Snow Much Fun

Build a Snowman

September 12, 2011 By Connie | 13 Comments

BLOG CANDY ALERT TODAY…SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION!

I'm taking a little break today from making Fall and Halloween cards! This snowman has been calling my name to make him into a card…I used him on my 3D Swap for Convention…surrounding a little hot chocolate packet! But, when I saw the Sketch over on the new Freshly Made Sketches, I knew he would be perfect for it! I've been waiting for this new blog to start…then almost missed it! Today is the last day for submissions!

And here is my little snowman…isn't he CUTE? Now…don't get me wrong! I don't like winter and I don't like SNOW! But…I DO love snowmen! Not the wet and cold ones…but the wonderful stamped images! You cannot believe how many snowman stamps and stamp sets I have…but I will ALWAYS buy the next one I see! My Christmas card every year has a snow theme on it…somehow.

I started by finding a Designer Paper that I wanted to use…I picked the blue striped design in Stampin' Up!'s Letters to Santa Designer Paper. That is how I got my color scheme. I found the coordinating Olive print in the same package. I made my base the Marina Mist cardstock. Then layered on Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder…only 3/4 of the way so that I left room for the greeting. I added the blue stripe DSP and then the solid Marina Mist square that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Northern Flurry Impressions Folder…just for a little texture. I added the greeting from Snow Much Fun in Early Espresso.

My snowman is made from the Circles #2 Original Die, I used the three largest sized ones, sponged the edges with Marina Mist and layered them together with Stampin' Dimensionals. The arms are the Snowflake Punch with Early Espresso cardstock. The eyes are a 1/4" Circle Punch and the nose is a triangle piece of Pumpkin Pie. I added a little White Gel Pen to the eyes and edge of the nose for highlights. Finally, I added a piece of Old Olive Scallop Dots Ribbon for his scarf. Isn't he FUN? I love him…and these colors…I don't think I'd have put them together for a snowman card, but it works! Oops…just realized that I forgot my rhinestones up in the corner…oh well. I'll add them later!

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OK…so you want to know more about the BLOG CANDY…I know! Today on Create with Connie and Mary, Robin Messenheimer, from our Design Team, has a FREE TUTORIAL on her darling project! I can't wait to make one of these as a gift for my mom (hope she isn't reading this today!) Here is a SNEAK PEEK picture!

So…go check out and download her FREE TUTORIAL…then sign up for the HOLIDAY EDITION of Create with Connie and Mary. You won't want to miss this Edition! We have some FABULOUS projects to share with you! Early Bird Pricing ENDS this week…over 36 projects for $29.95 US! That's less than $1 per TUTORIAL! We'll be sending out the password information on SATURDAY…then the session for SUBSCRIBERS ONLY starts on Sunday! Over there you can see how to get to leave a comment on Robin's blog for BLOG CANDY…a free subscription to Create with Connie and Mary!

And keep checking back on Create with Connie and Mary! EVERY DAY this week we have an ANNOUNCEMENT or FREE TUTORIAL!!! You don't want to miss them!

CCMC164 – Snow Much Fun

August 25, 2011 By Connie | 6 Comments

It's THURSDAY and we have a sketch challenge this week for you on Create with Connie and Mary! It's a GOOD one, too! You need to check out the Challenge Team…all the cards are SO different! It's great how we all interpret things differently! Check them out over on Create with Connie and Mary. AND…we still have BLOG CANDY…a chance to win a FREE Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition 2011 subscription if you play along this week!

I'm back to using one of my favorite sets in the BIG catalog! I just have so much fun with this snowman set, Stampin' Up!'s Snow Much Fun! Here's my card! I hadn't given the tree from this set any love at all…so pulled it out to use on this card!

I started with a base of Baja Breeze cardstock and layered on the strip of Wild Wasabi cardstock along the left side. I stamped the tree with Black Stazon on Whisper White and watercolored with my AquaPainter and Wild Wasabi and Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Markers. It is hard to see the sparkles, but I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the small circles from the Silver Gimmer Paper (available September 1st!) and also added the Glimmer Paper on the right side with a piece of Scallop Edge Punch. It is SO sparkly in real life! The Whisper White was layered on Real Red cardstock.

Along the left side I added the strip of Candy Cane fabric (it's back and available in the big catalog!) and tied a knot. I added the greeting Merry Christmas from Stampin' Up!'s Petite Pairs stamp set in Black Stazon on Real Red and punched with the Modern Label Punch. As a final touch, I cut a rectangle of the same fabric, fringed the edges and gathered it at the top and placed it on Sticky Strip under the tree so it looks like a tree skirt! I think it adds a whimsical touch!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Challenge Team this week over on Create with Connie and Mary. Then get out your Stampin' Up! supplies and create a card using the sketch as an inspiration point! We love to see your work!

