It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a color challenge. This was a fun one.  

I had planned to make. a card for each possible color combination for the challenge but sadly I ran out of time.  It is still something that I hope to do soon.  I chose to use Evening Evergreen to go with the Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.

I used the Delicate Baubles Dies and cut out the ornament on the Basic White CS layer.   I embossed the Basic White layer using the Merry Melody 3D folder and layered it on to the Crumb Cake layer. I cut the ornament in Early Espresso and Evening Evergreen CS and inlaid the Early Espresso ornament on to the Basic White CS.  The rest of the pieces were attached and put together like a puzzle.  Sounds a little tedious but I like puzzles so to me it is very satisfying.  

The sentiment is from the Sparkle of the Season set stamped in Early Espresso ink on a Crumb Cake Stitched Rectangle.  A few 2021-23 In Color Jewels were attached to the card to add a little sparkle.  The top of the ornament is a bow tied using the Evening Evergreen 3/8" Open Weave Ribbon.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team created for this challenge.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to sign up for my newsletter.  The 12 Weeks of Holidays newsletter is starting tomorrow!  You can sign up on the right side of the blog.  Thank you!

Whimsy and Wonder Tutorial!  13 tutorials featuring the products in the Whimsy & Wonder Suite for just $15 or receive it FREE with a $50 (before shipping & tax) online order using my Host Code A9GTDA44.  Shop with me online HERE.

It is Thursday which means it is time to show you what I made for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge and one I thought would be perfect to use the Peaceful Prints DSP.  The Peaceful Prints DSP is a  Sale-A-Bration choice which  means it is free with a qualifying order ( in the US that is a purchase of $50 before shipping & tax).  There are more choices that can be seen here.  The Peaceful Prints DSP is a lovely pack of paper and a great accompaniment  if you have the Peaceful Deer bundle (J-D catalog).  

Here's what I made using the sketch.

The diagonal stripe paper is  from the Peaceful Prints DSP.  Sahara Sand is one of the colors I do not use very much and I always wonder why I don't.  It is kind of a chameleon of a color and I need to use it more.  Do you use Sahara Sand and what are your favorite color combinations using it?

I used one of the Wintry 3D embossing folders to emboss the Basie White piece.  There are 2 folders, one a snowflake design and the other a pine branch both are lovely.  

The sentiment is from the Christmas to Remember set.  The sentiment was stamped in Versamark ink and then heat embossed using white embossing powder on Sahara Sand CS.  

To finish off the front of the card I added Red Rhinestones for a little shine and sparkle. If I use a patterned paper on the front of the card, I like to add a strip to the inside.  I also stamped another sentiment from the Christmas to Remember set. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for this sketch.

Whimsy and Wonder Tutorial!  13 tutorials featuring the products in the Whimsy & Wonder Suite for just $15 or receive it FREE with a $50 (before shipping & tax) online order using my Host Code A9GTDA44.  Shop with me online HERE.

This past weekend I participated in the Creativity Abounds Whimsy & Wonder stamp camp and oh was it fun!  So many great ideas and projects.  All I can say is the next time the  Creativity Abounds Design Team does a stamp camp you will need to join in the fun!  The Creativity Abounds Design Team has a blog hop on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  We also create a tutorial bundle monthly.

Today's card was a sample I made using the products in the Whimsy & Wonder Suite.  Love the Whimsy & Wonder Specialty DSP, it features great designs, foiling, and a fun and fresh color combination for Christmas.

I used Mossy Meadow, Blushing Bride, Basic White and of course the Whimsy & Wonder DSP.  The lovely ornaments were fussy cut from the DSP and I love these ornaments.   The scalloped frame is from the Scalloped Contours Dies. 

The cute little holly acts as a stopper to hold up the easel.  

Card Base: Blushing Bride CS 4-1/4" x11" scored at 2-3/4", Scalloped  layer 4-1/2" x 3-1/4"

Mossy Meadow CS: 5-1/4" x 4", 2-5/8" x  3-7/8"

Basic White: 3-3/4" x 2-1/2"

Whimsy & Wonder DSP: 5" x 3-3/4"

Thanks for stopping by and you can join my mailing list if you would like to be kept up to date on classes and other events.  

