Holiday Cards in Process

The floor is covered with tiny bits of paper. This is a sign that I've been snipping, snipping, snipping. I feel like Edward Scissorhands and the shrubs.

So here are some holiday cards in development:

First, the ones on the right started out great, but ended up in the "dud" pile. Mod podge wrinkles stuff. Dang. The ones on the left have promise, but are in need of a better adhesive with all those tiny parts.


I got the notion today that I wanted to do some kind of hand printed cards. So I began by choosing a color scheme. Happily, between Hobby Lobby and Michaels, I found pigment inks to match the colors I wanted.


Then I fiddled around with some sketches for hand carved stamps. I started with a poinsettia-like flower.

Then a few holiday birds. I prefer the two smaller ones, but it was fun making the giant one. For these stamps, I used Mastercarve. The final results are next to the bird stamps. I like the look of the layered inks.

I finally got around to finalizing several designs for Gocco prints, some 2 color and a one-color design. Here's the one-color...although the type may be a 2nd color if I can make it work.

The finished products will be available soon at Blue Cake and Buttercup!

Cupcake Zipper Pouches and More

Hooray for a shop update! Visit the crabappledesign shop to see the growing selection of handmade zipper pouches. Here's a peek:



As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have opened a new shop called Blue Cake and Buttercup. This shop is an extension of Crab Apple Designs. These owl cards are just an example of the ongoing updates of yummy paper goodies in the new shop.

Please take a moment to visit BlueCakeAndButtercup and let me know what you think!

xo melissa

Featured in the Storque!

Today is really my lucky day! One of my little cards was featured in the Etsy Blog, the Storque, in an article about local team events. I'm not sure how all that works, but... I want to thank SweetWolf for letting me know about the mention of CrabAppleDesigns on the Storque. xom

New Stuff in the Shop and a New Shop for Stuff

I want to offer my most sincere thanks to my readers - those of you who post comments (I love comments!) and those of you who stop by for quick visits. Your virtual presence means more to me than I can say with words!

I have exciting news! I have opened a new shop as a little division of Crab Apple Designs. The new shop is called Blue Cake and Buttercup, and is the new home for my vintage-y paper goods. That includes cards, journals, stickers, and whatever else I can dream up. More on Blue Cake and Buttercup later...

My established etsy shop, Crab Apple Designs, now is dedicated to sewn items. Right now, zipper pouches are being added to the shop every day. I'm delighted to have the chance to turn some of my design ideas into actual real-life goodies!

Here are some examples of what is happening behind-the-scenes:


Elsie*Cake's online class inspired me to experiment with embroidery, so the new batch of cupcake pouches have some embroidery elements.


The "lazy daisy" stitch and the "french knot" are easy and fun. Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray has great instructions for embroidery stitches for beginners.



I love the look of a wide satin stitch when applying applique. My machine was being testy, and creating very puny stitches (see stitches in front of the presserfoot). I was not pleased. I decided to try oiling my machine (it's squeaky, too) and you can see the "after" results behind the presserfoot. Amazing difference! Still squeaking though. I've oiled every moving part, so I'm stumped about that.


The final results with improved oiled machine.


Mushroom appliques are a new addition to the shop. The exciting part about these is that they will have a lovely-adorable-super-cute wooden mushroom charm made by Babz of the famous Craftsty!

Her mushrooms are so perfect. Check out her shop! I love em' so much, that now with the purchase of one my mushroom pouches, you'll get one of her miniature mushrooms.



In other news, I have a snazzy new bag for myself now because a custom order came out too small...but it is the perfect size for me!

I'll keep you updated on the evolution of Blue Cake and Buttercup. Along with a new storefront, a new blog may be adopted - devoted to all things paper-goodness.

Meanwhile, future Crab Apple shop updates will include kitchen goodies - aprons, pot holders, bags, stuffies, and more.

xoxo melissa

More Crafty Goodness

Elsie*Cake's Online Class is so great. It has inspired me to try and re-try all kinds of crafts. Here are some of the results:

Super Sassy Apron Pattern

I just got this pattern! This is a great website for vintage/out of print patterns.

This amazing picture by Lily of A Block a Day is of one of the aprons from this pattern and I spotted it on Amy Karol of Angry Chicken's apron blog called Tie One On.

Ali Edwards December Daily Album

This sounds like a fun project: Creating a December Daily Album by Ali Edwards.

Lots O' Projects

There is SO MUCH excitement/craftiness going on right at this moment. Let me explain. No, let me summarize:

1) My sweet baboo haggled over a 24"x24" guillotine paper cutter at a used office supply store and it is MINE. It cuts book cover stock!


2) I joined Elsiecake's online course and it is awesome already. One project per day is the pace. Yah!


3) I'm working on a customizable wedding planner/journal. It will be listed later this week...if there are any ideas out there about what should be included, please share!

4) New cupcake card sets and holiday cards are in progress.

4a) I'm freaking out over this book that arrived in the mail yesterday: A is for Apron by Nathalie Mornu.


5) Cute Overload has finally done it. After I died, I decided I would like this for lunch:

xo melissa

Win a Very Cute Apron Contest

I know it's been forever since I posted. I spent a week in NYC, then another 2 weeks doing non-crafty work. I'm done now and ready to do some sewing. In my search for an interesting apron pattern, I came across a giveaway offer by onthedotcreations for this super-cute apron:


All you have to do to enter is look at sassyapron's shop and choose your favorite item, then post about it on onthedotcreations's blog.

I'll post more in the next few days: new vintage journals, elsiecake's 6 week online class, and sewing stuff.