This week the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge is a sketch.  I knew  I wanted to use a patterned paper which made me think of  the Painted Seasons DSP which is available as  a level 1 Sale-A-Bration choice and a level 2 Sale-A-Bration choice paired with the Painted Seasons stamp set.

What to use for the little accents?  I thought about butterflies, birds and then it came to me...

Dragonflies!  I have been trying to look at my stamps, punches and dies from the annual catalog to mix in with my newer products.  I haven't used the Detailed Dragonfly thinlits in quite a while!  I cut them out in Early Espresso and knew i needed to fill in the wings.  I glued down the dragonflies and then cut out another set using Sparkle Glimmer paper.  I filled in the wings with the Sparkle Glimmer paper.  This was pretty but the Glimmer paper was too bright so using a cotton swab I colored the wings using Petal Pink ink.  This toned down the white and it worked better with the other colors on the card.

I added the "thanks" which I cut in Early Espresso card stock using the Well Written framelits (2019 Occasions catalog).  These framelits are some of my favorites, as you have probably figured out since I use them a lot.

Be sure to check out what the other members of the Create with Connie & Mary Design team created using this sketch.

Remember Sale-A-bration ends in just a few days!  

Product List

Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $7.50	Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146985] $8.50	Poppy Parade 8-1/2" x 11"" Card Stock" [119793] $8.50	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.50
Sparkle Glimmer Paper [146957] $5.00	Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper [149574] $0.00	Well Written Framelits Dies [148534] $40.00	Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies [142749] $31.00
Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies [148551] $35.00

Today's sketch for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge made me think about the fun topiaries in the Vertical Greetings stamp set.   In addition to the great images this set also has vertical greetings!  I don't regularly use a vertical greeting but on today's card it was just the right thing.

Here is the #CCMC552 sketch.

My card followed the sketch very closely and I am happy with how fresh and clean it looks.  Whisper White card stock combined with any of the Gingham Gala papers just reminds me of spring.   The faux stitched background was created by repeatedly using the large die from the Needlepoint Elements Framelits.  I used this background idea on this card.  

Did you notice that the topiary is a little shorter?  I inked up just the last two green poofs (highly technical term) to better fit the oval.  Don't you love those little sequin flowers?  The sequins are adhesive backed which makes them even easier to use.  I put a little Happiness Blooms Enamel Dot in the center of each sequin.   

Did you notice the little stitched design on the white strip?  The strip was also made using the Needlepoint Elements framelits.  I didn't want to use ribbon and thought this little design element was just right.  

Be sure to check out what the other members of the design team created using this sketch.

Product List

Vertical Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141876] $19.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $7.50	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.75
Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982] $8.50	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Needlepoint Elements Framelits Dies [148541] $30.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00
Gingham Gala Adhesive-Backed Sequins [148561] $7.50	Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots [148805] $7.00

Just a quick and easy Sunday Share card using the Bloom by Bloom stamp set.

Randomly stamped the images from the Bloom by Bloom stamp set in Balmy Blue, Lemon Lime Twist and Daffodil Delight.  Popped the adorable Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins for the flower centers.   Love this sentiment from the Part of My Story set Sale-A-Bration set.  I use this one a lot.   Sending cards just because you are thinking of someone is as important as sending a card for a special occasion.

I did just a little bit of fussy cutting to decorate the inside of the card.  

Hope you liked this springy card, which reminds me remember to Spring Forward!  

Product List

Bloom By Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set [148820] $17.00	Part Of My Story Cling Stamp Set [149719] $0.00	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105] $7.50	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [147145] $7.50
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $7.50	Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982] $8.50	Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144245] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies [148551] $35.00	Gingham Gala Adhesive-Backed Sequins [148561] $7.50

Today's card was inspired by this card I made for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #550.   The Butterfly Duet punch is unfortunately not available right now but it looks like it will be soon (April 1, no fooling!).

I used the Needlepoint Nook DSP.  Have you checked out this pack of paper?  I love this pack of paper.  Both sides of the paper have great designs and they coordinate so well together.  

The sentiment I used on the front of the card is from the Needle & Thread stamp set.  Did you see the faux stitching below the sentiment?  That is from the Needlepoint Elements framelits.  If you are a regular reader of my blog (thank you!) you know I am a big fan of these dies.  I have certainly gotten my use out of them.  You can see some other samples here, here, here,  and here.

