Elements of Style

July 6, 2010 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Wow…sorry! The holiday weekend was busy, and lots of paperwork remaining from earning the cruise PLUS my Customer Appreciation Parties have consumed all my time! I wanted to at least post something today so you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! I also decided to go to Convention, so need to start thinking about swaps and packing to go! Yikes!

I don't think I ever shared my Control Freaks Swap card for the Spring Mini! Since I had 35 to make, I knew I didn't want to color in the flowers…but I liked how the Soft Suede Classic Ink looked stamped on Sahara Sand!

I started with a base of Soft Suede Cardstock, then layered on Rich Razzleberry that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. I reversed the Polka Dot Ribbon to the solid side and wrapped around it. I cut the Top Note with Sahara Sand cardstock, then stamped on the large rose from Stampin' Up!'s Elements of Style in Soft Suede Ink. I added some speckles on each side with the Color Spritzer Tool. I punched a Scallop Oval from Soft Suede, then stamped For You from the same stamp set in Rich Razzleberry on Whisper White, punched with the 1 1/4 Circle, and layered on the 1 3/8 Rich Razzleberry Circle. I added two Gold Mini Brads on each side.

Hope you have a wonderful week. It's Tuesday already so a short week for most!

Elements of Style

May 28, 2010 By Connie | 5 Comments

Stampin' Up's Elements of Style stamp in the Summer Mini is such a pretty set. I've used it for wedding, vintage, contemporary and now very soft looks. It works with it all! The color combination of Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray and Whisper White just popped into my head when I was looking at this set to make up my card for Stamping 411's weekly sketch. I love how it turned out! Hope you enjoy it, too!

I'm sending this card to our best friends' mom…she found out about a month ago that she has Pancreatic Cancer and it is pretty far gone. I feel so bad for them…she could use your prayers!

I started with the base of Pretty in Pink and layered on Basic Gray that I distressed with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool. I ran the Whisper White layer thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder and gently distressed the edges of it, too. For my focal element, I stamped the large rose vine with Basic Gray on Whisper White and distressed the edges. I layered it on more Basic Gray and then Pretty in Pink with distresssed edges (I think I was channeling Tiffany this week!) If you look closely, you'll see that I used Itty Bitty Background stamp with Pretty in Pink Classic Ink in the corners. I wrapped some Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon around and tied. This was all popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Then I stamped Thinking of You in Basic Gray on Pretty in Pink cardstock and punched with the Modern Label punch. I added two Square Fire Rhinestone Brads on the edges (I had to trim the legs with my scissors so they wouldn't show). I added more Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the label to the card.

Have a wonderful weekend! Check out the rest of the Design Operators over on Stamping 411! I've got plenty to keep me busy this weekend…need to do a little clothes shopping for our trip to Cancun!

Create with Connie and Mary Sketch Challenge

May 1, 2010 By Connie | 3 Comments

Today is the last day of the FREE Preview Week over on Create with Connie and Mary! It has been a fun week using the Elements of Style stamp set, Presto Patterns Specialty Paper, Rough Type and Vintage Tags products. I hope you enjoyed the projects! Starting Sunday, we will be featuring the Tropical Party Stamp Set, Island Floral Bigz Die and Island Oasis Designer Paper, but you do need to be a subscriber to view them.

The WINNERS of the FREE subscriptions have been announced! Stop over to Create with Connie and Mary and see if it was YOU! But…you only have until May 7th at 11:55 PM EST to claim your PRIZE!

I also have some special Blog Candy to offer mext week! You will want to come back and see what I have planned! They are SO much fun! (And yes…we have SEVERAL available!)

Today's CCMC1 is a Sketch Challenge that I created for our first challenge. Check out what the other designers do with this sketch over on Create with Connie and Mary! I'm always amazed at how different everyone's cards are.

