Fractured Card with Blending Brush Technique

 Every month we have a Creative Ambassador who makes 4 cards to share over the month on our Team stamping FB page. I provide the stamp set of their choice which they get to keep. For August I took on this role and instead of focusing on one stamp set I chose techniques for adding colour to the Botanical Textures black and white paper. For this past week, I used a blending brush over the entire leaf surface using Shy Shamrock. Really brought out the black lines of the leaf images and looks so smooth and even. Thrilled with how this one turned out!

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Notes and Totes hot pink version!

Way too much fun - a beach tote die! It's 3D and on this card I had it lay flat as the focal point. The patterned paper has a little texture then I jazzed it up with a stamp from the Notes & Totes Bundle. And hot pink accents was THE way to go with this one. Enjoy!

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I'm here for you, friend

 This is a unique stamp: "I'm here for you". One of those that says, we're friends and I'll help you carry the load no matter what you're going through. Sometimes I have cards to send like this. Today is one of those days. Thinking of you and what you're carrying at this time.

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Perfect Painterly Pears for Anniversary Cards

Gosh I love this Painterly Pears patterned paper and guess what? It's on sale for 15% off until the end of August! This sheet has the pears all around the outside edge. When you chop this one up make six 4" x 5 1/4" pieces to get your outside edges on each layer. The coordinating ribbon is a luxurious addition behind the greeting. I've got a number of Anniversaries to celebrate in September and October and now I'm all set.

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Wobbler Darling Dinos card

This week in Breslau....we're making kids cards! This one makes me smile everytime I look at it. Who doesn't remember when your kids or grandkids discovered Dinosaurs? It just seems to be a topic they all gravitate to at one time or another. Budding paleontologists all. This one will be a hit, I know, as it will have a cute wobbler behind the dino that makes it an interactive card. Hint: get these off Amazon. Enjoy!

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Avid Stampers Classes: September to December 2025

 

Elegant Black & White Birthday Celebration Card

What a way to use up your scrap 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch cut off pieces! Grab a bunch that work together - and black and white made it so simple - then adhere them to a layer and leave a tiny space in between (or not!) to give the illusion each one is matted. Add your sentiment and some ribbon/embellishments to finish it off. Love the simple, elegant look of this one. Have a great day!

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A little Country Chic with Country Woods DSP

A little Country Chic here with the Country Woods DSP. That's just one layer with all the wood panels. Doesn't get much easier! then a greeting and some trees stamped on a layer. When designing this card, I was drawn to the earthy tones and masculine feel to this birthday card. Enjoy!

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Sunday with Boho Vibes

Are you having a lazy Sunday? Or a "get things done" day? Or maybe it's a social day for you? I had breakfast out at The Boathouse in Guelph with my friend, Diane P whom I've known for 30+ years through Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and then as a Bridge partner. We had a great catch up over yummy scones, tea and jam. Then I headed out to the grocery store to stock up after our holiday away. This afternoon it looks like rain out so I'll be in my stamp studio prepping cards for two classes this week before feet up reading a book and maybe a nap. So a little of everything. I want to give a shout out to my silver sister, Lisa Henderson for this retro greeting card. Whatever you're up to, I'm wishing you really good vibes today!

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Shoebox Swap card featuring Feathered Fun

Today is my Team Showbox Swap. We're being hosted at Holly's house and everyone coming designs a card, brings the supplies to make it so everyone goes home with a box of new cards. This is mine and I'm excited for my friends to make it. Has lots of fun features like colours in with Stampin' Blends, embossing and several layers. So looking forward to our day together!

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Notes and Totes Card

Check out one of the cards we're making next week at Avid Stampers. This time we're using the Notes and Totes bundle with two amazing dies: a tote (of course - the name gives it away) that is flat and 3D and a fence line. Oh the possibilities! You must get this bundle and when you purchase it through me in August, I'll send you a video on how to put all 4 cards from the class together! The paper is from Kintsugi Inspirations and just matches so beautifully. Contact me to order yours!

(Offer available in Canada only while supplies last)

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Elegant Beautiful Motifs

Pairing Blackberry Bliss with the bold Coastal Cabana colour with gold accents really makes this thank you card extra special. Did a little gold heat embossing on the background leaf (top left on the white) and added a gold die cut from the very versatile Beautiful Motifs die set. Are you thinking wedding or anniversary card? Me, too! This was a hit at June Avid Stampers where we explored the many uses of the Beautiful Motifs bundle. Have a great day!

