Custom Silhouettes: Capturing the Moment

 Custom Multiple Figure Silhouette by Papercut Kitchen $60.00

I love working on custom silhouettes! I'm always surprised by how they turn out, each one so unique just by changing the pattern background and colors. I think what I love most though is the process, knowing that I'm working with a photograph of someone's loved ones, the most special people and events in their lives, really makes me feel honored. The last image I worked from was just such a good one I wanted to share my process a bit.

This is the gorgeous image the client supplied me with, isn't it so incredibly romantic and fun? Not hard to find inspiration there!

From the client's image I create a digital silhouette and send it for their approval, no one knows them better than themselves and loved ones so I like to make sure I captured them correctly.

When the silhouette and paper choices have been approved it's time to cut and assemble. Voila! Custom Papercut Kitchen silhouette! I make mine using the computer and my beloved Silhouette die cutting machine, but you can make one at home the old fashioned way, shadows and tracing. Or print your photo to the size you want on your home computer and cut out the figures to make a template.

H&H Photography and Papercut Kitchen: Match Made in Heaven!

I'm incredibly excited to announce my latest scrappy endeavor, a partnership with H&H Photography to bring my scrapbooks and photo boxes to her fantastic mini-session packages! Her photography is absolutely gorgeous, artistic and the kind that doesn't just take a person's picture but captures a moment. We've had a newborn session and a family session with her and couldn't be more pleased. Not only will my photo storage/recipe box and 8x8 scrapbook be offered in packages but there will be a 12x12 scrapbook and chipboard album available for purchase as well, through H&H Photography and also through my online shop, Papercut Kitchen. All items are complete and ready to add photos to.

To make an appointment with H&H Photography visit her Facebook fanpage here or her website here. To purchase an album or photo box visit Papercut Kitchen's online shop here.

8x8 scrapbook Package Option

Chipboard Album

Photo Storage/Recipe Box Package Option

A Crafty Light

I'm seeing that crafty light at the end of my tunnel growing larger and larger! I know Christmas seems so far away but for us crafty folks it takes some major advance prep and I have some very exciting holiday opportunities coming up that I'll elaborate on later. For now I'm just giving a little sneak peak because I'm so excited to finally have gone craft supply shopping! It's been a long time and I'm feeling scrappy!

Bed Rest Is OVER!

The Little Mister was finally born at 5am on
Tuesday, March 22nd 2011
8lbs 14oz 20in

I say finally but, just like his big brothers, he did mamma a favor and came 2 weeks early, sparing me additional bed rest. I didn't have to be induced, yea! I avoided an epidural, I didn't want this to be my first, but I did go a new road and opted for some IV drug to take off the edge. And thank goodness for that, Little Mister was in the "Sunnyside Up" position (facing up instead of down-the easier way) making him a doozy to birth, even with the drugs. And again, just like his brothers, he was very considerate and was born swiftly. Even with trying to arrive extra early, not waiting for 5 min contractions, we were only in the hospital about 3 hours before his arrival. What a wonderful date to be born. As my good friend pointed out the numbers are 32211, super cool! And it's my maternal grandfather's birthday, making it a day with extra special meaning.

Final bed rest count: 3 weeks to the day. Thanks to my mom-in-law I survived with sanity mostly in tact and a clean and fully stocked house waiting for us when we returned from the hospital. If only those three weeks of rest could be stowed away and used during these first few exhausting months of newbornhood. Unfortunately the body does not stock pile rest and I'm blissfully exhausted.

On "Vacation" (aka. Bed Rest)

Well, our unborn little one is proving to be quite the bugger even before he's officially entered the world. We are 4 weeks from our due date and I've been on bed rest for the past week and will continue to be on bed rest until our Little Mister arrives. Because of this I've had to put my Papercut Kitchen shop on vacation mode. I hope to be reopening in a few months when we'll have our household all settled in and I'll be back on my crafty feet (this isn't just wishful thinking right?!). Until then I hope I will still be blogging about crafts and I will certainly be writing about life on my other blog, Notes From My Fridge.

Love Is For Every Day

Damask Heart by Papercut Kitchen

Valentine's Day has passed but I thought I would still share my heart shaped albums since they aren't just for that one day of the year. I've been having so much fun making these chipboard albums and I'm surprised. When I got ready to make my first ones I kind of thought it would be fun but then I'd get bored and move on but I really love that so much can be tucked in to such a small package. And even with albums of the same shape the possibilities are so endless, I think I'm addicted to making them!

Glitter Heart by Papercut Kitchen

Crafty Hearted: Better Than Diamonds

I am proud that my boys are so incredibly creative already, not so they can be my little drones, but because I feel like creativity is an incredibly important skill. It's something I can nurture in them that the school system can't. Whether they become artists or bean counters, it will be something they can use to express themselves or problem solve. It gives me a little reward to see their little minds at work, it's like a whisper letting me know that keeping them home with me until Kindergarten didn't damage them with my imperfection. Add creativity to the sweet generosity of a little kid and my heart is mush, especially when that kid is mine.

Mr. Golden Curls is 6 years old now and he has always been a creative spirit and a problem solver. At Christmas time with my parents we were all sitting around after having opened gifts and he was roaming around the house. He kept passing through saying "I'm looking for a bead. Do you have a bead?" It is not strange for him to be on a mission to make something but when he presented my mom with this ring made out of a twist tie from one of his new toys and a cut piece of straw for a bead we were pretty blown away. As far as I know he's never seen jewelry made like this but he had the ability to go measure Grammy's finger, create a bead, and get it twisted onto the wire just right. Then he gave it to her with the words, "I didn't have anything to give you for Christmas so I made you this."

Van Gogh: A First Grader's Account

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh

Conversation with my 6 year old:

"What did you do in art today?"
"Watched a movie."
"A movie, in art class?"
"Yeah. It was about an artist, I don't remember his name but he did a bunch of stuff before he was an artist. Then he was so sad he cut his ear off and sent it in the mail. Then he was friends with this other artist and he went home and got so mad at his friend that he shot himself."

My husband and I looked at each other with hugely wide eyes, my 5 year old laughed and we spent the next 5 minutes explaining why that was sad and not funny and wondering why the heck a first grader needs that much background on an artist. Then when they were in bed we howled with laughter and wondered, who's next on the list?!

How Lovely Are Your Branches

I know I am miserably behind on my show and tell when it's the middle of January and I'm just now showing off the ornaments that I made for the grandparents. To my credit I did want to wait until they were gifted on Christmas but I am running in super slow motion these days. I blame my unborn child. These were such a big hit and I loved making them even more because they are my children and my beloved niece and nephews. I think I will be forever enthralled with silhouettes, such a simple form and yet so much detail and personality.