Amanda Rose Zampelli | the blog

christmas cards // 2014

One of my favorite holiday activities is coming up with what my Christmas cards will look like! This year - with my new job working for me & my BIG ideas - I had my heart set on using their CARDS in an INSTANT™ system. BONUS: I had just the right photo to use inside of them too...

Yay! Alejandro and Carmen in their Christmas outfits! I put them in character last year and snapped a thousand photos before I got one of each of them looking straight up at the camera. Then I collaged the images next to each other, blurred the grass line in between and WAH-LAH! The cutest Christmas kitties photo of all time! 

I only made a dozen or so to send out to the key people in my life that understand my weirdo obsession with my cats and 'get' that they are my children. I also sent one to their vet, Dr. Hernandez, who is going to DIE when she receives it. I wish I could see her reaction. ;)

On the back I added a sticker from this mambiSTICKS pack to each card, letting everyone know (as if they couldn't tell) this card was DIY and I cut and glued and photographed and edited and printed them to life! I always feel like that means so much more. ♥

Thanks for letting me share! :) I mailed them successfully yesterday evening with the help of the cutest (!!!) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer postage stamps of ever! See instagram here.

chillin' with the girls never gets old

n + e + a

Nat and Elisa and me.

Chillin' with the girls never gets old. The girls get old, but not the chillin'. Couldn't be more true.
I am so grateful for this summer hanging out with these two. Whether it was at the beach on our triple-threat Tommy Bahama chairs or on a Starbucks run at 4:30pm (we were wired) or singing some karaoke, it was always a relaxed, good time. 

That's why after receiving the sweetest 'goodbye goodluck' gifts from them, I knew no regular old 'thank you' note would suffice. I saw these old lady cards in a local Walgreens, and the rest is history. I've been cropping my friends' and family's head onto cards since I was little. It's always been a fun and unexpected twist, and the reactions you get are great - especially when they see a Hallmark signature and expect that store-bought feel. Lot's of fun. For you and them. ;)

last day

Sweet Shllington School NY -- I love you forever.  I was typing this whole big post about how tired I am (only 3 hours sleep) and how stressed I am that I'm nowhere near done with my portfolio, and then I realized I am grateful and I need to shut up.  

I realized how happy I am that today's the last day of school (!!!), how happy I am that I made the decision to quit teaching and spend the last three months drowning in design and art talk, and computer play, and creativity and learning, and that HELLO! I'm graduating today (!!!).

So what it's like my 73rd time graduating from somewhere. Hip hip hooray for me, nevertheless.
I did it.  I really did it.

I would say some things more profound, but that's all my overworked brain cells are allowing me this morning.  Below is a quick card I made for my teachers, Dailey and Sumayya, last night: 

It's in reference to the first day of class, when their light-hearted, casual, witty and hilarious approach to teaching us first peeked its head.  Sumayya posed that above question to the class, and I knew I was in the right place.

I will be forever thankful to Dailey and Sumayya for their kindness, patience, wit and humor. They are great designers and great teachers and I feel immensly lucky to have had them mentor me. I'm forever greatful to Pete and Cindy and Mike for imparting their knowledge, and being so gosh darn helpful.  I'm forever thankful to Holly and Michelle, for their belly laughs and keeping the school so clean and organized and happy and comfortable. I'll be forever grateful to Mr. Andy Shillington -- whom I met this week and talked to for a while -- for creating the program.  

Thank you forever, Shillington School NY.
You will never stop hearing good things from me. <3 <3 

---   ---   ---

Happy Friday.

Happy Graduation, fellow classmates and myself. God speed a job we adore.

Happy Birthday, baby

Yes, my heart still refers to him as 'my baby', and today is his birthday.

I've been having a tough time this past month (since our last exchange and he said I am letting go), but this week has been BAD.  I guess knowing today was coming, and knowing I wouldn't be with him, and missing him a million...

...I sent him that card above.  I don't know if it was appropriate or not, but it is truth.  

Every single word.

Happy 33rd, baby.  
I will always love you, and I miss you terribly.

mom's 55th birthday card

Oh, my mutha, Helene!

She was/is gorgois!

Yesterday was her 55th.

Wowwee.

Happy Birthday, mamacita, and many more!

♥ ♥ ♥

Love, ya adult dawduh,

my friend has lost 68 pounds...

Simple.  Quick.  Took me 'bout 10 minutes.

My friend, Danielle, has struggled with weight all her life, and this time...she is really gonna do it.

If you want to know how she's doing it, message her here.

 

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

 

a [28th birthday card] for one of my oldest friends

The birthday-girl, Danielle, is to the left in polka-dot.  Her brother, Jason, is on the right wearing a giant 80s bow and skirt.  And me: I'm in the middle fancy princess-ing it up.

We're about 7 or 8 there.  Jay's prob 3.

Danielle is 28 today. Holy adulthood.

This card came together in about an hour after I went browsing drugstores for a card.  A card for one of my oldest friends, a friend who has crossed the line from friend>>to>>family.

The conclusion I came to: Store-bought cards don't cut it.  They just don't.

Happy, happy 28th,
friend-like-a-cousin!

and

Happy card-making,
my fellow paper-crafters!

xOxO,
 

twenty*three & I made her a card

After receiving my awesome Mustard URBANEARS Plattan Headphones from Sister Claus for Christy-mas, everyone in my house tried 'em and wants a pair.  I ordered my sister the Cerise-colored ones, but they have not arrived yet.

I gave her a clue in her card as to what's coming in the next couple of days.

Thanks for allowing me to share, all.

The cute journal cards on the page above were from SMASH pads.

I love my sister x 100.

She's most definitely my best friend by far.

I'm so grateful to God for placing her in my life.

She's my little bitty bop.

Have a happy, blessed 23rd year, sister! Enjoy!

xOxO,