Valentine Defined

Valentine Defined with Mr. Owl

February 2, 2011 By Connie | 8 Comments

I received a swap card from Stephanie Leider that was just TOO cute. I completely changed the outside of mine to show off the Inlaid Embossing Technique for my class and made mine with a little more Valentine related colors…but the inside was Stephanie's inspiration! Thanks Stephanie!

I used Pink Pirouette for the front. I punched the Heart to Heart punches from Regal Rose and the Small Heart punch from Real Red. This panel was run thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder to get that Inlaid Embossing look. Love is stamped with Real Red Classic Ink on Whisper White and punched with the Small Oval punch. I layered it on a Real Red Scalloped Oval. I also added a little bling with a Rhinestone Jewel in the O of Love. It is popped up on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals.

But…inside is the real wow! Isn't it cute?

I stamped the "wire" of hearts in Basic Black three times across the 4 x 12 piece of Whisper White cardstock. It is scored at 3, 6, and 9. I sponged clouds in the sky with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle and Marina Mist Classic Ink and a sponge. The poles were made with the Word Window punch and Soft Suede Cardstock. I stamped them with the Woodgrain Background stamp image and Soft Suede Classic Ink.

Mr. Owl was punched from Early Espresso and his vest from Love Impressions Designer Paper. The eyes are Whisper White and Marina Mist with Black Mini Brads. His little vest heart was punched from Red Glimmer paper, along with the Small Heart punch in his "greeting". He is popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals on the "wire".

The 1/4 Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon is sandwiched between the Pink Pirouette back and the inside Whisper White panel…long enough so it wraps around and ties in the front.

My class loved it…and I must say, it makes for a special Valentine! I need to make a few more to send out to friends!

Remember…it is Sale-A-Bration time! For every $50 you purchase, you can select one of the products in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure! LOTS of fun stuff this year…I'm lovin' it! Make sure to contact me before it is too late!

Over on Create with Connie and Mary, we are just beginning Week 2 of our subscription! This week we are featuring the Sale-A-Bration brochure products! It's not too late to join! We still have four weeks left of the subscription AND you will be able to access all the past projects we've done. We also leave the site up indefinitely for you to use the ideas in the future! With a price of $29.95 for over 30 projects, that is less than $1 per project! We know you won't be disappointed! Join today at Create with Connie and Mary!

Valentine Defined 3

January 19, 2011 By Connie | 1 Comment

Make sure to come back tomorrow…it is Tour de Freaks Blog Hop time! You'll see some great Valentine cards and projects, I'm sure! I'm anxious to show off mine!

Today, I'm back again with another Valentine Defined card! I just love the variety in this stamp set! My Technique Class did this card in class a couple weeks ago! Showing them how to get that faux embossed look with tone-on-tone punches in the background. I also used this card for a Shoebox swap at Leadership! I think they enjoyed making it, too!

I started with a base of Pink Pirouette cardstock. I layered on some Love Impressions Designer Paper. Along the bottom I used the Tasteful Trim die and cut the large scallops from Whisper White. I added a small trimmed piece of Glimmer Paper, so it really SPARKLES in real life! I wrapped the Whisper White Stripe Organdy Ribbon and tied a knot. At the top, I punched several hearts with the Trio Heart Punch in Pink Pirouette cardstock and layered them on the base cardstock for a embossed look.

I inked up the tree stamp from Stampin' Up!'s Valentine Defined stamp set with Pink Pirouette and then used the Early Espresso and Real Red markers to color in the trunk and a few hearts. It is punched with the 2 3/8 Scallop Circle Punch and layered on an Early Espresso 2 1/2 Circle punch. I stamped Love in Real Red and punched with the Small Oval punch, then layered on the Real Red 1 1/4" circle.

Time's running out to take advantage of the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition! It's a 5 week online subscription service for demos and customers featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration brochures. Right now you save $5 of the regular $29.95 price. There is a new project posted every day with a printable project sheet and an average of two fabulous step-by-step tutorials a week. Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access 24/7 to the site and the tutorials. Preview week going on NOW featuring the Hugs & Kisses Suite of products! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Valentine Defined

January 17, 2011 By Connie | 4 Comments

Wow…I'm back from Leadership! You cannot believe how fantastic Stampin' Up! treats us at these events! I was SO excited to see many of my friends again that I've met over the years of attending Convention and Leadership. Our conversations seem to pick up exactly where we left off! Oh well…only six more months until Convention and I see them again! Stampin' Up! demos are the BEST people! Managers' Reception at the Wildhorse Saloon was fantastic…great food, entertainment and learning how to line dance! What else could you want! Didn't see any "famous" country western stars while we were there, but the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is AWESOME! HUGE! It made the 1000 of Stampin' Up! leaders feel very small!

But…on to my card! Over on Create with Connie and Mary, we are starting our SECOND Preview Week! That means…you only have a few more days to sign up at the special Early Bird Price of $24.95…a $5 savings off the regular $29.95 rate! You can find all the details on what you'll get for your money HERE! We are featuring the Hugs & Kisses Suite of products from the Occasions Mini during our Preview Weeks, then will work our way thru the rest of the Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration brochures during the actual subscription. Today I used Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch TSSC157 as the basis for my card.

And here is my card!

As I've mentioned before, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Love Impressions Designer Paper and the Red Glimmer Paper! I combined them both on my card, along with the greeting from Valentine Defined! Really, this is a SIMPLE card and would be quick to make up a bunch of them for your Valentines!

I started with a base of Basic Gray cardstock, then ran the Pink Pirouette cardstock thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I added a 1 3/4 strip of Red Glimmer Paper along the left side, then a strip of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon to hide the seam. I made a bow and added a Red Glimmer Brad in the center and placed it along the bottom with a Stampin' Dimensional. I punched three Full Hearts out of the Love Impressions DSP and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals, too. Finally, I stamped LOVE from Valentine Defined in Real Red on Whisper White and punched with the Small Oval, then layered on the Basic Gray Large Oval. That's it! I love it!

I wanted to give you a reminder that I have another round of Ribbon Shares almost full and ready to order! I'm finishing up the cutting of the last round and will have them in the mail by tomorrow, so if you are waiting on any shares, know that all except the In Color ribbon is ready. You can find out more information about the Ribbon Shares I'm offering HERE!

Valentine Defined

January 10, 2011 By Connie | 3 Comments

I loved Technostampers Lunchtime Sketch Challenge TSSC156 today, so I quickly made up this card. It was SUPPOSED to go up this morning, but my host server decided to take a long NAP today. If you tried to get in here earlier today, I apologize! I told Amy it always knows when we are headed to Leadership or Convention because it choose that time to go down!

And here is my card…I love the soft colors of Blushing Bride and Basic Gray!

I started with a base card of Blushing Bride cardstock. I added a layer of the XO designer paper from Love Impressions DSP over top. I cut a 2 x 4 piece of Basic Gray and stamped the lines of hearts from Valentine Defined across it in Basic Gray Classic Ink. Hanging on the lines, I placed 5 of the Small Hearts punched from Blushing Bride cardstock. I added a scallop trim border of Blushing Bride and a small pearl in each of the scallops. Above it, I placed a strip of Sticky Strip, then ruffled the Blushing Bride In Color Ribbon. Finally I stamped LOVE image from Valentine Defined on Whisper White with Basic Gray and punched it with the Small Oval Punch, then layered it on a 1 1/4 circle of Blushing Bride. I added another small pearl inside the O of LOVE.

What a FUN sketch!

It's time for an EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition! It's a 5 week online subscription service for demos and customers featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration brochures. Right now you save $5 of the regular $29.95 price. There is a new project posted every day with a printable project sheet and an average of two fabulous step-by-step tutorials a week. Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access 24/7 to the site and the tutorials. Preview week going on NOW! To sign up or for payment information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

Create with Connie and Mary Preview Week 1

January 9, 2011 By Connie | Leave a Comment

WELCOME TO PREVIEW WEEK 1 of Create with Connie and Mary Occasions 2011 Edition! Mary has an awesome project for us today AND some exciting information about how you can get a FREE detailed downloadable project sheet for her project and an opportunity to win some BLOG CANDY! Over the next two weeks each member of our design team has a FREE special project to share featuring the Hugs & Kisses Suite in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The projects we share during the preview period give you an idea of what you can expect from your subscription to Create with Connie & Mary Occasions Edition.

To get the FREE DETAILED DOWNLOADABLE PROJECT SHEET for Mary's darling card portfolio and cards…go to Create with Connie and Mary. And while you are there…remember we are offering our Early Bird Special pricing of $24.95…so why not join now while you can save $5 off the regular $29.95 price! That saving is only available until January 22 @ 11:00 PM EST! Demos and customers are welcome to join!

BLOG CANDY. Leave a comment today, Sunday, January 9th on MARY'S BLOG and you will be entered to win a free subscription to Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition (winner will be announced Sunday, January 23 at 12 noon). But you will have MORE CHANCES to win…check out the Create with Connie and Mary site everyday and over the next two weeks we will be telling you who to visit to have a chance to win…it won’t be everyday…but we are giving away a total of 6 free subscriptions over the next 2 weeks. If you check in every day on Create with Connie and Mary…you’ll be able to see who is doing the give away and be able to visit their blog!