#inkspiredtreasures

IM42 – Beautiful Blizzard

October 15, 2018 By Connie | 2 Comments

This week we are inspired by a beautiful woven tapestry! Love the patchwork background on this piece. Of course, the obvious choice would have been to use Dandelion Wishes stamp set…but I wanted to think outside the box a little on this one!

So I used the Beautiful Blizzard Bundle on mine! I love how this background turned out. Can you tell what stamp I used???

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Poppy Parade cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Gorgeous Grape cardstock.
A 3-3/4 x 55 layer of Whisper White is stamped with Season’s Greeting from Beautiful Blizzard stamp set in Memento Black Ink towards the bottom.
A 2-3/4 x 3-1/2 piece o Shimmer White cardstock is spritzed with water, then the “leaves” image from Sheltering Tree was stamped with Poppy Parade and Gorgeous Grape Inks. It was spritzed again with water to make sure they bled together. Let dry.
The snowflakes were cut from Gold Metallic Paper Blizzards Thinlits Die and adhered to the watercolored piece with Monoadhesive Glue.
A few of the Gold Faceted Gems were added to the centers of the larger snowflakes.

What do you think? Does it resemble the inspiration piece? I think so! And it turned out to be a really cool card that I can’t wait to give someone! OK…go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Take a trip to the shore for peace and tranquility when using Stampin' Up!'s new WATERSIDE RETREAT SUITE of products! The RELAXING WATERSIDE BUNDLE showcases a getaway at the lake with lounge chairs, coffee and books, birds and special greetings! We've combined the RELAXING WATERSIDE BUNDLE and the WATERSIDE RETREAT 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its sun-drenched faded colors and unique cut-out images or background scenes. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two fun favors for a special little gift this summer! See more details HERE!

Build your own custom paper floral arrangements using Stampin' Up!'s new FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE* of products! This FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE has a variety of flowers, stems, leaves and accents to mix and match and take the guesswork out of creating! We've combined the FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE and the gorgeous VELVET MEADOW 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its bold colors and soft flocking elements to enhance your cards and projects. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two special-fold cards that will make your friends and customers feel extra special. See more details HERE!

Be inspired by a trip to the coast when using Stampin' Up!'s new SUNSET COAST BUNDLE*. This Bundle features sailboats, a lighthouse, seashells and rock formations to build the perfect oceanfront adventure. We've combined the SUNSET COAST BUNDLE and the SCENIC COAST 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER with dramatic sunset colors and iridescent shimmer for your cards and projects. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two favor projects that are perfect for classes and stamp camps! See more details HERE!

Saturday Blog Hop – Spooky Halloween

October 13, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This week on Create with Connie and Mary our theme is Spooky Halloween!!! This year there really isn’t a what I’d call a spooky stamp set in the Holiday catalog, but I improvised by using one that is really a Christmas stamp set…Farmhouse Christmas! I love my spooky scene!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Basic Gray cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Smoky Slate was embossed with the Subtles embossing folder and sponged with Memento Black around the edges.
The two trees were cut from Basic Black with the Farmhouse Framelit Dies and placed towards the right side.
The moon is a 2″ circle punched from Crushed Curry cardstock and sponged with Pumpkin Pie Ink around the edges. The Happy Halloween from Spooky Sweets stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink. It was added to the left side.
The fence line was added along the bottom, cut from Basic Black with the Farmhouse Framelit Dies.
The bat was punched from Basic Black with the Spooky Bats punch and added to the moon with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.
The house from Farmhouse Christmas was stamped with Memento Black on Basic Gray cardstock, then colored with the Daffodil Delight and Black Stampin’ Blends. It was cut out with the Farmhouse Framelits and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Oh, I LOVE how this turned out…and happy that I can use this set for something OTHER than Christmas! It would also be perfect for a Welcome to the Neighborhood or moving card!

OK…continue on with the Create with Connie and Mary Blog Hop to see what the rest of the Design team has done with their Halloween Spooky challenge this week! Next up is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa’s fabulous card!

