Friday, 10 July 2015

Healing hugs for Chewy



This Week we had drama at PPHQ when my beloved Chewy became very sick. This week has been daily trips to our local vets for tests and checks which ended up with poor Chewy on a drip. It was truly heartbreaking to see him so poorly, he was refusing to eat or even move and became really limp. It was awful for him but also for the whole family who are used to him running around our feet trying to trip us up!





It became very scary when we realised that in the stresses of work and family life that we had let his insurance lapse. When you lot found out that the insurance hadn't been renewed there were LOADS of people offering support, auctioning items and donating their hard earned cash to his vets bill. I honestly couldn't believe it. Faith in humanity completely restored.

I cannot express how much every message, virtual hug, donation and offer to help has meant to me and my family, and it has helped me get through a tough and stressful week. Without this support I honestly don't know how I would have coped. So THANK YOU, every single one of you, THANK YOU xxxx


On a Brighter note this week one of my lovely admin team challenged the papercutting group to interpret what Paper Panda meant to them. This could have been by any means or medium, and we had some incredible entries! From drawings, pictures, quotes, poems and just words of general loveliness! Here is a few of my favourites! (It was super hard to pick a couple as they were all so lovely)
Picture by Rose O'Shea

Poem by Anna Goadby

There is a world of paper art,
An art that is close to our heart.
Across the world we pick up a knife,
But in aid of art not to take a life.
We are a group, although we've not met,
Who share pics of our favourite pet.
We share our stories part of our lives,
All whilst creating with our knives.
Acts of kindness not of hate,
Is what makes this group great.
We came together because we care,
For an artist, known as a bear.
From a little village in the Cotswolds,
Come pretty pics to cure blues and colds.
promoting kindness and good deeds,
Whilst we shop to fill our craft needs.
Our thanks to paper panda we owe,
For the love in the group does grow.
Thanks to panda we have learnt to be kind,
We are not strangers, we are of same mind.
Paper and knife, cake to eat,
We are Just friends who are yet to meet.


Poem by Jessica Massey

There once was a Paper Panda. There never was a woman grander.
She has big boobs and an even bigger heart paper cutting is her art.
A beautiful talent she likes to share and about other people she really does care.

So she decided to create a group, and lots of people went whoop whoop whoop.
A group who share a love of craft a place where you’re never made to feel daft.
But it’s not just Lou who runs the dream she also has a fabulous team.
She has Tim Sam who we all like to scare by wanting to see him in underwear.
Then there’s Dan the admin man. Let’s give him a clap for being a real nice chap.
Next up is Emily with her pretty smile to help she`ll go an extra mile.
Vicky has the rainbow hair to forget her I wouldn’t dare.
Then of course there is Julie too she’s a lovely lady through and through.
There’s coke and cake and laughs galore it’s never stops there’s always more.
Mr whippy is so yummy just like Lou who is rather scrummy wink emoticon
There’s chewy and munch who are part of the bunch.
I’m sorry this poem is so lame my lack of drawing skills are to blame.
And although comic sans is a really big no honestly it was the only way to go.
So now you ask what does paper panda mean? Its friends and family and following a dream.
Its being yourself and believing in you it’s following your heart and always being true.
It’s an inspiration to many around, a helpful word and smile can always be found.
It’s being confident and learning a skill, picking up and knife and having a thrill.
Cutting up paper to make some art, paper panda is part of our heart.


With so many entries I wish I could share them all, but along with the support for Chewy this thread and the love for Paper Panda was so immense it has made what was a dreadful week into something immensely lovely and bearable.Thank you for being there for me!
Lots of love and Panda snogs! Mwah xxx

Friday, 3 July 2015


Hot, hot.... and boy, it's hot!


Well, what is there to say this week? It has been a rare week for us Brits! It's been practically tropical :) The weather has been absolutely glorious! But in true Brit style I've had a bit of a moan. Hehe!

But I have to say it's nice not to be cold! :) But as much as i have been enjoying the heat it hasnt been so rosy for my poor Munch! He's been super hot but you all came to the rescue with your hints and tips!

