Stampin' Up!

Decorated tins

December 16, 2009 By Connie | 3 Comments

At a recent craft fair, I was commissioned by a local high school PTO to make tins in their school colors for Christmas gifts for the high school teachers. Their school mascot/name is the "Shamrocks". I made 206 of these nugget tins, but filled them with Waggoners Buckeye Candies (an Ohio treat!) While they took much longer to make than I anticipated, I really liked how they turned out and she was thrilled with them when she picked them up.

Not a lot of Stampin' Up! products were used. I couldn't match up the green with any of our colors. I did use Whisper White and Basic Black, along with the Scallop Circle Punch and Modern Label Punch. Sweetest Holiday Wishes was computer generated. I used a 2" circle punch behind the scallop. The shamrock is a Quickutz die that I ran thru the Big Shot. The dotted designer paper is made by Jilli Bean. I placed a green button on each of the shamrocks.

Here is one box of 4 that were full of finished tins! I hope the teachers like them!

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Click here for details on Stampin' Up!'s BIG SHOT EXTRAVAGANZA SALE and purchase the Big Shot machine from me for only $79.95!!!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONLINE 24/7!

Elf Punch Art

December 15, 2009 By Connie | 1 Comment

This punch art elf is based on some of the images that have been floating around the internet, however, I thought he'd be cute holding onto a Christmas Letter to Santa!

I started with a base card of Bermuda Bay card stock and stamped the snowflake from Stampin' Up!'s Winter Post stamp set randomly across the top half. Along the bottom, I placed some Merry Moments Designer Paper in the red stripe pattern. I hid the seam with a strip of Basic Black card stock. The letter is made with the Scallop Envelope die, I folded it up and adhered the front side to the base card and stamped the snowflake around the edges. I used the Santa Postmark from Winter Post in Basic Black Classic Ink in the upper right corner. Merry Christmas is from the set, Christmas Greetings and stamped in Basic Black ink, too.

I made the Elf head with the Ornament Punch, the hat is also done with the Ornament Punch and then cut with the Wide Oval Punch. The pom pom on his hat is the scallop flower from BoHo Blossoms. His pointed ears are the star flower from BoHo Blossoms punch, too. His hands holding the Christmas letter are made with the Word Window Punch. The eyes are Bermuda Bay 1/4 circles with 1/8 Basic Black and highlighted with a White Gel Pen. I colored his cheeks with Blush Blossom marker and his mouth with a Basic Black marker. His nose is also a 1/4 circle from Blush Blossom.

I hope you enjoy my version of the Elf punch art! My classes enjoyed making him!

INKspired Treasures Blog

Click here for details on Stampin' Up!'s BIG SHOT EXTRAVAGANZA SALE and purchase the Big Shot machine from me for only $79.95!!!

Snow Buddies – TSSC100

December 14, 2009 By Connie | 4 Comments

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We celebrated Christmas with my son and his fiance over the weekend since they were in town. We also spent several days working up the sample of their wedding invitation. I think we have it nailed down now. I'll order all the card stock, but probably won't start working on them until February. Beth and her mom want to come back in town and help!

Woohoo! Mary Jo is celebrating sketch #100! I love it when I have time to do her sketches. Congratulations! I combined her sketch with my Design Team challenge for Latenightstampers — using non-traditional Christmas colors!

I started with a base of Regal Rose card stock and added a layer of Certainly Celery. I cut up the grid sizes in Whisper White and used the checked pattern in Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper. On the Whisper White, I used the three sizes of snowflakes in Snow Buddies, the largest in Certainly Celery, middle size in Regal Rose and the small size I stamped off using Regal Rose for a lighter shade. I stamped the small snowman, from Stampin' Up!'s Snow Buddies, with Basic Black Ink on Whisper White and colored with my Stampin' Write markers in Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Blush Blossom and Bashful Blue. I punched him out with the Wide Oval Punch, then layered him on Regal Rose and Certainly Celery ovals cut from the Bigz Ovals Die. I used the White Gel Pen and made polka dots around the larger oval to fill in the space a little. Finally, I stamped Happy Holidays from Stampin' Up!'s Four The Holidays stamp set in Basic Black Ink.

I think it makes a fun holiday card and I love the non-traditional look! Hope you have a great week…mine is a BUSY one again!

Don't forget to visit us over on the Create with Connie and Julie Occasions Edition blog. Our Early Bird Special for only $34.95 is a fantastic deal for NINE full weeks! We have three very talented designers joining us for this session. It is going to be even bigger and better than the Holiday Edition! See a sneak peak preview over there, too!

