Gramkin Paper Studio

IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE....BUT CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 04:09:00 +0000

Well this is the end for the blog....but, damn sure not the business!

We remember when we first started blogging, wondering if anyone cared or wanted to hear what we had to say.
Then the first time one of our followers came up to us when we were whoring out products at a show made us smile. When we asked how they found us and they said "I read your blog" , they didn't know at the time , but once they left, a fevered round of high fives started, lol

So...how will we get info to our customers? INSTAGRAM! and of course Facebook as well. This will also allow us to get information out there in real time. We will still have our freebies, downloads, giveaways and other "OMG" inappropriateness via our social media.

Now there may be a time when we bring our blog back, but for now it's not goodbye, but see ya on the social-sphere!

Instagram ( @gramkins)
Facebook Page (facebook.com/gramkinpaper)

GRAMKIN PAPER STUDIO AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 05:19:00 +0000

DOWNLOAD DAY:Gramkin Printable Holiday 14 Card and other Awesome Holiday Downloads

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:08:00 +0000

Grab your balls it's Christmas! To celebrate the holidays, we created our new 2014 Gramkin Holiday Card for our readers to download. All you have to do is print it out and put it in an envelope.

Note: to extract zip files, just right click the file and select "extract all" and save to desired folder.

Gramkin Christmas 2014 Printable : Fillable pdf file with instructions.

In addition to our awesome freebie, the following are some of the the best Christmas downloads out there. As always, it is for personal use only.

You can download each individual project that you want, or if you want them all just click HERE.

Happy Holidays and A Sparkling New Year from Gramkin Paper Studio!

VIA VIA VIA

VIA

VIA VIA VIA

VIA VIA VIA

VIA VIA VIA

VIA VIA VIA

NEAT THINGS: LASER ENGRAVED ROLLING PINS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:00:00 +0000

As I was searching for a gift for a baker friend of mine, I came the most ingenous item....Engraved Rolling Pins! These Laser Rolling Pins by ValekRollingPins will definitely take your baking to the next level.
Valek Rolling Pins is the brain child of ZuziaKozerka from Warsaw, Poland. Made from solid beech and treated with oil, they come in a variety of patterns from cute animals and mustaches to chevron and my favorite, a Folk pattern. The best thing is that they offer a personalized option, so add someones name and give a great personalized gift!

Soon we will be saying goodbye....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 01:40:00 +0000

When we first decided to become a business, I knew where I wanted to go, but sometimes I was just indecisive on how to get there. Over the years Gramkin Paper Studio has undergone a few changes. When the business started to grow, I sat down and really took a look at the products and what I wanted to do.

The first thing that I did was focus our products. I looked alot over the previous year at what products were selling and where the bulk of my business was coming from. At that point I realized that I had created a little niche for myself that I then built my business around.

As you have noticed, we have bit by bit, rolled out our new branding. With this comes other changes as well and after careful consideration, we have decided to take a blog "Hiatus".

Why a "Blog Hiatus", well quite simply the world has changed!
When we first started, Facebook and Instagram integration wasn't what it is today...hell Instagram wasn't even invented yet, lol. Because of the way that our customers (and quite frankly society) maneuvers thru eCommerce, we have decided to focus on our social media.

If you haven't visited out Facebook Page (facebook.com/gramkinpaper) or Instagram ( @gramkins) please do! In the next month you will see our presence there increase as we end our time here on the blog.

Now I'm not saying we will not be back on the blog, but as for now we are saying farewell in December. We will still keep the blog up for anyone who wants to read past articles or download the freebies, but until then, we are not gone yet......

We of course have to leave you with our holiday freebie coming soon!

Grab Your Balls, It's Christmas! : New Christmas Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 21:40:00 +0000

Well its that time again....cant believe its Christmas already.

Gramkin Paper Studio has new Christmas Cards as well as new Photocards for the season.

Stay tuned, because we will be adding our annual Free Christmas Printable

DOWNLOAD DAY: Halloween Invitation Printable 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 23:08:00 +0000

Are you ready for a Halloween Spooktacular?

Its that time of year, where taking candy from strangers is not just acceptable but required!
In the spirit of the giving away stuff, we created a Halloween invitation for our readers to download. Its fillable pdf , so all you have to do is add your info, print it out and put it in an envelope.

In addition we have added some other awesome Halloween freebies that you can download individually or download all of the Awesome Halloween Downloads 2013. Don't forget about to check out our Awesome Halloween Downloads 2012

Note: to extract zip files, just right click the file and select "extract all" and save to desired folder.

Gramkin Halloween Invitation Printable : Fillable pdf file with instructions.

Best Halloween Costumes: 2014 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:45:00 +0000

It's time for the best Halloween costumes 2014 edition! The following are some of the best for pets and their human companions alike
Happy Halloween from Gramkin Paper Studio!

City Pet Parade

Snapshot: Ethereal Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 01:13:00 +0000

e·the·re·al

adjective

extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
ex."her ethereal beauty"

I love the ethereal style photos, whether it's natural lighting , the dress, Photoshop Actions or some element that take ordinary to that extraordinary dream- like phase. I especially love it in wedding photography as it adds a unique feel to an already special day.The following are a few beautiful "ethereal" shots and if you are looking add a little "ethereal" look to your photographs, take at look at our post about free Photoshop Actions.

Carmen Santorelli

Pacific Weddings

Kelsey Taylor Photography

Jennifer Picard Photography

Laure de Sagazan

Vasia Photography

Ryan Flynn Photography

Origami Creative

DOWNLOAD DAY: GRAMKIN EPIC WALLPAPER

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:07:00 +0000

The freebie of today is our "Epic Things" Mobile and Desktop Wallpaper.
DOWNLOAD HERE!

Color Crush: September

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 23:10:00 +0000

Mini Pancake Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 10:15:00 +0000

This yummy, cheesy goodness is brought to you via Noble Pig and is a lovely variation of the mini pizza using pancake mix.

Mini Pepperoni Pizza Pancakes

Serves: Makes 12-15 (4-inch) pancakes

Ingredients

For the batter:

dry pancake mix (enough to make 12-15 pancakes) this is about 1 cup of dry mix and 1-1/3 cups of water
1 pound shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese (make sure to shred yourself ~ large shred), divided
1 Tabelspoon pizza seasoning*

For the toppings:

5 ounces Hormel mini pepperoni
4 ounces mild Italian sausage, cooked and finely chopped
1 cup pizza sauce

*If you cannot find Pizza Seasoning, make your own:

2 Tablespoons oregano
1 Tablespoon basil
1/2 Tablespoon thyme leaves
1/2 Tablespoon salt
1/2 Tablespoon fennel
1/2 Tablespoon onion powder
1/2 Tablespoon black pepper
1/2 Tablespoon paprika
1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder

Directions

Preheat flat top, griddle or pan to 350 degrees F or medium-high heat. Oil the griddle or pan before adding pancake batter. I always oil the pan or my flat top with a paper towel that I douse in oil first. This way there is just enough oil to keep things from not sticking and not being too greasy.
For the batter, mix together dry mix with the water. Add 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese and pizza seasoning. If the batter is really thick add a 1/4 cup water and stir. Add more if needed. You don't want the batter to be overly thick once you add the cheese.
Using remaining cheese, start by placing one tablespoon of cheese on the griddle. It will start to melt right away. Pour 1/8 cup of batter on top of the cheese. Immediately add pepperoni and sausage to the top of the pancake. Turn once there are lots of bubbles, just like when you make regular pancakes. Flip over and cook until done. The bottom side with the cheese will be crispy, this is what you want.
Remove from griddle and sprinkle each pancake with a 1/2 Tablespoon of mozzarella cheese. Place pancakes on a tray.
Serve immediately with pizza sauce for dipping.

Storefront: TICTAIL

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 11:29:00 +0000

For many small business owners there comes a time when they want to make the jump to an ecommerce site.Though there are several options to choose from, one of those options is Tictail.

Tictail is described as "the tool that permits you to open your shop without the hassle" . On the Tictail home page you will find detailed information and also example of shops. In addition , it's FREE. They have an easy video that shows you your options and how easy it is to use.

They are a new Swedish company ( just about a year old) and have already hit over 24k stores. Looking at the sites and functions, I can see why. If you are really looking for a free ecommerce site that is easy, fast and professional, I think that Tictail is a good option.

You can connect your own domain name, your PayPal account, change the favicon and set up Google Analytics . This is a new platform so you don’t have all the different customization of the others well-known ecommerce sites, but you can edit your store with HTM/CSS . Did I mention it’s completely free?

Pros: Free, fantastic minimalist Scandinavian design, no adverts
Cons: Do have to pay for the extra apps like custom domains , custom store coupons/discounts.
There is also no currency conversion

Thanks for the Shout-Out at The Paper Chronicles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 17:20:00 +0000

We wanted to say a big thank you to Sarah Schwartz ,the founding editor of Stationery Trends , for the shout-out that she gave us on her website, The Paper Chronicles!