Whimsy and Wonder Tutorial!  13 tutorials featuring the products in the Whimsy & Wonder Suite for just $15 or receive it FREE with a $50 (before shipping & tax) online order using my Host Code A9GTDA44.  Shop with me online HERE.  If you would like to purchase the tutorial contact me- [email protected]

The Delivering Cheer stamp set is so much fun to play with.  I have really enjoyed changing up her look to fit different occasions.  On today's card  I have her dressed and ready for a party.  I made this card for the Festive Friday Challenge #93.

The Festive Friday Challenge is the challenge with the Inspo List.  There are 10 items on the Inspo List inspired by a holiday/festivity.  To play along with the challenge you need to pick 3 items from the list to include on your card.  You do not have to follow the theme/festivity but you can.  

I used from the Inspo List- balloons, red, stripes and paper piecing.   The balloons are from the Penguin Place stamp set  and were stamped using Poppy Parade and Pool Party ink.  The presents were colored using Poppy Parade and Pool Party Stampin' Blends.  The lovely striped paper is one of the happy and bright designs from the Pattern Party DSP (a Stampin' Reward). The skirt is paper pierced also using a design from the Pattern Party DSP.  I think it is my favorite pattern and would love to wear that skirt.  I stamped her on Basic White and used the Ornate Layers to create the label.  Don't you love the holes and the stitching detail?

I hope you will join in the challenge!  You can go HERE to read all about how to play along.  Be sure to check out what the design team created!  We have 3  new designers that I know you will love!  They are all so talented and we are excited to have them join the team.

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

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - you are here!

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans

Joanne James

Thank you for stopping by!  Be sure to sign up to be on my mailing list (look on the sidebar of the blog).  The 12 Weeks of the Holidays email will be starting soon and you won't want to miss out on all the projects.

It is Thursday which means it is time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week we have a color challenge.  Yes, the challenges alternate weekly  between a sketch and a color combination.  

Isn't this a lovely Fall color combination?  I recently received the Sparkle of the Season bundle and thought it would be a perfect for this color challenge.  

I stamped the sentiment from the Sparkle of the Season stamp set in Cinnamon Cider ink and then embossed the So Saffron layer using the Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder.  This embossing folder adds texture and gives the cardstock an aged look.  I lightly added some Cinnamon Cider ink using a Blending Brush around the area the wreath would be placed.  I splattered watered down Cinnamon Cider ink using a Water Painter.  

I layered a Soft Succulent wreath over a Cinnamon Cider wreath. I dabbed a little Cinnamon Cider ink on some of the Soft Succulent leaves and also on the So Saffron flowers.  The centers of the flowers are pearls that I colored using the Dark Cinnamon Cider Stampin' Blends.

Inside I used another sentiment from the Sparkle the Season stamp set, thankful for you.  I also stamped a few leaves in So Saffron and Soft Succulent ink.  

Be sure t check out what the rest of the design team created for the color challenge!  Thank you for stopping by!

Welcome to the Creativity Abounds Blog Hop!  We are a group of international Stampin' Up!® demonstrators.  This monthly blog hop goes live on the third Wednesday of the month.  The theme this month is the Whimsy & Wonder Suite.  We also create a monthly tutorial bundle and a quarterly stamp camp.  So much fun and inspiration! Enjoy the hop!

The Whimsy & Wonder suite of products is such a beautiful suite, from the fun and whimsical stamp set to the  shabby chic ribbon you will have so much fun creating your Christmas cards,  home decor and gifts too!  

This is a card holder or a holder of scratch paper or anything else you can think of to use it for.  This holder will  hold 5 cards and envelopes depending of course on how "bumpy" your cards are.   I decided to decorate this holder very simply with a strip of the lovely DSP, the Blushing Bride ribbon, and a simple tag.   

Here it is filled with cards using the suite and the Be Dazzling Specialty Paper, which was a Sale-A-Bration choice and unfortunately no longer available (sold 0ut) here in the US.  This card I featured in this blog post.

Now it is time to check out what the rest of the team created!  

Thank you for stopping by!

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  We are all Stampin' Up!® demonstrators who have joined together to form this fun group.  The hop occurs every month on the 14th at 7 pm (PST).   This month the theme for our hop is Christmas.  Enjoy the hop!

I have been playing with the Merriest Moments bundle and it has been a joy to create with.  This bundle is special.  There is a lovely stamp set, great dies and a Hybrid Embossing folder.  This is a very versatile and beautiful bundle of products.

