It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge.  This week it is a color challenge and it was tough one for me.  When I get stuck trying to figure out how to make a color combination work I often reach for the Blossoms in Bloom bundle.

The colors for the challenge are Soft Succulent, Petal Pink and Night of Navy.  These colors remind me of something I would see on a vintage Aloha shirt.   There's something very soothing about these colors.   OOPS!  I just realized that the REAL colors for the challenge are Just Jade, Petal Pink, and Night of Navy.  

So let's put on our imagination hats and imagine I used Just Jade instead of Soft Succulent.  We could also blame it on the lighting of the photo and pretend that's why it looks more like Soft Succulent than Just Jade.  

I was not able to make the change and create a new card so we are just going with this one. I think the Blossoms in Bloom bundle can make almost color combination work.  I added lots of Iridescent Rhinestones to the card.  It is one of my favorite embellishments.  

Inside I added a small flower cut using the Many Layered Blossoms die and a strip of the In Color 6" x 6" DSP.  Check out those rhinestones!  This picture also helps to show how the Iridescent Rhinestones shine.   

I know this is the wrong combination for this week's Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  I made this graphic so we I am going to use it but just remember when you play along with the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge you want to use the correct Challenge colors-Just Jade, Night of Navy, and Petal Pink.

Thank you for stopping by!

Product List

Blossoms In Bloom Bundle (English) [154123]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867]	Soft Succulent 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [155776]
Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146985]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	2021–2023 In Color 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [155641]	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820]
Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels [158130]

I have been away from my craft cubbie for about 2-1/2 weeks.  When we got home I was ready to get back to stamping.   I was looking forward to playing with some new products from the J-J 2022 Mini Catalog and the J-F 2022 Sale-A-Bration Catalog.  

It was harder than I thought it would be.  I recycled a lot of starts,  questioned myself whether something was good or not, and when I look at what I made I am still not sure.  It is a strange feeling.  I still enjoyed the process and know that I need to flex that creativity muscle and use it and it will get stronger.

Thank goodness the January Stamping Inkspirations blog hop is a Sketch Challenge.  It made it much easier to create the project.  

I used the bright and happy Sunshine & Rainbows 6" x 6" DSP.  This pack of paper is one of the Sale-A-Bration choices which means it is Free with a $50 purchase.   I used 3 different designs and you know I like stripes and polka dots!  

The adorable cupcakes are from the Measure of Love set.  Love the little cupcakes, each decorated with a little flower and pearl.

I used the Stitched Rectangle dies to cut the DSP. The squares were cut  using a retired die set, Stitched Shapes.  I know I am not alone in wishing that the Stitched Shapes would come out of retirement and re-appear in the Stampin' Up! catalog.

The ric-rac shape on both the outside and inside of the card was created using the Basic Borders dies.   This is a fun way to dress up the inside of the card and use the little strips of DSP.  The Sunshine and Rainbow paper is too cute and I don't want to waste any of it.

Thank you for stopping by!  Now it is time to head on over to see what the talented Danielle Kassing has created for you!

Here is a list of all the stops on the  Stamping Inkspirations January blog hop!  

Angie McKenzie  ●  Susan Simpson  ●  Donna Lester

Karen Egan  ●  Terry Hamilton  ●  Cheryl Hamilton

Leonie Stuart  ●  Gez Carpenter  ●  Aurélie Fabre

Tricia Butts  ●  Susan Webster  ●  Jill Chapman

Sue Allen  ●  Jan Musselman  ●  Chris Smith

Jo Blackman  ●  Lorraine Tierney  ●  Marieke Bart

Elaine de Montmorency  ●  Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Danielle Kassing  ●  Karen Henderson  ●  Kirsty Patrick

Mo Rootes  ●  Judith Patterson  ●  Teri West

Rochelle Laird-Smith  ●  Annette Ball

Product List

Measure Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [154997]	Timeless Tulips Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [151534]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	So Saffron Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154905]
Pool Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154894]	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154885]	Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154884]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]
Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146990]	Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141416]	Sunshine & Rainbows 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [158126]	Basic Borders Dies [155558]
Peach Dies [155829]	Pearl Basic Jewels [144219]	Fan Bakers Twine [158143]

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, product suite, holiday  or sometimes like this month an occasion.  The theme for this month is Birthdays.  I love this theme since it is so fun to send and receive birthday cards.  Enjoy the hop and I hope it inspires you to make some birthday cards!

