Collective Elements - ultimate paper love

It's been awhile...

2014-07-30T10:37:00.001-04:00

Life can sometimes take you away from things.

I've forgotten how clunky this design is so I will be working on that the next few weeks before I start posting new products and ideas. So you should expect the look of this blog to be a bit fluid. Also my new url is www.collectiveelements.com. This will be my primary website from now on.

Catch me vending this Saturday at the 2nd Annual Not Yo Mama's Happy Holiday Craft Fair

2012-11-27T10:49:00.004-05:00

After some thought I decided I couldn't end the year without doing a craft show.

So stop by the Powerhouse Lounge on 360 Marin Blvd in Jersey City for a great time and awesome crafts!!

Featuring:

30 Incredible Crafters selling their best wares!
DJ Dancing Tony setting the holiday mood.$2-$6 Drink and food specials.The return of the much anticipated NYM Raffle Wheel, filled with amazing prizes.NYM's own crafty lady MC Michelle on the mic!First 50 shoppers get a free holiday tote bag!$5 Suggested Donation at the door. Door Proceeds to benefit Red Cross Hurricane Relief Efforts & Bar Sales to benefit Art House Productions.

I'll be posting some pictures of my new holiday cards on my Facebook page this week.

I sell stationery not stationary.

2012-09-24T11:25:00.003-04:00

(Source: Nancy and Betty Studio)

Yesterday, I spent the day helping a friend at a local craft show. Before the show started I strolled around to check out the competition. I noticed one lone stationery vendor. Oh excuse me..."stationary" vendor. The vendor in question, had a cute little chalkboard sign stationed outside of their tent with the words "FINE STATIONARY" in big bold letters.

At first, I thought it was a mistake and walked over to help a fellow paper vendor out. As I got closer to the tent, I noticed stationery wasn't spelled wrong once on the chalkboard but throughout the vendor's tent. "Fine Stationary". Hmm...no mistake.

At that point, I figured it didn't make sense to say a word. In fact, I grew concerned the person might not appreciate me pointing out the misspelling.

Oh well...doesn't look good when you don't know how to spell the name of your product.

More holiday cards!

2011-11-15T22:36:00.001-05:00

Actually, I'm still working on this set but pretty happy with what I have so far:

All papers are Echo Park Seasons's Greetings by Lori Whitstock 6x6 pad.

Following Yonder Star Card

Stickers: Me and My Big Ideas and Sandylion Essentials

Angel on High Card

Stickers: Sandylion Essentials

Etsy Treasury: Santa Silliness Under $25

2011-11-15T10:58:00.001-05:00

My "Jolly Old St. Nick" Card was featured in KandiceInWonderland's treasury.
Santa Silliness Under $25

First batch of Christmas Cards!

2011-11-05T23:09:00.004-04:00

All cards feature paper from Echo Park's Holly Jolly 6x6 Paper Pad.

Oh Christmas Tree Card
Stickers: Walmart Holiday Collection.

Tweeting About Christmas Card
Stickers: Walmart Holiday Collection.

My Name Is Not Rudolph Card
Stickers: Walmart Holiday Collection.

Welcome Wreath Card
Stickers: Walmart Holiday Collection.

Let It Snow Card
Stickers: Walmart Holiday Collection.

Joy to the World Card

Stickers: Walmart Holiday Collection.

Joy In Every Home Card
Stickers: Me and My Big Ideas Soft Spoken Christmas #1

Artsy Fartsy Stuff with the Kid

2011-11-03T16:06:00.002-04:00

I'm artsy and my daughter's artsy. I'm trying to help develop her technique. I admit my formal training is limited in certain disciplines. For example: painting. My painting instruction is limited to the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. Before you laugh, I know I can't be the only one making happy trees.

My daughter had to make a diorama of the tundra for class. So guess who decided to make it into a painting lesson?

Painted with acrylic paint in a Payless shoe box. (Yeah, we recycle/reuse/remix like that)

It took about a week to complete. I think it came out pretty well considering she doesn't paint often and I didn't help (take over) too much. I let her choose the colors and basically just defined things a bit when she went off track. For example, she picked turquoise blue for the sky. I softened it by adding the clouds by dabbing on white paint with a crumpled paper towel.

October 29, 2011? Really?

2011-11-01T21:30:00.000-04:00

Just some pics from the neighborhood this past Saturday when we got hit with an early Nor'easter.

Today was supposed to be new release day

2011-11-01T20:55:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, my printer is refusing to print back copy so production is a bit delayed. I plan on releasing new holiday cards this month. Just need to sort out my printer issues first. I haven't printed new back copy during my break to finish grad school. And during late summer's hurricane, the printer got some water damage from a leak. I'm thinking its time to look for replacements. It is five years old and I really want a wireless printer. Any suggestions?

My Mind's Eye Six by Six Collection

2011-10-20T20:46:00.000-04:00

I actually noticed these a few weeks ago and decided to wait. Lucky for me I did. Ordered six pads from the collection from Croppin Paradise for $3.84 each last night.

A Beautiful Life

A Happy Heart

Vanity Fair

Paris & Co.

