Posts Tagged ‘paper’

I try to send out cards to friends and fellow bloggers whenever I can. Everyone likes snail mail, right? But sometimes I struggle with what to send with a card if it’s a thank you note or something along the lines of ‘you are so dang awesome’. Not much else will fit a card envelope. Open to your ideas if you have any suggestions.

But then I was introduced to this greeting card collection from Ruff House Art and it’s kind of perfect for what I am looking for, especially since spring is right around the corner. So what’s so special about these cards, aside from the fact that they’re letterpress and 100% handmade (yep, even the paper)? When you send one of these guys out, you’re sending more than a greeting card. You are sending a tiny, snail mail garden!?

I am totally in love with this idea. How it works… The handmade paper that the cards are printed on is embedded with vegetable seeds that will eventually grow into a plant. Just moisten the card and plant just under the surface of soil in a sunny spot and water regularly. Sprouts will form in 10-14 days. There are plenty of vegetable seeds to choose from: carrots, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and more.

Wouldn’t these be perfect for a foodie or cook? You can find all the available cards in the garden seeds collection over on Ruff House Art now and while you’re there be sure to check out the other lines of cards, prints, and wrapping paper that Jill has created. Lots of awesome letterpress to explore.

This post is brought to you by Ruff House Art. All opinions and ideas are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. Interested in partnering with Paper & Stitch on a future campaign? Visit this page for more info.

I made these paper flower pins a while back for something that never materialized. And I figured, why not share them here now. These little guys are super easy to make and you can use them in lots of different ways. Here’s how to make your own…

Supplies:

old catalogs, scrap paper, or wallpaper samples // scissors // craft glue // pin back

Step by Step:

1. Stack up several pieces of paper and cut them into circles that are the same size. Repeat this process until you have at least 7-10 circles (per flower). Also, cut a much smaller circle (just one) for the center of the flower. Set small circle aside for now.
2. Next, create petals by cutting slits about half way in toward the middle of the circle, all the way around the edges.
3. Repeat process with all circles (except for tiny circle that will go in the middle at the end).
4. Glue each circle together with a dab of glue in the center, stacking each circle on top of the next.
5. Once dry, pull your newly formed petals upward with your fingers – kind of ruffling the petals so they are more three dimensional. Next, glue your tiny circle in the middle of the flower.
6. Turn your flower over and glue your pin back on. Wait for it to dry and you are done! Ready to wear.

Think you’ll make a few of these? I’ll just warn you now, they are kind of addictive once you get going. I started using them as gift toppers because I have so many.

Photos, concept and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff for papernstitch

Usually, I hop over to Felt & Wire whenever I get a craving (can you get cravings for non-edible objects?) for paper goods because it is so well curated. I always find something I love. But did you know that this shop has a bunch of non-paper goods from independent artists and designers as well?

I spent over an hour browsing through them the other day (usually I only have a few minutes) and added some goodies to my Christmas wishlist. My mom already asked me what I want for Christmas… The holidays are getting close, huh?

Anyway, here are a few things I thought you might like…

1. Collector Plate by MINE $50 (will someone please buy me this?)
2. Conservation Pieces Pillow by Heather Lins $95
3. Clipsticks by Jill Allyn $30 (uses rubber bands instead of metal clips)
4. Yellow Aluminum Candle Holder by Collective Aesthetics $65
5. Wrapping Paper by Design Army $15
6. 2013 Stitch the Stars Calendar Kit by Heather Lins $24 (I want this too)
7. Michael Bierut Forty Posters for the Yale School of Architecture by Design Observer $20
8. Feltcro Cord Keeperby by Jill Allyn $34 (good gift for tech geeks)
9. Prairie Caps Monogramed Notes by In Haus Press $10

Visit Felt & Wire for curated paper goods and gifts for the holidays.

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Thank you to Felt and Wire for sponsoring this post.  All opinions and ideas are my own.  Interested in having a sponsored post on papernstitch? Visit the advertising page for more info.

Jeff and I are already discussing travel plans + arrangements for Thanksgiving / Christmas with our families, which can only mean one thing: the holidays are almost here. And they are coming fast! November is only a week away.

With my family spread out across the states, I have a lot of cards to send out, since I won’t be able to see everyone in person. So I bookmarked some of my favorites on Sent Well the other day and am attempting to find all the addresses I need (they’re somewhere in my email inbox, I just have to find them). Do you know about Sent Well? It’s pretty neat.

You can buy greeting cards from the site the normal way OR you can have Nicole and her team send your cards out for you. They will write your personal message out by hand, address the envelope, stamp it, and send it. Leaving less steps for you. And less opportunities for forgetfulness, which is what usually happens to me. More details on how it works here. Now, all I have to do is decide on the cards. Here’s my short list…

Holiday Favorites

• Tis the Season card by Egg Press
• Merry Christmas card by Egg Press

Good for Hellos

• Knock on Wood hello card by Carolyn Suzuki
• Ahoy There! card by Pei Designs
• You’re the Best card by Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress

Which ones are your favorites?

Visit Sent Well to check out the entire collection of available cards and other goodies, like this notebook and  pencil set (so cute).

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Disclaimer: I was compensated by the advertiser for this editorial feature. All opinions and ideas, however, are my own.  Interested in having a sponsored post on papernstitch? Visit the advertising page for more info.

I picked up a new washi tape set a while back and have been trying to come up with ways to use it ever since. This stuff is addictive. So I grabbed a few blank notebooks that I was planning on using for another project and went to town. I realize this is rocket science here, but hey – they only took one minute to make, so I thought I would share the process in case you want to make your own…

Supplies:

1. Washi tape – slim set (lots of colors here)
2. Scissors
3. Moleskine cashier notebooks (set of 3)

Instructions:

1. Choose an interesting color combo and start rolling out strips of tape into any pattern you’d like. I went with stripes – it’s quick and easy.
2. After attaching each strip of tape, cut off excess, but leave room to wrap the tape around the back so it won’t come undone easily.
3. Fold the excess tape over to the back and attach. All done!

Here’s the photo version of this step by step…

Take it further!

Take this simple project one step further, and stamp your own custom message into the front cover, with a wooden mallet and a set of leather stamps (like this one)…

That’s it! So simple.

What do you think? Will you be making a few of these for yourself or buddies?

P.S.  I’m becoming obsessed with the leather stamp kit I used for this project, so prepare yourself for more DIYs that involve indented messages soon.

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