Cutest Birds Hello - Stampin' Up!® Cutest Crew

   

Today the New at SU! blog hop team is back with a brand new round of projects showing off products from the recently released Stampin' Up!® March Online Exclusives.  We've got stampers from around the world showcasing these new products and showing you all the fun ways you can use them in your own crafting.  Be sure to hop around to see everyone's project and leave a little love for all the creativity!  The hop list is at the bottom of my post!

  My projects use the Cutest Crew bundle which I fell in love with as soon as I saw it in the preorder.  And I must not be the only one to love it because it went out of stock several times just in the demonstrator preorder!  I have a card and a little treat item using this fun bundle!

 Look at how cute these little bird die cuts are!!  This is a super simple card to put together and a great way to use up bits of scrap cardstock!  I'm using a Misty Moonlight card base and then a wide panel of Basic White embossed with the Beautiful Pattern embossing folder.  

 

  I die cut the birds out of a variety of cardstock colors (you'll see why with the second project!) and I used Adhesive Sheets with the cardstock so that each bird is a little sticker to make it mess free for adhering.  I just lined them up in rows then added the stamped sentiment below accented with a few gems.

  Now why did I have so many of these little birds?  This is why!  I made little mini wrapped Hershey chocolate bars to bring to Stampin' Up!® OnStage in Long Beach, CA last week.  I like to be able to exchange info with other stampers and they are a bit more fun than a business card!  

  I used the February Product of the Month, Painted Illusions DSP (which is still available) and pulled my bird colors from that and just made easy little sweet treat "business cards".  I handed these out to new stamping friends I met the whole time in Long Beach as well as hotel and airport staff.  All the leftover birds went onto the card.

  And I have to tell you that I'm lucky I made this card before leaving for CA last week because I had planned to do a card with each of the animals for this hop when I got home but as the travel gods would have it that was not to be because my connecting flight through Dallas back to Richmond on Sunday evening was cancelled and I didn't make it back home until Tuesday so I would have been hard pressed to get any project done at all!  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used for these projects is available in my ONLINE STORE.

Stamps: Cutest Crew (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Misty Moonlight (card), Pretty Peacock (candy label)

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink, Pretty Peacock, Flirty Flamingo, Darling Duckling, Granny Apple Green, Basic White, Painted Illusions DSP (Feb. POM)

Accessories: Cutest Crew dies (Online Exclusive), Beautiful Pattern embossing folder, adhesive sheets, faceted gems (retired)

Moon Man Birthday - Stampin' Up!® Moon & Back

   I'm a few days late in posting for the new CAS Colours & Sketches challenge but I've got a card to share with you today.  I was supposed to get back home from the Stampin' Up!® OnStage event in California on Sunday night but my connecting flight through Dallas got cancelled and they couldn't re-book my flight until Tuesday.  So a bit of unexpected time in Texas threw off my plans for stamping on Monday!  Oh well, I guess you can't help what the weather does.  A silver lining of the looooooong layover was that I got to spend the day on Monday with my friend and downline in Dallas and we stamped and created and chatted and that made an annoying travel situation so much better!  

  Check out the sketch:

  Didn't Joanne give a fun layout to work with?  The little notched space gives room for a lot of different possibilities!

  The Moon & Back stamp set is a new one in the Online Exclusives and I thought a sweet little space scene might work well with the layout.

  

  I started with a Basic White thick card base, then a square of retired Everyday Skies DSP with the notch made with a circle punch.

  The moon man is stamped in Basic Gray then colored in with Stampin' Blends.  The sentiment is from Banner Sayings and is stamped in Night of Navy on a skinny strip of Balmy Blue.  It's popped up on dimensionals following the sketch.

  I added a few punched stars using the Peaceful Garden Glimmer paper as well as adding Wink of Stella to the moon man's face mask.

  I hope you'll check out the Design Team samples and then add your creation to the gallery!  Remember to keep it Clean and Simple; minimal layers, lots of white space and uncluttered.

  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: Moon & Back (Online Exclusive), Banner Sayings (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Basic Gray, Night of Navy

Blends: Smoky Slate light & dark, Balmy Blue dark, Real Red dark

Paper: Basic White thick, Balmy Blue, Peaceful Garden Glimmer paper, Everyday Skies DSP (retired)

Accessories: circle punch, dimensionals, Wink of Stella

Game Day! - Stampin' Up!® Match Day

   A week or two ago I shared a soccer card that I made for encouragement for my 17 year old when he was trying out for the high school team.  I'm happy to report that he made the team and today's card is one that I'll give him before their first game tomorrow!

  I loosely used the SUO Challenge layout.  I flipped the sketch to accommodate the size of the net and I also didn't tuck the soccer balls behind as shown in the sketch but I wanted to definitely give credit for my inspiration.

  The background is a piece of A Wonderful Match DSP, then the net die cut in Basic White.  Next I added the die cut soccer balls on the corners.  The sentiment is stamped in Summer Splash and is trimmed to flag ends.  It's popped on dimensionals.

  The flags are stamped but the one facing to the right done with the mirror image stamping technique. This is a great technique to use when you have an image that you want to duplicate and have it face the opposite way.  Check out this video to see how it's done.

After the flags were stamped I colored, die cut then added them to the card by the soccer balls.  the final detail which I think is really fun and gives a nice bit of shine are the tufts of grass that are popped on mini dimensionals at the base of the goal.  I used some retired Festive Glimmer paper which was a perfect match!

  Hopefully the Jags can come away with a win the first game to set them up for a great season going forward!

  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: Match Day (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Memento Black, Summer Splash

Blends: Summer Splash light & dark, Crumb Cake light & dark

Paper: A Wonderful Match DSP, (Online Exclusive), Basic White, Basic Black, Festive Glimmer Paper (retired)

Accessories: Match Day dies (Online Exclusive), dimensionals

Spring Birthday Blossoms - Stampin' Up!® Simply Beautiful Dies

   With the very warm weather we've been having it almost feels like summer but I know it's not because there isn't any humidity lol!  I've got a bright spring (summer) birthday card with some pretty tropical flowers today!

  If you're a regular follower of Did You Stamp Today? you might feel like you've seen this card before and you'd be right. Kinda.  This is one of the prototype cards I made when I was designing for my last class.  I realized I had used these same colors in a previous class so I switched it out for the final design which you can see HERE.

  I used the same ink and blending brush technique to color a piece of Basic White and then used the dies to make the flowers.

  The panel down the center is embossed with the Beautiful Pattern embossing folder for some nice subtle texture.

  The sentiment is stamped is from With You In Mind and is stamped in Strawberry Slush.

  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: With You In Mind

Ink: Pretty In Pink, Peach Pie, Strawberry Slush

Paper: Basic White, Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Simply Beautiful Dies, Beautiful Pattern embossing folder (Online Exclusive), dimensionals, striped itidescent trim (retired), Frosted Iridescent Dots (retired)

Nature's Prayers - Stampin' Up!® Prayers & Promises

   When the mood strikes to create a sympathy card I try to jump on it so my stash is always filled because making on demand 'sad cards' is not my favorite so when I saw the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge I thought the soft blue colors in the mood board would make for a good monochromatic sympathy card.

  I pulled out the Prayers & Promises and Nature's Symphony stamp sets and got to stamping.

  I started with a Cloud Cover card base and then stamped the large leafy branch stamp from Nature's Symphony in stamped off Secret Sea ink.  I stamped them again, also stamped off on a panel of Basic White.  The sentiment from Prayers & Promises is stamped in the center of the Basic White panel in full strength Secret Sea ink.  The panel is adhered to a Cloud Cover Textured Notes die cut frame.  The whole thing is then popped on dimensionals.  And the Textured Notes die set is currently on sale in the Last Chance category in my store (link below).

  A Cloud Cover faux linen fork bow is added to the top and an Antique Pearl is added to each corner of the stamped panel for a finishing touch.

  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: Prayers & Promises, Nature's Symphony

Ink: Secret Sea

Paper: Cloud Cover, Basic White

Accessories: Textured Notes dies, dimensionals, Cloud Cover Faux Linen ribbon, Antique Pearls

Good Wishes - Stampin' Up!® Moon & Back

   My card today is another one in my book club series which are cards that are inspired by books I've recently read.  I used a brand new stamp set as well as a favorite retired set to bring this card together.

  The card is inspired by the book The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer.  This one was a quick read and a bit predictable about Lucy a good but down on her luck teachers aide who gets to revisit the magic of a favorite childhood book series.  The series author invites some readers to play a game for the ultimate prize; the next book! Winning the prize could change Lucy's life in more ways then one.

  I clearly took the book cover for a direct inspiration with the starry sky Everyday Skies DSP, the books from the retired Bird's Eye View stamp set and the moon from the new Moon & Back stamp set.

  I stamped the books in Memento then colored them with Stampin' Blends taking the colors from the books on the cover.  The books are fussy cut then stacked up near the moon.  

  The moon is stamped in Lemon Lolly and has some Wink of Stella accents.  The little sentiment is from Banner Sayings and is stamped in Secret Sea.

  I think this would make a good birthday card for a book lover; maybe a book store gift card tucked inside or even a graduation card!

  To see the other cards in my Book Club series click HERE.

  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: Moon & Back (Online Exclusive), Banner Sayings (Online Exclusive), Bird's Eye View (retired)

Ink: Memento Black, Secret Sea, Lemon Lolly

Blends: too many to name them all!  

Paper: Basic White, Everyday Skies DSP (retired)

Accessories: circle die/punch, dimensionals, iridescent faceted sequins (retired)

Bird Crew - Stampin' Up!® Cutest Crew

 A few weeks back I gave my customers this color combo to spark their creativity and I finally got around to making a card with the colors myself.  The bright splash of colors were a good fit with the fun birds in the new Cutest Crew bundle.  You can find this and other new products in the Stampin' Up!® March Online Exclusive release.

  I stamped the row of birds 3 times on little rectangles of paper I had in my scrap bin; they were the perfect size.  Then I stamped each bird a fourth time.  I colored them all in alternating the order using Stampin' Blends markers.  The fourth set of birds I fussy cut and popped one each on the other 3 strips.

  Using a Gorgeous Grape card base I stamped the little cluster of flowers so that the corners of the bird strips would be framed out by them.  Next I adhered the birds then embossed the sentiment right below them.

