Sweet Celebrations 3

This was one of my favorite things to make for the Leadership Displays. It was the first time I tried to make an acetate box! (Acetate sheets are actually overhead projection sheets.) I decided not to fill it...although I looked all over for pink and white M&Ms...thinking they would have them for Breast Cancer Awareness (remember...I made these back in October/November timeframe)...but nothing. I found some pink peppermint patties, but knew they would be too heavy to stay up on the Displays. So...I opted to just keep it empty.

I was thinking of wedding favors when I made this, but it is appropriate for Valentine's Day right now! The medallion is several layers of punches...two scallop punches in Regal Rose and Whisper White, the center holds a Build-A-Brad. The medallion on the side is repeated and placed on the top flap, too!

These are lots of fun to make. I'll have to whip up a few more soon!

Happy Monday...

Connie

Stitched Exotics 5

Hello! I'm back from Las Vegas! It was fun, but I'm SO glad to be home. We got in around 11:45 PM...picked up the baggage, caught the shuttle to get the car, drove 1/2 to get home...realized that my parents had LOCKED the door from the house to the garage. We didn't carry our KEYS because we weren't going to need them...right? So had to go to my parents to pick up our house key (and call them at 1:00 AM in the morning!)...they live about 20 minutes away. By the time we were home, calmed down the cat and crawled into bed, it was pushing 3 AM! Luckily, we were still on Pacific time anyway, so it was "only" midnight for our bodies. However, today I am definitely feeling OLD. lol!

So...a quick post here...another picture of my nephew and my niece that I made for the Display samples at Leadership! This was the photo in a Christmas card my brother sent out...can you see they are dressed as angels? White turtlenecks with angel wings and tinsel halos. CUTE! He is even holding her hands.

Colors I used were Basic Grey and Soft Sky cardstock. The swirls are embossed with silver. I stamped the flower twice with Purely Pomegranate on Glossy White and cut out...I also stamped the flower with Wild Wasabi and cut out two leaves. They are popped up with dimensionals and a rhinestone brad in the center.

Have a great Sunday!

Connie

Boho Backgrounds 4

Here is a scrapbook page that was displayed at Leadership for the Boho Backgrounds stamp set. I used Technique Junkie's Brayered Spots technique on Whisper White cardstock for the background on the side panel, plus the 1" punched circle in the center of the Boho medallion image. I inked the medallions with Brilliant Blue and Basic Black overtop the Brayered Spots background. I think the colors were perfect for this picture of my nephew. You probably can't tell, but he was crawling out of one of those inflatable rubber ball contraptions. Isn't he cute? Want to learn how to do this technique? Check out my sidebar for the link to subscribe to Technique Junkies newsletters.

This 6x6 page base is Real Red, with Brilliant Blue and Glorious Green layers. You Make Me Happy is inked with a marker using the Omit Method. Use your marker to just ink up the portion of the image you want to stamp. I used a Real Red mini brad in the center of the medallion and popped the entire scallop circle with dimensionals. Again, I love that wide 5/8 Real Red grosgrain ribbon...hope you remembered to get some when it was on sale last month!

I'm headed to Las Vegas early in the morning, so won't be posting for a few days. "See" you when I return on Sunday!

Enjoy!

Connie

Take Ten Challenge Card

I made this card last week for a Take Ten Challenge on one of my groups. The challenge was to make two of the same card...one to send into Take Ten magazine and the other to mail to my challenge partner. I used more of the East Coast Prep paper...three different patterns...for this card. I also used one of my favorite sets from the new catalog...One of a Kind. Unfortunately, this stamp set is on "hold" with the company. They are working on getting one of the stamps to line up a little better with the matching punch. I didn't have any trouble with mine, but they wanted to make it a little simpler, I guess. The Coluzzle made it easy to cut the circles...it cuts like butter thru the Designer paper.

At the center of the flower is a Build-a-Brad. They are SO much fun! Check out my classes link on the sidebar. I am having a Build-A-Brad Kit class on Saturday, February 16th. If you can't make the class, I am offering the kit class for sale...you'll get a full tin of Build-a-Brads in the color of your choice, the stamped images and paper all cut ready for you to assemble on your own time! Build-A-Brads aren't just for the center of flowers and I'll be showing you several more ways to use them! 5 cards/projects in total for $20 plus $4.60 shipping! Email me to place your order!

Well...what do you think about those Giants winning the SuperBowl? Quite unexpected. We watched at our friends' house...he is an avid Giants fan since he commutes to New York City every week. We had a great time!

Cheers,

Connie

East Coast Prep Compacts

When I was at Leadership, I purchased the mirror compacts as gifts for my downline and upline. I just sent them off in the mail this week, so hopefully everyone has received them by now and I won't ruin the surprise by posting the pictures here.

Since I didn't want to just give them the cello bag with the compact, I also altered Nicole Heady's criss-cross box to make it small enough so that the compacts fit in it nicely...I even included a matching 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 card! I think they turned out SO cute! I used the new East Coast Prep paper (so bright and cheery!) and the Think Happy Thoughts stamp set. (I resisted that stamp set so long....but it really is NICE for making quick little cards and has a good selection of words!)

Making these little 3D items is one of the major reasons I got hooked on stamping and paper crafting. I love cards, but making little presents like this is so much fun..... Hmmm, I have one more left...who should I give it to? Maybe the NEXT recruit who signs up with me? lol!

I've been spending the weekend getting my paperwork inputted into a spreadsheet for taxes. Almost done. Tonight we are off to a Superbowl party at friends...we've been going to their house for the game at least 10 years. Our boys grew up together!

Stay warm,
Connie

Sale-A-Bration Time...and I'm CELEBRATING!

It's Sale-A-Bration time again at Stampin' Up! and free product is what it's all about! Every year Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses, and new demonstrators the opportunity to earn fantastic, FREE, limited-edition stamp sets they'll enjoy for years to come.

Customers: When you spend $50 on Stampin' Up! merchandise, you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward (your choice of 5 stamp sets or package of rub-ons). There's no limit-for every $50 you spend, you can select another free Sale-A-Bration reward!

Hostesses: When you host a workshop of at least $300 (before tax and shipping), you'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration reward in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits!

New Demonstrators: During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose ANY stamp set--a value of up to $47.95--from the Spring-Summer 2008 Collection ... FREE! Plus, new demonstrator recruits get 20 percent off the Demonstrator Starter Kit--over $350 of Stampin' Up! products and business supplies for only $159! It is the BEST time to sign up! Also, as a gift from me...when you qualify as a demonstrator, you'll earn the wonderful Fushion Flower Kit...another $14.95 value FREE from me!

The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts on February 1 and runs through March 17, so don't miss your chance to earn free products or take advantage of becoming a demonstrator yourself! You can view the Sale-A-Bration brochure online HERE and then email me to place your order!

Blogger's Challenge Week #32

Today's challenge was to recreate the layout of the card on the cover of the recent Sale-A-Bration mini catalog (the Happy Birthday card). Right now, Always, is my favorite set from the new catalog. It is very different than anything else I own, and I guess that is why it appeals to me. I've had it out the past couple days working on several different things.

I love the heart...it is very elegant looking, which put me in mind of black & white being elegant. So...I created a Valentine's Day card (for my hubby) with black glittery hearts (I mixed Black EP with Dazzling Diamonds), dark Basic Grey, Black and white. I think it turned out striking! Notice the little rhinestone flower I placed in one of the flowers on the top heart. Also, the Grey taffeta ribbon adds another touch of elegance. The scallops along the side I made using the 1 3/8" circle punch, then punching around it with the Scallop Circle punch...cutting it and straightening the scallops out to form a line. I think Patty Bennett was the first one to come up with this fantastic idea!

On a personal note, I'm excited because my son, Adam, is home for a couple days. He just escaped the blizzard in the Wisconsin area earlier in the week. My parents also made it home safely from their trip to Florida (why did they want to come back to Ohio weather???)

Have a great weekend!

Connie