enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

  • save paper – make good.

    Handmade0861
    The inspiration for these little ones is completely from this post on Design*Sponge. HOW COOL ARE THOSE? I made mine a little smaller so they could hang on tree branches and used an eyelet at the top to string them up.

    Handmade0862
    I love the holiday paper bags from Trader Joe's (Whole Foods bags are great this season too). Kraft and white look so good together.

    Handmade0863 The paper bags are a bit awkward to fit into a paper cutter so I just went at these with scissors. The smallest strip is about 4 inches and then each strip increases in length by a about a half inch. You will want a strip of one size for the middle and then two of each additional size – one for each side of the ornament.

    Handmade0865
    Once you have all your strips, line them up with the longest out the outsides. Punch a hole through the "top". Set an eyelet through the hole.

    Handmade0866 Push up your strips to that the ends of each meet up. The strips should form a bulge. Set an eyelet through the bottom to hold the shape.

    Handmade0867 String some some baker's twine through the eyelet hole. Badda-bing, Badda-boom: You're done.

    These are also great with decorative paper and cardstock but I love that there is a new use to get out of a paper bag.

    Sidenote : here is a link to my favorite handmade ornament from last Christmas season. I am excited to get the old and the new on the tree together this year.

  • sunday.

    Home again for just a few days until heading home for Thanksgiving. I have to say I am crazy excited this year for Thanksgiving. Last year, Paul and I stayed out in Maryland, and while it was simple and sweet it was not ONE BIG HUGE FAMILY DAY OF GOOD – which is exactly what it should be.

    We are making a pizza for dinner and then I have grand plans for a HANDMADE HOLIDAY ORNAMENT that I will be posting all about tomorrow.

    Happy evening!

  • this is my 1000th post.

    Comic I am bringing this comic back to celebrate (you may have to click to enlarge.)

    It is only fitting that for my 1000th I have very little to say. I am off to Annapolis again. Counting the days until we're home in Sacramento for Thanksgiving.

  • cool dude.

    Handmade08shares IMG_0922 Prayflipped Today is a good day. I printed 8 sets of custom stationery. Three cheers for that. And also three cheers for my circa 2005 iPod shuffle which got me up and going at the press today.
    Handmadeshares1
    Couple of good holiday links for you today:

    ONE : STICK STARS. Man, oh man, Molly, did you rock it with these stars. I love them. And I am now officially on the hunt for tree branches.

    TWO : MARTA DIARIES. What a perfect gift! I ordered three of these last week. One for me and two for special someones. Because between this blog and my journal and my planner I still need one more way to keep track of my day. AND NO…I am not kidding.

    THREE : SPRING TREES. Hello, Fantastic. I am loving trees of all shapes and sizes these days. Other good tree related finds: this stamp from Paper Source and this paper by Denise Lynn Studios…buy it here.

  • scarf two & a winner.

    Handmade085
    Scarf two is a work in progress. I love how this one is coming together. I got a couple questions from my last knitting post and the fact is : I know very little about knitting. As in, I did not really realize there were different types of needles. I just bought ones that looked about right. And also, when purchasing yarn, I go for a combination of color, texture and price. But I suppose that is what I do with every purchase I have ever made.

    That said, I can tell you that my needles are 6.0 mm US 10. Which if I had to guess means they are 6mm wide and 10 inches long. And also that they are to be used in the United States.

    And I do not know the brand of yarn from the green + gray scarf. I do know that I got it at Michael’s though. The yarn I am currently working with is Bernat Soft Boucle.

    +++++

    And of course, I have a book to giveaway.

    Winner from the previous post was…number 121 or:

    You should be proud! I have had 3 c-sections and the docs who perform and assist are a special breed!

    Posted by:
    patti |
    November 18, 2008 at 03:20 PM

    Patti, please email me with your address and I will get it to Kal. Thank you Patti, and many others for your sweet words about Paul. I read a lot of them to him and he got a weird smile on his face. He is currently a third year med student and right in the middle of his pediatrics rotation. He expected to really not like this rotation and while I am pretty sure he is not going to be a pediatrician, he is finding himself charmed by the babies and little kids. Watching that happen is very cool. Thanks for sharing it a little with me.

    And one other note to those of you who expressed a desire for Kal’s book…I KNOW. Isn’t it fabulous? The good news is that if you did not win it here today, you can still buy it. She is offering a special Holiday Price. A discount on cool art. Talk about good cheer.

    On the agenda for me today: some knitting and gymming and then some economic stimulus at Martin + Osa.

  • give life.

    Annapolis
    Home again for the next three days until the Annapolis Paper Source Grand Opening. Looking forward to a few days of rest/craft.
    Kal1
    Kal2
    TODAY I am excited to GIVEAWAY a LoveLife book by the artist herself – Kal Barteski. No doubt you have already seen her blog and paint magic, but you may not have this book which is sort of a history of her art for over 150 weeks. I am lucky to own copy and cannot wait to give one away. Leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner tomorrow morning. Kal will be giving away a set of my letterpress stationery on her blog today as well.

    I wish I had a photo to go with this next story : Yesterday, I got home pretty late and Paul was about to fall asleep. He had been up early at the hospital. When I asked him what he was doing he said he saw some pretty little babies. "How little?" I asked, "like a week?"

    "Well – we were assisting in cesareans. So they were tiny."

    My boy held brand new two second old little people. He was the guy standing with the blanket waiting to clean up and check over a little new life. I still cannot get over that. I keep fluctuating between pride and jealousy. (But mostly just pride.)

  • give handmade : round one.

    Handmade4 I hope to share some fantastic handmade finds throughout the next couple weeks – items that I will be gifting (and wishing for) this holiday season.

    Today, I am sharing my own custom stationery. Sets are available in quantities of 10 ($25) & 20 ($45), though I can create a custom listing if you require more. I will be printing this week in YELLOW, GREEN, TEAL & BLUE. Visit my etsy shop if you are interested – I would love to work with you and be part of your handmade holiday.

  • sunday sweet.

    Quiet night for me in Annapolis. Just bloglines + my knitting. Not too shabby.

    I am so excited about handmade holiday and hope to have lots of good ideas up in the coming weeks.

  • done and done.

    Handmande083
    One scarf comin' atcha. I started this beast last November. And finished it last Thursday. I have never personally finished a scarf before, I always passed them over to Mom for the tie off. And actually, I have never worn a scarf that I made. Ususally they are quite filled with holes.
    Handmade0832
    The green + gray scarf is my Christmas gift to myself but I have plans to make one for a special someone. (And no it is not Paul. He "doesn't like things around his neck.") I better hop to or it is going to become a Thanksgiving 2009 gift.

  • deck the walls with wreaths of tin.

    Handmade082
    It turned out! My hammering and waiting-for-glue-to-dry-patience were worth it. Because of all the hammering, this one is a little more complicated (and louder) than the cardboard.
    Handmade0822
    I was a little worried it would turn out too trashy, but I think the colors help keep it festive. And I refrained from adding a glaring Miller Lite cap because, let's be honest, nothing says "Bah-humbug" like cheap beer. I do, however, think that a nice coat of white or green paint could work wonders if you are working with some not so fabulous colored caps.
    Handmade0823
    The whole wreath is held together with some chipboard and oodles of PVA. PVA dries clear so I just globbed it on until everything held together.

    I seriously am going to have a wall of wreaths this Christmas. And then come January it will be my wall of calendars. Paul is so excited.

    Have a great Friday – I am work at the new Paper Source Annapolis. Come visit!