Inside of my card I added a strip of DSP (hate to waste those little strips), a sentiment from the Needle & Thread stamp set and the sweet little butterflies.  

Starting with a sketch or a color combination really helps me to get started stamping.  Try it next time you are in need of a little creative assistance.  

Product List

Butterfly Gala Photopolymer Bundle [150599] $35.00	Needle & Thread Photopolymer Bundle [150626] $45.75	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $7.50	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105] $7.50
Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100867] $8.50	Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Needlepoint Nook 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148807] $11.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Night Of Navy Medium Baker's Twine [146336] $3.00

The Painted Season Designer Series Paper is one of my favorites!  Every design is great but I think this one might be my favorite.  

Here's how to make this card.

Itty Bitty Birthday stamp set (Occasions catalog page 16)

Early Espresso ink pad

Early Espresso card stock 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2", 3-3/4" x 4", scrap piece for labels

Poppy Parade card stock  4" x 5-1/4"

Whisper White card stock (inside of card) 4" x 5-1/4", scrap piece for labels

Painted Seasons DSP 3-3/8" x 4" cut into three 1-1/8" x 4" strips, 1/2" x 4" strip (optional)

Labels from the SAB Coordination Lily Framelit dies

Poppy Parade 1/4" Mini Striped Ribbon

Metallic Pearls

1. Evenly space and adhere the DSP on the 3-3/4" x 4" Early Espresso card stock.
2. Adhere the panel to the Poppy Parade card stock.
3. Wrap the Poppy Parade ribbon around the bottom of the panel and tie a bow
4. Stamp the sentiment from the Itty Bitty Birthday set in Early Espresso ink on a scrap piece of Whisper White card stock.
5. Cut out the sentiment using the  small label in the Lily Framelit dies and the large label in Early Espresso card stock.  Using dimensionals attach them to the card.  Attach 2 gold Metallic Pearls. 
6. Adhere the Whisper White card stock to the inside of the card.  Attach the strip of Painted Season DSP if desired.

This quick and easy card is a great way to show off the beauty of the Painted Season DSP (Designer Series Paper).   The Painted Season DSP is available as part of a Level 2 (FREE with a $100 order) Sale-A-Bration bundle which includes the Painted Season stamp set and the Painted Season DSP.  You can also get an extra pack of the Painted Season DSP with a $50 order during Sale-A-Bration. 

March is the last month of Sale-A-Bration so be sure to contact me to place an order or you can also order through my online store.  You can click on the pictures below and it will take you to my store.  You don't want to miss out on all the fabulous Sale-A-Bration products!

Product List

Itty Bitty Birthdays Cling Stamp Set [148618] $23.00	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $7.50	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.50	Poppy Parade 8-1/2" x 11"" Card Stock" [119793] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper [149574] $0.00	Lily Framelits Dies [150071] $27.00	Poppy Parade 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Mini Striped Ribbon [146938] $8.00	Metallic Pearls [146282] $7.00

Taking a break from Sale-A-Bration products and using the Needle & Thread bundle from the Occasions catalog for today's Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.

Here is the sketch for this week's challenge.

I chose the Needle & Thread bundle because I wanted a set that had sentiments as well as images.  I also wanted a set that  had coordinating framelits.  The added bonus of this bundle is that it also has the Needlepoint Nook DSP. I started by choosing the pattern of DSP I wanted to work with and then built the card around the paper.   The 2 strips of paper underneath the oval is also DSP and in fact is on the back of the paper I chose.  I thought the stitched stripes looked like ribbon which fit the sketch perfectly.  

One of my favorite framelits in the Needlepoint Elements Framelits is the one I used to create the design on the Whisper White card stock.  It is a beautiful stitched design and I ran it multiple times to create the stitched background.  Simple and yet adds a lot of interest.   I will be using this idea again soon.

Now it is time for you to check out what the other members of the Create with Connie & Mary Design team created.  Thank you for stopping by!

There's no stamping on today's card, which is pretty unusual.  If nothing else, I usually stamp a sentiment.

The sentiment on today's card is a die cut from the Well Written framelits. The greenery on the side of the card was also cut using the Well Written dies.  The little Daffodil Delight flowers were cut using the Sliding Door framelits.   Before I adhered the die cuts I textured the Whisper White card stock using the Subtle embossing folder. This embossing folder gets a lot of use.  

