Snowflake Giveaway!

Snowflakes

I always have so much fun making paper snowflakes that I know by the time I'm done, I'll have rather more than I really need. So, I thought it might be fun to send some out into the world.

For one lucky person, I'll send a Christmas card from the Netherlands to anywhere the postal system will take it, with a few of my snowflakes tucked inside. The snowflakes I'll send will be similar to the ones shown in the pictures here. Some of them are made from magazines, which means that the back may not be as decorative as the front. For a chance to win, comment on this post by Tuesday, November 30, and I'll pick a random winner on December 1.


Photographs and artwork by Allison Gryski. © All rights reserved.

New cards in shop!

new cards
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I've been working away on some new cards and I've started listing them in my etsy shop. There's some completely new designs, like the zen set and a mix of old-and-new like the choose-your-own cupcake set. And I decided to make a few of the romantic skulls cards. So far I've just listed one on white, but I also made some black-on-pink ones. I've also got some more of the stamped little city cards made, but not listed. I'll continue listing things in the next little while. Custom requests are, of course, always welcome.

A card for the morbid romantic?

skulls in love
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Some dear and unusual friends recently got married and as they have rather non-traditional tastes (their wedding cake was black and red and decorated with skulls), I decided that a shiny white wedding card wasn't going to really be quite right. So in order to make them a special card, I carved a new stamp... a skull with hearts for eye sockets.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and I hope the card made them smile. I now, however, have a stamp that isn't quite in my usual style. I'm debating whether or not I should make some similar cards for my shop or if it really was for an audience of two. So here's the question ... would YOU buy a card with a skull that only has eyes for love? You'll find the poll in the sidebar.

New things for a new month

cityscape card
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
A friend asked me to make some cards for her. Inspiration struck and the result was eight new stamps! Partly inspired by that 1960's blocky sort of children's book illustration, I made a set of city and country stamps. Here's an example of the style of 1960's illustration I mean.


red house card
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I made a few extra cards (the ones shown here) which are now in my etsy shop. If you want a set or some particular colours, I'm always happy to take custom requests. You can see the other cards in my Papery set.


purple houses card
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
Happy February! Keep your spirits bright in this shortest of months by getting out in the sunshine when you can. I know a little walk on a sunny day, even if it's cold, does wonders for my mood. I'm thinking of buying myself some spring in the form of cut flowers since actual spring is still two-and-a-half months away for me. And to those in climates where it's lovely in February ... thank your lucky little boots and get out and revel in it for the rest of us! (Yes, I'm looking at you, my beach-going friends in NZ!)

A teaser

a tiny hint...
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

This is just a little hint of things to be posted about in the near future.

The goose is getting fat

gingerbread cookies
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I love the winter holiday time of year. It's full of happy memories of traditions ... the same baking and decorating, and lots of time with loved ones. I now always try to make the same treats that my family always had when I was small since that's what feels "right". So it's Mom's shortbread cookies (some decorated using corn syrup as the glue for sprinkles), Grandfather's gingerbread men (some decorated with currants), and Dad's cheesies. Then there's homemade cinnamon bread and fruit bread. I might experiment with new things the other 11 months of the year, but in December, it's a necessary ritual to have the same things as always.


gingerbread baking
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I made some carved rubber stamps to make cards for my friends and family far away, but my outside-work has been so busy I did not do so soon enough to also offer cards in my shop. Next year perhaps. This year I did a holly motif on the cards. Some have the stamped greeting inside and just holly on the outside, some have 3-leaf holly, some just 2-leaf holly. Some have the greeting in green instead of red. Part of the fun is making every card just a little bit different.


xmas card 2008
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
Happy holidays!

Pick and choose

stone & statue photo cards
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

For awhile now, people in the know have been able to buy 6 of my photo cards for $15 (or buy-5-get-1-free). I've decided to make this deal generally available in my etsy shop.

I spent a bit of time today putting together photo montages of all the different designs available. In addition to the stone & statue ones above, there's also cupcakes, and butterflies, and orchids, and other bits of nature. Mix and match and pick and choose!

Fragile Facade

Fragile Facade
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

So here is the first card made with some inchies. As usual, the paper bits come from that tatty old copy of Jane Eyre that I've been chopping up for my collages. There's also some pencil crayon, water pencil crayon, watercolour, and ink. The middle square is based on a doodle in my sketchbook from more than a year ago. All my inchies are one-of-a-kind... I find that I keep having new ideas before I'm even finished with the current one. I might play with the same themes, but individually, they'll be unique.

Read between the lines ...

Read between the lines
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I've listed a couple new collage/mixed media cards in my etsy shop: a string girls one and a woven paper collage one.

The latter was a bit of an experiment as a result of a mishap. I mucked up the alignment of my signature stamp on the back of a card, so it was essentially scrap. I started thinking about how I could use part of it to make a fun flap-door on a card. From there, I was thinking of hidden meanings, and the phrase "read between the lines" popped into my head. You can see the front of the card in my Papery set at flickr or click through on the etsy listing.

String girls and the philosophy of tangibility

A Walk in the Park
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I made this card on Earth Day and used that as my inspiration. The card involved repurposing some scraps of old fabric for the dresses and tree and the theme of the card was reverence for nature. How I imagine these two string girls is that they are a Mom and daughter in the park pointing at things they see like flowers and birds.

