Archive for May, 2010:
Create with Connie and Mary Challenge
This week's challenge is for the Design Team since it is the last day of our new daily posts on Summer Edition of Create with Connie and Mary! Can you believe it has gone by SO quickly? I can't! You STILL can join and access all the projects and posts we did over the past 5 weeks!
For our subscribers, I hope you got LOTS of great ideas for using the products in the Summer Mini. We had a blast coming up with ideas for them each week. I want to thank our guest designers, Kerin Sylvester and Monika Davis for their hard week this Summer Edition. I know they were VERY busy with Cruise, Graduation, and their businesses, too!
So, now on to the challenge! This week's challenge was to make an Invitation featuring the sets, July Fourth, King of the Grill or Sweet Scoops. I had originally thought to go in a completely different direction, but it just didn't work out…and frankly I got frustrated trying to fix it! Mental block, I guess! So…here is what I ended up with. I love how it turned out!
I've always enjoyed doing punch art classes…I've been doing them for about 5 years now. A couple years ago, I won the So Shelli contest for my Punch Art BBQ grills ensemble…I've seen them duplicated LOTS of places now! Here is an adaptation of the original. I ended up liking it just as well as the original…and I love the "Grill Master" that is standing next to it!
I started with a base card that is 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 of Real Red Cardstock. On the Brilliant Blue layer, I stamped one of the fireworks images from July Fourth randomly in the background with Brilliant Blue Classic Ink. Along the bottom, I added Whisper White cardstock that I stamped with the other two fireworks images in Real Red and Brilliant Blue Classic Inks. I wrapped the Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon around to hide the seam and adhered it to the base Real Red card. I inked the 4th of July stamp with my Real Red and Brilliant Blue Stampin' Write Markers (so I could omit the word Happy) and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch, then layered on a 1 3/8 circle punch of Brilliant Blue. I stamped the large star in the set on scrap Whisper White, then punched with the small star punch and placed with a Stampin' Dimensional.
For the grill, I cut a 2 1/4 circle with the Circle Scissors Plus Tool, I cut a sliver of Basic Gray and placed it for the "seam" between the lid and the bottom of the grill. I used the Word Window and Basic Black for the legs…one of the Word Windows I cut in half lengthwise. The wheel is a 1/2 circle of Basic Gray with a 1/4 circle of Basic Black. The handle I punched the 1/4 circle first, then the 1/2 circle around it and placed it half way under the grill lid.
The pants of the grillmaster and the apron are just rectangles cut on an angle. The arm is the Word Window punched from Real Red and stamped with the small trio of stars in July Fourth and Real Red Classic Ink. The hand is Blush Blossom punched with the Word Window (just the end). I cut down the other piece of the grill leg for the spatula and used the Word Window again with Basic Black for the flipper. I used cut small slits in it with my Paper Snips. Oh…his shoe is the Small Oval, trimmed off. I used the Naturally Serif Strip die for the letters BBQ. You're Invited is from the Introducing Stamp Set!
I hope you like it! Leave me a comment and let me know!
Make sure to check out the rest of the Create Design Team's Invitation Challenge:
Check out the rest of the design team…
Mary Brown – StamperCamper
Kerin Sylvester – Stamps, Paper, Glitter
Monika Davis – Stamping Together at Monika’s Place
Supplies:
Sets: July Fourth, Introducing
Inks: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black
Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Basic Black
Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Naturally Serif Strip Die, Word Window Punch, 1/2 Circle punch, 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon, Small Star Punch, Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals
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Even though Create with Connie and Mary's daily posts are over, remember the site stays up long after the session is done, so you can refer back to all the projects and tutorials. (AND you can STILL join!) We have been featuring the Summer Mini stamp sets and products. You are welcome to use our ideas and projects in your classes and camps, we just ask that you do not submit our ideas to magazines, publications or contests, including Stampin' Up!'s challenges and So Shelli creative challenge. For more information and to see a few samples, check out our Preview Week projects at Create with Connie and Mary! Thank you to all our subscribers! We appreciate you!
Elements of Style
Stampin' Up's Elements of Style stamp in the Summer Mini is such a pretty set. I've used it for wedding, vintage, contemporary and now very soft looks. It works with it all! The color combination of Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray and Whisper White just popped into my head when I was looking at this set to make up my card for Stamping 411's weekly sketch. I love how it turned out! Hope you enjoy it, too!
