It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week we have a sketch challenge.  

I looked through my DSP (Designer Series Paper) to see what paper would work for this sketch,  so many choices.  I decided on the Peony Garden DSP.

I also pulled out the Prized Peony bundle.  Love this peony.  Peonies are one of my very favorite flowers.  I used  Cherry Cobbler and Real Red Stampin' Blends to color the flower and Old Olive for the stem and leaves.  If you are wondering I stamped the image in Basic Gray ink instead of Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  I wanted it to look a little softer.  

The frame was cut in Basic Gray CS using the Stitched So Sweetly dies.  The tag is from the Hydrangea dies and the sentiment is from the Hydrangea Haven set.  I like this little tag and using this sentiment allows me to use this card for lots of different occasions.  

Thank you for stopping by and below I have listed all the supplies used.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for this challenge.

Product List

Prized Peony Bundle (English) [154056]	Hydrangea Haven Bundle [156251]	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165]	Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154880]
Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154899]	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154892]	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]
Peony Garden Designer Series Paper [152483]	Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690]	Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924]	Real Red 3/8" (1 Cm) Sheer Ribbon [153535]

I had these projects ready to go for a Simple Sunday post.  It was a busy day and by the time I sat down to write the post I was so tired I knew I should just delay it and make it a post for Monday instead.  

Yes, it is another Snailed It card.   The snail is stamped and colored using Stampin' Blends and cut out using the Snail dies.  The ribbon is the 3/8" Double Stitched Satin ribbon. This is a simple card that is fun to make.  You know I have a paper problem and this card is a great one to show off pretty papers.

• Card base: 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2"
• Layer (can be DSP or cardstock) 4" x 5-1/4"
• Layer for DSP 3-1/4" x 4"
• DSP 3" x 3-7/8" cut into 1" x 3-7/8" panels 

The hardest part can be lining up the DSP panels in the correct order, so just keep track when you cut the panels.  

This one uses the Flowers for Every Season 6" x 6" DSP in the Annual catalog.  The image is from the Ornate Style set  colored with Stampin' Blends with the addition of  Ladybug Trinket.   The sweet ribbon is the Bumblebee gingham.  

I haven't used the Peony dies lately.  This die is in the Annual catalog and it creates this beautiful dimensional peony.  I shaded around the edges of the different layers of the peony using the Blending Brushes and Petal Pink ink.  The DSP is the Peony Garden DSP and the ribbon is one of my very favorites, 5/8" Organdy Striped ribbon in Petal Pink.  

You can create all kinds of different looks from whimsical to elegant using this simple template.  It is a great way to use your Designer Series Paper and ribbon too.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Ready for another fun Festive Friday Challenge?  This time the festivity we are being inspired by is World Frog Day!  Who knew?  World Frog Day is celebrated on March 20.  Check out the Inspo list for this challenge.

To play along with the challenge all you need to do is use 3 elements from the Inspo List on your project and post it to the Festive Friday gallery.   It is easy to play along and fun.  Your projects does not have to have a frog on it, mine doesn't but it does need to have 3 elements from the list.

This card is 3-1/2" x 5"  which is a mailable size here in the US.  I chose to use cattails, twine, green and insect from the Inspo List.  I  used the Friendly Silhouettes die as my starting point.  I used it to cut out the cattails.  I die cut them using Pear Pizzazz CS and colored in the cattails using a Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends.  To create the background I used the new Blending Brushes and Bumblebee and Pumpkin Pie ink.  The brushes blend the ink beautifully.  I layered the ink until I got the intensity of color I was looking for.  I diluted some Craft White ink with water and used a Water Brush to create the splatters on the background.  The cattails were glued on to the background.  To complete the scene I embossed the dragonflies from the Friend Like You stamp set in gold embossing powder and cut them out using the Friendly Silhouettes dies.   

The white lattice is from the Dandy Laser Cut Paper.  I have to tattle on myself.  I forgot I even had this.  I hate when I do that!  It has now been moved to a place where I will see it and use it.  Does this ever happen to you?

Yes, this is an easel card.  I embossed a few more dragonflies to act as the stopper for the easel.  Along the bottom I used the Dockside die for more cattails.  This is silly but that last line reminds me of the Saturday Night Live skit... "more cowbell".

Now it is time to check out what the rest of the design team created for this challenge!

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema - Off this Week

I hope you will join in the Festive Friday Challenge #79.  I would love to see what elements you choose for your project.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Product List

Friend Like You Photopolymer Stamp Set [149237]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086]
Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill [101780]	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154882]	Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131201]	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Dandy Laser Cut Paper [154300]	Friendly Silhouettes Dies [149546]	Dockside Dies [151618]
Stitched Shapes Dies [152323]	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]	Blending Brushes [153611]	Water Painters [151298]
Linen Thread [104199]

Back with another variation using the Oh So Ombre DSP and the Blossoms in Bloom bundle.  This time I am keeping it very simple  and almost but not quite monochromatic.

