Mary certainly put a lot of doodads on this sketch when she made it…but here is my card:

This is one of the new sets, Days of Gratitude, available in the new Stampin' Up! Holiday mini!  I love the stylized leaves in this set…and then I read the greeting!  What a NICE saying!  I think I'm going to really use this set a lot!  I started with a base card of Cajun Craze…I haven't used this color a lot yet, but with fall around the corner, I think it will become one of my standbys.  I then layered on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock that I had laying in my "starts" bin…it was already textured with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder.  It is spritzed with Gold Glow Smooch Spritz…so it has a little shimmer to it!  That was layered onto Old Olive cardstock and placed on the front. 

I cut into my new package of Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Paper…oh…I'd forgotten that it was cardstock weight!  PERFECT for making boxes!  I can't wait to use it some more.  I layered that onto more Cajun Craze cardstock.  I cut the 4 strips of the Old Olive medallion from the Autumn Spice DSP for a "ribbon" look going horizontally and vertically.

For the centerpiece, I stamped the greeting in Early Espresso Classic Ink on Very Vanilla and punched with the new Decorative Label punch.  I sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink.  I stamped the leaves in Cajun Craze, then did the Rock n Roll technique around the edges in Early Espresso for a two-toned look.  I cut them out and placed them with Stampin' Dimensionals on the side of the greeting.  I used my Early Espresso and Cajun Craze markers to ink up the acorn and stamped on Very Vanilla and cut them out.  They are also popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Finally, I added two Designer Buttons that were tied with Linen Thread along the bottom right side.

I LOVE how this turned out!  I hope you play along with the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge Team and upload your creation over on the Create website!  We love to see what you do with our challenges!  And…don't forget…check out our new look, too!

It's time for the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Edition!  It's an 8 week subscription featuring stamps and products from the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini.   There is a new project posted every day and an average of two fabulous tutorials a week.  NEW this year is a Project Sheet for every post!  Our site stays up long after the session is done, so you will always have access to the site and the tutorials. Preview week starts September 12th!  For more information, please visit at Create with Connie and Mary!

I had not seen them before, but they are actually cardstock wrapped around a sleeve of Mentos candy with a chocolate Hershey Kiss for the pencil lead end and a Rolo for the eraser.  She scored and sponged the edges to make it look like the sides of a pencil.  The Black Gingham Ribbon and greeting for the Tag Punch are retired, but way too cute!  I absolutely LOVE them!  These would make a fun "back to school" gift for the teacher or classmates! 

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Starts September 1st

On Sunday, I was joined by a great group of gals at our Convention Round Up Demo Meeting!  I always have fun at these and come away so inspired!  It is good to see everyone.  We also do a swap as part of our program and I came away with a lot of really awesome cards!  I'm glad I found the time to make some swaps!

Here is the card I made.  I went with a Halloween theme (of course!)  I used Dark & Dreary…one of the sets that is in the new Holiday Mini coming out on Wednesday!  I've been having a LOT of fun using it AND that new Spider Web Impressions Folder…what do you think about it?  OK, here are the deets!

The base card (cardfront since it was a swap), is Tangerine Tango.  I added a layer of Basic Black that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Spider Web Impressions Folder.  I then used my Sponge Dauber and highlighted parts of the web with Platinum Shimmer Paint to make it stand out.  On the right of the Tangerine Tango, I stamped Treat or Treat, Scary & Sweet from the Grateful Greetings Stamp set.  I love the variety of holiday greetings in this set!  Then I stamped the spider from Stampin' Up!'s Dark & Dreary set and filled in his body with Basic Black marker.  I also drew a line with the marker and a ruler from the top.  I stamped the crow from Dark & Dreary in Basic Black on Whisper White, cut him out and placed him with a Stampin' Dimensional.

For the focal piece, I stamped the candlelabra in Basic Gray on Whisper White and punched it with the new XL Decorative Label Punch (I'm going to ADORE that punch!), then layered it on Basic Black cardstock and then Basic Gray cardstock.   I colored the flames with Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker.  Then I stamped the Crow from Dark & Dreary in Basic Black on Whisper White and cut him out.  I placed him in front with a Stampin' Dimensional.  LOVE how that looks!

