Ready for another Festive Friday challenge?   What is the Festive Friday challenge?  The Festive Friday challenge is a bi-weekly challenge that is inspired by a holiday/festivity.  An Inspo list of 10 items is created using the festivity as its inspiration.  To play in the challenge you need to use 3 items from the Inspo list on your project and enter it in the Festive Friday gallery.  We love seeing what you choose from the Inspo list and look forward to seeing what you create.

I chose from the Inspo List  brown, pink,  flowers, and birthday sentiment.

• Crumb Cake CS card base 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"
• Pretty In Pink CS 4" x 5-1/4"
• Basic White CS 37/8" x 5-1/8"
• Stamp the shopping bag from Attention Shoppers (debuting May 1 2024-25 Annual Catalog) on Crumb Cake CS and also the tissue portion on 2024-26 In Color DSP
• Die cut the shopping bag using the coordinating Attention Shoppers dies
• Fussy cut the tissue out and adhere it over the tissue on the shopping bag
• Stamp the birthday cake on Basic White CS and die cut with the coordinating dies
• Color the cake using Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends
• Stamp the bouquet on Crumb Cake CS and die cut using the coordinating dies
• Stamp the flowers on Basic White CS and fussy cut
• Color the flowers with Pretty in Pink Stampin' Blends and adhere it to the flower bouquet
• Stamp the birthday sentiment (Sweetly Scripted Online Exclusive) on the Basic White CS
• Adhere the Basic White and Pretty in Pink layers to the Crumb Cake card base
• Attach the bag, cake, and flowers to the front with Stampin' Dimensionals
• Attach the Pretty in Pink 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems

• Basic White CS 4" x 5-1/4"
• Pretty in Pink strip from the 2024-26 In Color DSP 3/4" x 4"
• Stamp the bouquet on Basic White CS
• Color the bouquet with Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends

Be sure to check out how the rest of the Festive Friday design team used the Inspo List.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to add your project to the Festive Friday gallery.  We love seeing how the Inspo list inspired you!

It is Thursday and time for a new Create with Stamping Friends Challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge.

I fiddled with lots of different ideas and finally decided on using the Stippled Roses bundle (order it in April and save 10% on the bundle). 

• Thick Basic White CS card base- 4-1/4" x 11"
• Fresh Freesia CS 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
• Granny Apple Green 6" x 6" Brights DSP-4" x 5-1/4", 3/4" x 4"
• Fresh Freesia CS 1-3/4" x 3-3/4",  1" x 4"
• Basic White CS 1-1/2" x  3-3/4" , 1/2" x 4",  2-3/4" x  3-1/2" (stamp small rose and rose /bud from the large rose image)

1. Adhere the Granny Apple Green DSP on the Fresh Freesia layer.
2. Adhere on to the Thick Basic White CS card base.
3. Stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink the small rose and  the rose and buds (part of the larger rose image).
4. Color using Stampin' Blends (Granny Apple Green, Fresh Freesia, Berry Burst, Bubble Bath).
5. Die cut the flowers.  Fussy cut part of the rose with 2 buds image, to separate it from the larger image.
6. Emboss the Basic White CS (1-1/2" x 3-3/4" with the Painted Texture 3D folder.
7. Layer the textured Basic White onto the Fresh Freesia strip (1-3/4" x 3-3/4").
8. Stamp the sentiment from the Sweetly Scripted stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on the 1/2" x 4" Basic White strip.
9. Layer the sentiment on to the DSP and then on the Fresh Freesia strip (1' x 4").
10. Adhere the sentiment strip over the ends of the Painted Texture strips.
11. Adhere the roses using Stampin' Dimensionals.
12. Adhere the Fresh Freesia Tinsel Gems (Tinsel Gems Three Pack)
13. Apply Wink of Stella on the roses.

Inside another strip of Fresh Freesia CS and Granny Apple Green DSP.

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

Do you like playing around with different techniques?  The Creativity Abounds team has put together 13 different techniques both written and videos. Place a $35 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.

I purchased the Sweet Thoughts Memories and More Card Pack and the Sweet Thoughts Memories & More Cards & Envelopes when they were first released.  Both of these items are on the Last Chance List and are reduced in price.  They are quite the deal!  I pulled them out and planned to make a few cards and ended up with 23 cards!  It was fun to make and relaxing since I primarily just used what was in the Card Pack.  It was like a giant kit.  

