No Time To Stamp?

We’ve received an unusual number of wedding invitations this summer, far more than normal.  But I guess it’s just the cycle.  25 years ago (in October) we got married, and though we were a bit older than most to be newly married, we shared those years of baby showers, birthing stories and years of birthday parties with all of our friends — gazillions of birthday parties.  They soon turned into graduation parties that seem to have lasted for years.  And now — weddings.  And though I am so happy for each and every couple we have, or will, celebrate with this summer, it saddens my heart and brings a tear to my eye.  Where HAVE those years gone?  We were once the brides and grooms, the young parents, the ones running PTA and bake sales and coaching Little League, encouraging our youngsters to read those 100 books for the year-end T-shirt, and on, and on, and on.  And now we’re going to weddings, to their weddings — our neighbor girl, our best friends sons, nieces and nephews.  The cycle has come full circle, and now we can sit back and watch it start all over again, praying to God that he’ll Bless this generation as much as he has ours.  And my tears turn to a smile — because that’s just the way it is –

______________________________

And now, with a dry eye, let’s take a look at the formal wedding card I made for this weekend’s wedding, along with a photo tutorial for my fun and flirty bow.  Here’s the card:

As expected, a simple card — black and white, Cuttlebug embossing, single initial monogram for the newlyweds and my fun and flirty black silk ribbon treatment.  I’ve received a lot of emails asking how I do this.  I have explained it previously, but never with photos, so this time I’ll try adding photos and see if that helps. It’s really so easy:

These are the pieces I start with:  a black top fold card, my white panel and my monogram.

Photo 1 - Using a good heavy double sided tape, adhere the ribbon on the card front so it will be UNDER the monogram.

Photo 2 - Run the ribbon up the card front and secure on card back with the same type of tape.

Photo 1 - Going back to the card front, adhere your monogram using SU Dimensionals

Photo 2 - Using a 1/4″ width of matching silk ribbon, run it UNDER the wide ribbon, as shown.

Photo 1 - It’s hard to see as the ribbon is so black, but I just drew the ribbon tails up and tied into a tight knot, then cutting my ends short and turning that ribbon so the tails end up UNDER the wide ribbon.  It helps to use tweezers to do this.

Photo 2 — Make a bow on the Bow Easy

Note:  If you are good at bow tying - you can skip the narrow ribbon and the Bow Easy — just run another length of wide silk under the wide silk strip attached to the card, draw up your tails and tie your bow.

And here’s another look at the final result.  My bow is glued on with Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue (very cheap/Wal-Mart). I added clear rhinestones to the Damask monogram image.   A quick and simple card with a bit of a formal look!

______________________________

The following items to make this card are available in the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store:

Damask Monogram Kit with Special Occasions Font from the Special Occasions Monogram Kit, OR Special Occasions Kit with the Damask 1-Letter Borders, all by JustRite

Black Silk Ribbon in 1.25″ and 1/4″ widths by May Arts with the Bow Easy

Versa Fine Onyx Black Ink

Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders

______________________________

Thanks much for checking in again today — I do so appreciate it!   Wishing you all a wonderful week — we certainly do have the feel of autumn in the air already — ready or not — it is ALMOST here!!!  See you soon!!!

It’s a Birthday Party! — Yes, today is Stamp Simply’s 100th Challenge, so that’s good enough reason to celebrate for me!!!  Thank you ALL for coming to read our challenges, check out our projects and play along with us over the last 100 weeks — we’ve loved every minute of it!!!  So, it only follows that today’s challenge is to make a birthday card — that’s it — how simple and how fun!!! 
 
And going beyond the challenge, we at Stamp Simply ARE having a Birthday Party, and YOU are invited!!!  Today many of the designers who have worked with us in the past in any capacity — Retired Designer, Guest Designer, Party Participant — have been invited to join in our celebration to bring some fun projects and ideas to YOU!!!  We have a wide variety of things going on.  Read the links below to find out what is happening at each blog, then I hope you can find some time to sit down with a nice cup of coffee or tea and start cruising to see what you can find — have fun everyone — and THANKS for coming!!! 

