Ladybug Hi - Stampin' Up!® Summer Happiness

   Do you ever find yourself with a good idea but then talk yourself out of it because you don't have the 'right' stamp for it?  Don't forget that punch art is a great way to create that image that is perfect for your idea.  I wanted to make a ladybug card to go with the sweet ladybug paper in the Homemade Sweetness DSP (it's on sale right now too if you have it on your wish list!!) but not a ladybug stamp to be seen.  Punch art to the rescue!

  The layout comes from the Sketch-n-Scrap sketch challenge.  I started with a Crisp Cantaloupe card base (that you can't see!) and topped it with a piece of Basic White embossed with the Ladybug Picnic embossing folder.  Then comes the DSP with the bottom corners rounder to follow the sketch.

I created the ladybug with circle punches of various sizes.  The base and wings on this one are 1 3/4" circles for reference.  The little dots are colored with clear Wink of Stella and the whole bug is popped on dimensionals over the sentiment band.  The sentiment is stamped with the Simple Alphabet stamp set and is the perfect size for the 1 inch band.

  For the other element at the top of the sketch I layered several different elements starting at the bottom with a very old scrap of Calypso Coral ribbon from my scrap stash. It always feels good to use up these bits and pieces!  Next is a die cut banner from the Stylish Shapes dies.  Then finally a stamped flower from the Summer Happiness bundle.  It mimicked the shape of the flower in the DSP so I went with it.  I popped it on dimensionals and then added a few Black sparkle gems that echo the dots on the ladybug.

  Punch art is especially good for animals and dies are easy to use too if you don't have much of a collection of punches these days!  So don't give up on that cute idea in your head!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Simple Alphabet, Summer Happiness

Ink: Memento Black, Calypso Coral

Blends: Crisp Cantaloupe, Golden Glow light, Daffodil Delight dark

Paper: Basic White, Calypso Coral , Basic Black, Homemade Sweetness DSP

Accessories: Ladybug Picnic embossing folder, circle punches, Stylish Shapes dies, Summer Happiness dies, Wink of Stella, dimensionals, Calypso Coral ribbon (retired), black sparkle Gems (retired)

DSP & Cardstock Sale Until August 31

 

See what papers are included in the sale and order here in my ONLINE STORE

Pastel Butterfly Get Well - Stampin' Up!® Butterfly Flight Hot Foil Dies

   My new hot foil system continues impress!  The Butterfly Flight hot foil dies and masks got a bit of a work out last weekend when I made a stack of cards utilizing all 5 butterflies for each card!  I'm pleased with how they turned out and how easy it was to use the masks to give them color!

  I used a soft pastel color palette along with the pop of contrasting black and white polka dots for a background.  I started with a Barely Blush card base, then topped that with a piece of Paper Medley DSP.  If you like a variety of DSP all in one pack you're in luck, this one is on sale until the end of August!  You can order it through the link at the bottom of this post.   Before adhering the polka dot paper to the card front I wrapped some Barely Blush Bordered ribbon around it in anticipation for anchoring the sentiment.

 Next I foiled the butterflies in gold on Basic White cardstock and then used blending brushes and the masks to add my colors; Lost Lagoon, Golden Glow and Barely Blush. After they were all colored I used the coordinating die to cut them out along with some Lost Lagoon leaf sprigs.  The gold foil is a really elegant look and comes out so even!

  I arranged the butterflies around the sentiment from the Sending Salutations stamp set cut with the Perennial Postage dies for a fun edge. Some of the butterflies are popped on dimensionals.  Finally a few retired Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots accent the sentiment.  The Bubble Bath color is a close match to the Barely Blush.

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Sending Salutations

Ink: Memento Black, Golden Glow, Lost Lagoon, Barely Blush

Hot Foil: Butterfly Flight hot foil dies & mask, gold foil

Paper: Barely Blush, Basic White, Lost Lagoon, Paper Medley DSP

Accessories: Perennial Postage dies, dimensionals, Barely Blush Bordered ribbon, Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (retired)

Nevermore - Stampin' Up!® Raven's Tale

   The newest CAS Colours & Sketches challenge is here and there is so much you can do with this sketch from Suzy!  That rectangle just holds so many possibilities!  Just remember to keep it clean and simple!