I'm sending this card to our best friends' mom…she found out about a month ago that she has Pancreatic Cancer and it is pretty far gone. I feel so bad for them…she could use your prayers!
I started with the base of Pretty in Pink and layered on Basic Gray that I distressed with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool. I ran the Whisper White layer thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder and gently distressed the edges of it, too. For my focal element, I stamped the large rose vine with Basic Gray on Whisper White and distressed the edges. I layered it on more Basic Gray and then Pretty in Pink with distresssed edges (I think I was channeling Tiffany this week!) If you look closely, you'll see that I used Itty Bitty Background stamp with Pretty in Pink Classic Ink in the corners. I wrapped some Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon around and tied. This was all popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.
Then I stamped Thinking of You in Basic Gray on Pretty in Pink cardstock and punched with the Modern Label punch. I added two Square Fire Rhinestone Brads on the edges (I had to trim the legs with my scissors so they wouldn't show). I added more Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the label to the card.
Have a wonderful weekend! Check out the rest of the Design Operators over on Stamping 411! I've got plenty to keep me busy this weekend…need to do a little clothes shopping for our trip to Cancun!
Bloggers Challenge – Red/White/Blue
Our Bloggers Challenge today is the color combination of Red/White/Blue in honor of Memorial Day. I want to thank the men and women who honor us by their service to our country. May God Bless them!
Pretty simple card today…I wanted an understated look. I started with the card size of 3 x 6 in Brilliant Blue cardstock. I pierced a row of holes along the top of a strip of Real Red cardstock and layered it on the base. Then I added a strip of slightly wider Whisper White over the bottom edge of the Whisper White. I stamped the star from Stampin' Up!'s July Fourth stamp set in Brilliant Blue and Real Red on Whisper White, then punched with the Large Star punch. I popped them up on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added the word Remember from In A Word, a stamp set in the Summer Mini in Basic Black in the lower right corner. Finally, I used the Itty Bitty circle punch with Brilliant Blue cardstock, and added a Bitty Button Circle on top and placed it with a Mini Glue Dot.
I'm off today to work over at Mary's house (of Create with Connie and Mary!) on my wedding favors. Hope to get a good chunk of them done. The final assembly will be made onsite in Cancun. I'm sure we will also be discussing the NEXT session of Create! Have a great weekend!
Stamping 411 Reveal!
Did you have a chance to go over and play the Stamping 411 guessing game in celebration of our One Year Anniversary of Stamping 411 Sketch Blog? It's been a fun year! Selene came up with the idea for us to post one of the other Design Operator's cards on our blog, and have the readers guess whose card it might be from the style. She'll be posting the Blog Candy Winners soon…so check it out!
I must have fooled a lot of people because guesses for me were way over the board, even from the Design Operators! I hope that means I have a very eclectic style! I think I confused everyone with Gretchen because she had posted the scallop envelope the week before…my card was already in the mail and I didn't know it! But now for the Big Reveal…here is MY actual card.
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I started with a base of Bashful Blue cardstock and layered along the bottom the diagonal strip pattern from Travel Journal Designer Paper. The top Kraft layer, I stamped randomly with Night of Navy Classic Ink and the Sentimental Jouney Stamp Set. I also used Itty Bitty Backgrounds for some added speckles of Night of Navy ink. I wrapped two pieces of Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon around to the back to secure and hide the seam.
I ran the Scallop Envelope die thru the Big Shot with Night of Navy cardstock, then ran it thru again with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder to emboss it. I placed it on the front with a small Bashful Blue card inside that I stamped with Stampin' Up!'s Wonderful Favorites stamp set in Night of Navy Classic Ink. Finally, I stamped the compass from Sentimental Jouney in Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink and punched with the 1" circle punch. I added an Vintage mini brad in the center and adhered it to the envelope.
We sent our cards off to Selene to photograph…she did a mini swap and mailed them out randomly to the other Design Operators…I wonder who got mine?
I hope you have a wonderful day! My Stamp Clubs meet tonight…need to finish up getting ready for them and CLEAN my room! lol!
