How are you?  Hope you are well.  I am working on blogging every day while I am socially distancing.  I would like to be days ahead but that is not yet the case.  It is taking me some time to adjust to the new normal.  

Here are the details:

• Pool Party CS card base 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4"
• Lily Impressions DSP cut at 4" x 5-1/4"
• Pool Party  CS 3-1/2"  x 4-3/4" 
• Use the butterfly from the Springtime Impressions die and cut out on the 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" Pool Party CS
• So Very Vellum Specialty DSP in Pool Party 2-1/4" x  4-1/4" cut out the butterfly.  The So Very Vellum DSP has sold out but you could use Cardstock Vellum or the Pool Party butterfly you cut in the prior step
• Stamp the sentiment from the Parisian Beauty stamp set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink
• Layer the Lily Impressions DSP on to the Pool Party card base.  Layer the Pool Party cs with the butterfly cut out on to the Lily Impressions DSP.
• Apply a glue dot or 2 to the body of the Vellum butterfly and adhere it in the cut out.
• Color the rhinestones using Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends

I added a strip of DSP to the inside of the card and some additional butterflies cut using the Butterfly Beauty dies.  

We are in the final days of Sale-A-Bration and we may begin to see more items sell out so be sure to place your order sooner rather than later.  If you need assistance please contact me.

I am so happy it's April, a new month and it is going to be a great one, that's my plan anyway.  The last part of March was rough but I have high hopes for April!  

April is already off to a good start!  Today is the launch of the new Storage by Stampin' Up!®.   I will be spending some time figuring out how I want to use this new storage option and when i do I will share it with you!  I  love how flexible the storage is and look forward to many happy hours of organizing.  You can see and learn more about the new storage pieces HERE.

I also have a new card for you.  Did you get some of the Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty paper during Sale-A-Bration?   If you didn't, you still can, it is part of the DSP offering in the Stampin' Up!® annual catalog.  This paper pack is beautiful and delicate.  It can be a bit fiddly to work with since it is so detailed but oh it is so worth it!

The Delightfully Detailed Laser Cut paper is sandwiched between a frame I cut using the Stitched Rectangle Framelits and the Sparkle Glimmer paper The frame is layered on a piece of Silver Foil and then on to a Thick Whisper White card base.  The silver foil butterflies were cut using the Butterfly Beauty Thinlit Dies.  

I added the friend  cut using the Well Written Framelits dies.  This card is simple and elegant and can be used for so many different occasions, wouldn't it make a beautiful wedding card?

Check out the new Storage by Stampin' Up! cause it is no April Fool's joke!

Product List

Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies [148536] $39.00	Well Written Framelits Dies [148534] $40.00	Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies [148551] $35.00	Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper [146907] $14.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.75	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $4.00	Sparkle Glimmer Paper [146957] $5.00

There's no stamping on today's card, which is pretty unusual.  If nothing else, I usually stamp a sentiment.

The sentiment on today's card is a die cut from the Well Written framelits. The greenery on the side of the card was also cut using the Well Written dies.  The little Daffodil Delight flowers were cut using the Sliding Door framelits.   Before I adhered the die cuts I textured the Whisper White card stock using the Subtle embossing folder. This embossing folder gets a lot of use.  

While I was editing this picture I thought that were was something strange going on with the light or angle, creating a weird effect on the right side of the card.

Oops!  It is a good idea to apply adhesive all the way down the side of a card when you use an embossing folder.   The more textured the embossing folder the greater the importance of doing this.  If you do this you will avoid the dreaded gaposis.  Most times when I attach layers I do not apply adhesive all the way down the sides so I forgot to do this when I made this card.  Nothing like a picture to point out your flaws!

Now I am signing off to fix this card and cure the gaposis!

Ready for a fun sketch challenge?

What do you see?  I saw windows and thought the animals from the Animal Outing stamp set  would look so cute peeking out from the circles.

Didn't I do a great job coloring in the animals?  Are you thinking it looks too good?  Well, you would be right.  I actually cut those images out from the Animal Expedition DSP using the Animal Friends thinlits.  I knew I wouldn't be able to fool you.   My coloring is nowhere near that good but a girl can dream right?  The Animal Friends thinlits also cuts out the giraffe and a branch image from the Animal Expedition DSP.   I love this option of cutting out the images directly from the DSP.  

