Stampin' Up!

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!

Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge

January 13, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

Time again for Create with Connie and Mary's Thursday Challenge! This week we have a color combination of Pear Pizzazz, So Saffront, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip for you to try!

And here is my card! Now…this is one of those cards that I re-did at least a half dozen times, I kid you not! AND…I just realized that I used Early Espresso instead of Chocolate Chip. Sorry, I am NOT doing it again! I've already changed and photographed it THREE times! lol!

I started with a base of So Saffron Cardstock. I layered on Early Espresso that I ran thur the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder. At the bottom, I stamped the Chocolate bar stamp in Stampin' Up!'s Eat Chocolate randomly in Early Espresso and then filled in with So Saffron (white and dark chocolate…yummy!) I used some Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon to hide the seam. I figured it looked close to Pear Pizzazz. I used one of the new Designer Buttons and added more Taffeta Ribbon and tied a knot. It is placed on with Stampin' Mini Glue Dots.

I stamped the To Do List from Eat Chocolate in Early Espresso on Whisper White, then layered it on Pear Pizzazz and finally Baja Breeze. It is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. I highlighted the checked box "Eat Chocolate" with the So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker.

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge Team did this week. Then make your creation and post it over there!

It's time for an 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! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Dove Candy Bar Holder

January 12, 2011 By Connie | 1 Comment

It's time again for my Thirfty 3D Wednesday over on Stamping 411! I did a tutorial for a Dove Candy Bar Holder that I made for the Candy Wrapper Swap at Leadership this week. I hope everyone in the swap is already on their way and won't see this! But, I did use different Designer Paper and stamps, so even if they did see it, they would still be surprised!

I used Stampin' Up!'s Level 1 Hostess In Color Patterns Pack in Concord Crush for my candy wrapper. Then trimmed off a piece of another pattern to use as the trim along the edge. I added a Scallop Border of Whisper White. Holding it closed is the Concord Crush Ribbon and I tied on a tag punched with the Decorative Label Punch from Blushing Bride cardstock. The cupcake is punched from more of the Designer Papers and layered on a Whisper White Wide Oval punch. I added a rhinestone jewel to the top of the cupcake for some added sparkle.

Finally I added Spoil Yourself Today greeting from Bring on the Cake Stamp Set in the Occasions Mini, stamped in Concord Crush on Whisper White and punched with the Word Window punch.

Here is what it looks like with the Dove Candy Bar peeking out. I put a couple Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of the candy bar to hold it inside the wrapper.

I hope you like it! Go check the tutorial and dimensions over on Stamping 411 today! I'd love to see if you make one, so let me know!

It's time for an 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 starts January 9th! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Create with Connie and Mary Preview Project 2

January 11, 2011 By Connie | 2 Comments

It's Rochelle Gould's turn to share her fabulous Preview Project for Create with Connie and Mary! We're HAPPY to have her return for the Occasions Edition. I know you were thrilled with her work in the Holiday Edition!

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 Rochelle's darling candy holder (made from the clear mount case!) …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 11th on Rochelle'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 10, 2011 By Connie | 3 Comments

I loved Technostampers Lunchtime Sketch Challenge TSSC156 today, so I quickly made up this card. It was SUPPOSED to go up this morning, but my host server decided to take a long NAP today. If you tried to get in here earlier today, I apologize! I told Amy it always knows when we are headed to Leadership or Convention because it choose that time to go down!

And here is my card…I love the soft colors of Blushing Bride and Basic Gray!

I started with a base card of Blushing Bride cardstock. I added a layer of the XO designer paper from Love Impressions DSP over top. I cut a 2 x 4 piece of Basic Gray and stamped the lines of hearts from Valentine Defined across it in Basic Gray Classic Ink. Hanging on the lines, I placed 5 of the Small Hearts punched from Blushing Bride cardstock. I added a scallop trim border of Blushing Bride and a small pearl in each of the scallops. Above it, I placed a strip of Sticky Strip, then ruffled the Blushing Bride In Color Ribbon. Finally I stamped LOVE image from Valentine Defined on Whisper White with Basic Gray and punched it with the Small Oval Punch, then layered it on a 1 1/4 circle of Blushing Bride. I added another small pearl inside the O of LOVE.

What a FUN sketch!

Create with Connie and Mary Preview Week 1

January 9, 2011 By Connie | Leave a Comment

WELCOME TO PREVIEW WEEK 1 of Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition! Mary has an awesome project for us today AND some exciting information about how you can get a FREE detailed downloadable project sheet for her project and an opportunity to win some BLOG CANDY! 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.

To get the FREE DETAILED DOWNLOADABLE PROJECT SHEET for Mary's darling card portfolio and cards…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, Sunday, January 9th on MARY'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!

Botanical Gazette

January 7, 2011 By Connie | 7 Comments

Time again for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! We have another fun sketch for you to try!

Based on the sketch design, I went looking for some designer paper that had a big random print on it. The new Botanical Gazette Designer Paper is really prettier in person than it shows in the Occasions catalog! I found the piece that had the beautiful sketch bird on it and used that for my focal piece. I really like the collage effect! With only a tiny bit of stamping, this card came together very quickly!

I started with a base of Marina Mist cardstock. Then I used the two pieces of Designer Paper, the bird and then a complimentary smaller bird pattern across the bottom. To hide the seam, I ran a length of Sticky Strip and placed my Early Espresso Satin Ribbon across, gathering it just a tiny bit in one area. Using Linen Thread, I hung the two Jewelry Tag punches with For You from Fabulous Phrases stamped on them. I thought it needed a little bling, so I used my strands of adhesive Pearls along the middle of the Satin Ribbon!

It doesn't necessarily look simple, but it really didn't take very long to pull it all together!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Team to see how they interpreted the sketch this week! Then play along and upload your creation over on Mr. Linky!

I'm so excited…in just a few more sleeps, I'll be seeing most of my Stamping 411 Design Team buddies at Leadership! Kerin is the only one who couldn't make it this year…bummer! Can't wait, girls!

Filled with Love

January 6, 2011 By Connie | 5 Comments

Today is the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge and we have a FUN sketch for you to try! Everyone is welcome to stop by and play along! Upload your creation to Inlink over on the site. We're gearing up for the Preview Weeks starting on Sunday. You won't want to miss signing up for the Early Bird Special, too!

It's not too late to order the Filled with Love Bundle! Although, this stamp set was in the Holiday Mini, Stampin' Up! has made it available thru January 24th by purchasing the stamp set and Love Patterns (Real Red and Pretty in Pink Patterns Paper) as a bundle. You also get a package of the Bitty Buttons FREE! Just in time for Valentine's Day! If you want to see it, click on my left sidebar widget and it will take you to a photo.

I started with a Real Red base of cardstock and layered on Pink Pirouette cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder. I used the Two Scallop Square die and cut out the larger scallop square from the bundle Designer Paper. I then layered Pink Pirouette inside and Whisper White that I stamped with a Pink Pirouette heart from Filled with Love. I punched a small heart from the Red Glimmer Paper and placed it with a Stampin' Dimensional. I stamped Be My Valentine with Real Red on Pink Pirouette, added small Rhinestone Jewels on top and bottom, punched with the 1" circle punch and layered on the 1 1/4" circle punch. It is placed with Stampin' Dimensionals, too!.

Finally I took the lucious Real Red Satin Ribbon and wrapped it to the back, then added a big Real Red Satin bow on the front! I'm planning on giving this to my hubby for Valentine's Day!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has done with this sketch over on Create with Connie and Mary!

It's time for an 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 starts January 9th! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!