Stampin' Up!

CCMC171 Merry & Type

October 13, 2011 By Connie | 9 Comments

Today is a CCMC171 Color Challenge on Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge and EVERYONE can play along! I wondered how I would get "Christmas" out of this color scheme, but I think this card turned out pretty well!

My card uses Pines & Poinsettias and Merry & Type. The Pines & Poinsettias is one of the featured sets on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition this week so I wanted to make sure I used it. Merry & Type is just an AWESOME greeting set! The greetings almost stand out completely by themselves and are SO much fun!

I started with the base of Baja Breeze cardstock. I stamped the swirl from Pines & Poinsettias in Bravo Burgundy randomly over the Bravo Burgundy cardstock. I made a banner from River Rock and embossed it with the Snow Frost Impressions Folder. I used the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border with Baja Breeze and cut it in half for the sides of the banner. I used the Rectangle Frame Folder with Very Vanilla and cut it out. I used my Bravo Burgundy, River Rock and Baja Breeze markers to ink up the Merry & Bright greeting and stamped in the center. I added a Vintage Brad to the center of Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon and adhered it with Mini Glue Dots to the top of the frame!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Thursday Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary this week! I know you will LOVE their samples using this color combination!

Starting this week, we have been featuring three weeks of Christmas on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition, Every day there is a new project with FULL step-by-step tutorial posted and a challenge on Saturdays! It's not too late to join! You'll have access to all the past projects and be the first to see the new ones posted every day! For $34.95 US for over 36 tutorials, that is less than $1 per tutorial!

Pines & Poinsettias

October 12, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

This card really is pretty quick and easy…nice if you have a LOT of them to make! I used Stampin' Up!'s Pines & Poinsettias and the Holly Berry Designer Paper. We are featuring both on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition this week! You may recognize the layout…I've used it before with Pennant Parade. It was a Technostamper sketch from a couple months ago. I like how quick and easy it makes a card!

I started with a base of Real Red cardstock and layered on Wild Wasabi that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Impressions Folder. I added two patterns from Holly Berry Designer Paper…the red polka dot really glitters! I embossed the Oval Frame Folder from Real Red and cut it out. I used my Stampin' Write Markers in Early Espresso, Real Red, Old Olive and Wild Wasabi on Stampin' Up!'s Pines & Poinsettias stamp image on Very Vanilla, then punched it with the XL Oval Punch and layered it inside the Oval Frame. I stamped the Christmas Banner with Real Red on Very Vanilla and cut it out, placing it along the bottom of the image.

Pretty simple, really! I hope you like it!

Pines & Poinsettias

October 10, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

This will be a VERY quick post! I made this card for Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week! Again just barely getting it done before the challenge closed! I don't know where last week went…it flew by!

My card uses Pines & Poinsettias…gearing up for the holiday season!

The base of the card is Wild Wasabi, I layered on Real Red that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Snow Frost Impressions Folder. On that I added a strip of Holly Berry Designer Paper and rounded the corners. I cut a 3" Circle from the Die in Very Vanilla and stamped the French Script Background in So Saffron. I used my Real Red and Wild Wasabi Markers to ink up the flower image from Pines & Poinsettias stamp set and stamped over top of the French Script. I layered the 3" circle on the Scallop Duo Diecut of Wild Wasabi and placed it on front. Finally, I added Joy at Christmas from Perfect Punches, stamping in Early Espresso on Wild Wasabi and punching with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch.

Well..anyway…not sure I'm in LOVE with this card, but it does work with the sketch! lol!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

CCMC-HOL3 – Special Card Challenge

October 8, 2011 By Connie | 10 Comments

Today on Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition we have a Special Card Challenge for our subscribers to play along and win PRIZES! The theme for this week is a One of a Kind or Special Christmas Card! You know, one of those that you only make ONE of because of the details or time involved! Check out the AWESOME cards made by our Design Team over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Here is my Special Card using various sized Scallop Circles and the medallion technique with my Simply Scored Tool to make a PLEATED CHRISTMAS TREE! Isn't that COOL looking? I was SO excited when it was done!

