Stampin' Up!

November Tour de Freaks!

November 19, 2011 By Connie | 15 Comments

It's time for the November Tour de Freaks…brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! We have quite a few members who have joined recently…a couple are on the tour today! We have a total of 13 stops for you. You can start here and go around the entire tour until you end back here! You've probably just come from the FABULOUS Wendy Weixler's blog! Didn't you love her projects? Our theme this month is Keep it Simple Stampers! The cards and projects that have minimal layers and are easily to duplicate!

Now…I don't think I normally make "hard" projects…but, I also don't think the majority of my projects are "simple", either! Either way, this Tour was a little bit of a stretch for me! I hope you enjoy my "Keep it Simple Stampers" projects! I have a snowman theme going on with Stampin' Up!'s Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set!

First up is a card that has been in my head for a while! It really was pretty simple and came together quickly. The hardest part was figuring out the layout of the circles…now I've done that for you!

I started with a base of Pool Party cardstock. I stamped the little Snowman from Jolly Bingo Bits with Basic Black on Whisper White and punched them with the 1" Circle. I colored their scarves with Real Red and Pool Party and the nose added with Pumpkin Pie markers. I also punched 8 plain Whisper White 1" Circles, four of them I used the Naturally Serif Strip Die and cut out the letters of SNOW with Pool Party cardstock, they are popped up on the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. Then I used the Northern Frost Strip Die and cut out five of the smallest snowflakes with the Silver Glimmer Paper and adhered them! Finally, I punched out 3 of the Itty Bitty 3/8" Circles from the Silver Glimmer Paper.

OK…this one is even simpler, but the Red Glimmer Paper packs a lot of WOW into it! I used Whisper White for my base card. I ran the front thru the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Impressions Folder. I added a strip of Red Glimmer Paper across the front. Then I stamped the snowman from Jolly Bingo Bits in Basic Black and colored the scarf and face again with Real Red and Pool Party Markers…and nose with Pumpkin Pie. I punched with the 1" Circle, layered it on the 1 1/4" circle of Real Red and a 1 3/8" Circle of Pool Party, then placed it with Stampin' Dimensionals on the Red Glimmer strip. I stamped Merry Christmas from Petite Pairs in Basic Black on Pool Party and punched with the Curly Label Punch, then cut it in half and tucked it in the top of the Red Glimmer Paper! That's it! Pretty simple, huh?

But wait…I had to have a matching box, right? So, I pulled out my faithful Box #2 Die. I cut it using Pool Party cardstock, then stamped all over it with the snowflake from Jolly Bingo Bits. I punched out the center with the Decorative Label Punch, then used that as a base for my tag! I used the Northern Frost Strip Die again and cut out one of the larger snowflakes with the Silver Glimmer Paper. I added another one of the snowmen punched with the 1" Circle punch and layered on 1 1/4" Real Red, then placed over the Silver Glimmer Snowflake with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added the snowflake to the front of the Decorative Label tag, punched a hole at the top with the Crop a Dile and attached it to the Real Red Satin Ribbon Bow with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine!

So, all three of my projects would be easily duplicated for Stamp Clubs, Workshops or Classes! Hope you enjoyed seeing them! Next stop is the AWESOME Mary Brown's blog!! She is the queen of Clean & Simple style, so I'm sure you will love her cards! Have fun taking the Tour de Freaks!

Flower Fest Poinsettias

November 15, 2011 By Connie | 9 Comments

Well, it's Tuesday already and this is my first post of the week! I was looking around for a challenge to do, because I know you all MISS me posting, right? I came across a pretty color combination from The Paper Players…and then a very neat sketch from Mojo Monday! I don't know when was the last time I played along with Mojo Monday!

And here is my card using the combination of both challenges!

Yes, I made up some more of my Flower Fest stamp poinsettias! Funny how changing the colors out on the card and a few details can make the card look totally different! (If you want to see the last one I did with Poinsettias…you can see it HERE!) On this one I started with a base of Always Artichoke and layered on River Rock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Stripes Impressions Folder. I lightly sponged River Rock Classic Ink across the raised areas for a weathered panel look. I added the front layers of Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla according to the sketch. I stamped Merry Christmas from Stampin' Up!'s Christmas Greetings stamp set in Always Artichoke on the front and added a stripe of Red Glimmer Paper. I also punched along the bottom with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch.

The Flower Fest flowers were stamped in Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke and then punched with the 5 petal punch. I added pearls to the centers, then popped them up on the front of the card. I like the simple elegance of this one!

