CCM Saturday Blog Hop - Spring is Here

Today's Create With Connie & Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is SPRING! I love this time of year, though I could do without the strong storms....yikes! Everything is busting out in bloom around here, and the gorgeous Dainty Delight stamp set was the perfect stamp set for showing the delicate beauty of Spring blossoms. 

I used StazOn Saddle Brown stamped off once for the flowers and greenery because I wanted a light outline that I could watercolor using muted shades of all the 2021-2023 In Colors. I'm so sad that these are retiring soon! I loved ALL the colors for the first time in a long time.

I thought I'd try a little shabby chic look for this card, so after stamping and watercoloring on the Shimmery White, I ran it through the SCEM (Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine) with the Timeworn Type folder, then distressed the edges. Some Brushed Brass Butterflies added a nice touch, even if I haven't seen any real ones yet!

That's all for today - see you next Saturday! Up next is Libby Fens at Libby Stamps. Or click the "back" button to go back to Lori at Loritamarie Crafts.

Stampin' Up! products used:

• Stamps: Dainty Delight, Biggest Wish, Ten Years of Growth (Mar '23 Paper Pumpkin)
  
• Paper: Shimmery White, Polished Pink, Very Vanilla
  
• Ink: StazOn Saddle Brown, Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink, Pale Papaya, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen
  
• Accessories: Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder, Tailor Made Tags Dies, Brushed Brass Butterflies, Water Painters, Baker's Twine essentials Pack
  

Stamp Review Crew - Sweet Citrus

Welcome to the Stamp Review Crew's SWEET CITRUS edition! The "Crew" is a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world who pick a stamp set or bundle to highlight on the first and third Mondays of each month, with a bonus hop if there is a fifth Monday. If you landed here from Jay's blog, Mitosu Crafts, welcome! There are only three of us today.

Sweet Citrus is an 11 piece photopolymer set with a coordinating 3D Embossing folder/hybrid die set. There are four sentiments, blossoms and, of course, the citrus. I love that this can be turned into any citrus from limes to oranges, tangerines to grapefruit!

I have two cards today. The first focuses on oranges. I used the embossing folder for a background and added a little color with a sponge dauber. The oranges were stamped, then embossed, then cut with the die. Some Clear Wink of Stella add a juicy shine to the fruit.

We used to have a huge naval orange tree that hung over our fence from the neighbor's yard. Those were THE BEST oranges I have ever had. Sure do miss them, since we can't grow them here in Tennessee.

Next up is the zesty lime card. I always think margaritas when I see limes, LOL. And what better way to celebrate a birthday than with a frosty margarita, amiright? 😁

After stamping, embossing, die cutting the lime, I pressed it onto the VersaMark pad and sprinkled it generously with salt....I mean, clear embossing powder, then hit it with the Heat Tool.

That's all I have to share for today, so click "Next" to see what Heidi over at RunningwScissors Stamper created, or "Previous" to visit Jay again. Thanks for stopping by!

Control Freaks Color Challenge

The Freaky theme this month is a color challenge! We are using Balmy Blue, Granny Apple Green, and Highland Heather - all lovely Spring colors! If you landed here from Debbie Henderson's blog, welcome! There are five of us this time. Can't wait to see what the Freaks did with this color challenge!

I have two floral-y spring-y cards today and the first one uses a stamp set I've had for a while but haven't used yet, Fresh Cut Flowers. It had a limited time coordinating die set called Fresh Cut Stems that in now on clearance for 60% off! I didn't even realize it had the lovely diamond border until I opened it up. The vellum was cut with the border die first, then embossed with the Twigs & Sprigs 3D folder before adhering to the card base.

The sentiment is from Charming Sentiments. I love that every one of the seventeen greetings has a matching die - no fussy cutting needed!

I used Light Balmy Blue and Highland Heather Stampin' Blends to color the seam binding ribbon and added some Iridescent Pearls. If you look closely, you'll notice the anthers in the flowers are dotted with White Pearlized Enamel Effects, and that I smeared some before they dried. Oops!

The second card features the Petal Park bundle, Basic Borders Dies, and Basics 3D (Online Exclusive) embossing folders. I started by die cutting the angle in the card front, then embossing just the front with the crosshatch folder. It flattened the pierced dots from the border die, but that was okay because it was going to be covered with flowers.

I stamped the filler flowers and leaf from Petal Park on Basic White using the three challenge colors. Then I used the outline flower stamps on the colored cardstock with matching ink giving lots of variety in the blossoms. All I had to do was arrange them, and adhere with liquid glue and a few dimensionals.

To bling it up a bit, some silver cord and silver Flowers Trinkets were added. The inside is lined with the small Balmy Blue gingham print in Country Gingham and the greeting is from the fabulous Go To Greetings. I really, really hope that set carries over!!!

Up next is Wendy, at Wickedly Wonderful Creations.

 

Product List

Petal Park Bundle (English)

Go To Greetings Cling Stamp Set (English)

Fresh Cut Flowers Cling Stamp Set

Fresh Cut Stems Dies

Charming Sentiments Bundle (English)

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Country Gingham 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad

Highland Heather Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Basics 3 D Embossing Folders

Twigs & Sprigs Embossing Folder & Die

Simply Elegant Trim

Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels

Trinkets Adhesive Backed Flowers

Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad

Basic Borders Dies

Add All to Cart

CCM Saturday Blog Hop - Happy Easter!

Today's Create With Connie & Mary Saturday Blog Hop theme is Easter cards, which gave me the perfect excuse to ink up the Easter Bunny stamp set. Are these bunnies not the cutest thing?!

The Balmy Blue card base was embossed with the Into the Clouds folder, then white ink was added with a sponge dauber to make the clouds more prominent. 

A 2" strip of DSP was backed with a 2 1/4" Basic White mat and adhered to the card. After stamping and cutting the bunnies, carrot, and eggs, all were colored with Stampin' Blends then popped up on Mini Dimensionals. The greeting had the bird added as an afterthought, but I think that bird adds a lot to the card!

That's all for today - see you next Saturday! Up next is Libby Fens at Libby Stamps. Or click the "back" button to go back to visit Lori at Loritamarie Crafts.

Stampin' Up! products used:

• Stamps: Easter Bunny
  
• Paper: Basic White and Balmy Blue Cardstock, Hello Irresistible 6" x 6" DSP (Online Exclusive)
  
• Ink: Basic Gray, White Craft Ink, plus Stampin' Blends Combos Crumb Cake, Tahitian Tide, Balmy Blue, Highland Heather, Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green and Pumpkin Pie
  
• Accessories: Into the Clouds Embossing Folder, Easter Bunny Punch, Sponge Daubers, White 1/4" Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon