Paper Mom Showcase....

 
Tonight is the night!  I will be displaying my paper creations at Bearingstar Insurance.  Gift tags, wine tags, bookmarks, designer paper wreaths and fun paper treat holders.  It's a ladies night out!  Join me and also shop for fun jewelry with Lisa from Creative Obsessions.  See you soon! 

Paper Mom takes the show on the road.

Paper Mom takes the paper crafting show on the road.

I will have many paper craft creations on display at Bearingstar Insurance on Tuesday, February 26th from 6:30 - 8:00PM.  I would love to see you.  I am showcasing with Lisa Lavado who makes beautiful jewelry.  You can visit her at www.creativeobsessionllc.com
I hope you visit on Tuesday.
The Bearingstar office is at 352 Salem Turnpike.

My next creative paper class is scheduled for March 16th at the Salem Public Library.  Registration is required.  Please visit the Salem Public Library for more information.

Paper Wreath

I've been busy.  I can't stop.... seriously.  It's an addiction.

New Paper Designs

 New paper wreaths

Paper Mom Classes

Getting ready to mail out my "last minute" holiday paper class invitations to local libraries and senior centers. 

Are you feeling crafty?

Go Ahead - Call me a Crafty Diva!

I've been wanting to make this for months!
I finally pulled out the sewing machine....
Let my daughter pick out some fabric and made a tote (with liner) for my little girl (who isn't so little).
It's a little messy upon serious inspection but overall I am one proud crafty diva.  For a girl who doesn't know how to sew... this one was easy peasy.  Thank you - You Tube.

Joyce if you are reading this.... I hope you are proud of me... you are my sewing hero!

The good news is.....I have more fabric, because fabric is like paper.... beautiful patterns and textures.... it could be addicting.....
Check out my photos... and feel free to leave rock star comments - because there is no denying it.... I AM SO PROUD OF THIS LITTLE BEAUTY!

Paper Wreath for Spring!

Spring is coming and my new wreath proves it! Do you like it? It's easy peasy to do....

New Michael's Craft Store in Town

Yesterday when I woke up, I told the World's Greatest Husband, "It sort of feels like Christmas"
The new Michael's store had it's grand opening yesterday and I admit, I was one of those crazy crafty Diva's that was counting down the days.  So here is my top ten take on the new store.

1.  It does seem a bit smaller than other Michael's stores but the paper section is all I really paid attention to.
2.  The fact that Michael's is now only 10 minutes from my home simply makes me smile and feel warm, cozy and ready for any last minute project or idea.
3. The staff was friendly and attentive. I was "pre-cashed out"  It was strange.  Two sales people stood side by side while I was in line, unpacked my basket, bagged my items and handed me a gift card to simply hand to the cashier to pay.
4. The prize wheel for the grand opening made my palms sweat with anticipation.  I won an oversized leaf punch.  Totally worth the 10 minutes I had to wait to play and paper peeps..... they are giving away prizes all week.
5. I met some other paper crafters in front of the Martha Stewart section and it made me realize that paper crafters are a fun bunch.  I wanted to invite them over for coffee.  I did invite them to my paper workshop at the Library in October, I have no shame.
6. I forgot my coupons which is really out of character for me.  I think I was simply in a crafters haze as I left the house.
7. Did I mention that this store is only ten minutes - back roads - from my house?
8. I bought glue guns for $1.49  A Great Bargain! and yes, I bought paper too.
9. Do you think it is weird if I go everyday this week?  You do have to enter the raffle daily.
10. I forgot my coupons so that means.... I still have coupons..... I am headed back tomorrow.  I think those cashiers will be calling me by name in no time.

Happy crafting
PS - My Monday Loves . . . is . . .  Michael's Craft Store

Papermom

Made a fun paper video with animoto - just click below.

Papermom

Paper Crafting Fun

Wanted to share some photos of my paper crafting fun.

My sister in law affectionately calls these my zen paper balls.  This one is extra large.

Garlands, garlands, garlands!

Large paper poppies, this one makes people OOoo and AAaahhh

these are still my favorite

A new paper wreath.

Pretty little roses perfect for packages

PApEr CrAzY

I've been busy making paper curly strip wreaths, paper garlands, paper balls and paper tab wreaths... oh so much fun!!! They don't call me Paper Mom for nothing....

crafting is so much fun!

