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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

My card was inspired by a card that my daughter-in-law saw that she wanted to recreate for her Christmas cards this year.  I had one of these snowman laying out that I used as a prototype for her card.  Her colors are totally different…more tradtional snowman colors!  But, I thought he would be fun combined with these challenge colors!

I started with the base of Lucky Limeade and added a layer of Poppy Parade.  I made a template of the snowman from lightweight chipboard (the backing of our designer paper), then tore my Whisper White around the edges of the chipboard template.  I wrapped some Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon around his neck for a scarf and held it in place with a silver Mini Brad.  I added 1/8" Black Eyes and drew small circles for his mouth.  Yes, I deviated from the color by adding a Pumpkin Pie nose…just didn't look right in Poppy Parade…sorry!   I punched the small heart from Heart to Heart punch from Red Glimmer Paper and adhered with a Mini Glue Dot.  I added him on to the Basic Gray background and stamped Whisper White Craft snowflakes in the background from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set.  I added M alphabet greeting from Occasions Alphabet set on Poppy Parade and punched with the Large Oval and layered on the Scallop Oval of Lucky Limeade.  It is popped up on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals!

So…there is my whimsical snowman for this year!  Hope you like him!  Make sure to check out what the rest of the Thursday Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary.  Then take a break from your Christmas shopping and play along!  We love to see your creations.  AND…you will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE subscription to the Occasions 2012 Eition of Create with Connie and Mary!

This was a FUN sketch…I knew what I wanted to do when I first saw it.

 And my card…a sweet treat just in time for the holidays!  Plum pudding punch art!  Now, I don't think I've ever HAD plum pudding…but it certainly LOOKS good!

I started with a base of Garden Green cardstock.  I added some Holly Berry Designer Paper layered on Real Red.  Then I cut two strips of Real Red cardstock.  I stamped Merry Christmas in Early Espresso across the bottom and added the Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine.  I made my Plum Pudding by punching Early Espresso with the 2 1/2" Circle, then used the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I cut another 2 1/2" Circle from Very Vanilla and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  Then I trimmed the bottom with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  I added the Holly leaves from the Stocking Accents Die in Garden Green, then a Red Glimmer Berry.

I thought it made a really fun card!  Again, make sure you check out the other Challenge Team members over on Create with Connie and Mary!  Then grab your stamps and play along!  We love to see your creations!

The base of the card is Naturals White and I ran it thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder on the front for the brick look.  I cut out the fireplace opening on the front, then trimmed it with Soft Suede cardstock.  That and the mantel was stamped with Stampin' Up!'s Woodgrain background stamp in Early Espresso on the Soft Suede.  I made a Basic Black firebox inside the card and added two Word Window punches of Soft Suede for the logs.  The fire is three Bird Wing punches of Daffodil Delight, sponged with Pumpkin Pie and placed around the logs.

I stamped Stampin' Up!'s Stitched Stocking images in Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade and punched with the Stocking Builder Punch.  I added Silver Glimmer Paper for the toes and cuffs, and a loop of Old Olive 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon.  They are hung on the mantel with Silver Mini Brads.  Finally, I stamped Christmas Greetings (from Grateful Greetings) in Poppy Parade and punched with the Extra Large Oval and layered on Decorative Label of Basic Black.  As my customers will tell you, I love Punch Art and this one was fun to put together!

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TOMORROW (MONDAY, 11/28)

IS THE LAST DAY OF MY

STOCK UP ADHESIVE SALE!!!

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