Stampin' Up!

Stamping 411 – Filled with Love

January 21, 2011 By Connie | 11 Comments

We have a fun, new sketch for you to try over on Stamping 411! Mine is pretty simple, I think, but couldn't think of how to jazz it up any more without starting over! I know I'll be smacking my head when I see all the lovely creations by the rest of the Design Operators!

And here is my card using Filled with Love Stamp Set:. Last chance on the Filled with Love Promotion…it ends January 24th!

I started with a base of Real Red, then layered on the Love Impressions Designer Paper. I stamped the word, LOVE from Filled with Love in Basic Gray on Whisper White, then layered it on Basic Gray cardstock. I punched the Small Heart from Real Red Glimmer Paper and put it in the center of the O, popped up with a Stampin' Dimensional.

I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch on a strip of Red Glimmer Paper and put it under the focal point. I laid down Sticky Strip in the background and added my ruffled ribbon over top of it and secured it in the back of the Designer Paper. Finally, I added a Real Red large Button with a Pewter Glimmer Brad in the center for some extra sparkle!

Pretty simple card and somehow masculine looking with all the streamlined edges. I think I'll keep this one for my hubby for Valentine's Day!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Operators did on Stamping 411! Then make your card using the sketch and upload it over there!

Filled with Love

January 20, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

We have a BIG day for you over on Create with Connie and Mary! Not only is it our Thursday Challenge, featuring a wonderful sketch, but you can also leave a comment for BLOG CANDY! No…not here…go to Create with Connie and Mary, look at the fabulous cards the Design Team have made, then leave a comment TODAY to win a FREE subscription to Create with Connie and Mary's Occasions Edition!

What do you get for your subscription fee? You get a new project EVERY DAY Sunday through Friday (with at LEAST TWO FULL TUTORIALS EACH WEEK) and a fun challenge on Saturday to join (and have the opportunity to win prizes at the end of the 5 weeks). For those projects not having a full tutorial, we provide you with an easy to download and print project sheet! HOW COOL IS THAT!

During the Preview period we will be offering a special subscription rate of $24.95 for 5 weeks of daily ideas using the stamps and products in the Occasions and Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalogs! This is $5 off the regular 5 week price of $29.95. Early Bird Pricing ends Saturday, January 22nd at 11 pm EST! So DON'T DELAY! Use the paypal button on my right sidebar to subscribe TODAY…before it is TOO late

So…here is this week's sketch. Make up a sample using our sketch, then upload your creation over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Here is my take on the sketch!

I used the fabulous set, Filled with Love, available as a bundle with the Love Patterns Designer Paper only until January 24th! With the purchase of both the stamp set and designer paper, you also get a free package of Bitty Buttons!

I used a base of Basic Gray cardstock. I cut a piece of Love Impressions Designer Paper in the XO pattern. I added Real Red sides punched with the Dotted Ribbon Punch. I wrapped some Real Red Satin Ribbon around and tied with a knot. For my focal point, I inked up the flower stamp from Filled with Love with Basic Gray on the stem and Real Red for the hearts and stamped on Whisper White. I punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch. I stamped Be My Valentine (again from Filled with Love) with Real Red next to the flowers. I layered the Decorative Label on the medium oval from the Ovals #2 Die and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals! Finally, I added two Rhinestone Jewels to the heart flowers!

Make sure to check out the Challenge Team samples AND don't forget to leave a comment TODAY (Thursday) on Create with Connie and Mary for your chance to win a FREE subscription to the Occasions Edition!

January Tour de Freaks!

January 19, 2011 By Connie | 16 Comments

Gosh…can you believe another month has gone by and it is time for the January Tour de Freaks? We have 12 fabulous stops this month, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! You've probably just come from Lisa Young's blog…don't you LOVE her work? But, you can keep going around all 12 stops until you come back here! The theme this month is Valentine cards, gifts and home decor! Note: If you are arriving here on the 19th, please note that not all links may be working yet. The tour officially begins on January 20th.

So, for my first project, I did a little Hanging Heart candy holder box. Actually, it really isn't too little…it is cut from a full size sheet of cardstock. I'll put a link up to the pattern sometime next week so you can make one yourself! It is hard to tell, but it has 4 sides of hearts! Very fun. I just decided to focus on one side with my design, but I did randomly stamped the large heart from Filled with Love (the bundle goes away on January 24th!) with Real Red Classic Ink on the Real Red cardstock.

I used several punches to decorate the front. The Full Heart, Heart to Heart, 2 1/2 Circle and Small Oval punches. I punched from the Love Impressions Designer Paper and the Glimmer Paper (LOVE it!) I made a little "pennant" from Basic Gray, added the Be My Valentine from Filled with Love stamp set and punched with the Small Oval punch. I added two large Rhinestones on each side of the greeting for some added sparkle! This would easily fit a small gift inside or lots of candy! I added the Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon to the top with the Crop a Dile, so I could hang it from a doorknob or hanger!

