I've had this set, Raining Flowers, since Convention last year and hadn't used or even mounted it.  I really don't know WHY…it is a pretty set and was very easy to use!

When coming up with a color scheme, I used one of my favorites…navy and pink…using two different shades of pink!  The base of the card is Night of Navy.  I layered on Whisper White.  I used the Night of Navy Patterns polka dot Designer Paper and added the Dotted Scallop Border Trim in Regal Rose along both edges.  I wrapped some Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon around and tied a knot.

The larger flower image in Raining Flowers was stamped in Rose Red on Whisper White and cut out.  I stamped the smaller center flower in Regal Rose and cut out.  I added a Navy button with White Bakers Twine tied in the center.  The leaves are Pear Pizzazz cut out, too.  Everything was placed with Stampin' Dimensionals on a 2 1/2" Circle Punch of Night of Navy…and that was popped up with dimensionals, too.  Finally, I added three pearls along the edge of the circle and the Happy Birthday Wishes greeting from Petite Pairs in Night of Navy and cut in a flag edge.

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!  Some wonderful ideas using this sketch.  Then come play along…we love to see your creations!

I decided to use one of the new stamp sets in the Occasions Mini…Tea Shoppe!  I love this trio of cups!

I chose my colors from the Domestic Goddess Designer Paper…I hadn't used that paper much.  The base of the card is Pool Party cardstock.  I cut a piece of the Pool Party checked pattern that had the Daffodil Delight Ric Rak along the edge and placed it along the left side.  I added a piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Houndstooth Impressions Folder across the top.  I also added another piece of Pool Party cardstock, run thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder…I like the contrast of the two embossed portions.  To hide the seam I added a strip pennant of Whisper White stamped with the trio of teacups that I inked with Pool Party and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Markers.

I added the little Flower Fushion flower of Pool Party with a Daffodil Delight Flower Brad inside (oh…I just noticed that my Rhinestone Jewel fell off the center!  oh well!)  I stamped the greeting in Tea Shoppe with Basic Black and punched with the Curly Label Punch, then tucked it above the Whisper White pennant.

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Thursday Challenge Team did this week with the sketch over on Create with Connie and Mary!  While you are there, be sure to sign up for the Occasions Edition 2012 while we are offering the special savings of $5 off!

And here is my card!  I love this Celebration Designer Paper (I think I've said that once or twice before!) and the colors are so fun for a kids birthday or encouragement card.

I started with a base of Real Red and layered on Bashful Blue that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  I cut half of the Top Note lengthwise out of the Celebrations DSP and placed it on the right side.  I stamped the girl sliding from Stampin' Up!'s Recess stamp set with Black Stazon on Whisper White and colored her with Stampin' Write Markers…like her polka dot shorts?  lol!  I punched with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle Punch and then layered it on the 2 1/2 Circle Punch of Pacific Point cardstock.  I wrapped some Red Satin Ribbon around and tied a knot.  I added a banner that is stamped with Way To Go from the same stamp set. and used the retiring Photo Corner Punch to notch out the end.  I thought it needed something up in the upper left corner, so I used a couple Real Red Mini Brads.

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Design Team did this week.  We have a NEW designer joining us for our Thursday Challenges…we want to welcome Nance Leedy to our design team!

This week Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition has been featuring the products in the Botanical Gazette Suite, plus Plane & Simple!  Well, I guess I didn't get the memo to use Nature Walk…cause each of the other Designers did!  But…that's ok…mine stands out, right?  lol!

This color combination came from the Color Coach!  I'm really loving that little tool…gets me out of my "box" of using colors!  I started with a base of Riding Hood Red and layered on Baja Breeze that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  I added a strip of Pumpkin Pie and then a piece of Love Letter Designer Paper.  I wrapped the 1 1/4 Night of Navy Strip Ribbon from the back of the Pumpkin Pie, then tied a knot at the end with Linen Thread.  I did secure it with a Stampin' Dimensional so it didn't move around.

Finally I stamped the Argyle pattern from Stampin' Up!'s Plane & Simple stamp set in Pumpkin Pie for the "runway".  I stamped the plane in Baja Breeze on scrap Very Vanilla and cut it out.  It is popped up with Stampin'  Dimensionals on the front of the Very Vanilla panel.  Last, I stamped Happy Father's Day from Plane & Simple in Night of Navy Classic Ink.

I think this set makes wonderful masculine cards!  Make sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition Design Team did this week!  They did a FABULOUS job!

When I first saw the Merry Crittermas set, I was so-so about it…but…since I have it and have been watercoloring the little critters, I am having SO much fun!  Their little faces are SO sweet!  Here is the card I made using the sketch!

I started by selecting the little kitty from the set and watercolored her with Stampin' Write Markers the same as my own kitty, Bleach!  She is Basic Gray with spots of Crumb Cake "bleach" marks…that's how she got her name!  I layered the Whisper White on Garden Green.  I used a piece of the glitter stripe pattern from Candy Cane Christmas Designer paper and placed it on a layer of Blushing Bride that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder.  The base of the card is Baja Breeze.

I added a strip of Real Red Satin Ribbon across the front and two In Color Glimmer Brads in Blushing Bride color.  The greeting from Merry Crittermas was stamped with Basic Black on Whisper White and punched with the Small Oval punch, then layered on Baja Breeze cardstock.  Up in the right corner I added three large Rhinestone Jewels.  Oh…and I added the cute little bird from Merry Crittermas next to my singing kitty cat!  I think it turned out CUTE using some non-traditional colors!

Again, make sure to check out what the other Challenge Team Members did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!  And…grab your stamps and play along!  We love to see what you do with the sketch!  Make sure to label it CCMC123 and mention Create with Connie and Mary in your post!

It's not too late to join Create with Connie and Mary!  We feature new Holiday Mini products every week.  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!  We like to have fun so we have challenges and prizes for our subscribers. 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!

And here is my "A Cute Christmas" card!  Lots of dots going on here!

This new Candy Cane Christmas Specialty Designer Paper is going to be a FAVORITE of mine, I can tell!  It has new and updated colors for Christmas AND it glitters!  I think Christmas is ALL about the glitter!  (And you knew it was probably Mary and my favorite because we have it on the Create with Connie and Julie website, right???)

Anyway, back to the card.  I started with a base of Poppy Parade and layered on Whisper White.  Then I added Baja Breeze that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.  I took my color scheme from the Glitter Dot Designer paper on the right side and layered that on Poppy Parade.  Then I stamped the mitten image from A Cute Christmas in Basic Black and colored it with Baja Breeze and Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Markers.  One of the mittens has a beautiful Rhinestone Jewel on it for some added sparkle. 

I wanted to do something a little different for the ribbon treatment, so I used the Dotted Ribbon Punch and did some stitch sewing with the Linen Thread to make Xs in the holes.  I stamped the greeting on Whisper White, then punched with the Small Oval and layered on the Baja Breeze Large Oval and finally the Scallop Oval in Poppy Parade.  I punched out three of the dots from the Designer Paper and added them for "faux brads" on top of the stamped image with Mini Glue Dots!  I think it made a FUN card! 

Again, check out what the other Challenge Team Designers on Create with Connie and Mary did this week!  I'm sure they are FABULOUS!  And…don't forget…Early Bird Special price of $34.95 going on now!  Save $5 off the regular price!

And, since I'm consumed with wedding stuff right now, here is a Bridal Shower card that I made using the Stamping 411 sketch this week!  It is for my future daughter-in-law's shower tomorrow.  I loved the sketch…great job, Selene!  I'll be using it again.

I started with a base of Kraft cardstock and added Brocade Blue cardstock layer that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Petals-A-Plenty Impressions Folder (did you know you can still order this folder from Stampin' Up!?)  I wrapped the White Satin Ribbon around and tied with a pretty bow. 

I stamped the trio of cakes on Shimmer White cardstock in Craft Black and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  I used the Aqua Painter and Brocade Blue marker to watercolor the bases, then colored in the flowers with Summer Sun and leaves in Gable Green.  Hard to see, but I added Tombow Liquid Glue and Dazzling Diamonds to the scallop frosting on the cakes.  Very pretty in real life!  I layered it on Basic Black and placed on the front of the card.  I added "for your shower" from Teeny Tiny WIshes, stamped in Craft Black and embossed with clear, then punched with the Word Window and layered on Kraft cardstock.  Finally, I used the Flower Fushion Sizzlet die and cut the trio of flowers with Summer Sun cardstock and added a Clear Rhinestone Brad in the center.  I think it looks like a bridal shower card, don't you?  And it is in her colors of Cornflower Blue and Sand.

I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators and play along with the sketch challenge this week!  I know I can't wait to see what they've done.  Did you notice we added a new Operator?  Kerin Sylvester join us on the Design Team!

Every Saturday on the  Create with Connie & Julie site we issue a challenge. Our subscribers are encouraged to enter the challenge to win fabulous prizes!  Last week's challenge winners were Sue Beggar and Lori Watson!  Congratulations, ladies!

This is Challenge #3 for Create with Connie and Julie Occasions Edition!  Our challenge this week was using this sketch that I created with the Vintage Vogue theme.

