A Wedding Weekend

I know I've been pretty absent recently, and I apologize!  I've had a number of family obligations, traveling and work issues that have crept into my personal time, leaving me no moments to post my creations.  That doesn't mean, however, that I haven't been creating!  August is a busy month for us.  So over the next few days, I'll be sharing some of the things I've been doing.

First up:  my niece's wedding.  Volney (yes, that's really her name--a family name that my sister has loved since she was a little girl) and Jason chose Sunday, August 10th, for their wedding day.  And they could not have picked a better day.

The wedding was at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, an incredibly beautiful setting in the Malibu canyon.  The Ranch House site was private, intimate, and peaceful, with it's own waterfall in the background.    My niece made a beautiful bride, and family from near and far enjoyed a lovely evening. 

Of course I had to make a special card for her and her new hubby.  But, funny story, I forgot to photograph it before we left to travel down the California coast.  No problem, right?  I'll just do it in the hotel.  Well, the lighting was completely off, and I had a dickens of a time getting a photo of it that looks good. 

So here it is, but I just have to state that it's much, much prettier in person.  I'll describe the elements, so maybe you can get a feel for how nice it is.

Because I can make my own envelope, I didn't worry about the size of my card.  So I just started Big-Shotting and stamping and waited to see what happened.  I began with a square of Whisper White cardstock, and cut out the center using the Window Frame framelits.  I then cut the "vintage" Lattice and adhered it to the back of my window.

The leaves from Kinda Eclectic were stamped with Smoky Slate ink randomly over the front.  This piece was layered over a slightly larger square of gorgeous Silver Foil sheets.  And then added to the card base of Whisper White.

With apologies for the poor lighting, you'll note the leaves cut with the Little Leaves sizzlet in Smoky Slate.  Pool Party flowers were punched with the Boho Blossoms punch, as were those in silver foil.  These were glued on with Mini Glue Dots and each got a Rhinestone Basic Jewel in the center.

The sentiment from the retired Together Forever (a favorite that I just can't get rid of) was stamped in Smoky Slate, and the ampersand was done in Pool Party, fussy cut, and adhered in the center.  This was all popped up over the center with Dimensionals. 

Inside, I first embossed a frame around the edge using my Stampin' UP scoring board; then I stamped some more leaves and the sentiment (which was stamped in silver ink). 

A beautiful card for a beautiful bride on a beautiful day...Doesn't get much more perfect than that!

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And let's get creating!

A Special Anniversary

My parents are celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary on Monday.  What?  Sixty-three years together as a married couple?  WOW!  And after having spent some time with them over the past 2 weeks, I know they are more in love today than they were 63 years ago.  It's so sweet to see...

So I made a special card for them, based on one I had seen on Stampin' Connection (a private website of fantastic ideas just for Stampin' UP demonstrators).  Look here:

Taking a piece of Whisper White textured cardstock, I cut it into a square, 5-1/2" x 5-1/2".  I then used the Window Frame Framelits, the middle-sized one, and my Big Shot and cut out the window in the center.  I also cut a piece using the Lattice Bigz Die, also with the textured card stock.  This was adhered to the back side of the window.

My card base is 5-3/4" x 11-1/2" (I used 12 x 12 paper), folded in half, on which is adhered a piece of the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper.  I struggled with which side to use, as the other side had lovely Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight flowers, but it seemed too busy. 

My lattice/window piece was added with Dimensionals, so it looks like a window overlooking a sunrise.

Using the new trio punch (available 6/1!) I punched little flowers from Crushed Curry, Soft Sky and Island Indigo cardstock. 

 The Little Leaves sizzlet (now sold out and no longer available :(  ) cut some leaves from Pear Pizzazz.  These were all adhered with Mini Glue Dots to the side of the card.

I have the new Blendabilities alcohol markers, coming soon, and colored some Rhinestone Basic Jewels for the flower centers.  So pretty!

Finally a sentiment:  from Express Yourself (soon to be "vintage" when the catalog retires 6/1).  This was stamped on a small strip of Whisper White, using Island Indigo ink, and I used the Mosaic punch to create the ends (feed your paper in from the top of the punch--actually the bottom, but I hold my punch upside down so I can see the opening).  After adhering it with Dimensionals I added two plain rhinestones.

Now I was sure I had another piece of DSP to make my envelope and lo and behold!  I was out!  NOOOOO!  Fortunately I had another piece with coordinating colors, so this became my envelope (using the Envelope Punch Board--you gotta get one of these!). 

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!  Yours is a true love story, and you are an inspiration to us all!

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And let's get creating!