I am also sharing a sneak peek of the Daffodil Daydream bundle from the 2022 J-J(January - June) Mini Catalog.  There are many special things about this bundle.  One very big thing is that it also coordinates with an offering in the 2022 J-F (January-February) Sale-A-Bration, the Daffodil Afternoon DSP (Designer Series Paper).   

This is  currently one of my favorite folds.  I am terrible with remembering the names of folds-sorry.  Basically, you take an 8-1/2" x  11" piece of CS and score it at 4-1/4", turn and score at 5-1/2", and then cut the cardstock on the diagonal.  Now you have two card bases, simple and pretty cool.  For the DSP you cut  two 4" x 5-1/4" pieces of DSP and cut both of them on the diagonal.   After that all you need to do is decorate.

The Daffodil Daydream stamp set doesn't have a birthday sentiment so I used one from the Blossoms in Bloom set and for the inside one from the Celebrate Sunflowers.  The Daffodil Daydream does have that cool border stamp and I think that is going to be a fun one to play around with.

Here's what I made with the 2ned card base and DSP.  This time I used the Daffodil Dies to create the flower.  It is hard to tell in the photo but I used the Pearlescent Paper to make the flower.  It has a lovely pearl finish and color wise falls between Basic White and Very Vanilla.

Be sure to check out at all the beautiful blogs on the hop!

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out the Creativity Abounds latest tutorial bundle!

Creativity Abounds  Birthdays Tutorial Bundle

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (14 tutorials!!)  as a thank you.  You can also purchase the tutorial bundle for $15.00.  Please contact me (sharon@astheinkdries.com) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

I  meant to write this post last week while on a trip but didn't get to it and I guess it was meant to be.  Why?  Let's see if you can figure it out.

I created this card for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge, #CCMC686.  

This week it is a color challenge.

Do you see what I see?  Here's another look before I show you what I did.

Let me tell you a bit about the card (you probably already can see what I did or I should say, didn't do). 

• Card base:  4-1/4" x 11" Daffodil Delight CS scored at 5-1/2". 
• Basic White CS 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"  textured using the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder.
• Basic White CS 4" x 5-1/4" inside of the card.
• Daffodil Delight CS 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" cut using the bolder die from the Many Layered Blossoms.
• Pumpkin Pie CS 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" cut using the detailed  die from the Many Layered Blossoms.
• Evening Evergreen 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" or scraps  cut the leaves from the dies from the Many Layered Blossoms.
• Evening Evergreen 1" x 3" cut using the Stitched Rectangle die.

Attach the Basic White CS to the Daffodil Delight card base. 

Attach the Daffodil Delight flowers to  the Basic White CS.

Attach the Pumpkin Pie outline flowers over the Daffodil Delight flowers.

Cut out the Evening Evergreen leaves and attach them over the leaves.

Emboss the sentiment with White Embossing powder on the Evening Evergreen Stitched Rectangle and attach it to the card front.

Attach some Evening Evergreen jewels from the 2021-23 In Color Jewels.

You can probably see what I didn't do. I tried to overlook it but it is one of those things that once you see it, you cannot not see it.

Did you see it?

Here is the corrected version.  I am going to end this post before I see something else I didn't do!  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for the challenge.

Just a few days left to receive 3 card kits using the Merriest Moments stamp set.  All you need to do is place a $40 order using the Host Code D7SSYY6Y  by October 15th and I will send you all the card kits and a tutorial too.  Shop here!

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.  

I purchased the Stitched Triangles dies a few months ago and wait for it...never used them!   I hate it when  I do that.  I know I had lots of ideas on ways to use the dies which is why I purchased them but it wasn't until I had to make something for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0085 that I pulled them out. 

Are you familiar with the Festive Friday Challenge? Every challenge has a festivity it is celebrating  and an Inspo list inspired by the festivity. The Inspo List is a 10 item list you can choose from to create your project.  Incorporate THREE of the items from the Inspo list in your project and post to the gallery. And guess what? Your project doesn’t have to be about National Flag Week, which is the theme for this challenge.

