PaperWorks Co. Blog

Can you believe it? PWCO is turning TWO this month!! I can’t believe my baby is growing up so quickly!

As we enter the terrible twos, we can’t help but feeling all giddy and well… terrible!! lol

The past year has been a fun ride! We carried more different brands, and expanded from a small online store to a.. well.. a bigger small online store As well, we launched several stamp collections… The aqua amigos first swam in just this past july, and following shortly after was the Jungle Jesters in Sept.

Of course, it not always all about PWCO! We also got a kick-butt company joining us in our first joint venture – Little Loud stamps. Jacob and Charlotte are the sweetest kids in town! We hope to see more of them in the new year!

And of course it wouldnt be a real success without the addition of our reformated Blog, and blog team. Thank you to Amanda Judy, Sheena and Tinla for all their efforts!

So all in all it has been a pretty good year at PWCO. You can tell by the size of my office – or the lack of size. Now, my dog has a specific route just to come into the office.

We are extremely excited to reach our terrible twos (ironic i know). And to thank everyone for making PWCO the way it is now, we want to introduce a SERIES of promos for the month of November.

That’s right, we have some uber awesome deals instore for you. Starting tomorrow till Nov 30th, we will have a bunch of hourly, daily, and weekend deals for you to take advantage of.

All this is top secret, and each deal will only be release the day of. We will be releasing info via different channels, so make sure you subscribe onto our twitter, blog, and newletter. Some deals will only appear on selected channels, so you dont want to miss out!

So thank you for another great year, and hopefully by next year, I may be going to a REAL (and bigger) office

Cheers!

Ladies you’re going to love this challenge.. i promise….

As we get into Christmas mode, I can’t help but whip out my glitter, pearls, rhinestones, for my xmas cards.  There’s something about bling that makes everything so sexy… (this of course doesnt only apply to crafting – im known to rate a restaurant’s ambience  by how sparkly they make my ring look : yes, I can be that shallow lol…

But I digress.. haha

This week, let’s delicate our cards and challenge to BLING!

Make a card using sparkles, glitter, bling, whatever.. the blingy-er the better!

Sound’s pretty easy huh? – well it is!!!

Here’s my sample:

Sorry for the crappy pics.. my laptop is dead, and Mike’s computer doesn’t have photoshop.. BOO….

To be honest, I have not put so much rhinestone on any card before.. its probably because I’m cheap.. and too scare to have bling overkill.  But I had to try it out this time, and I’m pretty happy with the results.

Inspired by Natalie’s (dougnat) card, I really want to bring the tinsel out of the image – literally.  Using gold cord (good ol’ Godiva), I attached jewels on it, creating a string of lights. Then I wrapped it loosely on the candy glitter sticker strip to anchor the string of lights.

Materials:

•  Stamps:  Little Loud’s Christmas Freckle Collection – Jacob and the Reindeer

Now let’s see what kind bling you can come up with!

I hope everyone had a change to unhoard this week!

Last week, Sheena issued a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle challenge, and boy, a challenge it was.

Before I show my sample, allow me to show these awesome projects done by others:

from Banu: http://www.paperworksco.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1073

Jenny: http://www.paperworksco.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1060

Tinla: http://www.paperworksco.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1074

Judy: http://paperworksco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DSC01838.JPG

Awesome job ladies!  Way to work the challenge!  do you all feel “lighter” now? lol

Here’s my card:

and opened:

In my past life, I was a hoarder.  I hoard every single piece of scrap paper, ribbon, packaging, you name it, I got it.

Then I opened PaperWorks Co.  I realized that the hoarding relationship had to stop.  So after a LONG struggle, I freed myself and broke up with Hoarding.  Needless to say, when Sheena issued to this challenge, I almost resorted to dumpster diving to find pieces I can use.  Luckly, I may have left the world of hoarding, but I developed an issue of the-messy-desk syndrome, so I managed to find SOMETHING useful.

The window of this card uses the packaging of the Basic Grey Brads.  If you have bought this pack of brads, you will notice when you rip the cardstock out, there is a lid holding the brads in the container.  When I found it, I knew i would use it as a window scene.  I colored the window with a mixture of browns so it looks like a window pane.  More over, the gold cord was from the Godiva Chocolate packaging.  I made Mike eat the chocolate while i stole the cord.  Things I have to do for these challenges lol

The Window Card:

Materials:

•  Stamps:  Little Loud’s Christmas Freckle Collection – Charlotte’s Christmas Tree

thanks for another fun challenge

so little time!

Hi folks! Can you believe that October is almost over? And me with SO many papers left in my October PaperCard kit! Well, today you get a TRIPLE-HEADER!  That’s right – I have three cards for you today. So, let’s not dilly dally – time to get this party started!

My first card is my interpretation of a clean and simple (CAS) card.

I simply stamped the tree onto one of the patterned papers, liberally decorated it with rhinestones from the kit and then adhered it to a cuttlebugged background. Clean and Simple – Quick and Easy!

My second card features one of my favourite folds. I have already done about twenty christmas cards using this fold and may do even more!

I think what I love about this fold is that it gives you the opportunity to use THREE patterned papers on one card!  Well, in this case I actually used four since I punched out the pinwheels from another of the papers (Judy’s idea! totally CASEd). You can’t see it, but there is a simple sentiment stamped inside the card on the white panel.

For my third, and final, card for today, I  just HAD to show some love to the yummy Core’Dinations Chocolate Box paper included in the kit.

I pulled out my Christmas Ornaments Cuttlebug folder, embossed and then lightly sanded the front of this special card. Yes, that is a detachable bookmark you see on the inside of the card. No fancy tool required to make it – and you know which one I mean. I simply pulled out my tracing wheel from my sewing kit and used IT with my Scor-Pal instead of a bone folder to perforate the edge! Sew sew simple! I think this would make a perfect card to enclose with a book given as a Christmas gift.

Thanks for stopping by today – bet you weren’t expecting such a long post! I hope you find the time this weekend to check out the results of last week’s challenges and to see what we have in store for the coming week!

Card Details:

finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches

papers and embellishments from the October PaperCard Kit: let’s just say – a little bit of EVERYTHING!

stamps: CTMH Annotations, Solos “J”, Holiday Warmth, Verve Poinsettia Christmas, CTMH Holiday Trinkets

inks: CTMH Topiary, Hollyhock, Clover Meadow, Tulip, Memento Rich Cocoa

Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug Ornaments Embossing Folder, Xyron Create-A-Sticker 150, EK Success Scalloped Scallop Punch, Stampin Up Tab Punch, Scor-Pal, Tracing Wheel

extras: foam squares

Yappy Birthday Wishes!

Hi everyone!  Well here we are, almost Halloween and the end of another month of PaperCard Kit Projects as well as Sunday Sketches and Ultimate Card Challenges for October.  I don’t know where the time goes, or why it goes by sooooo fast – yikes!

Here is my humble entry to Sheena’s UCC #7, to use a recycle theme or use recycled items.  I actually found the DC Skateboard Co. metal charm/zipper pull on the ground one day when I was walking our dog.  (Hence the dog theme).   See the charm located as a tag on the dog’s collar?  The other recycled item is the fussy cut paper border on the right hand side of the card.  This image was printed on the paper insert that came with a set of clear stamps from Basic Grey’s June Bug collection.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but a lot of times the packaging of items is worth keeping to use later on projects.  This is not my first time using “packaging” for a really unique appearance.  The only problem is that you usually can’t mass produce that project, due to the “limited supply” from the packaging.  Oh well, it’s fun to do, just the same.

I liked the idea of making my own dog collar “ribbon” from cardstock and some metallic cardstock as well.  Sometimes I surprise myself with what I can come up with.  Of course, for the ideas that don’t work . . . there’s always the “round file” (imagine a deep, echoing voice).   I recall being at a card class one spring and I saw a woman throw out an Easter chick embellishment she had made because she wasn’t satisfied with it.  Well, near the end of that class, I went over and picked it out and ended up putting my own touches on it and really liked the result.  I did get called a “garbage picker” by my friend, but a lot of times things can be salvaged by changing them a bit.  There’s “junk” and then there’s “juicy junk” and unless it’s smooshed with glue or ink, I can probably make it work.  So feel free to call me a “garbage picker” if you like, I’m ok with it, really, I am.  Hey, maybe that’s what I’ll be for Halloween.  lol   Best Witches for a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Supplies Used:  (A2 size card)

Red, Navy blue and Metallic cardstock.

Houndstooth Embossing folder – Cuttlebug

Nestabilities – Ladies Fashion Buckles

1/8” hole punch (for notches in collar)

Stamps – Paw Prints by Will ’n Way (Puppy Love Collection)

Ink: S/U’s Close to Cocoa, Night of Navy (for sponge daubing on embossing)

Sentiment – computer generated

Yellow Brad, Red Dew Drops, Zots, Dimensional Foam Tape,  Tag Corner & Ticket Corner Punches (S/U)

This is the last week in showcasing the October paperCard Kit…..I’m a little sad as I have had alot of fun creating with this kit, but next month’s kit is certainly helping me look forward to November!  For this card, I couldn’t help but use the Little Loud stamps again…they are so much fun to ink up!   Because Jacob and the Reindeer are all tangled up in the lights I thought that I could use the sentiment from Charlotte’s Christmas Tree….because they “decorated” themselves:):)   Love that the sentiments are so versatile!   By getting more mileage out of the stamps, I can justify purchasing more, heehee.    I outlined the scallop oval with a combination of Copic G40, YG06 and a green dye based ink so that the oval would stand out more against the DP.  I cut out the label using Spellbinder’s Double Ended Tags, then while the tag die was still in place, I coloured the inside of the tag with G40, and then stamped my sentiment on top.  And what took me so long to use the tulle ribbon that comes with the October Papercard Kit?  I love it!!!  It ties so beautifully and adds a nice, soft touch to the card.  Please add 50 yards to my next order, Peg!  And this is for Mike; I made sure not to go with my customary browns for the hair…Jacob is a redhead this time:)

Thank you for looking and have a great day!

stamps; Little Loud Christmas Freckle Collection; Jacob and the Reindeer

paper; October PaperCard Kit (Bazzill and CC Jolly and Golly)

ink; Brilliance Graphite Black, Versafine Onyx Black (sentiment), SU! Gable Green Classic ink, Copics; YG06, YG09, R12, G40, BG18, E08, E17, E21, E31, E35, T1

accessories; October PaperCard Kit bling and tulle ribbon, Doodlebug Ladybug glitter, Spellbinders Double Ended Tags and Scallop Ovals

card measures 4.25 x 4.25

Howdy folks! Happy Tuesday!

Here is my version of the PWCO Sunday Sketch # 7….

I had a lot of fun playing with this sketch thinking of some creative way to match Peggy’s creative guru-ness… (lol!) Although, I cheated (I’ll explain later), I didn’t make mine a money holder – just a card.

This was the first time that I used the Create a Flake 1 since I bought it and OMG, I love them! They make such cute snowflakes… so you haven’t already purchased yours… do so now, they are awesome!

I was hoping that the $20.00 in Peggy’s picture would appear in mine but no such luck – boo! lol!

So… I’m gonna offer up some tips and hints for those that may not know, so here goes:

1) Peggy said to make the panels 2.5 x 1.5… and I this is where I cheated (lol!). I wanted to use my nesties, which aren’t exactly 2.5 x 1.5 but close… I cut out my rect. paper with the nestie, and then keeping the paper intact inside the nestie, used my sponge and Baja Breeze inkpad and sponged around in the inside thus creating that white border… cool, eh?

2) For cutting out images…. practice makes perfect… honest! Not that I am a pro, b/c I’m far from it, but some ideas to help ya out are:

a) draw a faint pencil line where you want to cut so you will know where to follow and b) use sharp, small cutting snips and c) use the scissors wide open and not with the detail tip, unless you want to get some crevices and areas and d) go slow and breathe… that’s until you get the hang of it.

Hope that info helps!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Little Loud’s Christmas Freckle Collection – Under the Mistletoe (cut out the kids separately)

Paper: 3 Bugs DP, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Shimmery White, Prism White

Accessories: Silver Brads, Copics (E0000, E000, E00, E01, R20, E33, E34, R14, R24, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18, YR21, YR23)

Tools: Rect Nesties, Create a Flake 1

Ta Ta For Now!

