Stampin' Up!

Christmas Tree Punch Art

December 27, 2011 By Connie | 9 Comments

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was full and busy, as usual. We still have one more Christmas to celebrate…when my oldest son and daughter-in-law come in New Year's weekend to celebrate Christmas. This year they were at her parents' to celebrate. Do I like sharing the holidays? No…but I do understand. It is just too hard to make the trip to both places over the few days of Christmas. We'll get to enjoy our time with them in a more quiet setting. I don't take down my Christmas tree until January 2-3 anyway!

Here is a card that I was meaning to post on Christmas Day…but just ran out of time. Since SU Only Challenges has a theme of Punch Art focal points, I decided to go ahead and show it. You'll be able to use it as inspiration for your cards next year. Several of my classes made this card and it was a hit!

Can you tell what punch I used for the tree? If you said one of the petals on the Blossoms Petal Builder Punch, you guessed right! It was fun stacking them in graduating sized rows to build the tree. And, using the Holly Berry Bouquet small holly print design fit it perfectly. The berries look like little red ornaments to me!

The base is Very Vanilla and I layered on Wild Wasabi cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder. On top of that is a Real Red Top Note die that is stamped with the Christmas Collage background image in Cherry Cobbler. I stamped the Deck the Halls greeting from Merry & Type stamp set in Early Espresso Ink and wrapped some Certainly Celery Taffeta Ribbon around and tied a knot. I added a couple Rhinestone Jewels under the ribbon, too, for some extra sparkle. At the top of the tree is the smallest of the Star die and Silver Glimmer Paper. The tree trunk is a rectangle of Early Espresso that I sponged with Very Vanilla Craft Ink.

Well, what do you think? I was so excited to build the tree with the petal…I hadn't seen it done quite like that before! Hope you enjoy the rest of the holidays! My husband is home this week, but I still need to work at getting some stamping projects done!

HO HO HO coaster sign

December 23, 2011 By Connie | 3 Comments

You might remember the post about the HO³ signs I made for my husband's direct reports. You can see it HERE. I had a ton of the smaller Ho's left, so I made up this little display sign using three of them. I still have TONS more to use up. I think these will be gifts for next year when I have more time to make them!

I used four 4×4 regular sized square coasters and covered three of them with retired Stampin' Up! designer paper on both sides. I adhered the paper to the coasters with Tombow Multipurpose Glue (green bottle). I rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch. The fourth one I covered with Real Red cardstock, then made my Santa face by using Whisper White for his hat, mustache and beard, Blushing Bride for the face and nose and Basic Black for his eyes. The mustache is two bird body punches. I ran thru the mustache and beard thru the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines Impressions Folder, too, for some texture. The nose and mouth are the Small Oval punch. The holly and berry is Old Olive cardstock and Red Glimmer paper cut with the Stocking Accents Die and textured with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. I used a little Blushing Bride Ink on his cheeks to make them rosy and the White Gel Pen on his eyes and nose for highlights.

I punched holes with the Crop A Dile on the sides and thread thru retired Red Taffeta Ribbon thru and tied them together. Finally I added the Silver Glimmer Ho Ho Ho letters with Stampin' Dimensionals and Tombow Multipurpose Glue.

I love my Santa and it is such a cute display! Hope you like it, too! Well…I'm on the countdown to finishing up everything. Still have some wrapping to do and finish making some tags. Then a few things to bake. I'm sure it will all get done…lol!

Merry Christmas!

CCMC181 – Scenic Season

December 22, 2011 By Connie | 17 Comments

It is the Thursday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary, and WOW…do we have some STUNNING cards for you to see using the Color Challenge of Whisper White and Silver Glimmer. You can also use Silver Embossing or Silver Brushed Cardstock if you don't have the Glimmer. But…that Glimmer REALLY sparkles!

I pulled out a set that I haven't used at all this holiday season…Scenic Season. I used it a LOT last year. But, it seemed to be perfect for this color challenge! I also am a little tired of making Christmas Cards…all mine are out in the mail. So…I did mine as a New Year's Card…perfect for sending out after the Christmas holiday!