Keyword ssnotime100 - There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload your project at Splitcoast and/or your Blog, anytime at all. You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!) can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

1. Pat Adam - Christmas Gift Tags with BLOG CANDY

2. AJ - 1 Card Done 3 Ways

3. Janine - A Stress Free Summer Menu with BLOG CANDY 

4. Tammy - Birthday Reminder Book with BLOG CANDY

5. Jennifer - Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY

6. Julie - Card Set in Tote with Directions 

7. Barbara-  Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY

8. Deb- Tutorial on Dying Silk Ribbon Using Copics and Refills

9. Jenny- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY

10. Jerri - Birthday Card and Tutorial on Hand Embossing with Light Box

11. Joan- Birthday Card and Etched Glass with BLOG CANDY

12. LeAnne - Birthday Card with Glitter

13. Barb- Birthday Cake 3-D Gift Item with BLOG CANDY

14. Darlene - Birthday Card with Special Recipe

15. Rose Ann- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY

16. Leslie - Gift Tin of Soaps with Coordinating Card

17. Heather - Birthday Card

18. Sabrina- Birthday Card with BLOG CANDY

19. Sharon- THAT’S ME!  Monogrammed Birthday Gift Set with BLOG CANDY

Please bear with us as we are all uploading and linking on Thursday night. Everyone should be uploaded by Friday morning.  Thanks, girls!

You can see all SCS Gallery Submissions here.

And my creation for today is not a birthday card, but a GIFT that could be given as a birthday present — a simple trio of monogrammed cards — who doesn’t LOVE monograms!  Take a look:

Aren’t they pretty and fun, using some new SU DP I got — Cottage Wall.  My Moss Silk Ribbon went perfectly with this DP and the fun prints just screamed for a girly monogram, so I chose to use my FAV monogram border, Damask, and I used the Curlz Font for the initial in keeping with the light-hearted feel of this paper.  I’m happy with the results!!!  SU cardstock used is Whisper White, Orchid Opulence and Old Olive.  SU ink used is Rich Razzleberry.   Also used the SU Corner Rounder and Dimensionals.

Here’s a better look at the monogram. Easy to do — all stamped in one color ink, cut and matted with my Petite Circle Nestabilites, embellished with Kaiser Rhinestones and crowned on top with a Moss 100% Silk Ribbon Bow made with the Bow Easy.

This was a super easy and quick ribbon treatment — and I think it is SO flirty and fun!!!  I adhered my length of ribbon with heavy double sided tape under the monogram, ran it up and over the panel top, adhering on the back of the panel.  And see how it is then shirred at the bottom, just above the monogram?  I did that by running a piece of the same colored silk in 1/4″ under the ribbon, then drew up the tails and tied it tightly to shir the ribbon.  I then turned that 1/4″ ribbon so my knot ended up under the 1.25″ piece.  Then, after making my bow on the Bow Easy, I glued it into place using Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue and I was DONE!!!

Shopping:

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store carries the following items used to make this trio of cards:

Curlz Deluxe Monogram Kit (for font) and the Damask 1 Letter Borders (for the border), OR any of the Monogram Kits work for this type of card, all by JustRite

Moss 100% Silk Ribbon in 1.25″ and 1/4″ widths, by May Arts

Bow Easy

Hope you liked my trio of monograms!

______________________________

Now, since this IS a PARTY, we’ll move on to the BLOG CANDY I am offering.

The Blog Candy winner will be drawn at 6:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, August 18.  I am offering the winner $20 of ribbon, their choice, from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  To enter, merely leave a comment below, telling me which type of ribbon either IS your favorite, or what type of ribbon you are looking for but can never find.

