The Festive Friday Challenge #FF0068 was a toughie for me!  I guess that's why they call it a challenge.  I had to dig deep and pull out some retired Stampin' Up!® products to make my card.  Over the past few months I have done some purging and organizing but these 2 items have remained in my craft cubbie.  Can you guess what they are?

If you guessed the star stencil and the peace die you would be correct!  The star stencil is just such a great basic and doesn't take up much space so it of course had to stay.  The peace die is a favorite. I love the font and everything about it is just clean and simple. 

From the Inspo List I used the elements stars, stencil, purple and blue.   If you want to play along with the Festive Friday Challenge, you just need to use 3 items on the list.  

When I started this card I did not have a clear vision.  Honestly, I rarely do, this could be why I am such a slow stamper. I knew for sure I wanted to use blue and purple so that is where I started.  On a piece of Whisper White CS I started by sponging on Night of Navy ink, then Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather and ended with a little Balmy Blue.  After that was done I  thought about adding  stars, which led me to the star stencil.  I used the Shimmery White Embossing Paste with the star stencil. I love the glittery stars.

The stars needed a little time to dry, which gave me time to think about what else was going to go on my card.  I thought about the world which led me to the World Map dies.  I wanted the world to be a little glittery and the only glittery paper that I thought would work was the Rainbow Glimmer Paper.  The outline die was cut using the Brushed Metallic CS and the solid circle in Rainbow Glimmer Paper.

The colors of the Rainbow Glimmer Paper did not quit go with the rest of the card so I experimented and  sponged some Gorgeous Grape and Night of Navy ink on it and it worked! It turned out great and now I know I can slightly alter the colors by sponging on darker colors.  I die cut the peace in Night of Navy CS and the Brushed Metallic CS.  I liked the little hint of the Brushed Metallic paper outlining the Night of Navy.

I hope you will join in and play along with the Festive Friday Challenge.  You can get all the details about the challenge on the Festive Friday blog.  Be sure you check out what the rest of the design team created, their cards are out of this world!

Festive Friday Challenge Design Team.

Ann Schach   

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Helen Jennings

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema

The Dove of Hope bundle was one of the very first bundles I purchased from the 2020 August-December Mini Catalog.  When I saw the stamp set the words and images just spoke to me.  We all need some peace and hope in our hearts, I know I do.

I used the Detailed Dove dies to cut out the Whisper White dove.  If you can see a bit of shine on the dove it is because I painted the dove using the Frost White Shimmer paint.  I like how it adds shimmer but isn't too shiny.  The background design is from the Plush Poinsettia Specialty paper.  The flocked design is on white vellum.  The pack has six 12" x 12" sheets (2 each of 3 flocked designs).  The flocked pattern adds a lot of texture and feels great too.  

Are you wondering where the "peace" is from?  I don't do this very often but it is a retired die from the Christmas Greeting Thinlits and perfect for this card.  I love the font and have kept it in my permanent collection of dies.  I cut the peace from the Brushed Metallic 12" x 12" cardstock. 

Product List

Detailed Dove Dies [153526]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272]	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100702]	Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper [153486]
Brushed Metallic Cardstock [153524]	Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels [146924]	Frost White Shimmer Paint [147046]

This is a simple card that doesn't require a lot of supplies.  It will probably be one of the designs I use for my personal Christmas cards.  Hope you like it too!  If you do not have a copy of the 2020 August-December Mini Catalog, email me and I will get one out to you.  

It is time for the Festive Friday Challenge #FF0059!  The festivity we are being inspired by is World Reef Awareness Week, which is celebrated on June 1.  The festivity is what inspires the Inspo List for the challenge.  

To play along with the challenge you need to pick a minimum of  3 items from the Inspo List to use on your project.  You have until May 25 at 8 pm CST to enter your project into the Festive Friday gallery.  Here is a little more about the challenge and how to play along.   I would love to see your project in the gallery.

I had a tough time with this challenge.  I finally decided to pull out a set that retired last year from the Stampin' Up!® annual catalog, called All the Good Things.

I chose, fish, aqua, and shaker element  from the Inspo list to use on my project.  I have written a tutorial on how I made this card and you can find it HERE.

