MORE BELLA ROSE

You're not getting sick of seeing this gorgeous paper, are you? I absolutely love this Bella Rose paper, but I've caught of glimpse of SU's new papers and, let me just tell you . . . we're ALL going to be in trouble with our $$$! I was supposed to be cleaning this morning, but I found myself creating instead, which isn't a bad thing since I haven't posted anything in a few days. This is actually a fairly basic card with a fun ribbon technique that my club members will learn in August (unless I find something better to demo). I used the "paper piecing" technique on the stamped layer, and I think it turned out pretty good. I intended to use the Scallop Edge punch on the top edge of the dotted paper, but I forgot to do that. Argh!!!! I guess you'll just have to visualize that. Hee! Hee! Well, it's time to get my hair trimmed and my brows waxed. Oh, the fun of being a girl! I always think of brow waxing as punishment for something I've done wrong . . . as if someone is holding a Regina voodoo doll, gently pressing tape to her brows, rubbing it in a soothing manner, and then YANKING it off! YOWSA!!!! It hurts!

SOCK MONKEY

This stamp set is really growing on me! It's hard to tell from the picture, but my card stock colors are Going Gray, Barely Banana, Real Red, and Whisper White.

BIND-IT-ALL BOOKS/BINDERS (FINISHED)

Last night, I made my first book to hold my Spellbinders dies, and tonight I made another one. I also used the Cricut to create a label/title for each book. I have enough room in the second book to add a couple more dies; after that, I'll have to make another book!

BOOK (HOLDER) FOR DIES

Last night, my mission (one of them) was to create a book to hold my Spellbinders' dies. These dies are very thin and, until now, were becoming scattered in my stamp room. Many of the dies come in a CD case, but the Nestabilities I've purchased recently don't come in what you'd like to use as a permanent storage container. The pages in my book are cut from thin cardboard, and I used adhesive magnets on each page to hold the dies. The book was bound with the Bind-It-All, and it works like a charm! All I have to do when I want to use the dies is flip through the book, choose the die I want to use, lift it off the magnet, and then put it back. This book only holds my Nestabilities and smaller dies, but I'll probably make another book for the larger dies.

BELLA ROSE ANNIVERSARY

Warning: I've used contraband again. I just got these Scallop Circle dies today, needed to make an anniversary card for my parents, so I put 'em to use. After cutting each circle, I cut between

each scallop to make them more like flower petals. I also used three embossing folders on this card. Notice the punched corner on the top left corner of the green (Kiwi Kiss) layer? I created that with SU's new Scallop Edge punch! I would have done the bottom left corner, too, but I already had adhesive on the card stock and didn't want to get the punch "gunky." Other SU products used to create this card include Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, and Pink Pirouette card stock, "Hugs & Wishes" stamp set, and that awesome "Bella Rose" designer paper!

UNDER THE WEATHER

I found out a couple of days ago that my great-niece, Malena, has Chicken Pox. Supposedly, she was vaccinated twice but has somehow managed to have an outbreak. I didn't even know they had a vaccination against the Pox! Anyway, I finally took a few minutes today to make this card for Malena. SU products used include Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, and Whisper White card stock, Bella Rose designer series paper, taffeta ribbon, and "Sincere Salutations" stamp set. Riley, the stamped image, isn't SU, but I just love this moose! Even though Riley is a "he," he didn't mind posing in pink and plum for Malena. I added glittery accents to the stamped image with Grape Ice, Strawberry Ice, and Diamond Stickles. The embossed scalloped square was created with a Spellbinders die.

BABY ART

This week, I've been on a "purge the house" mission. I haven't gotten past the kitchen/dining area, but I came across this piece of art that I've always kept in a frame on the countertop. Chadrick made this flower at day care when he was almost 2 y/o, and I just love it! There's no other way for me to see those small, precious fingertips because they're much larger now! Through the years, the original frame had taken quite a beating. After all, it had been in the kitchen for 15 years! At some point, liquid seeped under the frame and stained the picture. I found this white "Style Stones" frame in the stamp room and decided to color it with ink. I thought it needed some sparkle, so I added several colors of Stickles to it. I trimmed Chadrick's art to fit the frame, but it looked better (less white at the top) if I put it in upside down. It looks even better now than ever! BTW, the ink that I used to color the frame was SU's retired ColorBox Petal Point Chalk ink, and it had to be heat set. Stickles used were Turquoise (love, love, love this color), Copper, Gold, Patina, and Crystal.

SOCK MONKEY

Another new stamp set being released in August is "Sock Monkey." I have to admit that this one didn't really scream "buy me!," but this is the BEST creation I've seen with this stamp set yet! Another demonstrator made this card and shared it today on one of the demo groups, and I thought visitors to my blog would enjoy seeing it. There's a lot of detail here, but that framed banana in the monkey's home is too funny! I've created a 3D closet before (also posted here), but I'm going to try to create a "room" card one of these days.

BELLA ROSE BAG

Last night, I went to a Demonstrator meeting and got to make this bag. Belinda was nice enough to let us use her "Bella Rose" designer paper--THANK YOU, Belinda!!! When I got home, I added the floral accents and ribbon. To create my flowers, I made four punches with the 5-Petal Flower Punch and then made two layered sets. I used the Paper Tole technique to create the Pink Pirouette centers and then adhered a flat-back pearl to each. SU's brand new Scallop Edge Punch was used to create the scallop border at the bottom of this project. I think this little gift bag is my favorite at the moment. It's easy to make, easy to decorate, and will actually hold a nice gift!

"BELLA ROSE" BOX

If you haven't already fallen in love with the "Bella Rose" designer paper, this should do it for you! This paper ranks right up there with "Ginger Blossom" for me, and I cannot wait to see what other goodies Stampin' Up! has in the new catalog! Even though the Bella Rose papers coordinate with the brand new Riding Hood Red color, I wanted to use Bravo Burgundy for the box base. I have always loved pink and burgundy together, and it worked well for this project (I think). The box was a bit tricky, so I need to make another one to prove to myself that I can. In case you're wondering how it opens, the polka dot flap slips up and out from behind the floral triangle. The lower half of the triangle layer is all that's adhered to the box front. Is this a cool box or what????? BTW, the button in the center of the flower is a brand new one. I can't remember the name of the button assortment, but I think it's called "Button Bouquet." I cut a sliver of Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon to thread through the holes in the button and tied the fraying ribbon in a knot. I like the shabby look of it! And, of course, I used the brand new Scallop Edge punch on this project, too.