Stampin' Up!

CSF871 -Turtle-y Cute

May 29, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Thursday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends challenge! We have a fun SQUARE sketch challenge this week! I actually ended up making TWO cards…you’ll see the other one soon!

TURTLE-Y CUTE

I didn’t order the turtle stamp bundle, but I just ordered this fun paper! I liked the colorful stripes and dots on the reverse side of the turtle prints so decided to get it. Then I spotted this cute turtle drummer! My husband was a drummer in his high school marching band MANY years ago!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 8-1/2 Shaded Spruce cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded to form the square card.
A 4 x 4 piece of Turtle-y Cute DSP was wrapped with white Baker’s Twine and tied in a bow towards the right side, then added on top of the base card.
The hexagon was cut from Basic White cardstock with the Meant to Bee Die and adhered to the front.
The You Are Remarkable greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink along the right side of the hexagon.
A 1/2 3 strip of Poppy Parade cardstock was added across the bottom.
The turtle drummer was hand-cut from the Turtle-y Cute Designer Paper and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Shades of Green Hexagons were added to the background.

This card makes me smile! OK, go check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: You Are Remarkable
Ink: Memento Black
Cardstock: Basic White, Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce
Designer Paper: Turtle-y Cute 12×12
Accessories: Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack, Shades of Green Hexagons, Adhesives

Use Stampin' Up!'s CONEFLOWER CELEBRATIONS BUNDLE to decorate your cards with cornflowers and butterflies plus add a sweet birthday, belated birthday or thank you greeting! You can even create a card or tag shaped like a coneflower with the CONEFLOWER CELEBRATIONS DIES. Or, cut a single flower to add to a card front and embellish with die-cut stems, leaves, and butterflies. We've paired the CONEFLOWER CELEBRATIONS BUNDLE with the bright patterns in the CELEBRATORY SIPS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX card projects...four regular and two fun-fold cards! See more details HERE!

Stampin' Up! new PEACEFUL GARDEN SUITE of products is a demonstrator only pre-purchase for the Creativity Now Event coming in June. (It will be available for customers beginning with the September-December Mini Catalog!) We've focused using the PEACE ON EARTH BUNDLE to create FOUR cards and TWO fun favors...and added two BONUS cards using the coordinating PEACEFUL DAYS STAMP SET! That's a total of EIGHT projects in this Collection! The PEACE ON EARTH STAMP SET includes Christmas sentiments, plus thoughtful sympathy and thinking of you messages useful all year long. The PEACE ON EARTH DIES have two dove shapes, two sizes of labels, and some greenery pieces to accessorize the greetings. We've paired the PEACE ON EARTH BUNDLE with the coordinating PEACEFUL GARDEN 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for EIGHT projects! See more details HERE!

Create beautiful sailboat scenes with a moving ocean and textured sky using Stampin' Up!'s SUNRISE SAILING STAMP SET, DIES, AND HYBRID EMBOSSING FOLDER! You can fill your hand-made projects with waves, clouds, seagulls and different sized sailboats. We are also showcasing FOUR card techniques to use with the SUNRISE SAILING BUNDLE...we know you'll have a blast making them! Our SUNRISE SAILING COLLECTION has EIGHT new card projects. We've paired the SUNRISE SAILING BUNDLE with the THOUGHTFUL JOURNEY 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER for a variety of gorgeous sky and water looks. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for EIGHT cards...four using special techniques...that will be so fun to teach in your classes or make on your own! See more details HERE!

CS195 – With You in Mind

May 27, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

We are continuing with our last Creatively Simple Watercolor Challenge this month!

WITH YOU IN MIND

This is the fourth watercoloring technique I’ve done for this month’s Creatively Simple cards! This time I’ve combined watercoloring with emboss resist for a different look!

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 is stamped with VersaMark Ink and White embossed with the large Happy Birthday greeting in the With You In Mind stamp set. (I’ve been wanting some nice big greetings and these are perfect for almost every occasion!)
A few drops of Pretty in Pink ink refill were placed on an acetate sheet (the ones that come in the stamp set are perfect!), spritzed with water, and using the Water Painter to brush over the embossed area. Let dry.
The White Baker’s Twine was wrapped around the Basic White layer and tied in a bow, then added to the front of the base card.
Two cupcakes from the same set were stamped with Lemon Lolly and Strawberry Slush Inks. The entire Lemon Lolly cupcakes were hand-cut and just the base of the Strawberry Slush ones were hand-cut and added to the Lemon Lolly cupcakes. They are popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems were added in the background around the greeting.

