Stampin' Up!

IM418 – Valentine Kisses

January 5, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a Valentine bouquet!

VALENTINE KISSES

Looking through my stamps and dies, I saw the sign and booth stand in the Valentine Kisses dies and thought I could turn them into something that looked like the envelope in the inspiration photo!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Flirty Flamingo cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
Two 3/4 x 5-1/2 strips of Made with Love DSP were added along each side and a 1/2 x 4 strip of coordinating DSP across the bottom.
Some Basic White cardstock was cut with the Textured Notes Die and stamped the greeting across the bottom with Real Red Ink and the hearts at the top with Real Red Ink.
The “container” booth base and sign were cut from Crumb Cake cardstock with the Dies and added to the front.
A heart Die was cut from Real Red cardstock and added to the envelope. All were popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The flower bouquet was stamped five times with Memento Black Ink on Basic White cardstock and colored with Pretty in Pink, Peace Pie, Lemon Lime Twist and Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends. They were cut with the Die and added to the “envelope” with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The bluebird was stamped with Memento Black Ink on scrap Basic White cardstock, colored with Light Balmy Blue Blends, and cut with the Die, then added to the top of one bouquet with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
The pink Pearlized Faceted Circle was added to the heart.

Well…what do you think? Looks like an envelope bouquet to me! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Valentine Kisses
Inks: Memento Black, Real Red
Blends: Light Flirty Flamingo, Light Pretty in Pink, Dark Peach Pie, Light Lemon Lime Twist, Light Balmy Blue
C/S: Basic White, Flirty Flamingo, Real Red
Designer Paper: Made with Love 12×12
Accessories: Valentine Kisses Dies, Textured Notes Dies, Pearlized Faceted Circles, Adhesives

Inspired by the delicate charm of lilies of the valley flowers, this VALLEY IN BLOOM SUITE of projects will bring timeless beauty to your crafting! These products have versatile florals, textures and shimmer that will have you grabbing them to use all year long. We've combined the LILY OF THE VALLEY BUNDLE and the VALLEY IN BLOOM 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with patterns that add whimsy and personality. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for EIGHT cards in this Collection! See more details HERE!

Take a trip to the shore for peace and tranquility when using Stampin' Up!'s new WATERSIDE RETREAT SUITE of products! The RELAXING WATERSIDE BUNDLE showcases a getaway at the lake with lounge chairs, coffee and books, birds and special greetings! We've combined the RELAXING WATERSIDE BUNDLE and the WATERSIDE RETREAT 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its sun-drenched faded colors and unique cut-out images or background scenes. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two fun favors for a special little gift this summer! See more details HERE!

Build your own custom paper floral arrangements using Stampin' Up!'s new FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE* of products! This FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE has a variety of flowers, stems, leaves and accents to mix and match and take the guesswork out of creating! We've combined the FLOWERING MEADOW BUNDLE and the gorgeous VELVET MEADOW 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with its bold colors and soft flocking elements to enhance your cards and projects. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...four cards and two special-fold cards that will make your friends and customers feel extra special. See more details HERE!

Saturday Blog Hop – Favorite New Bundle 2026

January 3, 2026 By Connie | 4 Comments

It’s Saturday and our FIRST Saturday Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop in 2026! This week’s challenge is “Favorite New Bundle 2026”. I always enjoy getting new products and playing!

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

You know I always get sucked into buying the newest floral sets…this one is beautiful with the big flowers and dies!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 7-1/2 cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded so the shorter end is in front.
A 1 x 5-1/2 strip of Lovely & Beautiful DSP is added to the bottom of the inside.
A 1/4 x 5-1/2 strip of Gold Metallic Paper is added to the edge on the front.
The large flower and two sets of the leaves are stamped with Smoky Slate Ink on Basic White cardstock and cut with the Dies. The center of the flower is brushed with Peach Pie Ink and the leaves with Soft Sea Foam Ink. They were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Smoky Slate Ink in the upper left corner.
The flower center was cut with the Die from Gold Metallic Paper and adhered.
A trio of white Pearlized Faceted Circles were added to the background…so sparkly!

The is a pretty basic card, but the shortened front makes it a little more dramatic with the DSP showing from the inside! 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: Simply Beautiful
Inks: Smoky Slate, Soft Sea Foam, Peach Pie
C/S: Thick Basic White, Basic White
Specialty Paper: Gold Metallic, Lovely & Beautiful 12×12
Accessories: Simply Beautiful Dies, Pearlized Faceted Circles, Adhesives

CSF901 – Sweet Bugs

January 1, 2026 By Connie | 2 Comments

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Wow! Can’t believe it is the start of a new year! Welcome 2026…hope it is safe and prosperous for everyone!

