Control Freaks

Jan 2016 Tour de Freaks

January 19, 2016 By Connie | 5 Comments

It’s time again for the Tour de Freaks! Our theme this month is “Love is in the Air”…very appropriate for Valentine’s Day that is coming up soon! You’ve probably just come from Wendy Weixler’s blog, her projects are darling, aren’t they? Click at the bottom to continue around the tour…there are 11 stops this time.

I chose to use Love Blossoms Suite of products for my projects since they are definitely great colors for Valentine’s Day. I’ve been wanting to do a little banner for my lamp shade. The lamp sits on a table that is visible when my customers come down the stairs and I try to change out the tablescape each holiday. Here’s a closeup.

Here it is draped on the lamp shade (sorry I can’t show you the entire Valentine tablescape…it is so cute, but it has some private class items on it!)

Some quick details:

The Thick Whisper White background on the banners is 2 x 4-1/4, punched with the Triple Banner Punch. The Love Blossoms layer on top is 1-3/4 x 4, punched with the Triple Banner Punch, then adhered together with the White Baker’s Twine sandwiched between the two layers.
On three of the banners, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper was punched with the Sweetheart Punch and the Little Letters Thinlet Dies “L, V, and E” were die-cut from Red Metallic Paper and adhered with Tombow Multipurpose Glue to the Glimmer Paper hearts.
On the fourth banner, a 3/4 x 3-3/4 strip of Glimmer Paper was punched with the Triple Banner Punch and adhered down the center. The heart from Bloomin’ Love stamp set was stamped with Real Red on Blushing Bride cardstock and hand-cut. Over top the Be Mine was stamped with Tuxedo Black Ink in the center of the Garden Green banner and hand-cut. It was placed on the banner with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Plus, the letter “O” from the Red Metallic Paper was added on the banner.
Three of the larger outline flowers were stamped with Tuxedo Black on Real Red and three of the smaller outline flowers were stamped with Tuxedo Black on Blushing Bride. The larger outline flower was also stamped twice more with Tuxedo Black on Garden Green and the petals cut to form leaves on three of the banners.
Small flowers were added to the larger flowers with Mini Glue Dots, and the leaves tucked under them. Perfect White Accents were added to the center of the flowers.
The Clear Wink of Stella was added to all the petals for lots of shimmer!

That’s it for the banner! The leftover piece of 2 x 3-1/2 Red Metallic Paper that I cut out the letters, I used for my card.

The base card is 4-1/4 x 11 Real Red, folded in half.
A 4 x 5-1/2 layer of Whisper White was added to the top.
A 2 x 3-3/4 strip of Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper was added on the left side.
The Red Metallic Love was adhered to a 2-1/2 x 4 piece of Love Blossoms Designer Paper with Stampin’ Dimensionals, then adhered to the cardfront.
The heart from Bloomin’ Love was stamped with Real Red on Blushing Bride and hand-cut.
The large outline flower was stamped with Real Red on Whisper White and cut out, the small outline flower was stamped with Real Red on Blushing Bride and adhered together with a Perfect White Accent in the center.

Lots of shine and glimmer on here!

OK…next stop is the fabulous Cindy Elam! You’ll love her projects, I’m sure! Then just continue on around the tour!

July 2015 Tour de Freaks

July 29, 2015 By Connie | 5 Comments

It’s time for the monthly Tour de Freaks blog hop! I love seeing everyone’s cards and projects. This month the group is sharing the cards made for the Control Freaks Swap at Convention. I really hated not going and missing out on this swaps…always a highlight to meet up with this group at Convention! But…glad we get to see the ideas anyway! You’ve probably just come from Heidi Bak’s blog...love her ideas, don’t you?

I used the card I made for an earlier Control Freaks New Catalog swap. I have kept it under wraps until now! I also added a coordinating little Curvy Keepsake Box! Of course, I had to use my favorite You’re Sublime stamp set!

