Craftzine.com blog: My Paper Heart Archives

Archive: My Paper Heart

February 27, 2010

Subversive Finds: Carton Perforé

Subversive Finds

Carton Perforé: The Craft That Almost Killed Me By Julie Jackson

I'm not sure where I first heard about French perforated paper that could be cut into intricate designs, but I immediately wanted to integrate some cross-stitch into this craft. This is back when I was sane, before I actually received the book and assorted materials from France.

Now, I'm not afraid of a craft project that ignites my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. I've done some large-scale intricate paper cutting in my time, freehand, armed with only my trusty X-Acto knife. But I really had no idea what I was getting into when I was flitting around the la lambroquine website, optimistically tossing different items with French names into my shopping cart. I easily spent almost $100 on a basic book (in French) and assorted colors of perforated paper, plus a cutting knife. Be authentic, I thought. Go to the source, I thought. Maybe I'll make little cross-stitch kits with perforated paper and offer a whole new thing for my customers — who knows?

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February 26, 2010

Sneak Peek: New Lotta Jansdotter Paper Goods

My Paper Heart

As we wrap up our paper theme for the month, I thought it would be fun to share the new Lotta Jansdotter paper goods due out in April from Chronicle Books. I'm drooling over the Lotta Jansdotter file collection -- such a pretty way to get organized. Everything comes in a silkscreened plastic storage/document case filled with 9 file folders, 3 hanging file folders, cardstock tabs, and a sheet of labels. Organizing suddenly became a lot more fun! Stay tuned on CRAFT as we'll be doing a giveaway for these sometime in April.

See more photos of Lotta Jansdotter's new spring paper goods from Chronicle Books after the jump!

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CRAFT Pattern: Jellyfish Paper Lamp

By Matthew Borgatti

I love folding paper. I especially love how a few elegant curves and pleats can turn a plain sheet of paper into something that is beautiful, at once organic and mechanically precise. Looking at those simple shapes and beautiful lines inspired me to make this paper lamp, which resembles some kind of exotic jellyfish creature. Read full story »

February 25, 2010

Accordion Paper Clock

My Paper Heart

By Patricia Zapata

One of the things that I enjoy the most about working with paper is the challenge of coming up with a project that is contrary to its two-dimensional characteristic. The second part of the equation is coming up with something that is actually useful. This clock fits the bill in both instances and it now happily resides on the wall next to my desk.

The accordion fold is my favorite part of the design. I made a pocket in the back of the piece so that the colored paper can be switched out whenever a new color is needed. The clock can move around a home and be customized to compliment the décor of a room or fit in with a specific time of the year.

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February 23, 2010

How-To: Make a Travel Love Shrine

Crafty Chica Challeng: Love Shrine

CRAFT is celebrating love, glitter, and craftiness with the Crafty Chica Love Shrine Challenge. Preserve your memories and tell your love story by building a shrine that creatively reflects your personality and expresses your hopes and dreams.

I've been going crazy making these shrines! They are such great ways for me to use my ephemera and this project in particular includes some great memories. I heart NY, and my Travel Love Shrine is a like a three dimensional scrapbook of my time in the city.

How-To: Make a Love Shrine
How-To: Make a Wedding Love Shrine
How-To: Make a Woodland Love Shrine

For even more inspiration, check out the amazing entries in the Crafty Chica Challenge flickr pool. Once you make your own, please add it in, with a short description of your process. There are some great prizes, but if you make a shrine, you've automatically got the best prize there is!

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February 22, 2010

Custom Silhouette Cards

My Paper Heart

By Andrea DeHart

Minding my manners often means continually sending out thank-you cards for gifts relating to birthdays, holidays, and new babies. I've been known to resort to the store-bought variety at times, or to create a craft sweatshop in which my kids literally scribble on blank cards to add a personal touch. In an effort to use the remaining blank cards from our son's birth announcements, I was eager to find a way to make something unique. These custom silhouette cards are simple to make, and they can be used for any occasion. Simply run the pre-cut cards through your home printer for a cost-effective alternative.

