Printing Tips

Check out my printing tips if you're having problems printing to the right size
If you'd like to support this site and all the free things I post- please check out my Don't Eat the Paste Mandala collection coloring book for 9.99 at Amazon.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Spring Color Printable Boxes

This set matches the Ghirardelli Square  slide boxes posted a couple of days ago. Bright pastel spring colors.
Click on the images for larger versions. Print, cut, score, fold, glue.




I posted the template for the Ghirardelli square box in my Etsy shop. You'll get the templates for both boxes that I've sized for Ghirardelli squares. Also newly posted in my Etsy shop is an earring pattern for Cross and Easter lily earrings.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Currently working on...


An e-book of cross stitch patterns and a crocheted wrap bracelet. The bracelet pattern will be posted tomorrow.

Hopefully you are all planning a wonderful weekend!
Here's a sneak peek at the Kindle book I'm working on. It will be a collection of cross stitch patterns for words I really like with definitions. The charts will be 49x70 stitches, or just the right size to fit in a 3.5x5 inch card opening or frame. They are formatted for K2 screens and e-ink. Click on the image for the larger chart.

Tattarrattat is also both a palindrome and onomatopoeia which means that it's spelled the same backward and forward, and the word sounds like what it is.  







Thursday, March 29, 2012

A new knot to color or embroider

Sun Celtic Knotwork
My original thought with this mandala style knot was a flower. When it was finished, I decided it looked more sun-like. It's 5 strands, one main intricate twisted and knotted strand, and 4 untwisted lines just for decoration. Click on the images for larger versions.
High resolution transparent PNG format:
Knotwork coloring page

100 DPI JPG format
Coloring page- knotwork

100 DPI JPG embroidery version

If you like my printable coloring pages, be sure to check my sidebar for lots more mandala type designs to color, or the tags for more knotwork or embroidery patterns. 



Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Spring Color Slide Box- Ghirardelli Squares

A new template! A slide box that will fit 3 Ghirardelli squares, and prints 2 boxes to a page. To make these, you, click on the larger image, print at 8x10 inches, cut, score, fold. The inner box, you glue the tabs to the inside to make an open topped box. The outer slide, you glue the tab to the inside. Click on the image for a larger version.The blank template is available in my Etsy shop.



Pattern and Mandala Coloring Page

3 coloring pages in 2 formats, both jpg and transparent png format, the jpg files are lower resolution than the pngs. All of the images are based off the same pattern. I hope you enjoy them! Click on the images for larger versions. jpgs are on the right.
mandala to colormandala to color
 

I posted some brick stitch patterns today to Beadwork at BellaOnline. Easter Bunny and Eggs Pattern







Saturday, March 24, 2012

Easter Bunny and Egg Mandala to Color

This mandala is in both 100 dpi JPG format and my standard high res transparent PNG format. If there are past mandalas to color you would like in 100 JPG format, leave a comment on that blog entry. Click on the images for larger versions to color, and I hope you enjoy this mandala!
Transparent PNG-
100 dpi JPG

I have lots of Easter projects, including boxes to color and lots and lots of bunnies.
Check out my Easter printables and projects.
I also have one bunny themed fabric for sale at Spoonflower.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Butterfly Plaid and Gingham Circle Tags

I hope you enjoy these circle tags. Use a 2 inch circle punch or scissors to cut them out to use as cupcake toppers, labels or gift tags (writing on the back). Click on the image for a larger version. There are two box styles that match these tags.
Printable Butterfly Plaid and Gingham 2x2x2 inch boxes
Printable Plaid and Gingham 3x3x1 inch boxes

Facebook Quotes and Beady Things

Since I make quote art to post every so often on Facebook, I decided to create a page for it, so other people could share it if they wanted to. Don't Eat the Paste Quotes
Also! Read my review of Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue. Short version? LOVED the book.

I also posted instructions for a wrap bracelet.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Hunger Games and Dandelions

Remember the part of The Hunger Games (the book, I haven't seen the movie yet) when Katniss found the dandelions? Since we consider them our first summer harvest, it made me smile. We eat the early shoots in salads, fry the blooms, and blow the seeds for more dandelions. The cheerful yellow dotting the yard is cheerful. I decided to use the 3 photos shown to make some printable pages for journals or writing down recipes. Click on the images for larger versions. All are in JPG format.



Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Decoupaged Mini Comp Books

My family goes through a lot of composition style notebooks. Both my kids prefer them for the games and stories they are working on, and to keep notes in. I use the mini ones to keep notes in and for shopping lists and reminders. They cost a lot less than blank books and have nice smooth lined paper. We also decorate them in different ways which makes less likely we will grab someone else's book.

They are also great blank canvases for personalizing.

The miniature composition books are 4.5 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide and have 80 pages, or 160 if you use the front and back of them. For my purse, I prefer a way to close them, and a bookmark to find the page I'm on quickly.

For this project you will need:

  • Miniature composition notebook
  • Mod Podge- I like Mod Podge Matte for these
  • Pretty paper in 2 colors- heavy enough the black won't show through- I used scrapbook paper
  • scissors- I used both plain and decorative edgers
  • scoring tool- bone folder or even a knitting needle
  • 1/8 inch hole punch
  • 1 brad- also known as brass fasteners
  • 1/4 inch wide elastic
  • embroidery floss
  • a small charm
  • foam brush to apply Mod Podge
  • Plate or scrap of paper to put Mod Podge on to use
Work with small puddles of Mod Podge. Only as much as you'll use for each step.

Start by tracing the notebook on the back of your main color of paper. Then draw a second line a half inch away from it on 3 sides- 1 long and 2 short. Cut it out, then use that piece as a pattern for the second piece. Use the Mod Podge to affix the paper to the outside of each cover. Diagram shows how it looks on the inside.

Trim the corners at a 45 degree angle, then lightly score the paper as close to the edge of the notebook as possible.


Fold in edges, and glue down with Mod Podge.
Let it dry for 20 minutes, then cover one side with Mod Podge. Let that dry for 20 minutes, then cover the other side with Mod Podge. Let it dry for 20 minutes.

Now you'll attach the elastic. Punch a hole in the back cover, centered vertically and about an inch from the outside edge of the notebook.
Cut 6 inches of elastic, seal the ends with just a dab of Mod Podge, other glues will work, but the Mod Podge is right there! Then make a small cut a half in from each end.
Make a loop with the elastic, and slide the brad into both slits, then through the hole in the cover. Open the "legs" to affix it in place. It will slide over the notebook to keep it closed like below. But for the next part you need to be able to open the book, so slide the elastic off the front cover again.
Cut 2 sheets of the contrast paper to fit the inside covers and glue them into place.
Now you'll need to make the book mark. Take a piece of floss about 16 inches long, and thread the charm on it, match up the ends, then tie a small overhand knot above the charm in the middle of the strand.
Cut a piece of contrast paper that's 3 inches wide by 4.5 inches tall. This is a good place for decorative scissors for the long edges.

Put the bookmark in so the charm hangs out just a bit from the bottom, fold the top part of the floss over the spine, and glue it down.
Now glue the contrast paper over the spine.
Let it dry for 20 minutes, then go over the cover with more Mod Podge, let that dry for 20 minutes, and put on another coat of Mod Podge. Work around the brad and elastic on the back cover.
Let it dry completely, slip the elastic over the cover, and it's ready to go!

These make wonderful little gifts too. Other than drying time, they are very quick and simple to make. You can further personalize them using photos, stickers, and paper cutouts on the covers.

Plaid sent me the Mod Podge Starter Pack at no cost to use for projects on Don't Eat the Paste. Be sure to like them on Facebook for lots of links and ideas.

The starter pack has 2 ounces bottles of Mod Podge Sparkle, Mod Podge Matte, Mod Podge Gloss,  Mod Podge Outdoors and Mod Podge Paper.


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Butterfly Plaid and Gingham Gift Boxes 2x2

I'm also doing 2 inch circles for cupcake toppers, and possibly a bunting in this set as well. You can get the 3x3x1 inch printable boxes that match these here- Butterfly Printable Gift Boxes 
Happy Spring! These boxes are 2x2x2 cubes. Click on the images for larger versions, print on card stock, cut, score, fold and glue!


Monday, March 19, 2012

Sunset, mountains and ice- photo post

The Seward Highway out of town is considered a scenic byway. Of course, most of our highways are scenic. But heading out to the Valley, there aren't places to turn out so you can gawk at the scenery between Anchorage and Eagle River. Between Anchorage and Girdwood on the Seward Highway, there are lots of turnouts. You go through part of the Chugach National Park. I've posted photos in the past of some of the scenery in summer. Last night my husband took me out specifically to get photos of the sunset and of the mountains in winter for you.
Click on the images for larger versions. I resized them to 50% for quicker loading.
This highway has railroad tracks and the inlet on one side, and one the other, you butted up against mountains and cliffs. There can be avalanches sometimes, but the state posts advisories if they think it might be a problem.
During the summer, those cliffs have little water run offs and climbers. Now I'm going to be quiet. So you can just enjoy the scenery.








Hope you enjoyed these photos!