Product List

All The Good Things Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146558]	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165]	Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker [100082]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [147096]
Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101]	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad [147097]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272]	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [122925]
Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131297]	Window Sheets [142314]	Foam Adhesive Strips [141825]

I first used sequins as the shaker item but they did not shake very well.  I then mixed in some little silica gel beads that you find in packaging.  The sequins still stuck to the window sheet so I took the sequins out and just used the silica gel beads.  Don't you think it kind of looks like air bubbles?

Hope you will join in the fun and stamp along with the Festive Friday Challenge!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Are you ready for the Festive Friday Challenge?  I cannot really explain it but this was a tough one for me.

I know it should have been an easy one since Stampin' Up!® just released a beautiful new stamp set called Sailing Home that features a lighthouse.  For whatever reason I was stuck on using the alternate theme of Light Rays/Starburst.  I tried lots of different ideas and all of them ended up in the recycle bin.  The deadline was drawing near and I then I did something I rarely ever do...

Yes, I pulled out a set that is retired and used it for today's card.   This is a kind of strange situation.  The stamp set, Pocketful of Sunshine retired but the coordinating die, Pocket is still available in the 2019-20 Stampin' Up!® catalog.  There is a new stamp set that does coordinate with the Pocket dies called Pocketful of Happiness.  Everything that I inked is from the Pocketful of Sunshine stamp set and cut out using the Pocket die with the exception of the sentiment and the sun.  I used the Stitched Rectangle dies to cut out the sentiment and the Stitched Shapes die to cut out the sun.

Here's how I made this card.

    1. Cut a 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Balmy Blue card base and score at 4-1/4".

    2. Cut a 4" x 5-1/4" Real Red layer and adhere it to the front of the Balmy Blue card base.

    3. Cut a 3-7/8" x 5-1/8" Whisper White layer and adhere it to the Real Red layer.

    4. Cut a pocket from the Balmy Blue striped design from the Come Sail Away DSP.

    5.  Stamp in Balmy Blue ink the stitched pocket outline from the Pocketful of Sunshine stamp set on to the pocket.

    6.  Use the 2nd to the largest Stitched Circle and cut a Crushed Curry half circle.  Adhere the half circle to the front of the Whisper White cs. 

    7.  Attach the pocket over the stitched circle.

    8.  Stamp the "rays" 3 times  using Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Crushed Curry card stock.  Cut out using the Pockets dies.

    9.  Use Multipurpose Liquid Glue and apply a thin line of glue where you want to place a ray.  Use the Take Your Pick tool to help pick up and place the rays.  Repeat until all the rays are adhered.

    10.  Stamp the sunglasses in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Daffodil Delight card stock.  Die cut using the Pockets die.  Attach to the pocket using Stampin' Dimensionals.

    11.  Cut a Real Red Stitched Rectangle and stamp the sentiment using Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  Attach to the pocket using Stampin' Dimensionals.

    12.  Embellish using rhinestones.

I hope you will join in the challenge.  I would love to see your project in the Festive Friday gallery, #FF0039!

Product List

Pocketful Of Sunshine Photopolymer Stamp Set [143719] $17.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982] $8.75	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75
Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131199] $8.75	Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119683] $8.75	Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper [149481] $11.50	Pocket Dies [143750] $25.00	Stitched Shapes Dies [145372] $30.00
Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $35.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

The Hanging Garden stamp set is one of my favorite stamp sets and it is on the Last Chance list!   I chose it to use for the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC559.

The Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #CCMC559 this week is a color challenge.

I used a mix of Stampin' Blends (Smoky Slate and Real Red) and Lemon Lime ink refill and Blender Pens to color in the images.  The baskets are not very big so the coloring process goes pretty quickly.  I particularly like how the succulents turned out in the succulents only basket.  

The sentiment is stamped on ovals cut using the Layered Oval Framelits.  The tiny butterflies were cut using Butterfly Beauty Thinlits dies.  

Hope you will check out what the rest of the design team created using these colors.  If you are a fan of Lemon Lime Twist, now is the time to order your ink refills, card stock and coordinating DSP.  

Product List

Hanging Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146239] $19.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Real Red Combo Pack Stampin' Blends [147935] $9.00	Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [145058] $9.00
Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [144092] $3.75	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $8.50	Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144245] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75
Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies [148536] $39.00	Blender Pens [102845] $12.00

It is time for me to say goodbye to the Graceful Garden stamp set.  It is on the retiring list and I am going to miss this beautiful rose.  

