Paper Craft

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    Batty for Birthdays

    ByHeather Bailey

    BatCupcake2
    Here’s what I ended up with for Charlotte’s ‘spooky’ birthday cupcakes.  I used an Oreo Cakester for the body, two chocolate-covered sunflower seeds for the eyes and black scrapbook paper for the wings.

    SpookyCupcakes2 For easier assembly, I cut the wing and ear for each side as one piece. I used a paper punch from Martha Stewart to give the wings a more girly personality.  Though the sinister Cakester-frosting smile was entirely unplanned, it was a welcome surprise.

    After I prepped the wings and things, Isaac put the cupcakes together while I stitched up dragon tails.  All together (not including baking), the cupcakes and tails took us a bit longer than one run of the original True Grit on AMC. (I think Isaac made two trips to the store in there too.)  Who says bats are for Halloween alone? 

    It’s true, Charlotte, you ARE your own self.


  • Gilding my Sneakers

    ByHeather Bailey

    CEclass72

    I've just returned from Creative Escape,
    a several-day craft-a-thon with hundreds of enthusiastic and kind women
    from all over the world: Japan, Canada, France, Australia, the U.S.
    Though I taught all day a couple of days in a row, I'm surprisingly
    refreshed. I blame it on the touching & funny keynote addresses
    presented by Heidi Swapp & Melanie Wellman — and my decision to wear tennis shoes instead of heels. 

    CEclassA72

    The CE students went out of their way to express their excitement
    for my class, bring gifts (chocolate, jewelry, handmade cards, hair
    clips, etc.), and make the experience fulfilling for us teachers as
    well. (Thank you, ladies!)

    All 700 or so in attendance were deeply moved by the response to
    CE's designer lamp fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    the final evening. All of the teachers at the event, and from past
    years, donated a hand-built, one-of-a-kind lamp to be sold in silent
    auction — all $ going straight through to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

    72CE2009

    To
    add excitement to the final evening, two of the lamps were sold at live
    auction. One bidder forked out $29,000 for charity to get her hands on
    Tim Holtz' lamp (neat girl too), and Heidi's lamp raised over $8000.
    Without gushing on, I'll just say I was seriously moved. I think we all
    were. It was a great time. Thank you, Heidi & the Bazzill team for
    including me in this year's event.

    CEstudents72

    So…Now
    that the cat's out of the bag on the fundraiser, I can finally show
    photos of my lamp design — think tweet, tweet, chirp, chirp. I'll
    gather up some photos to post.

    It's great to be back. I'm wrapping up several big projects (hallelujah!) this week before heading out to Utah to deliver a keynote address at the Start-Up Princess event
    on September 11th. If you're anywhere near South Jordan, Utah next
    weekend, sign up for Friday's event and come say 'hi'. Or visit me at Material Girls
    quilt shop on Saturday the 12th — around 1ish (till 3ish?), I think. 
    I'll post a sure time as soon as it's confirmed. I'll also be on t.v.
    on Thursday, the 10th at Studio 5 in Salt Lake City. As for the rest of the trip — I'll probably be sleeping, huh?

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    In Limited Supply:
    album kits, fabric… patience

    ByHeather Bailey

    It is refreshing to be home again.  Not only to sleep in my own bed
    and hug on my little kids (of course), but now I can start scratchin'
    at those irresistibly- itchy projects I sketched up while I was away. 
    Here and there, at least.  First, I have some emails and interviews to
    complete, as well as some fabric strike-offs to sort through (yes,
    round one is in the house!).

    Flutterby4a600

    So, check out my Flutterby Flip-Book mini
    album.  I used an old-fashioned wooden clothespin for the butterfly
    body.  A variety of cardstock wings make up the album's many pages,
    with a sprinkling
    of flowers and miniature butterflies thrown in for good measure.  The
    perfect album for celebrating a special event, a summer-load of
    activities, a new baby, a birthday, quirky kid-drawings, etc.

    FLUTTERBYkit2

    This is the workshop I taught at Inspired in North Carolina this month — the stinkin' cutest-est album ever.  We kitted up
    some extra albums, with full-on illustrated instructions included, so
    you can make an album too if you like. (Or maybe set up your kids or
    grandkids with a kit — gotta keep those children engaged over the
    summer.  My two have been squabbling all day.)  So, if you're
    interested, hop on over to the HB store.  Limited supply!  When they're gone, they're gone. 

    FlutterbyInstr400

    Freshcut™ is in the same boat too.  Free Spirit's warehouse is plum out of my Freshcut collection now.  We received our last supply.  Though the demand for that collection never subsided, the supply certainly now has, so last call for Freshcut!  Heck, here's a discount while you're at it.  Use the code "AlmostGone" through June 1st for 10% off any fabrics from my Freshcut collection.  We'll all sigh as it trickles away.

