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

 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

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

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

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

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 to fellow scrappers from sunny Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Yes, life if good, the wind has stopped blowing and it finally rained. A farmer’s wife is glowing.

This layout is of two special boys; our son and grandson. I wanted to capture the essence of their mischievous nature using tight head shots. The scan of this image does no justice to this layout. I really had trouble with white balance.

The background is Brocade Blue Cardstock from Stampin Up. The inside frame is double-sided patterned paper from KALEIDOSCOPE. To design my inside frame, I first cut PP in half and flipped to the opposite sides I was going show. I gently tacked them down on my matt to trace the template.

The plastic templates were made by EK Success, “Nouveau”, Make-a-Matt, from the creators of Border Buddy and Plan-a-Page. I am very glad I have kept all of these templates and can revive them into trendy scrapbooking styles.  There are many precut frames available in the market. I can save a few pennies cutting my own.

I outlined the edge of the frame with EK Success Broad tip Black marker. The white highlighting and dots were done using Stampin Up’s White Signo pen. I distressed the edges of word frames, stars and blue CS with Tim Holtz, Distress Ink: Black Soot. Tim Holtz distress ink lends a nice soft look when you want to soften the edges of your work.

Thanks for looking and if you like what you see, sign up on the left hand side in the subscriber box. More to come

Connie

Yes spring has sprung, and I had an urge to create something bright and different.  I fell in love with this new Spring/Summer 08 -  Stampin Up stamp set:  Morning Soft. Click here to see the set.

This style of technique was a little out of my comfort zone.   I wanted to use my Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks click here to see Tim’s Blog.

On Tim’s blog, I found a link, to an amazing tutorial:  using an aqua painter, alcohol inks and blending solution painting on clear acetate.  See link  scroll down the blog to March 3rd ( Clear Printables) for a stimulating treat using these inks. 

I wondered, why not stamp my image with Black Staz-on ink onto an overhead transparency, and color on the backside using this technique.    I did try the aqua painter and  it did not go according to plan. I would try this technique with a more open stamped image.  I finished painting with the alcohol inks using a long fine-haired brush, dipping from the colour alcohol inks and diluting with the blending solution in my painting well.

Cardstock:  So Saffron, Old Olive, Basic Black, Purely Pomegrante, and Ultra Smooth White. 

Stamp sets: BG Sanded, Morning Soft. The bird and butterfly were from the new Occassions Mini, "Live Your Dream" click here to view the set. 

Inks:  Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks, Stampin Up Craft Ink - So Saffron and Old Olive, Staz-On Black.

Accessories: Stampin Up Brads and Punches:  Word Window and Horizontal Slot.

Thanks for looking, images are copyright of Stampin Up, design copyright belongs to all the people who inspire me. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

Happy Easter and have a safe holiday

Connie