Here’s how it’ll work as we will have people commenting to be entered for the Blog Candy, plus people will be commenting to provide the link for their card — and that’s OK — both types of comments are welcome.  ONLY 1 comment trying for Blog Candy, BUT if you also play the challenge and link your card, THEN you get to make a 2nd comment, providing us your link.  SO, that means if you make a card or project for the challenge, you get to comment twice, giving you DOUBLE the chances to win!!!  How’s that for incentive to play — no cheating — only double comments allowed from challenge players.

OK, I guess that’s it — NOW, on to all those links above — you will see some DYNAMITE projects!  Thanks everyone, SO MUCH, for coming!!!  What’s a party without friends — so glad you stopped in to celebrate with us!!!

And remember, JustRite releases all the new Christmas sets next Monday.  Be sure to check back in for the JustRite Christmas Blog Hop on Monday.  I’ll be playing, for sure!!! You can follow all the fun at the JustRite Blog this week as they sneak peek and offer Blog Candy as well.  The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store will have Christmas sets available for purchase next week — fun stuff!!  Can’t wait!!!

Keyword ssnotime95 - There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload your project at Splitcoast and/or your Blog, anytime at all. You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!) can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

Let the Sparks Fly!- I know the 4th is over, but fireworks are a big deal around here and the sparks are still flying!  So let’s make some sparks of our own today — or at least *sparkles* — today let us use glitter, generous amounts of glitter (if you like) so our creations sparkle away and catch the eye.  Let’s create our own fireworks here in blogland!  Have fun getting sparkly!!!  (If you are not a glitter user, then just make sure you add some sparkly feature to your project!)

Check out the great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today on the blogs of these designers:

• Rose Ann, July Guest Designer
• Janine
• Jennifer - is taking the night off!
• Julie - is taking the night off!
• AJ
• Tammy
• Deb
• Barbara
• Jenny

Please bear with us as we are all uploading and linking on Thursday night. Everyone should be uploaded by Friday morning.

You can see all Gallery Submissions here. Thanks, girls!

And here is my sparkly creation for this week (all product links will be at the very bottom of  this post):

For today’s challenge I kept it simple by using glittered paper, Blue Awning by K & Co,  glittered chipboard to match, and I *stamped simply* by creating a monogram.  This paper and chipboard are both highly sparkly IRL, but it is lost in the photo — so sorry!

This is a wedding card I’ll need for August with the monogram of the newly married couple.  When monogramming for a couple, the woman’s initial is first, or on the left (Anna), the man’s (Eric) initial is on the right, and their last name is large and in the center.  How FUN for a newly married couple to receive what might be their very FIRST monogram!  I also made an envelope to match, which is seen beneath the card, which I’ll show you how to do in a bit.

First I just want to take a minute to talk about JustRite product — monograms specifically.  I LOVE monograms.  Monograms are what first drew me to JustRite and as much new and fun product as JustRite has come out with of recent, the simple monograms still lay near and dear to my heart as being an all time favorite.  I made today’s monogram using the  Special Occasions Monogram Kit.  That kit contains the 1 5/8″ Wood Stamper, 3 borders, 3 centers, and 3 sets of Special Occaisons Font in 2 sizes.  However, what I really love about the JustRite product is that it is all so interchangeable.  Take a look at the closeup of my monogram:

Today I chose not to use the borders on my stamper as I wanted to use the chipboard border that coordinated with my paper.   So I very easily stamped out my initials and built my monogram layers with paper and chipboard.  As long as you have ANY Font Set by JustRite and a Wooden Stamper to snap the letters into, you could do the same thing.  I love the complete Monogram Kits in the boxes, an all-in-one-package, but just because you may not have a kit, don’t feel you can’t make pretty monograms!  Personally, my favorite font is the elegant and pretty Special Occasions, especially for monograms, but it’s so fun to have a variety and choice to allow us to do masculine monograms, mongrams for children, whimsical monograms, etc.  Just wanted to point out that with JustRite, once you starting collecting product, it is SO interchangeable that your options are limitless.

