InkspiredTreasures.com

October Tour de Freaks

Yes!  It's the Tour de Freaks Blog Tour, brought to you by members of the Control Freak Swappers.  You've probably just come from Melanie's Blog and you'll go to Mary's after mine…her link is at the bottom of my post.  The theme this month is Christmas!  I can't wait to see what everyone has done…I know it will be fabulous!

My first project is a step card.  Those that are in the Control Freaks swap will remember the Snowman Gift Card I did for the swap.  I used the same colors and design for my Simple Seasonal Thanks Snowman.  I love the Bermuda Bay, Real Red and White combo this year!  If you haven't made one of these, come back later this week for the template! EDIT:  You can find the template in THIS POST!

I started by stamping the snowman with Basic Black Classic Ink and coloring him with my AquaPainter and Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker.  Then I added the Real Red for the polka dots and hat band, then Pretty in Pink for his cheeks and Pumpkin Pie for his nose.  I added 3 Black Mini Brads for his buttons.  I cut him out and applied Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the sides of his body and face.  At the bottom of each "step", I tore some Whisper White cardstock for a line of snow.  The second tier has snowballs, punched with the 1/2 circle punch and sponged with Bashful Blue ink on the edges.  They are all stacked up ready for playing.  The top tier has a sign post cut from Close to Cocoa cardstock.  The sign I stamped Merry Christmas from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched with the Modern Label punch.  I applied the Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the snowline, snowballs and the top of the sign.  It was FUN making this!

My second project is an altered metal sign.  It stands out from the wall, so it has a really neat 3D look to it.  Originally it had the word LIKE on it with rustic tones (don't know why anyone would want a sign that said LIKE on it!)  I immediately thought of altering it with SNOW!  I like that MUCH better!  I can't wait to hang this up with my holiday decorations (although I can wait for actual snow to arrive!)

I started by cutting the Bashful Blue cardstock with the measurements for each panel.  Then I stamped Serene Snowflakes randomly with Bashful Blue Classic Ink all over the cardstock.  I went back with the trio snowflake stamp from that set and used the Frost Shimmer Paint.  This REALLY adds a lot of shimmer to the background, but it is SO hard to capture with the camera! 

I cut out each of the SNOW letters with my Big Shot and the Serif Essentials Alphabet Bigz Dies from White Sparkle Foam…so pretty!  They are adhered to the Bashful Blue cardstock with mini glue dots.  I tore some Whisper White cardstock for the snow line.  Then I stamped the small and large Hostess Only Level 2 Snow Buddies snowmen in Basic Black on Whisper White and colored them with my Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write markers.  I added more Frost Shimmer Paint to their bodies. 

I stamped the Simple Snowflake from the back of the Idea book in Bashful Blue on Whisper White cardstock and punched it with the new Snowflake punch that matches!  Quick & Easy!  Each snowflake has a Light Blue Rhinestone circle brad in the center of it.  I wrapped some White Stripe Organza Ribbon around the top of the left panel and the right side of the right one.  The O has some Bashful Blue ribbon wrapped around one side.  Finally, I stamped Let It Snow from Punch Pals and punched it with the Modern Label Punch, then layered it on the Scallop Oval cut from Ballet Blue.  I think it is a great decoration and wished they had more of them!

Supplies:

Sets:  Serene Snowflakes, Snow Buddies, Punch Pals, Simple Snowflake

Inks:  Basic Black, Bashful Blue (Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers)

Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Accessories:  Frost Shimmer Paint, Modern Label Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, White Stripe Organza Ribbon, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Serif Essentials Alphabet Bigz Die, Snowflake Punch, Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads,

Head on over to the next stop on the Tour…Mary Brown!  I'm sure Mary will have some FABULOUS surprises for you, too!

Tour de Freaks Tour

Wow!  The Tour de Freaks Blog Tour starts today!  You’ve probably just come from Melanie’s Blog if you are going in order of the tour. 

I’m so excited to see what fun things the Control Freak swappers have done this month!  Make sure to hop on the Tour and check them out for yourself!  You’ll have 15 stops this month to enjoy.  At the bottom you’ll see how to click to the next stop!

My first card uses Eat, Drink & Be Scary…truly one of my FAVORITE Halloween sets.  Those of you that know me, know that I’m a Halloween stamp NUT!  I can’t stop buying them and making cards!  I wanted this to look like the witch had hung up her hat for the night.  So…I have it resting on a fence post (Frightful Fence Jumbo Wheel) with the full moon behind it.

