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CCMC187 – Mixed Bunch

Oh…I love flowers and Stampin' Up!'s Mixed Bunch stamp set and punch are just right up my alley!!!  I have SO many flower sets…you wouldn't believe, but I keep buying more…and I do use them…so I don't feel bad!

Today we have a color challenge for you on Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge!  Here you go:

So…you can see I was challenged to use Mixed Bunch (one of the sets we are featuring this week on Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition!) with this color challenge…but I think I did it!

I started with a base of Confetti White cardstock.  I layered on the polka dot pattern from Patterns DSP in Crushed Concord.  Then I embossed the block of Sahara Sand with the Finial Press Impressions Folder.  I stamped the block of Pool Party with the filigree flower in Mixed Bunch with Pool Party Classic Ink.  Both the Sahara Sand and the Pool Party were layered onto a mat of Crushed Concord cardstock.  I added a Scallop Trim Border of Pool Party along the pattern paper. 

I stamped the flower on Whisper White with Crushed Concord Ink and punched with the Blossom Punch.  I stamped the flower center again with Pool Party and punched with the 1" Circle Punch and placed a Pool Party Pattened Brad in the center.   I added two "leaves" from the Blossom Punch and Pool Party cardstock, embossed with the Finial Press folder.  The flower is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Finally, I added a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Make sure to jump over to Create with Connie and Mary to see what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week!  And…grab your stamps and play along!  We love to see what you create!

Up in the Air

The whimsical look of Stampin' Up! Hostess set, Up in the Air, appeals to me!  I couldn't wait to use it.  The sketch over on The Paper Players seemed perfect for it! 

As you can see on my card, I took the sketch very literally…I think I'll also use this sketch and change up the elements…the new Designer Label Framelet would be perfect in the center…didn't think of that until my card was finished!  lol!

With the warm weather we've been having in Ohio, 50s in JANUARY!…it reminds me that spring is the next season!  As the card image reads…this stamp is so sweet!  I picked my colors from the Just Add Cake Designer Paper and started with a base of So Saffron.  It is layered on Early Espresso cardstock.  I wrapped some Peach Parfait Ribbon around the center and adhered it in back.  I stamped the flower image in Early Espresso, then used my Stampin' Up! Markers to color them…So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi.  In the center of the flowers, I made some small dots with a White Gel Pen…following Karen Barber's wonderful coloring skills.  I added some grass along the bottom so the flowers didn't look like they were levitating in the air!  lol!

I cut some butterflies with the Beautiful WIngs embosslit and So Saffron and Early Espresso cardstock, then added pearls to their bodies.  I also did a trio of pearls along the bottom according to the sketch and the greeting A Note of Thanks from Thank You Kindly stamp set.

Things are progressing in the basement…new carpet was installed yesterday in the Family Room area!  My room…still waiting for the design information on the cabinets…I can't believe it is taking SO long!  The laminate is sitting in the warehouse ready to go for my studio, but can't go in until the cabinets are installed.  Grrr…

It's not too late to join!  Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012 has just started Week 3!  You get daily step-by-step tutorials, challenges and PRIZES and haven't missed a thing!  We've had some FABULOUS projects to use in your classes or for gifts…with lots more to come! 

Our website stays up to a year after the edition is over, too…so you can refer back to our projects 24/7!  At $34.95 for over 36 project ideas…that is less than $1 per tutorial!

Fresh Vintage Gift Certificate

A friend of one of my Club members called to ask for a gift certificate for her.  I have a stack of these gift certificates from Merrill, so I decided to design a gift certificate holder around it!  I did trim the gift certificate to 5 1/4 inches wide so that I just needed to use a 1/2 sheet of cardstock and it would fit in a normal sized envelope.

Since I'm in LOVE with the Everyday Enchantment Sale-A-Bration Designer Paper, I took my colors from the floral print.  The base of the gift certificate cover is Peach Parfait, cut 5 1/2 x 7, and scored at 4 1/4.  I used Sticky Strip to close up the sides.  I stamped Celebrate from Outlined Occasions in Black Stazon, then used my Versamarker to color in the letters…it gives a really neat tone-on-tone look.  I stamped the Fresh Vintage floral image in Peach Parfait in the corner and on the envelope.

I cut a piece of the floral DSP and used the Adorning Accents Edgelit Die to cut the front and back edges.  I used a piece of Pear Pizzazz cardstock to line underneath the DSP for more stability and used the Edgelit die and embossing folder along the front edge.

