Stampin' Up!

CSF930 – Football Fan

July 23, 2026 By Connie | 6 Comments

It’s Thursday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends challenge! The July month of challenges are some of my favorites! Each week we will be using a sample card from the current Stampin’ Up! catalog and recreating it using either the layout, the colors, or a combination of both!

FOOTBALL FAN

I don’t have any of my grandkids playing football, so I wasn’t really sure I “needed” this stamp set! It’s one of the stand-alone sets in the July Online Exclusive offerings! BUT…then I remembered that I DO have a TON of avid Ohio State football fans in the family! I knew I could use it for some birthday cards! It was perfect for this challenge! PLUS, the greetings could be used for any sport!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Poppy Parade cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Smoky Slate cardstock was added on front.
A 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 piece of Basic White cardstock was added to the center.
The 3 x 4- piece of Smoky Slate was layered with alternating 1/2 x 3 strips of Poppy Parade cardstock to create the background.
The football player was stamped with Basic Black Hybrid Ink and colored with Smoky Slate, Poppy Parade, Pecan Pie and Ivory Stampin’ Blends. It was hand-cut and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Smoky Slate Ink on Basic White cardstock and cut with the Stylish Shapes Die. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The pennant was stamped with Poppy Parade Ink on Basic White cardstock and hand-cut, then added to a 1/8″ strip of Basic Black, then tucked under the circle using a Stampin’ Dimensional.
A trio of black Wonderful Stars Puffy Stickers were added to the background.

Oh…I can’t wait to share this card with my Buckeye fans! OK, check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Football Fan
Ink: Basic Black Hybrid, Poppy Parade
Blends: Ivory, Pecan Pie, Poppy Parade, Smoky Slate
Cardstock: Basic White, Poppy Parade, Smoky Slate, Basic Black
Accessories: Stylish Shapes Dies, Wonderful Stars Puffy Stickers, Adhesives

The playful critters in Stampin' Up!'s CHRISTMAS CREW BUNDLE will certainly brighten your day! Stamp and cut out the whimsical bear, snowman or reindeer, stamp a holiday greeting on their sign, then add finishing touches with the candy canes, Santa beard, evergreen trees and more! This CHRISTMAS CREW BUNDLE will give you fun tools to create festive holiday cards and tags. We've combined the CHRISTMAS CREW BUNDLE with the classic colors and patterns in the TIMELESS CHRISTMAS 12 X 12 DESIGNER PAPER! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO Advent Treat Box ideas for a total of 6 tutorials, all full of handmade charm. See more details HERE!

Deck the Halls, and your Christmas cards and scrapbook pages, with festive wreaths and evergreen sprigs using the NOEL TIDINGS BUNDLE. The berries and pinecones can be tucked around the greenery, then add a label with a merry greeting! This NOEL TIDINGS BUNDLE will give you the tools to add some sophistication and charm to celebrate the Yuletide. We've combined the NOEL TIDINGS BUNDLE with the gold tones in the NEUTRAL NOEL 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO cute tree or package ornaments for a total of 6 tutorials, perfect for elevating your class or craft time! See more details HERE!

The PAINTED PUMPKINS BUNDLE will bring a seasonal look to your crafting with a variety of pumpkin shapes, vines and leaves, and a fun picket fence to cut for a background! It's like Pumpkin Spice lattes in stamp form! (Available for preorder now, customers on Sept. 1st.) The Painted Pumpkins Masks make coloring and shading quick and easy, plus the cute greetings can be added for the perfect message! We've combined the PAINTED PUMPKINS BUNDLE with the cheerful color palette in the PAINTED PATCH 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER! You'll get step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO additional enhanced fun fold card projects (total of 6 tutorials), perfect for enhancing your class or craft time! See more details HERE!

CS255 – Heirloom Boutique

July 21, 2026 By Connie | 2 Comments

Our Creatively Simple theme has a new theme for the month of July! Time for “Celebrations” cards!

HEIRLOOM BOUTIQUE

I honestly have used this bundle WAY more than I thought I would! I love the stamp images, but the dies are SO cool! This card has a single flower…to me it looks like a magnolia!

