Do I have an obsession with wreaths?  Probably.  No matter how I try and talk myself out of buying a wreath set deep inside I know I will.  So get ready for lots of wreath cards featuring the Cottage Wreaths bundle.  Starting with a summertime wreath.

Love this combination of Polished Pink, Granny Apple Green and Basic White.

Polished Pink

Granny Apple Green

 

The wreath was inked in Granny Apple Green ink, stamped on Granny Apple Green cardstock, and cut using the Country Wreath dies.   The Polished Pink bow was also cut using  the Country Wreath dies.  The cut lines on the bow is such a wonderful detail.  The flowers are from the Hippo dies (Sale-A-Bration).  Can you guess what the centers of the flowers are?  I used the Pearlized Enamel Effects to create the centers.  The Pearlized Enamel does take a few minute to dry.  It is easy to use and create little accent dots.  You get 3 colors (Black, Real Red & White) of the Pearlized Enamel Effects.  This is going to be a fun embellishment.

I embossed the Basic White layer using the Gingham EF.  I mean gingham is perfect for summer.  The sentiment is from the Pansy Patch stamp set.   I love this sentiment since it fits a multitude of situations. The label was cut using the Sending dies and notice the little Pearlized Dot on either side of the sentiment.  This is a simple card that I hope will brighten the recipient's day.

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy July 1st!  It is a big day!  The 2022 July-December Mini Catalog is now live AND so is the 2022 July-August Sale-A-Bration.  If you do not have these catalogs and want them, please let me know.

One of the cutest Sale-A-Bration choices is the Hippest Hippos.  What that means is  during Sale-A-Bration (Juy-August )with a qualifying purchase ($50 in the US) you can choose to receive the Hippest Hippos stamp set.  Another Sale-A-Bration choice is the coordinating Hippo Dies.  Yes you can get the Hippo dies ( 19 dies!) free with a qualifying purchase ($50 in the US).  

Here I paired the sweet hippo with the Dots and Spots die.  This is a standalone die and I am currently obsessed with it. I used it HERE, on another sample using the Hippest Hippos stamp set and dies. I also used the Sending Smiles bundle for the sentiments.  I am so happy to have the large Sending sentiment and pairing it with lots of smaller sentiments.   The scattered Melon Mambo flowers were cut  using a die from the Sending dies.

Stamping Tip:  I like to stamp the hippos on Smoky Slate CS.  This way I do not have to color in her cheeks or chest.  I use the Smoky Slate Blends to color around her face and body.  I also used the light Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends to give her a manicure and pedicure.

The tiny flower behind the hippo's ear is a die in the Hippo Dies set.  It is just the perfect size!  I used lots of  the smallest sized Rhinestones for the centers of  the flowers.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to let me know if would like a copy of the 2022 July-Dec Mini catalog and/or 2022 July-August Sale-A-Bration catalog,

Need ideas for masculine cards? 

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (13 tutorials!!)  as a thank you.  You can also purchase the tutorial bundle for $15.00.  Please contact me (sharon@astheinkdries.com) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

It is Thursday which means it is time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  

This week the challenge is a color combination.  The colors are Orchid Oasis, Balmy Blue, and So Saffron.

Here's what I used to make this card.

• Sentiment is from the Sending Smiles set stamped in Orchid Oasis.  
• The Stitched Greenery die was used on the Orchid Oasis card stock.
• The Basic White foliage was cut using the Forever Flourishing dies.
• The Hippo Dies (Sale-a-Bration choice) was used to cut the 3 different flowers.
• The Dark Orchid Oasis Stampin' Blends was used to color the rhinestones.

Before I made this card in Orchid Oasis, So Saffron, and Balmy Blue, the correct colors for the challenge I made it in this combination.

Can you guess the colors I used?  I got the Balmy Blue and the So Saffron except I used Starry Sky instead of  Orchid Oasis.  It took me quite a while to figure out what I had done and then I needed to make the card again using the correct color combination.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created,

Welcome to the Paper Pumpkin Possibilities Blog Hop! We are all fans of this monthly crafting kit and want to share with you our enthusiasm for this box of fun and creativity. The beauty of the Paper Pumpkin kit is that you can follow the directions provided in the kit to make the projects as they were designed, or use the supplies as a starting point and let your creativity run wild. On this hop we will be sharing lots of ideas with you on how to use the June 2022 Pick of the Crop kit.  This kit contains the supplies to create 9 cards and a muslin card sized tote.  The tote is perfectly sized to hold a gift of cards.  

I needed to package a little gift and thought this card base would make a cute box.   To decorate the box I also used 2 sprigs of lavender, a tag and twine from the kit.  I used a  few Iridescent Rhinestones that are not part of the kit and a Night of Navy ink pad.  

