Paper Wishes Blog

Yep! It’s here with over 178 NEW items! Most of you might have already received your catalog and if you haven’t noticed we also have it posted to our website – I picked out some of my favorite items along with projects to share with you Give me a reason to shop…and for crafts! Ummm I’m there!

 

Trendy tapes!

Great for any type of project – from scrapbook pages, cards and even little paper crafts such as bottles, vases and tins! Fun new colors and designs.

 

 

NEW Easy Lever punches from Tonic!

        

Daisy, Butterfly and Flower Head –These gear punches gives you that added strength being able to cut through paper, cardstock and lightweight metals with very little effort. Comes in three great new shapes! See the projects down below that Ann created! Fun little flowers and butterflies can be added and inner mixed with all your projects.

          

 

 

French Kiss Rhinestone

Simply beautiful Rhinestones. You’ll have 9 stones in all, ranging in 3 sizes! Giving you the added Glitz to your scrapbook or card making projects!

 

 

 

Typeset Layered Flower Papier Tole –

New to Papier Tole? All you do is punch the artwork and layer them accordingly – using foam tape giving you the added layered look! This sheet will give you 5 different designs! You’ll able to use them for scrapbook pages or stand along cards. Typeset Layered Flowers goes perfectly with Noted Double sided papers, from HOTP!

 

Liquid Pearls 

Pearlescent paints that you can squeeze! The tip is very easy to work with, making it a piece of cake to add little or big touches of shimmer to your projects!  Ann created this beautiful card using the paints and was able to come into to small areas you might be able to with other paints.

 

These are just a few of the some wonderful products featured in the Special Edition catalog! What treasure did you find? What was something you can’t live without! Let us know!

 

And just remember – Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.  ~Bo Derek

Thanks for reading my little blog ~ Cristina

Show mom how much you love her, by creating a card or scrapbook page especially for her. The bonus is,

you’ll get to enter your project into our contest and possibly win a $25.00 Paper Wishes® Gift Certificate!

 

Mother’s Day Contest Rules

1. Create a card or scrapbook page featuring MOM, MUM or MOTHER, using Paper Wishes® items as the main focus.
2. Contest will run from May 10^th, 2012 thru May 14, 2012
3. Winner will be announced, on Tuesday May 15, 2012 on Paper Wishes Facebook page & Paper Wishes Blog and winner will be contacted via email.
4. One entry per person; please be sure to add your email address.
5. Please post all entries to Paper Wishes Blog – click here (or leave a comment to this post) to add pictures of your entry.
6. Winner will receive $25.00 Paper Wishes® Gift Certificate

Happy Mother’s Day from Paper Wishes®

Click here to see how Susan created this beautiful mom’s card, along with a Super Saver!

Recently spent some time with Susan and getting to know her a little better. She’s one of the designers that brings us so many of the little treasures that are featured in many of our segments here at HOTP.

 

Susan’s History with HOTP:

It seems like only yesterday, but I have been working at HOTP since 1998. My job as a designer has changed a bit since then—we do more cardmaking projects now rather than just scrapbooking. HOTP designs and styles have changed somewhat over the years, but we still produce amazing product for our customers and I love working here!!!

 

Tell us about your job and all the fun stuff about what you do: 

My title is page designer, but it includes much more than that. I create projects that show how to use HOTP product (and Paper Wishes product) which are then used for product headers, the Paper Wishes catalog, Personal Shoppers kits, magazines, webisodes, or online. I also write instructions to go with each project so our customers can recreate them. I coordinate product for catalog projects, which our design team creates. What I love most about my job is getting to try new products, experiment with them, and create something new and wonderful. I just love creating with paper—especially mini books and cards with windows or unique folds.

 

What inspires your creativity? I’m so inspired by new product such as a new assortment of papers, clear stamps, flower embellishments or new colors and consistencies of inks (such as Smooch, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists, or ColorBox Fluid Chalk ink pads). I love to browse in gift shops or flip through home decorating magazines for inspiration—sometimes a new color palette, layout of a magazine page, or the look of some textured fabrics will inspire an idea for a project. I also love looking online a various artist’s blogs and online magazines to see what other designers are creating.