Stamping 411

December 12, 2009 By Connie | 5 Comments

Another week and it is Stamping 411 sketch challenge time again! This one was a little more challenging than normal! I hope I did the sketch justice.

I started with a base of Real Red card stock and added a layer of Soft Suede. On top of that is a piece of Christmas Cocoa Designer Paper. I added two strips of Real Red Gingham Ribbon, one to hide the seam and one for decoration above it. I used the Hostess Level 2 Christmas Punch stamp, colored it up with Soft Suede and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers and used the Wide Oval Punch to punch it out.

I stamped two Poinsettias from Stampin' Up!'s Berry Christmas with Real Red, the centers with Soft Suede and the leaves with Soft Suede. I added some Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds in the centers, too. As a final touch, I added the little bird from Merry Details out of Real Red card stock.

I like how it turned out! Check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators this week to see what they did! I'm anxious to see, too! Hope you play along and link to Mr. Linky over on Stamping 411.

Merry and Bright Snowflake tags

December 11, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Every year I make the tags for my Christmas presents. I had to get some done for this weekend since we are doing Christmas with my son and his fiance this weekend. I'll make close to 50 tags by the time I'm done…I know!!!

This uses the retired Stampin' Up! Merry & Bright stamp set, but I absolutely LOVE the snowman because it fits perfectly when punching out circles AND it coordinates with my snowflake wrapping paper!

The Snowflake #2 Bigz Die is actually cut from the Designer Paper backing cardboard sheets to give it some added weight rather than regular Whisper White cardstock. I stamped the Snowman on Whisper White with Basic Black, then colored with Green Galore, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers…very simple! He was punched with the 1 1/4 circle, then adhered to the 1 3/8 Real Red punched circle. On the back I stamped To/From and punched with the 1 1/4 circle and backed it wih the 1 3/8 Real Red punched circles again.

Have a great weekend!

Click here for details on Stampin' Up!'s BIG SHOT EXTRAVAGANZA SALE and purchase the Big Shot machine from me for only $79.95!!!

Big Shot Extravaganza Sale!

December 11, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

While you are shopping for everyone else, don't forget what YOU want! For 12 days only, Stampin' Up! is offering discounts on select Big Shot dies and materials!

Big Shot On Sale $79.95

As an EXTRA BONUS from me only, you can order the BIG SHOT MACHINE for $79.95 (Reg. $99.95) only on phone or email orders thru me! So, if you've been thinking about getting the Big Shot, NOW is the time to buy it from me!

These deals can't be beat! Tell your spouse, kids, friends or parents to call me this week!

Things to Remember:

Sale item orders may be placed as online orders or by calling/emailing me. Bonus Big Shot Machine order MUST be placed by phone or email to me.
The sale begins Friday, December 11, 2009, 12:01 AM (MT), and ends Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 11:50 PM (MT).
Items must be ordered by December 15, 2009, in order to arrive in time for Christmas.
Discounts range between 15-25 percent.
There are no quantity limits.

Product Offering:

Item	Page #	Description	Regular Price	Discounted Price
114515	195	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
114516	195	Cherry Blossom Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
115957	195	Thanks Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
114513	195	Sweetest Stem Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
115952	195	Hi Embosslits die	$11.95	$8.96
115951	197	Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlits die	$74.95	$59.96
113446	197	Build a Flower #2 Set Sizzlits 4-Pack die	$19.95	$16.96
114509	197	Big Bold Cupcakes Sizzlits 4-Pack die	$21.95	$18.66
113448	197	Hearts Set Sizzlits 4-Pack die	$19.95	$16.96
113457	198	Tulipe Bigz die	$21.95	$16.46
115954	198	Two Tags Bigz die	$21.95	$18.66
114524	199	Fringed Flower Bigz die	$19.95	$15.96
114523	199	Decorative Accents Bigz die	$19.95	$15.96
114534	199	Flower Bigz Clear die	$19.95	$15.96
113473	199	5-Point 3D Star Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
113472	199	Circle 3D Ornament Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
113470	199	Flower Layers w/Leaf Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
113465	199	Bird w/Leaves and Flower Bigz die	$19.95	$16.96
115961	200	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$42.95	$32.21
113483	200	Pennant Bigz XL die	$39.95	$29.96
113484	200	Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die	$39.95	$31.96
116760	201	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$39.95	$29.96
116759	201	Pop-Up 3D Ball Bigz XL die	$39.95	$29.96
114890	201	Matchbox Bigz XL die	$42.95	$36.51
113458	202	Flower Layers Originals die	$15.95	$13.56
114336	158	Kraft Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
114334	158	Dark Gray Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
114337	158	Chocolate Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
114335	158	White Décor Elements sheets 12" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$10.36
118797	n/a	So Saffron Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118798	n/a	Rose Red Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118799	n/a	Taken With Teal Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118800	n/a	Pretty In Pink Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118801	n/a	Bashful Blue Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118802	n/a	Real Red Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118803	n/a	Old Olive Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118804	n/a	Black Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118805	n/a	Night of Navy Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118806	n/a	Certainly Celery Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118807	n/a	Tempting Turquoise Décor Elements Sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118808	n/a	Clear Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118809	n/a	Pumpkin Pie Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118810	n/a	Pixie Pink Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118812	n/a	Sahara Sand Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118813	n/a	Gable Green Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118814	n/a	Basic Gray Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$12.95	$9.71
118815	n/a	Chalkboard Décor Elements sheets 15" x 24" (2)	$14.95	$11.21