    And this week is my blogiversary again — three years now.  I'll put together some sort of giveaway, so stay tuned for that. 

    I'm
    off to dig myself up an urgent dose of Tylenol.  My kids aren't used to
    being around each other all day.  It's adjustment time — for all of us.

  • A New Laptop & Free Internet at the Airport

    ByHeather Bailey

    FogNTrees
    Posting on the road.  I'm sitting in the Charlotte airport waiting for
    my plane to board.  I'm at once disappointed to leave Inspired just as
    the main event kicks off, and excited to meet up with the Creative
    Escape team at Bazzill for a weekend of group crafting. 

    With all of my jogging this way and that this week, I've grown seriously more attached to having an assistant. 
    (Two now.  We welcomed Lindsay to our team last week — just in time to
    wrap up our kits for Inspired.  I'll introduce Lindsay more officially
    when I'm not racing against my departure time — & I have a photo
    of her.)  It is so nice to get emails telling me where to go
    & when.  Here's your confirmation #.  Donna will pick you up at
    7:00.  Meeting at this time.  Dinner at that time.  Turn right.  Turn
    Left.  Do 20 jumping jacks.

    This saves a surprising amount of brain power, which can then be budgeted toward other activities.  Budgeting your Brain Power by Heather Bailey.  Get it now.

    I had a great trip to Charlotte.  Loved the fog.  All of my flutterby flip-book
    students motored right through their projects.  I spent my break-time
    chatting with two women who drove four hours or so (each way) just to
    take my one hour workshop.  (Hi Lisa & Heather!)   I also met a
    sweet little girl for whom my workshop was a surprise present for her
    8th birthday.  (Happy Birthday, Olivia!)  Olivia's mom and she set
    aside time every Thursday evening to make projects together — isn't
    that great!?! 

    Yesterday evening was spent talking Trash (Ties)
    with dozens more women.  We did hair and laughed and chatted.  It was
    great, giggly fun.  The dozens of Trash Ties we packed were gobbled up like cotton candy at a carnival.  Licked clean.

    Then, last night, when it was time to pack in as much sleep as I could before heading out west for round two, my dern book got inconveniently exciting.  Could have had another hour of sleep if
    it were not for imminent danger, a surprise wedding and a sexy, first
    kiss.

    That's the brief.  Time to hop on a plane.

  • Flit & Flutter

    ByHeather Bailey

    FlutterbyFlip-5a

    I'm bouncing all over the place this week.  By Tuesday night, I'll be in Concord, North Carolina again for Donna Downey's Inspired Artist event.  While there, I'll be teaching a mini-workshop on Thursday called The Flutterby Flip-Book for which my team has been kitting supplies all week.  Around the studio, stacks of Heather Bailey papers are shuffled together with some beautiful solids from Bazzill Basics.  And we're surrounded by bowls and tubs of colorful ribbons, flowers, clothespins, rhinestones, butterflies, and brads.  Bowls of candy. 

    FlutterbyFlip-10a

    Cutest paper project!  Can't wait to show you. (We'll post some extra kits to the Heather Bailey Store later this week.)  If you're in North Carolina, come see me.  Here's where you can sign up for the last couple of seats in the 1pm class.  The 12pm class is completely sold out.

    FlutterbyFlip-8w Let's see, there are some Trash Ties workshops
    late Thursday night as well (at Donna's irresistible urging).  We'll
    probably be somewhat loopy by 10pm, so I'm expecting more of a giggly,
    slumber-party-like setting than anything else.  Everyone in the class
    is getting two sets of Trash Ties and I'll be spending the hour
    teaching how-tos and demonstrating hairstyles. I hear there are a few
    more spaces available in the 9pm & 10pm classes.  If you're in NC,
    sign up!  I'd love to meet you.  Here's the workshop schedule
    where you can get your tickets.  Scroll down to the time-slot you're
    interested in (both are on 5/7), then click the blue & orange 'buy'
    button to read more about the class.

    FlutterbyFlip-6t

    On Wednesday, before the workshops, I'll be at the Free Spirit
    headquarters     in Charlotte, discussing fabric, hush puppies, high school (Jeff, the Sales Manager went to the same
    high school     as I – small world), whatever comes up.  It's mostly a
    social visit.  Always fun. 

    FlutterbyFlip-7 Friday, I'll fly back out west to attend a preview weekend for next summer's Creative Escape event.  I'll be crafting along with Heidi Swapp, Tim Holtz, Debby Shuh, and the other Creative Escape teachers
    while we preview our classes to each other and the entire volunteer
    staff.  There should be some fun dinners in there too, I think. 