I was really happy with how my swap card turned out…even doing them LAST MINUTE before the meeting!  As I said, I was glad I found the time because I really did get some awesome swaps back!

I promised several people the template for the Bat Cone I made for the Tour de Freaks this month.  OK…here is the PDF for the Bat Cone treat favor!

BAT CONE

Hope you have a wonderful day!

And here is my card:

I started with Bashful Blue as my base card and ran the front thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.  I used Stampin' Up!'s Celebrations Designer Paper for a banner across the front, and layered it on Pacific Point cardstock.  I punched the top and bottom edge of the Pacific Point with the Eyelet Border Punch.  For the focal piece, I used Greeting Card Kids stamp set and stamped the little boy and girl on Whisper White oval from Ovals #2 die with Black Stazon and layered it on the Old Olive cardstock Oval.  I used my Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen to color them in.   I added a wire clip from the Clips Assortment and Pear Pizzazz Ribbon on the left.

For the greeting, I stamped Thinking of You from Teeny Tiny Wishes in Basic Black on Whisper White, punched with the Word Window and layered it on the Modern Label punch in Real Red, then the Scallop Oval punch in Pacific Point.  That was popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I added a clear Itty Bitty Button with the X punched from Old Olive along the right side of the greeting as a final touch.  I like how it turned out!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators to see what they have done with this sketch!  Play along and upload your creation over there, too!

This is a fun project that my Stamp Club made last night!  I've seen a lot of the Owl Bookmarks going around, but thought a Halloween one would be fun!

For the front…I took a 2 1/4 x 9 piece of Old Olive cardstock, folded it in half and placed in the Two Tag Die just below the cut line on the top of the tag…that way it doesn't cut thru and will remain folded to fit over the page.  I used the images from Stampin' Up!'s Wicked Cool stamp set…my favorite new Halloween set…can you tell?  I randomly stamped Spooky in the background with Basic Black ink.  On a piece of Whisper White, I stamped the witch hat and shoes in Basic Black.  I used Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers to color in the hat band and socks, then cut them out.  I punched a Scallop Circle from Rich Razzleberry and 1 3/8 circle from Wicked Fun Specialty DSP and adhered the shoes over top.  The hat was added with a Stampin' Dimensional.

On the back, I stamped Spooky randomly again in the background.  Punched another Rich Razzleberry Scallop Circle.  On Whisper White, I stamped the spiderweb in Basic Gray, then Have a Wicked Halloween in Basic Black over top.

Just slip the bookmark over your page to hold your place!  This makes a FUN little gift for a goblin in your life!  Unfortunately, it doesn't work on my Amazon Kindle!  lol!

And my card:

My card started with a base of Poppy Parade card stock.  I layered on Whisper White that I ran thru the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.  I added a Daffodil Delight piece in the center, then cut two lengths of Marina Mist card stock with my Dotted Ribbon Punch and lined them up across the bottom.  I placed a Red Designer Button, tied with Linen Thread thru the middle.

I used another Summer Mini stamp set, Stampin' Up!'s July Fourth, to show you that it is more than just a set for red/white/blue!  It makes a good birthday card, or Thank You card like I used it.  I stamped the large star three times, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist, then punched them out with the Large Star Punch.  I miss the Small Star Punch, but substituted the Stars Die…the smallest star is just a little bigger than the punch used to be!  The greeting is from A Word For You, and stamped on Marina Mist.  I used the NEW Decorative Label Punch to punch it out…hiding the bottom part of the greeting.

I think I came pretty close to the inspiration cake…what do you think?  Again, check out the rest of the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge Team!  I'm sure their ideas are fabulous!

All I can say is that you'd better grab this stamp set, Watercolor Trio, while you can!  It is NOT in the new catalog…I don't know why!  It is the BEST set to make quick and easy cards!  You can't mess up!  It is only available in the Summer Mini thru the end of August!  Yes…only 7 more days!

This card came together in less than 10 minutes…it actually took me longer to fiddle with the bow than it did to stamp and put the card together.  I used Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge TSSC136 to get me started.

Here's my card:

I knew I wanted to use Poppy Parade to give me a big POP of color on the flowers.  Of course, Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight just complement it beautifully!  I inked up the flower stamp with Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Markers and stamped three times.  I inked up the leaves with Pear Pizzazz and stamped a couple more images of it.  I ended up with a big vacant space in the upper right hand corner.  Woohoo!  Stampin' Up!'s new Word Play stamp set has BIG greetings…I love them!  I like this greeting…Imagine the Possibilities.  I layered the Whisper White cardstock on some Pear Pizzazz and pierced a row of holes across the top with my Piercing Tool and Mat.  Then I wrapped a big length of Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon around and tied with a bow.  That ribbon is just the NICEST ribbon to work with…it handles SO well!  Like I said…quick and easy…but a really NICE card!

Big day…lots to do, so I'd better get going.  Hope you have a wonderful day, too!

In the next picture is Candy our upline (my direct and Barbara two step up…or something…).  She was the one who WON the contest for BEST DRESSED Costume out of ALL the people there at Convention!  Oh my gosh…she was HILARIOUS!  I about wet my pants when I first saw her costume!  She is SUCH a riot!  I'd forgotten that I wanted to share this photo with all of you!  So…here is a blast from the past…my crazy flower child upline, Candy!

You can see that Convention is an awesome event!  I am SO glad that I decided to go at the last minute!  I've met so many wonderful friends thru my stamping business…I don't know what I'd do without them! 

So…I'm off to finish up my Control Freaks swaps for the Holiday Mini…hope to get a card done to show you tomorrow!  lol!

**Please note for the Nursery Suite Specialty paper – you will receive a quarter of each of the circle/square die-cut papers because they are not traditional sized pieces of designer paper.

Next round orders will be placed on Friday, August 27th, then subsequent orders placed when rounds are full.  Please allow 1 week for shipping, and then time for cutting and returning to you.  I get them out as soon as possible!

Select from the TWO options below:

Designer Series Paper Share

Only $25 per share plus $4.95 priority mail shipping!

Includes (6) 6×6" pieces of designer paper from each of the following designer paper packs (total 96 pieces):

• Presto Patterns Specialty
• Sweet & Sour Specialty
• Nursery Suite Specialty
• Wicked Fun Specialty
• Greenhouse Gala
• Woodland Walk
• Love Letter
• Celebrations
• Jolly Holiday
• Lap of Luxury
• Sunny Garden
• Blueberry Crisp
• Newsprint
• Elegant Soiree
• Build-A-Bear Workshop Pawsitively Prints II
• Play Date  

Patterns Paper Stack Share

Only $15 per share plus $4.95 priority mail shipping!

Includes (1) 6×6" piece of designer paper in each of two patterns, in every color (total 90 6×6"* sheets)

Here's my card:

I pulled out the Garden Green color from the Woodland Walk Designer Paper and used it for my base card.  I added a layer of Early Espresso card stock on top of that, then the Designer Paper.  I cut a piece of Early Espresso with the Dotted Ribbon Punch and placed along the right hand side.  I cut a circle shape with my Circle Scissors Tool from Crumb Cake, then ran it thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder. 

For the focal piece, I stamped the open branch pattern on Very Vanilla with Garden Green, then layered it on Early Espresso card stock.  I used my piercing tool and mat for the design in the upper right corner.  I distressed and sponged all the layers with more Early Espresso and the Cutter Kit Distressing Tool.  Finally, I stamped Thank You in Early Espresso and punched it with the Curly Label Punch.

Now…can someone tell me what set this Thank You sentiment belongs to???  It got separated from the rest of its family!  lol!  I know it is not Teeny Tiny Wishes…although very similar.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Stamping 411 Design Operators to see what they have done this week.  And…take a moment and design your own card from this sketch to play along!  We love seeing your creations!