While I was editing this picture I thought that were was something strange going on with the light or angle, creating a weird effect on the right side of the card.

Oops!  It is a good idea to apply adhesive all the way down the side of a card when you use an embossing folder.   The more textured the embossing folder the greater the importance of doing this.  If you do this you will avoid the dreaded gaposis.  Most times when I attach layers I do not apply adhesive all the way down the sides so I forgot to do this when I made this card.  Nothing like a picture to point out your flaws!

Now I am signing off to fix this card and cure the gaposis!

Happy Valentine's Day!  You know, I am going to have to use the Hey Love stamp set for my project.  This week the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge is a sketch challenge.  

A plan quickly came together after seeing this sketch.

I used my Stamparatus to create this mirror image of the cute little hamster/prairie dog/critter.  It is such a fun and easy technique.  Here's a quick video.  

The sheet inside of the Stamparatus is a Silicone Craft sheet and is vital to this technique. I stamped on a 3" x 3" piece of Whisper White card stock.  I was going to do a voice over but I think the video is clear enough to understand how to do this technique.  If you have any questions please leave me a comment.

I used the All My Love Designer Series Paper and the Be Mine Stitched Framelit Dies to complete the card.  Be sure to check out what the other members of the Design team created for this challenge.  

Here are links to some other cards using the Hey Love stamp set, here, here, here, here, and here.  This is a set that I have really enjoyed and will continue to use for other occasions.

Product List

Hey Love Cling Stamp Set [148644] $19.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $9.00	Light Lovely Lipstick Stampin' Blends Marker [147026] $4.50
Lovely Lipstick 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146970] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	All My Love 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148576] $11.00	Sparkle Glimmer Paper [146957] $5.00
Be Mine Stitched Framelits Dies [148527] $35.00	Stamparatus [146276] $49.00	Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] $6.00

I still need some tropical vibes so I am continuing with the Humming Along stamp set and the gorgeous hibiscus flower.  I don't want to jinx it but I think the snow is beginning to melt!  There is a lot of snow to melt, so we may be dealing with sloppy roads and sidewalks for a while.

I embossed the hibiscus in white embossing powder and then did some coloring with an Aqua Painter and Calypso Coral, Old Olive, and Daffodil Delight  ink refills.  The fun sentiment is from the Butterfly Gala stamp set.  I was playing around with the layout and felt like it needed something.  The Subtle embossing folder to the rescue!  I think that embossing folder goes with just about everything and is a must have.  The lovely Calypso Coral ribbon was a Sale-A-Bration offering that was so loved it sold out.  

Do you see the stitched scallop framing the hibiscus?  That lovely border was created using a die from the Be Mine Stitched framelits. It is hard to see in the Occasions catalog.  I will say that because of this die I had to purchase the Be Mine Stitched Framelit dies.

Product List

Humming Along Cling Bundle [150621] $42.25	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $7.50	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [100531] $3.75	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [119672] $3.75
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.75	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.50	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00	Be Mine Stitched Framelits Dies [148527] $35.00
Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00	Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies [148536] $39.00	Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack [149623] $0.00

It is day 3 of what is being called Snowmaggedon, Snowpocalypse, in other words the Big Snow.  We have lots of snow (I measured 9-1/2") and that is unusual where I live.  Everything is covered in a layer of white,  it is beautiful and kind of magical.  

Inside my craft room where it is toasty and warm I am thinking about color, something tropical.  

These hibiscus flowers are from the Humming Along stamp set.  They definitely remind me of the Islands.  I colored them in using Lovely Lipstick, Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive Stampin' Blends.  This stamp set also has coordinating dies, Hummingbird Framelits. This makes cutting out the flowers so easy.  

The Wood Textures DSP was cut using the Florentine die.   I layered the Florentine piece over a piece of Whisper White card stock that had been texturized using the Subtle embossing folder.  It seems like I use that folder on every card.  

Hope I brought a little bit of the  tropics into your day.  

Product List

Humming Along Cling Bundle [150621] $42.25	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Lovely Lipstick Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [147281] $9.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144603] $9.00
Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177] $11.00
Well Written Framelits Dies [148534] $40.00	Florentine Thinlits Die [149052] $28.00	Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00