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Sneak Peek: NEW Peaceful Garden Bundle

 Here's a sneak peek of products from the upcoming Sept to Dec mini catalogue. The suite is called Peaceful Garden and boasts a stamp and die bundle with everyday greetings and labels, an embossing folder, shimmer paper and pretty patterned paper for all your card making needs. My team and I did this layout at the Creativity Now virtual session offered to demonstrators back in June. Nice to play with new stuff early!

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Elegant card featuring Kintsugi Inspirations

Looking for elegance? We've got you covered with the Kintsugi Inspirations Suite of products. I went with "simple but pack a wow" technique by using some tone on tone cardstock with the front layer embossed. The gold accents in the coordinating patterned paper worked perfectly with the one colour (Lost Lagoon) and gold gems and branch. This is one of those cards you can use for any occasion. Enjoy!

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Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder Does it All!

When the layer makes the card. Today's card is all about the Sunflower 3D embossing folder and 3D it is! So much texture and dimension that all it needs are a greeting and embellishments. That pink is call Flirty Flamingo - a colour I haven't used in a while. When we think of sunflowers we typically go to yellow, brown and orange-ish. I find embossing it with other colours really stretches the look of this cool tool. August Monthly card class goers loved it!

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Buzzing by to wish a Happy Birthday

Had fun designing this card that uses a Valentine's stamp set for a Birthday Card! Think outside the box, I say...have a look at your stash and see the possibilities by using a greeting from another set or just envisioning it for another occasion. Also got me using the stamps to make the background so I could use any colour palette in my mind. Strawberry Slush works well with Black and White and a hint of Daffodil Delight. Enjoy!

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Feathered Friends meets Blooming Phrases

Sweet & Simple greeting card today using the Everyday Arches dies with the budgie from the Feathered Friends stamp set and Blooming Phrases greeting set. It kind of looks like the bird is on a perch looking through an arched window in its cage. I've had budgies over the years although none at the moment. They are a lovely pet especially when they start chirping and tweeting to you. This card was a feature in the August Monthly Card class. Quick, cute and fun. Enjoy!

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Quick Lego Birthday Card with Layered Thoughts

This month for the Breslau Community Centre class, we're making a lego card! Did you like lego? Maybe as a parent you didn't prefer all the little pieces all over the floor but boy did it keep kids busy for hours, right? To make a cute lego themed card, take your 1/2" circle punch (punches are much faster than dies for this one!) and punch out a bunch of circles. Then for the cube, I used a 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" square of coordinating colour. Experiment with other sized legos (2 x 3, 2 x 4 and so on). The greeting is that great big one from Layered Thoughts. Another great way to use it on a kid's birthday card.

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Happy 34th Birthday Michelle with the Birthday Celebration Bundle

Today is my daughter Michelle's 34th birthday. She's the one who made me a mum first. Through all the years she has remained true to her kind heart and love of gifting. Whether it's through her love of crafts (cardmaking, sewing, quilting. calligraphy, crocheting), giving of her time and attention or finding that very special present for a loved one, Michelle's always sharing her talents. Have a beautiful birthday, my sweet girl! Love you always!

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Emboss your patterned papers with Damask Designs

Have you tried this? Dry emboss a patterned paper - especially those plainer ones - to give really spruce up a layer. This paper is the "b" side of a 6" x 6" sheet from the Beautiful Gallery pack. I used the coordinating Damask Designs embossing folder and wow does it ever look amazing. The focal point can be whatever you like - for me that was from the Grow With Love bundle which I am thoroughly enjoying with its herb leaves and this cut hand-drawn frame. Get those embossing folders out friends and add some pizzazz to your patterned paper!

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My fave: Textured Notes

May have already said this...but the Textured Notes stamp set is a must have for beautiful earthy feel cards. Love these two leaves in the set plus the wicker rope basket image. These were stamped off once allowing the coordinating paper on the side really pop. For the smaller leave tucked behind the greeting, I did the "Rock & Roll" technique. Just ink up your stamp with a lighter colour (Lemon Lime Twist used here) then roll the stamp onto a darker ink pad (Mossy Meadow used here). That gives the outside tips of the leaves the darker shade.

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This was a June Avid Stampers class card where we really dove into using all the stamps across our 4 cards. Want to see all the samples in one place, check out today's blog post for a link to the video montage of the still photos promoting that June class.

VIDEO Showing all cards from June's class

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Peaceful Pier card "just because"

Featuring this beautiful card from my Silver Sister Shauna Mikuliak which is briming with techniques, texture and layers: The stamp set is Peacful Pier stamped with soft shading added. A little masking in there to get the defined lines around the focal point and all layered up over the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder. That's my go to folder, folks! Got yours? This makes a great card for any occasion especially "just because".