I chose from the Inspo list stars, bright colors, and banner/flag die.

I used the banner die from the Stitched Triangles die set and cut it in rainbow colors.  I used  Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, and Gorgeous Grape.  The little stars were cut out of the Rainbow Glimmer Paper.  The Real Red stitched scalloped borders were cut using the Penned Flowers dies. 

The sentiment is from the Sweet as a Peach set and stamped in Real Red ink.  Inside I added a few more stars cut from the Rainbow Glimmer paper.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Festive Friday design team created.

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert-you are here!

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema 

Thanks for stopping by!

Join me and eight talented demonstrators from the Creativity Abounds Design Team on June 25th and 26th for our International Stamp Camp featuring the Hand-Penned Product Suite!  

Register by heading to my online store and purchasing the Hand-Penned Product Suite, item # 155503 (which includes the Hand-Penned Petals Bundle, the  Hand-Penned 12”x12” Designer Series Paper and Genial Gems) AND use the Host Code 3M9KUB3Y.  If you already own the suite purchase an equivalent to the suite ($66.25 before shipping & tax) through my online store and use the Host Code.  Please note that you will need the suite to complete the make & takes.

*You will receive a make and take packet for 9 projects, a PDF tutorial for all 9 projects, and a video for each project.  Card stock will be prepped and ready for you.  Die-cutting will be done for any dies not included in the suite. You will provide your own ink and adhesive and will use the Designer Series Paper and Genial Gems from the suite.

*You will also be invited to an exclusive Facebook group where additional presentations using the Hand-Penned Product Suite will be held June 25th & 26th.

I hope you join in the fun! This is a beautiful product suite and you are going to love how versatile it is!

Registration ENDS June 10th and the Make-n-Take kit is estimated to ship by June 14th.

This week the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge is a Color Challenge.

Aren't these pretty spring colors?  Seaside Spray is one of the In Colors that are on the retiring list.  It is a color that I will miss.

I cut a  1-3/4" x 5-1/2" strip of True Love Designer Series Paper.  I colored the center squares using So Saffron, Flirty Flamingo, Seaside Spray Stampin' Blends.  I used the light marker of the combo pack.  I love how this looks.  This pack of paper has lots of designs that look great when colored.  How I love a black and white paper!  I inked up the Butterfly Brilliance stamp set in Versamark ink and stamped a sheet of Vellum Cardstock, sprinkled the images using White Embossing Powder, and heat embossed using the Heat Tool.  The vellum butterflies were cut using the Brilliant Wings die.  I do have a few extra butterflies to use on another project.  I also used the Brilliant Wings die to cut out the butterflies in the colors of the challenge.

To finish the butterflies I used the Stampin' Blends to color a rhinestone in each of the challenge colors.  The sentiment is from the Peaceful Moments stamp set and it was inked in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.

Thank you for stopping by and I will list below all the supplies used to make this card.

Product List

Butterfly Brilliance Bundle [155821]	Peaceful Moments Cling Stamp Set (English) [151595]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Seaside Spray Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154901]
So Saffron Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154905]	Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154884]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Seaside Spray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150883]
So Saffron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [105118]	Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141416]	True Love Designer Series Paper [154281]	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101856]
White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220]

No fooling it is Thursday and April 1.  It kind of feels like a joke that it is already April.   This time of year is both exciting, confusing, and a little bit sad.  First the exciting part is that Stampin' Up! will be releasing the new annual catalog in a few weeks and it is a beauty.  There's 5 new In Colors, new stamp sets, paper and accessories, so much to look forward to.  It is always confusing trying to keep straight what products are  retiring, what is staying, and what is still available.  My room is a little crazy looking right now.  I have separated out the products that are retiring from what will  be in the new catalog, lots of different piles right now.  It is sad to see lots of favorites being retired, like To A Wild Rose and the Wild Rose dies.  Both of these are on sale.  The stamp set is 10% off and the Wild Rose dies are 75% off!  

I used the To A Wild Rose stamp set and the Wild Rose dies for this week's Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  I used Real Red for the rose and Old Olive for the leaves.  The stamp does all the hard work of coloring the rose.  I used 3 stamps to create the rose.  The sentiment is from another retiring stamp set, Itty Bitty Birthdays,  another great sentiment set.  

