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CCMC197 – Poppy Flower

We have a FUN sketch for you to try over on Create with Connie and Mary this week…a nice clean and simple one!  Let's see how YOU interpret it!  Our Challenge Team has done a fabulous job with it…amazing that each card is so different!  Check them out over at Create with Connie and Mary!

And here is my card.  I've been wanting to do a 3D poppy flower with the Blossom Punch in the Occasions Mini!  Can you tell what other punches I used to make it?

I started with a base card of Real Red.  I layered on Basic Black and then Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder on top.  Over the bottom portion of the Whisper White, I layered the red stripe pattern from Letters to Santa!  I think this DSP has such elegant patterns…they are good for more than just Christmas!  To hid the seam, I punched the Old Olive cardstock with the Dotted Scallop Border Punch and laid it across.  I cut the smallest Label Framelit from Basic Black, the stamped You Inspire Me from the hostess set, Perfect Words, and punched it with the Large Oval to layer on top.  I like the unusual greetings in that set! 

OK…ready?  For the poppy.  The bottom layer of the flower is Cherry Cobbler, then a layer of Real Red on top…both of those were punched with the Blossom Punch in the mini and I cut slits between the petals towards the center to give them more movement.  Then I punched 3 of the Modern Label Punch from Poppy Parade and layered those on top of each other, then placed in the middle of the Real Red layer…together they are slightly smaller than the Blossom Punch so it layers nicely.  I spritzed it all with water and crumbled it up.  The center…is the Snowflake punch, two of them, from Basic Black.  And in the very center of that is the Boho Blossom star flower from Daffodil Delight, slit up between each petal to the center.  I scrunched the snowflakes and the star flower tightly and used a mini glue dots to adhere it to the top layer of the red flowers.  Finally, I used the leaf die to cut out the Old Olive, and slightly crumbled them and adhered with a couple of the mini glue dots.

Isn't that a pretty flower?  Probably one of those cards that are better given in person than put in the mail.  So…grab your stamps and play along!  Upload your creation over on Create with Connie and Mary!  We love to see your work!

Summer Smooches Butterfly

When I was working on my Create with Connie and Mary challenge last week, some of the pieces fell together on my desk and resembled a butterfly…well, at least they did to me.  So…this idea has been in my head for a while.  The new Summer Smooches Designer Paper seemed perfect for this butterfly.  She is easy to make…cut some squares and round a couple of the corners!  That's it!  Combined with Perfectly Penned stamp, "Celebrate today"…it seemed like a great reason to celebrate!  Oh, and I finished the wedding invitations for a friend…another reason to celebrate today! 

The base of the card is Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  I layered the Summer Smooches Designer Paper along the bottom of Whisper White (this is my FAVORITE pattern in that package!) and I tied the new Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon around in a knot bow!  (Check out my Ribbon Shares here…I've added Daffodil Delight Seam Binding!)  I stamped Celebrate Today from Perfectly Penned in Rich Razzleberry in the center.  My butterfly wings are 1" and 3/4" squares with two opposite sides punched with the Corner Rounder Punch.  A tip…use a post-it note to hold the tiny 3/4" square in place while you punch it.  The body is a trio of Pearls and a small cut of Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta for the antenna.  Pretty clean and simple card, but I like how it turned out!!

I hope you Celebrate Today, too, and have a GREAT one!

CCMC195 – Elementary Elegance

Today on Create with Connie and Mary we have another color challenge!  Between sketch and color, color challenges are definitely more "difficult" for me.  This one combines bright warm colors with the cool Basic Gray for a FUN contrast!  We hope you play along, too!

My card is a real departure for me, too, but I like how it turned out!  I saw a similar card done with non-SU items and decided I could make one similar with all Stampin' Up! supplies!

The base of the card is Basic Gray and I layered on So Saffron cardstock.  I used the Twitterpated Designer Paper for a layer on top of that.  Then I cut a couple different sizes of squares from Basic Gray, So Saffron and Poppy Parade cardstock and Poppy Parade Patterns Designer Paper.  Then I used my corner rounder punched on the opposite sides to make them into more "floral" petal shape.  On the one So Saffron petal I stamped, "Hello" from Elementary Elegance stamp set in Basic Gray ink and added a couple rhinestone jewels.  I love the greetings in that set and will be SO sad when Sale-A-Bration is over and you can't get it anymore!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!  Amazing cards, like usual!  They grab your inks and stamps and play along!  We love to see your creations!