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It's Sunday: Relax & Enjoy featuring the Notes & Totes Bundle

It's Sunday - are you ready for a relax & enjoy kind of day? Maybe that involves heading to the beach, sailing, going for a run, reading poolside, enjoying your backyard oasis, catching up on sleep or hanging out with friends and family. Whatever you end up doing this weekend, may it be fun and relaxing.My thanks to my Silver Sister, Barb Stewart for sharing today's card with me in a recent swap. It's just stunning!

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Notes of appreciation with Botanical Textures

In a busy world where we're all working hard to get it all done, a note of appreciation would sure go a long way, right? I recently made a pack of thank you / celebration cards for my boss to send to staff in recognition of 20+ years of service in municipal government. That speaks to dedication, right? And we actually got a note back from some saying how much they appreciated being - well - appreciated! Let's spread some of that loveliness around in the world.

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Celebratory Sips while catching up on a fave TV show

Why hello, Friday! Thanks for coming around again. Don't we just love our weekends in the summer with cool drinks, hot sun and relaxing? I'll be indulging in a "celebratory sip" after the end of the work week as I catch up on my fave show of the summer, Dexter Resurrection. Do you have a fave show you binge watch or wait for it to come out weekly? It's good to have something to look forward to LOL. Enjoy the weekend!

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Drusy Embellishments just the ticket on this card!

For my friend who loves all things "pink". Perfect card, right? A large greeting is nicely balanced with the Mini Corrugated embossed layer behind. These are sold out, but anything embossed goes here. Then all it needed for pop and sparkle was the Drusy Embellishments. These are larger than rhinestones and usually I wonder how I can use them. Really worked here. Enjoy!

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Beautiful Gallery Card

Soft and elegant card with a fun fold twist! I'd put an extra piece of white on the back for your message so the pretty stamping shows through without a written message.

This patterns is from the Beautiful Gallery DSP pack and wow - such gorgeous photographic images to really shine on a card. I like this one for a wedding, anniversary or sympathy/thinking of you.

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August 5 Deals & New Products

 

Cards & Scrapbook Pages with Everday Happiness

We've got some great scrapbooking paper packs that are also perfect for cards. This is one: Everyday Happiness. I love the soft colour palette of this pack: Lost Lagoon, Gray Granite, Wild Wheat, Old Olive. While I made an scrapbooking album with this paper, I received this card in a swap at OnStage from Kelly Baxter-Fitzgerald. How beautiful!

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Favourite new neutral: Cloud Cover

Featuring the new In Color, Cloud Cover which is a pretty shade between Balmy Blue and Smoky Slate. Aptly named, I guess! It's a great neutral colour to use as a cardbase. The herb die cuts and the greeting come from the Grow with Love Bundle. They look so great in varied colours of green inks - I chose Old Olive. There's a rule of 3 in creating which is demonstrated here: 3 die cuts and 3 embellishments in a triangular shape. So pretty!

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Kintsugi Inspirations

Ooh lala! Check out this gorgeous gold adorned patterned paper called Kintsugi Inspirations. What a backdrop for the 4 elements: 2 urns, floral die cut and greeting. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with gold, silver, or platinum. Love how we've tapped into this artform to share in a patterned paper. The two urns are from the coordinating stamp set and stamped in Misty Moonlight ink. Fantastic detail, right? I added the open floral die cut and a greeting suitable to a sympathy or thinking of you card. So beautiful!

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Make an interactive card featuring the Darling Dinos!

When a picture just won't do...quick video showing this fun interactive card featuring the cute Darling Dinos Stamp Set and Die bundle and "wobblers". 

Get your Wobblers from Amazon

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Get your sip on this weekend with Celebratory Sips

While making this card here's what I was drawn to: Summer party time! Let's celebrate this long weekend with your cold beverage of choice. What is that for you? I'm a lemonade gal with lots of ice and I wouldn't be adverse to a little splash of vodka or gin.

Stampin' Up!'s Celebratory Sips Suite offers sheets of pre-printed glasses in varied sizes that coordinate with the dies or you can hand cut them out. Once that part was complete, I assembled them onto an embossed layer made from the Mini Corrugated folder (retired). The greeting is from a Hybrid embossing folder called Thoughtful Moments which embosses a variety of greetings AND cuts them out all in one pass. You gotta get this one to take your card making to a new level. Enjoy!

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