Bloggers Challenge

Bloggers Challenge – Thinking of You

September 11, 2009 By Connie | 15 Comments

Happy Friday! I’m headed off this afternoon to attend the Cincinnati Regionals tomorrow! Woohoo!!! So excited…it is like a mini Convention! I’ll be catching up with several people I normally only see at Convention or Leadership, so that will be fun!

Today’s Bloggers’ Challenge is to create a Thinking of You card. I seem to use a lot of this type of card. I wanted to use one of the new fall sets in the Holiday Mini called Autumn Splendor. The leaves have a beautiful fine drawing which makes it perfect for coloring, embossing or just stamping in colors. I have seen some gorgeous cards done with this set!

I also used the coordinating fall designer paper in the big catalog, called Autumn Traditions. These are definitely MY colors! I love the Earth Elements color family! The base is More Mustard and I placed a layer of Soft Suede cardstock on top of that. Then I punched 1 1/4 squares from the Designer Paper and placed them like tiles in the background. I stamped the leaf with Versamark on More Mustard and the acorns on Soft Suede, embossed them with Gold Embossing Powder, then cut them out. Thinking of You is from Thoughts & Prayers stamp set. I cut out the tag from the Matchbox XL Bigz Die with my Big Shot and More Mustard cardstock, then stamped the words in Basic Brown and sponged the edges. I really like how this turned out!

I hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend! It is supposed to be gorgeous here!

INKspired Treasures

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Bloggers Challenge 114 – Sketch

August 28, 2009 By Connie | 23 Comments

Yeah! Today’s Bloggers’ Challenge is a sketch card! I love sketches, as you know! This is a pretty easy one, once I had my stamp set figured out!

I love this time of year, I get to pull out my Halloween sets…and yes, I have a LOT of Halloween sets. Except, Just Jawing isn’t really a Halloween set…more of a teen stamp set, but I love the skull. (And Tonya, yes…if you are reading this, I have changed my mind about this set!) I received it free during the promotion last year and finally got it cut and mounted a couple months ago. I’ve found it useful for doing cards for my teenage niece and nephew!

Anyway…here is the card I did using this sketch!

I started by stamping the skull with White Craft ink on a piece of Cast-A-Spell Designer Paper (can you see the bats and such in the background?) and embossed with White Embossing Powder. I then used some Tombow Multipurpose glue and colored in the heart eyes with glue and sprinkled on some Celery Fine Cosmo Glitter. Fun! I roughed up the edges with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool and layered it on an Old Olive piece of cardstock and distressed those edges, too. That element was layered onto Pumpkin Pie cardstock, also distressed and inked with Basic Black and a sponge dauber. I wrapped some of the delicious 1 1/4 Striped Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon (this stuff ties SO nicely!). I made up some Faux Diamond Dust glitter paper (rub Versamark over your cardstock, add Iridescent Ice EP and heat set) with Old Olive cardstock and punched three of the small hearts from the Heart to Heart punch and adhered them to the Pumpkin Pie cardstock with Mini Glue Dots. Finally, I stamped Happy Halloween from Teeny Tiny Wishes in black ink under the hearts. (If you don’t have that Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set yet…what are you waiting for? I use it on almost EVERY card now! It has 28 different greetings that are the perfect size for small wishes!)

I hope you have a great weekend! Other than my Demo Convention Round Up meeting on Sunday, I think I’m in for a quiet one…yeah!

Click here if you’d like to place an order to join my team! Remember, the $85 mini starter kit ends on August 31. What do you have to lose? You get wonderful Stampin’ Up! product and if you decide it isn’t for you…you can always be my customer again!

Bloggers Challenge 109 – Christmas in July

July 24, 2009 By Connie | 21 Comments

I love Christmas in July challenges! It gets me thinking about this year’s cards and what I may want to do. I have a TON of Christmas stamp sets, so sometimes it is hard to narrow it down to want I want to do. I always do my Christmas cards at the Fall Stamping Retreat I attend. This year it is at the end of October vs. mid November, so I’m going to need an even earlier start!

I love the Medallion Background stamp in the new catalog! I’ve had this idea in my head for a while, but finally had a chance to get it out into a card! I stamped the Medallion BG on Bermuda Bay with White Craft Ink and embossed with White EP…wow, does that white POP off that Bermuda Bay color! Next, I stamped the Snowmen from The More the Merrier Level 3 Hostess Set (omit stamped) with Basic Black marker on Whisper White, so I only had the trio of 3 again. Colored them with the Real Red and Bermuda Bay markers. Then I punched it with the 1 3/4 Circle. I used the Circle Bigz Die to cut out the Real Red cardstock to layer behind it. It is all popped up on Dimensionals. Finally, I added the Real Red striped ribbon in the upper right corner and the Winter Wishes (warm was cut off) I made as a little banner under the center element! Fun! I love how it turned out!

