Hello Beauty - Stampin' Up! Layers of Beauty

   The Inspired By challenge was the full inspiration for my card today, the stripes, the colors and the flowers.  I ordered the Layers of Beauty bundle back during the demo pre-order but hadn't tried out the masks yet and I thought it was high time for me to get to it!

  I started with a Basic White thick card base and then added some stripes with a piece of retired Flowers & More DSP which was a host only special a few years back.   Next is a layer of Azure Afternoon.

  Then comes the layer with all the interest.  I stamped the large floral from the Layers of Beauty stamp set on Basic White and then used the masks and blending brushes to add my colors.  I was intending to have the roses to be a little lighter but I got heavy handed with my blending but I think they look ok in the end.  I used Lemon Lolly for the roses, Granny Apple Green for the leaves and a combo of Balmy Blue and Azure Afternoon for the little flowers.

  I found it easy to line up the masks for each layer making sure the little notch in the mask lines up to the same pot each time.  Having the outline of the flowers already stamped was helpful too.  I'll have to try it without the outline and see how I do next time!  I used some smaller pieces of masking paper to cover any spots where I thought I might stray with my colors.

  For the sentiment I stamped it in Azure Afternoon and used the Unbounded Love dies to cut it out.  I used the Layers of Beauty dies to cut a few leaves from Granny Apple Green cardstock then poppped it all up on dimensionals in the corner.

  A few Brushed Brass Butterflies are scattered over the card front as a final touch.

  I'll be offering a product based class using the Layers of Beauty bundle in July so look for more details about that coming soon.

  All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Layers of Beauty, Simply Said

Ink: Memento Black, Lemon Lolly, Granny Apple Green, Azure Afternoon, Balmy Blue

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Azure Afternoon, Flowers & More DSP (retired)

Accessories: Unbounded Love dies, dimensionals, blending brushes, Layers of Beauty masks, Brushed Brass Butterflies

Thoughtful Birthday - Stampin' Up! Simply Said

  I held my new catalog open house last weekend and had a great turn out and enjoyed showing my customers the fun new products that are now available in the 2024-2025 Stampin' Up! annual catalog.  This is one of the make and takes and is loaded with new things; color, DSP, stamp set, dies and embossing folder!  So much for a simple design!

  I've shown a few cards already using the Thoughtful Journey DSP and each one is as pretty as the last.  All of the designs in this 6x6 pack are beautiful.  I pulled 3 different designs that worked with a Petunia Pop base and my stampers had a choice of which one to use.

  A narrow strip of Petunia Pop embossed with the new Eyelet embossing folder goes along the fold and then the DSP next to it.

 

  The new Unbounded Love dies has a great variety of labels and we used one with a nice scalloped edge here.  The sentiment from a new set called Simply Said is stamped in Petunia Pop ink.  This die set has a few extra accent dies and we used 2 of them to cut out some leaves in Pretty Peacock and added them behind the label before popping it up on dimensionals.

  A few In Color Shimmer gems add a bit of sparkle by the label for the finishing touch.  

  All of the products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Simply Said

Ink: Petunia Pop

Paper: Petunia Pop, Basic White, Pretty Peacock, Thoughtful Journey DSP

Accessories: Unbounded Love dies, dimensionals, In Color shimmer gems, Eyelet embossing folder

Walrus Hugs - Stampin' Up! Hearts & Hugs

 I think the cutest stamp set in the new 2024-2025 Stampin' Up! annual catalog is the Hearts & Hugs stamp set.  All the little critters are just adorable and have gotten a lot of "aw's" from my stampers!

  We used Hearts & Hugs at a private class last month and used an easy coloring technique to add some shading to the walruses.

  The new Summer Splash color is a nice bright card base and complements the Gray Granite used for the image.  Once the walruses were stamped we used the Basic Gray colored pencil to go over the the natural shading lines on the image and then softened them with a blender pen.  The gray is also used on the snout along with black for the nose and white for the tusks.  Just that little bit of coloring really adds a lot!

  After the walruses were colored and cut out we gave them a nice spot to hang out.  On a piece of Basic White we lightly added some Pool Party ink with a blending brush. Next we tore the edges from 2 pieces of Basic White and layered them to look a bit like snow and tucked the walruses behind the back layer.

  The sentiment is stamped towards the top in Pool Party ink and the one side of the image panel is edged with a piece of another new In Color, Petunia Pop. Bringing a bit more Petunia Pop to the card we added a few die cut hearts in the new In Color Glimmer paper.

  Not to get ahead of the calendar and all but I think this set would make adorable Valentine's Day card if you're that much of planner!

  All of the products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Hearts & Hugs

Ink: Gray Granite, Pool Party

Paper: Summer Splash, Basic White, Gray Granite, Petunia Pop, 2024-2026 In Color Glimmer Paper

Accessories: Hearts & Hugs dies, blending brush, blender pen, colored pencils

Notes of Lavender Thanks - Stampin' Up!

