Welcome to the Paper Pumpkin Possibilities Blog Hop! We are all fans of this monthly crafting kit and want to share with you our enthusiasm for this box of fun and creativity. The beauty of the Paper Pumpkin kit is that you can follow the directions provided in the kit to make the projects as they were designed, or use the supplies as a starting point and let your creativity run wild. On this hop we will be sharing lots of ideas with you on how to use the August 2022 Sweet Sunflowers kit.  This kit contains the supplies to create 9 cards with beautifully decorated envelopes. 

The cards are beautiful and I made a set following the directions provided in the kit.  I like to do this to get a feel for the kit and all the elements.

I think the cards are stunning.  I would be happy to make more of the original designs but this is a Paper Pumpkin alternatives blog hop so I had to think of another idea to share with you.  

The first thing I did was to cut some of the card bases in half.  The card bases have designs on the front and the back and  this gave me more pieces to work with.  The front piece measures 4" x 4-1/4" and scored at 3/8", 3/4" and 1-1/8".  This creates the spine of this gift card holder book.  I stamped the sunflower and followed the tip to stamp it twice and love how it looks.  I also used the Evening Evergreen 3/8" Windowpane Check Ribbon to close the book.

I used the Mini Pocket Envelope Dies  to cut out this gift card holder.  The paper  used for the pocket is the back half of a card base.  The pocket is decorated with a few bees and one of the labels.  I also added some Linen Thread.  

The second pocket was glued on to the back cover which is half of a card base.  The back piece measures 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" scored at 2-3/4".  You could add more pockets if you were giving more gift cards.  You would need to have a longer card front and add additional score lines.

Now it is time for you to see what the talented  Janey Backer has created for you!

Thanks for stopping by and remember Sale-A-Bration ends on August 31!

I am using two Sale-A-Bration choices on my card today.  One is the Rings of Love DSP and the other the Aspen Tree Dies.  I just realized that the bird in the Rings of Love DSP is very similar to the chubby bird in the Perched In A Tree set.  

I colored the chubby bird using Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, and So Saffron Stampin' Blends.  I was trying to get the same effect as the bird on the DSP.  My attempt  is definitely not perfect but close one eye and squint and it looks pretty good-HA!

The chubby bird and the branch she is perched on were  cut using the Aspen Tree dies.  The circles are a combination of the Layering Circles and Stylish Shapes dies.

The card can be removed from the pocket and written on.  I have made this style of card many times before and you can find a tutorial HERE.  I love that I can show both sides of the Rings of Love DSP on this pocket.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to Sale-A- Bration ends in just a couple of days so be sure to shop soon!

Boughs of Holly camp 

It is time for another Creativity Abounds stamp camp!  The Creativity Abounds Design Team is an international group of 13 Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  We do a monthly blog hop and tutorial bundle and every quarter we hold a stamp camp. 

The Boughs of Holly Stamp Camp will be the held October 28th and 29th.  To register all you need to do is purchase the Boughs of Holly Suite and use the Host Code DDK66A4W.  If you already own the suite, simply order $79.50 of products from my online store and use the Host Code DDK66A4W.  It is important to use the Host Code which will let me know you want to participate in the stamp camp.  

You will receive 13 kits which will include all the cardstock pieces necessary to make the projects.  You will  use your own DSP, stamps, dies and embellishments.   Both a written and video tutorial will be provided for you for each project. 

In addition to the 13 projects you will be invited to join a private Facebook group for the camp.  On October 28th and 29th each design team member will present another project using the Boughs of Holly Suite.  These lives will be spread out over the 2 days but they will be recorded so you can watch them when it is convenient for you.  

Please use this link to order.  I have attached the Host Code to the link.  Remember if you order before August 31 you will also be eligible to earn a Level 1 Sale-A-Bration item!  

If you have any questions please contact me at [email protected].  It is going to be a fun and creative time!

I purchased the Peekaboo Treat Bags when they first debuted in the 2022-23 Annual Stampin' Up! Catalog.  I didn't have any immediate plans for them but always like to have options on hand to package little treats.  

