Here's another sneak peek of a lovely paper lace that you will learn to make if you keep reading this web site for more installments of my Free Paper Lace Idea Book. This particular layout was a lot of fun to make, and it is very simple! I love scrapping with the "Fleuriste" line of patterned papers by Cosmo Cricket. They are a no-brainer to use; they are so versatile that you'd be hard-pressed to find photos that don't work well with them. (As usual, excluding your husband's hunting/fishing/ football layouts, that is.)

In this layout I created almost all my own embellishments (except for the brads, which are made by Accent Depot.) See the tiny paper flowers that are attached on either side of the paper lace border? I made those from Cosmo Cricket's Hey Sugar Honey Honey paper. They were super easy to make; all I did was use Fiskars Mini Scallop Paper Edgers to cut around a few of the flower motifs from the patterned paper; then I attached a mini-brad in the center.

Here's a photo of the "Hey Sugar Honey" Cosmo Cricket paper I used to create the flower embellishments:

And then here's a photo of the embellishments before I attached them to the layout (you can click the photo to get an larger picture and take a closer look at them.)

So, you might be looking at that "embellishment" (for lack of a better word?) that is positioned under the lower left hand flower photo. It's another one that I made. I made it out of one of my old business cards (I am into recycling!) that I hand painted. Then for another project I wanted to have multicolored punches so I punched out a bunch of small circles and squares. I thought that the punched-out painting looked cool all by itself, but I couldn't think of a use for it right then. So back in my stash it went. Well, when I was scrapping these pics today looking through my stash I pulled it out and used it. Love doing stuff like that! I have found that if you make a bunch of embellishments from time to time, and you organize them well, you will never be at a loss for things to put on your layouts.

Materials and Supplies

Patterned Paper is "Primrose" from the Fleuriste Collection by Cosmo Cricket. The brads are by Accent Depot.

Additional Techniques Used:

Paper cutting, punching, collage, inking, painting

How To Make The Paper Lace

The techniques for making the paper lace shown on this layout will be covered in detail in my Paper Lace Idea Book. The introduction, chapter one, and part of chapter 2 are already online, so you can get started learning how to make paper lace. So far I have posted the basic information that you will need to get started. Detailed instructions for the paper lace border that you see in this layout have not been posted yet, but more instructions will be posted soon. I invite you to follow my blog for more updates about when the next chapters of the book will be posted.

About This Scrapbook Layout:

This layout features another group of 3 photos of orchids and flowers that I took at the Arboretum in Arcadia, California. I already posted another scrapbooking layout with orchid photos that were taken around this time period.

Thanks so much for dropping by! I sincerely appreciate your interest in my work.

Here's another scrapbooking layout I created using paper lace. The photos show a gorgeous peacock that I encountered at the Arboretum in Arcadia, California. Peacocks roam free throughout the Arboretum, and seeing them is sheer delight! They are so beautiful!

Materials and Supplies

The background patterned paper is "Get Happy: Pop" by Cosmo Cricket. The round epoxy sticker at the top of the layout is from the Narratives Honeydew Collection by Creative Imaginations/ Karen Russell. The other papers are hand-painted and hand stamped by me. The stamp is a one of a kind Indian Woodblock / batik block that I got on ebay. I actually have several of them. Here is a photo of them.

These are so much fun to use. They are different in some ways than using a clear stamp or rubber stamp- but it's basically the same stamping process for the most part. There is a lot of creative potential for using these. I originally bought them because I used to teach textile and surface design to fashion design majors and I wanted my students to be able to try out authentic Indian batik blocks during our classes. Well, they did, and you would not believe the results! Each and every one of them was able to make these wood block stamps look completely and totally different. It was mind boggling!

Making the Paper Lace:

This paper lace was made using The Fiskars Hearts Border Punch. I don't have instructions posted yet for making this particular paper lace, but it is very similar to some of the paper laces I have already posted on the site. Also take a look at this page about the Fiskars Sunburst Border punch and this page about the Fiskars Threading Water border punch because the idea is similar. And then of course keep checking this blog for more updates to my Free Paper Lace Idea Book, where I will be sharing step-by-step instructions for the paper laces and projects you see on this site.

Note: If you do decide to make this paper lace, try to cut straighter than I did! But, if you mess up, don't worry. The craft police are NOT going to come after you.