For this card I used the Merriest Moment stamp set and dies.  The poinsettias are stamped in Cherry Cobbler with Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen leaves.  I added a sprig of Gold Metallic Specialty Paper cut using one of the Poinsettia dies.  The patterned paper is from the Tidings of Christmas DSP in the Annual Catalog.  The ribbon is the Cherry Cobbler & Gold Metallic Ribbon.  

This card has a little secret.  

Yup, it is also a gift card holder.  The front of the card is scored at 1-1/2" and is folded to the inside to form the pocket.  Did I fool you or did you know all along?

Here are the basic measurements and scoring for this card:

    *Card base 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 1-1/2" and 5-1/2"

Now it is time for you to hop on over to see what Carol Payne has created for you!

Stamper's Dozen September 2021 Blog Hop

1. Bonnie O'Neill – Bonnie Stamped
2. Kelly Acheson - A Stamp Above
3. Jodi Petersen – Jodi’s Card Designs
4. Rose Grunewald – Country Cards by Rose
5. Patty Chenail – Stamp-Patty’s - Stamping in My Flops
6. Judy Garza – Creativity Released
7. Sharon Hashimoto Burkert – As the Ink Dries
8. Carol Payne – Carol Payne Stamps
9. Rachel Yurkanin – Rachel’s Stamping Place
10. Debbie Naylor – Unfrogettable Stamping!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

Welcome to the Inspire Create Share blog hop!  The Inspire Create Share blog hop goes live is on the second Tuesday of the month.  This month the theme for the hop is Sale-A-Bration.  This year Stampin' Up! changed from one Sale-A-Bration period  that lasted 3 months to two Sale-A-Brations that lasts 2 months each.  The first Sale-A-Bration period was January-February and the second and current Sale-A-Bration is August-September.

What is so special about Sale-A-Bration?  During Sale-A-Bration when your order (before shipping and tax) reaches a certainly levels ($50 or $100 in the US) you can choose a free gift from the Sale-A-Bration brochure.  Hop along with us and see lots of ideas of ways to use the Sale-A-Bration offerings.

Counting Sheep is one of the super fun stamp sets  that is available during Sale-A-Bration.  There are even Sheep Dies that coordinate with this stamp set available as a Sale-A-Bration choice!  

Hope this card made you smile!  It was fun to make.  Frolicking sheep with balloons and party hats, what's not to like?  The grass was textured using the Stitched Greenery die  and the edge created by using the Basic Borders die.

This is an easy fold to make and it is a fun one to use to create a scene.  Here are the basic measurements.

Card Base: 5" x 8" scored at 2", 4-1/2", 6-1/4".   The only thing you want to keep in mind is the height of the card cannot exceed  4-1/4" if you want it to fit in an A-2 envelope.  

While I was playing around with this fold I decided to make another card using another Sale-A-Bration choice.

The Penguin Playmates 12" x 12" DSP is another fun Sale-A-Bration choice.  All the animals were fussy cut from the DSP.  So many cute penguins, foxes, and bears can be found on the DSP.   I used these cutting and scoring to make the penguin card. Card base 5” x 10-1/2” scored at 1-1/4”, 2-1/2”,4-1/4”, 6 “, 8-1/4”. 

There is only a couple of weeks left of Sale-A-Bration so don't miss out on all the great products!

Now it is time to check out what Debbi Green has created for you!

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the Hop!

Don't miss out on the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go! 

Do you like having all the cardstock and DSP cut and scored for you? Do you like tutorials to help you create the cards?  Do you like a mix of cards and   3-D projects?  If you answered yes, then the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go might be perfect for you.

When you place an online order of $40 or more, using the Host Code 66Z9UMFU I will send you 4 tutorials featuring our Stamp of the Month (Nature's Harvest)  You also receive the cardstock &  DSP cut and scored for you.  You will need the Nature's Harvest stamp set since I cannot include stamped images.  Also not included but used in the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go: adhesives, ink (Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Black Stazon,  Early Espresso pad, Bumblebee pad), Watercolor Pencils asst 1, Blending Brush or sponge, Water Painter or paint brush, and a blender pen).

To qualify for the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go, your online order must be placed by September 15 using the Host Code 66Z9UMFU.  The projects and tutorials will be sent by September 22.  

Just a quick and easy Halloween card.  I mixed a little from the 2021-22 Annual Catalog and a little from the 2021 July-December Mini Catalog for today's card.

