Another Page and a Craft Fair

I am excited that I was just accepted to sell at the Brooklyn Lyceum Spring Food and Craft Market on May 2nd. I am also now a member of The {NewNew}, a team of artists and designers in the New York area. So, I guess that makes this a productive week, even though I am itching to just sit and pound out tons of stuff for hours at a time. It's hard not to feel like the other work (like learning photoshop and organizing supplies and researching shows) is not a waste of time. It is just as necessary, just not as fun.

Speaking of photoshop, I also made this layout. While pretty enough, I am starting to miss the tactile experience of paper, scissors, glue, etc. But it will all go into the vault of skills that can be used. Right? Of course, right.

Whew!!!!

I have been trying to learn the world of photoshop and digital scrapbooking. I took an online class by Renee Pearson, and it was a AMAZING. At first, I did not love the medium; I missed my papers and scissors and glue. And I couldn't make things look the way I wanted. Well, 3 lessons later ( I haven't even done the last lesson yet), and I am able to design pages to my taste. I invested a bit in some digital papers in various shades of brown, and together with the digital elements from the class, I was able to make these:





They are actually the exact same layout (made with one "template"), but slight differences between them. They are both based on recent blog posts. I have to say, I am wonderfully proud of myself. But, I am still worried how I will feel about the printed versions. The staples are only pretend staples. The paper will actually be flat and smooth, even though they look like they are textured. On the other hand, I finally feel like I am joining the 21st century. And it is so much faster, easier, and neater. I guess just have to make enough of these to send away and get them printed, and then I will know....

And even more new items on etsy!

Okay, 2 are cards that I made a while ago, but never put up on etsy. One is newly designed, and quite frankly, I am madly in love with it. I might marry it. That would be the lovely Kraft colored card, with shiny turquoise and black stamp. Flowers, but not too frilly. Mmm. Delish.

New items on etsy

I finally had a chance to go back to creating and designing some cards. It is quite fun, I must say.

Here are what Valentine's day cards look like when designed by a girl who doesn't like things frilly, cutesy, or too pink. Very tiny hearts surrounded by a lot of brown and black.

Obviously...

...if your eyes tear while cutting onions, you should wear swimming goggles.

This is the face of an 8 year old boy...

...as he thinks about what to wish for, before he blows out the candles.

In Praise of Cardboard Boxes

This post is inspired by the pile of boxes in my living room that can't be thrown away yet, because Sam is in the middle of playing with them. More importantly, he said, "My dream come true. A bunch of boxes." I love children's pretend play, especially when it's with the stuff we usually throw away (note the photos of when Sam duct taped seltzer bottles to his body). But so help me if those packing peanuts end up all over the floor.

All day Saturday, Max said to Sam, "I'm giving you an x box for your birthday." Apparently he was planning this for after Shabbos:

Anyhow, the pile of boxes got me thinking about an old scrapbook page I made the first time my kids played with boxes. It's not beautiful. I just needed to write it down.

For further reading on the subject:

This book, aside from being a great read, is visually pleasing, and the cover and paper offer a wonderful tactile experience. No, seriously. I love the feel of this book in my hand. The cover and the pages. And much of the book is in Kraft color, which is as beautiful to me as burlap.