All you will need to get started is the lampshade (and the source for that is in the article), paints and brushes.

Let's keep it open a few days, so we can get the word out...How 'bout you have until midnight on Labor Day to enter....

Come on, tell me what you love about Fall...

Good Luck everyone!

Until Next Time,

STEPH

P.S. You have to leave me some way to contact you, please (email is fine)! Anonymous posts with no contact info will be deleted. If I cannot connect with winners within a few days of trying, I will draw again....

Happy Monkey Monday....

Monkey in the Middle Mondays are my way keeping myself in check and working on something new every single week (explained in a little more detail here )...I share pics of my WIPS and I would love to see what you are working on! WIPS are one of my favorite things to follow on blogs. I'm a before and after kinda gal, even though I don't do much trash to treasure these days.

My goal with MIMM is to have a regular group of crafty/artsy bloggers post every Monday about their creative process (or even lack of progress because I have gone there more than a time or two). Maybe you could be one of them? My friend Kathy at Catnip Studio (she also has her MIMM post up - just click on "Catnip Studio" to see) has given me some really awesome suggestions to get a few more folks to participate. Contests and giveaways figured fairly prominently in the emails and I think that's a fantastic idea! Once I get the rugrats back in school, I think we will pursue that.

In the meantime, if you have a project you'd like to share, drop me an email with the link to your blog. I will post it here for all to see...

I have a true banana potpourri (eww!) to share with you this week.

Working on some custom tag orders...

I love these silhouettes, so simple and nostalgic....

And some vintage toybox inspiration...love the feather and tutu sported by this cute little baby doll. She's quite cheeky, wouldn't you agree?

And this little boy/clown....haven't decided what color card stock I want to mount him on...hmmmm....

The little red wagon will be a companion tag to my Radio Flyer Tricycle tag , mounted on brick red card stock.

Did a little bit of painting this week too. Trying to get a jump on the holidays. These spoons will soon make a sparkly forest of my Christmas Spoon Ornies ...

No purpose to this picture, but it's not so often that anything is lined up so neatly in my work area- I had to document the occasion! Plus I just liked the colors and impulsively snapped a shot.

I have about one hundred and fifty of these old factory thread bobbins. They are really thick and sturdy cardboard and perfect to make some sort of ornie out of. Haven't figured it all out yet but I am playing with them (and can never resist an opportunity to polka dot anything!).

This year is quickly turning in to the year of the ornie for me. I will have all sorts of tree trimmings available during the holidays....stay tuned...

And so there we have another week of MIMM...hope the upcoming week treats you well!

Until Next Time,

STEPH

Monday again....where does the time go? The monkey is rearing his banana eatin' head yet again...

If you're not familiar with Monkey in the Middle Monday, click here to learn a bit more.

And then go visit Kathy at Catnip Studio.

I will be sorry if you don't because this is the most awesome M-i-t-M yet! The mosaic work that Kathy does is absolutely beautiful and you will be missing some serious eye candy if you don't click...seriously!

Now what am I in the middle of this week? It's not the traditional make something, show the progress kind of post this week...

I have mentioned that I want to start offering prints from some of my original illustrations and paintings. I sent out to have some prints made, but just wasn't happy with the results. I am very much a believer in controlling everything I possibly can concerning my work (if you add "freak" after control I won't be too offended- I promise! ). The only obstacle blocking my path to complete control was a lack of a high quality printer. The short list has been compiled for months. I have been scanning the sale ads for at least half that time, hoping one of the printers that I pined for would become affordable to me.

So imagine my surprise when I went to Staples a few weeks ago for something completely different and came across one of the objects of my desire on clearance! Serious clearance...more than 50% off kinda clearance....less than 200 bucks kinda clearance. I felt like Yukon Cornelius striking gold with his little pick ax. Out came the plastic and five minutes later I was the proud owner of a professional quality, wide format printer....

...and then I had to learn how to use said printer....it's a whole lotta machine for a girl who's just a bit (Ok- a LOT) on the low side of the Computer genius scale....throw in Photoshop for editing and I have had a major learning experience recently....

See how much I have learned?

These are just a few of the rejected prints....and I have arranged them fairly neatly on my high speed printer, for your viewing pleasure. Imagine a stack with at least twice as many sheets of paper. Imagine yourself throwing it up in the air and watching all of the pages flutter to the ground, covering the floor. THAT"S what my very tiny workspace looked like almost all weekend. (And don't make fun of the duck! He's an instant stress reliever who sings the chicken dance and does a little jig for me whenever I want to scream at that high speed printer- my family knew what they were doing when they gave him to me as a birthday joke...)

BUT the good news is that I think I finally got it!

The resulting print is available on Etsy....hopefully with more to come....

Until next time,

STEPH

Trunkt...

A month or so ago, while surfing the forums on Etsy (yes, again), I read about a place called trunkt.org ...

It's a juried portfolio site (aimed mainly at the wholesale market but so much fun to just window shop) and the consensus on the post I was reading was that it wasn't the easiest place to get accepted to (specially in the jewelry category-thank goodness I wasn't trying to get in there). I was feeling a little reckless that day, so on a whim (what the heck!), I submitted my best photos and crossed my fingers.

Well I was thrilled when I was accepted! I have finally gotten enough pictures in my portfolio, that I thought I would share. Make sure you explore a little if you go visit...so much eye candy in one central location....

Oh yeah, and if you're shopping Etsy, make sure you do a search for "Team Trunkt", the new street team for Trunkt members...

Until Next Time,

STEPH

It's Create and Decorate Time!

Look what I got in the mail today...

My copies of Create and Decorate (designers get two copies, one to use for portfolio, possibly?)....All about SUMMER this issue!

These basket tie-ons are just fun....they can be used on canning jars as shown, tied to baskets or my personal favorite, attached to gifts in lieu of the traditional bow (A bow they want to keep!)....

If you want to try your own, visit my web site for blank lids (I use reproduction zinc canning lids and they are available on the site under "DIY-Supplies")....

Ahhh....nothing says "summer" like the beach....these are my favorites this issue, one of my all-time favorites actually. I love the colors and the simplicity and the great vintage barrel staves I used...If you are interested in these, I have a very limited number available on the site....

It's a great issue...check it out if you have a chance....

Til next time (and Show-n-Tell Sunday, woohoo!)....