Autumn Hello - Stampin' Up!® Elegant Leaves

   My seasonal stamper self is starting to get deep into fall cards and I love the all purpose Elegant Leaves bundle that can be used for so many different types of cards.  My card today was made a week or 2 ago as a customer thank you and I had fun with it using a sketch I had given as inspiration on my customer Facebook page.

  Super cute right?  I started with a Basic Beige card base and then a layer of Basic Beige embossed with the Softly Woven embossing folder.  I think Basic Beige is a fantastic clean neutral for fall cards.  Look how crisp the other colors show up against it?  

  I have a tip or note about the Softly Woven embossing folder; since the pattern is deep and pretty much all over the cardstock can stretch or shrink a bit so don't be surprised if you have to trim some edges to line up when you're using it.  That was fine for this card because I was planning to trim down the card base so that I could have my DSP flag hang over the edge just a bit but still be able to fit in an envelope.  So I trimmed about 1/4" off of the right hand side of the card base to clean up the embossed layer as well as adjust for the flagged piece. Win win!

  The DSP band is in a fun Pool Party plaid from the Painted Patch DSP.  The DSP is 4 1/4" long and 2" wide.  Next I stamped all of my leaves onto a piece of Basic White (3" x 3 1/2").  I used Timid Tiger, Lost Lagoon and Cajun Craze for the veins and then filled them in with Timid Tiger, Pool Party and Cajun Craze for the second layer.  I backed that piece with Lost Lagoon and then popped it on dimensionals.

  The hello is stamped in Lost Lagoon, punched out and backed with a punched Pool Party circle.  It is also popped on dimensionals.  I used some Two-Toned Cajun Craze cardstock and cut out a small leaf with the light side being up.  Then I topped it with the detailed die cut to match using the Autumn Woodland Glimmer paper in Cajun Craze and added it over the stamped leaf using dimensionals.  It's such a fun pop of sparkle in the middle of the falling leaves!

  Finally a few Timid Tiger 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls accent the sentiment to finish of this fall beauty!

  

  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: Elegant Leaves

Ink: Timid Tiger, Lost Lagoon, Cajun Craze, Pool Party

Paper: Basic Beige, Lost Lagoon, Basic White, Painted Patch DSP, Two-Toned Cajun Craze, Autumn Woodland Glimmer Paper, Pool Party

Accessories: Elegant Leaves dies, Softly Woven embossing folder, dimensionals, circle punches, 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls

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

Stitched Christmas - Stampin' Up!® Stitched Stocking

 Christmas in June??? Why not?  Planning ahead for handmade Christmas cards is the only way I can get enough made without driving myself crazy come December.  I won't be making a big Christmas card push just yet so don't unfollow me for being out of season. Getting a few cards in the storage box gives me a little peace of mind! I'm using the Stitched Stocking bundle which will be available in the July 2026 Online Exclusive release.

  I needed to make a card using the sketch challenge that I gave my to customers this morning and I thought this Christmas stocking kind of fit the larger element of the layout.  What do you think?

  Maybe a little big lol!  But it was fun to put this card together using the quilt inspired Stitched Stockings bundle.

  I started with a Peaceful Pine card base, such a wonderful Christmas green!  Then a panel of Basic White cut with the retired Stitched Rectangle dies and embossed with the retired Beautiful Pattern embossing folder.

  The stocking is die cut in several layers with the bottom being just the stocking shape. The top layer of the stocking is the part that has all the wonderful patchwork and stitched details.  Both layers are in Cherry Cobbler.  The cuff is also separate and is in Basic White. Before adhering the cuff I added a loop of Peaceful Pine Bordered ribbon.

 This bundle is part of a suite which includes A Stitched Season DSP.  I used a plaid pattern to cut the star detail and added it to the stocking.

 A little Christmas tree and some holly leaves and berries colored with Wink of Stella are fun accents and a little tiny sentiment from the long retired Itty Bitty Christmas is the final piece.