I used the Scallop Duo Die for the small top one and the larger bottom one in two different papers, then the 2 3/8" Scallop Punch for the center one. All patterns were from the Holly Berry Designer Paper package. To make the medallion, I used my Simply Scored Tool to score from inside scallop to inside scallop on the opposite side of the circle, then cut a slit from the inside of one of the scallops to the center. I pleated the folds and pressed to make the 1/2 medallion. I cut the tree trunk from one of the patterns, making sure I got mostly the Early Espresso color. The top is a Small Star from the Stars Die and Red Glimmer Paper.

Next was the tricky part…to have them hold the tree shape and not pop out too far. I used Mini Glue Dots to secure them in several places on the card and at the top of each peak. I adhered the tree to Very Vanilla that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Houndstooth Impressions Folder and layered on Early Espresso. The background I kept simple with a piece of the designer paper, wrapped with Early Espresso Quilted Ribbon and secured in the back. I stamped Merry Christmas from Petite Pairs in Early Espresso on the Real Red, then layered onto the base of Wild Wasabi.

This definitely wouldn't be a card you would mail very easily…but would be a beautiful presentation for someone along with their gift…or placed on a tag for the gift!

Make sure you check out the rest of the fabulous Design Team cards over on Create with Connie and Mary! We've just finished up our third week and are getting ready to begin THREE full weeks of Christmas ideas every day! It's not too late to join! You still have access to all the projects we've already done and will be one of the first to see new ones as they are posted every day!

Always Thankful again

October 7, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

I was really on the fence on whether or not to purchase this set, Stampin' Up!'s Always Thankful. But…I am really "thankful" that I did! Even though I'm not really a "coloring book" type of stamper, I do enjoy it once in a while. These images are easy to color and you can really get a variety of looks from them. I made this card for a special person. I know she will see it here first, but at least she knows I'm thinking of her and do appreciate her!

I started with a base of Early Espresso cardstock and layered on Pool Party, taking my colors from the two Spice Cake Designer Papers that I used. I added the Scallop Border Punch along the bottom of the horizontal DSP. I stamped the image in Black Stazon on Very Vanilla and watercolored with Pool Party, Old Olive, More Mustard and Sahara Sand (for shadow) Stampin' Write Markers and my trusty AquaPainter. I layered the Very Vanilla on more Early Espresso and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front of the card. I added the greeting from Petite Pairs with Early Espresso Ink on Pool Party and punched it with the 1" Circle Punch. I hope she likes it!

I have a LONG to-do list today. Hubby is home on vacation for a week, plus today. Several honey-do projects that I know I'll get roped into "helping". Main one is to paint our bedroom…but that it kind of scary. Every time we finish decorating our master bedroom, we end up MOVING! I do NOT want to move again! So…hoping we don't jinx ourselves! But…I really am tired of my bedding and wall color in there!

I have several Ribbon Shares that only need 1-2 spots left before I order, including the Scallop Dots, Ruffled and 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbons! With the holidays coming up, you will definitely want these for your cards and gifts! I offer THREE yards so you have PLENTY for your crafting and class needs! See the Ribbon Share details HERE!

CCMC170 – Sunflower

October 6, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

Another Thursday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary that anyone can play along and this one is a sketch challenge! LOVE those! Make sure to check out what the Challenge Team did with this sketch…there is a HUGE variety!

I decided to use the Sunflower stamp in the background on mine! I just got this stamp and I love it!