From the Mini Catalog I stamped the yummy caramel apple from the Sweets & Treats stamp set.   The apple was colored using Poppy Parade and Cinnamon Cider Stampin' Blends.    The Cute Halloween DSP (6" x 6") is also from the Mini Catalog.  This pack of paper coordinates with the Cutest Halloween Bundle and some of the images on the paper can be punched out using the Halloween Punch.  The Black & White Gingham Ribbon is also from the Cute Halloween Suite and  is one of the must haves from the Mini Catalog.

From the 2021-22 Annual Catalog I used the Banner Year stamp set for the bat, Boo, pumpkin and the Happy Haunting.  Can you see the embossed dots on the Basic White strip?  I used the Checks and Dots embossing folder to emboss that design.

The caramel apple, bat, and pumpkin were all made shiny and glittery by using the Shimmery Crystal Effects.  The Shimmery Crystal Effects adds a little bit of dimension and  glitter to each item.  The Shimmery Crystal Effects does take some time to fully dry so set it aside and give it time.  

Product List

Banner Year Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [153464]	Sweets & Treats Photopolymer Stamp Set [156561]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086]
Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089]	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115]	Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154958]	Cinnamon Cider Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [153105]
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Cute Halloween 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [156479]	Checks & Dots Embossing Folders [155432]
Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820]	Black & White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Gingham Ribbon [156485]	Shimmery Crystal Effects [150892]

Thank you for stopping by!

Don't miss out on the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go! 

Do you like having all the cardstock and DSP cut and scored for you? Do you like tutorials to help you create the cards?  Do you like a mix of cards and   3-D projects?  If you answered yes, then the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go might be perfect for you.

When you place an online order of $40 or more, using the Host Code 66Z9UMFU I will send you 4 tutorials featuring our Stamp of the Month (Nature's Harvest)  You also receive the cardstock &  DSP cut and scored for you.  You will need the Nature's Harvest stamp set since I cannot include stamped images.  Also not included but used in the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go: adhesives, ink (Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Black Stazon,  Early Espresso pad, Bumblebee pad), Watercolor Pencils asst 1, Blending Brush or sponge, Water Painter or paint brush, and a blender pen).

To qualify for the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go, your online order must be placed by September 15 using the Host Code 66Z9UMFU.  The projects and tutorials will be sent by September 22.  

It doesn't feel like Thursday but it is!  The Create with Connie & Mary Challenge is this  fun sketch.   I love this sketch.  Why?  It has a great focal point and those 3 strips are a great place to use DSP or something sparkly .  My card came together quickly and easily following the sketch.  

I knew I wanted to use some of the products from the Gingerbread & Peppermint Suite.  The only hard choice I had to make was whether to feature the ornament, bell, star, or snowflake.  I chose the snowflake and instead of stamping I used the Gingerbread dies and cut the snowflakes out from the super cute Gingerbread & Peppermint DSP.

Here's what I used:

Basic White Thick Cardstock  base: 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2", sentiment (Stitched Rectangle  1/2" x  2-1/2") scrap piece

Real Red CS: 4" x 5-1/4"

Kraft paper: Cut with the Stitched Rectangle die ( 2-5/8" x 4") embossed Wintry 3D embossing folder

Gingerbread & Peppermint DSP:  1 sheet to cut out 3 snowflakes, 1/2" x 4-1/4" strip for inside of the card, small snowflake fussy cut

Be Dazzling 6" x 6" Specialty Paper- 1/2" x 4-1/4" (cut 3)

Wonderful Gems: 6 red gems

Inside a strip of DSP and a small snowflake from the Gingerbread & Peppermint DSP.  I think the inside of the card needs to be decorated too.  

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created using the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Gingerbread & Peppermint Suite!

Don't miss out on the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go! 

Do you like having all the cardstock and DSP cut and scored for you? Do you like tutorials to help you create the cards?  Do you like a mix of cards and   3-D projects?  If you answered yes, then the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go might be perfect for you.

When you place an online order of $40 or more, using the Host Code 66Z9UMFU I will send you 4 tutorials featuring our Stamp of the Month (Nature's Harvest)  You also receive the cardstock &  DSP cut and scored for you.  You will need the Nature's Harvest stamp set since I cannot include stamped images.  Also not included but used in the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go: adhesives, ink (Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Black Stazon,  Early Espresso pad, Bumblebee pad), Watercolor Pencils asst 1, Blending Brush or sponge, Water Painter or paint brush, and a blender pen).

To qualify for the Stamp of the Month Projects To Go, your online order must be placed by September 15 using the Host Code 66Z9UMFU.  The projects and tutorials will be sent by September 22.