Stamping 411

Stamping 411 – Garden from the Heart

February 19, 2010 By Connie | 7 Comments

It is time for another Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! The weeks are FLYING by aren't they? You can tell it is a BUSY night/day for me with posts. Stamping 411, Tour de Freaks and Create with Connie and Julie Challenge will all post at the same time!

I didn't quite know what I was going to do with this sketch…the small narrow bands were throwing me off. But, I like what I came up with after it was done. Had to change things a couple times, but I think it works.

I started with a base of Dusty Durango and layered on Crushed Curry. I ran the Soft Suede thru the Big Shot with the Finial Press Impressions Folder. I took Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango Ribbon and made the criss cross element on the left side, securing it with a Vanilla Jumbo Brad.

I stamped the gloves and hand shovel with Soft Suede on Very Vanilla and punched with the 1 3/4 Circle Punch, then watercolored with AquaPainter and Stampin' Write Markers. Finally I stamped Happy Mother Day from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Soft Suede on Crushed Curry and punched with the Modern Label punch.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 designer Operators! I'm sure they will have some fun twists to this sketch, too!

Garden Whimsey – Stamping 411

February 12, 2010 By Connie | 12 Comments

It's Saturday and time for another Stamping 411 sketch challenge! I always love to see what the other Operators create. I'm amazed at how different our cards normally are, even using the same sketch!

I'm desperately wanting SPRING to get here and warm weather to get rid of the snow, so I thought I'd help it along by posting a spring card! I always love seeing the tulips pop up thru the ground.

This set, Stampin' Up!'s Garden Whimsey, hasn't been used for a LONG time, so I thought I'd give it a little ink. I also have a package of bright Kaleidoscope Designer Paper that I wanted to use.

I started by using my Stampin' Write markers to ink up the tulips in Pixie Pink and Melon Mambo, the stems in Certainly Celery and Garden Green. They were stamped three times on Whisper White and layered onto Garden Green. I used the dotted background paper in Kaleidoscope to tie the two greens together. I used the Eyelet Border punch along the bottom of a strip of Whisper White, then wrapped the Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon around the top portion of it and adhered to the back. This all was placed on the Pixie Pink base card. The butterflies were done using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and Pixie Pink cardstock. I used a sponge dauber to add the darker Melon Mambo color around the edges. For their bodies, I used the little sticky rhinestones in the Eggcellent Egg Kit (I am LOVING those rhinestones!) It really makes them sparkle!

I hope you take a minute to check out what the rest of the Design Operators on Stamping 411 did with this sketch! Then make your card creation, upload it to your gallery or blog, and add it to Mr. Linky over on the Stamping 411 blog.

Have a great weekend! I'm going to be sorting stuff to get ready to do my taxes next week. Yuk!!!

Stamping 411 – Something Sweet

February 5, 2010 By Connie | 10 Comments

I've always wanted a stamp set with a gumball machine in it. Stampin' Up! used to have one, but I missed out on getting it. Stampin' Up!'s Something Sweet stamp set is just as cute as can be! What is fun, too, is that you can use the Sweet Treat Cups in them, too!

Usually with sketches, my cards come together pretty quickly. This one took a while. I think because the focal panel was SO big. I'm anxious to see what the other Stamping 411 Operators came up with this week! And…what you all do with it playing along. You can add your card to Mr. Linky on the Stamping 411 site!

I didn't want to use a red base for my gumball machine, so decided to make it Brocade Blue and Crushed Curry. After I stamped it, I cut it out, then adhered it to some Welcome Neighbor Designer Paper. I stamped "that was so sweet of you" directly on the Designer Paper in Basic Black. The Designer Paper was adhered to a layer of Melon Mambo, and then the layer of Crushed Curry cardstock. I wrapped the Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon to the back of the Crushed Curry layer. Then stamped Thanks so Much from Happy Thoughts in Basic Black and punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch. It is layered on a punched 1 3/8 circle of Brocade Blue. I added a Summer Sun Corduroy Button brad to the center and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals. The gumballs I used Brocade Blue, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry for the colors and punched them out with the 1/2 circle punch.

I love the bright colors and how it ended up, even though it took me longer than normal. I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators to see what they have done this week!

We are getting BLASTED with snow! We've had at least six inches so far and expected anywhere from 8 to 12 inches. I was out with the snowblower twice already and my hubby just did it again. I'm glad we don't have anywhere to go this weekend! We can stay in nice and warm!

Like-O-Meter – SSC 135

January 22, 2010 By Connie | 10 Comments

Today is Stamping 411's Sketch Challenge #135! This one, although it looks very simple, gave me just a little trouble. I think because of the stamp image I chose. The position of the image had the white space in the lower right corner, instead of the upper left where I needed to put something because of the sketch. I compromised by putting a little something in both locations!

