I live in Washington state which is the nation's top apple producing state.  So what does that mean?  It means I had to get the Apple Harvest set.  It may not be the best reason to purchase a stamp set but it was enough of a reason for me!  I saw the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #482 and knew it would be a perfect time to ink up the Apple Harvest set.

Here's what I made using the sketch.

The CAS Challenge is all about clean and simple cards.  "Clean and Simple" is defined as "uncluttered, with white or open space, and minimal layers and embellishments".  

The apples were stamped on Basic White CS in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored using Granny Apple Green Crumb Cake, Real Red, and Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends. The Basic White piece the apples are on was embossed using the Timber 3D Embossing folder.  This folder is part of the 2nd release for Sale-A-Bration.   Remember to stamp the sentiment before you emboss the CS!  I forgot and was pleasantly surprised that it turned out as well as it did.  Around the apples I added a few Classic Matte Dots in black.

Inside I added another apple image from the Apple Harvest stamp set.  This apple was also colored using the same Stampin' Blends.

Thanks CAS Colour & Sketch Challenge team for a great sketch and motivating me to use this stamp set.  

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out the all the cards created for the challenge,

It is time for a new Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge.

Here's what I came up with for the challenge.  

Used a lot of Orchid Oasis!  The card base is Thick Basic White.  The DSP is the 2022-24 In Color DSP. The Orchid Oasis CS was cut using the Dots and Spots Die.  Did you see that you can get this die as one of your Sale-A-Bration choices with a qualifying order?  You need to be aware that the ordering number is different than the number in the catalog.   Go here for more information about the new additions to Sale-A-Bration.  The daisy  and tag was punched out of the 2022-24 In Color Glimmer Paper.  The sentiment from the Charming Sentiments bundle was stamped in Orchid Oasis ink and cut out using the coordinating Sentiment Silhouettes dies.

Inside another glimmery daisy and strip of DSP to finish up the card.

Here is the same card using the same product but in the In Color, Parakeet Party.  

This years In Colors are wonderful and I enjoy all the coordinating products!

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check out what the design team created,

Just a few more sleeps and the new 2022-23 Stampin' Up! catalog will go live.  Exciting and also a little sad.  Why?  Well that also means that some of my favorite stamp sets from the 2021-22 Annual Catalog will be retiring.  One of the sets I wanted to play with one more time was the Measure of Love.  I decided it would be the perfect set to use for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0108.

What is the Festive Friday Challenge?  The Festive Friday Challenge is a bi-weekly challenge that has an Inspo List.  What is an Inspo List?  Every challenge has an Inspo list that has 10 items on it and those 10 items were inspired by a particular holiday, celebration or festivity.  You need to use 3 items from the Inspo list on your project.  You do not have to incorporate the festivity into your challenge but if you want to, you can.  Here is a link to more information about how to participate in the challenge.

What a great festivity!  I chose to use food, kitchen, items, gingham, and red from the Inspo List.

I stamped the images from the Measure of Love set on label cut using the Scalloped Contours dies.  I used a Smoky Slate Stampin' Blend to color the scale and Evening Evergreen and Real Red pads to color the bowl of cherries.  The Real Red ribbon is from the 2022 Jan-June mini catalog.  The strip of Gingham DSP is from the Pansy Petals DSP. The lovely stitched background  was made using the Stitched Greenery die.

Inside I added another strip of gingham paper and another sweet bowl of cherries.  

FF #0108 National Eat What You Want Day

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team.

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert you are here!

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans 

Joanne James

Thanks for stopping by!

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a Color Challenge, #CCMC712.

When I saw this combination I wasn't sure what to do with it.  Right around the time I was thinking about what to make for the challenge I received the Uniquely Artistic stamp set from the upcoming 2022-23 Annual Catalog and just like that I knew what I was going to make.

I stamped the Uniquely Artistic outline leaf image in Just Jade and the background stamp in Pear Pizzazz .  To tie in the Calypso Coral, I colored in some Polished Dots using a Dark Calypso Coral Stampin' Blend. The Stitched Rectangles are mounted on a Calypso Coral cardstock layer that was run through the Stampin' Cut and Emboss machine using the Stitched Greenery die.  

The sentiment is from another new set, Happiness Abounds and cut out using the Stylish Shapes dies.  The Stylish Shapes Dies are standalone dies.  This means they are not associated/bundled with any one particular stamp set.  They include  6 circle, 5 square, and 5 banner dies.   I also added a Black Glittered Organdy bow.  This ribbon will be retiring soon and I will miss it.  

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

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,

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge.  

I used the Simply Elegant DSP, Elegantly Said stamp set ,  and the Peony dies.  All of these items are on the retiring list which means they are only available while supplies last.  

You can see that I followed the sketch quite closely.  

The Peony dies create very pretty peonies.  The dies are easy to put together and you can create stunning flowers in just a few minutes.  I will  probably keep the Prized Peony stamp set and the coordinating Peony Dies in my personal collection.  The images in the set are so pretty and the sentiments fill a void in my collection.

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

It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week it is a sketch challenge.  

Sometimes I follow the sketch very closely, like I did this week and other times very loosely.  

The only stamping is the sentiment  (I love this one) from the  Pansy Patch stamp set.  Everything else is from the Pansy Petals DSP.  The Fresh Freesia gingham is so springy and a lovely background for the flowers.  The floral rectangles were cut using the Stitched Rectangle dies and the pansies were fussy cut from another sheet of the DSP.  

Inside I added a piece of Basic White CS to make it easier to write on.  I had a little strip of the Fresh Freesia gingham so I had to add it here along with another flower I fussy cut but didn't end up using on the front of the card. 

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

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 create.

You can also read more about how to play in the challenge HERE.

I used from the Inspo list flowers/plants, green, encouragement, and brick.  

Here's the breakdown of the products I used.  I really enjoyed putting together this fun scene.  The Welcoming Window bundle is on sale through March along with 12 other bundles and the Mini Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine.  In addition to the Welcoming Window bundle I used the Perfect Plants die to cut out the planter and plant from the Bloom Where You Are Planted DSP.

Inside I added a strip of the brick DSP and another planter and plant from the Bloom Where You Are Planted DSP.  

Now it is time to check out what the rest of the Festive Friday design team created for the challenge.

FF #0104 World Planting Day

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team.

Ann Schach- off this week

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Jaydee

Diane Evans

Joanne James

I am always on the lookout for new color ideas.  I came across the Inspire. Create. Stamping Challenge's combination of Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen, Misty Moonlight, Sahara Sand, and Soft Succulent and wanted to give it a try.  Sahara Sand is one of those colors I do not use very often and when I do use it, I always wonder why I don't use it.  

I may have gotten carried away with all the flowers and leaves.  The Pierced Blooms dies is one of my favorite flower & leaf dies and once I get started it is hard to stop.  In the centers of the flowers I added the Classic Matte Dots in white.  

The card base is Sahara Sand and the Evening Evergreen layer is from the Tidings of Christmas DSP.  I suspect this pack of Designer Series Paper is also what inspired the color combination challenge.  I love the subtle herringbone pattern on the paper and how it adds just a little something extra.  If I was thinking I should have used it for the stripes too.  Maybe next time!. The Sahara Sand layer was embossed using the Tasteful Textile 3D folder.  The thanks in Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent was created using the Amazing Thanks dies.

I did  use a strip of the DSP to decorate the inside of the card along with a Cherry Cobbler flower and Soft Succulent leaf.  Isn't that subtle herringbone pattern  great?  The Tidings of Christmas DSP is not just for Christmas.  There are lots of beautiful not Christmassy designs on the "B" side of each sheet.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Inspire.Create stamping challenges!

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!