It's the Occasions Create with Connie and Mary Challenge

What does the Occasions Create with Connie and Mary mean? Create with Connie and Mary is a blog with challenges but whenever the new mini comes out they do special tutorials for the mini that are subscription based. I love these tutorials because they are so doable and they post great instructions. So, I joined again and will have 2 challenges per week. This is the 1st challenge that I am playing with even though it is week 2. This is a color challenge. Find out more by clicking here.

 

To play along I had to use the above colors in a card of my own. I chose to CASE a card I made at regionals by using the colors and a few different embellishments to build the card. This is a 3x6 card. I used the fun flowers from the mini called Blossom Builders on page 18. The bottom flower was punched with the  Blossom punch also seen in this new mini. 

close up of flowers

It might not show very well but the center brad is from the fire circles collection and the friend tag is whisper white not the weird pink it is looking like on the computer!

One More Apothecary Art card

You might get tired of this set but I am hoping you will love it so much that you will just have to have one for yourself! Once again I used the Twitterpated DSP and the colors were inspired from it. The little bow is a fork bow. Intriqued? Leave me a comment and I will send you the directions to make one. Yes, you use a fork!

Packed for Baby

Another FREE stamp...Packed for Baby. I used the Flirtatious Specialty paper for my inspiration on this card. I wanted to make a girl card for an upcoming shower and once I stamped the image and cut it round I just had to go with it. I only used a little color on the stamped image and I stamped and cut the little piggy on Pretty in Pink and then cut and glued it to the bib. The B is from the Occasions Alphabet set.

Apothecary Art

I have seen so many beautiful samples made using this set. I will be showing stamps from it on a couple of upcoming cards including this one and I am sure I will have lots more to show after Leadership! For my colors I looked to the DSP called Twitterpated. I love the colors in it...Island Indigo, Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White. Note to pleated ribbon and do you see the new shape? Yes, Stampin' Up! has jumped into the framelits craze! 

Take it to Heart

My post today is a very fun and pretty card that was simple to do. Although Stampin' Up! does not have the Whisper White pleated ribbon and because I love that look I made my own using the Whisper White tafteta ribbon and snail. After I stamped the focal point and then glittered it using the Heat & Stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds I just snailed the back edge of the heart and pleated the ribbon as I went around. It makes a great pop for the center heart!

Sale-a-Bration is Here!

Woo Hoo! It is the most wonderful time of the year to be a hostess with Stampin' Up! You can get more FREE goodies if you host a party now! Why not book yours now and see how much FREE stuff you can get! Who doesn't love FREE! BTW, this card was completely done using My Digital Studio.  Click here to see the special Sale-a-Bration booklet. 

Information for Customers

Information for Hostesses

Information for Demonstrators or Decision Guide

Big News from Leadership!

The Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference just ended on Friday in San Antonio TX.  During the conference many new things were announced including a major change to our catalogs.   I'm really pleased with the change and feel it will benefit us all.


Overview of the catalog changes:
"In a nutshell, starting June 1, 2012, Stampin' Up! will release one annual catalog, comparable to (but smaller than) the current Idea Book & Catalog, and two seasonal catalogs, comparable to (but larger than) the current mini catalogs."

The current Idea Book and Catalog 2011-2012 will expire at the end of May instead of the end of June as originally planned.  

• The Occasions, Summer, and Holiday Mini Catalogs will be    replaced by two seasonal catalogs called the Holiday Catalog and the Spring Catalog.
  • The first Holiday Catalog will run from August 1, 2012 through the beginning of January, 2013
  • The first Spring Catalog will run from the beginning of January, 2013  through May 31, 2013.
• The seasonal catalogs will be larger in both size (8 1/2" x 11") and page count (about 40 pages) than the current mini catalogs.

Items that will be discontinued as of June 1st, 2012:
Décor Elements and Simply Adorned

There may be other retirements/items discontinued (which is normal at the end of a catalog time frame), and these will be announced later in the year.   Decor Elements and Simply Adorned is being announced now as they are complete product lines not individual product that is being discontinued.  This way if you love the line, you can still pick up items before they are no longer carried by Stampin' Up!.

If you want anything from the Decor Elements or the Simply Adorned lines, now would be the time to order before they disappear. Click here to order directly or drop me a line by leaving a comment.

