Open Tomorrow!

Hello and Merry Christmas!  Hope you are enjoying time with the family and enjoying time to yourself!  I have had some wonderful days off. Check out my new gift above.  It is the new version of a Polaroid camera!  I cannot wait to "smash" these pictures and other special ones I took over the past week.  So fun!

The Paper Pickle and Homebaked Kitchen will be open tomorrow (December 31) from 10am-3pm. Stop in and get your crafty supplies and goodies for some lazy holi-days!  The kids and I are all ready for a New Years Day full of crafty fun!

Please note the store will not reopen until January 7th so stop in tomorrow if you need anything. Otherwise, you can email me and I will do my best to accommodate your request!

Kim

Two Days to Shop

Good morning!  Just wanted to remind you that we are open Tuesday, December 23 10am-5pm and Wednesday, December 24 10am-2pm for your last minute shopping needs.

We have great stocking stuffers including all the Tim Holtz mini distress inks, gift cards, paper pads and more!

In case you missed it, here are our holiday hours for the next couple of weeks.

Keep smilin'.....we are almost there!

Kim

Wrap it Up!

I don't know about you, but I only JUST began wrapping a couple of gifts last night.  It was after my daughter said "Mom, it's weird, all the trees on tv have tons of presents under them and we only have one and it's from me to you!"  Talk about guilt.  Ha.  I swear that girl is my personal assistant and keeps me on the ball reminding me things to do and things coming up....and she's only 8!

Well if you are like me, you are in luck!  The Paper Pickle has some great gift boxes ready for some crafty business.  Add ribbon, burlap, washi tape, twine paper are more to these gorgeous kraft boxes in sizes 6x6, 8x8 and 12x12.  We also brought in an adorable pink giftalicious box with comes complete with tag and ribbon. These boxes are Santa approved and sure to keep your most precious gifts safe!

Keep smilin'....

Kim

PS....did you see we will be open this Monday (10-5), Tuesday (10-5) and Wednesday (10-2)?  Let your people know so they can pop in for a gift card or we can help them surprise you with new goodies as there have been quite a few deliveries over the last week!

Holiday HoursI

Oh wow!  You guys having some pretty busy days?  Me too.  The crazy part is that I feel calm.  I still have a lot to do but the critical gifts are bought (aka kids and hubby) and a few must do things are now done so that is awesome and maybe the reason for the calm!  I will share with you the fun I have had over the last couple of days in very near future posts!

So have a look at our holiday hours above.  We will be open this week business as usual (Wednesday-Friday 10am-5:30pm and Saturday 10am-3pm and Sunday closed).  We will also be open THIS Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for any last minute gift cards, gifts, goodies, supplies and more!

If you know of any brides who are in town over the holidays and would like to discuss wedding stationery, please feel free to pass on my email address (thepaperpickle@gmail.com) and I would be happy to try to accommodate them!

The holidays are almost here.  I hope you are taking some time to relax and soak it all in!

Kim

Homebaked (Kitchen) for the Holidays

So guys.  Ok.  I have just found you some valuable crafting time during the madness of the season.  Forget the baking this year.  Let Homebaked Kitchen do YOUR baking so YOU can do the crafting (and isn't that all you want to do these days?!?) This has been my secret for the past couple of years and I'm ready to share!  Believe me, Jen's baking is more beautiful than I could EVER make and her recipes are better than any you can find your cook books.  Have a look for yourself.....

Cardinal Sugar Cookie.  Does he not have a presence about him?
So regal.  So beautiful.  You may feel a second of grief biting his head off!  Ha.

Homebaked for the Holidays!
Hey.  They are Homebaked.  They are.  Not baked in YOUR home
but they are Homebaked (Kitchen)!
You're not lying!

These sled cookies would pair so nicely with Jen's
sled linen towels (also available in the shop).  Theme gifts are my favourite!

 Stamped Cookies!?!