I made so many cards that i decided a quick video would be a better and more efficient way to share them with you.

Hope you enjoy it and if you want your own Sweet Thoughts Memories & More Card Pack and the coordinating Sweet Thoughts Memories Cards & Envelopes you can purchase them here.   They are available while supplies last or April 30th.

It is Thursday and time for a new Create with Stamping Friends Challenge!  This week it is a choose your own adventure color challenge with some sparkle.

I was in a time crunch.  It was getting late and I needed to get this card made.  I  knew I wanted to make a black & white striped background.  Black, white & a pop of color are my go-tos.   I played around with the idea of  stamping and coloring some of my beautiful new floral stamps but looking at the clock I knew that would take me longer than I had time for.  While I was perusing my options I came across a new item that will be debuting in the upcoming 2024-25 Annual Catalog and knew my problem was solved.  

• Thick Basic White CS card base-4-1/4" x 11"
• Basic Black CS 4" x 5-1/4"
• Basic White CS 3-3/4" x 5"
• Basic Black CS stripes 3/4" x 3-3/4" (4)

My colors for this challenge are Pretty in Pink, Garden Green and Petal Pink.  I am considering the black and white as neutrals and am not counting them. The beautiful flower is from a new product, the Fully Flowering Ephemera Pack.  This new product features 2 each of 4 designs (total of 8 sheets) of pre-cut images.  This one as the name indicates features florals and leaves.  I simply removed the flower from the sheet and attached it to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Isn't it pretty?  The Ephemera Packs are going to be an easy and quick way to add beautiful images to your cards, packaging and scrapbooking layouts.  

I added some Silver & White 1/2" Sheer Ribbon to the flower, doesn't it look like a corsage?  The silver on this ribbon adds that extra little shine and sparkle.  The Pretty in Pink gems are from the 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems.  These gems also add a bit of sparkle too.  

The sentiment is from a new stamp set called Unbounded Love.  This set has 25 sentiments and is going to be my go-to set for words.  "Celebrate" was heat embossed with White embossing powder so it would be visible against the Basic Black CS.

This card was quick and easy to make and pretty to0, thanks to the Fully Flowering Ephemera Pack.  Think about adding an Ephemera Pack to your order in May.    Now it is time to check out what the rest of the Create with Stamping Friends made with this week's challenge.

Welcome to the Creativity Abounds Blog Hop!  We are an international group of 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.  This month we are focusing on Techniques. 

Every month we create a tutorial bundle. The tutorial bundle is available as a gift with a qualifying purchase  or can also be purchased.  We also have a stamp camp 3 times a year.  The next camp will be on June 14th & 15th featuring the Country Birdhouse bundle.

This month we are featuring different techniques and our tutorial bundle not only has written directions, each tutorial has a video.  What a great resource.   Did you catch the eclipse?  Just by chance we did.  Today my card features a different kind of eclipse, the card making kind!

• Stamps-Magnolia Mood (Online Exclusive)
• Ink- Tuxedo Black Memento pad, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive Stampin' Blends
• Cardstock -Thick Basic White, Pretty ink Pink CS
• Dies- Stylish Shapes dies
• Embossing Folder-Eyelet 3D (coming May 1st)
• Silver & White Sheer Ribbon
• Pretty in Pink 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems (coming May 1) 

Be sure to check out all the cool techniques shared by the rest of the Creativity Abounds team.

Thanks for stopping by and check out the sneak peek below of the tutorial.

Place a $35 order through my online store and receive this bundle (13 tutorials and videos!!)  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.

I recently sorted my stamp sets.  I took out sets that were retiring (Last Chance List here) and from the remaining sets I also separated out sets that haven't seen much ink.   Planted Paradise was one of the sets that was inkless.  I am not sure why I never inked this one up.  It was time for me to use it and it was the perfect stamp set to pair with the background I created using the Leaf Collection (debuting in the 2024-25 Annual Catalog) background stamp.  

I have been playing around with different techniques and thought the Leaf Collection would be perfect to use with the Joseph's Coat Technique.   Here's a quick summary of how I made the background.

• Basic White CS -4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
• Randomly apply Shy Shamrock (new 2024-26 In Color), Shaded Spruce, & Pretty Peacock ink with Blending Brushes
• Rub an Embossing Buddy over the color blended CS
• Ink up the Leaf Collection Background stamp with Versamark ink and stamp it on the CS
• Apply Clear Embossing Powder.  Flick off any excess powder
• Heat Emboss
• Rub a Tuxedo Black Memento pad over the entire surface
• Buff off any excess ink.  

