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February 2021

Month in Review...February

Time to look back on February and highlight some of the projects made.

 

SweetStrawberry-birthday

The Sweet Strawberry bundle is one of my favorites and is a very popular one.  It is not currently available but will be soon. All the details about this card can be found HERE.

OhSoOmbre-Blossoms-all

This is the Blossoms in Bloom bundle and the Oh So Ombre DSP.  Love that the Oh So Ombre DSP does most of the coloring work.  All the details on this card can be found HERE.

ManyHeartDies-CCMC650-

There is just something about black & white stripes.  Love how the colors pop against the black & white background. See the blog post HERE.

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre-All

Here's another example of the Oh So Ombre DSP doing a lot of the work.  This is quick and easy using the Garden Wishes stamp set.  All the details can be found here.

CornerBouquet-HealYourHeart

The Corner Bouquet looks so good stamped and embossed on Vellum CS.  The beautiful sentiment is from the Heal Your Heart stamp set.  All the detail can be found here.

DarlingDonkeys-2_27

The Darling Donkeys stamp set and the Oh SO Ombre DSP team up to say hi!  All the details can be found here.

Today Sunday, February 28 is the last day of 2021 Jan-Feb Sale-A-Bration. Place your order before time runs out!

Thank you for stopping by!

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Hi from the Darling Donkeys

It is hard to believe that we are at the end of Sale-A-Bration at least for now.  Had to have one more play with those crazy, Darling Donkeys.

DarlingDonkeys-2_27

I wanted to make a card using all the donkeys.  Each one has their own personality and they are all adorable.  I colored these cuties using Cinnamon Cider, Crumb Cake, and Petal Pink Stampin' Blends. 

I did have to fussy cut donkeys and though it wasn't difficulty, I would have loved to have had coordinating dies.  Here's a tip that really helps when you have to fussy cut, go around the edges of your image with a Black Stampin' Write Marker.  I run the side of the brush tip along the cut edges and it is amazing how much better it looks when I am done.  

Each donkey is mounted on a Basic White Stitched Rectangle.  After I attached the donkeys I thought it looked a little bare, so I added a few Rococo Rose Oh So Ombre DSP punched flowers using the Confetti Flowers Border punch.  I even replaced the rose from the middle donkey and added a Rococo Rose flower.  

The Oh So Ombre DSP (SAB choice) was used for the background paper and I am sorry I never paired this with Early Espresso CS until now.  Don't they look so good together?  The Oh So Ombre DSP was also used with the Playful Alphabet dies for the "Hi".

DarlingDonkeys-2_27-insie

Inside I stamped another Darling Donkey colored with Stampin' Blends and a strip of the Oh So Ombre DSP.  

I have had a lot of fun playing with the 2021 Jan-Feb Sale-A-Bration products.  I have a few more Sale-A-Bration samples that I will be posting over on my Facebook  page.  I hope you will check my page out and follow me there too.  

Thanks for stopping by and remember 2021 Jan-Feb Sale-A-Bration ends on February 28th!  

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Corner Bouquet

It is Thursday which means it is time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week we have #CCMC652, which is a color challenge.

CCMC652

CornerBouquet-CCMC

For this color challenge I embossed some strips of Just Jade and Highland Heather CS using the Tasteful Textile 3D folder and attached them to a Basic White panel.  I brought in Seaside Spray as the card base and the layer behind the image.  The  Corner Bouquet stamp was stamped using Versamark and white embossing powder. I really like the way the Corner Bouquet stamp set looks embossed in white, especially on vellum.  I don't know why I didn't pair these products together earlier.  A few flowers in Seaside Spray and Highland Heather were punched using the Confetti Flowers Border punch and attached to the vellum.  I purchased the Confetti Flowers Border punch kind of on a whim and I am glad I did.  I use this punch a lot and love that it punches out 3 sizes of flowers. 

Tip: Use the point of the bone folder in the center of the flowers to create a little dimension and definition.

CornerBouquet-CCMC-side

I also like the way the Butterfly Gala butterfly looks embossed in white on vellum, so I added a couple.  These butterflies also help to hide the Mini Glue Dots I used to attach the vellum to the Seaside Spray layer.   The other glue dots are hidden by the Corner Bouquet image.  This is the best strategy I have for attaching vellum without the adhesive showing.  