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Here's a sneak peek of some different paper laces that you will learn to make if you keep reading this web site for more installments of my Free Paper Lace Idea Book. Here I've used multiple paper laces in a scrapbook layout.

Materials and Supplies

Patterned Paper is "Primrose" from the Fleuriste Collection by Cosmo Cricket. The journaling blocks are hand stamped on hand painted Strathmore paper. I used one of the clear stamps from the Stitched Journaling stamp set by Maryann Wise / Autumn Leaves.

Techniques Used:

Paper cutting, punching, stamping, collage, inking, painting, chalking

How To Make The Paper Lace

If you want to know how to make paper lace such as the examples you see on this layout, but you haven't already begun reading my Paper Lace Idea Book, please take a look at it. I recommend that you read through the chapters that are already posted on this web site first. So far I have posted the basic information that you will need to get started. The specific instructions for the particular paper laces that you see in this layout have not been posted yet- which is why I referred to this as a "sneak peek". I will be covering more details about how to make these specific paper laces in upcoming chapters.

About This Scrapbook Layout:

This layout features a group of 4 photos of orchids and flowers that I took at the Arboretum in Arcadia, California. At the time I took these photos, I was taking a class in botanical illustration. It was a wonderful class; I learned how to draw a variety of plants and flowers. During the time the class was in session, I took a bunch of reference photos of different flowers such as these lovely orchids. I still enjoy working from my reference photos when I want to do some floral drawings and paintings. However, nowadays I get even more inspiration from scrapping the flower photos. Flowers are probably my second favorite photographic subject (my husband is my favorite subject. LOVE taking pictures of him, I think he is gorgeous.) Since flower photos and paper lace work well together I will be posting quite a bit more of my layouts and projects that feature flower photos embellished with paper lace. So if you are interested in seeing more paper lace borders used in scrapbooking projects, please bookmark this blog or add it to your feed reader and keep reading!

Thanks so much for dropping by! I sincerely appreciate your interest in my work.

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday!

I have been hard at work updating my Free Paper Lace Idea Book. I posted some updates to Chapter One: Materials and Supplies, including more detailed information about appropriate papers to use, and more photos and links for various recommended supplies. I hope you will find the updates helpful.

I also posted the first part of Chapter 2. This chapter includes basic instructions for making the simplest/ easiest paper laces. I haven't yet had a chance to post the photos and examples that go along with this chapter, so consider it a starting point. As always, you will want to check the blog again in a few days for more updates. Thanks for your interest! Hope you will enjoy the "book".

I have been noticing a LOT of good deals on supplies for scrapbooking, card making, paper crafting, and art. I cannot believe some of these deals. Thought I'd pass them along in case anyone else wants to take advantage too.

For fans of Basic Grey paper, I just found this insanely good deal. You get 48 pieces of Basic Grey paper for only $19.99!! WOWZA. The normal price on this is $42.72- a huge savings, as you can see. If you do the math on that it works out to less than 42 cents per sheet of patterned paper. The only catch is that they only had 10 left at the time of this posting, so you better get there quick if you want to get in on this. I am not sure how much longer they will be offering this deal...probably not long.

Next we have an extremely discounted Anna Griffin Rubon Transfers Kit. This kit includes 752 family themed rub-on transfers (babies, weddings, children.)

The next item of interest: Twopeasinabucket.com is having a huge sale on stamps. You get 20% off selected stamps between now and 6/21/08. So if you want some new stamps, you will probably want to take a look at their offerings. ESPECIALLY EXCITING: Prima stamps on sale! OOOoooohhhwow. I have been wanting some of these, especially the oh-so-lacy "Build A Frame" stamp sets by Iron Orchid Designs; if you have been wanting them too, now is a good time to grab them!

Click here to see additional Prima Cardstock kits and patterned papers that are currently on sale for 30% off. I noticed that Angelique, Morning Song, Cavalier, and Urban Cosmos cardstock kits are all on sale for 30% off. A lot of the patterned papers are discounted too. These are great prices on stuff that is still really new. Gorgeous too!

A Cherry on Top Scrapbook Shoppe has some fantastic coupon codes right now for even more good deals. I couldn't possibly list all of them because there are a LOT of them, but some highlights include 25% off on single sheets of Bazzill cardstock, 25% off adhesives, 50% off a Cricut Cartridge, OR free surprise paper. If any of these deals sound interesting to you, please click over to their site and read the terms and conditions that apply for each coupon. (As far as I know coupons cannot be combined and some of these deals require a minimum purchase.)

