confetti by lexi

flashback friday: i need a portkey...

in new orleans, we have a week off for mardi gras break, and the majority of those who head out of town tend to fall into two main categories - ski people or park people. we stayed home this year because of work and dance, but when we go, we are definitely park people - mostly disney, but once harry potter moved into universal, that became part of our routine as well. it's magical! and i am a confirmed magic-loving muggle potterhead! if you've followed me here or on instagram for a while, you know that i love taking pictures of the sets as much as riding the rides. i was kicking myself on monday that i didn't block out the whole week from orders and work, so i'm flashing back to my favorite wizarding world post, wishing we were there. i don't know when yet, but we will go back soon. i just have to visit the new diagon alley, escape from gringott's, and ride the hogwart's express! and take pictures of it all, of course. so, where is that portkey?!

:) lexi

original post (with more pics!): april 13, 2011

maile belles returns!

today's papertrey ink anniversary announcement from nichole will leave many customers jumping for joy, myself included. maile is back designing stamps! i love her style and have several of her sets in my collection, so i thought i'd flash back to a few cards i created with them. first up, background basics: chevron stripes, a great set that can be used in so many ways. as a patterned focal piece, like in the two examples above (original post: may 30, 2011)...

or as a grounding feature, like water for rubber duckies! (original post: april 12, 2012)

more recently, i fell equally as hard for watercolor wonder - i just love the paint strokes and splats. it was the perfect stamp set to recreate a postage stamp from the '80s into a card for stamp-a-faire! (original post: august 25, 2014)

and last, but definitely not least, birthday style - the streamers are the coolest! they really set the scene for this birthday card featuring give me a hand, one of the cards that just barely missed the cut for my 8 favorites yesterday! (original post: december 14, 2014)

can't wait for more maile!
:) lexi

flashback friday :: red, white, and blue

today i am flashing back to two red, white, and blue invites from the archives. in fact, both of these actually predate the blog! the theme is not only timely (happy fourth!), it's timeless. before you start thinking that you have to wait a year to use either of these ideas, take a look at the dates. each is a different take on red, white, and blue for pool parties after the fourth of july, taking advantage of post-holiday party store sales for decor and favors. pretty smart! above, we have surfin' usa, with a red, white, and blue surfboard. the board is dry embossed and painted with a light shimmer paint to add texture and make it pop. even now, ten years later, this is one of my favorites!

and here, we have a great american cookout. again, a pool-worthy theme that is made perfectly complete with red, white, and blue decorations left over from the fourth. for this one, we went with a stars and stripes design and a torn paper technique, but the same theme could be used with a variety of images and layouts - all in patriotic colors of course.

the graphic stars and stripes design lent itself well to being mailed in vellum envelopes, with the address handwritten in black sharpie right over the star peeking through from the back of the invite. it's always fun to receive something a little different in the mail! i hope you had a happy fourth of july today - mine was a little quiet with the girls still away at camp, but we headed to the pool for a little while anyway...

cheers to the red, white, and blue!
:) lexi

flashback friday :: born to ride

in honor of father's day on sunday, i am flashing back to one of the many motorcycle man projects i've created for my dad. when stampin' up released the born to ride stamp set (oh so long ago!), i knew i'd get a lot of use out of it. and i have - note cards, a photo album, and luggage tags in addition to this framed artwork. it's fun to come up with new and different ways to use the same stamps - that's one of the best things about this hobby! there's still a little time for father's day crafting - what can i make with it next?

happy father's day weekend!
:) lexi

original post: june 17, 2008

flashback friday :: purple nail polish

edible purple nail polish! this is the cake i was making yesterday when i remembered that i hadn't posted the iphone cake yet. it's an almost identical take two of the nail polish cake i made a while back, hence the flashback. that birthday girl was turning 10 so spelling ten worked for the 3 letter logo. eleven is too long, so i decided to use the girl's monogram initials for that part and incorporate eleven into the color name, "purple-heaven-eleven" and i love the result. the birthday girl and mom were happy too. although, i'm still dying to do this cake in another color!! ok, locals, who's next?!