 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 in the July 2026 Online Exclusive release..

Stamps: Itty Bitty Christmas (retired)

Ink: Peaceful Pine

Paper: Peaceful Pine, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Real Red, A Stitched Season DSP*

Accessories: Stitched Stocking dies*, dimensionals, Wink of Stella, circle punch, Beautiful Pattern embossing folder (retired), Stitched Rectangle dies (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)

Endless Hearts - Stampin' Up!® Endless Love

   I'm combining two challenges today for this card.  A color combo that I gave my stampers last week along with the sketch from the Paper Players.  I thought the colors would be a cute combo for Valentine's Day and the sketch just seemed like I should use some hearts.  The Endless Love bundle was a perfect choice for lots of accessorizing!

  I started with a Smoky Slate base, then a layer of Pool Party stamped with the "XO" stamp and then trimmed down with the Textured Notes dies for a nice detail along the border.

  I die cut 4 hearts from the retired Country Lace DSP in this Petal Pink pattern.  I popped the hearts on dimensionals then added details with other die cuts from the Endless Love die set.  

  The sentiment is from Banner Sayings and fits nicely on the die cut tag.  I finished the design with some retired Iridescent Rhinestones for some subtle shine.

  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: Pool Party, Smoky Slate

Paper: Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Basic White, Country Lace DSP (retired)

Accessories: Endless Love dies, Textured Notes dies, dimensionals, baker's twine, Iridescent Rhinestones (retired)

Note of Thanks - Stampin' Up!® Just a Note

   Before I get too deep into Christmas I better get some of these last fall cards shared!  I designed this card for my customer thank you's for October and it also uses a color combination that I challenged my customers to use on my private customer Facebook page.  The Gathering Moments stamp set is perfect for adding some cute seasonal accents to the the Just a Note panel with the fun notebook paper look.

  I started with a Basic White thick card base and then used the Textured Notes dies to cut a panel of Wildflower Birthday DSP (on sale now!).  Next I stamped the paper lines and then die cut the panel.  The sentiment is stamped in Pecan Pie and is in a new set called Banner Sayings.  It has a coordinating banner punch which is fantastic if you're not a fan of doing flagged ends yourself!

  The little fall images are stamped in Pecan Pie, Calypso Coral and Peach Pie and after they are die cut are added to opposite corners of the notebook paper.  

  A bakers twine bow and some faceted gems finish off this sweet thank you card.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Gathering Moments (Online Exclusive), Just a Note (Online Exclusive), Banner Sayings (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Pecan Pie, Peach Pie, Calypso Coral

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Wildflower Birthday DSP

Accessories: Textured Notes dies, Gathering Moments dies (Online Exclusive), Just a Note dies (Online Exclusive), dimensionals, bakers twine, faceted gems (retired)

Halloween Squirrel - Stampin' Up!® Fluffy Squirrel

   I've been falling behind in creating cards for my customer challenge that I post on the group Facebook page every other week.  It seems that I don't get to a challenge until the next one posts.  Time to add that to my weekly stamping schedule and not just hope that I remember! But this time I'm getting one made before the next one posts.  It's a fun color challenge that would work perfectly for a Halloween card which is what I chose to do!

It occurred to me that I have only used the Fluffy Squirrel bundle to make brown squirrels.  The most common colored squirrel where I live is a gray squirrel so I don't know why I haven't used gray yet!  He looks like a handsome fellow in gray right?? I decided it was a nice neutral to pair up with the bright challenge colors so I got to work.

  The card base is Gorgeous Grape, then I used a piece of the retired Friends of the Ocean DSP in a fun Pumpkin Pie pattern.  I tore off the top edge for a bit of texture.  I added in some Granny Apple Green by way of a narrow strip of retired Festive Glimmer paper.

