Funky Punky Treasury

My Kitty Punk upcycled paper bead bracelet made it into a cool treasury called Funky Punky by AMPdesigns. Thanks!

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

The Beehive Is Still Buzzing

The Beehive Custom Silhouette from client's photo

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

I promise I'm not dead, but my blog must seem that way. I haven't had my own computer for awhile now so I'm very limited in what I can do. It's frustrating and freeing all at the same time because I have to be choosy and because I'm not tempted all day to sit down and do "just one little thing" that turns into an hour or more of little things.

Things in life and The Beehive are trucking along though and I'm continuing to make things for my shop. I'm starting to get more and more inquiries about my custom scrapbooks and silhouettes and am holding my breath that it is a sign of wonderful things to come. Above is a custom silhouette I completed recently and below are the latest premade scrapbook layouts to The Beehive.

Happy Woodland Creatures: 2 adorable layouts in 1! See more images, and make it yours, here

Happy Birthday: 2 fun layouts in 1! See more images, and make it yours, here.

Weekend Feature: Gilt Goods Handmade Paper And Embellishments

Chocolat, Decorated Papers and Embellishments for Artisans by Gilt Goods

In my recent handmade supplies hunt it never even occurred to me that I might be able to find, not only handmade supplies like buttons, brads and tags for scrapbooking, but the actual paper itself until I ran across this fantastic shop, Gilt Goods! I know, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a little slow. Don't get me wrong, I knew I could buy handmade paper, you know that stuff that's beat to a pulp then reformed into paper, but it never crossed my mind that I could get adorable, unique, printed pattern paper. Can you tell I'm drooling a bit?! That's because all of these lovelies started out as original drawings, something you won't find at your local scrapbook shop. Gilt Goods has paper and embellishments as well as digital designs and other fun surprises. So what's stopping you? Get to shopping handmade supplies!

Go visit Gilt Goods here or click any image to be taken to it's listing, where you can make it yours. Be sure to read the interview below!

Peapod Baby Decorated Paper Collection by Gilt Goods

Snails Blank Sticky Labels by Gilt Goods

Fairy Garden Digital Collage Sheet No. 7 by Gilt Goods

OPHELIA Russian Ballerina Paper Doll by Gilt Goods

All photos used with the permission of Gilt Goods

Interview with Gilt Goods

What do you do for a living in the daytime?

I work part-time as a graphic artist for our local non-profit arts agency, which I love, and also do free-lance work on the side. When I'm not at work, I am with my 5 year old son (and recent preschool graduate thank you very much!).

Tell us a little about your etsy self

My etsy self is still trying to figure out what in the world to sell on etsy! I really love the venue, but I haven't found my niche yet. I sell all kinds of things at several stores, but these things don't do as well on-line. Because I LOVE to design papers, and have had good response in "real life" to them, I'm excited to see how these items will do on etsy.

Tell us a little about your non-etsy self

My non- etsy self is married to a super guy (our 15th year!) and we have one kid, who is just the greatest. I have a degree in art history (minored in painting) earned about a million years ago. I love designing so much that after spending all day on the computer at work, I come home and spend the few "free" hours of the evening Photoshopping on my laptop in bed. I mostly work on a 5 year old iBook G4, who is really a member of the family. When I actually get off the computer, I make jewelry, read everything in sight, bake biscuits, and take family trips in the camper van.

What do you make and why did you start making it?

I make decorated papers for crafters, artisans, scrapbookers, bookmakers, anyone who is looking for papers you can't find anywhere else. I make notebooks and other paper goods, but it was frustrating to see the very same pattern I was using show up in 6 other shops. I wanted exclusivity! So I started printing out my own designs, and people were more interested in the paper than the product! I have just started to offer digital download papers. I love to draw and design even more than I love crafting (although I do that too), it's just so satisfying to take my illustrations and create something beautiful and functional.

What inspires you?

I draw inspiration from everything around me! Sometimes it's a book about the middle ages and miniatures, sometimes it's a fabulous vintage kimono fabric scrap, or the color of the moss that grows on our pine trees, or my kid's cute robot drawings. I would say a common thread running throughout everything I do is an appreciation for our natural world and the beauty of the everyday experience.

What advice do you have for people trying to sell their crafts?

Make sure you really love doing what you're doing. I've had people want to make a wholesale order of those adjustable rings with the glass marble thingies over my paper designs (I did have a sample of one, and it was on my line-sheet...) and I just didn't want EVER to make another ring! I HATE making those things! So. Make what you love. And the other thing I think is really important is to have your own voice, your own point of view. After all, anyone can glue a glass and paper magnet together, what makes YOURS special?

Thank you to Sunny for this feature!

Creating Handmade With Handmade, It's A Hoot!

What A Hoot premade owl-themed scrapbook layout by The Beehive

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

I've recently been hunting down handmade scrapbook supplies to use in the making of my own goodies and it's been so much fun! The quality of the supplies have been out of this world, it makes it hard for me to use up the mass produced supplies I already had! it's also a fantastic feeling to be supporting my fellow crafter and to know that the things I'm using were made by the hands of human beings, people with stories and lives and passions.

What A Hoot premade owl-themed scrapbook layout by The Beehive

Features fantastic owl and tree tags by A Scrappy Design, a couple of Tessa Ann's wonderful handmade buttons and Aimoobaroo's all too perfect fabric covered owl brad.

Happy Woodland Creatures Memory Catcher by The Beehive

I used 2 of Aimoobaroo's fabric covered brads on this memory catcher, the deer and the little birdie on the mushroom. I think I'm in love!

Stay tuned for more fantastic handmade things from The Beehive made from fantastic handmade things! I have a premade layout using some of Tessa Ann's big, cute as pie buttons in the works. Just a hint: happy woodland creatures make me happy!

To add my What A Hoot layout to your scrapbook click here.
To bring home the Happy Woodland Creatures Memory Catcher click here.

Cherry Blossom

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

I am so excited to be in this gorgeous pink Cherry Blossom themed treasury by KIMMSMITH. I just listed my Cherry Blossom memory catcher late last night and I'm in love with it, it's nice to see someone else likes it too! Make the Cherry Blossom Memory Catcher yours by clicking here and be sure to visit the treasury here to help boost it to the front page! And see the gorgeous jewelry of Kim Smith here.

Now At The Beehive

Woodland Creatures Memory Catcher

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Somehow, even with a dead computer, I've managed to list four new items to The Beehive this week, yippee! My husband has been really sweet to forgo many a City Of Heroes mish for justice so that I can get some of my stuff done. So, have a look! To make any of these items yours, click the pick or go here.

Paper Bead Bracelets Galore!

Kitty Punk

Connect The Dots

Chilly Cat

Upsetting The Delicate Balance

Mr. Golden Curls and Mr. Cash all tuckered out.

NOTE: My shop The Beehive is now Papercut Kitchen! Please visit my shop Papercut Kitchen by clicking here.

Just letting you know we're still alive. My computer died, again. This time it looks as though it is not to rise from the dead and through this I'm realizing what a big online addict I really am. And how much I hate to have my routine upset. On the upside, my house is starting to look a lot cleaner! I am managing to get some things done in the mornings and evenings on my husband's laptop so be sure to check out the latest to my shop!

Proudly Serving My Corporate Masters

I love my coffee mugs and my newest is no exception. Ah, funny. Extra funny because I don't at all serve a corporate master. I did at one time work as a graphic designer and had a cubicle, but it was the prettiest cubicle I've ever seen and I certainly never felt like a slave, I actually liked my job. Now I'm a full-time mom and a craft nerd. My youth director husband, also not serving a corporate master. Our lives are pretty sweet!