Stampin' Up!

Bloggers Challenge – Patriotic

July 2, 2010 By Connie | 20 Comments

I missed out on doing the Bloggers Challenge last week…I was a little busy working on earning the Cruise! But, I wanted to make sure I did play along this week! The theme is Patriotic cards in celebration of Independence Day, of course!

I knew I wanted to use July Fourth again, too. Although I'll probably use it again a few times before I put it away…the firecrackers could be birthday candles and the stars can be used at ANY time! It really is a versatile little set!

I started again by using Pacific Point as the base of my card and layered on Poppy Parade…my two new favorites for patriotic colors! I added another layer of Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I made my own "designer paper" by stamping the fireworks in Pacific Point and Poppy Parade on Whisper White, then layered it on Pacific Point and wrapped the Real Red Satin Ribbon around to adhere to the back (I can't WAIT to get all the new ribbons I ordered!!) I punched a Pacific Point 1 3/4 Circle, then added the Poppy Parade Large punched Star. And, finally, a little heart Bitty Button. Did you know that the smallest heart in the Heart to Heart punch fits it PERFECTLY??? Thanks to Mary Brown for that little tip!

OK…hope you all enjoy the holiday weekend! Be safe!

Create with Connie and Mary Challenge

July 1, 2010 By Connie | 2 Comments

It's Thursday and time for another Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge! This week's theme was 4th of July! A great reason to celebrate! (Although I certainly don't know where JUNE went!)

We want to celebrate the addition of our Challenge Design Team, too! We have four FABULOUS women joining us…their talent amazes me! WELCOME!

Carrie Gaskin — Artistic Avenger

Deb Currier — ARTfelt Impressions

Lisa Martz — Get Your Stamp On!

Stacey Schafer — Stacey's Stamping Stage

And now for my Fourth of July submission. I've done several cards, so I decided to do a little favor you could have on hand at your picnic! Fill it with candy or some small "snaps" fireworks for the kids!

I used one of the returning colors, Pacific Point for the Pillow Box, cut with the Bigz Die in my Big Shot. Before I folded it on the score lines, I adhered a strip of Whisper White that I stamped with Stampin' Up!'s July Fourth fireworks in Pacific Point and Poppy Parade, one of the NEW In Colors coming TOMORROW! After folding it, I used the 5/8 Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon to hold it closed and tied a knot at the top. I stamped two large stars from July Fourth in Poppy Parade and Pacific Point, then punched with the Large Star Punch. Finally, I inked up the greeting with my Stampin' Write markers in those same colors and stamped on scrap Whisper White, punched with the 1 1/4 Circle, then layered on a Poppy Parade 1 3/8 circle.

These would be pretty easy to make up a bunch of them…the Big Shot does the hard part!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Tropical Party SSSC75

June 29, 2010 By Connie | 1 Comment

As you know, I think it is so much fun to do sketch challenges. I picked up this sketch over at Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC75) and thought it looked fun. I must say, though, the little icons at the bottom of the sketch did give me a little problem! lol!

For my card, I wanted to use some of the new colors coming in with the next catalog! I started with a base of the new color, Marina Mist, because I knew I wanted to create a water theme with Stampin' Up!'s Tropical Party Stamp Set from the Summer Mini. I added a layer of Wild Wasabi, one of the returning In Colors, that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.

I cut a Large Scallop Circle with the wonderful new In Color, Poppy Parade! I LOVE this new red! It pops! Inside, I cut a 3 3/4 circle from Whisper White, then half circles from Marina Mist and Sahara Sand so I could layer them across the bottom of the circle. I spritzed on Sahara Sand Ink with the Color Spritzer Tool and Marina Mist spritz for the water. I used a 1 1/4 circle template to create the sun with the new Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker. The palm trees I inked up with Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers and stamped over the "sand" and background Whisper White.

I added a row of the small flowers in Daffodil Delight and Poppy Parade, inked with the Stampin' Write Markers and cut out. I wrapped Kraft Taffeta Ribbon around and tied (it's retiring! Oh no!) and then stamped Just for You from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched with the Small Oval Punch. I'm pretty happy with how I worked the icons across the bottom!

CUSTOMERS – remember my ADHESIVE SALE going on now until June 30th! Email me for more information!

Watercolor Trio

June 28, 2010 By Connie | 5 Comments

Wow…sorry this is posting so late. I had major problems trying to get to my Dashboard to post! It finally seems to be working ok.