I recently sent a couple of my string girl cards in the mail (for Mother's Day). I wanted to test them before including them in a craft fair or at my etsy shop. They turn out to have no problem going as regular lettermail, though I did include a protective piece of bristol board so that no mail sorting machines could catch on the twine. While I know that people often give cards in person or along with a present, I want my cards to also be suitable for the mail. I think it's important to keep those ties to loved ones who are far away.

Email is very convenient, but I don't get the same satisfaction either sending or receiving it as I do with a tangible note that I can hold in my hands. While there are environmental reasons to try to cut down on paper usage, there are times where a virtual version can't and shouldn't compare to the real thing. I don't know anyone who displays emails on their mantlepiece, for example. A handmade card makes the thought more special. There are also some situations where a real card is the only appropriate way to express your sentiments (e.g. weddings or condolences). There's something about being able to hold a message in your hands and know that the sender also held it. That sense of continuity and tangibility makes the connection and sentiments more real.

Pick a colour

angel card
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I was busy with some custom orders and other things, so I never mentioned that I created a new poll. You can interpret the question however you please. If you think you're being especially creative in your interpretation, do leave me a comment!

Cupcake cards in shop!

Yellow birthday cupcakes card
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

The cupcake cards are now available. I've listed one pink and one yellow to begin with. I have a few other styles that I'll be adding in the next few days.

Practically edible cupcake cards

Pink birthday cupcakes
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Since "birthdays" is currently winning the "when do you send cards" poll, I decided to sort through my photos for things that I could make into birthday cards. While many of my flower and butterfly photos are excellent for birthdays, cupcakes seem especially appropriate. I already make some stamped cupcake cards (a couple of which I've given for birthdays myself). While the stamped cards are adorably cute, I think these photo cards are going to be mouth-watering. It's too late to run to the photo shop today though, so these cards probably won't come into existence until Friday. For now, you can take a look at my Papery set for the photos that I'll be using.

When do you send cards?

Orange butterfly on bamboo
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
It's time for a new poll... and this one is all about when you usually send cards. The most common events that I send cards for are birthdays, Christmas/winter solstice, and thank you notes. I think the latter has rather gone out of fashion. It's particularly important for me since my family lives far away so my presents usually come by mail. A thank you note both acknowledges receipt and lets the givers know that I appreciated their thoughtfulness. I always have a stash of blank non-occasion-specific cards for sending thank you notes. I don't like the cards to be too big, since if I want to write a letter, I will do so on paper. This is one reason that I chose to make 4.25x5.5" cards. They're just right for a short little note to accompany your thanks, birthday greetings, or whatever.

Please take the poll in the sidebar and leave me a comment with any other occasions that you give cards (e.g. anniversary, valentine's day, other winter holiday, get well soon, just to say "thinking of you", etc).

String girls and the creative process

Fly with me
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
On Saturday, I was playing with some bits of jute twine snippings and out of that came these string girls. The first one was actually Sun girl because I started by making the sun and then I was experimenting with knotting the leftover bits of twine. It was quite an organic process as I just followed what the medium told me and suddenly, a form appeared. My creative method sometimes starts with a fully formed idea in my mind, which I then attempt execute. This can be a frustrating method when I can't achieve what I saw in my mind's eye, but it can also be very satisfying to conceive a vision, then make it reality. But there's a certain joy to the magic of just playing with things and letting one thing lead to the next. You end up with this sense of natural creation.... that it was meant to be that way.

Did you notice the pink tulips on the Sun Girl card? Those were a bit of the Petits Gateaux box.

These cards are difficult to photograph because of their three-dimensional nature. I've left the arms, legs, and pigtails free, so they have a lovely sense of movement in person... like they're reaching off the card.

Photo cards are on their way...

Architectural card preview
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
The photo shop finally got the printing of my photos correct (oh, the saga!) and I was able to make some cards at last. I *love* how they turned out. I've got to take some better pictures of the cards when I have a sunny day. For now, these artificial-lighting-then-GIMP'd ones will have to whet your appetite. You can see some of the other cards in my Papery set.

Which 6 orchids do you prefer?

Orchid set
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I'm working on selecting photos for my first photograph cards. You can see my prototype photo card, which I made yesterday. The actual ones will use the deckled (ragged edge) cardstock that I used for some of my stamped cards.

What I want to know from you, dear reader, is which of the above orchid pictures would you like to see on a card and what type of set would you like. Please take the poll in the sidebar and select 1 type of set and up to 6 of your favourite orchid pictures.

The last poll showed a "watering can" as the clear favourite for a new stamped design. I wonder if that's because we're all ready for spring and summer gardening. I know that's why the idea occurred to me. I'll be sure to post the design when it's ready.

Dreaming up new ideas

I'm working on some new card design ideas. I've added a poll to the left column of the blog with some of the things I'm considering. Please pick your favourites!

I am thinking about getting some linocut materials as I'm interested to see how this compares to the rubber stamps. It does require figuring out how you print linocuts without a press. This may involve mounting the linoleum on something like a block of wood, but I've also seen a tutorial showing people using the press method without a press. I'll have to experiment to determine which way gives the best results.

Just a little note....

The cardstock and colourful envelopes that I ordered arrived last week and what fun I've had! I've been busy printmaking with stamps that I hand-carved and the result is a stack of cute cards. I'll be adding them to the my shop over the next few days, but this is a delicious little preview of a few of my favourites.

I was having so much fun that I ran out of cardstock much faster than I expected. So I'll be ordering some more and looking into supplies for photo cards.

I'm interested to know which ones appeal to people most.