Constantly Stamping

Water Lilly from Daisy Die

The other day I saw a tutorial in Creative Paper magazine on how to make floating lotus flowers from cardstock. They were beautiful. When I looked at the pattern it struck me that the petal shapes were very similar to my Sizzix Daisy Die. Of course I would much rather use a die to cut my shapes than do everything by hand, so I set out to see how close I could get to their design. I think my flowers looks a little more like a cross between a zinnia and a water lilly, but it still quite stunning.

The process was a little time consuming and I doubt that I will be making large quantities of these beauties...however, if you want a special embellishment for a gift, this just may be the perfect choice. This flower is fairly big, so you probably wouldn't want to make it for a card or a scrapbook page. The finished flower is about 1" tall and 3" wide.

For this project I used a 4" metal tin that originally contained processed cheese spread. It turned out to be just the right size. I covered the lower portion of the tin with the new Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (#115675). I covered the edge of the lid with the new 1/2" Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (#115613). For the flower I used Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, and Barely Banana card stock. I used Old Olive CS for the lilly pad. I stamped "Thanks So Much" from the new Level 3 Hostess Set Kind & Caring Thoughts in Rich Razzleberry ink on Pale Plum CS.

You can order everything you need for the flower beginning with the reveal of the new catalog tomorrow, July 1st. You definitely want to get your hands on the new catty. I think it is the most beautiful catalog Stampin' Up! has ever produced. If you don't already have a SU demonstrator and you would like to receive a new catalog, just let me know. For only $10 you will receive a new 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog along with a $10 gift certificate (redeemable only through me, Connie Collins) toward your next purchase of $30 or more.

UPDATE: You can see a video tutorial on how to make this flower here.

Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed, but Something Blue

I have had a difficult time today deciding what I like and don't like...at least when it comes to stamping...so I thought to myself "why not have it both ways". So that is exactly what I did. I put together the same card, but in two slightly different ways. Not that one is better than the other...just a little different. Both cards use the same stamped image, both use the same colors (Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze), but one card is a little more simple yet elegant and the other is a little more embellished. It reminds me of identical twin sisters who have a different hairstyle.

This 3"x6" Chocolate Chip card is embossed using SU Backgrounds I texturz plates. I used my new Level 3 hostess set (available July 1st) "Kind & Caring Thoughts" and stamped the greeting and flower image several times in Chocolate Chip ink. Then I sponged the edges with more Chocolate Chip in and layered it with more card stock.

This card is exactly the same except I didn't emboss the background and I added a layer of Chocolate Chip Dotted Swiss paper from the Bella Rose DSP collection and some brads in the lower right corner. I do think I like this one better than the first one...but it is hard to say. I guess it depends on my mood.

Rainbow Sherbert Gift for You

In just a few weeks it's out with the old catty and in with the new...so I decided to try to use up some of this yummy Rainbow Sherbet DSP to make this fun "gift" card.

This card is a standard 5-1/2"x4-1/4" base with about a 1/2"x4" section trimmed from each side. I used a 4-1/4" x 1/2 strip of Whisper White CS and the scallop edge punch to create a sweet border for the "box top".

I used a scallop circle punch to create the fun flower for the embellishment. You can see how to create this flower on one of my previous tutorials here. The corduroy button is just what the flower needs to pull all the colors together.

For the tag I punched a Pacific Point tag using the tag punch. Then I used the small tag punch and some coordinating DSP. To give the paper a softer feel I layered it with some vellum cardstock and then added the sentiment from "Great Friend" from the mini catalog stamped in Pacific Point Classic Ink.

When my BFF and downline, Nancy Brown saw this card she immediately asked if she could create a similar card for her convention swaps...so she gets dibs. (wink)

Oval All Thank You Card

The other day I was looking for inspiration and came across a card on page 59 of the July/August 2009 Paper Crafts magazine by designer Teri Anderson. I knew I had CS that was close to the colors she used so I set out to make my version. Ordinarily I would link to another designers blog to show you my inspiration, but since this is from a magazine I would rather just avoid the entire copyright issue and just suggest that you pick up a copy of the magazine yourself.

This is a 3"x6" card made from Riding Hood Red CS. This card uses scraps from several different DSP collections. I covered the entire front with Riding Hood Red Swiss Rockabilly Speciality. I used my Scalloped Edge punch and added a strip of Pretty in Pink CS then layered on two different patterns of Speciality DSP...one from Parisian Breeze and the other from Sweet Slumber. I added some Pretty in Pink 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon to give some seperation between the two pieces of CS. Then I added the flowers with Glue Dots. The larger flower is from the Pretties Kit and the smaller one if from some silk flowers that I bought at Joann's ETC and disassembled. I added a Pretty in Pink bow using a Glue Dot.

To finish off the card I added a greeting from Oval All. I stamped the image twice...once with white craft ink on Riding Hood Red CS and embossed with Winter White embossing powder and a second time in Riding Hood Red Classic Ink on Whisper White CS. I used the Scallop Oval and Large Oval punches and then layered the images.

