Stampin' Up!

Stamping 411 – Filled with Love again

December 10, 2010 By Connie | 11 Comments

Yes, time again for Stamping 411's sketch challenge! Don't the weeks go by FAST?

I love this set in the Holiday Mini. It almost gets overlooked in the back because Valentine's Day seems so far away! I'm secretly hoping that Stampin' Up! keeps it on the carryover list, but it doesn't appear that they will.

I started with a base of Pretty in Pink cardstock and layered on Whisper White. Then I adhered some Sweet & Sour Specialty Designer Paper on the bottom of Rose Red cardstock. I made a bow from the Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon to hide the seam. Then I used my Stampin' Write Markers in Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz to ink up the flower in Stampin' Up!'s Filled with Love stamp set and stamped it on Whisper White. I punched it out with the Decoratiive Label Punch. To make the mat behind it, I punched two more Decorative Labels out of Pretty in Pink and trimmed them to fit as layer behind the Whisper White. I stamped Feb 14 in Rose Red on Whisper White, then punched with the 3/4" circle punch and layered on a 1" circle of Pretty in Pink. I popped these up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

Finally, I added a couple Rhinestone Jewels to the tops of the flowers and decided that the area above the bow looked empty, so added the greeting from Filled with Love in Basic Black.

I think it made a pretty, feminine card and I think I'll save it for my mom!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Make sure to check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators did this week!

Holiday Lineup – CCMC128

December 9, 2010 By Connie | 7 Comments

This week on Create with Connie and Mary we have a Color Challenge. Let's see how you use the colors of Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Night of Navy and River Rock! I think our Challenge Team came up with some pretty good ideas using these colors. You can check them out over on Create with Connie and Mary.

For my card, I pulled out an oldie, but goodie, Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Lineup. It just wouldn't seem like Christmas if I didn't use this set at LEAST once during the holidays! I haven't used the Elves as much as the snowmen, so I decided to pull them out. I thought they would look good dressed up in these colors! The only color I added was the Blush Blossom Marker for the faces…I didn't want them to be green, you know? lol!

Now…I've used a SNEAK PEEK from the new Occasions Mini…can you see what it is? If you guessed the Night of Navy button…you are right! The new Springtime Vintage series features three of the colors we used…Night of Navy, Old Olive and River Rock!

I started by stamping the elves with Black Stazon Ink on Whisper White. Then I used my Stampin' Write Markers in River Rock, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Blush Blossom and Night of Navy to color them. At the top, I stamped Happy Holidays from Stampin' Up!'s Four the Holidays stamp set in Black Stazon. I layered the Whisper White on Night of Navy and wrapped some of the Clear Tinsel around the bottom.

The base of the card is Old Olive and I layered a piece of River Rock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder on it. Along the edge, I used the Scallop Edge Punch on Rich Razzleberry. For a final touch, I added the large Night of Navy Designer Button. I placed a Rich Razzleberry Glimmer Brad in the center of it first and secured it with Mini Glue Dots.

This set just makes me SMILE! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary. Then use the colors to create your own card and upload it! We love to see what you do!

Two Tags Gift Card Holders

December 8, 2010 By Connie | 7 Comments

It's time again for my Thrifty 3D Wednesday idea over on Stamping 411! This month I decided to use the Two Tags die to make a great gift card holder! My friend, Mary Brown, brought one as a Make & Take to our downline meeting using Party this Way. I don't think she has it posted yet, but when she does, I'll include a link here. I used her template to dress it up for the upcoming holidays! Stampin' Up!'s Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set is perfect to fit inside the circles on the pull out card holder!

Here is a picture of them closed.

And here is one open! The tag portion is folded over and stapled under the Scallop Circle decoration so it holds the gift card snug inside.

For mine, I used the Jolly Holiday Designer Paper along with Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Early Espresso, and Cherry Cobbler cardstock. I used the 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches for the opening on the sleeve and 1 1/4, 1 3/8 and Scallop Circle punches for the end of the Tag. I also used the Word Window and Modern Label punches for the words Very Merry! You KNOW I'm a BIG punch lover! lol!

I have a step-by-step picture tutorial for you over on Stamping 411 today! These really are fun and easy to make! Let me know what you think and when you make some for yourself!

