inside our spring 2012 issue

From the Editor

When I look outside my frost-covered window, I’m already imagining my garden bursting with color. It’s pretty easy for me to do, as I feast my eyes on the bright and festive paper and felt flowers in full bloom on page 32. They just make me smile and feel good all over! I can’t wait to start my own arrangement, and do a little spring cleaning at the same time by using up all those saved scraps of patterned papers I have stockpiled. How’s that for multitasking?

Then there are the Spring Plant Pokes on page 28. These are just so great! Perfect for when I start my seeds in those little peat pots…talk about being organized. Yeah! And then there’s a basketful of especially created floral greetings, Easter sentiments, and butterfly inspirations galore for me to make.

Then, there is Chris Wallace of Walnut Hollow who provided us with a wonderful tutorial on using the HotMarks tool to create some fun and interesting new treatments for embellishing your cards and other projects. And, you’ll have an opportunity to win your own HotMarks tool set, generously provided by Walnut Hollow, simply by entering our drawing. Write your name, mailing and e-mail address, and phone number on a postcard and send to All American Crafts, 7 Waterloo Road, Stanhope, NJ 07874, Attn: Paper Creations HotMarks, or visit our website at www.papercreationsmag.com and fill out the entry form. All entries must be received by March 1, 2012. Two winners will be notified by March 10, 2012, and announced in our Summer issue, on sale April 24, 2012.

Hooray for spring!

Editor

Projects

Happy Easter
An Easter basket wouldn't be complete without boasting a bunny, or a chick or two. Strewn with pastel-colored buttons and twinkling accents, these sweet cards express the simplest of Easter sentiments.

Just Put-Putting Along

Just Putt-Putting Along
This high flyer is just one example of how little details can transform a good card into a great card. Colored markers are a great source for artistic expression, while stamping an extra element or two can provide a wonderful three-dimensional look. Another point worth noting is the layered posy and crowning button that mimics the airplane propeller, goggles, and puffs of smoke from the airplane exhaust pipe. Remember: Sometimes it's the little things that count the most!

Nostalgic Stacking Boxes
Nostalgic in theme and dressed in frosted confectionery colors, this sweet accent piece is perfect for decorating a springtime bridal shower or tea. It's easy to make and ideal for using leftover scraps of patterned paper and embellishments.

A Note of Hello
With old world charm, this sweet note card says "hello" in the most quaint, yet endearing way.

Spring Plant Pokes
Created from jumbo bottle caps, these plant pokes are a delightful way to add a touch of whimsy to your house plants and to those you plan to give as gifts. The pokes featured here call for 6½″ wood dowels, so remember to adjust accordingly.

Twice as Nice
Repetitive stamping with one image in assorted colors achieves unique and fun results, as these happy cards clearly show.

Flowers for You

Paper and Felt Flower Arrangement
Hand-felted wool gems add a whimsical touch to any paper crafting project. Their vivid colors and appealing texture are just plain fun to use and are sure to ignite a spark of imagination for all mixed-media artists. The delightful arrangement featured here combines a wonderful combination of vibrantly colored patterned papers from Creative Imaginations, BoHo Girl, and assorted sizes of Felted Wool Balls by HandBEHG Felts. Super fun and easy to make, paper and felted flowers are a great way to reuse leftover scraps and embellishments of all kinds. Let your creativity run wild!

Spiral Blossoms Frame
Brighten up your walls with this charming floral bouquet and distressed wooden frame. Cheerful patterned paper teams up with Glittered Funky Foam to create a happy combination of spring blossoms, while a button, brad, and scattering of beads crown each center.

Hearts and Hydrangeas
This lovely card takes on feminine flair with sheer ribbon and a beautiful vintage button.

So Very Sorry
The right words of comfort are simply expressed with this softly muted image and sentiment.

Solitary Flight

3D Easel Cards
A favorite of many, daisies are such a happy flower and these unique easel cards showcase them beautifully. They're easy and fun to make, as the cutting has been done for you. All you need to do is carefully layer the sections and then add your own personal touches like hand coloring and glitter.

Spread Your Wings and Fly
Butterfly images lend a subtle grace to the inspiring sentiment expressed on the two cards featured here. One card uses randomly stamped butterflies, while the other boasts two die-cut and embossed winged beauties.

Butterfly Tissue Box
Add a fresh look to your bathroom or bedroom this spring with this botanical themed tissue box. The patterned paper used for the project featured here is from Pink Paislee's Butterfly Garden Collection, but feel free to substitute with colors that match your décor.

Lady about Town
When designer Candy Rosenberg created a 3' fairy from a vintage mannequin, she received so many rave reviews, she decided to make more. But finding these antique beauties was a challenge. The obvious solution was to make smaller versions, and the papier-mâché mannequin featured here fits the bill perfectly. It stands 10" high and is available in assorted sizes. Dressmaking couldn't be easier!