We appreciate the mention and absolutely love your site! If you haven't visited The Paper Chronicles, you should definitely do so.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE

FONT BUREAU: AIRBAG SLAB

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 20:45:00 +0000

For those of you that love the Trend Font, the following is a lovely free version of it called Airbag Slab.

Airbag is a trendy display typeface aimed at achieving a stylish, clean, slab look and feel. Airbag free version only has uppercase letters and numbers (with a few other characters thrown in for good measure). As I said in the intro the font works best at larger sizes so it’s best used for big headlines and posters.

DOWNLOAD AIRBAG SLAB HERE ( please note that you will be required to "pay with a tweet"...nothing is really free, lol)

WE'RE BACK! : ALL GUSSIED UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:00:00 +0000

We are back with a little bit of shine!
We will be introducing new products and retiring some as well ( better get them while you can, because they will be going back into the Disney Vault)

Visit us on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/gramkinpaper and our Instagram: @gramkins

Thanks for all the support!

BRB: TAKNG A BREAK

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:06:00 +0000

Gramkin Paper Studio is taking a break!

We will be taking a much needed vacay!
We are also in the process of finalizing some changes that have been in the works for awhile that we are very excited about.When we return on August 1st, you will see brand new focus and brand new posts!
In the interim, don't forget to take a look at our past posts.

SEE YA SOON!

Kool-Aid Meringues

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:42:00 +0000

I came across this recipe for Kool-Aid Meringues via Smart School House when ironically, I was looking for Macroons. I love a meringue and this pretty pastel one is no exception.

INGREDIENTS

4 egg whites

1/2 tsp of Cream of Tartar

1 cup of sugar

Kool-Aid packets in your flavors of choice

INSTRUCTIONS

Using an electric mixer, whip the egg whites until they become frothy then add your sugar in small amounts. Finally, mix in the cream of tartar. Continue to whip the mixture until it gets stiff (meaning that it holds a shape when stopped).
Depending on how many Kool-Aid flavors you wish to use, separate your mixture into even parts using small bowls . Add the Kool-Aid powder 1/2 tsp at a time until the desired color is reached.

Because the Kool-Aid powder is potent, so a little goes a long way!

Prepare your baking sheet with a layer of foil covered with non-stick spray
Create an easy meringue cookie shape using either, Wilton’s Cake Decorating set, ziplock baggies, or using rounded spoonfuls.

Place the Kool Aid Meringues into the oven pre-heated to 225 degrees. Bake them at this low temperature for about 45 minutes or until the tops become a little brown. Once they are completely cooled, they will harden and be ready to east.
Some will be sour, some will be sweet.

Full recipe and photos via Smart School House

NEAT THINGS: CHEESE PENCILS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:30:00 +0000

The Deli Garage's Cheese Pencils are shaped like over-sized pencils but the “lead”is replaced with different flavors ( truffles, pesto and chili) . Designed by Korefe, these pencils also include a built-in grating function as well as a scale that lists how many calories the portion contains.

These pencils are not the only item they offer. The Deli Garage specializes in hand-made delicatessen food labels in lovingly designed packaging.

SNAPASHOT: PhotoNotions Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 13:49:00 +0000

The Harlem Renaissance was an amazing era in history that is a continued source of inspiration for not only music, but for fashion and style.

PhotoNotions Photography took this inspiration to style this beautiful shoot and they did not disappoint. The full 95 shot gallery is here.

Download Day: Free Photoshop Actions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 19:46:00 +0000

How many of you use Photoshop? If so, then you have to be familiar with Photoshop Actions!
Photoshop Actions take your photographs to the next level, whether its adding a lighting effect to touching up a portrait......basically its like putting an filter on your instagram photo, lol

What are Photoshop Actions? Simply put, a Photoshop Action is a file(.atn) that contains a sequence of steps (or actions) that can be applied all at once to a picture you are working on with the simple click of one button.

There are several popular companies that offer Photoshop Action bundles for a variety of effects like Florabella or Summerana, but if you are not a photographer or are more "recreational" users, you many not be able to "invest" in these actions bundles.

The following are a few free Photoshop Actions ( some from the two companies above) that you can create a variety of effects from. Though most of these actions show portraits/landscapes, these are also great for product photography as well. The photoshop actions numbered 2, 5, and 13 are great for those product photos that you need to lighten with the click of a button.

Also, at the end of the post there good video on how to install and use the actions for Photoshop. Please note that some actions may require an earlier version of Photoshop, but most are compatible with cs2and higher.

