I promise this will be the last time I post about the Blended Seasons stamp set and the Stitched Seasons Framelits.  This will be an easy promise to keep since tomorrow is the last day this bundle of products will be available for purchase.   

This week's Create with Connie & Mary Challenge is to use the color combination, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green and Highland Heather.

Love these colors!  

I used the Highland Heather and Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends to color in the flowers and leaves.  the rhinestones were colored using the Dark Granny Apple Green Blends.  The ribbon is 1/4" Striped Gorgeous Grape.  Love that striped ribbon which is also available in Bermuda Bay and Poppy Parade.  The sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set and is stamped in Gorgeous Grape.  I used the Tufted embossing folder which is one of my favorite folders.  

There is a grocery store that I go to that has a great bulk food section.  I always do a walk through to see what new items are there.  Look what I found!!  Aren't these kisses just perfect for this color challenge?  I filled a 2" x 8" cello bag with the kisses and made a quick tag.  I colored and cut out the flower and found this great sentiment in the Barn Door stamp set.  

Time to head over to the Create with Connie and Mary blog to get all the details on this challenge.  Be sure to check out what the other design team members created for this challenge.  

Be sure to check out my Facebook page to see another project using this color combination!

In just a few days the Blended Seasons stamp set , Stitched Seasons Framelits, and the Blended Seasons bundle  will no longer be available to purchase.  I have enjoyed playing with this bundle of products and if you have purchased it you know that it is a set that can be used and enjoyed all year long.   

I am particularly fond of this gorgeous floral stamp.  The flowers are big and so fun to color.  On today's card I used the Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2 and an Aqua Painter to color in the image.  I am unsure what the future availability is for the Watercolor Pencils 2.  All I can say for sure is that they might be available in the future but if you like to color I would advise you to get them now.   I used the Night of Navy, Gorgeous Grape, and Crushed Curry  pencils to color in the flowers and Garden Green to color in the leaves.  All of these colors are available in the new Assortment 2.  

Remember that Bonus Days will also be ending soon too!  What are Bonus Days?  In August for every $50 purchase you will get a $5 coupon that you can use in September.  

Not to be Missed, these fabulous August promotions

*Color Your Season-Limited edition bundle

*Bonus Days-Earn in August, Spend in September

*As the Ink Dries online Hostess Code special gift- Share What You Love Artisan Pearls

Product List

Blended Seasons Clear-Mount Stamp Set [149016] $39.00	Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad [101406] $9.00	Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2 [149014] $12.50	Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146987] $8.50	Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146986] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00

Ready for  another sneak peek using the Peaceful Poinsettia bundle?  This bundle is in the upcoming Holiday catalog that will be debuting on September 5th.   I bought the bundle because i was curious about the dies and thought the samples in the catalog were really interesting.  Now that I have played with the bundle a bit, I can say it is one of my favorites! 

I had a few half pocket card bases ( you can read about half pocket cards here and here's a link to a post that will help you make your own half pockets) left over from another project.  Aren't the poinsettias so pretty?  They are super easy to cut out using the Detailed Poinsettia Thinlit Dies.

Here's how you cut out the detailed outline.  Nestle the detailed die and run through the Big Shot.  

Here's the detailed outline.

To get the solid flower, remove the detailed die and run it through the Big Shot.

Layer the detailed outline over the solid flower shape.  

Attaching the outline image on to the solid image is easy if you attach the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet on the card stock before you run it through the Big Shot.

Be sure to check out my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/astheinkdries/) I will have another version of this card posted later in the morning.  

Not to be Missed, these fabulous August promotions

*Color Your Season-Limited edition bundle

*Bonus Days-Earn in August, Spend in September

*As the Ink Dries online Hostess Code special gift- Share What You Love Artisan Pearls

Product List

Christmas Pines Photopolymer Stamp Set [142049] $35.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $7.50	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.50	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Under The Mistletoe Designer Series Paper [146921] $11.00	Sparkle Glimmer Paper [146957] $5.00	Detailed Poinsettia Thinlits Dies [147925] $33.00	Nature's Roots Framelits Dies [146341] $39.00

Time for the Create with Connie & Mary Thursday Challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge.

I used a new bundle ( stamp set and coordinating Thinlit dies)  called Peaceful Poinsettia from the upcoming Holiday catalog.  