    Come Saturday night, I expect to flop into bed like an eggy crepe.  

    Perhaps
    my kids will pour some syrup on top on Sunday morning — a smoochy
    reunion.  Isaac's always good at heading up some sort of kid-made
    breakfast-in-bed for Mother's Day as well.  I dream of fuzzy slippers and
    chocolate.

    FlutterbyFlip-9

  • Gift Card Boxes

    ByHeather Bailey

    I used to go to great lengths to make sure every present I gave was
    handmade and tailored to the recipient’s taste.  Over the last few
    years, I’ve realized that most people truly love to receive a gift card
    now & then, so they can go out and get the very thing they’ve been
    hoping for.  This has been an adjustment for me.  I felt kind of guilty
    about the first few gift cards I gave, like I didn’t put enough time
    into it.  But, as the reactions were genuinely enthusiastic, I thought,
    ‘well, that was easy’ and I decided that gift cards can be very good. 

    Giftboxphoto2

    There’s always one or two people on my gift list who gift cards are
    perfect for.  Like my dad.  I never know what to do for my dad.  My
    sister, Julia, has pulled off some well-chosen shirts or gardening
    books for him, but I’m always stumped.  My most successful handmade
    present for him to date was a custom-designed table mat for he and my
    mom to play cards on.  They love that thing.  Who would have known?
    I’ve certainly made things that were cooler than that, like a hand-cut,
    metal bookmark that looks like a man climbing over the page when in
    place.  Crazy stuff sometimes.

    I’m much more excited about planning gifts for my dad now that I’m
    cool with gift cards as a safety net.  What seals the deal for me is
    that I can still make the box.

    Gbpsheets

    For my recent feature in Creating Keepsakes
    (Dec 08), I designed a free pattern for the gift card box shown above.
    If you are planning to give some gift cards and would like to dress
    them up a bit, head to the pattern download page
    or follow the ‘Gift Card Box’ link under ‘Free Patterns’ in my
    sidebar.  These little boxes are great for wrapping up buttons, jewelry
    or candy too — or for housing a love note on top of a larger, wrapped
    gift.  Get creative.

    xo–Heather

  • Flower Pinwheel Pattern

    ByHeather Bailey

    Pinwheelcvr
    Bring on the holidays!  Here’s the Flower Pinwheel project that is featured in the December 2008 issue of Creating Keepsakes
    magazine, which is on news stands now.  The Creating Keepsakes team did
    an amazing job with the article.  There are a ton of projects featured
    and they did an impeccable job bringing it all together — it’s really
    beautiful.

    Poinsettia3_2

    I’m thrilled with how this pinwheel design turned out.  I had
    originally planned the poinsettia pinwheel as a holiday decoration —
    without concern for functionality.  However, as I perfected the flower
    wheel design, my fascination with the science behind the spin grew.
    Isaac insisted that I couldn’t just make a pretty-looking pinwheel.  It
    had to function.

    This is where a stash of supplies comes in handy.  I rummaged
    through my studio for eyelets, wire, beads, pliers, etc. and soon had
    elevated my pinwheel project from pretty-to-look-at to
    pretty-to-look-at & dang-fun-to-play-with. 

    These pinwheels spin like crazy.   

    With red cardstock and yellow centers, I made poinsettia pinwheels for
    the holidays.  With floral prints
    and glittered papers, I made pinwheels straight out of Candyland or
    Santa’s Workshop.  This project is surprisingly easy and remarkably
    inexpensive — especially if you’re a scrapbooker with a bevy of tools
    and supplies already at hand. 

    Spinning

    Thank you for your patience if you’ve been watching for this pattern. I
    had originally scheduled to complete the pattern by the end of this
    week and have it available by next Monday.  However, the December issue
    of Creating Keepsakes shipped out to subscribers far earlier than I had
    expected. 

    I was happy to work overtime this last week to design and post this
    download for you as quickly as possible.  I had to squeeze
    it into an already-packed design and family schedule.  I love this
    pattern and am equally excited to have it posted a week before
    originally planned (with the natural side benefit of having more pie-making time for next week, right?  Isaac’s family tradition involves one pie per guest – well, practically).

    Frontdetail2_2
    Anyhow, go make some lollipoppish pinwheels and some twinkly family
    memories while you’re at it.  Have a happy kick-start to your holidays
    this year.  For the Flower Pinwheel download page, follow the link in my sidebar under ‘Free Patterns’ or click here.