Honey Cake

Happier

K & Company Best of 360 Pc. 12 x 12 Paper Pad

2011-10-20T20:19:00.001-04:00

K & Company had a 40% off deal last week so I ordered the following:

This Best of K 12 x 12 360 Piece Paper Pad bundles some of K&Company's most popular collections all in one pad! Includes 360 sheets of coordinating patterns! Acid and lignin free.

These kind of pads can be hit or miss and they have a lot of duplicates. That being said, I like having them around for larger projects. They are also great for the random card that crosses my to-do list. K and Company is known for their vintage style products so I'm sure I'll find a lot of floral and muted patterns. Its due in my mail box tomorrow.

Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas and Season's Greetings 6 x 6 Paper Pads

2011-10-20T20:08:00.001-04:00

Not sure if I ever worked with Echo Park products before. They are a little heavier than other papers...they are a card stock. I got these for a good price at A Cherry On Top. I plan on using them for holiday cards.

Echo Park Holly Jolly 6 x 6 Paper Pads

(This collection is bright and modern.)

Echo Park Season's Greetings 6 x 6 Paper Pad
(The collection is more muted and vintage.)

My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Collection: 6 x 6 pads and stickers

2011-08-21T22:42:00.000-04:00

Some new pretties to play with: My Minds Eye Lost and Found

Items from the following collections: Madison Avenue, Market Street, Portobello Road, and Union Square
Portobello Road

Market Street

Madison Avenue

Weekly Deals: Designer Digitals

2011-08-21T22:21:00.000-04:00

At Designer Digitals:
Every existing alpha and overlay in the store is now marked down 30%. These sale prices last all week until 6am EST on Saturday morning, August 27th.

Weekly Deals: DigiScrapWarehouse

2011-08-21T22:08:00.000-04:00

These deals at DigiScrapWarehouse

Rita Massela 50% off Goodbye Sale
Spring by Giane Designs - 30% off
Just Creations Grand Opening 35% off
MB Scraps Grand Opening Sale 20% off
30% off Sale - Sus Designs

Weekly Paper Deals: Joann, 8/21/2011 to 8/27/2011

2011-08-21T20:52:00.000-04:00

These deals at Joann.com.

DCWV 12" x 12" Stack Value Packs $9.99
30% off Scrapbooking Embellishments
30% off Scrapbooking Coordinates
30% off Stamps, Stamp Sets, and Stamp Pads
30% off Scrapbooking Tools
40% off Scrapbooking Paper

Lomasi Paper Flower Bobby Pins for sale in my Etsy Shop

2011-06-26T23:19:00.004-04:00

Remember those paper flowers I was working on. They're finished and up in the shop.

Works in Progress: Hand Painted Initial Canvases

2011-05-02T16:27:00.000-04:00

I finished these last week and they are hung in the upper hallway. I will post an updated picture later this week.

Work in Progress: Paper Flower Embellishments

2011-04-27T23:41:00.000-04:00

Sparkle and Shimmer Mod Podge have become my new loves. I'm working on bunch of these flowers for some new products I have planned.

Works in Progress: Paper Rose Covered Frame

2011-04-20T23:36:00.001-04:00

Uh oh I ran out of crepe streamer. Will post finished product soon. Hopefully I can find matching crepe paper.

Thing A Day #1: Compass Patterns and Gel Pens

2011-02-01T22:11:00.000-05:00

My daughter is a budding little artist and I mentioned that she draws much better than I did at her age. (She'll be nine at the end of this month.) At her age, I was into drawing patterns with a compass and ruler.

I learned about using the compass for circles in art class and got hooked on different design patterns. I would create different color schemes and color them in with colored pencils and crayons. I did this quick compass drawing to give her an example.

I decided to use gel pens to make the colors pop but after I finished I wish I used colored pencils for a softer look.

Thing A Day 2011 Starts Today!!!

2011-02-01T21:09:00.000-05:00

What is Thing a Day?

Thing-a-day is a collective creative blog that lives for one month every February. Participants commit to create new things every day and share them with the rest of the group.

Actually I haven't made anything yet. I've been back logged with Java homework and I think I'm getting sick again. I will try to do something real quick before I pass out and I'll post it here.

What I Ate on a Snow Day: Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Cheddar Cheese

2011-01-30T22:52:00.000-05:00

I'm not an egg eater but this was excellent. Even the kid said she would eat it again and she hates veggies and cheese.

All snowed in

2011-01-30T22:50:00.002-05:00

It snowed here in NJ on Wednesday. This was storm number seven and another is on the way. Work and the kid's school were closed Thursday. Friday, the kid was under the weather and the roads were bad. Saturday, I couldn't get to class which sucks because I hate programming and need to be there as much as I can to retain it. These snowstorms are getting to me...

Ice on the front steps

Snow labyrinth in the neighborhood

Wall of snow

View out of front door Thursday morning

My neighbor's sons come out and shovel the stairs and walk.

Snow at the back door.

Back stairs.

AAACK and its only January!!!

What I'm Working On: Crocheted Flowers

2011-01-08T22:21:00.000-05:00

Nicky Epstein's Crocheted Flowers

I actually bought this book a few years ago. I never used it because I didn't have the correct hooks for the gauges. I recently decided to throw that thought out the window and play around a bit.

Well Nicky said nothing about hair fancies but I think these flowers are perfect for this. I'm still prototyping but these should be available in the shop next month.