This lovely rose is a joy to color.  The petals are not very large so it doesn't take very long to do.  Here I used an Aqua Painter,  Berry Burst and Old Olive ink refills.  I inked the rose in VersaMark ink and then used white embossing powder and heat embossed it.  When I know I am going to be using an Aqua Painter and lots of water to color an image I use either Shimmery White card stock or Watercolor paper.  The water doesn't absorb as quickly on these papers allowing me to move the ink around.  

I used the Quilt Top embossing folder which is on the retiring list.  It reminded me of one of the stamp images in the Graceful Garden set and thought it  coordinated well.  I also used Berry Burst card stock and the Berry Burst 3/8" Metallic Edge Ribbon.  Berry Burst is one of the 2017-19 In Colors that is retiring.  The other colors that are retiring Powder Pink, Lemon Lime Twist, Tranquil Tide, and Fresh Fig.  Be sure to get your In Color ink refills, card stock and any retiring In Color items.  They always seem to sell out and once they are gone, they are gone.

Product List

Graceful Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143849] $19.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $9.00	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [144089] $3.75	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [100531] $3.75
Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144243] $8.50	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910] $9.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Quilt Top Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [144687] $8.50
Berry Burst 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic-Edge Ribbon [145489] $7.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $5.00

I am working my way through my stamp sets that will soon be retiring.  This stamp set, Oh So Eclectic makes the prettiest cards.  I am not sure I will be letting this one go.

I love the window cut out by the Eclectic Layers thinlits.  It is hard to see but I placed Sparkle Glimmer paper behind the cut outs to add some shine to the card. 

Don't you love the flowers?  These flowers are some of my favorites because they are different from the other flowers in my collection. I love the delicate outlines which are a snap to make using the Eclectic Layers thinlit dies. 

The only thing I used that was not in either the Oh So Eclectic stamp set or Eclectic Layers dies is the label I stamped the sentiment on.  The label is the Classic Label punch.  My original plan was to emboss the sentiment directly on the card but I got a little carried away arranging the flowers and the leaves.

If you are interested in the Oh So Eclectic stamp set and/or Eclectic Layers thinlits be sure to order them soon.  The items on the Retiring lists are only available while supplies last.

Product List

Oh So Eclectic Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143940] $23.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Powder Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147147] $7.50	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $7.50
Powder Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144244] $8.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Sparkle Glimmer Paper [146957] $5.00
Eclectic Layers Thinlits Dies [143774] $30.00	Classic Label Punch [141491] $18.00

It is a tough time of year in my craft room.  I have gone through my room and separated out the stamp sets and dies that are retiring.  I want to stamp with all of them before they retire on June 3rd.  I am not sure if I will accomplish this but I am going to try!

This week the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge is a sketch.  This sketch is another great one, so many possibilities.

I looked through my pile of retiring stamps and I didn't have to go very far before I found the set I wanted to use.  

I saw the branch and thought it would be a perfect for the horizontal line on the sketch and I saw the 2 circles as flowers. Do you see it too? From the Best Birds stamp set I stamped the branch, 2 flowers and the bird in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I used Stampin' Blends to color them and the Birds and Blooms Thinlits dies to cut them out.  The Whisper White circle is one of the dies in the Stitched Shapes framelits.  I wanted to soften it a bit so I lightly inked up the Crackle background stamp with Crumb Cake ink and placed the circle on the stamp and lightly tapped the back of the circle it to get an even more irregular crackle background.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP)  is from the 2019 Occasions catalog, Floral Romance Specialty DSP pack.  

Hope you enjoyed my take on the #CCMC558 challenge.  Be sure to check out what the other members of the design team created for this challenge.

Product List

Best Birds Photopolymer Stamp Set [141525] $21.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $7.50	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00
Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $9.00	Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [147272] $9.00	Pool Party Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144605] $9.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144603] $9.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.75	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $8.50	Floral Romance 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [148586] $14.00	Birds & Blooms Thinlits Dies [141477] $27.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00

Couldn't resist one last play with the Sharing Sweet Thoughts stamp set.

This stamp set is retiring and is the last of the Ronald McDonald House Charities stamp sets.  When you purchase this stamp set Stampin' Up! donates $3 to the RMHC.  Stampin' Up! has contributed over $1.5 million to the RMHC.