These cookies were Jen's entry in the tag swap!  Ok.  Look how beautiful the presentation is!  And guess what?  She used a stamp for the design!  Don't believe me?  Have a look below at the Penny Black stamp set we have in store!  Incredible!

So what do you think?  Don't thank me just yet.  Come in and thank me after you receive all the hugs and kisses this Christmas once your loved ones open YOUR hand made gifts and Homebaked goodies!

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

2014 Tag Exchange - You Guys ROCK!

Our second annual Christmas Tag Exchange took place at The Pickle!  We had TWO full groups this year (a total of 24 participants).  I have to tell you that I was absolutely thrilled with all the tags were.  I mean they were truly pieces of art!  I can't show you all the tags just yet (as the tags are only starting to be picked up today) and I want the participants to be surprised when they look in their goodie bags!  I do promise to share the tags (how about after the holidays?).

As a side note, Cupcake Red Velvet is a very nice full bodied red from California.
My sister Jen introduced me to this wine at her rehearsal party
a few years ago (how fitting!)

I can share my tag though.  I was quite excited to work with the new printed canvas ribbon we got in just recently.  When I first looked at it, it reminded me of a scarf. I loved the pattern and how distressed yet elegant it was.  This got me to thinking.....

I also knew that I wanted to make a different kind of tag, not necessarily one for a boxed gift and that also got me to thinking.....

I also knew that I like to give bottles of wine at Christmas but sometimes the wine bags from the LCBO just look tacky to me.  I mean some of those wine bottle labels are so pretty and should not be hidden in a cheap paper bag.  So that had me to thinking.....

Hey!  A wine bottle could use a pretty scarf/bow/packaging this time of the year!  It all came together with elegant ribbon, a rhinestone broach and (of course) paper and twine.  The stamp from Riley & Co was almost TOO perfect.  I was tempted to use the "He sees you when you're drinking..." stamp but decided this one would go better.  I stamped it with the new Memento Luxe pad (which is heavenly btw).  A little colour to the holly image on the stamp plus a subtle paper tape and the tag was complete.  What do you think?

Have a little fun wrapping your gifts this year.  Think outside the box (or bag)....I dare you!
Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10-3pm

Hot Apple Cider. Hot Gift Ideas

Join us today and every Saturday leading up to Christmas for a nice cup of apple cider while you stroll the store.  We have great gift ideas for teachers, hostess gifts, family and more.  Homebaked Kitchen has just received a big shipment of seasonal aprons, tea towels, coasters, etc.

Open until 3pm today.  Don't forget that if you are a part of our Christmas tag exchange, tags are due TODAY!!  Pick up of the tags will take place during store hours next week.

PS....I'm feeling much better these days.  We plan to spend the entire weekend putting up the tree, decorations, baking a little (and I mean a little because I would rather craft than bake...I always outsource this job to Homebaked Kitchen!), crafting and watching holiday movies.  No other plans.  I feel relaxed.  I feel good.  I hope you are too!

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10-5:30
Sat - 10-3

Simple Superstar Christmas Card #1

It's funny how this time of the year, the thought of adding one more "job" to your list can very well be the straw that breaks the camels back!  Honestly, last night I had a little melt down because I felt like I had not had one minute to myself.  The day consisted of working for hubby, cutting the lawn leaves with the rider, climbing the roof to get the leaves out the eaves troughs, hanging the outdoor Christmas lights, making a roast chicken dinner complete with mashed potatoes and gravy, cleaning up after dinner, building lego with my son, putting the kids to bed, finally putting away my mounds of clean clothes and then.....CRASH!  Seriously.  I just had to have a little pity party just so I had a minute for ME.  Truly.  Why is there so much to do?  And I know I am not the only one!  Everyone I talk to is the same especially this time of the year.

I'm here to save you from a major meltdown.  I had the melt down.  I took one for the team so you can stay sane while making your Christmas cards this year.  Truly.  Do not put too much pressure on yourself and let your Christmas cards be the "straw" that did you know what!  Follow my lead and look like a superstar while maintaining your composure.  Here's how....

Step 1:  Choose great papers like shimmer card stocks (what do you know?.....they can be found at The Pickle!).  They are elegant and get noticed on the card wreaths next to those white, glossy boxed cards.

Step 2:  Choose great dies.....Cut snowflake heart die out of that great red shimmer card stock.

Step 3:  Cut merry word die out of gray card stock and add a little glitter.  Glue to the red shimmer card stock.

Step 4:  Create an elegant look by keeping matting square and adding lots of layers.  And you're done!  Oh, I guess I did crank the die through an extra time using white card stock to add a couple of extra white snowflakes to the bottom of the card.  But that's it really!

Easy.  Stress free.  You're composure is most definitely in check while your superstar cape flies proudly in the cool winter breeze....♥.  PS....Thanks for letting me vent!  Ha.

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

Christmas Advent Calendar for Hubby

(Just in case you missed my posts from last week)....the challenge was on to get an advent calendar done for my hubby in time for December 1.  Once kids came along, I stopped making projects for Trev and I thought that was terrible. I had a few days and thanks to a great DIY kit ($22.99) and a great 6x6 paper pad (Warm & Cozy), it all got done with time to spare!

Here is a better look at the completed project!

I added extra little goodies like the star brads.

All papers including the words "Trees and Hockey" were from the 6x6 pad.
Number stickers are included in the kit.

I included a little love note (ahhhh....♥) and a chocolate for Day 1 and guess what?  I think he actually liked it and was quite surprised.  He is a man of few words but I think his shy smile said it all (ahhhh....♥!)

Tag Swap
Just a little reminder that any of you who entered our annual tag swap, your tags are due by THIS Saturday.  Feel free to come in any time during our regular store hours to drop them off.  Thank you to those who have already done!  We even had one participant mail hers in since she lives out of town (we got them Pat!).  All I can say is WOW!  Everyone's tags are incredible.  I better get on my game and try to wow you too!

December Cheer
I know you guys find the store to be warm and cozy on any given day but we thought we would add a little extra warmth for the month of December.  Stop in on Saturdays (during store hours - 10am-3pm) and enjoy a warm cup of apple cider on the house.  Don't be shy.  We'd love to see you.  And hey, why don't you bring your latest creations for a little show and tell!!

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

Shop the Neighbourhood - November 29!

So have you heard about this event yet?  It is all about encouraging people to shop locally!  Now you guys know I am ALL about this concept.  And it's not just because I OWN a small business.  I have been shopping local, small business FOREVER!  I have a soft spot in my heart for the little veggie stands on the side of the road, the kiddie lemonade stands, the craft shows, the boutique style shops.  These entrepreneurs are all taking a chance on a dream and really....that takes guts.

I often do an annual blog post around this time of the year about the importance of shopping local.  Remember my post a few years ago about buying a bike from Todd at Smith Cycle or wonderful gifts from Barb at Barrypatch?  Are you on a first name basis with any of the stores you frequent?  I get a wonderful sense of belonging and community when I walk into a store where the salesperson knows me as Kim!

The YellowPage Group has taken this same concept and are encouraging AND facilitating it so it spreads nationwide.  What a brilliant idea on their part.  Today we are bombarded with US based advertisements about  "Black Friday" promotions.  Why not wait one day and get some great deals just down the road.  SAVE your gas.  SAVE your time.  SUPPORT your neighbour.

Here is a link to the deals in Chatham, Ontario!  Please remember this is the inaugural year.  Next year this event will be even bigger, with even more participants!  You will be able to say you were there when it all began back in 2014!

FREE Gift with Purchase

We are celebrating the Shop the Neighbourhood event with a FREE Kaisercraft 6.5x6.5" paper pad for EVERY $50 purchase!  This is a $9.99 value with over a dozen different styles to choose from.  

These paper pads are gorgeous with specialty papers, die cut pieces and more.  Great for card makers with their reduced pattern size.  Also wonderful in doll houses!  Use the beautifully coordinated papers on your page layouts.  Say it with me....the possibilities are endless!

