Minion Invasion!

We've almost made it to the end of a very busy month. Whew!  Yesterday was my oldest's 11th Birthday.  Can't believe how fast the last 11 years have flown by!  Two weeks ago, we celebrated our youngest's 9th Birthday as well.  And since they both had odd-year birthdays, in our family that means you get to have a birthday party.  Eleven is kind of a funny age for a birthday party.  Too old for a themed party and too young for a boy-girl more grown up party.  So he picked to have a friend over to play video games for a few hours.

My 9-year old still wants to have a themed party and invite everyone he knows.  So this year we're having a Despicable Me! Party for all the minions in the neighborhood. My dear friend Linda is making a Minion cake for us and I can't wait to see how it turns out.  And of course that means we need an appropriate invitation:

Colors: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip.  Punches: 1-3/4", 1-3/8", 3/4" Circles and Itty Bitty Punch Pack. Accessories: White Gel Pin and Basic Black Marker

I have to say, that they turned out so cute and were a breeze compared to the last set of invitations I made for his pirate party two years ago.  I actually put these all together in the car on our trip to St. George a couple of weeks back.  To round the top, I cut an oval out from the Oval Framelits and used it as a template.  Then I just layered the circle punches to make the eyes.  For the mouth, I used the 1-3/4" circle punch but only punched about 1/3 of the way into the paper with it. 

Wish us luck since we are doing both boys celebrations at the exact same time: one upstairs and one downstairs.  It will mean total chaos for a few hours, but it will be nice to have it all done and over with too.  Enjoy!

File Folder Card

A month ago, I ran out of places to put things in my craft room. (Actually, I probably ran out of room six months ago, but didn't realize it since I hadn't put everything away for quite awhile.)  This lead to the repurposing of some furniture from other parts of my house and a complete reorganization of everything in the room.  Optimistically, I scheduled two days to do this entire project.

Are you done laughing yet?  I know, I laugh when I think how insane it was to think I could finish it in two days too. Especially because I get very little time in my craft room when my boys are home from school.  And since I started this project, one or the other has either had early-out days or been off track.  So that is how this two day project is now entering it's second month.  My youngest goes back to school next week so hopefully I can wrap it up in two days next week.  (Stop laughing).

I have been discovering gems as I've been going though things.  One of them is this File Folder card:

Colors: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Basic Black.  Stamps: Mixed Bunch and Feel Goods.  Punches: Envelope Punch Board, Blossom, Itty Bitty Punch Pack and Scallop Edge Border.   Accessories:  Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper, Large Rhinestone Jewels, Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain ribbon.

I am several months behind posting a card with this trendy File Folder technique.  My club gals made this last fall and I never shared it on my blog. So when I came across it again, I decided it was time to share. I followed the directions that Patty Bennett posted on her blog back in September when the Envelope Punch Boards were first introduced.

Essentially, you start with a card that is standard size: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored in the middle.  Then trim off about 3/4" from the front flap. Then you line it up the left side of the front flap in the notch on the punch board and punch.  Then line up the left side of the front flap of the card at 3 and punch again. Trim off the excess from that punch to the right side.  Then flip over the back side of the card and repeat the same process.   Use the corner rounder on the top of the envelope punch board to round both corners that you didn't turn into a tab. 

For this card, I put the Designer Series Paper on the card before I started so they would get punched and trimmed at the same time.  So easy and so cute!  You can change these up a million different ways too.  Enjoy!

You Make Me Happy!

This is another card I made for the Display Boards at convention.  I was looking through the pictures I took of those projects and this one caught my eye to share with you today.  Probably because of the bright cheeriness of it. 

Colors: Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush and Whisper White. Stamps: Hello, Lovely.   Big Shot: Chalk Talk Framelits. Punches: Pansy.  Accessories: In Color Boutique Details, 2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack. 

I just love this "You Make Me Happy" stamp.  It's so darn cute.  And the Chalk Talk Framelit just adds a little tiny detailed point to the end of it and makes me happy too.  I don't use these Boutique Details enough.  This reminds me I need to break them out and use them more!

Is it Spring Yet?

It's has been the strangest winter.  Here in Utah, we had bitter cold weather in  December and piles of snow that are just now almost gone.  But while the rest of the country has bitter cold and piles of snow the past few weeks, we've had rain and 50 degree days.  (And no, I am NOT complaining about that.  I prefer rain and 50s to snow and below zero any day!)