So Thanks for the cool dog tips! Bought an ice machine (never room in the freezer!) so they have ice water, a dog pool, 2 air cons on the way and 2 dog lollipops made from Chinese containers, Babybell, duck, carrots and green beans are freezing. Munch just had a bubblegum Calippo which I'm sure isn't good for him but it will have helped!

He is now chilling out in the shade with Chewy!

Also We had a HUGE 50% off templates sale! Which was super successful! But naughty Mr Facebook hid the post so I have decided to do another one on Monday 6th 7pm till 10.30pm GMT. Don't miss out, there will not be another one of these till next year!

Well today is supposed to be my day off so I am going to find the closest Mr Whippy and eat one! Ok, I might have two! Have fun everyone :)

Friday, 26 June 2015

End of Term gifts!

Happy Friday folks!
So with the end of term fast approaching have you got that special teacher the perfect gift yet? If you haven't dont panic, we have just the thing for you! TWO new awesome teacher gifts this year!

  Beautifully crafted Laminated Wood Bookmarks are brilliant gifts!

&

Beautiful Acrylic Hanging Decorations look real pretty hanging in a classroom!  


Both can be ordered plain or customised with names or messages and they both also come gift boxed ready for your little one to give to their favourite teachers!


 


Templates!



http://paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/papercut-diy-design-template-teacher-2015




http://paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/papercut-diy-apple-tree



 Along with these templates to cut a gift yourself, there are keyrings and many other awesome little treats that are perfect for your littlun's teacher.
www.paperpandacuts.co.uk



Don't forget that you have only a day or so left to order the current set of ACEO's as they'll be changing over to the new set on Sunday 28th July 2015.


Get yours here - ACEO prints set two!


Friday, 19 June 2015

The way things develop!

Isn't it strange how one week develops from the last?

Last week I was on my holibobs! Then this week we have lot's of things happening at PPHQ!

New products!

Diskworld Canvasses!!

 

A fantastic collection of high quality canvas prints taken from our stunning Discworld papercuts.

Choose from Death, Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax, Rincewind, Lord Vetinari, Sam Vimes, Tiffany Aching and The Librarian.





These are wonderful! And it is exciting to see a whole collection of my cuts turned into canvasses!

Not only is it just our canvasses that are new this week, We have received a delivery of a gorgeous range of frames! They are very similar in design to the ones I use to frame my work! They are made by the very same guy who makes mine, Dave the Farmer! (yes that isnt a typo)



Not only are these in store now but tonight at 8pm sharp, the return of FBH! Eek, he has been lovingly made again by the lovely Caroline and he has created his own hedgehog army!!


Ahhhh! Finn Biddybum Hedgehog army!!

Finally the last new thing in the PP house is this beautifully crafted and very snug fitting 
CONE OF SHAME!!


Munch decided that he wanted to live up to his own name and give his tail a munch, so until it heals the daft sod has to wear his lovely lampshade wherever he goes! :)

Haha, so that is all! Have a fab weekend and tune in next week for more shenanigans!!

Friday, 12 June 2015

Greetings from Clovelly!



Greetings from Clovelly in Devon! We have taken a break for a few days to visit this gorgeous part of the world and now I'm brimming with ideas for lovely seaside papercuts!
I have no internet at all and it feels like my head has been cut off haha! Crazy how much we rely on it eh?
Ahh well, everyone back at PP HQ is merrily packing your lovely orders and wishing they were with us I'm sure.

This week has seen Chilly the penguin join the template team!



Click here to get yours!

June's surprise template has been going down a storm - it's dead cute, even if I do say so myself! ;) I'd love to show you, but that would spoil the surprise! It's only a quid though, you can get yours here! Which is your favourite surprise template? There are four to choose from!


DISASTER STRIKES!

