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May Tour de Freaks Blog Tour!

It's time for the WONDERFUL Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! Now…you've probably just come from Lisa Young's blog…weren't her projects fabulous?  Of course…all the Freaks do a WONDERFUL job with this blog hop!  Our theme this month is For He's a Jolly Good Fellow…masculine and Father's Day projects.  If you are arriving prior to May 20th, please note that not all links may be working yet.

This month I thought I'd feature The Open Seas stamp set for my projects.  I'm so happy that Stampin' Up! has a nice selection of masculine products in the Summer Mini!  Now…due to time constraints, I sort of combined these with items I am taking with me on the SU Alaska Cruise!  Woohoo!  The first card is one that I will hand over to Stampin' Up! to post on the boards on the ship.

I started with a base of Early Espresso cardstock and layered on Crumb Cake.  I stamped along the left side with the large globe in Early Espresso.  Then I placed a strip of Sticky Strip and ruffled the 1 1/4 Striped Ribbon that I cut down narrower and ragged the edges.  I stamped three of the anchors with Versamark and embossed them with a mixture of Gold and Silver Embossing Powders, then cut them out.  I placed them on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I punched a hole in the top of the anchors with the Crop A Dile, then pulled the Early Espresso Bakers Twine thru and adhered across the top.  To cover the ends, I punched the Modern Label from Brushed Gold Cardstock and stamped Happy Father's Day with Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla and punched with the Word Window punch.  I layered it on top and added Silver mini brads at each end.  I was going for a award metal look with the hanging anchors!  The focal piece is layered on more Brushed Gold cardstock and placed on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

For my second project, I again used The Open Seas, but I made this for a gift for my upline and another friend who also earned the Alaska Cruise Incentive Trip.  It has a masculine feel with that stamp set and Nautical Expedition Designer Paper and you could easily substitute the word "Alaska" with "Father"!  It's a Waterfall Mini Album that I made for them to place some pictures of the places we visit.  I hope I don't get in trouble that I "fudged" on the theme just a little bit!  lol!

I kept it pretty simple for a couple reasons.  One, I wanted something that could be duplicated for a class and two, you don't want the waterfall pages to get stuck on any embellishments.  The photos will make it even thicker than it is now and you still want it to work and close properly.

I only showed you a few of the photos because we have a limit on the number of photos we can post AND I'm VERY short on time before I leave!  I PROMISE that I will do a little tutorial with dimensions on how to put the Waterfall Album together.  It was pretty fun to make and not really hard once you figured out the mechanism!  I'll add photos of each of the pages, too!

Hope you enjoyed my projects…I'd LOVE to hear from you with a comment!  Next stop is the FABULOUS Mary Brown…I know you'll love her projects…I know I do!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

Tour de Freaks – Summer Sneak Peek!

It's TIME!  Time for the Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers!  This month we are featuring a SNEAK PEEK of the Summer Mini…all the new and exciting things that will be available on May 1st!  You've probably just come from Lisa Young's awesome blog, Add Ink and Stamp…isn't she SO talented?  If you started here, you can make the complete loop and return to me!   

OK…for my first project, I just HAD to use the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch!  I can't WAIT to show my customers how this new punch works and the three different punch pieces you get from ONE punch!  I decided to make a long card, so I could show off a beautiful bouquet of the blossoms.  I featured only two of the punch designs for this card.

I started with a base of Soft Suede and cut it 8 x 9 and scored lengthwise to get a 4 x 9 sized card.  This will fit perfectly in a #10 envelope.  I added a layer of River Rock cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder and rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch.  I did have to run it thru twice, turning it around the second time, so the longer length would be embossed.  I knew the center seam would be covered by the flowers anyway.  I punched several of the flowers in Daffodil Delight and several in Whisper White.  The Whisper White flowers, I added a yellow center punched from the Crop A Dile.  The yellow flowers I used my Paper Snips to cut slits in each of the petals, that allowed me to curl them out for a more natural shape.  In the center, I used the Boho Blossoms punch smallest flower, and cut slits in each of the petals, too.  It is glued to the center of the Yellow Flower with Mini Glue Dots.