This weekend, we had the chance to go down to southern Utah where the temperatures were right around 70 and I did see some crocuses coming out of the ground.  It was beautiful!  My uncle was clearing his land and getting ready to plant and my cousin broke out the rototiller for her garden.  But my favorite thing was just sitting out in the sunshine and reading or watching my boys run around and get some pent up energy out of their system.

So it's with thoughts of Spring and planting that I share this card with you today:

Colors: Coral Calypso, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Basic Gray and So Saffron.  Stamps: Tag it!  Big Shot: Oval Collection Framelits.  Punches: Bitty Punch Pack.  Accessories: Mini Brads, Occasions Paper Piercing Template, 2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack.

This is another project I made for the display boards at convention last year.  The recent Stamp Crew Review Blog Hops reminded me that I still have plenty of samples from the boards to show here on my blog.

I really do hope that Spring is just around the corner for all of us everywhere.  (Of course, we have snow in the forecast today so I'll just keep right on dreaming.)

The Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop: Gorgeous Grunge

It's the third Monday of the month and that means it's time for another The Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop.  Love hopping along with these talented stampers.  Today we are featuring the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set.  Haven't all the projects been just amazing?  This is another set that I got to work with for the Convention Display Boards so I already had some projects to show you today.

This set was a little out of comfort zone at first.  Layering stamp images on cards doesn't come naturally to me.  But after playing with this a little bit, I think I might be starting to get the hang of it.  I didn't actually make this first card for the display boards, but I did make it for a convention swap and then never got around to sharing it on my blog:

Colors: Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Basic Gray, Whisper White and Pool Party.  Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge and Really Good Greetings.  Big Shot: Chalk Talk and Oval Framelits.  Accessories: Gumball Green Core'dinations Cardstock, Mini Silver Brads.

This inspiration for that card actually came from this scrapbook page. I did make it for the convention display boards but it didn't end up on the boards. That's my oldest boy there, A.J.

Colors: Crumb Cake, Coral Calypso, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Basic Gray, and Pool Party.  Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge.  Big Shot: Deco Labels Framelits and Typeset Alphabet Bigz.  Punch: Hexagon.  Accessories: Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper. 

And last but certainly not least, the Tag a Bag Gift Box.  Here I took the striped stamp and stamped a border all around the bottom of the box.  Inside the box are a couple of pairs of baby booties.  So cute, right?

Color: Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse and Pumpkin Pie.  Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, and Zoo Babies.  Big Shot: Oval Framelits.  Punch: Modern Label and Word Window.  Accessories: Tag a Box Bundle, Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

I hope you have enjoyed my take on this fun stamp set.  If you like what you see, please follow my blog here or on Facebook.  Don't miss out on any of the other great stops on this hop today.  Click the boxes below to go through the hop forward or backward or check out all the links at the bottom of this post.  Happy hopping!

Rita Wright

Kerry Willard Bray

Blog roll

1. Heidi Baks  runningwscissorsstamper.blogspot.com
2. Cindy Beach stampspaperandink.typepad.com/
3. Beth Beard   mylittlecraftblog.com/
4. Adriana Benitez  escape2stamp.com
5. Tanya Boser   tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com
6. Debra Burgin  heartfeltinkspiration.com/
7. Jill Coleman  jillstamps.com/
8. Deb Currier  artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com/
9. Mike Funke    stampin-style.typepad.com/
10. Shana Gaff   stressfreestamping.blogspot.com
11. Holly Krautkremer  rubberredneck.typepad.com
12. Mary Rindal   maryrindal.com
13. Martha Stewart  seasonsofstamping.com/
14. Dawn Tidd   tiddbitsfromdawn.typepad.com
15. Lisa Young   addinkandstamp.blogspot.com/ 
16. Kerry Willard Bray  kerrywillardbray.com
17. Paula Wright  paulastamps.blogspot.com/
18. Rita Wright  ritascreations.blogspot.com/
19. Betty Traciak kittystamps.blogspot.com
20. Nancy Smith iguanastamp.wordpress.com

Happy Valentines Day!

I'll admit, Valentines Day is not my favorite day of the year.  My poor boys are deprived of having cupid visit and bring them little gifts.  Or having their doors "heart attacked" or really any mention of the holiday beyond Valentine exchanges and parties at school.  But in the craft and card business, I go where the demand is so that means I do make Valentines Cards (even if I don't send them to anyone ;)).