 

What is the favorite tool you love to work with and why? My all-time favorite everyday tool is my X-acto pen knife, and I love using it for precise cutting, clean lines and details. Another favorite tool is the 3-D Flowers template. I love creating roses from different papers and adding them to my projects!

 

What are some of your favorite tips or tricks :  When I create a project, I always use a mat with a 1/4” grid. This makes it very easy to line up my card, page, matting, or embellishments to make sure the corners are even and all elements are perfectly placed. It’s also handy for aligning clear stamps on your acrylic block, especially borders. When selecting product for a project, choose your papers first. Then select embellishments and inks that repeat one or two of the colors in the papers.

 

What is your greatest accomplishment in terms of your work? Probably my Cardmaking book, Susan’s Journal of Paper Engineering Secrets. This book features card layouts, tips, and lots of card samples using paper-engineering techniques.

 

What excites you about the future with HOTP? I’m always excited about new product, and am happy to be involved in new product development at HOTP. I love watching a great idea become a wonderful new line of product.

 

List some of your favorite products?

My favorite product line is our new Artful Card Kits. Cherry On Top, Confetti Cake, Spun Sugar and Chocolate Dipped  I love the shapes and weight of the decorative die-cuts and also the beautiful papers. There are endless possibilities for creating cards with these kits. I love using satin ribbons, jute, and hemp cord with them for different looks.

 

My favorite new paper pack is the Sunshine & Shadows paper pack. I love the unexpected look of yellow complementing the black and gray–and the ribbons that match are exquisite!

 

One more product I think is a definite must-have–the Magicut Ribbon Cutter. It cuts ribbon and seals the edges so it doesn’t fray, and I think it’s wonderful. It makes 3 types of cuts: straight, angled, or V-shape. Well worth the money, and saves on ribbon also.

 

 

Thanks Susan, for sharing with us! And thanks for reading our blog

Like to introduce our newest member to our family, Allie Eyerly as our Project Specialist.  I recently sat down with Allie and got to know her a little better, and I do think she is going to fit right into our little family here at HOTP. We are all excited to have her here, Welcome Allie!!

About Allie

When I was seventeen, I was hired as a sales associate at my local Paper Zone. It only took minutes for me to fall head over heels in love with scrapbooking. In the three years I worked there, I never saved a penny because I spent it all on crafting supplies. I’ve been scrapbooking ever since. I was unable to craft during most of my time at college (tiny dorm room), but recently, after a year in my new apartment, I removed my kitchen table to make room for a crafting station. Who needs a kitchen table anyways? My other big hobby is reading—in December I graduated from Multnomah University with a Bachelor of Science in English and Biblical Studies. I come to Paper Wishes from Pamplin Media Group, where I worked as a Sales Assistant. My life has been a whirlwind lately—a new job, AND the most exciting event of my life! On February 4^th a wonderful man named Michael Stewart asked me to marry him. We’re getting married on August 31^st, and I can’t wait! Fun fact: It’s only been a month and I have the ENTIRE wedding planned! I think I might have set a world record!!

 

   

Tell us about your job details –

I’m still learning about my job details. So far I seem to be primarily working on bits of the catalog and editing newsletters. My office is located between Sandy (VP of Operations) and Paulette, so I prefer to think that my job is to function as Sandy’s right hand and Paulette’s left.

What are you most excited about working on?

I’m most excited to learn about the happenings of this company and the products we make and sell. So far my favorite time was a meeting I had with Paulette and Stan where I got to see some of the new products manufacturers were sending over. It was just as exciting as Christmas! I can tell you that I am just so excited!

What excites you about the future with HOTP?

