#inkspiredtreasures

CCMC524 – Spirited Snowmen

August 23, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Wow…another Thursday has rolled around and it’s time for a Create with Connie and Mary Challenge! Love the sketch this week…and the Spirited Snowmen Stamp Set in the Holiday Catalog is one of my favorites!!! For this card, I’ve paired him with the Twinkle Twinkle Designer Paper in the Annual Catalog!

Although I’m DEFINITELY not wishing my summer away and wishing for snow, here’s my card:

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Balmy Blue cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is 3-3/4 x 5 piece of Twinkle Twinkle Designer Paper in the star pattern.
Across the front is 1-1/2 x 5-1/2 strip of the striped pattern in Twinkle Twinkle DSP…I picked my colors from this strip!
Two strips of Silver Glimmer paper 1/4 x 4-1/2 were crossed on the front.
The snowman image from Spirited Snowman stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Whisper White, then colored with the Mint Macaron, Petal Pink, Pool Party, Crumb Cake and Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends or Markers. The image is cut with the Layering Circles Framelits, then layered on a scallop Layering Circle cut from Balmy Blue cardstock. The layered circles were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Winter Cheer, also from Spirited Snowman stamp set, was stamped with Memento Black Ink on scrap Petal Pink cardstock, then cut with the smallest Layering Circle Framelit and added with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

Isn’t he a sweet snowman??? I’m excited to design my Christmas card this year using that stamp set! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary using our fun sketch!

Create the feel of a nature walk through the winter woods with Stampin' Up! FROSTED PINECONES BUNDLE! Stamp the pinecone and then add textured details using the FROSTED PINECONES DECORATIVE MASKS or cut the detailed shapes with the FROSTED PINECONES DIES. Add one of the heartfelt winter sentiments to finish it off. We've paired the FROSTED PINECONES BUNDLE with the WHISPERING WOODS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER. Our FROSTED PINECONES COLLECTION gives you step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO small decor ideas for a total of SIX tutorials, all full of seasonal charm. See more details HERE!

Boo! October brings Halloween and the playful images in Stampin' Up!'s WEB OF FUN BUNDLE will create a little spooky fun on your cards, paper crafts, and scrapbook pages! The large greetings and detailed spiders and webs will fill your project space with eerie delights! We've paired the WEB OF FUN BUNDLE with the FRIGHTENING FUN 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER containing even more Halloween patterns and designs! Our WEB OF FUN COLLECTION gives you step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO favor ideas for a total of SIX tutorials, all full of festive Halloween charm. See more details HERE!

The playful critters in Stampin' Up!'s CHRISTMAS CREW BUNDLE will certainly brighten your day! Stamp and cut out the whimsical bear, snowman or reindeer, stamp a holiday greeting on their sign, then add finishing touches with the candy canes, Santa beard, evergreen trees and more! This CHRISTMAS CREW BUNDLE will give you fun tools to create festive holiday cards and tags. We've combined the CHRISTMAS CREW BUNDLE with the classic colors and patterns in the TIMELESS CHRISTMAS 12 X 12 DESIGNER PAPER! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO Advent Treat Box ideas for a total of 6 tutorials, all full of handmade charm. See more details HERE!

August 2018 Alaska Achievers Blog Hop

August 21, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

I’m happy to be able to play along again this month with the Alaska Achievers Monthly Blog Hop! This blog hop is for those of us who have earned the Stampin’ Up! Alaska Incentive trip we went to in July! Wow! What a FABULOUS trip…Stampin’ Up! really does a wonderful job treating their Incentive Trip earners! I’m very blessed with my team and my customers to earn it every year. I’ve included just a FEW of the hundreds of pictures I took. We had BEAUTIFUL weather both weeks we were there!

Our theme this month is Holiday Catalog products…we received MANY new Holiday Catalog products on the trip! You are at my blog, Connie Babbert, and you’ll continue around the blog hop by clicking on the link under my name in the bottom list. I’m in the USA, so if you need any of the products I used, please contact me!

Stampin’ Details:

Base is 4-1/4 x 8-1/2 Pool Party Cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 3-7/8 x 5-1/8 layer of Poppy Parade cardstock.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Whisper White cardstock was embossed with the Curls & Swirls Embossing Folder.
An extra 1-3/4 x 3-3/4 piece of Whisper White was torn across the top and then stamped with the Dashing Deer greeting in Poppy Parade, then added over the swirls background with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The deer from Dashing Deer stamp set were stamped with Soft Suede and cut with the Detailed Deer Thinlit Dies and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A few “snowflakes” were cut from Pool Party cardstock with the Detailed Deer Thinlit and added to the background with Mini Glue Dots. A small Rhinestone jewel is in the center.

The Take-Out Box was cut from Pool Party cardstock and decorated the same as the card to have a matching treat box! Here’s a closeup of the top.

A few pictures in Alaska! I HIGHLY recommend visiting Alaska if you can. This was our second trip and we LOVE it, even though we both are more warm weather/beach vacationers! Of course, temps were in the 80s most of the trip, so it was warm!

Welcome to Yukon sign

Emerald Lake in the Yukon

Endicott Arm on the way to Dawe’s Glacier

Dawe’s Glacier

Whale Watching

OK…continue on the Alaska Achievers August 2018 blog hop by clicking under my name, Connie Babbert, on the list below! I’m sure they will have some fabulous creative projects to show you, too! And, visit my ONLINE STORE to order any of the products used! I’m happy to have you as my customer if you don’t already have a demonstrator!

IM34 – Country Home

August 20, 2018 By Connie | 2 Comments

Don’t you LOVE today’s Inspiration Challenge photo! I’d love to have a coordinating set of bags in these fabrics! So fun looking! I was inspired by the colors and pulled out my new Country Home stamp set to use! It is available in the Holiday Catalog coming September 5th! But, make sure you grab that Label from the Blended Seasons Framelit set before it goes away at the end of August!!!

Here’s what I came up with:

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Coastal Cabana cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Crumb Cake cardstock has been embossed with the new Tin Tile Dynamic Embossing Folder (also available 9/5/18!)
A 1-1/4 x 4 piece of Calypso Coral cardstock has been added across the front with a 1/4 x 4 piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock on top.
The Blended Seasons label was cut from Whisper White and stamped at the top with the floral arrangement in Memento Black Ink. It is colored with Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Old Olive Stampin’ Blends.
The can was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and hand-cut out, then added to the label with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Hello was stamped inside the oval image with Memento Black Ink, too.
A bow was tied from Silver & Pool Party Baker’s Twine and added to the bouquet with a Mini Glue Dot.

Love, love, LOVE this card! What a great inspiration photo! Go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Control Freaks Blog Hop August 2018

August 19, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

Hi! Welcome to the monthly Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! This month our theme is WHAT’S UP DUDE…masculine cards! You’ve probably just come from my friend, Debbie Henderson’s blog…love her projects, don’t you? Just click on the link below to take you around the entire blog hop for some GREAT inspiration!

Country Road

I think most of us struggle with masculine cards, don’t you? Give me a flower set and I will go to town creating…but more masculine sets take a little more thought process! So, I purchased this stamp set, Country Road, specifically with masculine cards in mind! I made this card for one of the New Catalog Swaps that I participated in.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Early Espresso cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Very Vanilla cardstock, a 1-1/2 x 5-1/4 strip of Merry Merlot cardstock was placed across the center.
The country star was stamped with Early Espresso on the Merry Merlot cardstock towards the right side.
The greeting from Country Road was stamped with Early Espresso Ink below the Merry Merlot strip.
On the 2-3/4 x 3-3/4 piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, a piece of Wood Textures Designer Paper was angle cut to look like a “roof line” on the bottom.
The horse weather vane was stamped with Early Espresso Ink above the “roof”
The edges of the Crumb Cake piece were sponged with Early Espresso Ink and the piece popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A Gold Metallic Pearl was added to the center of the country star.

Here’s a closeup of the card:

My second card uses some lighter colors, but still has a masculine vibe to it.

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Balmy Blue cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded to form the base card.
A 3-7/8 x 5-1/8 layer of Poppy Parade cardstock was placed on top.
On the 3-3/4 x 5 piece of Whisper White cardstock, the branch image was stamped diagonally across the bottom with Poppy Parade Ink.
The speckle image from Timeless Textures was stamped randomly (diagonally) with Balmy Blue Ink in the background.
The greeting was stamped with Early Espresso Ink.
The Wagon Wheel was stamped with Early Espresso Ink on Crumb Cake cardstock. Sponged with Crumb Cake Ink and hand cut and trimmed across the bottom, then added to the front.

Here’s a closeup…love these colors for a masculine card!

Hope you liked my masculine cards and can use them for inspiration! OK…next up on the Control Freaks Blog Hop is another good friend, Melissa Davies! I love her work, so I know you’ll enjoy her projects, too!