You all know how I feel about the comic sans font! I'm not sure things could get more ironic than this! *faints*



On that note, I'm off to get a Mr Whippy. Ciao. xx




Saturday, 6 June 2015



Been feeling very nostalgic this week, mainly because of this... My Care Bear sticker book was falling apart. That was a good enough reason to get my hands on this mint, pristine condition sticker book...WITH EVERY SINGLE STICKER LOOSE TOO!!! *wafts face*, I know, I know, it's exciting isn't it?! I feel like a 10 year old on my birthday, like someone just bought me a Mr Whippy with sherbert AND nuts...like buying a pair of size 16 jeans and them fitting (hush now, skinny wenches ;) )...like an ice cold bottle of full fat Coke on a sunny day x a million.
I'm excited.
I'm going to add one sticker to the book every day as a treat.
I'll be popping pics on Instagram if you want a trip down memory lane with me (paperpanda1). Right, I'm off to do the first one. Totally going for a fuzzy one...or a foil one...or a clear one....ooooosssshhh!!

But not only this but we had a dramatic scene here this week, where my heart was literally in my mouth!
Scrufton Poobum aka Chewy escaped and narrowly missed being car food. Cue ridiculous tattooed lady bombing it along the road with trousers falling down and boobs bouncing all over the place in a vest that was never meant to be seen in public.
If you're visiting Bourton on the Water today I apologise for the sight...I haven't run like that since 1982.

So all in all been feeling retro, let's hope its another 33 years before I need to run like that again!

Sunday, 31 May 2015

The Happiest Template in the Universe - Contest Results!

Ice cream with wafers and cupcakes with sprinkles,
Blue-haired unicorns and little stars that twinkle,
Colourful rainbows and Bird's little wing, 
This template is my new favourite thing!

But there's so many ways that this new template can be customised.
What colour mane would your unicorn have?
What flavour will your ice cream be?
What colour are your balloons? So many choices! 

I'm Admin Vicky and I'm a rainbow fan (complete with rainbow hair!)

Oh go on, here's a pic, excuse the chins! 

I wanted to see how you would make this template unique to you.
I asked the super-creative folk in our Facebook group to cut the template and post a photo of the finished design.
There were tons of entries, and I spent far too long ooh-ing and aah-ing over them! 
Everyone made totally awesome designs, with glitter, rainbows, pearly bits, holographic-ness, basically everything you need for the Happiest Template in the Universe!

Before I announce the winner, first, some honorable mentions!
Katherine made this very British colour scheme with tons of glitter and a super cheeky sun! 


Laura's design looked stunning in black, with a dazzling gold holographic background.


Loz made a super-sparkly one, with a teeny weeny lickle one!
Must have square eyes after making that ;)


But, there can only be one winner!
The person I have chosen, cut this design not only once, but five times... each one very different to the last, including a miniature one, a black one, and pastel rainbow ones... containing everything I love from rainbows to glitter and everything in between, showing great creativity, originality and cutting skill.

So congratulations LOUISA WESTLAKE... you are the lucky winner!






I'm just in love and awe with that tiny little one with infills too!! :O

Thank you to everyone who entered, and I hope you loved cutting the template, it's been a joy looking through all of your creations, and you're all winners to me! :)

Love and rainbows, Admin Vicky x

Friday, 29 May 2015

The Best Prank Ever, gone slightly awry! ;)


Once upon a time there was a wonderful admin team. This team were so efficient and they followed instructions, no questions asked. One day Mrs P, leader of this team, asked for a list items for a restock. In that list she included something utterly hilarious, probably inappropriate and completely random. As a joke, of course. Without question the team, okay - Emily, went ahead and purchased the list of items...including said prank item.
This 'prank item' has now been dispatched and will be arriving at PP HQ soon - leaving Mrs P with the task of explaining to all the wonderful people looking at the accounts and the bank manager, what in the world it has to do with papercutting! *chuckles*
This left the team in fits of uncontrollable laughter, for days on end. Right up to this moment.*insert howling laughter, with tears and maybe a little wee here*
...To be continued....

Have a great weekend m'dears! xxx


To find out what this mystery item is, you'll have to tune to the next newsletter. It may or may not have something to do with foxes. *sniggers*

Sign up for the newsletter here...

www.eepurl.com/2WJ9P

Saturday, 23 May 2015

All About the Art!!



 

All About the Art!

This week has been another fab week for art sharing :) We have showcased some incredible artists and shared some beautiful pieces of art.
A recurring theme this week was colour. With pieces by Katy Jade Dobson and Jen Stark for example, involving colours in ways that both inspire me and leave me in awe!

