Ok come on....aren't these spiders just the cutest? From the Web of Fun Dies, I made this card for our team stampin' social swaps earlier this month. I was playing with the Hot Foil System, specifically the Echoes of Detail dies, and thought in silver heat foil it would be the perfect backdrop for the spiders on this Halloween card. The greeting comes from another set and just compliments it wonderfully. Enjoy!
This week we resumed the Elmira Community Living club with our monthly project. We made this adorable banner that stands up on a table or shelf. It features the Everyday Arches dies, Party Alphabet dies and the new Lustruous Leaves Hot Foil Dies. There's not hot foiling on this project but the set of dies has 5 different leaves and 3 of each one which made die cutting 120 leaves out for the participants a breeze! I will be using those dies forever. Hope you like this different take on a card inspired by Maureen Rauchfuss' presentation at our September Twelve Days of the Holidays Global Inspiration Stamp Team event. They LOVED putting this together!
Last weekend we held our SSS Super Team Event where about a dozen Canadian Demonstrators came together virtually to put on a day of presentations for our team members. We each make a card and demonstrate how to make it from start to finish over a private Facebook group. Look forward to these every new catalogue launch as do the 260+ members in the group! This was my card featuring a fun fold pop up when opened. I've loved the community we've built over the 15+ events we've held since Septmber 2020. Enjoy!
Our family circle is just bursting with new arrivals! I posted earlier in the week that our family welcomed twins, and between August and December, several of my friends and family members are becoming grandparents along with a friend of my daughter's welcoming their second. So out came my crochet needles and multiple trips to the store to pick up yarn in varying colours. By end October, I'll have made 7 baby blankets and included a variation of this card with them. So excited to share in everyone's joy. Welcome to the world little ones!
Today's card features the debossed side of the Seasonal Cheer mini embossing folder with leaves. Looks just a wee bit different, eh? It was by design - not an oversight and I kind of like how different it looks. I added a couple of hand cut out leaves as my focal point. I absolutely love creating for fall and using earthy autumn colours like Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow, Pecan Pie and Golden Glow. Warms my heart!
A joyous occasion for our family: My daughter and her husband welcomed twins! How wonderful it was a boy and a girl. No one in the family knew it was going to be twins so a great surprise to be meeting my newest grandbaby at the hospital on September 6th only to find out there were two babies. These are the cards I made using my favourite - and long retired - All for Baby stamp set and die bundle. The colours are a match to the baby blankets I crocheted for them. Feeling blessed indeed!
The tight embossed pattern provided by the Softly Woven embossing folder is ideal for creating a fabric look to your paper. First I stamped the floral image from Radiant Sunflowers all over a piece of Cloud Cover cardstock then embossed the layer. Wow factor for sure! I added a simple greeting from the same stamp set and some rich jute twine to complete the look. Enjoy!
Get your Fab on with these bright bold fall colours: Calypso Coral, Secret Sea and Pool Party. These paper is so darling with autumn images. It cut a piece of 3" x 4" into 3 equal vertical strips then pieced them back together onto Cajun Craze leaving a wee bit of space between the strips. I'm puzzling all the time! Wishing you a fabulous day!
Time for another Halloween card! This time using the Rounded Rectangle punch on various patterns from the Frightfully Fun patterned paper. Those cut kitties and ghosts have stolen my heart. Did you know you can die cut your own "puffy" greetings and images? I did this by adding a small piece of our Foam Adhesive Sheet to the back of Basic Black cardstock then ran it through the Stampin' Cut and Emboss machine to die cut out the "Boo" salutation. Works perfectly with nice cuts and the negative pieces pull right out. Boo to you!
Learned the Zig Zag Strip paper piecing technique by Heidi Collins over at On Y Go Stamping. All the strips are the same length, with varying heights. Add them to one side (in this case the bottom edge) and trim then add the leftovers to the opposite side (in this case the top edge). With that, I added a greeting, bow and embellishments to finish the card. Enjoy!
Catching up on some "thinking of you" cards and what better way to send one than with florals. To make a whole bunch of these, I used the Artisan Sketched Garden patterned paper: it's all black and white floral images just waiting for colour to bring them to life! I use my Stampin' Blends in coordinating Hydrangea Hue, Peaceful Pine and Golden Glow to keep with an autumn theme. How would you add colour to yours?
Like the distressed look? Pair our two-tone cardstock with the sanding blocks. Two-tone cardstock has a white core so that when you lightly sand it - especially a raised embossed layer - your card instantly has more dimension with the white showing through. I'm loving these Simply Leaves stamps with coordinating punch for quick fall or masculine cards. Enjoy!
Do you decorate your envelopes? I keep my envelopes separate from my cards on the shelf so typically don't do this unless I'm sending the card right away. But really, how cute is it to take some of that left over paper (all you need is a 2" x 6" strip), glue it to the envelope flap and trim it off. Nice finish, eh?
Opted for a slim line card to show off at the Radiant Sunflowers bundle class later this month. Pretty Peacock is a great backdrop for Golden Glow - brings to mind those brilliant blue skies we see in early Autumn. Stamp and die cut out your sunflowers then add them in slighly a different orientation for each to add even more texture to your card. Placed them on an embossed layer so they really pop off the page with or without stampin' dimensionals! Enjoy!
You know we offer a Hot Foil system now, right? And I'm loving it! This was one of the first cards I made using a floral image and then die cutting the large balloon out of it. Silver foil on Bubble Bath cardstock paired with 5/8 inch Cloud Cover ribbon is so soft and beautiful. This was my submission to the TLC Tutorial Bundle Co-op for August. So pleased with how it turned out!
Sunflowers are universally recognized as a sign of happiness, loyalty, adoration, and faith. Very fitting, I think, as we harken back to September 11, 2001. The men and women who served each other on that day and in the aftermath remind us of how a simple kindness showed love and friendship to our neighbours near and far.
How versatile is the Simply Leaves stamp set and punch bundle? Just lovin' using it on my seasonal cards at this time of the year. It matches well with the leaves on the embossing folder from the Seasonal Cheer Mini folders trio set which is a 3" x 6" folder. I've punched out the leaf with some patterned paper this time and on the other two, I used the vein stamps that come with the stamp set to add a little something to them. Easy peasy sweet card for any occasion. Enjoy!
When I get a set of dies which I’ll use without their corresponding stamp set – like the Beautifully Celebrated ones, I put them up on a magnetic board so I see them and ultimately USE them! I forgot that this set of dies has these amazing eyelet corners. The die cuts two corners at a time. Looks great as a frame for this beautiful card, right? A very pretty way to dress up a project. Tip: before die cutting, add some adhesive sheet to your cardstock then die cut it out. Makes adhering it so much easier. Enjoy!
All fall leaf cards don't need to be red, green, yellow, rust in colour! Today's card features the Simply Leaves Stamp Set and this soft colour palette of Lost Lagoon, Soft Sea Foam and Smoky Slate. There are 2 sizes of leaves in the stamp image options. The larger one - used in the centre of my card - coordinates with the Simple Leaf Punch if you're so inclined. I like the "simple" and elegant look of stamping it on white cardstock followed by cutting it into 4 equal pieces then layering on black. Really helps make it pop. Enjoy!
Today's card is my take on the inlaid embossing technique. To achieve this look, either do it the simple way or the simpler way! I chose the simpler way by embossing a piece of pretty designer series paper with a "tight" folder. By that I mean an embossing folder with texture all around and no large open spaces. This gives the patterned paper a flexible and almost fabric look and feel. Opted for the Rustic 3D folder with the Painted Patch paper. Enjoy!
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!