This is the sketch for the week.  You can see what the other members of the design team created using the sketch HERE.

I used the True Love DSP from the 2020 Jan-June Mini Catalog.  I love the black and white designs.  The Real Red border was cut using the Wild Rose dies.  You can also see a peek of the inside of the card.  There is a strip of DSP and another pretty design cut using the Wild Rose dies.  

Thank you for stopping. by,

Product List

To A Wild Rose Photopolymer Stamp Set [149452]	Itty Bitty Birthdays Cling Stamp Set [148618]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084]
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482]
True Love Designer Series Paper [154281]	Wild Rose Dies [149547]	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820]	Layering Circles Dies [151770]
Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924]

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  The theme this month is Birthdays.  There are 12 stops on the hop so let us get started!

These pretty butterflies were cut using the Brilliant Wings dies and the Butterfly Bijou DSP.  Aren't they beautiful?  The other patterned paper I used is also from the Butterfly Bijou DSP.  The Butterfly Bijou DSP is only available for a limited time so be sure to order it soon.  The pretty frame was cut using  the Ornate Layers dies  which is part of the Ornate Style bundle.  Love  all the swirls and how dramatic it looks.  

Surprise it's an easel card.  I like easel cards and enjoy making them.  I like to think that the recipient can enjoy the card a little longer since easel cards are also easy to display.   The sentiments are from the Many Messages bundle,  which is a great bundle to have.  Lots of sentiments all cut at once!  

Now it is time to check out what Carol Payne has created.

Here is a list of all the stops on the hop.

Stamper's Dozen March 2021 Blog Hop

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

Product List

Many Messages Bundle [156272]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]
Butterfly Bijou 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [156824]	Ornate Layers Dies [152726]	Brilliant Wings Dies [155523]	Matte Black Dots [154284]

Welcome to the Inspire, Create, Share blog hop.  This month we are hopping and sharing projects featuring our favorite bundle.  What is my favorite bundle?  Well, that is a really hard question for me to answer.  I guess my favorite bundle is the one I am currently playing with.  I know that seems like a cop out but it is true. 

I have been playing with the Butterfly Brilliance bundle so it is now my current favorite.  I spent time just playing with the collection and it is definitely a favorite.   The Butterfly Brilliance bundle (stamp set and coordinating dies) will be available in the upcoming 2021 Annual catalog.  The rest of the collection, the Butterfly Bijou DSP and the Natural Touch Specialty Paper are available only while supplies last.  

The beautiful detailed butterflies were made to be heat embossed and knew they would be so elegant embossed on vellum.  Vellum CS is thicker and yet still is translucent.

    Tip:  Heat the vellum from both the front and the back.  This will help reduce warping.  Vellum cardstock is thicker so it doesn't warp as much.

I also embossed the Vellum CS using the Scripty 3D embossing folder.  I love how it looks over the Gorgeous Grape CS.  The  Vellum CS also holds up well to dry embossing.  I didn't have any cracking or tearing of the vellum after using the embossing folder. 

The pretty Gorgeous Grape pearls are from the Pastel Pearls found in the Hydrangea Hill Suite of products. The sentiment is from the Many Messages bundle.   This is another favorite bundle.  I love stamping once and die cutting once to get lots of different sentiments in different shapes.  This bundle could have also qualified as a favorite but it is almost a stamping staple, kind of like a little black dress.   It works for lots of different occasions, is very versatile, you can dress it up or down and it is good to know that it is always there waiting for you to use.  In fact the Many Messages stamp is in my Stamparatus all set up and ready to ink.  I have a few extra plates for my Stamparatus and currently have the  Many Messages and the Butterfly Brilliance stamps on them ready to stamp.

Now it is time for you to hop on over to see what the talented June Olsen's favorite bundle is.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop and seeing all the beautiful bundles.

Product List

Butterfly Brilliance Bundle [155821]	Many Messages Bundle [156272]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146987]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101856]	Scripty 3D Embossing Folder [149634]
White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Pastel Pearls [154571]	Stamparatus [146276]