Purse Folio added

I just added a new tutorial but since I have been working on it since last Friday it is a few posts below this one. Here is the link and I hope you try it!

http://thestampingstudioblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/purse-folio-tutorial.html

NEW STAMPS ARE HERE!

Yes that is right!... the 5 new stamp sets arrived today and they can all be seen and purchased in the store at the website; www.thestampingstudio.com in the section "READY SET STAMPS". And here is the last stamp set that I had not yet unveiled "Sing" named after a precious lady who used to work at our local Chinese food restaurant but is now in NY opening her own restaurant. So this is a tribute to her and her caring fun spirit. BTW, Sing is the same size as the Kim image, and can't you just see them stamped side by side on the front of a card looking like the best of friends?

I hope you all enjoy all the new images... I can't wait to stamp with them!!

Sneak Peek #4, 5/26/09

Here is a fun girlfriend birthday card set for you... and just love that little dog on the leash!

This set along with the other 4 sets are scheduled to arrive in the Studio TOMORROW!! I will post when they are here and available in the store. I have the last set to unveil tomorrow as well... it is another china girl set.

Purse Folio Tutorial

Let's make this fun Purse Folio! It is made from two square envelopes and you can either make it into a mini scrapbook or have it hold square cards.

Start out with two square envelopes. I had white 5.5 on hand so used those, but colored envelopes would be pretty too.

Cover the outsides of the envelopes with pattern paper 5.5x5.5. I am using our new Canta paper pad from GCD Studios. You can't see it but this pattern has black glitter on it. The paper is also double-sided which is great for other elements in this folio.

Also cover the other side of the envelopes with pattern paper 4.25x5.5.

Use a circle punch, half way to punch out a tab to make sliding things inside and out of the envelopes easier.Take a piece of 5.5x5.5 piece of pattern paper and fold it in half and glue the flaps to it. The flaps should be glued to the backside of the pattern paper.Here is what that should look like.Then you can decorate the insides of your folio however you would like. I used our new FOTM image Cabbage Rose and colored it using regular color pencils and added some shimmer with a Stardust glitter pen. I stamped out Blessings Rounder on some pattern paper and die cut it out using scalloped circles Nestabilities, and added a circle of pattern paper inside that.
You can also decorate the binding piece. I stamped the Thoreau Quote on more pattern paper and die cut out other pieces and a photo of my wonderful sister in-law Linda. This purse I am making for her using some great photo's they took of her and her children on Mother's day. I had to make a keepsake for her with them!
This is going to be the flap for the purse. You can use a circle or oval or a plain rectangle shape for this. I used the large die from the Curved Rectangle Nestabilities and then scored it at 1.5" on the long side.
On the short side of the flap place two large eyelets.
Thread ribbon through the eyelets and glue the tails down flat.
Glue the short flap only, to the back of your purse. It will fold over the front side and keep your purse together.This is how your purse should stand up. Cute hugh?! I thought it would be fun for my purse to have a small pocket on the front. So I made that with a rectangle of pattern paper cut 2.75x4.25 and a smaller die cut of the same Nestabilities I used for the purse flap.
You can, of course, stamp the inside of your small flap.
Here is what that looks like.I also added a small gold snap to add to the "cute-ness factor".Like I said I am making this into a mini scrapbook for Linda so I made some pages by gluing two pieces of 5.5x5.5 of pattern paper together. If I used pattern "cardstock" which is heavier I would only use I sheet of double-sided paper but I wanted this to be sturdy.To make pull out tabs for the scrapbook pages I stamped the Mini Rounders on pattern paper and die cut out using circles, and then more pattern paper using scalloped circles.
Fold these in half before you glue them will make them lie flat. (As opposed to gluing them and then folding... it does make a difference!) Glue those onto your pages.
Add cute photo's.
Add photo's to the back side of the pages as well.I decided my purse was not glitzy enough for I pulled out some "bling" rhinestones.Paper flowers with my rhinestones look "FAB" don't you think?And more... Once I started I could not stop! I hope Linda likes it, and I hope you will try and create one yourself!

Sneak Peek #3, 5/19/09

Here is another Sneak Peek stamp set for you! Don't you just love this fun font?! The three quotes read;

"You are unique, just like everyone else!"

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken"

"No act of kindness is ever wasted"

"Friendship"

I can't wait to start stamping with these!!

I am working on a tutorial for the workshop project we made on Saturday so keep checking back.

June FOTM Early Release

Here is our June Flower Of The Month.. the Cabbage Rose. Isn't it wonderful? It was hand drawn by artist Brooke Smith who is such a talent.

Our monthly workshop was today and we had a great turnout and got to see some stampers we had not seen in awhile which I loved! We released this FOTM to the workshop guests and thought it only fair to release it early to everyone. We hope you like it!

This stamp set is available in the website store www.thestampingstudio.com in the "Rubber Stamps Flowers/Foliage" section.

In Take Ten!

I was surprised to receive an issue of the Take Ten magazine/publication in the mail yesterday and excitedly thumbed through it and came across my cards! They are on page 54, four cards I made using our Flower Of The Month (FOTM) image "Snowdrop" drawn by artist Brooke Smith. I even got my own page. Thank you Take Ten and Stampington & Co. They have the best magazines with wonderful samples and quality photography.

http://stampington.com/html/tss_take_ten_summer09.html

Sneak Peek #2, 5/14/09

Here is another Sneak Peek stamp set for you! This set is from Brooke Smith in honor of our Fathers. This set features Rory's Father pulling him in a cute wagon, and isn't the sun a versatile image? This set along with the other four new stamp sets will be available in a couple weeks.

David's Ensemble Performance last night

I had to share with you my son David's Ensemble performance photo's from last night. The ensemble is made up of select 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders from the elementary school and they have been working on this performance since January. They did such a great job singing and performing songs from the 50's through the 90's. David dressed as a "rocker dude" which included a black wig. He was such a trip! They had two performances this morning for the whole school.

New Paper Pads!

We just received our shipment in from GCD Studios! We ordered 3 paper pads; Canta, Chianti, and Cosette. These have a wonderful linen finish and most have metallic, shimmer, or glitter finishes on either one or both sides! These papers are double sided and very beautiful... me likey!

You can find these paper pads at the website store www.thestampingstudio.com in the "Pattern Papers" section.

FOTM Early Release

Hi stampers and scrappers,

So I was thinking.... the Stamp Club Workshop is early this month and I normally release the Flower Of The Month on the day of the workshop. This would be really early if I did that this month... the 16th middle of the month.

Well what the heck... let's do it anyway! Let's release the FOTM on Saturday May 16th... check back then for the FOTM.

In the mean time enjoy these samples from Dina Gerner of the current FOTM Lilly Of The Valley. Aren't these sample gorgeous?!

Ribbon is here!

We just received our shipment of new ribbons in from May Arts today and they are luscious! Check out the websites store www.TheStampingStudio.com in the "Ribbons" section.

Sneak Peek #1 5/11/09

As I mentioned before we have 5 new stamp sets being manufactured and will be release in the next few weeks. Here is our first Sneak Peek stamp set;
I have named this Chinese Doll Kim for my wonderful Sister in-law who is not Chinese, but was born there. This set has all the elements of a great "set" to stamp with... vegetation, decoration (paper lanterns) cute creatures (dragonflies) and a border. Kim will ink up nicely with the VersaMagic Dew Drops or markers. I just love a good "bold/solid" stamp don't you?

Workshop Project May 16th

Here is what I have been working on these past couple days, a purse mini album or greeting card folio. I got this idea from Jen Tinks' website and fell in love with it and had to make one. I used mine to display a few of our Amelia Island photographs from spring break, but you can also fill it with 5x5 cards to give as a gift.

We will be making this at the Stamp Club Workshop next Saturday May 16th. We still have room so if you want to come and make this project for FREE email me; melissa@thestampingstudio.com. If you have already signed up to come... besides your basic supplies you normally bring, also bring a blending pen.

I also want to share with you that I just sent in new artwork for 5 new stamp sets! Can you believe it?! We are trying give you lot's of design choices for your crafting endeavors. (And mine!) I will start debuting the new sets on Mother's Day.