Date Night
Mini gingham flowers, wrinkle and measuring tape ribbon unite to create the charming card featured here.

Sew Easy
Dressed in a medley of floral prints and stripes, this lovely card is trimmed with a little bitty chocolate border, gingham button, and rosy pink ribbon.

Sew Easy

Celebration Canvases
Try something new this spring! These petite canvases provide the perfect opportunity for experimenting with mixed-media techniques, recycling your stash of papers and embellishments, saving some hard-earned $$$ by creating one-of-a-kind artwork for your home or for gift giving, and last but not least, having fun!

Congrats
Candy-colored patterned papers and lacy punched edges unite in perfect quilt-like harmony to create this cheerful congratulatory card.

Birthday Banner
Perfectly fitting for a little princess, this sweet banner is embellished with delightful imagery and sprinkled with glittery charm.

Princess Wishes Party Invite and Card
This darling party invitation and card set combines images that are treasured by every little girl and is sure to make your favorite princess feel extra special on her birthday.

40th Birthday Card and Gift Bag with Tag
Masculine cards and gift bags can be somewhat of a challenge. Here's a neat idea that is sure to appeal, even though he might wish to repeal the numbers!

Live, Laugh, Love
Surprise! One might think this card is made from lovely black-and-white patterned papers, but it's actually made with stamps. Use an onyx black ink pad to stamp the images onto crisp white cardstock, then arrange in blocks and accent with a sheer ribbon and rhinestone button for a touch of black tie elegance.

Happy Birthday! Party Animal

Cherry Blossom Birthday
Whether you prefer to gracefully forget your birthday or not, this elegant birthday card is understated, but the message is clear: you'll always be remembered on your special day.

His and Hers Notebooks
Here's a great "stash-buster" idea made from leftover scraps of cardstock and embellishments. Embossed and painted cardstock easily transforms a plain notebook into a high-styled fashion statement. Plain antique brads add masculine tailoring to one album, while a bit of jewelry in the form of a book plate and tied ribbons adds the perfect feminine touch to the other.

Spring Rosettes
Rosettes are just a fun embellishment to have on hand and are surprisingly easy to make. The rosettes featured here used leftover scraps of patterned paper and assorted odds and ends, so they're really easy on the pocketbook. Simple or sophisticated, glittered or grunged, their versatility provides you with numerous options. Whether you choose to use them on cards or to use them as gift toppers, one thing is for sure: you won't be able to make just one!

Features

Stamp Round-Up 3
Back by popular demand! We're pleased to present Stamp Round-Up 3! We've been lassoing stamping companies as fast as we can and we've herded as many as possible onto the following pages. Thanks to everyone who sent us names and websites of companies you wanted us to mention and feature. Remember, if you want to hand stamp cards or other items to sell, check to see if a company's images fall under an "angel"policy, and make sure you follow that policy.

Creating with HotMarks
Looking for something to make embellishments, to add interest to your paper crafting projects, or maybe you just want to have fun crafting with chipboard, plastic, leather, cork, fabric, and foam? Look no further! Read on to find out more about HotMarks—a "hot tool" from Walnut Hollow.

Dazzling Duos
More and more, companies are teaming up to provide thoughtfully coordinated products, providing card makers and paper crafters with a wide range of choices for customizing their projects. Designers Liz Qualman and Robbie Herring paired up as well and will be presenting great ideas from participating stamp and paper manufacturers. In this issue of Paper Creations, we are proud to feature Unity Stamps and the Simple Stories Baby Steps paper collection. Enter our drawing for a chance to win the complete set of stamps used for making the cards shown here. All entries must be received by March 1, 2012. Two winners will be notified by March 10, 2012 and announced in our Summer issue on sale April 24, 2012.

Rethink and Reuse
When it comes to beautiful papers, I can't seem to throw away the leftover scraps, as they conjure up warm memories and hold the promise for future projects not yet devised. These "super-special scraps" include handmade papers with botanical inclusions, marbled patterns, animal prints, embossed papers, designs with glittery dots and embroidery, hand-stamped papers, and papers I've made, too. I can visit India and Italy, Japan, Thailand, and Norway without budging from my studio! It's a joy to look through the collection and even more fun to put the scraps to use.

Thanks a Bunch!
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig is a stamp positioner that is handy to have in your arsenal of stamping tools, as it allows you to place an image exactly where you want it to be. You can stamp an image in several colors for a really professional look, like the grape cluster on the card featured here‚ "berry" nice, don't you think?

Thank You
Super-quick and easy, white corduroy brads pack a big punch on this charming thank-you card.

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