And another WOW…my count went over 500,000 blog hits without me even knowing it! I guess I haven't paid attention since I got back from the wedding! THANK YOU for visiting and for the nice comments you leave! I know I appreciate knowing you are out there and checking in frequently. I've been blogging now for 3 years…doesn't seem possible.

I used the square (rectangle) sketch over on Mojo Monday for the basis of my card. I've had the idea for a red/white/blue card without using stars or a patriotic theme! I think the red and blue flowers, although unusual, fit my idea nicely!

So for my card, I started with a base of Real Red cardstock. I layered on a piece of Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. Along the bottom on another piece of Whisper White, I stamped two of the flowers from Stampin' Up!'s Watercolor Trio stamp set in Real Red and Pacific Point randomly. (I'm SO happy that Pacific Point is returning…I love the brightness of the blue color!) I added a strip of Real Red cardstock to hide the seam between the top and the bottom.

I stamped Birthday Wishes in Pacific Point on Whisper White, then punched with the 1 3/8 circle punch. I added a 1 3/4 circle of Real Red behind it. I stamped the third flower on Whisper White by inking up the flower with my Real Red and Pacific Point Stampin' Write Markers. It is layered on Real Red, too. Finally, I punched the Butterfly from Real Red cardstock, added some Linen Thread for the body and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front of the card! I love how it turned out!

CUSTOMERS remember my STOCK UP ON ADHESIVE SALE going on now thru June 30th! Don't forget to order NOW!

Stamping 411 –

June 25, 2010 By Connie | 7 Comments

I'm still suffering a little tummy upset from Cancun, I think. Plus woke up with a sinus migraine, so my day didn't really get started until this afternoon! I almost forgot to get my post ready for Stamping 411's sketch challenge today! Selene created another fun sketch for us to try.

I had one of Stampin' Up!'s Fifth Avenue Floral reinker rose "starts" on my desk that I hadn't used yet. I made up a bunch of them several months ago. This one was done with Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie…making it an almost Cameo Coral color. I love roses this color!

I used Stampin' Dimensionals to place the rose on top of the Whisper White layer, and that was placed on Cameo Coral. I used a piece of Kaleidoscope Designer Paper in the background and placed on the base card of Cameo Coral. I wrapped the Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon around and tied a knot. I punched the leaves from the bird punch and ran them thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder for some texture. Finally, I added "get together" from Stampin' Up!'s In A Word stamp set in the Summer Mini, inking it with Cameo Coral and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Markers, then punching with the Large Oval Punch. I placed it on the Scallop Oval punched from Cameo Coral.

So, it turned out completely different that what started in my head, but I'm actually pretty pleased with it! Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators to see what they've done this week! Then use the sketch to create your own card and upload it to Inlinkz over on Stamping 411…it's easy to play along!

Create with Connie and Mary Challenge – Together Forever

June 24, 2010 By Connie | 1 Comment

This week's Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge is a Sketch! We've always had challenges for our subscribers, but now every Thursday we will offer a sketch, color or inspiration challenge for EVERYONE to try. Just check to see what the challenge is for the week, then submit your entry via INLINKZ over on the Create with Connie and Mary blog. Please state in your post that it is a Create with Connie and Mary Challenge and the corresponding challenge number (CCMC104 is today!) Come play with us!

The retiring list has been out for several weeks and I'm trying to use my stamps a few more times before they retire. This one, Together Forever, will go into my KEEP pile. I love it for wedding cards! I decided to mix the old with the new, by using Pink Pirouette cardstock…one of the returning In Colors in the new catalog! I love the soft pink color!

I started by stamping the flower image in Basic Black on Whisper White and punching with the 1 3/4 Circle. I used the new Pink Pirouette Stampin' Write Marker to color it in. I layered it on the Pennant XL Die Scallop Circle I cut from Basic Black cardstock on the Big Shot. I added it to a layer of Pink Pirouette that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder…that was layered on another piece of Basic Black that I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch along the side.

I added a piece of Tea Party Designer Paper to the top of Pink Pirouette cardstock, then wrapped the White Satin Ribbon around twice to the back and secured. The Pink Pirouette was layered onto more Basic Black, and then a base card of Whisper White. I added a White Satin Bow on the front and used the Charming set to stamp Mr & Mrs. and Love in Basic Black Classic Ink on Whisper White. They were punched with the Medium Jewelry Tag punch, pierced with a hole at the top and added to Linen Thread. I wrapped the Thread around the bow and secured with Mini Glue Dots.

I love the softness of this card! Pink and Black for weddings is really big right now…I think we saw two of them while in Cancun last week. It was amazing at this resort…they have 1-2 weddings every day! Big business!

