Filled with Love

Stamping 411 – Love Impressions

February 4, 2011 By Connie | 7 Comments

Are you ready? Today's Stamping 411 sketch is VERY easy…and you know…those easy ones are always harder for me! lol! So grab your stamps and play along with us!

I did like how my card turned out…especially after I convinced myself that I didn't have to have the sentiment in the same place as shown on the sketch! It's super simple…you could make LOTS of them for the Valentines on your list!

Once again I started with Pink Pirouette cardstock, ran the front thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder. I added a piece of Love Impressions Designer Paper, layered onto Basic Gray and then Real Red cardstock. I wrapped the Real Red Taffeta Ribbon around and tied a knot.

I punched the Full Heart punch from Red Glimmer Paper and placed it on the front with some Stampin' Dimensionals. Finally, I stamped Happy Valentine's Day from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Basic Black Classic Ink on Whisper White, then cut it to a banner shape. I placed it on the Glimmer Heart with a Stampin' Dimensional. The Designer Paper and the Red Glimmer Heart do all the work making it POP!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Operators did this week over on Stamping 411! I'm sure they will have some FABULOUS designs!

Stamping 411 – Filled with Love

January 21, 2011 By Connie | 11 Comments

We have a fun, new sketch for you to try over on Stamping 411! Mine is pretty simple, I think, but couldn't think of how to jazz it up any more without starting over! I know I'll be smacking my head when I see all the lovely creations by the rest of the Design Operators!

And here is my card using Filled with Love Stamp Set:. Last chance on the Filled with Love Promotion…it ends January 24th!

I started with a base of Real Red, then layered on the Love Impressions Designer Paper. I stamped the word, LOVE from Filled with Love in Basic Gray on Whisper White, then layered it on Basic Gray cardstock. I punched the Small Heart from Real Red Glimmer Paper and put it in the center of the O, popped up with a Stampin' Dimensional.

I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch on a strip of Red Glimmer Paper and put it under the focal point. I laid down Sticky Strip in the background and added my ruffled ribbon over top of it and secured it in the back of the Designer Paper. Finally, I added a Real Red large Button with a Pewter Glimmer Brad in the center for some extra sparkle!

Pretty simple card and somehow masculine looking with all the streamlined edges. I think I'll keep this one for my hubby for Valentine's Day!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Operators did on Stamping 411! Then make your card using the sketch and upload it over there!

Filled with Love

January 20, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

We have a BIG day for you over on Create with Connie and Mary! Not only is it our Thursday Challenge, featuring a wonderful sketch, but you can also leave a comment for BLOG CANDY! No…not here…go to Create with Connie and Mary, look at the fabulous cards the Design Team have made, then leave a comment TODAY to win a FREE subscription to Create with Connie and Mary's Occasions Edition!

What do you get for your subscription fee? You get a new project EVERY DAY Sunday through Friday (with at LEAST TWO FULL TUTORIALS EACH WEEK) and a fun challenge on Saturday to join (and have the opportunity to win prizes at the end of the 5 weeks). For those projects not having a full tutorial, we provide you with an easy to download and print project sheet! HOW COOL IS THAT!

During the Preview period we will be offering a special subscription rate of $24.95 for 5 weeks of daily ideas using the stamps and products in the Occasions and Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalogs! This is $5 off the regular 5 week price of $29.95. Early Bird Pricing ends Saturday, January 22nd at 11 pm EST! So DON'T DELAY! Use the paypal button on my right sidebar to subscribe TODAY…before it is TOO late

So…here is this week's sketch. Make up a sample using our sketch, then upload your creation over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Here is my take on the sketch!

I used the fabulous set, Filled with Love, available as a bundle with the Love Patterns Designer Paper only until January 24th! With the purchase of both the stamp set and designer paper, you also get a free package of Bitty Buttons!

I used a base of Basic Gray cardstock. I cut a piece of Love Impressions Designer Paper in the XO pattern. I added Real Red sides punched with the Dotted Ribbon Punch. I wrapped some Real Red Satin Ribbon around and tied with a knot. For my focal point, I inked up the flower stamp from Filled with Love with Basic Gray on the stem and Real Red for the hearts and stamped on Whisper White. I punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch. I stamped Be My Valentine (again from Filled with Love) with Real Red next to the flowers. I layered the Decorative Label on the medium oval from the Ovals #2 Die and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals! Finally, I added two Rhinestone Jewels to the heart flowers!

