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.  You do not have to use the holiday/festivity in your card but you can.  We love seeing what you choose from the Inspo list and what you create.

I chose from the Inspo List bird, birthday sentiment, and Embossing Folder.  

I used the chubby bird from the Sweet Songbirds bundle (the bundle price is retiring but the stamp set and punch will be available  separately in the new catalog).  The cute bird was punched out in Balmy Blue CS.  The Mint Macaron gingham is from the Country Gingham 6" x 6" DSP.  Are you wondering what is embossed?  You need to look closely at the Basic White circle the bird is on, it is embossed using the one of the  Basics 3D Embossing Folders (Online Exclusive).  Yes, I was struggling a bit to incorporate 3 items from the Inspo List.  The pretty ribbon is the Balmy Blue Variegated ribbon, still a favorite of mine.  The DSP that is on the card base and on the middle strip is from the Country Floral Lane 12" x 12" DSP.   The little leaves were stamped in Mint Macaron ink and fussy cut out.  The little Balmy Blue gems are from the Iridescent Pastel Gems.

Inside a Basic White Scalloped Contour die the same size is hidden behind the Balmy Blue Scalloped Contour die.  This is where you can write a little note.  The little heart was punched out of Mint Macaron Gingham using the Country Bouquet punch.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to get more inspiration by checking out what the rest of the design team created.

It is Thursday and time for a new Create with Connie & Mary challenge.  This week it is a color challenge and it was another tough one for me.

One of the things I do when I am having a tough time figuring out a color combination is pull out embellishments, DSP, specialty papers etc in the colors.  This helped me find the Soft Succulent in the Fine Shimmer Paper Pack and the Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon.  I also discovered that all the colors have coordinating Stampin' Blends.  

I chose one of my favorites from the 2022-23 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog, the Cottage Rose bundle.   I am sad to see that it will be retiring.  Anyway, I used  Stampin' Blends to color the flower and heavily brushed on the Wink of Stella to make the flower sparkle.  I used the Stitched Greenery die (also retiring) on the Soft Succulent Fine Shimmer Paper.  If you like a shimmery paper be sure to check out the Fine Shimmer Paper, it is beautiful and comes in a pack with Soft Succulent,  Fresh Freesia, and gold.

Inside I added a strip of the Soft Succulent Shimmer paper and colored another flower using the Stampin' Blends.  

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

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  We are a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators that hop together on the 14th of the month.  This month the theme is Birthdays!   Hop along with us and check out some fun and fabulous birthday ideas.

I was looking through my patterned papers and came across the Tea Boutique DSP.    When I saw this pattern it reminded me that I needed to use the Sweet Citrus bundle.   My card is a little busy but I am okay with it.  I used 2 different patterns of Tea Boutique DSP for the front of the card.  I used Crushed Curry ink for the lemon peels and Daffodil Delight for the pulp.  The leaves seemed too dark stamped in Garden Green full strength so I stamped the leaves off once to get a less intense color.  I used Daffodil Delight Glossy Dots for the centers of the flowers.  The Garden Green ribbon is a carryover item from the last mini catalog.  It was paired with Real Red ribbon.  The Garden Green scalloped frame was cut using the Scalloped Contours dies and the Basic White rectangle was cut using the Stitched Rectangle dies. Isn't that sentiment so fun?   I usually like things straight but somehow this little banner only looked right at an angle.  

You know I  like to decorate the inside of my cards whenever possible.  Here I used an extra flower, leaves, and a layered piece of DSP.  Doesn't it looks finished and ready for me to write in and send?

Product List

Sweet Citrus Bundle (English) [160645] $49.50	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089] $8.00	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094] $8.00	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [147087] $8.00
Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102584] $9.25	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $10.25	Tea Boutique 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [158659] $12.00	Scalloped Contours Dies [155560] $35.00
Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $35.00	Glossy Dots Assortment [158827] $8.00	Real Red & Garden Green 3/8" (1 Cm) Ribbon Combo Pack [159577] $7.50

Thanks for stopping by be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the hop.

The Fancy Flora Suite is a big beautiful collection of products.  I was sold on the Two Tone Flora bundle as soon as I saw the dies.  The large die is so pretty and I knew that I wanted to use it on vellum.   I finally got around to making that card.

Isn't it pretty?   I cut a large opening using the Stitched Rectangle dies on the Basic White card front.  I also cut 2 smaller frames (one for the front and one for the inside front) also using the Stitched Rectangle dies.  I secured the vellum to the front of the card and then attached the smaller frame over the vellum.  I attached the other frame to the inside of the card to keep everything looking neat and clean.  I added the luscious Pool Party Grosgrain Ribbon to the frame and tied a bow.  This ribbon is lovely to work with.  The flowers were stamped using Fresh Freesia ink and the leaves were stamped in Pool Party.  The centers of the flowers are from the Glossy Dots Assortment.

I added another card inside of the card.  Why?  This card will give you a place to write a message that doesn't show through the lovely vellum.  I stamped a sentiment where the frame will cover it up.   This sentiment is from the Something Fancy stamp set.

This sentiment is a must have for me.  It is so cute and perfect for those cards that will arrive a little or maybe a lot late.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Fancy Flora Collection!

Welcome to the Inspire Create Share Blog Hop!  We come together and hop on the 2nd Wednesday of the month.  Each month there is a theme and this month the theme is…Birthdays!  What a great practical theme since we all need birthday cards.  

I used the bright and happy Enjoy the Journey DSP.  This pack is in the 2023 January-April Mini Catalog and was also a Sale-A-Bration choice in February.  The Sending Smiles bundle was used for the focal point.  The Sending was cut using Mango Melody and Polished Pink CS and so were the little flowers.  The center of the flowers are the Loose Frosted Dots (Online Exclusive product).  These pretty accents are currently not available but should be back in stock in early May.  

This is a wiper card.  When you pull out the side and back the cute little piggy from the This Birthday Piggy set pops up with a balloon and cake.   You can fussy cut the piggy out but if you check out the Clearance Rack you might still be able to snag the coordinating Playful Piggy dies for $12.40!  That is an amazing deal so make sure to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what fun and fabulous idea Deb has for you!

Enjoy the hop!

I needed a manly birthday card.  We are doing some traveling so I have just an armful of stamp sets with me.   I couldn’t find a stamp set that felt right for the person I was sending the card to.  I do have the He’s the Man Specialty DSP with me and knew it would be perfect.  This pack of paper is special in that there are 2 die cut sheets of images and sentiments and 2 each of 5 double-sided designs.

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I chose one of the designs and created a pocket card.  

The pocket is secured with the Burlap ribbon from the Real Red & Burlap Ribbon pack.  The Cheers to All the Years is from the die cut sheets in the He's the Man DSP pack.  Both the top edge of the pocket and the flap edge were cut using the Basic Borders dies.   I thought it would be fun to mimic the points around the sentiment by using the Basic Borders die.

The birthday sentiment is from the Sending Wishes stamp set part of the Sending Smiles bundle.  This stamp set and dies have been so useful on this trip.  I use the sentiments often and the set covers so many situations.  I am so happy I brought them along.

This is a super quick and easy card to make especially using the He's the Man DSP and die cuts. 

Product List

Sending Smiles Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [158701] $22.00	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $8.00	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686] $9.25	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $10.25
He's The Man 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [159068] $15.00	Real Red & Burlap Ribbon Combo Pack [160386] $9.00	Basic Borders Dies [155558] $29.00

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you consider the He's the Man DSP for your next masculine card,

Just one more day left until Sale-A-Bration 2023 will be over.  It is always sad to see Sale-A-Bration end, I mean who doesn't love free products with a qualifying purchase?  Today I am using the Beautifully Happy stamp set.  

Here's the color combination I used.

Sweet Sorbet

Coastal Cabana

Old Olive

I haven't used Sweet Sorbet very much.  I don't really know how to use it and what colors it goes with so I decided it was about time I tried to figure it out.   I do like how it looks with Coastal Cabana.  

I really like how this 2 step stamp set creates shading on the image.  It is so easy to line up and the results are beautiful.  

Product List

Beautifully Happy Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [160804] $27.00	Very Best Occasions Cling Stamp Set (English) [159871] $25.00	Thanks A Bunch Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [160816] $18.00	Sweet Sorbet Classic Stampin' Pad [159216] $8.00
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad [147097] $8.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $8.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131297] $9.25
Sweet Sorbet 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159268] $9.25	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $10.25	Stylish Shapes Dies [159183] $30.00	2022–2024 In Color Baker's Twine Pack [159195] $15.00
Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels [158130] $7.50

I do not know the name of this fold and if you do please let me know.

It is a "Z" type card on a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" base and folds up to fit nicely in an A2 envelope.   If you would like me to do a tutorial on this leave me a comment and I will work on it.   

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to get your Sale-A-Bration orders placed before it is too late,

On Thursday I shared that I cut out all the flowers from the Hues of Happiness DSP.  Why did I do this?  One thing I realized when I packed up my craft room was I had a LOT of paper especially patterned paper.  I mean a lot.  I love paper and honestly I am not the best at using it.  I love certain designs so much that I don't want to use it.  Huh?  Sound familiar?  Well, I am trying to change my ways and am now making more of an effort to use and enjoy my paper and not save it.  I thought that if I cut out the flowers from the Hues of Happiness DSP I would use it.  This was a good decision.  I have made a bunch of cards using the flowers and have been thinking about the flowers and other ways to use them.  The flowers are color sorted and waiting patiently for me to use them.  Today's card was on my mind and I had to make it even though there were lots of other things I needed to do.

I used the Split Card Textures dies and added the Hues of Happiness flowers along the split.  Since the flowers and leaves were already cut out, this card came together easily and it made it easy to make other decisions like color.   I used the Gorgeous Grape and Fresh Freesia flowers which made me think about the Fine Shimmer Paper Pack which has a Fresh Freesia paper.  I cut the Fresh Freesia Shimmer Paper a little larger than the Split Card Texture so it would show through behind the cutouts and also act as a layer.  Everything is layered on a Gorgeous Grape card base.   The dots look black in this picture but they are actually Gorgeous Grape Glossy Dots.

Inside of the card I added a strip of the Fresh Freesia Shimmer Paper and another flower from the Hues of Happiness DSP.  The sentiment is from the Framed Florets set stamped in Gorgeous Grape ink.

I hope in this picture you can see the shimmer of the Fresh Freesia Fine Shimmer Paper.  This paper is so pretty and in the pack there are 6 sheets (2 each of Fresh Freesia, Soft Succulent and Gold).

Thanks for stopping by and if you would like your own pack of Hues of Happiness DSP you can shop online with me,

I am starting to cut the make and take packets for the Creativity Abounds By the Bay Stamp Camp.  Be sure to register soon for the camp.  Want more information?  GO HERE for all the details.

Love fun folds? 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 (sharo[email protected]) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

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, holiday, occasion or product suite.  Every month we create a tutorial bundle. The tutorial bundle is available as a gift with a qualifying purchase or can also be purchased. This month our theme is Birthdays!

We also offer a quarterly stamp camp.  The next stamp camp will be in February 2023 and will feature a suite from the 2023 January-April Mini Catalog.  The suite we have chosen for the next stamp camp is…By the Bay!  I will be sharing more about the camp soon.

I used the Framed Florets bundle for my birthday card.  This bundle is in the upcoming 2023 January-April Mini Catalog.  It was also part of the Fitting Florets collection that debuted in November.  The bundle is the only products from this Collection that will be in the upcoming Mini.  I wish the Fitting Florets DSP was also in the Mini but it is not and will not be available after January 4th.

This is a simple fun fold.  I like it since it allows me to show 3 patterns of DSP and how well things coordinate.

• Night of Navy CS card base- 5-1/2” x 8-1/2” scored at 1-1/4” and 4-1/4” (14.9 cm x 21 cm scored at 3 cm and 10.5 cm)
• Night of Navy Oval frame-3-1/4” x 4” (8 cm x 10.5 cm)
• Night of Navy Oval frame (use large ornate oval die-the center piece) 3-1/4” x 4” (8 cm x 10.5 cm).  This piece will provide a backing for the Night of Navy/Basic White frame and make it more stable.
• Basic White card liner- 4” x 5-1/4”, ( 14.2 cm x 9.8 cm)
• Basic White Oval cut using the smaller oval frame-3-1/4” x 4”, (8 cm x 10.5 cm)
• Pick 3 patterns of DSP.  Cut two at 2-3/4” x 5-1/4” and one at 1” x 5-1/4” (cut 2 at 6.5 cm x 14.2 cm and one at 2.2 cm x 14.2 cm)
• Die cut flowers from the DSP and fussy cut 2 leaves.

Time to check out all the other stops on the hop!

Thanks for stopping by and please see below to see how you can receive the Creativity Abounds Birthdays Tutorial.

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 (sharo[email protected]) if you would like to purchase the tutorial.

Taking a break from my Christmas cards to share a birthday card using the Framed Florets bundle and the Fitting Florets DSP.  

I am loving the Framed Florets bundle.  The oval frames were something we have needed and I love how they work together.  

• Fitting Florets DSP 4-1/4" x 12", scored at 3-1/4" and 8-3/4". (Normally I would cut the DSP 4" x 12" to maximize the DSP.  This does result in a slightly narrower card.  This time I used 4-1/4" x 12" since the DSP had already been cut.) Cut from the score line to the center of the edge (2-1/8") and repeat on the other side.  Repeat at the other end.  The points will overlap.  Secure them to form a sleeve.  
• Night of Navy CS- 4-1/4" x  5-3/8"
• Basic White CS- 4" x 5-1/4"
• Balmy Blue CS-3-1/" x 4"
• Basic White- 3" x 4" cut out an oval using the larger frame.

The insert slides into the DSP sleeve.  I used Soft Succulent, Balmy Blue and Night of Navy Stampin' Blends to color the flowers and leaves.  I also added the Solid Faceted Gems in  Night of Navy.

The Fitting Florets DSP will only be available for a few more days/January 4th 2023 or while supplies last.  It is a very pretty paper and coordinates so beautifully with the Framed Florets bundle.  

Time for me to get back to my Christmas cards! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to get the Fitting Florets DSP before it disappears!