Stampin' Up!

CS218 – Jolly Holly

November 4, 2025 By Connie | 4 Comments

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “Christmas Magic”! I love all the lights and hustle and bustle Christmas time of year!

JOLLY HOLLY

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Old Olive cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Real Red is added on top.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Basic White cardstock is stamped randomly with JOY in Pecan Pie Ink.
A frame was cut with the Jolly Holly two rectangle Dies from Gold Foil Paper and adhered to the front so that one of the JOY greetings is featured.
The bells were stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Darling Duckling and Real Red Blends, then cut with the Dies.
The leaf branches were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Old Olive cardstock. The holly was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Pretty Peacock cardstock. The poinsettias were stamped with Memento Black Ink on Real Red cardstock. All were cut with the Jolly Holly Dies and assembled on the bottom right corner of the frame.
Merry Christmas was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 3/8 x 2-1/2 Real Red cardstock and the ends cut at an angle, then added to the front.
Some Iridescent Foil Gems were added to the center of the flowers.

Pretty quick and easy! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Jolly Holly
Inks: Memento Black, Pecan Pie
Blends: Darling Duckling, Real Red
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Basic White
Designer Paper: Gold Foil Paper 12×12
Accessories: Jolly Holly Dies, Iridescent Foil Gems, Adhesives

Enjoy using the festive shapes in Stampin' Up!'s HOMEMADE TREATS BUNDLE to create our fun, baking-theme cards and favors in this Collection! The oven mitt, rolling pin, candy canes, cookie dough and cutouts create some extra special touches on your projects just for the Christmas holidays! We've combined the HOMEMADE TREATS BUNDLE with the holiday inspired CHRISTMAS TAGS & MORE 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...TWO regular cards, TWO special-fold cards, and TWO small favor ideas to hold a special treat for friends and neighbors! See more details HERE!

Embrace the earthy beauty of nature with Stampin' Up!'s BRANCHING OUT BUNDLE. The life-like pine branches, berries, and pinecones images will bring a little of the outside to your indoors! Plus, the nested frames in the BRANCHING OUT DIES have accents of stitched trim to make them even more special. Add one of the special everyday greetings to finish off your special card or project. We've combined the BRANCHING OUT BUNDLE with the elegant hand-painted backgrounds in the SEASON OF ELEGANCE 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER with beautiful foil touches in neutral and Christmas colors. You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...FOUR cards and TWO small gift/decor ideas perfect to showcase the beauty of the season. See more details HERE!

Be a little bold this Christmas stamping and accessorizing with the contemporary designs in the MODERN CHRISTMAS SUITE of products! You are sure to be on trend with the ORNAMENTAL CHRISTMAS BUNDLE and the classic trees, stars and ornament images! We've combined the ORNAMENTAL CHRISTMAS BUNDLE with the gold foil accents in the MODERN CHRISTMAS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER for eye-catching designs! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for SIX projects...FOUR cards and TWO gift card holder ideas perfect to showcase the beauty of the season. See more details HERE!

IM409 – Tractor & Co

November 3, 2025 By Connie | 2 Comments

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a snowy farm landscape!

TRACTOR & CO

My dad was a farmer when I was young, and I remember an old red tractor he drove just like this! Of course, he had the fancier tractors, too, but this was an old reliable one! I’m pretty sure I have pictures of our kids sitting on it!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Shaded Spruce cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Pool Party was stamped and stamped off across the top using the Ornamental Christmas tree using Shaded Spruce Ink! I LOVE this tree and I’m sure you’ll be seeing me use it a LOT!
A 2 x 5 piece of Basic White cardstock was torn across the top and adhered to the bottom, the torn piece added on top of the other piece for a snowbank look.
Two trees from Tractor & Co were cut from Shaded Spruce cardstock using the die and added to the front left side with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The tractor was stamped with Real Red Ink, the wheels and seat with Memento Black Ink and cut with the Dies. They were adhered on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The hubcaps were cut from Smoky Slate cardstock and added to the wheels.
The greeting was stamped with Shaded Spruce ink on 1/2 x 1-1/2 piece of Basic White and the end cut at an angle. It was added by the trees with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
Some silver Adhesive Backed Metallic Gems were added to the hubcaps and to the trees for a little bling!

So fun! There are so many details in the inspiration piece…I wanted to use the deer and the geese…but thought I had used enough product already on this card! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Tractor & Co, Ornamental Christmas
Inks: Memento Black, Real Red, Shaded Spruce
C/S: Basic White, Shaded Spruce, Smoky Slate, Pool Party
Accessories: Tractor & Co Dies, Adhesive Backed Metallic Gems, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – Fall Flowers

November 1, 2025 By Connie | 2 Comments

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

CHARMING DAY

This bundle is still one of my favorites! I especially love cutting this flower die cut from Basic White cardstock and coloring with Blending Brushes like I did here!

