Take This.

Do you think love can bloom, even on on a battlefield? Great minds have pondered that question for ages.

Love is like a cold, steely blade; it's always good to have by your side.



Download a printable version here!

Paper Bicycle Printables: 'Love Doesn't Grow on Trees' Valentine

Maybe you like your romance a little more somber and grey? Then have I got the Valentine's Day card for you!



Download a full-scale, printable one your for sweetie here!

Repeating Recipe: Monster Cookies

I've always been a fan of peanut butter cookies. Oatmeal Raisin is pretty boss, too. Chocolate Chip has it's place but it comes in a distant third, I guess.

Argue all you want, you won't change my mind. BUT! Maybe we can come to a compromise? Eh? Why not combine them all into one crazy cookie? A monster cookie, as it were? YES!

I know that back in elementary school (Kegonsa represent!) when it was cookie time, I was always rooting for Monster Cookies! And not even because I liked them better than any other cookie. It was because I was hoping and praying with all my might that this time, THIS TIME, they'd look like real monsters.

Alas, they never looked like anything more than lumpy M&M cookies. Which is why fate forced my hand to make this pattern today.


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Reverse

Download the full-size, printable version here!

Repeating Recipe: Vegan Taco Non-Meat

Taco's are a crowd pleaser, who doesn't love a mother freakin' taco?! Jerks, I guess, maybe. Only a jerk would dare to not like tacos.

I came up with this recipe when trying to use up the massive amounts of vegetables we got from our CSA this summer.

I use seitan for the protein but if you're not vegetarian feel free to use anything your heart desires in it's place!

Although I totally recommend the seitan either way, it's probably my favorite protein out there. Specifically Upton's Naturals. It's the best and the packaging is pretty awesome too!

Anyway, throw this mix on a tortilla with all the regular taco fixin's you want and I guarantee it'll be a party in your mouth! A cute taco party!


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Reverse

Download the full-size, printable version here!

Repeating Recipe: Strawberry Spinach Salad

Some people might crave candy, ice cream or bacon but I crave salads. Some days all I can think about is biting into a crisp, fresh salad and it drives me nuts if I can't find one. The key is that it's got to be an amazing one, which is trickier to find that you might think.

That's why I have a few go-to salad recipes for a pinch and this Strawberry Spinach Salad is one of my absolute favorites.


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Reverse

Download the full-size, printable version here!

Repeating Recipe: Cucumber Spread on a Salt Bagel

This recipe for Cucumber Spread is actually from my mom (who was also the inspiration for Lindsay's recipe). Traditionally it's a dip for chips but I'm counting it as a breakfast food because it is sooooo doooope on a salt bagel. You just don't know.

It's simple, it's delicious and it's a family favorite! It's also healthy because it has TWO vegetables in it! Right?


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Download a printable version here!

Merry Christmas from Paper Bicycle!

In honor of all of the merriment, festivities, and giant gobs of great food, we've decided to post some fun animated gifs to warm your hearts and spread some cheer! Though I wanted so badly to make one earlier this month for Alyssa's Ten Paces and Draw snowglobe project, I JUST got around to doing it -- on Christmas Eve, nonetheless! Every Minute was worth it! Alyssa, Francesca and Chris did such an awesome job on theirs that I wanted to join the fun. So here you go! Merry Christmas to one and all! Enjoy yourselves today! You deserve a wonderful holiday!


Reindeer Dance, by Lindsay Nohl


Christmas Zombie, by Chris Hajny


Home Sweet Home, by Francesca Buchko


Let it Snow, by Alyssa Nassner

PAPER DAYS OF CHRISTMAS- Dear Reindeer Friend

This snowy reindeer might look icy cold but don't worry; it's just nature's camouflage! He's actually quite comfy and warm...



Hope everyone has an rad holiday break!



Don't forget to download the high-res printable version and make your own!

PAPER DAYS OF CHRISTMAS- Christmas Feast

Nothing like bringing home a mouth-watering feast to your family during the Holidays! These mice ain't messing around!



Since it's so tiny and hard to see, here's a detail! I'll make a mock-up soon!



As always, download the printable version!

Daily Pattern: Down with the Sickness

Topic: Health

It's winter now and the dread disease to the Paper Bicycle office this year. Alyssa seems to have dodged the bullet (so far) but everyone else has gotten really, horribly ill in the past few weeks.

And not just a little sick. The kind of sick where all you can do is lie in bed, stare at the ceiling and silently beg for a merciful reprieve.

If you took a microscope to my desk looking for germs I'm sure you'd find this pattern (hint: the sickness is the green part).

PAPER DAYS OF CHRISTMAS- Santa Cat

Santa Cat is like regular Santa, except he's smaller and more aloof.

This Santa Cat is based off our cat Zeus, who also has a luxurious beard.



Download the printable version!

PAPER DAYS OF CHRISTMAS - Festive Tree

You can't stop me from drawing ornament shapes. Onions and finials are the best! Of course you need a tree to hang them on. A dirty secret is I'm not a huge fan of decorating the Christmas Tree. Lucky for me, Lindsay would do it every day of the week if she could!

I'm terrible at making real mock-ups, so here's a fake one! Thread the hangloop through a gold bead for added festivities!




Download the printable version!

Daily Pattern: Fall Textures

Topic: Thankful

Thanksgiving is always a good time for me. It's the perfect holiday for me: laid back, lazy and chill. It also takes place during my favorite season. Fall. My memories of Thanksgivings-past are all tinged with the warm colors of the fall leaves. Like a cheesy sepia-toned flashback in real life.

Daily Pattern: Watercolor Snowmen

There was the first snowfall of the year this weekend (the day of our party, of course) and for a while there was a nice, crisp, quiet texture covering the whole city.

Now it's getting grimy and slushy, but it was nice while it lasted.

These Snowmen come from that first day's clean refreshing snow...

Daily Pattern: Broken Geometry

Topic: Geo

Have you ever been driving on a long stretch of road and had that terrible realization that you can't remember anything about the last hour? You don't remember what you passed, how fast you were going or if you were even conscious?

Yeah.

Daily Pattern: Owl Pellets

Topic: Owls

A fond memory from middle school was dissecting owl pellets at camp. Bones, dirt, (kind of) vomit? What more could a young man want? Finding an actual owl pellet in the woods is a special occasion, indeed.

Daily Pattern: Linked Rings

Rings, rings all linked together! In a chain.

Daily Pattern: Bad Paisley

Topic: Paisley

You probably should have guessed I'd do a non-traditional paisley. You probably should have guessed it would involved little monsters. You probably should have guessed I'd spend too much time on this pattern.

If you guessed all those things, you win the game!



Actually, I probably could have spend way more time on this pattern given the opportunity. Ah... such is Daily Pattern.

Daily Pattern: Snow Shoes

Topic: Shoes

So I kind of blew it when I made a shoe pattern the day before the topic was actually "shoes" but that's ok. I'm don't exactly have the time to plan ahead...

I didn't want to make another pattern about fly dunks, so here's one about cute snow shoes instead!

Daily Pattern: Fresh Kicks

Topic: Fresh

To some of my former co-workers, I was known as the tall guy with the shoes. I have a lot of shoes, and they're all pretty flashy.

I normally dress in pretty drab colors but I always have a pop of color: usually my shoes. While pink and purple are my go-to colors, I've probably got pretty much anything you can imagine.

If don't feel like you can rock some candy colored shoes just yet, why don't you just start with the laces and work your way up?