It is time for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0035.   

When you participate in the Festive Friday Challenge you have some  options.  You can use the "festivity" theme (Father's Day) or the optional theme (Blue) or both.   I chose to use both themes.

I used the Sailing Home stamp set which will be available for purchase when the Stampin' Up!® 2019-2020 catalog goes live on June 4th.  This stamp set is also available as a bundle paired with the Smooth Sailing dies.  The advantage to buying a bundle is that you save 10%.   I also used the coordinating Come Sail Away Designer Series paper.

Yes, it is an easel card.  This is a fun and  easy card to make and I have prepared a tutorial for you.  Click here for step by step directions.

I hope you will participate in the challenge.  You can get all the information on the challenge here on the Festive Friday blog or here on the Festive Friday Facebook page. Be sure to check out what the other members of the design team created for the challenge!  I look forward to seeing your creations!

It is Thursday and time for another Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a color challenge and  I found it to be a tough one.

I like all of these colors but I am not sure I would have every put them together.  

Yes, I took the easy way out!   The big fun sentiment is from a new stamp set, Genuine Gems.  I inked it in Berry Burst ink and colored in the words using Pumpkin Pie and Bermuda Bay.  I kind of feel like I cheated but I did use the colors!

The Pumpkin Pie striped paper  is from the Regals 6" x 6" DSP (retiring).  I also added the glittery butterflies to add a little awesome to the card.  The butterflies were cut using the Butterfly Beauty dies out of Sparkle Glimmer paper.  Right now the Butterfly Beauty dies are part of the Beauty Abounds bundle but when the 2019-20 catalog goes live they will no longer be bundled.  You might want to purchase it now and save 10%.

Be sure to check out what the other members of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for this color challenge.  I know they will inspire you with their creativity!

Just a quick post to share one more sneak peek of the Floral Essence bundle.  

Isn't the Perennial Essence DSP just too dreamy?  I love it and have plans to frame it.  Did you notice the vellum leaves?  Yes it is in the 2019-20 catalog.  The Perennial Essence Vellum card stock comes in Old Olive Petal Pink and So Saffron.  So pretty!  

The fuzzy centers on the flowers are also a new fun accessory.  It is called Perennial Essence Flower Centers and they are sweet!

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

May  is always a tough time of year for me as a Stampin' Up!® demonstrator.  I am torn between playing with products that are retiring and the new products that will be in the 2019-2020 annual catalog.  When I saw today's sketch I knew I wanted to feature the Bird Ballad DSP.  This paper is part of the Bird Ballad Suite and is gorgeous!  The whole suite is very special.  

The main panel was cut from the Bird Ballad DSP using a die from the Rectangle Stitched framelits.  Doesn't it make a great focal point?  I stamped the flower, bud, and leaves using the Free as a Bird stamp set.  I did some quick coloring using Stampin' Blends and tried to mimic the coloring on the DSP.  Yes, I had to fussy cut it but thankfully it isn't really very fussy at all.  

The sentiment is from the Free as a Bird set and it is stamped on a label from the Smooth Sailing dies.  That label is going to be used a lot!  I love the stitching and that it looks dimensional.  The large scallop on the side of the DSP was cut using the Seasonal Layers dies.   

Hope you liked this sneak peek at some of the loveliness that is coming in the new annual catalog.  If you have ordered from me in the past 6 months you will be receiving a catalog from me (Stampin' Up!® is sending it so hopefully you received it or will soon).  If you are not currently working with a Stampin' Up! ® demonstrator contact me ([email protected]) and we will get you squared away.

Ready for another sneak peek?  

I created my own black and white striped background paper and used the Floral Essence stamp set.  These blooms do not have dies to cut them out but they are not very intricate so they are easy to cut by hand.  The leaves were punched out using the Perennial Essence Flower punch.  Isn't it great that they can be used for leaves too?

I made my own black glimmer paper by mixing Dazzling Diamonds glitter and Clear embossing powder and embossing it on black card stock.  In the upcoming catalog there is a new embossing powder called Shimmer Black.  I cannot wait to see if will create the same effect.

I took a little time today and played with To a Wild Rose stamp set which is gorgeous!  This stamp set is kind of a magical. Good job Mary Ellen Byler!  This is Mary Ellen Byler's Million Dollar stamp set and it is both Two-Step and Distinktive which equals beautiful!

The outline is stamped full strength in Flirty Flamingo.  The  solid flower image I stamped off twice to get a very  light overall color.  The detail stamp I stamped off once so it stood out but didn't overpower the outline.  Isn't is pretty?  The stamp set also has coordinating dies and is available as a bundle. 

The flowers are layered on one of the frames from the Delightfully Detailed Laser Cut Specialty Paper (R)( which in this case stands for retiring).  I love the diamond shapes and how it looks like a trellis. Underneath the frame  I have a piece of Mossy Meadow card stock.  I really like Flirty Flamingo with Mossy Meadow!  