SO easy! It took longer to cut out those little cupcakes than it did to make the entire card! OK, check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: With You In Mind
Inks: VersaMark, Strawberry Slush, Lemon Lolly
Reinker: Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Basic White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems, Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack, Water Painter, Adhesives

IM386 – Sunrise Sailing

May 26, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a sailboat regatta! Those are fun to watch!

SUNRISE SAILING

Yep…just had to use my Sunrise Sailing Bundle on this challenge! But, instead of coloring, I used strips of cardstock! See how I did it below!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Basic White, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Cloud Cover cardstock was brushed with Secret Sea Ink using the Blending Brush lightly in the background.
Three strips of “water” were cut from Secret Sea cardstock with the Sunrise Sailing wave dies and added to the bottom of the Cloud Cover layer, then trimmed off the sides.
The large and small clouds were cut from Basic White cardstock and the larger one stamped with the greeting from Sunrise Sailing stamp set using Secret Sea Ink. They were added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Strips of Coastal Cabana, Soft Sea Foam and Flirty Flamingo cardstocks were cut in different widths and adhered to a Basic White cardstock square larger than the boat. The sailboat was stamped with Secret Sea Ink over them and then cut with the Sunrise Sailboat Die.

A second large boat was stamped on Cloud Cover cardstock and the space between the sails cut out and adhered over the colored cardstock.
The outline of the boat hull was colored with Light Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends.
The same technique was repeated using Lemon Lolly, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red and Azure Afternoon cardstock strips and cut with the medium sailboat sails, then mounted on Basic White cardstock sailboat base and the hull colored with Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends.
The smallest sailboat was cut from Basic White cardstock.
All were assembled on the waves with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Doesn’t this make you want to take a ride on a sailboat? How fun! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Sunrise Sailing
Inks: Secret Sea
Blends: Light Smoky Slate
C/S: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Cloud Cover, Secret Sea, Flirty Flamingo, Coastal Cabana, Soft Sea Foam, Lemon Lolly, Pumpkin Pie, Azure Afternoon, Real Red
Accessories: Sunrise Sailing Dies, Blending Brushes, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – Fun with Plaids

May 24, 2025 By Connie | 4 Comments

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This week our theme is “Fun with Plaids”…create your own, use a stamp, designer paper, or even our Plaid Embossing folder!

SWEET JAR

For mine, I started with the random black & white plaid pattern from the Lovely Garden Designer Paper. I used Stampin’ Blends to casually color in some of the grids!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pool Party cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Early Espresso cardstock is added on top.
A 3-3/4 x 5 piece of black & white plaid Lovely Garden DSP was colored with Pool Party, Crumb Cake and Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends…both light and dark…in a random pattern. It was adhered to the front.

A 1/2 x 3-3/4 strip of Early Espresso cardstock was added across the front of the plaid piece.
The Everyday Arches (3rd from smallest) were cut from Crumb Cake and Pool Party. The Pool Party was stamped with the greeting in Early Espresso Ink and both added to the front slightly angled with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The jar and lid were stamped with Pool Party Ink on Basic White cardstock, the cookie base with Crumb Cake and the chocolate chips with Early Espresso Ink. They were punched with the Sweet Jar Punch. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of gold Low Profile Dots were added to the background on the arches.

LOVE how my plaid piece turned out…and you could make them ANY color! 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: Sweet Jar
Inks: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Blends: Pool Party, Pecan Pie, Crumb Cake Combos
C/S: Basic White, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pool Party
Designer Paper: Lovely Garden 12×12
Accessories: Sweet Jar Punch, Everyday Arches Dies, Low Profile Dots, Adhesives

CSF870 – Sweet Jar

May 22, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Thursday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends challenge! This week is a pretty color challenge using TWO of our new In Colors…well, one is a returning color! lol!

