Stampin' Up!

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!

Snow Swirled

December 5, 2009 By Connie | 6 Comments

I was surprised to see that I hadn't inked up Stampin' Up!'s Snow Swirled set at all this year! I used it a TON last year! So, when the sketch for Stamping 411 needed a large focal element, I pulled it out. I decided to use some unusual Christmas colors, though. I saw a card done by Ilina Crouse that used Orchid Opulence and Bashful Blue colors and thought they were beautiful! My Orchid Opulence rarely gets used!

I started with a base of Orchid Opulence. I ran the Bashful Blue layer thru the Big Shot with the Petals A Plenty Impressions Folder and added it to the base. I used a Sponge Dauber and changed the color of the White Striped Ribbon to Orchid Opulence with my classic ink pad.

The tree image I stamped in Bashful Blue, then used my Blender Pen to remove the Bashful Blue on the snowflake ornaments and my Orchid Opulence Stampin' Write Marker to color them back in. I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the snowflake ornaments and the star at the top (punched with the Small Star Punch).

I stamped the words Season's Greetings in Basic Black on Orchid Opulence and punched with my Oval Scallop Punch. I added some more dots of Crystal Effects in each of the scallops and added Dazzling Diamonds. Too bad you can't see how pretty this is in person!

I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators fun projects this week and play along with the sketch challenge! We love to see your creations!

INKspired Treasures Blog

Bloggers Challenge – Ornaments or Decorations

December 4, 2009 By Connie | 15 Comments

Today's Bloggers Challenge was fun…make an ornament or home decoration for the holidays! I always love to make ornaments, but ran out of time before this challenge. However, I did make this Wall Art from the Level 2 Hostess Dasher Decor Elements! If you haven't used Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements, you don't know what your are missing. We have some wonderful, fun holiday ones that make gift giving VERY easy! Snowflakes, Jingle All The Way, Calendar Countdown, Vintage Ornaments…or make your own with the Big Shot, favorite die and blank vinyl! They are quick and easy to put up. Well, I must admit, Dasher was a little more labor intensive because of his flourished antlers, but it only took about 1/2 hour to do.

If you've priced blank canvases, you know they can get expensive! I found a picture that was discounted a lot (probably because it was UGLY!), but I liked the edges of it…hard to see but the sides have a finished scroll type of pattern. I taped all the sides off, purchased some Matte finish spray paint in a Caramel color, then spray painted the front of the canvas, covering the picture that was on there.

When dry, I applied the Dasher Decor Elements. I love how the Chocolate Chip color POPS against the Caramel color. The lighter So Saffron background is my wall. He also comes in Black, White and Real Red which would be fun for the holidays, too! It's not too late to gather some orders and put together your own show to earn this Level 2 Hostess Gift…contact me today!

Have a wonderful weekend!

INKspired Treasures Blog

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ONLINE 24/7!

Bella’s Bloom

December 3, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This was my swap card for the last downline meeting we had in November (my upline and several sidelines all go in together and do one!) The theme was Spring. I realized that I had never mounted this set, Stampin' Up!'s Bella's Bloom, after I won it at Convention a year ago! (Yes, not last Convention…the one before!) It is a cute little set and I wanted to use a small flower.

I took the color combination right out of the catalog! Regal Rose, So Saffron and Very Vanilla. I used the YUMMY Bridesmaid Designer Paper stripe along the bottom…it is so shimmery…and added So Saffron grosgrain ribbon to hide the seam at the top. I also added a Scallop Edge punch border in So Saffron along the bottom. The base card is Regal Rose. Surrounding the Regal Rose flower is a border from Matchbox Messages, stamped in So Saffron. I used the greeting in Chocolate Chip on So Saffron and punched with the Modern Label punch! I like how it turned out and the softness of the card.

If I can just get through the week, I'm hoping my life gets back to normal pace! I've had 3 major stamping classes/events this week…tonight is my Last Minute Gift Ideas class. Tomorrow I'm out of town most of the day and then I need to catch up on everything else I've let slide over the weekend!

INKspired Treasures Blog

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ONLINE 24/7!

Season of Joy

December 1, 2009 By Connie | Leave a Comment

OK…have you missed me? I have been SO crazy busy the past few days I haven't even had time to photograph and post! So…here is something I made a while ago, but it is still current, thank heavens!

The frames I found at Target several years ago, I think I'm down to 1-2 left. They have a shadowbox look to them.

I inked up Stampin' Up!'s Season of Joy stamp set with my Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers and stamped on Whisper White card stock. I layered it on Real Red card stock and distressed the edges with my Cutter Kit Tool. I added three More Mustard Mini Brads in the poinsettia flowers. I placed this element inside the glass of the frame.

On the outside of the frame, I punched two 5 Petal Flowers from my Real Red Faux Diamond Dust card stock (ink up card stock with Versamark, then pour on Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and emboss). I also punched one 5 Petal Flower from Old Olive Faux Diamond Dust and three 1/4 circles from Summer Sun Faux Diamond Dust. (FYI – I keep small 1/4-1/2 sheets of this paper made up so I can just quickly punch and go!) I adhered the two Real Red together with Stampin' Dimensionals and added two "leaves" cut from the Old Olive one. And adhered the three 1/4 circles in the center. This flower was placed outside on the glass with Stampin' Dimensionals!

I love it! Hope you do, too!

Off to the grindstone!