Stampin' Up!

IM419 – Aspen Grove

January 12, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a grove of Aspen trees!

ASPEN GROVE

Of course, I had to use my new Aspen Grove stamp set. Each of the trees are separate images so it makes it easy just to use a couple trees together!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Crumb Cake cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 3-7/8 x 5-1/8 layer of Early Espresso was added on top.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Basic White was stamped with three trees and a couple limbs in Early Espresso Ink. They were colored with Light Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends.
The three sizes of leaves/flower clusters were stamped and stamped off with Crushed Curry Ink randomly around the top of the trees, and in the open area at the bottom right.
Some Pool Party Ink was brushed in the background with a Blending Brush. The layer was added to the Early Espresso layer.
Some Linen Thread was tied in a loopy bow and added to the front with a Mini Glue Dot.
The Prayers & Promises Greeting was stamped with Early Espresso Ink on Crumb Cake and cut with the Nested Essentials Die and added over the bow with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

This stamp set is SO much fun! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Aspen Grove
Inks: Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Pool Party
Blends: Light Crumb Cake
C/S: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Nested Essentials Dies, Linen Thread, Adhesives

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 – Favorite DSP

January 10, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Saturday and another Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop! This week’s challenge is “Favorite New DSP 2026”. SOOOO many pretty ones, I had a hard time choosing just one!

BEAUTIFULLY CELEBRATED

I hadn’t used this bundle yet, so I combined the GORGEOUS Lovely & Beautiful DSP with it! LOVE the large watercolored flowers in this DSP! I kept my stamping simple to show it off!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Petal Pink cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 3-3/4 x 4 piece of Lovely & Beautiful DSP was added to the top of a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Calypso Coral cardstock.
Some Old Olive Specialty Rickrack was added across the front and adhered in the back to hide the seam. It was added to the base card.
The corners were cut from Calypso Coral with the Dies and adhered.
The greeting was stamped with Calypso Coral Ink in the lower left corner.
The small medallion was cut from Petal Pink cardstock using the smallest die, then stamped with the branch using Calypso Coral Ink.
A trio of Pearlized Faceted Circles were added to the medallion and the background.

Easy card, but I LOVE the details and this floral DSP! 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: Beautifully Celebrated
Inks: Calypso Coral
C/S: Petal Pink, Calypso Coral
Specialty Paper: Lovely & Beautiful 12×12
Accessories: Beautifully Celebrated Dies, Pearlized Faceted Circles, Old Olive Rickrack Ribbon, Adhesives

CSF902 – Fragrant Flowers

January 8, 2026 By Connie | 2 Comments

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

FRAGRANT FLOWERS

Even though these seem to be Valentine/Heart colors, I wanted to be a little different and use flowers instead of hearts! I wonder what the rest of the design team will use?

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Poppy Parade cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of pink floral Made with Love DSP was added on top.
The floral frame from Fragrant Flowers Dies was cut from Flirty Flamingo cardstock.
The coordinating florals were cut with the Die from Basic White cardstock and adhered behind the frame.
Just the center of the flowers were cut with the frame die from Poppy Parade cardstock, then inserted in the white flower centers with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Hello was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White cardstock and cut with the banner die.
A single flower was stamped with the outline in Flirty Flamingo Ink and the insides with Poppy Parade Ink. It was hand-cut.
A double leaf was cut with the Die from Basic White cardstock.
Some 1/8″ Bubble Bath Faux Linen Ribbon was tied in a loopy bow and added to the right corner of the frame with a Stampin’ Dimensional. The greeting banner was added with a Stampin’ Dimensional over the ribbon and the flower and leaves were added next to it.
A trio of Pearlized Faceted Circles were added to the flower center and the background.

I like how this flower card tied all together with these colors! OK, check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Fragrant Flowers
Ink: Memento Black, Poppy Parade, Flirty Flamingo
Cardstock: Basic White, Flirty Flamingo, Poppy Parade, Bubble Bath
Designer Paper: Made with Love 12×12
Accessories: Fragrant Flower Dies, Pearlized Faceted Circles, 1/8″ Bubble Bath Faux Linen Ribbon, Adhesives

CS227 – Endless Love

January 6, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “Patterns”! Stampin’ Up! has fabulous designer paper with patterns. I used a Valentine one for this week!

ENDLESS LOVE

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 Made with Love DSP is added to the front.
The 2-3/4 x 4-1/4 piece of Flirty Flamingo cardstock was cut with the tag heart from Endless Love Dies towards the top. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The XO and arrow were cut from Basic Gray cardstock and added around the heart.
The greeting from Endless Love stamp set was stamped with Real Red Ink on Basic White cardstock and cut with the tag from the Endless Love Dies. It was added under the heart with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A small heart was cut with the Die from Real Red cardstock and added next to the greeting.
Two hearts from the Loose Valentine’s Assortment were added next to the greeting.

I love how the cut out heart shows off the DSP pattern behind it! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Endless Love
Inks: Reak Red
Cardstock: Basic White, Flirty Flamingo, Real Red, Basic Gray, Thick Basic White
Designer Paper: Made with Love 12×12
Accessories: Endless Love Dies, Loose Valentine’s Assortment, Adhesives

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

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