Rising Sun Sailboat - Stampin' Up!® Sunset Coast Dies

      Having a decent stash of masculine birthday cards is always in the back of my mind when creating and I find clean and simple cards the perfect time to focus on those guy cards I might soon be needing.  The Sunset Coast bundle can be used for layered, embellished and over the top "Wow" cards but it can also be great for some clean lines and simple layouts.

 The Addicted to CAS challenge theme of water was my starting point for this card.  I started with a Basic White thick card base, then added a layer of Scenic Coast DSP.  I chose the b side instead of the shimmery side because I liked the uniform color of the water to anchor the center of my card and keep the focus on the mail elements.

  Next I cut 2 of the sunburst dies, one in Crushed Curry and the second in another of the Scenic Coast DSP b sides in a Crushed Curry pattern.  I adhered the cardstock sun to a piece of Basic White and trimmed off the excess.  Next I added the DSP rays from the other die cut to the openings of the cardstock sun using the Basic White backing to give some support to the circle and it was easier to put the glue on the white than the DSP.

  I die cut the sail boat and waves from Secret Sea cardstock and trimmed the boat down and popped it on dimesionals just in front of the sun.  The waves along with the Banner Sayings sentiment are adhered under the boat.  No embellishments or extras on this clean and simple card.

 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: Banner Sayings

Ink: Secret Sea

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Secret Sea, Crushed Curry, Scenic Coast DSP

Accessories: Sunset Coast dies, dimensionals

Elegant Pastel Birthday - Stampin' Up!® Elegant Leaves

   I've had another creative session with the coming soon Elegant Leaves bundle along with a wee bit of foiling!  The Elegant Leaves bundle will be available on Sept. 1 and is perfect for not only autumn themed cards but can be used as accents for any type of card!

  These colors definitely wouldn't be considered autumn but I used these pastel hues for an elegant birthday card.  The colors come from the Color Dare Challenge.  I saw Cloud Cover on their graphic but it looks like some of the design team used a green instead.  I went with what I saw on my computer...these screens don't seem to have much consistency when it comes to color do they?!  

  I had a few of the foiled 'happy birthdays' left from when I demonstrated the Stampin' Up!® Hot Foil system at a recent class and I since it ended up being one of the challenge colors I put the card together around that element.  The Classic Greetings Hot Foil dies with 5 sentiments works for just about any card.  

  I started with a Cloud Cover card base, then cut a layer out of the 2025-2027 In Color DSP in this Cloud Cover striped pattern using the upcoming Scalloped Christmas Cheer dies.  The largest die covers the whole card front showing just a bit of the background between scallops.

I stamped 2 leaves in Barely Blush onto Barely Blush card stock then die cut them along with a third leaf in 2026-2028 In Color Painted Patterns DSP.  I tucked them under the popped sentiment along with a length of White Fluffy Trim.  A few 2026-2028 In Color Dots in Hydrangea Hue finish off this sweet but simple cared.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE. Items marked with a * will be available Sept. 1 in the Stampin' Up!® Sept.-Dec. 2026 catalog.  If you would like early access join my team HERE.

Stamps: Elegant Leaves*

Ink: Barely Blush

Hot Foil: Classic Greeting hot foil dies, gold foil

Paper: Cloud Cover, Barely Blush, Hydrangea Hue, 2025-2027 In Color DSP, 2026-2028 In Color Painted Pattern DSP

Accessories: Elegant Leaves dies*, Scalloped Christmas Cheer dies*, dimensionals, 2026-2028 In Color Dots, white Fluffy Trim (retired)

Christmas Greenery - Stampin' Up!® Noel Tidings

 The first thing that drew my attention to the Neutral Noel Suite Collection in the upcoming Stampin'    Up!® Sept.-Dec. 2026 catalog were the beautiful samples using a muted color palette and gold accents.  I loved the warm feel of the little buildings and the super versatile branches and berries in the stamp sets.  Did I use all those neutrals and golds the first time I used products from this suite? Nope!  All in due time!  My card today uses colors but does have a neutral background so there is that!