Inside, the pocket holds the gift certificate.  The corner of the certificate is also stamped with the Fresh Vintage image.

It's not too late to join!  Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012 has just started Week 3!  You get daily step-by-step tutorials, challenges and PRIZES and haven't missed a thing!  Our website stays up to a year after the edition is over, too…so you can refer back to our projects 24/7!  At $34.95 for over 36 project ideas…that is less than $1 per tutorial!

CCMC-OCC2 – Fresh Vintage

Well, we have come to the end of Week 2 of Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2012…it's not too late to join us!  You can refer back to all the projects we've done so far…and be one of the first to see the NEW projects coming up in the next 4 weeks!  Click on my right sidebar to join!

And, to finish the week, we are celebrating with a Color Challenge for subscribers (although anyone can play along, only subscribers will have a chance to win PRIZES!)  The colors were perfect for Sale-A-Bration…Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Poppy Parade and Calypso Coral.  I liked the card I did for this challenge so well, that I had all my Club members make it this week!  I think they loved it, too!

Now…I must admit that I didn't use Calypso Coral on the card anywhere…shhh, don't tell Mary.  I'm skating by thinking it is in the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper…or at least that is what I'm claiming!  lol!  Don't you LOVE those new Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies and Embossing folders…they make ANY card a WOW!  Hey Stampin' Up!…we want MORE!!!

I started with a base of Pool Party.  I used the curvy Edgelit on the top of my Poppy Parade layer, then used the matching embossing folder.  I stamped the large floral image from Fresh Vintage in Poppy Parade Ink on top of that layer randomly.  I cut the larger scallop circle from Scallop Circles #2 Die out of the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper.  Then I stamped the floral image in Poppy Parade on Very Vanilla and punched with my 2 1/2" Circle punch.  It is popped up on the scallop circle with Stampin' Dimensionals and I added a little Rhinestone Jewel on the flower for some bling.  I stamped the greeting from Warm Words in Early Espresso on Pool Party and punched with the Modern Label Punch.  Under the scallop circle, I did a little gathering of the Lucky Limeade Ruffled   Ribbon.

Hope you like it…for more inspiration check out what the rest of the Design Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary!  And…if you aren't a subscriber…make sure to sign up today!!!

CCMC186 – Fresh Vintage

It's Thursday and time for another Create with Connie and Mary Challenge!  Are you ready?  We have a very fun sketch for you to try this week!

I used Fresh Vintage, one of the Sale-A-Bration sets we are featuring over on Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition.  We are in Week 2 and have had some fabulous projects so far!  It's not too late to join!  Click on the Buy Now button over on my right sidebar, or check out the Preview Projects we did on Create with Connie and Mary…just to give you a taste of what our tutorials look like.  We are sharing over 36 step-by-step tutorials…that will not be seen or previewed anywhere else!  At $34.95 US, that is less than $1 per tutorial!

I love the colors in the Twitterpated Designer Paper.  This stripe, of course, is one of my favorites and I took the colors on my card from it.  The base is Pear Pizzazz.  I layered on two diffferent designs from Twitterpated and added them to a layer of Basic Gray.  I wrapped the Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon around to hide the seam.  I cut two Label Collection Framelits…one in Whisper White and one in Cherry Cobbler.  I inked up the floral design with my Stampin' Write Markers in Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz and Basic Gray and then stamped on the White.  It is layered on the Cherry Cobbler, and I added pearls to accent the label.  Finally, I added some Beautiful Wings Embossed Butterflies with pearls for their bodies!  I tied a bow, added a Glimmer Brad and placed it on the front with Mini Glue Dots.

My husband even commented (without prompting) that it was a striking card!  Woohoo!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Challenge Team's ideas over on Create with Connie and Mary!  Some FABULOUS ideas as usual!

Uh oh…

Well…I've certainly had my string of bad luck lately!  I went to turn on my computer this morning and got the dreaded BLUE SCREEN…oh no!!!  Currently, I am working on my laptop, but it doesn't have all the "stuff" that my other desktop computer had saved, so I'm slowly trying to recreate everything I've loaded to it.  I'm just CROSSING my fingers that the computer doctor will be able to recover my files.  Seems like everything I go to do is on that computer!  I am SO getting one of those backup systems…as soon as I'm recovered!  Amazing how much of my life is on there!  Hopefully, I'll be able to share some new cards tomorrow!