I could not be more thrilled to be working here. This is my absolute dream job. True story—I cried when I saw the job posting. Yup, I’m an emotional one (I cry during most movies, even Finding Nemo. Don’t get me started about The Notebook). I’ve been looking for where I belong, and I know without a doubt that it is here. For the first time in my life, I am so excited on my way to work. Instead of speeding just because I’m a bad driver, I’m also speeding because I can’t wait to get here and start. I am so looking forward to learning more about the goings on and to getting to know all of the wonderful people I get to work with. Sandy and Paulette seem like such wonderful ladies and I feel honored to work in such close proximity to them. Every single person I’ve met has been so kind and welcoming towards me and it’s a huge part of why I love my job and am excited to work here.

Making a “First” Impression! awww…

On my third day here, Sandy (Ever so Wonderful VP of Operations) came in my office to sit down and wanted me to come sit next to her. I scooted over in my chair, and it got caught on the chair mat. I fell out sideways and the chair fell on top of me. I make great first impressions.

Allie, thank goodness for First Impressions, we literally had you “falling” out of your chair! But thanks again for sharing Allie! And thanks everyone for taking your time to read all about Hot Off the Press & Paper Wishes!  Enjoy Cristina

 

This year in our winter catalog, we started off the year with over 300 products! We gave you lots to look out and hopefully we inspired you with new ideas as well. We are always striving to bring you the best in colors, papers, products and ideas.

I’m a very visual person; I may look at something such as a template or paper pack and not really get inspired by it until I see the project that comes from it. This was true with a couple of items here at HOTP that became some of my favorites.

 

Kaleidoscope paper pack, was introduced in our Winter 2012 Catalog, in fact it was not only a NEW paper pack, but it is the first double sided 12”x12” paper pack that HOTP has ever done. My office sits right outside of the Designers work area. I often go into their area and just peak at what they are doing. At first glance, Kaleidoscope wasn’t in my top pick, but once I saw Lodell working on project using the paper pack I was convinced! I realize how versatile the colors in paper pack are. Then there’s the whole double side part of it as well. Lot of fun…

 

   

 

Along with Kaleidoscope, was the Pinwheels template. I don’t use templates when I’m crafting…I honestly don’t have the patience at times to use them. At least that’s my excuse today. But I really see the beautiful projects that have been created with templates makes it hard not to try to use them and create some things myself.

      

 

Templates are soooo wonderful!  We have sooo many different templates, and are usually priced under $7.00 each. Instructions are printed on the templates with clear indicators for cutting and folding. Making it VERY simple! With each catalog we introduce at least 2-3 new designs. Ann even makes a video for each one. Here’s some of HOTP’s templates along with projects:

Pretty Little Purses

   

 

15 Lovely Labels Template

   

 

3-D Ice Cream Sundae Template

   

 

You might have noticed our Newest in this week’s Special Edition catalog – Design Tool kits #1 &#2.

   

Going to a store, you might be able to go in and touch and feel the items. But sometimes it leaves with you wanting to see more, or to open the package and take everything out. Our product videos will give you that explanation and visual you might need. If you click on an item on Paper Wishes.com you should find a product video for most of our products. I encourage you to check them out, by simply typing in “Template” in the search field and just see what you just might find!

 

On a little personal note -

I’ve had a lot of requests to show recent pictures of Emerson. As he just turned 5 months – I thought it would be a great time to show him off and my other two boys Antonio, my oldest will be graduating High School in June, Diego turning 10 in April and Emerson, 5 months March 2nd. My best creations ever!

     

 

Thanks everyone, have a wonderful week!

~ Cristina

 

 

 

Designer Featured: Lodell Halvorson,

 

All the wonderful little things you learn about the people you work with. Lodell, one of fabulous designers here at HOTP, is this week’s Blog guest! Lodell is considered the “Queen of Stamping” and just like many companies, we all wear many hats here at HOTP. Not only is she one of our designers, she also edits most of the material that goes into our Personal Shopper newsletters (there are 10 now).

Lodell is always coming up with “new” ideas and different ways to bring something even more fabulous to her card and scrapbooking projects.

