CCMC473 Carols of Christmas

It's Thursday, and that means it's Challenge time again over at www.createwithconnieandmary.com.
This week is a colour challenge, and these are the colours we had to work with:

I really like the colour combo, and I was initially going to make a masculine card, but instead I decided to go with a Christmas design, using the new Carols of Christmas bundle. Here's a few tips about this card:

• The Dapper Denim piece behind my main panel is one of the sheets from the Eastern Palace Designer Series Paper pack
• To make the border, I used the Card Front Builder thinlits on each end of the main panel. My panel is 10cm x 14.3cm so it was a little long for the thinlits. To fill the gap in the middle, I used the stars that were cut out from each end, coloured them in with a Dapper Denim marker and then glued them in place
• As well as the Card Front Builder Dies, I've also used the Stitched Shapes Framelits on this card
• I cut out trees in Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla, and sponged the Very Vanilla ones with Pear Pizzazz ink. I also sponged the ground in Soft Suede ink
• To get the 2-tone sentiment, I inked up the stamp in Dapper Denim and stamped it off onto scrap paper. I then sponged Dapper Denim ink direct to rubber on the lower half of the stamp.
• The gorgeous ribbon on this card is the Gold Metallic-Edge Ribbon.

I hope you like my card. Check out what the other talented stampers have come up with HERE. Don't forget you can play along over on the facebook page!


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What Would Marelle Make?

For the past couple of years, at our Stamp Camp Team Retreat I have run a challenge called "What Would Marelle Make?" You can read all about it and see last year's entries HERE. Last year the lovely Sam Wilson won, and this year....she did it again! Thank goodness she didn't manage to get into my head quite as well as she did last year - that was scary! - but her card was voted the closest by the attendees. The pressure is on for next year, Sam!!

My card is pretty simple...just a Very Vanilla thick card base, an Early Espresso layer and another Very Vanilla layer. There's a few Holiday Catalogue sneak peaks on this card. I've used four 1.5" strips of the new Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper, and angled them on the lower half of the card. The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso ink, and so is the middle of the sunflower. The gorgeous sunflower image is from the new Painted Harvest stamp set. I've used Crushed Curry ink, and Wild Wasabi for the leaves. There's also a new leaf punch, but the flower itself has been fussy cut.
Look at all these pretty sunflowers, all created using the same pieces of paper:

Can you guess which one was Sam's winning entry?


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CCMC472 Petal Garden

It's Thursday, and that means it's Challenge time again over at www.createwithconnieandmary.com.
This week is a sketch challenge, and this is the sketch we had to work with:  

I had fun with this sketch. I'll definitely be using this design again. Can you believe I didn't use a single stamp on this card? I let the Petal Garden Designer Series Paper do all the hard work

• A bit of fussy cutting really brings these roses to life. I've also popped them up on dimensionals
• I used the Stitched Shapes framelits to make my circle element. I love the extra detail that the stitching adds
• The colour scheme is Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Old Olive

I hope you like my card. Check out what the other talented stampers have come up with HERE. Don't forget you can play along over on the facebook page!


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Double Z-Fold Bunch of Blossoms

I love making fancy fold cards. This Double Z-fold Card is pretty simple, but still makes a 'wow' card. To make this card, cut your A4 cardstock to 29.7 x 14cm. Score 14.8cm from one end, and 7.4cm from the other. Then cut at 10.5cm high. You will use this narrow strip to go across the front of the card (flip it upside down so the score lines run the opposite way from the base card).

TIPS:
• Stamp/embellish all of your pieces before assembling your card.
• Change the look by attaching your strip along the top or across the middle
• By starting off with a wider piece for your base card (eg 29.7 x 16cm or 29.7 x 17.5), you can make your strip wider, or even place 2 strips across your card.
• Try attaching die-cut/fussy-cut stamped elements behind your strips (eg flowers attached from below, or balloons hanging from above)

I've used the gorgeous Bunch of Blossoms stamp set for this card, and my colour scheme is Soft Sky, Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzazz.


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Product List

Bunch Of Blossoms Photopolymer Stamp Set [141573] $37.00

Blossom Builder Punch [141469] $31.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $50.00

Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $58.00

Ribbon of Courage Candle

Aaaand we have reached the final Ribbon of Courage project from my April Stamping Presentation!This is a gift-boxed candle. It's another project that will hopefully make the recipient feel loved and cherished as they receive and use it.
The box is an exploding box. It’s extremely quick and easy to make, using just one sheet of DSP and a few score lines. Two cardstock 'lids’ hold the candle in place and keep the box shut. I’ve used the Bundle of Love Specialty DSP. This sheet is Blushing Bride on one side and gorgeous gold on the other. It’s lovely and sturdy too, as it's thicker than regular DSP, so it's perfect for boxes. For this sized candle, cut your DSP to a 24cm square and score 9cm on each side. For the 2 'lids', you will need two 9.9cm square pieces of cardstock, scored at 2cm on each side.

This was tricky to photograph, but hopefully these pics will give you an idea:

You can see one 'lid' holding the candle in place on the base of the box.
And here's a closer look at the Courage Candle:

And here's a top view of the exploding box:

I've punched out 4 sentiments, a different one for each side of the box.
So, that's all the Ribbon of Courage projects I have to show you...for now, anyway! I hope some of these ideas will help you next time you need to make a project for a friend or family member who is going through a difficult time.