I found these little individually wrapped Green Apple Licorice at my local grocery store and thought they would be a nice little treat. I just received the Apple Harvest stamp set so it was time to create this little gift with the Peekaboo Bags.  

I used the Granny Apple Green, Petal Pink,  So Saffron, and Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends to color the apple and the apple blossoms.  I used the soon to be released Apple Blossoms dies to cut out the apples and the flowers.  Yes, starting September 1-30 and while supplies last, you will be able to purchase the coordinating die for the Apple Harvest stamp set and 5 other sets.  The other stamp sets are Fresh Cut Flowers,  This Birthday Piggy, Trimming the Tree, Waterfall Canyon and the Yeti to Party.  

The Peekaboo bags are self sealing.  I added the Petal Pink ribbon which can be slipped off to access the goodies inside.  These Peekaboo bags are so great to have on hand to package up a little gift.  I am also using them to package some hand sanitizer.  I will post a picture over on my Facebook page when I get those done.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow me on my Facebook page,

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

Isn't this a pretty combination?  

I used the Dots & Spots die for a white on white dotted look.  The Dots & Spots die is one of the level 2 Sale-A-Bration offerings.  Are you wondering where the flowers and leaves are from?  Starting September 1 there will be a new offering called Perfect Partners.  There will be a release of 6 new die sets that coordinate with stamp sets that are in the Annual Catalog or the July-December Mini Catalog.  The stamp sets are: Apple Harvest (Mini Catalog), Fresh Cut Flowers (Annual Catalog),  This Birthday Piggy (Annual Catalog),  Waterfall Canyon (Annual Catalog), Trimming the Tree (Annual Catalog), and Yeti To Party (Mini Catalog).  These dies will be available  for a limited time (Sept 1-Sept 30) and  while supplies last.  You can buy the dies as a bundle with the stamp set or individually.

The flowers I used are from the Apple Blossoms Dies.  This die set not only cuts out the images in the stamp set but also these pretty flowers in two sizes, leaves in two sizes and the scalloped edge.  There's a lot of detail in these flowers and leaves and they look great in the colors for the challenge.

The Parakeet Party paper is from the 2022-24 In Color DSP.   The sentiment is from the Apple Harvest stamp set inked in Tahitian Tide on a banner cut from the Stylish Shapes dies.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for the challenge,

We are heading towards the end of August which also means the end of Sale-A-Bration.  There were two releases during this SAB period you can see them HERE and HERE.  A few choices are no longer available (Tree Lot Dies, Pool Party and Soft Sea Foam Cards & Envelopes, Brushed Metallic 12" x 12" Cardstock).  Sale-A-Bration items are available while supplies last.

I used the Silver & Gold Designer Series Paper from Sale-A-Bration with the Sending Smiles bundle.   

Colors used on this project.

Polished Pink

Tahitian Tide

Daffodil Delight

Parakeet Party

This is a book fold card.  The card base measures 4-1/4" x 11", scored at 4-1/2" and 5-1/2".  The 1" section between the 2 score lines is adhered to the card base making a "binding".  I always try to put something inside of my cards to decorate them.

Product List

Sending Smiles Bundle (English) [158707]	Tahitian Tide Classic Stampin' Pad [159210]	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094]	Polished Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [155712]
Parakeet Party Classic Stampin' Pad [159208]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]
Silver & Gold 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [159941]	Basics Embossing Powders [155554]	Baker's Twine Essentials Pack [155475]

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out all the Sale-A-Bration offerings and get your favorites before the end of August,

It is time for another Creativity Abounds stamp camp!  The Creativity Abounds Design Team is an international group of 13 Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  We do a monthly blog hop and tutorial bundle and every quarter we hold a stamp camp. 

The Boughs of Holly Stamp Camp will be the held October 28th and 29th.  To register all you need to do is purchase the Boughs of Holly Suite and use the Host Code DDK66A4W.  If you already own the suite, simply order $79.50 of products from my online store and use the Host Code DDK66A4W.  It is important to use the Host Code which will let me know you want to participate in the stamp camp.  

