Stampin' Up!

IM421 – Sweet Bugs

January 26, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a fun (hungry?) caterpillar!

SWEET BUGS

What other stamp set could I use other than Sweet Bugs for today’s card? Just such a fun set to work with!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Pool Party cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Basic White cardstock was brushed across the top with Pool Party Ink.
A 2 x 5 piece of Old Olive cardstock was torn across the top, then stamped and stamped off with the dashed lines image randomly with Old Olive Ink. The flower clusters were over stamped on the “grass” with Old Olive Ink, then colored with a White Gel Pen.
The caterpillar and lily of the valley images were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White cardstock and colored with Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party, Mossy Meadow and Bubble Bath Inks. They were cut with the dies, then the leaf above the caterpillar trimmed off.
The flowers were cut with the Dies from Daffodil Delight cardstock and the stem from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock, the little critters from Pool Party cardstock. They were all assembled on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The Sweet Bugs greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink in the upper right corner.
Some coral Pearls of Beauty were added to the center of the die-cut flowers.

SO cute! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Sweet Buhgs
Inks: Memento Black, Old Olive, Pool Party
Blends: Pool Party, Lemon Lime Twist, Mossy Meadow, Bubble Bath
C/S: Basic White, Old Olive, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party
Accessories: Sweet Bugs Dies, Pearls of Beauty, Adhesives
Non-SU: White Gel Pen

Dress up these adorable sheep with Stampin' Up!'s WOOLLY FRIENDS BUNDLE that features two-step stamping and a coordinating punch. Enjoy them in a variety of colors and textures, plus use the flowers, grass, cowbell and bows to add accessories and a little nature scene surrounding them. The cheerful sentiments will help you spread a little cheer! We've combined the WOOLLY FRIENDS BUNDLE and the CUTE AS A BUG 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER for some extra fun! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...4 regular cards and 2 slimline cards with decorated envelopes! See more details HERE!

Give a heartfelt touch to your projects using the variety of heart images and die cuts in Stampin' Up!'s ENDLESS LOVE BUNDLE and celebrate love for Valentine's Day, weddings or other special occasions! We've combined the ENDLESS LOVE BUNDLE and the MADE WITH LOVE 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its festive red and pink prints! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects (2 cards, 2 fun fold cards and 2 favors) to get you started on your celebration of love! See more details HERE!

Saturday Blog Hop – Masculine Love

January 24, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Saturday and time for another Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop! This week’s challenge is “Masculine Love”. Let’s celebrate those men or boys in our life!

ENDLESS LOVE

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pretty Peacock cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The top two thirds of the 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Crumb Cake cardstock was embossed with the Forever Plaid Embossing Folder and added to the front.
The large and small hearts were cut with the Endless Love Dies from the Nature’s Walk DSP.
Linen Thread was wrapped several times around the large heart and secured in the back. The hearts were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The small heart was cut from Pretty Peacock with the Valentine Kisses Die and added and the cross point of the Linen Thread.
The greeting from Valentine Kisses was stamped with Pretty Peacock Ink along the bottom.
A trio of Earthy Matte Dots were added to the hearts.

Definitely a masculine vibe with these colors! My hubby will get this one this year! 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: Valentine Kisses
Inks: Pretty Peacock
C/S: Pretty Peacock, Crumb Cake
Designer Paper: Nature’s Walk 12×12
Accessories: Endless Love Dies, Valentine Kisses Dies, Forever Plaid Embossing Folder, Earthy Matte Dots, Linen Thread, Adhesives

CSF904 – Simply Beautiful

January 22, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Thursday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends challenge! We have a pretty color combination this week!

