Set in Wax

Howdy Everyone! Lots of craft ideas lined up for the week. I'll share with you more TADA! items purchased from the Kate's Paperie warehouse sale. I know, I have more...I hope you're not sick of them yet. 

I got a wax seal stamp with my initial, something that I always wanted to have. It was a sweet deal at only $1.00!

Once upon a time, wax seals were used to assure the privacy of letters. If the seal was broken, it had already been read or tampered with.

The original seals were simply melted beeswax, but later on, seals with family crests were impressed on the wax. This way, forgery was avoided, the recipient knew who the letter was from, and the crest gave insight as to the status or personality of the sender. That's why seals were destroyed when its owner passed away.   

I didn't have any sealing wax on hand, but this was a good opportunity to do some blah to TADA! by using old crayons.

I melted the wax with a utility lighter, but as a safer alternative, a glue gun may be used

 {just follow these steps}.

Let the wax/melted crayon drip on the envelope flap and let it cool for a few seconds. Then press on the seal and hold it for a few seconds.

TADA!

The color of the wax also had meaning. Red was used for business correspondence and black indicated mourning.

By using melted crayon, you have a rainbow of colors 

at your finger tips that say "fun" and "festive".

These days, wax seals only serve a decorative purpose. However, the message "this letter is extra special" still comes across.

Leather and Studs

Hey, hey, hello Friday!

Did you enjoy the shopping trip this week?

If you're ever in New York City, stop by Kate's Paperie and pick up a souvenir. It doesn't need to have a "New York" logo on it. A leather journal, a fancy pen or a box of note cards are useful objects to remember your trip by. 

But if you want a terrific discount, maybe a trip to their warehouse sale could be squeezed into your agenda? This season's sale ends today at their New Jersey office. For future sales, visit their website or be part of the mailing list.

Hunting through the bins has given me much pleasure. Even if I decided on a $20 budget, I came out with an armload of goodies! I've found books, stationery and stuff for arts & crafts. 

I bought this heavy duty awl. It's used for making holes for easier sewing. The wooden ball rests in the palm of your hand for a comfortable grip and the ice pick-like edge makes  holes even in thick material like book pages, heavy cardboard and leather.

Originally selling for $13.50, I got mine for only $2.00!

I was inspired by this piece of jewelry and

luckily found some blah materials 

in my stash. 

I made holes on the leather strip using the awl.

A ruler helped me make even spaces 

between holes.  

Then I sewed the silver beads onto the 

leather strip with a needle & thread.

As a finishing touch, attach clasps to the ends. 

TADA! My very own beaded wrap bracelet! 

Wear it alone...

...or stacked with other bracelets from 

your collection.

Please have an exhilarating weekend! 

Royal Mail

One of my favorite paper shops in New York City is Kate's Paperie. Because I signed up on their mailing list, I found out about their warehouse sale events. I've been to several and I keep coming back. Why? Great merchandise at low, low prices.

There's an on-going warehouse sale this week {last day is tomorrow} at their New Jersey office {40 Rockwood Place, Englewood, NJ 07631}. I'm telling you not because I'm getting anything for this. This is a free plug! Let's face it, times are hard and paper goods can be expensive {that's why I often make my own}, but you'll get good bargains here. This is too TADA! and not sharing it with you would be blah.

Here are two packs of blank single-page cards. They're made of card stock with matching glassine envelopes. There are a dozen cards in each pack and I got them for $1.00 each {they would fetch up to $10.00 without the discount}.

One pack contains red zigzag-edge... 

 ...and gray scalloped-edge cards.

They're beautiful as is but isn't 

embellishment a cool idea?

Remember the bag of scrap? 

I've got a few more unused pieces:

Tiny gold decorations. I'm not sure what

they would be used for. 

 A band leader hat, sombrero & sword.

 Crowns & the eagle from the 

U.S. Presidential seal.  

I attached these to the cards with white glue.