Punch Pals

December 6, 2010 By Connie | 4 Comments

I haven't used Stampin' Up!'s Punch Pals set in a LONG time…it is still in the catalog, and I think it is one of the cutest snowman! It really is a great set for punches, too. I seem to use the scallop circle stamp at lot on baked goods that I give away at Christmas time!

Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch today (TSSC151) was perfect for the snowman!

For my card, I started with a base of Real Red cardstock, then layered on Baja Breeze cardstock. I choose the glitter dot from Candy Cane Christmas Designer Paper (sorry, it is now sold out…I hope you got a package!) and layered it on Real Red for a nice contrast. For the ribbon, I did a little scrunch treatment on one end that I showed a couple months ago! I think it is fun and adds just a little texture!

The snowman from Punch Pals is stamped with Black Stazon. I used the Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers and my AquaPainter to color him in. I added a little extra layer of white "snow" at the bottom and sponged it with Baja Breeze ink. I stamped a few snowflakes in the background from the same set with Baja Breeze ink. I layered the Whisper White on Real Red, then popped it up on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Finally, I used my Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker to ink up Let it Snow from the same set (along with one snowflake on the left). Then punched it with the Word Window Punch. I added a small Rhinestone Jewel to the center of the snowflake for a little bling! For added sparkle, I used my Two Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds along the edge of the snowline and along one edge of his body! FUN!

Really, it is a pretty simple card to make in mass quantities! It's not too late to order your Christmas Card supplies! Email me today!

Stamping 411 – Aviary

December 3, 2010 By Connie | 9 Comments

Time again for Stamping 411's Sketch Challenge! This one was a little more challenging when I first looked at it. Seemed like there was two focal areas. However, once I thought of the smaller box as an accent, it went really quickly!

And here is my card using Stampin' Up!'s fun set, Aviary. I love using non-Christmas stamps for Christmas!

I stamped the stand and birdcase in Basic Black on Very Vanilla, then added the Cherry Cobbler Christmas Owl in the cage. I added a few Rhinestone Jewels to the base of the cage and at the very top hanger! I layered the Very Vanilla on Old Olive cardstock. The base card is also Old Olive and I layered on some Jolly Holiday Designer Paper (LOVE those dots!)

For the Eyelet Flower, I cut two 3/4" x 12" strips of the polka dot pattern from Jolly Holiday Designer Paper, used the Eyelet Border Punch along one long edge. I used the Circle Die to cut a small circle from the Adhesive Sheet, pulled off one side and began pleating and moving the eyelet DSP around the edge of the circle, moving towards the center. It took me 1 1/2 lengths to finish the flower. In the center I pierced a hole and added the Antique Brad. I took a short length of Crochet Trim, folded it in half and placed it under the flower. I like how it turned out! Finally, I stamped Merry Christmas from Teeny Tiny Wishes on Cherry Cobbler and punched it with the Modern Label punch, placing it across the stand of the birdcage.

Make sure you check out what the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators did this week. Then play along by adding your card to the Linky over there!

Christmas Morning Cup

December 3, 2010 By Connie | 2 Comments

Do you ever just have one of those cards that you fiddle and fiddle and FIDDLE with and still aren't happy? The front of this one has been on my desk for over a month. In fact, just the other day I threw it in the waste can, then pulled it out again. I knew I wanted to do another Christmas card using Stampin' Up!'s Morning Cup…and I wanted some of the Jolly Bingo Bits holly scattered around.

I started by stamping the stack of cups from Morning Cup three times with Black Stazon and watercoloring with my AquaPainter and Stampin Write Markers in Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake. I layered them at the top of the Garden Green (which originally was a whole front layer). Then I added a strip of Deck the Halls Designer Paper and layered it on Crumb Cake cardstock. I used the Scallop Edge Punch and Early Espresso along the bottom. When I stamped the Season's Greetings at the bottom of the Garden Green, my Stamp-a-ma-jig slipped and I stamped it crooked. So…cut off the bottom of the Garden Green and stamped it directly on the base of Cherry Cobbler (I liked it better!)

I also didn't like seeing the bottom of the Very Vanilla panels, so I hid them by adding a length of Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon with Sticky Strip and gathering it across the front. Then I decided to place the trio of Holly that I had cut out in a cluster. For a little bling on the cups, I added the small Rhinestone Jewels to one of them in each stack.