:) lexi

original post: november 8, 2011

cupid's arrow or katniss' bow?

welcome back for day four of cupid's arrow inspiration, on the countdown to the papertrey ink december release on the fifteenth. only today, i give you katniss' bow. several of the images in the set were drawn for my daughter's eleventh birthday party invitation shortly after the first hunger games movie debuted, which i'll flash back to below since it's also flashback friday. but first a couple of takes on a hunger games birthday card using the new stamps. above, i used a printed and punched element that i created for her invitation to add the infamous phrase as my sentiment. if you think about it, wouldn't everyone love for the odds to be in their favor on their birthday - even if they're not headed to a reaping!

i couldn't decide which look i liked better. plus, i had trouble finding the seal in my messy desk at first, so i had already pressed out the whole phrase on my label gun. i couldn't let it go to waste! on both cards, i used the bow and the trio of arrows for my focal image - they were the ones i created for the front of the original invitation with katniss in mind. i covered the heart with a hole punched circle of glitter tape and colored the arrow fins with two shades of yellow copics. this was the color scheme i used for the birthday, so i just stuck with it for today as well. i think it's very girl on fire.

speaking of the invitation, here's the peek i posted of it back in may 2012 and the flashback part of my post. i never got around to posting the whole party because i was overwhelmed with the pictures, but i really need to. i was able to come up with some really cool activities despite the kids-killing-kids theme of the books - although we did have our own hide & seek/nerf tag version of the "game" in and around our house, complete with a cornucopia, parachutes, berries, and a cannon/noise horn. in addition to the invitations, i used the bow and arrow images for lots of other party papers, including some propaganda posters we hung and gave as party favors. it really was the best party ever! with the second movie out, it's the perfect time to use cupid's arrow to create your own hunger games propaganda and birthday cards.

as usual, click on over to nichole's blog for links to the design team posts - today's a group post day, so there will be lots to see! melissa and lizzie have posts up with their new product too. and don't forget to come back tomorrow for one more day of cupid's arrow projects before release day...

may the odds be ever in your favor!
:) lexi

eta: a fellow hunger games fan emailed to ask where i got the mockingjay and panem logos i used on my daughter's invite and i thought i should add the answer here as well. i'll go into more detail when i finally get around to posting the full party, but basically, i drew them myself to match the color and style of my other images using various book and movie graphics as a guide. there are some differences from the originals, both by choice and ability limitations, but my goal was to have them as close as possible to the real thing to wow my daughter and her guests and make it feel like they were stepping into the book. i used them everywhere! mine are not transparent vectors so they would be difficult to share, but if you're looking to create something similar for yourself, there are probably better freebie fan graphics out there anyway, especially now with a second movie out.

also, please note that i do try to answer any comment questions in the comments as well, so if you've asked one there, don't forget to check back!

flashback friday :: counting down

i posted this vintage coke crate advent calendar after christmas last year because time got away, so i thought it was worthy of a flashback at the correct time. the original post has all of the how and why, but i will confirm here that it's great to be able to pull it out, fill it up, and start on time this year! let the december countdown begin...

merry, merry!
:) lexi

original post: december 31, 2012

flashback friday :: christmas stamping

i'm not at all ready to start thinking christmas. but with a christmas set being released this month, i have to start stamping with it, ready or not! so to get into the spirit, i decided to look through some of my old christmas blog posts, and chose a classic pti card to flash back to. i was also not so much ready for christmas when i posted it in october of 2007. in fact, when this christmas set, take a bough, arrived on my doorstep, i promptly created a halloween card with it! which inspired this christmas version (and an easter one, too!), which was then chosen by nichole to win guest star stamper. i had a blast creating out of the box with this set - you can see all three different tree versions of this card on the original post. looking at old christmas cards was a great step in the right direction. next, i think i'll pop in a favorite christmas movie or two (love actually, the holiday) and stamp the weekend away! any suggestions?

see you on the other side...
:) lexi

original post: october 15, 2007

flashback friday :: you go girl

this card from 2007 first caught my eye for today's flashback because of the red, white, and blue. but then when i followed the "you might also like" link to it under one of my posts earlier this week, it seemed especially perfect because i really need to take time to just "stamp the day away" like i did back then. especially with the kids gone. plus, i really like all the bella stamps i used that day, especially superbella above!