Product List

Animal Outing Clear-Mount Bundle [148324] $45.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144245] $8.50	Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146981] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper [146902] $11.00	Animal Friends Thinlits Dies [146823] $29.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Nature's Twine [146342] $9.00

 Be sure to stop by the Try Stampin' on Tuesday blog  and check out all the details on how you can play along with the challenge and be sure to check out what the other members of the design team created with the sketch.

Happy 4th of July!

Beautiful Bouquet stamp set and the coordinating Bouquet Bunch framelits are some of my favorite returning products.  Today I have paired them up with some of my new favorites,  the Delicate Lace Edgelits and the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper.

I started by cutting a base of stems in Mossy Meadow and then adding the different flowers to create my bouquet.  All the flowers are Whisper White card stock stamped or sponged in Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, or So Saffron.   Once the flowers were attached I added additional leaves in Mossy Meadow.

The card base is Crumb Cake card stock.  I used the Neutrals stack of 6" x 6" DSP for the striped layer and the lacy polka dot border.  Having the 6" x 6" Designer Series packs is a must have.  No matter what color you choose, you will have coordinating DSP when you purchase these paper packs.  The sentiment is from the Varied Vases stamp set.  Love that  font!

Product List

Beautiful Bouquet Photopolymer Stamp Set [143666] $27.00	Varied Vases Photopolymer Stamp Set [146644] $26.00	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [147096] $7.50	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [147100] $7.50	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [147109] $7.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676] $8.50	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131198] $8.50
Delicate Lace Edgelits Dies [147053] $29.00	Bouquet Bunch Framelits Dies [143659] $30.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Crumb Cake 3/8" Classic Weave Ribbon [144162] $7.00

This post should be called, how many new Stampin' Up! products can I use on one card.  The answer is I used 5.  This was not intentional.  If it were I would have used even more!  The struggle is real.  So many beautiful new products that it is hard to figure out what to focus on.  

I used 3 new Big Shot items; Subtle TIEF (Textured Impressions Embossing folder), Tufted TIEF, and the Delicate Lace Edgelits.   There are a lot of questions about the Subtle TIEF.  The best description is that it creates the look of a textured card stock.  

It is perfectly named.  This may be the must have embossing folder.  I often want a little something that adds interest and texture but isn't too obvious and this embossing folder definitely does that.

The Tufted TIEF adds the beautiful lines.  I used to create the same look using the Simply Scored, this is MUCH quicker and easier. 

There are 3 designs in the Delicate Lace Edgelits.  They are all intricate and beautiful.  The dies are 6" long so they work for both portrait and landscape cards.  These dies were on the top of my list.  I think they can be overlooked since they are not associated with a stamp set.  They are on page 217 and are all gorgeous.

The other 2 new items are the Metallic Pearls and the 3/8" Mini Ruffled Ribbon in Powder Pink.   The Metallic Pearls come in a pack that contains both silver and gold pearls.   They are all the same size 3mm which is the size of the smallest pearl in the Basic Pearl Jewels.  I seem the use the smallest pearls the most so this is just perfect.  There are so many new ribbons that it was hard for me to decide what to get.  I know you probably think I buy them all.  I usually buy a roll of each new type of ribbon.  I love the look of the 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon and purchased it in Berry Burst and Powder Pink.  I am so happy that the ribbon is soft and easy to tie. 

I should have used a new stamp set for the sentiment.  The sentiment I used is from the Bunch of Blossoms stamp set.  Sentiments from the new Itty Bitty Greetings would have been perfect to use.  Next time for sure.  

Hope you have enjoyed a look at 5 new things.  If you need any of these items click on the links and you will be taken to my online store or you can CLICK HERE. I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Today I am sharing a little sneak peek of the Stained Glass thinlits that will debut on June 2 in the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 2018-19.  The dies are part of a larger suite of products called the Graceful Glass Suite.  I thought the dies were perfect for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge # 509 which is a color challenge.

The sentiment I used is from the Soft Sayings kit stamp set.  The dies are a half circle so I used the long sentiment to cover up the seam between the 2 halves.

Since I had to cut out the die 2 times in each color I decided I would make 3  cards.  

Which combination do you like best?  I hope you will join in the color challenge fun.  Go to the Create with Connie and Mary blog or the Create with Connie and Mary Facebook page for all the details on how to participate in the challenge.  Be sure to check out what the other members of the design team created.  

Time for the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge #503.  This week it is a Color Challenge.  Can you guess the colors?

If you guessed Night of Navy, Tranquil Tide and Crumb Cake, you are correct!

These colors are prominently featured in the True Gentleman Designer Series Paper aka DSP.  Love the plaids, stripes and patterns especially those glasses!  When I saw the glasses I knew I wanted to use the paper with the sentiment from the Bird Banter stamp set.    I have had so much fun with those fun birds and their sentiments.   

I stamped the bird in Tranquil Tide ink and used a blender pen to do a little shading.   The beak and shadow was colored in using Crumb Cake ink and the head feathers with Night of Navy ink.  Very quick and easy to do.  

I wanted to tie in the Crumb Cake color a little more so I finished it off with the Crumb Cake 3/8" Classic Weave ribbon.  This ribbon is one of my favorites.  It is soft, easy to tie, and makes great bows.  

Are you wondering how I got that border around the Lots of Label framelit?  I used the #4 die ( #1 being the smallest label).  I cut one out of Very Vanilla and another out of Tranquil Tide.  I cut the Tranquil Tide label in half and used it to create the layer around the top and bottom of the Very Vanilla label.

Cut a strip of Tranquil Tide cs.  The width doesn't matter, I cut mine around 1/2" wide.   The length of the strip needs to be at least twice as long as the length of the label.   Attach the strip to the side of the label  and cut the length matching up with top layer.  Repeat on the other side.

I hope you will join in the Challenge.  Be sure to go to the Create with Connie and Mary blog and check out what the other members of the design team created.

Welcome to the Paper Pumpkin Pop Up 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 this March Paper Pumpkin kit: May Good Things Grow.

I received the Paper Pumpkin box right before we were leaving on a trip to celebrate my mother in law's 99th birthday.  I knew I wouldn't be able to work on it while I was travelling but I did think about it.  What I decided to make was a little mini book for my mother in law so she would have a little something that she could easily look at to remember her birthday.  

The first thing I did was to carefully take apart one of the "flower seeds" envelopes.  I put the envelope back together with the lining showing.  There were a couple of spots that were a little ragged so I covered them up with one of the cardstock strips.  I attached the large flower die cut with lots of dimensionals, thankfully there were a lot of them included in the kit.  I stamped my mother in law's name using the Brushwork Alphabet stamp set in Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla card stock and did a little sponging around the edges to give it more of a vintage feel.  I used some of the twine that was included in the kit to attach it to the front.

On the back of the envelope I cut one of the Crumb Cake cards to use as a layer for the picture.  I also used one of the pretty die cuts to decorate the page.

On the next page I used one of the other envelopes and cut out the inside to make a frame for the picture of her with her 4 sons.  I used one of the wood veneer labels that were a special surprise gift included in the Paper Pumpkin box.   I couldn't decide what to put on the label so I opted to cut out the word love using the Sunshine Wishes thinlits.  I cut the word out from the middle of one of the cards that I used as a layering piece.  I attached the label using the ribbon that was also included in the kit.

On the back of the envelope I used 2 of the card panels along with a label and a pretty flower die cut.  I stamped the sentiment using the stamp set and love how simple and bold the font is.  

On this envelope I used the other half of the card base to layer this picture of my mother in law.  My sister in law made this beautiful enormous cake and yes, it was delicious!

Are you wondering how this all gets put together?

The second envelope flap  is inserted and adhered in the first envelope.  

The third envelope flap is inserted in the second envelope and secured.

The first envelope flap is secured to the back of the 3rd envelope. 

I still have so much product left from this month's kit and will be sharing with you more ideas of ways to use this kit.  The only items I used that were not included was the Brushwork Alphabet stamp set and the Sunshine Wishes thinlit dies.  If my handwriting was a little better I wouldn't have had to use those 2 things.

Thanks for hopping along with us!  We will be popping up again soon to share with you more ideas on ways to use Paper Pumpkin!