Here’s a closeup of the card:

I used Tip Top Taupe for the base
I added strips of Bermuda Bay, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party and Soft Sky adhered to a layer of Whisper White, then embossed it with Elegant Dots folder.
I wrapped the Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine around and tied a bow.
The sub was stamped with Tuxedo Black on Whisper White, colored with Pool Party and Smoky Slate, then stamped again on Hello Honey and cut the body of the sub out and paper pieced it over the Whisper White one. It is cut with the Circle Framelit and layered on the next size circle of Tip Top Taupe. The fish were colored with Tangelo Twist.
In the center of the sub portholes I used the Perfect White Accents and popped up the circles on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I cut the Curvy Keepsake Box from Pool Party cardstock, then stamped along the bottom with the Wild About Flowers stems in Mossy Meadow and Old Olive Inks. The fish were stamped with Tuxedo Black and colored with Tangelo Twist Marker.
At the top, I did the submarine the same way and stamped/cut a second one so I could adhere it back to back at the top of the sub. Then the sub fits down over the tabs of the Curvy Keepsake Box, but it easy to take off and open the box since it isn’t permanently attached.

Fun, aren’t they? Now travel along to Julie Davison for the next stop on the Tour de Freaks and see what SHE came up with for the theme this month!

July Tour de Freaks…Free for All!

July 19, 2014 By Connie | 8 Comments

Woohoo! It’s time for the Tour de Freaks…brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! You’ve probably just come from LeeAnn Greff’s blog…weren’t her projects fun? Since many of our swappers are at Convention (lucky!), it is ANYTHING GOES this month! Many will be sharing the swaps they made for Convention! Since I didn’t go this year (sob!), I did a set of items up with my favorite set, Beautiful Bunch.

I absolutely LOVE the colors on these flowers! I stamped Calypso Coral over Crisp Cantaloupe, then Blushing Bride over So Saffron for the centers! The leaves are Mossy Meadow stamped on Old Olive. They are SO striking in real life!

The holder is a ~~Crystal Light Container~~ (edit: sorry, it is a Great Value Drink Mix container) that I saved…after I removed the label, the base was the perfect shade of Sahara Sand!

I used Sweet Taffy Designer Paper to wrap around the container and the Deco Label Framelit of Whisper White under the flower. The Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon wraps around the entire container. I even decorated the top with more DSP and a little flower.

The base of the card is Calypso Coral and it really makes the flower POP! I used all the same supplies as the container, but added the greeting from And Many More and the scallop design from Boutique Borders with Mossy Meadow Ink on the Sahara Sand cardstock for a little extra whimsical look!

I really love how these turned out. Make sure to continue around the Tour de Freaks tour with your next stop as Cindy Elam…you will love her projects!

Hello Sailor again!

May 18, 2014 By Connie | 3 Comments

So sorry that I have been a very bad blogger this week! Just a LOT going on after getting back from the Stampin’ Up! Incentive Cruise. Oh my…what an AWESOME time we had! The Allure of the Seas ship is truly HUGE and amazing! Even though I felt very little motion on the ship, on Monday I was feeling a little funny and getting used to being back on dry land, I guess! lol!

I’m very bummed that Stampin’ Up!’s Hello Sailor will not be in the new catalog! Better email me to order it NOW…the Occasions catalog ends on June 1st! I’ve used it quite a bit for masculine cards, even though my family really isn’t into sailing…they do love ski boats! This card is similar to the one I did for the Control Freaks Occasions Catalog Swap. I forgot to take a picture of the actual version I did for the swap. I needed to use less DSP in the background so I had enough to make 30 swap cards and I used another banner with that stripe DSP rather the full background. But other than that, it is the same.

Here are the details:

The base is 4 1/4 x 11 Summer Starfruit (will miss this in-color!)
The background is the stripe pattern from High Tide Designer Paper cut to 4 x 5 1/4.
I embossed the 2 x 4 3/4 Smoky Slate cardstock with the Woodgrain embossing folder and cut a flag end, then placed it down the center.
I used the Circle Framelits to cut out a Pacific Point and Whisper White circle rings, then cut away a portion of the Whisper White to make the life preserver. I looped the Summer Starfruit Twine around the top and secured the ends in the back. It is popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I used Summer Starfruit and Pacific Point Markers to ink up the Hello Sailor greeting and stamped on Whisper White, then cut with the Circle Framelit. I added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back.
The wheel was stamped with Smoky Slate on Whisper White and cut with the Circle Framelit (or 1″ punch). In the center I added a yellow Candy Dot.