I don't make these often, but I kept the Square shape and made a 5 x 5 sized card. For the Sunflower, I inked it up in Daffodil Delight, then took my markers and added More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie to the petals and Early Espresso in the center, then stamped it on Whisper White. I layered the White on Early Espresso with a base of More Mustard. I used the Tasteful Trim die and cut the rope trim from Early Espresso cardstock, and added two More Mustard Brads on the ends. I stamped Happy Birthday Wishes from Petite Pairs in Early Espresso on More Mustard and punched with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch, then layered it on 1 3/8 Circle of Early Espresso. Finally, I added a little embossed Beautiful Wings butterfly with small pearls for the body. I also added pearls up in the right corner. I think I'll give this to my mom for her birthday this month!

It's not too late to join Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition! This week we are featuring the Card Keeper…using it for something OTHER than cards! You'd be amazed at the variety the designers have created!

Another Folded Tree

October 5, 2011 By Connie | 9 Comments

I can't believe the popularity of these Folded Trees! Thank you to all who left such nice comments on my card from two weeks ago you can see HERE. I also have the FREE TEMPLATE for the larger one I did last year HERE. Since each circle makes two trees, I had a few of them on my desk left over from a couple weeks ago (messy desk!). When I saw SCS sketch challenge today, it looked like a frame to me, so I had the idea to "frame" one of my folded Christmas trees!

This card came together pretty easily! The base is Real Red cardstock. I ran the Wild Wasabi layer thru the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Impressions Folder and layered it on Early Espresso. I cut a stripe of the glittery red dots in Stampin' Up!'s Holly Berry Designer Paper. I hand cut the embossed Rectangle Frame Folder from Early Espresso cardstock and layered the rectangle of Real Red inside. I added one of the Folded Christmas Trees and topped it with the small Silver Glimmer Star from the Stars Die. I also added a little tree trunk of Early Espresso. The Rectangle Frame is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. Finally, I stamped the word Merry from Stampin' Up!'s Pennant Parade stamp set, then punched with the Small Oval Punch. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals, too.

It came together really quickly because I already had the Folded Tree done. I just took my colors from the Designer Paper. Enjoy!

It's not too late to join the Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary! This week we are featuring the Card Keeper…in ways that aren't made for cards! It is FUN to see all the different uses we've come up with for the Card Keeper box! You won't miss a thing if you sign up now, you can refer back to all the projects we've already made using products from the Holiday Mini…and you'll see new ones EVERY DAY throughout October! A total of 36 step-by-step tutorials! Join us…there are chances to win prizes, too! At $34.95 US, that is less than $1 per tutorial. Check out the Preview Projects at Create with Connie and Mary to see what our tutorials are all about!

Gently Falling – FMS4

October 3, 2011 By Connie | 7 Comments

I wanted to try the Freshly Made Sketch (FMS4) again this week…I liked the tag element in the background. However, it wasn't as easy to use as I thought!

One of the things my Stamp Club did last week was the Baby Wipe Technique with the Gently Falling stamp set. Since I had the "ink pad" made up, I went ahead and stamped a bunch of leaves in Pool Party, More Mustard and Soft Suede Classic Inks. You'll probably be seeing a LOT of them over the next few weeks. This card I made for a very special online friend. We've met several times at various Stampin' Up! functions and she truly has a kind heart!

I started with a base of Early Espresso. I added the Pool Party print from Spice Cake Designer Paper, then a strip of the stripe design in Spice Cake, too. I cut the Two Tags die from Confetti Cream cardstock and place it on top. I cut out two of my leaves and adhered them over the tag and wrapped some Early Espresso Quilted Ribbon around and tied a knot. I stamped the acorn in More Mustard with Early Espresso two-step on top, then punched with the 1" Circle punch and layered it on 1 1/4 punch of Early Espresso. I added the Thinking of You Curly Cute greeting in Early Espresso on Pool Party cardstock.

Another busy week for me! I have a lot of "partially started" projects that need to get finished up before my husband is off on vacation next week. I know I won't get much stamping stuff done when he is home. I'm going to try to get him to do some of those "honey do" projects like cleaning carpets and closets! What FUN! lol! Plus, we may just take off for a couple days to go see some pretty fall leaves.

Have a great week!