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 Very Vanilla cardstock was stamped with the Heirloom Boutique greeting in Peaceful Pine Ink. The rest was speckled with dots using the Strawberry Slush Blender Pen and tapping it against the lid to transfer the ink.
The large and small flowers were cut from Basic White cardstock using the Dies, the centers brushed with Strawberry Slush Ink.
The leaves were cut from Peaceful Pine cardstock with the Die, then brushed with Peaceful Pine Ink.
The flower was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A white Adhesive Backed Blooms was placed in the center.

This card could be used for a wedding, anniversary or really any celebration! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Heirloom Boutique
Inks: Peaceful Pine, Strawberry Slush
Blends: Strawberry Slush
Cardstock: Basic White, Very Vanilla, Peaceful Pine
Accessories: Heirloom Boutique Dies, Adhesive Backed Blooms, Adhesives

IM446 – Splash & Relax

July 20, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

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

SPLASH & RELAX

My eye focused on the row of sunglasses in this inspiration piece, so I used that idea on my card today!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Azure Afternoon cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Waterside Retreat DSP was added on front.
A 1-1/2 x 4 strip of Crumb Cake cardstock was added across the center.
The Sweet Words & Labels was cut from Basic White cardstock using the Die. It was brushed with Azure Afternoon Ink in the center and added flat to the front.
The greeting was stamped with Basic Black Hybrid Ink on the label.
The sunglass frames were cut from Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape and Blueberry Bushel cardstocks and the lenses from Basic Black cardstock. They were adhered together, then lined up on the label and adhered with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A White Gel Pen was used on the lenses for highlights.
The blue Earthy Matte Dots were added to the edges of the label.

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

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: Splash & Relax
Inks: Basic Black Hybrid, Azure Afternoon
C/S: Basic Black, Basic White, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape, Blueberry Bushel
Accessories: Splash & Relax Dies, Sweet Words & Labels Dies, Earthy Matte Dots, Blending Brushes, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – Jolly July

July 18, 2026 By Connie | 4 Comments

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This week’s theme is “Jolly July”…featuring Christmas cards! As fast as the year is flying by, it will be time to be thinking of Christmas soon!

A STITCHED SEASON

The only Christmas set I’ve purchased so far this year is Pretty Poinsettia. I love it and have used it quite a bit already. So, I challenged myself to use something different and focused on A Stitched Season DSP for today’s card! I did sneak in a little of the Pretty Poinsettia Bundle…but the focus is the DSP.

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 Old Olive was added on top.
A 3 x 4 piece of holly A Stitched Season DSP was added to the bottom of the Old Olive layer.
Next a 1/4 x 4 strip of Real Red cardstock hides the seam.
The arch was cut from Basic White cardstock using the Everyday Arches Die and stamped with the Pretty Poinsettia greeting in Secret Sea Ink on the right side.
The largest petals from Pretty Poinsettia was cut from Peaceful Pine cardstock, then cut in half for the leaves. They were added along the side and bottom with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The cardinal, tree and poinsettia were all hand-cut from the A Stitched Season DSP, then added to the arch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A white Adhesive Backed Mini Christmas Button was added to the center of the poinsettia image.
Some Linen Thread was tied in a bow and added to the tree trunk.

This turned out cute! 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: Pretty Poinsettia
Inks: Secret Sea
Cardstock: Basic White, Real Red, Old Olive, Peaceful Pine
Designer Paper: A Stitched Season
Accessories: Pretty Poinsettia Dies, Everyday Arches Dies, Adhesive Backed Mini Christmas Buttons, Linen Thread, Adhesives

CSF929 – Web of Fun

July 16, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

WEB OF FUN

I used the layout from the challenge card to create my Halloween card using the Web of Fun Bundle! I know I’ve mentioned that I love this large spiderweb and thought it gave the same feeling as the large scallop circle on the inspiration card!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Timid Tiger cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 piece of striped Spooktacular DSP was added to the front.
The spider web was cut from Basic White cardstock using the Web of Fun die.
The label from the Web of Fun Dies was cut from Timid Tiger cardstock and stamped with the Web of Fun greeting in Basic Black Hybrid Ink. A 1/8″ circle was punched at the end.
Some black Baker’s Twine from the Essentials Pack was tied around the web.
The twine was then tied in a bow, adding the label and adhering to the web with a Stampin’ Dimensional so it stayed in place.
Three spiders were cut with the die from Basic Black cardstock and rubbed with White Craft Ink on one side. They were added to the web with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of white Shimmering Dots were added to the background.