Dragonfly Candy Favor

I'm in a Candy Wrapper Swap at Leadership and made these for my group.  I thought they were lots of fun!  They are filled with M&Ms.

I used the Valentine M&Ms, so I need to find some designer paper that would work with those colors.  Nope…we don't have any.  So…I went back to the basics and made my own!  Remember Doubletime stamping?  I used the flowers and centers from Stampin' Up!'s Mixed Bunch stamp set and the colors of Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Real Red on Whisper White cardstock and made up my own "designer paper". 

Can you tell what the bodies of the dragonflies are made from?  If you guessed a clothespin…you are right!  I covered both sides with silvers of the DSP I made, after I textured it with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.

The body of the dragonfly is the Mixed Bunch flower that I cut off the bottom petal and trimmed the top petal so only two antenna remained.  I colored them in with my Basic Black marker.  I punched the 1/2 & 3/8" Circles from Basic Black, then added two small pearls for the eyes.  I used the small cello bag, filled it with M&Ms, taped it shut, then wrapped some Bakers Twine around the center to hold it in shape of wings.  The clothespin is holding it, too.

These were TONS of fun to make!  Hope you like them!

We're almost at the end of Week 1 of Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012...but it's not too late to join!  You'll be the first to see the new projects AND still have access to the ones we've already shown!  Sign up today!

Fashionable Hearts Flower Punch Art

Here is a sample of my swap card for Leadership.  I only got about 20 of them done.  In fact, I had to make them on the plane!  I just ran out of time to do more because of the basement situation.  I finally did get the carpet and laminate ordered.  Still need to order cabinets for my room…so it will be torn up for a while longer.  I just couldn't get it all done before I left.

I started playing around with the Fashionable Hearts and this arrangement came to me!  I thought it looked like a flower!

I used a base of Very Vanilla cardstock, then layered on Poppy Parade that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Houndstooth Impressions Folder.  I cut a label from Designer Labels Framelits of Very Vanilla.  I made up a bunch of the Fashionable Hearts Embosslits in Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral and Poppy Parade and mixed and matched the hearts to make the flowers.  The leaves are the largest heart cut in half and trimmed a bit to make them smaller.  I stamped Imagine from Loving Thoughts with Basic Black on Old Olive and punched with the Modern Label punch.  In the background is Designer Paper from the SAB brochure, Everyday Enchantment.  LOVE it!  Oh, I added a Rhinestone jewel for a little bling…you know me and BLING!  lol!

Everyday Enchantment Mittens Punch Art

An update on our basement situation (we had LOTS of water in our basement on New Year's when our sump pump failed!)!  They have completely removed the carpet and pad and have big dryers down there.  Right now, all my stamping stuff is crammed into the storage area next to my studio.  We are waiting on payment from the insurance company so we can go buy new carpet for the family room area and some type of laminate or vinyl for my room.  Does anyone have the new Cork looking vinyl?  It looks really cool!  Just was wondering how hard it is on the legs when you stand on it a lot.  While I have the room torn up, I'm getting estimates on built-in cabinets.  So, it may be torn up longer than I originally anticipated!  I've moved some of my stuff upstairs to the dining room so I can work on my creations.  I also have access to most of my supplies in the storage room.  My classes will need to be held upstairs until the construction is complete, but that's ok!

I love, love, love this new, upcoming Sale-A-Bration Designer paper, Everyday Enchantment.  Have I said that before?  lol!  We have mittens on the brain in our family right now.  My sister-in-law is doing a fundraiser for cancer cure and selling mittens made from old recycled sweaters.  She was just featured in the Giving Hearts edition on our local TV station.  You can read more about her cause at Grateful Heart Designs.  Her entire family has been involved in sewing the mittens…even my brother, which makes me laugh to think about!  lol!  So, this idea for mittens has been in my head. 

I started with the base of Pool Party cardstock.  I layered on Lucky Limeade cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Impressions Folder (yes…this is on the carryover list so you can still purchase it!).  I added a strip of the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper.  For the focal element, I layered more DSP on Pool Party, then punched my mittens from the Extra Large Oval and Heart to Heart punch.  I added Lucky Limeade cuffs run thru with the Snow Burst folder and rounded with the Corner Rounder.  There is a bow made from the new 1/8" Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and three Rhinestone Jewels on the "girl" mitten and a snowflake from Northern Frost Strip Die out of Very Vanilla with a Rhinestone Jewel in the center on the "boy" mitten.  A little Lucky Limeade heart from Heart to Heart punch between the mittens.  So…do you like???  lol!