The base card is Whisper White and I cut another piece of Whisper White 1/2" shorter for a layer on top. The Scenic Season image is embossed with Silver Embossing Powder across the top. I added the numbers 2012 (Timeless Type Dies) for the New Year in Silver Glimmer Paper. I also cut 1/4" trim pieces for across the top and bottom of this layer. Finally, I stamped Happy New Year from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in Basic Black. I think it turned out lovely!

But, make sure you check out the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge Team this week…STUNNING cards…I'm not kidding! Then grab your silver and white materials and play along! We'd love to see what you do with this color challenge!

CCMC180 – You Are Loved

December 15, 2011 By Connie | 10 Comments

Create with Connie and Mary has a beautiful sketch for you to try this week! My card came together very easily! We hope you play along with the sketch challenge this week…remember, every entry in December puts you in the drawing for a FREE subscription to Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2012 Edition!

I think Stampin' Up!'s You Are Loved is so beautiful and totally overlooked in the back of the Holiday Mini! If you love it, too, make sure you get it before the Holiday Mini goes away…last day to order is January 3, 2012!

I started with a base of Real Red cardstock. I layered on Blushing Bride and stamped the rose floral design from You Are Loved randomly in the background with Blushing Bride Classic Ink. On top, I used a piece of Beau Chateau Designer Paper. I cut a piece of Real Red cardstock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines Impressions Folder and layered that on top. For the heart, I inked it up with Blushing Bride Classic Ink, then took my Regal Rose and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers and randomly colored over portions of the image…no specific image, just random. I added a Real Red flower button tied with White Bakers Twine at the bottom and placed it on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added three pearls to the top of the where the heart is. I then stamped Thinking of You, included in the You Are Loved stamp set, in Real Red on Blushing Bride cardstock, made a pennant tail and tucked it under the heart with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I like it, I like it!!! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week…FABULOUS creations like usual! Stop by Create with Connie and Mary to see!

Flower Poinsettia

December 14, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

I've had this card done forever and have waited closer to Christmas to show it to you! To me, the Poinsettia flower looks so real…hard to believe it is made from simple cardstock! The step-by-step Poinsettia Flower pdf tutorial is available as my Online Ordering Gift with any $40 Stampin' Up! Online Order placed from now until the end of the year at my Stampin' Up! website! I'm working hard to earn that Stampin' Up! Incentive Trip to Fiji, you know!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW!

Just a few details about the card itself. It is a base card of Real Red cardstock. I layered on a panel of green print from Holly Berry Designer Paper and then the glittery polka dot from the same package of designer paper. I used the Oval Frame Embossing Folder with Very Vanilla and cut it out. I stamped the Merry Christmas greeting from Delightful Dozen in Early Espresso on Wild Wasabi and punched it out with the Extra Large Oval Punch. I added the smallest pearls as accents in the two corners of the card. There is a vintage brad in the center of the Poinsettia.

Although I placed mine on a card, the paper Poinsettias would look beautiful as stand-along ornaments on the tree or on a tag for your holiday gifts!

So, again, any $40 or more Online Stampin' Up! order placed thru my Stampin' Up! Online website starting today through the end of the year will get my Online Ordering Gift, a step-by-step Poinsettia Flower Tutorial pdf showing how to make my Poinsettia flower!

Please allow 24 hours after your online order is placed to receive the pdf file.

CLICK HERE to place your order NOW!

Thank you SO much!

Leaves of a Tree – Summer

December 13, 2011 By Connie | 1 Comment

OK…here is my third season we did for my Leaves of a Tree season class last month! I really like this one, too! It uses a background made with Watercolor Crayons…something I hadn't pulled out in a long time!

I started with a base of Marina Mist cardstock and layered on Blushing Bride. Along the right side, I used three patterns in Nursery Nest Designer Paper package for panels. I used my Watercolor Crayons, Shimmery White Cardstock and scribbled on the colors of Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Marina Mist in the background, then I used my AquaPainter and water to blend out the crayons. Buff it to get off all the excess waxy crayon. Then I overstamped the Leaves of a Tree image with Black Stazon Ink for a silhouette look! I cut it with the 3" Circle Tie and layered on the Scallop Circle Duo Diecut of Pear Pizzazz. It is popped up on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added the word Enjoy from Stampin' Up!'s You're A Gem stamp set in Black Stazon on a strip of Marina Mist cardstock and did a pigtail cut edge on the side.

