Stamping 411

Stamping 411 – All Holidays

May 14, 2010 By Connie | 8 Comments

Time again for another Stamping 411 Sketch…#151…wow…the weeks just FLY by, don't they? This week's sketch challenge was fun. I actually did it TWICE! Long story…lol! Good thing next week's sketch looks similar to this one!

As you can see from my card, my shape is a rectangle instead of an oval. I wanted to use the Happy Father's Day greeting from Stampin' Up!'s All Holidays. This set is one of my favorite greeting sets! I will keep it in my stash even after it retires (whenever it does…no, I don't know anything!)

I started with a base card of Not Quite Navy. Then I used the Travel Journal Designer Paper…I cut it so that it looks like two different patterns are on the one background piece. Gives it a little interest. I wrapped the 1 1/4" Striped Pumpkin Pie Ribbon around the middle and secured it in the back. Since my greeting was a little plain, I stamped it once with Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink on Very Vanilla, then stamped it again with Not Quite Navy and cut it out, layering it over the Pumpkin Pie piece. I left room at the top for a couple Not Quite Navy brads.

My Cog Punch just came in my order yesterday. Have you ever SWORN that you bought something, then looked all over for it and couldn't find it? I just knew I had purchased it on my preorder last month. But, then remembered, that we couldn't preorder. So now it is finally in my possession! I punched three of the large cogs from Not Quite Navy and placed them along the side of the greeting.

Really, it is a pretty simple card! I just love the Travel Journal Designer Paper in the background! I can't wait to see what the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators have come up with this week! I'm always amazed at how different each of our cards are…even using some of the same elements! I hope you take time to make up a card of your own with the sketch and post a link over on Mr. Linky at the Stamping 411 blog! Have a great weekend!

Stamping 411 – Tropical Party

May 7, 2010 By Connie | 6 Comments

Well, I'm finishing out this week featuring Tropical Party. I hope you got some great ideas using this set! I think it is SO much fun.

Today's Stamping 411 sketch challenge was a lot of fun, too! I hope you take a minute and play along with the Design Operators. Just link your creation to Mr. Linky over on the Stamping 411 blog. We love to see what you do with the sketch!

For my card, I started with a base card of Rose Red cardstock. I ran Whisper White thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I found a strip of the striped pattern from Island Oasis Designer Paper laying on my desk, so I used it for the base along the Old Olive cardstock. I stamped the large floral in Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive Classic Ink on Whisper White and cut them out. The Old Olive I used for leaves behind the flowers. I used Mini Brads for the centers and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front. I punched three 1/2 circles from Rose Red, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie and lined them up along the top. Then I stamped Just For You in Basic Brown on So Saffron and punched it with the Designer Label Punch. I tucked it under the top of the Old Olive layer.

I like how it turned out! Make sure to check out what the other Design Operators did over on Stamping 411! (And…did you catch Lee's ribbon tutorial over there this week? AWESOME!)

Stamping 411 – Tropical Party

April 30, 2010 By Connie | 3 Comments

Another week has gone by and it is time for the Stamping 411 sketch challenge again! We certainly had a LOT of people do the sketch last week! I enjoy seeing everyone's creative talents and how they interpret the sketch. I hope you enjoy this week's sketch, too! It is another easy one.

I knew that I wanted to use Stampin' Up!'s Tropical Party…I think it is my favorite set from the new Summer Mini! I used my Watercolor Crayons, Shimmer Paper and a technique called Watercolor Wash to do the background behind the Palm Tree…the colors are Creamy Caramel, So Saffron and Tempting Turquoise. Then I used my Stampin' Write Markers in Chocolate Chip and Old Olive to ink up the Palm Tree and stamped it on the background.

I layered the background on Pumpkin Pie. I added a strip of Island Oasis striped Designer Paper to a piece of Old Olive Cardstock that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. Before I ran it thru, I stamped the leaves in the lower right corner as a background for the flowers. I wrapped some Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon over the Designer paper and secured in the back of the Old Olive. I stamped three flowers in So Saffron, Real Red, and Pumpkin Pie on scrap Shimmer Paper and cut them out. I added Mini Brads in Tempting Turquoise, Real Red and So Saffron to the centers. They are popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the corner of the card.

This card puts me in a tropical mood! Or maybe it is just the warm sunny day we had today! Check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators to see what they did with this sketch. I know I'm always amazed at what they do!

Stamping 411 – Peace Within

April 23, 2010 By Connie | 8 Comments

I haven't used Stampin' Up!'s Peace Within stamp set for a long while, so I pulled it out today to use with the Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge! I don't always enjoy coloring, but today I was in the mood!

I started by stamping the basket of flowers image in Basic Brown on Whisper White and watercolored with my AquaPainter and Watercolor Crayons. I don't use those as much as I should either! I layered it on Regal Rose. In the empty corner, I used my Piercing Tool and the Mat Pack to make a punched design.

I ran the background Whisper White thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder that will be in the Summer Mini. LOVE the texture it makes! I wrapped some Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon around it and placed it on the Regal Rose base card. I added the punched Jewelry Tag stamped with Tiny Tags stamp set and Linen Thread. Pretty simple card…but then the sketch was simple!

I hope you try out the sketch and link with Mr. Linky over on Stamping 411. We'd love to see what you do with it! I know I'm always anxious to see what the other design Operators have done with the sketch!

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!

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!

Stamping 411 – Fun & Fast Notes

April 2, 2010 By Connie | 7 Comments

I don't think I've used Stampin' Up!'s Fun & Fast Notes in ages! I received it as one of the free Convention Sets, I believe, a couple years ago. It really is a good, basic stamp set for beginners and has some fun images! The cakes are probably one of the images I use the most for weddings and showers.

And, since I'm consumed with wedding stuff right now, here is a Bridal Shower card that I made using the Stamping 411 sketch this week! It is for my future daughter-in-law's shower tomorrow. I loved the sketch…great job, Selene! I'll be using it again.

I started with a base of Kraft cardstock and added Brocade Blue cardstock layer that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Petals-A-Plenty Impressions Folder (did you know you can still order this folder from Stampin' Up!?) I wrapped the White Satin Ribbon around and tied with a pretty bow.

I stamped the trio of cakes on Shimmer White cardstock in Craft Black and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. I used the Aqua Painter and Brocade Blue marker to watercolor the bases, then colored in the flowers with Summer Sun and leaves in Gable Green. Hard to see, but I added Tombow Liquid Glue and Dazzling Diamonds to the scallop frosting on the cakes. Very pretty in real life! I layered it on Basic Black and placed on the front of the card. I added "for your shower" from Teeny Tiny WIshes, stamped in Craft Black and embossed with clear, then punched with the Word Window and layered on Kraft cardstock. Finally, I used the Flower Fushion Sizzlet die and cut the trio of flowers with Summer Sun cardstock and added a Clear Rhinestone Brad in the center. I think it looks like a bridal shower card, don't you? And it is in her colors of Cornflower Blue and Sand.

I hope you check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators and play along with the sketch challenge this week! I know I can't wait to see what they've done. Did you notice we added a new Operator? Kerin Sylvester join us on the Design Team!

Stamping 411 – A Kind Word

March 5, 2010 By Connie | 5 Comments

Today's Stamping 411 Sketch challenge was really fun! I was able to pull out a set that I earned free with hostess credits and finally ink it up! Stampin' Up's A Kind Word is such a sweet set. I love the little faces on it and that basketful of kittens is why I really got it!

I started with a base of Almost Amethyst and layered on the So Saffron background floral from Tea Party Designer Paper. I used a strip of the small floral print from Pawsitively Prints and then made the Scallop Flower from the same print! I added a pink Rhinestone brad in the center to hold it in place and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

She was stamped with Basic Black on Whisper White, then I paper pieced her pinafore dress with the Yellow Gingham check from Pawsitively Prints Designer Paper. I watercolored her with Stampin' Write Markers and my AquaPainter. Finally, I added some Almost Amethyst butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit die.

I think it turned out SO sweet! Make sure to check out what the other Stamping 411 Design Operators have done this week! I'm sure their designs will be fabulous using this sketch. Make sure to play along this week and add your creation to Mr. Linky over on Stamping 411!