Bella Toile Stationary

Good evening.  It's been raining like crazy here for the past couple days and it always amazing me how rain seems to make me just want to stay at home and relax in PJs (and lots of people I talk to feel the same way).  Unfortunately things are crazy at work so I've been running nonstop, at least the weekend is almost here. 

Today I wanted to show you a card I design for a coworker.  She was going to a wedding and wanted to give the bride and groom custom stationary as a wedding gift.  I designed this card after looking at their wedding invitation.  It uses Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Early Espresso.  I used the Bella Toile background stamp to stamp the design at the top.  The wedding invitation had a kind of metallic copper paper so I took the Early Espresso cardstock and spritzed it with some shimmer spray I made with rubbing alcohol and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.  It's hard to tell from the picture but it really had a metallic looked that mimicked the invitation.  I used Early Espresso Satin Ribbon to wrap the band around the center.  The monogram initial is stamped with Early Espresso ink and the Sweet Monogram stamp set and matted on piece of Crumb Cake that was punched out with the Scallop Circle punch. 

I love how this card turned out and my friend was very happy with it, I can't wait to hear how the newlyweds liked them.  I love being able to send out written cards to friends and family and making your own stationary is so simple and fun.

If you're interested in custom stationary but don't have the time to make it yourself don't hesitate to contact me and we can design something perfect for you and any occasion.

Enjoy!

Diana

Sketch Challenge: So Many Thanks

Another weekend has come and gone, where does the time fly?  At least we finally got a break from the heat and were able to just relax and enjoy the cooler weather today, I'm definately ready for fall.  I made a quick card for this weeks Stamping 411 challenge. 

The stamp set is So Many Thanks (I love these single, a la carte stamps which make great cards without costing a lot).  This also showcases some of the great new colors, including Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist and Early Espresso, along side Real Red.  The card also uses the Scallop Trim Border Punch and Daffodil Delight 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

Love, love, love it!  If you love this card make sure to be at next months Stamp-a-stack as this will be one of our cards.

Have a great week!

Diana

Big Birthday Wishes!

What a beautiful weekend!  Aidan had a great TBall game Saturday morning and then we were able to spend the rest of the weekend just relaxing.  I was also able to spend some time in the office just stamping which was great!  We have lots of friends with September birthdays so as soon as I saw this weeks Stamping 411 challenge I knew it would make a perfect birthday card.

I decided to use the new Word Play stamp set and Celebrations DSP as the inspiration.   This stamp set is perfect since it has a great assortment of greetings that make quick and easy cards.  The card is pretty straight forward and also uses the new 2 3/8" Circle Scallop and Decorative Label Punches.

So fun and cheery I can't wait to send it out this week with special birthday wishes.

Enjoy and have a great week!

Diana

Halloween Decor

I seem to have halloween on the brain lately and I'm so excited.  At convention this year I saw some great samples of halloween decor that I just fell in love with and knew I needed to incorporate in this years decorating.  Since Aidan is 5 the key to halloween decorating is to have nothing too scary (I'm already dealing with ghosts). 

I CASED this frame idea from the current Holiday Mini catalog but when I went to the store I found this great graduation diploma frame for 75% (love a sale) so I decided to jazz up the double mats with some of the Wicked Fun DSP.      Since my large mat was 11 x 14 I had to cut the piece of DSP down the middle and adde another print as an accent along with pieces of Black Raven lace ribbon.

 I stamped the images on a piece of Whisper White paper with images from the Wicked Cool stamp set in Basic Gray and Cajun Craze.  I also added rhinstones to the centers of each of the spider webs because doesn't every girl love a little bling? 

The actual Decor Element is actually on the outside of the glass so it looks like a shadow box (can you tell from the picture on the right??).  The final touch was little bats cut out of the same DSP with the new Bat Punch. 

I'm so excited how this turned out and even Chris was very impressed.

Enjoy!

Diana

Halloween Cutie!

I love how the weather has changed and we're finally able to enjoy spending time outside, it really helps get you in the mood for fall.  I just received the new Greeting Card Kids stamp set and just knew it would be perfect for this weeks Stamping 411 challenge.    These images are so cute and perfect for the upcoming holidays.  The main image is stamped in Basic Black and then I used the Coluzzle to cut the image into an oval and cut a mat out of Old Olive.  The image was colored in with a Blender pen and classic ink pads, then I used a 2 way glue pen to run some glue around the edge of the oval and added the new Champagne Glass Glitter.  Since the glass glitter started to come off when I tried to use Snail on the back of the oval I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the image to the card.

The colors all came from the Wicked Fun DSP.  There are two pieces of ribbon across the center, 5/8" Basic Black Grosgain Ribbon and 3/8" Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon.  The greeting is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and punched out with the Word Window Punch.   The mat is Basic Black and punched with the Modern Label Punch.  I had to double stack the dimensionals on the left side of the label to be up to the same height as the right hand side (because it sits over the oval). 

I really like how this turned out, she's too cute!!  I hope you enjoy and have a great week!

Diana

Halloween Greetings in Peach Parfait

I'm totally in love with the new Holiday Mini catalog.  As many people know, one of my favorite tools is the textured embossing folders for the Big Shot and this new Spider Web Embossing folder is the "the bomb."  After running the Black cardstock through the Big shot I spritzed the paper with the Silver Smooch Spritz to add a little dazzle.  I wrapped a piece of Peach Parfait 1/2" stiched ribbon and tide a knot.  The greeting is from the Grateful Greetings stamp set and is punched out with the 1 1/4" square punch and then mounted on a piece of Peach Parfait cardstock punched with the scallop square punch. 

A great simple card and this picture doesn't do it justice.  You will definately find many uses for these new items.

Enjoy!

Diana

First Day of Kindergarten

So today Aidan starts Kindergarten.  He's very excited for his new adventure but while I'm so proud of him I'm also a little emotional since this means he's a "big kid."  Below are pictures taken this morning before we headed off to school.

Isn't he too cute!!!

I thought I would also share these cute gifts we made to give his teacher and classroom aide. 

This project uses the First Day stamp set (from the recently retired Summer Mini catalog) as well as the Play Date DSP.

This is picture shows how the box flips open and shows the little bottle of hand sanitizer (it's country apple, perfect for teachers!) I used velcro dots to hold the flap shut.



I originally got this idea from Erica, check out her creations and the instructions here.  I love her halloween designs and I'll have to make more of these for halloween.

Hope you enjoy!

Diana

September Stamp-a-Stack Projects

We just got back from our family vacation to Disney World and while we had a blast we're still trying to get rested from all the running around.  I did manage to complete all the designs for our upcoming Stamp-a-stack and I think you'll really like them.

Christmas Card Option

Stamp Set:  Peaceful Season

Stamp Set(s):  Paisely Prints, Paisely Wheel, Thank You Kindly

Stamp Set:  Word Play

Stamp Set(s):  Elizabeth, Tiny Tiny Wishes

Stamp Set:  Wicked Cool (Isn't this a great new Texture Embossing Folder for the Big Shot???)

Stamp-a-stack will be September 12 at 2:00 PM.  Please RSVP by Thursday to let me know you'll be attending (and let me know if you're interested in the christmas card option).

Have a happy labor day and hope to see you Sunday!

Diana

Good morning ladies! With the start of Labor Day weekend you know what that means…all the kiddos go back to school (if they haven’t started already). This year Aidan starts Kindergarden and I’m more nervous that he is (he’s super excited). In honor of the start of school for another Holiday mini swap I’m in I made a card perfect for teachers using the new Season of Hugs stamp set from the Build-a-Bear Collection.

These bears are soo cute and the little lunch box and apple make a perfect card any teacher would love.

Stamp Set(s):  Beary Best Friends, Season of Hugs

Ink:  Basic Black, Early Espresso, Tempting Turquoise, Various Stampin' Write Markers

Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzaz, Pawsitively Prints II DSP

Accessories:  Stamp-a-majig, 1/2" Pear Pizzaz Poly Ribbon

Now as much as the little girl bear is cute I had to make a boy version for my little kindergardener, he even helped pick out the colors to color the shirt.  He's so excited to give it to Ms. Fowler.

The Build-a-bear products are definately growing on me, they are too cute!

Have a great day,

Diana

Holly Greetings!

So I was lucky enough to attend my first Stampin' Up! convention last month and I had a blast.  At the end of the last general session Shelli announced that everyone in attendance was receiving a free gift pack which included the new Peaceful Season Level II Hostess Set, Deck the Halls DSP, Glass Glitter, and an Ink pad (you can only imagine how loud 2,800 women are when they find out they get FREE SU product!)

Unfortunately I was so busy when I got home that I had get to even take the plastic off my new goodies, this had to change.  This is a really simple but elegant card using some of the new items. 

Did you notice that wonderful new ribbon???  This is the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon.  When I first saw this in the catalog I thought it was for use in sewing but I really wanted some Cherry Cobbler ribbon for my holiday projects so I thought I would give it a try.  I have to tell you I love this ribbon!!!!  It's kind of translucent but it ties the greatest and easiest bows I have ever made and it looks so rich.

Enjoy and just think the Holiday Mini Catalog was officially released this morning so you too can order some of the items I've been teasing you with.  You should have received your catalog in the mail by now, if you haven't please let me know and I'll get one mailed to you.  You can also check it out here.