I cut several stems…just long lengths of Always Artichoke cardstock and used the Two-Step Bird Punch to make lots of leaves to fill in the background.  I added the blossoms to the River Rock cardstock, tied a Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon around and tied a knot.  I stamped Just For You from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Always Artichoke and punched with the Small Oval Punch and adhered it under the knot with a Mini Glue Dot.

Next I made a coordinating (sort of) box from the XL Bitty Box and Envelope Die…it holds a sweet treat inside!  I had the thought to use the Scallop Duo Die (in the Summer Mini again!) for the top and bottom of the Bitty Box!  Has anyone seen this done?  I haven't…and it made a DARLING little box!

I cut the Bitty Box and two of the larger size in the Scallop Duo Die from Daffodil Delight.  I made up the box according to directions, but cut off the little tab.  I adhered one of the Scallop Squares on top and one on the bottom.  I cut a piece of the Beyond the Garden Designer Paper and wrapped some Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon around and tied.  I used the new stamp set Pretty Postage and stamped "Thanks" once on Whisper White and once on Daffodil Delight with Tangerine Tango Classic Ink.  I cut the middle thanks from the Daffodil Delight and layered it over the center Whisper White one, then punched it with the new Postage Stamp Punch.  Those stamps are made to fit it perfectly!  I layered it on a 1 3/8 Large Square Punch of Pacific Point cardstock.  Finally, I had some of the flowers left from my card above, so I added one to the top of the box!  I think this turned out SO fun and gave me another use for my Bitty Box!  But…of course, I had to finish off the inside, too!

I cut the envelope on the Bitty Box Die from Tangerine Tango…again adding another flower.  I used a Stampin' Dimensional, so the flower actually helps hold the envelope flap closed while in the box.

Inside the envelope I made a little 2 x 4 card from Daffodil Delight and the Beyond the Garden DSP..so you could write a little note inside.  I did the same with the Thanks as I did on the box.  I also included a Ghirardelli Chocolate.  Both fit inside the Bitty Box perfectly!  You can't see, but I did line the inside of the box with the same Designer Paper as the top of the box and the card!

I hope you enjoyed all my projects and are enjoying the tour!  We have some FABULOUS stampers in this group, don't we?  Next stop is my good friend, MARY BROWN at Stamper Camper Corner!  You'll enjoy her awesome box set, I'm sure!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!

February Tour de Freaks is HERE!

It's time!  Time for the monthly Tour de Freaks!  Check out what the Control Freak Swappers have been up to this month!  You've probably just come from Lisa Martz's Blog…didn't you LOVE her projects?  If you are here prior to February 20th, please note that not all links may be working yet!
 

Our theme this month is Birthday cards and projects!  I had SO much fun with my creation!  It all started with some inspiration from Mercedes Weber for her mini gumball machine made with the Cupcake Punch.  Using her idea, I designed my Mini Gumball card for my Punch Class this month…then went on to expand the idea…

I started with a base of Pear Pizzazz cardstock and ran the front thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.  I used a piece of the numbers pattern from Celebrations Designer Paper and layered it on Pacific Point cardstock.  The base of the Gumball Machine is the Cupcake Punch Base turned upside down and with the scallop edge trimmed off.  The black is the Small Oval Punch cut in half and a Silver Mini Brad.  The globe is the 1" Circle punched from Whisper White and sponged with Bashful Blue around the edges.  Of course, the "gumballs" are the sprinkles for the top of the cupcake on the punch.  The Real Red topper of the machine is the very top scallop of the frosting with a little sliver of cut cardstock added.  I added a square of Real Red cardstock in the background and stamped "Bring on the Cake" from Stampin' Up!'s Bring on the Cake stamp set.  I also added three more "gumballs" as decoration over the greeting!

So, I thought if I could make a mini gumball from punches, how could I made a JUMBO sized one for the front of a card?  Can you tell what the base of the gumball machine is????