(Stag and Watercolour collage images by Katy Jade Dobson and Infinity Colour Sculptures by Jen Stark)



























 Along side of these incredible colour artists we have shared some amazingly talented artists who used paper as their medium of choice. Ranging from book sculptors to Wet Folding Origami Artists. Each are able to turn simple and humble paper into art. These artists I instantly have a connection with due to the nature of our work, and obviously, our joint love of paper!

Not only these this week, but we have been busy behind the scenes this week, designing and creating new cuts for you all to see! 
 
The life of an artist is a fabulous one, it truly is, I get to immerse myself in something I enjoy doing every day. But it requires a lot of hard work, long hours, a bucketload of failure and some very long nights of thinking 'is it worth the stress?' And my answer? It is. Always do something you enjoy - life is much richer when you do!

 As most of you will know that I am not the only artist in my household! My wonderful husband, the very talented Bafta award winning artist, Mr P shares my love of the creative, and a short while back we offered up custom slots for ACEO's.
They sold like hotcakes, and we received so many requests for more that we decided to release limited print runs of Mr P's incredible ACEO's!



This selection is the first to be released, but time is running out if you wish to purchase one or more of these. From the 27th this set will no longer be available to purchase! But don't despair! From the 28th, the next set of 5 shall be available Eeek!

So while you can dont forget to buy yours :)


http://www.paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/aceo-prints-taken-from-mr-p-s-sketches

On that note, my desk is calling my name! 
Happy Saturday :)

Friday, 15 May 2015

The Happiest Template In The Universe Competition!

Introducing The Happiest Template In The Universe! 
http://paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/papercut-diy-design-template-the-happiest-template-in-the-universe

Ice cream with wafers and cupcakes with sprinkles,
Blue-haired unicorns and little stars that twinkle,
Colourful rainbows and Bird's little wing,
This template is my new favourite thing!

http://paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/papercut-diy-design-template-the-happiest-template-in-the-universe
But there's so many ways that this new template can be customised.
What colour mane would your unicorn have? What flavour will your ice cream be? What colour are your balloons? So many choices!

You can get your template here - *Click Me*
Lovely Admin Vicky is a rainbow fan (and even has rainbow hair!) She wants to see how you would make this template unique to you. Pop a photo of your completed template in the comments on the pinned post in our facebook group -


At the end of the month on 31st, Vicky will choose her favourite and that lucky person will win a £50 voucher!

Huzzah!! We can't wait to see what you come up with! Good luck!



Giveaway not endorsed by, sponsored by, or associated with Facebook in any way, shape or form. x

Sunday, 10 May 2015

'Resting' my elbow... ;)


Had an AMAZING workshop last weekend, we had a right laugh and made some new friends. We talked about the best bra's for big boobs, fetishes, body modification and trolls all whilst we snipped bits of paper. Such fun!
And LOOK AT THE CAKE!!!!!!!! How wonderful? A PP logo cake, perfectly made and a set of little Mr Whippy cakes with rainbow sponge complete with flake! Presents! Yummy presents!!! And a lovely candle too with a henna pattern on...but the best bit was the laughter. Lovely group of people today, thank you for making my Sunday a special one.


I don't think I have the hang of this 'bank holiday, do nothing' malarkey! I have been -

Resting my elbow. For, like, a whole 10 minutes. That's totally enough, right?! (I have rested it properly, honest. That big needle hurt.) 

Eating cake - It was yummy, thank you Kath for bringing it to the workshop yesterday! 

Painting my nails. Purple - incase you're wondering. 

Having kitty snuggles. I like to bury my face in their fur and just smell them. They smell like shortbread. It's my favourite thing to do. It's not weird, at all right? (Maybe just a little bit crazy cat lady.)

Walking Stink 1 and Stink 2 in the rain. Affectionate names for the doggies - not the children *winks* 

Twirling my scalpel around some paper. I made these tiny, ickle cuts. Note the tiny hearts and stars in the background too. *squints* 

I did a little bit of couch flopping too, it's hard work being a Panda y'know! 



This piece indicates how beautifully the natural world is intertwined.
*takes plum out of mouth and replaces with cake*
I present to you...swirly stuff with some animals.