• Starting at the fold along the printed card front, score at 1" and 3" and then trim of 1/4" from the front edge
• Starting at the fold along the solid blue back of the card, score at 2" and 2-1/2".  Cut on the 2-1/2" score line.
• Along the bottom edge of the card, score at 1".
• From the bottom edge of the card cut on the score line up to the 1" score line. 
• Cut off the 1/2" tab.

Here's what I packaged in the box...lavender soap!  Pretty perfect huh?  

Now it is time for you to hop on to see what Charmaine has created for you with the Pick of the Crop Paper Pumpkin kit.

Thanks for stopping by!

Did you know that there is an Alice in Wonderland Day?  There is and it is the festivity we are featuring on the Festive Friday Challenge. What is the Festive Friday Challenge?  The Festive Friday Challenge is a bi-weekly challenge that has an Inspo List.  What is an Inspo List?  Every challenge has an Inspo list that has 10 items on it and those 10 items were inspired by a particular holiday, celebration or festivity.  You need to use 3 items from the Inspo list on your project.  You do not have to incorporate the festivity into your challenge but if you want to, you can.  Here is a link to more information about how to participate in the challenge.

This was a really hard one for me.  I scoured my stamps to see what might work and in the end I will admit I kind of cheated.  The 3 I picked from the Inspo list: hearts, holes, and book. 

Are you thinking, I see the hearts and the holes but where is the book?  So here is where I cheated a little, it is a book fold!  Are you rolling your eyes?  Seriously this was a tough one for me!  The book fold-4-1/4" x 11" Basic Black CS scored at 4-1/2" & 5-1/2".  Between the 4-1/2" and 5-1/2" score lines I glued that 1 "strip down.  This creates the "binding". 

Let's talk about everything else I used on this card.  The little hearts were cut from the 2022-24 In Color Glimmer Paper using a die from the Teacup dies.  The holes were cut from  Basic White cardstock using the Dots & Spots die.  The pretty pink bow is from the Mini Pocket Envelope die and cut from the Glimmer Paper.  The sentiment is from the Sending Smiles set and cut using the Sending dies (buy them as a bundle and save).   The sentiment was stamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed using White Embossing Powder.

Now let's talk about that Hippo!  This dancing hippo is from a Sale-A-Bration stamp set called Hippest Hippos and was cut out using another Sale-A-Bration choice, Hippo dies!  The stamp set is a free gift during Sale-A-Bration with a $50 order.  There are 7 stamps in the set, 3 hippos and 4 sentiments.  The coordinating Hippo dies (19 dies!) are also a free gift with another $50 order.  I think they are simply adorable.  Sale-A-Bration starts on July 1 and August 31.  If you want a Sale-A-Bration catalog and /or a July-December Mini Catalog send me an email (USA only please).  

The hippo was stamped on Smoky Slate cardstock using a Tuxedo Black Memento pad.  I did a little coloring using a Light Smoky Slate Stampin' Blend and Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends.  She really is sweet.

Here you can see the book fold a little better.  I also added another strip of "holes" and hearts to the inside of the card.  Now it is time to check out what the rest of the Festive Friday Design team created.  

FF #0112  Alice in Wonderland Day

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert- you are here!

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Joanne James

Thanks for stopping by!

It is Thursday and time for another Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.

This week it is a sketch challenge.  I love this sketch and it is one that I use a lot.

I found that using the Stylish Shapes dies makes it super easy to create a perfect little foursome of squares.

The only stamping on this card is the sentiments which is from the Through it Together set.  The sentiment is on a banner cut from the Stylish Shapes dies in Starry Sky ink.  The little Parakeet Party dot is from the 2022-24 In Color Matte Decorative Dots.

The card base is Starry Sky CS and the DSP layers are from the Butterfly Kisses DSP.  The 4 butterflies were also fussy cut from the DSP (Designer Series Paper).  Each butterfly is on a Basic White square cut using the smallest square Stylish Shapes dies). All of the butterfly squares fit on a Starry Sky square cut using the #4 (#1 being the smallest square die) Stylish Shapes die. 

Inside of the card is a Basic White CS layer.  I also added a strip of the DSP and another butterfly cut from the Butterfly Kisses DSP.  

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created using the sketch,

Here's the link to the 2022-23 Annual catalog.

Here's a link to the Last Chance list for retiring products from the 2022 January-June Mini Catalog.

Here's a link to the Kits Collection - Remember all kits are Buy One Get One 1/2 Off!

Please ket me know if you have any questions,

It is Thursday and time for a new Create with Connie & Mary Challenge!

