Stampin' with Atty-tude:

Wedding Invites, a plane ride and fun

Hi from Arizona,
We are out in Flagstaff for a family wedding but, finished this Wedding Invite for a friend of a friend, right before I left. I made 20 of these Gate fold cards with a Belly band. Sorry the picture isn't great. I though I took a better one before we left but, must have forgotten to load it.

The base is Sahara Sand, the band & inner lining is with Pink Pirouette. Then I added a Vellum overlay of the beautiful Manhattan Texture Folder (yes, I've been playing with my new favorite toy, a lot!!!)
I used that beautiful White Organza/Satin ribbon around the band. So pretty!!

The center is a Pretties silk flower & a Pink Pirouette cardstock flower stamped and cut out from the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. (I also stamped that flower randomly on the band with Pretty in Pink Classic Ink.) I dotted the center with a Sakura Stardust pen and popped on a half back pearl with a mini-glue dot.

Hope you enjoy Wedded (or any other kind of) Bliss this week & happy stamping!! I'm already missing my stamp room but, sure this will be a fun week of family, The Grand Canyon & an Arizona wedding. Send good thought our way for no rain from that Mexican Huricane.

All my best,
Steph & the boys

Ps: Thank you for the well wishes feom Jon's shoulder surgery a week ago. He's still in a sling but, the pain gets better every day. He's already talking about ' when he plays hockey again...'ugh! Those were killer late nights but, he loves it so what can I say. I'd cry if he took my stamping away ;)

June update...

Happy Summer Stampers!

So much has happened in the two weeks since I've checked in, where to start?!?! Guess I'll go backwards....

Yesterday, dear hubby and love of the past 21 years had to have surgery. His shoulder has been in pain for years but, had been increasing to the point where his arm was virtually useless. Here he is (believe it or not, this is before the pain meds!)

We had a very long night with aches & pains. I'm happy to help but, desperate for some solid sleep. Let's hope tonight is better...

---------

Before then, June was dedicated to our elementary school's annual Carnival. It was so much work but, ran so smoothly that I'm looking forward to next year's already. Just keeps getting better & better. Here's Quin's crazy hair...

 

----------

Onto a stamping update...

I've been asked to make a few projects for others. The first is a thank you card for a corporate event.

This was a simple card but, needed to be very elegant and classic styled.

I used the Sizzix Big Shot and the Manhattan Textured Embossing Folder on Very Vanilla Cardstock. I sponged it with So Saffron Classic Ink. Then I mounted it on So Saffron & a Black Card base. Then lined it with a Very Vanilla w/the printed text. Tied them together with a Vanilla Organza ribbon to hold the Vanilla card base.

Supplies:
Stamps: All Holidays
Ink: So Saffron, Basic Black
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Basic Black
Accessories: Vanilla Organza, Manhattan Flower Textured Background Folder, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware (Retired) Sponge

I'll be back tomorrow with the first of a series of Wedding Invitations that I've been working on.

Happy Stamping!

A bit of stamper's block

Hi stampers,
Sad to say but, the chaos of the end of school with three boys and the heat of these high 80 degree days has given me a bit of stampers block. So, I'm going to post a card I've been saving for a special birthday but, still haven't found the perfect gift to go with it.

Stamp: Elzybells Just Desserts
Stampin' Up Supplies: Stampin' Up Pink Pirouette Textured, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White Cardstock, Eyelet Border Punch, Corduroy Button, 1 1/4" circle punch, Retired Riding Hood Ribbon, Dimensionals
Other Supplies: Copic Markers, Galaxy pen, White Prima

Hope to have more to share with you soon when my Mojo comes back. Most likely after our school wide Carnival I'm co-chair of next Friday.

Great day

Hi all,
This was a supremely busy weekend with the PTA Art Show/Movie Night and Nolan's final Alice in Wonderland Performance. All fun but, culminated in a stampin' afternoon at Cindy's workshop. Here are the cards we made. I hope you like the designs...

