Be sure to check this week’s BirthdayTheme on Blogger’s Challenge list HERE.  Some awesome talent to be viewed.

Stamps, are from Innovative Stamp Creations - Woman Around the World and Scrapbook Words.  The images at the bottom of the card are from Stampin Up.  I used a background implementing the Alcohol Ink Float technique from Pat Stamps Technique Junkie newsletter.  The inks used are Ranger’s Alcohol Inks..Love those inks.

The pinkish swirls are from Nestabilities..ooohhh they are fun to use to accent a card. See Elaines photo bucket with all her new products.

Thanks for stopping by

Connie

My Stampin Up website:  conniepaxman.stampinup.net

Just a short post about Stampin Up’s Water Color Crayons

I received another newsletter today from Craft Critique, they did an  awesome spread on Stampin Up’s water-color crayons.

Just a short post to let you all know, click here and be sure to scroll down to the next post, to read the critique on this wonderful product.

Visit my Stampin Up Website at:   www.conniepaxman.stampinup.net

Please note:

 The online catty is in PDF format, it takes long time to download.  Don’t despair; as, this is only for the interim period between the launch of the new Fall/Winter catty and online ordering.  Yes, online ordering is coming to Stampin Up.

Have a great day!

Connie

I am excited to share with my readers; and, anyone coming upon my blog, a fantastic site on "unsolicted opinions on the subject of Crafts."  I subscribe to this blog and always appreciate their hard work and expertise to explore this everchanging market.

 Tonight,  I opened up my e-mail to find an interesting report on; "the testing of different brands of colored pencils, by Mary Chong."  Viola,  Stampin Up came up shining and given the head nod.  Craft Critique is my newspaper/bible; and, allows me to keep up with all the new crafting products making debut on the market.  Click here to view this report and be sure to scroll down the page to see their test results of different brands of pencils. 

Visit my Stampin Up website…at  www.conniepaxman.stampinup.net  A brand new catty is online and a whole lotta exciting products and awesome promotions. 

 Please feel free to call me for the new Stampin Up Fall/Winter catalogue

Thanks for stopping by

Connie

Check out my new Stampin Up Website at:   www.conniepaxman.stampinup.net

I now have a Stampin Up Website, please click on the link to view all promotions and what’s coming this summer.  Feel free to call me, if you have any last minute orders before the Fall Winter catalogue retires or if you would like a new catty.

To be launched later this month:

An exciting "First Time Ever"  Promotion on new stamp sets.   Also to be revealed, new products for home decor; and, you will be able to purchase through Stampin Up the new "Big Shot" die cut machine along with templates, dies and a carry bag…New  "In Colors "  and much more.  Check my calender, on my Stampin Up website, towards the end of August if you are interested in seeing new products or taking my classes.

My latest Card:

 Sympathy cards are not always the occasion that one desires to be creating for, but a reality of life.   This card was done using a technique from Pat Stamps Technique Junkie newsletter called  Alcohol Ink Float.  I used Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks and Stampin Up’s fabulous 140lb water color paper. I went on a bender and made about 50 backgrounds..a very addicting technique. 

Stamp Sets are  Stampin Up:  Close as a Memory, Pretty Petals and Boho Backgrounds.

Inks: Tim Holtz Alochol Inks, AND  Stampin Up Craft Inks:  Wisper White, Elegant Eggplant and Almost  Amythest.

Embellishments:   Prima Flowers, Bazzill Brads and Stampin Up’s Word- Window punch.   The images are stamped in Craft Ink and embossed in clear Embossing Powder. 

Cardstock:  Stampin Up:  Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant and Watercolor paper.  I softened some of the colors with White craft ink on the Certainly Celery Cardstock  using a stamp from Boho Backgrounds. A technique I love to use if I find the Cardstock is too bold.

Thanks for Stopping by, hope all of you are having a great Summer 

Hugs

Connie

 Another Blogger’s Challenge Card.  This challenge involved any "Resist Technique".  Emboss Resist is one of my favorites.  The background was done using Luna Lights paints, it was a little bright and conflicting with the flowers, so I brayered over top with Stampin Up Going Grey Ink. The flowers were embossed with White Embossing powder.

The Verse is a stamp from Stampin Up Occasions Mini, and the flowers are "Big and Wild Things" from Gelatins. The scan does not show the card justice in real life.

Click here to see more wonderful and stunning cards created by Blogger’s Challenge players.

Thanks for looking

Connie

This card was created "just for fun", as it involved learning new techniques.    All stamps are from Innovative Stamp Creations.  Elaine Seip, of Integrity Designs is the Canadian Vendor for this stamp line.  Mosey on over to her store to see the wonderful stamps and inks that Elaine carries.

This particular stamp sheet is called "Summer Elements", and the words were from various stamp sheets. 

Debbie Gimbel is the founder of the Gamasol Coloring technique, view her tutorial here.  Debbie, is a very talented artist, and shares so much of her exceptional skills with the stamping community.

The background for this card was so much fun. A new technique from Pat’s Stamps Technique Newsletter, the June issue.  The technique was called Alcohol Ink Float.  I can tell you that I used Ranger Alcohol inks.  I went on a bender and made about 50 backgrounds.  Very addicting techniques.  Click here to see Ranger’s Inks in Elaine’s store.