I started with a base card of Sahara Sand and layered on Pumpkin Pie cardstock, then added some Cast A Spell Designer Paper to the left side.  The new 5/8 Black Grosgrain ribbon hides the seam.  I wheeled the Frightful Fence Jumbo Wheel on Sahara Sand cardstock with Whisper White Craft Ink, let it dry, then cut it out with my Stampin’ Up! Hobby Blade.  I stamped the hat from Eat, Drink & Be Scary in Basic Black on Whisper White, cut it out and added a Pumpkin Pie band of cardstock.  Finally, I stamped the spider from Eat Drink & Be Scary in Basic Black in the upper left corner.  I think it makes a FUN card!

My next card uses the stamping set, Falling Leaves and a layout Mary Brown and I found a LONG time ago…we actually did a challenge with it.  So, I decided to recreate it here with new products!  I love this set…the images are small enough that they fit in a lot of punches.  I started with a base of More Mustard and wheeled Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel in More Mustard Ink all over it.  I used a piece Autumn Meadows Designer Paper and layered it on Chocolate Chip Cardstock and used the Corner Rounder punch on both layers.  I added a strip of Taken with Teal cardstock along the right edge and a strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock, wrapped with Kraft Taffeta Ribbon along the bottom of the Autumn Meadows Designer Paper.  I stamped one leaf with Taken with Teal on Very Vanilla and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch.  This was layered on a 1 3/8 circle of Chocolate Chip and then a Scallop Circle of More Mustard, pierced with the Piercing tool.  The other leaf was stamped with More Mustard on Very Vanilla and layered on 1 3/8 circle of Taken with Teal.  Both were popped up with Dimensionals.  Finally, I stamped Grateful from Falling Leaves in Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla and punched it with the Modern Tag Punch.

Next, I made a set of frosted glass coasters using the Falling Leaves stamp set.  I kept them simple…I couldn’t use a lot of thickness.  I found the coasters at my local K*** Department Store.  They are a nice, heavy weight set of 4 coasters with a black stand!  I’ll be using these in my Family Room and change out the inserts for each holiday!  Wouldn’t they make a nice gift for your holiday hostesses?

The opening is a 2 x 3 size, so I cut a piece of Sage Shadow cardstock to that size, then wheeled Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel over each one with Sage Shadow ink.  I punched Scallop Squares of Creamy Caramel cardstock, each one was sponged with the same ink as the leaf.  I stamped the different leaves in Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant and Bravo Burgundy Classic ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and cut them out.  Each leaf was popped up with Dimensionals on the Scallop Square punched piece.  That’s it!  Pretty simple, but I think they make a WOW!

Next up is my good friend, Mary Brown!  I’m sure she has some FABULOUS projects, so check her blog and continue the tour!

Tour de Freaks Blog Tour & Bloggers Challenge 113

It’s here!  The 20th of the month, which means Tour de Freaks Blog Tour!  It also doubles as my Bloggers Challenge this week which is to use die cuts on your card! 

This month you’ll have 13 stops on the tour…I’m stop #4.  You’ve probably just come from Shona Watson’s BLOG.  I know you will enjoy the projects we have lined up for you to view!  The theme this month is In Colors!  The gals in this group ALWAYS do awesome work!  I’m so happy to have been invited to be a member of the Control Freaks Swap Group…it has been FOUR years this month!  Hard to believe!

My first project is a little birdhouse ornament.  Wouldn’t these look cute hanging on your Christmas tree?  Can you tell what I used?  Yes, the Matchbox XL Bigz Die!  I’ve had this idea in my head since I first saw the Matchbox die.  In fact, I did submit a similar one to Stampin’ Up!  

For the outside cover I used Bermuda Bay and punched a Scallop Oval in the top panel, then added some Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper on each side.  The inside box is Real Red.  I made a little scene with two birds from Cheep Talk and the Leaves Sizzlet die.  The nest is small slivers of Kraft cardstock crimped and curled into a ball, then stuck on with Mini Glue Dots.  The Cardinals are stamped in Real Red, with their beaks colored in with Pumpkin Pie and legs with Close to Cocoa.  I added a little roof made from Soft Suede cardstock and covered it with Designer Paper, too.  Before I put the two sides of the roof together, I added a ribbon hanger at the top.  (Check back next week for a little tutorial on how this was all put together!) 