Did you check out  Create with Connie and Mary today?  We announced our FOURTH Guest Designer for the Occasions 2012 Edition and she has a really SWEET card for you to see!  We have LOTS of surprises for the next two weeks over on Create with Connie and Mary, make sure to stop by often for Guest Designer Announcements, Blog Candy and Preview Projects!  Sign up today and save $5 off the regular $34.95 US price for a six week subscription!  With over 36 step-by-step tutorials featuring products in the Occasions and SAB Minis…that is less than $1 per day for some GREAT ideas!  Click on my right sidebar to join TODAY or check us out on Create with Connie and Mary!

Bon Bon Candy Punch Art

On one of my groups, we do one-on-one swaps every week.  You sign up for the ones you want.  Of course, when I saw this inspiration photo, I knew I had to join the challenge that week and do some punch art!

You may remember the Figgy Pudding card I did for Create with Connie and Mary's challenge HERE.  I switched it up so that it is now a piece of Bon Bon Candy for your sweetheart!

The base is Island Indigo and I layered on a piece of Whisper White that was run thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I added some Island Indigo Patterns Designer Paper and layered it on Early Espresso cardstock.  I wrapped the Island Island Ruffled Ribobn around and tied a knot.

The bon bon is made with the 2 1/2" Circle of Early Espresso and Whisper White.  I cut the Whisper White, then used the Scallop Edge Punch along the bottom.  I ran it thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder, the bottom with the Square Lattice folder.  At the top is the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlet Die and the Beautiful Wings butterflies layered together with some pearls for accents.  I stamped the greeting from the new Tea Shoppe Stamp set in Early Espresso and the frame in Island Indigo, then punched with the Modern Label Punch.  I added another pearl on the end.

I think it is pretty close to the inspiration photo, don't you?

Did you check out  Create with Connie and Mary today?  We announced our SECOND Guest Designer for the Occasions 2012 Edition and her card is absolutely DARLING!  We have LOTS of surprises for the next two weeks over on Create with Connie and Mary, make sure to stop by often for Guest Designer Announcements, Blog Candy and Preview Projects!  Sign up today and save $5 off the regular $34.95 US price for a six week subscription!  With over 36 step-by-step tutorials featuring products in the Occasions and SAB Minis…that is less than $1 per day for some GREAT ideas!  Click on my right sidebar to join TODAY or check us out on Create with Connie and Mary!

Christmas Tree Punch Art

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  Ours was full and busy, as usual.  We still have one more Christmas to celebrate…when my oldest son and daughter-in-law come in New Year's weekend to celebrate Christmas.  This year they were at her parents' to celebrate.  Do I like sharing the holidays?  No…but I do understand.   It is just too hard to make the trip to both places over the few days of Christmas.  We'll get to enjoy our time with them in a more quiet setting.  I don't take down my Christmas tree until January 2-3 anyway!

Here is a card that I was meaning to post on Christmas Day…but just ran out of time.  Since SU Only Challenges has a theme of Punch Art focal points, I decided to go ahead and show it.  You'll be able to use it as inspiration for your cards next year.  Several of my classes made this card and it was a hit!

Can you tell what punch I used for the tree?  If you said one of the petals on the Blossoms Petal Builder Punch, you guessed right!  It was fun stacking them in graduating sized rows to build the tree.  And, using the Holly Berry Bouquet small holly print design fit it perfectly.  The berries look like little red ornaments to me!

The base is Very Vanilla and I layered on Wild Wasabi cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder.  On top of that is a Real Red Top Note die that is stamped with the Christmas Collage background image in Cherry Cobbler.  I stamped the Deck the Halls greeting from Merry & Type stamp set in Early Espresso Ink and wrapped some Certainly Celery Taffeta Ribbon around and tied a knot.  I added a couple Rhinestone Jewels under the ribbon, too, for some extra sparkle.  At the top of the tree is the smallest of the Star die and Silver Glimmer Paper.  The tree trunk is a rectangle of Early Espresso that I sponged with Very Vanilla Craft Ink.

