Out on a Limb

Out on a Limb again!

September 23, 2011 By Connie | 7 Comments

Well, if you stopped by today to see the tutorial for the ruffled purse, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I had some scary moments on Wednesday morning of "what might have happened"! My desktop computer monitor suddenly started sizzling and then smoke and sparks started shooting out of it! A LOT of smoke and sparks! I saved what I was working on and started pulling the plugs…then grabbed the base and ran it out into the garage. Luckily, when I unplugged it, the smoke and everything stopped. But…I started thinking about what would have happened had I been down in my studio or in another room and hadn't seen what was going on! YIKES!

But, yes, the story continues. This desktop computer is about 7 years old…I know…ancient in computer worlds, but it has SO much of my work stuff on it and pictures and favorites and emails, etc. It would be a PAIN to move all that over. But, when I ran to the store to get a monitor, the salesperson (trying to convince me to buy a whole new computer), mentioned that I would have trouble finding a monitor that would work with that old of a computer. Well, she was right…the one I bought there didn't work. So, back to the store…stopping at the local discount store thinking they may have "older" models and I did find one that was compatible. AND, I do love the widescreen. So, I'm back in business, but now a day behind in prepping for all my classes next week AND my time to do the tutorial disappeared! lol! So…all that to say, I'll be working on it…but don't know exactly when it will get up. Sorry!

But, I made time today to do a card using one of the sets we are featuring over on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition this week…Out on a Limb. This one was kind of different for me. I don't know if I LOVE it, but it is different!

There is LOTS of sparkle and glitz on this card! The Spider Web Impressions Folder I used Old Olive cardstock and highlighted with Frost Shimmer Paint and a sponge dauber…very shimmery in real life. On top I added the Curly Label punched from the Silver Glimmer Paper…more glittery fun-ness! On top is a 1 1/4" Circle of Basic Black with two Rhinestone Jewels. Over that is the Tangerine Tango Modern Label punch with Happy Halloween from Delightful Dozen stamp set in Basic Black. I stamped and cut out the three little spiders from Out on a Limb and placed them with Stampin' Dimensions around the web. The Old Olive was layered on Basic Gray and the Tangerine Tango Dotted Ribbon wrapped around and tied. I added more spiders with Basic Black ink on the Basic Gray layer and Rhinestone Jewels on their bodies. The base of the card is Tangerine Tango.

So…what do you thinK? It is growing on me!

Create with Connie and Mary has just started the six weeks of the Holiday Edition 2011! Make sure you sign up…we have some fabulous projects by some FABULOUS designers! Join us! You have access 24/7 and we leave our site up for over a year so you can refer back to the projects we've done! Click on the Buy Now button on my right sidebar!

CCMC 168 – Out on a Limb

September 22, 2011 By Connie | 9 Comments

Oh, over on Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge, we have a FUN sketch for everyone to try! Quick and easy one, too! Make sure to check out what Challenge Team has done with it over on Create with Connie and Mary!

And here is my card. I found one of these "starts" on my desk…you know…a partially finished piece. I had the circle medallion left over from the Control Freaks swaps I made. I thought it would be perfect for this sketch. See, my focal element is round…it is OK to change out the rectangle we show to something else! Our sketch is a start for you to get creative!

I love this kitty and her tail hanging over the branch! I stamped the branch first in Basic Gray, then the kitty with Basic Black and colored her eyes with Old Olive. The moon was done in Basic Black and colored with a So Saffron marker. I punched out the Whisper White with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch and layered on the Perfect Pennants Die. That was layered in a 3" circle of Cajun Craze cardstock. I used three patterns in the Frightful Sights Designer Paper and cut them into the strips for the background of Old Olive cardstock. I layered it on the base of Cajun Craze cardstock. I stamped Spooky from Spooky Bingo Bits in Basic Black under the focal element. I added a "Mary bow" to the side with a Pumpkin Glimmer Brad in the center. Finally, I used three 1/4" Circles along the side and across the top cut from the Silver Glimmer Paper…LOVE the sparkle!

Again, make sure you check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this sketch…as usual, we have LOTS of variety!