Finally, to finish decorating the outside, I added the Snowflake punched from Faux Diamond Dust paper (Iridescent Ice EP over Whisper White).  Then stamped the trio of snowflakes from the hostess set Christmas Punch in Bermuda Bay and punched them out with the Boho Blossoms punch (did you know they fit perfectly???)  Added some Red Mini Brads to the centers of the snowflakes.  

This next card is a wiper card (purely coincidental that SCS has the tutorial this week)…mine has been done for ages!  I used the stamp set For All You Do and stamped the stems in Old Olive and the flowers in Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry.  The tag says Thank You and is punched with the Modern Label punch from Melon Mambo cardstock.  The Whisper White panel is layered onto Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  The base part of the Wiper Card is Crushed Curry and I ran the front and back panels thru the Big Shot with my Finial Press Embossing Folder for some extra texture!  The inside "wiper" is made from Whisper White and I stamped the greeting on it and rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder punch. Then I stamped the butterfly with Melon Mambo and cut it out and adhered it to the right right corner of the wiper.  When you press the sides together in and out, the wiper pops up, then hides inside the two sides.  Cute project to make for class!

My last project was also a card for my niece’s birthday last weekend!  I started with a base of Melon Mambo and adhered a layer of Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper across the bottom.    Some Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon hides the seam.  I used the Flower Layers Bigz Die and cut flowers from Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Leaves (from Build A Flower Sizzlet die) from Old Olive.  I ran all of the pieces thru my Big Shot with the Finial Press Embossing Folder.  I used dimensionals between the layers when I stacked them together and added a Summer Sun Corduroy Button in the center!  I LOVE the outside…but wait until you see the inside!

I used the new Look Here XL Bigz Die cut from Rich Razzleberry.  I took the picture without the gift card so you could see it better.  I lined the back and bottom front panel with more Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper.  I punched the Butterfly from the purple pattern of Razzleberry Lemonade and added a Melon Mambo body with my Slot Punch.  And, finally I added the Birthday Greetings from On Your Birthday stamped on Crushed Curry and rounded the corners with my Corner Rounder.  She LOVED it!  (I’ll show you her brother’s card next week!)

Next stop is Mary Brown at StamperCamper Blog!  I’m sure she will has some FABULOUS ideas!

Royal Blog Tour

The Royal Blog Tour was certainly a HUGE success!  Thank you all for stopping by!  I’ll be posting my Blog Candy winner on Thursday, July 30th!  Stay tuned!

Wow!  The Royal Blog Tour is finally here!  I’m excited to be able to show you some samples from the new Stampin’ Up! set, Wedding Sweet!  This set was on my to-buy list even before my son announced his engagement a few weeks ago.  Now, I’m sure I will be using it a LOT! This first sample shows the elegance of the Wedding Sweet set used in a frame to commemorate the wedding of a family friends’ daughter!  It shows off the elegance of this set by using Black Craft embossed on Shimmer Paper.

My second sample shows that this set isn’t just for weddings!  Here is a cheerful Thank You card appropriate for any occasion!  It uses two of the stamps in Wedding Sweet.

My final sample is a playful Note Card!  I will be using a variation of this for my swap card at Convention this year!  This sample uses three out of the six new In Colors along with the large stamp in Wedding Sweet!

If you like what you see today, make sure to put my Blog in your favorites and visit often.  You can also subscribe to my Blog and get my new posts in your email so you don’t miss anything!  See my subscribe box in the upper left corner. 

I’m also offering BLOG CANDY in celebration of the Royal Blog Tour!  You’ll receive the Stampin’ Up! stamp set, Sweet Dreams, shown here AND one of my Wedding Sweet swap Note Cards!  This Blog Candy is available to anyone who leaves a comment telling me which project is their favorite with their email contact information.  U.S. residents only, please.

Once this path hath reached its end, thy royal coach will travel back to the Royal Blog Tour – Home Castle where more paths await thee!

Tour de Freaks Blog Tour!

It’s time again for the Tour de Freaks Blog Tour, this is Stop #1.  You may have just come from our fabulous Control Freaks Swap Mom, Lisa Martz’s blog…welcome to my blog, Inkspired Treasures!  At the bottom of this post, you will be directed to the next blog stop, the awesome Mary Brown!  There is a total of 12 stops on this month’s tour. 