Apothecary Art Heart

For this card I mixed the Apothecary labels collection with the hearts collection of framelits. I first cut the heart, then I sewed on the pleated ribbon. I stamped, cut and layered the focal point of the card and finally stamped a greeting in the corner. Again, the DSP is from Twittererpated. You are going to love all the new things in this mini!

About Sale-a-Bration

Can you hear the drums beating in anticipation of Sale-A-Bration, Stampin' Up!'s biggest promotion of the year?  From Jan. 24 through March 31, 2012, customers will earn a free Sale-A-Bration gift for EVERY $50 they spend on Stampin' Up! products (including the on-line clearance rack).  Spend $150 or more and you will receive both Sale-A-Bration gifts AND earn Hostess Benefits!

SALE-A-BRATION STARTER KIT DEAL! Sale-A-Bration is an ideal time to take your stamping skills to the next level and SAVE $$$!  Starts Jan. 24, 2012.The Starter Kit is discounted to $125!  SAVE $50 and it ships FREE.  Over $340 in products!  See Standard Starter Kit contents.

• BONUS!  Receive your choice of either FREE Designer Series Paper (you pay for shipping) or a FREE My Digital Studio Download (no shipping charge) EVERY MONTH that you are active, from Feb. through Dec., 2012.  Up to a $120 value!
• Enjoy demonstrator discounts and benefits thru June 30, 2012 with no obligation to purchase anything further or host workshops.  There's no penalty to drop.  Learn more...
  
  
  
  STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR BENEFITS:
• Receive 30% off your first order of $150 or more (or keep it as "instant income" from sales).  Redeem in the first 45 days. 
• Get 20% off Stampin' Up! products or keep as "instant income."
• Earn additional income (called a volume rebate) on your monthly product sales of $400 or more.  Together, your instant income and volume rebate can reach up to 40% of your personal sales.
• Pre-order select Stampin' Up! stamps, tools and embellishments a month (or more) before the customers sales period. One of my favorite perks!
• Earn free stamps with Stampin' Start, Sale-A-Bration and other promotions.
• Qualify for cash bonuses, product bonuses, incentive trips and other awards.
• Decide to recruit and receive downline override compensation based on your recruits' sales.
• Earn free hostess sets and merchandise.
• Receive Stampin' Up!'s exclusive monthly demonstrator magazine, Stampin' Success.
• Enjoy 2 free months of a personalized Stampin' Up! on-line store and blog (optional $12.95/mo. after trial).
• Be inspired by video tutorials and project ideas on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator web site.

Valentines Sale-a-Bration Class

I am offering a very fun class this Saturday, January 28th at 10 AM or 2 PM.  We will be making some gifts for our sweethearts/children and some Sale-a-Bration projects all for only $20 or FREE with a $30 order (before S&H). See one sample here and please RSVP by Friday to hold your spot. Just e-mail or call to hold your spot.678-910-9891. Let's get together and play soon!

Back from Leadership!

Wow! What an experience I had. Everything was so well planned out and done up to Stampin' Up! standards. When I signed in I received a cute bag that had my name tag and detailed instructions inside. What a cute bag, plus, it can be used 3 ways, as is, without the bottom part or the bottom part of the bag is reversible to one color design!

I had to leave before the last session so I am sure I missed some of the give-a-ways but still I got some handmade chocolate in a cute box made by someone at the home office. It had dark, milk and white chocolate in it so you could have it your way. BTW, the theme this year is "My Way." I got to rub noses with some of the biggest sellers and of course I saw Shelli and Sterling!

Stampin' Up! also gave us the cutest little organizer made from the same fabric. I think this is going to be in the next mini...Holidays. Shelli actually signed all the tags for the 1350 organizers. I bet she had writer's cramp!
Here is the little box they had the chocolate in it. I am sad to report that the chocolate is gone (Mike helped). It was very good chocolate.

Stampin' Up! announced some changes and I will be sharing them with you in the next few days as I remember them! Had fun, see you soon.

Candy Conversations

This card just sort of evolved. It is not what it started as but this is how it turned out. Yes, I hand cut each heart! I also hand colored each one. I wanted a clothesline effect so what's a girl to do?

Art Show Project

This one is way over the top but yet so doable! I would love to make something like this for my guest room. Instructions are included!