Out on a Limb

September 17, 2011 By Connie | 6 Comments

Wow…thank you SO much for the wonderful response to my Trio of Treats Tote! I'm glad you enjoyed the FREE TUTORIAL and the chance to use some of those empty containers you have sitting around! I hope you also signed up for the Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary, cause I tell you there are MORE fabulous projects in store for you! BUT…you need to be a subscriber to see them…we do NOT preview our projects. They are exclusive to subscribers only.

It's not too late! TODAY is the LAST DAY to sign up for the Holiday Edition at the special Early Bird Price…save $5 off the regular $34.95 US price…only $29.95. We will be sending out passcode information Saturday and our Holiday Edition officially starts on Sunday! We'll be announcing the winners of Blog Candy on Sunday, too! Click on my BUY NOW button to the right on my blog!

And, we are announcing our LAST GUEST DESIGNER today on Create with Connie and Mary! You will love her project…so go find out more about her!

But, I wanted to share a card with you that shows one of the sets we will be featuring next week on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition…It's Halloween Week! That will be followed by Fall/Thanksgiving Week, Special Product Week and then 3 full weeks of Christmas. There is a little something for everyone! Of course, you can switch out the sets/supplies for many of our projects with other ones! My card uses Out on a Limb today!

This card was fun to make! I started with a base of Cajun Craze cardstock and layered on Basic Black. I ran a piece of Basic Gray cardstock thru the Big Shot with the Spider Web Impressions Folder, then highlighted the raised areas and edges with Basic Black Ink. For the focal element, I stamped the spiders from Out on a Limb at the top of the Whisper White with Basic Black ink, then stamped EEK from Spooky BIngo Bits (told you I love that set for the greetings!) in Cajun Craze. I added a little strip of Frightful Sights Designer Paper and a rhinestone jewel. Then I added a small strip of Silver Glimmer Paper across the top of the Whisper White.

It screams FUN to me!

Again, make sure to check out who our last Guest Designer is over on Create with Connie and Mary! And remember:

EARLY BIRD SAVINGS ENDS SATURDAY AT 11:55 PM EST.

Out on a Limb 3

September 5, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

OK…as promised, here is another prototype of my Control Freak Swap for the Holiday Mini. You can see version one HERE. I did like this one…and it is closer to where I ended up. In the end, the spider web and spiders bugged me on this card. So, I opted not to go with it. I did like the moon behind the cat!

For this card, I started with a base of Basic Gray cardstock. I layered on Pumpkin Pie that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Spider Web Impressions Folder. I added a piece of the stripe pattern from Pick Your Poison Designer Paper…can you see the glittery strip of Silver Glimmer paper down the center of the DSP? I also added a small Scallop Border Punch piece of the Silver Glimmer Paper in the upper right corner for a little accent!

I stamped the trio of spiders from Out on a Limb stamp set in Basic Black on the spider web impression. Then I stamped the limb and the cat from Out on a Limb on Whisper White. I punched a circle in a scrap piece of paper, then used Daffodil Delight to ink up the moon in the background. The Whisper White is layered onto Basic Black cardstock.

So…as I said, I'm getting closer to what my finished swap card would look like! Stay tuned!

Did you check out my For Sale items HERE?

Still a good selection of Christmas sets left!

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STAY TUNED!!! TOMORROW is the first day of our FREE preview session! Each of the Design Team made up a FREE project with tutorial over the next couple weeks for you to see what we are all about! Don't forget to check us out over on Create with Connie and Mary tomorrow…there IS Blog Candy, too! A FREE subscription to Create Holiday Edition!

Create with Connie and Mary is getting ready for our SEVENTH Edition, the Holiday Edition 2011! We've started Early Bird Pricing…save $5 off the normal $34.95 US! At only $29.95, your subscription will get you 6 weeks of daily projects with FULL step-by-step tutorials, challenges, and a chance to win prizes. That is less than $1 a day, and is a HUGE bargain! Don't wait…sign up today!