Also, new template!
I am good to you! ;)
http://www.paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/papercut-diy-template-teddy-bear-s-picnic






Friday, 1 May 2015

Paper Panda And The Unfortunate Incident With The Concentrated Juice




Last week we travelled to Stoke on Trent for the Bargain Hunt audition. We were very super nervous but excited too because we've been Bargain Hunt nerds, sorry, fans since it first aired with the lovely David Dickenson. We always thought we could totally do it and buy lots of wonderfully weird things to sell at auction and make enough money to go into early retirement, or at least enough to get a Mr Whippy on the way home.
There were eight couples altogether, some really nice, and infinitely more unusual/interesting than us, but as only four get to go through to the show I'm not reet keen on our chances to be honest. We did a mock bonus buy reveal which went okay (it was a Mickey Mouse spoon worth a fiver) but when it came to the practise 'Tim' interview I totally fluffed it and seemed to lose the ability to put a sentence together.
"Hello, I'm Louise and I cut paper and am also called Panda and and and...I like animals with clothes on...riding bikes and such...maybe wearing a jolly hat...?" *sweat drips from face as dayglo red fleece makes you feel like you're standing in a small, low budget microwave* "...and I like cake".
Mr P: "I like, um...sculpting and dead things".
So, I'm not sure we'll get on the show as we made a bit of a corn beef hash of things, but it was a proper jolly day!



Also this week, I worked on a rather large therefore scruffy design that if it works out will wrap around a new posh cup. Now I've said it, it will probably be totally poo, but the intention is there. I got up before midday and everything...
In other totally unrelated news, imagine the headline:
"Paper Panda And The Unfortunate Incident With The Concentrated Juice"
I'm a very well hydrated bear after accidentally drinking a litre bottle of cranberry concentrated juice yesterday thinking it was one of those snazzy high tech energy drinks. Yup, a full bottle, I am THAT stupid. Rapidly chugged eight bottles of Evian in a vain attempt to dilute it in my tummy and by jumping up and down I managed to not only look like a total divvi but also created an unusual sloshing sound much to the delight of my cat.
The following seven hours were spent on the loo. I did catch up with Word Brain, though...


New in the shop this week - stunning prints taken from the original sketches handdrawn by Mr.P
Mr P was given 4 words to make into each miniature illustration that led to this amazing array of different drawings, often featuring objects that wouldn't ever usually be seen together such as a hen nesting on a pile of pencils.
These five designs are only available for 1 month, so don't miss out!
http://www.paperpanda.bigcartel.com/product/aceo-prints-taken-from-mr-p-s-sketches


One cup (two...no!) design:
10 hours
3 Adam & Joe pod casts
37 blades
2 hares
1 leftover bottle of water from The Unfortunate Cordial Incident
1 Roast dinner at Nanny P's
1 badger
1 piece of 160gsm hammered paper
5 Adam Ant Songs
7 Cokes
84 chewing gums
1 episode of Bargain Hunt
1 overused rubber (Helix Oxford)
2 broken nails
2 pencils (HB and 3B)
1 bum dance to Go Do by Jonsi
1 conversation where I try to convince TimSam to do a shampoo advert


Today I...
- Celebrated Chewy's big one birthday!
- Made some ickle tiny papercuts.
- Got 68 points for 'earlier' in Scrabble.
- Had curry on jacket potato for dinner.
- Made a papercut cat with a tiny gold mouse inside.
- Switched from full fat Coke to Curiosity Cola for the day (yum!).
- Wore my flip flops for the first time in 2015.
- Was very jealous of TimSam's hair which looked particularly salon fresh today. (Look out for TimSam's Beauty Tips in the next newsletter!).
- Painted my nails pink but shall continue to take photos of my cuts in progress in unusual ways until the two nails I broke grow back.
- Listened to 'Betty Davis Eyes' on repeat for 35 minutes until I was convinced that I do indeed have Betty Davis eyes (not that I'd know, I haven't checked).
- Missed the Mr Whippy van (that constitutes a day of dieting then really, doesn't it?)
- Wrote this post then...*looks into the future* watches Bargain Hunt

The Rock and roll lifestyle of a panda wink emoticon




Until next week folks, over and out!