CCMC HOL4

Welcome to my blog and happy Saturday!  With it being Saturday that means it is time for a challenge over Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition.  Today's challenge is a sketch which you see to the right.  I think it is an easy one and the minute I saw is I had visions of what I wanted to do.  I used a couple images from the Joyous Celebrations stamp set and then added a few details to finish it all up.  My favorite touch is the row of Basic Rhinestones for the ornament "hook."

 

There are two weeks left of the Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary, but there is still plenty of time to see all five weeks worth projects. 

For $29.95 US you will have access to 5 weeks of fantastic exclusive projects...over 30 step-by-step PHOTO tutorials!  Once you join, you will see the projects we shared so far and still be able to enjoy the rest of our daily releases! 

Color Challenge - CCMC 220

This is one of my most very favorite color combinations: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, and Cherry Cobbler.  Typically I would gravitate toward a snowman card with this color combo, but I thought I would push myself to do something different.  The perfect pack of DSP for this color challenge is Twitterpated.  Since there is a matching Designer Series Fabric in Twitterpated I pulled that out too.  Since I like making these pom pom flowers I made one to embellish my card.

A few more notes about the materials used include: the Lacy Brocade TIEF, Seasonal Sayings stamp set, Basic Rhinestones, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Neutrals Buttons, Sanding Block, with the Cherry Cobbler and Baja Breeze Stampin' Write Markers.

This totally cool color challenge is being hosted by the awesome Create with Connie and Mary site.  Click on over and see what fabulous cards the design team has whipped up.  Then go make a project with these colors and add you link to the site.

I want to mention that the Holiday Edition Design team has been busy creating winter and Christmas projects with step-by-step tutorials.  There are two weeks left, but still plenty of time to see all five weeks worth projects.  

For $29.95 US you will have access to 5 weeks of fantastic exclusive projects...over 30 step-by-step PHOTO tutorials!  Once you join, you will see the projects we shared so far and still be able to enjoy the rest of our daily releases! 

Don't delay...JOIN TODAY!

Scrunchy Scraps

A while back I had some scraps on my table that I neglected for a few days.  I pushed them around, picked them up, tossed them aside, and put them through a bit of abuse.  Why didn't I just throw them away?  They were the scallop edges from the Rosette Bigz XL Die!  Those make great embellishments so I held on to them.  

Since they were getting banged up I decided to ruffle and crinkle them a bit more and add them to a colorful Halloween card.  Of course Toxic Treats was on hand so I stamped my favorite image from the set on a piece of Whisper White card stock.  The image had leftover black ink on it so I sponged a bit of Platinum Shimmer Paint here and there to create some interest.  I cropped the image with the coordinating Apothecary Framelit, sponged Razzleberry, Pumpkin, and Limeade ink, and then started layering away.

I have combined scraps of Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP with Floral District DSP to match my focal point witch.  Since my card was taking on a more colorful look I even added a Blossom Builder (Occasions 2012 Catalog) flower to finish it all up.

Check out the Great Pumpkin Blog Hop and see what paper crafters have been busy whipping up this week.

Blue Glass Inspiration

Have you ever created a card or scrapbook page using a photograph as a motivator to help you design something new and fresh?  The beauty of inspiration challenges is the diversity of how/what everybody sees and how they translate that to crafting.

I saw the color first and love aqua tones especially with white.  The second thing I saw was the nine block pattern which would be perfect for an 8 1/2" x 11" page layout.  But, in the end I went WAY literal with this one.  I decorated one of my Mason jars of homemade jam.  Last month I put up 60 pints of pear jam and the jars need a bit of dressing up to be ready to give away as a gift this upcoming season.

I snip and ripped a square of Orchard Harvest Designer Series Fabric and layered it under the Mason jar ring.  A layered "homemade Yum" tag brings the presentation together.  The "Yum" image comes from the Friendship Preserves stamp set.  I added Dazzling Details to the word "Yum" for extra panache.

Be sure to see how all the designers at Hand Stamped Sentiments interpreted the challenge.  Then you go and stamp up something amazing and post it on the site.

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/09/blue-glass-inspiration.html

A Festive Favor - CCMC HOL3

It has been another fabulous week of great projects and tutorials at Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition.  This past week we designed and featured the kits in the Holiday Seasons Catalog.  I used the Noel Notes to make a very sweet home holiday decor piece.  If you want to see it, it's not too late to join.  All the tutorials are available to you for many months.  I can't say it enough it's never too late to join.

The challenge for today is to make a favor using any of the kits from the Holiday Seasons Catalog.  I decided to make an ornament and package it in one of the Season of Sweets Designer gusseted treat envelopes.  The kit is ideal for cookies as it comes with cello bags and two sheets of designer card stock stickers.  I have added a Tiny Tag greeting in the center of the Silver Glimmer paper snowflake.  To cut that snowflake I used the new Snow Flurry Bigz Die.

Inside I made a simple medallion ornament from the Rosette Bigz XL Die.  The center is embellished with a Greetings of the Season Apothecary Accent label and a scallop circle punched from Silver Glimmer Paper. 

Sparkling Ornaments - CCMC 219

This week there is another eye catching sketch challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.  I don't often make square cards because they cost more to send in the mail and they sometimes can be too symmetrically balanced.  However, this sketch is totally visually balanced while being asymmetrical which, for me, makes it very appealing.

For my card I inked up the Heart of Christmas stamp with Riding Hood Red, Gumball Green, and Pool Party Stampin' Write Markers and stamped on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock.  I cut the greeting out using the largest framelit from the Apothecary Accents set.  On scraps of Riding Hood Red and Pool Party I stamped a couple of the images from the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set with Versamark ink.  I then used Heat and Stick Powder to apply the perfect coat of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  To complete the sketch I included a couple bands of ribbon and some Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine to "hang" the ornaments.