If you are a bargain hunter, it certainly seems like a good time to load up on supplies with all these great deals! Enjoy!

Paper lace is really trendy right now, and I am really enjoying the process of discovering all the new die-cut papers and lace-paper effects that have recently been released. I can't wait to get all these new products posted on this web site! I am working on a brand new page on the web site dedicated to Holey Cardstock by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations. It looks similar to KI Memories' Lace Cardstock, but the patterns are different enough that I would be inclined to buy papers from both lines.

I recently added a new page to the web site dedicated to the Threading Water Border Punch by Fiskars. If you've spent a small fortune buying die-cut scrapbooking papers (like I have!), then this border punch is a must-have item, because it will allow you to create a scalloped lacy punched edge on almost any paper. I am so excited about that because I have been frustrated about the lack of availability of 6" x 6" papers with die cut scalloped / lacy edges. (I still wish some manufacturers would make a pad of 6"x 6" die cut papers...please??? I'd be happy even if it were only the lower edge that is die cut, like the new Sassafrass Lass papers only smaller...) But anyway, until I get my wish, the Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch looks like exactly what I need. I think I could use it somewhere in pretty much every paper crafts project I do, with the possible exception of my husband's extreme sports layouts- since I have been strictly forbidden to put ribbon or paper lace on his rock climbing / mountain biking/ dirt biking photos, hee hee. At any rate, extreme sports layouts aside, the punch is a versatile design with a lot of different applications; it's a tool that I know I would get a lot of use out of.

I am still working on getting the next chapter of my Free Paper Lace Idea Book ready to post online, and that should hopefully be up within the next few days (if all goes according to plan.) I hope you'll check back soon to see the next installment.

Thanks for dropping by- I hope you are having a fabulously interesting and creative day!

I just updated my web page about KI Memories Lace Cardstock to include more information about the Frosty Lace Cardstock designs in the Bloom collection. The page includes photos of the different designs, plus links where you can find these papers for sale online.

Also, if you haven't already checked out my free paper lace idea book, please do take a look! The next chapter will be posted soon.

Thanks for dropping by!

I recently discovered an ebay seller who has some amazing vintage and antique lace paper collectibles listed for sale- plus an amazing selection of other items too, mostly collectible paper and ephemera. The items range from Valentines to Holy Cards to completely unique items (like an I think you'd really be interested in taking a look at all this seller's offerings if you like old paper.

I have been busy updating paperlaces.com with new pages. Chapter one of my free paper lace idea book has been online for a few days now, but I am still busy adding photos and links to it. Within the next couple of days it should be completely finished (if all goes according to plan.) Even now it is finished enough that you should be able to enjoy it, if you want to take a look at it.

Click here to See Amy's Free Paper Lace Idea Book, Chapter One: Materials and Supplies. If you haven't already read the introduction to the book, Please click here to see it.

Other recent paperlaces.com web site updates:

• I made a new page featuring Prima Marketing's Lace-themed paper crafts products.
• I made a new page dedicated to Fiskars' Threading Water Punch.
• I made some updates to my page featuring Martha Stewart's Punches. This isn't a brand new page; it's been on the site for awhile, but I've added some new things to it that you might be interested in seeing. If you are interested in a simple way of making paper lace, Martha Stewart brand border punches are definitely worth checking out.
• My digital paper lace page has been updated. Even if you're not a digital scrapbooker, you might be interested in some of the latest digikits I've posted. I found some amazingly gorgeous digikits for scalloped lacy journaling blocks that could save you a small fortune if you typically purchase cardstock journaling blocks. These are really trendy and pretty.

As soon as I finish up with posting the links and photos in Chapter One of the Free Paper Lace Idea Book, I'll be moving on to posting chapter 2, which is the fun part; it is where we actually get into creating basic paper laces. I'm excited to share these techniques with you! Thanks for dropping by, and please check back soon.

Here's a "head's up" to all you paper-lace loving scrapbookers out there: 2 Peas is having a sale on selected items from Karen Russell's "Narratives" Collection by Creative Imaginations. I've pictured a few of the items that I found on sale; you can click any of the pictures to go to 2 Peas for more information and to see the current sale price and availability. At the time of this posting, these items were all in stock, but I have no idea how much longer they will have stock on them, considering the fantastic prices. Some of them were even on sale for 50% off! Quite a savings. Even the ones that are only 30% off are a really good deal. The stickers shown coordinate perfectly with the other papers and embellishments in the French Sweet Pea, French Blue Bell, and Melonberry Collections from the Narratives Line by Karen Russell/ Creative Imaginations.

French Blue Bell Epoxy Stickers From the Narratives Collection

By Karen Russel / Creative Imaginations

Lacy Blue Bell ABC & Borders 12x12 Narratives Cardstock Stickers

Melonberry Narratives Epoxy Stickers

Lacy Melonberry Alphabet & Borders 12x12 Narratives Cardstock Stickers

Sweet Pea Hearts 12x12 Narratives Cardstock Sticker

Sweet Pea Borders & Alphabet 12x12 Narratives Cardstock Sticker

I've only pictured a few of the lovely items in the Narratives Collection by Karen Russell.

• Click here to see all the Narratives Items for sale at twopeasinabucket.com.
• Or, click here to see all the Narratives items for sale at a Cherry on Top Scrapbook Shoppe.

I just posted the Introduction to my free paper lace idea book. You can click here to see it. Chapter One is coming soon. Please stay tuned! Thanks for your interest.

Image	Description	Price
	TWAG Shabby Chic Pearl Lace Premade Scrapbook Album by Becky	$29.95 bids: 1

OH. MY. GOODNESS! You have got to see this lady's premade scrapbooking albums! They are really incredible. I just found her because I was doing a search on ebay for supplies from K & Company's Wild Saffron collection, and one of her amazing designer purse albums came up in my search. All I can say is, Wow, she is very talented! The work I saw of hers incorporated lots of lacy details plus Prima flowers and too many fancy embellishments to count. I think you will really enjoy looking at all the gorgeous pictures in her auction listings (and maybe even bidding too- if you decide to bid, good luck, because it seems there is some stiff competition to win her auctions. I'm not surprised!) She ships worldwide. If you are in the USA, click here to see her albums on ebay USA.

If you are in Canada, click here to see them on ebay Canada.

If you are in Australia, click here to see them on ebay Australia.

If you are in the UK, click here to see them on ebay.co.uk.

Se siete in Italia, scattisi qui per vederlo su ebay.it.

Updated: The vintage Valentine kit ebay auction ended on April 29, 2008. The final high bid price was $20.50 US dollars.

This seller is selling sold a number of interesting vintage Valentines, including a Valentine kit with paper lace that caught my eye. I don't see vintage Valentine kits come up for sale very often, and they are quite popular. This one is adorable! (It's similar to the Valentine kit I have posted here, but the graphics are different and a lot of the kit components are different too).

I have been working on updating many of the pages on this web site. Some of them were overdue for a change. I recently added the new 2008 Lace Cardstock by KI Memories to my page about Lace Cardstock. I hope you will find that addition helpful. I also added a couple of book reviews to my Paper Lace Book Reviews Page. I've also added some papers, embellishments, descriptions, and links to my page about K & Company paper lace embellishments. I still have plenty more things to share too, so I hope you will continue to check this blog for updates. I really appreciate your interest in the site. Thanks for visiting...'Till next time...

My apologies if you've been checking this site for updates and haven't been finding anything new. YIKES! And, I'm sorry too if you've landed on one of my pages that is still "under construction". It's bugging me knowing that there are unfinished pages on the site, but I haven't had a spare minute to update and fix them. I was recently contacted by one of the editors at the Stampington Magazines about submitting some new artwork for possible publication in an upcoming edition of one of their publications. While I am cautiously optimistic about that, it has meant that I've been busy working on things that I can't post and show you yet. However I have lots of fun stuff planned for this site just as soon as I am finished putting together my package for Stampington. Chapter one of my paper lace idea book is ALMOST ready to be posted on this site, so please stay tuned!

The photo above shows one of the handmade greeting cards with paper lace that I made for the page about paper lace with Fiskars punches. It was made using the Fiskars Sunburst border punch, along with some Wild Saffron Paper Lace Labels / Tags and Motifica papers by BasicGrey (Among other things.) I posted the card and the instructions awhile ago, but I forgot to mention it on the blog. So if you haven't already seen it, please check it out. The supply list and instructions are here.

Thanks for your interest, and I hope your week is off to a great start! 'Till next time...