Snow Much Fun Center Step Card

July 26, 2011 By Connie | 13 Comments

I made over 60 of these Snow Much Fun Center Step Cards for the SUDSOL swap and general swapping at Convention! Yes…time consuming, but good TV work! I used Marina Mist and Calypso Coral on those…this one was my prototype, but I was low on Pool Party cardstock so switched out the colors for Convention!

The base is Pool Party cardstock. I made my own "designer paper", by stamping the two smaller stamps from Stampin' Up!'s Serene Snowflakes in Blushing Bride and Pool Party randomly over Whisper White. They were cut to fit the front panels. I stamped the snowman from Snow Much Fun in Black Stazon on Whisper White and used my Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Gray markers to color him. I layered the white on Blushing Bride and added to the front of the Center Step base. I stamped the greeting with Black Stazon on Blushing Bride and punched with the Modern Label Punch. Then I added a Pool Party snowflake from Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die with a Silver Mini Brad in the center.

Here is a template…not to scale, but shows the dimensions (sorry…if you downloaded this before I did the revision, you'll need to print it again. I'd forgotten one of the score lines!)

REVISED: CENTER STEP CARD TEMPLATE

The long, lanky snowman was just PERFECT for this type of card! Love it and hope you do, too!

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Snow Much Fun

July 23, 2011 By Connie | 3 Comments

Love this new Stampin' Up! set, Snow Much Fun. This was one of my SSUS swap cards for Convention! I did an organized swap with about 20 other gals…we had to do two cards for each so I can home with LOTS of ideas! Now I need to get them organized in my binder!

For this one, I went back to a fun holiday color combination…Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Whisper White. The base card is Pool Party and I layered on Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Folder only 3/4 of the way. I thought they looked like snowflakes coming down! I stamped the greeting on the un-impressed area at the bottom. I used the Two Tag Die and cut the smaller tag from Pool Party, and ran thru the Big Shot with the Northern Frost Folder. I added the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle of Blushing Bride behind the tag. Then I stamped the snowman with Black Stazon on Whisper White and punched with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch and placed on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals. The snowman was colored in with Stampin' Write Markers. I wrapped some White Striped Organdy Ribbon around the tag and tied a knot before adhering it on front of the card.

I love how it turned out! LOTS of Big Shot work on here, but the Big Shot makes it SO easy!

Make sure to check out my latest round of Ribbon and Designer Paper Shares HERE! Most shares are almost full and ready to order!

July Tour de Freaks is here!

July 19, 2011 By Connie | 14 Comments

Yes! It's time for the July Tour de Freaks! You probably just came from Jan Tinklenberg's blog…or…if you came here first, you can just click on the links to go around to all 12 stops on the tour…eventually stopping back here! But…if you arrive here prior to July 20th, please note that not all links may be working yet!

Our theme this month was Christmas in July OR showing off the awesome swaps that our Control Freaks members did for the Convention Swap at lunchtime! They were so fabulous that we just had to show them off to everyone!

Here is my first card. My punch class is doing this tonight, too!

When I first saw the Perfect Pennants Die, I thought it looked like a slice of pizza. I originally thought I'd use the smaller size, but the large one just reached out and grabbed me! The base of the card is Riding Hood Red and I layered on Very Vanilla that I ran thru the Big Shot with the new Houndstooth Impressions Folder (LOVE it!). At the bottom I stamped You're Invited from Sincere Salutations in Riding Hood Red ink. I wrapped around Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon and tied a knot. I think it really is a very realistic looking pizza, don't you?

My second card fits both the themes. I love Snow Much Fun from the new catalog! I'm SO happy to get a new snowman stamp set!

This one uses lots of punches, too. In fact, I may use this for my Christmas Card this year! I started with the base of Pear Pizzazz and layered on Poppy Parade. I added a strip of Poppy Parade striped Patterns Designer Paper on the right side. I cut the Top Note Die from Whisper White and ran thru the Big Shot again with Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I punched the 2 1/2 Circle from Poppy Parade. I stamped the Snowman on Whisper White and punched with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle…it is colored with Stampin' Write Markers. I added a Pear Pizzazz 1 3/8" Circle and off set the snowflake from the Northern Frost Strip Die with a Silver Mini Brad. Finally, I stamped the greeting with Black Stazon on Baja Breeze and punched with the Modern Label Punch.

And, finally, I made a 3D Snowman Hot Chocolate Cocoa Holder to swap at Convention. I was inspired by one that I received in a candy swap last year…but I changed several things around on it.

EDIT: Dimensions are 4 1/4 x 11, score at 3 1/2 and 8. Top flap is embossed, lower flap folds up to hold the cocoa (no adhesive…the ribbon holds the whole thing closed). Round all corners with the Corner Rounder punch.

I used the Circles Die to make the three circles for the telescope snowman and sponged the edges with Pool Party Ink. They are layered together with Stampin' Dimensionals. I used the Crop A Dile for the Black Eyes and a White Gel Pen for the highlights. I cut a small triangle of Pumpkin Pie cardstock for the nose. I added a piece of Blushing Bride Ribbon for his scarf, held with Mini Glue Dots. The arms are punched with the Snowflake Punch from Chocolate Chip cardstock. I used the Northern Flurry Impressions Folder on Pool Party cardstock. The Chocolate Chip Scallop Dotted Ribbon holds the packed closed. Inside is a package of Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix. Finally, I stamped "to my friend" from Friendly Phrases in Chocolate Chip Ink on the bottom flap of the package.