  A few adhesive backed sequins are added for a bit of shimmer.  I'm glad I finally got around to using these colors because they work really well together especially for a playful card like this!

  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: Cutest Crew (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Memento Black, Versamark

Blends: Highland Heather light & dark, Summer Splash light & dark, Melon Mambo light & dark, Lemon Lime Twist light & dark

Paper: Gorgeous Grape, Basic White

Accessories: dimensionals, white embossing powder, iridescent sequins (retired)

Spring Tulips - Stampin' Up!® Sunshine & Tulips

   The Color Dare Challenge has a pretty set of colors that seemed perfect to pair with the Sunshine & Tulips bundle.  My tulips aren't blooming yet but I have a ton of daffodils popped out right now and I know the tulips are next to show.  

  The only stamping on this card is the sentiment banner so it's a die heavy design.  I love the large card front size die that makes the lovely rows of tulips and it's fun to mix and match the flower colors.  This time I cut the die in Garden Green and mounted it on a Garden Green card base.  I bent the leaves up a bit for dimension as well.  

  The flower heads are cut using the large die and I just cut narrow strips of Beautiful Bokeh DSP in Caylpso Coral and Daffodil Delight patterns for a very subtle pattern/variation in color.  The flower heads are popped on dimensionals.

  The sentiment is stamped in Calypso Coral and then die cut with the Stylish Shapes dies.  It's also popped with dimensionals.  I added a baker's twine bow and some retired green faceted gems for a tone on tone bit of sparkle.

 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: Sunshine & Tulips

Ink: Calypso Coral

Paper: Garden Green, Basic White, Beautiful Bokeh DSP

Accessories: Sunshine & Tulips dies, Stylish Shapes dies, dimensionals, Calypso Coral baker's twine (retired), Earth Tones Shimmer Gems (retired)

Spring Easter Basket - Stampin' Up!® Easter Basket

 After a few warm days here in central Virginia some of my spring bulbs are flowering and the rest are on their way!  It's definitely time to think about spring cards and get ready for all that pastel goodness!  My stampers made this card last week at class and they got a good taste of spring with the Easter Basket bundle!

  This design starts with a Balmy Blue card base, then a piece of Easter Joy Specialty DSP.  This paper is very sturdy with fun metallic accents in cheerful spring colors.  

  The basket is cut out of Crumb Cake and a bit of Shy Shamrock grass is added to the inside.  Next comes filling the basket with all the adorable images in the Easter Basket stamp set.  All of the images are stamped in Basic Gray and then colored in with Blends.  It was fun to mix and match colors so each egg looks a bit different.  After the images are die cut they are added to the basket with the little chick being popped on dimensionals.

  The bunny and a second chick are stamped, colored, die cut and then added to outside the basket which fills in the layout. 

  The sentiment is stamped in Balmy Blue and adhered and a Balmy Blue gingham bow is the final touch.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Easter Basket

Ink: Balmy Blue, Basic Gray

Blends: Smoky Slate light, Pretty in Pink light & dark, Lemon Lolly light and dark, Peach Pie light & dark, Balmy Blue light & dark, Shy Shamrock light & dark

Paper: Balmy Blue, Basic White, Crumb Cake, Easter Joy Specialty DSP, Shy Shamrock

Accessories: Easter Basket dies, dimensionals, Balmy Blue gingham ribbon, 

Here's to You Congrats - Stampin' Up!® Capturing Smiles

   The CAS Colours & Sketches challenge is back with a new set of colors for you to work with for you clean and simple designs.  Joanne has given us a beautifully bright set of colors this time: Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green and Blueberry Bushel!

  I wanted to ink up a new set called Capturing Smiles so I grabbed the small camera image and just let the colors do the work!  

  I used each of the challenge colors then added the cameras to a Stylish Shapes square die cut with dimensionals.

  The simple sentiment is from the Banner Sayings stamp set and is stamped in Memento Black. 

  A truly 'clean and simple' card!  We hope to see your card in the gallery.  Remember to keep your project clean with minimal layers and the focus on the challenge colors.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Capturing Smiles (Online Exclusive), Banner Sayings (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Blueberry Bushel, Memento Black

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White

Accessories: Capturing Smiles dies (Online Exclusive), Stylish Shapes dies, dimensionals

Tropical Blooms - Stampin' Up!® Simply Beautiful

   The Simply Beautiful bundle makes gorgeous layered flowers and my local stampers got to see for themselves at my last class when they made this bright tropical floral card.

  The supply packet for this project was quite boring with all Basic White cardstock pieces except for a small piece of Daffodil Delight.  But the fun of this card is getting to add all the color!

  The card base is Basic White thick, then a layer of Basic White embossed with the Beautiful Pattern embossing folder. Then a strip of Basic White for the sentiment in Granny Apple Green.

  Finally the fun!  Using Daffodil Delight, Timid Tiger and Poppy Parade ink and blending brushes the ink is blended onto a panel of Basic White and then the flower layers are die cut from it.  This is a fun technique to get multi-colored flowers in whatever combo you'd like. The large flower is the 2 largest dies plus a smaller die.  There is a dimensional between the 2 larger layers.  The small flower is 2 layers also with a dimensional.  Both flowers have Daffodil Delight pistil and stamens.

  The leaves are made the same way with Granny Apple Green blended in and then the leaf image stamped over the top in the same ink.

  The final touch for this card is a pair of Pearlized Faceted Circles to add some sparkle.

  I shared a sped up video of this design coming together over on Instagram if you'd like to take a look!

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Simply Beautiful

Ink: Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Timid Tiger, Poppy Parade

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Beautiful Pattern embossing folder, Simply Beautiful dies, dimensionals, Pearlized Faceted Circles

Nature Guy - Stampin' Up!® Nature's Symphony

   My stampers and I agree that making guy cards can be tough and we don't always have a lot of ideas.  I designed today's card for my last class to give them some starting points for a guy card.  This one shows off the Nature's Symphony bundle and Nature Walk DSP to make non-boring masculine card.

  Layering and texture are great things to incorporate into a masculine card because they add detail without froofiness (that's a word right?).  This card starts with a Crumb Cake base stamped with the Lasting Linen background stamp using Crumb Cake ink; nice detail, no froof.

  Next is a Pretty Peacock panel with 3 graduating sized strips of the Nature Walk DSP; interest and pattern, no froof.  This whole DSP pack is great and you could mix and match many of the patterns to make a variety of cards in this style.

  For texture the Lost Lagoon leaf die cut and Crumb Cake wood plank are added; wood is definitely not froofy here.

  The sentiment is stamped in Secret Sea on a strip of Very Vanilla with the edges torn; more texture.  A length of Secret Sea faux linen ribbon is tucked between the sentiment and plank die cut.  Now a bow would be froofy but a loop is not.

  Metallic embellishments usually work well for a masculine card so a few Faux Bronze Pentagons finish off the details.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Nature's Symphony 

Ink: Secret Sea, Crumb Cake

Paper: Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, Nature Walk DSP, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Nature's Symphony dies, dimensionals, Faux Linen ribbon, Faux Bronze Pentagons

Hello Spring - Stampin' Up!® Simple Alphabet

 I was scrolling the list of challenges I regularly play along with and one of them had "weather" as the theme so I dug through my supplies, pulled a few things out and got to work and ended up with a decently cute card I think.  The only problem?  The challenge was supposed to be a clean and simple card but my finished product is not CAS. Oops!  I clearly was not paying enough attention but at least I have a card to share today!

  I was able to use some retired DSP as well as a panel that was embossed that was in my scrap bag.  It's always satisfying using some (hoarded) paper!

  The Rain or Shine DSP retired several years ago but I had a bit of the umbrella pattern left and thought that would fit the weather theme.  Looking at the colors in the paper Balmy Blue seemed like a good one to use to make a frame and as luck would have it I had a panel of it already embossed with the also retired Raindrops embossing folder.  I used the smaller of the Gallery Blooms frame dies.

  I wanted to to use a new alphabet stamp set that will be released soon as I hadn't gotten it inked up yet.  I love the font of the Simple Alphabet set and used Balmy Blue and Old Olive (another color in the DSP) to stamp and trim banners which I popped on dimensionals over the frame.  They are a great size for doing scrapbook page titles as well as greetings for cards.  

  Needing to add something else (and completely blanking on the fact that I should have been making a CAS card) I stamped the sun from the Choose Happy stamp set and colored, fussy cut and popped it up on a dimensional. A few blue iridescent sequins finish this design.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE. Items marked with a * will be available in the March 2026 Online Exclusive release.

Stamps: Choose Happy, Simple Alphabet*

Ink: Memento Black, Balmy Blue, Old Olive

Blends: Daffodil Delight light & dark

Paper: Rain or Shine Specialty DSP, Balmy Blue, Basic White

Accessories: Gallery Blooms dies, dimensionals, Raindrops embossing folder (retired), Iridescent sequins (retired)

Beach Tote Birthday - Stampin' Up!® Notes & Totes Dies

 My card today is another one in my Stamping Book Club series which are cards inspired by books I've recently read.  I hope to make a card for each book I read this year and maybe also to inspire you to read a book and/or make a card!  I've used the Notes & Totes bundle for this beachy vibes card!

  The beach layout was a no brainer for this card inspired by the book Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum.  This one was a fairly quick read about a group of "friends" who summer on the same island and the drama that ensues one summer.  The story is part "rich people with too much money" and "looks can be deceiving".  The cover was top notch for inspiration and I knew right away I wanted to re-create the beach.

  After making the card I realized I should have used a different blue as the Night of Navy Two-Tone looks a bit dark.  But I used Crumb Cake Two-Tone with a torn edge for the white "wave" along with a piece of torn Basic White to make it a bit wider. I used the speckle stamp from the Notes & Totes stamp set for the "sand".

  After seeing the upcoming Rolling Waves bundle that will be released in the March Online Exclusives it would have been perfect for the black and white hat element but I decided to do a beach tote with black & white DSP and Pretty in Pink straps. The Notes & Totes bundle is still top of my list for a fun summer inspired bundle even in the dead of winter!

  The sentiment is embossed in white and accented with some retired adhesive dots.

  It's been fun combining 2 of my favorite hobbies for this card series.  To see the previous books and cards click HERE.