  The fun notebook paper is made with the Online Exclusive set Just A Note and I used the coordinating dies to make the paper edge as well as the heart and paper clip.  If you like stationery and stationery accessories then you will love this bundle!  They are great accents for scrapbook pages as well! The paper is popped on dimensionals and gives a nice spot for our gray squirrel to sit.

  The squirrel is stamped in Basic Gray and is then colored in with Stampin' Blends and is punched out with the Fluffy Squirrel builder punch. To actually make this more of a Halloween theme I used the pumpkin stamp from the More Than Autumn set and color it in with Blends as well. I popped it on a mini dimensional in the squirrels hands.

  I stamped a few stars right onto the card front to fill in some of the open space to the side of the notebook paper.  The sentiment is embossed in white onto Granny Apple Green cardstock using a retired stamp set; Good Greetings. A few Purple Fine Shimmer Gems are the final touch to this fun Halloween 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.

Stamps: Fluffy Squirrel, Just a Note (Online Exclusive), More Than Autumn, Good Greetings (retired)

Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Versamark, Basic Gray, Granny Apple Green, Pumpkin Pie

Blends: Gray Granite light & dark, Pumpkin Pie light

Paper: Gorgeous Grape, Basic White, Granny Apple Green, Festive Glimmer Paper (retired), Friends of the Ocean DSP (retired)

Accessories: Fluffy Squirrel builder punch, Just A Note dies (Online Exclusive), white embossing powder, dimensionals, Purple Fine Shimmer Gems

Hexagon Birthday - Stampin' Up!® Month By Month

 I'm finally getting around to making a card with the color combination that I challenged my customers to use almost 2 weeks ago.  I forgot to write a note to remind myself to use these colors and you know what happens if I don't write something down???  Yup, it doesn't happen! So a day (or many!) late and at least a few dollars short I've got a nice masculine birthday card for Testosterone Tuesday!

  I love how the Heartfelt Hexagon punch lines up so nicely to give a beautiful tiled background. I punched out several hexagons in each of my colors (Misty Moonlight, Shy Shamrock and Pecan Pie).  For the Shy Shamrock and Misty Moonlight hexagons I stamped them using some of the small accent stamps that are in the Month By Month stamp set that is included with the Month By Month Scrapbooking Album Retreat (which is still available to order if you're interested in getting 24 pages done!!).  The Pecan Pie pieces are embossed with the Gathering Leaves embossing folder.  I sponged some Pecan Pie ink along the edges for more depth.

  I alternated the colors across and down the card front and trimmed off the overhanging bits.  The sentiment from Simply Said is stamped in Misty Moonlight on a thin strip of Basic White.  A few Shy Shamrock sparkle gems are the final detail.

  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: Month By Month (Virtual Album Retreat stamp set), Simply Said

Ink: Misty Moonlight, Shy Shamrock, Pecan Pie

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Shy Shamrock, Pecan Pie, Basic White thick, Basic White

Accessories: Heartfelt Hexagon punch, Gathering Leaves embossing folder (Online Exclusive), Shy Shamrock sparkle gems (retired)

Blooming Thanks - Stampin' Up! ® Blooming Phrases

 I've been busy working on projects for an upcoming blog hop as well as making my boys birthday cards all of which I'll be sharing in the next week or so.  But I've also been stamping along with a few challenges to re-stock my card bins after recently raffling off and selling 110 cards.  Today I'm combining the Freshly Made Sketches challenge and my latest customer color challenge.  I haven't used the Blooming Phrases set hardly at all since I've gotten it so I've been playing around with this sweet sentiment set that can be found in the Online Exclusives.

  I started with a Basic White thick card base and then embossed a layer of Basic White with the Soft Waves embossing folder.  I used the Around It All dies to cut 3 wonky circles in my customer challenge colors.  The 2 partial circles are slightly larger than the center circle.

  I stamped flowers from the Bloom Phrases set and then stamped and embossed in white the thanks from the same set.

