Spotlight on Nature

CS194 – Spotlight on Nature

May 20, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

We are continuing with our Creatively Simple Watercolor Challenge again this week!

SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE

So far, I’ve done three different watercoloring techniques for this monthly theme…make sure to check out the past two Tuesday Creatively Simple cards if you missed them. This time I used reinkers with a sheet of Acetate and Watercolor Paper!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Calypso Coral cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Old Olive cardstock was added on top.
To make the background, I place 2-3 drops of Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green reinkers on a sheet of Acetate (use the piece that comes with new stamps!) and spritzed water on them. Then placed the 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Watercolor Paper face down quickly onto the wet acetate to pick up the color. Let dry and then add it to the front at a slight angle.
A drop of Memento Black Ink was placed on the acetate and water added, then flicked speckles on the front with the Water Painter.
A 3/4 x 2-3/4 piece of Celebratory Sips Designer Paper was added to the front with a 1/4 x 2-1/2 piece of Flirty Flamingo cardstock under it with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some White Baker’s Twine was wrapped in a circle a couple times and added to the DSP with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
Thanks was stamped on a 1/2 x 1-1/2 piece of Basic White cardstock and cut at an angle and placed over the Baker’s Twine.

Another quick card that has lots of watercoloring fun! OK, check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Spotlight on Nature
Inks: Memento Black
Reinkers: Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, Memento Black
Cardstock: Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Flirty Flamingo, Basic White, Watercolor Paper
Designer Paper: Celebratory Sips 12×12
Accessories: Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack, Water Painter, Adhesives

Hurray for spring! You can celebrate with Stampin' Up!'s new SPRINGTIME SCENES BUNDLE by stamping ladybugs, leaves and flowers on your paper projects in a rainbow of colors! The circle borders and cheerful sentiments add just the right touch of whimsy! We've combined the SPRINGTIME SCENES BUNDLE and the DELICATE DREAMS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER that will give your projects a hint of bronze foil shine! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...4 regular cards and 2 small home decor projects great for stamp camps or retreats! See more details HERE!

How fun is Stampin' Up!'s new EASTER BASKET BUNDLE that allows you to weave your own paper Easter baskets in the colors and styles you choose? Then add one of the whimsical bunnies, chicks or Easter eggs and a cheerful greeting to further personalize your springtime creation! We've combined the EASTER BASKET BUNDLE and the EASTER JOY 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER that will give your projects a hint of metallic foil shine! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...4 regular cards and 2 darling Easter Favors for your table or to give to family or friends! See more details HERE!

Stampin' Up!'s SWEET BUGS BUNDLE showcases a sweet selection of garden critters helping to capture the joy of relaxing in the garden! Stamp the caterpillars, ladybugs, bees and others, then add mushrooms, flowers and garden touches to finish your creation. We've combined the SWEET BUGS BUNDLE and the CUTE AS A BUG 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER featuring even more images to cut out and use! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...4 regular cards and, 2 ENHANCED fun fold cards...to get you creating! See more details HERE

CSF Saturday Blog Hop – Pleated Paper

September 7, 2024 By Connie | 2 Comments

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. During the month of September, we are focusing on some techniques! First up is the Pleated Paper Technique! There are several different types of pleated paper techniques. I recreated one that I made a LONG time ago and updated it using new products!

SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE

For this pleated paper technique, it is helpful to have a more solid/small print back with a larger print on the front! I’ve used the Wildly Flowering 12×12 Designer Paper for mine.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Boho Blue cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded. Set aside.
Cut a 4 x 11-1/2 piece of Wildly Flowering Designer Paper and score at 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10.
Along the bottom, cut diagonally starting at the 3″ score mark until approx. 1-3/4″ down on the side.

Starting at the 3″ with a valley fold, then mountain fold, alternating until the end. Press in the score lines.
Adhere the pleats down approximately 3/4″ from top completely across.
Some 1/4″ White Diagonal Trim Ribbon was added across the front and the ends secured on the back. The pleated piece was then added to the front of the base card. Do not adhere the bottom pleat area…you want some motion in the pleats.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink in the lower right corner.
Cut the Spotlight on Nature circle from Basic White cardstock.
Stamp the leaf image on one side with Mossy Meadow Ink. Color with Old Olive Combo Stampin’ Blends.
Stamp butterfly with Memento Black Ink. Color with Light Balmy Blue and Boho Blue Combo Stampin’ Blends. Hand-cut and add to circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Add two Moody Mauve In Color Opaque Sparkle Dots to circle, then add circle to the front of the card over the ribbon with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Isn’t that a pretty card? I love these broad watercolor look flowers on this designer paper! OK, next up on our blog hop is our Create with Stamping Friends website, then on to creative Debbie Henderson, or head backwards to see Melissa Davies’ fabulous project and see what everyone did with this challenge!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Spotlight on Nature
Inks: Memento Black, Mossy Meadow
Blends: Light Balmy Blue, Boho Blue Combo
Cardstock: Basic White, Boho Blue, Wildly Flowering 12×12 Designer Paper
Accessories: Spotlight on Nature Dies, 2023-25 In Color Opaque Sparkle Dots, 1/4″ White Diagonal Trim, Adhesives

CSF Saturday Blog Hop – “The Green Hornet”

July 20, 2024 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This month we will be using the colors in movie titles to inspire our cards. This week our movie theme is “The Green Hornet”. Cards with predominantly green in them!

SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE

I had a few pieces of this card already cut and started on my desk, so decided to finish them off into today’s card! Made it pretty easy and I like when I can use them up!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Soft Sea Foam cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Garden Green cardstock was stamped randomly with the Spotlight in Nature leaf cluster in the background with Garden Green Ink. It was added to the front of the base card.
Two 3/4 x 4 pieces of To Market Designer Paper were added to two 1/2 x 4 pieces of Gold Foil Sheets, then to the front of the card.
The circle was cut from Soft Sea Foam cardstock with the Spotlight on Nature Dies and stamped with the cross-hatch image in Soft Sea Foam Ink randomly in the background. It was added to the center with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two leaf clusters were stamped with Garden Green Ink on Soft Sea Foam cardstock and colored with Soft Sea Foam Ink using a Blending Brush. They were hand-cut and added to the circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Linen Thread was wrapped in a circle and added near the stem with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.
Thanks from Spotlight on Nature stamp set was stamped with Garden Green Ink on 3/4 x 2 piece of Basic White and the end cut at an angle. It was added to the circle with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.
Three green Transparent Adhesive Backed Dots were added to the background on the circle.

The touch of gold really jazzes this card up! OK, next up on our blog hop is our Create with Stamping Friends website, then on to creative Debbie Henderson, or head backwards to see Melissa Davies’ fabulous project and see what everyone did with this challenge!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Spotlight on Nature
Inks: Soft Sea Foam, Garden Green
Cardstock: Basic White, Garden Green, Soft Sea Foam, To Market 12×12 Designer paper, Gold Foil Paper
Accessories: Spotlight on Nature, Linen Thread, Translucent Adhesive Backed Dots, Adhesives

CSF823 – Magnolia Mood

June 20, 2024 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Thursday and you know that means it is time for a Create with Stamping Friends Thursday Challenge. We have a sketch for inspiration this week!

MAGNOLIA MOOD

Another card that came together easily with little stamping! Of course, you could substitute the stamped magnolia and color it, too! After I photographed this, I added “90” cut with the Alphabet Al A Mode Dies to the front and sent it off to my aunt for her birthday!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Night of Navy cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded to form the base card.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Petunia Pop cardstock was added to the front.
A 1-3/4 x 5-1/4 piece of Mediterranean Blooms Designer Paper was cut at an angle and added to the front.
The 3/4 x 5-1/4 strip of the small grid pattern in Mediterranean Blooms DSP was colored with the Petunia Pop Ink using a Blending Brush and added on top of the medallion print.
The 1 x 1-1/2 piece of Night of Navy cardstock was cut at a flag end and tucked under the angled DSP.
The circle was cut from Boho Blue cardstock using the Spotlight on Nature Die and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The magnolia was cut from Basic White cardstock using the Magnolia Mood Die and added to the circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Night of Navy Ink on scrap Petunia Pop cardstock and hand-cut around the letters, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems were added to the background for a little bling!

these two colors look great together and I love the personalized DSP to match whatever color you are using! OK, go check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Magnolia Mood (Online Exclusive)
Ink: Night of Navy, Petunia Pop
Cardstock: Basic White, Petunia Pop, Night of Navy, Mediterranean Blooms 12×12 DSP
Accessories: Magnolia Mood Dies, Spotlight on Nature Dies, 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Adhesives

CSF Saturday Blog Hop – Must Have 2024

May 11, 2024 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This week our theme is “Must Have 2024”. Our Design Team will show off their favorite NEW stamp set/bundle that they just HAD to have! Well…as usual, I had SEVERAL new ones that I wanted!

SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE

I picked this one…well, because I hadn’t used it yet! I also used one of the In Colors that hasn’t seen much love yet either…Pretty in Pink!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Basic White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 2 x 5-1/2 strip of 2024-26 In Color 6×6 Pretty in Pink DSP was added towards the left side.
The largest circle from Spotlight on Nature was cut from Basic White cardstock and stamped off with the hashmarks in Pretty in Pink randomly in the background.
The flower was stamped with Smoky Slate Ink and colored with Pretty in Pink and Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The smaller Spotlight on Nature circle was cut from Pretty in Pink cardstock and added to the circle.
a 1/2 x 3 piece of coordinating DSP was torn on each end and added diagonally across the smaller circle.
Celebrate from Unbounded Love was stamped with Smoky Slate Ink on Basic White and hand-cut around the letters, then added to the DSP.
Some Linen Thread was tied in a large bow and the smaller circle added to it, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of pink 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems were added to the background.

OK, next up on our blog hop is our Create with Stamping Friends website, then on to creative Debbie Henderson, or head backwards to see Melissa Davies’ fabulous project and see what everyone did with this challenge!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Spotlight on Nature, Unbounded Love
Inks: Smoky Slate, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Basic White, Pretty in Pink, 2024-26 In Color Designer Paper
Accessories: Spotlight on Nature Dies, Linen Thread, 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems, Adhesives

CS140 – Spotlight on Nature

May 7, 2024 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to Create with Stamping Friends Creatively Simple Challenge! Each month Debbie and I will pick a theme for our simple cards. This month the theme is “Appreciation”. Sending a thank you card is so easy and much appreciated by the recipient! I wish I thought to do it more often!

SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Shy Shamrock cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Basic White cardstock is stamped with the leaf image from Spotlight on Nature stamp set with Shy Shamrock Ink in the upper left and lower left corners.
A Blending Brush was also used to lightly brush the background behind the leaves. The Basic White was added to the base card.
A 3/4 x 3-3/4 strip of In Color 6×6 DSP was added across the front.
Thanks from Spotlight on Nature was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 1/2 x 2 piece of Basic White and then cut at an angle. It was also stamped off with Shy Shamrock Ink using the hash mark image, then added to the DSP with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Shy Shamrock In Color Resin Dots were added to the background.

This card would look great in any color! Check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:
Stamps: Spotlight on Nature
Inks: Memento Black, Shy Shamrock
Cardstock: Basic White, Shy Shamrock, 2024-26 In Color DSP
Accessories: In Color Resin Dots, Adhesives