Stamping 411

SSC119 – From the Crypt

October 2, 2009 By Connie | 10 Comments

It is rare for me to LOVE a card that I’ve made…but this is one that I do LOVE! I was so happy to get From the Crypt finally…and to ink it up. I know…I resisted for a while, but that set is just too darn COOL not to have! Oh well…what is one more Halloween set, right?

Selene came up with an awesome sketch this week!

I started by stamping the skull image in White Craft ink on Old Olive cardstock and embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder. That is layered on Basic Black. I cut a piece of Cast A Spell Designer Paper and placed a trim piece of Basic Black cardstock punched with a Scallop Edge Punch under the bottom. That was placed on Basic Gray cardstock and I wrapped the 1 1/4 Black Striped Grosgrain ribbon around and secure it on the back. (If you haven’t used this ribbon yet, you don’t know what you are missing…it has the best "feel" to it and ties SO nicely!) I gathered the two sides of the ribbon by knotting some Silver Cord around and tying. The tied knot I moved to be hidden underneath. I placed everything on the base card of Old Olive. Finally, I stamped Happy Halloween from Teeny Tiny Wishes on Whisper White with Basic Black ink and punched with my Large Oval punch. It is layered on a Scallop Oval of Basic Black and adhered to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I love it! Let me know what YOU think! I hope you’ll play along with the Stamping 411 Operators for this week’s sketch challenge. Upload your creation and leave a link to it on Mr. Linky over on Stamping 411. Check out the rest of the Operators creations, too!

Supplies:

Sets: From the Crypt (115460), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Inks: White Craft Ink (101731), Basic Black (102192)

Cardstock: Basic Gray (108692), Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702)

Accessories: White Emboss Powder (109132), Cast A Spell Designer Paper (115677), 1 1/4 Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (115615), Silver Elastic Cord (109866), Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Scallop Edge Punch (112091)

INKspired Treasures

Stamping 411 – Punch Pals

September 19, 2009 By Connie | 6 Comments

It is Saturday and time for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! I love to see what the creative Operators come up with each week…hope you do, too!

This week Selene came up with a fun sketch! I immediately saw "roof". I initially wanted to make an igloo, but was a little time challenged, so went with a house roof instead.

I initially bought this Punch Pals stamp set just for the cute scallop circle stamp in it. And, of course the snowman! But, it really hasn’t seen much ink at all. So, when flipping through my Christmas sets, this one called out my name!

I started with a base of Bermuda Bay cardstock and added a layer of Pumpkin Pie. Then I stamped the snowflakes in Whisper White Craft Ink over the Basic Gray layer. I also tore a piece of Whisper White so that it looked like snow covered ground…and added some Tombow Multipurpose Glue and Dazzling Diamonds along the top edge of the snow.

I took a large square of Bermuda Bay cardstock and cut it on the diagonal, then ran it thru the Big Shot with the new Perfect Details Texturz Plate to get the roof. I drew on some icicles with my Crystal Effects, then added Dazzling Diamonds along the roof line. I stamped the Penguin from Punch Pals with Basic Black ink and watercolored with my AquaPainter and Stampin’ Up! markers. Finally, I stamped the greeting "From Our House to Yours" from Punch Pals in Basic Black ink in the lower right corner.

Thanks for stopping by!

INKspired Treasures

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge

September 5, 2009 By Connie | 8 Comments

Yes, it is Saturday again! Geez…this week FLEW by! And, it is already September. No! I’m still waiting for the weeks of 90 degree weather and the dog days of summer. We can’t be ready for fall already! I noticed my neighbor’s tree has started turning colors at the top. Now…don’t get me wrong. I love fall. I just don’t like what FOLLOWS fall! Shhhhh, don’t say it! That S word will be here before you can blink!

But, I decided to use some Halloween jack-o-lanterns for my Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge this week. The line up of them just fit this sketch perfectly (I’m guessing that 3 out of the 6 of us used this stamp set…what do you want to bet?)