Lamp frame and table runner

Paper Always Artichoke Textured Card Stock Pear Pizzazz Textured Card Stock Rose Red Textured Card Stock 2010-2012 In Color Patterns Designer Series Paper First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Accessories & Tools Pear Pizzazz 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon Very Vanilla 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon Natural Hemp Twine Linen Thread Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric Subtles Designer Buttons Pearl Basic Jewels Simply Adorned Clear Crystal 5/8" Bauble Simply Adorned Vanilla Pearl 1/2" Bauble Stampin' Dimensionals Blossom Petals Punch Blossom Bouquet Punch 1" Circle Punch Simply Scored Big Shot Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die Blossom Party Originals Die Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die Sewing machine and thread

Instructions

To make the fabric table runner

1. Cut Pear Pizzazz Patterns Designer Series Paper to measure 12" x 9". Cut trim from fabric using Big Shot and Tasteful Trim Die. Sew trim along long edges of paper using sewing machine and thread.

To make the frame

1. Cut First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper to fit inside frame; adhere to inside back of frame.
2. Punch leaves from Always Artichoke Textured Card Stock using Blossom Petals Punch. Score center of leaves and curl slightly at score lines. Cut thin strip of Always Artichoke Textured Card Stock for stem. Adhere stem and leaves to Designer Series Paper.
3. Punch bottom two flowers from Rose Red Textured Card Stock and Designer Series Paper using Blossom Bouquet Punch. Cut top two flowers from Rose Red Textured Card Stock using Big Shot and Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die. Thread Linen Thread through holes in Designer Button; adhere to center of flower. Adhere flower to top of stem using Stampin' Dimensionals.

To make the lamp

1. Cut fabric to fit lampshade; adhere to lampshade. Cut strips of Pear Pizzazz 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon and adhere along top and bottom edges of lampshade.
2. Cut four pennants (front and back) from fabric using Big Shot and Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die; stitch front and back of three pennants together at top of pennant using sewing machine and thread. For last pennant, cut two smaller two-edged pennant shapes from lighter-colored fabric; align top edges of front and back pennants and smaller pennants and stitch using sewing machine and thread.
3. Adhere pennants to lampshade; adhere pearls between pennants.
4. For left-most pennant, punch circle from scrap of card stock using 1" Circle Punch; adhere to center of pennant. Score strip of First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper (5" x 1") at 1/4" marks for rosette; fold score lines; adhere folds and ends to create rosette; adhere rosette to circle on pennant.
5. Punch flower from Rose Red Textured Card Stock using the Blossom Bouquet Punch; adhere to center of rosette; adhere Designer Button to center of flower.
6. For left-middle pennant, cut strip of 3/8" Pear Pizzazz Pleated Satin Ribbon (3-1/2" long); adhere to pennant. Thread Hemp Twine through holes of Designer Button; tie bow; adhere button to ribbon.
7. For right-middle pennant, cut flowers from Pear Pizzazz Textured Card Stock and First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper using Big Shot and Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die; layer flowers and adhere to smaller pennant shape; adhere Designer Button to center of flowers.
8. For right-most pennant, cut four flowers from First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper using Big Shot and Blossom Party Originals Die; curl petals; layer flowers and adhere to pennant.
9. Gather center of scrap of fabric to create bow-tie shape; adhere to center of flower; thread Linen Thread through holes in Designer Button; adhere button over fabric to center of flower.
10. For base of lamp cut strip of fabric (1" x 8"); tie around neck; tie strip of Seam Binding Ribbon to fabric strip. Attach pearl bauble to crystal bauble and attach both to Seam Binding Ribbon.

A Love Frame

		Love frame
Stamps P.S. I Love You Set Sweet Cake Set Candy Conversations Single Stamp Paper Cherry Cobbler Card Stock Very Vanilla Card Stock Ink Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad 2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers Accessories & Tools Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon Clips Assortment Stampin' Dimensionals Full Heart Punch Heart to Heart Punch Small Heart Punch Big Shot Hearts Collection Framelits Dies Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits Dies

Instructions

1. Cut letters for "Love" from Cherry Cobbler Card Stock using Big Shot and Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits Dies.
2. Stamp various Valentine images in Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobbler, and Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla Card Stock, leaving room for die-cut letters.
3. Cut scallop heart from stamped Very Vanilla Card Stock using Big Shot and largest heart from Hearts Collection Framelits Dies.
4. Adhere die-cut letters to scallop heart.
5. Stamp heart full of hearts in Calypso Coral ink on Very Vanilla Card Stock, and punch out using Full Heart Punch. Attach clip to heart. Tie ribbon in bow, and adhere to heart.
6. Adhere heart full of hearts to scallop heart using Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere scallop heart to Very Vanilla page using Stampin' Dimensionals.
7. Punch hearts from Very Vanilla Card Stock using Heart to Heart and Small Heart Punches. Fold some hearts in half to create dimension. Adhere hearts to Very Vanilla page. Frame page.

Snowman Cover Project

Let's think cold weather and snow...hey, I could always miss a couple of days of work to play with my stamps!

Winter Snowman

Stamps Letter It Set Merry Winter Set Paper Basic Gray Card Stock Peach Parfait Card Stock Whisper White Card Stock Blushing Bride Textured Card Stock White Waffle Paper Ink Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad Accessories & Tools Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit Baja Breeze 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine Neutrals Designer Buttons Twitterpated Designer Fabric Stampin' Dimensionals Circle Scissor Plus Doily Punch Full Heart Punch 1/16" Circle Punch Big Shot Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die Hot glue gun Foam balls

Instructions

1. Attach stick arms to mid-sized foam ball.
2. Punch snow from Whisper White Card Stock using the base image of the Doily Punch. Adhere to foam balls.
3. Adhere foam balls together to form snowman.
4. Punch several additional pieces from Whisper White Card Stock using third Doily Punch image. Adhere randomly to snowman. Save one for hat.
5. Adhere Neutrals Designer Buttons to snowman for eyes, mouth, and buttons.
6. Cut two circles from Basic Gray Card Stock using Circle Scissor Plus. Wrap 2" wide piece of Basic Gray Card Stock and adhere ends to form cylinder. Adhere one edge of cylinder to large circle for hat. Adhere second circle to top of hat. Adhere Baja Breeze 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon around hat. Adhere Whisper White punched doily to top of hat.
7. Wrap Twitterpated Designer Fabric around neck for scarf. Tie ends of scarf with Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine.
8. Wrap Peach Parfait Card Stock into a cone to form nose. Adhere to snowman face.
9. Cut six snowflakes from Whisper White Card Stock using Big Shot and Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die. Cut off outermost portion of image.
10. Stamp "Winter" in Baja Breeze ink on Whisper White Card Stock. Cut out each letter.
11. Adhere letters to White Waffle Paper, then adhere to Doily snowflakes. Thread snowflakes onto Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine. Tie twine to twig arms.
12. Stamp sentiment in Basic Gray ink on Blushing Bride Textured Card Stock. Punch out using Full Heart Punch. Adhere pink rhinestones to heart. Punch hole in heart using 1/16" Circle Punch. Thread Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine through hole in heart and tie to twig arm.

Heading to San Antonio

I am so excited to be heading to San Antonio for the annual Leadership Conference Stampin' Up! does. This is the first year I have ever been to it and I am really looking forward to meeting some of the most forward thinkers of Stampin' Up! It just so happens to coincide with a conference that my hubby and I are attending in Killeen, TX. We are flying in and out of San Antonio with FREE tix (they bumped us last year) and so I decided to throw my hat in and see what all the hoopla is about!
While I am gone I will be posting some of the great ideas that we demonstrators get to see in our monthly magazine called Stampin' Success. I look forward to sharing with you as soon as I get back. I am also entering some cards that I am making using new stuff from the current mini so be ready! It is a great one. Also, Sale-a-Bration is right around the corner starting on 1/25.

Check out this very cute shoe and purse idea by Carol Lovenstein.

Carol Lovenstein's Shoe and Purse

Paper

Basic Black Card Stock
Silver Glimmer Paper

Accessories & Tools
Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon
Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Crop-A-Dile
Owl Punch
3/8" Circle Punch
1/2" Circle Punch
Big Shot
Flower, Daisies #2 Bigz Die
Frame, Oval Scallop Bigz Die
Top Note Bigz Die
Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Another Valentine

This was the 2nd project for my Stamper's Club last week. This time we made a very decidedly masculine Valentine card. The colors are Real Red, Basic Black, Basic Gray and Whisper White. I used the postage stamp punch and some of the Neutrals DSP and layered it all together. The letters are from Sixxiz, called Round-a-bout. I got them on a major sale quite a while back and just had to use them for this project. The heart is the largest one from the new embosslit and I attached it with a very manly black brad.