You can download all of these Photoshop Actions below at one time HERE.

1. via

2. via

3. via

4. via

5. via

6. via

7. via

8. via

9. via

10. via

11. via

12. via ( 32 different ones)

13. via

14. via

Installing Actions
There are a few ways to install your actions. The following is one of the easiest ways to install them.

After you've downloaded the zip file containing your actions, you'll need to unpack the contents of the file ( for most people who do not have an program that they use for this like winrar or etc, you can just right click the file and select "send to" to save to your computer). Once the file has been extracted, you should reveal a new folder containing the .ATN file for your new actions.
You can either drag this file directly into your Photoshop window, or you can use the action panel drop down in Photoshop to select your .ATN file and load your actions
Once loaded....Viola! its ready to use.

Using Actions

Select the layer you want to apply the action to.
Select the action you want to use from your action panel.
Hit the "play" button down at the bottom of the panel.
You will see Photoshop "go thru" the sequence ( it will look like a rapidly playing movie) and at the end the filter will be applied to the picture.

The following is a very informative, short video on how to install and use the actions via Photoshop Video Academy.

DOWNLOAD DAY: FOLDED SHIRT CARD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 23:42:00 +0000

Though this card is a departure for the Gramkin Paper Studio offerings, it is so darn cute!

By using different pattern papers for the shirt and the tie, you can create endless design options as well. Good ole Martha ....what can you say, that's why she's a domestic goddess....

CLICK HERE FOR : FOLDED SHIRT CARD

Neat Things: Stamp Yo Face

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 22:02:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to immortalize your face on a stamp? Try Stamp Yo Face from the talented team of Hannah (the artist) and Kevin (the muscle).

Each stamp design is hand-drawn and digitized from a photo that you send in once you purchase the stamp (at $65). In addition, they are are also sending you an original hand-drawn portrait as well as a black ink pad with your purchase.

You might be thinking where you can use a stamp of your face, but there are a few places.
I like the idea of adding it to the reciept ( like in the pic below) for your customers or you can put it on a blank business card and write your info in ( or type it in and just stamp as needed).

OMG: Horse Head Squirrel Feeder

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 20:31:00 +0000

Though I can't stand squirrels (they are just rats with large fluffy tails and no one can convince me otherwise!), this Horse Head Squirrel Feed made me chuckle.

Make sure and check out their Crazy Cat Lady Action Figurine.....Awesome

Sam's Favorite Chocolate Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:36:00 +0000

I don't know whats sweeter....this cake or the story behind it!

Sweet Enough posted her recipe on Food25 for "Sam's Favorite Chocolate Cake" and in addition to the cake looking awesome, the story behind it is adorable.

Her Story

" I recently reunited with my father after over 40 years, along with a newly discovered 15 year old half-brother, Sam. Their visit fell on Sam’s birthday and so I asked him what his favorite dessert was. In typical teenage fashion, he shrugged, looked down at the ground and said that he didn’t have one. “Come on, Sam,” I said, “everyone has a favorite dessert.” He finally admitted that he liked a chocolate cherry cake his mother used to make for him. As he described the cake, any sign of teen angst melted away. I called his mom and she was kind enough to send her recipe on to me so that I could make it for his birthday. I played around with it, less flour, less sugar, more chocolate, and came up with this. Chocolate cake, it seems, can bridge any distance."

Ingredients

3/4cups cocoa

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

2cups boiling water

1cup unsalted butter, at room temp

1 1/2cup sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4cups flour

2 scant teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

3/4cups heavy cream

1cup good quality sour cherry jam

P.S. You can buy Sour Cherry Jam at any Specialty/ Gourmet Food store, an Eastern ( Polish/German) market or even Walmart Superstores

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
Place the cocoa and 4 ounces of semisweet chocolate in a bowl and pour in the boiling water. Stir until all the chocolate is melted. Set aside.
Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla extract.
Alternate mixing in the dry ingredients and the melted chocolate mixture. Do not over mix.
Pour batter into two 9-inch cake pans and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.
To make the frosting, pour the cream into a saucepan over a medium heat and stir in the 8 ounces of chocolate. Whisk until smooth and shiny.
Place the jam in a saucepan over a medium heat and stir until it loosens enough to pour it over the cake.
When the cakes are done and cooled invert one on to a plate and spread the cherry jam over it. I find it better to spread the jam over the "bottom" of the cake since it is always flat. place the other cake layer on top and pour the frosting over the whole thing. Decorate with whipped cream and cherries for an extra happy-looking cake.