The lovely "hello"  is also from the To a Wild Rose stamp set and I love the hand lettered look.  The sentiment is stamped on a Stitched Nested Label which is part of the Free as a Bird Bundles but can also be purchased seperately.  

This new bundle will be available in the new catalog but be sure to check out the Last Chance list to make sure you don't miss out on products that are retiring.

Oh my, it is getting real.  So many favorite things are being retired!  Today's card for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC561 uses so many retiring products that it would be way easier to tell you what isn't retiring.  First here is what this week's theme is for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.

I know it is a little strange the combination of orchids and coffee but I love them  both so i decided to combine them.  The Climbing Orchid stamp set and the coordinating Orchid Builder framelits are both retiring.  I believe this particular orchid is a Phalaenopsis aka Moth orchid.  They always remind me of my Mom, who doted over her orchid plants. 

The Coffee Cafe set and the coordianting Coffee Cups dies are also retiring.  If you give coffee/tea/drink gift cards you need this set and dies, so useful and quick to fancy up a card.

Oh how I am going to miss the polka dots and stripes 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper!  I loved being able to get this in all the colors.  So sad to see this DSP on the hit list, oops I mean retiring list!

Be sure to check out what the other members of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for #CCMC561. I think you will be inspired by all the different ways this color combination was used.  Also take be sure to take another look at what is on  the Last Chance products list.

Product List

Climbing Orchid Photopolymer Stamp Set [143723] $27.00	Coffee Café Photopolymer Stamp Set [143677] $21.00	Fresh Fig Classic Stampin' Pad [147144] $7.50	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $7.50
Fresh Fig 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144242] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $8.50	Brights 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [146964] $11.00
Orchid Builder Framelits Dies [143747] $25.00	Coffee Cups Framelits Dies [143745] $30.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $5.00

Today's card has a little bit of everything.  It has something new, a lot that is  retiring, and a few things sold out.  

On this card I used the Florentine Thinlits die (sold out) to cut out the Wood Textures DSP(retiring)  I love how it looks like a lattice.  The branches were stamped using the Best Birds stamp set(retiring)  and then cut out using the Birds & Blooms Thinlits (retiring).  The pretty pink flowers were punched using the Bitty Blooms Punch Pack, which is  sold out. 

What is new?  The 2 cute little birdies were cut out from the upcoming Bird Ballad DSP.  It is another gorgeous pack of paper and definitely one to put on your shopping list.

This is a tricky time of year.  The stamp sets on the Annual Catalog Retiring List and the Occasions Catalog Retiring List are guaranteed to be available until May 24th but the other items on the list are only available while supplies last.  I hate for you to miss out on something you really want so be sure to place your order soon.

Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Stamper's Dozen May 2019 Blog Hop

1. Patty Chenail – Stamp-Patty’s - Stamping In My Flops
2. Judy Garza – Creativity Released
3. Sharon Hashimoto Burkert – As the Ink Dries
4. Kelly Acheson – A Stamp Above
5. Carol Payne – Carol Payne Stamps
6. Joanne Cantrell – Keep It Simple, Stampers
7. Rachel Yurkanin – Rachel’s Stamping Place
8. Debbie Naylor – Unfrogettable Stamping
9. Bonnie O'Neill – Bonnie Stamped

Happy Mother's Day!  Hope you are celebrating and/or being celebrated!

Product List

Apron Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set [145835] $21.00	Varied Vases Photopolymer Bundle [148381] $39.50	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $8.50	Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119683] $8.50	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $8.50	Gingham Gala 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148554] $11.00
Apron Builder Framelits Dies [145661] $29.00

A few days ago this post was published, well actually it was blank....ooops!  Definitely a case of operator error.  Sorry that happened.  Here is the card I made for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC560.

Here is the sketch the card is based on.

I used the soon to be retiring Bloom by Bloom stamp set and stamped that fun, whimsical bloom.  I inked the flower in Grapefruit Grove ink and stamped some Calypso Coral ink over it to create the ombre effect.  

I also used the coordinating Happiness Blooms DSP for the strips.  This pack of paper is full of bright and bold designs and colors.  It too along with the Night of Navy Baker's twine will be retiring soon.  The Grapefruit Grove card stock was embossed using the Subtle 3-D folder.   I think this is the embossing folder I reach for the most.  

Sorry about the fake post earlier this week.  Hope you will join in the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #560 and be sure to check out what the other members of the design team created for this challenge!

Product List

Bloom By Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set [148820] $17.00	Call Me Clover Stampin' Pad [147139] $7.50	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $7.50	Grapefruit Grove Classic Stampin' Pad [147142] $7.50
Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $7.50	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100867] $8.50	Grapefruit Grove 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146972] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Happiness Blooms 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148795] $11.00	Well Written Framelits Dies [148534] $40.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Night Of Navy Medium Baker's Twine [146336] $3.00