If you guessed the Petal Cone Die...you are RIGHT!  It is just the center part of the cone with the round top trimmed off and turned up for the base and the point trimmed off!  I added the Basic Black Wide Oval Punch cut off and added a 5/16" Silver Jumbo Brad to the top…with some colored gumballs falling out.  The other mechanism for the machine is just a 1/2" Circle of Real Red layered on a 3/4" Circle of Basic Black.  The globe was cut with the 3" Circle DIe from Whisper White and the Medium Window Sheet (hard to see in the photo!)  I sandwiched the 1/2" Circle Gumballs between those two layers.  The top of the gumball machine is the round top I cut off from the Petal Cone Die and then a 3/4" Circle punch added behind it and a strip of Real Red cardstock for the front.  The check background is the Celebrations Designer Paper again.  The "From All of Us" from Family Phrases is stamped in Basic Black on Pacific Point and punched with a 1" Circle Punch.  I LOVE how this turned out!

So…I thought if I could do a large Gumball Machine card…how about a FAVOR, too!

I cut TWO of the Petal Cone Diecuts from Real Red, cut off the points and round top, turned it upside down and build a "pyramid" looking box with an opening at the top.  I did the front of the machine the same way I made the large card.  I used a Medium Cello Bag, filled it with gumballs, tied it off with 1/8 Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon, and formed it into a rounded shape.  I turned it upside down and placed the tied end into the opening of the box.  The top of the Gumball Machine hides the pointed edge of the Cello Bag…I sandwiched it between two layers of the machine topper.  Isn't it FUN, too?  I do LOVE it!  What a great party favor to use too coordinate with the card!  And you could easily expand the theme with cupcake toppers, invitations, whatever!

So…hope you enjoyed my Gumball Machine Birthday Theme projects for the Tour de Freaks this month!  Leave me a comment…I'd love to hear what you think about the projects!  You can continue on the tour to visit my good friend, Mary Brown's blog and her AWESOME projects, by clicking on the button below!  You'll circle around to my blog again when you are completely finished…there are 12 stops this month!  Have fun!

February Tour de Freaks Coming Soon!

It's almost time!  Get ready for the Tour de Freaks on Sunday, February 20th! 

I LOVE my projects!  The "sitting in my chair, bouncing up and down" kind of love them!  Somehow my hubby just doesn't understand!

Come back soon!

Heart Box Template

I promised that I'd share my Hanging Heart Box Template from last week's Tour de Freaks!  Here is the Heart Box again.  You could easily use Designer Paper instead of cardstock!  It would make a great wedding favor or Anniversary box, too!  Lots of ways you could use it!  It also fits with the "Stamp Something" Challenge to stamp "something cute!"  I think this fits, don't you?

I used Stampin' Up!'s FILLED WITH LOVE stamp set!  TODAY is the last day to order the Filled with Love Bundle of stamp set and Love Patterns Designer Paper…and get a FREE package of Itty Bitty Buttons!  See here for more information and contact me to place your order!

It has 4 sides…I only decorated the front of this one.  You'll see from the template that there is a seam down the center of the back heart that holds it closed.  I added a little Sticky Strip in each of the heart scallops at the bottom to keep it closed and bear the weight of the candy inside.  The top is just lightly adhered with Snail so that you can get inside it easily, but it kept the heart shape.  The ribbon helps keep it closed, too!  I just used my Crop a Dile and cut thru the two layers of cardstock to punch the hole with NO problem!

One other tip…decorate the front before you make the heart box!  lol!  Ask me how I know!

Click on the template below to download the pdf file!  I printed the template on white cardstock, cut it out, then used it as a template to trace around the Real Red Cardstock.  Score on the lines, add Sticky Strip to the tab piece and adhere together to form your 4 sided Heart Box!  Depending on how straight you cut, you may have to trim up the heart scallops when you put it together.

Enjoy the pattern…hope you make one for yourself!

We're just getting started over at Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition!  It's a 5 week online subscription service for demos and customers featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration brochures.  For $29.95 you get 30 projects…that is $1 a project idea you can use in classes or for making gifts!  There is a new project posted every day with a printable project sheet and an average of two fabulous step-by-step tutorials a week.  Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access 24/7 to the site and the tutorials. This week we are featuring  featuring the Bring on the Cake Suite of products!  To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

January Tour de Freaks!

