#inspirationmonday

IM131 – Jar of Flowers

July 6, 2020 By Connie | 1 Comment

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! This week’s inspiration is a row of mason jars filled with flowers!

Of course, Jar of Flowers Bundle immediately came to mind to use. I had a little trouble with the colors, but otherwise I think it came out pretty close to the photo! What do you think?

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Crumb Cake cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded to form the base card.
- A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Seaside Spray cardstock was added on top.
- A 1 x 5-1/4 strip of In Good Taste DSP was added across the bottom.
- The jar from Jar of Flowers was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Merry Merlot, Flirty Flamingo and Whisper White cardstock. The Whisper White was colored around the edges with the Light Seaside Spray Stampin’ Blends. They were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The rose bouquet from Jar of Flowers was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Whisper White twice, the colored with Rococo Rose Combo, Flirty Flamingo Combo, Light Cherry Cobbler, Petal Pink Combo, Old Olive Combo, Dark So Saffron and Light Seaside Spray Stampin’ Blends. Both bouquets were cut out by hand, and one was divided in half. They were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- A double strand of Linen Thread was tied in a bow and added to the center jar under the bouquet.
- Wink of Stella was added to the jars and flowers.
- Celebrate from Many Mates stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Seaside Spray cardstock, then cut with the Stitched So Sweetly Die.

Lots of coloring on this one…but sometimes that is really relaxing! OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

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The star-shaped Santa, Mrs. Claus, and gingerbread man images from Stampin' Up!'s SWEETEST STAR PUNCH BUNDLE are adorable to use on your holiday cards, tags and paper projects. They are a wonderful take on some classic Christmas icons. Show your creativity with your favorite coloring technique, punch out the plump star, and add a holly jolly sentiment! We've paired the SWEETEST STAR BUNDLE with the TAKE A BOW 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER for a fun holiday look. Our SWEETEST STAR COLLECTION includes step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...FOUR cards and TWO paper ornaments...perfect for teaching a class, giving as a gift, or for selling at craft shows! See more details HERE!

Aren't these just the CUTEST animal faces in Stampin' Up!'s CHRISTMAS FRIENDS STAMP SET? Pull out your coloring tools to bring these winter critters to life, or stamp them directly on colored cardstock, cut them out with the dies, and you're ready to go! There are gifts, ribbons, stars, a tree, word bubble, music notes and bowtie to further embellish them! We've paired the CHRISTMAS FRIENDS BUNDLE with the TAKE A BOW 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER that has fun, small Christmas prints. Our CHRISTMAS FRIENDS COLLECTION includes step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two fun favors...perfect for a little gift or for selling at craft shows! See more details here!

Create with Stamping Friends' next Collection features Stampin' Up!'s beautiful religious stamp set called SHEPHERD'S CARE that represents the story of the birth of Jesus. Build a scene by combining the watercolor inspired images with special coloring techniques for endless creative possibilities. We've paired the SHEPHERD'S CARE STAMP SET and the SEASON OF ELEGANCE SPECIALTY 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its rich gold foil accents. Our SHEPHERD'S CARE CARD COLLECTION includes step-by-step tutorials for SIX cards...four regular size and two larger 5x7 size to send to someone special for the holidays! See more details HERE!

IM127 – Forever Fern

June 8, 2020 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! This week’s inspiration is a lovely pillow! Of course, what set immediately comes to mind?

I just HAD to use my new Forever Fern Bundle on my card!

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Just Jade (new In Color!) cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
- A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Whisper White is added on front.
- The large fern in the back is cut from Pretty Peacock cardstock and the Gingko Leaves from Just Jade cardstock with the Forever Flourishing Dies and adhered with Tombow Glue.
- The other leaves were stamped with Pretty Peacock, Basic Gray, Granny Apple Green, cut with the dies, and layered on top with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The greeting from Forever Fern was stamped with Pretty Peacock Ink on 1/2 x 3 piece of Whisper White cardstock and end cut on the diagonal. It was added with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The flower was punched three times with the Medium Daisy Punch from Soft Sea Foam cardstock, sponged in the center with Pretty Peacock Ink, then layered together and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- A trio of crystal Flowers For Every Season Gems were added in the center and a trio of green ones in the background for a little bling.

This Forever Fern stamp set is one that is just hard to mess up no matter how you stamp and place the leaves! LOVE it! OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

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IM92 – Gather Together

October 7, 2019 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! We have a lovely glass fusion piece for our inspiration today!

I knew I wanted to use the Gather Together Bundle and it came out pretty much like I had in my head! I love the bright yellows!

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Gray Granite cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
- The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Gray Granite cardstock was stamped randomly with the large leaf in Gather Together with Gray Granite Ink.
- Some Crushed Curry Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon was wrapped around the layer and tied in a bow. (I love this ribbon!) The layer was added to the base card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The greeting from Gather Together was stamped with Gray Granite Ink on Whisper White and punched with the Everyday Label Punch, it was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The three sizes of embossed leaves from the Gathered Leaves Dies were cut from Pineapple Punch and Mango Medley cardstocks, then sponged with Mango Medley Ink. They are tucked around the greeting.
- To finish, a trio of the new Gold Glitter Enamel Dots (part of the Christmastime is Here Suite of products) was added in the background. LOVE them!

I love how this turned out! OK, make sure to check out what Mary did with this challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

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IM82 – Royal Peacock

July 29, 2019 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! Isn’t this tray of peacock cookies beautiful? I think so!

Of course, I had to use Royal Peacock stamp set for my card. I played off the white background on some of the cookies with just the feather image!

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Whisper White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
- On top is a 3-3/4 x 5 piece of Noble Peacock Designer Paper in the medallion pattern.
- Across the top of the DSP is a 1-1/4 x 3-3/4 piece of Old Olive Noble Peacock Foil Sheet.
- A 3″ length of 3/8″ Reversible Ribbon was added to the foil.
- The greeting from Royal Peacock was stamped with Bermuda Bay Ink on Whisper White and cut with the Stitched Shapes Circle. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The peacock feather was also cut from Whisper White and tucked beside the circle.
- Two Noble Peacock Rhinestones were added to the front.

This is really a pretty simple card, but the metallic finishes really make it POP! OK, make sure to check out what Mary did with this challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

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IM39 – Dashing Deer

September 24, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

I thought this was a very unusual inspiration piece and I struggled which way to go with it. I finally decided to use the colors, but ended up also using the stripes in a vertical rather than horizontal pattern.

I combined THREE different stamp sets…something that I normally do not do, but for this occasion it was just appropriate. The background trees are from Winter Woods…and I wanted the yellow look in the trees for fall. That dictated a “fall” greeting that I found in Falling For Leaves stamp set. I also had this deer from Dashing Deer already stamped and sitting on my desk that matched the color scheme. I wanted it to look less “Christmasy”, so I trimmed down the antlers a bit. So…that’s a look into how my mind works sometimes! lol!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Gray Granite (my favorite gray!) cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Shimmery White was stamped with the Winter Woods trees and Stazon Black Ink.
An AquaPainter and Crushed Curry Refill was swiped over the trees to give them a watercolor wash for fall.
A 1-1/2 x 5-1/4 piece of Gray Granite was torn across the top and used for the “ground”. Thankful from Falling for Leaves stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink.
The deer in Dashing Deer was stamped with Gray Granite and cut with the Detailed Deer Thinlits, the antlers were trimmed a little to make them shorter.
Basic Black twine was wrapped around the neck and tied in a bow. The deer was popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

i think this would make a great masculine card for fall birthdays…change out the greeting to a birthday one! OK…go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!

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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!

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IM31 – Dandelion Wishes

July 30, 2018 By Connie | 1 Comment

It’s time for another Create with Connie and Mary’s Inspiration Monday!!! I’m guessing that I know the direction Mary is going with this inspiration photo…it does remind me of Dandelion Wishes, so I had to use it on my card!

I love it with the Black/White/Gray combination! I actually pulled out my embossing powder and gun, too!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Smoky Slate cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 polka dot Neutrals Designer Paper was rounded corners on the right side, then added to a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Smoky Slate cardstock.
A piece of Black Shimmer Ribbon was wrapped around the front and adhered on the back.
The dandelion trio from Dandelion Wishes was inked with Versamark, then stamped on Basic Black cardstock and embossed with White Embossing Powder. It was cut with the largest Scalloped Layering Square and added on top with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Dandelion Wishes was stamped with Memento Black Ink in the lower right card. I love this font!

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!

IM30 – Rooted in Nature

July 23, 2018 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s time for another Create with Connie and Mary’s Inspiration Monday!!! I admit…this inspiration really stumped me. If I had the new Sea of Textures stamp set/Under the Sea Framelits, I would have gone with that…but, I had to be little more “creative” and think out of the box on this one. Not sure if I truly captured it, but it did inspire my card and I guess that is the most important point!

I used the Rooted in Nature stamp set mostly because this leaf reminded me of the inspiration piece, and I went with similar colors.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Gray Granite cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Tranquil Tide cardstock.
Three of the leaves were stamped with Tranquil Tide ink on Whisper White cardstock and cut with the Nature’s Roots Framelits.
The leaves were layered on the scallop squares from the Layering Squares Framelits, cut from Gray Granite cardstock and popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals on the front of a 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Whisper White cardstock.
The greeting from Rooted in Nature was stamped with Tranquil Tide at the bottom.
Two large Rhinestone Jewels were placed on each side of the greeting.

OK…so can you see where I was going with the inspiration photo? I hope so! Go check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Challenge this week over on Create with Connie and Mary!