A year in paper toys!

Well this year i set myself the challenge to design and release a new paper toy a month. This proved to be a really fun thing to do, as it meant that despite full time work, I always found time once a month to sit there with my sketchbook and draw out some ideas to help me create a new piece of paper art. 

There were some months where I had more time then others, but I am pretty pleased with the characters I have produced, and would like to thank everyone who has downloaded them and shared photos of their creations with me; I love seeing them!

Above is December's paper toy, a Christmassy camper van (based on our own camper 'Rhubarb') It is, as ever, available to download for free from my website 

So now to think of next years challenge....

Christmas paper toy template giveaway!

Ok not the most catchy of titles, but there you go!
Basically I have been running a giveaway on my facebook page where the next 10 likers, and anyone who shared the giveaway on their page, were emailed a link to PDFs of the paper toys I designed a while back.
Now I'm opening it up to you bloggers out there. If you comment on this link I will get in touch with you and email you the link :)

Christmas and New Year Catch up!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Here's to 2010, despite the freezing start! Although it is nice to see some proper snow, but sure after a few more days i'll have had my fill of it!

I have thought about making some new year resolutions, though haven't quite gotten round to putting them on paper! How abouts I think of a few now?
1) pass my driving test
2) learn atleast one new skill
3) create more artwork and research more artwork
4) Draw more
5) waste less time on networking sites

Hopefully I'll be able to keep all of them, not sure I'll quite manage 5 though!

 I thought I would post up some pics of some of the christmas goodies me and my husband got, I had fun taking photos of them on Christmas morning!

some cool sweeties! I haven't had the heart to eat the lolly pops yet! They are just too cute!

got my hands on this limited edition blink 182 bunny off amazon, as a pressie for my hubby! He looks quite the ticket, heading our motley crew of designer vinyl art toys, hopefully this year we'll actually get to see them tour!

 This is a fantastic, felt doorstop, that is a replica of our own 1969 bay VW. My wonderful sister in law Lydia made it for me. Isn't it brilliant!?

Here is another great star wars mighty mugg for our collection. The fantastic ewok 'wicket' (I have on occasion been compared to one of these fellas!) We really want yoda and princess Leia, but they are so difficult to get hold of!

Just thought I'd show you our wonderful tree topper that we had for this christmas! Meet King Ken. We did want a nice simple star, but couldn't find one. I think this fella did a better job in the end tho!


Also, at new year we used a chinese paper lantern. I'd recommend these to anyone wanting a peaceful and graceful alternative to fire works. We first saw them being used when we went on holiday to woolacombe, north devon, last year. They really looked fantastic against the sea back-drop as the sun set, so my husband bought me a couple for Christmas.

All things Christmassy!

Yay! This morning my edition of fete a craft zine came through the door, with my work on the cover and inside, and lots and lots of sparkles that dropped all over my cutting board, and have since been scooped up for use on something in the future (artists are always resourceful!) Looking forward to seeing the colour version on issuu at www.issuu.com/fete . The zine is being sold on folksy at http://www.folksy.com/items/174714-Fete-Craftzine-Issue-4-Winter-2009-FREE-TEA?shop=yes by the wonderful editor momtazbh.

Have also used my paper toys designs as inspiration to create a christmas card, a bit late to sell, but in time for me to print out to give to loved ones, although I never think about whether I have an envelope to fit them in, and quite often they are handed over in a piece of paper folded in half! Think I need to remedy that habit!

Thinking that next year a pack with a range of the characters would be nice!


I have also posted the rest of the nets for the christmas paper toys on my website, so if any one wants to do a bit of chrismas creating, go to http://samanthaeynon.com/page9.htm for your free downloads!

Steve and Barry!

Rudolph and Blitzen

Mr and Mrs!

Group Shot

They have arrived!

So I have finally done it, designed, printed and made my first series of paper toys ready for Christmas! Phew! Been working on them over about 3 weeks!

I hope you like! I plan to post the nets up on my website when I work out how to do that, will try to find out later.

So here they are for your viewing pleasure, I give you Mr and Mrs Claus, Steve the elf, Barry the bear, Charles the penguin, Fred the Snowman, Rudolph and Blitzen. (Steve and Barry are my personal favourites)

Entering the world of the blogger!

So this is my first proper blog. I feel like I am slowly beginning to live more of my life in a virtual world!

Well this time yesterday I was stood in Birmingham's NIA waiting for Muse to emerge! Sitting on my sofa now designing paper toys, while fun, is not quite on the same level! They were fantastic. The only downside was that we ended up standing near a group of stoners one of whom may or may not have peed on the floor! Also the support act was 'the big pink' whose most famous song is called 'Dominoes' and this group thought it would be hilarious to sing 'Dominoes, dominoes!' after every single song that Muse did, and in any silences! We managed to restrain ourselves from smacking them in the face, though I did accidently get my own back, by jumping up and down on one of the guys feet! ( I promise it was an accident)

So back to designing my first range of paper toys. They have a Christmas theme and I'm planning to make one up for all my friends and family. Will post them up in various places when they are done.