Gosh…can you believe another month has gone by and it is time for the January Tour de Freaks?  We have 12 fabulous stops this month, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers!  You've probably just come from Lisa Young's blog…don't you LOVE her work?  But, you can keep going around all 12 stops until you come back here!  The theme this month is Valentine cards, gifts and home decor!  Note:  If you are arriving here on the 19th, please note that not all links may be working yet.  The tour officially begins on January 20th.

So, for my first project, I did a little Hanging Heart candy holder box.  Actually, it really isn't too little…it is cut from a full size sheet of cardstock.  I'll put a link up to the pattern sometime next week so you can make one yourself!  It is hard to tell, but it has 4 sides of hearts!  Very fun.  I just decided to focus on one side with my design, but I did randomly stamped the large heart from Filled with Love (the bundle goes away on January 24th!) with Real Red Classic Ink on the Real Red cardstock.

I used several punches to decorate the front.  The Full Heart, Heart to Heart, 2 1/2 Circle and Small Oval punches.  I punched from the Love Impressions Designer Paper and the Glimmer Paper (LOVE it!)  I made a little "pennant" from Basic Gray, added the Be My Valentine from Filled with Love stamp set and punched with the Small Oval punch.  I added two large Rhinestones on each side of the greeting for some added sparkle!  This would easily fit a small gift inside or lots of candy!  I added the Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon to the top with the Crop a Dile, so I could hang it from a doorknob or hanger!

EDIT:  You can find my template for the Hanging Heart Box HERE!

My second project is a Home Decor hanging that I picked up at a local craft store.  Here is what it looked like unfinished.

Here it is finished:

I laid the hanging upside down and traced the letters onto the Love Impressions Designer Paper, cut them out and glued to the black wood letters with Stampin' Glue Stick.  I sanded the edges to get rid of the excess DSP.  I tried to keep the hanging fairly simple…of course, I could have added lots more embellishments and ribbons.  Here is more of a closeup for you:

L – Fun Flowers Bigz Die, Red Glimmer Paper, Heart to Heart Punch (medium heart), Dazzling Diamonds, Multipurpose Glue

O – Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Heart to Heart Punch (3 small hearts), Red Glimmer Paper

V – Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Full Heart Punch, Naturally Serif Alphabet Strip Die (X-O), Red Glimmer Paper

E – 2 3/8 Scallop Circle punched from Love Impressions Paper twice, 3/4 Circle Punch, Red Glimmer Paper

The hanger I weaved Real Red Taffeta Ribbon thru the chain and tied knots on the ends.

OK…I hope you enjoyed my projects!  Now you are off to see the fabulous Mary Brown's projects!  She rocked it out of the park as usual!

December Tour de Freaks!

It's time for the December Tour de Freaks, brought to you by your Control Freak Swappers!  You've probably just arrived from the fabulous blog of Liz Shultz!  We have 11 stops this month filled with ideas from the new Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration catalogs!   

In the case of my first project, you could still easily make these for last minute Christmas gifts!  Can you tell what the plastic sleeve is made from?  If you guessed a 6×6 page protector…you are right!  I made some similar to this one for roommate gifts at Convention MANY years ago.  My upline reminded me and we did one for a project at our Holiday Stamping Festival a couple months ago.  I updated it again using the new Fun Flowers Bigz Die, Baby Blossom Stamp Set and Springtime Vintage Designer Paper!

The Rose Red cardstock back slides down into the 6×6 page protector (cut off the excess tab on the side first) and is held in place with a couple mini glue dots in the top corners on the back.  The cardstock measures 6 x 10" and scored at 6 1/8 & 6 3/8 on the long side.  I rounded the bottom front corners of the flap with the Small Corner Rounder.  I added a layer of Very Vanilla cardstock on the front flap.  Then I used the Tasteful Trim die to cut a piece of the Springtime Vintage Designer Paper in the curvy wave pattern.  On top I layered two of the large Rose Red flowers, then one Blushing Bride medium flower and the small Rose Red flower from the Fun Flowers Bigz Die.  The leaves are cut from the smaller flower of Always Artichoke cardstock.  I punched a 1" Circle and then added a Small Crumb Cake Big Designer Button with a bow of Linen Thread in the center.  The greeting from Afterthoughts Hostess Set is stamped in Rose Red. 

Inside there is enough room to hold a small spiral notebook that I covered with Very Vanilla cardstock and more Springtime Vintage Designer Paper.  On the notebook, I added some Crochet Trim before I adhered the DSP.  I stamped the label from Baby Blossoms in Very Vanilla with Always Artichoke Classic Ink and cut it out.  Then I layered it on Always Artichoke cardstock and trimmed around the outline to make a matted layer.  I stamped the small flowers from Baby Blossoms on scrap Very Vanilla with Rose Red and Always Artichoke, cut them out and placed them in the upper left and lower right corners with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The initial C is from Monogram Sweet Alphabet Set, stamped in Rose Red in the center of the oval.  I added tiny adhesive pearls in the remaining space of the oval around the initial.

I also decorated a RSVP pen by cutting a 3/4 x 3 1/4 piece of the same pattern Springtime Vintage Designer Paper and wrapping it inside the tube of the pen.  I added two Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares in the extra room of the package…because face it…who DOESN'T love a little chocolate?  (Sorry, I only had one White Mint green one left…I would color coordinate better if it were going to be a gift!  lol!  I wasn't going to fight the stores today to pick up more of the White Mint ones.)

If you didn't want to put in the elements that I do, it will also hold four regular sized cards easily!

I used the same Springtime Vintage Designer Paper for my next card.  A simple layout, but looks great, even though it didn't take a lot of time to make!  I used the new Baby Blossoms two step stamp for this card, too!

I started with a base of Rose Red cardstock.  I used the reverse side of the print I used above and added an edge of the Always Artichoke Dotted Ribbon Punch along the left side.  I stamped off the background flower of Rose Red on Very Vanilla, then the top two-step in full strength Rose Red to get the two-tone look to the flowers.  I did the same with the Always Artichoke leaves.  The words A Gift For You are from the new stamp set, Bring on the Cake, and stamped in Basic Black.  I added a Very Vanilla Taffeta Bow with Vintage Brad to the corner.  The Very Vanilla was layered on Always Artichoke and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I used the 2 1/2 circle punched from Crumb Cake in the background with a few adhesive Pearls.

Next stop is the fantastic Jan Tinklenberg…I'm sure she has some amazing projects!  Make sure to go all around the 11 stops of the tour until you get back here…you won't be disappointed!

November Tour de Freaks time!

Wow…it is here (already!).  This one really snuck up on me!  The Tour de Freaks is brought to you by your fabulous Control Freak Swappers each month!  This month's theme is Holiday Gift Items and Snowman Theme!  You may have just come from Wendy Weixler's blog weren't her projects fabulous?  I love her work!  If you are arriving prior to November 20th, please be aware that not all of the links may be working yet!  Now…onto my projects!

I'm disappointed that the photo of this doesn't show you how CUTE it really is in person!!!  The Candy Cane Christmas Designer Paper just SPARKLES when it catches the light!  This fun Countdown to Christmas Calendar is made with the Petal Card Punch and strung along the 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon.  Inside each little "envelope" is a 1" Whisper White square stamped with the images from Jolly Jingle Bits stamp set!  There are exactly 24 images, so it worked out perfectly!

Here is a picture of them hanging "closed".

And here it is after they have been "opened".

The final 24th one being Santa, of course.  (I just noticed that I didn't color his face in…so pretend it is done and some Dazzling Diamonds on him…guess I was interrupted by my phone call with my SAM!)

I think it is fun that they all stay open after they are revealed!  You could write a little note on the back, or give a clue on where a little present or trinket is hiding!  Make a little game of it for your family!

Here is a picture of it hanging on my cork board, but it will be cute hanging on a fireplace or cabinet!

Click on photo for a larger picture!