  I've used the Paper Players challenge with this fun color combo for the card; Teal, Aqua, Tan and Red which I translated into Stampin' Up!® colors Pretty Peacock, Pool Party, Crumb Cake and Real Red.

  I used the Textured Tree Ring embossing folder on the Crumb Cake for the card front.  What a lovely look for nature inspired cards!  Next I cut 2 of the greenery rings, one in Pool Party and the second in Pretty Peacock.  I ended up using glue dots to adhere the 2 together as that seemed to be the easiest way not to get adhesive all over or risk tearing them with a tape runner.  I popped the wreath up on dimensionals/mini dimensionals put in just the right places.

  Next I decorated the wreath with stamped and die cut pinecones and Glimmer paper berries.  The small sentiments in the new Soiree Salutations fit perfectly in this angled die cut that is included in the bundle. The finishing touch is a Real Red Stitched fork bow.

  I can't wait to explore all the ways to use this suite collection and especially the bundles!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE. Items marked with a * will be available on Sept. 1 with the release of the Sept.-Dec. 2026 catalog.  To get early access to these items and more join my team HERE.

Stamps: Noel Tidings*, Soiree Salutations*

Ink: Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock

Paper: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Basic White, Real Red Glimmer (retired)

Accessories: Textured Tree Ring embossing folder, Noel Tidings dies*, Real Red Stitched ribbon, dimensionals, glue dots

Hello Sunshine - Stampin' Up!® Round About Messages

   I love a basic stamp set that can be used across multiple occasions with a mix of sentiments and smaller images and the upcoming new stamp set Round About Messages is exactly that!  I was sad when the With You In Mind stamp set retired as it was so versatile and it saw a lot of ink during it's run but Round About Messages looks like it will be the successor!

  I almost passed by the TGIF Challenge of Berry Burst, Lemon Lolly and Crumb Cake but changed my mind and decided they would be great colors to use with the Round About Messages.  I started with a Basic White card base, then a piece of Paper Medley DSP in Crumb Cake.  I had both a larger panel and the 1/2" strip already cut so I used both leaving a little space between the 2.

  Using a piece of Berry Burst cardstock and the same ink I filled the strip with lots of 'hellos'.  The tag Lemon Lolly cardstock and I used the new Home for Christmas dies and stamped the sun all over as well as one on scrap Basic White.  I popped the tag on dimensionals after adding a baker's twine bow.  The extra sun is fussy cut and popped on dimensionals as is another stamped 'hello'.

  Some retired Purple Adhesive-backed sequins finish off the details for this crisp hello card!

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  Products marked with a * will be available Sept. 1 in the Stampin' Up!® Sept.-Oct. 2026 catalog.  If you'd like early access to these (and more!) products you can join my team HERE.

Stamps: Round About Messages*

Ink: Berry Burst, Lemon Lolly

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Berry Burst, Lemon Lolly, Paper Medley DSP

Accessories: Home for Christmas dies*, dimensionals, baker's twine, Purple Adhesive-backed sequins (retired SAB 2025)

Woodland Trio Christmas - Stampin' Up!® Woodland Wishes

   I've got a sweet little Christmas card to share today!  I'm mixing some current products with a few things that will available soon in the Stampin' Up!® Sept.-Dec. 2026 catalog.  The sweet little animals in the Woodland Wishes stamp set are so cute and just look how nice they are with red and green Christmas colors!

  The layout is from Freshly Made Sketches and is a nice sketch for grouping some smaller images/die cuts together.  The colors (red, green, brown) are from the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown which I don't tend to play along with until I get new Christmas supplies each year but they always have cool challenges!

 I started with a Cherry Cobbler base (which you can't see), then added a piece of the upcoming Timeless Christmas DSP to cover the card front.  I love this tone on tone polka dot pattern, useful for not just Christmas cards!  Next I die cut the Cherry Cobbler scalloped strip with the upcoming Home for Christmas dies.  The sentiment is stamped in Peaceful Pine on the light side of a strip of Peaceful Pine two-toned cardstock.  Look at how well it matches the polka dots!  I love having a light and regular shade of all my cardstock colors; it doubles the amount of shades to work with which is always a good thing in my book!

  Next I stamped, colored and fussy cut the animals with Blends and then added them to the card front.  The fox is popped on dimensionals.  The card needed a bit of sparkle so I die cut a few little stars out of gold glimmer paper with the Home for Christmas dies.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  Items marked with a * will be available on Sept. 1, 2026.

Stamps: Woodland Wishes (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Memento Black, Peaceful Pine

Blends: Ivory, Peacan Pie, Cajun Craze, Pecan Pie, Bronze

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Peaceful Pine Two-Toned, Gold Glimmer (retired), Timeless Christmas DSP*

Accessories: Home for Christmas dies*, dimensionals

Get Well Leaf - Stampin' Up!® Elegant Leaves

   I've got a sneak peek for you of some upcoming Stampin' Up!® products that will be released on September 1!  We've got this fall beauty coming in the Sept.-Dec. 2026 catalog.  I love a good leaf set and will use the Elegant Leaves bundle for every kind of card imaginable for the next 4-5 months.  Leaves are nothing if not versatile so if you don't have a good leaf set in your stamp collection take a good look at this one!

  I'm playing along with the CAS on Fridays challenge to make a clean and simple get well card.  I played around with some ink smooshing and watercolor paper and while not really satisfied with the end result it was good enough to use to make a focal point leaf for this card.  Sometimes the vision doesn't translate to the cardstock lol!

  After the water color paper was dried I added the leaf veining with stamped off once Golden Glow ink and then die cut.  I stamped the sentiment on a piece of Golden Glow and popped it over a bow made from the new Neutrals Jute which will also be available on Sept. 1.  It's definitely thicker and rougher than linen thread and baker's twine but gives a really nice rustic feel that's perfect for the fall nature theme of this card.

  Finally I added a single Golden Glow In Color Dot to the sentiment as the last touch.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current products used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  Items marked with a * will be available starting Sept. 1.  If you'd like to get early access to these products you can join my team HERE.

Stamps: Elegant Leaves*

Ink: Golden Glow, Timid Tiger, Flirty Flamingo

Paper: Basic White thick, watercolor paper, Golden Glow

Accessories: Elegant Leaves dies*, Neutrals Jute Combo Pack*, dimensionals, 2026-2028 In Color Dots

You Did It Crew - Stampin' Up!® Cutest Crew

   I realized yesterday that I needed to do a card for the customer challenge I put up in my Facebook customer group.  It was a color challenge and I only realized after the fact that 2 of the colors listed have retired.  Oh well, that's what I get for planning challenges out too far.  It at least it gave me a chance dig through my DSP and see what I had!  And I have to tell you I was so surprised the the Florals in Bloom DSP is still available!  And even better it's currently on sale for the month of August so don't wait to order it if you don't already have it!  I used one of the sweet flower patterns for this simple congrats card.

  Who wouldn't want to be celebrated by these little cuties from the Cutest Crew stamp set?  I pulled the layout from the SUO Challenge which is to CASE one of the samples on page 13 of the Stampin' Up! May-August catalog.  They are all great samples and I had a hard time deciding!  

  I started with a piece of retired Petunia Pop for the card base, then used a panel of Basic White to stamp the sentiment from Balloon Festoon towards the top in Gray Granite ink.  Since I don't have the Rounded Rectangle punch I made do with cut rectangles and a corner rounder punch to get approximately the same shape.  I made 3 DSP rectangles and then added them to the card front and trimmed off the overhang at the top and bottom.

  The birds from the Cutest Crew stamp set are stamped in Gray Granite then colored with Blends.  I fussy cut them and popped them up on dimensionals.  A few pink adhesive sequins finish off this super simple design.

  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: Balloon Festoon, Cutest Crew

Ink: Gray Granite

Blends: Petunia Pop (retired), Pretty in Pink* (retired)

Paper: Petunia Pop (retired), Basic White, Florals in Bloom DSP

Accessories: dimensionals, corner rounder punch (retired), pink sequins (retired)

*currently on the Last Chance list

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)