It is Thursday and time for a new Create with Connie & Mary Challenge!  The challenge changes every week and generally alternates between a sketch and a color challenge.  This week it is a color challenge.

What do you think?  It is a beautiful combination and definitely one I would not have come up with.  I hate to say it but Sahara Sand is just not a color I use.  That being said whenever I do use it I always wonder why I don't use it!  It really is a lovely color that seems to go with everything.  

I started with a Blackberry Bliss card base.  This is also a color that I do not naturally gravitate to and again it is beautiful.  The next layer is Soft Succulent and the top layer Sahara Sand.  The Sahara Sand layer was embossed using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder..  Isn't the wreath lovely using all 3 colors from the challenge?  The stamp set is the Cottage Wreaths, the coordinating Country Wreath dies which can be purchased as a bundle (save 10%).  One of my favorite dies from the Country Wreath dies is the bow.  Love the detail on the bow!  The thanks is from the Amazing Thanks die.  Love the look of the Soft Succulent shadow behind the Blackberry Bliss word.  

The inside of the card is dressed up with a layer of Soft Succulent CS and a Basic White CS layer.  I added a strip of Blackberry Bliss CS, a Sahara Sand die cut bow, and more images from the Cottage Wreaths stamp set.  

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

Are you on my mailing list?  I will be starting the 12 Weeks of the Holidays email series soon.  Each week you will receive a tutorial featuring a card and 3D project celebrating the holidays.  Sign up using the box on the right hand side of the blog.  

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 October 28 & 29th, Boughs of Holly Suite Collection.  Every month we create a tutorial bundle.  This month the tutorial bundle features Christmas.  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.

My project features the Merriest Moments stamp set, Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder, and the Snowflake Specialty Vellum.  The Merriest Moments stamp set and the Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder are returning favorites from the 2021 Holiday Mini Catalog.   These two products are easy to create with and make classic, beautiful cards.  

The card base is Thick Basic White CS.  The first layer is a piece of the Snowflake Specialty Vellum.  This piece has flocked white dots that resemble snow falling.  The beautiful Basic White frame was first die cut and then placed in the embossing folder to add all the other details.  It is quick and easy to do and the results look like you worked all day on them.  The poinsettias were stamped with Real Red and Crushed Curry ink and the die cut out.  The leaves were stamped in Shaded Spruce and die cut.  A few Red Rhinestones were added around the lovely sentiment to add a bit of sparkle.

I decided to make this an easel card.  I thought this would help show the vellum and also the beautiful frame.  This was easy to accomplish, all I did was add a score line to the front of the card at 2-1/4".  The trickiest part is to remember not to add adhesive to all of the vellum layer.  On the inside of the card I added a strip of the vellum and some leaves and berries.  The leaves and berries act as a stopper and creates the easel.

Now it is time for you to check out the rest of the hop!

Product List

Merriest Moments Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [156353] $22.00	Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder [156385] $39.00	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad [147088] $8.00	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $8.00
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [147087] $8.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $8.75	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $10.25	Snowflake 12 X 12 (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Vellum [159832] $10.00
Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924] $7.00

For all the information about the upcoming (October 28-9) Boughs of Holly stamp camp go HERE or contact me at sharonstamps@comcast.net.

My 12 Weeks of the Holidays email series starts soon! Sign up for my mailing list and receive 12 weeks of Holiday projects and tutorials.  

This Birthday Piggy and the coordinating Playful Piggy dies are just too darn cute.  You can get the dies now during the Perfect Partners promotion.  These coordinating dies are only available for a limited time and while supplies last.

I made this pocket card starting with a Tahitian Tide card base from the Tea Boutique Cards & Envelopes.  I cut the card base on the diagonal and applied a thin line of glue along the bottom edge.  For the right side of the pocket I cut a piece of Tahitian Tide DSP from the 2022-24 In Color DSP 4-1/4" x  5-1/2".  Cut the DSP on the diagonal.  Apply thin lines of glue along the outside edges to create the pocket. 

The Parakeet Party CS is measures 4" x 5-1/4" and the Basic White piece is 3-3/4" x 5".  These measurement can vary depending on how close to the edge you apply the glue to create the pocket.

This card again uses the Tea Boutique Cards and Envelopes as the base and the Tea Boutique DSP for the other side of the pocket.  The sentiment big hugs is from the Sending Smiles set.  I inked only  part of the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  This was  easy to do since it is a photopolymer stamp set.

Here is a quick video that shows how I created the card.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to join my mailing list.  The form  to sign up is on the right hand side of the blog.

It is time for another Festive Friday Challenge!  World Space Day  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  aka as an inspiration 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.

For my project I am using from the Inspo List, Night Sky, Ink Blending, and Stars.  