OK, now on to how I made the envelope.  The front is shown above in the first photo.  And the back of the envie has a monogram to seal it closed — take a look:

Good gracious, but I’m having fun making these envelopes. Truly, they just take a minute or two, and I KNOW that is hard to believe, but it’s TRUE!  I’m using the Envelope-It template by Scor-It and all you need is a sheet of paper that is at least 9.25″ x 7.25″ and you can create an envie — how fun!  That’s smaller than a standard 8.5 x 11″ sheet of cardstock.  Here’s the template:

The template is made of aluminum, so it’s going to last!  The instructions are printed right on it, so they won’t get lost.  It even shows you were to put the glue — a foolproof template, for sure!  It has tiny legs you can adhere if you like, and I did.  I do like it raised up just a bit.  You can do this in either of two ways.  Working on a cutting mat, you could cut around the template with a hobby blade and be done!  I’m not real great with knives, so I prefer to trace around it with a pencil and then cut on my pencil line with scissors.  It just takes a minute.  The large hole in the center is a GREAT idea.  It is so you can SEE the design on your paper and you can place the template so that the design you want gets properly centered on the envelope front — BRILLIANT THINKING!!!

Photo 1:  Once your envelope is cut, lay it on your 12″ (full-sized) Scor-It board UPSIDE DOWN, and score all 4 lines from point to point, as shown on the template.  Very easy and quick.  It all lines up very quickly.

Photo 2:  Once scored I have turned my envelope to the right side for you to see.  You can see the pattern on the paper is nicely placed on the envelope front and the tabs and flaps are ready to be folded and glue applied.  VERY SIMPLE.

Once again, here’s the envelope back with the monogram used as a seal.  You will also note I DTP’d all the envie edges to give them a more finished look.

And again the completed project and the envelope front — you can see how I’ve used another piece of coordinating chipboard on the envie front. ALL super easy and quick to do — from monogram to envelope — but making a GREAT presentation!

____________________

Stamps:  Special Occasions Monogram Kit by JustRite

Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, Blue Awning by K & Co. (Michaels)

Ink:  ColorBox Chalk Inks in Creamy Brown and Blue Iris

Accessories:  1.25″ Silk Ribbon, K & Co. Adhesive Chipboard (Michaels), Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, SU Corner Rounder and Dimensionals, Glue Glider, Scor-It 12″ Score Board, Envelope-It Template

Shopping:

JustRite Stampers for the Special Occasions Monogram Kit and other JustRite Font and Wood Stampers

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store for the May Arts Silk Ribbon, Envelope-It Template and Scor-It Score Boards.

____________________

Check out these MASCULINE MONOGRAM projects uploaded tonight by Kellie — I think you’ll like them — and they surely show the versatility of the JustRite product!

So glad you stopped in again to see what we’re up to!  Please be sure to click all the DT links above to see their great takes on this fun challenge.  And hoping you can play with us this week if you’re inclined and able!!!  Wishing you all a wonderful, fun and safe summer weekend!!!  I’ll be back soon - thanks much for stopping!

I don’t often stamp on Sundays as there usually just isn’t time, but this evening I made some time. And the fun thing about stamping on Sundays is the Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS. Going through someone’s gallery to choose a card to CASE is like being a kid in a candy store — especially when the gallery is as beautiful as Chelemom’s. I saw this lovely vintage card of Michele’s and knew instantly that was MY card for tonight!!! I followed it pretty closely as you can see, but I did change the colors and some of the embellishments, plus I added machine stitching and a monogram instead of a heart. Here it is:

Since I don’t even own Kraft cardstock (but I did put it on my list — LOL!), I decided to go with some pretty pastels for this card. I chose the new Euphoria pad by Basic Grey for my designer paper and SU Soft Sky Textured for my card base. The accent colors are SU Rose Red and SU Basic Gray. I really like this color combo! I also really like this layout because all of the interest is concentrated in one area. To me that makes it easier –a smaller area on which to focus and work — a small little collage — very workable!!!