I have to share that the Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition 2012 Design Team have been busy sharing incredible projects for the fall and winter.  But, there is only one way to enjoy the projects and that's to become a subscriber.  For $29.95 you will have access to all the projects shared so far and then can enjoy the daily releases from now until the end.

Don't delay...JOIN TODAY!!!

Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition 2012

Two Options Same Supplies

I had several workshops these past few weeks which were a blast.  One group had requested a party favor so I said "no problem we'll do something simple yet clever."  However, I didn't want to change up the supplies for each class so I challenged myself to use the same supplies from my card to make a cool treat.  

To make the treat holder we scored the Pumpkin Pie card stock at 5", 5 1/2", and 6" and folded the scorelines back and forth (it looked like a funky "W" when we were finished).  Then with the folds placed inside the cutting edge of the Top Note Bigz Die we ran the piece through the Big Shot.  One more run through the Big Shot to add the Spider Web embossing and the holder was ready for decorating.

I hope you are brewing up some ideas and making fun goodies for Halloween.  Show off your tricks and treats on Terry's Great Pumpkin Blog Hop.

Crayon Rubbed Embossing

What a fun, fun technique challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week.  Bust out your crayons and an embossing folder for a fun and unique technique to create one of a kind papers. 

For this challenge card I used the new Woodgrain TIEF from the Holiday Seasons Catalog along with the Autumn Accents Bigz Die.  To bring it all together I added a crinkly ruffle of First Edition DSP, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, a Petite Pair greeting, and a scrap of Victoria Crochet Ribbon.

For this technique:

1.  Cut off the wrapper on a white crayon

2.  Place a piece of white glossy paper glossy side up on a textured impressions embossing folder (TIEF) and rub with the crayon.

3.  Use a brayer or sponge to add ink to the glossy paper and watch magic happen.

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/09/crayon-rubbed-embossing.html 

The Autumn Leaves - CCMC HOL2

This past week over at the Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary we have featured the fall stamp sets, papers, and accessories in the Holiday Season Catalog.  Wow, they have all been gorgeous and rich with color and style.  I have said it before "it's never too late to join and you too can see all the projects and tutorials."  We have finished two weeks with three more to go--that's 30 tutorials all geared to the upcoming holidays.

Today we have a BEAUTIFUL color combo challenge.  Pop over to Create with Connie and Mary and see what the designers have created incorporating More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, and Raspberry Ripple.  I have included a panel of Orchard Harvest DSP on an Early Espresso base for my card's background.  I ran it through the Framed Tulips TIEF and then gave it a quick sanding.  For my focal point I layered up the "Hello" greeting from Friendship Preserves with the Window Frames Collection Framelits.  Every fall card needs some crinkly leaves strung in a garland--so that's what I added to finish up this festive cutie.

A close up look of the Autumn Accents garland of leaves.

Sounds Like an Order - CCMC218

When you abbreviate the color combination for the weekly Create with Connie and Mary challenge it sounds like something you might order at Jamba Juice--a Tangerine, Razzleberry Limeade smoothie!

For my card I went to the Orchard Harvest DSP for the pops of color needed to bring this challenge together.  I stamped the butterflies from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set using Early Espresso ink on a scrap of Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, and Lucky Limeade.  Then I easily cropped them using the awesome coordinating butterfly punch.  The greeting on the third color panel is from Friendly Phrases, also stamped with Early Espresso.  I just love the buttons--they are my favorite detail.

 

Cool Duel Fold Reprise

How about another Cool Duel Fold card?  This one is created exactly like my mummy card seen here.  I have just changed up the image to Frankenstein and have added a few curls of card stock and DSP strips to the bow!

 
I am playing along again with this week's Great Pumpkin Blog Hop.  You too can join along.  Just link up your Halloween project and add the code to your blog.

Alphabet Challenge

Hi folks!  The theme for this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments is alphabets.  I think it's fun to design a card with alphabet stamps and dies.  For this card I used both.  I used the Morning Post stamp set and the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Dies.  I also used the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die to create the bat.  To make the bat, first cut a butterfly and then use a 3/4" circle punch to take bites (no pun intended) out of the wings.  With a few googlie eyes and some quick and simple stampin' with the every popular Wicked Cool stamp set my card was done.

Be sure to pop over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to check out what all of the designers have created this week with alphabets.

http://seeinginkspots.blogspot.com/2012/09/alphabet-challenge.html

Googlie Eyes - CCMC HOL1

It's the first of our Saturday challenges over at the Holiday Edition of Create with Connie and Mary.  This week there is a super cool sketch and the minute I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I saw a fun shaker card at Convention complete with wandering googlie eyes, so I decided to make one of may very own.  I have used the Shaker Frames Dimensionals to perfectly encircle the googlies.  

Love the Witch - CCMC 217

I said it before and I'll say it again "my favorite types of challenges are sketch challenges."  They take me out of my typical cutting and layering patterns and push me outside my comfort zone.  I decided to pull out one of my all time favorite stamp sets, Greeting Card Kids, and do some simple painting.  I used an Aqua Painter and ink from squeezed ink pads for coloring my focal panel.  The "Trick or Treat" greeting is from Toxic Treats, a stamp set from the Holiday Seasons Catalog.  This week the subscribers at Create with Connie and Mary are receiving six Halloween themed tutorials.  (Next week it's all about Thanksgiving and Fall).  In total there are five weeks of daily tutorials.  It's never too late to join in the fun.

Be sure to check out all the designs featuring this layout at Create with Connie and Mary.  Be inspired and stamp up a card then add it to the site.  It's challenge #217.