Lighting the Way

CS101 – Lighting the Way

August 8, 2023 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to Create with Connie and Mary’s Creatively Simple Challenge! Each month Mary and I will pick a theme. This month the theme is Summer Fun!

LIGHTING THE WAY

I have noticed quite a few lightning bugs in the woods behind our house this year! I was excited to see them…they are always a great sign of summer. I remember chasing after them as a kid! I’ve used Stampin’ Up!’s Lighting the Way Bundle to create today’s card!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Orchid Oasis cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 3-3/4 x 5 piece of Orchid Oasis cardstock is blended with Starry Sky Ink across the top and Garden Green Ink across the bottom using Blending Brushes. The grass stamp was stamped multiple times across the bottom using Garden Green Ink.
The stars were stamped using the dots stamp in Artistically Inked Stamp Set (but any dot cluster would work) using White Craft Ink. More Starry Sky Ink was blended over top of the “stars” to mute the color.
A 1-1/4 x 3-3/4 strip of Daffodil Delight cardstock was stamped with the greeting from Lighting the Way in Starry Sky Ink and adhered to the front.
Three of the lightning bugs were cut from Basic Black, Daffodil Delight and wings from Vellum Cardstock using the Lighting the Way Dies. They were adhered together. Before placing them on the front of the card, so Daffodil Delight Ink was sponged where they would be placed as the glow of the light.
A trio of Rhinestone Jewels were added to the background for twinkle stars.

LOVE how this turned out! The dies made it easy to come together! Make sure to check out Mary’s Creatively Simple card over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lighting the Way, Artistically Inked
Inks: Starry Sky, Garden Green, Daffodil Delight
Cardstock: Orchid Oasis, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Vellum Cardstock
Accessories: Lighting the Way Dies, Rhinestone Jewels, Blending Brushes, Adhesives

Use HOST CODE: NGDW6GPR

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!

Saturday Blog Hop – Summer Lovin’

June 17, 2023 By Connie | 2 Comments

Welcome back to our Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop! This week’s theme is “Summer Lovin”. What does summer mean to you? I think of warm days and nights and the fireflies that shine in the woods behind our house! I pulled out my Lighting the Way set to represent what I was thinking! I LOVE summer!

LIGHTING THE WAY

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pool Party cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
Two 1-1/4 x 5-1/4 strips of Earthen Elegance DSP were added to each side on the front.
The 3 x 5-1/4 piece of Basic White was stamped across the top with the tree branches several times in Garden Green and Lemon Lime Twist Inks.
The top of the background was sponged with Pool Party Ink around the leaves.
Another branch was stamped with Garden Green Ink on Lemon Lime Twist cardstock and cut with the Lighting the Way Dies. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The lantern was cut from Copper Clay cardstock and trimmed along the bottom and top to make it shorter. It was put in place temporarily, then the light dot stamped with Daffodil Delight Ink and sponged around with Lemon Lolly Ink for the glow. The lantern was added with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Linen Thread was tied thru the handle of the lantern and around the branch, then tied in a bow.
The small flower from Petal Park Builder Punch was punched from Lemon Lolly cardstock and colored in the center with Daffodil Delight Blends. It was added with Stampin’ Dimensionals. A yellow In Color Glossy Dot was added to the center.
The firefly was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Daffodil Delight Blends.
The greeting was stamped along the bottom with Garden Green Ink. Then the Basic White panel added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Yes! It came out like I pictured in my head! OK, next up on our blog hop is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa Davies’ fabulous project and see what everyone did with this challenge!

SUPPLIES:
Stamp Sets: Lighting the Way
Inks: Pool Party, Garden Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight
Blends: Daffodil Delight
C/S: Basic White, Pool Party, Copper Clay, Lemon Lolly, Lemon Lime Twist, Earthen Elegance DSP
Accessories: Lighting the Way Dies, Petal Park Builder Punch, In Color Glossy Dots, Linen Thread, Adhesives

Use HOST CODE: NGDW6GPR

IM276 – Lighting the Way

April 17, 2023 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome back to our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenges. Isn’t this a cheerful firefly quilt to inspire you?

LIGHTING THE WAY

The fireflies are just too cute in the Lighting the Way Bundle…there are a variety of different sizes! I used the largest firefly dies to create my card for today! I also discovered a cool look completely by accident using the Radiant Stitches Die! Doesn’t it look like fringe around the edges?