EDIT: You can find my template for the Hanging Heart Box HERE!

My second project is a Home Decor hanging that I picked up at a local craft store. Here is what it looked like unfinished.

Here it is finished:

I laid the hanging upside down and traced the letters onto the Love Impressions Designer Paper, cut them out and glued to the black wood letters with Stampin' Glue Stick. I sanded the edges to get rid of the excess DSP. I tried to keep the hanging fairly simple…of course, I could have added lots more embellishments and ribbons. Here is more of a closeup for you:

L – Fun Flowers Bigz Die, Red Glimmer Paper, Heart to Heart Punch (medium heart), Dazzling Diamonds, Multipurpose Glue

O – Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Heart to Heart Punch (3 small hearts), Red Glimmer Paper

V – Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Full Heart Punch, Naturally Serif Alphabet Strip Die (X-O), Red Glimmer Paper

E – 2 3/8 Scallop Circle punched from Love Impressions Paper twice, 3/4 Circle Punch, Red Glimmer Paper

The hanger I weaved Real Red Taffeta Ribbon thru the chain and tied knots on the ends.

OK…I hope you enjoyed my projects! Now you are off to see the fabulous Mary Brown's projects! She rocked it out of the park as usual!

Valentine Defined 3

January 19, 2011 By Connie | 1 Comment

Make sure to come back tomorrow…it is Tour de Freaks Blog Hop time! You'll see some great Valentine cards and projects, I'm sure! I'm anxious to show off mine!

Today, I'm back again with another Valentine Defined card! I just love the variety in this stamp set! My Technique Class did this card in class a couple weeks ago! Showing them how to get that faux embossed look with tone-on-tone punches in the background. I also used this card for a Shoebox swap at Leadership! I think they enjoyed making it, too!

I started with a base of Pink Pirouette cardstock. I layered on some Love Impressions Designer Paper. Along the bottom I used the Tasteful Trim die and cut the large scallops from Whisper White. I added a small trimmed piece of Glimmer Paper, so it really SPARKLES in real life! I wrapped the Whisper White Stripe Organdy Ribbon and tied a knot. At the top, I punched several hearts with the Trio Heart Punch in Pink Pirouette cardstock and layered them on the base cardstock for a embossed look.

I inked up the tree stamp from Stampin' Up!'s Valentine Defined stamp set with Pink Pirouette and then used the Early Espresso and Real Red markers to color in the trunk and a few hearts. It is punched with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle Punch and layered on an Early Espresso 2 1/2 Circle punch. I stamped Love in Real Red and punched with the Small Oval punch, then layered on the Real Red 1 1/4" circle.

Time's running out to take advantage of the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition! It's a 5 week online subscription service for demos and customers featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration brochures. Right now you save $5 of the regular $29.95 price. There is a new project posted every day with a printable project sheet and an average of two fabulous step-by-step tutorials a week. Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access 24/7 to the site and the tutorials. Preview week going on NOW featuring the Hugs & Kisses Suite of products! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Box of Kisses

January 18, 2011 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It's Cristena Bagne's turn to share her fabulous Preview Project for Create with Connie and Mary! We loved Cristena's work and asked her to join us again for the Occasions Edition. We know YOU loved her talent, too!

Over the next two weeks each member of our design team has a FREE special project to share featuring the Hugs & Kisses Suite in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The projects we share during the preview period give you an idea of what you can expect from your subscription to Create with Connie & Mary Occasions Edition. After the Preview period ends, our projects will only be available to subscribers and not shown on any of our blogs, with the exception of Challenge Saturday.

To get the FREE DETAILED DOWNLOADABLE PROJECT SHEET for Cristena's darling Box of Kisses…go to Create with Connie and Mary. And while you are there…remember we are offering our Early Bird Special pricing of $24.95…so why not join now while you can save $5 off the regular $29.95 price! That saving is only available until January 22 @ 11:00 PM EST! Demos and customers are welcome to join.

BLOG CANDY. Leave a comment today, Tuesday, January 18th on Cristena's Blog and you will be entered to win a free subscription to Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition (winner will be announced Sunday, January 23 at 12 noon). But you will have MORE CHANCES to win…check out the Create with Connie and Mary site everyday and over the next two weeks we will be telling you who to visit to have a chance to win…it won’t be everyday…but we are giving away a total of 6 free subscriptions over the next 2 weeks. If you check in every day on Create with Connie and Mary…you’ll be able to see who is doing the give away and be able to visit their blog!