It’s Thursday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends challenge! We’ve got a sketch challenge this week!

SWEET BUGS

I was inspired by the center portion of this sketch to use the Cute as a Bug DSP with the Branching Out Dies for the background of my little ladybug reading her book! I love this mushroom pattern DSP!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Pecan Pie cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 3-3/4 x 5 piece of Basic Beige cardstock was embossed with the Lovely Stripes Embossing Folder. TIP: This folder has deep impressions…spritz your cardstock with water before embossing to prevent the cardstock from tearing! Let dry completely.
The Cute as a Bug DSP was cut with the Branching Out 2-1/2 x 3-3/4 label Die and adhered to the front.
The large mushroom was cut with the Die from Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla cardstocks and the top cut away from the Cajun Craze one and adhered to the Very Vanilla one. (Save the left-over piece for another project!) Add it to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The ladybug was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and colored with Cajun Craze, Lemon Lolly, Cloud Cover Stampin’ Blends. She was cut with the Die and adhered with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The small flower/grass was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Old Olive and Cajun Craze Stampin’ Blends, cut with the Die, then added next to the ladybug with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Cajun Craze Ink on 5/8 x 2-1/4 Very Vanilla cardstock and the end cut at an angle. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Crumb Cake Pearls of Beauty were added to the background and the mushroom.

Isn’t she CUTE? OK, check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet Bugs
Ink: Memento Black, Cajun Craze
Blends: Cajun Craze, Cloud Cover, Lemon Lolly, Old Olive
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pecan Pie, Basic Beige
Designer Paper: Cute as a Bug 12×12
Accessories: Sweet Bugs Dies, Branching Out Dies (label), Pearls of Beauty, Adhesives

CS226 – Valentine Kisses

December 30, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “All You Need is Love”!

VALENTINE KISSES

I’ve used this set again…it just is very cute!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Basic White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Real Red cardstock is added on top.
The small pink Lovely Doilies was added to the left side and slightly trimmed off the edge.
The bear from Valentine Kisses was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Crumb Cake, Pecan Pie and Bubble Bath Stampin’ Blends and cut with the Die.
The wings were stamped with Memento Black Ink, outlined with Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends and cut with the Die.
A 3/4 x 3 strip of Made with Love DSP was added at the bottom of the doily.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 3/4 x 2 piece of Basic White cardstock and adhered above the DSP.
The bear with wings was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A heart was cut with the Die from Flirty Flamingo cardstock and added over the greeting with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Loose Valentine’s Assortment hearts and lips were added to the greeting and the background with Monoadhesive Glue.

So sweet! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Valentine Kisses
Inks: Memento Black
Blends: Crumb Cake, Pecan Pie, Bubble Bath
Cardstock: Basic White, Flirty Flamingo, Real Red
Designer Paper: Made with Love 12×12
Accessories: Valentine Kisses Dies, Lovely Doilies, Loose Valentine’s Assortment, Adhesives

IM417 – Woolly Friends

December 29, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is some cute little sheep!

WOOLLY FRIENDS

Obviously, I had to use the new Woolly Friends stamp set and punch on today’s card! It will be available to order January 6th! So cute!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Old Olive cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 3-5/8 x 4-7/8 piece of Basic White cardstock was added on the front.
The 2 x 4-3/4 piece of Cute As A Bug DSP was cut in curves across the top, then adhered to the bottom of 3-1/2 x 4-3/4 Cloud Cover cardstock.
The trio of flowers was stamped above the “grass” on the Cloud Cover cardstock with Memento Black Ink, the blossoms with Crushed Curry Ink, and the leaves with Old Olive Ink.
Another trio of flowers was stamped on Basic White cardstock and two of them hand-cut.
The sheep was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White cardstock and colored around the edges with Light Smoky Slate Blends, the cheeks with Light Bubble Bath Blends. It was punched with the Woolly Friends Punch and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals. The cut flowers were added next to her with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 3/4 x 2-3/4 and cut with a banner end, then adhered at the top right corner.
Some Linen Thread was tied in a bow and added to her neck.
A trio of Moody Palette Glossy Dots were added to the background.

Such a cute set! Love the expression on her face! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Woolly Sheep
Inks: Memento Black, Old Olive, Crushed Curry
Blends: Light Smoky Slate, Light Bubble Bath
C/S: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Old Olive
Designer Paper: Cute As A Bug 12×12
Accessories: Woolly Sheep Punch, Moody Palette Glossy Dots, Linen Thread, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – Winter Scenes

December 27, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This week’s challenge is “Winter Scenes”. Hard to believe that Christmas is over already! Didn’t those first weeks in December just fly by? Now it’s time to celebrate the New Year!

