CCMC477 Hello Friend

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:

When I first put these 3 colours together, I was a bit daunted by how strong they all are. When that happens, my tip is to balance it out with lots of white!

• I've used the Hello Friend stamp set. This set coordinates with the Hello Friend Heat Embossing Project Kit on page 17 of the Annual Catalogue. I've taken one of the cards from the kit as my inspiration for this card.
• Yes, I have fussy-cut the wreath....and all the little flowers. Yes, I like fussy-cutting. No, I am not insane!
• the 1/8" Sheer Ribbon (in Calypso Coral) adds the perfect touch of elegance, without being too heavy. A touch of gold thread amps up the elegance even more!
• I used an Aquapainter and ink to create a watercolour wash over the white embossed lattice image. I've also added some spatters of ink by tapping my Aquapainter with a bone folder.

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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Ombre Blossoms

Even though I make a lot of cards and always have a box of grab-and-go cards ready to choose from, I always like to make special cards, designed with a special person in mind. I made this card for my Mum's birthday (you can't get a more special person than that, right?).
I actually made this card at Stamp Camp, and I didn't have all my coloured cardstock with me, so can you believe that this card has been made using only white cardstock? I die-cut all the flowers and stems in white cardstock, and then used sponges and ink to colour them. I love the soft, variegated effect it gives. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention!
The ombre ribbon was the perfect match for these flowers! I liked it so much, I had to make a blue version:

I used embossing paste and brick stencil for my background. It was so quick, and I love the texture that it adds.
Hopefully Mum liked her card :)

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Product List

Beautiful Bouquet Photopolymer Stamp Set [143666] $47.00	Beautiful Bouquet Photopolymer Bundle [145297] $87.25	Embossing Paste [141979] $11.50	Pattern Party Decorative Masks [144103] $10.00
Calypso Coral 1/4" Ombre Ribbon [144235] $12.25	Island Indigo 1/4" Ombre Ribbon [144233] $12.25	Sponge Daubers [133773] $9.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75
Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [126983] $11.50	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [131180] $11.50	Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad [126962] $11.50

Vintage Merry Patterns

For this month's team meeting, I wanted everyone to be able to have a play with the brand new Merry Patterns stamp set. I've gone with a vintage-y antiqued look for this card.

Here are the steps to make this card:
1. Stamp Candle outline in Basic Black ink. Stamp candle patterns in Real Red ink. Stamp second candle patterns in Real Red ink (stamped off).
2. Stamp candle flames in Daffodil Delight ink. Gently sponge So Saffron ink over flames to make candles ‘glow’
3. Stamp foliage in Garden Green ink, underneath candles.
4. Use largest Stitched Shape Oval to cut out image
5. Stamp sentiment in Basic Black ink on scrap Crumb Cake cardstock. Punch with Classic Label Punch. Adhere below candles.
6. Cut Banner Shape from Tartan DSP using Triple Banner Punch (punch both ends, inserting all the way into the punch)
7. Stamp Burlap image in Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake cardstock. Ink Sheet Music stamp in Basic Black ink. Place stamp rubber side up, and gently press cardstock onto rubber in a few places to create a patchy, antiqued look. Now, crumple cardstock and sponges edges and creases. Adhere to Basic Black mat.
8. Assemble card as pictured.

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Product List

144973 $23.00	145372 $50.00	143967 $35.00	143979 $35.00
144629 $19.25	141337 $6.00	138292 $38.00	141491 $31.00

CCMC476 Spooky Cats

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 really like this sketch. I use circles a lot on my cards and the angled strip is just something a bit different.
I don't make a lot of Halloween cards, but I couldn't resist the new Spooky Night Designer Series Paper, Spooky Cat stamp set and co-ordinating cat punch

• I used the Stitched Shapes framelits to make my circle element. I love the extra detail that the stitching adds
• The colour scheme is taken directly from the Spooky Night patterned paper - Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla
• I've punched one cat from the paper, and stamped one with the stamp set and then punched. The little rat is also from the stamp set, as are the words.

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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Merry Mistletoe Stamp-a-Stack

This is the second set of Stamp-a-Stack cards we made in class last week. I've taken my inspiration and colour scheme from the Be Merry Designer Series Paper in the Annual Catalogue. In traditional colours of Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler, this paper has lovely small-scale designs that are perfect for cardmaking. It also pairs beautifully with the Merry Mistletoe stamp set.
To make these cards, I've cut my DSP into 2" x 14.3 cm pieces. You'll need 6 pieces (one of each pattern) to make these cards. Cut 2 of the pieces in half lengthways (at 1"), and use these to run across the cards as a contrasting strip. I've stamped a narrower strip of cardstock to go over the top.

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Product List

Merry Mistletoe Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143655] $33.00	Be Merry Designer Series Paper [144111] $19.25	1-1/4" Circle Punch [119861] $28.00	1-3/8" Circle Punch [119860] $28.00
1-1/2" Circle Punch [138299] $28.00	Be Merry A4 Cardstock Pack [144115] $14.00

Carols of Christmas Stamp-a-Stack

Last week I held my first Christmas Stamp-a-Stack Classes for the year. Usually I would start these in July, so I'm a bit delayed this year!
This is the first set of 4 cards that we made. I've used the beautiful Carols of Christmas bundle in shades of blue. I chose 2 of my favourite colours - Island Indigo and Night of Navy.
I've given the words a two-tone effect by first inking the whole stamp in Island Indigo and the inking up just the top and bottom portion in Night of Navy. This won't ruin your inkpad if you start with the lighter colour first.
I love the look of the Marbled Background stamp. You can see it on the Island Indigo squares and also on the white pieces behind the Night of Navy squares.


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Product List

Carols Of Christmas Clear-Mount Bundle [146037] $78.25	Carols Of Christmas Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144801] $49.00	Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies [144674] $52.00	Marbled Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144772] $26.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $50.00	Night Of Navy 1/2" Gingham Ribbon [144232] $13.00

CCMC475 A Little Wild Lion

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:

Fun! I love these colours together and I thought they might work for a baby card.

I've used the A Little Wild stamp set. You can find this one in the Annual Catalogue.

• The Designer Series Paper banner is part of the Painted Autumn pack in the Holiday Catalogue. You wouldn't think that a fall-themed paper would work on a baby card, but I think it does!
• I've used the Stitched Shapes framelits and the Layering Squares framelits to frame my little lion.
• I've stamped my lion on Whisper White cardstock in Black archival ink and I've used ink and a Blender pen to colour him in. I then cut him out and sponged some Soft Sky ink on the square behind him and popped him up on dimensionals

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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Watts of Occasions Stamp-a-Stack

This is the second Stamp-a-Stack design we made in classes last week. We used the very punny Watts of Occasions stamp set. I love these fun light bulbs.
In class I showed 4 different ways to add some colour to them. From left to right, I used a Blender Pen, an Aquapainter, a sponge dauber and a mask and sponge.
I've stamped backgrounds using different elements from the Wood Words set. I stamped in Versamark ink for a subtle tone-on-tone effect.
The colours I've used are Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Crushed Curry and Emerald Envy.

 
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Product List

Watts Of Occasions Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143867] $35.00	Wood Words Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143928] $38.00	Confetti Celebration Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142034] $31.00	Cherry Cobbler 1/4" Double-Stitched Ribbon [144117] $12.25
Pool Party Solid Baker’S Twine [144353] $5.25	Crushed Curry Solid Baker’S Twine [144354] $5.25	Emerald Envy 5/8" Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon [144190] $14.00