Welcome, welcome to my humble castle. It is so good of you to stop in for a visit today. During your visit you will get to see my ideas for using the stamp set ALWAYS. This set has a nice variety of stamps that can be used so many different ways. But it seems that I have gotten stuck in a "Wedding" rut as you will see when you stroll through my tour post. But who doesn't like weddings?
For my first project, I decided that I wanted to create a mini album to give to my dad. It has just turned a year since my beloved mother passed away and I know he is lonely. So in my mother's honor I created this little album to give to my dad to remind him about how precious their first years were together. Since blue was my mom's favorite color I used my favorite blue, Marina Mist. The Designer paper is Elegant Soiree. Even though the DSP uses Baja Breeze as it's main blue, I noticed that the Marina Mist blended well with the DSP as I assembled this project. The frame of the album uses the Tri-Fold card style as its base - actually there are 2 of those connected with a base and then fronts added. I really like the way this base allows you to tell a story with your images and photos. The colors of the Elegant Soiree DSP also blended well with the black and white photos that were used. I tried to keep this album from being too frilly as it was for a man, but I couldn't help adding flowers here and there with accent brads and some Dimensionals to create depth. I hope he likes it.
The front of the album highlights the lacy heart from the Always stamp set and is stamped in Marina Mist to coordinate with the album base. The hearts were stamped twice, cut out and then outlined with punched and crimped strips of Very Vanilla cardstock. The Pinking Hearts punch is just too sweet with all of those teeny tiny hearts. I love the way they frame the cut out hearts. I mounted the embellished hearts with Dimensionals (the second heart is raised on two layers of Dimensionals). Then I layered the Marina Mist and Soft Suede cardstock to create my front piece. Very Vanilla 5/8" Grograin ribbon will keep the album closed and secure until my dad wants a peek at his love of many years. The two hearts on the front reminds me that for 57 years their two hearts beat as one. You too can inspire this thought in your scrapbook pages.
One thing about Stampin'Up! stamp sets, they allow you to enhance any kind of lifetime event. I guess I was in a wedding and married kind of mood because my next project is a wedding favor using some very fun skinny bags. I filled the bags with Jordan Almonds and some pastel candies that I found at Walmart. Do you love candy? Both of them come in such a variety of colors that you are sure to be able to match the wedding colors! Speaking of colors, isn't it fun to see the variety of Stampin'Up! colors used in these wedding favors? What is your favorite color? I created a simple Heart embellishment to tie to the bag and then they are ready to place at each guests' spot. Now your friends will have a little embellishment they can add to a scrapbook page with their favorite photo of this special wedding.
Of course if you are going to have a wedding, you need an invitation. My next project is one that I cased from a sideline, Sherahl Weedon, who just recently designed these for her daughter's wedding. I loved the layout of the basic invitation, but I made it my own with the Always stamp set. I also put my Big Shot into action with the Elegant Lines embossing folder and of course the finishing touch is the oh so pretty Basic Pearls. Don't you just love how easy it is to accent your work with this new embellishment that Stampin'Up! added to this year's catalog? I find myself using them everywhere.
I hope that you have enjoyed this little visit into the world of weddings and the inspiration that can be found using the Always stamp set. Don't forget that you can use this set for cards also LOL! I will be posting the directions for these projects next week, so check back to see how I did it! I might even be inspired to add some cards made with this lovely stamp set.
Who likes Blog Candy??
I'm offering these two stamp sets for one lucky person!! All you have to do to participate is:
- Leave me a comment letting me know what you think about my work.
- Email me your name and address so that if you win, I know where to send the stamp sets.
That's all there is to it. Email me here: hickoryfah@comcast.net. When the tour is over, I will use a random selection tool to choose the name of the lucky winner from all of the names who kindly leave comments.
Thank you for visiting and I hoped you enjoyed your time here. Be sure to check back so you can get the instructions on how to make these projects yourself. I'll be sharing patterns, sizes and a complete product list.