It’s a “very spooky” card, don’t you think? OK, check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this challenge over on Create with Stamping Friends.

Supplies:
Stamps: Web of Fun
Ink: Basic Black Hybrid, White Craft
Cardstock: Basic White, Timid Tiger, Basic Black
Designer Paper: Spooktacular 6×6
Accessories: Web of Fun Dies, Shimmering Dots, Adhesives

CS254 – Silly Old Bear

July 14, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Our Creatively Simple theme for the month of July is “Celebrations” cards!

SILLY OLD BEAR

This card came together SO easily thanks to the Silly Old Bear DSP! Just cut with the Sweet Words & Labels die and adhere! There are several images on the sheet to use…this one looked like a celebration because of the balloon!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Very Vanilla cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Golden Glow cardstock was added on top.
The medallion print Silly Old Bear DSP was cut to 2-1/4 x 5, then the bottom cut as a banner. It was adhered to the right side.
A 1/4 x 5-1/4 strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock was added down the side of the DSP.
The DSP image was cut with the Sweet Words & Labels Die and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Banner Sayings was stamped with Cherry Cobbler Ink on scrap Golden Glow cardstock and punched with the Three Banner Punch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of red Earthy Matte Dots were added to the background.

Again, use this for ANY celebration! OK check out Debbie’s new Creatively Simple card over on Create with Stamping Friends!

Supplies:

Stamps: Banner Sayings
Inks: Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Golden Glow
Designer Paper: Silly Old Bear 12×12
Accessories: Sweet Words & Labels Dies, Three Banner Punch, Earthy Matte Dots, Adhesives

IM445 – Web of Fun

July 13, 2026 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to our Create with Stamping Friends Inspiration Monday challenges. This week’s inspiration is a spooky spider in his web!

WEB OF FUN

Yep…SO excited to see some Halloween sets in the latest Online Exclusives! I know…it is only July…but still excited! Here’s the first card I made using the new Web of Fun! LOVE that big spiderweb!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is4-1/4 x 11 Gray Granite cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic Black cardstock was brushed with White Craft Ink around the edges, then adhered to the base card.
A 4 x 5-1/4 piece of Basic Gray cardstock was embossed with the Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder, then cut with the Everyday Arches Die. It was brushed with White Craft Ink on the raised areas and adhered to the front.
The spiderweb was cut from Gray Granite cardstock and added to the front with a Stampin’ Dimensional in the center, then glue around the edges.
The spider was cut from Basic Black cardstock with the Die and adhered to the web with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The label was cut from Gray Granite cardstock with the Boo from Basic Black cardstock adhered to it, then added to the front left side with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Sunset Sparkle Sequins were added to the spider and web.

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

SUPPLIES:
Stamps: None
Inks: White Craft
C/S: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Gray Granite
Accessories: Web of Fun Dies, Everyday Arches Dies, Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder, Sunset Sparkle Sequins, Blending Brushes, Adhesives

Saturday Blog Hop – White on White

July 11, 2026 By Connie | 6 Comments

It’s Saturday and time for our Create with Stamping Friends Blog Hop. This week’s theme is “White on White”.

PRETTY POINSETTIA

White on White looks like a simple technique, but it can be a little challenging to get it just right! I think the key is to have layers of texture!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Basic White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic White cardstock was embossed with the Textured Tree Ring Embossing Folder.
The Sweet Words & Labels Die was cut from Basic White cardstock, stamped with the greeting in Basic Black Hybrid Ink and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The long poinsettia branch was cut from Basic White cardstock and adhered along the bottom of the label with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A three-layered poinsettia and a two-layered poinsettia were cut from Basic White cardstock and adhered together. They were added to the branch with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Some Wink of Stella was added to the petals and the JOY letters.
Two white Adhesive Backed Blooms were added to the center of the poinsettias.

I know you really can’t see all the details on here that make it SO pretty! 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: Pretty Poinsettia
Inks: Basic Black Hybrid
Cardstock: Basic White, Thick Basic White
Accessories: Pretty Poinsettia Dies, Sweet Words & Labels Dies, Textured Tree Ring Embossing Folder, Adhesive Backed Blooms, Adhesives