Fancy Friday - #MailacardMonday Challenge

 Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back together again!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with a blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways each month! These are a group of past and current Stamping' UP Artisans that have become fast friends thru the amazing Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 9 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 

Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color, sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we were to create at least 2 very fancy cards WITH coordinating envelopes of your themed choice and support the “Mail a Card Monday” challenge! The idea is to stamp your cards over the weekend and then mail them out on each Monday. Maybe you need to send thank you cards for Christmas or birthday cards, or someone feeling the winter blues? Let us kick off the year not only creating the cards but sending them!

Here are my two FANCY cards with envelopes that I mailed out on Monday.
I am loving the Petal Palette Stamp Set, coordianting Petals and More Thinlits Dies and the Salebration Tutti-Frutti Cards and Envelopes! Did you know you could earn them for FREE? I think the envelopes worked really well with my cards this week!

 Color combo here is Lemon Lime Twist, Powder Pink, Peekaboo Peach, and Flirty Flamingo. Some of the ombre flowers are stamped off for a lighter version of that color. I did a modified version of this eclipse trend. I cut my letters in Whisper White and adhere them temporarily on top of Whisper White piece. Then I stamped the flowers across. Carefully pull up the letters and pop them up in same spot with Dimensionals.

This one just screams CONNIE COLLINS, right? I stamped the flower image from the stamp set in Archival Basic Gray and then water-colored them with Flirty Flamingo, Pool Party, Lemon Lime Twist and Old Olive. Add some gingham ribbon, linen thread and doilies and that Copper Foil die cut piece from the Petals and More Thinlits.

Some sweet cards for my dear friends that in a time of depression recently was there for me with encouraging words and prayers. I am VERY blessed to have friends like them!

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my sweet friend, Holly Stene
 by clicking on the next button below! 

WHAT'S THE CRAFTY CARROT CO.?

We're a group of past Stampin' Up! Artisan award winners that love to share! Every month we bring an interactive online program for stampers all over the globe. The whole idea is to equip you to get the most out of them the Stampin UP! products you buy whether a customer or demonstrator. This is also a valuable resource for Stampin' UP! demonstrators for class ideas and get your customers stamping! It is more than stamping as we build relationships with each other is sharing our love of creating! We'd love you to be an active part of our wonderful crafting community! 

Crafty Carrot Co Blog Hop with Celebration Time

Hello friends and welcome to The Crafty Carrot Collective Blog Hop! We are a selection of group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators and Artisans from all over the world that got together to form this interactive program where you can learn and participate with us each month! 
We at Craft Carrot Collective are SO SUPER EXCITED to be celebrating our one year birthday that we want to offer a little blog candy this month! Be sure to leave a comment here or on our Crafty Carrot Collective Instagram or Facebook sites by January 21st about your favorite birthday tradition to enter the drawing if you are in the U.S. with me! I think I will have a stamp set, some paper and embellishments to send ya!

So let us get right to this month's Crafty Carrot Co blog hop where we share some projects featuring the Celebration Time Stamp set which happens to be our product focus for the February 2018 interactive rewards program. 

Well to be honest...I never looked at this stamp set up close when the Stampin' UP! Annual Catalog came out in June 2017, but WOW it is perfect for birthdays! I paired it with the coordinating Celebration Thinlits, and then the Sweet Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper and the Sweet Soiree Memories and More Card Collection from the Occasions 2018 Catalog. 

Couple of things to point out: that is the Copper Foil Sheets for the cake stand and topper, added a 2 1/4" circle of Vellum Paper, watercolor some white Shimmer Paper with Calypso Coral Ink on layer, and add centers to flowers with a Basic Gray Stampin' marker to match those on the designed layer card which I cut down to 3 1/8" x 4 1/8". 

Are you inspired yet to join us? Promise that it is going to be educational and informational but so stinking FUN! Great for customers AND current Stampin' UP! demonstrators! You can get lots of ideas for your classes at a small price and less time designing!

JOIN US TODAY!

Use my Host Code F3JN7M4E when 

placing your qualifying Stampin' UP! order with me!

But wait there is more.....

We have an additional stop today on our birthday party hop as our first ever Craft Carrot Co guest designer for February's program has joined on this blog hop! Marisa Gunn is an awesome friend of ours, a two-time Stampin' UP! Artisan, Stampin' UP! demonstrator for 15 years, and a well known world-wide papercrafter!  Be sure to say hi to her by leaving a comment on her blog post!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

The uber talented Jennifer Frost over in Australia is next!!!

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Making Memories and More

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 9 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 

Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color, sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we were select one of the Making Memories and More Collections from the Stampin' UP Annual Catalog. I selected Perfect Days based on the colors and theme. Little did I know that I would be using them for my latest life adventure...moving across the country and starting a new job! But first a card...

I was able to cut the 4 x 6 down a bit and make it a background layer. Then I took one of the  2 x 3 cards and cut it with the Lots of Labels Framelits and my Big Shot. I adorable this stamp set sentiments and font! It is called Ribbon of Courage and it was designed with my friend Patty Bennett, that amazing million dollar achiever! 

  Then I started a 6 x 8 album of my daily journey in this new adventure. Here are the first few pages. I plan to use Perfect Days to capture my daily life in this new place. It should be therapeutic for me and occupy some of my spare time.

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a project and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to the newbie on our team and from across the oceans, 
the amazing Paula Dobson
 by clicking on the next button below! 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - New In-Color Combination

 Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 11 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 
Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we were to create a project using one of these In-Color Combinations you see below in the "flyer".

 I choose a very challenging color combo! 
Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango and the new Berry Burst!
(bottom row, #2 from the left)
I used the Happy Celebrations Stamp Set and a block style layout on my card. The white gives it a pop of white against all that color.

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a card or two and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my bestie across the oceans, Susan Wong
 by clicking on the next button below! 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - A Piece of Art

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 10 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 
Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we were to create a card WITHOUT adding a greeting or any wording on the front. Shocker I know! The idea is to make it a piece of art!

I first took the Shimmery White Cardstock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. The four ink colors I then watercolored with are Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Lime Twist and Berry Burst. The later two are the BRAND NEW In-Colors coming out June 1st! I can just say very loudly.....

LOVE LOVE LOVE them! The Shimmery White piece becomes pretty saturated so I let it dry completely and then even add it on top of a layer of cardstock for strength before popping it on card base with Stampin' Dimensionals. The Butterflies Thinlits and Bold Butterfly Framelits are still a favorite of mine to use and completes the whimsical feel of this card. 

I stamped the greeting on the inside of the card instead. This one is a sneak peak from a BRAND NEW stamp set called Just Add Text. Love this quote from one of the most famous artist! (I did a huge project on him when going thru college back in the day) 

Today especially, I love this quote as I love all my Artisan friends who join me on this blog hop team! They make my world better with their art!

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a card or two and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my fun and talented friend Shannon Lane
 by clicking on the next button below! 

Nurture Nature with the Creation Station Blog Hop

Welcome back this month with the Creation Station Design Blog Hop! I was beyond thrilled to join this group of talented women that inspires me! We plan to inspire you each month with Stampin' UP! creative top of the line projects with a theme from all around the globe! We hope that you hop thru each blog and leave comments as we all love to hear praise about our creations!

This month our theme was Nurture Nature or Flowers to Showers. 
Well.....a cactus count as nature, right? I was at my friend Monika's Stamp, Scrap and Create Retreat last weekend and one of the lady there had the Birthday Fiesta Photopolymer Bundle which I have been on the fence about getting myself. I mean I bought the bright and fun Festive Birthday Designer Series Paper so what is the hold up?

