Constantly Stamping: October 2017

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October 2017

Monday, October 30, 2017

Global Design Project #GDP111: Theme Challenge

We are crafting about family time this week over on the Global Design Project blog.

When I first saw this challenge I freaked out because I could not think of any stamp sets that fit the theme. I was seriously thinking about not even doing a project this week...but now I am really glad that I pushed on through the creative block because the end result was so very worth it.

Somewhere along the way I got inspired to create a slat board photo frame and this is what I ended up with. It is a 6"x6" card/scrapbook page/home decor piece. I realize that it is a little too thick to be a traditional card, but you can certainly hand deliver it. But let's be honest...there is NO WAY I am gonna give this up! I love how it turned out and it is totally going on my desk at work! The great thing is that by making it into a card, it can easily be displayed.

So here is what I did. I started with a piece of 6"x12" Crumb Cake cardstock scored in half to create a 6"x6" card base. Then I adhered a piece of Wood Textures DSP to a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock using a Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet. Next I cut it into random size strips between 1" to 1 3/8". (TIP: Cut the strips with the grain of the wood for a realistic look.) I lightly sponged Crumb Cake in on the edges to get rid of any stark white areas. I adhered the strips to the card base leaving gaps between boards to make it look more realistic. I love how this particular piece of dsp looks a lot like barn wood. I cut two additional strips in the same manner about 1" wide and stamped the greeting from Paisleys & Posies in Early Espresso Ink. I also covered two mini clothes pins with the same dsp. These are retired, but you can get something similar in the wood department of most craft stores.

I stamped and die cut several leaves using the Vintage Leaves stamp set and coordinating Leaflets Framelits dies in Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke. Finally, I die cut two copper foil leaves using the Seasonal Layers Thinlits. Jute twine completes the look and the bow helps give balance to the layout.

We would love to have you play along with us this week. Be sure to check out what the other talented designers/players have created for this fun challenge at the Global Design Project Challenge Blog.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.

Have a blessed day!

Save

Posted at 05:00 AM in 3-D Items, Cards, Family, Global Design Project, Scrapbooking | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tags: #gdp111, global design project, Paisley's & Posies, rustic home decor, scrapbook, slat board picture frame, Vintage Leaves

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Painted Autumn Inspiration Fancy Friday Blog Hop

It's time for our Fancy Friday Blog Hop. Our Fancy Friday team consists of some of the most talented Stampin' Up! demonstrators around. If you are hopping with us, you should have just arrived from visiting my good friend, Susan Wong

Our challenge this month is to take the colors and technique inspired from the Painted Autumn Suite! This beautiful suite is found of pages 48-49 of the 2017 Holiday Catalog. However, there is one tiny little problem...I don't have anything from this suite. I meant to get around to placing an order, but before I knew it, it was too late for this hop. So instead, I decided to "be inspired" by this awesome suite of products.

After a bit of research, I took some stamps that I already owned and tried my best to capture the feel of the Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper. Naturally, I couldn't do an exact copy, but my goal was to use similar natural elements and colors.

To accomplish this I used the Blooms and Wishes stamp set from the 2017-18 Annual Catalog. It is a great set with lots of natural elements. I started by stamping the flower in Daffodil Delight, the flower centers in Cajun Craze (using a pencil eraser), then the branches in Early Espresso, and finally the leaves in Lemon Lime Twist and Peekaboo Peach on a Very Vanilla card base. Next I added hand-drawn accents using Stampin' Write Markers in the same colors. I also used a Tangerine Twist marker to color the berries on the branches and finally I flicked Crush Curry splatters over the entire piece. I distressed the edges of the panel and heavily sponged practically everything on the card with Early Espresso ink.

For the sentiment I stamped the beautiful greeting from the Count My Blessings stamp set in Early Espresso ink and die cut it with the Stitched Layers Framelits. I added an Early Espresso scalloped circle die cut with the Circle Layers Framelits.

I wrapped a strand of twine from the 5/8" Burlap Ribbon around the card panel and then added a doily and the sentiment on top. One tiny detail that you might miss is that I also used one of the branches from the set and stamped it tone-on-tone around the edges of the Early Espresso card base. The result is very subtle, but I love the look it gives to the finished project.

I can't wait to see what the other Fancy Friday team members have created. Be sure to hop on over next to visit my amazing friend, Krista Frattin.

Connie Collins (you are here)

Krista Frattin

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR DEMONSTRATOR!

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.

Have a blessed day!

