Stampin' Up!

IM210 – Daffodil Daydream

January 10, 2022 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! Isn’t this a beautiful daffodil cake, perfect for a spring wedding or birthday?

DAFFODIL DAYDREAM

Another new set in the Jan-June Mini Catalog is the beautiful Daffodil Daydream Bundle! I love the stamp images, but the dies are pretty awesome as well! For this card, I opted to use just the stamps with the die to cut it out, and then the cute little butterfly dies.

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 Gingham Embossing Folder and added on top.
- Two 1 x 3-1/4 pieces of Daffodil Afternoon Designer Paper was added on the right side towards the bottom.
- The daffodil cluster was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White cardstock, then colored with Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Stampin’ Blends. It was cut with the Daffodil Dies and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The Happy & Heartfelt greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink and cut with the Stitched Rectangle Die, then added across the stems with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Some Linen Thread was tied in a bow, then added under the greeting.
- The butterfly was cut from Pale Papaya cardstock and the body from Flirty Flamingo cardstock and added to the background with a Mini Stampin’ Dimensional.

I really love how this card turned out, especially the details of the Stitched Rectangle around the greeting and the Linen Thread. OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Grab those easy, breezy beach vibes right at your craft table when you use Stampin' Up!'s SPLASH & RELAX BUNDLE of products! Be inspired by the innertubes, beach balls, sunglasses, and other beach accessories this cute set has to offer! Then add a fun, carefree sentiment to finish off your project! We've combined the SPLASH & RELAX BUNDLE and the SCENIC COAST 6x6 DESIGNER PAPER with its' bright color backgrounds!! You'll get SIX step-by-step tutorials for FOUR regular cards and TWO special fold cards in this Collection! See more details HERE!

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!

Saturday Blog Hop – Loving Sale-A-Bration

January 8, 2022 By Connie | Leave a Comment

This week’s Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is “Loving Sale-A-Bration”. Stampin’ Up! has started a new round of Sale-A-Bration freebies and our Design Team is featuring their favorite stamp set from the SAB collection!

FRIENDLY HELLO

Even though the Friendly Hello Level 2 Bundle consists of a stamp set and coordinating designer paper, I choose to feature the Friendly Hello Stamp Set alone, along with another SAB product, the Sunshine & Rainbows Designer Paper. Both are my favorites in the SAB brochure!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Pool Party cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic White cardstock that was stamped with the leafy image in Granny Apple Green Ink several times.
Two 1/4 x 5-1/4 strips of the striped Sunshine & Rainbows pattern were added at the top and the bottom.
A Layering Circle was cut with the die from the Sunshine & Rainbows heart pattern and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The bird/flower image was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with the Light Gray Granite, Light Pool Party, Flirty Flamingo Combo, Light Granny Apple Green and Light Magenta Madness Stampin’ Blends. It was hand-cut and added to the circle with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Friendly Hello was stamped with Night of Navy Ink on a 1/2 x 3 piece of Basic White, the end cut at an angle, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Iridescent Rhinestones were added in the background.

OK, next up on our blog hop is our Create with Connie and Mary website, then on to creative Mary Brown, or head backwards to see Melissa Davies’ fabulous project and see what everyone did with this challenge!

CCMC697 – Flowering Rain Boots

January 6, 2022 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Hello! It’s Thursday and you know that means it is time for a Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge. We have a fun sketch this week for you to try!

FLOWERING RAIN BOOTS

This week I feel like spring has sprung. Of course, I’m in Florida, so it is warmer here than in Ohio! My kind of weather! I am using one of my new Jan-June Mini Catalog bundles, Flowering Rain Boots on today’s card! I thought the watering can would be a good substitute for the rectangle on the sketch.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pale Papaya cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Flirty Flamingo cardstock.
I used the diagonal print in the SAB Daffodil Afternoon Designer Paper sized 2-1/4 x 4-3/4 and added towards thte left side.
A 1/2 x 3-1/4 strip of Pale Papaya cardstock was added towards the top.
The watering can was stamped with Smoky Slate Ink and the daisies with Pear Pizzazz Ink on Basic White, then cut with the Rainboots Dies. The flowers were colored with Pale Papaya Combo Stampin’ Blends and the centers with Dark Flirty Flamingo Blends. They were popped up on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting was stamped with Basic Gray Ink on 5/8 x 2-1/2 Basic White cardstock, then the end cut at an angle.
Some White Baker’s Twine was colored with the Dark Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends, then tied in a bow and added to the watering can with a Mini Glue Dot.
A trio of Iridescent Rhinestones were added to the background.

Isn’t that a fun set? LOVE it! OK, go check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did with this sketch over on Create with Connie and Mary!

CS18 – Hello Ladybug

January 4, 2022 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Welcome to Create with Connie and Mary’s Creatively Simple Challenge! Each month Mary and I will pick a theme…this month it is “Get Well” and we each create a simple card every week using that theme!

The new Hello Ladybug Bundle is just too cute not to use. I didn’t use the punch this time, but you could easily swap out the ladybugs and use it!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Real Red cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 3-1/2 x 4-3/4 piece of Basic White cardstock was stamped with the greeting from Positive Thoughts in Real Red Ink along the bottom.
It was layered on a 3-5/8 x 4-7/8 piece of Basic Black cardstock, then added to the front.
Three flowers from Hello Ladybug were stamped with Mango Melody Ink on Basic White and hand-cut, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The ladybug was stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Real Red Stampin’ Blends (or use Real Red and stamp the inside body). It was hand-cut and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Three red Holiday Rhinestones were added to the center of the flowers.

SUPER simple to make…who wouldn’t like to get a get-well card like this? Make sure to check out what Mary did this week for her “Get Well” Creatively Simple card over on Create with Connie and Mary! Stay tune next week for another Creatively Simple card!

IM209 – Sweet Conversations

January 3, 2022 By Connie | 2 Comments

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! I love this fun Valentine’s Day display with the conversation heart balloons, don’t you? Of course, I had to use Stampin’ Up!’s new Sweet Conversations stamp set for my card today!

SWEET CONVERSATIONS

We haven’t had a cute little set like this for a while, so I was pretty excited when I saw the new Jan-June Mini Catalog with these fun conversation hearts! I tried to replicate the wall of heart balloons on my card!

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Pool Party cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
- The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Basic White was embossed with the Dotty Hearts Embossing folder. Since it is a narrow one, you’ll need to do it twice.
- A 1-1/4 x 4 piece of Sweet Talk Designer Paper was added to the bottom with a 1/8 x 4 strip of Pool Party added on top to hide the seam.
- The large heart was punched from the Sweet Talk DSP with the Heart Punch Pack and added on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- The conversation heart images were stamped with Memento Black Ink, then the insides stamped with So Saffron, Pool Party, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather and Real Red Inks to match the stripes in the DSP. They were assembled on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Happy Valentine’s Day was stamped with Memento Black Ink on a 1/4 x 3 piece of So Saffron cardstock, then cut the flag ends. It was added to the large heart.
- A trio of Iridescent Rhinestones were added to the background for a little bling!

Isn’t that cute? I thought it represented the inspiration photo pretty well! OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Snowman Magnet Tray packaging

December 23, 2021 By Connie | 4 Comments

Yesterday I showed you some gifts that my nail tech commissioned me to do (see them HERE!) While looking for those small magnet trays, I found these larger narrow magnet trays on Amazon that are 2-3/4 x 9 and thought they would be perfect for holding Stampin’ Up! dies while my stampers are using them. I know how easy those small dies can be lost on a messy desk. I have a knife bar from years ago that I use but thought this looked even better. I believe they are actually made for holding small automotive pieces.

I wanted to add some candy to the tray, so found these Peppermint Bark Bars that were a PERFECT size to add to the packaging!

Because of the awkward size, I looked for an acetate box to hold the tray and candy. Found these boxes on Clear Bags that measure approx. 3 x 10 x 2.

Next up is decorating! Snowmen are my favorite decoration for winter holidays, so I made these. I think it is safe to show them now that almost everyone has received their gift.

Stampin’ Details:

The snowman body is 2-1/2 x 8-1/2 Basic White cardstock.
The hat is 1-3/4 x 2-1/4, and the brim is 1/2 x 3. A 1/4 x 2-1/4 strip of Heartwarming Hugs DSP is the hat band.
Two punches of the holly leaves with the retired punch from Garden Green cardstock and a retired Red Glitter Dot for the hat decoration.
The eyes are 3/8″ circles, the mouth is five 1/4″ Circles, and the buttons are 3/4″ circles punched from Basic Black cardstock. They are highlighted with a White Gel Pen.
The cheeks were sponged with Flirty Flamingo Ink with a sponge dauber.
The nose is the end of the Ice Cream Cone Builder Punch, then highlighted with a Pumpkin Pie Marker for the carrot lines.
The bow is retired 1-1/4″ red Striped Ribbon.
The snowman was adhered to the acetate box with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Aren’t they just the CUTEST! I loved making them for my stampers! I have a couple more ready to assemble…wonder who I should give them to? lol!

Special Order Gifts

December 22, 2021 By Connie | 2 Comments

The past couple years, my nail tech who owns the nail salon I go to has requested I make up something for the staff that work for her. Last year it was Bailey’s and Lindt Chocolates in the Cup Carriers. This year, I found these small metallic trays on Amazon that would be perfect to hold their small metal tips in their desk. Here is how I decorated them. I did the poinsettias for the women and penguins for the men working for her.

Here is a photo of the metallic trays.

I added a Ghirardelli Caramel Chocolate square inside.

I cut an Acetate Card Box in half and added the metallic tray and chocolate, then added some shred along the sides so it stayed in place.

POINSETTIA

I wrapped a 3 x 9 piece of retired gold buffalo check DSP around the outside of the cut in half Acetate Card Box for a sleeve.
I used the Poinsettia Dies to cut the three sizes of petals from Basic White cardstock and the leaves from Gold Metallic Paper and added to the front of the DSP with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Poinsettia Petals stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White and punched with the Double Oval Punch. It was layered on the retired SAB Be Dazzling Paper, then added to the front tucked under the poinsettia, with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The center is one of the retired Beaded Pearls.

PENGUIN

I wrapped a 3 x 9 piece of retired Penguin Playmates DSP around the outside of the cut in half Acetate Card Box for a sleeve.
I added a Wonderful Snowflake in the background with a Mini Glue Dot.
I stamped the snowbank from Penguin Place with Pool Party Ink, then cut along the edge. I stamped the greeting with Real Red and added the snowbank to the bottom of the DSP on front.
The penguin was punched with the Penguin Builder Punch from Basic Black and Basic White and adhered together. The eyes were stamped with Memento Black and the beak with Pumpkin Pie. The hat and scarf were stamped with Real Red Ink on Basic White cardstock and hand-cut, then added to the penguin. The feet were punched from Pumpkin Pie cardstock.
I stamped a portion of the Candy Cane background image in Real Red Ink on Basic White cardstock, then hand-cut the candy canes and placed in his hand.
A Rhinestone jewel was added to the center of the Snowflake.

I think they turned out SO cute and she loved them. I can’t wait to her what her staff thought of them! I love personalizing gifts using our Stampin’ Up! products!

Achievers Blog Hop – December 2021

December 20, 2021 By Connie | 3 Comments

Our Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip Achievers get together each month for a Blog Hop! I’m blessed with great customers and downline who helped me achieve this year’s Incentive Trip Reward. Our theme this month is ANYTHING CURRENT!

SNOWBODY BETTER

I fell in love with this little snow people and haven’t used this stamp nearly enough! It will be retiring soon, so make sure to grab it before it goes away. I love the punny greetings in it! I’m kind of obsessed with the Stitched Whimsy dies again, too! I tried to make it look like a “frame” with the snowflakes INSIDE the framed area! lol!

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 Pool Party cardstock is cut with the Stitched Whimsy Dies, centered.
The small snowflake cluster in Snowbody Better was stamped randomly in the background with White Craft Ink, staying inside the cut frame area.
The Snowbody Better group were stamped with Memento Black Ink on a 4 x 4 piece of Basic White cardstock. They were colored with Bermuda Bay Combo, Flirty Flamingo Combo, Pool Party Combo and Midnight Muse Combo Stampin’ Blends. The bodies were water colored with watered down Smoky Slate Ink Refill. It was hand-cut, leaving some “snow” along the bottom and adhered to the front.
An extra snowball was stamped with Memento Black, colored and hand-cut, then added to the bottom.
A Wonderful Snowflake was adhered towards the top.
Snowflake Hugs was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Basic White and punched with the Double Oval Punch, then added to the snowflake with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

SO CUTE! I just LOVE snowman stamps! If you need any supplies to recreate this project, I’ll be happy to place the order for you in the United States or click here to go to my Online Store! This month, please use my current Host code for orders under $150. $150 or more, keep the host rewards for yourself!