Forget your Iron...Take an EXTRA 50% off

We will also be passing on an EXTRA 50% off all items on our clearance "ironing board".  (Of course our sales bin is on a wooden ironing board).  Where else would it be?!  There are some great things here too people!  You want to have a look!

Together, let's get this concept rolling....

Kim

Store Hours

Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm

Sat - 10am-3pm

Christmas Activity - Idea #3 - Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Ok.  How cute is this idea?  My sister Kell had seen an idea similar to this on line and said it would be the perfect combination of Homebaked plus Paper Pickle.

I should have known.  I just googled the image
Kell sent meand this is a Martha Stewart idea.
I must try the photo ornaments next!

And I couldn't agree more!  They are cookie cutters dressed up with scrapbooking paper, washi tape, ribbon, etc.

 So this ornament is my favourite!  It incorporated Tim Holtz's mini Christmas trees, ribbon and washi tape.

I must say that this came together even more perfectly than originally planned.  I picked up cookie cutters from The Superstore.  I think realized that Tim's mini trees fit into the star.  The cookie cutter was shiny silver and that just did not match my tree so I grabbed some of our wide paper tape from Little B and voila!  It was THE EXACT thickness as the cookie cutter.  A little cheese cloth and Stickles finished the bottom of the tree.  What do you think?!?  Doable?  Definitely!

Advent Calendar Update

Thought I should update you on my calendar progress.  Here is what I had accomplished last night before I turned into a turd on the couch!  Seriously I had my flu shot in the morning and I could not move off the couch between 9-11 last night.  That is so unusual for me.  I NEVER watch tv and yet all I could imagine myself doing what napping and laying down.  Tonight I hope to get a little more completed before the December 1 deadline!  I LOVE the Warm & Cozy line that Laina told me was a must to bring in.  Thank you!  It was the perfect paper to use on hubby's project!  I just love when things come together!

Am I inspiring you yet?  What projects do you have on the go?  Remember, Saturday is show and tell day at the store!
Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

Christmas Activity - Idea #2 - 2015 Calendar

 I'm back with another fun project and/or gift idea.  Every year I make the Basic Grey calendar kit ($23.50).  Every year I am reminded how MUCH I love this company AND this project!  Actually, I am reminded of how much I love this company and this project every time I look at it hanging on my wall...that's the best part!

It's funny how excited I get about this kit.  I re-read my post from last year and I had to laugh at my pictures of the project.  Seriously, Kim?  You were taking pictures of the completed project while you waited in line at Laura Secord?  Now this is love people!  Ha.

So the kit works exactly the same way as it always has....there are pre-printed pages which act as the "base" of the page.  BG has included a great assortment of stickers, chipboard and die cut pieces to enhance your page.  The best part is that everything is labelled so nicely.

Another great thing is that you are able to follow along with the instructions or feel fee to change the page as you wish!  The page above for March was the last page I completed because I couldn't decide if I liked the picture of Coulter or the picture of Julia better with the background colours.  I decided that they BOTH worked well and there was just enough room on the layout to accommodate both!  Another side....parenting tip #6 - when working on family projects such as this, make sure you have EXACTLY the same number of photos of each kid otherwise further meltdowns and/or feeling of guilt may ensue....damn!  I just counted and see Jules got one extra photo!  Oh well.  Coult is pretty chill.  Next year I will give him an extra shout out!

As always, I chose photos based on the colours in the "base" and colours in the photo.  

This year I am going to go one step further with my calendar and actually jot down events on the calendar.  I think it is important to get down some of these fun milestones ANY way you can...I may even let go of my inner perfectionist and not worry about the ink colour not matching!

I also plan to take my 2014 calendar apart and slip the pages into an 8x8 album.  I think this will be a great way to preserve the layouts.

 Just flip through those photos and find the one that speaks to you and add it to that month!

I absolutely LOVE how this page came together.
I followed the instructions 100%.  Just awesome.

