Stampin' Up!

Stamping 411 – Elements of Style

April 16, 2010 By Connie | 11 Comments

This sketch was one of the more difficult ones I've tried with Stamping 411. Of course, when I see what the other operators have done, I'll be hitting myself on the head…duh…why didn't I think of that? But, you know how you get something in your mind and it won't let go. This didn't turn out how I anticipated. It's ok…just not my favorite! I like all the elements, just not how they came together, I guess! lol!

I did use one of the new sets in the Summer Mini, so you are getting a sneak peek! Stampin' Up!'s Elements of Style is a old-fashioned vintage style set, I think. I started with a base of Kraft Cardstock, then added Bella Bleu Designer Paper over top, I distressed the edges first with my Cutter Kit, then a sponge dauber and Brocade Blue Classic Ink. I added the Kraft print in the Bella Bleu Designer Paper to Very Vanilla cardstock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Top Note die. I stamped over the Top Note with Brocade Blue Classic Ink and the Rose image. It kind of gave it a split negative technique look. I added Vanilla Satin Ribbon behind the points of the Top Note…then a Kraft Taffeta Ribbon bow in the corner. I tied on the greeting, Love, from Stampin' Up!'s Tiny Tags stamp set on Brocade Blue and punched with the Medium Jewelry Tag punch.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the Design Team Operators came up with over on Stamping 411! And, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I have a downline meeting on Sunday…should be fun!

Bloggers Challenge – Sketch

April 16, 2010 By Connie | 21 Comments

Today's Bloggers Challenge is a really neat sketch! I decided to use a huge floral element for the center of the card, instead of the large rectangle. My Shades of Spring Designer Paper has been sitting there…I've been hoarding the large floral paper in that package. I decided to cut up a piece of it to use on my card.

I started with a base of Orchid Opulence. I cut the Vanilla/Plum polka dot designer paper from that package into 1" x 4" strips. Then I layered each of them on Certainly Celery cardstock and added it to my card.

I cut one of the large flowers out of the Designer Paper and slightly curled the edges inward. I added a large Vanilla Brad to the center of the flower. I first tried a variety of different punches in the center, but it just distracted from the pretty paper, so I left it with only the large brad. I also cut out two of the leaves from the pattern and placed them behind the flower. The flower is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I added the Happy Birthday greeting from Stampin' Up!'s Teeny Tiny WIshes on Very Vanilla and punched with the Word Window punch, then layered it on a Modern Label punched from Orchid Opulence cardstock.

Pretty simple card, but fun! I'm anxious to see what the rest of the Blogger Challenge gals did this week with this sketch!

Busy day for me…I need to get over to Macy's to pick up a wedding gift that is on SUPER sale today! I want to be first in line! lol!

Early Bird Subscription savings going on now! Save $5 off the normal $24.95 price! Check out the preview projects on Create with Connie and Mary!

Cute & Cuddly – PPA38

April 15, 2010 By Connie | 5 Comments

My friend and co-designer for Create, Mary Brown, let me know about a sketch challenge this morning over on Pals Paper Arts. I've played with their challenges before, but hadn't been over there for a while…it was a good reminder to check them out! Sketch PPA38 was really fun. I needed a baby card for a friend of mine who just had a new grand-daughter born a couple weeks ago. I bet she is thrilled (and I hope she doesn't see this before I get it mailed to her!) At least the inside will be a surprise…I'm not going to show it here! lol!

I started with a base of Pretty in Pink cardstock and layered on one of the prints from Pawsitively Prints Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! The one made for the Build A Bear dies! I love the small prints in it. I added a strip of Whisper White and added two Scallop Edge Punch pieces in Certainly Celery cardstock. I wrapped the Pretty in Pink Striped Ribbon around and tied a knot.

For the focal element, I stamped the Sweet Little Baby scallop square image from Stampin' Up!'s Cute & Cuddly stamp set three times on Whisper White with Basic Black Classic Ink, then stamped it again three times on Pretty in Pink cardstock. I punched out the Whisper White images with the Scallop Square Punch and then cut the centers 3/4" to fit inside the squares and capture the Sweet Little Baby words. Those are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on a piece of Certainly Celery cardstock and I layered that on Whisper White.