First up Bermuda Bay.  Used Bermuda Bay CS for the card base (4-1/4" x 11") and the outline die and Basic White for the bolder die.  The Oh So Ombre DSP provides the ombre coloring.  Sentiment from the Blossoms in Bloom stamp set embossed in white on a Stitched Rectangle label.  Cute little heart is from the Resin Hearts embellishment.

Blackberry Bliss

Granny Apple Green

Rococo Rose

All the colors in the Oh So Ombre DSP pack.  Which is your favorite color?  

Remember,  the Oh So Ombre DSP is only available during Sale-A-Bration, which ends February 28th.  

Product List

Blossoms In Bloom Bundle (English) [154123]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Rococo Rose 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150882]	Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133675]
Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197]	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Oh So Ombre 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [155225]
Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820]	Resin Hearts Embellishment [154578]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]

Thanks for stopping by!

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week the challenge is to use Black, White and a Pop of Color.  

I pulled out my favorite pack of paper, True Love DSP and the Best Plaid Builder dies and created the polka dot black and white plaid background.  It has been a bit since I created a plaid background and I am not sure I have every made one using patterned paper.  I like how this turned out.  

My pop of color is Real Red.  I stamped the large flower from the Pretty Perennial using White Craft ink and cut it out using the Perennial Petals dies.  The skinny flower was also cut using the Perennial Petals dies.  I layered the flowers using a Mini Black Stampin' Dimensional and added a Matte Black Dot for the center.  The flower was layered on to a Basic White circle and a Real Red scalloped circle that were cut using the Layering Circles dies.

A 2" strip of Basic Black cardstock was embossed using the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder and layered on to the plaid. The "happy" was heat embossed using white embossing powder on a strip of Basic Black CS and then fussy cut out.  Again, I used the mini Black Stampin' Dimensional to attach the happy to the card front.

Product List

Pretty Perennials Bundle [156234]	Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill [147277]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]
Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482]	True Love Designer Series Paper [154281]	Layering Circles Dies [151770]	Tasteful Textile 3 D Embossing Folder [152718]
White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Matte Black Dots [154284]

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the other design team members made.

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  This month our theme is Thankful, Grateful, and Blessed.  

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about winter.  It rains here during the winter and it can be a little gloomy, mix in the rising Covid cases and well, we are headed for lots of time indoors and at home.  I am grateful to have a home, heat, and food to eat.  I am also very thankful and grateful that I have a craft room and hobby that is challenging, interesting and satisfying.  2020 would have been a lot harder if I didn't have this paper crafting hobby.  I can stay in my room, listen to a good book, and get lost in the creative process.  Sometimes I forget to acknowledge how very fortunate I am.  

Do you recognize the candles from the Sweetest Time?  I stamped them in Early Espresso and colored them in using Cinnamon Cider, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends and Early Espresso Stampin' Marker.  When I opened the Sweetest Time stamp case I found candles stamped and colored in Basic Gray, Black  and Pumpkin Pie.  Clearly, at one time I had a plan for some Halloween candles.

The leaves are from the Quite Curvy bundle which is currently available (until November 30) and then not again  until  the January - June 2021 Mini Catalog goes live on January 5th.  The leaves  were fun to color with Stampin' Blends (Mango Melody, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie).  The sentiment is from the Celebration Tidings stamp set and the Early Espresso label is one of the Celebration Labels.   These 2 items can be purchased as a bundle and when you bundle, you save 10%.   Doesn't it look like I splattered the background paper?  Well, I didn't.  It is one of the designs in the Gilded Autumn Specialty DSP.  As much as it pains me to hide the lovely gold foiling on the other side of the paper, these splatters were the right choice for this card.

Here is the same card except on this one I added the Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty paper.  It is actually one of the frames cut in half to add the accents on the corners. I couldn't decide which card I liked better.  

I like to decorate the inside of my cards.  The leaves were a little too long so I did a little pruning and added the extra to the inside along with a strip of DSP.

So, which card do you like better?  With the Forever Gold Laser-Cut leaves or without?  Right now I am leaning towards without but that will probably change the next time I look at the cards.  

Be sure to check out all the stops on the hop!

Stamper's Dozen November 2020 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. Carol Payne – Carol Payne Stamps
5. Joanne Cantrell – Keep It Simple, Stampers
6. Rachel Yurkanin – Rachel’s Stamping Place
7. Bonnie O'Neill – Bonnie Stamped
8. BJ Peters – StampinBJ

Thank you for stopping by and your visit is another thing I am grateful for!

Taking a little break from holiday cards to make a birthday card.  I love this big birthday sentiment from the Happiest of Birthdays stamp set.  This was card was made for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.

This was a color challenge and the first idea that came to mind was to use panels of the colors behind the big sentiment.  It might be a little hard to see in the picture, each panel of color was embossed with a different embossing folder.  The Bumblebee panel was embossed using the Tasteful Textile 3D folder.  The Terracotta Tile panel was embossed using the Dainty Diamond 3D folder and the Rich Razzleberry panel was embossed using the Subtle 3D folder.  I liked the little extra texture and interest the embossing added.