I was dithering a bit when deciding what to do for this sketch when I had the lightbulb moment to frame out an image instead of stamping something on the rectangle.  The new Raven's Tale stamp set was just the ticket!

 I decided at the start of 2026 to befriend the crows at my local park so of course I needed this stamp set for all of my crow lady era card needs!  Isn't he/she majestic??!  

  I started with a Basic Black card base, then stamped the raven/crow in Memento onto a piece of Basic White.  I die cut the frame with the retired Deckled Rectangle dies using retired black glitter paper and popped it up on dimensionals right over the bird.  

  The sentiment is also stamped in Memento black and is fussy cut and popped on dimensionals.  

  I highlighted parts of the raven/crow with clear Wink of Stella and a few sparkle gems finish off the design. 

  I can't wait to see your creation in our challenge gallery!

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Raven's Tale (Online Exclusives)

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic Black, Basic White, Black Glitter paper (retired)

Accessories: Wink of Stella, dimensionals, Deckled Rectangle dies (retired), Sparkle Gems (retired)

Shadow Blocked Sunset - Stampin' Up!® Sunset Coast

 Have I got a card for you if you're the kind of paper crafter that has a hard time tossing small scraps!  Using just 1 inch squares of DSP and a coordinating cardstock you can create this lovely panel to be used for a background for other elements or use it as the focal along with a sentiment!  A stamping friend showed me a panel she had made and I of course took a photo so that I could give it go myself.

 After searching around for the name of this technique I came up with Shadow Blocking but it may go by other names.  I thought it was perfect for the Scenic Coast DSP.  I had some scraps left from another project that worked perfectly for the 12 1 inch squares.  The background is a piece of Scenic Coast DSP on the B side for a water look.  The lighter color works well to contrast with the Secret Sea cardstock which creates the shadow effect.

  Once I cut the paper I adhered the squares together leaving the edge of the Secret Sea peeking out, then arranged them on the card base to figure out the alignment and spacing before committing to glue.

 Using the colors in the DSP I stamped a water scene using the Sunset Coast stamp set on a Basic White Spotlight on Nature circle die cut.  I popped the circle on dimensionals and then added 2 clouds.  The birthday sentiment is from the Balloon Festoon stamp set.

 The sun is colored over with clear Wink of Stella and a few Sunset Sparkle sequins add a bit more shine in the lower righthand corner for a finishing touch.

  I hope you give this look a try, it's really easy and you'll be proud of yourself for using up some of those scraps you've been hoarding!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Sunset Coast, Balloon Festoon

Ink: Secret Sea, Blueberry Bushel, Balmy Blue, Timid Tiger, Strawberry Slush

Paper: Secret Sea, Basic White, Scenic Coast DSP

Accessories: Spotlight on Nature dies, dimensionals, Wink of Stella, Sunset Sparkle sequins

  

Quilt Block Thank You - Stampin' Up!® Stitched Stocking

 I was playing around with the Stampin' Up!® Stitched Stocking bundle the other day trying out different ideas for a class and I wasn't really feeling 'Christmas' at that moment so I made just a regular quilt block just to see.  I poked around quilting Pinterest (they are as crazy for their hobby as we paper crafters are lol!) to find a block that I could build out with the dies in the bundle.  It's amazing what triangles and geometry can do!  Once I found a pattern I just played with different colors and DSPs and ended up with this pinwheel-esque square.

 

  I pulled my colors from the Stitched Season DSP and used the Peaceful Pine plaid design as well as the floral pattern.  I used a Peaceful Pine card base and a panel of Secret Sea for the quilt block to be adhered to.  The sentiment panel is the cuff die cut from the stocking and it just the right size for the Banner Sayings stamp set.  To continue the quilting theme I used the stitching stamp to add "stitching" around the sentiment.  If you take your time it's pretty easy to line up.

    Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Stitched Stocking (Online Exclusive), Banner Sayings

Ink: Secret Sea, Peaceful Pine

Paper: Secret Sea, Peaceful Pine, Basic White, A Stitched Season DSP

Accessories: Stitched Stocking Dies (Online Exclusive), dimensionals, Peaceful Pine bordered ribbon, Dewdrop Embellishments

Woodland Christmas - Stampin' Up!® Woodland Wishes

   If you like adorable woodland animals and coloring have I got the stamp set for you to get started on your Christmas cards!  The Woodland Wishes stamp set is just adorable with all of your favorites; bears, foxes, squirrels, deer, birds and more!  You can make the full tree or use the single animal stamps to make you own groupings.

  So adorable right??  I had a crafting day with some some friends last week and I decided to make a stack of this design to add to my Christmas card stash.  I don't watercolor very often as I feel that I don't do the images justice most of the time and I'm also a bit impatient to get cards finished and the drying time for watercoloring doesn't fit with my self-imposed schedules lol! But I think the time was worth it here!

  I started with a Crumb Cake card base then topped it with another piece of Crumb Cake embossed with the new Textured Tree Ring embossing folder.  I know this folder will come in handy heading into fall and of course for all of my rustic vibe Christmas cards.

  All of these animals put my neutrals to the test and I watercolored using drops of reinker and water painters.  Some of the small areas were challenging to get the color just where I wanted it but I'm happy with the final look.    

  After it was colored I fussy cut the tree shape and popped it with dimensionals over a piece of Peaceful Pine bordered ribbon and the stamped sentiment also in Peaceful Pine.  I had a bunch of retired Traditional Sparkling Sequins left so I added a few of the red ones for a tiny bit of sparkle.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Woodland Wishes (Online Exclusive)

Ink: SU Hybrid Basic Black, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Pecan Pie, Pool Party, Peaceful Pine, Smoky Slate, Gray Granite

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic White, watercolor paper

Accessories: Textured Tree Ring embossing folder (Online Exclusive), dimensionals, water painter, Peaceful Pine Bordered Ribbon, Traditional Sparkling Sequins (retired)

Shimmer Butterflies - Stampin' Up!® Butterfly Flight Hot Foil Dies

   I've not been sharing much lately but I have been creating!  I haven't gotten into a good routine this summer so it seems blogging has fallen off a bit but I've been designing for class and some other projects so the stamp room hasn't been neglected if you were worried about that!

  The Hot Foil system has been playing a part in a lot of my projects lately as I get used to this new technique and incorporate it into my crafting.  I was looking for inspiration yesterday and saw the Tic Tac Toe challenge and when I saw "butterflies" as one of the board choices I knew where my card was going!

   I decided to play the top row of the board so along with Butterflies I'm doing "sparkle" and "ribbon/twine".  So I went all in on the sparkle element by hot foiling the Butterfly Flight hot foil die onto a piece of Barely Blush Shimmer Vellum.  I wasn't sure it would work as I hadn't foiled vellum yet and honestly have not paid much attention if others had already tried it.  If it didn't work then I would have moved on to plan B but let me tell you how cool it looks!  The sparkle is beautiful on the vellum and the gold butterflies are just so elegant.

  Look at that!!  And it's even prettier in person!  So really the only hard part of this card was finding enough spots to add my adhesive to get the vellum to adhere to the Basic White thick card front.  I knew I would have space under the sentiment label but other than that there really isn't any place beside the backside of the butterfly bodies.  It worked ok and I just very lightly dotted glue on those spots.  The corners were a bit of a problem so again I lightly dotted a bit of glue there and thankfully it worked and you can't see it at all.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Prayers & Promises

Ink: Basic Gray

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Sunset Shimmer Specialty Paper

Hot Foil: gold foil, Butterfly Flight dies

Accessories: Filled With Sweetness dies, dimensionals, white & gold baker's twine (retired), Iridescent Faceted rhinestones (retired)