Here's what they look like now:

I wonder if President Obama would 

use this. LOL!

Stationery fit for a king. 

Perfect for an upcoming fiesta. 

Chivalry {and thoughtfulness} isn't dead.

If I may say so myself, these cards just 

turned from blah to TADA!

Bargain Books & Craft Supplies

Hello there! Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. This week, I'm taking my dear readers on a shopping trip, specifically, the Kate's Paperie Warehouse Sale.

Kate's Paperie is a paper boutique in New York City's SOHO district. One of the things I admire about the shop are the window displays. They change depending on the special occasion like Halloween or Christmas or the different seasons. This was a springtime display.

 Don't you love these vibrant paper flowers?

The Kate's Paperie warehouse is located in Englewood, New Jersey. If you love paper, bargains and live nearby, why not make the trip? The sale doesn't happen very often and the current sale is on until Friday {March 2} from 10am to 5pm.

As you can see in the photo, there's a shelf dedicated to books on a variety of topics: wedding etiquette, crafts, graphic design, comics and the like. Here are the one's I picked-up in my past visits: 

 I made a blah to TADA! project from 

this book. Check it out here.

 

I find book design a fascinating topic.

 Because I want to pack a suitcase

and go to Marrakech. One day.

I have a weakness for good-looking desserts. 

The book prices ranged from $2.00 to $8.00. What a steal considering their original prices were $15.00 to $30.00 and they're brand new!

I also helped myself to some craft supplies 

like these stencils:

I used this for this blah to TADA! project. 

I can't wait to use this other one.

I got these stencils for $1.00 each.

Tomorrow, I'll show you more stuff from the sale.

Warehouse Sale Finds

Kate's Paperie is a shop in New York City 

dedicated to the paper lover. 

This week, they're having a warehouse sale 

at their outpost in Englewood, New Jersey.

They would normally have a sale like this 

around the holidays but they may just 

have one every quarter. Woohoo!

Inside, tables and shelves are set-up 

with paper goods & crafting supplies

at hard-to-resist prices.

These gift wrap sheets are 3 for $1.00.

I found these medium-sized pillow boxes...

...they were 5 for a $1.00!

I'll use them to wrap scarves or shirts.

Just add a ribbon & a card. It can even

be reused once the gift is revealed.

This section has boxes of beautiful cards -- the

ones that would be priced at $4.00 and up at

the store. But I got them at 3 for $1.00!

Have a look:

For the kiddies

For the young or young at heart

To deliver get well wishes

To send love during a difficult time

For happy occasions or for no reason at all

I also found some note cards:

Note packs & boxed cards are priced 

from $1.00 to $5.00.

Lots of initial cards {but letters may be limited}

I adore the prints of these envelopes 

{there are cards inside}. I got them

for 5 for $1.00.

The items and prices are really TADA! You just have to rummage around to find that treasure. And if you do go, may I recommend a few stops in the neighborhood?

Balthazar {yes, that popular SOHO restaurant} has a wholesale bakery in New Jersey. They have a small storefront set up like a patisserie where you can purchase pretty, fragrant and tasty baked goods like bread, cookies, cakes and tarts. 

 Grab some coffee with your pastry -- but only

TO GO. Sadly, there's no seating available.

Also make a stop at Jerry's Homemade. It's a deli and grocery selling many European goods like cheese, pasta, wine, chocolates, olive oil, coffee, tea, jams, sauces, cookbooks, cooking supplies and gift baskets. And the prices aren't snobby at all.

I bought some Spanish crisp bread, cheese and quince paste because I saved money from shopping at the Kate Paperie warehouse sale! Plus, I needed to celebrate my good finds. My day just went from blah to TADA!

Kate's Paperie Warehouse: 40 Rockwood Place, Englewood, New Jersey 07631

Balthazar Bakery: 214 South Dean Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631

Jerry's Homemade: 410 South Dean Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631