But…it's TIME!  Sale-a-Bration time!  Stampin' Up! is giving away free product with every qualifying order of $50…$100 get 2…$150 get 3…plus hostess benefits and a DARLING little tote!  ALL free with your order!

GUESTS:  Choose one free product from the SAB brochure for every $50 you spend (before tax and shipping).

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The Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012 has just started Week 2…showing off projects featuring the Sale-A-Bration Catalog!  It's not too late to join!  You'll get daily step-by-step tutorials, challenges and PRIZES and haven't missed a thing!  Our website stays up to a year after the edition is over, too…so you can refer back to our projects 24/7!  At $34.95 for over 36 project ideas…that is less than $1 per tutorial!

Back from Leadership

Back from Leadership…so exhausted…slept in until 9:30 AM this morning!!!  Need to get back to stamping tomorrow…today was all paperwork and computer stuff to catch up on! 

SALE-A-BRATION STARTS TOMORROW!!!

Thought I'd share a picture of my favorite peeps at Stampin' Up! Leadership Convention.  We went to dinner at Paesano Riverwalk Restaurant!

Left to right:  Lisa Pressley, me, Ann Lohmeyer, Kay, Valerie, Sylvia (aka Saliva) Meyer, Kerrie Snyder, Terry, Cassy Miller, Terri Meehan

More tomorrow!!!

CCMC-OCC1 – PS I Love You

Here it is!  Our first challenge from the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012!  We are just finishing up Week 1 of our subscription…but it's not too late to join!  We still have 5 more weeks of NEW projects to show you and you still have access to everything we've done before!  Our subscribers who play along with the challenge are eligible to win one of two FREE subscriptions to the next edition of Create with Connie and Mary!

And my card, using the products we featured during Week 1…PS I Love You, Take it to Heart, and Candy Conversations.  I decided to use my favorite…PS I Love You…in soft, non-traditional Valentine colors!

I started with a base of Lucky Limeade and added on Wisteria Wonder cardstock.  I cut the rectangle of Whisper White at 2 3/8" wide, then used my 2 1/2 Circle Punch to curve the top.  I stamped the greeting from PS I Love You in Basic Black along the bottom.  I also stamped the cupid on scrap Whisper White in Basic Black, along with the two hearts…one in Wisteria Wonder and the other in Lucky Limeade.  I punched with the Full Heart punch.  I layered the two hearts on the Scallop Heart Embosslits from Pool Party cardstock.  I also added a strip of Pinking Hearts Border Punch from Pool Party along the bottom.

I layered some Sweet Shop Designer Paper across the Wisteria Wonder cardstock, then wrapped the Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon around to the back and secured.  I placed the Hearts on top of the Whisper White with Stampin' Dimensions, then added the Cupid with another Dimensional.   Finally I added a white flower designer button tied with Wisteria Wonder Bakers Twine!  I'm so happy they came out with more colors in the Bakers Twine!!!

Check out what the rest of the Design Team did for the Week 1 Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!  I love their ideas!  And…while you are there…sign up to join us!

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!

CCMC185 – Candy Conversations

Well…I hope our subscribers are enjoying WEEK 1 of Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012.  It's not too late for you to join!  You'll still have access to all the tutorials we've done so far AND be the first to see the new ones posted!

It's Thursday, and time for our Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge!  I must say that I REALLY like my card today!  lol!  We have a color challenge for you to play along with this week.  Yummy, bright colors of Peach Parfait, Calypso Coral and Lucky LImeade! 

Well, the colors made it a little challenging for a Valentine card, but I wanted to use the sets that we are featuring this week on Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012…PS I Love You, Take it to Heart and Candy Conversations.  So here is my card!

I think I met the challenge, don't you?  I started with a base of Peach Parfait.  I added a neutral layer of Crumb Cake that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder.  I added a strip of Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper (coming up in the SAB brochure!) and layered it on Lucky Limeade cardstock.  I punched a Full Heart from Calypso Coral cardstock.  I added three of the candy hearts from Candy Conversations, stamping them in Peach Parfait, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade and punch with the Small Heart Punch.  I tied a bow with the Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and attached the hearts to the streamers.  I added one more heart to the center of the bow.  The Full Heart punch is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Finally, I stamped the greeting in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and cut out the portion to tuck under the Designer Paper at the top.  Isn't this a FUN card?

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Thursday Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary.  Then get busy and make your own card using the challenge colors…upload it over on Inlinkz!  We love to see what you do!