Cathe Holden’s Inspired Barn | Creative Lifestyle

Prototypes: Prize Ribbon Rosettes

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 by Cathe Holden

A while back I was working with Making Memories to develop product in their Bravissimo line. I have photos of some of the prototypes I designed and with their permission I wanted to share them with you for project inspiration. Most of these are Valentine themed but there are a few generic ones in the mix. These were so much fun to make using a scoring board, shape punches, hot glue, scrapbook paper, crepe paper, a few papers I designed myself and printed out, glitter paper, ribbon and embellishments. They are a great way to use up your scrapbook paper material stash. Most of the prototype centers are blank, but you could add any trinket, printed sentiment or photo to ones you make. Click images to enlarge for detail.

11 Comments | Posted in Paper Crafts | Tagged Paper Crafts, Prize Ribbon Rosettes

Cigar Boxes: Collection Obsession

Thursday, May 17, 2012 by Cathe Holden

It’s challenging to stay on task with this studio remodel. Like the kid who tells his mom- “It’s hard to clean my room, I keep finding cool stuff to play with!” Today I pulled out all my cigar boxes to stack on a shelving unit in one of the driveway storage containers. Seems I have a lot of boxes, and I don’t see an end to the collecting anywhere in the near future. What’s with the obsession? Here’s a simple list in order of precedence:

1. Vintage Graphics

2. Gorgeous Typography

3. Beautiful Decay

4. Craft Storage

While loading them onto the shelves, I took a few minutes to snap some shots of what I find so appealing about cigar boxes, especially the much older ones with such detail on nearly every panel in the labels and stampings.And what’s cooler than a cigar box divided with a cigar box?To top off that collection, the start of a new collection: old paper labeled biscuit and starch boxes.

36 Comments | Posted in cigar boxes, Collecting |

Paper Tape & Stickers: Free WorldLabel.com Printable

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 by Cathe Holden

You know I love paper tape. And everyone loves stickers. So, in partnership with WorldLabel.com I designed some “cheater” paper tape and coordinating sticker designs for making printing your own. There are four different design styles in several color combinations for both tape and stickers available to you as one free PDF file download. Print the tape designs to full sheet label stock and the sticker designs to 3/4″ round label sheets. The free tape and sticker file and corresponding label sheets are all available through WorldLabel.com. Once the tape graphics are printed, use a paper trimmer or Xacto knife and straight edge to cut the designs into strips. Keep the backing paper attached until ready to use, then simply fold back a small section of one corner to separate the backing from the adhesive paper.I like to trim my round label sheet into strips and peel away the outer area leaving the “stickers” only.Make lots of extra to keep on hand for quickie gift-wrapping, dolling up letters and envelopes, taping notes up, decorating containers and a zillion other things I know you’ll think of!TIP: To create a scalloped design along the edge of something, fold back a long section of the backing on a row of stickers to the halfway point and press the adhesive exposed sections along a fold or edge. Remove the remaining backing and fold the other halves of the stickers over the edge.Enjoy!