Happy July 1st!  It is a big day!  The 2022 July-December Mini Catalog is now live AND so is the 2022 July-August Sale-A-Bration.  If you do not have these catalogs and want them, please let me know.

One of the cutest Sale-A-Bration choices is the Hippest Hippos.  What that means is  during Sale-A-Bration (Juy-August )with a qualifying purchase ($50 in the US) you can choose to receive the Hippest Hippos stamp set.  Another Sale-A-Bration choice is the coordinating Hippo Dies.  Yes you can get the Hippo dies ( 19 dies!) free with a qualifying purchase ($50 in the US).  

Here I paired the sweet hippo with the Dots and Spots die.  This is a standalone die and I am currently obsessed with it. I used it HERE, on another sample using the Hippest Hippos stamp set and dies. I also used the Sending Smiles bundle for the sentiments.  I am so happy to have the large Sending sentiment and pairing it with lots of smaller sentiments.   The scattered Melon Mambo flowers were cut  using a die from the Sending dies.

Stamping Tip:  I like to stamp the hippos on Smoky Slate CS.  This way I do not have to color in her cheeks or chest.  I use the Smoky Slate Blends to color around her face and body.  I also used the light Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends to give her a manicure and pedicure.

The tiny flower behind the hippo's ear is a die in the Hippo Dies set.  It is just the perfect size!  I used lots of  the smallest sized Rhinestones for the centers of  the flowers.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to let me know if would like a copy of the 2022 July-Dec Mini catalog and/or 2022 July-August Sale-A-Bration catalog,

Need ideas for masculine cards? 

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 (sharon@astheinkdries.com) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

I needed to make some birthday cards and wanted to play with the Cottage Rose bundle.  This is a fabulous bundle and you know I love a stamp set that has images and sentiments.  The large rose is a beautiful flower and it is a fun one to color.  

I heat embossed the flower using Versamark ink and Black embossing powder on Shimmery White cardstock.  Why Shimmery White?  Shimmery White CS has a beautiful, delicate shimmer and it can be used for techniques using water.  I brushed on some water on the petals and then picked up some Sweet Sorbet ink with a Water Painter and touched it to the water.  The ink flows and spreads  coloring the petals.   I sometimes help the colors along with the Water Painter.  I like how it creates the light and dark on the petals.  It is a fun coloring technique. Once the flower was colored I cut it out using the coordinating die.  

The flower is mounted on a square cut using the largest Stylish Shapes square die.  The sentiment was stamped on a banner die also from the Stylish Shapes dies.  The Very Vanilla layer was embossed using the Timeworn Type Embossing Folder and then mounted on a Basic Black card base.  The Timeworn Type Embossing Folder is now my go to folder when I need a little texture.

Inside of the card I stamped and colored the leaf image from the stamp set.  I also added another sentiment.  

Product List

Cottage Rose Bundle (English) [159048]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Sweet Sorbet Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [159217]
Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131160]	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [119672]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650]
Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101910]	Stylish Shapes Dies [159183]	Timeworn Type 3 D Embossing Folder [156505]	Water Painters [151298]
Classic Matte Dots [158146]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget about the 2022 January-June Last Chance list and the Kit special,

Have you checked out the Rays of Light background stamp?  I think it is a gem and maybe a hidden one.  You can find it on page 116 of the 2022-23 Annual catalog.  I have used it just a couple of times and it is so fun!  

Here I paired the Rays of Light stamp with the Sweetest Cherries bundle.   The Rays of Light stamp really makes the cherries the focal point.   I covered up the circle on the Rays of Light image so the cherries would be the source of the light.  

The Sweetest Cherries bundle is a stamp set and punch bundle.  I love cherries especially Rainier cherries so I had to have this fun bundle.  

Do you recognize the cherries inside of the card?  They are from the December 2021 Paper Pumpkin kit, Lots of Puns.  The Sweetest Cherries bundle and the Lots of Puns stamp set are perfect together.  The Lots of Puns set also has some fun sentiments that will coordinate well with this bundle.

This is a quick and easy card to make.  I suggest that you use your Stamparatus with the Rays of Light stamp and ink up and stamp a bunch of backgrounds in lots of different colors.  I know you will find lots of ways to use the image.  You can see another way I use the set HERE.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to check out the Last Chance List and the Buy One & Get One 1/2 off Kit special,

The Create with Connie & Mary Challenge this week is a color challenge.  I used the colors with the  In Bloom stamp set (I am sorry to say the set is no longer available-sold out) and the Pierced Blooms dies and I love how it turned out.

Isn't this a gorgeous color combination?  They bring a smile to my face and hope it makes you smile too.

The Pierced Blooms dies make the prettiest flowers and leaves.  The stitched /pierced detail on the flowers and leaves add texture and  in my eyes make them so cute.  I am sad that they are retiring so go and snag them now before they are gone.  In the center of the flowers I added a small black Classic Matte dot. The black and white patterned paper is from the Pattern Party DSP.  This is a Stampin' Reward choice and one of my very favorite packs of paper.   I do love black and white designs and this pack has them and also fabulous colorful patterns too.  

I like to dress up the inside of the cards I make.  Here i added a 1/2" strip of the black and white DSP and another flower made with the Pierced Blooms.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary Design Team created with this beautiful color combination,

Over the weekend I finally got out and played with the Waves of Inspiration bundle (this bundle is an early release and will be available in the upcoming Annual catalog) and the Waves of the Ocean DSP (this is paper is only available while supplies last).   Here's the first thing I made.

The DSP is Beautiful!  There are so many fabulous designs and the color combinations are just dreamy.  I love the pelican image.  I stamped the pelican in Early Espresso ink on a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock.  If you look closely you will see that the pelican's head and body looks white and the beak yellow.

I lightly colored over the pelican using a Stampin'Chalk Marker.  I thought this made the pelican stand out a bit more and also was a quick and easy way to color the Crumb Cake CS.  The beak was colored in using a Dark Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Marker.  I cut out the tip of the outline wave dies to create the look of ocean spray hitting  the logs.   

This is a simple fun fold card.  The card base measures 5-1/2" x 11" scored at 3-1/4" and 7-1/2".  I love that it unfolds in a different way.  Here you can see one of the fabulous sentiments from the Waves of Inspiration stamp set and 2 different designs of DSP.

Product List

Waves Of Inspiration Bundle (English) [158841]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad [147098]
White Stampin' Chalk Marker [132133]	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154883]	Pacific Point 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [111350]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Waves Of The Ocean 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [159982]	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820]

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 (sharon@astheinkdries.com) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

It is Friday and time for a new Festive Friday Challenge.  The Festive Friday Challenge is a bi-weekly challenge that features an Inspo list inspired by a festivity.  The Inspo list has 10 items on it and to play in the challenge you need to use at least 3 of the items on the list.  National Peanut Butter Lovers Day is the festivity that inspired the Inspo List.  You do not have to use the festivity in your project but you can.

I used the following on my project from the Inspo List: brown, stripes, circles, interactive.  I will be the first to admit that some of the ways those items are represented on my card are pretty weak but they are there.

I used the adorable Catching Butterflies stamp set.  This stamp set is free during Sale-A-Bration (end February 28th!) with a qualifying order.  I sometimes mistakenly call this the Chasing Butterflies set.  This made me think of how I could show her chasing a butterfly which led me to the Give It a Whirl dies.   One of my team members, Kerri taught me this alternative way to use the dies.  Doesn't it look like she is chasing a butterfly?

This is the interactive element of my card.  I used a piece of Sunshine & Rainbows DSP (another Sale-A-Bration gift) and paper pieced a striped dress and this sweet little girl's brown hair is courtesy of the new Natural Tones Stampin Blends- SU200 and she is attached to a circle. Inside of the card i added a few more butterflies, the ones that got away and a sentiment from the Best Year stamp set (wishing you your best year yet).

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert  you are here

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans

Joanne James

Do you love Fun Folds?  If you do then this tutorial bundle might be perfect for you.

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 (sharon@astheinkdries.com) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  What is the Create with Connie & Mary Thursday Challenge?  This weekly challenge alternates between a sketch and a color challenge.  The challenge will hopefully inspire you to create a project and then share it on the Create with Connie and Mary Facebook group.

I chose the Free as a Bird stamp set for this challenge.  I liked the idea of the branch instead of the strip and thought the flowers would also work for the sketch.

I used Stampin' Blends in So Saffron, Pool Party, Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Flirty Flamingo to color in the images. I wanted to add some blending to the background so I tore some Post It notes to roughly cover up the colored image.  I used Blending Brushes in Pool Party and So Saffron ink around the branch.  It still felt a little bare so I added some ink splatters.  I watered down some Tuxedo Black Memento ink and used a Water Painter and gently flicked the brush to create the splatters.  Once I was done fiddling with the panel I colored and fussy cut the flowers to add to the card.

I noticed on the sketch that the strip extended past the layer it was on so, I decided to add on to the stamped image.  I stamped just the end portion of the branch, colored it and cut it out.  I tried to mimic the markings on the branch to disguise where I grafted the extension.  If you look really closely you can see where I added the piece on but for the most part it looks pretty good.  Another tip that helps mask the addition is I used the brush end of a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker to color around the edges of the fussy cut piece.  

Check out the centers of the flowers.  I used Iridescent Rhinestones for the centers and they are picking up the So Saffron color.  Love those rhinestones!  They really go with everything.

Inside I stamped and colored only a part of the branch.  You know I believe in decorating the insides of your cards.

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

I love color but every once in a while I what to make an all white card or a simple black and white card.  The Artfully Composed Suite is full of color and a tropical vibe but I also wondered how would it look in black and white?

I told you I was obsessed with this particular leaf die.  I am not sure I have made a card with the Artfully Layered Bundle that doesn't include this particular leaf.  

Product List

Artfully Layered Bundle (English) [157761]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Layering Designs [157764]	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820]	Basics Embossing Powders [155554]
Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053]	Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels [158130]

Here are are the measurements:

• Basic White Thick CS 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2"
• Basic Black CS 4-1/8" x 5-3/8",  3-1/2" x 5" (cut 2 large leaves) ,  scrap piece for the sentiment
• Vellum Layering Designs 4" x 5-1/4"
• Basic White CS 4" x 5-1/4"

1. Cut a rectangle (Stitched Rectangle dies) on the Basic White CS.
2. Adhere the Vellum over the Basic White CS.  Use small dots of glue to attach the vellum.
3. Adhere the the Vellum to the Basic Black CS.
4. Adhere the Basic Black CS to the card base.
5. Die cut 2 large leaves out of Basic Black CS.
6. Attach leaves to the vellum using tiny dots of liquid glue.
7. Stamp the sentiment in Versamark ink on to a scrap of Basic Black CS.
8. Apply White Embossing powder and remove the excess powder.
9. Heat emboss the sentiment.
10. Fussy cut around the sentiment.
11. Attach sentiment to the card using Mini Stampin' Dimensionals.
12. Attach Irisdescent Rhinestones.

Thanks for stopping by,

Place a $50 order through my online store and receive this bundle (12 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.

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]