Hope you like it! Come back tomorrow evening for the Control Freaks Tour de Freaks blog hop!

Happy Watercolor

February 5, 2014 By Connie | 2 Comments

I'm pretty sure I haven't shown this card yet! It is one that I did for my Control Freaks swap several weeks ago! It features Happy Watercolor from the Occasions catalog, along with the Starburst Framelits! One of the fun things with this Happy Watercolor stamp set is the "watercolor" image in it! So fun to stamp it behind the flower without pulling out your AquaPainter! Now…since I'm a card carrying Control Freak, you KNOW that "messy" watercoloring is just NOT my style and really a struggle to pull off! lol!

OK…here are the details.

The base is 4 1/4 x 11 Tangerine Tango, folded in half.
I embossed a 4 x 5 1/4 layer of Very Vanilla with the Delicate Dots folder (a FREE SAB selection!)
I cut a 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 Baked Brown Sugar layer.
On top of that is a 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 So Saffron layer, with a 2 x 2 1/2 piece of Retro Fresh DSP along the bottom. I hid the seam with the Baked Brown Sugar Ruffled Ribbon.
I stamped Thank You in the Happy Watercolor stamp set with Baked Brown Sugar above the ribbon.
The flower was stamped with Early Espresso on Very Vanilla, the background watercolor image with Tangerine Tango on top and cut with the Starburst Framelit. I layered it on a 2" circle (Circle Die) of Tangerine Tango cardstock and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals!
Finally, I added two Pearls in the upper right corner for some bling.

I love how all the "circles" in the background embossed folder, the DSP and the Framelits all coordinate so well together!

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October 2013 Tour de Freaks

October 19, 2013 By Connie | 8 Comments

Woohoo! Time for the Tour De Freaks brought to you by the Control Freak Stampers. This month our theme is Grateful…perfect timing with November Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner. You've probably just come from the fabulous Wendy Weixler's blog...love her ideas, don't you?

I just finished a Vendor Fair and one of the things I made were some Christmas and Winter Nugget Tins. So when I was thinking of a project to make for this blog hop, and the tins were laying on my desk, I thought one would be perfect as a thank you for the hostess of Thanksgiving dinner. Of course…in my family, that would be me! lol! Of course, I made up a matching card, too!

Aren't they nice and colorful? Kind of like the trees are around here…this is supposed to be our peak weekend of fall colors! So, let's start with a closeup of the card…love the touch of burlap in the Burlap Ribbon…I trimmed off the seam edges to give it a more rustic look. I also added a touch of sparkle with the Champagne Glimmer Paper. Love that striped embossing folder, too!

And here is a closeup of the Nugget Tin. I love the Autumn Leaves die used with Sweater Weather…so many fun prints in that Designer Paper package!

Each of the Hershey Nuggets are wrapped with Designer Paper (overlapping the DSP so that the glue doesn't hit the wrapper and taint the taste of the chocolate.) I tied Linen Thread thru the Naturals wood button and placed on the front with the Harvest of Thanks "Gratitude" greeting. The belly band slides off to open up the container. I used a cardstock "divider" inside so the nuggets stay in place.

I hope you've enjoyed my "Gratitude projects"! Next stop is Mindy Backes…I always admire her projects! Then continue around on the tour until you are back here to complete it!

Bootiful Occasions

August 13, 2012 By Connie | 2 Comments

Hey…did you notice? Create with Connie and Mary has a NEW LOOK for the Holidays and I have the new badge on my blog!!! We've opened our Early Bird Special Price savings, too! Go check it out!

I wanted to show off my Control Freaks New Catalog Swap that I participated in a couple months ago…right before Convention. I got the idea from my upline, Candy, to use this swing template for my card. I hadn't made one in years, and the set I selected for the swap, Bootiful Occasions, was perfect for it! Here is the view closed.