  Thank for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Notes & Totes, Simply Said

Ink: Versamark, Crumb Cake

Paper: Night of Navy Two-Toned cardstock, Basic White Crumb Cake Two-Toned cardstock, Pretty in Pink, Golden Honey Specialty DSP (retired), 2024-2026 In Color DSP (retired)

Accessories: Notes & Totes dies, dimensionals, white embossing powder, Adhesive-Backed Dots for Days (retired)

Let's Go Good Luck - Stampin' Up!® Match Day

 I wanted to make a good luck card for my son who is going to be trying out for high school soccer this coming week.  He's a bit nervous and I thought he might like to get a little bit of themed encouragement!  I preordered the Wonderful Match suite and intended to use it to scrapbook some of the many years worth of photos I have of both boys soccer days but so far I've only used it to make a few cards!  I'm using the Freshly Made Sketches layout which works perfectly for soccer balls!

  The papers in the Wonderful Match DSP are really fun and make great backgrounds.  I stamped the Let's Go sentiment on a piece of Basic White and added a die cut strip of grass below it.  Two die cut Timid Tiger cones with some white Posca paint pen highlights are added to help hide the fact that I stamped the sentiment off center and was too lazy to re-do it!  

  Finally I stamped the soccer balls in Versamark and embossed them in black.  They are nice and shiny though it doesn't show in the photo.

  Since the sketch is supposed to be clean and it's for a teenaged boy I didn't add any other embellishments.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.  Items marked with a * will be available in the Stampin' Up!® March 2026 Online Exclusive release.

Stamps: Match Day*

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark

Paper: Wonderful Match DSP*, Basic White, Granny Apple Green, Timid Tiger

Accessories: Match Day dies*, black embossing powder, dimensionals, Posca White paint pen (non-SU)

Watercolor Blossom - Stampin' Up!® Simply Beautiful

   My stampers made this watercolor card at my last class using the Simply Beautiful Bundle.  This easy technique requires no painting experience!

  This one starts with a Crumb Cake base then a layer of Lovely & Beautiful DSP in a subtle Old Olive pattern.  Just under the edge of the DSP is a strip of Petunia Pop Two Toned cardstock with a torn edge.  To hide the seam of the 2 papers is a length of Old Olive Specialty RickRack adhered with Tear and Tape.

  The blossom is the star of the card!  It's stamped in Versamark onto watercolor paper and then embossed with gold embossing powder.  Water is then spritzed onto the flower until it puddles in the separate petals.  Then using a waterpainter and a small amount of reinker (this one uses Darling Duckling and Petunia Pop) the tip of the painter is touched to the puddles in the flower letting the ink spread out.  Once you like the look you can dry the water and ink with a heat tool or let it air dry before adding it to the card front.  The best part of this technique is that each one will be completely different depending on the amount of water and ink you add.

  A leaf is stamped in Old Olive ink onto the light side of the Old Olive Two Toned cardstock and is die cut and tucked under the edge of the blossom.  A simple sentiment is added just under the torn paper. Finally a few faceted sequins are added to bring in some more gold.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Simply Beautiful, Banner Sayings

Ink: Darling Duckling, Petunia Pop, Old Olive, Versamark

Paper: Crumb Cake, Watercolor paper, Lovely & Beautiful DSP, Two Toned Old Olive, Two Toned Petunia Pop

Accessories: Simply Beautiful Dies, dimensionals, gold embossing powder, Old Olive Specialty RickRack, Loose Gold Sequins

Bird Line Up Hello - Stampin' Up!® Cutest Crew

    The Cutest Crew bundle was tops on my list to order after seeing the demonstrator preorder for the upcoming Stampin' Up! ® March Online Exclusives!  This set has adorable little animal images and cute accent stamps as well as dies to go along.  I think the birds are what first caught my eye so I wanted to use them first!  The color combo at Color Dare Challenge just seemed like a perfect match!

  I started with a Soft Sea Foam base, then cut a slightly smaller panel of the same and stamped the little bird feet all over for a fun background.  I found them pretty easy to line up for an even, continuous look.

  Next I stamped the birds in Memento Black twice across a piece of Basic White and then colored them in with Blends along with the tufts of grass.  I popped this piece on dimensional onto another slightly wider piece of Basic White and adhered it all to the card front.

  The sentiment is also stamped in Memento black and I added a few pink dots for just a bit of embellishment.

  I can't wait to create more cards with this fun set!  Look for it to be released for all to order the first week of March!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Items marked with a * will be available with the release of the March 2026 Online Exclusives.

Stamps: Cutest Crew* (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Memento Black, Soft Sea Foam

Blends: Balmy Blue light & dark, Lemon Lolly light & dark, Flirty Flamingo light & dark, Soft Sea Foam light & dark, Daffodil Delight dark

Paper: Soft Sea Foam, Basic White

Accessories: Cutest Crew dies* (Online Exclusive), dimensionals, Adhesive-Backed Dots for Days (retired)

Flirty Peony Birthday - Stampin' Up!® Simply Beautiful

 I'm hosting the newest challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches today!  I designed what I think is an interesting sketch and I hope you'll join in and share your creation in the gallery!  What shapes will you use??

   I went with an obvious choice of a flower for my shape but I have some other ideas too that I might just have to try with this layout.

  I wish that I were a better color-er to do this big flower justice but it is what it is!  I wanted the bottom flower to be a bit more bold to draw the eye down to the sentiment so that part works I think!

  The card base is Basic White thick, then the stamping on a piece of Basic White die cut with the Textured Notes dies.  I stamped the outline in Basic Gray and used the Strawberry Slush, Flirty Flamingo and Shy Shamrock Blends for the coloring.

  The sentiment is from the Banner Sayings stamp set and I embossed it in white onto Shy Shamrock cardstock.  The banner is cut with the Stylish Shapes dies and is popped on dimensionals. The edges of the banner are accents with Iridescent Faceted Gem.

  I hope to see your project in the CAS Colours & Sketches gallery.  Remember to keep it clean and simple, lots of open space!

  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: Simply Beautiful

Ink: Basic Gray, Versamark

Blends: Strawberry Slush light, Flirty Flamingo light & dark, Shy Shamrock light & dark

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Shy Shamrock

Accessories: Textured Notes dies, Stylish Shapes dies, dimensionals, white embossing powder, Iridescent Faceted Gems (retired)

Bear Hugs - Stampin' Up!® Valentine Kisses

  Here's another card that was meant to be made by my stampers at my January class and they only got to make it last week.  It was to be a Valentine's Day card but I added the option for a happy birthday sentiment on the inside for those that were already set on their Valentine's day cards.  These bears are just adorable and I love how you can give them different items to hold!

  I wanted this one to be more of a card without the red/pink "in your face" Valentine's Day theme so I stuck with a nice blue color palette.  Secret Sea is used for the base as well as the Hearts of Love embossed panel.

  The colored stripes are each stamped with one of the tiny accent stamps in the Valentine Kisses stamp set.  They make for a nice pop of color behind the bear.

  The bear is stamped in Pecan Pie and then colored with blends.  My stampers had to the choice to used colored pencils and blender pens if they like that type of coloring instead.  We gave him a sweet little Cherry Cobbler heart to hold and then popped him up on dimensionals above the stamped sentiment.

  Since I was trying to keep this one from being too froofy (technical term) all the embellishment that was added is a baker's twine bow.

  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: Valentine Kisses (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Secret Sea, Blueberry Bushel, Azure Afternoon, Coastal Cabana, Pecan Pie

Blends: Pecan Pie light & dark, Ivory

Paper: Secret Sea, Blueberry Bushel, Azure Afternoon, Coastal Cabana, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Valentine Kisses dies (Online Exclusive), Hearts of Love embossing folder, dimensionals, blue baker's twine (retired)

Lovely Stripes - Stampin' Up!® Simply Beautiful

    I used last weeks Freshly Made Sketches challenge for the layout but didn't get it photographed in time to share.  I loved the angled stripe element and feel that this could be an often used layout when it's time to clean up some paper scraps!

  I started with an embossed panel of Basic White using the Beautiful Pattern embossing folder.  The stripes are added using 2 patterns from the Lovely & Beautiful DSP and a narrow strip of Petal Pink.

  The sentiment is from the Nature's Symphony stamp set and is stamped in Calypso Coral.  It's tucked under the edge of a scalloped square die cut from the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar.  I used that as a base for a single blossom.

  The flower is 2 layers of Petal Pink with a small amount of Calypso Coral blended into the center of each layer.  to make the flower have more dimension they are adhered together with a dimensional in between.  An Old Olive Two-Toned leaf is also added as well as a Darling Duckling stamen and pistil.

  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: Nature's Symphony

Ink: Calypso Coral

Paper: Basic White, Lovely & Beautiful DSP, Petal Pink, Darling Duckling, Old Olive Two-Toned cardstock

Accessories: Beautiful Pattern embossing folder, Simply Beautiful dies, dimensionals, scalloped square 

Sending You Love - Stampin' Up!® Endless Love

   Happy Valentine's Day!  Hope you get and give some hugs and kisses today!  I was finally able to have my stampers make this design at my last class that had to be rescheduled twice since the end of January due to the winter storm we had on January 24. That snow and ice stuck around for nearly 2 weeks which is unheard of here in Richmond!  But at least they got to make it before Valentine's Day.

  This design is basically showing off the Made With Love suite collection featuring the Endless Love bundle.  The classic red/pink color combo shows off nicely with Real Red, Flirty Flamingo and a bit of Strawberry Slush.

  It starts with a Real Red base, then a Basic White Perennial Postage die cut topped with a piece of Made With Love DSP.  Before adhering those layers a Bubble Bath faux linen ribbon is tied around.

  A large heart is die cut out of Flirty Flamingo.  It has a few small hearts cut out from one side for extra detail.  A heart is stamped in Strawberry Slush on Basic White and is die cut.

  The sentiment words are stamped in Real Red and the 'love' is trimmed down to mimic bubble letters.  The words are popped on dimensionals and the heart from the cut out from the Flirty Flamingo heart is popped on the 'o' and colored with Wink of Stella.

  I hope your heart day is filled with love!

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Endless Love

Ink: Real Red, Strawberry Slush

Paper: Real Red, Flirty Flamingo, Basic White, Made With Love DSP

Accessories: Endless Love dies, Perennial Postage dies, Bubble Bath Faux Linen ribbon, dimensionals, Wink of Stella

Sunshine Congrats - Stampin' Up!® Encircled With Love

  I have a fun, bright congratulations or encouragement card for today.  I used some leftover pieces from this sunburst card that I made a week or 2 ago.  The colors were too nice to not make another card with the pieces.

  I didn't have enough pieces to make a full sunburst all the way around so I just drew a pencil line across the embossed piece of Basic White and lined my angled pieces along that.  I covered the seam with a thin piece of Berry Burst cardstock.

  For the focal piece I stamped the "way to go" stamp from the Encircled With Love stamp set in Crushed Curry and punched it out and then used a slightly larger Basic White circle behind it.  I used a bit of retired for the sun rays.  The ends were much less raggedy until I realized that that I adhered the sun really off center and tried to pull it back up to adjust it.  The ribbon didn't fair so well lol!

  A few Iridescent Faceted Gems finish off this bright beauty!

  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: Encircled With Love

Ink: Crushed Curry

Paper: Basic White, Berry Burst, Melon Mambo, Timid Tiger, Crushed Curry

Accessories: circle punches, Forever Plaid embossing folder, dimensionals, Crushed Curry ribbon (retired), Iridescent Faceted Gems (retired)

Simple Branch - Stampin' Up!® Nature's Symphony

   Just a quick share today.  I've been busy cleaning up from my class on Tuesday that was supposed to be held back in January but I had to keep postponing due to the weather.  Why does it always seem to take longer to clean up than it does to set up??  Anyway, today's card is a great one if you're low on time and need something quick!  

  It starts with a Soft Sea Foam base, then a layer of Basic White cut down with the Textured Notes dies.  I cut out 2 of the large branches from the Nature's Symphony die set; one in Soft Sea Foam and one from the center of the Textured Notes dies.  I inlaid the green one on the card front and saved the Basic White for another project.

  The simple sentiment is stamped in Pretty Peacock and the branch is accented with a bit of gold and Pretty Peacock ribbon.  A few sparkly gold gems finish off the design.

  See I told you this one was easy!!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today

Stamps: Nature's Symphony

Ink: Pretty Peacock

Paper: Soft Sea Foam, Basic White

Accessories: Nature's Symphony dies, Gold/Pretty Peacock ribbon (retired), Gold Sparkle Gems (from the 2025 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar)

Soccer Match Birthday - Stampin' Up!® Match Day

   My card today is a preview of an upcoming bundle that will be released in early March with the next batch of Online Exclusive products!  I was really excited to see the Wonderful Match Suite and all the soccer/football possibilities!  Both my boys have played soccer since they were very little so we have a ton of soccer seasons under our belts along with all the photos and memories! Hopefully having this suite will kick start some scrapbooking of those fun memories but for now I started easy with a card to just play around.

  I was inspired by the card sketch at Scrap-n-Sketch but instead of a tag I swapped a banner and I hope that's ok!  I wanted to mimic the shape of the flag stamp and I the tag shapes I had just weren't right.

  I started with a Basic Black card base then a layer of A Wonderful Match DSP in this fun turf/goal netting pattern.  I added the band at the bottom with Basic Black and Azure Afternoon with the birthday sentiment embossed in black.

  The banner is Basic White and is cut with the Party Banners dies.  I stamped the flag directly onto the banner and added the #1 to it. The ball and jersey are stamped and die cut.  I colored the jersey, flag and added a bit of shading on the ball with Stampin' Blends. The jersey is popped on dimensionals.

  My favorite thing on this card is the silver whistle!  Isn't it cute?  I used a bit of retired Brushed Silver paper and added some black baker's twine for the cording.  The whistle is popped on dimensionals also.  I added a sneaky glue dot just under the sleeve of the jersey to press the twine into so it would stay in place and not flop off the side of the card.

  I'm excited to continue to use these suite products and I hope you don't get tired of soccer themed cards!

  Thanks for sharing!  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 in early March 2026 in the Online Exclusives.

Stamps: Match Day*, Simply Said

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark

Blends: Balmy Blue light & dark, Azure Afternoon light

Paper: Basic Black, Basic Black, Azure Afternoon, A Wonderful Match DSP*, brushed silver paper (retired)

Accessories: Match Day dies*, dimensionals, Party Banners dies, black embossing powder, black baker's twine

Hearts & Hugs - Stampin' Up!® Endless Love

 I've got more pink for you today with another Valentine!  I think if I don't get my cards out in the mail tomorrow they won't be delivered in time!  But the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge was too good to pass up.  It's not often I put 3 different pinks on a card but we're to use Strawberry Slush, Flirty Flamingo and Bubble Bath for our design and this much pink all at once is certainly a challenge for me.  Of course the Endless Love bundle was a no brainer for this card!

  This one is really straightforward with a Flirty Flamingo base, then a layer of Basic White and then 3 1 1/2" x 3 3/4" bands in the challenge colors stamped with the "love" stamp from the Endless Love set.  I stamped in a somewhat random pattern but filled in all the space.