You will receive 13 kits which will include all the cardstock pieces necessary to make the projects.  You will  use your own DSP, stamps, dies and embellishments.   Both a written and video tutorial will be provided for you for each project. 

In addition to the 13 projects you will be invited to join a private Facebook group for the camp.  On October 28th and 29th each design team member will present another project using the Boughs of Holly Suite.  These lives will be spread out over the 2 days but they will be recorded so you can watch them when it is convenient for you.  

Please use this link to order.  I have attached the Host Code to the link.  Remember if you order before August 31 you will also be eligible to earn a Level 1 Sale-A-Bration item!  

If you have any questions please contact me at [email protected].  It is going to be a fun and creative time!

It is time for another Festive Friday Challenge!  Grandparents Day  is the festivity we are featuring on the Festive Friday Challenge. What is the Festive Friday Challenge?  The Festive Friday Challenge is a bi-weekly challenge that has an Inspo List.  What is an Inspo List?  Every challenge has an Inspo list  aka as an inspiration list, that has 10 items on it and those 10 items were inspired by a particular holiday, celebration or festivity.  You need to use 3 items from the Inspo list on your project.  You do not have to incorporate the festivity into your challenge but if you want to, you can.  Here is a link to more information about how to participate in the challenge.

I chose to use from the list Fancy Fold, Plaid, and Hearts. 

I used the 2022-24 In Color DSP  in Sweet Sorbet to fulfill the Plaid.  The hearts were cut using the 2022-24 In Color Glimmer Paper and the Hippo dies.  I did also use a pearl on  top of the umbrella.  You will see the Fancy Fold in the next couple of pictures.

The hippo is stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink  on Smoky Slate CS.  I did  a little coloring using Smoky Slate and Sweet Sorbet Stampin' Blends.  The umbrella was die cut using the Hippo dies. The opening was cut using a Stitched Rectangles die.  I tied a bow using the White Glittered Organdy Ribbon.   The sentiment is from the Very Best Occasions stamp set.

Now you are starting to see the Fancy Fold.  I guess it really isn't that fancy but it is a fun one.  The DSP is another pattern in the 2022-24 In. Color DSP.

This is a full sheet of CS scored into quarters.  The upper left quarter has been cut out.  It is a simple card to make.  I like how it unfolds.  The DSP on this panel is again from the 2022-24 In Color DSP and the sentiment is from the Very Best Occasions.  

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

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Joanne James- off this week

Thanks for stopping by and check out all that Sale-A-Bration has to offer here and here,

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (13 tutorials!!)  as a thank you.  You can also purchase the tutorial bundle for $15.00.  Please contact me ([email protected]) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

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

The sketch is meant to inspire you.  Remember you do not have to follow it exactly but you must be able to see the "bones" of the sketch.  I took the basic idea and used my favorite  (for today) Designer Series Paper (DSP), Butterfly Kisses  and the 2022-24 In Color DSP.

The 2 butterflies were fussy cut from the Butterfly Kisses DSP.  This is one of the reasons I like this pack of paper so much.  I like that there are lots of butterflies in different sizes and color combinations I can use.  The Parakeet Party diagonal stripe is also from the Butterfly Kisses DSP.  The Starry Sky pattern is one of 4 patterns found in the In Color paper pack.  The sentiment is from the Pansy Patch stamp set stamped in Starry Sky ink.  The sentiment strip was cut using a die from the Harvest dies.  Scattered about are a few Iridescent Rhinestones.  

The Starry Sky card base measures 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" and the Basic White layer measures 8" x 5-1/4", scored at 4".  Inside of the card is layered with Basic White CS (4" x 5-1/4")  and another cute fussy cut butterfly.  