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Basic White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
- The 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock was embossed with the crosshatch Basics 3D Embossing Folder, then it was cut with the Largest Radiating Stitches Die.
- I trimmed along each of the edges of the Bermuda Bay cardstock until it cut into the cut areas of the die, finished size is approx. 3-1/2 x 5. This allowed me to fringe the edges by running my fingernail along the edge.
- A 1/4 x 3-1/4 strip of Basic Black cardstock was added to the front with a 3/4 x 2-1/2 piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock added on top.
- Follow your Dreams from Lighting the Way stamp set was stamped with Bermuda Bay Ink on scrap Basic White cardstock, then cut with the larger circle Radiating Stitches Die. it was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The firefly bodies were cut from Basic Black, the wings from Basic White and the underbody from Daffodil Delight. All were assembled using Monoadhesive glue. They were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals!

I debated on adding some jewels but didn’t feel it really needed any! OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Lighting the Way
Inks: Bermuda Bay
Cardstock: Basic White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Lighting the Way Dies, Radiating Stitches Dies, Basics 3D (crosshatch) Embossing Folder, Adhesives

Use HOST CODE: NGDW6GPR

Control Freaks Blog Hop – February 2023

February 19, 2023 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to the monthly Tour de Freaks, brought to you by the Control Freak Swappers! Wow! It has been FOREVER since I participated with the Control Freaks blog hop! The theme this month is “Spread Love”! You’ve probably just come from Bree Renwick! Doesn’t she do wonderful work? Just click on the link below to take you around the entire blog hop for some GREAT inspiration!

LIGHTING THE WAY

I didn’t get a chance to share the Valentine I made my one grandson because I didn’t want him to see it before he got it! But I think this would be perfect for an anniversary/just because card for a camping lover!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Sweet Sorbet cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 1 x 3-3/4 piece of Country Floral Lane DSP was added to the bottom of a 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Basic White cardstock.
The branch from Lighting the Way was stamped with Garden Green Ink in the upper right corner.
The lantern was cut from Soft Suede cardstock with the Lighting the Way Die. Before adhering, the heart from Country Bouquet was stamped with Sweet Sorbet Ink where the lantern globe would be. The lantern was popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two bees were stamped with Memento Black Ink in the background and colored with Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends.
Be My Valentine from Share a Milkshake was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Sweet Sorbet and punched with the Double Oval Punch. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I think this card shares the love, don’t you? I love how it turned out and my grandson did, too! OK…next up on this short Control Freaks Blog Hop is the fabulous Wendy Weixler! I know you’ll enjoy her projects, too! She does BEAUTIFUL work!

Supplies:

Stamps: Lighting the Way, Share a Milkshake, Country Bouquet
Inks: Sweet Sorbet, Memento Black, Garden Green
Blends: Daffodil Delight
Cardstock: Sweet Sorbet, Basic White, Soft Suede, Country Floral Lane DSP
Accessories: Lighting the Way Dies, Double Oval Punch, Adhesives

Use HOST CODE: NGDW6GPR

IM266 – Lighting the Way

February 6, 2023 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome back to our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenges. How about a fun decorated lantern for your inspiration this week?

LIGHTING THE WAY

I must admit that I ordered this set JUST for the lantern! Of course, the rest of the images and dies are cute, too…but the lantern just caught my eye first!

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Mango Melody cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
- A 1-1/2 x 4 piece of Regency Park DSP is added to the bottom of a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Gray Granite cardstock.
- Some Black/White Gingham Ribbon is wrapped around and tied in a bow on the front.
- The greeting from Lighting the Way is stamped with Memento Black Ink on a 1/2 x 3-1/2 piece of Basic White and the end cut at an angle. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The lantern was cut with the Lighting the Way Dies.
- Before adhering the lantern, the light was stamped with Melody Mango Ink in the background of the Gray Granite layer.
- The lantern was placed on top with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The daisy was cut from Mango Melody cardstock, the leaf clusters from Old Olive cardstock, and the center with Basic White cardstock using the Around the Bend Dies. They were added to the top of the lantern with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The two bees were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White, the ends colored with the Mango Melody Marker., and cut with the Lighting the Way Dies. They were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Iridescent Rhinestones were used for the center of the flower and two in the background.

My one family of grandkids love to camp, so I can see sending off a card to them using this set! OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

SUPPLIES:

Stamps: Lighting the Way
Inks: Memento Black, Mango Melody, Mango Melody Marker

Cardstock: Mango Melody, Gray Granite, Basic White
Accessories: Lighting the Way Dies, Around the Bend Dies, Iridescent Rhinestones, Adhesives