FMS10 – Designer Paper Tree

November 11, 2011 By Connie | 18 Comments

Wow…it has been SEVERAL weeks since I've had the opportunity to play along with the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge! Life just kept getting in the way. In fact, in general, I've only been able to post on my blog a couple times a week instead of my normal 5-6 times a week! But…when I first looked at the Freshly Made Sketch, I was almost intimidated because it was SO simple!

I had an idea that I wanted to try…but knew I'd have to modify the sketch a little bit to get it to work. I think you'll still see the "bones" of the sketch in my card…but I needed the extra room for my tree, so I made the panels go all the way across.

The basic card is really simple. I ran the front of the Cherry Cobbler cardstock thru the Big Shot with the Houndstooth Impressions Folder. I made a panel of Whisper White and layered it on Garden Green cardstock. I cut a tree trunk from Early Espresso cardstock and placed it underneath the "snowdrift" of Whisper White. Across the top of the drift I used the Dazzling Details Glitter Glue for some extra sparkle.

Starting up from the trunk of the tree, I cut 4 squares of Frostwood Lodge Designer Paper, then cut them in half diagonally. They are sizes of 2", 1 3/4", 1 1/2" and 1 1/4". You will get TWO trees from one square. I tilted each of the triangles, growing smaller as they reach the top. Each of them is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. At the very top is a Red Glimmer Star. Then I added a Garden Green button on one of the designer paper "branches" tied with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine and adhered with a Mini Glue Dot.

I think it is lots of fun and I'm glad I got to play along with the challenge this week!

Many thanks to the Veteran's who protect our country today and those that have served previously…we appreciate your dedication and service to our country!

CCMC175 – Best Friends Forever

November 10, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

Today over on Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge, we have a FUN color challenge for you to try! Everyone is invited to play along with us! Make sure you check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week…lots of inspiration for you!

Aren't those FUN colors together?

Now, most of you know that sketch challenges are my favorite…I'll gravitate towards one of those before color challenges. But, this color challenge really appealed to me. I did it while I was at the stamping retreat a few weekends ago! I had a scrap of the Mocha Morning black flocked paper sitting on my table…it started the inspiration for the entire card! The stamp set Best Friends Forever is one that I seem to pick up a lot for birthday cards! I especially like the vine stamp that I used here with Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink over Cherry Cobbler cardstock…really gives it a great tone-on-tone look. The base of the card is More Mustard, and under the bottom of the Cherry Cobbler strip, I added Basic Black cardstock.

The top is the Mocha Morning DSP as I mentioned, but I knew I wanted a little More Mustard for the front. The elegance of the Scallop Trim Border Punch was just the right touch, along with small pearls in each of the scallops. I wrapped some Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon around and tied a knot. Then I added a simple Happy Birthday greeting from Perfect Punches stamp set in Basic Black on Very Vanilla and punched it with the Extra Large Oval Punch. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front!

That's it…but I love the simple elegance of this card! Make sure to stop by Create with Connie and Mary for some extra inspiration using these colors!

Bright Hopes

November 7, 2011 By Connie | 6 Comments

A couple weeks ago, one of the Create with Connie and Mary challenges was a sketch challenge. This was the first card I made for that challenge, but ended up not using it. Although the Silver Embossed Wreath is so pretty in real life, you cannot enjoy it so much in a photograph! But, I thought I'd share it with you now, anyway.

I started with a base of Crumb Cake cardstock. I layered on Marina Mist cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Impressions Folder. I added the Whisper White Panel and stamped the greeting from Bright Hopes in Marina Mist. Then I added a panel of Letters to Santa Designer Paper. I think this pattern is one of my favorites in that package…I love the subtle snowflakes printed in it! I added some Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon to hide the seam of the two panels.

For the medallion, I stamped the wreath from Stampin' Up!'s Bright Hopes stamp set in Versamark and embossed with Silver Embossing Powder. I added Rhinestone Jewels around the Wreath and punched it with the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch. I adhered it with Stampin' Dimensionals to a 2 1/2" Circle punched from Silver Glimmer Paper (it REALLY sparkles!) and then a 2 3/4" Circle of Early Espresso. That medallion is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front of the card.

As I mentioned, it really has more impact and BLING than the camera captured in this photograph! Hope you enjoy it!!!