The poinsettia and leaves are from the Peaceful Poinsettia bundle and were colored in using the Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo (Holiday catalog page 14) and Old Olive Stampin' Blends.  It is hard to see in this picture but the flower and berries also have Wink of Stella on them for a little more shine.  The cute little sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set.  This stamp set has 32 sentiments and will have you covered for all kinds of occasions.  The pretty DSP is from Under the Mistletoe DSP which is in the Annual catalog. 

Be sure to check out what the members of the design team created for this sketch.  Hope you will join in the challenge! 

The Blended Season stamp set is just perfect for the Black Magic technique.

First I embossed the beautiful flowers using white embossing powder.  I used an Aqua Painter and White Craft ink and painted in the areas I wanted to color.  I let the White Craft ink dry and then colored over the white ink with Watercolor Pencils.  I used Gorgeous Grape and Granny Apple Green pencils from the new Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2.  We were originally told that these pencils might be available in the future but just recently were told that they will not be available.  This means if you want this new assortment you need  to get them this month.  I love having watercolor pencils in more Stampin' Up! colors.

Check out those rhinestones.  I used the Highland Heather Dark Stampin' Blend to custom color them.   I love having this option.  

Not to be Missed, these fabulous August promotions

*Color Your Season-Limited edition bundle

*Bonus Days-Earn in August, Spend in September

*As the Ink Dries online Hostess Code special gift- Share What You Love Artisan Pearls

Product List

Blended Seasons Clear-Mount Stamp Set [149016] $39.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $8.50	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill [101780] $4.50	Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2 [149014] $12.50
Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146986] $8.50	Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146990] $8.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00
White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $5.00	Dark Highland Heather Stampin' Blends Marker [146883] $4.50	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

Time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge!  This week it is a color challenge.

I started off thinking that I would use the Accented Bloom stamp set and do a little coloring.  I got everything out to do that and them my brain went into overdrive and I started thinking about all these other sets to use instead.  After about a hour of that nonsense there was a big mess on my craft table and still nothing made.  I cleaned up everything and set out to make the card I originally had in mind.  Please tell me that I am not the only one who does this.

The image is stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Shimmery White card stock. I used Mango Melody and Shaded Spruce Stampin' Blends which will be available in the upcoming Holiday catalog and Pineapple Punch ink refill with a blender pen to color in the image.  

After the image was colored I layered it on Shaded Spruce card stock and then on a piece of Pineapple Punch DSP from the In Color 6" x 6" pack.  This paper pack is available in all the color collections and you have probably noticed that I use it in most of my cards.  

Want to play along in this challenge?  Go to the Create with Connie and Mary blog and get all the details and check out all the lovely cards the other designers created with this color combination.

Ready for another fun blog hop?  This month the Stamper's Dozen blog hop theme is a color challenge.

I just received my Holiday catalog pre-order (one of the perks of being a demonstrator, you get to pre-order!)  and I was itching to play with something new.   This was a little bit of a challenge since this color combination doesn't exactly scream Christmas.   I looked through the stamps I ordered and realized these colors just might work with the Beautiful Baubles stamp set.

Don't you love all those colorful ornaments?  I embossed the image with silver embossing powder  and colored the ornaments in using an Aqua Painter and Flirty Flamingo, Lemon Lime Twist, and Melon Mambo ink refills.  I also used a new embossing folder, Swirls & Curls.  This is an embossing folder that can be used all hyear long.  The last sneak peek item is the Merry Christmas to All bundle.  Don't you love the big and beautiful "Merry"?  That was cut using the Merry Christmas thinlits and "Christmas" is from the coordinating stamp set.

Product List

Beautiful Baubles Photopolymer Stamp Set [147765] $17.00	Merry Christmas To All Photopolymer Bundle [149952] $49.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $8.50	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [141402] $3.75	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [144092] $3.75
Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [115662] $3.75	Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115320] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Swirls & Curls Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [147923] $7.50	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00
Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131] $5.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	Metallic Pearls [146282] $7.00

Be sure to hop along and see what the other members of the blog hop created with this color combination.

Time for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge!  This week we have a clean and simple sketch that I love!

I wanted to use Blended Seasons stamp set.   This beautiful and very versatile stamp set is only available in August.  There are coordinating framelits but I didn't use them on today's project.