My card uses the hostess only Level 3 stamp set, The More the Merrier. I love this row of grinning jack-o-lanterns! I started by stamping them in Basic Black ink on Whisper White cardstock, then coloring them in with my Stampin’ Up! markers and AquaPainter. I layered the Pumpkin Pie piece of cardstock on the top half, and distressed the bottom of it with the Cutter Kit Distressing Tool. All that was layered on Basic Black which I also distressed around the edges. I stamped A Halloween Hi from the same stamp set in Basic Black on Old Olive and punched it with my Modern Label punch. I used a couple Black Mini Brads on each end. Then I used some of my Cast-A-Spell Designer Paper in the background and layered it on Old Olive cardstock that had been distressed. Finally, my base card is Pumpkin Pie cardstock.

I think it is pretty whimsical! I’m excited to see what YOU do with this sketch! Make sure to upload your creation to your Blog or Stampin’ Addicts forum and then link to Mister Linky at the Stamping 411 site. Check out what the other Operators have done this week, too!

Have a great Labor Day weekend. We have a couple picnics that will be fun, I know! AND, the first Ohio State Buckeye Game is tomorrow…and you KNOW what a fan I am of their football games!

INKspired Treasures

Sneak Peek! Twick or Tweet

August 29, 2009 By Connie | 11 Comments

It’s Saturday and time for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge…are you up for it? Please join in by uploading your card to your Blog or SCS Gallery and placing a direct link to Mr. Linky at the Stamping 411 site! I love seeing your submissions. Yes, I do check each one every week, although I don’t always have time to comment.

OK…I couldn’t resist…yes, another Halloween set. This one is in the NEW Holiday mini coming out on September 1st. Don’t worry if you haven’t received your copy yet, Stampin’ Up! was a little delayed getting them out. You should have it next week. But you will LOVE this mini! Oh my gosh…I want everything!

So…this skeleton is one of 4 images WITH greetings in the Twick or Tweet stamp set. I cut mine apart so the greetings were separate, so I actually have 8 stamps! It is SO cute! I get a chuckle out of this image with greeting, "It’s Halloween…enjoy every bite." I stamped him in Basic Black on Whisper White cardstock, distressed the edges with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool and sponged with Black ink, plus I took a "bite" out of one corner with my Scallop Circle punch. I layered it on Old Olive cardstock and did the same distressing and bite, too! I used my AquaPainter and Old Olive marker to color a shadow around his entire bony body and colored the dog with Close to Cocoa marker and AquaPainter, too.

That entire element was layered on Pumpkin Pie cardstock (distressed and sponged with black, too) and I added a strip of Cast-A-Spell Designer Paper at the bottom, tearing across the top for a ragged look. I wrapped the 1/4 Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon around it and added the Modern Label punched from Elegant Eggplant cardstock and stamped the greeting in Basic Black on Whisper White, then punched it with my Word Window punch. Finally, I added a couple Old Olive Mini Brads in the upper corner and mounted it on a base of Pumpkin Pie.

I’m pretty happy with how he turned out! Make sure to check out the rest of the operators over at Stamping 411! Have a great weekend!

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge

August 22, 2009 By Connie | 3 Comments

Scroll down if you are looking for the Tour de Freaks Blog Tour!

This is going to be REAL quick since I’m falling asleep in my chair! I spent the day packing and moving my son to his new apartment. I’m exhausted! I think I went up and down steps at least 50 times!

I loved this week’s Stamping 411 Sketch challenge! Here I used Autumn Harvest…it is going to be fall soon and the leaves will be turning and the pumpkins will be sprouting up on everyone’s doorsteps! This is a favorite standby set for me to use in the fall.

I started with a base of Always Artichoke. I stamped the pumpkins with Basic Brown on Very Vanilla and used my Stampin’ Up! markers and AquaPainter to color them. I layered this piece on Pumpkin Pie. I stamped the leaf image on Pumpkin Pie and Ruby Red and cut them out, placing them under the pumpkins. I put some Autumn Traditions striped Designer Paper on the Soft Suede layer, and tied some Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon around it. Finally, I stamped Thanks from the set Thank You Kindly in Basic Brown in the lower left corner.

