Stampin' Up!

Stamping 411 – Tropical Party

May 7, 2010 By Connie | 6 Comments

Well, I'm finishing out this week featuring Tropical Party. I hope you got some great ideas using this set! I think it is SO much fun.

Today's Stamping 411 sketch challenge was a lot of fun, too! I hope you take a minute and play along with the Design Operators. Just link your creation to Mr. Linky over on the Stamping 411 blog. We love to see what you do with the sketch!

For my card, I started with a base card of Rose Red cardstock. I ran Whisper White thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I found a strip of the striped pattern from Island Oasis Designer Paper laying on my desk, so I used it for the base along the Old Olive cardstock. I stamped the large floral in Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Classic Ink on Whisper White and cut them out. The Old Olive I used for leaves behind the flowers. I used Mini Brads for the centers and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front. I punched three 1/2 circles from Rose Red, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie and lined them up along the top. Then I stamped Just For You in Basic Brown on So Saffron and punched it with the Designer Label Punch. I tucked it under the top of the Old Olive layer.

I like how it turned out! Make sure to check out what the other Design Operators did over on Stamping 411! (And…did you catch Lee's ribbon tutorial over there this week? AWESOME!)

Bloggers Challenge – Mother’s Day cards

May 7, 2010 By Connie | 23 Comments

It's Friday and time for another Bloggers' Challenge! The theme is Mother's Day cards this week. Good timing since I need to make up cards for my Mother and Mother in law.

I thought my mother would like this card with the blending of colors. You might remember I used the same color scheme a few weeks ago with this set (Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Mellow Moss). I designed this card for my Stamp Club members to do at the last meeting. They loved it!

I started with a base card of Ballet Blue cardstock. On the Whisper White layer, I stamped the medallion randomly from Stampin' Up!'s Charming set in the three colors, Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie and Mellow Moss. I tied a Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon around and tied in a bow. I added a little Jewelry Tag Punch with the words "Thanks So Much" from the Tiny Tags stamp set. (Charming, Tiny Tags and the Jewelry tag punch are STILL available even though they don't show in the Summer Mini!….yeah, Stampin' Up!) I cut the Lattice Die from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and layered it on Mellow Moss cardstock.

For the center, I stamped the words in Charming with Ballet Blue Classic Ink (stamped off for a lighter version), then used my Stampin' Write Markers to ink up the flower with Mellow Moss and Pumpkin Pie and stamped over the words. I punched it with the Wide Oval punch. I layered it on the Ballet Blue Medallion cut from Lots of Tags Sizzlets! I love how pretty the Wide Oval layers with that tag!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I'm spending a RELAXING one! Yeah!

Another Tropical Party and BLOG CANDY!

May 4, 2010 By Connie | 30 Comments

Yes, it's my turn to give away two of the CUTEST flip flop notepads that Mary made with the Island Floral Bigz Die in celebration of Tropical Party week over on Create with Connie and Mary! ANYONE can leave a comment on THIS post for your chance to win one of two notepads. Plus, see the other ways you can win at the bottom of this post!

I think I've mentioned that Stampin' Up!'s Tropical Party is one of my FAVORITE sets in the Summer Mini. Not only is it great for cardmaking, it has LOTS of possibilities for scrapbooking, too! I used Mary Jo's Technostamper Sketch Challenge today (TSSC120) as a basis for my card. I decided to flip it on its side for my card.

I started with the base Old Olive cardstock. I added the umbrella pattern from Island Oasis Designer Paper. Then I used the Pumpkin Pie Polka Dot from the same package as the other layer.

For my main element, I inked up the Live, Laugh & Love Happy Birthday stamp from Stampin' Up!'s On Your Birthday stamp set with my Stampin' Write Markers in Chocolate Chip and Rose Red. I stamped the palm leaves from Tropical Party in Old Olive in the corners. The coconut I inked up with Chocolate Chip and used my Stampin' Write Markers to color the umbrella and straw. I cut it out and popped it up on Stampin' Dimensionals. I stamped and cut out three of the small flowers in Tropical Party in Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron, then placed them along the top with Stampin' Dimensionals again. I love how this turned out!

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TROPICAL BLOG CANDY!

This week on Create with Connie and Mary we are having a "Tropical Party"! Every day during this week the team has created a project for our subscribers using the items that coordinate with the tropical set, die and paper! Mary found the footnote flip flops at a local store and just KNEW they would be PERFECT for a special project! And since we just HAD to do something with them…we are sharing them with YOU!

