It is Thursday and time for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge.  This week we have a color challenge.  

I was a little stumped on how to combine these colors until I realized they are some of the colors in the Hydrangea Hill DSP.  This gave me just the spark I needed.  This color combination  uses two 2019-21 In Colors (Rococo Rose and Seaside Spray) that will be retiring soon.  If you like these colors be sure to order ink refills, Stampin' Blends and cardstock before they are gone.  

I used the Hydrangea Hill DSP to create the flower and also as a backdrop for the hydrangea.   The ribbon is the Gorgeous Grape 3/8" Sheer Ribbon and I would like this ribbon in lots of colors.   It is so pretty, easy to work with and the width is perfect.  Generally, I like ribbon that is at least 3/8" wide unless it  is twine.  

When you pull the ribbon a couple of messages get revealed.  All the sentiments and images are from the Hydrangea Haven stamp set.  It really is a complete set, with beautiful images and fantastic sentiments.  

This is a fun card and I love that it is ready to display.  The pop up mechanism sits on a Gorgeous Grape card base so there is plenty of room to write a note.  

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Create with Connie & Mary design team created for this challenge.  

Thank you for stopping by!

Product List

Hydrangea Haven Bundle [156251]	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111]	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099]	Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146987]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Seaside Spray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150883]	Hydrangea Hill Designer Series Paper [154570]	Metallic Pearls [146282]
3/8" (1 Cm) Gorgeous Grape Sheer Ribbon [154572]

Ready for another fun Festive Friday Challenge?  This time the festivity we are being inspired by is World Frog Day!  Who knew?  World Frog Day is celebrated on March 20.  Check out the Inspo list for this challenge.

To play along with the challenge all you need to do is use 3 elements from the Inspo List on your project and post it to the Festive Friday gallery.   It is easy to play along and fun.  Your projects does not have to have a frog on it, mine doesn't but it does need to have 3 elements from the list.

This card is 3-1/2" x 5"  which is a mailable size here in the US.  I chose to use cattails, twine, green and insect from the Inspo List.  I  used the Friendly Silhouettes die as my starting point.  I used it to cut out the cattails.  I die cut them using Pear Pizzazz CS and colored in the cattails using a Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends.  To create the background I used the new Blending Brushes and Bumblebee and Pumpkin Pie ink.  The brushes blend the ink beautifully.  I layered the ink until I got the intensity of color I was looking for.  I diluted some Craft White ink with water and used a Water Brush to create the splatters on the background.  The cattails were glued on to the background.  To complete the scene I embossed the dragonflies from the Friend Like You stamp set in gold embossing powder and cut them out using the Friendly Silhouettes dies.   

The white lattice is from the Dandy Laser Cut Paper.  I have to tattle on myself.  I forgot I even had this.  I hate when I do that!  It has now been moved to a place where I will see it and use it.  Does this ever happen to you?

Yes, this is an easel card.  I embossed a few more dragonflies to act as the stopper for the easel.  Along the bottom I used the Dockside die for more cattails.  This is silly but that last line reminds me of the Saturday Night Live skit... "more cowbell".

Now it is time to check out what the rest of the design team created for this challenge!

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema - Off this Week

I hope you will join in the Festive Friday Challenge #79.  I would love to see what elements you choose for your project.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Product List

Friend Like You Photopolymer Stamp Set [149237]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086]
Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill [101780]	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154882]	Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131201]	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Dandy Laser Cut Paper [154300]	Friendly Silhouettes Dies [149546]	Dockside Dies [151618]
Stitched Shapes Dies [152323]	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]	Blending Brushes [153611]	Water Painters [151298]
Linen Thread [104199]

The 2021 Stampin' Up!® January-June Mini catalog is full of so many beautiful stamp set, dies, Designer Series Paper (DSP) and embellishments.  For the Festive Friday challenge I pulled out the Hydrangea Haven bundle.   This was my first real play with the products and I am hooked.  Before I get started telling you about the Hydrangea Hill Suite let's talk about the Challenge.

The Festive Friday Challenge is a bi-weekly challenge and each challenge lasts 10 days.  The challenge is inspired by a festivity and based on that festivity an inspiration list is created aka Inspo List.  There are always 10 items on the list and to play in the challenge you need to use at least 3 items from the list on your project.  You post your project on the Festive Friday blog gallery.  There are just a few rules and you can find them here

This challenge #FF78 ends on March 1 at 4 pm CST.  I hope you will join in the fun.  I would love to see what you create.

