It’s here! It’s live! Have fun!
05/04/2021
05/02/2021
Stamp Review Crew - Simply Succulents
Stampin’ Up! Potted Succulents
It's the first Monday of May and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew Hop. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring the stamp set Simply Succulents. You have likely come from Charlet Mallett’s blog on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
If you ever have “writer’s block” when it comes to making a card, I recommend you pick one stamp set and play! It works for me every time. Such is the case for this hop’s challenge. I started with just the stamp set and focused on the main image. I knew I wanted different levels of challenge. So we’ll start with the easiest one.
This is perfect for a Thank You card. It uses the Very Vanilla Note Cards & Envelopes. And although it’s hard to see, it’s all done with Gold Embossing Powder and the new Simply Elegant Trim. Of course you could also use other sentiments like Congratulations or Thinking of You, but this just looked like a Thank You card to me!
My next card is a bit more work, but I think well worth it for the end product. I started by cutting a stencil from a 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” piece of black card stock using the cut out die from the Potted Succulents Die Set. I cut the same size piece of Vellum card stock and document clipped it to the black card stock stencil. I used a Blending Brush and applied three new In Colors for 2021 -23 - Polished Pink, Pale Papaya, and of course Soft Succulent! Once the ink was dry, I removed the black stencil. It was replaced with a Gorgeous Grape die cut card base. I glued the edges of the card front to the colored vellum matching up the stencil lines. The sentiment is stamped in Gorgeous Grape on white card stock and using sponge dauber I added the same In Colors for the background. The edges are colored with a Sponge Dauber using Gorgeous Grape. The inside is stamped in Gorgeous Grape.
My last card is the most involved but not difficult at all. It starts with a retired embossing folder called Mosaic 3D. I used Crumb Cake card stock. I applied Old Olive and Crumb Cake ink direct to paper from the ink pad. It’s matted on Old Olive card stock. The main image is stamped in Cinnamon Cider on Soft Sea Foam card stock. The colors were added sparingly with Water Painters. Use a paper towel to blot access water before applying the color to the image. I used pics from the internet to inspire my color palette. The planter was stamped in Silver embossing powder on retired Galvanized Metallic Paper. I curled it around my finger before attaching it to the card front to give it more of a 3D look. The die cuts are in Old Olive. The sentiment is in Cinnamon Cider on Soft Sea Foam.
This gorgeous set is available through May 3rd as a bundle. Save 10% when you purchase both the stamp set and the coordinating dies using this item number 156264.
Next stop on the Hop is Cindy Elam where she'll
wow you with her beautiful design skills.
04/18/2021
Stamp Review Crew - Dragonfly Garden
Stampin’ UP! Dragonfly Garden Stamps and Dragonflies Punch
It's the third Monday of April and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring the stamp set the Dragonfly Garden Bundle. You have likely come from Charlet Mallett’s blog on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
Today I have three cards for you. The first has been rumbling around in my head for days. It’s the Dragonfly card. It’s pretty straightforward for the most part except for the dragonfly itself. I stamped it on vellum using Memento Jet Black Ink. I used my Heat Tool to make sure it was completely dry. Then I turned it over. I colored the body using Soft Suede Blends. Then I took Granny Apple Green ink and with my fingertip I lightly touched the pad making sure there was very little ink. I touched the wings in various places to add some light color. I did the same with Flirty Flamingo and Coastal Cabana ink. I wanted to capture the iridescent quality of the dragonflies wings. The Champagne Foil sheet (retired) adds to the effect. I did the same to the background for the sentiment.
My second card is super simple. Coastal Cabana cardstock matted on Bermuda Bay cardstock for the base. I used Coastal Cabana ink to crate the tone-on-tone background. The sentiment is matted the same way.
My third and final card uses Fine Art Floral DSP matted on Flirty Flamingo cardstock. The image is stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock using Old Olive ink. A damp Water Painter is used to color in the leaves and stems using the ink from the stamped image. The flowers are Flirty Flamingo ink also painted on using the Water Painter. The sentiment is stamped on a label from the Ornate Frames dies. I stamped the sentiment using Old Olive ink I stamped the edge of the flower stamp on the edge of the label and colored it in the same way as the main image. Here’s a link to that technique.
Next stop on the Hop is Mickey Roberts where she'll
wow you with her beautiful design skills.
04/14/2021
Sneak Peek 2021-23 Stampin’ Up! In Color Palette
Stampin’ UP! Hand Penned Petals and Penned Flowers Dies
Here’s a challenge for you. Take five colors and use them all in one card - and only those five colors (not counting the color white because that’s the presence of ALL color)! Then use ONLY one stamp set and coordinating die set. But you can only choose between a VERY limited number of sets. That was my challenge in creating this particular card. And amazingly I find I’m most creative when I’m not able to choose between all he products in our catalog!
This card is a sneak peek at our new 2021-23 In Colors and one of our new stamp set suites called Hand Penned Petals. the stamp set includes outline stamps and fill stamps to add the color as well as four sentiments. The die set includes 14 dies including a 6” stitched scalloped edge die. The coordinating Designer Series Paper is also gorgeous, but then I love anything that looks hand drawn. The suite also includes and accent gem set call Genial Gems in Mint Macaron and Pale Papaya in two sizes. This suite and many others are in the new Stampin’ UP! 2021-22 Annual Catalog available May 4th. Contact me for yours!
Products used in this post:
In Colors Classic Stampin’ Pads in Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, and Pale Papaya, Hand Penned Petals Bundle, 2021-23 In Color Cardstock
03/27/2021
Save up to 75% on Retiring Products
This is the most saddest/wonderful time of the year for me. It’s the time when Stampin’ UP! publishes all the products that will retire the end of April - one month earlier than in the past. But they are making room for all the new products in the 2021-22 Stampin’ UP! Annual Catalog. And believe me there’s a ton of them.
But nows the time when you can save up to 75% on the products that you love that will soon be gone. Take advantage of this sale before they’re gone!
Save 75%
Save 60%
Save 40%
Save 20%
Save 10%
Complete list of Retiring Items
03/16/2021
03/14/2021
Stamp Review Crew - Tasteful Touches
Stampin’ UP! Water Painters and Banner Triple Punch
It's the third Monday of March and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring the stamp set Tasteful Touches. You have likely come from Stesha Bloodhart on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
This week instead of creating cards with lots of products, I limited myself to three products - stamps, paper and ink. And I also tried to keep my cards monochromatic. So below you’ll find a tan card, a green card, and a gray card. These are all perfect cards for beginners because they use a minimum number of products and use basic techniques.
This project started using the twig stamp on Crumb Cake card stock with Crumb Cake ink. The flower image was stamped in Soft Suede on Crum Cake card stock and then “shaded” using a damp Water Painter. I created a YouTube video for another project for this techniques. You can find the video HERE. The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso ink.
Next stop on the Hop is Nikki Spencer’ blog where she'll
wow you with her beautiful design skills.
02/28/2021
Stamp Review Crew - Itty Bitty Greetings
Stampin’ Up!’s Art Gallery Stamp Set and Fine Art Floral Designer Series Paper
It's the first Monday of March and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew Hop. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring the sentiment stamp set Itty Bitty Greetings. You have likely come from Heidi Baks’ blog on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
The obvious thing to know, in case you haven’t checked out this stamp set is there 32 sentiments in this set ranging from ‘tis the season to Happy Birthday. You’ll never find a more versatile stamp set. It’s a Cling stamp set which means even those tiny celebrations will stick to your acrylic block. But what many people assume is that this set can really only be used with smaller gift cards because of the size of the print. Not so! In fact that, to me, is one of the biggest advantages. Let’s face it. A large sentiment can really only fit on a standard size card, but there’s no limit to how small a sentiment you can use. So I opted to create three different card sizes, three different sentiments, and three different backgrounds to show its flexibility. I taught a class last year where the participants could stamp a bunch of different sentiments for each card, but not affix them to the card base until they needed a card. This is that project on steroids! But enough about the past. Let’s talk about the future!
Here are the three cards and their components. The Fine Art Floral Designer Series Paper can really go it alone. So can the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder. But together they make a beautiful creation. I don’t think I have to explain the rest of the pics. They’re mix and match. Just enjoy and let your imagination run wild!
Next stop on the Hop is Mary Haugen’s blog where she'll
wow you with her beautiful design skills.
02/21/2021
Stamp Review Crew - The End of Sale-A-Bration Is Berry Close!
Stampin’ Up! Berry Blessings Stamp Set and Berry Delightful DSP
It's the last Monday of Sale-a-bration and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew Bonus Round. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring stamp sets from Sale-a-bration. Both are available for free during Sale-a-bration. But the end of Sale-a-bration is only one week away and supplies are limited so you’ll need to hurry if you want to take advantage of the bonus. You have likely come from Lou Kitzelman’s blog on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
This is one of those stamp sets that looks okay in the catalog and fabulous when you put Photopolymer/ink to paper. And the pic of the Designer Series Paper just doesn’t do it justice. Take a look at the DSP on my cards. It gives a much better indication of how vibrant the colors are. So here are just a few of my ideas for this set to add to all the other ideas you’ll see for the other Sale-a-Bration products during this hop!
My first project uses the Berry Delightful DSP, Poppy Parade card stock, 1/8” Whisper White Satin Ribbon, and Shaded Spruce ink. The sentiment is from the Heal Your Heart stamp set and also from the Sale-a-bration catalog. It was cut out using the Tailored Tag Punch.
My second project uses the beautiful leaf design and the green plaid design, both from the Berry Delightful DSP. Isn’t it beautiful? The sentiment and image background paper is Basic White card stock created with our Blending Brushes and Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce ink. The berry sprig is from the Berry Blessings stamp set stamped in Garden Green stamped off once and the berries are Shaded Spruce stamped off once. The sentiment is from the Heal Your Heart stamp set and is in Shaded Spruce. All the panels are matted in Shaded Spruce card stock.
My final project is a piece of the DSP and a pieced of Basic White card stock matted on Pacific Point card stock. The Basic White card stock is stamped with Garden Green and Pacific Point ink using the Berry Blessings stamp set. The blueberry sprig is stamped in Garden Green ink and colored using the Light Granny Apple Green Blends marker. The berries are stamped in Pacific Point ink. Both are fussy cut. The sentiment is stamped using Night of Navy ink on Basic White card stock and punched using the Tailored Tag punch.
Next stop on the Hop is Mary Hagen’s blog where she'll
wow you with her beautiful design skills.
02/10/2021
Seashells Are My Heart
Stampin’ UP! Seaside Seashells 3D Embossing Folder and Dies
This is the last of my Friends Are Like Seashells projects. If you have never used Blending Brushes to color images - especially 3D images - you’ve got to try these. Shading is so much easier than with a sponge. And they’re much easier to control the color. There was no special shading technique used on the shells or seaweed. The color naturally collects in the creases to create a beautiful completed card.
I used the Seaside Seashells dies first to cut out the die cut and then embossed it to get the 3D feel. The coloring was done with our new Blending Brushes. The sentiment is from the Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set mounted on die cuts from the Layering Ovals die set. The background is from the Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper.
02/03/2021
Seashells Are Golden!
Stampin' Up! Seashells 3D and Seaside Seashells
This is my second post with this Suite of products. This set as it appears is amazing. But something I didnt pick up on when I first saw this set is that the embossing folder and the dies coordinate perfectly. The best way to explain this is to just show you. A seashell is worth a thousand words!
Isn't this gorgeous! OMG! And no one would guess how easy it is to do. You cut out the shape with the die. You position the die cut in the embossing folder with the raised half of the embossing folder facing up. Place the gold foil on top with the foil side facing up and close the embossing folder. Run the sandwich through the Stampin' Up! Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine and you're golden. (No pun intended - well maybe just a little). That's all it takes. Really! I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue to hold it to the card front and you have an amazing card. If you caught my previous post (you can go HERE) you saw gift cards created from this set. Mix them together for a beee-utiful hand made greeting card - the ULTIMATE gift! Simple!
01/29/2021
Seashells Are Our Friends
Friends Are Like Seashells Photopolymer Stamp Set
Friends Are Like Seashells has become one of my favorite suites. I have to admit when I first saw this set I thought “not another set with seashells!” But the stamps are small enough to allow you to be creative. For all format sizes of cards. So my first project is a set of gift cards. After I made the Very Vanilla set Rick, who has a degree in geology, told me that the cards reminded him of fossils of shells that were found in black sandstone. As the shells decomposed they turned into pyrite fools gold). So I made a black set.
Two stamps / one block
Just a tip about cutting the paper.
For the card bases: Use 12x12 card stock for the card base. Score at 3” and 9” Then cut at 6” Cut each half every 3” This will give you eight card bases.
For the gold foil mat: Cut eight pieces of gold foil 2 7/8” x 2 7/8”
For the card fronts: Cut eight squares 2 3/4” x 2 3/4” from an 8 1/2” x 11” piece of Basic Black card stock. This will reduce any card stock scraps.
Stay tuned for more Sea Shell Friend projects!
01/17/2021
Stamp Review Crew - Art Gallery Stamp Set
Stampin’ Up! Stitched Rectangles and Basket Weave 3D Embossing Folder
It's the third Monday of January and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring the stamp set Art Gallery. You have likely come from Mickey Roberts’ blog on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
The stamp set we are featuring this week is from the new January-June Mini Catalog. The Art Gallery Bundle is an amazing set. I rate it right up there with Painted Poppies. What I love about both these sets is the are designed to look like impressionistic brush strokes. The beauty is the stamped images don’t have to be perfect to be - well - perfect! These projects are super easy. Everyone knows it’s a flower, so feel free to be creative - I did!
My first project starts out with a Basic White card front with the retired Basket Weave 3D Embossing folder and matted on Mossy Meadow Card Stock.
The flower bloom first uses So Saffron ink on So Saffron card stock. It is accented with Pumpkin Pie ink. The leaves are stamped with Old Olive ink on Pear Pizzazz card stock. This set has a matching set of dies which makes it super easy to cut out both images. They are mounted on a rectangle of Basic White card stock cut out using one of the Stitched Rectangles die sets. Mount this on the card front using Mini Dimensionals.
The sentiment was stamped on Basic White card stock using Mossy Meadow ink and attached to the card front using Mini Dimensionals.
My second project started by stamping three flowers - Crushed Curry/Pumpkin Pie, Bermuda Bay/Coastal Cabana, and Flirty Flamingo/Poppy Parade. Cut them out using the die from the Floral Gallery Die set.
I cut a piece of Basic White card stock 4x5 1/4”. I placed the three flowers so I knew where to stamp the stems. Then one at a time I moved the flower, stamped the stem using Old Olive ink, and put the flower back. Fill in the bottom of the card by inking just the leaves on the stem. Attach the flowers using Mini Dimensionals.
Stamp the sentiment using Mossy Meadow ink.
Next stop on the Hop is Lou Kitzelman’s blog where she'll
wow you with her beautiful design skills.
01/10/2021
Stamp Review Crew Bonus Hop - Sale-a-bration!
Stampin’ Up! Heal Your Heart, Brushed Blooms and Art Gallery
It's the first month of Sale-e-bration and that means it's time for the Stamp Review Crew Bonus Hop. We are a group of Stampin' UP! demonstrators sharing a ton of ideas focused on a single stamp set. This week we're featuring stamp sets from Sale-a-bration. You have likely come from Betty Traciak‘s Kitty Stamp blog on your way through this amazing hop. If you get lost, simply click on the banner for a list of participants and get back on track.
🎶It’s the most wonderful time of the year!🎶 No, it’s not Christmas again OR Back to School (although I’m sure many of you are hoping it’s soon)! It’s Sale-a-bration! New stamps and free stuff are better than Christmas! So the Stamp Review Crew decided to feature the free stuff! Since I’m a sucker for sentiment stamps AND cursive fonts, Heal Your Heart was the clear choice. I’ve also loved paintbrush style image stamps, so I chose Art Gallery and Brushed Blooms from the January - June Mini Catalog to compliment the Heal Your Heart set.
My first card is a simple monochromatic project using black, white, Smoky Slate and Basic Gray.
My second project features a retired Cut & Emboss set called Heirloom Frames in Old Olive. It’s gilded with silver ink and a brayer. The background is Mossy Meadow embossed with the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder.
My third project is the most involved. The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White using several different shades of blue (Pretty Peacock, Balmy Blue and Bermuda Bay) and our Stamparatus. I used our new Blending Brushes and several pink inks (Flirty Flamingo, Cajun Craze, Melon Mambo and Calypso Coral) for the background. The roses are from the new Blended Blooms in Cajun Craze ink and matted on a piece of Cajun Craze Cardstock.
Next stop on the Hop is Lou Kitzelman’s
With A Bow On Top blog
where she'll wow you with
her beautiful design skills.
