Thursday, December 31, 2015

Pretty New Stuff! ~ CCMC387


Hello stampers and welcome back to another Create with Connie and Mary Challenge!  Challenge #337 is a neat sketch.  
I had just recieved my pre-order stuff from the new Occasions Catalog and Sale-a-bration just before Christmas but I hadn't had a chance to go through it and play around until the last couple of days.   

We have a wedding to attend on New Year's Eve and I figured this was the perfect opportunity to use some of my new stuff!  I used a beautiful new stamp set with coordinating dies called Rose Wonder and Rose Garden Thinlits.  I was also able to use a piece of the Botanical Gardens DSP and Botanical Gardens Vellum Stack, as well as this super sweet Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper.  


I decorated the inside of the card to make it a little more special as well.  


I hope you'll find time to join us at Create with Connie and Mary for this week's challenge!
In the mean time here's a list of my supplies....

Stamps: Rose Wonder
Ink: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride
Paper: Mint Macaron, Botanical Gardens DSP, Blushing Bride Glimmer, Botanical Gardens Vellum Stack, Gold Foil
Accessories: Rose Garden Thinlits, Gold sequin trim, Blushing Bride cotton ribbon, Mint Macaron dotted lace trim
Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny


Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Sweet Woodland Deer ~ HSS228

Hi stampers!  It's time once again for a Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge!  Challenge #228 is an inspiration challenge!  These images could play out more Christmas cards or just a wintry feel.  
I chose to make a shaker card using a little deer cut out from the Home For Christmas DSP, the Sleigh Ride edgelits, and the sky is also DSP from Home For Christmas.  I added gold glitter for my shaker because this little deer (and the paper in general) has a retro 60's kind of feel to it.  Gold was BIG in the 60's.  

For the wooded element, I ran a piece of Baked Brown Sugar cardstock through my big shot with the Into the Woods embossing folder.  Later I took my brayer, inked up with white ink, and ran it lightly over the raised part.  This gives the trees their white birch look. 

Lastly, I added a wooden snowflake with a small, gold brad attached to the center and some red woven satin ribbon to mimic the ribbon around the deer's neck.  
I hope you find time to join us and participate in the challenge!  Remember, you have two weeks to play along!

Thanks for taking a peek!
Jenny





Thursday, December 17, 2015

Dapper Penguin ~ CCMC386


Hey my stamping friends!  Another Create with Connie and Mary color challenge is upon us!  The week we're using the elegant combination of black, white and gold. 


I went with this happy, dapper little penguin this week.  Isn't he cute and festive!  
First I used the penguin die cut to cut out the penguin shape from black glimmer paper.  Next I stamped the penguin image on this delicate gold "net" Winter Wonderland DSP.  I fussy cut the face and tummy part.  I also stamped the face one more time on gold foil paper, cut out the beak and paper pieced it on.


No dapper penguin would be complete without his top hat and bow tie!  I cut each of those from gold foil paper as well.....also the "jolly" sentiment.  
I cut the holly from gold glimmer paper using the Snow Friends framelits.  I added a few rhinestones and boy, doesn't that look awesome!  It was the perfect accessory to the black 1/4" ribbon hatband.  I also added a little rhinestone to the center of the bow tie bringing things all together.  


I put a bit of dazzling details along the edge of my snow panel to add just a bit more sparkle.  The black card base is stamped with the star and dot stamp from {Holly Jolly Greetings} in gold ink.  
The "have a" and "holiday" are also from {Holly Jolly Greetings}.
The whole penguin scene is perched upon two layered banners of Winter Wonderland DSP.

I hope you'll find time to play along with our awesome challenge this week!  

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny




Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Joy to the World Window Step Card ~ HSS227


Hello Stampers!  It's getting closer and closer to Christmas and I'm still not sick of making Christmas cards yet!  I've been having a blast making new Christmas creations!
Today's card is for the newest Hand Stamped Sentiment challenge, which is a sketch designed by me!
  When I submitted my sketch idea to the challenge site, I had the Hearth and Home window framelit in mind. 
 Since that time I saw this video by Dawn Griffith on these great step panel cards.  Check out the tutorial...they are so fun and she gives great directions! 
With the vellum scene behind the window a little battery operated tea-light candle fit perfectly in the popped out spaced creating a glowing scene when the lights are turned down.

Here's a photo of the card when the lights are down....you can see the candle glowing behind the window.
 

The one thing about this card is when it gets folded down flat it's larger than a regular sized card, so you have to make a custom envelope for it.  With the envelope punch board from Stampin' Up that's no problem!  

I hope you find time to join us at Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along with my sketch!  Remember, you have two weeks to play!