Demonstrator Showcase Card

Today I was checking out the Demonstrator Showcase (only for SU demonstrators) and found one of my entries for the Artisan Award featured on June 10th. Of course by now I know that I didn't win the award this year, so as I am able I will share with you some of the projects that I submitted. When we enter the Artisan Award competition we give up the rights to our projects and they become property of SU...however, when they are featured on Demonstrator Showcase we are allowed to put them on our Demonstrator Business Website but not on our blog. So that is exactly what I did. If you visit my DBWS you can see my card as the featured project this week. (If you are reading this sometime in the future, it's the owl card that uses On Board So Tweet Chipboard and the Good Morning Sunshine DSP.) While you are there, take a minute to place your order for the Last Chance items before it's too late.

UPDATE: I just found out that since I didn't win I am allowed to show my Artisan Award entries...so here is the card that was featured on Demonstrator Showcase:

 

OMG...I won the So Shelli Creative Challenge!

I am sooooooo excited. This morning I decided to check to see if any winners had been chosen for the So Shelli Creative Challenge for last month's Father's Day challenge. Well, I discovered that one of the winners is me! Woo Hoo! Funny thing is I can't tell the DH until next week because it's the card I plan on giving him for Father's Day. :)

You can see my card here and a list of all the winners here. Besides the thrill I get from being recognized, I get so pumped over the fact that I get to choose any stamp set I want as my prize...YEAH! I LOVE FREE STAMPS!

China Doll Card

Last year a very good friend of mine sent me several photos that she had taken over the 4th of July weekend. Eleanor calls me her "very best American friend" ...and in turn I tease her and tell her she is my "very best Chinese friend". Of course I don't have any other Chinese friends and she thinks that is so funny! Anyway, last summer her mother came to visit from China and brought several traditional costumes with her. Her mother has performed in the Chinese theater and in New York theater for most of her life and she is quite skilled with costumes and make up. She said it took almost 8 hours to be "made up" and she did it two days in a row. Of course her husband took several incredible photos. This is one of the pictures. Isn't she beautiful?

I am going somewhere with this story...I promise!

The other day I purchased the June issue (issue 61) of "PaperCraft Inspirations" magazine. It is published in the UK. In the past I have been a little disappointed in the magazine, but the last few issues have actually been pretty good. (It comes packaged in a clear plastic envelope, so you can't peek before you purchase...I don't care for that very much.) There is an article on pages 22-25 that tell you how to make the cutest little Kokeshi dolls using punches. I knew right away that I would have to make one. I know the dolls are Japanese (not Chinese) but they are still adorable and I am always looking for a fun oriental card to send to my "best Chinese friend".

I made this card as my entry into Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. SU doesn't have any paper right now that is oriental and I could have used some retired DSP, but I decided to use Tea Party DSP on this project instead. I cut a 3"x3" square of DSP and then stamped the cherry blossom branches from "Eastern Blooms" in gold ink and used gold detailed embossing powder to give the look of a window. I then cut the sheet into 1" squares being extra careful to keep the stamped images intact and in the correct order. I didn't have any SU gold paper handy, so I used some metallic paper from DCWV to give it a touch of eastern elegance.

I must admit that I had way too much fun making this card. Don't be surprised if I make a few more with some slight variations of course.

Supplies

Stamps: Eastern Blooms

DSP: Tea Party

CS: Basic Black, Blush Blossom, Gold Metallic (DCWV)

Accessories: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Pastels, Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Gold Twine (SU retired), 1" Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Pastels, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

So Tweet Good Morning Sunshine

I have noticed that I  haven't see many cards made using the owl from the On Board So Tweet chipboard. I think that a lot of people get "hung up" on those heart-shaped eyes...or at least I did. Those eyes just bothered me for some reason. That's when I decided to ignore the eyes and just cover them up with something more "normal". I am really pleased with the end result. I used circle punches for the eyes and then used my uni-ball gel pen to add highlights. The other thing that bothered me about this little guy is that he didn't have any wings either...so that's when I decided to add some. I used my scallop circle punch and trimmed off the edges. The top layer of the wings are slightly smaller and I used dimensionals to give them a more realistic effect.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Wow Flowers
Ink: Pacific Point Classic, More Mustard Craft
Card Stock: Pacific Point, Barely Banana, Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Good Morning Sunshine
Punches: 1/2", 3/4", 1-1/4", & 1-3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch
Accessories: Sizzix Scallop Oval Frame (non-SU), Rhinestone Brad, Dimensionals, SU Little Leaves Sizzlit Die, Signo uni-ball White Gel Pen, Glue Dots, Chipboard

New "In Colors" for 2009/2010

The new "in colors" are finally here...at least for Stampin' Up! demonstrators. You can't purchase them for a few more weeks, but soon you will see several projects that incorporate these hot new colors. Aren't they wonderful? So vibrant and trendy. These are the colors you are seeing all over the stores! I am looking forward to playing with these fun new colors this year.

  Along with the cardstock and ink pads, Stampin' Up is also giving us markers and polka dotted ribbons!!! There is so much more to tell you about--double-sided papers, new PUNCHES, lots of new exclusive dies for the Big Shot---but I can't tell you specifics until July 1st!

 

 

In Full Bloom and Then Some

On my last card I showed you how I used the masking technique to make a flower border. This card uses the same technique except I created a cluster of flowers. I added some easy hand-drawn accents to give it a more elegant look.

I used a Basic Black card base and then layered on Old Olive CS and Tea Party DSP.

I hope my internet connection is working properly. We will have out-of-town guests for about another week, so I will post when I have the opportunity. Have a great day!