CCMC Saturday Blog Hop – Black or White

August 18, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This month Create with Connie and Mary is featuring “music in the 90s” themes!!! So, one of the songs that popped into my head was Michael’s Jackson’s Black or White. They still play that song a lot on the channel I listen to! So, our Design Team was challenged with cards that are black or white, or a combination of both…but NO color! I was struggling with what to do when I saw this new bat stamp from Spooky Sweets stamp set sitting on my desk…voila! I’m still waiting on my bat punch to get here…can’t believe I forgot to order the bundle instead of just the stamp set!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Thick Whisper White cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic Black Cardstock.
On the 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Whisper White, the bats from Spooky Sweets stamp set were stamped with Memento Black Ink randomly in the background.
The Black Shimmer Ribbon was added to the front and adhered in the back.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink on scrap Whisper White cardstock, then cut with the Layering Circles Framelits and matted on a scallop circle of Basic Black cardstock. It is popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two small black Faceted Dots were added next to the greeting for a little bling.

SOOO fun isn’t it…love that Spooky Sweets stamp set! Make sure to check out the rest of the Design Team’s creations and THEIR “Black or White” card by continuing on with the blog hop…they will have some wonderful ideas! Next up is our Create with Connie & Mary website and then Mary Brown and her creative design!

CCMC523 – Falling Flowers

August 16, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

It’s Thursday and time for another Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge! We have a beautiful summer color combination for you today to try using THREE new colors! These are there of my favorites!

Here’s my card using an old favorite floral set, Falling Flowers!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Shaded Spruce cardstock, folded at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 1 x 4 piece of Mango Melody Brights DSP was added to the right side of a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Whisper White.
The leaves image was stamped twice with Memento Black Ink and the Whisper White and then colored with the Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Blends.
The flower was stamped twice with Memento Black Ink on scrap Whisper White, then colored with the Pineapple Punch and Mango Melody Stampin’ Blends. One was cut with the May Flowers Framelits. The second flower center portion was hand-cut and added on top with a Stampin’ Dimensional for some layers to the flower. It was added over the leaves with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The filler vines were stamped with Mango Melody Ink on Mango Melody cardstock, then cut with the May Flowers Framelits and tucked under the flower.
You’re the Best from All Things Thanks was stamped with Memento Black Ink.
A trio of Basic Adhesive Backed Sequins was added to the front for a little bling!

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did over on Create with Connie and Mary with this color challenge! Some fabulous ideas like usual!

IM33 – Colorful Seasons

August 13, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Today’s inspiration challenge is very interesting collection of pottery. I could see lots of geometric designs and leaves and I love the brown/rust colors. I went with a little of everything on my card using Colorful Seasons stamp set and Seasonal Layers Thinlits!

Here’s what I came up with:

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Early Espresso cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 3/4 x 5-1/4 strip of Neutrals Designer Paper was added to the left side of the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Whisper White cardstock, then adhered to the base card.
The open leaf pattern from Colorful Seasons was stamped twice with Early Espresso Ink in the background on the Whisper White layer.
An open leaf was cut from Cajun Craze cardstock with the Seasonal Layers Thinlits, then the solid leaf cut from Early Espresso cardstock. Both were adhered together with a Mini Glue Dot.
Some natural Nature’s Twine was wrapped around the stems and tied in a bow. The leaves were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Colorful Seasons stamp set was stamped with Cajun Craze above the leaves.

That’s it! I think it is pretty close to the inspiration photo, don’t you? Go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

CCMC Saturday Blog Hop – I Believe I Can Fly

August 11, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This month Create with Connie and Mary is featuring “music in the 90s” themes!!! One of the songs I remember hearing a LOT was “I Believe I Can Fly”…can you hear it in your mind now? So, our Design Team was challenge with cards that have birds, bugs or other flying elements! So…I went with BUTTERFLIES! Did you know there is a butterfly in the Pop of Petals stamp set?

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Thick Whisper White cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 1-1/2 x 5-1/4 piece of Brights Designer Paper was added to the bottom of the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Gorgeous Grape cardstock.
The butterflies were stamped with Memento Black three times across the front of the 2 x 5-1/4 strip of Whisper White, then the “flowers” were stamped with Pineapple Punch, Gorgeous Grape and Granny Apple Green, then punched with the Four Petal Punch and adhere on top of the butterflies.
A string of 4 small pearls were placed down the center of the butterflies for their bodies.
A 1/2 x 5-1/4 piece of Basic Black Cardstock was adhered under the Whisper White cardstock, then added to the front of the card.
It’s Your Day from Happy Birthday Gorgeous was stamped with Memento Black Ink across the top right corner.

LOVE the bright colors of my butterflies! Make sure to check out the rest of the Design Team’s creations and THEIR “I Believe I Can Fly” card by continuing on with the blog hop…they will have some wonderful ideas! Next up is our Create with Connie & Mary website and then Mary Brown and her creative design!