Cardstock used:   Stampin Up - Ultra Smooth White, Water Color Cardstock, Old Olive and Basic Black

On a Personal Note:

My blog will be a little slow for a while,  I am so excited to share, with my fellow crafting friends, my good news.  My daughter Lizzy,  son-in-law Vaughn and grandson Aiden are moving back home  from Calgary Alberta. Yes, there is a mass amount of people moving to Weyburn,Saskatchewan.  Grandma is beaming and thrilled to the point of no return.  But, this involves my renovating the farm house, and moving everything out.  I might add that the men have graced the grounds and house with a similar theme to "Sanford and Sons".  I do have my work cut out for me lol.  I thought women were the collectors.  The entire place re-defines the meaning of "Metal Mania". 

Thanks for stopping by,

Connie

The card shown, is one I made was for my little buddy Chloe.  It was a very special celebration for her and she was more beautiful than the image on her card.  Now I must add, that Chloe is one of my most enthusiastic pupils..Every day and I mean everyday ,she asks, "when are we going to Scrapbook."  An up and coming artist she will be; and I can envision her as a collector like the rest of us..lol  What are we creating.

 I used a Cuttlebug folder, Floral Fantasy for the background; and, brayered Versa Mark over the embossed raised embossed image, very carefully with a light touch.   Next, I added Irridescent Highlights embossing powder and heat set.  

 I was  at a loss for an image for the perfect stamp.. I realized I did not posess any princess stamps..no..

The image of the princess is from the wrapping paper I used for her gift.  It was a perfect fit,  as little girls are so passionate for sparkle, glitter and princesses.   Dollar store alpha’s, and bling were so fitting for this card, lending a nice personal touch.

 Cardstock and the punch used for the corners are from Stampin Up.  I cut the oval templates with Creative Memories cutting tools.  If I were to do this style of card again, I would pull the oval matting into the centre more and raise the photo corner level with the embossed matt.  Funny how things pop out url and you see your mistakes more clearly.

Thanks for stopping by

Connie

Here is a card for my Weekly Bloggers Challenge Group.  Click here to see many beautiful creations by other Bloggers.

This stamp is from Paper Bag Studios , I love the saying on this image. It says "Success is not a destination that you ever reach,  success is the quality of your journey.  I made this card for my husbands birthday. 

Cardstock used is from Stampin Up.  I had fun with the backgrounds,  simply distressing using different Techniques.  I was soooooo… excited to use my new Distress Inks from Tim Holtz..  See Tim’s blog for ideas using these cool inks.  The "Cut and Dry Knibbs were an awesome tool to colorize the image on the glossy cardstock.  Whoaa….I do need more practice though. 

Hello fellow stampers, bloggers and customers.  I finally mounted this card.  Love, love  Riot of Petals from the Stampin Up, Spring Summer Collection.  This stamp is a background stamp and can be viewed on page 136.  

Don’t you love the vines?   I went crazy when I saw the set  "Essence of Love" in the current Stampin Up - Occasions , mini catalogue.  This set can be viewed on page four.  Click here for the on-line catties.  The final date to order this set is June 30th.  Don’t  snooze, or you may miss the chance to purchase all the wonderful stamps in this catalogue.   Both sets, lend versatility for both cardmaking and  scrapbooking.  I cannot wait to do a Scrapbook page combining the images.

This card was fairly easy and a little bit of a twist to brayering on the background.  The technique is from Pat’s Stamps Technique Junkies 2005 Newsletter.  A  must-have subscription for all stampers.     I embossed using Stampin Up Craft Black Ink and clear Embossing Powder on Very Vanilla Cardstock.  I brayered overtop using the Pumpkin Patch spectrum pad.  Again, can’t tell you all of it..you must be a subscriber..check out her site here.

To color the flowers, I used my aqua painter with clear water and removed the colors from the spectum pad.  With light touch of hand and I mean light,  I used aqua painter and reinker colors in a painting well to color inside the flower image.

  Note:  Look closely,  I used Yoyo Yellow to highlight the black vines.  Again, the scan does not do the card justice..

If you want to see more samples of these two sets, grab a cup of coffee and stop by SplitCoaststampers, click here and here on the Stampin Up gallery. Yikes… ooohhh laaa..laaa some beautiful work on this site, lots of wonderful talent to be viewed.

Note to my customers:  I will be placing an order next Tuesday, don’t snooze on these wonderful sets in the Occasions Mini.

Thanks for stopping by

Connie

Here is my card for this week’s Blogger’s challenge. Check out the link to see some amazing work. 

I am so running behind and really wanted to do a different card. I can see I need to play more with how to arrange the Petals.   Our challenge ,was to use the colors Pink, Turquoise and Green Galore.   The Petals and word Sweet are stamps from Technique Tuesday.  The flourishes are stamps from  Fancy Pants.  On the pink background, I subdued the brightness using white craft ink and  Stampin Up’s Dotted wheel.  The curvey shape backgrounds were cut using Creative Memories templates. 

The Petals are embossed with white embossing powder on Cardstock Vellum.  The word "Sweet’ is embossed with Turquoise Craft and clear EP also on Cardstock Vellum.   I colored on the backside to pop out the image  with Markers and Blender Pens.

Thanks for stopping by

connie