Stampin' Up!

Stamping 411 Sketch – Snow Buddies

November 21, 2009 By Connie | 7 Comments

I absolutely LOVE this stamp set, Snow Buddies. It is a Stampin' Up! Level 2 Hostess set only available in the Holiday Mini Catalog. It just says FUN!

Selene gave us a really cute sketch this week! The minute I saw it, I thought Snow Globe! And what is more perfect than Snowmen in the Snow Globe!

I started with a base of Old Olive card stock, then layered on Real Red. I added a piece of the tiny snowflake pattern in Merry Moments Designer Paper behind the snow globe. At the bottom is a stripe pattern from Merry Moments Designer paper. Above that I wrapped the Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon from Mistletoe Bundle and above that a strip of Chocolate Chip.

I cut the 3 3/4 sized circle on my Circle Scissors Plus out of Very Vanilla card stock. I stamped some small blue snowflakes from Snow Buddies in the background. I also stamped the two snowmen on Whisper White with Basic Brown and cut them out. They were colored with Old Olive, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue Stampin' Write markers. I the bottom of the globe, I tore a random piece of Whisper White card stock and then cut it to the same size circle. I stamped Very Merry from Warm Words stamp set on Chocolate Chip card stock with Very Vanilla Craft Ink, free hand cut the angled sides and used it as the base of the snow globe.

As a last touch, I added some Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds for some sparkly fun!

I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators this week! I'm anxious to see what they did with this sketch! Have a great weekend!

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November Tour de Freaks is here!

November 19, 2009 By Connie | 17 Comments

Yeah! It is that time again…time to see what the fabulous Control Freaks are doing on their Tour de Freaks! You've probably just arrived from Melanie Schulenberg's blog! We have 12 blogs for you to visit this time. I'm sure you will love all the awesome projects you see as you tour. This month's theme is Christmas Gifts – small items, altered items, stocking stuffers, gift collections, and ornaments. I know I can't wait to see!

My first project brings back my favorite Stampin' Up! Simple Seasonal Thanks Snowman! This time he is standing behind a little candle votive. I stamped him in Basic Black on Whisper White and cut him out. I colored the shadows on his sides with the Bashful Blue Stampin' Write Marker and used the AquaPainter and Old Olive and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers for his hat and scarf. I colored his checks with the Blush Blossom and his nose with Pumpkin Pie. I added 3 Basic Black "buttons" on his from punched from the large hole of the Crop A Dile. I added a little Crystal Effects on his sides and Dazzling Diamonds glitter for a sparkly look!

Can you guess what the base holding the votive is? Yes! The Sizzix Bigz XL Bitty Box! It is secured to the snowman along the back edge. I punched a 1 3/4 circle in the top to hold the votive and stamped Bashful Blue snowflakes from the Serene Snowflakes stamp set. The glass votive has silver Icicles Rub-ons decorating the rim. Now…this is for decorative purposes only. I wouldn't light a candle this close to paper. Wouldn't this be a fun little gift for a co-worker or friend?

My next Christmas Gift is a large decorated candle. I found these nice two-tone vanilla/cranberry ones that smell SO good! They are about 3 inches in diameter. I wrapped some Merry Moments Designer Paper around the area where the two colors meet, then added a Old Olive Wide 1 1/4 Striped Ribbon. Hanging from the ribbon is the Make Merry tag from Stampin' Up!'s Grateful Greetings stamp set. It is stamped in Real Red on Very Vanilla card stock and punched with the small tag punch, then layered on a large Old Olive tag punch. Now…what snowflake punch did I use? The Merry Details Snowflake Die in Chocolate Chip card stock! I cut off the extra long "legs" of the snowflake to make it smaller and fit on my tag! The center is a Green Rhinestone Brad and it is tied to the bow with Silver Cord.

The next project is a Dove Chocolate Box Sleeve made from Bravo Burgundy card stock. Now…who wouldn't want a giant bar of chocolate as a gift! For the top layer, I ran the Handsome Hunter cardstock thru the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder, then highlighted the centers with the White Gel Pen. I placed the Handsome Hunter Piece on the Dove Movers & Shapers die to cut it out, then backed it with Whisper White and wrapped it with Bravo Burgundy 5/8 Grosgrain Ribbon before putting it on the Dove box. I used the Eyelet Border punch across the top of the box, then cut a piece of Whisper White for the bottom, stamped Peace on Earth from Four the Holidays, and used the Eyelet Border punch again.

The 3×6 card fits in the Box sleeve with the Dove Chocolate perfectly. I used the extra Handsome Hunter die cut dove that was already embossed on the front, layered it on Bravo Burgundy and placed on the Whisper White card stock. The Bravo Burgundy Ribbon is wrapped around the entire front of the card. Peace on Earth from Four the Holidays is stamped with Bravo Burgundy Classic Ink. Thanks to my downline, Annette, for the inspiration on this project!

Whew…hope you enjoyed my projects! Come back later next week and I'll post the directions on making the Dove Chocolate Box Sleeve!

Next stop is the fabulous Mary Brown! I know you'll enjoy her projects!

Guest Designer Call and Animal Stories

November 19, 2009 By Connie | 3 Comments

How's that for a title! lol! First, Julie and I are getting ready for the next session of Create with Connie & Julie featuring the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration brochures! We're very excited that the Holiday Edition has been so successful and want to expand! So, we are looking for 3 Guest Designers to help us with projects for 9 weeks starting in January! Here are the details.

Are you enthusiastic, fun and talented? That’s what we’re looking for!

Contest is open Wednesday, November 18 – Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Winners will be notified no later than Saturday, December 5, 2009 via email. We are looking to fill 3 positions.

Please put Guest Designer Submission in the Subject of your email to info@createwithconnieandjulie.com

Please also send a introductory paragraph of why you would like to be chosen for the Guest Designer. Include your name, how long you have been a demo with Stampin' Up!, a link to your blog, and attach 3 of your favorite Stampin' Up! projects that you have created.

Requirements:

Must be a US or CAN demonstrator so products are the same as we are using
9 week commitment – one challenge project per week, plus one additional project every 3 weeks (total of 3). A list a challenges and product schedule will be provided at acceptance so you can work ahead, if desired.
All projects must use Stampin' Up! only products – exception being altered items
Compensation will be discussed upon selection
DT members should use the Create with Connie & Julie Guest Designer blog badge and promote CCJ where ever and when ever possible! Maintaining an active Blog is strongly desired. We want each guest designer to be proud to be a Guest Designer!

Please note that this is not a creative contest, so we are not necessarily looking for the BEST projects. Rather, we are looking for the best designers who fit into our friendly and encouraging style and are interested in helping us GROW and add new members to the site!

We would love to have you apply!

To see more about our program, visit these preview pages for the Holiday Edition going on now:

Connie's Preview

Julie's Preview

OK…now here is my creative card for today! My Technique Class did this technique called Bingo Blast a few months ago! It is from Technique Junkies Newsletter and a very fun technique! You use actual empty Bingo Daubers and ink refills to create it! Isn't it fun? I thought the bright colors of Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry complement the giraffe from Stampin' Up!'s Animal Stories really well and made a cute baby card in non-traditional colors! The Hello Baby stamp is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (of course!). I also like the Scallop Square Punch placed behind the corners for an added detail!

Don't forget…tomorrow is the Tour de Freaks! Stop by and take the tour!

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Ornament Punch Flower

November 18, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

I can see that I've gotten out of my routine of posting early in the morning! Part of it is because I've run through my stash of cards that are photographed and ready to post! Need to get another stash ready to go.

This one I made for my girlfriend's birthday (hi Annette!) a couple months ago. I was saving it thinking that I'd do it in a punch class, but with the Stampin' Up! Ornament Punch going away at the end of December, I know I won't have another Punch Class before then. (Hopefully the ornament punch will be in the new catalog next year, but you never know!)

I love the bright colors, especially on a day like today with gloomy clouds. I punched the ornament punch 8 times with Pretty in Pink card stock. I used a sponge dauber on the edges with Melon Mambo Classic Ink. In the center I placed a 3/4 punched circle from Crushed Curry, then added Crystal Effects and a lot of Clear Micro Beads. The leaves are the ornament punch, too, from Old Olive card stock. You can see I pinched the tips of the petals and leaves together to give them some dimension.

I started with a base card of Melon Mambo, then a layer of Rich Razzleberry. On top of that is Crushed Curry card stock, and a Top Note cut from Razzleberry Lemonade Designer paper to tie all the colors together! Happy Birthday was stamped in Basic Black on Pretty in Pink, then punched with the Modern Label punch and layered onto the same shaped punch in Movers & Shapers, but cut from Melon Mambo. I love that I can layer the Modern Label punch for some added interest!

Hope you like my bright card and it brings some cheer to your day!

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Dasher – MTSC48

November 17, 2009 By Connie | 2 Comments

Sorry I'm so late getting my post up today! I got involved with doing some paperwork and the morning rushed by…and half the afternoon!

Mercy has a cute sketch challenge today and I thought I'd play along. My card also fits my design team Late Night Stampers' My Favorite Holiday challenge. Of course, my favorite holiday is Christmas, along with many other people!

I decided to use a 3×6 finished card size. These fit in Stampin' Up!'s Open End Envelopes perfectly and go thru the postal system. I've had Stampin' Up!'s Dasher stamp set for a while, but I think I've only used him a couple times. He was calling out my name today. This came together so quick and easy, I think I may make up some for my holiday cards this year! I have my main ones 95% done, but I like to send out different ones to my husband's work people

I started with a base of Real Red card stock cut to 6×6 and then folded in half for the 3×6 size. I stamped Dasher with Soft Suede Classic Ink on Whisper White card stock and layered it on Soft Suede card stock. I put a strip of the holly print from Christmas Cocoa Designer Paper (yummy!)…great way to use up those scraps! I stamped the trio of snowflakes from the Hostess Level 2 stamp set, Christmas Punch, with the BoHo Blossoms punch (did you know that matched???) I layered it on a 1" circle punch of Soft Suede and placed a small Red Rhinestone Brad in the center. It is popped up with dimensionals on the card. Finally, I stamped Christmas Greetings in the Grateful Greetings Stamp Set with Soft suede ink.