I love when she comes into my office and we come across something on Pinterest or a magazine! I see the spark in her eye, like she has one of those aha moments!  Let’s learn a little more about Lodell….

 

Q: How long have you been at HOTP, and what’s one of the best parts of your job:

A: I have worked at Hot Off The Press since April 2011, and have loved every minute of it! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the “behind the scenes” side of designing and giving input for product development.

Q: What are some of your favorite tools or products and why?

A: My favorite new product would have to be the Epic 6. It’s so versatile in cardmaking, scrapbooking, and for lots of other crafting projects. Besides cutting shapes out of paper, it’ll cut photos and cardstock, and it will emboss pretty designs in cardstock too! It can also be used for letterpress projects. I love it!

I really like that we have unique specialty papers with coordinating Dazzles™ and Papier Tole. This really makes creativity a breeze. I especially like the new double-side papers! They’re fun to use with templates, like the Pint-Sized Holders & Folders and the Pinwheels.

  (From Pint-Sized Holders & Folders)

  (From Playful Pinwheels Template)

Lodell’s Tips, Tricks and Favorite projects:
It can be hard trying to come up with new techniques, but some things I always like to do are layering and trying to use a lot of contrast when possible. I find myself doing a lot of matting. I think it adds definition, so a label or focal doesn’t get lost in the background.

I also like the reflection technique in stamping, where you stamp your image on the paper. Then you ink your stamp again and stamp it on acetate, then press the acetate onto your paper under the first image so it looks like a water reflection.

Another technique I like is where you punch a flower, curve the petals back with your fingernail, and then apply a coat of Crystal Lacquer over the entire surface. Let it dry completely, and it adds shine and thickness to the flower. Very pretty!

 

Lodell and her family

Thanks Lodell! Sure is fun getting to know our designers even better! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what you come up next!

 

~ Cristina

Greetings! Hope you are all having a wonderful week. I’m still wondering where February went? Seems like we just started the month, and here we are soon to be into March!

At the end of Jan, a few of my fellow employees traveled with Paulette Jarvey, to CHA. For those of you who don’t know what CHA is (it is for retailers, not usually not for consumers) we will give you a little insider information!

CHA: Craft & Hobby Association, one of the season’s largest selections of craft products under one roof. Attendees (retailers) get the opportunity to learn new skills, gain knowledge on trends, networking and attend workshops, seminars, demo and special events! Giving everyone the opportunities to bring exciting new ideas and products back to our favorite people…our customers!

 

Our team from Hot off the Press, was

Malia Harrington, Retail Specialist

Malia Leineweber, Key Accounts

Stan Rickert, Buyer

Paulette & Mike Jarvey

 

Maila Harrington, Retail Specialist

The 2012 Winter Craft & Hobby Association Show was amazing this year! Although it was a smaller show (fewer vendors) more Retailers came out this year than last. Our booth was very busy all 4 days! The Hot Off The Press® line was well received by Retailers for not only having a variety of styles, looks and color combinations, but tremendous value and low minimums. We were invited to do not one, but two workshops and both were completely sold out.

 

Paulette, teaching at one of the workshops

We were also nominated for an Innovations Award for our Color Me Copper Paper™ (maybe we’ll win next time!) The atmosphere overall was light, upbeat and optimistic about the economy with Retailers ready to write orders at the show. What a great start to the year! We can’t wait for the summer show!

 

Malia Leineweber, Key Accounts
This year we tried something new and displayed our paper packs, papier tole and scrapbooking Dazzles™ as coordinating collections in the booth. What a statement the new booth format made! Presenting coordinating elements together not only made for easier ordering but also really showed off how versatile Hot Off The Press designs are. From soft and pretty to fun and bold we had something for everyone. My favorite is the Boutique Papers and coordinating elements but customers seemed to really gravitate to Handmade Memories and Heritage paper packs.