Our topic of the month is NEW stamp sets in the NEW catalog!  I’ve fallen in love with several sets and I’m excited to see the ideas the gals have come up with showcasing these sets!  I know I’ll have several more sets on my wishlist when I’m done with the Tour!

My first card starts out with one of the first sets I had on my wish list, Herb Expressions!  This is such a VERSATILE set with the images and verses it contains.  This card is 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 and uses two of the new In Colors!  For my focal element, I cut an oval template from the Oval Shapes die with my Big Shot and used the reverse image to sponge So Saffron in an oval shape on Whisper White.  Then I stamped the "I’m Here for You…" verse in Basic Black in the center of the oval.  I over stamped the Thyme image with More Mustard within the oval, too, so it stays as a background behind the verse.  I punched the corners of the Whisper White with the Ticket Corner Punch and layered it on Crushed Curry, punched the corners of that layer, too. I started with a base card of Crushed Curry and added a layer of Dusty Durango.  I used some of the designer paper from Razzleberry Lemonade and layered it on Dusty Durango.  Then I wrapped two lengths of Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon and adhered to the back of the Dusty Durango.  I colored the silk flower from the Pretties Kit with Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry reinkers, then added a Crystal Rhinestone brad in the center.  It is popped up with Dimensionals on the front of the card.

My next card is a sneak peak for Christmas!  Everyone who knows me, knows that I love snowmen!  My house is decorated with them from the day after Thanksgiving until the end of February.  So, of course, the minute I saw the new Level 3 Hostess Set, The More the Merrier, I just HAD to have it!  Luckily, Stampin’ Up! allows demos to preorder one of the Level 2 and Level 3 sets before the new catalog takes effect, so I’ve had this gem in my hands for a while! 

One of the things I wanted to do is to make a Snowglobe from the Snowmen.  The images of the 5 snowmen was just a little too large for my 1 3/4 Circle Punch, so I used the marker omit technique and only inked up three of the snowmen with my black marker.  Then is used the colors from the Holiday Lounge Designer Paper (Taken with Teal, Real Red) and colored their scarves and hats with my markers.  For the base of the snowglobe, I inked up Warm Winter Wishes from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and  used the NEW Modern Label Punch (doesn’t it look like a real base?) to punch it out.  At the bottom, I layered the Holiday Lounge Designer Paper onto Kraft cardstock, then a layer of Real Red.  I wrapped some 5/8 Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon and tied a knot in the front to hide the seam.  I also added a couple Real Red Square Rhinestone Brads to the bottom right corner.  Finally, I added my little snowglobe to the top with dimensionals and adhered everything to the base card of Taken With Teal!  I’m thinking that this just might be my Christmas Card this year!  Too fun!

Finally, I’ve included something for the kids.  Except that I’ll be the one carrying this around in my purse!  I’m always needing something to take notes on.  I like this pad of paper because it doesn’t have lines on it…this allows me to make sketches for designs if something catches my eye while I’m out shopping!  (Yes, I really do scribble on the backs of receipts, etc., when I spot an idea!)  

This picture shows how I made a folder to surround the paper pad and covered the outside with the new Tall Tales Designer Paper…the whales are just too cute!  The DSP was layered onto So Saffron cardstock that I scored to size around the pad of paper.  I added the reverse Stripe print from the same DSP on the bottom and wrapped some Chocolate Chip 1/4 grosgrain ribbon around to the back to secure.  I added a Filigree Brad.  Then I inked up the whale image from Animal Stories stamp set in Close to Cocoa Craft ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder on So Saffron cardstock.  I punched it with the 1 3/4 circle punch.  I layered it on the Whisper White Scallop Circles cut with the Pennant XL Die on my Big Shot.  I LOVE how the scallops are large enough to fit behind the 1 3/4 circle punch!  I also used the same Tall Tails Designer Paper to decorate the inside of the folder.

Of course, if I were to give it as a gift, I’d need a card to go with it.  So I created a little 4×4 card in the same design to go with my little memo pad holder!  Just for You is from the Teeny Tiny Words stamp set.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my creations and bookmark my site in your Favorites file.  Or, sign up to receive email updates in the upper left corner.  It emails you every time I post something new!

Next stop is the awesome, Mary Brown!  I’m sure she will WOW you with her creations!

Have a great day!