OK…I have a challenge for my readers. I need to make 9 gifts for my husband's district managers for the Christmas Party we hold for them. In the past I have done Welcome frame signs, set of 4 stamped tiles, Decorated glass blocks, and last year was decorated Simply Adorned ornaments. Any suggestions on what I could make for them this year? Can't be TOO labor intensive…I need to have them done by the party on Dec. 9th. Would LOVE to hear from you!!!

CCMC174 – Day of Gratitude

November 3, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

Today it is time for another Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge that ANYONE can play along with! We have a FUN sketch for you to try today. Keep it in the square shape as shown…or change it up to the normal rectangle. You'll see that our Challenge Team members did both! Check them out over on Create with Connie and Mary! And…even though our Holiday Edition is officially over, you can still sign up and get some GREAT ideas for your holiday gift giving…and…if you are a demo…your November/December classes!

And here is my take on the sketch. I used a set that I loved last year, but haven't pulled out this year until now…Day of Gratitude!

I started with a base of More Mustard cardstock and layered on Soft Suede. I used three different patterns of Spice Cake Designer Paper for the panels. Then I colored up the large medallion from Day of Gratitude with my Stampin' Write Markers in Soft Suede, Pool Party and More Mustard and stamped it on Very Vanilla. I cut it out. I made a pennant banner of Pool Party and stamped the greeting in Soft Suede. I added two rows of the pearls along the left edge and finally placed the medallion on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals!

I'm getting in the mood for Thanksgiving. We'll be going to my oldest son's NEW home this year. He and his wife were just transferred to the quad cities, Iowa area. They are moving in this weekend and I'm anxious to see the house…it looks beautiful! I'll be sending off this card to my mom and dad since we won't be at their house this year for Thanksgiving.

Again, make sure you check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this sketch! We have a GREAT variety every week! Check them out on Create with Connie and Mary! Then grab your inks, stamps and paper and play along! We love to see your creations!

Christmas Flower Fest Punch Art

November 1, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

I'm SO excited that I was asked to do a sample card for Splitcoaststamper's Wednesday Sketch Challenge #SC357! I'm in the midst of cleaning out my back storage room and my actual stamping studio is holding all the things I pulled out. Can you say big MESS!!! I had to clear out an area just in order to stamp! lol! So, here was the SCS sketch for this week.

I was also excited to use my Stampin' Up! Flower Fest stamp set again, this time to make Christmas Poinsettias! It worked perfectly!

This would be a great card to mass produce for your holiday cards! I started with a base of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, and used a long base of 4 1/4 x 11, then folded it in half with the fold on the left side for something a little different.. I used the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder on 2/3 of the Whisper White layer, leaving room at the bottom to stamp my greeting, Merry Christmas from Four the Holidays, in Cherry Cobber. I covered the seam with Basic Gray Satin Ribbon and layered it on Basic Gray cardstock. I stamped the flower from Flower Fest in Cherry Cobbler on Real Red four times and punched them out with the 5 Petal Flower Punch. I then stamped the same flower again with Garden Green on Garden Green cardstock and punched them out for the leaves behind the red flowers. I adhered them together, then pierced a hole in the center of the flowers and placed the Gold Glimmer Brads. They were popped up on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I think that the card has a quiet elegance that was quite easy to achieve!

Always Thankful

November 1, 2011 By Connie | 12 Comments

This card is one that my Clubs did in September but haven't shown here. It meets The Paper Players theme of FALL this week for Challenge #70 and I wanted to include it.

I think Stampin' Up!'s Always Thankful stamp set is beautiful and very easy to color! I used a past Create with Connie and Mary Challenge sketch for my starting point and took my colors from…what else?…Spice Cake Designer Paper! I'm going to MISS that DSP when it goes away!

I started with a base of Pool Party and layered on Soft Suede cardstock. I used three different patterns of Spice Cake DSP in varying widths under the front panel. I stamped the urn of fall grasses with Black Stazon on Very Vanilla and used my Stampin' Write Markers and the AquaPainter to color the image. I layered the Very Vanilla on Early Espresso cardstock. I added a piece of Crochet Trim with the mini safety pin from Vintage Trinkets in the lower right corner. Then I added three of the mini brads from Vintage Trinkets in the upper left corner. Finally, I added the greeting Kind Thanks from Stampin' Up!'s Thank you Kindly stamp set in Black Stazon Ink.

Hard to believe it is November 1st already! Wow! Today is gorgeous…sunny and a high in the 60s! Wish it would stay like this all winter! lol!