I added the Seaside Spray Metallic Ribbon and the silver pearls (from the Metallic pearls) to the center of the flowers for a little extra shine.  I tried coloring some rhinestones using the Just Jade Stampin' Blends to use as the flower centers but decided the silver pearls looked better especially with the ribbon.  

Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for this challenge.  

Thanks for stopping by and remember Sale-A-Bration ends on Sunday, February 28th!

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Corner Bouquet & Heal Your Heart

Today's card is one I have been thinking about for awhile and today it finally got made.  It isn't exactly what I had in mind but I do like how it turned out.

CornerBouquet-HealYourHeart

It may look like  I used Basic Gray CS but it is Vellum CS  and the Corner Bouquet stamp (Sale-A-Bration) heat embossed in white embossing powder and layered over Basic Black CS.  Originally I thought I would  layer the Vellum CS  over Basic White CS but the image didn't stand out enough.  The beautiful sentiment is from the Heal Your Heart  stamp set (Sale-A-Bration).   The butterflies were stamped using the Butterfly Gala stamp set on Vellum and heat embossed using white embossing powder.  Both the small and large butterflies were punched out using the Butterfly Duet punch.

CornerBouquet-HealYourHeart-side

One of the problems of working with vellum is how do you prevent the adhesive from showing.  On this card I used glue dots behind the white embossed images to secure the vellum to the Basic Black CS.  I also used glue dots behind the butterflies to secure the vellum to the Basic Black CS.  This is the best way  to hide the adhesive.  I have  yet to find an adhesive that is perfect.  

Just a few more days to snag your Sale-A-Bration choices.  If you have been wanting to order, it is a great time to do so especially if your order is $50 or more.  Free product is always a good thing.  

Thank you for stopping by!

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Paper Blooms Birthday

The patterned papers aka Designer Series Paper (DSP) in the January-February Sale-A-Bration are all so good.  This quick and easy project uses the Paper Blooms DSP.  I am going to miss using this paper, good thing I have an extra pack.

PaperBlooms-BestDay

It is so fun to mix and match the different patterns in the Paper Blooms DSP.  The large flower is also from the DSP.   There are 3 of these large flowers on one sheet of the DSP.  They are pretty easy to fussy cut.  I like using the Denim ribbon, it is soft and easy to tie.   The label is from the Pierced Blooms die and the sentiment is from the Best Year stamp set. 

PaperBlooms-BestDay-side

Card Base: Thick Basic White 5-1/2" x 6" scored at 3", finished card base will be 3" x 6"

Paper Blooms DSP: Pattern 1.  2" x 5-1/4"    

                                     Pattern 2  1" x 5-1/4"

Basic White Stitched Circle: #3  (#1 is the smallest)

Attach the circle to the top of the card.  Make sure that the total measurements are 4-1/4" or less, so it can fit in an A-2 envelope.

This is a pretty easy, quick card and a fun way to show off the pretty designs in the Paper Blooms DSP.

Thank you for stopping by and remember Sale-A-Bration ends on the February 28th!

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Darling Donkeys & the Flower & Field DSP

Just one week left of the 2021 Jan-Feb Sale-A-Bration.  For the next week I will be focusing on projects that use Sale-A-Bration products.  Today's card uses the Darling Donkeys and the Flower & Field DSP.  

DarlingDonkeys-Flower&Field

I used the Curvy dies to cut the Basic Black card base and the Flower & Field DSP.   The 2 sections are then connected with the circles and the Darling Donkey.  This kicking cutie was colored using Stampin' Blends.   I cut a cute little bow using the Special Days dies, wanted to dress him up a little bit.

DarlingDonkeys-Flower&Field-side2

Inside the gap between the top and bottom, I stamped another sentiment from the Darling Donkeys set.  

DarlingDonkeys-Flower&Field-side1

The Flower &  Field DSP is another great Sale-A-Bration choice.  I've used this paper a lot and honestly it looks great just mixed and matched with a sentiment.  

Time for me to go and get ready for my team's Crafternoon!  We are meeting on Zoom and we will be crafting together.  We have 3 projects and I  know what one of them looks like cause I am presenting it but the other 2 are surprises.  It is going to be a fun time.  If you have ever thought about joining Stampin' Up! this is a great time to do it.  In addition to the already generous Starter Kit ($99 and you choose $125 in product), you will receive 5 packs of  6" x 6" Designer Series Paper that will be in the next catalog.  Pretty sweet deal!  Let me know if you have any questions, I would love to talk with you about becoming a demonstrator.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Hydrangea Haven

The 2021 Stampin' Up!® January-June Mini catalog is full of so many beautiful stamp set, dies, Designer Series Paper (DSP) and embellishments.  For the Festive Friday challenge I pulled out the Hydrangea Haven bundle.   This was my first real play with the products and I am hooked.  Before I get started telling you about the Hydrangea Hill Suite let's talk about the Challenge.

The Festive Friday Challenge is a bi-weekly challenge and each challenge lasts 10 days.  The challenge is inspired by a festivity and based on that festivity an inspiration list is created aka Inspo List.  There are always 10 items on the list and to play in the challenge you need to use at least 3 items from the list on your project.  You post your project on the Festive Friday blog gallery.  There are just a few rules and you can find them here

FF78

This challenge #FF78 ends on March 1 at 4 pm CST.  I hope you will join in the fun.  I would love to see what you create.

HydrangeaHaven-FF78

As I mentioned I used the Hydrangea Haven bundle, Hydrangea Hill DSP, and the Gorgeous Grape Sheer Ribbon on my card.  The 3 items from the Inspo list on my card: fun fold, flowers, and female sentiment.

The beautiful flower was cut using a die from the DSP.  I wish i could claim that I colored it but it is the paper. The die is pretty special, it partially cuts out little flower petals which i pushed out so it looks dimensional.  I may have gone a little rhinestone crazy but sometimes you just gotta do it.  The rhinestones were colored using the Dark Highland Heather Stampin' Blends.  All the patterned paper is from the Hydrangea Hill DSP pack.    

HydrangeaHaven-FF78-side

The lovely sentiments are  from the Hydrangea Haven stamp set and they are powerful words.  I am sure we all know someone or many someone's we could send this card to.  The larger label was cut using the Stitched Nested dies  and the smaller stitched rounded rectangle is from the Hydrangea dies.  

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

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema

 

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Darling Donkeys Pocket Card

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

CCMC651

I turned the sketch and came up with this using 3 Sale-A-Bration choices, Darling Donkeys, Flower & Field DSP, and Approaching Perfection.  

DarlingDonkeys-PocketCard

This is just a variation of a fold I have been doing.  Here is a link to a tutorial.    I turned  the card on its side, so the "card" pulls out either from the top or bottom of the DSP holder.  This is just a little change but I was proud of myself for doing it.   I don't often think beyond the template and miss out on trying something new and fresh.

DarlingDonkeys-PocketCard-out

I fussy cut the donkey and mounted him on a mini wobble so he can kick up his heels.  I found the mini wobble on Amazon.  It is still a little too big to completely fit behind the donkey so I did a little trimming and it is mostly  hidden.   Even with the wobble, the donkey lays flat enough to fit into an envelope and can be easily mailed.

I used 2 different die sets to create the label.  The So Saffron label is from the Stitched Nested Labels and the Pool Party label is from the All Dressed Up dies.   The little white flower was punched using the Confetti Flowers border punch.   The cute ribbon is the 1/4" Bumble Bee Gingham.

Hope you liked my take on the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC651. Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for this challenge.  Remember, Sale-A-Bration ends February 28th!  

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Creativity Abounds Blog Hop...Dandy Garden Suite

125873640_10157240611041642_4807947291545357817_o

Welcome to the Creativity Abounds Blog Hop.   We are international group of Stampin' Up!® demonstrators who have come together to share our ideas with you.  We blog hop on the the 3rd Wednesday of the month and this month our theme is the Dandy Garden suite.  Thank you for joining us today and please enjoy the hop!