I love a good shaker card but making them is time consuming. This was super easy to create with the Fringe Scissors, cardstock and the Clear Envelopes. I just slide a piece of Whisper White in one half of the envelope, added the cut pieces of cardstock and folded the envelope in half. I secured it with washi tape and use my bone folder to make the folded edge crisp. I stamped the cactus in Emerald Envy on Emerald Envy cardstock. The greeting comes from Sunshine Sayings Stamp Set.

Why not make a matching gift box too? This is a 3.25 x 3.25 x 2.5 size box made with the Gift Box Punch Board. I have a whole spool of this Melon Mambo 1/8" Stitched Ribbon and it is stiff enough to make a large bow with it. 

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Creations Station Blog Hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

You saw Dena's awesome project before me and now move on to 
Denita's incredible project by clicking on the next button below! 

Dena Rekow

Denita Wright

Come join us in May to get free tutorials, live video classes and more!

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Step Up Sketch Challenge

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 14 of us this month and many new fresh faces...my dream team of Artisans!

 
Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we are going with a simple theme: Step Up Sketch Challenge!
Take our simple sketch created by our own Jen Timko shown below and create two cards showing how to take a simple card and stepped it up.

My first card is the simple or Beginner's card with technique, lots of stamping and low key but still elegant and eye catching. I stamped the Birthday Blooms Stamp image with Archival Basic Black on a piece of 3.5" x 3" Shimmery White Cardstock. I took another piece of Shimmery White and stamped the greeting from Window Shopping Stamp Set. Then I added some color on top with the Calypso Coral Watercolor Pencil and a Blender Pen. Finish off with a Calyspo Coral layer and the Pool Party 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon.

My second card is the step up version or Avid Stamper which takes a step up with a big WOW! This involves using the Watercolor Pencils to color in the stamped image this time. I would color with the pencil first and then use the blender pen to spread the color around. Working in layers to add darker areas. I used the Old Olive, Bermuda Bay and Calypso Coral pencils. My friend Jen Campbell and Janet Wakeland recently did a live video on Facebook that shared the technique and well I HAD to try it! OMGeez! LOVE to the max! I am hooked! I finished my card by adding the Calypso Coral Ribbon from the Cupcakes & Carosel Embellishment Kit, the Sunshine Sayings Stamp greeting, the Sunshine Wishes Thinlit Die in Basic Black, and the Brushstrokes Stamp in Crumb Cake on Crumb Cake card base.

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a card or two and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my fun and talented friend Sue
 by clicking on the next button below! 

Crafty Carrot Blog Hop with Crazy Cake

Welcome to The Crafty Carrot Collective Blog Hop! A selection of former Stampin' UP! Artisans from all over the world got together to form this interactive rewards program where you can learn and participate with us each month! Today we are bringing you some sneak peaks into what our April month will bring in advance so you can purchase the stamp set Crazy Cake knowing you are going to get plenty of ideas and have fun creating with all of us! THIS MONTH WILL BE THE BEST YET! SO many great birthday ideas!

 I had such a fun time creating this project with this stamp set called Crazy Cake! You can do SOOOOOO much with it as you can see by our blog hop this month. And this is just a taste of what we will bring in April! All 5 of us are so excited about this stamp set! We might even go CRAZY!!!!

Here are the products I used to create my card:

Crazy Cake Stamp Set

Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit

Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper Stack

Watercolor Paper

Sprinkles Embellishments

Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Peekaboo Peach Inks

Here is how our program works... during the month of March you purchase the Crazy Cake stamp set (or product of equal or greater value) from a participating Crafty Carrot Collective demonstrator using the host code shown below. Then, in April, you will receive the program completely FREE!

  This program brings video tutorials and written instructions by 5 very talented global Stampin' UP! demonstrators into your own home so you can stamp in your own time. What is not to love about that? 

PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY!

Still not sure this program is for you?  Throughout this past January we offered a taste of this wonderful program for FREE for all to enjoy.  This teaser program features the Weather Together stamp set.  Like us on Facebook HERE to access it today.

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

The uber talented Jennifer Frost over in Australia is next! Hop on over there and say hello!