Untill the next time, travel safely.......







I am sure your Dad is going to LOVE the album, and remembering all the good times with your Mom (not only for their 1st year but all the time when they were together).
Wonderful creation, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Lauren Y. | November 05, 2010 at 06:50 PM
Your projects are so awesome, I absolutely love the scrapbook album what a cool idea. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent. Love your work.
Janine
Posted by: Janine | November 05, 2010 at 07:49 PM
Love all the ideas. My favorite is the wedding favors, what a beautiful wedding favor!
Posted by: Lola B | November 05, 2010 at 08:00 PM
Gorgeous, makes me wish I had a wedding to make some gifts for! Thanks for sharing.
Dawn
stampwithdawn@bellsouth.net
www.handcraftedbydawn.blogspot.com
Posted by: Dawn | November 05, 2010 at 08:02 PM
Beautiful - I can't decide which I like more the album or the invitation - just gorgeous!! kimmerkidd (at) yahoo (dot)com
Posted by: Kim | November 05, 2010 at 08:15 PM
you have outdone yourself!!
Tionya
Posted by: tionya | November 05, 2010 at 08:29 PM
great projects. Dianne Bell peggydiannebell@yahoo.com
Posted by: peggy bell | November 05, 2010 at 09:02 PM
I love the wedding invite it's classy and fuctional with the pocket. Hugs and happy stamping Lori Watson
Posted by: Lori Watson | November 05, 2010 at 09:42 PM
Your album is lovely. It's done from the heart and your father will love it, I'm sure.
Posted by: Heather Arsenault | November 05, 2010 at 10:02 PM
These are all wonderful projects but the little candy bags are so colorful! They caught my eye right away. Thanks for sharing.
jmniffer at comcast dot net
Posted by: jmniffer | November 05, 2010 at 10:58 PM
I LOVE the album and wedding card...wonderful job!!
Fran Kennedy
fmick24@yahoo.com
Posted by: Fran Kennedy | November 05, 2010 at 11:40 PM
All of your projects are gorgeous! The photo album was awesome and I know your father will cherish it; such a special thing to do for him.
Posted by: Verna | November 05, 2010 at 11:42 PM
I love the wedding theme. I love this set. I need to go dust it off and use it now that you have given some great inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
catherinedewaal@hotmail.com
Posted by: Catherine DeWaal | November 06, 2010 at 12:04 AM
I think that is the best wedding invitation I have seen yet. It is so soft and lovely. It would also make a wonderful wedding card. Love those candy tubes - so fun. deborah345 dot 2 at gmail dot com
Posted by: deborah345 | November 06, 2010 at 01:40 AM
I could not tell you which one of your projects is the best they are stunning really!! That Wedding Invitation is a CASE card for sure but then again the first Photo Album project is a CASE too!!!!!!
Patrice H
trygod20@verizon.net
www.mylittlepatchofdirt.blogspot.com
Posted by: Patrice Herrera | November 06, 2010 at 01:46 AM
What a wonderful idea of giving your father an album. That was precious. I also loved your wedding invitation. Beautiful job. Thanks for a chance to win some candy.
Babe O'Mara
youiesmom@att.net
Posted by: Babe O'Mara | November 06, 2010 at 04:39 AM
Beautiful wedding ensemble, love the jordan almonds in the bags! All quite lovely!
Hugs,
Sharon Field RBT HQ Crumb Cake Castle
Posted by: Created By You | November 06, 2010 at 06:58 AM
This is the first time I have visited your blog and am looking forward to going back and looking through more posts! I just Love it! Thanks for sharing with us.
Posted by: Jan | November 06, 2010 at 10:07 AM
I am sure your dad will love the scrapbook you made in memory of your mom!! Your projects are really awesome!!
Posted by: Dani | November 06, 2010 at 10:27 AM
I especially love your wedding invitation! Simply awesome!!!
Posted by: Karen Long | November 06, 2010 at 12:09 PM