Chicago, Chicago! It's my kind of town...

One of the perks of working for Paper House Productions is that I get to attend trade shows around the country (and now Canada!). During the Summer 2010 show circuit, I helped our reps at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, only this time I took a day to do some sightseeing. And, why not scrap my wanderings using our very own 12x12 papers and cardstock stickers in our Chicago Collection?

I cut out part of each 12x12 paper (Chicago Map P-0280E, Chicago Collage P-0281E), leaving a top edge of 1" and trimmed about 1/4" off the bottom to allow for the top edge of the cardstock to show. Each photo is mounted on cardstock (Recollections). Stickles glitter glue adds the bling to the two "Chicago" cardstock stickers (STCX-0068E). Two Millennium Park images from our cardstock stickers fill in the center portion on the right-side page, and various chipboard banners and frames used for photo captions add an interesting touch (thanks, Shaena!).

Something I like to do with projects from my travels is to add pieces of brochures, maps, and other souvenirs that I collect on my trips. On these pages, I made a pocket from the same cardstock used to mount my photos. I decorated the pocket with a portion of the guide book map on which the hotel's concierge marked his recommended sights, then stuck my ticket stubs in the pocket. The Art Institute of Chicago's logo from their brochure cover, mounted on black cardstock, not only adds color and interest but covers up a part of the photo I didn't want to show!

Where to next....?

CHA Winter '09 Make & Take

Our CHA Make & Take was a blast this year! Thanks to all of you who helped to get the project prepared, taught at the show, and to our customers and friends with whom we had so much fun! 

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, which began on January 26 (the year of the Ox), we made these adorable little favor boxes out of covered take-out containers. How appropriate!

To make, you will need:

P-0332 China Collage Paper

STCX-0084 China Cardstock Sticker

1 - 1/2 Pint Take-Out Container (available online or in craft stores)

Ribbon Scraps (Red, Black & Gold)

Favors! - we used customized fortune cookies

Instructions:

1. Begin by covering the take-out box with Paper House's China Collage Paper. To do so, you can cut 4 separate pieces and glue them onto each side, or two longer pieces to wrap around. Make sure to leave a cut-out for where the handle will be to allow it to move freely, or make slits in the paper around the handles and glue down firmly. If making multiple boxes to use as party favors, it's easy to create a template by unfolding one of your boxes, cutting and taping the appropriate sides together.
2. Wrap the border from the Cardstock Sticker around the bottom of the container, making sure to stay parallel with the bottom of the box. Decorate your favor box as desired with the other China Cardstock Stickers on the sheet.
3. Tie several scraps of ribbon around the handle of your favor box to add a bit of glitz and glam! We especially like the way the gold ribbon contrasts with the red and sepia tones of the project!

These take-out boxes make quick and easy favors for any event. Personalize your favors with any of our fun & unique themes to match the style of the party you're throwing!

Sneak Peak! - Glitter Papers!

Wow! We're so excited to share this sneak peak with you! Our fabulous new glitter papers, designed in our classic sepia-tone, collage style for six travel destinations, are here and ready for purchase! The subtle glitter adds a shimmer that will make all of your scrapbook pages and craft projects dazzle!

Now available for the following destinations in our travel line:
London • Paris • Rome • Germany • Ireland • Mexico

Be sure to check out our website today to see full size images of these stunning 12x12" papers. To view them all, go to www.PaperHouseProductions.com. We hope you love them as much as we do!

Also, we've got some great layouts and cards coming up, so be sure to stop back by throughout the week for some exciting inspiration!

All Occasion "Discover" Card

If you're not quite sure how to use our travel products besides on themed pages or projects, well then here's a card for you! We've combined our great Explore paper with Canvas Quotes and Chipboard to create this neutral all-occasion card that proclaims, "Enjoy the Journey." Distressing and inks work great to give this card an aged and nostalgic feeling!

Supplies:
P-0269 Explore Paper
STFT-0011E Travel Adventure Canvas Quotes
DCCB-0010E Paris Chipboard

Black Cardstock
Gold Ribbon
Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger (Tea Dye, Old Paper, and Black Soot)
Ranger's Gold Embossing Powder, Inkssentials Black Embossing Pen, and Heat Gun
Ranger's Diamond Stickle's Glitter

Instructions:

1. Trim black cardstock to 6.5 x 10" and fold in half to make card base (5 x 6.5" card).
2. Cut a piece of the Explore Paper just smaller than the front of the card. We used the lower left corner to include the word "Discover."
3. Distress the edges of the Explore piece and then tear in half horizontally at a slight angle. Ink all sides of both pieces using Tea Dye and Old Paper Distress Inks. Use the Black Soot ink only on the outside edges.
4. Adhere both pieces of your distressed Explore Paper to the front of your card, positioning so that both pieces overlap just slightly and you can see the torn edge clearly. You should have a slight black border around the card.
5. Ink the long travel Quote sticker from the Canvas Quotes and distress the edges. Mount to a scrap of black cardstock, trim around so there is a border, and adhere to the bottom center of the card, about 1/4" from the bottom.
6. Using the black Inkssentials embossing pen, color in the word "Discover" on the Explore Paper, pour on gold embossing powder and shake off excess. Heat with heat gun until powder melts and becomes shiny.
7. Ink the "Enjoy the Journey" sticker from the Travel Adventures canvas quotes and place in the upper right, between the corner and the swirly "D" of Discover.
8. Glue the Chipboard pieces in place, positioning the Eiffel Tower piece between the two twill stickers and using the Fleur-De-Lis' as accents. Use a bit of Ranger's Diamond Stickles on the lower Fleur-De-Lis if desired.
9. Tie a length of shimmery gold ribbon along the top hinge of the card, sit back, and admire! :)

Our travel line doesn't have to be used just for your vacation photos! Check back soon to see other fun, everyday projects that can be made using our travel papers, stickers, mini cut-outs and more! To see our full line of travel products, just visit the Travel Theme section of our website!