happy weekend!
:) lexi

original post: march 18, 2007

flashback friday :: just married

i figured i would finish up the week with a look at one more "vintage" wedding stamp from my collection, and a flashback to something i loved making for the brides in my life - a set of postcards to take on the honeymoon. sure, she could find something on location, but with these in her bag, she could write 'em on the plane and not think about it the rest of the trip! anyway, i'm pretty sure i've used this cute car image for a few other projects, but this postcard is definitely what i've created the most. although i posted it back when my brother got married, the picture wasn't great, so i whipped one up today for a new photo. quick & easy, clean & simple. just the way i like it! especially when stamping multiples is involved. hmmm, maybe i should whip up some camp ones for the girlies - #moremailplease!

happy weekend!
:) lexi

original post: april 10, 2007

flashback friday :: happy meal

like yesterday's post, my flashback friday this week was prompted by a fellow blogger's post earlier this week. audrey of pink ink originals shared her version of these mini hamburgers and it brought back so many memories! i learned about these sweet little treats from a fellow teacher in my early preschool teaching days and they quickly became one of my annual "cooking" projects. i created step by step picture cards that my little students would follow around the table until they had a finished cookie burger, all wrapped up, complete with french fries to go with. you know, those canned potato sticks? perfect scale! it was definitely a favorite activity. and as with all of my classroom faves, i couldn't wait to create them with my girls as soon as they were old enough.

my younger daughter loved them so much that she requested them for a school birthday treat when she was in pre-k (she just turned 12 last month!), which is what these photos are from. my preschool teaching days were also pre-stamping, so for packaging then, i would go to mcdonald's and ask for a few unused burger wrappers and cut them into smaller squares. but by the time colleen was in pre-k, stamping was a part of my everyday life, so of course i had to stamp the packaging to mimic the real deal. these stamps are mainly from an old stampin' up! set (bbq fun?), with the exception of the atomic star, which is from hot potatoes - one of my oldest and dearest! of course, there are many new stamps out there today that would be great for this project. a cookie burger & potato sticks alone are pretty cool, but supercute packaging is what really makes it the happiest of happy meals!

let's eat!
:) lexi

original post: miscellaneous stamped stuff photo album

flashback friday :: diaper duty

i mentioned in this week's way back wednesday post that i had purchased the newspaper stamp for a possible birth announcement for my first child. the other set i purchased at the same time was cuddles and tickles. i used both to create a variety of ideas, and in the end, this is the design that won. i can't believe i had never shared it here, but a 14 year old project definitely qualifies for a flashback! there was an article on birth announcements in martha stewart living that came out right when i was looking for ideas, and this one caught my eye. they showed it with a bow on one, and a real diaper pin on another, but i had this great pin stamp, so i immediately saw the possibilities. and i loved that i could slip a photo cut to the same size into the diaper with the announcement card. and there you have it, my first big stamping project. not much stamping, but i traced, cut, assembled, stamped and colored a lot of them! while i never showed this exact design here, i did share a later version in my invitations and announcements photo album - a printed striped diaper in bright colors for a baby shower. i've even made mini gift card ones. this is one of those baby designs that will always be relevant!

:) lexi

flashback friday :: berry basket

it's day three of the countdown to the papertrey ink april release. since i don't have any new sets this month, i thought it would be fun to flash back to another april release, april 2007. i submitted this berry basket card to the guest star stamper contest that month using green thumb from the previous release. i didn't win, but nichole gave it an honorable mention on her blog the next day. which was just as exciting and so much fun! look at those berries and that basket, all cut without dies. the square holes are from a punch, carefully lined up. and even the scallop was an old stampin' up! slot punch trick. we've got it so easy now!!

happy weekend!
:) lexi

original post on nichole's blog: april 16, 2007
more with green thumb here: april 15, 2007

flashback friday :: bunny twins

it's been a while since i posted a flashback friday, but i came across these cakes from last year in my photo files - perfect timing! they're actually take two of a pair of bunny cakes from a few years ago, both times for the same twins. every few years their birthday falls on or very close to easter and twin bunnies works well! i think i cut the ears a little differently the second time around, but they're pretty much the same bunnies otherwise - two small round layers for the face, shaped ears from a 9 x 13 cake cut in half, candy & pretzel features. easy and cute if you find yourself needing a cake for easter...

hippity, hoppity!!
:) lexi

original post: april 12, 2009

flashback friday :: fiesta time!

tomorrow is cinco de mayo, so i thought it was a good day for a mexican fiesta invite, which is a great party theme any time of year. actually this is a combined from the stack/flashback post, with a take two at a fiesta invite from a few years ago. that one was for a ten year old birthday. this one for a one year old, with a few changes, like the "1" on the cactus and the green border on a one-layer card rather than the pinked edge of a second layer.