I love the flower image, which is  so much fun to color.  I used the soon to be released Mango Melody Stampin' Blend to color the flowers.  This new combo pack will be available in the upcoming Holiday catalog.  In addition I used the Old Olive combo pack and the dark Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends.

Product List

Blended Seasons Clear-Mount Stamp Set [149016] $39.00	Label Me Pretty Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143861] $17.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad [147093] $7.50
Mango Melody Combo Pack Stampin' Blends [147945] $9.00	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00	Smoky Slate Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [145055] $4.50	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Brights 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [146964] $11.00	1-1/4" Circle Punch [119861] $16.00	1-3/8" (3.5 Cm) Scallop Circle Punch [146139] $16.00

Not to be Missed, these fabulous August promotions

*Color Your Season-Limited edition bundle

*Bonus Days-Earn in August, Spend in September

*As the Ink Dries online Hostess Code special gift- Share What You Love Artisan Pearls

Be sure to check out the Try Stampin' on Tuesday blog to get all the details on how you can participate in this fun challenge and to see what the other members of the design team created with this sketch.

It was getting near bedtime and it hit me that I had not made a card for the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge.  What!?!  It is like those dreams you have where you realize you have a big test that you totally forgot about or that you left the house with no clothes on.  Is that TMI?  Anyway I went into the stamp room and got to work.  Now I was a little panicked because I am a SLOOOOW stamper.  It takes me a long time to make a card, even the simplest of cards takes me a while.  Here's the sketch.

I reached for my patterned paper and pulled out the adorable Animal Expedition DSP.  The designs in this pack are just fabulous.  One side has those adorable animals and the other side more handsome, clean designs.

It didn't take me very long to create my card.  The hardest part was trying to decide which papers to use, so many great choices which is a wonderful problem to have.  

Here's what I used to make my card.

Product List

Animal Outing Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146600] $21.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	In Color 2018–2020 Stampin' Write Markers [147159] $15.00	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper [146902] $11.00	Gray Granite 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Textured Weave Ribbon [147656] $7.50

I should also have listed the Stamparatus because without that tool I would have never been able to change the orientation of the sentiment!

I hope you will join in this challenge!  Be sure to check out what the other members of the Create with Connie and Mary design team created and all the details on how to play along with the challenge.

Welcome to the Paper Pumpkin Pop Up 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 July Picnic Paradise kit.

When I saw this adorable kit and those lovely apples all I could think of was caramel apples.  So, I set about working on making some caramel apples.

How to make caramel:

    * Trace the shape of the apple on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock

    *  Cut a uneven edge to mimic the way caramel looks. 

    * Ink up the "caramel" with Versamark ink and heat emboss it using clear embossing powder. 

    *Repeat the above step one more time for  a smooth and shiny caramel.

Next I had to make a stick.  If you have some popsicle sticks that would be the easiest solution.  If you don't have any on hand here's what I did.

    *Cut So Saffron card stock 1/2" wide by 3-1/4" long, round one end

    *Ink it up with So Saffron ink

    *Insert into the apple and apply the leaves

I trimmed a piece of a plastic bag to fit my apple and used one of the gingham vellum pieces to set my apple on and tied it with the white twine from the kit.  The next thing I did was make one of the baskets in the kit.  I didn't attach the handle so it would accommodate my real caramel apple.  Off to the store I went to get a caramel apple.  Well, I found out that August is not the month for caramel apples so I scoured the shelves and came up with another idea.

Did you know that the cute little cards in the Picnic Paradise kit makes the perfect cover for caramel apple lollipops?!  I followed the directions in the kit for the cards, the only extra step was I punched two little holes.  I inserted the lollipops and tied them up using the twine from the kit.

Ready to see the whole project?

A caramel apple lollipop bouquet!!  Wouldn't this be a fun little thank you gift?  I hoped you enjoyed this alternate idea of how to use the Picnic Paradise Paper Pumpkin kit!  Now it is time for you to hop on and see what Shirley has created for you!  I know it will be amazing!

If you are not Paper Pumpkin subscriber now is the perfect time to try it out!  Contact your demonstrator or if you do not have a demonstrator I would love to help you.  You have until August 10th to sign up for Paper Pumpkin and get 50% off your first box.  What do you have to lose?