It is so fun to see the colors come through once you buff off the Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  

• Card Base-Basic Black CS 4-1/4" x 11".
• Shy Shamrock layer 4" x 5-1/4".
• Cut down the Basic White CS to 3-3/4" x 5".
• Used the Deckled Circle dies and the Spotlight on Nature dies for the circles.
• The sentiment is from the Country Birdhouse stamp set.
• The vase (Memento Tuxedo Black ink) leaves in Shaded Spruce and Shy Shamrock are from the Planted Paradise set and fussy cut.
• The gems are from the Tinsel Gems Four Pack.
• The Shy Shamrock ribbon is the 3/8" Bordered Ribbon.

Inside another planter full of leaves.  After playing with this set I think it is full of possibilities and look forward to making more cards with it.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Are there techniques you would like me to try and share?  Let me know!

Welcome to the Stamper's Dozen Blog Hop!  We are a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators who gather together on the 14th of the month to do this blog hop.  This month our theme is Spring Has Sprung!

This is also a sneak peek of the Layers of Beauty stamp set in the upcoming 2024-25 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog.   This new bundle has a gorgeous stamp set, coordinating dies, and decorative masks.  So many possibilities for using different coloring techniques.

In addition to using the new bundle I couldn't resist using a couple of the new 2024-26 In Colors-Shy Shamrock and Pretty in Pink.  I have been hoping for a soft pink and Pretty in Pink is the perfect answer and it looks fabuous with Shy Shamrock.

• Card base is Thick Basic White CS 4-1/4" x 11"
• Shaded Spruce CS layer 4" x 5-1/4"
• Pretty in Pink CS layer 3-7/8" x 5-1/8" embossed using the 3D Basic Embossing Folder-I didn't realize that this embossing folder is no longer available.  It was an Online Exclusive and it became unavailable in the last couple of days.
• The large swag of flowers were stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored using Daffodil Delight, Shaded Spruce, Shy Shamrock, Petal Pink, Pretty in Pink, and Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends.
• The little Basic White tag was cut using the Layers of Beauty dies, stamped with a sentiment from Unbounded Love (another new stamp set debuting in the 2024-25 Annual Catalog).  I had planned to use the "Grateful for You" sentiment from the Layers of Beauty set but I have lost it!  My desk is such a mess.  I am going to clean it up as soon as I am done writing this post and search for the sentiment-wish me luck in finding it.
• The Shy Shamrock ribbon is 3/8" Bordered Ribbon tied with white Baker's Twine.
• The pretty gems are Shy Shamrock from the 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems.

Inside a little strip of embossed Pretty in Pink CS (I am going to miss this Embossing Folder) and another image from the Layers of Beauty stamp set.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all the stops on the hop.

It is Thursday which means it is time for the Create with Stamping Friends Challenge!  I took last week off (I forgot to bring my project on my trip-ugh) and am so happy to be back for this week's sketch challenge.

I love this sketch!  This one is right in my comfort zone, a go-to design.  

This card relies heavily on the Bee Mine DSP (soon to be retiring).  

• Card base-Sweet Sorbet (retiring In Color) 4-1/4" x 11' scored at 5-1/2"
• Basic White CS layer-4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
• Bee Mine DSP layer- 4" x 5-1/4"
• Bee Mine DSP strip -3/4" x 5-3/8"
• Basic White Stylish Shapes Dies-squares (4) 
• Basic White Stylish Shapes banner
• 2 bees and 2 jars fussy cut from the Bee Mine DSP

Did you notice the sweet little flowers added to the jars and the banner?  They are from the Adhesive-Backed Hearts & Flowers (retiring soon).  These little embellishments are so cute and are pretty flat so they mail easily.

Inside of the card is Basic White CS layer.  I usually add a piece of Basic White or Very Vanilla CS to the inside of a card that has a colored cardstock base.  This makes it easier to write in and also to decorate.  I also added another strip or the Bee Mine DSP and a few more fussy cut bees.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Stamping Friends team made with this sketch.

Product List

Bee My Valentine Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[162547]

$21.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.50

Sweet Sorbet 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159268]

$10.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$10.50

Bee Mine 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[162546]

$12.50

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Adhesive Backed Hearts & Flowers

[162557]

$8.00