Our Copper Color Me™ was up for an innovation award and brought many new faces to the booth. We demo’d how quick and easy the Color Me™ papers were to use and the feedback was great. We also got great reviews on the new Artful Card Kit line. Customers really appreciated product tailored for cardmaking at a good value. Chocolate Dipped and Spun Sugar designs were the most popular but I suspect Cherry on Top will be moving up the ranks rapidly.

With a huge selection and low price point Dazzles popped up on most orders. The Mix’Em Dazzles™ were well received and I often found myself saying  “yes, you get all 3 sheets in a package … correct, the retail is only $3.99!” Now, onto new templates — I suspected Pinwheels would be the customer favorite but Iris Folding definitely stole the show.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing more Iris Folding designs with our next set of releases! Speaking of folding, the projects displayed from our newest DVD, Folded & Fabulous, were ooh’d and ahhh’d over … although I suppose that could be said for just about everything in the booth!

 

Stan Rickert, Buyer

This show seemed much more positive and upbeat from past shows and it genuinely felt like there is an upswing in the industry. Spent most of the day walking the floor and meeting with current vendors.

Banners, Flags and Garland are not a “new” trend but were everywhere! Also all over the floor was tissue tape (Washi Tape) in every pattern and color you can imagine. (You might just find those coming to Paper Wishes.com) Collage books or “Smash “ books as they are called also seemed to a recurring trend.

We look forward to pulling it all together and seeing what goodies we have in store for the next couple of catalogs we have coming this year!

 

 

Paulette Jarvey, President

We traveled two days early so we (my husband, Mike and me) could enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure with our son, Adam, and his girlfriend. I grew up in Anaheim, so returning is always a bit nostalgic. We had 80º weather, no rain and had so very much fun. Two rides on the White Water Rapids (we dried quickly in the warm weather), four on Space Mountain, two on Indiana Jones, three on Toy Story Mania–that gives you an idea of what we enjoy.

Friday: Everything arrived perfectly! That’s important when you’re setting up a show. All 40-feet of the show held the 81 new HOTP items.

 

Our Booth!

 

Saturday: Copper Color Me™ was a finalist in CHA’s Innovations Award. There were 120 entries so that was very nice. The 20 finalists each gave a 60 second presentation to 220 attendees. Some people didn’t think I could speak for only 60 seconds, but I nailed it! We didn’t win but it was great to be part of the presentations

Our first workshop was Saturday night and held 75 people. I gave them M&Ms to get started then really worked them hard to complete three projects within the two hours. They made wonderful things and had fun but they sure looked tired.

Sunday:  So nice to find out that in Southern California on a Sunday, if you need a doctor (which I did) you can get an appointment within 45 minutes. We became friends with a cab driver and he got us to Kaiser, only a few blocks from the hotel. I was seen and got the prescriptions. A skin infection would get worse before it got better and the doctor recommended I stay off my feel. Yes, he knew that would only work at night since we were doing a trade show.

The booth team knew something was wrong when I called to tell them we’d be late for opening day. Malia L., Malia H. (yes two Malias work for me!), Adam and Stan said they would take care of everything and they did.

Although I couldn’t walk the show I did get to see many people. Also, Crafter’s Workshop was next to us so I could visit with Jamie and talk about new techniques with her templates (she will send us a video). Saw the new flowers from Mark Richards that will be in the April Paper Wishes catalog. They are stitched and so very pretty.

Monday: Taught another two-hour workshop repeating the Saturday one because it sold out so quickly. This was a more talkative group which always makes it harder to get through the projects. But they did it. Wow, 150 retailers!

The show is quite international. Got to see Cindy from A Scrappe Angels Heaven in Australia–one of my favorite retailers and a very smart one, too. Also saw KK from New Zealand who does the most amazing pergamano. Aquila from South Africa came and purchased after terrible floods in their stores. Some retailers even bring us candy‹they know the way to our hearts. Yum, chocolate covered macadamia nuts!  I had dinner with our British distributor Pottery Crafts who takes our items into the TV channel Create & Craft. They will also have our goods at the Stitches trade show in Feb. in England. Then had breakfast with the UK and Australian magazine folks from Practical Publishing. They will be tucking Paper Wishes into their magazines this spring. We plan to work with them even more in 2012.