Hope you check out the rest of the Bloggers to see what they’ve done. I know I’ll get LOTS of inspiration!

LOTS going on this weekend! I’ll be gone a few days, but have already set my posts…hopefully all will go well with them.

Remember to check out Stamping 411 sketch challenge on Saturday and the Royal Blog Tour begins on Sunday!

INKspired Treasures

Bloggers Challenge 105 – Alter it!

June 26, 2009 By Connie | 16 Comments

Today’s Bloggers Challenge was to alter something. Well, heaven knows, I have PLENTY of stuff in my Studio that I’ve saved to "alter" someday. A couple of things were these Stax potato chip containers. The Brilliant Blue and Yo Yo Yellow colors were hard to work around, but I think the Good Morning Sunshine Designer paper goes pretty well! Not sure what I’ll use this for…any suggestions?

I started by wrapping the container with Good Morning Sunshine Designer Paper and securing it with Sticky Strip. Then I used Sticky Strip along the back of the 5/8 Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and secure it on top of the DSP along the top and bottom seams of the DSP.

For the lid, I cut three sets of the Daisies #2 die in Brilliant Blue, Summer Sun and Old Olive cardstock and alternated the colors and sizes to make the flower. I finished the center with a Kiwi Kiss Corduroy button (since they are being retired!) I secured it to the lid with dimensionals.

As a design for the front, I decided to use a little of the On Board I’ve been hoarding. We received an entire package of So Tweet OnBoard at Convention or Leadership and I hadn’t even cut into it. So, I used the large bird, covered the On Board with Craft Summer Sun and Craft Pumpkin Pie. I used Crystal Effects to hold on the wing, beak and tail feathers…then went ahead and painted on a thin coat of Crystal Effects over the entire body to give it a little bit of shine. I was going to put some kind of words or something…but really couldn’t think of anything I wanted it to say, so…I’ll just keep it until I use it and then come up with something! lol!

Remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned I had some exciting news? Well, I’ve been selected by Korin Sutherland to be on the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps Design Team! I’m so honored to be able to share my creativity with this team! You’ll see we have a SNSS Blog Hop scheduled over on the left sidebar…my post will be on July 2! Hope you stop by and see some of these talented gals’ work next week!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blogger’s Challenge 104 – Man cards

June 19, 2009 By Connie | 16 Comments

Today’s Bloggers Challenge was to make a Man Card. I must say that it is getting easier for me to make masculine cards…mainly because Stampin’ Up! has come up with some really nice sets and Designer Paper! This set, And Many Mower is in the Occasions Mini Catalog and will be going away at the end of June! So make sure you order it now!

It happens to be my son’s birthday next week, so I need to get a card and gift card in the mail to him tomorrow. I’ve also been cleaning off my work tables and found the 3Rs Checklist element from And Many Mower in my starts pile. I had a few extras left from when I made this CARD for my Control Freaks swaps. I decided to use it to start Adam’s card! I did add the Summer Sun marker to some of the checks in the frame, just so it tied in with my color scheme.

I used Baja Breeze for the base of the card, then layered on the Sahara Sand Argyle pattern from Manchester Designer Paper. I added a couple 1 1/4 and 1 3/4 circles in the background punched from Summer Sun, Baja Breeze and Really Rust. The Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon I wrapped thru the Jumbo Pewter Eyelet and tied with Linen Thread. I stamped the beer mug from Cheers to You and cut it out, then placed it over the Baja Breeze circle. For the beer foam, I used some Liquid Applique (retired) and puffed it up! I think he’ll like it…well, especially what is IN it! lol!

I hope you have a great weekend! I need to finish up getting Father’s Day gifts and get ready for the cookout on Sunday. We celebrate all the family June birthdays, Anniversaries, Father’s Day, and Graduations all in ONE day in June.

Bloggers’ Challenge 103 – Sketch

June 12, 2009 By Connie | 17 Comments

OK…I’m writing this for the SECOND time since my post just decided to DISAPPEAR on me! Grrrrrr…

Today’s Bloggers’ Challenge was to use this sketch to create a card. When I first saw it, I thought Lisa was really trying to stump us! But, after I used it…I found I really liked it! I’ll use it again!

I started with a base of Kraft cardstock and layered on a strip of floral pattern in Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Paper. It is Specialty because the DSP is cardstock weight and wonderful to work with! I added a strip of Not Quite Navy to the Kraft base, too. Then I used the checked pattern in Parisian Breeze DSP for the horizontal piece and wrapped some Kraft Taffeta Ribbon around it before adhering it to the base card.

For the focal point, I stamped the puff flower from Heartfelt Thanks in Baja Breeze ink several times on Naturals White cardstock that I spritz with water first. It gave it a very watercolor look. I stamped the stems in Kiwi Kiss. Let it dry and then I stamped the outline puff flower stamp in Not Quite Navy over top. I can’t tell you how long it has been since I used Heartfelt Thanks…at least 4 years! I did a big stamp camp with it, so my set has seen lots of love, but for some reason it got pushed to the back of my sets! Now that it is retiring, I want to use it some more!

I need an anniversary card for my Brother and his wife, so I stamped Cheers to You (from Cheers to You stamp set) in Not Quite Navy on Naturals White cardstock, and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch. I layered it on a 1 3/8 Kraft circle, then I layered it onto a Scallop Circle punched in Not Quite Navy. But wait! That doesn’t look like a scallop circle!!! That is because I put the scallop circle back into the punch, turned it slightly so I could punch again and get the spiked scallops. Love it! I placed it with dimensionals in the lower left corner.

Last, I added some Dew Drops that I had sitting on my shelf to the Not Quite Navy strip. You could also use mini brads, but I had already adhered that strip and didn’t want to pull it up. I like how that added a little something extra.

Don’t forget! Tomorrow is the Stampin’ Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop! Stop by any time between 12:00 N tomorrow and Tuesday at midnight and take the Blog Tour featuring 34 different retiring stamp sets…a different set on each stop. You will be sure to get lots of great ideas on using those stamps. Make sure you come back here and place your order for those Last Chance stamp sets and accessories!

Bloggers Challenge – Case Yourself

May 15, 2009 By Connie | 15 Comments

OK…today’s challenge is to take an older card we made and re-do it, changing at least 2 things. Now DON’T LAUGH! I pulled out a REALLY old card I did back in 2002 when I first started stamping. I thought it was pretty awesome back then…see how I did the Happy Birthday greeting diagonally across the background to make pattern paper? And don’t you LOVE the deckle scissors? lol! And the Spectrum Pad (well…I sort of do miss those for certain things.) These were actual birthday cards I mailed out to people in my group who had August birthdays. Oh well…I’m glad I kept a few of my cards around that I did way back when…I think I’ve grown just a little bit as a stamper, don’t you?

The first thing I did to change up the card was add more layers. For my re-do card, I started with a base of Regal Rose and added a Pink Pirouette layer. Instead of the hand-stamped pattern background, I used some floral pattern paper from Sweet Always Designer Paper pack. Instead of the deckle scissors trim, I used the Eyelet Border Punch with Pumpkin Pie cardstock to create a scallop under the pattern paper. My Sundae image from Goody Goody Gumdrops Hostess Level 3 set, I stamped with Black Stazon on Watercolor Paper and used my markers to watercolor in Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose, Real Red and Going Gray. I layered it on Pumpkin Pie, then offset my next Chocolate Chip layer so I could add some Rose Mini Brads across the top. I also added some Pumpkin Stripe Ribbon around the center and added my Happy Birthday greeting from Goody Goody Gumdrops in Chocolate Chip at the bottom.

I definitely like my NEW card better than the old…what do you think?

I’m headed out of town for a much needed vacation at the Beach! I have several things scheduled to post over the next week, so don’t worry.

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Bloggers Challenge 97 – Sketch

May 1, 2009 By Connie | 15 Comments

This week’s Bloggers’ Challenge was to use this sketch to create our card. I actually had this done a few weeks ago. Mary, Lisa and I used this sketch for one of our challenge days, knowing that it would be an upcoming Bloggers’ Challenge! I was glad to have it done early!

I used one of my favorite sets in the Occasions Mini called And Many Mower. Since the sketch was pretty simple, I wanted to make sure I added lots of texture. I think I accomplished that!

I started with a base of Kraft cardstock. Then I ran a layer of Baja Breeze thru my Big Shot with the Texturz Diamonds plate. I added a strip of the Argyle Manchester Designer Paper along the side. Next is the 1" wide Chocolate Double Stitched Ribbon across the width…with a yummy Kraft Corduroy Button (I really LOVE them…can you tell?) Finally, I stamped the Golfer in Basic Brown on Whisper White and used my AquaPainter and ink pads to color him in. That is layered on Chocolate Chip and Kraft.

Pretty simple, huh? But…what a great card for someone who loves to golf!

Hope you have a great weekend. We are getting together with our best friends for dinner on Saturday night. The rest of the time I hope to get some stamping done…my card kit finished for May…and to relax after the hectic past couple weekends!

Set: And Many Mower
C/S: Baja Breeze, Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Manchester DSP
Inks: Basic Brown, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery
Other: AquaPainter, 1" Chocolate Double Stitch Ribbon, Kraft Corduroy Button, Texturz Backgrounds #1

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