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 Basic White cardstock was embossed with the Peaceful Greenery Embossing Folder (I think this is one of the BEST Embossing Folders!) and added to the front.
The flower cluster was cut with the Charming Day Die from Basic White cardstock and colored with Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Old Olive Inks using Blending Brushes.
Two stem branches were cut from Pecan Pie cardstock and brushed with Pecan Pie Ink.
All were added to the front with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The Charming Day greeting was stamped with Pecan Pie on 3/4 x 3 strip of Basic White cardstock and the end cut at an angle. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Cajun Craze & Gold Dots were added to the background.

Don’t these fall colors POP against the white 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: Charming Day
Inks: Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie
C/S: Thick Basic White, Basic White, Pecan Pie
Accessories: Charming Day Dies, Peaceful Greenery Embossing Folder, Cajun Craze & Gold Dots, Adhesives

CSF893 – Ornamental Christmas

October 30, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

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

ORNAMENTAL CHRISTMAS

I went with a square card since the layout looked more symmetrical to me! I also used my Ornamental Christmas Bundle for the first time! I love these bottle trees and made mine in some pretty non-traditional colors!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5 x 10 Summer Splash cardstock, scored at 5 and folded to form the base card.
A 3-1/2 x 5 piece of Regals Distressed Patterns Specialty DSP was colored with Summer Splash Ink using a Blending Brush and adhered across the center.
The bottle brush Ornamental Christmas trees were stamped with Pretty in Pink, Summer Splash and Peach Pie Inks on Basic White cardstock and cut with the Die. They were added across the DSP with Stampin’ Dimensionals, overlapping slightly.
Some gold Black & White & Gold Baker’s Twine was wrapped in several loops and then adhered to the trees on the right.
The greeting from Ornamental Christmas was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 1/2 x 3-1/2 strip of Summer Splash cardstock and the ends cut at an angle. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Summer Splash 2024-26 In Color Flat Pearls were added to the background.

This turned out how I pictured it in my head! So happy when that happens! Check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Ornamental Christmas
Ink: Memento Black, Summer Splash, Peach Pie, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Basic White, Summer Splash
Designer Paper: Regal Distressed Patterns Specialty 12×12
Accessories: Ornamental Christmas Dies, 2024-26 In Color Flat Pearls, Black & White & Gold Baker’s Twine, Adhesives

CS217 – Spooky Halloween

October 28, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme this month is “Fright Night”! Halloween is this week! I’ve enjoyed making lots of Halloween cards this year!

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

This was a card that my Stamp Class did for September! Again, just a little bit of stamping, masking and dies!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is -1/4 x 11 Basic Black cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Gorgeous Grape cardstock was stamped with the Spooky Halloween bats in Memento Black Ink in the upper left corner and then embossed with the Soft Waves Embossing Folder and added to the front.
The larger Fright Night label was cut from the gray speckled pattern in Botanical Textures Designer Paper, then masked with a 1-1/4″ circle (for the moon) in the upper right corner and sponged with Gorgeous Grape Ink. Some Spooky Halloween bats were stamped with Memento Black Ink over the “moon”. It was added to the front flat.
The house was cut from Basic Black cardstock with the Spooky Halloween house die and backed with Daffodil Delight cardstock to show through the windows. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The fence was cut with the Die from Basic Black cardstock and cut in half, then added on each side of the house.
Happy Halloween from Fright Night was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Smoky Slate cardstock and cut with the Fright Night banner die, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A couple Purple Fine Shimmer Gems were added in the background.

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

Supplies:

Stamps: Spooky Halloween, Fright Night
Inks: Memento Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Gorgeous Grape, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate
Designer Paper: Botanical Textures 12×12
Accessories: Spooky Halloween Dies, Fright Night Dies, Purple Fine Shimmer Gems, Blending Brush, 1-1/4″ Circle for mask, Adhesives

IM408 – Pine Tree Trimmings

October 27, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a fun platter of Christmas cookies!

