paper lover

It's true! I love paper! It might be in part from growing up with a creative grandma and mom who always had us making things when we were bored. It might be in part two years of college level art classes. It might just be the mere fact that we don't get enough real paper mail, cards, and love letters these days. When there is a special occasion, or a special some one, who needs honoring in my life, I automatically turn to paper.

I have a seriously paper collection going and anytime that I see something that deserves (yes, deserves) to make its way into the paper box I am careful to pull it out, cut it out, and save it. At this point, I have two means of doing this: one is a large flat box with pieces of interest the other is a magazine file holder with folders that have papers sorted by colors. This way I can start with the color I want and build from there.

Here is a little tutorial of how to come up with a homemade way of saying, "thank you", "congratulations",  "i love you", "happy birthday", or "I simply think you are amazing!"

Start with all your tools out: 

my favorite pens, a sharp pair of comfortable scissors, paper tape galore, a ruler, a hole punch, the best and cleanest adhesive...

scraps of vintage stamps and airmail from Africa, paper flowers, baker's twine, velvet ribbon, the original tacky glue (for things that aren't perfectly flat it is the best!), and the genius sticker machine!

*not everything has to be used but it helps to have the possibilities there, I promise.

Pick your color theme and choose your scraps...

and begin to layer using the Tombow adhesive. 

Continue layering, adding tape to give it depth and dimension.

Add stickers and labels within theme...

Make sure to continue the theme onto the inside...

and add a hand drawn touch...

The finished product does not have to be perfect but will be something you can be proud of and the recipient can admire!

This one was given to a friend's parents after they hosted us on an amazing weekend in North Carolina for their daughter's wedding. So, it was both CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU!

*all photos and artwork for by way of ney