Save

Posted at 09:00 PM in Cards, Fancy Friday Blog Hop | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tags: Blooms & Wishes, Count My Blessings, Fancy Friday, Painted Autumn

Monday, October 23, 2017

Global Design Project #GDP110: Sketch Challenge

It's time for another great sketch challenge this week at Global Design Project .

Here is my take on the sketch. Other than the gorgeous sentiment from the Watercolor Christmas stamp set, there really isn't much stamping here. I did stamp that cute little button from the Tags & Trimmings set, but basically that is it.

I let the Merry Music specialty designer series paper do most of the work on this card. I built on the vintage feel of this paper by sponging Early Espresso ink on everything and added a die cut silver glitter snowflake.

We would love to have you play along with us this week. Be sure to check out what the other talented designers/players have created for this fun challenge at the Global Design Project Challenge Blog.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.

Save

Posted at 05:00 AM in Cards, Global Design Project | Permalink | Comments (7)

Tags: #GDP110, Christmas, Global Design Project, Merry Music dsp, snowflake, vintage, Watercolor Christmas

Monday, October 16, 2017

Global Design Project #GDP109: Color Challenge

The color challenge this week at the Global Design Project challenge blog comes straight from the 2017 Holiday Catalog. More specifically, it comes from the Merry Little Christmas designer series paper. I love how the black, white, and olive look so great together. Toss in a few gold accents and you have an truly amazing look that is traditional with a fabulous updated feel.

I decided to build my card base using stamps from the Tags & Trimmings stamp set. I thought that if I put both holly leaves on the same stamp that my stamping would go much faster...but for some reason I didn't get a good clean image when I tried it, so instead I stamped the large holly leaf first, followed by the smaller leaf, and then finally I added in three berries. I recommend starting in the center of the panel and working your way out to avoid getting any trapped white space. I had to practice the pattern a few times on some scrap paper before I got a pattern that I was happy with.

I make no secret about my love for all things gingham...so when I saw the Merry Little Christmas dsp I did a little happy dance. I couldn't wait to incorporate it into my projects, so this was the perfect opportunity. I didn't want to cover up the stamped background, so I only added a small strip down the center of the panel. Next, I wrapped some gold thread around the entire panel before I adhered it to a basic black top-folding card base. I decided to cut a matching envelope liner using the Envelope Liners framelits. They are retired, but you can easily cut your own by tracing an envelope and then trimming down the sides and bottom.

This gorgeous sentiment is from the Watercolor Christmas set. This is such a great stamp set and very versatile too. I die cut the sentiment using the Stitched Shapes Framelits dies from the annual catalog. Finally, I added some basic gold sequins from the craft store to pull in just a bit more gold. I tried not to add too many layers to this card so that it would be easy to mail.

We would love to have you play along with us this week. Be sure to check out what the other talented designers/players have created for this fun challenge at the Global Design Project Challenge Blog.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.

Have a blessed day!

Save

Posted at 05:00 AM in Cards, Global Design Project | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: #GDP109, Global Design Project, Tags & Trimmings, Watercolor Christmas

Monday, October 02, 2017

Global Design Project #GDP107: Theme Challenge

We are counting our blessings this week over on the Global Design Project blog.

I have so many things to be thankful for...good health, a wonderful family, great friends... list goes on and on. Sometimes there is special person in your life who needs to know just how thankful you are for them. That is what this card is for.

I plan to mail this card, so I decided to keep it simple and elegant. To give some richness to the Cajun Craze cardstock, I dabbed a Cajun Craze ink pad on it several times. It is difficult to see in the photos, but in real life it almost gives the background a suede-like appearance. I had to let it dry completely before moving on. Next, I used an Embossing Buddy on the entire background piece and then stamped the leaves from the Vintage Leaves stamp set with VersaMark ink and heat embossed them with Copper Embossing Powder. I mounted the panel on a top-folding Very Vanilla card base.

I used a greeting from the All Things Thanks stamp set and heat embossed it with Copper Embossing Powder as well and die cut it with the Stitched Shapes Framelits. I cut a slightly larger square of cardstock with the Layering Squares Dies, dabbed VersaMark ink on the edges and heat embossed it with Copper Embossing Powder to layer behind the sentiment. I could have used Copper Foil cardstock, but this way all the copper elements on the card match. Finally, I used dimensional adhesive to mount the greeting on the card front.

We would love to have you play along with us this week. Be sure to check out what the other talented designers/players have created for this fun challenge at the Global Design Project Challenge Blog.