CCMC531 – Alpine Adventures

October 11, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Hello! It’s Thursday again! Doesn’t time FLY by when you are having fun! lol! It’s time or another Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge! It’s a wonderful color challenge this week. Our Challenge Team has come up with some FABULOUS ideas!

I used Alpine Adventures on my card this week. Kind of “out of the box” colors for a winter card, but I’m very happy with how it turned out!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Blackberry Bliss, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Mint Macaron was embossed with the Softly Falling Embossing Folder.
A 2 x 4-1/2 piece of Blackberry Bliss DSP from the Regals DSP pack was added on front.
A 1/4 x 4 piece of Silver Glimmer Paper was added to the DSP.
The snowshoes from Alpine Adventures stamp set were stamped with Blackberry Bliss on Crumb Cake cardstock and cut with the Alpine Sports Thinlits and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Let is Snow was stamped with Memento Black on Whisper White and cut with the oval from Alpine Sports Thinlits and popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two snowflakes were also cut from Whisper White with the Alpine Sports Thinlits and added to the front with Monoadhesive Glue.
The leaves were cut from Mint Macaron and adhered together, then tucked under the oval. A large Rhinestone jewel is the “berry”.
Finally, some Mint Macaron Nature’s Twine was tied in a bow and added to the snowshoes with a Mini Glue Dot.

OK…make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did for CCMC531 over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Saturday Blog Hop – Halloween Favor

October 6, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

This week on Create with Connie and Mary we made Halloween Favors! I always LOVE making little favors…one of the things that got me originally started with Stampin’ Up! This one is altered from the new Takeout Box Thinlits!

Stampin’ Details:

The little basket started with cutting out the Takeout Box from Night of Navy cardstock and assembling. The flaps with the slits in them were cut off.
On the score line from the shorter side flaps, a slit was cut into each side to slide the 1/2 x 5-1/2 handle of Night of Navy, then the flaps adhered to the side of the box with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A 3/4 x 3 piece of Neutrals DSP was added to the front of the box, then trimmed off even with the box.
The greeting Spooky Sweets from Spooky Sweets stamp set was stamped with Night of Navy Ink on Very Vanilla and punched with the 1-3/4″ Circle Punch.
The clouds from Spooky Sweets were stamped off with Balmy Blue Ink and then sponged around the edges of the circle for my “blue moon”. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The bats were punched from Silver Glimmer Paper with the Spooky Bats Punch and added with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Black Glitter Ribbon was tied in a bow on the handle.
Add some candy and you are good to go!

Isn’t that a fun use of the Takeout Box Thinlits? I like creating different versions of them to get more uses! OK…continue on with the Create with Connie and Mary Blog Hop to see what the rest of the Design team has done with their Halloween Favor challenge this week! Next up is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa’s fabulous card!

CCMC530 – So Santa

October 4, 2018 By Connie | 2 Comments

I’m running late getting my post up and ready for tomorrow, so this will be short and sweet! Where has the week gone? The Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge is a fun sketch! Check it out!

Here’s what I did! My So Santa stamp set JUST arrived and I had to use it!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Poppy Parade, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Smoky Slate cardstock.
The 2-3/4 x 4 piece of Whisper White is stamped in Memento Ink with the cooking Santa in So Santa stamp set and colored with Poppy Parade, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray and Ivory Stampin’ Blends.
The greeting is stamped with Memento Black Ink.
The holly was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Old Olive and Poppy Parade Blends, then one was cut out and used next to the greeting.
The Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes in green and red dots were added to the front.
Two 3/4 x 3-1/2 strips of Santa’s Workshop Specialty Designer Paper were added under the Whisper White, then the element added to the front of the card.

SOOOOOO sweet and cute! I love this little set!!! I’m so glad I got it! OK…head on over to Create with Connie and Mary to see what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week with the sketch! And…welcome back to one of our previous Challenge Team Members, Lisa Martz! We know you love her work!

IM40 – Spirited Snowman

October 1, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

What a fun inspiration piece this week! My mind went in several different directions…in fact Mary’s card is one thing I had thought about doing! Funny how our minds think alike some times. But, I decided to use Spirited Snowman for my card.

Here’s what I came up with using an old technique using Stampin’ Up! Markers and a large Acrylic Block.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Whisper White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Blueberry Bushel cardstock was layered on top.
On the 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Whisper White, a watercolor background was created using Mango Melody, Bermuda Bay and Blueberry Bushel Markers. I scribbled the markers on a large acrylic block, making sure to leave a little space between each color. I spritzed it with water, and then laid the block color side down on the Whisper White cardstock, allowing it to soak in a little. I love the watery look it gives! Let dry.
The Spirited Snowman was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with the Mango Melody, Bermuda Bay and Night of Navy Light Stampin’ Blends. He was cut out and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Three of the Santa’s Workshop Enamel Shapes were added to the top above the snowman.
Winter Cheer from Spirited Snowman was stamped with Memento Black Ink.

LOVE how this turned out!!! That background is SO cool! I may make a few more of these for those “special people” at Christmas! OK…go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

CCMC Saturday Blog Hop – Cute Halloween card

September 29, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

This week on Create with Connie and Mary we made Cute or Sweet Halloween Cards. Halloween doesn’t HAVE to be spooky! Stampin’ Up! has a really cute set, Trick or Tweet, that is perfect for this theme! And that little bird ghost is just about as sweet as you can get! We made this card at my recent Holiday Catalog Launch.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Lemon Lime Twist cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 3-3/4 x 4-3/4 piece of Gorgeous Grape cardstock that has been run thru the Corrugated Embossing Folder. TIP: Make sure to dampen your cardstock first so it doesn’t tear. Adhere to the front.
A 3/4 x 4-1/4 strip of Toil and Trouble DSP was added across the front.
The “moon” is a 2-1/4″ Circle punched from Crushed Curry cardstock and sponged with Pumpkin Pie Ink and adhered to the front.
The bird/ghost and pumpkin bag from Trick or Tweet is stamped with Memento Black on Whisper White, colored with markers, then hand-cut and adhered to the moon with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A 1/8 x 3-1/4 strip of Silver Glimmer Paper is added as a “ground” under the bird.
Trick or Tweet was stamped on the moon with Memento Black Ink.
The bat was punched with Spooky Bats Punch from Basic Black cardstock and added with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.
A couple Rhinestone jewels were added to the bat, moon and background for a little bling.

Now…isn’t that a CUTE Halloween card? I think so! OK…continue on with the Create with Connie and Mary Blog Hop to see what the rest of the Design team has done with their Hello to Fall challenge this week! Next up is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa’s fabulous card!

CCMC529 Bouquet Blooms

September 27, 2018 By Connie | 2 Comments

Another Thursday and time for the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge! We have a fabulous color combination for you to try this week!

My Bouquet Blooms hadn’t seen much love, so decided to use it on today’s card. It really is pretty striking!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Highland Heather, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
On the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Gray Granite, a 1-1/2 x 4 piece of Subtles Designer Paper in the Highland Heather color is added to the bottom.
A piece of Blueberry Bushel 1/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon is added across the seam and adhered in back.
The circle/wreath image was stamped with Blueberry Bushel Ink at the top and Happy For You in the center off to the right side.
The large flowers were stamped with Highland Heather, the small flowers with Blueberry Bushel Ink and leaves with Gray Granite Ink on Whisper White cardstock. The flowers were cut with the Gatefold Blossoms Thinlits and the leaves were handcut. They were adhered around the side of the wreath with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Large Pearls were added to the large flowers and smaller pearls to the smaller flowers for a little bling.

OK…make sure to check out the rest of the Challenge Team and their creations over on Create with Connie and Mary this week! FABULOUS as always!