Here's a list of my supplies......
Stamps: Happy Scenes, Joy To The World, Endless Wishes
Ink: Stazon Black, red and blue alcohol ink markers
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Black, Vellum
Accessories: Hearth and Home die, Frosted Sequins, Silver cord, Dazzling Details

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny


Thursday, December 10, 2015

Snipped Poinsettia ~ CCMC385


Another Create with Connie and Mary challenge is upon us....and it's sketch week!  What a lovely sketch it is, too, don't you think?  
I decided to follow the trend of cutting images out of the Home For Christmas designer paper pack.  Most people have opted for the cute Santa or the adorable reindeer.   I decided to go with the elegant poinsettia.   Poinsettias remind me of my mother.  She loves to have one displayed in her house every Christmas.  She manages to keep it all year long and then usually lets it die before the Christmas season so she can get a new one!   Funny, right!  I love that that has become her tradition.  This year I bought her a gigantic plant...probably the biggest one she's ever had and it's beautiful!!!  The deep red petals look like velvet!


The poinsettia has brownish toned veins so I paired it with an Early Espresso oval.  
No Christmas card is complete without a little glitter and shine if you ask me, so chose the gold foil vellum background and accented with the gold glimmer paper and some shiny gold ribbon.  I also punched some gold 1/8" circles and glued them in a cluster in the center of the flower.
The sentiment is from "Reason for the Season" and says it all! 


Here's a list of my supplies....
Stamps: Reason for the Season
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Home for Christmas DSP, Real Red, Early Espresso, Gold Glimmer, Gold Foil Vellum, Very Vanilla, Gold Foil
Accessories: Circle die, Oval die, 1/4" gold ribbon, dimensional, Elegant Dots EF 

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny

Friday, December 4, 2015

Pink Penguin ~ The Challenge 53 & Merry Monday 182


Hello stampers and happy Friday!  
Today's card is for The Challenge #53 and Merry Monday #182.
One calls for non-traditional christmas and the other includes birds.  I used this cute little penguin (my bird) from Avery Elle stamp company.  I colored him up in pink and green, like the challenge inspiration photo, and added a little yellow in there to accommodate his beak and feet.  


Very rarely do I used non- Stampin' Up supplies, but I couldn't resist this little penguin stamp set with the matching dies.  I especially liked this guy with the deer head on his sweater!  
All the colors and paper are Stampin' Up products though!
I combined a little patterned paper, designer vellum, and silver cord to finish off my project.


Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!  
Jenny

Thursday, December 3, 2015

A View From My Window ~ CCMC384, SSC114, & PP273


Good Thursday everyone!  It's Create with Connie and Mary time again!  This week it's the Christmas-y colors of Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow and Smokey Slate or Silver.
I chose to go with silver.  I used my brushed silver cardstock for the window and the silver DSP from the Neutrals Color Collection stack.
My card also takes in the sketch challenge from Sunday Stamps 114 and The Tic-Tac-Toe challenge from The Paper Players 273.

I used the three squares across the bottom for the Paper Players including Ribbon, Trees, and Punch or Die-Cut. 



I hope you'll find some time to play along with us at CCMC #384 this week! We love to see and comment on your creations!  
Here's a list of my supplies....
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Smokey Slate
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Brushed Silver, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, White, Naturals DSP
Accessories: Hearth and Home die, Christmas Greetings die, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Petite Petals punch, Bird Builder punch, 1/4" circle punch, Brick Wall EF, Dazzling Details

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny



Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Making Spirits Bright and Shiny ~ PP273 & WWC45


Hello and happy Wednesday to all my stamper friends!
Today's card takes in two challenges....
The Paper Players tic-tac-toe challenge and Watercooler Wednesday sketch.
I just love the tic-tac-toe challenges...they are so fun to play along with!  I chose Tree, Sparkle or Shine, and Patterned Paper.
This card definitely has shine!!!  I wish the pictures did it justice!  It is so shiny in real life with the foil trees, red foil paper and shiny silver ribbon!  there's a bit of sparkle in there as well with the red glimmer paper.
It's such a simple card but packs a ton of punch with all the shine!


This is the first time I've been able to participte in the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I'm excited!


Here's a list of my supplies....
Stamps: Among the Branches, Happy Hour
Ink: Cucumber Crush
Paper: White, Cucumber Crush, Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Red Foil, Red Glimmer
Accessories: 1/4" silver ribbon, Circle die, Tiny Tag punch, 1/8" circle punch

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Gold and Black Christmas Deer ~ #226


Hello stampers!  It's time for another Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge!  We have a color challenge this time selected by me!  I'm a big fan of these elegant and regal colors together.  


I chose to go with the retired set {Christmas Deer}.  This deer head is a big favorite of mine and I love to pull it out to use any chance I get!  I love to do it up in sparkle as well!
For this one I stamped it with Versamark ink, embossed it with heat and stick powder and sprinkled it with gold glitter.  Isn't it just wonderful!
I love the contrast of the cracked looking Wonderland DSP.  
I flanked each end of this step card with a strip of Gold Foil Vellum.
I finished it off with a gold embossed "Merry Christmas", gold brads, and gold cord.


I hope you find time to play along with this fun challenge!  Remember, Hand Stamped Sentiments is a two week challenge, so you can play multiple times if you'd like!

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny


Thursday, November 26, 2015

Simple Country Snowflake ~ CCMC383


Hello stampers and Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much to be thankful for as I'm sure most do!  One thing on my list is I'm thankful to be part of the Create With Connie and Mary team.  I've loved this challenge site since I first started  blogging a few years back.  I was so excited to be chosen to be on such a spectacular team! 
Let's get on with this week's challenge......a versatile sketch!