Colors: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pool Party, and Primrose Petal.  Stamps: Language of Love, Banner Blast (SAB Exclusive), Express Yourself (Hostess Exclusive) and Hardwood.  Big Shot: Label Cards Thinlit  Dies. Punch: Banner, Petite Pennant Builder, Owl Builder,  and small Heart.  Accessories: Silver Glimmer Paper, White Baker's Twine.

Another Pinterest Inspiration on this one.  This time the original creator was Carol Lovenstein. I love how the Hardwood stamp from the Occasions Catalog makes the background of the card look like an old wood fence.  Perfect for hanging a Valentines Banner.  This is one stamps from the Occasions Catalog you are going to want in your collection for sure.

I hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day, if in deed you celebrate such things, filled with love and laughter.  Enjoy!

Golden Love

Colors: Whisper White and Gold.  Stamps: Language of Love.  Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Punch: Heart. Accessories: Brushed Gold Cardstock, Gold Embossing Powder and Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

I have another card to show you from my Lots of Love Stampin' Buffet.  This one is perfect for Valentines, Wedding or Anniversary (especially a 50th Anniversary).  I found inspiration for this card from one by Debra Currier that I saw on Pinterest.  I changed it up quite a bit, but if you saw hers and mine you would know where the inspiration came from. 

I know in the picture, the gold cardstock looks like Crumb Cake.  But it is the Brushed Gold Cardstock (item 102935) and it is gorgeous in real life.  Gold is the new black this year, or so I have heard.  I purposely left the greeting off so that it could be used for any occasion but I did give my customers the option of adding a greeting to it.  Enjoy!

Envelope Punch Board Ghirardelli Chocolate Box

I knew I wanted to make these cute little boxes for my Lots of Love Stampin' Buffet and they were a big hit.  There are various versions of this box all over the Blogosphere but I did have to tweak the measurements to fit two of the Ghirardelli chocolate squares in the box.

Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Silver.  Stamps: Fabulous Phrases.  Big Shot: Heart Collection Framelits.  Accessories: Envelope Punch Board and Silver 1/8" Ribbon.

I was hoping to have time to make a photo tutorial of these boxes, but I knew if you were all waiting for me to do that, it might be well after Valentines day before it happened. If you have a working knowledge of the envelope punch board, you shouldn't have any trouble following these simple steps.  If you don't know how to use your envelope punch board yet, you can find a video that shows you exactly how to do it on the Stampin' Up! You Tube Channel.  So here are the basics for the box:

• Start with a piece of cardstock 5-1/4" square.
• Place the cardstock on the envelope punch board at 2" and punch and score
• Move the cardstock over to the 3" mark and punch and score again (so you'll have two punches and score lines on each side of the cardstock to make a box).
• Rotate the cardstock 90 degrees and line up the notch with each score line and punch and score
• Repeat on each side of the cardstock
• Round the top and bottom points of your box
• To put the window in your box, use a framelit. Here I used the second smallest heart.  (Hint: the box will only fit through the big shot if your heart is at a 45 degree angle.)
• Cut the corner notches out of the box
• Fold along all score lines
• Put adhesive on the bottom outside edge of each of the side pieces
• Fold and adhere your box together
• Decorate and embellish as you choose.

These don't have to just be for Valentines.  They would be a cute favor for a wedding or shower and could be decorated any number of ways. I can't wait to see what you make with them.

If you don't already have an Envelope Punch Board, contact me today to get one ordered just for you or head on over to my online store.  There are endless projects you can make with this board beyond just envelopes and boxes so you really do need one for your

Monstermaniacs

Stampin' Up! has several items that aren't in any catalogs at the current time but are still available to order.  One of those items is the Monstermaniacs Clear Mount Stamp Set (item 134972).  Here is a card I made with it for my Lots of Love Stampin' Buffet:

Colors: Pear Pizzazz, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral.  Stamps: Monstermaniacs.  Big Shot: Apothecary Accents and Chalk Talk Framelits, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (SAB Exclusive).  Accessories: Subtles Candy Dots, Many Marvelous Markers, Crystal Effects, Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack.

I am the mom of boys. So every year, I like to make at least one Valentines card that would work will for the smallish monsters (boys) in your life.  (I say smallish but my 10 year old is as tall as I am so it's all relative).   But I think this one works equally well for a girl too with it's bright fun color scheme and cute little monster. I added a little shine to it by covering the monster in Crystal Effects after I colored it i.