Met with the Joann’s buyers and they will take more suede colors and some new ripple holographic papers into the stores this May. We’ll show them in the April Paper Wishes. Very exciting. We talked Dazzles™, too.

Met with the HSN buyers and had a chance to strategize about some Christmas Artful Card kits that I want to try with a new printing process to add foiling. They are up for it so we’ll get designing!

Also met with our factory reps one of which showed me some materials I have never seen before. Yes! I’m excited to expand the accents and embellishments that will work with our papers for the second half of the year. I can’t reveal the materials but they are glittery, raised and repositionable and very, very fun!  That’s why I like trade shows. Always something new, a chance to catch up with friends and sometimes unexpected ideas!! Stay tuned.

 

 

WOW, sounds like all of them had a great time, and a very successful show! The best part of it, is that you as our customers get to see the end results of the shows. From our HOTP product line to our picks from the show…they are all based on customers wants and needs!

Thank you Stan, Malia’s and Paulette for sharing with us! We all look forward to seeing all the New products in the upcoming catalogs!!!

~ Cristina

 

 

Greetings Everyone!

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do for my loved ones. You have to remember, I have all boys and thou I love them with all my heart…they are boys! They don’t want hearts and shades of pink, and red! They just want candy or cash! LOL

It’s always fun coming up with new ways to give classroom Valentine’s Day candy cards. My 9 yr old Diego, has 30 kids in his class! YIKES! So it has to be affordable and something I can do fairly quickly. Here are some ideas that I found on the internet; however, I’m going to use items that Paper Wishes carries…I’m pretty sure I can find something similar….or even better!

To create this project you can use the following: (click on links)

Pink Polka Dot Foil

3” Round Scallop Giga Punch

2 1/8″ Stacking Circle Punch

Lace Ribbon Set

 

To create this project you can use the following: (click on links)

Pink 8″x8″ Retro Cardstock

Red Cardstock

25 Hearts template

To create this project you can use the following: (click on links)

Build a Banner template

Purple Stripe foil paper

Tertiary Bakers Twine

To create this project you can use the following: (click on links)

Pink 8″x8″ Retro Cardstock

Red Cardstock

3″ Flower Giga Punch

 

On a different note, Valentine’s Day isn’t just for your loved ones; I like to think that everyone in this world needs a little love now and again.  Besides, making a Valentine’s Day craft is a great thing! Here are some ideas for others:

A small gift for everyone – You can make the day really special for all those who work for you but get little else other than wages. Be it your newspaper boy, your neighbor, your doctor, your babysitter…you can present each of them with a small token gift like a note card (click on link) or a little chocolate box. (click on link) Or share a treat with your colleagues. Creating a small note with a candy on top is a piece of cake! The smile you get in return will make the gesture worthwhile. Plus it will help you celebrate the occasion with those you work with all year long and might just strengthen your workplace relationships.

So get inspired!  Let us see your Valentine’s Day project.

Next week we’ll be doing a Facebook Stamp Challenge! Just a little hint, you’ll want to have the Love Stamp or Ticket Stamp and any of our new paper packs, featured in the 2012 Winter Catalog.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

~ Cristina

 

Q&A session with LeNae Gerig

 

Being one of the newest members of HOTP, I’ve soon learned a lot about all the wonderful people that I work with. LeNae Gerig, one of our fabulous designers has been apart of HOTP, since 1994. So I thought it would be great to get to know LeNae just a little bit more….

 

Cristina: Tell us a little history about yourself:

LeNae: A few years after graduating from Western Oregon State University with a BS Degree in History I was newly married, working in a local bakery and wondering what to do next. That’s when, in 1994, Hot Off The Press came into my life. I took a job as a Technical Editor, proofreading designer submissions and testing instructions by recreating their designs and photographing them step by step for our craft instruction books. This job became a wonderful training ground for learning the basics of design.