 I'm slowly working through all of my backlog log of projects to share from the last few weeks.  Today's design is one my stampers made in class and I also used for Mother's Day.  It's a wonderful all occasion design to add in whatever sentiment you need at the moment.  A few of the products are now retired but can easily be swapped for something in your stash or a current product.

  The base is Basic White thick. Next we layered some pieces of torn DSP onto a panel of Basic White and then die cut it with one of the Perennial Postage dies for great detailed edge. A bit of faux gold faux leather trim is wrapped around one corner before adhering the whole panel to the card front with dimensionals.

  The long leafy die cut from the retired Notes of Nature is cut from Fresh Freesia and layered across the panel.  If you don't have a leaf die that is long and skinny like this you can use multiples of a smaller die cut and just layer them across for a similar effect.

  The flower image is stamped twice in Fresh Freesia ink, once in full strength and again without re-inking for a lighter version.  Both are die cut and then layered under the sentiment which is stamped in Highland Heather and fussy cut.

  The last detail are a few of the retired cork rounds scattered across the card front.

  All of the current products used to make this design can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Notes of Nature (retired), Perennial Postage (retired)

Ink: Fresh Freesia, Highland Heather

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Nature's Sweetness DSP, Perennial Lavender DSP, Fresh Freesia

Accessories: Perennial Postage dies, dimensionals, Notes of Nature dies (retired), faux leather trim (retired), cork rounds (retired)

Heartfelt Journey - Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Hexagons

   In this busy season I have completely been slacking on posting projects!  I haven't even finished sharing the projects that we made at a private class a customer hosted a few weeks back!  The class was held just a few days before the new annual catalog went live so it was hard to decide what to use on the class projects!  I went with a mix of carryover items and new products.

  The new Thoughtful Journey designer series paper is gorgeous and I paired it with the carryover set Heartfelt Hexagons for a design that shows off the paper and lets the fun hexagon punch shine.

  The card base is Basic White thick, then a strip of Misty Moonlight cardstock topped with a strip of the Thoughtful Journey DSP. 

  The sentiment is stamped in Boho Blue ink and then the frame is stamped in Misty Moonlight and punched out.  A length of retired Boho Blue textured ribbon is adhered to the back and then adhered to the card front with dimensionals.

  A few 2024-2026 In Color shimmer gems are added to the side of the sentiment for a small bit of sparkle.

  This is a great design to use if you need to make multiples and any designer series paper would work.  It's especially good for 6x6 paper because you get 3 panels for 3 card with just a small 1/2" x 6" strip of scrap.  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Heartfelt Hexagons

Ink: Boho Blue, Misty Moonlight

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Misty Moonlight, Thoughtful Journey DSP

Accessories: Heartfelt Hexagon punch, dimensionals, 2024-2026 In Color shimmer gems, Boho Blue textured ribbon (retired)

Peach Pie Cutie - Stampin' Up! Hearts & Hugs

  Last week I was able to introduce the 2024-2026 In Colors to my stampers at my monthly class.  I think they were overall well received and people seemed to like that they were brighter and more cheerful than the 2023-2025 set which are definitely more muted.  I designed one of the class projects so that they could choose one of the new In Colors to work with.

  I didn't take a photo of each of the other colors but just imagine the exact same card just with the other In Colors.

  This one is showcasing Peach Pie with a Peach Pie base, then a layer of the 2024-2026 In Color DSP with the same color stitched ribbon tied around it.

  Using the arched heart die and a Stylish Shape circle the hearts are cut from the top.  Then a piece of Peach Pie cardstock is placed behind the heart cut outs.  The circle is then popped on dimensionals.

  The little hamster (or as one of my customers pointed out a quokka) is stamped in Pecan Pie ink onto Crumb Cake cardstock.  We used a Pecan Pie and Melon Mambo colored pencils and a blender brush to give the little cutie some color.  Then he's die cut and popped on the circle with dimensionals.

  The sentiment is stamped in Basic Gray under the strip of DSP.  It was fun to see which colors my customers gravitated towards.

  All of the products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Hearts & Hugs

Ink: Pecan Pie, Basic Gray

Paper: Peach Pie, Basic White, 2024-2026 In Color DSP, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Hearts & Hugs dies, Stylish Shapes dies, dimensionals, Peach Pie Stitched ribbon, colored pencils, blender pen

Birthday Attention - Stampin' Up! Attention Shoppers

   Stampin' Up! introduced their new In Colors just in time for the current Just Us Girls color challenge!  The challenge has us using lavender, peach and gray.  I've used Fresh Freesia, the new In Color Peach Pie and Basic Gray for my card.

  Aren't these such a great color combo??  I think I may have to jot this one down in my color combo binder to use again in the future!  I can never have too many birthday cards so I went with the great cake from the new Attention Shoppers bundle.