The Soft Suede card base was cut using the amazing Aspen Tree dies.  This chubby bird from the Perched In a Tree set is so cute.  I colored her using Balmy Blue, Soft Suede, and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends.  I am not sure if it is visible but she is covered in Wink of Stella.  For the coloring behind the trees I used the Blending Brushes and Balmy Blue, Starry Sky and Night of Navy ink.  The stars are from the Give it a Whirl dies cut from Very Vanilla Glimmer paper.  The banner and sentiment are from the Fond of Autumn bundle.  On either side of the sentiment are Night of Navy Solid Faceted Gems.

Inside I added a Soft Suede strip and a couple leaves cut using the Aspen Trees dies.

On the night sky I also flicked some Wink of Stella to add a little more shine to the ink blended background.  This picture shows a little more of the shimmer from the Wink of Stella.

FF #0118 World Space Week

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team.

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert-you are here

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Joanne James

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see your card in the Festive Friday Gallery!

It is Thursday which means it is time for a new Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a fun sketch challenge.

What a great sketch!  I knew I wanted to use the Rustic Harvest DSP ,again.  Yes, I also used it for my card last night.   What I really like about this DSP is that on one side the designs and colors are very Autumn and the other side it is black & white designs.  This makes the DSP very versatile and not just for the fall.

I started with a Basic Black CS base and added the DSP strips on top of the card base.  I left a little space between each panel.  I thought it made each pattern stand out a little more.  The beautiful banner is from the Hello Harvest bundle.  I used Versamark ink to stamp the sentiment, covered it with black embossing powder, and then heat embossed it.  The Mossy Meadow gems on the banner is from the Solid Faceted Gems pack.  I am sorry that they look black in the picture, they  really are Mossy Meadow.  I thought it needed something else so I added a Textural Element .  I colored the Textural Element using Cajun Craze and Mossy Meadow Stampin' Blends.  Love that I could customize them to coordinate with the rest of the card.

I added a strip of DSP and fussy cut one of the pumpkins to finish up the inside of the card.  

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 Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  We are a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators who come together on the 14th of the month and share projects focused around a theme.  This month we are sharing projects focused around a Color palette.  

Cajun Craze

Crushed Curry

Garden Green

Soft Suede

Isn't this a beautiful Fall palette?  It certainly gives me all the Autumn feels.

 I am not really ready for it to be fall but i do like how this card turned out. This was a simple and fairly quick card.  I cut a 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"  piece of  Rustic Harvest DSP.   I used Blending Brushes and blended in the colors from the above palette.  The leaves were stamped and cut using the Hello Harvest bundle.  The leaves were first stamped in Crushed Curry ink and then I tapped the different colors on to the stamp using the Blending Brushes.  Just like in nature no two leaves will look exactly alike.  The sentiment is from the Fond of Autumn set.  I added both some Linen thread and a Rustic Metallic Dot before layering in on to a piece of Cajun Craze DSP from the He's the Man DSP and then a Crushed Curry card base.  In retrospect I should have just used a piece of Cajun Craze CS instead of the DSP.  

Inside I added more DSP and leaves.  I had a wider strip of the DSP (1") leftover and just added it to the bottom of the card liner.  I usually add a smaller strip to decorate the inside of the card but I do like how this looks too.

I will add another sentiment inside when I am send the card.  Now it is time for you to hop along and check out the rest of the hop.

Thanks for stopping by!

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a color challenge.  

I have had this idea in my head and thought it just might work for this color challenge.

Here's how I made this card.

• Use Blending Brushes to apply Orchid Oasis, So Saffron, and Pear Pizzazz ink to a piece of Basic White CS.
• Cut butterflies in Basic White using the Brilliant Wings die set.
• Cut the largest frame from the Fabulous Frame dies in Basic White.
• Arrange and attach butterflies to the frame using glue dots or Multipurpose Liquid Glue.
• Apply Stampin' Dimensionals, Foam Adhesive Sheets, or Foam Adhesive Strips to the frame.  
• Attach small piece of Stampin' Dimensionals, Foam Adhesive Sheets or Foam Adhesive Strips to the butterflies.  The next time I make this card I will cut the butterflies with a piece of Foam Adhesive Sheets behind the Basic White CS.  This would be easier than trying to hide the small pieces of foam adhesive behind the butterflies.
• Remove the protective backings and attach the frame to the So Saffron CS.
• Use adhesive and attach the So Saffron to the Orchid Oasis card base.
• Stamp the sentiment from the Potted Geraniums stamp set in Versamark on Orchid Oasis CS.  Sprinkle with White Embossing powder and heat emboss.
• Die cut the sentiment using a Stylish Shapes banner die.  Attach to the card front using Mini Glue Dots.
• Color a few Iridescent Rhinestones with the Dark Orchid Oasis Stampin' Blend and attach them to the card.
• Adhere  Basic White CS to the inside of the card.  Add a strip of Orchid Oasis CS and a stamped and die cut butterfly.