This entire stamp set is so cute.  It was the winner of Stampin' Up!'s second "I'm With You" challenge where demonstrators and customers could submit their own designs to be made into a stamp set.  This one was designed by Doris D.  Here's the rest of the images:

Cute, huh.  Perfect if you have boys in your life or just like monsters as much as I do.  Enjoy!

Be My Valentine

Valentines Day will be here before we know it.  So how about a card for your Valentine?

Colors: Real Red, Basic Black and Whisper White.  Stamps: Delightful Dozen and Perfect Pennants.  Big Shot: Banner Framelits.  Punch: Small Heart. Accessories: Tea Lace Doilies, Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, Red Glimmer Paper, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

Apparently, I cannot get enough of the Banner Framelits and the Tea Lace Doilies lately.  If you stopped by during the Stampin' Addicts Blog Hop last weekend, you know what I mean.  But this card got many rave reviews at my Lots of Love Stampin' Buffet last week.  I don't know if the picture fully shows how much texture the doily adds and how much bling the glimmer paper brings to the card.

The Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper pack is a hidden gem in the Occasions Catalog.  The picture just doesn't do it justice. Each piece of paper in the stack is 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" making it the perfect size to cut in half or thirds for an easy layer on a card.  Or they are the perfect size to mat a 4"x6" photo on a scrapbook page.And I love the Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Real Red and Whisper White combination of colors and the prints are all fabulous and on point with today's hottest trends.  You will want to order one or two of these packs on your next order so make yourself a note.  Or head on over to my online store and place that order right now, while you are thinking about it.

The Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop: Hello, Lovely

Welcome to another fabulous Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop.  This time we are featuring the set: Hello, Lovely.  Haven't all the projects just been amazing so far!  I feel so lucky to be hopping with this talented group of demonstrators from all over the country.

I may or may not have been cheating with this post.  Last summer, I got to be a display stamper for Convention and I never finished showing all of the projects I created for the display boards here on my blog.  So today, I get to show you three very different projects and I didn't even have to break a sweat to do it:

Colors: Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sky and Crushed Curry.  Stamps: You're Lovely.  Big Shot: Tasteful Trim XL Bigz, Alphabet Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Candy Dots and Candy Dot Bases.

This is kind of a fun masculine Thank You card.  It's primary colors would make it great for a teacher too.  I love this little "Thank You, You're the Best" stamp.  Probably because I use that "you're the best" phrase a lot.

Colors: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, So Saffron.  Stamps: Hello, Lovely.  Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelits.  Punches: Decorative Label, Artisan Label and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Chevron Ribbon, Baker's Twine, Candy Dots, and Window Sheets.

Hello, Lovely makes me think of something the English would say.  And that makes me think of Tea so I made a cute little box that holds some tea bags. 

Colors: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Smoky Slate and Whisper White.  Stamps: Hello Lovely and Label Love.  Punches: Artisan Label, Blossom and 7/8" Scallop Circle.  Accessories:  2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack, Coastal Cabana and Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffle Stretch Trim, In Color Boutique Details, Smoky Slate Embossing Powder.

I always struggle to get good pictures of scrapbook pages so you'll have to just assume that it looks a little better IRL than it does here. :)  This is my cute cousin Carol and her husband Dave at their beautiful wedding in Grafton, Utah (just outside of Zion National Park).  Here I used some of the accent images from the Hello, Lovely set to make border on the page and elements.  It's a very versatile set.  (And of course a Stamp-a-ma-jig was required to get them even sort of straight.)

I hope you've enjoyed this stop on our hop today. Feel free to become a blog or Facebook follower so you can see upcoming posts or even just leave a little love in the comment section. Enjoy!

Rita Wright

Kerry Willard Bray

Blog Roll

1. Heidi Baks  runningwscissorsstamper.blogspot.com
2. Adriana Benitez  escape2stamp.com
3. Tanya Boser   tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com
4. Jill Coleman  jillstamps.com/
5. Shana Gaff   stressfreestamping.blogspot.com
6. Holly Krautkremer  rubberredneck.typepad.com
7. Yapha Mason   yaphamason.com
8. Mary Rindal   maryrindal.com/  
9. Dawn Tidd   tiddbitsfromdawn.typepad.com
10. Betty Traciak kittystamp.blogspot.com
11. Kerry Willard Bray  kerrywillardbray.com
12. Paula Wright  paulastamps.blogspot.com/
13. Rita Wright  ritascreations.blogspot.com/