The 2023 Stampin’ Up! January-April Mini catalog and the 2023 Sale-A-Bration (January-February) has begun!  So exciting!  Today’s sample shows products from both catalogs and also the 2022-23 Annual Catalog.

This card was made for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week the challenge is a color challenge.

I have been wanting to use the beautiful die from the Two-Tone Flora bundle.  It is so pretty and  thought it would be perfect paired with the Beautifully Happy Sale-A-Bration stamp set.

Here are the details of the card.

• Balmy Blue card base- 4-1/4” x 11” scored at 5-1/2”.
• Basic White CS- 4-1/4” x 5-1/2” cut using the large Two-Tone Flora die.
• Adhere the Basic White die cut to the front of the Balmy Blue card base.
• Die cut the #4 (#1 being the smallest rectangle die) Scalloped Contours rectangle die in Basic White CS.
• Stamp the Beautifully Happy bouquet in Tuxedo Black Memento, Balmy Blue, Mint Macaron, and Sweet Sorbet ink on the Basic White rectangle.  The shading on the leaves and flowers are all done for you by the stamp set. 
• Wrap the Balmy Blue & White Variegated Ribbon around the scalloped rectangle and tie a bow.  This is my favorite ribbon.  It is so pretty and so easy to tie a nice bow with.
• Attach the Scalloped Rectangle to the front of the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Adhere a 4” x 5-1/4” Basic White CS piece to the inside of the card.
• Stamp the small small flower in Tuxedo Black Memento, Sweet Sorbet, and Balmy Blue ink on the Basic White CS.  

I haven’t decided on a sentiment yet.  The Beautifully Happy stamp set has 6 different sentiments.  Love the versatility. I cannot decide who I will send this card to so for now I will leave it blank.

Thanks for stopping by and remember Sale-A-Bration lasts for just 2 months-January and February,

Just a few more days left in 2023 which means we are also closer to the start of the new 2023 January-April Mini catalog and Sale-A-Bration.  Both of which start on January 5th.  Did you catch that?  The mini catalog will be available for 4 months instead of 6 months and Sale-A-Bration is in effect January 5th-February 28th and there will only be one Sale-A-Bration this year.  

Today's card was made for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #747.  The challenge alternates between a sketch and color challenge. 

I thought this sketch would be a great one to use some of the fun new papers coming in the Mini Catalog.  I used the Country Gingham 6" x 6" DSP and the Country Floral Lane 12" x 12" DSP.  Both of these are in the Country Floral Lane Suite Collection.   These coordinate so well together and share a common color palette of Balmy Blue, Mint Macaron, Petal Pink and Sweet Sorbet.

I used 1-1/4" x 4" strips of the DSP layered on Basic White CS (4-1/8" x 5-3/8") and then on a Sweet Sorbet card base (5-1/2" x  8-1/2").  The oval frame was cut using the Framed Florets dies.   The Adorable Owl (Sale-A-Bration stamp set) was colored using Petal Pink, So Saffron, Crumb Cake and Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends.  The Sweet Sorbet heart the owl is holding is from the Give It A Whirl dies.  I deviated a bit from the sketch and used the Sending Dies instead of a strip of cardstock.  I cut the Sending outline in Basic White and the word in Sweet Sorbet.  I felt like it was missing something so I added a Petal Pink outline as a shadow and like how that looks.  You know I like ribbon and used the White 3/8" Glittered Organdy to finish the front.

Inside I added a strip of the Country Floral Lane DSP and one of the sentiments from the Sending Smiles set (or bundled with the coordinating dies).   I plan to send a lot more just because cards in 2023 so this sentiment will be used a lot.  There's nothing like getting a tangible reminder that someone is thinking about you and thinks you are pretty special.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the other members 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 you would like to purchase the tutorial.

It is Thursday and time for a new Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  The challenge alternates between a sketch and a color challenge.  This week it is a color challenge.

Last month I attended Stampin' Up!'s On Stage event.  The event was full of product demonstrations, business information & training, and giveaways!  One of the gifts given to every attendee was the Beautifully Happy stamp set.  This set is one of the Sale-A-Bration choices.  Sale-A-Bration starts  January 5th and  end on February 28.  During Sale-A-Bration you can choose gifts when you place a qualifying order.  The Beautifully Happy set is a photopolymer set, this makes Two-Step stamping much easier.

• Fresh Freesia CS card base- 4-1/4" x 11"
• Silver Foil CS layer- 4" x 5-1/4"
• Balmy Blue CS layer - 3-7/8" x 5-1/8" embossed using the Merry Melody 3D folder
• Basic White CS- 3-1/8 x 4-3/8" cut with the Scalloped Contours die
• Fresh Freesia pad
• Balmy Blue pad
• Tuxedo Black Memento pad
• Iridescent Pastel Gems-Balmy Blue coming in the January-April Mini Catalog
• 1-1/2" Metallic Mesh Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Clearance Rack and the Last Chance list.

It is time for another Festive Friday Challenge!  National Letter Writing 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 was lucky to be able to attend Stampin' Up!'s most recent event, On Stage.  Attendees were given the opportunity to pre-order select items.  One of the items I chose was an upcoming (Jan-Feb 2023) Sale-A-Bration choice,   Adorable Owls.  It is a super cute set featuring 3 different owls and 3 sentiments.  I usually do not like to post sneak peeks this far in advance but the little owl was the perfect size for my project so I couldn't resist using it.

From the Inspo List I used Hello Sentiment, Envelope, Ink, and Embossing Folder.

Isn't he adorable?  I love the bow tie!  Let's dissect the project.

• Basic Black card base- 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2".
• Black & White polka dot DSP from Black & White Designs DSP 4" x 5-1/4".
• Black oval -Framed Florets dies.
• Basic White oval-Framed Florets die embossed using the Thanks & Hello folders. 
• Envelope stamp is from a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Business set that is no longer available but I think it would be an easy one to draw freehand.
• Owl colored using Pool Party, Soft Suede, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends.
• Sentiment from the Sending Smiles set stamped on a Stitched Rectangle in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.
• The itty bitty hearts were cut using the Framed Floret Dies.  I adhered a small strip of Foam Adhesive Sheets to a strip of Real Red Glimmer paper and then cut them out using the heart frame.  These little hearts all puffed up are so cute! 

Inside I added another strip of the polka dots and another, this time much larger Real Red Glimmer heart.  This heart was cut using the Give it a Whirl dies.

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

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Joanne James

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing your challenge card in the Festive Friday gallery!