Stamper's Club Project

My stampers club met last week and we made 2 projects. The first one is just like the post I showed on the CCMC 183 but with different colors. For this one we used, Marina Mist, Pear Pizazz and Calypso Coral. We made the hearts using the new Hearts embosslit using the 2nd largest. Then we smooshed the hearts into VersaMark and then covered with Iridescent Ice and heat set them with the heat gun. I popped them up using the dimensionals. The edge of the Whisper White is scored for a little detail. The sentiment was made using just the words from the single stamp Candy Conversations.

Occasions Mini is Here

Wow is all I can say! If you have not seen the latest mini...well, what are you waiting for? Just click here to see it in full, living color!

I simply had to have one of everything… and if you repeat that to my husband, I WILL deny it.  But I will be sharing the new samples in the days to come!


There are AMAZING accessories and three product ‘suites’ that feature sets that coordinate with accessories:

• The ‘Twitterpated’ product suite
• The ‘Attic Boutique' product suite
• The ‘Sweet Shop' product suite

Technique - Z Projects

I know I can't do Michelle's talent justice so I will just send you to her website. She has so many beautiful cards and she does FREE tutorials online!

CCMC 184 - A Sketch Challenge

This is the sketch for the week and I sat down and made a card for it right away. I am leaving for 2 conferences back-to-back on Sunday and I will not have a chance to play while I am away. So, I first went with hearts but after seeing all the samples I changed my mind and used butterflies. I used all the In Colors for this year with a little piece of the Paisley Petals DSP. The sentiment is from the Signature Shelli Collection of stamps called Creative Elements. Without further ado, here is my take on the above sketch.

Technique - Z is for Zen Brayering

Forgive me Michelle! But if you ever come close to me, I would love to take your class!

Technique - "Y" Projects

How about 3 projects this time?? Does that make up for the lame title with Y?

Create with Connie and Mary CCMC 183 - A Color Challenge

Well, it is a color challenge this week and I was again a bit stumped. But, have no fear I have triumphed even if the colors are a bit unorthodox for the occasion. Here are the colors:

You have got to love the snowflake effect even though it is 60* here in the South right now. We have been having some weird weather but hey, it is the South so anything is possible! So, being that I am getting ready for Leadership (my first time ever) and I was wanting to use something from the new mini and I only have a couple of sets...I chose the Candy Conversations and the new hearts embosslit. Without further ado...

Clean and Simple

Technique - Y is for Yea! Embossing Folders

Another stretch, but if you can come up with a better Y - Just let me know!

Technique - "X" Project

Ok, so I made up for the X technique by showing you 2 projects instead of just 1. It is still fun and I especially like the look on the dark colors of card stock.

Technique - X is for FauX Stitching

Ok, it is a little stretch but at this point in the process I had to keep going with the alphabet thing!

Technique - W Projects

Well, I found 2 great cards to show with this project. So, get out your iron and wax paper and make some cool backgrounds. While you have it out, iron some cool images on your velvet too! Irons are not just for laundry!

Technique - W is for Wax Paper Resist

Technique - "V" Project

You can get velvet paper at any craft store. Sadly, SU stopped carrying it a few years ago.

CCMC182- A Sketch Challenge

Well, I am getting this one in at the very last moment. I saw it all week and did not get inspired until today! So I quickly made this "no stamping" card using the wonderful Beau Chateau Side Notes from the catalog and they go perfectly with the Beau Chateau DSP so voila! I added one of my satin roses at the end for the button. Colors used are: Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, and Soft Suede.

Technique - V is for Velveteen

As a side note, you can also do this with real velveteen fabric to make a cool image on a pillow!

Technique - T Projects

Just a couple of quick photos. The bottom one is the magnet and it is made on the back of a white domino.

Technique - T is for Tile Stamping

Well, did you notice that I blew right by the letter T? I did not until I was all finished and double-checking. So, although it is totally out of order I am throwing it in anyway. Oops!

Another New Years Card

This card features the clock from the new Forever Young set found on page 70 in the Idea Book and Catalog. I love the look of this set especially the clock and the tree. I started with the DSP Timeless Portrait and used the clock sheet of paper with the river rock. That is why my card is River Rock. I layered it with Indigo Island and added touches of black and Cherry Cobbler. It turned out well, don't ya think!