INKspired Treasures

Great Friends

Last days to order my CARD KIT!!!

Great Friends stamp set is probably one of my favorite sets in the Occasions Mini Catalog and I didn’t even buy it the first order I placed from it!  The butterfly is so easy to cut out and the sets pieces just coordinate so well together.  I also seem to use the greeting "for you" a lot, and it is nice having one that fits the  Scallop Oval punch.

This Wet Stencil technique was done by my tech class members earlier this month and they loved it!  I found the directions in a recent Technique Junkies Newsletter and felt it was perfect to promote Stampin’ Up!’s Decor Stencils and Watercolor Crayons!  This stencil is called Kind Thoughts Flourish.  I used the small one (#116572, $9.95). 

I started with a base of Taken with Teal cardstock.  I next used a layer of Elegant Eggplant cardstock and used the Cutter Kit distressing tool to rough up the edges.  On the Whisper White stencil layer, I wrapped some 1/4 Eggplant ribbon around and secured to the back.  Then I stamped For You in Taken with Teal on Whisper White and punched with my Large Oval Punch and then a Taken with Teal Scallop Oval Punch.  Finally, I stamped the Great Friends butterfly with Elegant Eggplant ink on Taken with Teal cardstock and cut it out.  I added a couple silver mini brads to the center of his body.  I hope you like it, too!

Had a very nice dinner here last night to celebrate all the June birthdays, Father’s Day, Anniversaries, college graduations…whew!

I hope you enjoyed the Tour de Freaks Blog Tour over the weekend!  Lots of great ideas!  Come back next month on July 20th  for some new catalog set ideas!

Great Friend, #113792, $17.95

Tour de Freaks Blog Hop

Welcome to the monthly Tour de Freaks Blog Hop!  You may have just come from Lisa Martz over at Get Your Stamp On Blog…hope you enjoyed her projects!  We have 12 stops for you today, each of the wonderful Control Freak Swappers are featuring projects from retiring stamp sets.  Click at the bottom of my post to go to the next person, Mary Brown at Stampercampers Blog!  When you go thru all the stops in the loop, you will end up back here.

My first card uses the stamp set, To You and Yours, that will be retiring at the end of June.  You won’t see it in the current catalog either…that’s because it has been sitting on the Dormant List.  BUT…it is still available to purchase!  (#111706, $18.95).

I started with a base of Night of Navy and layered Riding Hood Red on top.  I stamped the dove with White Craft and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder on Night of Navy and layered that on Brushed Silver.  I added about an extra inch in length to that Brushed Silver layer so I could use the Eyelet Border Punch across the bottom, then wrapped the Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon around the entire element.  I used a piece of Riding Hood Red Patterns Designer Paper as an additional layer before adding the Dove Layer on top.  Seasons Greetings is from To You and Yours, too, and I stamped it with Night of Navy on Whisper White, then punched with the 1 1/4 circle and layered on a Brushed Silver 1 3/8 circle.  Finally, I stamped the snowflake from Holiday Blitz stamp set with White Craft on Night of Navy and embossed with White Embossing Powder, then punched with my 3/4 circle punch and placed above the Dove layer.  The Red, Blue and Silver make it almost a Patriotic looking card, although that wasn’t my intent!

My next card uses the same stamp set, To You and Yours and the Mojo Monday #90 sketch!  But I used a couple of the other stamps in the set!  Again I started with a base card of Night of Navy.  I stamped the house with Night of Navy Craft ink on Whisper White and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  I added some piercing decorations with my Piercing Mat and Tool in each upper corner.  I layered the Whisper White on Night of Navy.  Then I cut a square of print pattern from Walk in the Park Designer Paper, and  layered it on another Night of Navy cardstock.  Both these pieces were placed on a Baja Breeze layer that I stamped randomly with the snowflake from Holiday Blitz in Baja Breeze ink.  I used the Ticket Corner Punch on each corner and layered it on Whisper White.  I wrapped some Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon around the entire layers and added a piece of White Taffeta on top of the knot.  Finally, I stamped the greeting with Night of Navy Craft ink on Whisper White and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  I punched with the 1 1/4 circle, the punched the 1 3/8 circle from Baja Breeze and double punched the Night of Navy Scallop Circle so I’d get a pinking edge to my scallop circle.  I added a Clear Rhinestone brad on top.  That entire element was popped up with dimensionals and placed above the house!

