Just to let you know all my faithful subscribers, my blog has moved over to

www.shadesofstamping.blogspot.com

I hope you can stop by and if you wish to you will have to subcribe again..

hugs

Connie

shadesofstamping.blogspot.com/           (click here for my new blog)

Hello to friends of my blog..I am posting to let you know about my new ventures with Blogger.

I have strong attachments to this blog and I am keeping it for a while; but, most of my posts with be directed to my new address listed above.

Note:  To all my blog subscribers you will have to subscribe again on my new blog..so sorry, but I was unable to transfer subscribers.

On my next post to this blog, you may want to unsubscribe, as most of my posts will be about re-directing traffic. 

I have some new features:  a cute little Widget  Shop Stampin Up, which links to my Stampin Up Website.  Music, (hope you like my taste in music).

Check under " Links "  I have added link called "My Gallery", also added is a "slideshow"  at the very bottom of my blog..All, of which, are still a work-in-progress.

I would be so thrilled if you visited me at my new place, see ya over there soon…www.shadesofstamping.blogspot.com

connie

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all busy stampers and scrapbookers.. I had a wonderful Xmas this year, surrounded by friends and family.  Dear Mr. weather was not so kind to so many of us across the country. 

Here are a couple samples of a Christmas card and some Wedding Invitations I did a while back.  The stamps are from Stampin Up -  Baroque Motifs and Holy Triptych. 

I have been busy working on Scrapbook layouts and photography and yes constructing  another blog.  I may be MIA for another week..it’s the new year and change is approaching.  I hope, very soon, to share with you all the new innovative and creative challenges I have been working on.

Every Day Life - Photography

I enjoy creating word art/journaling on photographs.. A picture of my "oh so cute" grandson.  This photo really depicts his personality.

I took this picture with a 50D MM Nikon Lense.  I really love the soft look and depth of field you can achieve with this lense.

 Thankyou for visiting my blog…stay tuned for specials and the New Stampin Up Spring/Summer 2009 catalogue.

connie

Lisa came up with another awesome color challenge prompting us to use one of the new " In Colors"  Baja Breeze.

Take a tour on over to the Blogger’s challenge list here and see more wonderful work.

I decided to do something with less stamping and more paper pieceing.  A wonderful excuse to use my " Big Shot" machine.

I rarely case an idea from the catty, but could not resist this sample on page #27 of Stampin Up’s Holiday mini catalogue.

 I used  the large Circle Scallop and Bird with Leaves and Flower Bigz dies.  All of these dies can be viewed in the Holiday mini; or, on my Stampin Up Website, under the category of  Dies, then click on BigZ dies.  You can also click on the " Shop Now" link on my sidebar.

Colors for this card:  are Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turqoise, Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper is from " Patterns Designer Series Papers - Baja Breeze.  I stamped the Turquoise background using white craft ink and a wonderful little set called "Boho Backgrounds".  

Thanks for stopping by

connie

Making this name tag  was a challenge for me.   This is definetely what I call my " Salad of Intentions".  I had pieces of this and that incorporated in a scurry.  You know how it is, when you are getting ready to go to a Scrapbooking Crop, so much to do and so little time.

The background chipboard was painted with Ranger Acrylic Sponge Daubers and edged with Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress ink.  I used Ranger Stickles on the flourish  after painting with Ranger Pigment ink.   Hope you can see the stickles also applied to my name. 

 The paper background was supposed to be for a Bandana Technique and I stamped with Stamper’s Anonymous " Tim Holtz" collection  Ornate Collages…I used an applicator to ink the background with Tim Holtz Distress inks before stamping. 

My name was done by using the Bigz Shot dies  " Essentials Alpha"  on a piece of stamped cardstock.   The flowers are from Maya Road…Trinkets Suede and Felt blossom.  Love those flowers.  The flourish and key are from Tim Holtz Ideology - Grunge Board Elements and Keys.  Wow, thats lots of inking and embellishing for me…I hope I can tackle some altered book covers now.

It was fun and challenging.

Thanks to all my subscribers and those stopping by for the wonderful comments left on my blog.  I really appreciate your responses.

connie

Just a quick note on a new addition to my blog.  See the tabs at the top of my blog; I added, Photography, another one of my passions..I will be uploading more pictures from time to time.

I am working on designing some sympathy cards; and unfortunately there always seems to be an occassion to give cards to family. ( Not the best scan of these cards and far more beautiful in IRL.)

I stamped the Flower and Angel on Stampin Up Cardstock Vellum, embossing in Black Pigment Ink made by Ranger and using clear embossing powder.   I love this technique of coloring on the backside with Stampin Up markers and Blender Pens;

The Angel is from a company called Stone House Stamps… (Vintage Angels)  feast your eyes on the beautiful work in the gallery.

The Flourish Flower and Crackle background are from Innovative Stamp Creations, the sheets are called:   Fancy Design and About Me. 

Take a browse of Elaine Seip’s photo bucket store " Integrity Designs"  she carries these stamps. Visit her Blog Here.

The Die Cut frame and corners are from Spellbinders and Provo Craft … wonderful accents for cards.

thanks for stopping by

connie

 Yes it has been a while since I posted and I wanted to share with you on National Digital Scrapbooking Day, my first digital creation.

 With the help of Jessica Sprague, I was able to breeze through my first layout without any frustration.

You rock !!…Jessica; and, thank you for the wonderful tutorials.  click here to see her fabulous classes.

What I love about digital scrapbooking, is it gives me more room for creativity.  I do love scrapbooking with real paper and pictures, but sometimes I love to play and not haul out the entire room.   I do find that I glean more ideas and ready for more challenges.

thanks for stopping by

connie

 I started this card with the intentions of a Fall theme, I guess I still want it to be summer.  Originally, I planned to create one of  Robin Beam’s  notorious "Bandana" techniques; and, decided to omit the white gel pen.

I began by applying with an applicatior ,"Tim Holtz" Distress Inks, onto the white glossy Cardstock.  I love these inks; they are intense, brilliant and fun to experiment with.  Very easy to achieve the feel of "color in motion".

 One of my little stamping contentions, is finding a black ink  that leaves a nice, solid impression on glossy cardstock.  I found, "Ranger’s"  Archival Black Ink gave me the best coverage.

I was in the mood for bold, bright, and big;  so after a thorough exploration of my stamps, I decided to use Gelatin’s " Big and Wild Things".  Ask me how long that took.  I have a lot of stamps.

I have a special scrapbooking store that is near and dear to me;  owned by a wonderful lady by the name of Jayme; called, Scrapbooking Fanatics.   Check out her store HERE.  Jayme carries GELATIN stamps and I believe the "Big and Wild Things" are out of stock at the moment.  Jayme informed me they are coming; and, more new Gelatin stamps will be added on her site.  Watch this store closely, as things go fast.  I also purchased my Basic Grey stamps from her, a nice addition to the Basic Grey paper line. 

Other stamps used -  Words:   Basic Grey - Two Scoops  "Sweet Sentiments", Basic Grey Ornamental - Flowers and the little vine at the bottom is from Stampin Up - Pocket Silhouettes.

 For one of the layers I used the Cuttlebug Embossing folder called "Dots".  Cardstock used was Stampin Up.

Thanks for stoppping by

Connie