First I made the 5th Ave Floral/Manhattan Texture Folder

Notes:
I brayered the negative side (indented Logo side) of the Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder with Kiwi Kiss Ink. Placed a 1/4 of Whisper White cardstock in the folder & ran it through the Big Shot. Trimmed it to two 1 1/4" strips using the best selection of the 1/4 sheet. Also, we inked the Pretties flower using a sponge & Baja Breeze ink.

Supplies:
Stamps: 5th Avenue Floral
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Urban Oasis DSP & Rockabilly DSP
Accessories: Corduroy Kiwi Button, Mini-glue dots, Dimensionals, Pretties Kit, Big Shot, Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder.

------------------

Project #2 Dear Dad Card

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Blitz
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Taste of Textile DSP, Chocolate Chip DSP
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Stripe, Large Chocolate Chip Brad, Canvas Cut, Earth Element Brads

---------

Project #3 Mini-Catalog Project

Stamps: Oval All, Matchbox Messages, Wagon Full of Fun
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Markers: Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Sweet Always DSP
Accessories: Scalloped Oval, Dimensionals, Flower Brad, Double Stitched Grosgrain, Fine Glitter, 2-way Glue Pen

Thanks for stopping by!

Lindsay's Birthday Invites

Hi all,

As I've mentioned many times, I started out stamping making birthday invitations. It's something I love to do and often create them for friends & for hire, too. Here's the ones I made yesterday for dear little Lindsay. She's one of the cutest, almost 4 year olds I know! Gives super-duper hugs!

I used Doodlebug's Crushed Velvet Flock to make the bear's tummy & paws fuzzy pink. 

The card design is inspired from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts Wild About You card/tutorial which I LOVE and have used twice now for invitations. Super cute and easy. ***One note, on her directions she mentions cut the paper to 4 1/4 x 8 1/2" but, this is a typo, it's to cut 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" 

Quick instructions:

1. Cut base 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" 

2. Score at 2 1/4" on both sides from the 8 1/2" side. Your card will look like [ I I ]

3. Measure 2 3/4" from the edge of the 5 1/2" side, make a small mark on both sides.

4. Align the score mark w/the small mark you made & cut this triangle off to create a point from all four sides.  Your base should look like <I I>

5. Fold these sides up and use a bone folder to burnish the crease really well. Use a Mini Glue dot to adhere the two points in the center. Then embellish anyway you desire.

Hope you're having a great week!

Stamps: Storage Units, Ink & More - Bear with Me, Stampin' Up - Priceless (Spotted Circles)

Ink: Memento Brown, Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink, Copic Markers Chamois, Dark Bark, E37, R20

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Retired SU Designer Paper: Berry Bliss

Accessories: Punches: Boho Blossoms, Wide Oval, Scalloped Oval, Large Oval, Dimensionals, 2 way Glue, Doodlebug Designs Crushed Velvet Flock

Teachabella Cards

Hi all,
This is Teacher Appreciation week around here, so I whipped up these three cards for our three boys' teachers.

Stamps: Stamping Bella - Teachabella
Ink: Memento Black, Copic & Stampin' Up Markers
Cardstocks: Old Olive, Kraft, Bashful Blue, Summer Picnic Designer Paper, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: 1 1/4 & 1 3/8" Circle Punches. Hand Drawn Bundle Rub ons, Ribbon Gingham Black, Red Striped Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy Birthday Christy

Hi all,
I think I've mentioned before that I have a partner in craziness (and chief task master) for the VP of the PTA Events, Christy Carrasquilla. 

Tomorrow is her bday, so here's the card I made for her.

Side note: sorry it's not very much Stampin' Up stuff but, I'm dedicating myself to using up what I have around here since I'm starting to feel a little claustrophobic in my very cluttered room. This card is a true modgepodge of everyone of the companies I enjoy

 
Here's the inside:

I used the Spellbinders Polka Dot Frame die to create the card base. It's a bit tricky to turn into a card but, just fold it and place on the cutting part. Then use the inside pieces and a bit of Whisper White to create spaces to write. I think the effect is very worth it. Not to mention, cutting out a Stamping Bella isn't the easiest trick in the book either with her tiny, gorgeous features but, love her!

