Feb
29
2008
Today’s challenge was to use the layout of the card on page 44. Once again, today it is SNOWING here…and I’m wishing for Spring or Summer to hurry up and get here. This set, Time for You, is in the new Occasions Mini Catalog and available March 1st. I couldn’t resist using it. I paired it with the new Summer Picnic paper, too!
When I saw this set, I knew I had to get it…the bicycle reminds me of the bright red one I had when I was young…even with the faux wood basket on the front! I spent LOTS of time on that bicycle…it was the one I first learned to ride on. My dad was a farmer and super busy during the summer, so my neighbor friend taught me to ride…he always had time for a little friend who tailed after him even though he was a couple years older.
I used the piercing template in the bottom corners. Then I punched the Word Window out of Pumpkin Pie, folded it in half, secured it to the top of the card with a mini brad and then tied the gingham ribbon through the loop. To color, I used a variety of markers and watercolor pencils.
Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane…
Connie
Feb
27
2008
It is always exciting to have Stampin’ Up! showcase your card on the demo side of their website. Stampin’ Up! puts between 4-6 cards on the showcase every day for other demos to use as inspiration for their classes and workshops. To get on the showcase, you send in cards for contests or leave them in baskets at Regionals, Conventions and Leadership. This was a card I left in the basket at Leadership. I had made several for one of the organized swaps I joined.
I used Classic Backgrounds, It’s Your Birthday and Big Deal Numbers along with Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper. I love the soft colors of Soft Sky, Sahara Sand and Wild Wasabi. The Star is punched and popped up with dimensionals. I think I made 30 of these…but it was a fun card to put together. I always like using the age on my children’s cards…of course…my children are now 25 and 22…so this one is actually for my great nephew.
Enjoy!
Connie
Sets: Classic Backgrounds, It’s Your Birthday, Big Deal Numbers
C/S: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Soft Sky, Fall Flowers DSP
Inks: Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky
Other: Large star punch, Sahara Sand DS Ribbon, Scallop Circle punch 1 3/8 circle punch, dimensionals
Feb
26
2008
Ugh…we are getting more SNOW! I’m so tired of winter. I guess my spring colored cards didn’t help move it out any faster.
But! I finally had time to cover my desk calendar yesterday. I always get compliments on them…and they are easy to make. One of my friends got me started by giving me one in a gift exchange over 5 years ago.
This year I used the popular Ginger Blossoms designer paper…LOVE it! I’ve already used up one pack and ordered a second pack. The large flowers are perfect for the size of this calendar…I covered the bottom front and entire back with that pattern. Then…the dotted paper…ranks right up there in my favorites with the stripes!
I stamped the large flower from Embrace Life three times with Basic Brown ink on Whisper White cardstock. Then I used my sponge dauber and Ruby Red and Groovy Guava to ink up the centers and color in the petals…and used the Tombow Multi-purpose glue to add glitter along the stamens. I then placed the red Fire Circle brads in the centers. I layered them on a River Rock piece inked with the Sanded Background stamp. I added a touch of Garden Green ink to the punched 5-petal flower leaves. The Round Tab Punch has the word Life stamped on it from the Enjoy Every Moment stamp set. I used Jumbo Eyelets and the narrow Twill along the side, stamping first with the leaf stamp from Embrace Life in River Rock. I’m happy with the way it turned out!
Sets: Embrace Life, Enjoy Every Moment, Sanded background
C/S: River Rock, Whisper White, Groovy Guava, Ginger Blossom DSP
Inks: Basic Brown, Garden Green, River Rock, Ruby Red, Groovy Guava
Other: Jumbo eyelets, narrow twill, Fire brads, 5 petal punch, Round Tab punch, sponge daubers, Tombow multi-purpose glue, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Sticky Strip
Feb
25
2008
OK…here is another Pouncing technique background I made up with spring colors and the Spring Solitude stamp set (Level 2 hostess set). On this card, I still used the Green Galore and Pixie Pink, but added Tempting Turquoise for a little twist! Pouncing technique is in the latest February issue of Technique Junkies newsletter! See my link in the sidebar to check it out!
Can you tell I’m hoping to see a “Bluebird” out my window soon? Come on SPRING! The “hello” is a rub-on from the Anchored package. These are SO much fun to play with! I spent yesterday morning rubbing them on different things. Stampin’ Up! certainly puts out quality product because I had no trouble with them at all! And remember, you can get a Sale-a-Bration rub-on set to try FREE with any $50 order…included are four colors of rub-ons…olive, white, chocolate and black! Email me today with your order so you don’t miss out!
Well…I’ll be busy stamping today. I have several projects that are coming due in the next couple weeks, plus some additional prep for classes. And my assignments for the next issue of Technique Junkies newsletter are calling to me!
Have a great day!
Connie
Feb
23
2008
I’m SO ready for SPRING and warm weather! We just endured another snow and ice storm and are digging out today. So yesterday, while it was snowing and sleeting…I decided to pull out my SPRING colors and bring a little sunshine into my studio.
Now, normally I’m not a Bold Brights person…I favor Earth Elements colors. But…sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do…right? So, I picked the two brightest colors I could…Pixie Pink and Green Galore reinkers and went to work making some “Pouncing” technique backgrounds. This technique is in the latest Technique Junkies newsletter and SO much fun to make. One of those “quick & easy” ones.
Well, next I needed a stamp set…what other thing says SPRING like Tulips! Bingo! I used my markers to color the Tulip in Pixie Pink and Green Galore…then I added some shading by using Pink Passion and Garden Green on the edges of the stamp. I stamped it on Glossy paper to make it POP and added a strip of Green Galore along the bottom…I cut tiny slits in the paper and crinkled it to resemble green grass. I needed a Thank You card for the friends we went to Las Vegas with…so I used one of my favorite sets…Short & Sweet…to stamp Thank You and used my much neglected small and large oval punches. Since Stampin’ Up! retired the Green Galore grosgrain ribbon, I pulled out a piece of bright green stripe ribbon I had on hand…
To me…this card says SPRING…just what I wanted.
Connie
Feb
22
2008
Whew…Purely Pomegranate, Brilliant Blue and Old Olive…colors that I would never put together on my own! A true challenge! But, I am happy with how it turned out! I was also excited to try out the new Fine Cosmos glitters I received in my last order. The picture really does not give you a good image of how much the paper GLITTERS! It is very sparkly in person…a lot like our Dazzling Diamonds, except in color! Woohoo!
To make the “glitter paper”, I laid down lines of Sticky Strip on Purely Pomegranate cardstock, then poured Rose Pink glitter on top and shook off the excess. I stamped the butterfly with Purely Pomegranate ink on Glossy White cardstock and cut out…very vibrant! I used dimensionals to pop it up a little.
These challenges are so much fun…I love how they stretch me creatively! Enjoy!
Connie
Sets: Garden Whimsy, Spring Solitude
C/S: Brilliant Blue, Purely Pomegranate, Glossy White, Fall Flowers DSP
Inks: Purely Pomegranate, Brilliant Blue
Other: Olive mini brads, Fine Cosmos glitter, Sticky Strip, Corner Rounder, Purely Pomegranate DS Ribbon, Dimensionals.
Feb
20
2008
Oh, I can’t believe I forgot to post this card! This was my swap card for the Control Freaks group Sale-A-Bration swap last month. I used the set Friendship Blooms.
I wanted the illusion of a jean pocket, so I used the Blue Bayou Designer Prints paper and rounded the bottom with my corner rounder. The scallop edge is also made with the corner rounder…taking the guide off and then punching along the bottom of the cardstock. The flower is popped up with dimensionals and I added a Faux Diamond Dust (technique from Technique Junkies Newsletter) glitter flower center punched with the Boho Blossoms punch…and I added a colored mini brad in the center and at the top of the “pocket”. I also stamped the inside pocket piece and added a glitter flower to it, also. I like using the Round Tab punch for the top of the pull-out…note the swirl stamp on the tab, too!
Well, we got about 3″ of snow today unexpectedly! Earlier this week it was warm enough to melt all the snow…now it is back! I hope it is done snowing…I’m supposed to go out of town on Friday and hate to drive in bad weather.
Set: Friendship Blooms
C/S: Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White, River Rock, Blue Bayou DSP
Inks: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Purely Pomegranate, Versamark
Other: Round Tab punch, Boho Blossoms punch, River Rock double stitched ribbon, Corner rounder punch, Mini brads, Iridescent Ice EP
Connie
Feb
19
2008
Another card made with Classic Backgrounds…I really liked the large star in this set. Too bad I didn’t have the large star punch when I was making all these cards for Leadership Display!
This one is a basic pocket card…the cardstock cut 4 1/4 x 11 and then scored and folded up and the flap down. I stamped the stars in craft ink, then sprinkled Irridescent Ice EP over them and heat set. I layered the cut out star on the Scallop Circle punched from Brushed Silver. I also used Totally Tags for the Round Tab punch. I added the faux stitching around the top of the pocket.
I don’t use Glorious Green very often, but I did like it paired with the Brushed Silver and Whisper White cardstock! I thought this would make a great graduation invitation, so I used the school colors where my boys went to High School…Dublin Shamrocks and Dublin Irish!
Stay warm…we are getting MORE snow today. I’m SO ready for spring! I was checking out places near Hilton Head Island to vacation today…it can’t come soon enough for me!
Connie
Feb
19
2008
Sorry I am posting so late…I meant to do it earlier…but my hubby was off today for President’s Day. I don’t know about you, but MY routine certainly takes a hit when he is home! So, instead of posting, he mentioned going to look for something to display on top of the new hutch we purchased before Christmas. I took down the Snow decorations I had up there on Thursday, and it does look bare…but I knew what would happen. I’d never be able to buy something that I liked, because he would be certain to roll his eyes at the cost…or tell me that he knew I could MAKE something similar. Ugh! But, at least I did get a couple ideas. I’ll just make sure to purchase them when he isn’t around! lol! Anyone else out there like me?
I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but when I make cards for Convention or Display, I like to focus each of the stamps on the cards or projects I’m designing. I don’t know about you, but there are usually 1-2 stamps in the set that become my favorites, and I neglect the other poor little stamps in the set! Well, the argyle stamp is one that was neglected…I think I’m argyle challenged! So…for this Display sample, I pulled out my Stamp-a-ma-jig and tried to line up the argyles evenly. I think I did a pretty good job…
This card I had in my head that I wanted a masculine look and feel. On the other samples I made, I had already cut out the stars, mounted some on the Scallop Circles…so I had my large 1-3/8 circle sitting next to me (at the time ALL my punches were sitting next to me on the counter! I think I had EVERY punch pulled out to use!) I tried punching the star with the large circle and liked the effect. So…I chose some masculine colors (Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust) with Very Vanilla and pulled together this card. The “Celebrate” was from the retired All About U…now you could easily substitute Celebrate from Celebrate Everything and it would look great! The circle stars are popped up with dimensionals and an Antique Brass mini brad in the center of each. I think it turned out to be a nice, masculine card and amazingly similar to what I had imagined in my head! lol!
This week I have a busy week for deadlines, so I’m sure to get lots of stamping done. I figured out my Control Freaks swap card…now just to cut paper and stamp 40 of them and get them mailed by Friday…piece of cake, right? lol! Have a good night!
Connie
Feb
17
2008
Another card I sent in for Display at Leadership.
This one I wanted the medallion to appear to be background designer paper. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig, to evenly stamp the medallions with Night of Navy on Whisper White cardstock. After I made several rows, I cut it down to a 2″ strip. Then I used the slit punch to make a scallop for the left side…punching a 1/16″ hole in each scallop and adding a Pretty in Pink mini brad to each hole (my favorite part of this card!)
The navy “stripe” you see on the left is actually Navy grosgrain ribbon to hide the seam between the two separate pieces of cardstock. I stamped the medallion and punched it with the Scallop Circle punch…then behind that I punched two Round Tab punches in Pretty in Pink and layered them as a “faux” circle behind the scallop. Thanks So Much from Think Happy Thoughts is stamped with Navy and punched with the 1″ punch, the center flower is stamped with Pretty in Pink and punched with the 3/4 circle punch…all the circles are layered together and then popped with dimensionals.
Had a fun class today…a couple people couldn’t make it at the last minute so it was small, but hey…they received my individual attention, right? Tomorrow I’m volunteering for Stampin’ Up! with Ronald McDonald House. We are converting old card front swaps into cards for the residents to use.
Have a great weekend!
Connie