Only one more season to go…Fall…then you can tell me which one was YOUR favorite! Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm in frantic mode trying to get everything done for the holidays. My mom and I are going out shopping today, so I hope to get a good dent in it.

Leaves of a Tree – Spring

December 9, 2011 By Connie | 5 Comments

NOTE: ADHESIVE SALE!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my 40% off Adhesive Sale last month! All orders have been received and shipped. If you haven't received your order, please EMAIL ME (All local orders are here if you haven't picked them up yet.)

In addition, I made an error and ordered 12 Snail Refills instead of 12 packages of Dimensionals for someone. Before I send them back, is there anyone that missed out and now wants to take advantage of the 40% savings on the 12 Snail Refills ($2.75 each)? Please contact me ASAP!!! Tax & shipping is extra.

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Earlier this week, I showed you the Winter version of my Leaves of a Tree class cards. I've had several requests to see the other seasons, so I hope my class members don't mind me sharing them! SPRING was one of my favorite ones, mainly because of the unique fold we did on the card! Oh, I don't know if I mentioned, but each card used a different technique for coloring the tree, too! Winter was embossing, of course. This card uses markers to color the image!

I started with a base of Pear Pizzazz cardstock cut 4 1/4 x 11, then folded in half. the top flap was folded in half again (back against itself). I added a piece of Paisley Petals DSP along the front panel and wrapped some 1 1/4 Soft Suede under it before I secured it, then brought the end around to the front and tied with Linen Thread. The greeting is Eat Cake, a partial image from Stampin' Up!'s Delightful Dozen stamp, punched with the Jewelry Tag Punch.

The tree stamp was colored with Early Espresso, Always Artichoke and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers. I did the leaves randomly and then colored the tree trunk and limbs. I added some "grass" with the fine tip of the marker. It was stamped on the Square Duo diecut of Whisper White and layered on Always Artichoke. Only half was secured to the front panel.

On this view, you can see the inside where I stamped the full greeting from Delightful Dozen in Basic Black, then I stamped the Leaves of a Tree image in Pear Pizzazz as a tone-on-tone look. You can also see how the image panel fits half way on the front panel, but covers up the greeting when looking at it from the front!

CCMC179 – Snowman

December 8, 2011 By Connie | 10 Comments

Time for another Thursday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary! We invite you to play along! This time it is a FUN Color Combination…very Christmasy colors of Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade and Basic Gray.

My card was inspired by a card that my daughter-in-law saw that she wanted to recreate for her Christmas cards this year. I had one of these snowman laying out that I used as a prototype for her card. Her colors are totally different…more tradtional snowman colors! But, I thought he would be fun combined with these challenge colors!

I started with the base of Lucky Limeade and added a layer of Poppy Parade. I made a template of the snowman from lightweight chipboard (the backing of our designer paper), then tore my Whisper White around the edges of the chipboard template. I wrapped some Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon around his neck for a scarf and held it in place with a silver Mini Brad. I added 1/8" Black Eyes and drew small circles for his mouth. Yes, I deviated from the color by adding a Pumpkin Pie nose…just didn't look right in Poppy Parade…sorry! I punched the small heart from Heart to Heart punch from Red Glimmer Paper and adhered with a Mini Glue Dot. I added him on to the Basic Gray background and stamped Whisper White Craft snowflakes in the background from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set. I added M alphabet greeting from Occasions Alphabet set on Poppy Parade and punched with the Large Oval and layered on the Scallop Oval of Lucky Limeade. It is popped up on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals!

So…there is my whimsical snowman for this year! Hope you like him! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Thursday Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary. Then take a break from your Christmas shopping and play along! We love to see your creations. AND…you will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE subscription to the Occasions 2012 Eition of Create with Connie and Mary!