July Fourth Again…
Since I had Stampin' Up!'s July Fourth set out on my desk already, I decided to use it again for the Stampin' Connection Sketch Challenge (SCCSC18) this week. Stampin' Connection is an online resource similar to Splitcoaststampers, but it is JUST for demos! LOTS of creative ideas there! This was a fun sketch…a square card!
I started with a base of Real Red cardstock and wrapped my Real Red Striped Ribbon across the bottom third of it. I cut a square of Brilliant Blue cardstock and stamped the small trio of stars randomly on it with Brilliant Blue Classic Ink. I then ran it thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. It was layered on Whisper White. Then I inked the Happy 4th of July greeting with my Real Red and Brilliant Blue Stampin' Write Markers and stamped in the lower left corner of the Whisper White panel. I stamped the large star image in Real Red and Brilliant Blue, then punched with the Large Star Punch. I popped them up on the Whisper White with Stampin' Dimensionals and layered it on Brilliant Blue.
Finally, I used the Itty Bitty Round Punch and Bitty Round Buttons in the upper left corner of the card. Fun card and a fun sketch!
We are starting on our last week over on the Create with Connie and Mary subscribers site, but remember the site stays up long after the session is done, so you can refer back to all the projects. We have been featuring the Summer Mini stamp sets and products. There is a new project posted every day and several fabulous tutorials each and every week. You are welcome to use our ideas and projects in your classes and camps, we just ask that you do not submit our ideas to magazines, publications or contests, including Stampin' Up!'s challenges and So Shelli creative challenge. For more information and to see a few samples, check out our Preview Week projects at Create with Connie and Mary!
Remember…
Good morning! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Mine was nice and relaxing…just how I like it! I actually was able to spend some time sorting thru my HUGE pile of cardstock scraps and get them organized by color. Now, just need to put them in the sleeves of my binder and I'll be good to go! Such a big job, and one I always put off. You'd think I'd learn just to sort them as soon as I finish the project! lol!
Pals Paper Arts has a Memorial Week theme challenge (PPA43) going on and I finally got a minute to make up a card to thank those men and women who serve or have served our country. I also combined their challenge with Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge (TSSC123)…loved her sketch!
Over on Create with Connie and Mary this week we are featuring the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini stamp sets July Fourth, King of the Grill and Sweet Scoops. I purchased July Fourth because I felt it would be good for all the patriotic holidays that occur during the summer and service projects for the troops.
For this card, I used the large star image in July Fourth and stamped it in Real Red Classic Ink and Brilliant Blue Classic Ink. I punched them out with the Large Star Punch, along with a Whisper White star. (Isn't it great that the star fits perfectly in the Large Star Punch?) I adhered the stars with Stampin' Dimensionals on a 2 1/2 Circle made with the Circle Scissors Tool and Sahara Sand Cardstock. I ran the Whisper White layer thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder and scalloped the bottom edge. I placed the rectangles of Real Red and Brilliant Blue Cardstock over the Whisper White. I wrapped the Real Red 1/4 Grosgrain Ribbon around to the back to secure, then added a bow on the front, adhered with a Mini Glue Dot. I adhered the Whisper White to the Brilliant Blue layer, then to the base card of Real Red. FInally, I stamped Remember from Stampin' Up!'s In A Word stamp set in Basic Black in the lower right corner. I added a Real Red circle punched with the Itty Bitt Shape circle punch and a circle Bitty Button to the Whisper White star.
We are starting on our last week over on the Create with Connie and Mary subscribers site, but remember the site stays up long after the session is done, so you can refer back to all the projects. We have been featuring the Summer Mini stamp sets and products. There is a new project posted every day and several fabulous tutorials each and every week. You are welcome to use our ideas and projects in your classes and camps, we just ask that you do not submit our ideas to magazines, publications or contests, including Stampin' Up!'s challenges and So Shelli creative challenge. For more information and to see a few samples, check out our Preview Week projects at Create with Connie and Mary!