ANYONE can leave a comment on the blogs below on the given day and be entered into the drawings to win one! Each of us have two to give away. Would you like some ADDITIONAL CHANCES TO WIN? Well…I'm guessing YES! SUBSCRIBE to Create with Connie and Mary during THIS WEEK and be entered into ANOTHER drawing to win one of TWO that we are giving to just our NEW subscribers this week. Already a subscriber and want another chance to win? Participate in the sketch challenge that we posted this past Saturday and two lucky challenge participants will have the opportunity to WIN! Here's the schedule…

Tuesday – Connie Babbert – Inkspired Treasures
Wednesday – Kerin Slyvester – Stamps, Paper, Glitter!
Thursday – Monika Davis – Stamping Together at Monika's Place

New Subscribers – May 3-7

Challenge participants – May 1-7

So…what are you waiting for? Visit the blogs on the days above and leave a comment. Go to the Create with Connie and Mary site and JOIN this week and be entered to win. THEN…for all subscribers, participate in this week's challenge for still ANOTHER chance to win! Easy as can be! We hope we can send one of these cute flip flops to YOU!

Winners will be announced for everything on Saturday, May 8th. To find out if you are a WINNER…you need to check the Create with Connie and Mary site no later than Friday, May 14th and send us your mailing address. Good Luck!

King of the Grill

May 2, 2010 By Connie | 11 Comments

When I saw this sketch challenge from Card Positioning Systems (CPS 165), I knew immediately what I wanted to do. I loved Stampin' Up!'s King of the Grill stamp set the minute I saw it in the new Summer Mini. What a great, whimsical set for men! Lots of fun greetings in it, too! I thought the little circle accents in the sketch looked like the knobs on a grill…don't you? Ok…maybe it is just me…

I knew I wanted a RED grill, so I started with a base 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 square Real Red card. Next, I found a red pattern in Jackpot Designer Paper and layered it on Basic Black for the background.

For my focal piece, I ran the Whisper White cardstock thru my Big Shot along with an oval chipboard template and the new Square Lattice Impressions folder. The oval template allows the center to remain smooth, but around the edges are textured. A very cool technique to add some texture.

EDIT: I had to play around a little to get this to work in my Big Shot. I cut ovals out of two rectangle pieces of DSP chipboard and glued the reverse rectangle pieces together. This template (with the ovals cut out), I placed on TOP of the Impressions Folder, with the cardstock inside. I placed the Big Shot platform closed first, a piece of cardstock for the shim, then the Impressions Folder with cardstock, the chipboard on top of the Impressions Folder and finally one Acrylic Plate. That gave me enough pressure to run thru the Big Shot. It gave me the smooth oval in the front with the texture surrounding it.

I stamped my King of the Grill image in the center with Basic Black Classic Ink. I used my AquaPainter and Stampin' Write Markers in the colors of Real Red, Going Gray, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue and Bashful Blue. I used the Blush Blossom Stampin' Write Marker full strength for the face and hands. I stamped the greeting (using my Stamp-a-ma-jig!!!) "It's a BTUtiful thing!" in Basic Black Classic Ink under the image. I added the Whisper White cardstock to a layer of Basic Black, rounding the corners with my Corner Rounder Punch.

Finally, I cut a tab of Basic Black and placed it on the front of the card where I wanted it. I used my Piercing Tool and Mat Pack template to determine where my holes would be and pierced them. I added the three Star Designer Brads in a row.

I'm thrilled with how this turned out! What do you think? Hope you have a wonderful Sunday! And remember to come back for BLOG CANDY this week!

Did you know we announced the winners of the FREE subscriptions to Create with Connie and Mary? Maybe YOU were the winner if you left a comment on any of our blogs last week. Don't forget to check! And, it's not too late to subscribe to 4 weeks of great ideas and tutorials! You don't want to miss out!

Create with Connie and Mary Sketch Challenge

May 1, 2010 By Connie | 3 Comments

Today is the last day of the FREE Preview Week over on Create with Connie and Mary! It has been a fun week using the Elements of Style stamp set, Presto Patterns Specialty Paper, Rough Type and Vintage Tags products. I hope you enjoyed the projects! Starting Sunday, we will be featuring the Tropical Party Stamp Set, Island Floral Bigz Die and Island Oasis Designer Paper, but you do need to be a subscriber to view them.