the first time around i also created a cake to match, with a flag, and stickers for the favor bags. posey's party was not local, so no cake, but i did create matching thank you notes. these are the three options i presented. any of which would make cute personalized stationery even if you're not throwing a fiesta.

happy cinco de mayo!
:) lexi

original post: november 24, 2008

flashback friday :: hear ye! hear ye!

did you know that this week was princess week? the first annual princess week actually, brought to us by julie andrews, along with disney and target. of course, it's mostly a marketing opportunity to re-introduce princess movies and products to young audiences. but i like to let my inner sparkle shine, too, so why not? by lucky coincidence, i've noticed a little extra action on my princess invitation and cake posts lately, so what better time to flash back to them than princess week? i chose to showcase the princess ponies scroll invite above, since it's most recent and i love it. but it was hard to pick just one, so i'll link them all...

from my own princesses' parties

open the castle door!

a castle is pretty (tasty) in pink

another tasty castle

have a royal weekend!
:) lexi

flashback friday :: first communion

now that easter is over and people aren't searching for the peeps stickers as much (although some still are!), i can see what else visitors are looking for - and just like this time last year, communion cakes & decorations are at the top of the stats list.  i flashed back to my younger daughter's bible cake then, so this year i decided to show big sister's rainbow cross cake.  both posts are linked below, with all the details, including invitations.

happy weekend!
:) lexi

original posts: may 6, 2007 and may 3, 2009

flashback friday :: baby face beginnings

it's day four of the papertrey ink countdown to the april release!!!  but it's also flashback friday, so i thought i'd start by sharing some pics of baby face's printed beginnings.  the first recorded project i have is the baby girl birth announcement above right, with a touch of embroidery thread for the hair ribbon (which would totally work with the new boy stamp, if you want the 3d option!), but i think she came to life for a mommy note pad some time before that.  over the years, the simple face has been a go to image for everything baby - from announcements and shower invites to note cards and labels.  i'm so excited that she (and he) are now in stamp form for others to enjoy.

for my first project today, i thought i'd continue on the clean and simple path and create a few 3 x 3 gift cards that are reminiscent of the early printed projects i found - the face, framed simply with the promininent baby color.  i threw in one with a trio of bottles for the unknown gender option - i love that bottle!  these would be perfect for stamping on your way out the door to pick up a quickie baby gift, or tucked into the ribbon of your package.  easy peasy, but super cute, too!

while baby face began as just a face, i was so excited when i came up with the blanket swaddling for the body.  it's such a fun new element to play with, especially in stamp form.  erin showcased the line image for paper piecing the other day, so i thought i'd share the solid image with another fun idea for adding a little detail.  after stamping the solid blanket, i masked off the top fold, and stamped the hearts and stars.  then, using a coordinating copic, i colored them in and added the contrasting stripes.  you can also color the line image if you prefer, but if you're going for a monochromatic look like i've done, it's nice to start with the solid base.  i finished off the card by adding oh, baby!, inking up baby! a second time to play off the twin idea.  the dots on the side were stamped in grey also, and then colored on top with a clear glitter pen - nice and shimmery in person, but so hard to catch on screen.  i can't wait to see what you create when you get the stamps - just a few more days now...

'til then, check out nicole's blog for today's peeks along with maile, heather, melissa, and dawn!

happy friday,
:) lexi

flashback friday :: hop on over

today i have a little bit of a different flashback friday.  instead of something i'd already posted, i have an invitation from the desk archives, something i never got around to posting.  this invitation was for an easter egg hunt last year.  i've been wanting to post it for two weeks now, but those peeps have been keeping me hopping!  you might recognize the little hiding bunny from yesterday's "you've been egged" sign - he was perfect for that job, too!

happy hunting!
:) lexi

flashback friday :: luck o' the irish to ya!

with st. patrick's day tomorrow, i just had to flash back to these cute little pots of gold.  a simple heart makes a great four leaf clover, and a few strips of paper, the perfect pot to hold some gold - it's not too late to craft a lucky treat!  and if you just don't have time, follow the links in the original post to see how this idea started as an easter basket - there's plenty of time for that!

happy st. patrick's day!
:) lexi

original post: march 17, 2008