#stampinup

Saturday Blog Hop – Luck of the Irish

March 14, 2020 By Connie | 1 Comment

Happy Saturday! It’s time for the Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop and our theme this week is Luck of the Irish…any color of green cards! Since we are so close to St. Patrick’s Day, I did my Gnome Leprechaun again!

LEPRECHAUN GNOME

Isn’t he cute? I love the “red” beard on this one. (Check out Thursday’s post if you want to see the other Gnome Leprechaun card I made.)

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Garden Green cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Soft Sea Foam cardstock is embossed with the Basket Weave Embossing Folder and added on top.
A 1 x 4-1/2 strip of Garden Lane Designer Paper was added across the front, then a 3/4 x 3 placed on top of that.
A 1/8 x 4-3/4 strip of Basic Black cardstock added on top.
The scallop rectangle was cut from Whisper White cardstock using the Stitched So Sweeting Dies and added on top.
The gnome hat was punched from Garden Green cardstock with the Tree Builder Punch, the nose is 1/2″ Circle Punch from Petal Pink cardstock, the beard is the leaf shape from Tropical Dies cut from Cajun Craze cardstock. The feet are punched from Basic Black cardstock with the Perennial Flower Punch.
The Basic Black band is a 1/8″ strip punched with the Tree Builder Punch, then added to the hat. The buckle is a 1/4 x 1/4 piece of Gold Glimmer Paper.
He is adhered together and added to the scallop rectangle with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Itty Bitty Greetings was stamped with Garden Green Ink on Whisper White cardstock, then cut with the small label in Stitched So Sweetly Dies, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I’ve had so much fun making these gnomes! 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’s fabulous Luck of the Irish card and see what everyone did with this challenge!

Be ready to deck the halls with Stampin' Up!'s HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BUNDLE featuring a cute gingerbread man, whimsical tree, holly, and peppermint images and dies! The HOME FOR CHRISTMAS DIES also include fun tag and pocket shapes, plus a scallop border! The classic greetings will finish your projects with some festive cheer. We've paired the HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BUNDLE with the TIMELESS CHRISTMAS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER featuring traditional colors, plaids and stripes for your seasonal-themed crafts. Our HOME FOR CHRISTMAS COLLECTION gives you step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO gift card holders for a total of SIX tutorials to use in your classes or personal use. See more details HERE!

How fun to create a traditional Christmas Village using Stampin' Up!'s WELCOME NOEL BUNDLE! Stamp the houses, trees and deer elements to build your holiday scene or cut them quickly with the detailed shapes and the WELCOME NOEL DIES. We used greetings from the Winter Adventures stamp set or use your own sentiments to finish it off. We've paired the WELCOME NOEL BUNDLE with the WINTER DREAMS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER featuring white on deep blue designs for your winter-themed crafts. Our WELCOME NOEL COLLECTION gives you step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO enhanced special fold card ideas for a total of SIX tutorials to use in your classes or personal use. See more details HERE!

Create the feel of a nature walk through the winter woods with Stampin' Up! FROSTED PINECONES BUNDLE! Stamp the pinecone and then add textured details using the FROSTED PINECONES DECORATIVE MASKS or cut the detailed shapes with the FROSTED PINECONES DIES. Add one of the heartfelt winter sentiments to finish it off. We've paired the FROSTED PINECONES BUNDLE with the WHISPERING WOODS 12x12 DESIGNER PAPER. Our FROSTED PINECONES COLLECTION gives you step-by-step tutorials for FOUR cards and TWO small decor ideas for a total of SIX tutorials, all full of seasonal charm. See more details HERE!

CCMC603 – Leprechaun Gnome

March 12, 2020 By Connie | 2 Comments

Happy Thursday!!! It’s time for a Create with Connie and Mary challenge! This week we have a fun color combination for you to try.

Since we are getting close to St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d use this color combination for a St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Gnome! SO fun, isn’t it?

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 Pear Pizzazz cardstock, scored at 4-1/4 and folded.
The front was embossed with the FREE Power of Hope/Stone Embossing Folder (sure wish that would stay in the regular lineup…I love the texture!)
At the bottom is a 1-3/4 x 5-1/2 piece of Old Olive Regals 6×6 DSP.
A 1/4 x 5-1/2 strip of Soft Suede cardstock is added to hide the seam.
The Whisper White was cut with the Stitched So Sweetly Dies, stamped with Have a Lucky Day (Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set) in Soft Suede Ink and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The shamrock was punched with the heart from the Dog Punch and hand-cut stem, then adhered to the front.
A light green Rhinestone from Noble Peacock Rhinestones was added to the center of the shamrock.
The gnome hat was punched from the Old Olive Regals DSP with the Tree Builder Punch, the nose is 1/2″ Circle Punch from Petal Pink cardstock, the beard is the leaf shape from Tropical Dies from Soft Suede cardstock. The feet are punched from Basic Black cardstock with the Perennial Flower Punch.
The Basic Black band is a strip punched with the Tree Builder Punch, then added to the hat. The buckle is a 1/4 x 1/4 piece of Gold Glimmer Paper.
He is put on the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals!

Don’t you love him??? OK…check what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary! I’m sure you will be very inspired!

Ornate Style Stamp Set

March 11, 2020 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Stampin’ Up! has given demos advance purchasing of a new Annual Catalog suite of products called the Ornate Garden Suite! It has two stamp set/die bundles, some gorgeous Designer Paper with gold accents, an embossing folder, ribbon and Gilded Gems! It is FABULOUS! Customers can begin ordering on April 1st (no joke!)

I used a technique called Watercolor Wash for today’s card using the floral image from Ornate Style. So soft and pretty!

ORNATE STYLE

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Crumb Cake cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
A 1 x 5-1/2 strip of Ornate Garden DSP was added down the right side.
On top, the 3-1/4 x 4-3/4 piece of Crumb Cake cardstock was added with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The eyelet rectangle from Ornate Layers Dies was cut from Whisper White, cut in half, then trimmed and added under the Crumb Cake layer on the right side.
The floral image from Ornate Style stamp set was inked with White Craft Ink on Crumb Cake cardstock, then embossed with White Embossing Powder.
An AquaPainter and diluted White Craft Ink was used to color the image.
After dry, it was colored with Dark Highland Heather, Light Mango Melody, Light Poppy Parade, Dark Seaside Spray, Bronze, Dark Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends and hand-cut. It was added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The greeting from Itty Bitty Birthdays was stamped with Soft Suede Ink on Whisper White and punched with the Label Me Fancy punch, then added with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A trio of Gilded Gems (part of the Ornate Garden Suite) were added to the front.

I think I’m really going to have fun with this stamp set! I have another flower image sitting here ready to be finished into a card, too! Contact me to get the informational flyer and place your order…I’ll submit it on April 1st when it becomes available!

Saturday Blog Hop – One Layer Cards

March 7, 2020 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Saturday! It’s time for the Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop and our theme this week is One Layer Cards…meaning, the images are stamped directly on the base…no extras!

THOUGHTFUL BLOOMS

In my opinion, these are some of the HARDEST type of cards to make! Even more than special folds! I don’t seem to know when to “stop” and want to fill in every space. So, this card is very minimalist for me! But, I did create with a little interest by scoring a couple lines across the bottom and filling in with a Black Marker.

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Whisper White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
Across the front at 10 and 10-1/8, two lines were scored, then filled with a Black Maraker.
The greeting was stamped with Memento Black Ink off center.
The large flowers were stamped first with Highland Heather Ink, then the solid leaves with Granny Apple Green. The star flowers were stamped with Coastal Cabana, and the smallest flower with Daffodil Delight.
Two purple Noble Peacock Rhinestones were added to the center of the purple flowers and a trio of green Noble Peacock Rhinestones were added in the background.

So, what do you think? Did I succeed? I’ll tell you it took me FOUR tries to get the spacing I liked! lol! 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’s fabulous One Layer card and see what everyone did with this challenge!

CCMC602 – Clubhouse

March 5, 2020 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Thursday!!! It’s time for a Create with Connie and Mary challenge! This week we have a fun sketch for you to try.

Here is what I did with the sketch using Stampin’ Up!’s Clubhouse Bundle. I’m SO glad they came out with a golf theme set…both my boys play and it will be fun to make their cards!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Night of Navy cardstock, scored at 5-1/2.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Whisper White cardstock.
A 1/4 x 3-3/4 strip of Soft Sea Foam was added in the background with a 1/4 x 3-3/4 strip of Garden Green offset from it.
The Country Club Designer Paper (LOVE IT!) was cut to 2-1/2 x 4 and added on top.
The Stitched So Sweetly label was cut from Soft Sea Foam cardstock and added to the DSP.
The Golf Ball/Tee image was stamped with Memento Black Ink on Whisper White cardstock and colored with Soft Sea Foam, Night of Navy and Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends. It was cut with the Golf Club Dies and added to the label with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Two grass images from Golf Club Dies were cut from Garden Green and tucked behind the tee on the label.
Happy Father’s Day badge was stamped with Garden Green on Soft Sea Foam cardstock and cut with the Golf Club Die. It is popped up on the front corner with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The laurel leaves were cut from Garden Green with the Golf Club Die, then added around the badge.
A trio of Nobel Peacock Rhinestones (navy) were added to the background.

I love how this turned out!!! OK…check what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary! I’m sure you will be very inspired!

IM113 – Lovely Lily Pad

March 2, 2020 By Connie | Leave a Comment

Happy Monday! It’s time for our Create with Connie and Mary Inspiration Monday challenge! This week’s inspiration is a gorgeous stained glass piece!

And…what else would I use except Stampin’ Up!’s FREE Sale-A-Bration Stamp Set and Dies…Lovely Lily Pad! I went with a very minimalist look on my card to keep with the clean lines of the inspiration piece.

Stampin’ Details:

- The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Petal Pink cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
- On top is a 3-7/8 x 5-1/8 layer of Flirty Flamingo cardstock.
- The 3-3/4 x 5 layer of Whisper White cardstock was stamped and stamped off with the “bubble” image in Gallery Grunge stamp set with Seaside Spray Ink just in the lower right area.
- The large lily pad and flower from Lovely Lily Pad stamp set (FREE SAB item!) were stamped with Memento Black Ink on scrap Whisper White cardstock and colored with Light & Dark Petal Pink, Light Flirty Flamingo and Dark Mint Macaron an Light Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Blends. They were cut with the Lily Pad Dies (also a FREE SAB item!), then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Happy Birthday from Peaceful Moments stamp set was stamped with Memento Black Ink in the background.
- A trio of Iridescent Sequins were added in the background.

I love the soft colors and how delicate this card looks! OK…check out what Mary did with the Inspiration Monday Challenge over on Create with Connie and Mary!

Saturday Blog Hop – Technique Cards

February 29, 2020 By Connie | 1 Comment

Happy Saturday! It’s time for the Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop and our theme this week is Technique Cards! I remember when I did technique cards ALL the time! I even ran a Technique Class every month for over six years! But, I stopped doing a lot of techniques on my cards. May have to jump back in!

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

This technique has always been one of my favorites. I don’t know if it has an official name, but I call it “Acrylic Block Watercolors” and it is SO quick and easy to change up with whatever colors you want to use! I also pulled out my new Positive Thoughts and Nature’s Thoughts Dies for this card!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Soft Sea Foam cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
The 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Whisper White cardstock was embossed with the Parisian Flourish Embossing Folder.
A 1 x 4 piece of Shaded Spruce was added across the front.
Another 3-1/2 x 4-3/4 piece of Whisper White cardstock was used for the technique…I wanted an Ombre effect. The E sized Acrylic Block was colored along the bottom third with Garden Green Marker, the middle third with Granny Apple Green Marker and the top third with Soft Sea Foam Marker, scribbling directly on the block with the marker. It was spritzed with water, then stamped onto the Whisper White cardstock and let dry.
The Whisper White was then cut with the Nature’s Thoughts embossed rectangle…can you see the dotted scallop it cuts? SO pretty!
After dry, it was stamped with the large fern from Positive Thoughts stamp set using Shaded Spruce Ink, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Another technique used was “omit stamping”. I inked up just the word “Prayers” with the Basic Black Marker and stamped on a 1/2 x 1-1/2 piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, then cut one end at an angle. It was added to the front.
A trio of Holiday Rhinestones (still available to order!) in the dark green color were added in the background!

I really LOVE this card!!! You need to try this technique, 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’s fabulous technique card and see what everyone did with this challenge!

CCMC601 – Timeless Tropical

February 27, 2020 By Connie | 2 Comments

Hello everyone!!! Happy last Thursday in February! lol! It’s time for another Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge. We have a color challenge for you…and it WAS a challenge for me!

I couldn’t find a DSP that had all three of these colors, so I “altered” one that I did have! I used the stripe in Best Dressed DSP and changed out the Mint Macaron color to Old Olive by using my Light Old Olive Stampin’ Blends! It worked perfectly and since the lines were kind of abstract watercolor looking, I didn’t even have to be that careful when I did it!

Here’s my card using Timeless Tropical again. I really do like that set!

Stampin’ Details:

The base is 4-1/4 x 11 Thick Whisper White cardstock, scored at 5-1/2 and folded.
On top is a 4 x 5-1/4 layer of Purple Posy cardstock.
A 2-1/4 x 5-1/4 piece of “altered” Best Dressed DSP was added to a 2-1/2 x 5-1/4 piece of Pretty Peacock cardstock and then to the front of the card.
A 2″ circle was punched from Whisper White cardstock and added to the front.
The palm trees were colored with Old Olive and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Makers and then stamped on Whisper White cardstock, and cut with the In the Tropics Die, then added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The flowers were stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with the Purple Posy Light & Dark Stampin’ Blends, cut with the In The Tropics Die and added to the front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The ferns and leaves and Aloha were cut from Pretty Peacock and Old Olive cardstock with the In The Tropic Dies, then tucked around the flowers with Mini Glue Dots.
Inside the flowers centers are Nobel Peacock Rhinestones with another added in the background.

I love how this turned out and I need to remember to alter my DSP more often when I don’t have the exact colors I need! Make sure to check out what the rest of the Challenge Team did this week over on Create with Connie and Mary! Some fun ideas with these colors!