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators and their designs!

Inkspired Treasures

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge 112

August 15, 2009 By Connie | 9 Comments

It is Saturday and time for the Stamping 411 weekly sketch challenge! I was really excited to try this sketch. The layout appeals to me! After working on it, I know it is one that I’ll keep to use again. Hope you’ll take a minute and do the Stamping 411 challenge with us! And check out what the other operators have done.

My card uses the stamp set, Branch Out. It isn’t in the new catalog, but it IS still available to purchase because it is on the dormant list! I’m glad. I received it a couple months ago, but this was the first time I actually inked it up! I know…bad! I love the fall cards I’ve seen made with it, so I had to make my own.

I expanded the size of the insert panel in the sketch a little bit longer in order to use the entire tree image from Branch Out. The tree base is stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Soft Suede ink. Then I added Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango ink "leaves" over the tree base. I also added the little bird house in Soft Suede. This panel was layered onto Dusty Durango and I used my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool around the edges. I wrapped some Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon around this panel. The base card is Soft Suede with a layer of Crushed Curry that I ran thru the Big Shot with my Texturz plate. If you look closely, I also lightly rubbed my Dusty Durango ink pad over the highlights of the texture and used the Cutter Kit Distressing Tool, too! On top of that I added the Soft Suede panel and stamped my Birthday Wishes greeting from On Your Birthday stamp set around the top stamped element in Basic Brown ink. Finally, I used the Flower Fusion Sizzlet Die with Crushed Curry cardstock, sponged around the edges with Dusty Durango and added a Clear Rhinestone brad in the center. It is popped up with dimensionals in the corner.

I’m pretty happy that my card turned out as I pictured it in my head!

INKspired Treasures

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge

August 1, 2009 By Connie | 6 Comments

Wow…another week has flown by and it is time for the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! This week’s sketch was fun…I love the circle in the background!

I pulled out my Scallop Circle XL die and ran it thru the Big Shot with the new Autumn traditions Designer Paper. This pattern reminds me of leaves falling off the tree! I used a base of Always Artichoke and then layered on Elegant Eggplant. The DSP is on top of it. Then I stamped the pinecones from Autumn Days, using my Close to Cocoa and Always Artichoke markers, then stamping on Whisper White. I layered it on Always Artichoke and then More Mustard cardstock.

Finally, I added the new Modern Tag to the front and attached it with two Antique Brass mini brads. I like the way it overlaps the design element layers! Fun!

I have a BUSY weekend trying to put all my last minute stuff together for Convention. I still need to print off instructions, directions and info on the group swaps I’m doing! I’m sure it will all get done, but I told my husband that he probably wouldn’t see much of me this weekend! lol!

Have a great weekend! Make sure to play along with the Stamping 411 sketch challenge and leave your submission on Mr. Linky!

Stamping 411 – Autumn Days

July 24, 2009 By Connie | 12 Comments

This set, Autumn Days, was one Demos could preorder. I ordered it, but then never really played with it until today’s Stamping 411 sketch challenge card!

I started with a base of Always Artichoke cardstock, then layered the print leaves pattern from Autumn Traditions Designer Paper. I added a Scallop Edge border under the top of the DSP, then some 1/4 Grosgrain Chocolate Chip ribbon to hide the seam.

I stamped the Pheasant in Basic Brown on Kraft cardstock and distressed the edges with my Cutter Kit Distressing Tool. I sponged the edges with Basic Brown ink, too. I layered it on More Mustard and did the same distressing and sponging, then layered it on a slightly larger Elegant Eggplant. I wanted to leave room on this layer for the two Very Vanilla Jumbo Brads.

I like the "rustic" feel of this card! It reminds me of growing up on the farm!

We’d love for you to play along with use. Use the sketch and post your entry to Mr. Linky on Stamping 411 website!

INKspired Treasures