And, the BIG SHOT MACHINE for $79.95 sale available only from me!

EMAIL or CALL ME TODAY! Sale good only thru December 22, 2009!

INKspired Treasures Blog

CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONLINE 24/7!

Garden Greetings

December 8, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This is one of the Stampin' Up! sets on the Dormant List, Garden Greetings, that will be retiring at the end of the month! It is one of my favorites because it has a variety of greetings along with the flowers. It also is an open-line style of stamp, which makes it fun to use with special background techniques, like the Smackin' Acetate Techique I used here! You could also color the flowers with a variety of products…Watercolor Crayons, Watercolor Pencils, Stampin' Write Markers, etc.

This fits the challenge over on Late Night Stampers which was to be inspired by a beautiful tropical photograph. The tropics reminds me of flowers, so that is what I based my design on. I also used a 3×6 sized card that fit in our Open End Envelopes. I like to make unusual shaped cards now and then.

I started with a base 6×6 size of Certainly Celery Card stock. I added a strip of Old Olive Patterns Designer Paper at the bottom and stamped the greeting in Basic Brown Ink on Whisper White card stock. It was punched with the Modern Label Punch. I stamped the flowers three times with Basic Brown Ink on the prepared Smackin' Acetate piece of card stock. (Instructions from Technique Junkies Newsletter). I cut out each flower and then added a Chocolate Chip Jumbo brad in the center of each flower. They are popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals across the card front. Simple, but a nice card to send to a friend for their birthday!

I'm off to finish cleaning the house for my son and his fiance coming in tomorrow. We'll be celebrating our Christmas this weekend since they will go to her parents for the actual holiday. It will be the first time my "baby" won't be home for Christmas! But it will be good to see them. We are going to work on some designs for the wedding invitations while they are here.

Don't forget to order this set before it is gone forever! Click here to order online 24/7!

INKspired Treasures Blog

Early Bird Special!

December 6, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It's here! Your Early Bird Subscription price of $34.95 is now available! Julie Dinn and I are launching our second edition of Create with Connie & Julie. where we will be featuring products from the amazing Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration brochure.

The Occasions Edition site will run from January 3 – March 6. Each week we will focus on a different collection of products that can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog or Sale-A-Bration brochure. Our goal is to show you some new and unique ways to use Stampin' Up!'s fabulous products. Every day there will be a new project posted and each week there will be at least two tutorials available for you to download. Our exclusive projects will include cards, scrapbook pages and 3D items, the quick and easy ones and the more complex larger projects.

For our Early Bird and Preview Week, we will be focusing on the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set, The I (Love) Love Wheel and the new Pretty in Pink and Real Red Corduroy Buttons. During this time period, the site will be open to everyone, but starting on Sunday, January 10, only those that have registered will have access to the site. Click here to see some PREVIEW Samples on the Create with Connie & Julie site! Here is a sneak peek of my Chocolate Portfolio and I've made a tutorial for you!

And this session we are proud to announce the addition of three Guest Designers! Mary Brown joins us as Senior Guest Designer, along with Kerin Sylvester and Monika Davis as Guest Designers! They will be sharing in the Challenges and creating some special projects for you, too!

8 week subscription to Create with Connie & Julie – Regular price $39.95 US

EARLY BIRD PRICE of $34.95
until January 3, 2010

Email me for other payment options. We also have Gift Certificates available!

We are so excited to share our creativity with you and we hope you will join us for our Occasions Edition of Create with Connie and Julie!