Classic Backgrounds 2

I'm sad that they discontinued this designer paper (Darling Doodles). Such a FUN paper, especially for kids! I love the doodles and stars on this particular sheet. For this Leadership Display card, I wanted to make a children's card. I stamped the star three times in different colors and cut them out (yes, this was BEFORE the large star punch come out!) Then I stamped the number 3 from Big Deal Numbers with Versamark on Certainly Celery cardstock, added Iridescent Ice EP and heat set it. Then I cut it out. I used the background stars on the panel below in Bashful Blue and stamped Birthday hugs and wishes in Basic Black on top of the designer paper. I thought it was a fun and simple card and using different numbers for the child's birthday would personalize it.

Stampin' smiles,

Connie

Stitched Exotics 4

Can anyone tell me why I let almost a full year of paperwork pile up? I mean, I deal with it, I just don't FILE it. It goes in a Longaberger basket bin I have. I swore last year that I was going to file it as I went along...yeah, right! So, I spent this morning, sprawled out on the floor, sorting everything. That took away PRECIOUS stamping time! lol! I STILL have a small pile to sort. Then I can start working on my Schedule C and get our taxes done...hopefully this weekend. Yeah!

I really liked how this card turned out. To me, the colors are ones I don't frequently use...Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant...but my trusty Color Coach tells me they do work together! Again, it is a card I made for Display at Leadership. I had just received the background stamp, Baroque, and couldn't wait to ink it up! I used Pretty in Pink on Pretty in Pink cardstock. I thought it would be "fun" to cut out the swirl stamp pattern in Stitched Exotics...yeah right, fun! The inside of the flower I also cut out and it fit perfect with the Scallop Circle behind it. I added the Spiral Punch along the bottom. I don't use this punch enough, cause I really like the look! Then I stamped Stem Sayings and pierced a row underneath it. Love that wide 5/8 ribbon, too!

Have a great evening!

Connie

Classic Backgrounds

This is another card I made for the Leadership displays using Classic Backgrounds. One of the things I think about when using a stamp set for displays, is trying to identify other uses than was is obvious. To me, the stars is this set leaned themselves towards red, white, and blue or patriotic themes...which I did use. But, stars in scrapbooking and cardmaking are BIG right now! So I used a couple shades of purple to make a birthday card using this set.

Both the star and the scallop circle are glittered using Iridescent Ice EP. I also placed a clear Rhinestone brad in the center of the star (from the Pretties kit). The color in this scan is off...the star actually matches the strip that Happy Birthday is stamped on...but it doesn't look like it here for some reason! Across the top of that band I did a row of paper piercing. I also used the background stamp Tres Chic on white with a base card of Lovely Lilac.

Enjoy!

Connie

Three for You punch

This is a card I made for a card challenge on another group. Our task was to use the Three for You punch kit. I think these little flowers are so much fun. In this case, I used the Simple Serif Mini Alphabet and stamped each of the letters for the word Happy. I then used the punch to place the letter in the center of each small flower. The background harlequin paper is from the new East Coast Prep Designer Paper package. There is a layer of Cardstock Vellum underneath the More Mustard layer, and I used Faux Stitching and a Tempting Turquoise ink pen to make it look like stitching.

Fun card to make! Hope you are enjoying the weekend...

Connie

Blogger's Challenge Week #31

I'm back! Sorry I didn't get to participate the last two weeks. The first week I was at Leadership with no time before I left to complete it. Last week I was out of town doing a couple classes with no time to make it before I left.

This week's Blogger's Challenge was to use the layout on page 141 of the big catalog (the welcome baby card) and I couldn't resist. So...here is a PREVIEW of something NEW coming up! I had received my preorder from the new Spring Occasions mini we got to order at Leadership and this "Tart & Tangy" stamp set with "Summer Picnic" paper was sitting on my table to be put away! I looked at that layout...looked at the stamp set and thought "perfect!" I added Hello that is from the Sweet Shapes set...I've been using that word a lot lately! I used the Pick A Petal brass template to paper pierce around the Scallop Circle punch. That is a great brass template with lots of uses!

Sets: Tart & Tangy, All in a Row, Sweet Shapes

C/S: Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP

Inks: Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive markers

Other: 5/8 Old Olive ribbon, Tag corner punch, Olive mini brad, Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, Pick a Petal brass template and paper piercer

Stitched Exotics 3

OK...hopefully I'm on the mend now. Today was better than yesterday and I did sleep well last night. I'm not coughing so much today either.

I finished my Control Freak SAB swap cards! Yeah! I mailed them off to the hostess. Glad to have that "chore" off my lap. I absolutely love seeing what these gals do...the best swap cards ever! My customers love getting to see all their awesome work, too.

This was another one of the display cards I made for Leadership using Stitched Exotics. Funny story...my friend, Mary Brown (know her and her awesome work???) came over the night before Leadership and stayed since we had an early flight. She saw a similar card to this laying out on my table, glanced at it quickly, and wanted to know why I made green monkeys! lol! I guess looking at it quickly, you could see green monkeys prancing along the bottom...too funny!

Stitched Exotics 2

Well, I am feeling a little better this afternoon. I was able to sleep in a little this morning...I think that helped. Then I took a nap this afternoon. Hopefully I've turned the corner. I hate being sick!

I was able to work on my big swap for Control Freaks and have it 3/4ths done. It needs to be in the mail by Friday, so I can finish it up tomorrow. There is some cutting involved, so I'll spend tonight doing that in front of the TV.

This was another display card using Stitched Exotics. It is always my goal to use every stamp in the set when I'm doing displays...that way everyone can see the versatility of the set. This large flower is my favorite in the set...just perfect to use the Jumbo eyelet in the center! In this case, I added the crystal Rhinestone from the pretties kit INSIDE the jumbo eyelet for a really cool effect! The zig zag is from All in a Row stamp set...makes a great faux stitch look! The background is Rose Red Designer Series Paper. In addition, Birthday Hugs and Wishes is one of my favorite greetings. Enjoy!

Stitched Exotics

OK...thought I'd switch sets for a few days. This set is another one that I used to make displays for Leadership boards. I don't remember where I picked up the sketch for this (SCS?), but I loved how they used the ribbon slider in the Hodgepodge Hardware Kit and fed the ribbon thru it two ways!

I used the color combination of Blue Bayou, Groovy Guava and Sahara Sand...along with Very Vanilla and a touch of Really Rust in the center of the flower. I cut out both the large and small flowers in this set and layered them with the Pretties Kit flat pearl for the center! I used the 5 petal punch to make some leaves out of the Blue Bayou DSP and cut into two leaves. I also used the small and large oval punches for the thank you greeting. I did use the background swirl on the Groovy Guava layer beneath the flower, but it is hard to see.

Well, I'm not getting any better...in fact I'm worse today. I see a visit to the doctor in my near future...(sigh)....

Sweet Celebrations 3

Another baby card done for the Leadership display boards. This time I used more vibrant colors. The Cutie Pie paper is too cute NOT to use on baby cards! I especially like the stripe papers in this pack of designer paper. For the Too Cute words, I stamped the image in basic black on Whisper White, then punched out with my 1 3/8 punch and the center with the 1" punch...it left the narrow ring that just says Too Cute! I added a clear button for the center with some Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon. The letters BABY are stamped in Purely Pomegranate with the new Schoolbook Serif Alphabet and cut out. The flowers are stamped with Bashful Blue and filled the centers with the white gel pen.

Fun! Easily a card that could be used for either a boy or a girl! Again, just posting quick today...still feeling punky...

Sweet Celebrations 2

Here is another display sample using Sweet Celebrations. As you can see, I used the retired On the Spot background, however, any circles would work. The arrow I made out of the large and small ovals...cutting just a sliver and then the head of the arrow is a square cut in half. I used the Coluzzle to cut out around the Sweet Bundle of Love words. The diaper pin is white embossed on Soft Sky and layered on both the white 3/4 circle and larger one. Pink taffeta around the width and faux stitching along both the top and bottom of the Old Olive strip.

Sorry this is so short. I've caught a cold...so I'm kind of sluggish today. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow!

Sweet Celebrations Wedding

I'm posting another display card I made for Leadership...this time with the set, Sweet Celebrations. When I saw the sayings "A day to remember" and "Forever and Ever" on this stamp, I thought wedding or anniversary. My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary (well, a couple years ago), so I used some Silver accents to make this card.

Background is simply Brushed Silver cardstock and I used the Polka Dot background stamp with Versamark and Silver EP on Whisper White cardstock. The center black 1/2" circle with the silver heart is popped up with a dimensional. I layered the Scallop Circle punch with the Round Tab punch. (Have you seen this trick? Punch two of the Round Tab punches out of the same color cardstock...I used Black. Layer and adhere them together so they make a perfect circle to fit behind the scallop circle punch!) Finally, I dressed the card up with some of the Basic Grey and white Taffeta ribbon. This card is very shimmery and elegant in person!

I'm going out of town and will return Saturday. Look for my Blogger's Challenge then...

Boho Backgrounds 3

Yet another card made for the Leadership display boards using the Rainbow Double Resist background technique (from Technique Junkies, of course!) and Boho Backgrounds. Bright colors on this one! I wanted a Fiesta type feeling to show thru and I think it does! lol!

Again, the Spectrum pads have been retired, but you could get the same effect using several different colored ink pads. The center Boho medallion is stamped off in Pumpkin Pie to lighten it enough so the Lovely Lilac greeting shows thru on top. This verse is my favorite out of the All Holidays set!

Lots to do today. I'm getting ready to do a couple classes out of town and visit some dear friends. I'll check in tomorrow before I leave!

Enjoy!

Boho Backgrounds 2

OK...I love this card. Stampin' Up! did post it on the Display boards at Leadership, even though it uses the retired All About U and retired Outlaw paper. Remember...when we are doing these displays, we don't know about the retired lists yet. However, this one would be VERY easy to substitute the new Just B set and the new colors of the paper Western Sky and get the exact same look!

This card is actually a tri-fold card. The medallion from Boho Backgrounds and the U layer actually lift up, the stripe paper layer folds down. For some reason, I didn't take a picture of it open...duh! lol! Oh well...I think you can figure it out on your own.

The details on the medallion...I used craft Really Rust and craft Chocolate Chip to varigate the color on the stamp. I stamped on Confetti Cream and then embossed the medallion with clear embossing powder for a shiny, cool look. The center I used an Aged Copper mini brad from the Hodgepodge Kit. I punched out the medallion with the Scallop Circle punch and colored the edges with Really Rust ink. Other details include faux stitching around the top half of the card and using my Chocolate Chip marker for the "thread"

I'm off to my studio to crank out some cards and techniques for my classes this week!

Boho Backgrounds

Oh gosh! I'm back from Leadership. Had an awesome time, a great roommate (hi Mary!) and met some wonderful new friends (hi Julie, Twila, Liz!) All these gals were fellow display makers for the convention boards. We met up for dinner one night and swapped. Great time and great cards! Also met up with a couple gals I'm in a swap group with...Control Freaks Swappers! (Hi Cindy and Karen!) We hung out at lunch one day. Karen lives VERY close, so I'm sure we will hang out again soon.

I also met up and had dinner with several of the gals from my SSUS group. Fun to meet all of them and put real faces with names and blogs!

This was one of the Boho Background cards I made that was posted on the Leadership display boards. That set is just PERFECT for the circle and scallop punches! This one I stamped Regal Rose and Tempting Turquoise medallions and punched with the scallop punch. I stamped the medallions again and punched the centers out with the 1" circle punch...and alternated them on in the centers of the other colors. The middle one I stamped Hugs & Kisses on Whisper White and punched with the 1" circle punch. And I punched a Tempting Turquoise medallion with the 1-1/4 punch and layered it on the Regal Rose scallop circle. The centers I added interest with some colored brads. The background on the Regal Rose piece is stamped with the Paisley background stamp for depth and texture. I wrapped the white taffeta ribbon around it and shaded the edges with White Craft ink. It is a 3x6 sized card (using a 6x6 piece of cardstock and folding in half). I think unusual sized cards are fun!

Keep watching...over the next few days, I'll be posting the Display cards I made!

SURPRISE!!!

I had a few minutes while I'm on break from Stampin' Up!'s Leadership convention. Sorry, no Blogger's Challenge for me this week...

However, the weather in Palm Springs is absolutely LOVELY. Not to make you jealous, but temps are in the mid 70s, not a cloud in the sky, and the view of the mountains is spectacular. I'm definitely bringing my hubby back out here with me some time.

Of course, part of what makes it so special is seeing those stamping friends, catching up, and getting lots of design ideas! A few surprise announcements from Stampin' Up!, too!

I'll be back to regular posting on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Off to Leadership!!!

Sorry, I haven't posted. I've been really busy getting ready to head to Palm Springs for Leadership! I will have lots to show you when I get back...see you then!

Heartfelt Thanks

Gosh...it has been AGES since I pulled out this set to use! I did a big Stamp Camp on it when it first appeared in the catalog...I think I burned myself out using it. But when I needed a floral image for my Technique class last week, the set caught my eye (besides it is one of the small collection of stamps I have that didn't retire!)

It is a pretty set and I like the two step stamping. The Technique we did was rubber band brayer for the background. My classes I try to break into a simple technique, a medium type technique and a more challenging technique. The was the simple category, yet it gives a lot of impact to a background! I don't know why I don't use it more often! This card I used two brayers with two different colors of ink...Apricot Appeal and Certainly Celery. The flowers I used markers in order to color the stem separately than the flower. Finally, I knotted the ribbon before adhering it to the back.

Oops...I photographed this before I added the greeting (right next to the stems). I used Thank You from Warm Words.

Sets: Heartfelt Thanks

C/S: Apricot Appeal, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Inks: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Ruby Red

Other: 5/8 Celery Grosgrain ribbon

Blogger's Challenge Week #28

This week's Blogger's challenge was to use Pink & Brown in our design. This is one of my favorite color combinations! I used Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip with a touch of Whisper White for this card.

It is hard to see, but the background is layers of color. I started with the rectangle stamp in the Priceless set and stamped it in Craft White ink randomly over the Pretty in Pink cardstock. Then I used Pretty in Pink ink and randomly stamped the same rectangle. On top, I inked my Sanded stamp with Pretty in Pink and overstamped the entire Pretty in Pink cardstock. Gives it a lot of depth and texture to the background.

The hearts were embossed with clear embossing powder (using Versamark and Pretty in Pink ink), then cut out. Love is from the Peace Love Joy stamp in All Holidays...I used the marker omit method to just ink the word Love. I punched it with the Large Oval and layered that on the Key Tag punch and added a couple mini brads. In each of the hearts and two of the swirls, I placed some little rhinestone flowers that I picked up a while ago...they are adhesive backed so easy to place!

Sets: Priceless, Sanded BG, All Holidays

C/S: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Inks: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Other: 1-1/4 & 1-3/8 square punches, Key Tag punch, Large Oval punch, Clear EP, PIP Mini brads, non-SU rhinestone flowers

Joseph's Coat Inside Out Priceless

I'm so sorry! Not my intent to neglect my Blog these past couple days. Time just got away from me. I've been working on restoring my Studio to normal after my husband built my shelves. He finished painting them on Monday and placed the crown molding on Tuesday. I have almost all the boxes of stamps put back on the shelves...just two more to go. I am going to like the new way I've sorted them and it makes it so much easier to see what I have and to find it when I want it! I've also been sneaking in some time to organize some of the things that have been driving me crazy. Ribbon is a big thing...I have it in several places and I'm trying to get it all together. A couple more batches of that to sort.

On top of everything, I'm getting ready to go to Leadership next week!!! Still working on projects for swaps. Glad I have a few days coming up to dedicate to it.

Thought I'd share a card my technique's class did tonight called Joseph's Coat Inside Out from Technique Junkies. We used the Priceless stamp set. I love the heart in this set!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wow...2008 is here. Where did 2007 go? Really...it flew by for us. We spent New Year's Eve very quietly. Went to dinner with good friends, but were home by 10:30 PM and watched Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve and the crystal ball drop. I don't like being out on the roads on NYE. Today will be relaxing, watching the Rose Bowl parade and then lots of football teams. I'll get some stamping done while that is going on. I have to finish preparing for a couple classes this week and work on my Leadership swaps for next week!

Here is the last name frame...very similar to Liam's. I used Toy Box Scrappin' kit again for Makallen's. When my niece opened Makallen's gift (he is only 5 months old), she reminded me that I hadn't made a name frame for her daughter, Ryleigh. I had made one for her oldest child, Layton. I remembered then that I didn't make Ryleigh's since they had made plans to move...but now I guess that is on my list to get done for her! lol! Her birthday is in July, so I have some time!

I've made some personal goals for myself this year. I won't call them resolutions...they are more of a commitment than that. Since I'm writing them down, I'll be able to look at them and strive to complete them throughout the year.

Hope YOU have a wonderful New Year!