 My next card uses Stitched Exotics stamp set.  This was one of the sets I received to make the display samples at Leadership a couple years ago!  I kind of burned myself out on using it, so I felt it was time to give it a proper send off since it will be retiring.  (#115080, $34.95)

I find I get better coverage with solid stamps when I stamped them with Classic Ink on Glossy cardstock.  Works fine as long as you don’t mind them being shiny!  I love this sketch!  Mary Brown and I did a fun challenge using it.  It starts with a Whisper White base card.  Then I added a piece of Regal Rose Pattern paper from Raspberry Tart Designer Paper in the lower right part of the base.  I cut a strip of the Kiwi Kiss print from the same Raspberry Tart DSP and layered it on Real Red…made it POP, didn’t it?  I also added a strip of Regal Rose over the Green print and three mini brads as accents.  The large flower I stamped with Regal Rose on Glossy White cardstock and the leaves with Kiwi Kiss.  I cut each of them out and layered with dimensionals on a Whisper White piece of cardstock, layered on Regal Rose.  Before I placed the flower, I used a Build A Brad and the center flower from Stitched Exotics in Real Red.  The Ticket Corner Punch was used on each corner.  Finally, I stamped Thank You from Short & Sweet stamp set in the upper right.  I love how this turned out and will be using this sketch and designer paper for more cards!  (Raspberry Tart DSP is STILL available on the Last Chance list!)

And my last project uses It’s A Sign.  I’m really sad this set is going…although it will stay in my collection.  I think it is great for teenagers or fun invitations.  I made a little box from two Scallop Envelopes cut with the Big Shot out of Bashful Blue cardstock.  Then I added an extra piece of cardstock around the sides.  I went with a monochromatic color theme with the Pacific Point print from Good Morning Sunshine Designer Paper on the front of the box and wrapped the White Taffeta around the box.  The base of each 3×3 card is Bashful Blue with a Whisper White layer on top and the Pacific Point print as an accent.  Then I used four different signs, stamped them with Pacific Point on Whisper White and cut the to shape or as a square for the front.  Each was layered on Bashful Blue and popped up with Dimensionals.  I think this would make a fun little gift for a teenager…maybe with a gift card tucked inside the box, too!

 Thanks for stopping by my Blog today.  Make sure to continue on the Tour de Freaks by clicking on the button below to take you to Mary at Stampercamper ‘s Blog!

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge

It’s time for another Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge…SSC104.  I love these sketch challenges and it sounds like a lot of you do, too!  I’m anxious to see your creations…lots of flexibility with the size of the front panel.  Don’t forget to link your SSC104 post to Mr. Linky…Selene gave an excellent tutorial on Stamping 411 on how to link to the individual post instead of your entire Blog.  That way we can find your Sketch Challenge card easier. 

I pulled out Rustic Rooster from my sad pile of retiring sets.  This is a Level 2 hostess set that will be going away soon.  (It isn’t too late to hold a workshop and get yours!)  I started with a base card of Sahara Sand.  Then I ran a Really Rust layer thru my Big Shot with the Texturz background.  I used my Really Rust pad to highlight the raised texture…kind of looks like woodgrain! 

For the focal piece, I stamped the background words with Creamy Caramel and then the Rooster with Basic Brown.  I pulled out my DUSTY Pastel chalks and colored him with various browns and rust.  I like how he turned out!  I need to remember to use those more often!  I matted the Very Vanilla on Chocolate Chip and then another mat of Sahara Sand.  It is popped off the background with dimensionals.  I used a strip of Manhattan Designer Paper across the top and matted it with Chocolate Chip.  Then I couldn’t resist using the NEW Modern Label punched from Really Rust and wrapped around the DSP.  I secured it with a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button.  LOVE that punch!  It will be available on July 1st!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Stop by this afternoon for the Tour De Freaks Blog Hop!  You won’t want to miss the amazing creations from some very talented Control Freak swappers. 

And…of course…check out what the others have done with the Stamping 411 sketch this week!

Tour de Freaks Blog Tour is Saturday!

Just a reminder that the Tour De Freaks Blog Tour is Saturday, June 20th, beginning at 12:00 N (Eastern time)!  This Blog Tour is brought to you by the fabulous  members of the Control Freak Swappers.  You will definitely be WOW’d by this group of stampers!  Each Blog will feature an assortment of projects using the Last Chance Stamp Sets and products!  You won’t want to miss out! 