The WINNERS of the FREE subscriptions have been announced! Stop over to Create with Connie and Mary and see if it was YOU! But…you only have until May 7th at 11:55 PM EST to claim your PRIZE!

I also have some special Blog Candy to offer mext week! You will want to come back and see what I have planned! They are SO much fun! (And yes…we have SEVERAL available!)

Today's CCMC1 is a Sketch Challenge that I created for our first challenge. Check out what the other designers do with this sketch over on Create with Connie and Mary! I'm always amazed at how different everyone's cards are.

I decided to flip the sketch on the side. I started with a base of Soft Suede cardstock. I layered on Melon Mambo that I roughed up around the edges with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool. I sponged some Soft Suede Classic Ink around the edges. Then I stamped the large rose pattern from Stampin' Up!'s Elements of Style in Soft Suede randomly in the background on another Soft Suede cardstock layer. I also distressed the edges and sponged around with Soft Suede Classic Ink. I wrapped the Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon around to the back, then created a bow in the front with two more pieces of the Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon folded into loops, then secured on the front with a Fire Square Rhinestone Brad. I stamped the rose image on Whisper White layer with Soft Suede Classic Ink, then stamped it again on scrap Whisper White, colored with the AquaPainter and Stampin' Write Markers in Melon Mambo and Soft Suede and cut it out. I placed it in the center of the Whisper White. I stamped For You with Soft Suede on Whisper White and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch. I punched Melon Mambo with 1 3/8 circle and layered it. Then finally a Soft Suede Scallop Circle and pierced the holes in the scallops. The Melon Mambo layer was run thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder and sponged around the edges with Soft Suede Classic Ink. I love the vintage feel to this card and the colors!

Supplies:

Sets: Elements of Style (w118611, c120045)

Inks: Soft Suede Classic Ink (115637), Melon Mambo and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers (Asst 116329)

Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo (115320), Soft Suede (115318)

Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon (115612), Square Fire Rhinestone Brads (109112), 1 1/4 Circle Punch (104403), 1 3/8 Circle Punch (104401), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), Piercing Tool (105531), Mat Pack (105826), Cutter Kit (106958), Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder (117335), Sponge Daubers (102892)

Again, don't forget to check out the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary design team to see what they did this week! If you are a subscriber, play along and link to Mr. Linky over on the site! You will be entered into a drawing for one of two $75 merchandise gift certificates at the end of the Summer Edition!

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition….$24.95 US

Stamping 411 – Tropical Party

April 30, 2010 By Connie | 3 Comments

Another week has gone by and it is time for the Stamping 411 sketch challenge again! We certainly had a LOT of people do the sketch last week! I enjoy seeing everyone's creative talents and how they interpret the sketch. I hope you enjoy this week's sketch, too! It is another easy one.

I knew that I wanted to use Stampin' Up!'s Tropical Party…I think it is my favorite set from the new Summer Mini! I used my Watercolor Crayons, Shimmer Paper and a technique called Watercolor Wash to do the background behind the Palm Tree…the colors are Creamy Caramel, So Saffron and Tempting Turquoise. Then I used my Stampin' Write Markers in Chocolate Chip and Old Olive to ink up the Palm Tree and stamped it on the background.

I layered the background on Pumpkin Pie. I added a strip of Island Oasis striped Designer Paper to a piece of Old Olive Cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. Before I ran it thru, I stamped the leaves in the lower right corner as a background for the flowers. I wrapped some Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon over the Designer paper and secured in the back of the Old Olive. I stamped three flowers in So Saffron, Real Red, and Pumpkin Pie on scrap Shimmer Paper and cut them out. I added Mini Brads in Tempting Turquoise, Real Red and So Saffron to the centers. They are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the corner of the card.

This card puts me in a tropical mood! Or maybe it is just the warm sunny day we had today! Check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators to see what they did with this sketch. I know I'm always amazed at what they do!

Day 6 Create with Connie and Mary Sneak Peek

April 30, 2010 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Today, is Day 6 of the Create with Connie and Mary Preview Week! Haven't there been some great projects this week? Tomorrow is challenge day and the last day that the Create site will be FREE. For today's project, our Guest Designer, Kerin Sylvester, has made a gorgeous Vintage Gift Bag from the Mostly Vintage Stencils and Presto Patterns Designer Paper! I absolutely LOVE the colors she used! To get the FREE tutorial on how to make this bag, go to the Create with Connie and Mary blog and download the tutorial that Kerin made!