I think this made a very sweet baby card and it was pretty easy to put together thanks to the fun sketch!

Early Bird Subscription savings going on now! Save $5 off the normal $24.95 price! Check out the preview projects on Create with Connie and Mary!

A Rose is a Rose…

April 14, 2010 By Connie | 4 Comments

I love roses, and especially this color…Apricot Appeal with a touch of Cameo Coral on the edges. I think they are called the Peace Rose? I used to have a beautiful rose bush with these colors! Gorgeous! These are the two colors that I will definitely stock up on before they retire.

This challenge is also for No Time To Stamp's 3D Flower challenge (ssnotime137)! What a great idea! I've seen some beautiful 3D flowers out there and I'm always anxious to learn more ways to craft them.

I knew when I saw MOJO Monday's sketch #134 that I wanted to use one of the roses I made when teaching "everyone" how to do them at the stamping retreat in March! They have just been sitting in my studio waiting to be used. I use the XL Fancy Flower Punch to make mine. Last session, I did a little tutorial on how to make them over on Create with Connie and Julie, too! They are LOTS of fun and look so different when you use different colors!

I started with a base of Apricot Appeal cardstock and added a layer of Cameo Coral. On top of that I used the Kaleidoscope Designer Paper in both the green bubble print and the apricot stripe pattern. I added the Scallop Edge punches to the bottom of the stripe design pieces.

I made the Apricot Appeal Rose using the XL Fancy Flower punch in the Occasions Mini and layering it. I inked up the edges with a sponge dauber and Cameo Coral. The leaves are made with the 5 Petal Punch and Garden Green cardstock, then crimped with the Crimper Tool. I adhered the Rose to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Finally, I stamped Happy Mother's Day stamp from Stampin' Up!'s All Holidays Stamp Set in Garden Green on Whisper White and layered it on Garden Green cardstock. I used my Piercing Tool and Mat to make the piercing decorations in the two corners.

I love how this turned out and think I'll give it to my mom for Mother's Day, since I can hand it to her with her gift.

Lots to do today. I need to work on my Control Freaks swap for the Summer Mini! I want to get that mailed out tomorrow. Have a great day!

If you haven't checked out the Create with Connie and Mary site yet now is the time to do it! There will be a new project using Summer Edition products posted every day and there will be a minimum of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. We like to have lots of fun so we have challenges and prizes for our subscribers. Our sites stay up long after the session is done so you will have access to the site and the tutorials. For more information and to see our Early Bird Preview projects, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Awash with Flowers – TSSC117

April 13, 2010 By Connie | 6 Comments

I like to play along with Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge…she always has fun sketches. It just seems lately that I haven't had the time! I made time this morning to whip up this quick card! The length of the focal element just screamed FLOWERS to me!

I earned this set FREE this month with Stampin' Up!'s Awash with Flowers hostess promotion going on during the month of April! For a $350 workshop, you can earn this set for free, too! Because it is two-step, I decided to go with the clear mount. I must say, the clear mount made it really easy to line up!

I started with a base of Rich Razzleberry (aren't you GLAD this is staying in the catalog? Woohoo!) The focal element I stamped the top of the flower in Rich Razzleberry on Whisper White and added a Basic Black outline around it. I stamped the stem in Always Artichoke and watercolored the leaves. I layered this on Rich Razzleberry cardstock, then added a strip of Always Artichoke that I punched with the Scallop Edge punch. I tied a Crushed Curry Polka Dot bow and placed it on the stem with Mini Glue Dots.

I layered this on a piece of Crushed Curry that I ran thru the Big Shot with the new Square Lattice Impressions Folder (available May 1) and that was layered on Always Artichoke. Finally, I added two tabs of the Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon. I stamped Happy Anniversary from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Basic Black, punched with the Word Window punch and added to a Modern Label punched from Always Artichoke. I needed an Anniversary card for my Mom and Dad, so this will work perfectly (51 years! Congratulations!)