Some details…it really was quite simple!  I punched out the 24 Petal Card Punches from A Candy Cane Christmas Designer Paper and folded the sides and bottom to make a little envelope and adhered it closed.  I used Calendar Alphabet and stamped in Basic Black on Real Red with the numbers 1 thru 24, then punched them out with the 1/2" Circle Punch and adhered them to the front with Mini Glue Dots.  I used Stampin' Write Markers to color in the images from Jolly Jingle Bits in the colors of Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Baja Breeze, Real Red, and Basic Black.  I used the Crop-a-Dile to punch a small hole in each of the Envelope tops and strung the 1/8" Real Red Taffeta thru from back to front.  They stay in place pretty well, but you could adhere them to the ribbon with a Mini Glue Dot if you wanted them a little more secure.

OK…my next project is a Snowflake Ornament using the Sweet Treat Cups.  I was inspired by Erica Cerwin's ornament and my club members did this version last night in class!  I did add a little more bling with some White Chunky Essentials Glitter added with Two-Way Glue to the Snowflake.  I made the Snowflake sturdier, by gluing two Shimmer White pieces of cardstock together with the Glue Stick and running it thru the Big Shot with the Snowflake Die.  It is hard to see how sparkly it is!

I used the Sweet Snowglobe a la carte image for the inside, using Old Olive, Riding Hood Red and Marina Mist Stampin' Write Markers to color in the image and stamped on Whisper White.  It was punched with the 1 3/4 Circle Punch.  I made the Real Red "collar" by punching the 1 3/4 Circle, then the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle around it.  The Sweet Treat Cup has Silver Glass Glitter inside and then is layered on the 2 1/2 Circle of Old Olive.  That is adhered to the snowflake!

I used my Crop a Dile and punched a hole in the top for the Clear Tinsel Ribbon and added the Modern Label tag stamped with the Got Merry? greeting from Stampin' Up!'s Got Treats stamp set and added some Rhinestone Jewels!  This would make a fun little gift for an office worker, teacher or friend!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the Control Freak Swappers did for the Tour de Freaks this month!  I'm SURE you'll get some wonderful ideas!  Next stop is Barb Mullikin…a new face to the Tour!  Enjoy!

October Tour de Freaks is here!

Wow…another month ZOOMS by and it is time for the monthly Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers!  You've probably just arrived from Wendy Janson's blog.  Aren't her projects fabulous?  This month we're celebrating the upcoming December holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza and we have 13 stops on the tour! 

My first project is a card.  I've been thinking about doing a pyramid of Penguins for a while…in fact, the penguin piece has been sitting on my desk waiting to be finished!  So…here it finally is done!  Yep…it is made with that OH SO FUN Owl Punch!  Can you believe I first thought that I wouldn't use that Owl Punch?  Oh my gosh!  I've seen such CUTE things done with it…and owls are REALLY popular with kids right now!

I started with a base card of Real Red cardstock.  I added a layer of Whisper White that is stamped with the Jolly Bingo Bits snowflake in Bashful Blue randomly in the background.  Then I ran it thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder for some extra texture.  I wrapped two pieces of the Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon around and secured in the back.  The penguins I punched out the Owl with Basic Black and cut off the ears and the feet.  I punched just the feet in Pumpkin Pie cardstock.  I punched the vest/belly in Whisper White and layered on top.  The beak is just a small square cut in half diagonally.  Then the eyes are from the Owl Punch, too.  I added a strip of torn Whisper White across the bottom of the Bashful Blue cardstock for snow and added Dazzling Diamonds so it sparkles.  I stacked the three Owls on top of each other.  Then added a Real Red Santa Hat from Jolly Bingo Bits to the top Owl.  The Bashful Blue is layered on Basic Black and placed on the front of the card. 

I stamped the greeting from Jolly Old Saint Nick in Basic Black and punched with the Large Oval, then layered on a Real Red Scallop Oval.  It is placed on the ribbon with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I added a Bashful Blue snowflake from the Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die on the corner with the large Rhinestone Jewel.  The top corners needed a little something, so I added some small Rhinestone Jewels to them, too.  Love how it sparkles!