Thanks for stopping by…next stop on the tour is LeeAnn Greff's blog! You will love her cards! Make sure to check out everyone's creations this month!

Stamping 411 – Snow Much Fun

July 1, 2011 By Connie | 11 Comments

Time for another great sketch challenge from the Operators of Stamping 411. AND, I have a sad announcement to make. I've come to a hard decision to give up my Stamping 411 Design Operator position. I've really enjoyed working with the other operators on Stamping 411…a truly class act of women with enormous talent! Don't worry, I'll still be playing along with the challenges as much as I can, but just not as a designer. I know I'll miss it, but also know that it is the best thing for me right now! I wish the team the BEST!

But…on to my last card as a Stamping 411 Operator! I LOVE this new set from Stampin' Up!, Snow Much Fun! I flipped the direction of the sketch only because my snowman was facing the other way.

Last year my Christmas cards were done in these colors, so I thought I'd recreate them for this card! I started with a base of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, then layered on Whisper White. I added another layer of Crumb Cake that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I stamped the snowman on Crumb Cake cardstock with Black Stazon. Then I used some White Craft Ink Refill and my AquaPainter to color him a whitewash color. I added Basic Gray and Cherry Cobbler to his scarf, hat and boots. That was layered onto more Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler Cardstocks.

I used the Tasteful Trim XL Die to make the "snow" along the bottom and stamped the greeting in Black Stazon. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front of the card. I added Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon tied across the front. And I also added a trio of White Naturals Designer Buttons with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine tied inside for my "snowballs". lol!

I had SO much fun making this card for Stamping 411! I hope you enjoy it, too! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Operators did this week!

June Tour de Freaks!

June 19, 2011 By Connie | 19 Comments

It's time for the June Tour de Freaks! You've probably just come from the OH SO FUN Jan Tinklenberg's blog! Doesn't she do AWESOME work! Our theme this month is using products from the Summer Mini AND the Demonstrator Sneak Peek products. We have 11 stops for you with some FABULOUS designers! Make sure to take the tour, it will loop you around to me again. If you are arriving prior to June 20th, please note that not all links may be active yet.

For my projects, I went in extremes! The first one is a FUN cardstock Beach Bag filled with bath products! Wouldn't this be a great gift for someone with a summer birthday? I'm showing off one of my favorite sets in the Summer Mini called Sunny Fun. I love this lineup of kids on innertubes (but the flip flops and ice cream cone images are just as cute!)! The beach bag is generous size…measuring 10 1/2" wide by 6" tall and 2" in width. I have some full size bottles of bath splash, bath lotion, bubble bath tablets, scrub mitt and heel cream inside with room to spare! The bottom is reinforced with extra cardstock to hold the weight easily.

I used one of the NEW In Colors cardstock, Lucky Limeade, for the beach bag. The top of the pocket and handles are the Poppy Parade Ribbon…they are a nice weight for handles. I love how the two bright colors complement each other! I secured the handles on the front and back with Antique Mini Brads for some extre reinforcement. I turned down the top of the bag about 1/2" and added the 1 1/4 Black Stripe Grosgrain Ribbon tab for a designer look!

I added the front pocket with a 4 x 5 piece of Watercolor Paper and I stamped the image from Sunny Fun with Black Stazon. Then I used my Reinkers, Markers and AquaPainter to watercolor the images. I added the greeting "Fun in the Sun" from the Sunny Fun stamp set, to the front of the pocket, too. You could easily tuck in a gift card in the pocket for a little extra surprise.

My next project is the opposite of summer weather…a snowman! I used the awesome new Sneak Peek set, Snow Much Fun, for my card! I was SO excited to see this fun snowman set in the new catalog! I can't wait to use it for my Christmas cards this year! I combined it with some new designer paper called Just Add Cake! Even though it isn't a "holiday" paper, I love the colors and pulled them out to use on my card.

The base is Marina Mist and I added a layer of Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I cut two 1/2" wide strips of Just Add Cake Designer Paper. I used another new In Color, Calypso Coral, cardstock across the front and added the greeting from Snow Much Fun (I love when Stampin' Up! includes greetings in their sets!) I stamped the snowman from Snow Much Fun with Black Stazon and colored with my Calypso Coral, Marina Mist, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Markers, then punched with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle and layered on a Marina Mist 2 1/2 Circle. I added two Rhinestone jewels for some added bling!

I hope you've enjoyed my projects! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Control Freaks have done this month with the Summer Mini and Sneak Peek products! Next stop is Dawn Olchefske's blog...I'm sure you'll LOVE her ideas!

Sharing creativity one stamped image at a time!