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

Have you ever wanted a stamp set but stopped yourself because it didn't have coordinating dies?  I debated about getting the This Birthday Piggy set.  It is so cute but I wished it had coordinating dies and then... Perfect Partners happened.  YAY!  What is Perfect Partners?  Stampin' Up! debuted on September 1st, six new dies sets that coordinate with stamp sets that previously did not have dies.  The stamp sets are Fresh Cut Flowers (AC page 65), This Birthday Piggy (AC page 55), Trimming the Tree (AC page 43), Waterfall Canyon (AC page 94), Apple Harvest (J-J Mini page 54), and the Yeti to Party (J-J Mini page 38).  These dies are only available until September 30 or while supplies last.  You can purchase just the dies or you can purchase the stamp set and the dies as a bundle and save 10%.

So, yes you guessed it I ordered the This Birthday Piggy stamp set and the coordinating Playful Piggy dies as a bundle.

I stamped the image using the Tuxedo Black Memento ink pad.  The pig was colored using the Natural Tone Stampin' Blends.  I used SU700 which is part of the Medium Light pair and SU 1000 part of the Light pair.  The ears, nose and hooves were colored using the Light Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends.  The balloons were colored in Tahitian Tide and Parakeet Party Blends.  The polka dotted one was done by first coloring in the balloon in Parakeet Party and then adding the Tahitian Tide dots.

The sentiment is from the Heavenly Hollyhocks set inked in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  The Basic White circle was cut using the Stylish Shapes dies.  The dots are from the 2022-24 In Color Matte Decorative Dots and the twine is from the 2022-24 In Color Baker's Twine. The patterned paper is the 2022-24- In Color 6" x 6" DSP.  

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out the Perfect Partners promotion!

The last Creativity Abounds stamp camp focused on the Hues of Happiness Suite Collection.   We have a few challenges during the camp and one of them was a color challenge.  The colors chosen for the challenge, Black, Gray and White.  

For my card I used the Black & White Designs DSP which is all about these colors.  I stamped the flowers from the Happiness Abounds set using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Basic White CS.  I colored little portions of the flowers using Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends.  The leaves were stamped on Smoky Slate CS.  

Inside I added another big bloom and a strip of DSP.  What do you think?  It is a mood huh?  I think it is a nice change of pace to create using a limited and neutral color palette.  

It is time for another Creativity Abounds stamp camp!  The Creativity Abounds Design Team is an international group of 13 Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  We do a monthly blog hop and tutorial bundle and every quarter we hold a stamp camp. 

The Boughs of Holly Stamp Camp will be the held October 28th and 29th.  To register all you need to do is purchase the Boughs of Holly Suite and use the Host Code DDK66A4W.  If you already own the suite, simply order $79.50 of products from my online store and use the Host Code DDK66A4W.  It is important to use the Host Code which will let me know you want to participate in the stamp camp.  

You will receive 13 kits which will include all the cardstock pieces necessary to make the projects.  You will  use your own DSP, stamps, dies and embellishments.   Both a written and video tutorial will be provided for you for each project. 

In addition to the 13 projects you will be invited to join a private Facebook group for the camp.  On October 28th and 29th each design team member will present another project using the Boughs of Holly Suite.  These lives will be spread out over the 2 days but they will be recorded so you can watch them when it is convenient for you.  

Please use this link to order.  I have attached the Host Code to the link.  

If you have any questions please contact me at sharon@astheinkdries.com.  It is going to be a fun and creative time!

It is time for another Festive Friday Challenge!  World Alzheimer's Day 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  aka as an inspiration 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.

What is the purpose of World Alzheimer's Day?  World Alzheimer's Day aims to raise awareness of the disease as well as dementia, common symptoms, and risk factors.  

From the Inspo List I used Red, Flower, Die Cut, Thinking of You sentiment and Ribbon.  This is a clean and simple card with lots of white space.  I really appreciate the sentiments from the Potted Geraniums stamp set.  

Many of my  friends  are going through tough times and this sentiment is one I have been using a lot.  I want them to know that I am thinking about them and care about them.  

FF #0117 World Alzheimer’s Day

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team.

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert -you are here!

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Thank you for stopping by and I look forward to seeing your creation in the Festive Friday gallery,

Product List

Potted Geraniums Bundle (English) [159062] $51.25	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [147085] $8.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $8.00
Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $8.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $8.75	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045] $9.25	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482] $9.25
Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119685] $9.25	Timber 3 D Embossing Folder [156406] $10.00	Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $6.00	Real Red & Garden Green 3/8" (1 Cm) Ribbon Combo Pack [159577] $7.50

Check out the Perfect Partners Promotion HERE.

Check out the Weekly Deals HERE.