Wednesday, January 30, 2008

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

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

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

Monday, January 28, 2008

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

Saturday, January 26, 2008

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

Friday, January 25, 2008

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

Thursday, January 24, 2008

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!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

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!