I went the country route using the dotted paper from Merry Moments DSP stack and burlap ribbon.  I embossed the medium sized snowflake from {Flurry of Wishes} with white embossing powder after it was stamped on Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  I fussy cut it out as well.  I stamped the biggest snowflake from that same set right onto the DSP with Cherry Cobbler ink and stamped the sentiment the same way.  I topped it all off with a Very Vintage designer button tied with linen thread.  Iwas  really wishing I had one of those cute wooden snowflakes to embellish with, but mine have been on backorder forever!!!!  Oh well, you make due with what you've got, I guess!



I hope everyone enjoys this holiday with family and friends and here's to a full tummy!

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Jingle Bells Caroler ~ CCMC382

Hello!  Another Thursday has rolled around and that means another great Create with Connie and Mary challenge.  This week's challenge is a fabulous color trio.  I was stumped when I first looked at this trio and have been on a roll with Christmas cards....and these don't seem like Christmas colors...

We Wish You a Merry Christmas:

And then I saw this little dude on Pinterest.  Hmmmm.  I thought he could look cute done up in the challenge trio.  Once I got going my little caroler came together fairly quickly!  I decided to use gold instead of Delightful Dijon on my card, too.


I made a little guide to show the punches and dies I used.  I'm sorry it's so crude, but I'm by no means computer savvy at all.  :)


You get the idea though!  His top hat was just a plain rectangle that I angled in slightly with my scissors.  His nose is the tiniest circle punch from the Owl Builder punch and his cheeks are a regular standard hole paper punch.  
The notes on his music sheet came from {Jingle All The Way}, as well as the sentiment.
For not loving this color combo to start out with, I think my creation turned out pretty well!  

Here's a list of my supplies....
Stamps: Jingle All the Way
Ink: Black, Island Indigo, White craft
Paper: Island Indigo, Elegant Eggplant, Gold Glimmer, Chocolate Chip, Black, White, Blushing Bride 
Accessories: Woodlands EF, Deco Labels Framelits, Snow Friends Framelits, 3/4", 1', 1/8" hole punches, Owl Builder punch, Dimensionals

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny




Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Joyful and Funky ~ HHS225


Happy Tuesday stampers!  Hand Stamped Sentiments has a brand new sketch ready for you to play along with!  These challenges go for two weeks so you have plenty of time to play....even enter multiple times if you'd like!
My card started by using this funky, cute poinsettia that was laying on my desk, discarded from another project!  I love being able to use these kinds of items!  This made this card come together REALLY fast!  To make the flower I stamped the flower with black ink on Real Red cardstock.  Next, I stamped the inside of the flower in Versamark ink and embossed it with Melon Mambo EP.  I fussy cut the red flower out, stamped a second flower on Cucumber Crush and mounted the red/pink flower on top of the second, with only the leaves showing.  Didn't it turn out bold and beautiful!  
I also love combining these bright colors with black.  I think it makes such a nice contrast.  The silver sparkle circle is also a discard from another project!


I used Cucumber Crush lace ribbon and Strawberry Slush ruffle trim for the vertical element of the sketch. 
The greeting is from {Holly Jolly Greetings} and the die cut "joy" is from last years snowflake card die set.  


Make sure you hop over to HHS #225 and check out the other designers amazing samples of this fun sketch!
Here's a list of my supplies.....
Stamps: Reason for the Season, Holly Jolly Greetings
Ink: black, Versamark, Cucumber Crush
Paper: Cucumber Crush, Real Red, Strawberry Slush, Winter Wonderland DSP, Silver glimmer, white
Accessories: Snowflake Card die, rhinestones, Cucumber Crush lace ribbon, Strawberry Slush trim


Thursday, November 12, 2015

Pretty Pink Poinsettia ~ CCMC381 & Merry Monday179


Happy Thursday stampers!  It's time for another Create with  Connie and Mary sketch Challenge!  I flipped the sketch on it's side.
Oh my, my, my how I love the soft colors with the white sparkle!!!!  I was totally inspired by the photo over at Merry Monday 179


I stamped and embossed two poinsettias from {Reason for the Season} with white EP.  I fussy cut them out, colored on the back of the top flower and mounted them together with dimensionals.  I love the super subtle color on the flower along with the delicate lace trim and the girly white glitter ribbon.  The little dots of Iridescent Ice glimmer paper add just a bit more pizzazz to the whole project.


Make sure you take a gander at all the other amazing projects over at the Create with Connie and Mary blog!  We've got a super batch of talented designers on this team!

Here's a list of my supplies....
Stamps: Reason for the Season
Ink: Blushing Bride, Mint Macron, Versamark
Paper: Mint Macron, Blushing Bride, Naturals DSP stack, Iridescent Ice glimmer, Vellum, White
Accessories: 1 3/8"circle punch, White EP, Mint Macron Lace ribbon, White glitter ribbon

Thanks for taking a peek and have a blessed day!
Jenny