Create with Connie and Mary Sketch Challenge
It's time for the Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Challenge (CCMC4)! I designed the sketch for this week's challenge and I am amazed at the how different each Designer interpreted this sketch! I know I had fun with it…hope they did, too! This week on Create with Connie and Mary, we've been focusing on Watercolor Trio, Bouque Bunch and A Little Bit of Magic from the Summer Mini Catalog. It's not too late to join! We are starting our last week, but you still have access to all the previous posts and tutorials long after the sesson is over!
Yes, I used Stampin' Up!'s Watercolor Trio again. I can't stop using it…and I love this color combination with it! I stamped the flower and leaves images in Old Olive, Ruby Red and So Saffron Classic Ink on Whisper White cardstock and layered it on So Saffron Cardstock. I wrapped the Old Olive Satin Ribbon around it and tied. I added three 1 1/4" circles punched from Ruby Red along the left side.
For the greeting element, I stamped Thanks So Much with Ruby Red on Whisper White and punched with the 1 1/4 Circle Punch. I layered it on…can you GUESS???? Yes! The larger cog of the new Double Cog punch! I punched the Cog once in Old Olive and once in Ruby Red, then layered it on a 1 3/4 circle of So Saffron. This was popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added a So Saffron butterfly on the edge of the greeting, too!
I hope you check out the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Design Team to see what they did this week. As I mentioned earlier, each card was SO different, yet completely intrepreted from the sketch!
Supplies:
Set: Watercolor Trio
Classic Inks: Ruby Red, So Saffron, Old Olive
Cardstock: Ruby Red, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Double Cog Punch, 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, 1" Circle Punch
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If you haven't checked out the Create with Connie and Mary site yet, now is the time to do it! We feature new Summer Mini products every week. There is a new project posted every day and there will be a minimum of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. We like to have lots of fun so we have challenges and prizes for our subscribers. Our sites stay up long after the session is done, so you will always have access to the site and the tutorials. For more information and to see our Preview Week projects please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!
Stamping 411 ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Wow! Can you believe it has been ONE year since Stamping 411 started offering sketch challenges every week? We've done 52 of them! I am so honored to be a part of this wonderful group of girls. Each time we see each other at Leadership or Convention, it feels like a homecoming. You cannot believe how generous these women are with their talent and time! A special thanks to Selene, our "list mom" who gently keeps us on task.
Look at the fabulous drawing that Selene Kempton surprised us with this week. Each of the Operators are there — from left to right – Gretchen Barron, Selene Kempton, Lee Conrey, ME (Connie Babbert), Robin Merriman, Patti Chesky, Kerin Sylvester and Tiffany Bauer. Stop by and leave a comment on their blogs as you play a fun little game with us!
We have a FUN game for you this week in addition to the Sketch Challenge on Stamping 411! All the Design Operators mailed their card to Selene, who photographed them with a random watermark, then emailed a photo back to us to use on our blogs this week. WE don't even know whose card we have! So…we are guessing right along with YOU this week.
So, go check out the Stamping 411 cards. Leave a comment on this week's Stamping 411 Challenge Blog post with the list 1 thru 8 and the person's name you guess created the card with that number. We have BLOG CANDY for some lucky players, too! Winners will be chosen randomly and you can win by doing the following over on the Stamping 411 Blog.
1. Make a card and play along with the sketch challenge
2. Name the Operators' cards and leave your list 1-8 in the comments section
3. Do both!
Here is my guess at the measurements of this week's Card #6. Of course, that is just a basic idea for you to use…definitely put your own creative ideas with it!
Base Night of Navy card: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, folded in half
Layer 1 Kraft: 4 x 5 1/4
Layer 2 Travel Journal Designer Paper: 3 3/4 x 5
Layer 3 (Kraft background strip): 1 1/2 x 3 3/4
Layer 4 Kraft mat: 2 1/4 x 3 1/2
Layer 5 Whisper White: 2 1/8 x 3 3/8
Center 2 1/8 Night of Navy Circle
I love the little collage of elements she used in the focal element. Stampin' Up!'s Sentimental Journey Stamp Set is just perfect for it! The Kraft and Night of Navy color scheme just screams MASCULINE to me! And…we all can use those masculine card ideas, can't we? I love the Night of Navy speckles (Color Spritzer Tool?) she used all over the card and the distressed edges to really give it a vintage feel. So…my guess????? I think it is TIFFANY BAUER's card! Hope I'm right!
Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operator cards this week and take your turn at NAME THAT OPERATOR! Leave a comment with your guess 1 – 8, over on Stamping 411's blog! We hope you play along with the sketch challenge, too. We always have fun looking at all your wonderful creations! Have a great weekend!
Bloggers Sketch Challenge
Today's Bloggers Challenge is a sketch! As you know, I LOVE sketches! This card came together pretty quickly using it. I used Watercolor Trio again as it is one of the three sets we are featuring this week over on Create with Connie and Mary…Watercolor Trio, Bouquet Bunch and A Little Bit of Magic from Stampin' Up!'s Summer Mini.
I decided to turn the sketch on its side so my flowers would fit a little better. I started with a base of Certainly Celery cardstock and layered on Cameo Coral, one of the retiring colors! I used a strip of the Sahara Sand Polka Dot pattern from Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper in the background. On the Very Vanilla cardstock, I stamped the three flower/leaves images randomly in Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand and Cameo Coral Classic Inks.
I wrapped some Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon around and tied a bow. In the lower right corner, I used three 1/2" circles in Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla and Certainly Celery for the accents. I stamped Birthday Wishes from Watercolor Trio on Sahara Sand and punched with the Large Oval Punch, then layered on a Certainly Celery Scallop Oval punched piece. It was popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals! I love this color combo…will be sad to see that pretty Cameo Coral go away.
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It certainly is not too late to join Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition! At $24.95, it is certainly a bargain for all the ideas you'll get to make gifts or host stamp camps or classes for your customers. There is a new project posted every day and we have a minimum of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will plenty of time to access the site and refer back to the tutorials. For more information and to see our Preview Week projects please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!
May Tour de Freaks!
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Woohoo! It's here! The May Tour de Freaks! I can't wait to see what these fabulous girls have done…what about you? You've just arrived from my friend, Lisa Martz's Blog…aren't her projects wonderful? LOVE that Tropical Party set and Island Oasis paper!
Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Scoops is a favorite of mine from the Summer Mini! My Technique Class did this card earlier this month using an old favorite technique…SHAVING CREAM! Doesn't the background just remind you of some melted ice cream? And…a double scoop of Vanilla and Strawberry ice cream on a sugar cone! Yummy!
If you haven't done the Shaving Cream Background, it is very simple! I use an old cookie sheet, spread regular shaving cream on it (I use unscented) and then place a few drops of 2-3 complimentary reinkers in the shaving cream, swirl around with a spoon and then place your Whisper White cardstock on top of the mixed shaving cream. Lift off the cardstock, take a spatula and scrap off the extra shaving cream…it leaves behind a beautiful marbled look on the cardstock! I used the reinker colors of Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana. Let it dry, then layer on the base card of Pretty in Pink. I stamped the Cone with Creamy Caramel Classic Ink on Whisper White and the first scoop with Pretty in Pink. I stamped the Barely Banana scoop of ice cream on scrap paper, cut it out and adhered on top of the bottom scoop. I layered it on Pretty in Pink cardstock, then Certainly Celery. Across the top I used the Scallop Edge Punch on a piece of Barely Banana cardstock, and wrapped Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon around it and tied with a knot. I finished by stamping the greeting with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.
You may remember for March's Tour de Freaks, I did a carrot made from the Large Scallop Circle Die. I decided that I could use the same thing to make an Ice Cream Cone! I cut the large Scallop Circle die from Creamy Caramel cardstock, then ran it thru the Big Shot with my Square Lattice Impressions Folder to give it a waffle look. I wrapped it into a funnel and secured with Sticky Strip. I used some of the left over Shaving Cream paper I made above and punched the Scallop Circle from it. I also punched So Saffron and Pretty in Pink Scallop Circles. I adhered them to the inside. I added the Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon in a box on the front. Then used my Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker to stamp the "Have a sweet celebration" on Whisper White and punched with the Wide Oval punch. I highlighted the sweet with So Saffron marker and sponged the edges with Pretty in Pink. I think this turned out CUTE! I haven't seen an ice cream cone done with the Scallop Circle. Inside I filled with Tropical Jelly Belly candies! FUN!
Next stop is the fabulous, Mary Brown! I know you'll love her projects!
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