Let’s start with the base layer of designer paper. Since I was going to use real lace, I decided to sew it on with my machine. I use my standard sewing machine, but I’m so happy to see so many of you getting the small machines and delving into sewing on your cards — especially those of you who have never sewn before — fun!!! I’ll show you how I sewed this lace and DP onto the Rose Red base:

I first put a bit of tape on the back of my DP to hold it in place on the panel. I then wrapped my lace piece around the back on both sides (I’m real finicky about NOT cutting the edges of ribbon or lace — I never want frayed edges poppoing out — so I always wrap around to the back, or totally around the card, depending on my layering). I just really like the finished look that ribbon or lace wrapped around gives you, as opposed to cut. I then sewed the lace on over the DP with a simple straight stitch. And, as you can see, I then used a cross stitch for a decorative accent on top. I also used a straight stitch around the perimeter of my pink square panel.

These are the backs of the same pieces. I am also very finicky about NOT wanting stray threads hanging out. I use my little stitch ripper tool and pull all the threads to the back side and then I tack them down with tape. Now when I go to permanently adhere these panels to my card, I don’t have to worry about any strings or loose ends as everything is pulled to the back and tucked neatly inside.

And here’s a close up of all the detail on this card. After adhering the sewn panel to the card front it is then time to start having fun!!! The first thing I did is wrapped my Pink Sheer Ribbon around the card front and tied it on the side. Next I adhered my pink stitched square panel. On top of that I adhered my monogram on mounting tape, and we’ll get to the monogram in just a bit. The star was just a piece of white cardstock stamped with the retired SU French Script, punched with the large SU star punch, with the edges sponged and aEuphoria Basic Grey Bradattached in the center. I then punched a small Rose Red heart with my Heart Nestabilities, pierced a hole in it to run the Silver Stretch Cording from SU and tied it onto the center knot of the Pink Sheer bow. I put a little Dimensional under the heart to keep it in place. I then used a pin with beads from SU’s Pretties Kit — love those pins!!! And that pretty well finished it off!!! But I’d like to tell you more about how I created the monogram.

I used the small wooden stamper, called the Classic Stamper, made by JustRite. I often use their larger C-45, but today I was just doing this one card, so the small wooden stamper fit the bill just perfectly. This JustRite DIY Monogram Stamper Kit has the Damask Borders and Times New Roman font. I LOVE this one!!! And with any of these JustRite Kits — all the rings and letters fit the C-45 — love how all the accessories are totally interchangeable between the Wooden Classic Stampers and the larger C-45. I like to use the C-45 if I am producing multiples, and these wooden kits when I’m just doing one or two monograms.

Anyway, as you can see from the photo, I used my SU markers to color the rubber — Rose Red for the initial and Going Gray for the decorative border. I love doing these in 2 colors — I think it adds a lot!!! And it’s so easy to do!!! Once stamped, I cut and embossed the edges of the monogram with my Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders. I cut and embossed a mat in Basic Gray and then a scalloped edge in Rose Red. Love all the options using the Nestabilities gives you — and they work so perfectly with these monograms!!! I added some stickyback Pearls where appropriate on my Damask border and adhered the monogram to the card front with mounting tape — and DONE!!! Vintage, personalized, and pretty!!! I love it!!! Hope you do to!!!

• Stamps: JustRite DIY Monogram Stamper Kit with Damask Borders, retired French Script by SU
• Paper: SU: Textured Soft Sky, Rose Red, Basic Gray. White. Euphoria DP by Basic Grey.
• Ink: Palette Hybrid Charcoal. SU Markers in Rose Red and Going Gray.
• Accessories: Pink Sheer Ribbon, Petite Circle Nestabilities, Classic Heart Nestabilities, SU Large Star Punch, SU Pretties Kit, SU Silver Stretch Cording, Pearls, Basic Grey Euphoria Brads, Mounting Tape, Dimensionals, Sponge, Sewing Machine, Thread.

Thanks so much for stopping in again! I truly do appreciate all your visits and comments. If you find these more detailed instructions helpful, please let me know. I aim to please! Hope your week is off to a great start!!! Tomorrow brings my regular 10 Minute Tuesday project!!! So if that interests you, see you then!!!