Make sure to check out the Challenge Team samples AND don't forget to leave a comment TODAY (Thursday) on Create with Connie and Mary for your chance to win a FREE subscription to the Occasions Edition!

January Tour de Freaks!

January 19, 2011 By Connie | 16 Comments

Gosh…can you believe another month has gone by and it is time for the January Tour de Freaks? We have 12 fabulous stops this month, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! You've probably just come from Lisa Young's blog…don't you LOVE her work? But, you can keep going around all 12 stops until you come back here! The theme this month is Valentine cards, gifts and home decor! Note: If you are arriving here on the 19th, please note that not all links may be working yet. The tour officially begins on January 20th.

So, for my first project, I did a little Hanging Heart candy holder box. Actually, it really isn't too little…it is cut from a full size sheet of cardstock. I'll put a link up to the pattern sometime next week so you can make one yourself! It is hard to tell, but it has 4 sides of hearts! Very fun. I just decided to focus on one side with my design, but I did randomly stamped the large heart from Filled with Love (the bundle goes away on January 24th!) with Real Red Classic Ink on the Real Red cardstock.

I used several punches to decorate the front. The Full Heart, Heart to Heart, 2 1/2 Circle and Small Oval punches. I punched from the Love Impressions Designer Paper and the Glimmer Paper (LOVE it!) I made a little "pennant" from Basic Gray, added the Be My Valentine from Filled with Love stamp set and punched with the Small Oval punch. I added two large Rhinestones on each side of the greeting for some added sparkle! This would easily fit a small gift inside or lots of candy! I added the Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon to the top with the Crop a Dile, so I could hang it from a doorknob or hanger!

EDIT: You can find my template for the Hanging Heart Box HERE!

My second project is a Home Decor hanging that I picked up at a local craft store. Here is what it looked like unfinished.

Here it is finished:

I laid the hanging upside down and traced the letters onto the Love Impressions Designer Paper, cut them out and glued to the black wood letters with Stampin' Glue Stick. I sanded the edges to get rid of the excess DSP. I tried to keep the hanging fairly simple…of course, I could have added lots more embellishments and ribbons. Here is more of a closeup for you:

L – Fun Flowers Bigz Die, Red Glimmer Paper, Heart to Heart Punch (medium heart), Dazzling Diamonds, Multipurpose Glue

O – Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Heart to Heart Punch (3 small hearts), Red Glimmer Paper

V – Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Full Heart Punch, Naturally Serif Alphabet Strip Die (X-O), Red Glimmer Paper

E – 2 3/8 Scallop Circle punched from Love Impressions Paper twice, 3/4 Circle Punch, Red Glimmer Paper

The hanger I weaved Real Red Taffeta Ribbon thru the chain and tied knots on the ends.

OK…I hope you enjoyed my projects! Now you are off to see the fabulous Mary Brown's projects! She rocked it out of the park as usual!

Filled with Love

January 6, 2011 By Connie | 5 Comments

Today is the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge and we have a FUN sketch for you to try! Everyone is welcome to stop by and play along! Upload your creation to Inlink over on the site. We're gearing up for the Preview Weeks starting on Sunday. You won't want to miss signing up for the Early Bird Special, too!

It's not too late to order the Filled with Love Bundle! Although, this stamp set was in the Holiday Mini, Stampin' Up! has made it available thru January 24th by purchasing the stamp set and Love Patterns (Real Red and Pretty in Pink Patterns Paper) as a bundle. You also get a package of the Bitty Buttons FREE! Just in time for Valentine's Day! If you want to see it, click on my left sidebar widget and it will take you to a photo.

I started with a Real Red base of cardstock and layered on Pink Pirouette cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder. I used the Two Scallop Square die and cut out the larger scallop square from the bundle Designer Paper. I then layered Pink Pirouette inside and Whisper White that I stamped with a Pink Pirouette heart from Filled with Love. I punched a small heart from the Red Glimmer Paper and placed it with a Stampin' Dimensional. I stamped Be My Valentine with Real Red on Pink Pirouette, added small Rhinestone Jewels on top and bottom, punched with the 1" circle punch and layered on the 1 1/4" circle punch. It is placed with Stampin' Dimensionals, too!.

Finally I took the lucious Real Red Satin Ribbon and wrapped it to the back, then added a big Real Red Satin bow on the front! I'm planning on giving this to my hubby for Valentine's Day!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has done with this sketch over on Create with Connie and Mary!