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Product List

Ribbon Of Courage Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143855] $33.00

Ribbon Of Courage Clear-Mount Bundle [145342] $63.75

Bundle Of Love Specialty Designer Series Paper [144143] $21.00

Gold 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Natural Trim [141484] $12.25

Upcoming Classes

Over the past couple of months, I've been rather busy with fun things like travel, the Craft Sale and my upcoming Stamp Camp, and also not-so-fun things like a bout of Thai Tummy and a walloping dose of the flu. As a result, I'm a bit behind on everything at the moment, but I've just updated my class dates for September. I'm working on getting Holiday Catalogues in the mail and my newsletter out too!

September Classes
Stamp-a-Stack Class
Come along and stamp a stack of cards, so you'll always have a card ready when you need one. We'll be using some of my favourite stamp sets from the Annual Catalogue. Ribbons, embellishments and envelopes are included in your class fee.
You'll make 8 cards for $20 (if you BYO Stampin' Up! adhesive and Dimensionals), or 8 cards for $25 (if you use my adhesive)
Tuesday 5th or Wednesday 6th 7pm for a 7:30 start
Wednesday 6th 9:30am for a 10am start

Christmas Stamp-a-Stack Class
It's Christmas in September! Get a head-start on your Christmas cards by coming along to a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack. This month we'll be using products from the Annual Catalogue and the new Holiday Catalogue. I'll be running these every month until November. There will be 2 new designs every month. Ribbons, embellishments and envelopes are included in your class fee.
You'll make 8 cards for $20 (if you BYO Stampin' Up! adhesive and Dimensionals) or 8 cards for $25 (if you use my adhesive)
Tuesday 12th or Wednesday 13th 7pm for a 7:30 start
Wednesday 13th 9:30am for a 10am start

Project Class
Come along and learn how to use punches and inks to turn regular cardstock into Gerbera flowers that look so realistic. You will be making a potted arrangement of flowers. This would make a lovely gift...or you might like to keep it for yourself!
Included in your class fee is a pot, artificial leaf sprigs and everything you need to complete this project
You will make one potted Gerbera arrangement - $25.
Wednesday 20th 7pm for a 7:30 start
Wednesday 20th 9:30am for a 10am start

As you can see, there are plenty to choose from! Let me know if you'd like to book in to any...I'd love to see you!


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CCMC471 Merry Mistletoe

It's Thursday, and that means it's Challenge time again over at www.createwithconnieandmary.com.
This week is a colour challenge, and these are the colours we had to work with:  

I love these colours together and I thought they might work for a Christmas card. It's always nice to break away from the traditional red and green

• I've used the Merry Mistletoe stamp set. You can find this one in the Annual Catalogue
• I've also used the Marbled Background stamp, stamped in Bermuda Bay ink on Bermuda Bay cardstock
• The Silver Mini Sequin Trim makes a cute embellishment. I've just looped it behind my main panel.
• I couldn't resist adding a tiny rhinestone to the reindeer's nose. Too cute!

I hope you like my card. Check out what the other talented stampers have come up with HERE. Don't forget you can play along over on the facebook page!


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Ribbon of Courage Colouring Kit

Today I have another Ribbon of Courage project to show you. This was also part of my Stamping Presentation back in April.

For this project, I decided to make a set of notecards to give as a gift. Rather than fully completing these cards, I’ve made this a DIY Kit. This set fits inside one of our Cellophane Bags, so that they can be popped into a handbag and taken anywhere. The backing material from our Specialty DSP packs makes a nice sturdy board (cut to 5”x7”) and I’ve used some elastic to hold everything in place. I’ve just stamped the notecards in black ink and included a few mini coloured pencils. As we all know, colouring is great therapy. After the cards have been coloured, they can be given away, perhaps as a thank you for a meal that was provided or a ‘thinking of you’ for a friend going through a difficult time. I’ve decorated the topper to hold the bag closed.

TIP: I’ve applied Tear & Tape to the back, to hold the topper in place. For the front, I’ve applied 3 dots of Multipurpose Glue and let them dry for a few hours. This means that the bag can be opened and re-sealed without having to rip off the topper.

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Product List

Ribbon Of Courage Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143855] $33.00	Ribbon Of Courage Clear-Mount Bundle [145342] $63.75	Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes [131527] $10.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $12.25
6" X 8" Cellophane Bags [102210] $8.75	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $7.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] $9.00

Sending Love and Hugs

In my Ribbon of Courage stamping presentation, I wanted to showcase the versatility of the stamp set by making some cards without the ribbon on them. I've used the pretty heart and flower images on these cards, and the "sending love and hugs to you" sentiment. These designs would work for any time you need to send a general thinking of you or get well card.
My colour scheme is Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Whisper White and silver.


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Product List

Ribbon Of Courage Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143855] $33.00	Ribbon Of Courage Clear-Mount Bundle [145342] $63.75	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $8.75	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $50.00
Metallic Enamel Shapes [141678] $12.25	Silver 1/8" Ribbon [132137] $8.75	Sponge Daubers [133773] $9.00