This week it is a color challenge.

I went round and round on what to use for this challenge.  I finally landed on the Party Puffin set.   I mean you have heard of Night of Navy colored puffins, right?

The puffin is stamped in Night of Navy ink and his beak and feet are colored using Pale Papaya and Sweet Sorbet Stampin' Blends.   The little cake again have those colors on it and some Night of Navy frosting.   I haven't used the three little things template in a while and it is one of my favorite layouts.  I am happy to have little square dies again!  These little squares are part of the Stylish Shapes dies and are the smallest squares.   I did fussy cut the images and I will tell you that they are not the easiest to cut out, especially around the candle flames.  Here's the trick I use to help cover up my fussy cutting mishaps.  In the areas that are difficult to cut closely along the line I use a marker to cover up the white. 

The DSP background is from the In Color 2022-24 6" x 6" Assortment and behind it is a Night of Navy CS layer.  The card base is Basic White cut at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4".  The pretty white ribbon is the  White 3/8" Glittered Organdy Ribbon.  The tiny Sweet Sorbet dots are from the 2022-24 In Color Matte Dots.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for the challenge,

Welcome to the Creativity Abounds Blog Hop!  We are a group of international Stampin' Up!® demonstrators.  We hop together on the third Wednesday of every month.  Our hops focus around a particular bundle, holiday, occasion or product suite.  We also do a quarterly stamp camp and have one coming up July 22nd  & 23rd (Hues of Happiness Suite).  Every month we also create a tutorial bundle.  This month the tutorial bundle features masculine cards.  The projects featured in this blog hop are different than the projects in the tutorial bundle.  We want to share lots of ideas with you.

I chose  the Whiskey Business stamp set.  My son likes Old Fashioneds so it was a perfect stamp set for me to make cards for him.  I paired the stamps with the He's the Man DSP.  If you make masculine cards then this pack of paper makes it easy to create handsome and fun cards.  

I started by stamping and coloring the decanter and glasses.  I used Smoky Slate, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Pool Party Stampin' Blends.  I fussy cut the images out.  I used a Blending Brush and added a little Pool Party to the Basic White square (Stylish Shapes-largest square).   The decanter was adhered using Multipurpose Liquid Glue and the glasses were adhered using Stampin' Dimensionals.  The sentiment was perfectly cut out using the Sending dies.

The Early Espresso card base measures 4-1/4" x 11" (10.5 cm x 29.7 cm) and scored at 2-1/4", 5-1/2" (6 cm, 14.8 cm).  The front flap folds back to create a pocket for a gift card or cash.  This is a quick and easy gift card holder and might come in handy if you are still looking for something for Father's Day.

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog hop for even more masculine card ideas.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

Product List

Whiskey Business Cling Stamp Set (English) [152550]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [147107]
Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154897]	Cajun Craze Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154879]	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154883]	Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154894]
Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154904]	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	He's The Man 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [159068]
Sending Dies (English) [159271]	Blending Brushes [153611]

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (13 tutorials!!)  as a thank you.  You can also purchase the tutorial bundle for $15.00.  Please contact me (sharon@astheinkdries.com) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  This month our theme is Summertime Blues.  Stampin' Up! has so many beautiful blues that we decided a blog hop would be a great way to show them off!   

Let me say I kind of surprised myself by using Balmy Blue and Night of Navy!  Balmy Blue is not a color I reach for very often but I now I am not sure why.  I used the Layering Hollyhocks die and cut the outline out in Night of Navy and the bolder die in Balmy Blue.  If you are wondering why the centers of the hollyhocks look a little darker, I colored the with a Balmy Blue Stampin' Blend marker and also brushed on some Wink of Stella.  I stamped the 3 flowers in Night of Navy ink.   I made a couple of pencil marks using the dies as a guide of where I needed to stamp.   The stamps really make a difference.  Using a Blending Brush I blended a little bit of Night of Navy ink around the area the flowers would go.  If you look closely you will also see some white splatters.  I watered down some White Craft Ink refill and did some splattering using a Water Painter.

The sentiment and the label is from the Sending Smiles bundle.  I colored a couple of rhinestones using the Dark Night of Navy Stampin' Blends.  Inside I added another flower from the Heavenly Hollyhocks set.    This card  is another example of the Heavenly Hollyhocks flower.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the other stops on the hop!

Product List

Heavenly Hollyhocks Bundle (English) [158880]	Sending Smiles Bundle (English) [158707]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]	Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154830]
Night Of Navy Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154891]	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill [101780]	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]
Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982]	Blending Brushes [153611]	Water Painters [151298]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]
Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220]