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February 19, 2010

Vintage Labels for Your Personal Projects

I adore the beautiful line work and perfect colors in these vintage labels on iDiy. The celadon version is my favorite favorite favorite. Print them out and use them with any paper project you can think of. The beloved site has a clamoring in the comments for more posts, and I just know it's because Luzel and her writers have great style and a great blog that people can't live without!

February 18, 2010

How-To: Make Dryer Lint Paper

AshleyAmber makes paper using dryer lint. And if you are thinking blah grey, she suggests washing a red towel to get red lint. Check out her instructable, with great step by step shots.

Mini Paper Chandelier

My Paper Heart

By Jessica Wilson

There is something magical about blogland, don't you think? It's kinda like a wee bit of birthday everyday what with all the eye candy and new ideas that so graciously await your viewing. Back in 2008, I stumbled across this amazing bit of eye candy that reintroduced me to the magic that is the pajaki, Polish paper chandeliers (I had one when I was small). I bookmarked it thinking I need to make one and then promptly forgot about it until I saw Lena Crowin's version. And of course, as is the case with such pretty things, a series of other amazingly talented folks made their own versions. Since I cannot seem to find straw anywhere and since there are already so many beautiful designs out there, I bring you a smaller, thriftier version using items you may already have. Here we go!

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February 17, 2010

Stitched Kids' Art Note Cards

My Paper Heart

By Future Craft Collective

In our house the piles of random artwork are vast and ever present. We all like to draw, paint, and sketch, and when one is drawing, painting, sketching, it encourages all others in the house to do the same. We love the process but don't always know what to do with the widespread piles of artwork that are the result. We use some for wrapping paper. We use others for writing letters to send to far-flung family and friends. Some we recycle in a midnight purge, done at this hour to avoid the cries of, "You're throwing out my ARTWORK?!" Some we tuck away as representations of a certain period in our children's art lives, from which we have saved and dated a few select pieces.

There are those pieces too that we hold onto because there is a piece of them we love — maybe a certain character drawn or a brush stroke that evokes an attachment or an image that strikes our funny bone. As an entity maybe it doesn't quite grab us, but as a deconstructed piece it does. Perhaps we don't particularly care for the inadvertent coffee ring in the corner or the toddler scribbles on an older kids painting or a note taken whilst hanging on the phone. For those pieces we have created this project: Stitched Art Note cards. This craft is multi-layered in its value by way of encouraging the art of letter writing whilst celebrating art itself. It is quick and easy and costs nothing. And, perhaps biggest of all, it satisfies our children's needs to preserve their precious art. Just a warning: once you get started, you might not be able to stop because you will see your children's (and your own) art work in a whole new light.

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February 13, 2010

Happy Chinese New Year!

My Paper Heart

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year celebrating the Year of the Tiger! It's a huge celebration across asian cultures and for me, it's all about family and memories of red paper of all sorts. In our house growing up, the festivities were centered around food -- an amazing feast filled with dish upon dish of Chinese favorites. It was also all about the red envelopes filled with money when I was a young. These red envelopes are a token of good luck and wealth. I remember being super excited about getting the red envelope from my grandpa every year because his were the best, of course. Lulu is modeling one such red envelope above.

My grandmother on my mom's side was an avid crafter. She enjoyed the art of paper cutting or "jian zhi" in Chinese (literally translates to "cut paper"). My grandmother passed away when I was a toddler and my mom saved most of her paper cuts. I would remember going through them as a child with my mom, holding up each delicate piece (some super tiny) and wondering how someone could actually make this!

Papercuts-Fu
This character above is "Fook", the Chinese character meaning wealth, used primarily for Chinese New Year. These paper cuts are usually made with thin red paper and the designs are typically Chinese characters with embellishments around or one of the 12 zodiac animals. [via La Vie est Belle]

See more Chinese paper art after the jump!

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February 11, 2010

How-To: Jar of Hearts

By Jessica Wilson

Have something small but lovely to give your valentine? Tuck it inside a wee paper heart, drop it into a jar full of love, and step back as your giftee goes gaga over it!

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