Wow…yesterday we had a tremendous response for our first day of the Early Bird Special price for Create with Connie and Mary! We hope you decide to join us. If you haven't checked out the Create with Connie and Mary site yet now is the time to do it! We will be featuring new Summer Mini product. There is a new project posted every day and there will be a minimum of two fabulous tutorials each and every week. We like to have lots of fun so we have challenges and prizes for our subscribers. Our sites stay up long after the session is done so you will have access to the site and the tutorials. For more information and to see our Preview Week projects please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Create with Connie and Mary!

April 12, 2010 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It's here! We are launching our third edition of Create with Connie & Mary, where we will be featuring products from the amazing Summer Mini Catalog. Yes…there is a slight name change. Mary Brown, Sr. Design Team member has joined Connie on the Create Team. This Edition we will again have our wonderful guest designers Monika Davis and Kerin Sylvester returning.

To kick of the start of the Early Bird Registration, Mary and I have each designed a special project to share with you. To view all the details of these projects you need to visit the Create with Connie and Mary site

The Summer Edition will run 4 weeks from May 2 – May 30. Each week we will focus on a different collection of products that can be found in the Summer Mini Catalog. 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.

In addition, our EXTRA Preview Week begins April 25, we will be focusing on the Elements of Style stamp set, Presto Patterns Designer Paper, Mostly Vintage Stencil, and the Rough Type Alphabet Stamp Set. During this time period, the site will be open to everyone, but starting on Sunday, May 2nd, only those who have subscribed will have access to the site.

4 week subscription to Create with Connie & Mary – $24.95 US.

SSSC64 Sketch Challenge

April 12, 2010 By Connie | 2 Comments

Here's a sneak peak at one of the sets in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini called Tropical Party! I love this fun Coconut Drink image! I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC64, to line up my coconut drinks…we'll REALLY celebrate you after drinking these! lol!

I started with a base card of Tempting Turquoise, cut into a 5 1/4 square card. I added a layer of Pumpkin Pie cardstock and stamped the small flower from Stampin' Up!'s Tropical Party randomly across the top with Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink. That piece is layered on Chocolate Chip cardstock. I wrapped Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon around and tied with a knot. I added a band of Tempting Turquoise Polka Dot from Island Oasis Designer Paper pack and a punched Scallop Edge from Old Olive Textured cardstock across the front. Behind those layers, I added the stripe pattern from Island Oasis on the base card. (The stripe is my FAVORITE!)

Finally, I stamped the coconut drinks three times on Whisper White with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, colored them with my Stampin' Write markers and cut them out. I popped them up on the front of the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added Celebrate You from Stampin' Up!'s A Little Birthday Cheer, stamped in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink on the bottom of the Pumpkin Pie cardstock layer.

Isn't this a FUN card? I love that sketch and will be using it again I can tell!

Remember…it is Early Bird Registration time for Create with Connie and Mary!

Stamping 411 – Greenhouse Garden

April 9, 2010 By Connie | 10 Comments

Time again for another sketch challenge from Stamping 411! This was another fun one! I decided to use one of the two-step stamping sets that is 20% off this month…Stampin' Up!'s Greenhouse Garden! I just got it with my hostess credits last month! I've always had my eye on it…but finally went and got it.

I started with a base of Lovely Lilac and added Almost Amethyst over top. Can you see the sneak peek of an item in the Summer Mini? Yep…the Square Lattice Impressions Folder will be in the new mini coming out May 1st! It really is pretty, I'm sure I'll be using it a lot!

I stamped the large two-step flower in Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac for the center, then cut it out. I stamped off with Rose Red ink twice for the small flowers and used the Rose Red full strength for the centers. The medium flower was So Saffron with More Mustard center. I added mini brads in the center and a Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad in the center of the large one. All of then were cut out and placed on Whisper White with Stampin' Dimensionals or adhesive.

I used the Boho Blossoms punch for the small leaves and the 5 Petal Flower punch for the large leaves. They were punched from Always Artichoke and I sponged around the edges. I layered the Whisper White on Always Artichoke, and then a larger layer of Rose Red cardstock. To finish, I tied a bow of White Satin Ribbon around the bottom of the Rose Red layer.

I like how this turned out! I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 operators to see what they've done this week!

Have a great weekend!