SWEET JAR

Another first time using a new set I purchased! This was originally going to be my swap card for the Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip, but then I went in a different direction.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Strawberry Slush cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic White cardstock is embossed with the Mini Corrugated Embossing Folder and added to the front.
A 3 x 3-1/2 piece of Floral Impressions Designer Paper was added to the center.
Another 1/2 x 4 strip of Floral Impressions DSP was added across the bottom.
Next a 3/8 x 3 strip of Strawberry Slush cardstock was added on the bottom of the olive DSP.
The square was cut from Basic White cardstock with the Stylish Shapes Dies (how come I never think to use the squares in that die set?) I stamped the greeting with Secret Sea Ink in the upper right corner. It was added on top with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The Sweet Jar and lid were stamped with Secret Sea Ink on Basic Beige, the flowers with Strawberry Slush inside and punched with the Sweet Jar Punch. It was added to the square with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems were added to the center of the flowers and one in the background.

Such a cute little set! OK, go check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet Jar
Ink: Secret Sea, Strawberry Slush
Cardstock: Basic White, Strawberry Slush, Basic Beige
Designer Paper: Floral Impressions 12×12
Accessories: Sweet Jar Punch, Mini Corrugated Embossing Folder, Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems, Adhesives

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

IM385 – Cheers & Sips

May 19, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is some pool side drinks! I certainly enjoyed my share during the Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip last week!

CHEER & SIPS

Of course, this set is perfect for today’s challenge! I like to make these post it note holders every once in a while, so chose to do this easel card version today! If you’d rather, you could always add another glass or two to the bottom portion instead of the sticky notes!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 Poppy Parade cardstock.
Two 1-1/2 x 4-1/4 strips of Celebratory Sips Designer Paper were added to the top and bottom.
A 3-1/2 x 8-1/2 piece of Timid Tiger cardstock was scored at 2-1/8 and 4-1/4. The longer portion was adhered to the front of the base.
A 3-1/4 x 4 piece of Summer Splash cardstock was embossed with the Forever Plaid Embossing Folder and the bottom portion added to the front of the Timid Tiger panel.
A large circle was cut from Basic White cardstock with the Stylish Shapes Die and sponged with Summer Splash Ink in the center. It was adhered to the Summer Splash panel.
Two Cheers & Sips glasses were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White, colored with Pretty in Pink and Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends and Pool Party to rim the glass. The ice cubes were stamped with Timid Tiger and Pretty in Pink for a tone-on-tone look.
The orange was stamped with Timid Tiger and colored with Dark Peach Pie and the strawberry with Memento Black and colored with Light Poppy Parade and Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends. All were cut with the Cheers & Sips Dies and added to the circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Cut a slit in the strawberry and the orange to slide over the top of the glass and adhere.
Cheers greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 1/2 x 2 piece of Basic White and the end cut at an angle. It was adhered with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.
A trio of orange 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls were added to the background.
Place some post it notes on the bottom portion (either size fits) and that holds the top like an easel!

It also folds flat to mail!

Looks so fun on my desk! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Cheers & Sips
Inks: Memento Black, Timid Tiger, Pretty in Pink
Blends: Light Poppy Parade, Peach Pie Combo, Pretty in Pink Combo, Light Old Olive
C/S: Basic White, Timid Tiger, Poppy Parade, Summer Splash
Accessories: Cheers & Sips Dies, Forever Plaid Embossing Folder, 2025-27 In Color Flat Pearls, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – Favorite New DSP 2025

May 17, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This week our theme is “Favorite New Designer Paper 2025”.

CHEERS & SIPS

I really do like most of the new designer papers that Stampin’ Up! has introduced, so it was hard to choose just one! But I do love the drink images in the Celebratory Sips Designer Paper, so that is the one I chose to feature!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Strawberry Slush cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Celebratory Sips DSP was added to the front of the base card.
A 1 x 5-1/4 strip of Strawberry Slush cardstock was added across the top.
The hexagon from Meant to Bee (second from smallest) was cut from Basic White and Blackberry Bliss cardstocks and were trimmed to fit the front of the card.
The “ground” on the hexagon was colored with Light Soft Sea Foam Stampin’ Blends and the greeting stamped with Memento Black Ink on the center Basic White panel.
Three of the little drink images and a small strawberry were cut from the Celebratory Sips DSP and added to the hexagon with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Cloud Cover 2025-27 In Color Flat Pearls were added to the front.

The DSP really does all the heavy lifting on this 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: Cheers & Sips
Inks: Memento Black
Blends: Soft Sea Foam
C/S: Basic White, Strawberry Slush, Blackberry Bliss
Designer Paper: Celebratory Sips 12×12
Accessories: Meant to Bee Dies, 2025-27 In Color Flat Pearls, Adhesives