I just love when things come together so nicely AND so easily!  This project was completed over the course of two nights after the kids were in bed.  You just follow along....not much thinking involved.  You feel productive.  You feel creative.  You look like a rockstar (yet, AGAIN!).  That's what I'm talking about.

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm (Shop the Neighbourhood Event!)

Christmas Activity - Idea #1 - DIY Advent Calendar

So I thought it was time for me to post a few of our holiday creations over the next couple of weeks to inspire you.  I will admit that this is not new but they are so FUN I just HAD to blog about it!

Check out this DIY Advent Calendar ($23.99).  It measures 8.5"x8.5"and is made of a nice coated cardboard and includes clear stickers with black font for numbers 1-25.  It starts out all white....a nice blank canvas.

The Concept
I'm sure everyone has had an Advent calendar at some point in their lives.  I remember the ones as a kid that were in a thin cardboard box with the little perforated doors that opened to reveal a chocolate.  From December 1 to December 25, I remember being so excited to open that little door to get my "treat".  I know kids don't mind those waxy boxed chocolates but really?  I'm sorry....they are terrible.  I guess it is more of the counting down part that was the real "treat".

So today there are tons of companies with their own Advent calendars.  Did you see the ones from Lego?  Pretty cool.  I think they are around $50 but in the end you get all the Lego pieces to build your scene.  I think these kits are smart and practical (kids get great toys to play with) but once you open the little doors, it's kind of done.  Next year you have to buy another one.

Now here is why this kit is so much better....

You Get to be Creative!

This Advent Calendar was created by Kell
using traditional and classic colours.  How fun!

What I like about these kits is that you get to choose your own decorative papers to decorate the box based on the person you are creating it for.  The entire time you are choosing the paper and adding the little goodies, you are thinking about the person you love....that is just good for the soul.

 They Last!

Another reason why I love this project is because once you design it, you can use it over and over again!  This one I designed for Coulter about 4 years ago.  I chose the great blues because he is a boy (I know....not very original or creative but he loves it!).  Anyone remember these papers?

You get to SHOP! 

And finally this project is AWESOME because YOU get to fill the little 1.5"x1.5" cube drawers!  Just think about that concept.  Think about the possibilities...

This one was created for my daughter and so I decorated it with great fun, girlie colours.  I also filled the cubes last year with Littlest Pet Shops, money, candies, Squinkies and even a little ornament for the tree.  Every day the kids got to open the corresponding date.  They loved it!  They loved the count down and I think they loved seeing what I chose for the particular date.  Side note.....and parenting tip #48 - if you have two or more kids, make sure you put equivalent "treats" in each kids corresponding dates or you may be setting yourself up for potential meltdowns.  Ha.  "Hey.  Why did Coulter get a toonie and I only got one jelly bean?"  Yeah.  Not cool.  Not cool at all.

The Challenge

I know you guys are all like, "OK Kim.  You do realize there are only 5 days left in this month and December less than one week away?  There is not enough time to complete this project".  Now this is where the challenge comes in.....  

I decided that I am missing one very important person in my life when it comes to these holiday creations....my hubby!  I use to make tons of handmade projects for him when we were dating.  You should see my cross stitched Mustang Football player wall hanging and my hand stamped scrapbook (like EACH letter was stamped to created my album...what?!?).  These days, everything is created for the kids and not really for Trev.  This year my plan is to make him a little calendar.  Just think of the fun things you could add in that little 1.5"x1.5" cube for your honey.  A little love letter?  Traditional chocolates?  Something a little more risque?  (Hey...hey...hey....I know you guys were all thinking it!).

So I will begin my Advent calendar tomorrow after work.  Truly, I vow I have not yet started and I challenge myself to create one and have it done and posted for December 1.  Anyone else want to do this with me?  There is time!  We can do it.   PS...I know a great place you can pick these up.  **Wink**Wink**

Kim

Store Hours

Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm

Sat - 10am-3pm