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for the challenge,

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (13 tutorials!!)  as a thank you.  You can also purchase the tutorial bundle for $15.00.  Please contact me ([email protected]) if for more information or if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

Welcome to the Creativity Abounds Blog Hop!  We are a group of international Stampin' Up!® demonstrators.  We hop together on the third Wednesday of every month.  Our hops focus around a particular bundle, holiday, occasion or product suite.  We also do a quarterly stamp camp and have one coming up October 28 & 29th, Boughs of Holly Suite Collection.  Every month we also create a tutorial bundle.  This month the tutorial bundle features Anything But Christmas.  The projects featured in this blog hop are different than the projects in the tutorial bundle.  We want to share lots of ideas with you.

I have a conflicting feelings about squirrels.  I think they are cute and they are so fun to watch as they scurry about.  However I have battled with them eating all the food in the bird feeder, nibbling on plants and even my patio furniture.  They are definitely smart and tenacious.

The Nuts About Squirrels stamp set is too cute and I couldn't resist it.  The set definitely captures their mischievous look and personality.   When I was looking for an idea for this post I remembered this squirrel holding the acorn and thought it would be perfect to pair it with the acorns image in the Fond of Autumn bundle (for more information about the Fond of Autumn bundle check out this post).  I colored the leaves and acorn using Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede Stampin' Blends.  I topped the pumpkin from the Hello Harvest bundle with the acorn and the squirrel.  Doesn't the squirrel look super pleased with himself for stealing one of the acorns?

The sentiment from the Hello Harvest set was stamped on a Stylish Shapes banner using Early Espresso ink.  I added a couple of Brushed Metallic Dots on to the banner.   The small leaf  near the banner is also from the Fond of Autumn bundle and I colored it with the same Stampin' Blends.  The bundle also has an acorn stamp and coordinating die. I added a couple of leaves and an acorn to the inside of the card.  One of my favorite embossing folders is the Leaf Fall 3D.  I think it is a little hard to see in the mini catalog.  You can find it on page 53.  The impression is deep and you can see every leaf. 

Be sure to check out all the fabulous projects!

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (13 tutorials!!)  as a thank you.  You can also purchase the tutorial bundle for $15.00.  Please contact me ([email protected]) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

I recently purchased the Bouquet of Thanks stamp.  It is in the Background Brilliance section of the 2022-23 Annual Catalog.  It is a beautiful image and one that lends itself to lots of different techniques.  Today's card is a quick and simple one.

Did you notice that the sentiment is different?  I did  cover the Thank You with a piece of washi tape before I inked the image.  I removed the washi tape and then stamped it on  Basic White cardstock.  I then stamped the Just a Note sentiment in the blank banner.  I added the Black & White Gingham Ribbon and tied a bow.  I layered the image on to Basic Black cardstock and then on a Basic White card base.  

I wanted to add a little color so I attached the Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels.  I thought it added just. a little sparkle and some color.

Product List

Bouquet Of Thanks Cling Stamp Set (English) [159067]	Fond Of Autumn Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [160266]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Black & White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Gingham Ribbon [156485]	Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924]

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the lovely background stamps in the 2022-23 Annual Catalog,

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  This month the theme is Anything Goes!  I decided to use a new to me stamp,  Bouquet of Thanks and a technique I haven't done in a long time.

• Stamp the Bouquet of Thanks image using Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
• Color the image using Petal Pink, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive Stampin' Blends.
• Use 2 Stylish Shapes square dies and cut out a frame .
• Attach the image to the Basic Black cardstock.
• Apply Foam Adhesive Strips to the back of the frame.
• Adhere the frame back into the Basic White CS lining up the image,
• Adhere the square piece into the center of the frame using glue.
• Adhere on to the Petal Pink card base.

Inside I stamped a partial image and colored it with Stampin' Blends.

In the past I have always done this technique using squares so I thought I should try it with circle dies.  This time I used the Nature's Harvest stamp set.   I colored in the image again with Old Olive and Petal Pink Stampin' Blends.  The flower centers were colored using a Blender pen.  The process to make this was basically the same except I used the circles from the Stylish Shapes dies.  I also added the Early Espresso Faux Suede Trim and a few Brushed Brass Butterflies.

The sentiment is from the Through it Together stamp set on a banner cut using the Stylish Shapes dies.  Now it is time for you to check out the rest of the stops on the Hop!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop!