Been having a blast participating in the Global Inspiration Stamp Team's Twelve Days of the Holidays (September 1 to 12). Almost halfway through with a different presenter each day. For this weekend, we are each decorating the White Gable Boxes for our chosen holiday. And, I had to choose Halloween with the Frightfully Fun Suite Collection for some spooky cool fun.
It's birthday week! The week when I look through my list of friends and family celebrating birthdays this month and send out cards. Big month! Do you send birthday cards in the mail? I really like to. It's so nice to open the mailbox and find a handwritten card that says, "I'm thinking about you on your special day!". If you're a card maker, I hope you join me in spreading happy birthday greetings this month.
We're nearing the end of the first week of September and I'm wondering if the leaves have started to drop in your neighbourhood? It's a sure sign of the change of seasons coming, isn't it? For today's project, I've opted for a sprinkling of the Simply Leaves punched shapes in coordinating colours with the leaf veins stamped on. This card is a standard size and WOW! So many of these punched leaves adorn the front layer! It's a simple and simply beautiful layout. Enjoy!
Bringing a pretty card for your viewing today. Lots of layers and embossing beautiful dimension. Tip for getting those angles right: Cut your patterned paper to 3.75 x 5.00 inches. Cut on a diagonal from top left to bottom right. Push them back together on your trimmer and cut again on a diagonal from top right to bottom left. Layer these onto cardstock measuring 4.00 x 5.25 inches. And that's how we get this done!
Was going for some non-traditional autumn colours with today's creation: Secret Sea and Cloud Cover on a bed of Basic White. The hues of blue bring to mind how the sky looks during this time of year when thick clouds fill the sky and the sun pushes through. Love this look! Happy to share one of my swap cards designing from the September to December catalogue with Painted Pumpkins. Enjoy! Tip: As we don't offer an ink pad in Cloud Cover, either use Versamark for a lighter watermark look with that stamping OR buy the Cloud Cover ink refill and create your own ink pad using our uninked stampin' spots.
Making and sending thank you cards this week to spread some gratefulness. And it's fall...when I pull out the traditional colours like: greens, bright yellows and earth tones. This card ticks all those boxes: Garden Green, Darling Duckling, Early Espresso and Pecan Pie with a touch of linen thread, a NEW embossing folder, Softly Woven, available to purchase starting today. Tip: Stamp your greeting on the layer you'll be embossing first then emboss it. Adds texture without bulk. Try it!
Crafting with my Team for our monthly social on September 10 with this card. I’m always drawn to fall images whether it’s pumpkins, squirrels, leaves, you name it so the Painted Pumpkins were first on my list from the new catalogue launching tomorrow. The paper is oodles of fun to play with and includes images that can be hand cut or used with the coordinating dies. And look at that Calypso Coral copper-edged ribbon. Enjoy getting ready for fall!
Been holding off…but really, I’m ready for fall creating. This was my creation for one of the card swaps I’m in featuring new products from the September to December catalogue. The base is Golden Glow with the Rustic 3D folder – a new must-have. The flowers are from the Radiant Sunflowers stamp and die bundle. I stamped in Pecan Pie (vs black) and carefully coloured in with my Stampin’ Blends so as to not run the colours. This floral spray is die cut out and layered up on a circle cut from the Spotlight on Nature dies. To get an easy ribbon accent, I wrapped the Mossy Meadow checked ribbon around the layer and adhered it to the back then added a tied bow with a mini glue dot. Gets my autumn crafting off to a fabulous start!
The arrow card was a hit at Avid Stampers this month. I like to do this one using a smaller pattern – or embossed cardstock – that creates a beautiful base on which to put a matching focal point. These are the lovely Boutique Blossoms dies. These fit right into my crafting jam because I can die cut without stamping and get stunning flowers and leaves. To help them come together on the front, I layered the blossoms and leaves onto a 1 ¾” circle that you don’t even see. Helps get everything together in one go. If the inside triangle is too small for writing your message, add a Basic White layer to the back for more space. Enjoy!