  This design starts with a Fresh Freesia base.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray all over a panel of Fresh Freesia then edged it with a Basic White panel.  The cake and flowers are stamped in Basic Gray and then colored in with Blends markers and die cut.  The flower image is actually a bouquet but I just cut off the paper wrap part of it and used just the blossoms.

  The cake is framed out with one of the great Unbounded Love dies.  This is a great all purpose label die set that can be mixed and matched with other products.  I used 2 of them here to highlight the cake image.  One die cuts the white label and then another die cuts out the Peach Pie frame.  Think of the possibilities!

  The label, cake and some of the flowers are popped up on dimensionals on the card front and then embellished with a baker's twine bow and two Peach Pie shimmer gems.

  All of the supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  I'd love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator if you do no already have one.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Attention Shoppers

Ink: Basic Gray

Blends: Fresh Freesia light & dark, Peach Pie light & dark

Paper: Fresh Freesia, Basic White, Peach Pie

Accessories: Attention Shoppers dies, Unbounded Love dies, dimensionals, baker's twine, In Color Shimmer gems

Throw That Cap - Stampin' Up! Cap & Gown

   Each spring I find that I need one or 2 graduation cards but this year I'm definitely stocking up as my oldest is graduating from high school.  That means we have a whole slew of kids we know that are also graduating.  So it was with a double purpose that I designed today's card which we made at my last class.  I cut extra supplies so that after the class I could have a design all ready to just put together and customize a bit as needed.

  I was so happy that the Cap & Gown stamp set that was in the Stampin' Up! January-April mini catalog is being carried over.  You can now find it on the online store only if you need a solid graduation set for the next few years.  There are no matching dies for this one but I think the images would be really easy to fussy cut if you wanted to. 

  This one starts with a Basic White thick card base, then a layer of the Zoo Crew DSP which has now retired. To re-create this design you can substitute any black and white patterned DSP and it will keep the same feel.

  Next the hands, cap and sentiment are all stamped in Memento Black onto a piece of Basic White.  The hands are colored with the Natural Tones Blends markers and the sleeves and cap are colored with the color of choice.  This sample uses Blueberry Bushel but Black is a good choice if you don't know the school colors or want to make it and have it on hand without a recipient in mind.  The tassel is colored with Daffodil Delight.

  To add some bling to the card we added 2 flags cut from the new retired More Dazzle specialty paper but again you can swap out any glimmer paper that you have on hand for a similar effect.  The top flag is popped on dimensionals.  See how to make perfect flagged ends in this quick video:

  Once everything on this panel is finished it's popped on dimensionals.  In class we added a quick DSP sleeve to hold a gift card or some cash on the inside and that can be coordinated with the DSP that is used on the outside of the card.

  All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  I'd love to earn your business!

  Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Cap & Gown

Ink: Memento Black

Blends: Natural Tones, Blueberry Bushel light & dark, Daffodil Delight light & dark

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Zoo Crew DSP (retired), More Dazzle specialty paper (retired)

Accessories: dimensionals

Simply Lavender - Stampin' Up! Painted Lavender

   Last weekend I taught a private class for a customer and her group of crafty friends.  My customer had asked if they could make projects that used some new products from the (then) upcoming Stampin' Up! annual catalog.  As so many things from the Last Chance list had already sold out I was definitely into using some new products and pairing them up with some carry over items.  I combined the Painted Lavender set with the new Simply Said sentiment set.  If you are a new stamper and need a good all purpose set this one is great.  I love the 2 different fonts used and it covers all the big card sending events; birthday, thinking of you, hello, thank you and celebrate.  It's a great price point and perfect to use with our kits for more variety!

  This one starts with a Lost Lagoon card base and then a piece of Highland Heather cardstock is stamped in the same color ink with the leafy stamp from Painted Lavender.  It's adhered to the card front offset to the right.  Next is a band of Perennial Lavender DSP in Lost Lagoon across the center.

  The sentiment is stamped in Lost Lagoon on a Basic White Stylish Shape circle.  The lavender flowers are stamped on another larger circle in Gorgeous Grape and then without re-inking it's stamped again just slightly moved over to give the impression of a second layer of flowers in a lighter shade.  This is a great technique to make something look fuller while still keeping the same color palette.  Both circles are popped on dimensionals above the band.

  The flower stems are stamped in Lost Lagoon and then diecut and popped on dimensionals under the flowers.

  A few rhinestones add a bit of sparkle and a tiny knot of retired Iridescent trim is added to the stem with a glue dot.

  All of the current items used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

  Thanks for looking! Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Painted Lavender, Simply Said

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape

Paper: Lost Lagoon, Highland Heather, Basic White, Perennial Lavender DSP

Accessories: Painted Lavender dies, Stylish Shapes dies, dimensionals, rhinestones, Iridescent trim (retired)