Well, what do you think?  I was so excited to build the tree with the petal…I hadn't seen it done quite like that before!  Hope you enjoy the rest of the holidays!  My husband is home this week, but I still need to work at getting some stamping projects done!

HO HO HO coaster sign

You might remember the post about the HO³ signs I made for my husband's direct reports.  You can see it HERE.  I had a ton of the smaller Ho's left, so I made up this little display sign using three of them.  I still have TONS more to use up.  I think these will be gifts for next year when I have more time to make them!

I used four 4×4 regular sized square coasters and covered three of them with retired Stampin' Up! designer paper on both sides.  I adhered the paper to the coasters with Tombow Multipurpose Glue (green bottle).  I rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch.  The fourth one I covered with Real Red cardstock, then made my Santa face by using Whisper White for his hat, mustache and beard, Blushing Bride for the face and nose and Basic Black for his eyes.  The mustache is two bird body punches.  I ran thru the mustache and beard thru the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines Impressions Folder, too, for some texture.  The nose and mouth are the Small Oval punch.  The holly and berry is Old Olive cardstock and Red Glimmer paper cut with the Stocking Accents Die and textured with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I used a little Blushing Bride Ink on his cheeks to make them rosy and the White Gel Pen on his eyes and nose for highlights.

I punched holes with the Crop A Dile on the sides and thread thru retired Red Taffeta Ribbon thru and tied them together.  Finally I added the Silver Glimmer Ho Ho Ho letters with Stampin' Dimensionals and Tombow Multipurpose Glue.

I love my Santa and it is such a cute display!  Hope you like it, too!  Well…I'm on the countdown to finishing up everything.  Still have some wrapping to do and finish making some tags.  Then a few things to bake.  I'm sure it will all get done…lol!

Merry Christmas!

December Tour de Freaks – Fashionable Hearts

It's time!!! It's the 20th of the month and the Freaks have their tour on!  I know I love to see what the fabulous Control Freaks have come up with.  This month we are giving you a sneak peek of items in the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration brochures!  We're excited…and hope you are, too!  You've probably just come from Lisa Martz's blog...aren't her projects fabulous!  You can continue on around all 10 stops on the tour this month to get some wonderful ideas! 

My projects combine something in the Occasions Mini, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit Die and something from the Sale-A-Bration brochure, Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper.  I thought the two combined very nicely!  This would be a wonderful gift for Valentine's Day or a Wedding!  The idea could be used to coordinate with the bride and groom's colors.  I don't know if you can appreciate the depth and textures of the hearts…but it really is impressive, if I must say so myself!  lol!  The frame is an odd size…7 x 9…and I've had it forever, but you could easily adapt it larger or smaller as needed.  It was painted black, but I added some Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint with a sponge dauber over top of the black for a little "antique" look.  It shimmers in real life!

I used all the the different designs in the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper package.  In addition to the Fashionable Hearts Embosslit Die, I used the Full Heart Punch for the bigger hearts.  Some hearts are adhered directly on the Very Vanilla cardstock background, while others are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I also used the flower from the Itty Bitty Punches to add in a little texture and the wonderful Pearls.  I used the Billboard Decorative Strip Die to cut out LOVE from Riding Hood Red, then adhered them on the Mini Vintage Tags.  There are also a couple bows made with the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon…a narrow sheer ribbon that is gorgeous!

With the extra hearts I had left over from the Fashionable Hearts diecuts and Full Heart punch, I created a matching card.  This time I used an upcoming Sale-A-Bration set, Outlined Occasions Stamp Set, for the greeting.  It was stamped in Riding Hood Red and colored with the Pool Party Marker.  I also ran the Very Vanilla background thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder (wish it was large enough to do the background in on the frame, too!)  The Very Vanilla is layered on Pool Party and then a base of Riding Hood Red cardstock.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that it turned out how I pictured it in my head!

NOTE:  Imagine my surprise to receive my Stampin' Success today and see the cover!  Although not the same as my frame picture of diagonal hearts, the concept is the same.  Great minds, I guess!  lol!

OK…on to the next stop…my wonderful friend, Mary Brown at Stampercamper's Corner!  You are in for a treat with her projects!  Then continue on to all 10 stops this month!  Enjoy!  MERRY Christmas!