I started with a base of Pale Plum cardstock and layered on Perfect Plum cardstock.  I used the Cottage Wall designer paper in the olive polka-dot print on top of the Perfect Plum, roughing up the edges with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool.

For the background center piece, I ran a piece of Whisper White thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder.  I layered it on Perfect Plum and distressed the edges.  I added the scallop edge along the left with a strip of Whisper White cardstock, punched with the Sale-A-Bration Scallop Trim Border punch.

I added more layers to the center focal piece with Pale Plum cardstock layered on Perfect Plum.  I stamped the vine image in Pale Plum over the Pale Plum cardstock, then used my piercing tool and mat to create the corner design.  I added a 1 3/8 circle punched from Old Olive, then tucked some Old Olive leaves made with the 5 petal punch (I sponged around the edges with Old Olive).  I stamped the large flower with Perfect Plum on Whisper White and cut it out and two smaller flowers with Pale Plum and cut them out.  The center of the large flower has a small flower punched from Trio of Flowers, then a Jumbo White Brad in the center.  The two smaller flowers have Old Olive Mini Brads in the centers.

I love the vintage feel and look of this card with the rough edges, the subtle colors and, of course, Stampin' Up!'s Vintage Vogue stamp set!

 Supplies:

Stamps:  Vintage Vogue

Cardstock:  Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Old Olive, Whisper Whtie

Inks:  Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Old Olive

Accessories:  Cottage Wall Designer Paper, Finial Press Impressions Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 5 Petal Punch, Old Olive Mini Brads, Piercing Tool and Mat, Cutter Kit, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Trio Flower Punch, White Jumbo Brad

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team Members created this week on Create with Connie and Julie!

(Sorry…links to this week's challenge are fixed now!)

Julie Dinn

Mary Brown

Kerin Sylvester

Monika Davis

If you haven't checked out the Create with Connie and Julie site yet now is the time to do it!  It's not too late to join!  You'll have access to all previous posts, along with the future ones.  

We feature new Occasions Mini product every week.  There is a new project posted every day and there will be a minimum of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. We like to have lots of fun so we have challenges and prizes for our subscribers. 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 out Create with Connie and Julie site!

Today is Stamping 411's Sketch Challenge #135!  This one, although it looks very simple, gave me just a little trouble.  I think because of the stamp image I chose.  The position of the image had the white space in the lower right corner, instead of the upper left where I needed to put something because of the sketch.  I compromised by putting a little something in both locations!

I love Stampin' Up!'s whimsy sometimes.  LIke this single stamp, Like-O-Meter in the back of the Occasions Mini!  I especially like the "a lot but not like a stalker" words!  Too funny!  My friend, Cassy, gave out a CUTE swap card at Leadership using this set!

I started with a base card of Real Red cardstock.  I added a piece of Sending Love Designer Paper and layered it on Basic Black cardstock.  On the left side of the Basic Black, I used the Pinking Hearts punch along the edge.

I stamped the Like-O-Meter image in Basic Black on Whisper White, then colored in the themometer with the Real Red Stampin' Write marker up to …a lot but not like a stalker.  I added a very light coat of Crystal Effects over top of the red.  You need to be careful because the marker is water based and will run if you add too much.  When dry, I punched the Small Heart in the lower right corner, then layered it on Real Red, then Basic Black cardstocks.  Finally I added a Black Gingham Bow to the upper left corner.

Too fun!  I love it!  I think my hubby will get this for Valentine's Day…not too girly looking so he should like it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

it's Saturday!  Time for another sketch challenge from Stamping 411.  I must say, I love the sketches that Selene has been doing lately!  If you attend my classes, you'll see some of these as the basis for future cards we will do!  I'm combining this challenge with the Late Night Stampers challenge since the theme is masculine, I thought it fit that criteria.

I can't tell you the last time I used Stampin' Up!'s Lovely As A Tree set.  I know it has been in my stamping arsenal since I first began because I made one of my first swap cards at Convention using it!  It is just a timeless stamp set…good for every occasion!

I started with a base of More Mustard cardstock.  I ran the Really Rust layer thru the Big Shot with the woodgrain texturz plate and then stamped "Thankful Thoughts of You" from Grateful Greetings in the lower right corner.  I added a couple strips of designer paper from Autumn Meadows Designer Pack.  Then I stamped the tree with Chocolate Chip ink on Vanilla Naturals cardtock and used my sponge daubers to add the Really Rust, More Mustard and Garden Green colors to the tree and grass area.  I colored the trunk of the tree with Close to Cocoa Classic Ink and a Blender pen.  This piece was layered onto Chocolate Chip cardstock and placed on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Make sure to check out what the other Stamping 411 Operators did this week!  I'm sure their cards will be awesome!

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