    Happy Holidays everyone — enjoy! 
    xo–Heather

    **free Gift Card Box pattern also coming this week.  And, we’ve posted our new holiday promotions and freebies for the store as well — follow the ‘Happy Holidays’ badge in sidebar**

  • Creating Keepsakes

    ByHeather Bailey

    Hello to everyone stopping by from my article in the Holiday issue
    of Creating Keepsakes.  I can’t believe it’s already out (I thought
    it’d be around Thanksgiving) — I can ‘t wait to see it.  If you’re
    looking for my Flower Pinwheel pattern or the free Gift Card Box
    pattern, they’ll be available next week under the ‘Free Patterns’ section of my sidebar.  Thanks!  More on the CK article to come : )

  • Bright Paper Packages

    ByHeather Bailey

    Creativesoul4

    …How about mobile, Divco, ‘Supplies!
    Parties’ — a park-n’-shop novelty for scrapbook nights, bridal
    showers, baby showers, etc.  I like it.  Or I could have the cutest
    camper/RV ever.

    Lia made me these
    wonderful presents for my birthday.  They made their way safely here
    all the way from Singapore.  Thank you, Lia!  Such a great surprise.

    I particularly love the varied textures on the tag above.  Lia used a couple of papers from my line.  The ‘h‘ is decorated with one of my corner stamps, but it has a thick, clear coating over the top.  I’m thinking she may have used Diamond Glaze.  Have you ever tried Diamond Glaze?  It’s fantastic.  I use it when making painted necklace pendants.  I don’t think I’ve shown you those.

    Creativesoul1Lia,
    did you do the crackle finish on the tree trunk yourself as well?
    Crackle finishing can be tough — good job.  It really looks great. 

    And check out this fun, framed collage and birthday card.  A lot of
    scrappers cut shapes from papers and then use them as 3-D elements in
    their projects — such a great way to achieve a layered effect.  I made
    a fun, little gift-box using this technique for my upcoming CK article.  I’m excited to put together some variations in the next week or so and post a free pattern for it.  More on that later.

    Speaking of paper crafts, check out this Raggedy Ann masterpiece that Leslie
    put together.  I’m just ga-ga for it.  I’ve always loved how well
    cherry-red works with this icy, pastel palette.  Leslie really picked
    up on that and used it to maximum effect. (And check out these overalls too.)

    Creativesoul6w
    Oh, now I need to hunt down the childhood photo of me gripping my
    favorite Raggedy Ann doll.  I believe my mom tried to take my doll away
    from me for the portrait, but I would have none of that and must have
    thrown a fit.  In the end, my mom ended up with a photo of me greedily
    clutching my doll — with tears welled up in my eyes — doubly not what
    she had in mind.  I was about one and a half. 

    Wandering. 

    I’m looking forward to next week.  Lots of fun little design
    projects to wrap up and some baby presents to make for friends.  I was
    going to embellish some onesies, but now I’m thinking Happy Stacker
    ring toys with coordinating 3-D tags as cards – kinda like the top
    photo.  Might get out my Diamond Glaze even.  Though I had draped Lia’s
    tag there casually for a the photo… well, they just look so great
    together.  No need for wrapping paper. 

    Creativesoul5

    I don’t know if I’ve mentioned the new HB Paper Crafts Group on Flickr
    yet, but it’s all set up and ready for you.  (Erica just posted the cutest wooden dolls.)  I’ve added the paper group to my
    sidebar, along with the new Pop Garden & Bijoux Flickr Group for
    those fabulous fabric projects of yours.  Gah!  Double gah!  You guys are amazing.  I love Flickr groups.  Really
    such an easy way to inspire and get inspired.

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    Widdle Wubby Flowder Paddern

    ByHeather Bailey

    Ttbanner

    Hey all, there’s a Trash Ties giveaway going on at Sweet Life in the
    Valley    .  And April’s listed out a few ways you can increase your odds
    while you’re at it : )

    I’m working on the cover story for the holiday
    issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.  All of my photo mojo is going
    into that right now.  I’ll see if I can slip a sneak peek into an
    upcoming post.      Who knew you could make Christmas out of such
    Spring-i-ness    ?  I offered my doubts, but Creating Keepsakes urged me
    on.  I’m glad they did.  I’ve got some kick-A Christmas projects here
    now. 

    Mp001fd2_2
    And I haven’t forgotten about the giveaway for the La
    Fleur Debris brooches.  I read through the first 300 or so entries on
    my birthday, but haven’t had time to pour over the rest just yet.  I
    truly must read and consider them all.  I promise to get that bit of
    fun resolved in the next few days. 

    The La Fleur Debris pattern is now available though.  It’s so cute and little — like dvd-size.  I want to coo at it.