Out on a Limb

September 3, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

I'm going to play a little teasing game with you over the next couple posts. I did this a couple years ago. As most of you know, I am a member of the Control Freak Swappers. Some BIG creative names in this group (should I name drop? lol…) Anyway…I always want to make my swaps EXTRA special…this one for the Holiday Mini swap. I frequently do up 3-4 different swap card ideas before I hit on the one that will be my final swap card for them.

Here is my first prototype. I did LOVE it…but didn't want to cut out 30 of those little witches to sit on top of her ledge! AND…I didn't want to cut out 90 of the BOO letters from the Silver Glimmer Paper either (3 x 30). I do love the Halloween Hang-ups Jumbo Wheel…very cool hanging down.

Anyway…the base of my card is Sahara Sand. I layered on Basic Black. On the top layer of Sahara Sand, I ran the Halloween Hang-ups Jumbo Wheel across the bottom in Basic Black. I added a strip of Pumpkin Pie cardstock on top. Then I cut a strip of the Pick Your Poison Designer Paper and scored it with the new Simply Scored Tool every 1/4". I pleated it back and forth and then attached it to the front to hide the seam between the Sahara Sand and the Pumpkin Pie cardstocks. I ran my Basic Black Ink Pad across the tops of the pleats for a little aging, too, and cut the end with my 1" Square Punch for a pennant shape. I also added two Basic Black Mini Brads to the end.

On top of the Designer Paper, I stamped the witch in Basic Black on Whisper White, then cut her out. I placed her on her perch with Stampin' Dimensionals. I cut out BOO from Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies with the Big Shot and the Silver Glimmer Paper and adhered across the top, too.

A very fun card, but just a little time consuming to make 30 for a swap. So…stay tuned for Round 2! Hope you come back to check it out!

WOW! Our Designers have started sending in their projects and tutorials…all I can say is WOW! You will be so amazed at the talent in this Edition! Create with Connie and Mary is getting ready for our SEVENTH Edition, the Holiday Edition 2011! We've started Early Bird Pricing…save $5 off the normal $34.95 US! At only $29.95, your subscription will get you 6 weeks of daily projects with FULL step-by-step tutorials, challenges, and a chance to win prizes. That is less than $1 a day, and is a HUGE bargain! Don't wait…sign up today!

Out on a Limb

August 31, 2011 By Connie | 5 Comments

Wednesdays are sketch challenge days over on SCS and I try to remember to look at them! Today's looked really fun, so I thought I'd participate!

I wanted to use a new set in the Holiday Mini, Out on a Limb, for my card! These little images are cute, and small, so I was challenged to make them appear large enough for the large panel on the front of this sketch!

I chose the Designer Paper first, Stampin' Up!'s Frightful Sight, which gave me my color scheme. The base of the card is Cajun Craze. I layered on the Frightful Sight polka dot pattern down the center. I added a second Cajun Craze polka dot pattern for one of the panels and layered it on Basic Gray. Now…originally I had a white panel over the front Basic Gray panel…but it just looked to stark. So, I had the idea to stamp directly on the Basic Gray…making it look dark and spooky…like Halloween should be! I stamped some clouds from the Out on a Limb set in Basic Gray, then added even more with my sponge and a scrap Scallop Circle. I masked the cloud so I could stamp the moon from the same set in the background…then colored it with a White Gel Pen. The Out on the Limb tree is stamped with Basic Black, and the same with the hanging bats from that set. Finally, I used the Color Spritzer Tool for some added texture in the corners.

I wrapped the Black Satin Ribbon around and tied with a knot on the front. I used the Spooky greeting from Stampin' Up!'s Halloween Bingo Bits and colored each of the letters with my Stampin' Write Markers. I used the Spritzer on it, too, then punched the Whisper White with my 1" Circle punch, layered on the Cajun Craze 1 1/4" Circle and finally the Old Olive 1 3/8" Circle. I'm so happy with how this turned out! A little trial and error, but it did work!

This is just one of the sets we will be featuring during Halloween week on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition 2011! We also will do a Fall Week, and several weeks of Christmas. Oh…we have a special product week, too, that promises to be SO inspiring! Here are the details on how you subscribe!