A few heart balloons were added to the front of the card.  The balloons are from the Special Someone stamp set and cut out using the Special Day dies.  A little bow tied from the Bumblebee Gingham ribbon was added to tie the balloons together.   The three rhinestones were colored with a Rich Razzleberry Stampin Blend to add a little bling to the card.

A peek inside shows a few more balloons.  It is always nice to decorate the inside of the card as well as the envelopes.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for this challenge.  

You will see a full list of what products were used to make this card listed below.  Thanks again for stopping by!

Product List

Happiest Of Birthdays Cling Stamp Set (English) [152539]	Special Someone Photopolymer Stamp Set [151643]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad [147091]
Terracotta Tile Classic Stampin’ Pad [150086]	Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116]	Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154898]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]
Rich Razzleberry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115316]	Terracotta Tile 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150884]	Bumblebee 8-1/2X11 Cardstock [153077]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730]
Special Day Dies [153587]	Dainty Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder [152702]	Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder [152718]	Subtle 3D Embossing Folder [151775]
Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220]	1/4" Bumblebee Gingham Trim [153658]

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge project.  This week the challenge is a color challenge.  I had cardstock swatches of the colors on my desk for like a week trying to figure this one out.  

Can you guess the color combination, I sure hope so!  It is Basic Gray, Bumblebee, and Pumpkin Pie.  When it was all done I realized these colors do look good together but at first the Basic Gray really threw me off. 

I looked through my stamp sets many times trying to figure out what to make.  I finally decided on the Special Someone stamp set.  I just love this little raccoon and knew he would look good in Basic Gray.  I stamped him in Basic Gray for the outline and  stamped off once to stamp the fur.   I decided to make this a birthday card so I added the balloons in the challenge colors.  The balloon strings and balloons were die cut using the Special Day dies.

The sentiment is from the Zoo Globe stamp set.  There is something about this font I really like and it was the right size for the little tag. from the Stitched So Sweetly dies.  Little Bumblebee stars were added from the All the Trimmings Embellishments.  I thought the stars added a little more visual interest.  The plaid DSP is from the Plaid Tidings DSP pack and is on sale until the end of the month for 15% off. 

Thank you for for stopping by and I have a list below of all the products I used.

Product List

Special Someone Photopolymer Stamp Set [151643]	Zoo Globe Photopolymer Stamp Set [153303]	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165]	Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116]
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086]	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730]	Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [105117]
Bumblebee 8-1/2X11 Cardstock [153077]	Plaid Tidings 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [153527]	Special Day Dies [153587]	Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690]
1/4" Bumblebee Gingham Trim [153658]	All The Trimmings Embellishments [153540]

Did you see that the Whale of a Time DSP is on sale?  Yes, until the end of the month you can purchase this pack of paper at 15% off.  This made me want to make a card using the DSP and the Whale Done bundle.

This is a quick and easy card which showcases 4 different patterns from the Whale of a Time DSP.  The pack of paper has so many fun seascapes and animals.  The turtle was cut from one sheet and the whale was punched out using the Whale Builder punch.  In fact the only thing that was stamped was the sentiment from the Whale Done stamp set.

This is a very simple fun fold card.  The flap lifts up and hides an area where you can write your message. 

Pretty Peacock CS- 4-1/4" x 5-1/2", 3" x 5" scored at 4-1/8", 3" x 4" (scalloped oval)

Whisper White CS- 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Whale of a Time DSP- 2-7/8" x 3-7/8", 3" x 4" (stitched oval)

The DSP sale ends October 31! Don't miss out on 15% off selected packs of Designer Series Paper.

Product List

Whale Done Bundle (English) [154053]	Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad [150083]	Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150880]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730]
Whale Of A Time 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [152460]	Stitched Shapes Dies [152323]	Layering Ovals Dies [151771]	Blue Adhesive-Backed Gems [153547]

This week and month seem to be flying by!  It is already Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge.  When I saw the sketch I immediately thought about using the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP.  

Here you can see that the pretty Ornate Garden DSP is doing most of the design work.  The daisy print in the pack reminded me to use the Medium Daisy punch in Bumblebee with a Soft Suede center.  

The cute little sentiment label was made using the Stitched Nested Label dies.  Both layers were cut using the die and the Whisper White portion I trimmed away right below the stitching so I could have this layered look.  The sentiment is from the Zoo Globe stamp set.  It was the right size for the label and is a cheerful sentiment and we all can use a little cheer. 

In this picture  you can see the reflection of the gold foiling on the Mint Macaron.  It is so pretty and adds a beautiful shine to the card.  You will find other sheets in this paper pack with a gold foiling detail.

A little peek of the inside of the card shows a little strip of the DSP.   I will also add another punched daisy to the inside.  

Now it is a great time to check out what the rest of the design team created for the challenge.  Thank you for stopping by!

Product List

Zoo Globe Photopolymer Stamp Set [153303]	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115]	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115318]	Bumblebee 8-1/2X11 Cardstock [153077]
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730]	Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper [152488]	Stitched Nested Labels Dies [149638]	Medium Daisy Punch [149517]