I've been rubber stamping with my new clear block stamps.  I've been stamping since 1995 and only started using clear mount stamps this past Christmas.  WOW! what a fun difference!  I love that you can actually see the stamping happening (no wood mount in the way!)  So if you are an old school stamper, consider switching it up.  Call me crazy, but a fresh, new, wet stamp pad, makes me happy! Here is a glimpse of my recent therapy session.

Furlough...Smurlough... Let's Get Back To Work....

I return to work today.  I've been off on a two week furlough.  Life is about to get super hectic.  I had big plans for my furlough.... crafting everyday, walking the track for miles,creative cooking..... where did the time go?  It's always amazing to me when relaxing days are followed by frantic ones, how a little R and R can be wiped away in an instant.


So my two week furlough? I hardly cooked because of our kids schedules, didn't walk once and managed to squeeze in 15 minutes of crafting time last night because I needed something to calm my nerves.  The World's Greatest Husband worked at the hospital until 1am.  Having five kids by myself is a way of life but it sure is easier when two are home to manage the troops.  My kids (yes school is only days away and we should be practicing a proper bed time) went to bed at 11pm after an evening of fighting, a few minor injuries, screaming, wrestling and of course... laughing (at silly things like burping and farting)... please someone tell me it is going to be ok!  All this after a day of entertaining a family that we haven't visited with in quite awhile.  I think returning to work might be the relaxation and peace that I truly need!

Ok, so here is the final result of my two week craft-a-palooza that lasted only 15 minutes.  My fifteen minutes of peace for a very, very, long day. I must admit, doing this sort of stuff makes my heart sing...

Wonderful Rubber Stamp Store in CT

Today my “kid fun day turned IKEA”… yep, on a whim after an ENT appointment and pizza we decided to visit IKEA.  (I state whim because my girlfriend who lives 15 minutes from IKEA will scream when she learns we were close by.)  My children love IKEA, I am still not sure why.  We traveled there two years ago and the experience was memorable.  They beg to go and today I decided we were a third of the way there with our doctor’s appointment so we would – GO FOR IT!  We only spent one hour but managed to find the deal of the day… 4 pretty cardboard storage boxes for only twelve and half cents each…. Worth the trip for this Paper Mom.

On our way we stopped at a rubber stamp store that I have been eager to visit.  I love going to little creative nooks to get inspired and see what’s new in paper crafting, and this stop did not disappoint. Paper peeps, please visit Beautiful Impressions in Westbrook, Connecticut.  Check them out on the web at www.beautiful-impressions.com .  The store was full of rubber stamps, project samples and creative classes.  It is also important to note that they sell ice cream and a scrapbook store is right next door!  So as you can imagine this was a dreamy day for a paper girl like me.   Visiting this little palace made me want to revisit my stamping princess days.  If the stamping urge hits….I’ll post my lovelies for you to see.  Here is the stamp I purchased.

PS – When we got in the car I asked, “oh what was the owners name again?” Both of my kids said – “Terri.”  My son, who just returned from Disney pipes in with… “You can remember it by Tower of Terri.”  I guess Disney’s “Tower of Terror” made an “impression” on him.  Terri was a delight and she would be happy to help you.  If you visit, be sure to let her know Paper Mom sent you. 

Finding my summer blogging groove has been tough.  With the school year, I had a dedicated way of blogging.  With summer, I am all over the place.  I apologize for being a bit wacky in the timing of my posts.

Wanted to share two cool things…

First, look at my fabulous finds yesterday.  I went shopping by myself for 5 hours.  What a treat! I guess I get to cross that one off of my summer to do list.  I found the monogrammed melamine platter for only 3.99!  Everything you see only cost me $11.  I love a bargain.  But what I love more is paper.  I had butterflies in my gut while shopping the paper aisle at the Christmas Tree Shop last night.  I felt giddy with delight.  Almost light headed.  I know it’s ridiculous.  But if a $1.00 note pad makes me happy, does that make me cheap and easy?

Also, the one item on our birthday girl list last week was a hooded towel for the pool.  They fight over the two that we have.  A crafty friend suggested I make one.  I gagged at the thought, sewing is not the craft I am familiar with but that too is on my summer to do list…. So I went to www.makeandtakes.com and found simple directions, bought her favorite color towel and even found  letters to put her name  on the back (when she requested a towel with her name, I almost puked – how the heck do you do that?)  But…. All in all it was easy and fun and I know she is going to LOVE it!  Maybe it will fall apart in the wash, but I think it is all ok!

So in the last 18 hours I have completed two more things on my important summer list.  I’ve even swam 3 times out of 10 already!

Have a good day – and consider leaving a comment, blogging is more fun if you are chatting too!