Stenciled-bag1

Want to win a FREE subscription to Create wth Connie and Mary? Go to Kerin's Blog, Stamps, Paper, Glitter! and leave a comment on her Blog to get a chance at one of the FREE subscriptions this week! We are giving out a total of SIX free subscriptions! Make sure to check back on Saturday to see if you won!

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This is our Preview Week on the Create with Connie and Mary site. From April 26 – May 1, the site will be open for everyone to view. For this preview week only, you will get to see the sort of projects and challenges that we will feature on the site.

Remember, beginning on Sunday, May 2, you will only be able to view the new daily posts if you are a subscriber. When you join, you'll enjoy an 4 week subscription to exclusive samples each day featuring the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini brochure. We'll also have challenges, tutorials, techniques and best of all, PRIZES! Customers and demonstrators welcome! Except for Challenge Saturdays, our projects are exclusive to Create with Connie and Mary, we will not post them anywhere else. Feel free to use our tutorials in your classes or for personal use, however, please do not submit our ideas to contests or publications. To subscribe, click on the Buy Now button, or go to the Payment Options page.

And this session we are proud to announce that Mary Brown joins me as Team Member! Guest Designers Kerin Sylvester and Monika Davis are back! They will be sharing in the Challenges and creating some special projects for you, too!

To find out more about the site and to order a subscription, please visit us at Create with Connie and Mary!

Would you like to WIN a subscription to Create with Connie and Mary? Each of our team members will be giving away subscriptions on their blogs this week. To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on our team member's blog on the day that we are featuring them. TODAY, LEAVE A COMMENT ON KERIN'S POST OVER ON Stamps, Paper, Glitter!

All the winners will be announced on Saturday, May 1st! If you are a winner and have already subscribed, we will refund the price of your subscription! Check back on Create with Connie and Mary to see if you won!

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition – $24.95 US

Day 5 – Create with Connie and Mary Sneak Peek

April 29, 2010 By Connie | 3 Comments

It's my turn again to share a sneak peek project with you that I made for Create with Connie and Mary's Preview Week! We all need quick gifts, right? How about a set of monogrammed cards and a pretty folder to put them in? Everyone can use those! I have additional photos, the supplies and instructions on how I made this over on Create with Connie and Mary.

I hope you stop by Create and take a look…then sign up for our 4 week subscription featuring projects made with stamps and accessories in the Summer Mini! This Preview Week's theme uses Elements of Style, Presto Paper, Rough Edges Alphabet and Mostly Vintage Decor Stencils. Next week we are featuring Tropical Party, Island Oasis and the Island Floral Bigz Die! You won't want to miss it! But remember, starting next Sunday, only those who are subscribers will be able to see the site!

BLOG CANDY: Don't forget to comment on my post over on Create with Connie and Mary for a chance to win a FREE subscription to the Summer Edition! Check back on Saturday to see if you won!

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This is our Preview Week on the site. From April 26 – May 1, the site will be open for everyone to view. For this preview week only, you will get to see the sort of projects and challenges that we will feature on the site.

Beginning on Sunday, May 2, you will only be able to view the new daily posts if you are a subscriber. When you join, you'll enjoy an 4 week subscription to exclusive samples each day featuring the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini brochure. We'll also have challenges, tutorials, techniques and best of all, PRIZES! Customers and demonstrators welcome! Except for Challenge Saturdays, our projects are exclusive to Create with Connie and Mary, we will not post them anywhere else. Feel free to use our tutorials in your classes or for personal use, however, please do not submit our ideas to contests or publications.

To find out more about the site and to order a subscription, please visit us at Create with Connie and Mary!

Would you like to WIN a subscription to Create with Connie and Mary? Each of our team members will be giving away subscriptions on their blogs this week. To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment on our team member's blog on the day that we are featuring them. TODAY you can leave a comment over on Create with Connie and Mary in order to get a chance to win one of six FREE subscriptions! Don't leave it here…you must leave it on my post over there!

All the winners will be announced on Saturday, May 1st! If you are a winner and have already subscribed, we will refund the price of your subscription! Check back on Saturday to see if you won!

Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition