If you don’t know, I own a Scottish Terrier, Brodie. He’s going to be 11 this year and he’s my Mr. Crafty Paws, for always being at my feet when I’m home crafting. I have found many, many other Scottie owners on Facebook and we share our stories of Scotties and their adventures. There are also several groups that sell Scottie items like artwork, crafts, retail goods, etc. I have been making items to cater to other Scottie fanatics like myself, and having great success. Sometimes even a Westie slips in! Here are a couple of items from recent months!
The one on the left is a sweet birthday card for any dog lover or Scottie lover! The background is embossed with a houndstooth pattern. I hand colored the image with my growing tub of various markers! My coloring skills are improving with the help of youtube, friends and trial and error. My new love at the moment is washi tape, aka wasabi tape (as a friend calls it). LOL It’s great to add a strip of color to any card and I like to use it on the edge on the inside of the cards too for some color. That green stripe under Yappy Birthday is washi tap, with 2 green gems added. Who doesn’t love some bling, right?
The one on the right is a Westie and he’s been quite popular! I embossed the background in a large dot and used purple against the bright green. I used the tennis ball to accent the sentiment and drew the bouncing lines in myself for some “motion” on the card. The inside has a strip of washi on it too. These flew out of my shop the same day I posted them! I love when that happens!!
I’ve also been starting to dabble in vinyl. There are SO many other people that do vinyl, that I don’t even want to tread into that territory of selling. It’s more for my own curiousity and amusement. 🙂 I found these great faux wood chargers and used one of my Scottie dies to make some fun Scottie chargers!! I posted a question in one of my dog groups about color, and decided to go with hot pink (not black or white like most items area). These were sold within minutes of me posting them, and they are travelling all the way to the UK from my humble little hands! I love knowing my things are enjoyed all over the world!
I had some tent cards go to Australia last month and tissues boxes across the country to Oregon. It’s been a couple of busy months for Crafty Paws Paper Goods!
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This February marks 6 years from when I started creating cards and began Crafty Paws Paper Goods. It’s been quite a journey and my style has changed over time. I have learned so many new tips and techniques over the years, and increased my knowledge on tools and mediums to use.
I lost my mother in May 2016 to cancer and it took me months before I even felt like looking at my craft supplies. After several months, I finally started creating again. In October 2016 I did an outdoor show where I featured many new items that I had been creating. I made a big selection of gift cards, teacher gifts like notepads and desk calendars, and even some wooden items. I made a couple of different leash holders and both sold. I also made a large door hanging of BOO and that sold also. My creative spirit was revitalized and I continued my journey of healing.
In November I participated in another new event for me, with a holiday theme. Again, I focused more on paper crafts that could be given as gifts, and less on cards. I found over the years that people are just not really interested in buying Christmas cards. Nowadays most people send those family photo style cards or buy a box of inexpensive cards after the holidays the year before. So, I made more teacher gifts, tissue box covers, desk calendars, holiday decorative items and gift card holders. This event was my best event EVER!! I was so excited and busy throughout the day! I sold out of all my small gifts and was even making custom ones behind the table while customers browsed other vendors. It was exhilerating to see my crafts so well received! I think I sold 3 cards all day and none of them were holiday themed, ironically enough! LOL
Late December I made another big life decision and decided to leave my job of 12 years. I had been unhappy for the last few years and just felt for my own well-being, it was time to move on. With the recent passing of my Mom, I hadn’t really given myself enough time to truly mourn and I felt I needed to spend more time with my Dad who was also mourning in his own way on the loss of his soulmate for over 50 years. It was the right decision and I instantly felt better, happier and more creative and fulfilled.
My Dad and I are still adjusting to our new lives without my Mom but we are both making progress. I was surrounded and supported by friends and it has helped me “get back to my happy place.” I have gone back to my roots, so to speak, and started making more “critter cards” and pet themed items. Brodie, my Scottie, was my muse and he continues to always be nearby while I’m crafting. My love of animals is where this adventure started 6 years ago, and now I’m bringing it back full circle and doing those kinds of crafts again.
Thank you to all my friends and family, followers and fans for all your love and support and kind words over the years. Let’s raise a paw for 6 more years (at least)!
~Michelle and Brodie
Here is just a sampling from the last few months. Enjoy!
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I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump the last couple of months. My family has been having health issues and I just couldn’t seem to focus on my crafting, as much as I enjoy it. I would dabble in things, but never complete anything. I finally got my mojo back this weekend! I decided to go back to my roots and make the cards I love and what got me started. I love making “critter cards” featuring dogs, cats, mice and any other cute little furry friends!
My creative slump hasn’t slowed down my shopping abilities though (not sure if this is a good thing)! LOL I have continued to buy supplies with visions of how to use them swirling around in my brain. I guess the latest set by My Favorite Things was enough to get me out of the slump and boost my creativity. I’ve seen similar items from Lawn Fawn, but this set just spoke to me – especially since it has a Scottie dog in the collection. (I haven’t used him in a card yet) Some of these also use Great Expression stamps and others in my collection.
I hope you all enjoy my latest creations!
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Father’s Day is coming up soon and I just added some cards for Dad to my Etsy shop. I also have some other card designs that could easily be customized for Dad! Cars, motorcycles, nautical, golf and more! Here’s a peek at what I have out there. Visit my shop to see everything at www.craftypawspapergoods.etsy.com.
There are a variety of techniques used in these cards, as well as digital images and 3D embellishments. I really enjoy making unique one-of-a-kind cards. One of my favorites for men is the embossing folder used in the red and black tool card above. It looks like chrome when done in silver or gray paper. I used it on my license plate cards too. The diamond pattern is also popular since it reminds me of a man’s argyle sweater.
I hope you enjoy my creations and share with a friend! Happy Crafting!
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Well, I stayed at the local store for 3 months and did manage to break even each month, but it wasn’t worth the extra time, effort and travel to maintain inventory there. If I could find the same opportunity closer to home, it may be worthwhile to try again. I have learned over the last few years that advertising is everything, including social media. I’ve been slack about keeping my blog updated, but life has thrown me a few curve balls lately.
I have reloaded all my current stock back onto Etsy now and continuing to have success there. I’ve heard bits and pieces about Amazon’s offering of a Handmade section now. It’s time to research that more and see if I can broaden my horizons there. Do people really shop for a single card on a place like Amazon? Mother’s Day is just around the corner, for example. Would you go to Amazon looking for a custom handmade card for your Mom??
I’d love to hear from anyone who has an Amazon shop now or if you are a shopper that WOULD look for greeting cards there.
Here are a couple of my Mother’s Day cards. Mother’s Day cards
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For all my local fans and followers in the Raleigh/Durham, NC area, I am excited to announce I will be selling my paper goodies at Rita’s Decor and More in Fuquay-Varina, NC beginning this Saturday, 11/21/15. I will start off small with some of my Fall items while I wait for a full spot to become available on Dec 1st.
I will be there with a full set of my goodies starting Dec 1st! I’ll have cards, candy sticks, treat toppers, gift card holders and all kinds of holiday items, in addition to my regular offerings like birthday, thank you, baby and thinking of you type cards. I’ve been making all kinds of new things lately and I’m excited to debut them in a brick and mortar shop! As always, I will also have plenty of pet or critter themed cards too, because that’s my true passion. Who can resist a cute puppy or groundhog or owl to brighten their day!?
I’m really excited that also that I’ll be able to offer some classes in the coming months too!! Rita’s Decor and More has a small classroom and the artisans and crafters in the shop offer classes quite often. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to share my love of paper crafting with others! It won’t just be card classes either! I’m thinking about a scrapbooking 101, Christmas tags, a techniques class like embossing and more, with card classes too. I have lots of ideas swirling around but I do work a full time job, so time will be a consideration I’m sure!
Come see my holiday goodies if you live in the area or pass through and enjoy some of the other fantastic artisans at Rita’s!!
Rita’s Decor and More
204 S Main St
Fuquay-Varina, NC
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I was cruising Pinterest one day and looking for Fall ideas and came across these dryer vent pumpkins. I pinned it last year some time and there it sat. This October I was looking through thrift stores for some crafty goodies and found a partial piece of dryer vent. It beckoned my inner crafter and I went home to start on these fall pumpkins.
I started by stretching out the hose and painting it with acrylic paints. After several coats I was ready to make the pumpkins.
Pinterest made me do it! Dryer vent pumpkins
I formed them into circles and hot glued the ends together. Then I did a final coat of paint and touched up all the white spots.
I went out into the garden and hacked a limb off my rosemary bush for the stem and hot glued that into place. I used twine and pipe cleaners to make the tendrils and a bit of moss to hide all the glue and bits in the center of each. I’m quite pleased with how they turned out! They will make a fun addition to the holiday table!
Dryer vent pumpkins found on Pinterest. My version!
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Hello fans! My apologies for my lengthy absence! 2015 proved to be a rough year. My Scottie, Brodie, came down with a life threatening illness the end of Jan and I spent most of the year caring for him and bringing him back to health. I’m happy to report he has made a full recovery and my “Crafty Paws” are back in business!
I’ve been adding new items throughout the year as time permitted. Now the fall is here again and the busy holiday season! I have done a couple of craft shows this month with moderate success. I have also had some fun trying out some new projects.
Here are just a few of some recent items in my Etsy shop.
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https://www.etsy.com/listing/163266069/gift-card-holders-holiday-christmas?
Choose from several designs of festive holiday gift card holders in my shop now! Why give a boring piece of plastic as a gift? Put it in a decorative holder to give it that extra special touch for someone special. You can easily write a message inside too!
Happy Holidays to all our followers!
Crafty Paws Paper Goods 