I decided to flip the sketch on the side. I started with a base of Soft Suede cardstock. I layered on Melon Mambo that I roughed up around the edges with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool. I sponged some Soft Suede Classic Ink around the edges. Then I stamped the large rose pattern from Stampin' Up!'s Elements of Style in Soft Suede randomly in the background on another Soft Suede cardstock layer. I also distressed the edges and sponged around with Soft Suede Classic Ink. I wrapped the Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon around to the back, then created a bow in the front with two more pieces of the Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon folded into loops, then secured on the front with a Fire Square Rhinestone Brad. I stamped the rose image on Whisper White layer with Soft Suede Classic Ink, then stamped it again on scrap Whisper White, colored with the AquaPainter and Stampin' Write Markers in Melon Mambo and Soft Suede and cut it out. I placed it in the center of the Whisper White. I stamped For You with Soft Suede on Whisper White and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch. I punched Melon Mambo with 1 3/8 circle and layered it. Then finally a Soft Suede Scallop Circle and pierced the holes in the scallops. The Melon Mambo layer was run thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder and sponged around the edges with Soft Suede Classic Ink. I love the vintage feel to this card and the colors!

Supplies:

Sets: Elements of Style (w118611, c120045)

Inks: Soft Suede Classic Ink (115637), Melon Mambo and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers (Asst 116329)

Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo (115320), Soft Suede (115318)

Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon (115612), Square Fire Rhinestone Brads (109112), 1 1/4 Circle Punch (104403), 1 3/8 Circle Punch (104401), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), Piercing Tool (105531), Mat Pack (105826), Cutter Kit (106958), Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder (117335), Sponge Daubers (102892)

Again, don't forget to check out the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary design team to see what they did this week! If you are a subscriber, play along and link to Mr. Linky over on the site! You will be entered into a drawing for one of two $75 merchandise gift certificates at the end of the Summer Edition!

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition….$24.95 US

Day 4 – Create with Connie and Mary Sneak Peek

April 28, 2010 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Today, is Day 4 of the Create with Connie and Mary Preview Week! Mary Brown is back today with a BEAUTIFUL Vintage Scrapbook page! I love the colors she used. The Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Paper is especially gorgeous behind the cut out Elements of Style rose flowers. She even has a sweet little Mini Vintage Tag hanging from the Bow.

Check out Create with Connie and Mary for more details! Leave a comment over THERE to get a chance at one of the FREE subscriptions this week! We are giving out a total of SIX free subscriptions! Make sure to check back on Saturday to see if you won!

If you haven't joined, you only have a couple more days of PREVIEW week, then Create with Connie and Mary new projects will only be available to those who have subscribed! You know you don't want to miss out…so join now!

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This is our Preview Week on the Create with Connie and Mary site. From April 26 – May 1, the site will be open for everyone to view. For this preview week only, you will get to see the sort of projects and challenges that we will feature on the site.

Beginning on Sunday, May 2, you will only be able to view the new daily posts if you are a subscriber.

And this session we are proud to announce that Mary Brown joins me as Team Member! Guest Designers Kerin Sylvester and Monika Davis are back! They will be sharing in the Challenges and creating some special projects for you, too!

To find out more about the site and to order a subscription, please visit us at Create with Connie and Mary!

Would you like to WIN a subscription to Create with Connie and Mary? Each of our team members will be giving away subscriptions on their blogs this week. To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on our team member's blog on the day that we are featuring them. TODAY, LEAVE A COMMENT ON MARY'S POST OVER ON CREATE WITH CONNIE AND MARY!

All the winners will be announced on Saturday, May 1st! If you are a winner and have already subscribed, we will refund the price of your subscription! Check back on Create with Connie and Mary to see if you won!

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition – $24.95 US

Day 2 – Create with Connie and Mary Sneak Peek!

April 26, 2010 By Connie | 114 Comments

Welcome to Day 2 of Preview Week for Create with Connie and Mary where we are showing you examples of the type of projects we provide during the 4 week subscription! Today is my turn to show you a Sneak Peek of one of the projects I made for Create with Connie and Mary's Preview Week AND to give away a FREE subscription! Leave a comment on this post to win!

This week on Create are featuring Elements of Style, Mostly Vintage, Rough Type and Mini Vintage Tags. Over on the Create with Connie and Mary site, I have close-up pictures of each of the Pocket Mini Album pages, AND a step-by-step Tutorial for you to print out and use! I had SO much fun creating this project and I hope you like it, too!

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This is our Preview Week on the site. From April 26 – May 1, the site will be open for everyone to view. For this preview week only, you will get to see the sort of projects and challenges that we will feature on the site.

Beginning on Sunday, May 2, you will only be able to view the new daily posts if you are a subscriber.

To find out more about the site and to order a subscription, please visit us at Create with Connie and Mary!