My next project is one that my customers who attended my Stamping Festival a couple weeks ago made.  I designed a little Mug Mat that they showed us at Convention out of the Candy Cane Christmas Fabric and the large Scallop Square Die. I made a sandwich of the fabric, then batting, then pink polar fleece on the bottom.  It is stitched together in the corners with Linen Thread.  In one corner, I added the Circles Diecuts from the other fabric patterns and more pink polar fleece.  A big Candy Cane Designer Button is sewn on top!

I purchased the Red Mugs at a local "Big" discount store.  I added Northern Frost Decorative Strip snowflakes cut with the Whisper White Decor Elements Sheets!  I used all the snowflakes around the mug…it looks so cute!  TIP:  You don't need to use the paper backing that is for walls…only use the front Whisper White sticky sheet.  Also, make sure you run it thru your Big Shot with the BACK protective sheet up…then it is easy to just peal off the snowflakes and place them on the mug like stickers!  Make sure to have a piercing tool close by to poke out all those little pieces.  I found it easier to do while the protective backing was still on the snowflakes. 

Inside the mug I had some shredded paper, then a Medium Cello bag filled with powdered Hot Chocolate Mix and marshmallows.  I made the tag with the snowman from A Cute Christmas, stamped with Black Stazon and using Baja Breeze and Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Markers.  It was punched from the Whisper White with the Small Tag Punch and layered on the Baja Breeze Large Tag Punch.  The Crop-a-dile made the hole on top for the Silver Tinsel Trim.  That is SO nice because it has a fine wire in it.  Too fun!

Hope you enjoy my Tour de Freak projects for this month!  The next stop is the amazing Mary Brown!  Just check out what SHE did this month!

Paisley Prints Flip Card

I know!   I promised this tutorial after the Control Freaks Tour de Freaks blog hop last month and it has taken me MUCH longer to find time to pull this together than I anticipated.  I had a big stamp camp last weekend and that, combined with regular classes and developing Create with Connie and Mary projects has consumed all my time lately!  But enough excuses…right?

Here is the Halloween Flip Card I made for the Tour as a reminder…

So, I thought I'd change up the holidays and make one for Christmas!  Here is the finished picture!

Here are the general supplies used to make THIS card.  I did not include them on the tutorial because I figured you'd be decorating your own!

The base cards is Always Artichoke.  I adhered Candy Cane Christmas Designer Paper to the same size Baja Breeze cardstock in order to get extra sturdiness from the flip portion of the card. 

The front design element, I stamped the tree from Paisley Prints in Always Artichoke on Baja Breeze cardstock, then added a torn piece of Whisper White on the bottom for snow.  I added a Square Fire Rhinestone Brad to the top of the tree.  I layered it on Always Artichoke and then Cherry Cobbler cardstocks.  On the front, I added a snowflake cut from Northern Frost Strip Die and a Cherry Cobbler Designer Button that I tied with Linen Thread.

At the top pullout tag portion,  I stamped Make Merry from Grateful Greetings stamp set with Cherry Cobbler ink and punched with the Small Tag Punch, it is layered on the Large Tag Punch of Always Artichoke cardstock, then placed on the tag.  The ribbon pull is the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon.  I punched thru the tag layers with the Crop-A-Dile to add the ribbon.

In the bottom window, I stamped Christmas Greetings from Grateful Greetings stamp set in Basic Black.

All the scoring and cutting dimensions are on the downloadable tutorial with pictures of the steps!  Hope you enjoy and make one for yourself.  I can tell you once you've made one, you'll see how easy it really is to make!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think or if you make one yourself…I'd love to see it!

FLIP CARD TUTORIAL

We are just starting Week 2 of Create with Connie and Mary!  This week we are featuring Day of Gratitude and French Foliage from the Holiday Mini.   For $39.95 you get over 48 FANTASTIC projects…that's about 83 cents per idea!  It's not too late to join!  There is a new project posted every day and there will be an average of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. NEW is a project sheet for every project not having a tutorial! 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!