As I mentioned I used the Hydrangea Haven bundle, Hydrangea Hill DSP, and the Gorgeous Grape Sheer Ribbon on my card.  The 3 items from the Inspo list on my card: fun fold, flowers, and female sentiment.

The beautiful flower was cut using a die from the DSP.  I wish i could claim that I colored it but it is the paper. The die is pretty special, it partially cuts out little flower petals which i pushed out so it looks dimensional.  I may have gone a little rhinestone crazy but sometimes you just gotta do it.  The rhinestones were colored using the Dark Highland Heather Stampin' Blends.  All the patterned paper is from the Hydrangea Hill DSP pack.    

The lovely sentiments are  from the Hydrangea Haven stamp set and they are powerful words.  I am sure we all know someone or many someone's we could send this card to.  The larger label was cut using the Stitched Nested dies  and the smaller stitched rounded rectangle is from the Hydrangea dies.  

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

Ann Schach

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema

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

I turned the sketch and came up with this using 3 Sale-A-Bration choices, Darling Donkeys, Flower & Field DSP, and Approaching Perfection.  

This is just a variation of a fold I have been doing.  Here is a link to a tutorial.    I turned  the card on its side, so the "card" pulls out either from the top or bottom of the DSP holder.  This is just a little change but I was proud of myself for doing it.   I don't often think beyond the template and miss out on trying something new and fresh.

I fussy cut the donkey and mounted him on a mini wobble so he can kick up his heels.  I found the mini wobble on Amazon.  It is still a little too big to completely fit behind the donkey so I did a little trimming and it is mostly  hidden.   Even with the wobble, the donkey lays flat enough to fit into an envelope and can be easily mailed.

I used 2 different die sets to create the label.  The So Saffron label is from the Stitched Nested Labels and the Pool Party label is from the All Dressed Up dies.   The little white flower was punched using the Confetti Flowers border punch.   The cute ribbon is the 1/4" Bumble Bee Gingham.

Hope you liked my take on the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC651. Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created for this challenge.  Remember, Sale-A-Bration ends February 28th!  

Welcome to the Creativity Abounds Blog Hop.   We are international group of Stampin' Up!® demonstrators who have come together to share our ideas with you.  We blog hop on the the 3rd Wednesday of the month and this month our theme is the Dandy Garden suite.  Thank you for joining us today and please enjoy the hop!

This is a fun fold called the Impossible card.  When I first saw this fold it did indeed look impossible but it actually s very easy once you understand how it works.

• Start with a 4-1/4' x 5-1/2" piece of cardstock
• Find the midpoint of the 4-1/4" side and score.  This is the red dotted line in the picture above.
• Starting at the fold find the middle (2-3/4") and cut a slit from the fold to the outer edge.
• Starting at the fold  measure 1-1/4" from the fold and cut a slit to the outer edge.  Repeat along the other edge

Note: The 1-1/4" measure is what I used so that I could use the dragonflies to connect the 2 panels.  You can change the dimension to fit your project.

This what your card will look like when all the scoring and cutting is done.

The easiest way to assemble is to hold the 3'' panel in one hand and with your other hand flip one of the 1-1/4" pieces to the other side.  If this is confusing don't worry I have a short video below that shows this step.

Check out the video below.  You will be amazed how easy and ingenious it is and that it isn't really impossible.

Isn't it amazing how simple it is?

I connected the panels with stamped and punched dragonflies using the Dragonfly Garden bundle.  You do not have to connect the panels.  I like to do this as it makes the card very stable.  The panels are decorated using the Dandy Garden 6" x 6" DSP.   Behind the center panel I attached a piece of Basic White CS so I can write a little note.

I hope you will make your own Impossible card, now that you know that it really isn't impossible.

One last big thing!  The Creativity Abounds Blog Hop team haas also put together a tutorial bundle of brand new projects.  There are 13 tutorials and they feature projects using products from the Dandy Garden Suite (pages 24-27 of the 2021 Jan-Jun Mini Catalog).

You can purchase this tutorial bundle for $15 US or receive it free with a minimum $50 order placed with me through my online store. Contact me if you have any questions or to order the tutorial (sharon@astheinkdries.com).

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the Creativity Abounds Dandy Garden Blog Hop!

Product List

Dragonfly Garden Bundle (English) [156224]	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118]	Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad [153116]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]
Dandy Garden 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [154297]	Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [153081]

Welcome to the Stampers Dozen Blog Hop!  This month we are  hopping with excitement to share with you some fun fold cards.  The problem with our theme is trying to decide what fold to use, there are so many fun ones!