All of the circles are popped on dimensionals and the overhang of the corner circles are trimmed off.  I added a few retired glittery sequins for just a bit of embellishment.

  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: Blooming Phrases (Online Exclusive)

Ink: Highland Heather, Versamark, Crushed Curry

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Highland Heather, Crushed Curry, Balmy Blue

Accessories: Soft Waves embossing folder, Around It All Dies (Online Exclusive), white embossing folder, dimensionals, glittery sequins (retired)

Tiled Blooms - Stampin' Up! Impressions Abloom

      My card today is loosely based on my last customer stamping challenge.  I was inspired by the grid layout and made a background panel that is tiled using a very easy scoring technique.

  I started with a Granny Apple Green card base.  The the tiled panel is made by scoring lines evenly down and then across on a Basic White panel.  I used 1 inch score lines but you could few larger lines for fewer tiles or smaller for more tiles.

  Next I used the coming soon Impressions Abloom stamp set to 2 step stamp flowers right over the score lines.  I used Lemon Lolly for step one and the flower center and Daffodil Delight for step 2.  The leaves are added using Lemon Lime Twist for both layers the base being stamped off once.

  I stamped and die cut another flower and a pair of leaves and I added the extra detail dies to makw the lines on the petals.  This extra step really make the flower pop and have texture.

  I popped the flower and leaves on dimensionals to the side of the stamped and punched sentiment.  The To The Point label punch is carrying over so that's great news as it's a fantastic shape.

  Finally I added some retired Adhesive-Backed Shiny Sequins.  

  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 for ordering starting May 6, 2025.

Stamps: Impressions Abloom*, Simply Said

Ink: Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Memento Black

Paper: Granny Apple Green, Basic White

Accessories: scoreboard/blade, dimensionals, Impressions Abloom dies*, To The Point Label punch, Adhesive-Backed Shiny Sequins (retired)

Easter Tree - Stampin' Up! Pick a Season

   I feel like it has been weeks since I posted a card but it's just been since Thursday when I headed out of town to go to the Stampin' Up! On Stage demonstrator event in Raleigh, NC.  It was a really fun time and it deserves it own post after I go through some photos and get back in the swing of things.  I did stamp a bit this afternoon and I was able to get this super bright Easter card made using colors that are the current customer stamping challenge.  I think the lighting when I took the photo makes it look even more bright.

  I still had the Sale-a-Bration stamp set Pick A Season on my desk and I thought the bright colors worked with the images.  I started with Lemon Lime Twist, then a layer of Basic White embossed with the Dotted Circles embossing folder.

  Next I added a panel of Celebrations Expressions Memories and More card pack which is coming out in the next annual catalog and we received at OnStage to use for make and take projects.  The color listed is Berry Burst but I think this pattern went perfectly with Petunia Pop.  These cards are a great way to add patterns and color to your cards; almost like DSP but already cut to smaller sizes.  

  The sentiment is from the Storybook Friends stamp set and is embossed on a strip of Petunia Pop with the end flagged. I stamped the tree and added the Easter eggs in Pumpkin Pie and colored in some bits of them with the Petunia Pop marker.  I fussy cut the tree and popped it on dimensionals.

Finally I added a baker's twine bow and some sequins to finish off the details. 

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the current products used on this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE. Items marked with a "*" will be available beginning May 6.

Stamps: Pick a Season (SAB-retired), Storybook Friends

Ink: Lemon Lime Twist, Pumpkin Pie, Petunia Pop

Paper: Lemon Lime Twist, Petunia Pop, Basic White, Celebrations Expressions Memories and More card pack*

Accessories: Dotted Circles embossing folder, dimensionals, white embossing powder, baker's twine, sequins

Birthday Love - Stampin' Up! Simply Said

   I'm sharing a simple, bright birthday card today.  This one has great colors for a spring celebration and uses a fun layout that's great to show off smaller images.  I used the heart stamp from the Sale-a-Bration stamp set Documenting the Day.  They layout is one that I gave to my customers as a stamping challenge on our group facebook page.

  This one came together quickly with an Azure Afternoon card base and then a layer of Basic White embossed with the Forever Plaid embossing folder.  I had this embossed panel in my orphaned card parts bin because it had slipped going through the machine and ended up a bit crooked.  I thought it would work for this design and it helps hide if some of the hearts aren't exactly adhered straight lol!

  I stamped 2 or three hearts in each of the 5 colors then punched them out with a 1" circle punch.  A die would work great as well it just wouldn't be a quick.  They are adhered to the card front with dimensionals leaving a space in the center for the sentiment.

  The sentiment is from the Simply Said stamp set and is inked in Azure Afternoon.  2 retired Fine Sparkle Adhesive-Backed Gems are added on each side of the sentiment.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

  Stamps: Documenting the Day (SAB), Simply Said

  Ink: Azure Afternoon, Petal Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green

  Paper: Azure Afternoon, Basic White

  Accessories: circle punch, Forever Plaid embossing folder, dimensionals, Fine Sparkle Adhesive-Backed Gems (retired)

Fresh Garden Birthday - Stampin' Up! Storybook Garden Patch

 While we might have had snow and freezing rain the last few days my flower bulbs are decidedly trying to tell me that it's almost spring.  I have daffodils and tulips poking up through the mulch and the maple trees have tiny buds already!  So taking my cue from (some parts of) nature I made a gardening themed birthday card using the most recent challenge colors that I gave my customers for inspiration.  I used the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge for the layout.

 I haven't used the Storybook Moments Suite products much at all so far and I really think it's mostly due to the cold wet winter we've been having so far this year.  I just haven't been inspired to make spring garden or adorable woodland animal cards.  And also to be honest, I think the coloring aspect of the line art images has been a bit of a mental block for me.  I'm not a natural color-er so it takes some self-motivation and the right mindset to keep at it until I get a result that I like!  

  I started with a Basic Beige card base and then cut a Very Vanilla Spotlight on Nature circle.  I strung a bit of linen thread through the holes in the circle and tied a bow before adhering it with dimensionals.  

 The 3 images from the Storybook Garden Patch stamp set are stamped in Stazon onto watercolor paper.  I used a water painter brush and just stamped a clear block into each color ink pad and picked up the color from there.  Like I said I played around for a bit trying to get the shading to my liking before die cutting.

  The images are popped on dimensionals on the edge of the circle to follow the sketch.  The sentiment from Saying Hey stamp set is stamped in black to the side.  And finally a few retired Adhesive-Backed Speckled Dots are added to the circle to echo the terracotta color of the pots.

  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: Storybook Garden Patch, Saying Hey

Ink: Stazon black, Cajun Craze, Garden Green, Blueberry Bushel

Paper: Basic Beige, Very Vanilla, watercolor paper

Accessories: Spotlight on Nature dies, Storybook Garden Patch dies, dimensionals, linen thread, Adhesive-Backed Speckled Dots (retired)

Seagull Love - Stampin' Up! Friendly Seagulls

  You know I love my animal stamps and bird stamps so the Sale-a-bration (SAB) set Friendly Seagulls was sure to find its way to my stamp room!  I decided to make a fun little Valentine's day card that I think I'm going to send to my son at college.  The inside says "I love you more than french fries"!  So cute!  A $60 order can get you these seagulls for free during Sale-a-bration!

  The layout is one that I gave to my customers last week for a stamping challenge on our group Facebook page.  It's a simple layout and the big circle could be changed out for another larger shape so you can really go in so many directions with it.

  I started with a Lost Lagoon card base, then another layer of Lost Lagoon embossed with the Sale-a-Bration Starstruck embossing folder.

  The Spotlight on Nature die set was used to cut the circle.  I used a blending brush and very lightly added some Pool Party ink to it for a bit of a sky effect. Country Woods DSP is used for the pilings and I gave them 2 different heights so the birds wouldn't be crowded.

  The seagulls are stamped in Memento Black and then colored with blends markers.  I fussy cut them and popped them up on the pilings with dimensionals.

  The little banner is cut with the Stylish Shapes dies and I stamped the 'hey' in black.  It seemed a bit empty so I punched a Poppy Parade heart with the house builder punch and added that to the side of the banner.  Behind the banner I looped a bit of baker's twine and then popped it all up on a dimensional.

  This is such a fun stamp set and I keep seeing more and more cute ways to use it!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Friendly Seagulls (SAB)

Ink: Memento Black, Pool Party

Blends: Basic Black light, Smoky Slate light & dark, Daffodil Delight dark

Paper: Lost Lagoon, Basic White, Poppy Parade, Country Woods DSP

Accessories: Starstruck embossing folder (SAB), Spotlight on Nature dies, dimensionals, Stylish Shapes dies, baker's twine, house builder punch

   

Around the Flowers - Stampin' Up! Around It All Dies

   Sometimes an idea actually turns out close to the way I hoped it would!  I was looking at the Around It All dies and thinking they would be cute as layered flowers and tucked the idea away to try it out one of these days.  Then I saw that I was due to post a new stamping challenge for my customers and the colors were Coastal Cabana, Petunia Pop and Shy Shamrock. Then I saw the Freshly Made Sketches challenge!  It was stamping fate so this is a card that I had to make.... 'had' is doing a lot of work in that sentence but still lol!

    I started with a Basic White thick card base, then topped it with a layer of Basic White that is embossed with the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) reward Starstruck embossing folder.

  Then using the 4 smallest circles from the Around It All die set I cut a variety of circles using both card stock and DSP in Petunia Pop and Coastal Cabana.  This die set is an Online Exclusive and a nice addition to your stamping supplies as a super versatile circle-ish shape.  Eagle eyed stampers might spot that 2 of the 3 DSPs used are also Sale-A-Bration rewards! The top 2 layers of each flower are adhered with dimensionals.

Next I used the smallest circle to cut out the leaves from Shy Shamrock cardstock.  Each flower got 2 leaves.  

  Then using the layout from the challenge I arranged my flowers on the card front and adhered them with glue.  I thought about another layer of dimensionals but I think that would have made the card a bit thick for mailing.

  For the sentiment I wanted one that was very small so as not to cover up the whole flower so after searching through my sets I found this one from the Hearts & Hugs stamp set and stamped it in Shy Shamrock ink and added it to the flower.

  For a bit of sparkle I added some 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer gems to the flower centers.  I think this color combo it really cute and perfect for spring flowers and the FMS challenge came by at just the right time!

Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Hearts & Hugs

Ink: Shy Shamrock

Paper: Basic White thick, Basic White, Shy Shamrock, Petunia Pop, Coastal Cabana, Fruit Salad DSP (SAB), Bloom Impressions DSP (SAB), 2024-2026 In Color DSP

Accessories: Starstruck embossing folder (SAB), Around It All dies (Online Exclusive), dimensionals, 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer gems

Berry Delight - Stampin' Up! Delightful Wishes Dies

   I finally have a sneak peek of new products coming out in January!  On Thursday I gave my customers the last stamping challenge of 2024 and they are a bold set of colors; Berry Burst, Azure Afternoon and Granny Apple Green.  I don't need any more Christmas cards so I went with a bold bright floral card using the upcoming Delightful Wishes die set.  This die set does bundle with a coordinating stamp set but I only used the dies for this hello card.

  This one starts with a Berry Burst base then I used the Deckled Rectangles dies to cut a panel out of Azure Afternoon.  The Deckled Rectangle dies are on the Last Chance list and are on sale for only $18 so if you don't already have them you might want to add them to your supplies before they sell out.