Some sweet and oh-so-incredibly-simple treat holders for my August Breslau class attendees. Ready for these quick instructions? Take a piece of 6” x 6” patterned paper. Score on one side at 2 7/8” and 3 1/8”. Turn 90 degrees and cut into three 2” wide pieces. Place some tear and tape along the inside to hold your candy in place (in this case I used peppermint patties) and fold up. To keep them closed, I used the Hole Punch Assortment through both the front and back at the same time then ran some ribbon through tying it together with baker’s twine. Added one of my fave punches of all time – the medium Daisy – and some leaves with an embellishment in the centre. They loved them!
Let me introduce you to the Party Banner Dies. This set is a hidden gem with 20 nesting dies. At first blush, you think, hmm….will I be making a banner? No, I’m a card maker…so why not use them to make a card base as on today’s project? What? Then layer them with the smaller nesting dies. Tip: Cut your card base to the usual 4 ¼” x 11” score in the middle and fold in half. Cut with the extending above the top fold. And yeah – you have a cool banner cut card front. Also on this card, I used one of the smallest Every Day Arches dies as a label. Fits the greeting to a T. Enjoy!
Love making treat holders and 3D projects to gift away! Here's the video on how to make this adorable holder for Tic Tacs. It measure 3" wide by 2" tall by 3/4" deep and the best part? No adhesive so you can store flat and use when you need them!
In this month’s team tutorial, I shared a variety of ways to use our two-tone cardstock. To achieve this look with an embossing folder on several colours, I glued 1” x 3 ¾” strips of coordinating two-tone colours onto a matte of Granny Apple Green measuring 3 7/8” x 4 1/8”. Then it all went through the Stone & Vine embossing together currently on Last Chance so get it before it’s gone. Distressed it a bit to show off the white core and added it to a card base with a greeting and embellishments. Simple yet effective. Have you tried our two-tone cardstock yet? Tip: but in a multi-pack of colours.
Busy card? Yes, maybe a bit….but I was trying a couple of fun techniques. For one of the balloons, I embossed onto two-tone Peaceful Pine cardstock then distressed with a sanding block (new ones available September 1). On the leaf image I used a blending brush to add Peaceful Pine ink over the black and white paper. Had this bit of Moonlit Flora patterned paper left over for the balloon and strip along the left side. The greeting is from Words & Wishes. Enjoy!
Sneak peek at one of the four cards we’re making at Avid Stampers later this month. For this one, I used heat embossing and colouring on vellum cardstock. I learned something new! On the vellum cardstock I didn’t need to rush to add the powder on the versamark stamping before heat setting. You know what I mean, right? The scramble to get the powder on and over to the heat tool. There was time – yeah! Once heat set, I flipped the vellum over and coloured in the images within the lines set by the heat embossing using my Stampin’ Blends. Be patient and take multiple passes of the stampin’ blend to achieve deeper coloured results. Next step was to add adhesive sheet to a piece of cardstock (Crisp Cantaloupe) then affix the vellum piece to it. Tip: Use your bone folder to even out the vellum. Trim as needed and away you go! Love how it turned out.
This month's Team Stampin' Social we met to make some of the projects shown at Creativity Now - a demo-only event where we got to play with the Painted Collage Suite Collection that will be available to purchase in November. So for my swap card, I chose the Painted Collage stamp set. I found this design in the Creativity Now private FB group to CASE. It spoke to me for its use of two colours (Smoky Slate and Hydrangea Hue) and smattering of images. Thought I'd add some vellum and silver foil for more dimension. The greeting couldn't have been more perfect for a team social card!
These Everyday Arches dies are awesome for layering up a label and especially nice on this gatefold card by Wendy for our Team meeting swap this month. So much texture! And can we all agree that this Moonlit Flora paper is a keeper? The rich Golden Glow and Peaceful Pine colours are warm and inviting. Love how Wendy added the In Color Butterflies to finish it off. Enjoy!
Back to team swaps with Dawn’s thank you card. Stampin’ Up! is so good at the matchy-matchy with multiple patterns in designer series paper packs, aligning colours on both sides of the paper so well. Dawn chose varying sizes of rectangles to show this off beautifully leaving a little space in between for the card base in Balmy Blue to shine through. One great way to use up small scraps of your patterned papers. I particularly like how there are a few cut from the Perennial Postage dies thrown in for accent. Enjoy!