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

These large flowers in Simply Beautiful Bundle make it so easy to create pretty cards! I used this color combo in a non-traditional way…no green on here that I’d usually use for the leaves!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Crumb Cake cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Lovely & Beautiful Designer Paper was added on top.
The large flower was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Peach Pie cardstock and brushed with Peach Pie Ink in the center. It was cut with the Die and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two single leaves were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and cut with the Die, then brushed with Crumb Cake Ink. They were added next to the flower with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two leaf branches were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White cardstock and colored with Peach Pie and Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends. They were cut with the Die and tucked beside the leaves.
The greeting from Simply Beautiful was stamped with Balmy Blue Ink on 3/4 x 3 Basic White cardstock and the end cut at an angle. It was adhered with a Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Pearlized Faceted Circles were added to the background.

I think this color combo worked on this card, don’t you? OK, check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Simply Beautiful
Ink: Memento Black, Peach Pie, Crumb Cake
Blends: Peach Pie, Balmy Blue
Cardstock: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Peach Pie
Designer Paper: Lovely & Beautiful 12×12
Accessories: Simply Beautiful Dies, Pearlized Faceted Circles, Blending Brushes, Adhesives

CS229 – Hobby Haven

January 20, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “Patterns”! Stampin’ Up! has fabulous designer paper with patterns so that has been my focus this month.

HOBBY HAVEN

I didn’t really know what to do with this DSP since there really isn’t a stamp set that “coordinates” with it…just a greeting set. But I had fun cutting out a couple images and using one of the die-cuts for this card! Reading is one of my favorite hobbies!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Coastal Cabana cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 3 x 4 piece of Hobby Haven DSP was added to the bottom.
The medallion from Beautifully Celebrated Dies was cut from Basic Beige and brushed with Daffodil Delight and Coastal Cabana Inks. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The lamp and books were cut from the DSP and the coffee is one of the die cuts. They were added to the medallion with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Linen Thread was tied in a bow and added next to the lamp.
The Banner Sayings greeting was stamped with Coastal Cabana Ink on 1/2 x 2 piece of Basic White cardstock and the end cut at an angle.
A trio of 2024-26 In Color Flat Pearls were added to the background on the medallion.

SUPER easy to pull together and perfect card for a book lover! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Banner Sayings
Inks: Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana
Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Basic Beige, Basic White
Designer Paper: Hobby Haven 12×12
Accessories: Beautifully Celebrated Dies, 2024-26 In Color Flat Pearls, Adhesives

IM420 – Nature’s Symphony

January 19, 2026 By Connie | 2 Comments

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a colorful abstract print!

NATURE’S SYMPHONY

I looked through my current sets to find a diagonal type image that I could stamp in a background pattern and ran across the one in Nature’s Symphony! Perfect!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pretty in Pink cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic White cardstock was randomly stamped with the textured image in Fresh Freesia, Pretty in Pink, Lemon Lolly, Pumpkin Pie, Balmy Blue and Lemon Lime Twist Inks. It was cut with the Everyday Arches Die and added to the front of the base card.
The leaf cluster image was cut with the Die from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock and added to the arch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Lemon Lolly cardstock and cut with the smallest Everyday Arches Die.
Some Linen Thread was wrapped in a circle and adhered to the arch next to the leaf cluster, then the greeting added over top with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems were added to the background.

This reminded me “back in the day” when we had to create our own “designer paper”! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Nature’s Symphony
Inks: Memento Black, Pretty in Pink, Lemon Lolly, Lemon Lime Twist, Balmy Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Freesia
C/S: Basic White, Pretty in Pink, Lemon Lime Twist, Lemon Lolly
Accessories: Everyday Arches Dies, Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems, Linen Thread, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – All About Love

January 17, 2026 By Connie | 2 Comments

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop! This week’s challenge is “All About Love”.

NATURE’S SYMPHONY

I used Nature’s Symphony stamps with the Endless Love Dies for today’s card! Gives a different look for a Valentine’s Day card, doesn’t it?

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Real Red cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Garden Green cardstock was added on top.
The 3-3/4 x 5 Basic White cardstock was stamped with the greenery image in Garden Green Ink in the center and the greeting with Memento Black Ink in the lower right corner.
The center heart was cut with the die from Made with Love DSP and added to the branch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The arrow was cut from Basic Black cardstock with the Die and adhered over the heart.
The small cluster of hearts were cut from Real Red cardstock with the dies and adhered around the center heart on the branches and one over the middle of the arrow.
Some Real Red & White Baker’s Twine was tied in a bow and added to the stem.
The pink Pearlized Faceted Circles were added to the branches and the arrow end for a little bling!