Gee,  that Charlotte is one busy gal!  Every time I turn around, she seems to be mailing off yet another card.  I could swear that I saw her at our neighborhood mail box as I drove by earlier today … seriously!!   lol  Charlotte’s so sweet that it makes perfect sense that she would have plenty of friends to send cards to.

It’s obvious from my sketch that I couldn’t decide whether or not to go “wonky” or “traditional” in this compilation, so . . . I went with both!   Since I’m using non-traditional colored Christmas papers, why not mix it up a bit?!?!  The size of this card is 5-1/2” x 5-1/2”.   I used a ½” circle punch to punch small snowflakes from the design paper and centered them using the mini brads to the smaller punched snowflakes.

Supplies Used:

October PaperCard Kit (cardstock, design paper, silver snowflake, pearl brad, tiny brads)

Stamps:  Charlotte’s Holiday Mail stamp by Little Loud Stamps,  available exclusively at PWCO

Ink:  Memento – Tuxedo Black

Copics:  B52, BG13, RV23, YR21, E35, E21, E02

Accessories:

Nestabilities – Ovals, Scalloped Ovals, Create A Flake 2

Snowflake Punch, ½” Circle punch, S/U – Scallop Edge Punch

Dazzling Diamonds and 3 way glue Pen (S/U) for stamped snowflakes and snow on mail box and ground

Stickles – Patina (for pony tail holders and pom pom on tuque)

Dimensional Foam Tape

Yippeee!  Sketch Sunday!

You ladies must be real busy last week, we didn’t have many players last week

One brave soul came out and play the sketch:

to recap, last week’s sketch was:

And my pal Cris played along: http://www.paperworksco.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1053

thanks cris!!!

This week, we’re going to do an iregular size card.

this week’s sketch is:

Card measures:6″x3″ (panels are 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″)

Here is my sample:

front:

opened:

The size of the card fits a bill PERFECTLY.. So with this sketch, you can use it as a money holder card

I also had a debate with Mike (my fiancé).  He has been “quality-controlling” all my blog projects, and commented that all my Little Loud Guys are brunette.  He insists that we have to diversify, and have to be “culturally sensitive”.  In order words, he wants asian Jacob and Charlotte lol. 

So here you go.. an asian couple.  I challenge you to make your own “culturally sensitive” people.  I know Sheena made some blondes, and they look awesome!

Materials:

P.S:  $20 bill not included with this sketch lol

Hi again folks! Are you having fun playing along with the UCC challenges? So far, we have not had any knock-outs. I think that’s pretty good! One thing you can say about card-makers – we’re a pretty creative bunch!

So, to test JUST how creative Peggy (and you) can be, I figured it was time to issue my “reduce-reuse-recycle” challenge. That’s right – hit those recycling bins! Or, if you are like me, open that special drawer or container you have set aside with all those bits of ribbon and gift-wrapping that you just had to save because you KNEW you could use it on a card some day – because THAT day has arrived!

Alternatively, I know there are LOTS of yummy papers and stamps out there with the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle theme. Feel free to use those on your project as well.

Ummm…let’s see. Something else to make it interesting?….How about brads? You KNOW you have tons in your stash! How about working on “reducing” your stash of brads – I’d like to see more than one on your card!

Would you like to see the card I came up with for this challenge? Here you go!

For the reduce-reuse-recycle element – the twill ribbon. It is from the packaging on my favourite flour sack kitchen towels. I think one of the reasons I  buy those towels is BECAUSE I like the ribbon that is wrapped around them!

And brads? Yup, there’s three (you can only see two of them though) holding the ribbon onto the card!

I can’t wait to see how everyone interprets this challenge! Will we see some embossed backgrounds using re-purposed pop tins? Some shaker cards from your embellie packages? Die cuts from those evil plastic clam shell packages? Some one of a kind ribbon treatments? Just don’t forget to include your brads!

Card Details:

finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, tent-fold

papers: Basic Grey Cupcake, CTMH Goldrush

ink: CTMH Olive, Goldrush

stamps: Verve Birthday Surprise

embellishments: brads, twill ribbon reused from packaging

sketch: Mojo Monday 104