I love Stampin' Up!'s whimsy sometimes. LIke this single stamp, Like-O-Meter in the back of the Occasions Mini! I especially like the "a lot but not like a stalker" words! Too funny! My friend, Cassy, gave out a CUTE swap card at Leadership using this set!

I started with a base card of Real Red cardstock. I added a piece of Sending Love Designer Paper and layered it on Basic Black cardstock. On the left side of the Basic Black, I used the Pinking Hearts punch along the edge.

I stamped the Like-O-Meter image in Basic Black on Whisper White, then colored in the themometer with the Real Red Stampin' Write marker up to …a lot but not like a stalker. I added a very light coat of Crystal Effects over top of the red. You need to be careful because the marker is water based and will run if you add too much. When dry, I punched the Small Heart in the lower right corner, then layered it on Real Red, then Basic Black cardstocks. Finally I added a Black Gingham Bow to the upper left corner.

Too fun! I love it! I think my hubby will get this for Valentine's Day…not too girly looking so he should like it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stamping 411 – Love Bandit

January 8, 2010 By Connie | 5 Comments

This is going to be REAL quick because I need to leave for the airport to go to Leadership in about 45 minutes (although I'm pre-setting this to post on Friday while I'm gone.) Luckily, Selene did a pretty easy sketch this week, so I was able to make it up pretty quickly. The most trouble I had was adding a greeting on here! I love the words (You Stole My Heart) with the little raccoon, although I did get my word separate from the image of the raccoon.

I started with a base of So Saffron cardstock, then added the Designer Paper from Tall tales as a strip across the bottom half. I cut a rectangle of another print in Tall Tales, then added the Brilliant Blue Scallop Trim Border (that punch is a Sale-A-Bration selection item…don't worry, it will also be in the new catalog when it comes out!) Then I layered it on Old Olive cardstock. I thought it needed something across the tree pattern, so I added a strip of Rose Red 1/4 Grosgrain Ribbon. Finally, I stamped the Raccoon in Basic Black, colored the heart with Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, then punched with the 1 1/4 circle punch. It is layered on So Saffron 1 3/8 circle, then the Brilliant Blue Scallop Circle that I also pierced with the piercing tool in each scallop. Finally added "You Stole My Heart" along the bottom.

Too cute! Enjoy the weekend!

Stamping 411 – Love Bandit

December 25, 2009 By Connie | 7 Comments

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! I'm posting early, so I know we are still enjoying the holiday…

Here is my Stamping 411 Operator Challenge for this week! Loved the sketch!

And, here is a sneak peak of a new set in the Occasions Mini called LOVE BANDIT! Isn't that squirrel cute? It also has a raccoon in the set, which is why I purchased it…and for this darling tree!

Quickly, the base is Sahara Sand, with a strip of two different Designer Papers out of the To The Nines Paper Pack. The tree I used Garden Green and Chocolate Chip markers, with a little Real Red heart. The squirrel was stamped with Chocolate Chip and colored with Creamy Caramel. I stamped "I fancy you" with Chocolate Chip on Whisper white, punched with the Small Oval, and layered on the Large Real Red Oval. Finally, I added a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button in the upper left corner!

Hope you enjoy my sketch challenge card. Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators and play along this week!

Stamping 411 – Patterned Pines again

December 18, 2009 By Connie | 4 Comments

It is time again for Stamping 411's sketch challenge! Selene gave us another great sketch this week! I hope you'll play along, even though it is a busy week for everyone trying to get ready for Christmas!

Yep…I love this set, Stampin' Up!'s Patterned Pines! I'll be sad when I have to stop showing it with my samples, but I'll still keep it in my "must keep" pile!

For my card, I also used some non-traditional Christmas colors! The base is Apricot Appeal and I matched it up with Sage Shadow! The Patterned Pines trees were embossed with White Embossing powder on Sage Shadow card stock. I then used the snowflake stamp in Patterned Pines and stamped it randomly on Whisper White first with Sage Shadow Classic Ink, then Apricot Appeal Classic Ink, then I went back and filled in the blank areas with stamped off colors of Sage Shadow and Apricot Appeal! I completely filled the Whisper White card stock, making my own "designer paper" in the colors I wanted.

I layered the "designer paper" piece onto Sage Shadow. Then I stamped the snowflake again in Apricot Appeal on scrap Whisper White and punched it with the Scallop Circle punch. I pierced each of the scallops for some added interest and placed a Fire Round Rhinestone in the center. Finally I stamped Happy Holidays from Four the Holidays (in the Holiday mini!) in Basic Gray in the lower left corner.

Hope you enjoy my version of the Sketch from Stamping 411. Make sure to check out what the other Operators have done this week!

Merry Christmas!

INKspired Treasures Blog

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.