And, here is the view open!

The base is Cherry Cobbler, cut to 4 1/4 x 11, scored at 2 3/4 & 5 1/2. Fold in half, then fold the front part back on itself. I added a strip of Be of Good Cheer Designer Paper along the right edge. I used the 3 1/2" Circle to cut out the front half circle by only partially running it thru the Big Shot, then cut a 3" Circle of the DSP to fit inside. I also used the Perfect Polka Dots on the half folded in front.

I stamped the Christmas Boot in Black Stazon on Very Vanilla and colored with Cherry Cobbler and Sahara Sand Stampin' Write Markers and my AquaPainter. I added Dazzling Details to the cuff and tassels. I punched it out with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch. I stamped the greeting on Gumball Green and punched with the Large Oval Punch, popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front. I added some Gumball Green Stitched Ribbon tied along the front piece.

On the inside, I also added a greeting from More Merry Messages in Black Stazon on Gumball Green and punched with the 2 1/2" Circle. I love these motion cards…so much fun!

I'm getting ready to send in an order for more RIBBON SHARES…most shares are almost full. If you want in, email me…another order will be placed on Wednesday evening!

See RIBBON SHARE details HERE!!!

August 2011 Tour de Freaks!

August 19, 2011 By Connie | 17 Comments

Yes! It is time for the monthly Tour de Freaks, brought to you by your Control Freak Swappers! Is it your favorite day of the month? It is mine! I love to see what the other Control Freaks share with us! They always have such wonderful ideas. You've probably just come from the awesome Patty Bennett's blog…love her projects! Or, if you are starting here, we have 13 stops and you go around the tour and end back here! Remember, the tour doesn't officially start until the morning of August 20th, so not all links may be working yet if you get here earlier!

The theme this month is a sneak peek of the upcoming Holiday Mini! I know most of my customers have received their copy in the mail within the past couple days! I'm hearing LONG wishlists! lol! I featured the stamp sets Gently Falling and Hand Penned Holidays in my projects this month, along with the WONDERFUL Spice Cake Designer Paper. I'm already ordering a couple more packages of it…LOVE it! Quite frankly, though, I had trouble getting started! Maybe it is a letdown after the wedding, or maybe just wishful thinking that summer isn't going to end! I decided to do sunflowers to go along with my Gently Falling leaves for my ensemble.

My first project uses one of the new Kraft Gift Boxes in the Holiday Mini! They are a great size for small gifts! I filled mine with a cello bag of candy corn! They are nice and sturdy and at a price of $2.95 for 4 of them, a pretty good deal! I covered each of the sides and top with Spice Cake Designer Paper, then wrapped the 1 1/4" Soft Suede Stripe Ribbon around and tied a knot on the front. I went looking for a sunflower and thought that Blossom Party Originals Die looked the most like one. I cut it with More Mustard cardstock, spritzed it with water and crumpled it, then added More Mustard Ink around the edges. For the center, I punched a 1 3/8" Circle of Early Espresso, then ran it thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. I added Very Vanilla neutral flower button to the center and tied with the Early Espresso Bakers Twine so I don't have a "naked" button! I stamped the smallest leaf from Stampin' Up!'s Gently Falling stamp set with Old Olive and then the outline with Early Espresso and cut them out. The flower and leaves are popped up on the top with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added the greeting from Stampin' Up!'s Hand Penned Holidays in Early Espresso Ink on Pool Party cardstock. It really gives it a POP of color with the other all earthly tones.

I followed the same color scheme and design as the box on this card. I did make a double bow from the Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon for this one! I also used the Square Lattice Impressions Folder on 3/4 of the background Pool Party cardstock, leaving the bottom un-embossed so I could stamp Give Thanks on it.

The sketch this week from Stamping 411 inspired the design for this card. Again, I used the same elements as the box and previous card. Love how the Spice Cake Designer Paper patterns all coordinate together! Stampin' Up! sure makes it EASY to create!

I hope you enjoyed my Sunflower projects this month! Make sure you continue on the tour with the fabulous MARY BROWN! She always has such fantastic ideas!