 

Cristina: Tell us about the changes that you’ve seen over the years with HOTP:

LeNae: The company has gone though many changes in those years. For years we were a publisher that relied almost exclusively on instructional craft books. We published books on a variety of subjects: Floral arrangements, polymer clay, jewelry making, stamping and embellishing paper mache just to name a few. It was a wonderful training ground for me and soon I became an in-house designer, creating books of my own.  When the scrapbooking craze became popular,

HOTP became a manufacturer of scrapbooking papers. My roll changed from a general craft designer to a scrapbook page designer. Eventually, Paper Wishes, HOTP’s retail catalog, was created to better reach our customers and card making and paper crafts became a part of my life.

 

Cristina: This may be a hard one, but tell us about your Favorite products & tools and of course why:

LeNae: The Paper Wishes catalog enables me to work with many wonderful tools created by manufacturers from all over the world. Because I get to play with these items all day long, I have developed a few favorites.  Recently I have become enamored with the Silhouette Cameo™ electronic cutting tool. I can use it for so many things. Last month I made party favor bags for my daughter’s birthday party. Another favorite tool is the Tonic Border System and punches. My most used punch is the Scallop Edger punch, for sure.  I’m so excited that we now manufacturer double sided paper!

The Kaleidoscope Paper Pack is so versatile. I love using it with the new Playful Pinwheels Template. Another great product, that I just can’t live with out is the Chocolate Dipped Artful Card Kit. Just punch out the pieces and in minutes you have a wonderful layered look for your card. I love the color combination of red, green, blue and brown! Check these products out. I’m sure you will enjoy using them as much as I do!

 

A few of LeNae’s Projects:

           

Thanks so much LeNae for sharing with us, and keep up the great work and inspiration you provide for all of us!

 

This week in our message board, we will be doing a Designer’s Challenge. Please click on the link to get all the information. Thanks again for taking the time to read our little blog! We love hearing from you…let me know what you think or if you have any ideas that you’d love to share   ~ Cristina

Some of my fondest memories are with my grandmother; she was a very talented crafter. She made her own quilt patterns and hand stitched them. She was very much ahead of her time using color combinations and other materials rather than just fabric. One thing she loved to give us grandchildren were handmade quilts for “special” occasions such as graduation, weddings, or with the birth of our children. I do still have all the quilts she made for my kids and me.

There’s one quilt she made for my oldest son, it was all lions and for the eyes she used buttons. I remember sitting by her and going through her button basket and touching all the different buttons. It was like a treasure hunt that I loved just running my fingers through all the colors.

My sister, who is a crafter, uses buttons as well. The other day as her daughter and I sat on her bed, we just had to pull out her button box and it took us back to my grandma. My grandma would always tell us there are so many reasons to have sooo many buttons. You can use them on just about anything. And especially when grandpa loses one on his shirts!

I love how our designers are often using buttons on their projects. Buttons are soo much fun! Who would have thought they would go so well with most of the projects that we create. In fact, with most of our paper packs you’ll usually find a button collection that goes very well with it. I’ve pointed out a couple down below.

Another fun thing about buttons is that you can also use them in stand-alone projects such as wall hangings or ornaments. As you scroll down and see all the fun things with buttons, just keep in mind these are just a few ideas that I found on our Paper Wishes.com site! You might have noticed, WE LOVE BUTTONS TOO!!!

 

 

Making Cards with Stamps, Ribbons & Buttons

 

 

Spring Button Mix

Celebrate Cake pocket card

 

Day dream Buttons

 

 

Father’s Day Card

 

Argyle Button Mix

 

Sew Sweet Card

 

Buttons Embossing Punch

 

8×8 Our Story Album

 

Buttons Chipboard Mini Set

Heart Buttons

 

Blue Candy Dots Buttons

 

Black Vintage Buttons

 

Love Binder

 

 

Here are some other ideas you can use to create just using buttons.