Valentine Defined

January 17, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

Wow…I'm back from Leadership! You cannot believe how fantastic Stampin' Up! treats us at these events! I was SO excited to see many of my friends again that I've met over the years of attending Convention and Leadership. Our conversations seem to pick up exactly where we left off! Oh well…only six more months until Convention and I see them again! Stampin' Up! demos are the BEST people! Managers' Reception at the Wildhorse Saloon was fantastic…great food, entertainment and learning how to line dance! What else could you want! Didn't see any "famous" country western stars while we were there, but the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is AWESOME! HUGE! It made the 1000 of Stampin' Up! leaders feel very small!

But…on to my card! Over on Create with Connie and Mary, we are starting our SECOND Preview Week! That means…you only have a few more days to sign up at the special Early Bird Price of $24.95…a $5 savings off the regular $29.95 rate! You can find all the details on what you'll get for your money HERE! We are featuring the Hugs & Kisses Suite of products from the Occasions Mini during our Preview Weeks, then will work our way thru the rest of the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration brochures during the actual subscription. Today I used Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch TSSC157 as the basis for my card.

And here is my card!

As I've mentioned before, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Love Impressions Designer Paper and the Red Glimmer Paper! I combined them both on my card, along with the greeting from Valentine Defined! Really, this is a SIMPLE card and would be quick to make up a bunch of them for your Valentines!

I started with a base of Basic Gray cardstock, then ran the Pink Pirouette cardstock thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I added a 1 3/4 strip of Red Glimmer Paper along the left side, then a strip of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon to hide the seam. I made a bow and added a Red Glimmer Brad in the center and placed it along the bottom with a Stampin' Dimensional. I punched three Full Hearts out of the Love Impressions DSP and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals, too. Finally, I stamped LOVE from Valentine Defined in Real Red on Whisper White and punched with the Small Oval, then layered on the Basic Gray Large Oval. That's it! I love it!

I wanted to give you a reminder that I have another round of Ribbon Shares almost full and ready to order! I'm finishing up the cutting of the last round and will have them in the mail by tomorrow, so if you are waiting on any shares, know that all except the In Color ribbon is ready. You can find out more information about the Ribbon Shares I'm offering HERE!

Create with Connie and Mary Preview Week Project 3

January 15, 2011 By Connie | 1 Comment

It's Elizabeth Price's turn to share her fabulous Preview Project for Create with Connie and Mary! Elizabeth is new and we're HAPPY to have her on board for the Occasions Edition. I think you'll be amazed at her talent, too!

To get the FREE DETAILED DOWNLOADABLE PROJECT SHEET for Elizabeth's darling banner…go to Create with Connie and Mary. And while you are there…remember we are offering our Early Bird Special pricing of $24.95…so why not join now while you can save $5 off the regular $29.95 price! That saving is only available until January 22 @ 11:00 PM EST! Demos and customers are welcome to join!

BLOG CANDY. Leave a comment today, Saturday, January 15th on Elizabeth's Blog and you will be entered to win a free subscription to Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition (winner will be announced Sunday, January 23 at 12 noon). But you will have MORE CHANCES to win…check out the Create with Connie and Mary site everyday and over the next two weeks we will be telling you who to visit to have a chance to win…it won’t be everyday…but we are giving away a total of 6 free subscriptions over the next 2 weeks. If you check in every day on Create with Connie and Mary…you’ll be able to see who is doing the give away and be able to visit their blog!

Stamping 411 – Sew Suite

January 14, 2011 By Connie | 5 Comments

It's time again for Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! As you are reading this, I'm at Leadership and getting to meet all these lovely Design Team Operators!

So, quickly, since I'm running behind getting ready as usual!

I started with a base of Crumb Cake cardstock (always a great neutral!) and layered on Daffodil Delight that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dot Impressions Folder. At the bottom I layered on the stitching designer paper from Sweet Stitches Designer Paper package. To hide the seam, I stamped the ruler from Stampin' Up!'s Sew Suite stamp set in Early Espresso on Marina Mist cardstock and tirmmed it.j

I stamped the focal Dress Form image from Sew Sutie in Early Espresso on Whisper White, then again on a pattern in the DSP and paper pieced it over top of the Dress Form image. I colored the stand with Marina Mist Marker and added a little hint of the ground with Sahara Sand marker. I added a Itty Bitty Flower punch and Adhesive Backed Pearl to the side of the Dress Form.

I trimmed out the Whisper White by layering it on Early Espresso, then a larger mat of Marina Mist (where I hand wrote the Xs…don't laugh!) and then another layer of Early Espresso cardstock. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. Finally, I added a Daffodil Delight Big Designer Button with Linen thread tied in a bow and the small oval punch with the word Thanks from Fabulous Phrases stamped on it.

Makes sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Designers did this week!