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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!

March 2012 Tour de Freaks – SPRING!

It's time for the monthly Tour de Freaks!  Our theme this month is SPRING into SPRING!  With the temperatures around here in the mid 70s, our trees and flowers are BLOOMING their heads off!  I love this time of year!  You've probably arrived from the awesome Wendy Weixler's blog…didn't you LOVE her projects? 

My first project an Easter Bunny Punch Art card.  I think she's a little different than what you've seen before!  I loved how she turned out paired with the Nursery Nest Designer Paper in soft colors!

The base of the card is Pale Plum.  I layered on Whisper White cardstock, and a piece of Nursery Nest stripes along the bottom.  I cut a 1/2" strip of Blushing Bride cardstock to hide the seam area.  Then I cut some Pear Pizzazz cardstock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder for the background of my bunny.  The bunny's body is the 2 1/2" Circle Punch, her head the Extra Large Oval, the ears the Large Oval and her tail is the cupcake punch!  I used 1/4" circles in the Owl Punch for the eyes and mouth area.  The small heart for the nose is the smallest heart in the Heart to Heart punch.  I added White Gel pen to the eyes and nose for highlights and drew the whiskers with the Stampin' Write marker.  I tied a bow from 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon for her head.  Finally, I made a pennant with Happy Easter from Delightful Dozen stamp set and added two PINK Rhinestone jewels from the Blossoms Builder Kit that I had left over!

Don't recognize the Designer Paper?  That's because it is in the NEW Summer Smooches Designer Paper that will be available to customers as the April special!  Don't you LOVE the bright colors?  I cut a strip to cover around the Kraft Box and added a trim of Daffodil Delight Pinking Hearts Border around the bottom.  I also covered the top of the Kraft Box with the same DSP.  I cut the label from the Label Framelits and stamped Happy Birthday using my Stampin' Write markers…it's from the hostess only set, Happiest Birthday Wishes. 

I made up a bow with the NEW Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon and added an In Color Lucky Limeade brad in the center.  Then I made two daffodils with the Blossom Punch and the 5 Petal Punch to decorate the top.  Here's a closeup look:

The main part of the daffodil is Daffodil Delight cardstock and the centers are Tangerine Tango cardstock.  I used the 5 petal punch and Lucky Limeade for the leaves.  I think this will be a very pretty box to hold a birthday surprise!  Not sure who I'll give it to yet…lol!

Make sure to continue on to the rest of the Tour de Freaks…there are 10 stops this time!  Your next stop is the FABULOUS Barb Mullikin…go check out her projects!

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!

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!

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!

CCMC178 – Plum Pudding Punch Art

Wow!  Aren't the weeks FLYING by…here it is the first of December!  Oh my!  We even had a few snow flurries yesterday.  I am SO not ready for THAT!  It is also time for another Thursday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!  The ideas from the Design Team are FABULOUS this week, so make sure you stop by and see them all!  PLUS we have an exciting prize to award just for playing along with our challenges during December…but check out the details over there!

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!

And the stockings were hung…

I found a similar idea online and it was just too cute not to CASE!  I changed out a few things like the mantle, greeting and colors.  I loved how the fireplace was actually INSIDE the card and cut out on the front so it shows thru!

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!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE DETAILS

CCMC177 – Holiday Wreath Punch Art

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 

I hope you are enjoying the day with family and friends…I know we are!  But, it's Thursday and we have a wonderful color combination for you to try over on Create with Connie and Mary!  So, after you are stuffed with turkey, check it out and play along!

I've seen a couple different styles of the bird wing wreath, so wanted to give it a try!

I started with a base of Lucky Limeade cardstock and added Night of Navy that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Houndstooth Impressions Folder.  I added two strips of the Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon across the center.  I added a panel of River Rock cardstock.  Then the fun part!  I punched out a bunch of bird wings from the Two Step Bird Punch from the Patterns Designer Paper in Lucky Limeade and Night of Navy.  I punched a 1 3/8" circle of Whisper White and used Petite Pairs greeting in the center, then started building my wreath around it…using some Stampin' Dimensionals for added height.  I added some 1/4" Silver Glimmer Circles around the wreath…they certainly SPARKLE!  Finally, I added a bow of the Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon with a Lucky Limeade patterned brad in the center.

I love the colors in this wreath, hope you enjoy it, too!  Make sure to check out the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge Team to inspire you this week…and come play along!  We love to see what you do with our challenges!