  I cut 3 open hearts in the challenge colors and alternated them down the card front.  The sentiment is stamped and die cut and bakers twine bow added before being adhered with dimensionals.

  The last detail is a scattering of retired Tinsel Gems for a tiny bit of sparkle.

  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: Endless Love

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Flirty Flamingo, Bubble Bath

Paper: Strawberry Slush, Flirty Flamingo, Bubble Bath, Basic White

Accessories: Endless Love dies, dimensionals, bakers twine (retired), Tinsel Gems (retired)

Tulips in Pink & Red - Stampin' Up!® Sunshine & Tulips

 I've been using a lot of red and pink lately for Valentine's Day cards so when I saw the Color Hues challenge this week I decided I wanted to try to go for a different theme just to change things up.  So not a heart in sight!  I went with tulips instead!

  The Sunshine & Tulips bundle has been fun to work with and I think it looks great in Poppy Parade and Pretty in Pink.

  I started with a Basic White thick card base, added a piece of Basic White embossed with the Beautiful Pattern embossing folder, then a layer of Pretty in Pink topped with a piece of Made With Love DSP (there are hearts on the other side of this paper but you cant see them!).

  The sentiment is embossed in white onto the DSP and a piece of retired Frayed Grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around it before popping the panel on dimensionals.  

  I used the Party Banners dies for a smallish banner and then stamped the row of tulips alternating between Poppy Parade and Pretty in Pink.  The banner is popped on dimensionals.

  For the focal point I cut a circle with the Stylish Shapes dies and then added the tulip die cut in Basic White.  I used adhesive sheets for the tulip die cut because it's so thin I didn't want to mess with glue so you might want to think about that if you're using these dies.  And there are even more dimensionals used to adhere the circle.

 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: Sunshine & Tulips

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Poppy Parade, Versamark

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Pretty in Pink, Poppy Parade, Made With Love DSP

Accessories: Sunshine & Tulips dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Party Banners dies, Beautiful Pattern embossing folder, dimensionals, white embossing powder, 2024-2026 In Color dots (retired), Frayed Grosgrain ribbon (retired)

Gold Framed Gallery - Stampin' Up!® Gallery Blooms

   I'm back today with another card for my new Stamping Book Club series where I design a card using a book I have recently read as the inspiration.  I thought this was a fun way to combine two of my favorite hobbies!

  This card is inspired by the cover of the book Homecoming by Kate Morton.  Like my first Stamping Book Club card  this one is also set in Australia and is a mystery that switches between past and present slowly unraveling the secrets that a grandmother has kept from a granddaughter.  I enjoyed the story and didn't have it all figured out right away so that was good!

  Now for the card inspired by the gold and blue of the book cover!  It was fun trying to figure out how to incorporate these elements into a card with the supplies I had on hand.  I used a bit of Nature's Walk DSP in this pretty blue pattern that shows a bit of depth.

  I love the delicate gold framing so I added a frame using retired gold Fine Shimmer Paper and the retired Deckled Rectangle dies.  I didn't really have any stamps that could mimic the dainty vines but I wanted to stick with a botanical feel so I embossed in gold one of the flower stems from the Gallery Blooms stamp set.

  Of course I had to add a bird since there are 2 birds on the cover so I embossed the bird from the Encircled With Love stamp set and fussy cut it and perch it on the flower with a dimensional.

  The sentiment is 2 frames cut with the retired Traditional Label dies.  I trimmed the gold frame from the label and adhered it to the stamped Basic White frame.

  So not a full on stamped interpretation of the book cover but definitely inspired by it.  It's a fun way to stretch creatively and figure out how my supplies can be used.

  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: Gallery Blooms, Encircled With Love, Beautiful Motifs

Ink: Versamark, Night of Navy

Paper: Nature's Walk DSP, Basic White, Gold Fine Shimmer paper (retired)

Accessories: dimensionals, gold embossing powder, Traditional Label dies (retired), Deckled Rectangle dies (retired)

Nature Spots - Stampin' Up!® Nature's Symphony

   I had fun with the colors from the Color Dare Challenge for today's card.  I paired them with the Nature's Symphony bundle for this thank you card.  

  I played around with texture a bit on this card starting with the piece of retired Wildly Flowering DSP in this neutral linen print for the background.  Next I cut circles in the challenge colors using the Stylish Shapes dies and then used the crosshatch die in the Nature's Symphony die set to add the pattern to each circle.  Finally for the last bit of texture I cut a piece of Crumb Cake with the wood die and added a bit of ink to the edges for definition.

  To bring in the fourth color of the challenge I stamped the leafy branch image in Mossy Meadow and then die cut it and popped it on dimensionals.

  The card is finished with a sentiment from Banner Sayings stamped in Night of Navy and adhered over a strip of Cloud Cover Faux Linen ribbon. And finally 2 Faux Bronze Pentagons for a touch of metallic.

  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: Nature's Symphony, Banner Sayings (Online Exclusives)

Ink: Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake

Paper: Night of Navy, Calypso Coral, Cloud Cover, Crumb Cake, Basic White, Wildly Flowering DSP (retired)

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Nature's Symphony dies, dimensionals, Cloud Cover Faux Linen ribbon, Faux Bronze Pentagons