Hope she (& you) like it,

Supplies:
Stamps: Stamping Bella Stamps - Partygirlabella Stampin' Up Stamps: All Hollidays
Paper: Key Ingredients - Birthday Boy from Taylored Expressions
Ink: Mememento Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, Stampin' Up Water Color Pencils

Passionate-Tango

HI all,
Guess I'm watching too much reality TV? Had to make up the corny title for these colors that have been swirly around in my head. So glad their out & happy w/the card. Not happy w/the photo but, c'est la vie.

Here's my card for Weekend Sketch #78...

I stamped one of the Petal Pizzazz Flowers w/Green Gable Classic Ink on a the Green Gable Strip. Then used the White Gel Pen to highlight the centers of the flowers. Then stamped the largest flower in Pink Passion Ink on Whisper White Cardstock. Cut it out, dotted & edged it w/the Pink Passion Marker. Then again highlighted it w/the White Gel Pen. Stamped a few leaves in Green Gable & Green Galore and adhere it all down w/Dimensionals & Mini-Glue dots.

Then I used the sentiment & tiny flower from the A Perfect Day Rub-ons on another piece of Green Gable. Then finally faux stitched with the White Gel Pen.

Hope you like it,

P.S. Not sure if you've noticed but, I'm adding this to a new category for easier searching. This one is Stampin' Up Only (SUO) and I have a few more that I'll be adding, too.

Supplies used:
Stamps: Petal Pizzazz
Ink: Green Galore, Pink Passion
Cardstock: Green Galore, Pink Passion, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Hooray Hardware, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini-Glue dot, A Perfect Day Rub-Ons, White Gel Pen

Pink & Brown Javabellas

Hi all,
I was so excited when Emily from Stamping Bella announced earlier this week's Bella Challenge...Pink & Brown, two of my favorite colors!! Sorry it took me a few days to post but, hope you enjoy it.

Here's what I created using the super cute Javabellas stamp. I also cracked open a new pack of the Caroline's Caffe Chipboard/Acrylic Mini Album  that I found at one of my two favorite LSS (Local Scrapbook Stores.)

I covered the chipboard coffee cup in Stampin' Up's Candy Lane Designer paper, with added strips of Pink Pirouette & Whisper White to resemble a lid. Then I used some Rub On stitches from the Hostess Exclusive Loop to Loop Rub-ons (that come in the Hand Drawn Bundle.) Added knotted ribbons and attached with a Mini-glue dot.

I hope this one gives you the warm fuzzies (Great book for kids by the way!)

Happy Saturday,

P.S> Be sure to check SCS for the great VSN challenges this afternoon. Hope to have some to show you soon as I can get Aidan's bday party rolling today. It's another 10 boys (9 years old this time) all in my house & backyard to watch Speed Racer on Jon's enourmous outdoor theater screen.

Supplies:
Stamp: Stamping Bella...Javabellas
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Basic Black & Copic Markers C3, Sepia, Barely Beige, Skin White, Blush, Dark Bark & more
Accessories: Caroline's Caffe Chip/Acrylic Mini Album Kit, SU's Eyelet Border Punch, HandDrawn Bundle, Primas, Stampin' Dimensionals
Ribbon...Pink w/brown Polka Dot Organza Stamping Bella, Unknown: PInk Stripe.

Featured Stamper Challenge

Hi all,
Last night Jon was out w/his other main love...hockey. It was great to have a quiet night (once the boys were in bed) to craft. I selected the Featured Stamper Challenge to dive into. SCS selected jaymerz beautiful gallery to give us inspiration. Here's her card...

Here's the card I created...

Hope you have a Cupcake kinda day!

Supplies used:
Stamping Bella: Cuppacakeabella, Billboardabella
Making Memories Sabrina Paper & accessories
Accessories: Robin's Nest Dew Drop, Copic Markers

Stampin' Up Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black,
Accessories: Stampin' Up Oval Punches, Scallop Oval, Dimensionals, Scallop Border Punch