This will be my last post on Paper Crave until October, as I’m leaving tomorrow for a week on an autumn vacation to the Outer Banks. Woohoo for vacations! However, when I return I have a couple of surprises for you, including a project that’s been in the works for a little while now. I’m so excited to share it with you!

While I’m busy packing, have fun checking out these paper-centric links from around blogland:

* Cool retro modern holiday cards from sparrow and belle via Design*Sponge

* Pilllpat paper crafts and vtks fonts (distressed and perfect for Halloween) via Poppytalk

* 3D art pieces from Maurizio Santucci a.k.a. Bombo via Pikaland

* How to carve your own stamps via Craftstylish

* Vintage paper snowflake crafts via Just Something I Made

See you in October!

This “spooky” banner from Two Peas in a Bucket member charmedgirl is so inspiring, don’t you think? Such a visual feast, with layers upon layers of details to catch the eye. See more images of the banner here.

images from Two Peas in a Bucket

I’m so thankful to live in an area where I can wander into a physical Paper Source, but I have to admit that it’s very difficult for me to stay focused after I’m in the door. I almost always have something specific that I’m looking for when I go, but I inevitably end up dazed and confused after a few minutes.

Do I look at the greeting cards? The wall of gift wrap? The ribbons and embellishments? The stamps and paper punches? The glues and glitter? And it goes on and on…until my brain is overloaded and I’m just about laying on the floor in a pool of my own drool.

However, I had a rare moment of clarity during my last visit, when I spotted Paper Source’s beautiful 2009 letterpress desktop calendar amidst a display of the 2009 Snow & Graham calendars. Who knew that giraffes and retro-inspired Christmas trees would snap me right out of my my paper goods induced daze?! Seriously, though, it’s a great looking calendar.

image from Paper Source

I’m loving pretty much everything from Boston based Two Trick Pony. Their line includes cards and invitations featuring lovely color palettes (are we calling them colorways now?) and both bold, modern patterns and cute illustrations.

Two Trick Pony’s paper goods are screenprinted on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper and include everything from all occasion notecards to thank yous to baby shower invites to holiday greetings (you have to check out their Christmas cards below…love the blue and red!). Purchase cards and art prints at Two Trick Pony’s Etsy shop, and see their entire collection here.

More pretties from Two Trick Pony:

images from Two Trick Pony

I’m loving this wonderfully evocative illustrated short story called “Lost” by Amy Ng of Pikaland: The Illustrated Life, a great blog all about modern illustration and up and coming illustrators. You can pick up “Lost” and other illustrated goodies at Amy’s Etsy shop.

Pikaland also has a feature called the PikaPackage, a monthly collection of goodies from illustrators and artists who sell their creations online. You can purchase a different PikaPackage every month, and it’s filled to the brim with lovelies. If you like illustration and getting packages filled with wonderful eye candy, then you must check it out.

image from Pikaland

Jessica Jones, of the wonderful blog How About Orange, has a guest post all about colorful birthday parties over at Hostess with the Mostess. The post includes tips for creating the most colorful party e-var, and Jessica was generous enough to include free editable and printable invitations and cute little flowers that can be made into anything from drink coasters to garlands. Sweet!

image from Jessica Jones

After seeing what Ilee came up with for their 2008 calendar, I’ve been waiting with anticipation to see what they would do for 2009. Well, I don’t have to wait any longer, and neither do you because the new creation is for sale!

Ilee has done it again, creating a calendar that’s more like a work of art, with 8 months printed with a letterpress and the other 4 a mix of silkscreen a foil stamping. Giraffes, silhouettes, florals, vintage-inspired illustrations…this calendar has a little bit of everything. And October is an absolute must see (awesome!):

10% of the sale of each calendar will be donated to a not-for-profit corporation called “Specialized Options for Disabled Adults” and also to orphanage in Thailand, so not only will you be purchasing a beautiful calendar, but you’ll be helping two good causes.

images from Ilee Papergoods

Oh. My. Gorgeous! I spotted these cut paper thank you notes on Craftstylish the other day, and I think that if I made anything like this I’d probably get a thank you note (and possibly a gift) for sending the thank you. Jeffery Rudell shows us all how to create these beautiful notes, and I know that I’d love to try something like this. How about you?

images from Craftstylish