140219951_10157365443776642_3988540495515672383_o

DragonflyGarden-Impossible-front

This is a fun fold called the Impossible card.  When I first saw this fold it did indeed look impossible but it actually s very easy once you understand how it works.

ImpossibleCard-template

  • Start with a 4-1/4' x 5-1/2" piece of cardstock
  • Find the midpoint of the 4-1/4" side and score.  This is the red dotted line in the picture above.
  • Starting at the fold find the middle (2-3/4") and cut a slit from the fold to the outer edge.
  • Starting at the fold  measure 1-1/4" from the fold and cut a slit to the outer edge.  Repeat along the other edge

Note: The 1-1/4" measure is what I used so that I could use the dragonflies to connect the 2 panels.  You can change the dimension to fit your project.

ImpossibleCard-Assembly

This what your card will look like when all the scoring and cutting is done.

Impossible Card-Assembly1 

The easiest way to assemble is to hold the 3'' panel in one hand and with your other hand flip one of the 1-1/4" pieces to the other side.  If this is confusing don't worry I have a short video below that shows this step.

ImpossibleCard-done

Check out the video below.  You will be amazed how easy and ingenious it is and that it isn't really impossible.

 

Isn't it amazing how simple it is?

DragonflyGarden-Impossiblecard-top

I connected the panels with stamped and punched dragonflies using the Dragonfly Garden bundle.  You do not have to connect the panels.  I like to do this as it makes the card very stable.  The panels are decorated using the Dandy Garden 6" x 6" DSP.   Behind the center panel I attached a piece of Basic White CS so I can write a little note.

DragonflyGarden-Impossible-side

I hope you will make your own Impossible card, now that you know that it really isn't impossible.

One last big thing!  The Creativity Abounds Blog Hop team haas also put together a tutorial bundle of brand new projects.  There are 13 tutorials and they feature projects using products from the Dandy Garden Suite (pages 24-27 of the 2021 Jan-Jun Mini Catalog).

CA-Feb-pic

You can purchase this tutorial bundle for $15 US or receive it free with a minimum $50 order placed with me through my online store. Contact me if you have any questions or to order the tutorial ([email protected]).

 

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the Creativity Abounds Dandy Garden Blog Hop!

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Garden Wishes and the Oh So Ombre DSP

There is less than 2 weeks left of this period of Sale-A-Bration.  It is a little hard to get used to that Sale-A-Bration last only 2 months but the good thing is that there will be another Sale-A-Bration in July-August with new offerings.  

I should have shared these cards on a Sunday, since they are perfect for a Simple Sunday post.  

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre

The beautiful Oh So Ombre DSP (SAB choice) meets the Garden Wishes stamp set.  Very clean and simple.  The dandelion image was stamped directly on the Blackberry Bliss Oh So Ombre DSP in VersaMark ink and heat embossed using Black embossing powder.  The sentiment was also heat embossed using Black embossing powder on Basic White CS and cut out using the Stitched Shapes dies.  A Matte Black dot was attached to accent the sentiment.   The Blackberry Bliss Striped ribbon  is  easy to tie and holds its shape beautifully.  

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre-side

Here are the measurements for the card.

  • Blackberry Bliss CS card base- 4-1/4" x 11"
  • Basic White- 4" x  5-1/4" (cut 2,  one for the outside and one for the inside of the card), scrap piece for the sentiment
  • Basic Black -3-3/4" x 5"
  • Oh So Ombre DSP- 3-5/8" x 4-7/8"

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre-inside

Inside another dandelion image from the Garden Wishes stamp set stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and a strip of Oh So Ombre DSP.  

I liked the way this card turned out  and decided to make the same card in all the colors of the Oh So Ombre DSP.

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre-RoseRococo

Here it is in Rococo Rose.  The only difference is the ribbon.  This is the 3/8" Glittered Black Organdy Ribbon.

GardenWishes-OhSo OmbreDSP-GrannyApple

Granny Apple Green

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre-BermudaBay

Bermuda Bay

GardenWishes-OhSoOmbre-All

Which is your favorite?  

Thank you for stopping by.  If you have any questions please let me know.

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Black Stampin' Emboss Powder
Black Stampin' Emboss Powder
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