Get Your Peanuts

 

When I see all the cool products included in the World Spectacular Suite I just can't help but remember going to the fair grounds and the circus when I was little.  Today, I still love to play skee ball, ride the Giant Dipper at the Boardwalk, and eat a piping hot corn dog.  I also love this collection--the style is totally me.  This sketch challenge from Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition is PERFECTLY suited for the World Spectacular Suite.  You can see all the designers take on this sketch over at Create with Connie and Mary.

SU!pplies:

Stamps - Blue Ribbon

Inks - Island Indigo, Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake (for sponging)

Papers - Crumb Cake Card Stock, World Spectacular DSP

Accessories - 2 3/8" Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

CCMC 208 - Grey Red Pie

It has been a while since I designed a card which incorporates the "Gallon Quart Ounce" rule, so with this warm color palette I decided to go for it.  I added lots of the Basic Grey (gallon) with the Accent Lable cut from Twitterpated DSP, a little Real Red (quart) with the floral image from Raining Flowers, and just a teeny bit of Pumpkin Pie (ounce) with the button.  I even used the rule for the greeting.  I LOVE this new greeting set called From the Heart--it's a fabulous set that has a great throw back feel.

Be sure to see all the cards over at Create with Connie and Mary for this color challenge.  Once you check them out, stamp your own project using these colors, and then upload it to their site.

We are in week 2 of the Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog 2012 edition. All this week we have been featuring the "Big Event!"  You don’t want to miss it!  Check out the Create with Connie and Mary site for more information how to subscribe and see all the project goodness.

Inspired by a Quilt

These quilts and/or the theme of quilting are great inspiration for a stamping project.  Go check out the #124 Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge to be blown away.  For my card I was drawn to the upper right quilt in the inspiration photo.  What's super cool about my card is that the linen thread knots were tied just like a quilt.  I actually used a big needle to "tie" my quilted card panel.  The faux stitching lines are the result of the the Postage Punch.  How easy and effective is that?

All Supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Postage Due, From the Heart

Inks - Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, Pool Party, and Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Markers

Papers - Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit, and Cajun Craze Card Stocks

Accessories - Postage, Decorative Label, and Boho Blossoms Punches, Linen Thread, and Mini Silver Brads

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/06/inspired-by-quilt.html

CCMC NC1 Color Challenge

The Comfort Cafe DSP from the new Stampin' Up! Catalog has the most beautiful color palette of papers.  I love the colors and the mix of prints--they are totally IN-SPIR-ING! 

Today at Create With Connie and Mary we have a color challenge taken directly from the Comfort Cafe DSP which blends into a rich and warm palette.  Are you a subscriber to the Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition?  If you said no, it's not too late.  Just become a subscriber to have access to five weeks of daily tutorials--Click right here for the details.  Do click over to the site to see this week's Design Team cards for this challenge.

All Supplies from Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Betsy's Blossoms, Itty Bitty Banners

Inks - Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede, and Baja Breeze Inks

Papers - Comfort Cafe DSP, Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede, and Whisper White Card Stocks

Accessories - Bird Builder Punch, Bitty Banner and Apothecary Accent Framelits, Paper Daisies, Designer Buttons, Neutrals Brads, Victoria Crochet Ribbon

Diagonal Sketch

Check out this totally cool sketch challenge at Create with Connie and Mary.  I am thrilled with how this card came together.  My card base is a 4.25" x 11" piece of Baja Breeze card stock top folded in half.  For the focal layer I started with a Whisper White panel and then added elements from the new Pinwheels on Parade Simply Scrappin' kit.  In keeping with the sketch I stamped my greeting in the lower right corner.  I used the From the Heart stamp set which I inked up with Midnight Muse, Riding Hood Red, and Baja Breeze markers.  Once I stamped the image I used the fine tip of a Summer Starfruit marker to scribble in the heart.