I like the bright green with the red for a non-Christmas card! 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: Nature’s Symphony
Inks: Memento Black, Garden Green
C/S: Real Red, Garden Green, Basic White, Basic Black
Designer Paper: Made with Love 12×12
Accessories: Endless Love Dies, Pearlized Faceted Circles, Real Red & White Baker’s Twine, Adhesives

CSF903 – Cute As a Bug

January 15, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Thursday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends challenge! We have a fun sketch for you to try this week!

CUTE AS A BUG

I love the Cute as a Bug Designer Paper and I used several of the images on today’s card, along with the Banner Sayings greeting that was a perfect fit!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Old Olive cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Cute as a Bug DSP was added on top.
The 1-1/2 x 4 piece of Petal Pink cardstock was added across the center.
The second from largest Stylish Shape circle was cut from Very Vanilla cardstock and brushed with Cloud Cover and Petal Pink Inks using a Blending Brush. The caterpillar and daisy cluster images were hand-cut from the DSP and added to the circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals. The circle was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The fourth from largest circle was cut from Very Vanilla cardstock. The ants with a berry were hand-cut from the DSP and added with Stampin’ Dimensionals to the circle, and then to the front with more Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The next from smallest circle was cut from Flirty Flamingo cardstock and stamped with the Banner Sayings greeting in Memento Back Ink. It was also added next to the larger circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Moody Palette Glossy Dots were added to the circles to finish.

Just so sweet! OK, check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Banner Sayings
Ink: Memento Black
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Flirty Flamingo, Petal Pink, Old Olive
Designer Paper: Cute as a Bug 12×12
Accessories: Stylish Shapes Dies, Moody Palette Glossy Dots, Blending Brushes, Adhesives

CS228 – Fragrant Layers

January 13, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “Patterns”! Stampin’ Up! has fabulous designer paper with patterns. This week I did a little a “Ribbon Pinwheel” technique that I saw Wendy Lee do using DSP! SO cute!

FRAGRANT LAYERS

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 Peach Pie cardstock.
A card fold using 5 x 7-1/2 of Thick Basic White is scored at 3-3/4. Use a pencil and mark 1-1/2″ from the bottom across, and 1-1/2 from the left side down to form an intersecting point.
Pieces of Lovely & Beautiful DSP are cut (purposely longer than needed) to:
- 1 x 4
- 1 x 2-3/4
- 1 x 2 (cut TWO)
- NOTE: A non-directional print works best.
Cut TWO 1 x 1 Peach Pie cardstock squares and then cut each diagonally in half. Adhere them with the point to the upper right corner on each DSP piece.
- Adhere the long DSP along the pencil line from the intersecting point to the right side.
- Adhere the next size from intersecting point to top.
- Adhere one of the shorter to the left under the line and the last next to it below the longer one.
- Trim off the excess DSP along the edges.
Stamp the greeting with Old Olive Ink under the long piece.
Adhere fold card to the base piece.
Cut the small flower from Fresh Freesia cardstock and the center from Peach Pie cardstock. Adhere at the intersection with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Cut the leaf duo from Old Olive cardstock and tuck under the flower.
Add 1 large and 2 small green Moody Palette Glossy Dots to the background.
INSIDE: Stamp flower with Fresh Freesia Ink, center with Peach Pie Ink, leaves with Old Olive Ink.

Isn’t that a fun use of DSP pattern scraps? OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Fragrant Layers
Inks: Old Olive
Cardstock: Thick Basic White, Peach Pie, Old Olive, Fresh Freesia
Designer Paper: Lovely & Beautiful 12×12
Accessories: Fragrant Layers Dies, Moody Palette Glossy Dots, Adhesives