It's time for an EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition! It's a 5 week online subscription service for demos and customers featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration brochures. Right now you save $5 of the regular $29.95 price. There is a new project posted every day with a printable project sheet and an average of two fabulous step-by-step tutorials a week. Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access 24/7 to the site and the tutorials. Preview week starts January 9th! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Stamping 411- Lots of Love Letterpress

December 17, 2010 By Connie | 10 Comments

Time again for Stamping 411's Sketch Challenge! I've been really wanting to try the Letterpress debossed image plates, but hadn't time to sit down and figure it out! So…I pulled one out for this week's challenge!

Here is my card!

I started with the base of Real Red cardstock. Then I layered on the Letterpress Lots of Love layer, run thru the Big Shot with Pretty in Pink Craft Ink on Whisper White cardstock. I love how this plate debosses AND inks it up at the same time! I used Stampin' Up's Filled with Love Stamp Set and two of the patterns (one Real Red, one Pretty in Pink) in the Love Patterns Designer Paper…available as the current Stampin' Up! special bundle (purchase both stamp set and designer paper and get a free container of Itty Bitty Buttons!)

I wrapped some 1/8 Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon around the red polka dot in Love Patterns Designer Paper and tied with a bow. I stamped the Heart from Filled with Love with Pretty in Pink on Whisper White, then punched with the Full Heart punch. It is layered on a Real Red Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. Finally, I punched the Small Heart from the new Red Glitter paper that will be in the Occasions Mini Catalog! LOVE that paper…no mess, but LOTS of sparkly BLING! It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals, too!

What a FUN card! I love the square 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 size, too! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators did this week with the sketch!

Stamping 411 – Filled with Love again

December 10, 2010 By Connie | 11 Comments

Yes, time again for Stamping 411's sketch challenge! Don't the weeks go by FAST?

I love this set in the Holiday Mini. It almost gets overlooked in the back because Valentine's Day seems so far away! I'm secretly hoping that Stampin' Up! keeps it on the carryover list, but it doesn't appear that they will.

I started with a base of Pretty in Pink cardstock and layered on Whisper White. Then I adhered some Sweet & Sour Specialty Designer Paper on the bottom of Rose Red cardstock. I made a bow from the Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon to hide the seam. Then I used my Stampin' Write Markers in Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz to ink up the flower in Stampin' Up!'s Filled with Love stamp set and stamped it on Whisper White. I punched it out with the Decoratiive Label Punch. To make the mat behind it, I punched two more Decorative Labels out of Pretty in Pink and trimmed them to fit as layer behind the Whisper White. I stamped Feb 14 in Rose Red on Whisper White, then punched with the 3/4" circle punch and layered on a 1" circle of Pretty in Pink. I popped these up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

Finally, I added a couple Rhinestone Jewels to the tops of the flowers and decided that the area above the bow looked empty, so added the greeting from Filled with Love in Basic Black.

I think it made a pretty, feminine card and I think I'll save it for my mom!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Make sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators did this week!

Stamping 411 – Filled with Love

November 19, 2010 By Connie | 4 Comments

It is time for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! I took a little break from Christmas cards to use the Valentine set in the Holiday Mini called Filled with Love. It is a beautiful Valentine/Love set, but I'm afraid it is being overlooked because of all the other holiday products! So, here is the sketch #SSC178.

And here is my card!

I started with a base of Confetti Cream and layered on Real Red cardstock. I stamped the Feb. 14 image from Stampin' Up!'s Filled with Love, randomly with Real Red Classic Ink over the top half. I love the Basic Black, Real Red and Very Vanilla color combination in Love Letters Designer Paper, so I pulled out the bold Black and Very Vanilla polka dots for the bottom of my card. I made a double bow from Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon and wrapped the ends around to the back of the Real Red layer to adhere.

I stamped the large heart with Real Red on Very Vanilla and punched it with the Full Heart Punch. I added the little polka dot heart, stamped in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and punched with the Small Heart punch, then popped it up with a Stampin' Dimensional on the big heart. This was placed with Stampin' Dimensionals on a square of Real Red cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Polka Dots Impressions Folder, then layered onto Basic Black cardstock.

Finally, I stamped the Feb. 14 again with Basic Black on Real Red cardstock, punched with the 3/4 Circle Punch and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front surrounded by the black polka dots in the Designer Paper! Turned out pretty cool, in my humble opinion! lol!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators to see their designs this week! Then follow the sketch to make your own and upload it over on Mr. Linky!