Have you tried this? For today’s card, I flipped my embossing layer over to display the debossed side for a change. I think it works really well with the Swirls of Magic folder and definitely worth a try with other folders. Looks great, eh? I’d originally planned 5 or 6 balloons and a greeting, then landed on a heat embossed birthday greeting on the largest. Such a cheery card!
Is this patterned paper on the card front? Nope! That’s the collage stamping using Crisp Cantaloupe ink on Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock. Results in a subtle design as a great background for the greeting. I used my cut-apart Floral Vignette single stamp. Yes you read that correctly! I cut the floral image out of the frame to expand its use. Fits right on the Clear Block E or your Stampin' Positioner. This is a layout to tuck away in your ideas folder for a quick card design. Enjoy!
Have you tried our Two-Tone cardstock yet? I was a little late to the party on this but since I started last month….I’m really enjoying the rustic look . Two-tone cardstock has a white core and each side is a slightly different tone of the same colour. Embossing breaks down the fibres then adding a wee bit of sanding really takes that to a new level. On this one I stamped one side of the Secret Sea two-tone paper with its coordinating ink, they embossed and sanded the other side. Give this idea a try!
Two pics today showing the front and the inside of this great fun fold card created by my daughter (and team member) Michelle for the August swap. What an amazing card for showing off coordinating patterned paper and displaying on a shelf. Must get all the measurements <wink> for the pop out feature. Love this!
A sneak peek of these cute square dies that are a great companion to the Spotlight on Nature dies with decorative edges. These are the Tile Garden Dies and it’s a whole set of 12 nesting squares. Get these on September 1st. Thanks to Jane for this stinkin’ cute card for our August social swap. So sweet and adorable – gettng ready to bring on Fall!
This is an absolutely gorgeous card in neutrals and metallics created by Stacey for our August meeting swap. Wow! I love all the texture from the embossing folder to the gold foil gears, heat embossing, collage stamping and finished off with the pentagon embellishments. Shows how products from various suites and bundles work beautifully in concert. Enjoy!
Keeping it simple with a three-colour palette, Peaceful Pine, Barely Blush and Basic White, today’s card works on so many levels. First I stamped the white layer multiple times with the large flower from Floral Vignette, then added some Peaceful Pine butterflies from All Aflutter. The Peaceful Pine ribbon is a nice touch that adds a soft element to the project. Enjoy!
Sharing a 2nd sample of stepping up your cards with a fun fold presented at the July Global Inspiration Stamp Team event. This time using the Waterside Retreat bundle. I really do like the first card with the boat bumpers or boat fenders hanging on the wall. In the back fold option, we’ve got extra matted layers and the stitched square backdrop for the chair. It sure looks relaxing!
Another play with two-tone cardstock, this time with Crushed Curry and the Sunflower 3D embossing folder. Used a lighter touch with the sandpaper focusing on the tips of the petals and leaves. Appreciate the soft yellow with black and white accents. Enjoy!
Sneak Peek at one of the August monthly card class projects with today’s project. Did you know the Artisan Sketched Garden is chock full of images you can colour in with watercolor pencils, markers, Stampin’ Blends and even use your blending brushes on for a soft look? Or keep to the black and white and add a ribbon and embellishments with Poppy Parade or Strawberry Slush. Loads of possibilities. Enjoy!
Oh, how we love our critter stamps! Today’s card was created by Stacey on our team for a recent swap. Beyond cute! This stamp set is called Wild Bunch and was our featured Product of the Month for June. The paper piecing technique used adds a whole different layer to the front of the card. Enjoy!
My team member Dawn’s take on the Eclipse Card layout using just one of the pattern papers by alternating the raised and flat paper strips. Gosh this Scenic Coast patterned paper doesn’t disappoint with the many shades reds, yellows, golds for the sunset. It kind of has the feel of a “Group of Seven” paintings with the choppy water. Your history lesson for today: The Group of Seven was a famous collective of Canadian landscape painters including Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, and J.E.H. MacDonald. Active from 1920 to 1933, they broke away from European styles to paint the wild beauty of Canada using bright colors and bold brushstrokes.
Who wouldn’t want to receive this adorable card in the mail? Created by Holly for our recent team swap, this sweet snail looks amazing in Golden Glow, Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock. The paper blocking technique here using the same shades to meld with the colouring adds a lot to the card front. Thanks, Holly!