PINE TREE TRIMMINGS

This is a cute little set with fun Christmas trees! I picked out the Christmas tree cookie to replicate on today’s card!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Garden Green cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Real Red cardstock was added to the front.
Two 1 x 5-1/4 strips of Christmas Tags & More DSP was added to the top and bottom of the Real Red layer.
The Everyday Arches was cut with the Die from Basic White cardstock and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimenisonals.
The Pine Tree Trimmings open tree was stamped with Memento Black Ink on the Christmas Tags & More DSP and cut with the Die. The trimming was cut several times with the Die from Real Read cardstock and the star from Crushed Curry cardstock. They were adhered to the tree. The tree was added to the arch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink on 3/4 x 2 piece of Garden Green and the end banner cut. It was tucked under the tree and adhered with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of gold Traditional Sparkling Sequins were added to the background.

I don’t know how I originally overlooked this DSP, but so glad I saw and ordered it! OK, check out Debbie’s Inspiration Monday card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Pine Tree Trimmings
Inks: Memento Black
C/S: Basic White, Real Red, Garden Green
Accessories: Pine Tree Trimmings Dies, Everyday Arches Dies, Traditional Sparkling Sequins, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – Happy Halloween

October 25, 2025 By Connie | 2 Comments

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

GINGERBREAD MAN FRANKENSTEIN

Halloween is this week already! I love seeing the little kids and their costumes! You probably saw my Gingerbread Man Witch from Thursday’s challenge…but I also created a Frankenstein for today’s challenge! He’s so cute!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pumpkin Pie cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Smoky Slate cardstock was added on top.
The 1 x 5-1/4 strip of Spooky Sweet DSP was added to the left side.
The gingerbread man was cut from Granny Apple Green using just one side of the Die and his hand rounded to finish it off.
Another gingerbread man was cut from Basic Black cardstock and his clothes cut for the neck, sleeves and pants. A piece was also trimmed off for his hair and the top of his head flattened.
The bolts for his neck are the ends of the candy shape die cut off, sponged with Smoky Slate Ink, and adhered behind his head.
The eyes and mouth were stamped with Memento Black Ink and the scars drawn with the Black Marker.
Eek, the web and spider from Fright Night Dies were cut from Smoky Slate cardstock and added to his clothing.
A White Gel Pen was used to draw the thread from the web to the spider body and the spider eyes.
Frankenstein was added to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
One of the potion bottle label die cuts from the DSP was added to his hand with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
A trio of purple Shimmer Star Foam Stockers were added to the web and the top of the potion bottle. A small white one added to the spider body.

He was SO much fun to design! 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: Gingerbread Man
Inks: Memento Black, Smoky Slate
Marker: Black, Non-SU White Gel Pen
C/S: Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green, Basic Black, Smoky Slate
Designer Paper: Spooky Sweet 12×12
Accessories: Gingerbread Man Dies, Fright Night Dies, Shimmer Star Foam Stickers, Adhesives

CSF892 – Gingerbread Man

October 23, 2025 By Connie | Leave a Comment

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

Well, you know how much I love making characters from stamp sets! Remember my series of ornament characters a couple years ago? Here’s another one using Gingerbread Man and Fright Night Dies on a slimline card shape! SOOOO fun!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 7 x 8-1/2 Mossy Meadow cardstock, scored at 3-1/2 and folded.
A 3-1/4 x 8-1/4 piece of orange stripe Spooky Sweet DSP was added on top.
A 2 x 3-1/4 piece of Basic Black cardstock was torn across the top and then added for the “ground” along the bottom.
One side of the Gingerbread Man was cut from Granny Apple Green cardstock and the face stamped with Memento Black Ink. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The hat is the tree from the Ornamental Christmas Dies cut from Basic Black cardstock, trimmed shorter, and the hat brim 3/8″ x 2-1/2 with rounded edges. The hat band is 1/8″ x 1-1/2 Spooky Sweet DSP trimmed to fit the hat. It was added to her head with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The hair is 3/4 x 1-1/2 black striped Spooky Sweet DSP hand cut for the strands and tucked under the hat.
The dress is the body of the Gingerbread Man cut from Petunia Pop print Spooky Sweet DSP and the arms trimmed off.
The spiderweb from Fright Night Dies was cut from Basic Gray cardstock and the spider from Basic Black cardstock. They were added to the upper left corner.
Boo from Fright Night Dies was cut from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and added to the top.
The bow from Gingerbread Man Dies was cut from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and added along her neck.
The cauldron is from the Spooky Sweet DSP die cuts and added to the bottom with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Shimmer Star Foam Stickers were added to her hat band, her bow, the spider, and the bubbles in the cauldron.

How fun is that??? My grand-daughter will get this card for Halloween! Check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Gingerbread Man
Ink: Memento Black
Cardstock: Basic Black, Granny Apple Green Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray
Designer Paper: Spooky Sweet 12×12
Accessories: Gingerbread Man Dies, Fright Night Dies, Shimmer Star Foam Stickers, Adhesives