I really like working with Simply Scrappin' kits as there are lots of pieces to mix and match with Designer Papers and Card Stocks.  I have to tell you a secret...I have used this kit for a really fun project that you can only see on the Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition.  It's not too late to subscribe.  Join us for a FIVE week series that includes exclusive challenges and THIRTY step-by-step full color tutorials.  For $29.95 that's an awesome deal!

 

Try a Pleat Technique?

There is fun stuff happening over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  We are adding paper pleating to our projects.  Pop over and check out all the good stuff.  It's a fun way to add great dimension and interest to your cards and such.  Try it for yourself and join the challenge.

I do have a tutorial for paper pleating from last year--click here.

For my card I used one of my very favorite new stamp sets from Stampin' Up! called Postage Due mixed with the Comfort Cafe DSP.  I used my Simply Scored to pleat my paper.  I scored at 1", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2", and so on across a strip of 12" x 1 1/2".  I do such a large strip so I can pleat and then center and size to exactly what I what.  For the large collage stamp image I used markers to ink everything up.  I know it's one of the most basic techniques, but using brush markers on stamps is my go to number one thing to do.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Postage Due, From the Heart

Inks - Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, & Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Markers

Papers - Comfort Cafe DSP, Very Vanilla, Summer Starfruit, & Midnight Muse Card Stocks

Accessories - 1" Sqaure, Scallop Border, & Postage Punched, Basic Pearls

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/06/try-pleat-technique.html

Apothecary Belly Band

My candy bar favor has been wrapped with a belly band made with the new Apothecary Accent Framelits and the Patterned Party stamp set.  I folded a piece of card stock in half and then ran it through the Big Shot being sure to position the fold inside the framelit.  I love the top and all the ribbon scraps.  My colors are Baja Breeze, Primrose Petals, and Daffodil Delight.  Cute don't you think?

Today is the last day of the Early Bird Savings and the Project Previews over at Create with Connie and Mary.  Jump over to their site and see the fabulous project designed by Connie Babbert.  You can download her tutorial for FREE.  Go right now--you'll love it!

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Gorgeous Preview w/ Blog Candy!

Welcome to my blog! 

Today is my preview day for Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition.  My preview project is totally gorgeous and showcases many new products from the Stampin' Up! 2012-13 Catalog.  But, before I get into the details I have to ask, "Do you want a chance to win a FREE subscription to Create with Connie and Mary?"  If you do, just leave a comment on my blog today and be entered to win--it's that easy. 

I call my GORGEOUS project the Everything Eleanor Mini Book.  It's a never before seen hand-made mini book, designed by me, perfect for adding photos and then giving as a gift or for keeping for yourself.

I have used a bunch of new accessories from the brand new SU! Catalog.  But the two stars of my mini book project are the Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die and the Everything Eleanor stamp set.  For a full color step by step tutorial click over to Create with Connie and Mary to download the file.  You will find even more great stuff there.  All of the preview projects from this week are there.  They are free and give you a perfect idea of what you get with a subscription to the New Catalog Edition series.  Go and have some fun.

BLOG CANDY ALERT!  Don't forget to leave a comment on my blog today to be entered to win a FREE subscription to the New Catalog Edition of Create with Connie and Mary.  Subscribe today for the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL of $24.95 US! That's $5 off the regular 5 week subscription price of $29.95!  Hurry, you need to sign up now! Only our subscribers will get to see five weeks of fabulous projects…no more sneak peeks after tomorrow.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Stamps : Everything Eleanor, Elements of Style, Fabulous Phrases

Inks: Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit, Cajun Craze, & Pool Party Classic Inks, Versamark

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit, Cajun Craze, Pool Party, & Very Vanilla 

Accessories: Comfort Café DSP, Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die, Apothecary Accent & Bitty Banners Framelits, Basic Rhinestones, Natural Designer Buttons, Victoria Crochet Ribbon, Scallop Oval & Itty Bitty Punches, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Dazzling Diamonds, Two-Way Glue Pen, Bone Folder

Other: Cardboard SU! shipping box, packing tape

A Color Challege for Create with Connie and Mary

Today is a fun fun day over at Create with Connie and Mary.  As part of an INCREDIBLE PREVIEW WEEK for Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition 2012 we are having a SCAVENGER HUNT.  The lucky winner who gets ALL THE ANSWERS RIGHT will win the blog candy for today!  You will have to go to Create with Connie and Mary though to find out how to join the fun!  

The Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition 2012 is a FABULOUS Five week session which will feature items from
out amazing new catalog!

Right now we are having our early bird special so you can sign up for $24.95…that $5 off the regular subscription price of $29.95…30 FANTASTIC ideas that you can use ALL YEAR LONG with your new catalog!  You don’t want to miss it!  Check out the Create with Connie and Mary site for more information and to see which member of our design team is sharing an AMAZING project and offering BLOG CANDY!

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Stamps - From the Heart

Inks - Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, and Crumb Cake

Papers - Whisper White and Crumb Cake Card Stocks, World Spectacular DSP

Accessories - Vintage Faceted Buttons, Scallop Circle Punch, Linen Thread, Antique Brad, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Preview Day 4 and a Pocket Card

How about a pocket styled card for someone special?  I started with an open end envelope and layered all kinds of cuteness on top.  For the inside I made a giant tag.  I put this card together a while back using a Simply Scrappin' Kit called Tea Time.  When the new Stampin' Up! Catalog came out I totally checked out the newest kits.  I did order the Pinwheels on Parade kit and I have a project I am working on for Create with Connie and Mary that you can see if you join and become a subscriber.

I love these kits because you get TEXTURED card stock, Designer Series Papers, and tons of sticky embellishments.  For my pocket card I tucked a super sweet scalloped paper ribbon under a strip of Pool Party Seam Binding and I also used a couple scalloped ovals from the kit.  I stamped the greeting and the tree which I embossed with white EP.  Look close at all the pearls.  I got a little crazy.

Today Debbie Henderson over at Debbie's Designs has a super cool project for you...she is also giving away some blog candy! Make sure you stop by and leave a comment on her post for an entry to win a free subscription to the New Catalog Edition as well.

Don't forget that the Early Bird Special is still going on through June 16. If you sign up now it's only $24.95 for 30 exclusive projects! That's a great deal so click on over to Create with Connie and Mary and get signed up.

Preview Day 3 and Scraps

"Scraps on my table" this seems to be a regular thing for me.  I guess that makes sense since I love leftovers from a yummy dinner, why not stamp scraps?  For me this usually means developing a card which is totally organic and not predesigned in my mind.  I just let the bits and pieces come together in their own way.  The only thing I had to get out for this card was the greeting from Friendly Phrases.  I inked it up in Not Quite Navy and Poppy Parade (a retired color that I grew to love since SAB).

I would be a bad stampin' friend if I didn't let you all know that today is Day Three of the Preview Week at Create with Connie and Mary.  Today's holiday project card is by the very talented Melissa Davies.  Right now click over to Create with Connie and Mary to see her fabulous design and learn where to enter to win blog candy.  Have fun and enjoy your day paper craftin'.

All SUpplies from SU!

Stamps - Friendly Phrases

Inks - Poppy Parade and Not Quite Navy Markers, Sahara Sand Classic Pad

Papers - Sahara Sand, Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy, Pool Party, and Very Vanilla Card Stocks,

First Edition and Everyday Enchantment DSP

Accessories - Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Triple Blossom Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack

Smiles, Elizabeth

Pretty Bird

The #122 theme challenge for this week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments is to showcase a peacock or bird.  Not having a SU! peacock image I went with the new bird from Betsy's Blossoms.  This card is a no fuss clean and simple card which features several images from Betsy's Blossoms and a few pieces of Comfort Cafe DSP.

I started with a Soft Suede card stock panel which I stamped a few leaves in Soft Suede.  On Very Vanilla I stamped with large circular blossom image with Summer Starfruit and Soft Suede.  I punched out the image using the 2 1/2" Circle Punch.  The Summer Starfruit flower is punched with the 1" Circle Punch and the bird was "fussy cut."  For the "for you" greeting I used the Bitty Banners Framelits--so cool.  The mini garland is circles folded in half over a piece of Early Espresso Bakers Twine.

Bright Blossoms - Preview - Blog Candy

DAY 2! of the Preview Week at Create with Connie and Mary is TODAY!  Our Design Team Member, Carrie Sampsel has a really useful FREE Tutorial for you today!  And as a reminder, the rest of the Design Team will be celebrating with FREE Tutorials ALL THIS WEEK!  If that isn't enough…you have a chance to win one of SEVEN  BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAYS!  Click over to the Create with Connie and Mary site to see Carrie's project and free tutorial then see where to go to enter to win blog candy.

How about a Bright Blossoms and Summer Smooches card to get your day going?  This card is chuck full of color blocking and brush marker inking with lots of detail punching.  Enjoy!

I should have taken a picture of the inside as is totally adorable with lots more stamping and punching.  What was I thinkin'?  Don't forget to go check out the Preview Project and FREE tutorial at Create with Connie and Mary--you'll love it!

Preview Day One - Blog Candy Alert

Important:  Keep reading, blog candy is listed below.

Today is the first day of previews for the Create With Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition 2012.  This edition is something to celebrate because ALL the projects shared in this edition will be good for the whole catalog year!   

So...what do you need to know about Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition 2012?  We're glad you asked!

• Our Preview Week is this week, June 10th through June 16th.  During this time the fabulous design team will be sharing with you special projects to show you what Create with Connie and Mary is all about!  These preview projects are FREE and give you a taste of what the normal full tutorials are like that we do for all of our projects!  And, during Preview Week each member of the Design Team will be offering BLOG CANDY!  Visit the Connie and Mary site daily to learn who has blog candy each day.
• The New Catalog Edition 2012 will run for 5 weeks starting Sunday, June 17th and ending Saturday, July 21st.
• What do you get for your subscription?  You will get 6 GREAT projects EACH week with a FULL DOWNLOADABLE TUTORIAL (and templates if appropriate) for EACH project.   That's a total of 30 fabulous projects with PHOTO directions!
• You get the opportunity to participate in our weekly challenges and have your name entered into our drawing for two FREE subscriptions to the NEXT edition of Create with Connie and Mary!  Our Saturday challenges are shared on our personal blogs for everyone to see, but only subscribers can win our drawings!  Also, our PRIZE PATROL drawing will award $75 gift certificates to TWO lucky subscribers...all you need to do is JOIN!
• ALL of our projects are EXCLUSIVE to Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog Edition 2012.  You will NOT see the design team posting previews of the projects on their blogs or any public gallery.  The ONLY way to see the projects is to become a subscriber!

So don't miss out...subscribe today for only the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL of  $24.95 US! That's $5 off the regular 5 week subscription price of $29.95!

NICE Notecard

I just love this bright and happy notecard I received from my upline Tami W.  She used the new stamp set called Layered Labels and the Apothecary Accents Framelits.  Speaking of Apothecary Accents Framelits I have to tell you a secret.  I have used the Framelits and a few other new cool products for an AMAZING project which I will share next Friday, June 15th.  Be back for the project and full color tutorial.  You will not want to miss that.

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

CCMC205

There is a cool sketch challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!  You should play along--it's fun!  Also the New Catalog Edition of Create with Connie and Mary is coming soon to a computer near you.  The Create with Connie and Mary New Catalog 2012 Edition begins June 17th with a Preview week starting this Sunday.  There is an Early Bird price offer that will be ending soon!  You don't want to miss it.  You'll get over 30 step-by-step photo tutorials for only $24.95 US…less than $1 each…and a savings right now of $5 off the regular $29.95 US price!

Here is the sketch challenge

And here is my card.  My focal panel is larger, but I had to accommodate the DSP.  The "dad" stamp is from Family Reunion.

I used the new World Spectacular DSP and Midnight Muse Ribbon

Happy craftin,