Snailed It!  This cute little snail was fussy cut from the Snail Mail DSP.  I kind of botched up cutting around his eyes so googly eyes to the rescue.   The googly  eyes  definitely added some personality.  The Blushing Bride speech bubble was cut using the Snail dies and the Real Red heart was cut using the Many Hearts dies.  

Inside you will see this is a tunnel card.  Lots of fun cutouts from the Snail Mail DSP.   The fun sentiment is from the Many Messages stamp set.  Many Messages is 1 big stamp.  There are 19 sentiments on it, 3 stars, and a heart for a total of 23 images and there is a coordinating Messages die that cuts out all of the images at one time!   Of course it is available as a bundle so you can save 10%.  

Here is the back of the card, where you can write a message.  The sentiment here is also from the Many Messages bundle.  This card stands up on its own but also folds flat and fits in an A-2 envelope.  Love a fun fold that can be easily mailed

Now it is time to see what Joanne has created for you!

Stamper's Dozen February 2021 Blog Hop

1. Judy Garza – Creativity Released
2. Sharon Hashimoto Burkert – As the Ink Dries
3. Joanne Cantrell – Keep It Simple, Stampers
4. Rachel Yurkanin – Rachel’s Stamping Place
5. Debbie Naylor – Unfrogettable Stamping!
6. Bonnie O'Neill – Bonnie Stamped
7. Kelly Acheson – A Stamp Above
8. Donna Burk Schneidtmiller – Donna Stamps
9. Patty Chenail – Stamp-Patty’s - Stamping in My Flops

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

Product List

Snail Mail Suite Collection [155986]	Many Messages Bundle [156272]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131198]	Many Hearts Dies [154308]	Stitched Shapes Dies [152323]
Layering Squares Dies [151772]

Welcome to the Around the World on Wednesday blog hop!  This is an international blog hop with 19 stops.  The theme for this month is You've Got Mail with a focus on It's All About the Inside.  Hmmm, this theme can be interpreted in so many ways.  

The first thing that came to mind is the Snail Mail Suite.  The Snailed It bundle and Snail Mail DSP are full of images perfect for this theme.  

Isn't the Snail Mail DSP so cute?  Love the designs in this pack of paper.  The snail was cut from the Snail Mail DSP.  The Snail Dies cuts out some of the images from the DSP but this large snail is not one of them.  Luckily this snail is easy to cut out, the hardest part is around the eyes and the addition of some googly eyes helps cover up those imperfections.  I added a Real Red Resin Heart to one of the envelopes .  The Blushing Bride twine from the Snail Mail Twine Combo pack was tied around the belly band.  I am so happy to have twine back!  The hello from the Snailed It set was stamped in Bermuda Bay ink.  On this card I used all the products in the Snail Mail Suite Collection, so happy I decided to buy the whole suite of products.  

I wonder what is inside?  The belly band helps keep the surprise under wraps.  

A cute little snail pops up along with a floating heart.  This snail was cut out from the Snail Mail DSP using the Snail Dies.  The little speech bubble was stamped and also cut out using the dies.  The heart was cut using the dies and covered with Shimmery Crystal Effects.  

This is a simple pop up mechanism.  

• Bermuda Bay strip 3/4" x 3-1/4"
• score at 3/4" , 1-1/2",2-1/4", 3"
• fold along the score lines
• form into a square and use the 1/4" tab to secure the squaretogether.
• attach 1 side of the square to the inside front panel and 1 side to the Basic White cs

Now it is time for you to see what the talented Teri West has made for you.

Here is a list of all the stops on the Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop

Jan Clothier - NZ

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Satomi Wellard

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Anne Marie Hile - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Tricia Butts - US

Elaine de Montmorency - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

Thank you for stopping by and I hop you enjoy the hop!

Product List

Snail Mail Suite Collection [155986]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [147096]	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197]	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Window Sheets [142314]	Stitched Shapes Dies [152323]	Layering Circles Dies [151770]
Shimmery Crystal Effects [150892]

Welcome to the Inspire, Create, Share Blog Hop!  This month we are sharing our Favorite Sale-A-Bration products.  I am looking forward to seeing what everybody's favorite product is.  There are 18 stops on the hop, so hop along with us for lots of Sale-A-Bration inspiration!

My favorite Sale-A-Bration product changes from week to week.  There are so many great choices and not to be an alarmist but there are less than  3 weeks left for you to get your favorite Sale-A-Bration choices.   This year there will be 2 different Sale-A-Bration periods, Jan-Feb and then July-August.  One extra Sale-A-Bration period but each period is shorter in duration.  So don't delay!  

This week I am all about the Berry Blessings stamp set and the Berry Delightful DSP.  Up until this week  I was reluctant to use the Berry Delightful DSP since I am unable to get more of this paper but it is too pretty to not use.   Don't you love the color combination of Pacific Point, Granny Apple Green and White?  It really is so clean and crisp.  

I stamped the blueberries on a Basic White Stitched Shapes circle and added the sentiment from the Sweet Strawberry stamp set.  I added some Shimmery Crystal Effects to the berries for a little bit of sparkle and shine.  

The belly band has another pattern from the Berry Delightful DSP.  The white ribbon is from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo pack.  This is one of my favorite ribbons.  It is easy to tie and holds it shape.  

Inside there is a gift card holder and a place to add a message.  The fold out panel measures 4-1/4" x  7-1/2" scored at 2", and 4-1/2".  This is a fun way to show off 3 different designs of the DSP.  

Now it is time for you to check out what Deb Naylor's favorite Sale-A-Bration choice is. 

Thank you for stopping by!  

Product List

Berry Blessings Bundle (English) [157613]	Sweet Strawberry Photopolymer Stamp Set [154394]	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad [147098]	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Pacific Point 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [111350]	Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690]	Layering Circles Dies [151770]
Flowers For Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack [153620]	Shimmery Crystal Effects [150892]

It is time for the New at SU! Hop Through!  This month the theme is Warm and Cozy.  What comes to mind when you think of being warm and cozy?    The first thing that came to my mind was sitting by the fireplace, so I turned to the Firside Trimmings bundle for my card.  This bundle is being retired (no longer available after January 4, 2021 or while supplies last) on the Year-End Close Out list and the dies are 30% off.  

I have really enjoyed creating with the Fireside Trimmings stamp set and dies.   The stamp set is adorable but it was the different banners in the Fireside dies that really made me happy.  I have said it before...the bat garland!  For today's card I used both the greenery and the star banners along with the lanterns and the trees to decorate the mantel.  The fireplace was stamped on a sheet from the In Good Taste DSP pack and cut out using the dies.  I used a piece of Plush Poinsettia Specialty paper  (also on the Year-End closeout) for the "wallpaper", just to be fancy.  

You know I love an easel card.  This one measures 2-1/8" wide, just a smidge narrower than the fireplace.  The Basic Black CS measures 2-1/8" x 6", scored at 2-1/8" and 5-3/8".  

Now it is time for you to hop on to see what the creative  Mary Ann Kay has created for you!

Thank you for stopping by!  Hope you are staying warm and cozy this December.  

Product List

Fireside Trimmings Bundle (English) [155205]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086]	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154892]
Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154899]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730]	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100702]
Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115318]	Bumblebee 8-1/2X11 Cardstock [153077]	Brushed Metallic Cardstock [153524]	In Good Taste Designer Series Paper [152494]
Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper [153486]	Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924]	All The Trimmings Embellishments [153540]

It is Fun Fold Friday!  I have been playing around with the Bridge card.  This is a very fun card that folds flat for mailing and still stands up so nicely.

This is the Sweetest Time Bundle . The card base is Mossy Meadow and measures 4-1/4" x 8", scored at 1-1/4", 2-1/2"5-1/2", &  6-3/4".  The little polka dot paper  is from the Heartwarming Hugs DSP and measures 1" x 4". The sentiment is stamped on a 2-3/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White CS.  It is important to adhere this panel before you attach the "bridge".  I cut the Sweetest Borders die in Pear Pizzazz CS  so the length measures 5-1/2".  The  bottom portion of the holly is backed with a strip of Mossy Meadow CS and the holly berries were filled in with Real Red CS.  In the next picture you will see how the holly strip is attached to the card base.

The candles were stamped in Real Red and Daffodil Delight ink and then fussy cut out.  You can see that the candles were attached to the "bridge"  using pieces of Stampin' Dimensionals.  I attached a 2-3/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White CS to the back of the card where I can write a little note.  

Thank you for stopping by, below is a list of all the product used with links to my store.

Product List

Sweetest Time Bundle (English) [155169]	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084]	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094]	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676]
Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131201]	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730]	Heartwarming Hugs Designer Series Paper [153492]