Would you like to WIN a subscription to Create with Connie and Mary? Each of our team members will be giving away subscriptions on their blogs this week. To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on our team member's blog on the day that we are featuring them. TODAY IS MY DAY TO GIVE AWAY A FREE SUBSCRIPTON! LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST TO BE ENTERED TO WIN!

All the winners will be announced on Saturday, May 1st! If you are a winner and have already subscribed, we will refund the price of your subscription!

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition

Day 1 – Create with Connie and Mary Sneak Peek!

April 25, 2010 By Connie | 2 Comments

Elements of Style Basket 033

Here's a quick peek of Mary Brown's basket project over on Create with Connie and Mary today! Head on over to see how she created this cute little basket lid! So much fun! She's got some great step by step directions for you.

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This is our Preview Week on the site and is the LAST DAY to get EARLY BIRD PRICING! You save $5 off the regular $24.95 price. From April 26 – May 1, the site will be open for everyone to view. For this preview week only, you will get to see the sort of projects and challenges that we will feature on the site.

Beginning on Sunday, May 2, you will only be able to view the new daily posts if you are a subscriber.

To find out more about the site and to order a subscription, please visit us at Create with Connie and Mary!

Would you like to WIN a subscription to Create with Connie and Mary? Each of our team members will be giving away subscriptions on their blogs this week. To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on our team member's blog on the day that we are featuring them. To enter to win today, please leave a comment on Mary Brown's Blog. All the winners will be announced on Saturday, May 1st!

HINT: On Monday, it is MY turn to give away a FREE subscription, so make sure you come back tomorrow and leave a comment on my Monday blog post to get a chance to win!

If you are a winner and have already subscribed, we will refund the price of your subscription!

Elements of Style

April 25, 2010 By Connie | 9 Comments

Wow, I combined two challenges today to create my card…the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #SSSC66 and Curtain Call Act #27 color combination of Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery and Whisper White! I LOVE that color combination and it was a FUN sketch!

Since I was using Pink Pirouette, I knew I wanted a soft look to my Elements of Style rose image and show that it doesn't have to be vintage! I stamped the image in Versamark on Whisper White and used my sponge daubers and Stampin' Pastels to color in the roses and leaves! I cut it out with my Circle Scissors to a 3 1/2" size and then cut a circle mat from Melon Mambo at 3 5/8" size. The base card is 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 Pink Pirouette square card (I am SO glad that color will be coming back!) and layered with Certainly Celery cardstock. I stamped the vine image from Elements of Style with Certainly Celery Classic Ink in the corners on the right side. I used my Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack to make the designs in the corners of the left side. I added strips of designer paper in the background from Sweet Pea Designer Paper and Razzleberry Lemonade. FInally, I added a bow made from the Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon and placed it on the base of the stamped rose image. That stamp set is so pretty, and what a great way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon stamping!

Don't forget! Today is the LAST CHANCE to get the Early Bird Pricing for Create with Connie and Mary! Save $5 off the regular $24.95 price! It's PREVIEW week…check out Mary's awesome project for today!

Stamping 411 – Elements of Style

April 16, 2010 By Connie | 11 Comments

This sketch was one of the more difficult ones I've tried with Stamping 411. Of course, when I see what the other operators have done, I'll be hitting myself on the head…duh…why didn't I think of that? But, you know how you get something in your mind and it won't let go. This didn't turn out how I anticipated. It's ok…just not my favorite! I like all the elements, just not how they came together, I guess! lol!

I did use one of the new sets in the Summer Mini, so you are getting a sneak peek! Stampin' Up!'s Elements of Style is a old-fashioned vintage style set, I think. I started with a base of Kraft Cardstock, then added Bella Bleu Designer Paper over top, I distressed the edges first with my Cutter Kit, then a sponge dauber and Brocade Blue Classic Ink. I added the Kraft print in the Bella Bleu Designer Paper to Very Vanilla cardstock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Top Note die. I stamped over the Top Note with Brocade Blue Classic Ink and the Rose image. It kind of gave it a split negative technique look. I added Vanilla Satin Ribbon behind the points of the Top Note…then a Kraft Taffeta Ribbon bow in the corner. I tied on the greeting, Love, from Stampin' Up!'s Tiny Tags stamp set on Brocade Blue and punched with the Medium Jewelry Tag punch.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the Design Team Operators came up with over on Stamping 411! And, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I have a downline meeting on Sunday…should be fun!