Aldo

I like Aldo (been shopping there since college), but today I HEART Aldo. A while back, the zipper on my favorite pair of cognac colored knee-high boots broke. I brought them to the shoe guy to repair, and they came back just like new.  After wearing them one week, the zipper broke again! To my dismay, it was much worse than the first time and was looking like I would have to part with them. Since they are a staple in my closet, I did what any other sane person would do- I went shopping to replace them. Fortunately, I found a pair in the same color at Aldo. As I was explaining to the salesperson how I was trying to replace my old ones because the zipper broke, he promptly asked if they happened to be Aldo (which they are). It was then that I learned Aldo repairs all shoes for the life you have them for free!!  What?!?!?  I don't need to part with my beloved boots??? You can repair them?  Yes please!!!  So I'll be bringing them in this weekend to have them fixed... for FREE!!  But, that doesn't mean that I still didn't buy these beauties. Aren't they gorgeous? 

Boots: Aldo Kreuziger

Pink!

My co-worker's wife had their second child on Monday - a sweet little girl. When we heard the news, we promptly went out and bought her all kinds of pink - a furry jacket, sweater with brown leggings, even some cute leopard onesies and sleepwear! Their first child is a boy and with this one, they chose to not know what they were having, so it was a surprise for all of us. Opening the gifts today, he was giddy!  Must be that "I'm a dad again" look - so cool!  The girl thing is all new for them and they are learning very quickly it's all about pink!


Materials:
Paper: Sweet Blush Cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Magenta Cardstock (Latte Cardstock)
Die cut: Bigz Top Note (Stampin' Up), Lace punch (Anna Griffin), Grand Adhesions clothing stickers

Hats off to you!

I'll be posting a lot more cards this week - a co-worker had a baby, I have a wedding to go to, and it seems everyone has a birthday coming up in the next few weeks. The first card this week is for a friend of mine who is turning 30. I remember when I turned 30, I thought it was the end of being hip, but I soon realized you are only as old as you feel. This leopard print fedora was my inspiration (we all know how much I LOVE leopard print - see this post). Since I didn't have a stamp or die cut to make the hat, I had to draw it free hand.  Then, I used my copic markers to color the leopard print. I think it turned out pretty good and I hope she likes it!

Materials:

Paper: Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink), Sft White (Paper*Source), Peacock (Paper*Source)

Copic Markers: Burnt Umber (E29), Yellow (Y06), Black (100),  Colorless blender

Ink: Staz On Timber Brown

Impression plate: Vintage Wallpaper (Stampin' Up)

Twine: Archiver's

LBD

As I was leafing through one of my magazines this weekend, my heart stopped when I saw this YSL ad. I don't know what it is, but I am in LOVE with this whole outfit. The dress is so simple and chic - it's really the perfect black dress. It can be dressed up or down- can't you picture it with tights, boots and a fur vest? And I don't even know where to start with the necklace!  I tried searching for it high and low this weekend online to no avail.  If you find it somewhere, hit me up.  I'm on a mission.  Let's not forget the shoes... to die.  

Happy Monday!!

Update:  Check out this cool idea from cupcakesandcashmere to get the look of these shoes for much less!

Firsts

This weekend was a weekend of firsts. Friday night we had friends over for steak and wine. Ramesh grilled the steak and potatoes and I made chocolate cake for dessert. It's been a while since I've made a cake, and I tried something new this time - a cake leveler. It's a simple apparatus used to cut across the top of your cake to make it level (if I were a professional, this would not be something I would need, but I can't cut level across anything, let alone cake). Leveling the cake made it MUCH easier to frost and stack.  Everyone loved it!

Saturday we were invited to a 1st Birthday Party. It was held at one of our favorite Pubs in Minneapolis. In India, 1st Birthdays are important, so I wanted to make a special card for Myra. I chose Indian printed paper and stamped an elephant to clear the way for her to be successful (in India, the elephant represents the removal of obstacles and makes one's life easier). I finished it off with some jewels on the toes.

Materials:
Paper: Poppy foldover card (Paper Source), Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink), India Print (Paper Source), Sft White (Paper Source)
Ink: Memento Black Tuxedo, Stampin' up watercolor pencils
Stamp:India Elephant (Paper Source)
Ribbon: Michael's
Buttons: Autumn Mix (Papertrey Ink)

Into the wild

I've had this Kate Spade handbag for over 14 years - and it's still one of my go to bags. How elated was I too see all the animal print for fall?!? Coupled with the retro lady-like designs inspired by Mad Men, my old bag is back in style again (not that I ever stopped using it). I've always been drawn to leopard prints. Over the years I've added shoes, hats, skirts, belts, scarves and sweaters in the print and it never gets old.  Animal print is a neutral in my closet and I don't think you are ever to old to wear it. This fall, my animal print obsession must have is the faux fur coat, I just need to decide which one.

                        

1.

2.

                       

3.

4.

1.Leopard Print Vintage Faux Fur Coat from Topshop

2.Rebecca Taylor from Net-a-Porter

3.Sonia by Sonia Rykiel from Net-a-Porter

4.Leopard Print Velvet Coat from Talbots

Rain, Rain go away

I had high hopes when I left for work this morning that the weather would stay nice. We were taking the afternoon off and going to the Twins game. Things looked promising as the noon game time approached, even the walk over to the new field was nice. All was going well until we got to our seats... 

Yes... those dots on the field are the players! But, it was an afternoon off from work, and I was going to enjoy myself. Then the wind picked up and it started to cloud over. One hour into the game and my fingers were turning blue. I didn't last much longer after that first hour. Instead, I left to hit up the craft store for final materials to finish a birthday card for my friend Hadley.


I'm so excited for this card. Hadley is more of a fashionista than I am, and he loves designer anything!  Just recently he invested in his own tux, so I played off that and made him the perfect card (I just hope he likes it as much as I do!). 

Materials:

Paper:  True Black (Papertrey Ink), White (The Paper Company)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Shirt Image: Found online by googling button down shirts

Rhinestone Brads (Stampin' Up)

Ribbon: Michael's

Happy Birthday!

I love to bake... so I decided to bake cupcakes for my husband today (it was his birthday after all). His favorite flavor is chocolate, and he may be a bigger chocoholic than I am!!  

I always bake with room temperature ingredients - it makes all the difference and is worth the forethought. 

 

I would be lost with out my Kitchen Aid Mixer.  It was my grandmother's and it's older than my dad, by it still works like new.

 

We got a pancake pen from Williams Sonoma for our wedding and I have yet to use it, until today.  It made pouring the cupcake batter easy and mess free!

Don't they look delicious?? 

 

Halloween Card

Today is the last day of summer, and that means Halloween is just around the corner.  Halloween is my all time FAVORITE holiday. A while back I stumbled upon Papertrey Ink (www.papertreyink.com). I fell in love with the stamps and paper they make as well as the fact that they do a release party every month on the 15th with new stamps, dies, tools and paper. Such a cool idea!!  


To get you inspired for fall (and Halloween!), here is a card I made from their August release set called friendship jar fall fillers.

Materials:
Paper: Foldover Card (Beet, Paper-Source), Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink), Halloween Prints Boo to you (Papertrey Ink), Sft White (Paper-Source)
Stamps: Friendship Jar Fall Fillers (Papertrey Ink), Just the ticket (Papertrey Ink)
Dies: Bigz Top Note (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (YR07, Y06, YG11, B63, E29)
Glitter: Ultra Fine Prisma (Palette)

Welcome!

Welcome to Denim and Ink!  A blog with a passion for all things sublime from clothes to decor, handmade cards to food and more... this is my journal of things that influence me and help me create.  


What's more inspiring than getting married?  I made my invites, thank you's (see below) and designed my tablescape.  With some sewing help from my mom (I really need to get braver with sewing machine), we created an amazing table cloth that matched the invites.  It turned out to be one fabulous day!

Materials:
Envelope:Yours Truly, Black
Paper:  Black and White Pais (Paper-Source), SFT White Cardstock (Paper-Source), Grass Green Shimmer (TPC Studio)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: Merci (Stampin' Up), Vintage Marquis (Paper-Source)
Extras: Ribbon (Michaels), 15mm Rhinestone buckle (www.thebuckleboutique.com)