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Cold and Cuddly TSSC96

November 16, 2009 By Connie | 4 Comments

Today is Mary Jo's Lunchtime Sketch Challenge, TSSC96. I like to do her challenges because it seems to get my creativity going for the week! And, today's sketch WAS a little challenging…I wanted to make sure I got my greeting from Christmas Punch on there, too. This also fits my Late Night Stampers Design Team challenge of "My Favorite Holiday".

I started my card my stamping the polar bear from Stampin' Up!'s Cold & Cuddly stamp set with Versamark on Bermuda Bay card stock, then embossing him with White Embossing Powder. I used a mask of him, laid it on top, then stamped the ice float with Versamark and embossed with White Embossing Powder, too.

I added the little pole with the gift in his hand by stamping it with Craft Chocolate Chip Ink. Then I stamped the gift again on Whisper White with Real Red and cut it out to adhere over the Chocolate Chip gift on the card. I stamped the bowler hat in Real Red on Whisper White and cut it out to adhere to his head.

I trimmed the Bermuda Bay card stock to the tag shape and layered it on Real Red card stock, trimming the ends to match the Bermuda Bay layer.

I ran a layer of Whisper White card stock thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder, then wrapped some Real Red Striped Ribbon around the center, with the knot to the right edge. I adhered the Polar Bear element to it, then layered it on Real Red card stock and on the base card of Bermuda Bay card stock. Finally, I stamped "A gift for you" from Christmas Punch stamp set with Bermuda Bay Classic ink, removed the center flower color with the Blender Pen, added Real Red ink to the center with the Stampin' Write marker. It was punched with the Scallop Oval Punch. It is adhered to the front with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I think it is a FUN card! Nice and cheerful! Hope you have a wonderful week! What about those Buckeyes…huh? Squeaked out a win in the last minute!

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Stamping 411 – Christmas Classics

November 14, 2009 By Connie | 9 Comments

Yeah! Saturday and time for another Stamping 411 sketch. When I first looked at this sketch, I had NO clue what I would do. Then I saw a new stamp set (for me) called Christmas Classics. I have wanted this set for the single stamp, Jingle All The Way, that matches the Decor Elements piece. I finally picked it up with my hostess credits on my last order!

So here is my take on this sketch! I started with a base of Garden Green (somehow I have ended up with 3 full packages of this card stock color!) The Whisper White layer was run thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty cardstock…LOVE this look! I wrapped the Real Red 3/4 Polka Dot Ribbon around and tied it in the front. I decided not to be a sentiment here since I already had one in the center. I used my Stampin' Write markers in Real Red and Garden Green to ink up the Jingle All the Way stamp from Stampin' Up!'s Christmas Classics stamp set.. I layered the Whisper White on Garden Green, then a layer of Real Red.

Pretty simple card, but I think it packs a lot of wow with the textured background and the alternating layers!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators to see what they have done this week! Always some AWESOME ideas!

Supplies:

Set: Christmas Classics

Inks: Garden Green and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers

Card Stock: Garden Green, Whisper White, Real Red

Accessories: 3/4 Real Red Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder, Stampin' Dimensions

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Bloggers Challenge – Fall Y’all

November 13, 2009 By Connie | 17 Comments

I love saying Happy Fall Y'all! Today's Bloggers Challenge is to create a fall card! I used the acorn designed by Ellen Kemper from Stampin' Up!'s Ornament Punch, but came up with a new card design to use it on for my Punch Class last month! I've now shown my punch class members two ways to use that Ornament Punch other than with the Delightful Decorations ornament stamp set…if they haven't bought it by now…they'd better get it soon! lol! I have a cute Valentine/Anniversary idea that I'm SURE they would love!

For this card, I started with a base of Soft Suede cardstock. The Sahara Sand layer I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate to get the grid look. I added a strip of stripe paper from Autumn Traditions Designer Paper. I used the Modern Tag Punch with More Mustard cardstock and the Happy Thanksgiving greeting from Teeny, Tiny Wishes. For the acorn, I used the Ornament Punch from Sahara Sand, the Wide Oval punch and Large Oval punch from Soft Suede, the free-hand cut a piece of Soft Suede for the stem. I used the Sanded Background in Soft Suede on the acorn cap for some dimension and sponged around the acorn body with Soft Suede ink.

I mounted the Acorn with dimensionals on the More Mustard cardstock and layered it on Ruby Red. As a final touch, I added a bit of Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, folded in half, in the upper right corner, placed under the layers. A very simple card, but easy to duplicate for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Looking forward to the Ohio State/Iowa game on Saturday! Go Bucks!

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