ASPEN GROVE

I knew I wanted to use the new Aspen Grove stamp set (available in January!) on today’s card! I combined it with a current set, Delicate Pines, for a winter look!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Pretty Peacock cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece of Basic White cardstock was stamped with the Aspen Grove tree trunks on the left (3) and on the right (2). NOTE: Did you know these trunks are SEPARATE stamps? I didn’t know until I just used it! Makes it easy to use just a couple, or an entire row! The Light Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blend was used to add a shadow on the right side of the tree trunks.
The stamped piece was added to a 3-3/4 x 5-1/2 piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, then added to the front.
The middle snowflake from Delicate Pines was stamped with Pretty Peacock Ink on Basic White and cut with the Delicate Pines Die.
The smaller snowflake was cut with the Delicate Pines Die from Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper and added to the center of the medium snowflake with Monoadhesive Glue. The entire snowflake was added to the center with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Delicate Pines was stamped with Pretty Peacock Ink on 5/8 x 2-1/2 Crumb Cake cardstock and the ends cut at an angle.
Some Low Profile Sparkle Dots were added to the background and the center of the small snowflake.

This card sure looks like a winter scene to me! 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: Aspen Grove, Delicate Pines
Inks: Early Espresso, Pretty Peacock
Blends: Light Crumb Cake
C/S: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock
Specialty Paper: Peaceful Garden Shimmer 12×12
Accessories: Delicate Pines Dies, Low Profile Sparkle Dots, Adhesives

CS225 – Valentine Kisses

December 23, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “All You Need is Love”!

VALENTINE KISSES

I picked up this set just because of the cute kissing booth! Here’s the first card I made with it.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Flirty Flamingo cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 4 x 4 piece of Basic White cardstock was stamped with the greeting in Flirty Flamingo Ink.
A 3/4 x 4-3/4 strip of striped Made with Love DSP was added down the left side.
Another 1 x 3 hearts Made with Love DSP was added on top.
The Valentine Kisses frame and shelf were cut from Real Red Cardstock and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The bear head was stamped with Early Espresso Ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and cut with the Valentine Kisses Die. It was added inside the frame with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The heart trio was stamped above the frame with Real Red Ink.
Two pink Loose Valentine Assortment hearts were added to the ends of the shelf.

Isn’t that cute? Love it! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Valentine Kisses
Inks: Real Red, Early Espresso, Flirty Flamingo
Cardstock: Basic White, Flirty Flamingo, Real Red, Crumb Cake
Designer Paper: Made with Love 12×12
Accessories: Valentine Kisses Dies, Loose Valentine’s Assortment, Adhesives

IM416 – Ornamental Christmas

December 22, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a pretty mountain scene!

ORNAMENTAL CHRISTMAS

You’ll have to look closely to see the majority of stamping on this card! I used the evergreen tree from the Ornamental Christmas Stamp Set with Mossy Meadow Ink across the bottom of the striped Celebratory Sips Designer Paper!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1//4 x 11 Misty Moonlight cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic Beige cardstock was stamped with the Ornamental Christmas greeting at the bottom with Mossy Meadow Ink.
The Black & Gold Twine was wrapped several times around the Basic Beige layer and tied in a bow at the left side. The cardstock was added to the base card.
The green stripe Celebratory Sips DSP was torn across the top and stamped across with the pine tree from Ornamental Christmas in Mossy Meadow Ink. It was adhered to a 3-3/4 x 5 piece of Misty Moonlight,
A larger piece of Basic Beige cardstock was torn across the top, then brushed with Basic Beige Ink on the torn edges and tucked above the green DSP.
A white panel was hand-cut into a “mountain” background and added above the Basic Beige torn piece.
The deer from Autumn Trees Dies were cut from Basic Black cardstock and added to the front of the stamped green stripe DSP.
All the layers were then cut with the Perennial Postage Die. It was set slightly off center on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A 1″ circle was cut from Basic White cardstock for the moon.

I think this would be a great New Year’s card if you didn’t get your Christmas cards made in time! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Ornamental Christmas
Inks: Mossy Meadow, Basic Beige
C/S: Basic White, Basic Black, Basic Beige, Misty Moonlight
Designer Paper: Celebratory Sips 12×12
Accessories: Autumn Tree Dies, Perennial Postage Dies, Black & Gold & White Twine, Adhesives