So…now I'm ok with this card (at least enough to SHOW it to you!) Just funny how something will give you a mental block.

Last chance before Christmas! This will be the last order I'll be doing for ribbon shares before Christmas. Email me to sign up for any of the six Ribbon Shares I'm offering! Find more information HERE! Each Group of Ribbon will be wrapped around 1-2 pieces of chipboard so your ribbon arrives wrinkle-free and organized.

HINT: I'll have a NEW additional Ribbon Share after the holidays! I know you'll love it!

CCMC128 – Sweet Snowglobe

December 2, 2010 By Connie | 4 Comments

Ok…can anyone tell me where November went? I blinked and it is gone! I was so proud that I had my challenges all caught up thru November…then I realized that it is now December! Yikes! Better spend tomorrow working up some of those challenges for December and get them posted!

So…here is my Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge card based on a sketch that Mary made up for us! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week! They are FABULOUS ideas! And…use the sketch to create your own card and post it on our Create with Connie and Mary website! We love to see what you do!

I have to laugh at Mary…she KNOWS I don't like making circles on my cards and she LOVES them! This one actually came together pretty quickly. The longest part was that I had to re-do the snowglobe part THREE times! I used my Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist Stampin' Write Markers to ink up the top of Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Snowglobe and punched it out with the 1 3/4 Circle Punch. Then I punched a 1 3/4 circle from Stampin' Up!'s Medium Window Sheet to place over top. I added a little Crystal Effects on the snow ground and in the air and sprinkled on Dazzling Diamonds. The trouble is that since I used markers, the colors want to bleed. I had to make sure not to get any of the Crystal Effects on the inked portions. Well…messed up twice, but the third time was a charm. The "glass" portion is placed on the wet Crystal Effects to hold it in place and then the piece is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the Cherry Cobbler background. I stamped the Sweet Snowglobe again in Early Espresso Classic Ink, then cut out just the base for my globe. I added some small Rhinestones on the base for a little bling.

I cut a 3 3/4" Circle with my Circle Scissors Plus Tool and the Jolly Holiday Designer Paper. Then I punched out many 1" circles from Very Vanilla and adhered them around the back for a scallop look. I ran the background Cherry Cobbler cardstock thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder, then highlighted the centers with my White Gel Pen. I added the Real Red 1 1/4 Striped Ribbon and secured to the back, then tied on some Clear Tinsel Ribbon. The base of the card is a 5 1/4 square card made from Old Olive Cardstock.

Finally, I stamped Merry Christmas from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla cardstock, then trimmed the end into a pennant tail. I think it made a cute, whimsical card!

Check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary this week!

Just Believe

November 30, 2010 By Connie | 1 Comment

Wow…bad blogger, huh? Sorry it has been a couple days. Things always get crazy here during the holidays as I try to wrap up final classes for the year, decorate the house, and prepare for holiday parties! And…I've run out of projects that are finished to post about! So…I really need to be working on some things. It has been over a week since I stamped, and I'm definitely feeling the withdrawal!

So…here is a quick and easy card. it uses a technique that I showed my Technique Class a few months ago, Pulled Pastels. This one has been around for a LONG while, but now that Stampin' Up! has the Pastels in all the NEW colors available, I thought it was time to show it! The photo doesn't show it as pretty as it is in real life!

I started with a base of Not Quite Navy and layered on Peach Parfait that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder. Then I cut the Top Note from Pear Pizzazz and angled it on the front of the card.

I used a piece of Basic Black cardstock and rubbed the Pastel Chalks in the colors of Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie and Not Quite Navy over it with sponge daubers…using the darker coordinating colors matched up better with the lighter cardstock colors. I inked up the floral stamp from Stampin' Up!'s Just Believe stamp set with VersaMark ink and stamped on the chalked cardstock. The VersaMark "pulls" the chalk colors off and leaves the black silhouette! I sealed it with some Matte spray so the chalks didn't rub off.

Finally, I stamped the greeting in Basic Black Classic Ink on Not Quite Navy, then punched with the 1 3/4 Circle Punch and popped it up on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals. Very easy card, but shows off a REALLY neat technique!

Hoping you do some INKspired Treasures today!