Make sure to stop over at Create with Connie and Mary to see Mary's wonderful card this week! Love the bright colors!

Wedding Favors

June 23, 2010 By Connie | 10 Comments

Here is a picture of Beth and I sharing a Mimosa toast before the Wedding. Yes…she is TALL…I felt like a shrimp around her family all week…Beth is 5'11, her sister and mom around 5'10", and her dad is well over 6"5". No wonder Beth played basketball…of course, her dad was the coach, too! Being only 5'3", I looked up a lot this weekend! lol! My son, Adam, is 6'1" so they actually look great together!

I know most of you have seen the little straw baskets that are going around made with the Baskets & Blooms XL die! I loved the Tropical look to them! I wanted to make some in the wedding colors…Kraft, Cornflower Blue and White. I thought the Kraft (now called Crumb Cake) made a nice beach basket. I ran the two basket pieces thru the Big Shot with the Lattice Impressions Folder and I added the stripe trim pieces from the die on the front and back in the Shimmer Cornflower Blue (non-SU) and Shimmer White cardstock. I made a little open-top box for inside to hold the Small Cello bag filled with Blueberry and Vanilla Jelly Belly candies. I tied it closed with some Satin Kraft Ribbon (non-SU).

I printed the Beth & Adam, Riviera Maya, Mexico with the wedding date 6.18.2010 on the computer, then punched with the 1 3/8 Circle Punch. I layered it on more Cornflower Blue Shimmer cardstock punched with the Scallop Circle Punch. These were placed at the place settings at the Wedding Reception.

I was SO pleased with how they turned out! Everyone loved them, too! I meant to take a picture of all 55 of them, but forgot. I took them flat with Sticky Strip adhered to the box inside, so all I had to do was peel off the tape and put them together and put in the bag of candy. However, that night we were putting them together, I fell FLAT on my hands and knees when crossing a little wood bridge. Banged up my knee pretty good…thought for sure I'd be limping for the wedding. Luckily, the ice pack helped and kept the swelling down. I was able to move around pretty good…except for going up steps! I still have a nice bruise on my knee…my dress hid it, though. But…that's why I forgot to take pictures of the finished ones!

Here is a picture of their first dance at the Reception. It was held outdoors on the Boardwalk right next to the beach. They had tables of 8 set up and a big area for dancing. Behind them is the Buffet and bar set up…everything tasted great!

Tomorrow is a NEW Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge…don't forget to check it out and play along!

Because I Care

June 22, 2010 By Connie | 3 Comments

I'm BACK! Wow…what a wonderful wedding on the beaches of Riveria Maya, Mexico. My son and new daughter-in-law are SO happy! Here is a picture of them the night we got to Cancun on my birthday!

And here is a favorite of mine from the pictures after the wedding! The photographer had them jump…and I was able to capture the photo, too! Adam and Beth are blessed to have wonderful friends and family who joined them in Cancun for their very special day! I'm sure I'll be sharing more photos over the next few days…I took plenty!

I usually don't do a lot of sneak peeks on my Blog…but because my hydrangea bushes are in FULL bloom, I wanted to share a card I made with the Because I Care hydrangea stamp image…a new hostess set in the upcoming Idea Book & Catalog! I was a little concerned on what colors to use for the flowers since a lot of our blues and light lavenders are retiring at the end of June. But, I found a couple of the new colors worked great…Marina Mist and Crushed Concord!

I started with the sketch layout from Card Positioning Systems (CPS172) that I thought looked fun! I inked the hydrangea image from Because I Care with Marina Mist Classic Ink, then added highlights with my Crushed Concord Stampin' Write Marker and stamped it on Whisper White. I also stamped a couple of the leaves with Wild Wasabi and then cut the individual pieces out instead of leaving it as a stemmed flower. I colored them with my Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker. The flower pieces were placed on a 2 1/2 circle of Pear Pizzazz cardstock cut with the Circle Scissors Plus tool.

The base of the card is Marina Mist and I added a layer of Crushed Concord cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the new Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder and rounded the corners. I added another layer of Greenhouse Gala Designer Paper with the Pear Pizzazz print on it and rounded those corners, too. I stamped Thank You from Because I Care inked with my Crushed Concord marker on Whisper White, then punched with the Modern Label Punch. I placed the flower element on top with Stampin' Dimensionals!

I'll leave you with one of my favorites of Beth before the wedding…what a beautiful bride!

Don't forget to play along with the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge!