My Preview Day is TODAY and Blog Candy!

Today I am totally jazzed to share that I will again be designing for the 2012 Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary!  I have a bunch of pretty cool ideas for this Edition that I can't wait to share.  Also I have to say that there are some amazingly talented designers with some incredible projects planned, so be sure to head on over and subscribe!

Go to Create with Connie and Mary to download my FREE step-by-step color tutorial of my preview project -- Affection Collection Squash Fold Album made from the Sealed with Love Simply Sent kit. This project is the perfect mini album for preserving memories of a special event, for writing sweet messages to that certain someone, or for packaging gift cards, that's what I have included inside mine.  All together it's ready for one of my nieces.  Complete with an I Tunes, Cheesecake Factory, Sephora, and Coldstone gift card--just what every 16 year old would want!

BLOG CANDY NEWS
Leave me a comment today to be entered to win a FREE subscription to the 2012 Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary.  I will randomly select one of the comments from today as a winner!  There are just two more days to subscribe for the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL of $24.95 US! That's $5 off the regular five-week subscription price of $29.95!  Hurry, you need to sign up now! Only our subscribers will get to see the next five weeks of incredible projects!

Blog Hoppin' Scavenger Hunt

How about this totally cool color combo from Create with Connie and Mary?  Seriously I love it.  Another thing I love is a good Simply Scrappin' Kit and the elements on my card today are from the Razzleberry Splash kit.  I only have a few bits and pieces left from the jam packed fabulous kit, but enough to make a few more cards.  I do have to share that I started with pre-inking my Framed Tulips TIEF.  I have said it before that I am nutty for pre-inking--I just like the look (a lot).

Check out the Flourish Frame--they are gorgeous!

Want to see fabulous fall and winter projects and learn exactly to make them?  You should become a subscriber to Create with Connie and Mary.  It's a fabulous subscription series which includes five weeks of holiday tutorials and challenges.  I should also mention my word of the day is subscription.  And, I can't say it enough that this subscription is going to be awesome.  Click on over to Create with Connie and Mary to learn more about our scavenger hunt and win BLOG CANDY.

LOVE

I cased one of my own layouts.  See the original here.

I have another swap card to share today.  I mentioned in an earlier post about a swap group that I am a part of.  There are seven of us in the group from all over the US.  It's so much fun to get a puffy envelope in the mail because I know it's a pack of cards!

For this card are SU!pplies are from Stampin' Up!

• Card Base: Crumb Cake
• Stamps: Morning Post
• Inks: Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red
• Accessories: Postage Stamp Punch, 1" Square Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Basic Pearls, Fan Fair DSP, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

Be sure to pop over to Create with Connie and Mary as today there is another great fall project idea and a blog candy offer!  Join the Holiday Edition this week and SAVE $.

The "L" and the "E" are popped up for a bit of added dimension!

Puffy Poof Pom Pom Flower

The minute I saw this Pom Pom challenge for Hand Stamped Sentiments I knew what I wanted to do.  I had had several customers ask how to make these fabulous puffy flowers on a couple cards I had on display that my friend Nancy had made.  So, it was time to dive in a take a try at making these poofs of fun.  They are super SUPER simple to make but take just a bit of time, not a lot, just a little more than a punched and scrunched flower.  Nancy has an easy tutorial here, and that is exactly how I made mine.

Card base: Ivory Naturals

TIEF: Vintage Wallpaper

DSP: Comfort Cafe

Designer Fabric: Comfort Cafe

Stamps: Seasonal Sayings

Inks: Summer Starfruit, Cajun Craze, Midnight Muse Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Linen Thread, Jumbo Pearls, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Fancy Flower Punch

Enjoy!

Happy craftin', Elizabeth

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/08/puffy-poof-pom-pom-flower.html

Want to see who will be designing for the latest edition of Create with Connie and Mary?  Pop on over and check out the fun!

Postage Due + Preview + Blog Candy = Awesomeness

DAY 2! of the Preview Week at Create with Connie and Mary is TODAY!  One of our Design Team Members has a totally awesome FREE step by step full color 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 SIX BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAYS!  Click over to the Create with Connie and Mary site to see today's project and free tutorial then see where to go to enter to win blog candy. 

 Today I want to share a card with you that I made for a swap group of which I'm a part.  We are a given a stamp set and suite that we have to design four full cards for.  I had the Fan Fair Suite and the Postage Due and Morning Post stamp sets.  This one uses the large background stamp and one of the postage stamp images from the Postage Due set.  This card came together rather quick thanks to a couple punches, a framelit, and an embossing folder.  The colors I have used were totally inspired by the Fan Fair DSP.  I hope you like it.

Don't forget to go to Create with Connie and Mary to get your FREE tutorial and learn where to enter to win BLOG CANDY!

Preview Starts Today

I have used the Everything Eleanor stamp set, Apothecary Accent Framelits, and the Comfort Cafe DSP for my card today.  My favorite detail on this card is the use of the largest Apothecary Accent Framelit.  I cut it in half and tucked each piece behind the Summer Starfruit panel, easy peasy.  I think this card has a great "welcome to fall" look.  Speaking of fall I want to share that the designers over at Create with Connie and Mary are getting their projects ready for a brand new Holiday Edition you will not want to miss.  

It's time for Early Bird SAVINGS! Over at Create with Connie and Mary for their Holiday Edition 2012!  You'll totally love this five week session that will feature items from the Holiday Seasons Stampin' Up! Catalog…these projects can be used ALL FALL AND WINTER long!  Right now we are having our Early Bird Special so you can sign up for $24.95…that is $5 off the regular subscription price of $29.95 and includes 30 step-by-step tutorials which is less than $1 each!  Don't miss out!  Check out the Create with Connie and Mary site for more information and to see who is today's FABULOUS Guest Designer!

You can click here to see the first and very talented guest designer for the series and learn more about BLOG CANDY.  I'll give you a hint, her initials are MB.

A close up of the detail cut layered flower with a dusting of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.

A BIG Hit!

The Googlie Ghouls party favors were a huge hit at the Santa Clara Scrapbook Expo.  Who would have thought?  We had lots and lots to see and be inspired by set up on display.  And of all things to be talked about all day long, both days, were these adorable party favor treat bags.  I think what was so eye appealing, which is a bit tricky to see, is that each of the bags were embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Embossing Folder.  What I think makes them extra special and fun are the additional 1" x 8" cello bags with toppers inserted into the glassine bags.  They bobbled and leaned in any old direction and just added to the spirit of the Halloween flavor.

Play along and check out all the fun Halloween projects on the Great Pumpkin Blog Hop.

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

Scaringbone

Hello and welcome to today's post. The #132 technique challenge this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments is called herringbone. I have used scraps from the Houndstooth and Scaringbone DSP to put my one of a kind background together. When I was finished making my piece of haringbone paper I cut it out using one of the Apothecary Label Framelits. I love how crazy and festive it looks for a cool Halloween look--and it was all scraps! 

Happy craftin, Elizabeth 

 http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/08/scaringbone.html

Cool Duel Fold

Happy Halloween Craft Making!

We made this cute mummy card this past week at my Technique Time! stamp class.  The card base is 4 1/4" x 11".  Fold at 4 1/4" and 8 1/2" then punch on the top fold.  How easy is that?  Check out more fun Halloween projects on the Great Pumpkin Blog Hop.

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

It's Coming! The Holiday Edition is Coming!

Yes, that is right. The Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary is on it's way. The preview week starts the end of August and the subscription series begins on September 2nd.  Join now and save money. 

I know it's August, but now is the time to get out your craft supplies to start whipping up all your holiday cards, tags, decorations, ornaments, and goodies galore. I have already begun with my first Christmas card of the year. I used an awesome new stamp set in the Holiday Seasons Catalog called Seasonal Sayings. It has five pieces that are perfect for the fall and winter holidays. Two of the stamps are great for lots more. Check it out. I have used the Be of Good Cheer DSP and the largest Apothecary Accents Framelit to jazz up my card. 

Vintage Warms My Heart

Was I excited when I saw the vintage theme challenge for this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  If you know me you know that I love anything vintage and nostalgic.  Any chance I get to distress papers, sponge inks in all kinds of cool layers, and add accents of pearls or crinkled ribbons I get super jazzed.

For this card I used a color combination which is totally out of my typical selection, but was motivated by the pack of Fan Fair DSP.  The color palette includes More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Island Indigo, and Pink Pirouette.  I think my favorite touch is the ink that is in all the crevasses of the embossed texture.  I also like the Apothecary Accents behind the layered butterfly.

Happy craftin', Elizabeth

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/08/vintage-warms-my-heart.html

A Simple Halloween Card

I thought I would share a quick and simple card that was in our booth at the Santa Clara Scrapbook Expo.  Yes, this past week we had another great time sharing all kinds of stamp projects in our (fabulous) booth at the Santa Clara Scrapbook Expo.  I will share lots more pictures in the next few days, but for now I want to jump in the fun before the week ends for the Great Pumpkin blog hop.

For this card I used the Toxic Treats stamp set and the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP.   I finished it with a spritz of silver smooch paint which is my favorite part.  Be sure to check out all the cool entries in the blog hop.

Happy craftin, Elizabeth

In Color Challenge

This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments the color challenge, #130, includes all the new In Colors from Stampin' Up!  Now, two of the colors have moved right on up to the top of my favorites list, but to mix them with the other three this was quite the challenge for me.  I went for a clean layered look which was inspired by a sample in the Stampin' Success magazine.  This card is sweet and mini.  It's only 3" wide by 4 1/4" tall.  The stamp image comes from Friendship Preserves, a brand new set in the Holiday Seasons Catalog.

Can you guess my favorite two new In Colors?

Happy paper craftin, Elizabeth

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/08/in-color-challenge.html

Toxic Treats

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Yes, it is because I can start making Halloween things.  This is card looks complicated but I promise it came together quick and easy thanks to the patterned paper, the stamp images, and framelits.


Both images come from a new stamp set in the Holiday Seasons Catalog called Toxic Treats.  The main witch image is designed to perfectly fit inside one of the Apothecary Label Framelits.  I am lovin' the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP.  It totally reminds me of clothing from the Partridge Family and The Brady Bunch. Can't you just picture Carol Day wearing an "A" line skirt with a ruffled shirt playing the tambourine?

Join me and a bunch of other Halloween enthusiasts as we craft our way to October 31st in a blog hop!


Happy craftin, Elizabeth