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!

I just recently received the Sale-A-Bration set, Catching Butterflies.  The set reminded me of when my son was in elementary school and had a science segment on insects.  He was very into bugs and we spent many an afternoon looking for bugs and trying to catch them.  

I used Stampin' Blends to color the girl and used one of the colors from the new Natural Tones Stampin' Blends for her skin.  It is wonderful to have so many more options for coloring.  I also added a few flowers from the Peach dies in Pale Papaya, So Saffron, and Calypso Coral.  

Here's the Create with Connie and Mary sketch that was used for the card.  The Create with Connie and Mary challenge is a weekly challenge that alternates between sketches and color combinations.

I wanted to create the illusion that the butterfly was actually flying so I fussy cut the butterfly out, attached it to a strip of window sheet and attached the strip  to the back of the Layering Circles dies.  The sentiment is from the Sweet as a Peach stamp  set and cut out using the Peach dies.

The patterned paper is the Sweet Symmetry DSP. I love these happy colors and designs.  It is a great pack of paper to mix and match the patterns.  Inside of the card I added a little strip of the DSP and stamped and colored a few butterflies.  

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

Happy Friday!  It is time for another Festive Friday Challenge.  What is the Festive Friday Challenge?  The Festive Friday Challenge features an  Inspo List.  The Inspo List is a list of 10 items inspired by a festivity, holiday.  You must use at least 3 of the items on the Inspo List on your project.  There are a few more rules that you can read about here.

I chose from the Inspo List: bird, tree, florals, green, and brown.

I used the adorable new Happy Hedgehogs bundle.   I stamped the hedgehog in Early Espresso ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and punched him out using the Hedgehog Builder punch.  This hedgehog is super sweet!   

The little bird was stamped directly on the Stitched So Sweetly label.  I knew it wouldn't fit and some of the tail would be cut off.  I didn't want to fussy cut the entire bird out so instead I stamped another bird on a scrap piece of Basic White CS and colored it using Stampin' Blends. I fussy cut just the tail portion and used some Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach it over the bird.   Pretty neat little fix.

The pretty Fresh Freesia gingham check paper is from the Pansy Petals DSP.   Inside I added another strip of the gingham paper  and stamped the cute mushroom image from the Happy Hedgehog stamp set.  

I look forward to seeing what you create in the Festive Friday gallery.

Thanks for stopping by and make sure you check out how the rest of the design team was inspired by the Inspo List.

FF #0101 International Wetland 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

Product List

Happy Hedgehogs Bundle [157985]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154883]	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154882]
Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154830]	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154892]	Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [155518]	Fresh Freesia 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [155613]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Pansy Petals 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [155807]	Fresh Freesia 3/8" (1 Cm) Open Weave Ribbon [155615]	Brushed Brass Butterflies [158136]
Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels [151193]

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]

Just a few more days till we welcome in 2022.   I am ready for it and wanted to wish you a Happy New Year too!

I made this card using the colors in the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC696.

Unfortunately since I made this card a few of the products have sold out. 

• The Black Glitter Paper used as a layer, for the stars and for the numbers. 
• The silver and white paper background from the Whimsy & Wonder DSP.

The happy is from the Words of Cheer bundle and is still available.  I am a fan of word dies so this die set will be staying in my collection.

I used the Give it a Whirl dies to cut out the stars.  The die cuts out 3 sizes of stitched stars.  Whenever I am looking for shapes I check to see if is by chance is in the Give it a Whirl dies.  That die set in addition to making a super fun interactive card also contains so many great shapes like stars, hearts, rectangles, clouds, circles, & arrows.

Inside I added a leftover strip of stripes and a few more stars.  It is fun to dress up the insides of your cards too.  

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for this challenge.

Still playing with the Sparkle of the Season bundle.  On today's project I used 2 of the 3 wreath dies from the Seasonal Swirls dies.  

This project was made for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0096.  The Festive Friday Challenge is the challenge with the Inspo List.  The challenge is to use 3 items from the Inspo List on your project.  The Inspo List is inspired by a festivity.  This challenge the festivity we are being inspired by is World Kindness Day.  I would like to believe that everyday is World Kindness Day.  Your project doesn't have to focus on the festivity but it can.  

I used 2 different wreath dies on this gift tag.  One to create the background and another for the actual wreath.  The Real Red flowers were cut using the Christmas Cheer Dies  and attached to the Old Olive and Mossy Meadow wreaths.  The sentiment is from the Classic Cloche stamp set and heat embossed in Silver embossing powder.  Can you guess what die I used to cut out the sentiment?  It looks like one of  the stitched rectangle dies but it isn't.  It is the handle die from the All Dressed Up dies.  

The handle die is 6" long.  It is easy to custom cut out the sentiment.  Stamp the sentiment, cut it with the die and then line it back up with the die and cut it to the correct size.   

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!

When I started playing with the Merriest Moments bundle I noticed the spray of leaves had a slight bend to them.  This made me think that they might make a nice wreath and so I started stamping and die cutting to try and create one.  Once the card was completed I realized it would work for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0094.

What is the Festive Friday Challenge?  The Festive Friday Challenge has an Inspo List that is inspired by a festivity.  #FF0094 was inspired by Apple Day.  To play along with the challenge you need to use 3 items from the Inspo List on your project.  You do not have follow the  Apple Day theme  but you can if you would like to.  Here's a link to all the details on how to play along with the challenge.

I chose red, green, circles (this wreath is a circle, right?) and sequins.

I stamped 8 Soft Succulent leaves and die cut them using the coordinating dies.  I used the Layering Circles die #6 and #7 (1 being the smallest die) and created a wreath ring.  This helped me to arrange the leaves.  The leaves were attached to the ring using Stampin' Dimensionals.  I stamped some holly leaves in Evening Evergreen ink and some berries and a flower in Cherry Cobbler ink and  die cut them using the coordinating dies.  I added a few small sequins to add a little sparkle to the card.

The card base is Sahara Sand CS with a Cherry Cobbler CS layer.  The pretty, snowy  patterned paper is from the Tidings of Christmas DSP.  

Inside I stamped some leaves in Evening Evergreen ink and the lovely sentiment in Cherry Cobbler ink.  I do love a sentiment that pairs 2 fonts together.  

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

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you will join in the challenge.  I would love to see what you create in the Festive Friday gallery.

October Stamp of the Month Projects… To Go!

The October stamp of the month is Merriest Moments  (pg 43 of the Mini Catalog). The To Go projects use both the Merriest Moments stamp set and the Merriest Moments Hybrid Embossing Folder aka the bundle (156783).  Having the bundle will make it easier to complete the projects but is not necessary for the projects. What comes in your To Go kit?  All the cardstock,  DSP, embellishments and a link to the tutorials to make your projects (3 cards).  You will also need the Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen, Bumblebee, and a Cherry Cobbler ink pads.  These items and adhesives are not included with the To Go projects. 

To register all you need to do is place an order for $40 using the Host Code D7SSYY6Y on my online store- sharonstamps.stampinup.net before the15th of the month.  Your project kit will be mailed  to you on or before the 22nd of the month.  The Host Code is how I will know you want the Stamp of the Month Projects to go. You will need the stamp set to complete the projects.   

Product List

Merriest Moments Bundle (English) [156783]	Soft Succulent Classic Stampin' Pad [155778]	Evening Evergreen Classic Stampin' Pad [155576]	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [147083]
Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116]	Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121043]	Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119685]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]
Tidings Of Christmas 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [155718]	Layering Circles Dies [151770]	Subtle Shimmer Sequins [156407]