  One of the dies in the Delightful Wishes die set cuts out this fun flower pattern so I used it twice on the Azure Afternoon panel.  I love how the background color shows through!

 I used the flower dies and cut 2 pieces to layer to create the flower.  Both pieces are Berry Burst but the top detailed layer I darkened by adding ink with a blending brush; it's a super easy way to get a darker shade of the same color.  I did the same thing for the leaves but blended ink on the base layer instead.

  Once the flower was finished I popped it on dimensionals on a wonky circle that I made using the Around It All dies that are coming soon to the Online Exclusives.  I thought this set was really fun and great for a more casual looking circle.

  Under the circle I added a Granny Apple Green flagged stamped with the hello from the Simply Said stamp set.

  The center of the flower is accented with Granny Apple Green Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs for a cool shine.

   Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Items marked with a * will be available beginning Jan. 7, 2025.  All of the current supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Stamps: Simply Said

Ink: Berry Burst, Granny Apple Green

Paper: Berry Burst, Granny Apple Green, Azure Afternoon, Basic White

Accessories: Deckled Rectangles dies (Online Exclusives), Delightful Wishes dies*, Around It All dies*, dimensionals, Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs

So Many Presents! - Stampin' Up! Reindeer Fun Dies

 With all the Thanksgiving preparations, having my oldest home from college for a few days and of course Christmas decorating I've been behind in my stamping.  I was finally able to create a card for my last customer stamping challenge that I gave them last week!  It's a fun sketch to try out and it's perfect for using up narrow scraps!  I pulled out some Reindeer Days DSP and paired it with the Reindeer Fun dies!

I decided to let the gift print inspire the whole card and not only used the DSP but made a sweet little present out of the Festive Fun Glimmer paper for the small focal image of the sketch.

  I started this one with a Real Red card base then a layer of Garden Green that is just slightly larger than the Basic White Perennial Postage die cut.

 3 strips of the Reindeer Fun DSP create the colorful background.  I wrapped a few lengths of Garden Green baker's twine around the large panel and tied it with a bow.

A Stylish Shape circle was already cut and in my orphaned card parts bin so I added that with dimensionals and then popped the present up with more dimensionals onto the circle.

  The teeny tiny sentiment is in the Humble Home stamp set and is stamped in Garden Green and trimmed down by hand.  And they are really hard to see but I added a few retired Granny Apple Green glitter dots for some 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: Humble Home

Ink: Garden Green

Paper: Real Red, Garden Green, Basic White, Reindeer Days DSP, Festive Glimmer paper

Accessories: Perennial Postage dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Reindeer Fun dies, dimensionals, Garden Green baker's twine (retired), glitter dots (retired)

Fall Birds Thank You - Stampin' Up! Wildflower Designs

   When I was contemplating the last sketch challenge I gave to my customers for a bit of creative inspiration I realized I had already made a card with the same sketch over the summer so for the second time around with the layout I decided to flip it to landscape.  The 4 panels in the sketch are perfect for showing off some coordinating papers.  I used a panel of Nest of Winter DSP for my inspiration for the rest of the card.

  I stared with a Crumb Cake card base then added the 2 longer panels of DSP and filled in the smaller rectangles with Crumb Cake cardstock embossed with the Bird Wood embossing folder for a little bit of texture. 

 I realized some of the flower images from the Wildly Flowering stamp set look very much like the flowers in the DSP so I stamped 2 of them in Crumb Cake and blended a bit of Copper Clay ink very lightly on the edges just to soften the start white.  I tucked the die cut flowers around the sentiment banner.

  A few birds from another pattern of the Nests of Winter DSP are fussy cut and added to the flowers with dimensionals.

  Some retired ribbon and faceted gold gems are added as the finishing touches.

