Archival Cleaning Up

So I just spent the last hour going over ALL of my post so that I could add a new gadget at the side bar for sorting my archives into categories, such as: stamp brand, occasion, and or special effect used. It's a bit redundant because some of the archives fall in more then one category, but it is certainly going to make it easier for me to find things when I am looking for them.

Manhattan Breeze

There is a story behind this card. Last night I arrived at my monthly stamp club to find out that I was a week early. My SU Rep Jennifer Tinline was having a BIG SHOTS night and since it's a half hour drive for me, I decided to stay.

One of the projects we made last night was using the Manhattan Impressions Die on a full piece of vellum mounted with a ribbon at the top of the card - the whole card being covered in vellum. I had seen a very similar card on SplitCoastStampers using this Impression on vellum, but didn't know how the look was achieved. I had asked the designer, but had no response - I wish I had book marked the link.

At that time I had thought the Manhattan Impression plate was a die cut only, not an embosser. Once seeing the vellum embossed in person, Jenn and I played with the vellum and accidentally discovered that if you gently pull at the vellum on the edges, the vellum will tear away from the embossed edges giving the below effect. It gives an intentionally ragged edge look.

Now I know how the SplitCoast sample was achieved and so do you. I mounted the the vellum at the bottom of my card and covered the tape remnants with SU Organza ribbon. It's a very elegant effect with out a whole lot of work.

Details:
Embellishments: Manhattan Impression Die, SU Organza ribbon
Paper: Baja Breeze, vellum
Stamps: SU sentiment (not sure what set)

Dress Up Billy Birthday!

It's my littlest second Birthday tomorrow. I special ordered the Pink Cat Studios "Dress Up Billy" for his card as well as the SU Designer Series - Manchester to co-ordinate with the Kraft and Baja Breeze cardstocks that I bought a month or so ago.

I'm super happy with the turn out. It went smoothly which doesn't alwasy happen with me, I am always second guessing myself. The whole outfit, hat, shirt, overall's even bandanna are paper pieced in "Manchester" paper. I brushed the outside edges of the scallop rectangle in Baja Breeze ink and raised the image with Dollar Store dimensionals.



Details:
Stamps: Pink Cat Studio - Dress Up Billy
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kraft, SU Designer Series "Manchester"
Ink: Baja Breeze, Copic, Tombow
Embellishments: SU Billboard Diecut, retangle nestabilities, Dollar Store dimensionals

Fifth Avenue Eighteen

I originally just had the "Eighteen" as the sentiment. When I was finished the card I thought there was room for "happy", I think my english isn't correct though, seems like it should have said "happy eighteenth". I'll just tell every one I meant it like "sweet sixteen".

The background paper was stamped using SU Fifth Avenue Floral in white craft ink. The main flower was stamped in Versamark then heat embossed in Stampendous white emboss powder. the Eighteen is die but from SU Billboard alphabet.

Details:
Stamps: SU Fifth Avenue Floral, Anitas "happy" stamp
Ink: other brand Chocolate Chip, SU white craft ink, SU Pretty In Pink
Paper: Chocolate Chip cardstock, random pink cardstock, glossy white cardstock
Embellishments: Versamark, Stampendous - White emboss powder, Stampin Up! Billboard alphabet die cut, pink ribbon, brown ribbon.

No Stamp Wedding Invitation

Tonight my husband asked me to mock up a wedding invitation for one of his staff that is getting married this September. The wedding is under a very tight budget so the bride and groom picked up a do-it-yourself invitation kit, but were very unhappy with the results.

I needed to come up with something fairly easy and inexpensive since my husband and I are going to eat the cost for the invitations on their behalf. Of course the happy couple has vito power, they can change the colour scheme and etc to work for them. I took my inspiration from Kim @ Blogging along found here.

I love the scallop along the bottom, it's a cute touch.

BTW, the invitation details inside are fake.

Details:
Paper: Amy Butler - Sola Ficus, Baja Breeze cardstock, white cardstock
Accessories: Martha Stewart eyelet punch, cuddlebug folder - swirls, ribbon

Quick Thank Ewe's

I know I know, I have gone and dissapeared again. Sorry!

Here a few quick and easy thank-you's I whipped up, they are tres late however, hope the family doesn't mind.



Details:
Paper: Old Olive cardstock, left over orange cardstock, and Su Designer Series in Old Olive
Stamps: Party Farm Animals - Pink Cat Studio
Accessories: SU ribbon, SU scallop punch

Snowman Soup

I haven't disappeared entirely. We have been battling one illness after another in my house. No wonder I haven't been exactly in the Christmas spirit this year.

I was in a mad panic this weekend to get the Christmas cookies for my husbands work started. As well I planned on making little "Snowman Soup" packages for his employees. We just can't afford to buy for them all individually this year.

I found these great little gift bags from the Dollarstore, threw in a package of hotchocolate mix, some mini marshmallows and a candy cane. The poem I found on line. I mocked up the tag on the computer rotating one of snow man upside down so that the card stock could be folded over then stamped with one of my Hero Art stamps.

I hope his staff doesn't mind, but the pizza party or wine was out of the budget this year. I think the gifts would have looked a little chinsy if not for the cute bags. Gotta love the Dolalrstore.

The poem is:

Snowman Soup
Was told you've been real good this year.
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You'll need to warm the spirit.
So here's a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow.
It's sure to do the trick!