This month the participants are:  Connie Babbert, Gretchen Barron, Patty Bennett, Mary Brown, Julie Dinn, Cindy Major, Lisa Martz, Dawn Olchefske, Melanie Schulenberg, Janine Tinklenberg, Shona Watson and Wendy Weixler! 

AND mark your calendar to look for the Tour de Freaks Blog Tour on the 20th of EACH month! 

See you on Saturday, June 20th!

Stampin’ Addicts Blog Hop!

It’s here!  The Stampin’ Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop.  If you arrived from Michelle’s #5 Blog Stop…welcome…my name is Connie Babbert and I’m stop #6!  Over 34 Stampin’ Up! demonstrators are participating in this tour, featuring the Last Chance stamp sets retiring at the end of June.  The Blogs will feature 3-4  projects, each using a different retiring set.  You should come away with LOTS of inspiration and help selecting those final sets before they retire!  Don”t worry if you missed the first stop, you will make a continuous loop around to all 34 stops.  But remember, the links to each Tour Stop go away after midnight, Tuesday, June 16.  And hey…leave me a comment…it’s my BIRTHDAY!

My featured retiring set is Bella Blossoms.  This set in my arsenal didn’t get much ink until lately!  I always wanted to do a Stamp Camp using it, but just never made time.  Of course, now it is one of my favorites because it is so easy to work with.  I want to show you three different ways to use it.

My first card I used the large blossom cut away from the stem.  I stamped the blossom twice with Riding Hood Red on Glossy White cardstock (I think Glossy works best with these solid type stamps) and cut out one complete blossom and one with just the center of the blossom.  I layered the center one over the full one with dimensionals and placed it with dimensionals on a square of Whisper White.  I added the pierced design in the upper right corner.   The base card is Pink Pirouette and I layered the Red print from Bella Rose DSP on the left side.  I also added some of the Kiwi Kiss Polka Dot print from that same DSP under the Whisper White square.  And I added some Riding Hood Red striped ribbon.  Finally I cut two "leaves" from Build A Flower Die with the Big Shot, sponged around the edges with Kiwi Kiss ink and placed them under the Bella Blossom flower.   I added the "Thank You" from this set in the upper right corner with Riding Hood Red ink.

My next card is one that my Technique Class did last week using the Faux Shaving Cream technique.  I stamped the small flower Bella Blossom three times on Glossy White cardstock using this technique and then stamped it three more times in solid Riding Hood Red ink.  I punched the Faux Shaving Cream ones with the 1 3/8 circle punch and hand cut the centers of the blossoms from the other three solid ones, layering it in the centers of the Faux Shaving Cream ones (wow…hope you followed that!).  Each of the three flower units was layered onto a punched Riding Hood Red Scallop Circle.  The base card again is Pink Pirouette (that wasn’t planned!) and I used the Scallop Edge Punch on two strips of Whisper White cardstock.   These were layered under the check pattern from Bella Rose DSP.  I added the Red Taffeta Ribbon (I am going to MISS this ribbon…I stocked up!)  The flowers were adhered over the check DSP with dimensionals.

And, my final project is a mini gift ensemble.  The Bag is made from two sheets of Walk in the Park Designer Paper in the Occasions Mini which also ends June 30th.  We learned how to make the bag at Convention last year (or maybe the year before?)  I added two lengths of Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon for the handle.  I cut Glossy White cardstock with my Top Note die in the Big Shot.  The large blossom I inked up carefully with Baja Breeze ink for the flower and Kiwi Kiss for the stem and leaves.  I stamped on the Glossy White Top Note.  I inked up the center of the Blossom again and stamped it on a scrap piece of Glossy White, then cut it out and layered it over the large blossom.  Thank You was stamped in Black on the Top Note tag and added to the bag with Kiwi Kiss Striped Ribbon. 

The square Note Pad was covered with Baja Breeze cardstock and layered on top with Walk in the Park DSP.  I stamped the Blossom exactly the same as I did the bag tag and layered it on Kiwi Kiss Cardstock.  I punched the Slot Punch in the lower right corner and added some Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon. 

I hope you enjoyed my projects made with the retiring Bella Blossom stamp set. 

Bella Blossoms
#111596
$23.95

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Make sure to check out your next #7 blog stop, Kat from Kat’s Card’s Blog.  She is featuring Happy Heart Day!

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