  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: Wildly Flowering, Simply Said

Ink: Crumb Cake, Copper Clay

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic White, Nests of Winter DSP

Accessories: Birch Wood embossing folder, Peaceful Season dies, Wildly Flowering Dies, dimensionals, natural/gold ribbon (retired), faceted gold gems (retired)

Layers of Flowers - Stampin' Up! Layers of Beauty

  My card today uses the challenge colors that I'm giving my customers for our twice a month stamping challenge on our group Facebook page.  One of the best parts of being a demonstrator is the community of stampers that I am a part of.  So many of them I would never have met if it were not for stamping and I'm so thankful for all the wonderful people I now know and call friends.  All because I am (over)enthusiastic about ink and paper and they just might be as well!

 I drew the colors randomly from a list so it definitely pulls me out of my comfort zone of using mainly seasonal colors this time of year!  I had been wanting to get out my Layers of Beauty bundle and do a little ink blending and I thought this trio of colors would look great as a floral.  As a bonus I had just a small bit of DSP from the Frames & Flowers Specialty pack that was mostly Lost Lagoon so I incorporated that as well.

  This card starts with a Lost Lagoon base then a piece of the Frames & Flowers DSP cut to 5 1/4" x 4" and then cut in half on the diagonal.  Before adhering it to the card front I added a length of white Frayed Grosgrain ribbon.

  The large image is stamped in Lost Lagoon and then colored in with blending brushes and inks.  Then the whole image is die cut and adhered with dimensionals.

  The sentiment from Simply Said is stamped in Flirty Flamingo, then trimmed and is added to the card.  

  Finally a few Adhesive-Backed Dots for Days in Flirty Flamingo are added to the card front to finish the design.

  I hope you were inspired by these colors and if you're a customer of mine who would like to join our Facebook group please let me know!

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

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

Stamps: Layers of Beauty, Simply Said

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Flirty Flamingo, Blackberry Bliss

Paper: Lost Lagoon, Frames & Flowers Specialty DSP, Basic White

Accessories: Layers of Beauty dies & masks, dimensionals, Frayed Grosgrain ribbon, Adhesive-Backed Dots for Days

Welcome Home - Stampin' Up! Humble Home

  Every other week I post a stamping challenge for my customers in our Facebook group and this week is a layout.  I had some supplies still out from my class earlier in the week so I used some of them to create this "welcome" card with a fall vibe.  The Humble Home bundle is showing itself to be really versatile!

 The layout comes from page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual catalog and has 2 main blocks of space so there are a lot of possibilities.  

I started with an Early Espresso card base and then a large layer of Sweet Days of Autumn DSP in a pretty Old Olive pattern.  I used another piece of paper from this pack for the panel in the background.  Then I fussy cut a bunch of little trees from yet another page from this pack and adhered them to a Stitched Shape square in Basic White.

I stamped the brick house in Cajun Craze and the roof in Early Espresso.  I did ok lining it up but next time I might stamp and punch it separately and trim it down to fit.  The door and windows are stamped in Pecan Pie on scrap paper and lightly colored with Stampin' Blends then fussy cut and added to the house front.  I popped the house over the trees with dimensionals.

 I followed the sketch and added the sentiment banner cut in Pecan Pie and stamped with Early Espresso ink.  I popped it over a second banner made from a 4th pattern in the Sweet Days of Autumn DSP. Can you tell that I love this DSP or what??! Between the banners I stuck a big bow made from Natural Tones Linen Thread in Copper Clay.

  Finally to fill in a bit of blank space under the white square I added 3 retired Adhesive-Back Speckled Dots in Old Olive.

  I'm not anticipating any new neighbors to welcome in the near future but it's always good to have a card ready to go!

  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: Humble Home

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Pecan Pie

Blends: Pecan Pie light, Pool Party light

Paper: Early Espresso, Sweet Days of Autumn DSP, Basic White, Pecan Pie

Accessories: Humble Home builder punch, Stylish Shapes dies, dimensionals, Natural Tones Linen Thread, Adhesive-Back Speckled Dots (retired)