Festive Freebies, Part 2

December 18, 2009 // kristen // 1 replies

It’s hard to believe, but we’re heading into the final few days before Christmas. Where does the time go? If you’re preparing to wrap those last few gifts before the big day and find yourself in need of pretty packaging or gift tags, then these generous creative and crafty peeps have you covered. And, if you’re looking for even more festive freebies, then you can check out part one right here.

Clockwise, from top left:

* Rachel from Benign Objects blew my mind with this awesome suite of free printables, which includes a pillow box, 2 CD templates, circular and rectangular labels, jar labels, and more!
* One of the most clever gift tag ideas I’ve seen this season: mini LP record gift tags from Paul at Dudecraft
* Pretty Christmas tags in red and green from Kellie at Scraplog (she’s on a roll with the holiday crafts, too, so be sure to check those out if you’re in a crafty mood)
* Adorable holiday tags by Amy Cluck of Peptogirl, part of Creature Comforts’ awesome holiday printable and craft series
* Kellie Medivitz shares pretty, modern holiday gift tags and stripey strips so you can make your own gift bows (original tutorial for the bows can be found at How About Orange)

Clockwise, from top left:

* Festive snowflake to do lists, courtesy of Lynn from Jinjerup (check out the super adorable digital sets that she has in her Etsy shop, too!)
* Pretty up your gift card packaging with printable gift card holders, available in two color palettes, by Erin at Vale Design
* Amy from Eat Drink Chic, who recently designed a gorgeous display window at Borders, shares lovely red and blue jumbo gift tags (left) and Mail Stripes gift tags (right) featuring elements from the window display. Love the cancelled postage detail on the mail stripes tag!
* Check out the sweet printable holiday cards that Valerie from Designs by Val designed as a part of Creature Comforts’ holiday printable and craft series
* Create a forest of pretty patterned trees with paper cone tree printables from Kind Over Matter. Use empty toilet paper or cut paper towel rolls for the trunks.

images from their respective owners

Seattle Show Posters

December 17, 2009 // kristen // 2 replies

I attended my very first Bazaar Bizarre in Boston this year — how in the world did I not get there until this year?! — and it was such a great time. I met some awesome paper peeps, and there was crafty goodness in every nook and cranny. Plus, I got to hear “Video Killed the Radio Star” played on the theremin. How often does that happen?

It would be difficult for me to pick my favorite table at the show, as there were so many fantastic ones, but one of my new discoveries was Seattle Show Posters. I love their retro aesthetic, and I could’ve easily snapped up half a dozen of the posters that they had for sale. I came away with my favorite (above), though the version I have is sans type, as opposed the show poster version shown above. I can’t wait to frame it and hang it on the wall!

Luckily for everyone who is not able to catch Seattle Show Posters at a show, they have a website where you can purchase their super cool show posters, art prints and more. Here’s just a sample of what you can find:

images from Seattle Show Posters

Bowerbox Press Woodcut Letterpress Cards

December 16, 2009 // kristen // 1 replies

I am really digging these letterpress cards by Bowerbox Press. The cards are printed from woodcut illustrations of owls, penguins, peacocks, and other birds, and the black woodcut image on white stock creates a bold, graphic result, the style of which reminds me just a bit of Edward Gorey, one of my favorite illustrators.

images from Bowerbox Press

A Print a Day Has a Shoppe!

December 16, 2009 // kristen // 2 replies

I was so excited to see that Yasmine from A Print a Day, one of my favorite creative blogs, has just launched a shoppe filled with prints of a selection of her beautiful, evocative illustrations. Forests of colorful mushrooms, bottles and jars with dreamy fantasy worlds, not to mention super cute woodland animals, inside — so great! Here’s a little eye candy from the shop, and you can see all of the prints available at the shoppe:

images from A Print a Day Shoppe

Book Page Ideas Aplenty

December 15, 2009 // kristen // 0 replies

I am loving the trend in book page crafts and decorations, and I’m still awaiting the time when I’ll finally be able to put together this fabulous book page wreath. I’ve got the supplies. Now, I just need to find time! In the meantime, here are a few more book page ideas that have caught my eye lately.

Kellie from ScrapLog made a beautiful wreath using paper ringlets made by cutting book pages into strips. Love this:

She also used book pages to create pretty origami star ornaments:

Hausfrau in Melbourne shares an idea for creating a pom pom style gift bow using book pages (I must try this!):

And I love this ruffly bloom gift topper from Country Living (for instructions, go to slide 3 in the slideshow when you click over), which I spotted in Nole’s lovely roundup of book page, newspaper, and sheet music gift wrap ideas at Oh So Beautiful Paper. The original is made from newsprint, but I think it would be pretty easily adaptable for book pages if you have pages that are wide enough:

images from their respective owners