Time for another round of Team Swap cards! Today’s creation by Jane building darling flowers from the Scalloped blooms dies. I love the soft colour palette and the tone on tone layering. Thanks, Jane!
Here are some standard card and stepped up cards featured during my presentation at the July GlobalInspiration Stamp Team event. The standard card is beautiful all on its own with a floral focal point on a white circle. The stepped up version is a back fold fun fold layout using the new Hot Foil Dies (Butterfly Flight and Classic Greetings). What a delightful way to go from fab to fabulous! Enjoy!
Happy Holiday Monday! Here in Ontario we celebrate it as a Civic Holiday. Locally, in Guelph, where I live, we call it John Galt Day in recognition of the founder of Guelph, ON.
Sneak Peek at one of three August Monthly card class projects. A sweet birthday card using the bicycle images from the Waterside Retreat patterned paper pack. To get some coordinating twine in Cajun Craze, I used my Cajun Craze Stampin' Blend to colour the regular linen thread using a gentle brushstroke. It dries quite quickly, but to be sure, let it sit a good hour then tie your bow. A quick and simple one!
Sometimes you land on a suite of products that work beautifully together for cards and more. The Splash & Relax bundle was just that bundle. Pulling some seashells from a retired set, this is the happiest summer wall art project for an over the top "more" creation. With a finished size of 12" x 12" I have mine up on a wall in my office to enjoy through the summer months. It was super popular with the Elmira Community Living class where the 12 participants had a great time putting it all together. Enjoy!
On today’s card, I built a little scene from the bottom up as my focal point. Starting with a Golden Glow rectangle, I added another smaller on in Peaceful Pine. Then the stamping layer using the tiny vertical lines stamp multiple times. On this I added die cuts of the leaves, greenery and flowers as well as two stamp butterflies topped off by a double bow of linen thread. It left me a little room at the bottom for a greeting or instead, that would have been a layer of its own. Enjoy!
Sharing my pretty thinking of you card and its stepped up version as featured in the July 10-11 Global Inspiration Stamp Team event for customers. Our goal that day was to share a pretty card and then using most of the same supplies, a fun fold that takes your card making up a notch (or two!). It's fun learning something new, right? For my presentation, the fun fold was the Back Fold card as shown in the second photo. Your thoughts?
Today's card just brings a smile to my face with the stinkin' cute flip flops in bright summer colours. Looking at the card from this vantage, I see the strip down the centre as a beach towel. What do you think? I really love the look of the Lazy Daisy embossing folder to add to the whimsical look of this project. Bring on the sunshine!
Bringing you a cute family of cats from the Safari Smiles bundle on today's card. Together with the stamping and layer of patterned paper, I've added several embossed layers texture. The cats are coloured in with the Golden Glow Stampin' Blends complimenting the various greens in the colour palette. Hope you enjoy this one from my July Avid Stampers Class!
I'm excited to share one of my first card made with the new Stampin' Up! Hot Foil System with the coordinating Garden Silhouette Hot Foil Die. It's one large die that, once heated with the system, seemlessly applies gold foil onto black cardstock resulting in this elegant layer. The Hot Foil System coordinates with the Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machine for the final transfer. So easy to work with and with a stunning result. More to come!
Here's a layout I haven't used in a while...called "Triplets". It works well for small images by putting them on shapes that will fit on a card - like a square or circle. For these, I coloured them in with Berry Burst and Peaceful Pine Stampin' Blends to coordinate with the Moonlit Flora patterned paper. Love how this colours combination works together.
Another one of Jane's amazing cards with the new 2026-2028 In Colors (Golden Glow, Crisp Cantaloupe, Hydrangea Hue and Peaceful Pine) and the beautiful Heirloom Blooms stamp set. A wonderful way to incorporate the single flowers and floral sprays for great coverage on the front of the card. So pleased to share Jane's card with you all today - enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by!
The Faux Stair Step card layout is awesome for showing off the wonderful Waterside Retreat patterned paper. I've added the Adirondack Chair to it as well for some great layering up of textures and colours. Where will the message go on this type of card? Cut a piece of white or vanilla and place it on the back panel. Too cute!
