Category Archives: Cards

Crystal Effects Water Drops

Crystal Effects Water Drops

This is a portion of a card I made with the Gift From the Garden Stamp SetThe sprinkling can and the flower stems come from this stamp set but the water drops are a stamp from the Sprinkles of Life Stamp Set. In order to make the water drops look real, I put dabs of Crystal Effects on the water drops. They are wet in this photo and I tried to draw them out a little bit to look more like a drop of water.  Then dry, the Crystal Effects will be clear.

Crystal Effects can be used as an adhesive or as a glossy, lacquer finish to objects. It gives a raised, embossed look to stamped images. There are actually many techniques you can use with Crystal Effects.

Don’t forget to check the Weekly Deals!  These are good through Monday night, July 20.

Weekly Deal July 14

For fun papercrafting shopping, just visit the Stampin’ Up! Online Store this weekend!

Pink Marker Colored Dahlia Card

Pink Marker Colored Dahlia Card

The Definitely Dahlia Stamp is almost as big as the card front, which makes for very simple cardmaking!  Just stamp it and add a greeting or embellishment and you’re done. I tried this before on another dahlia card but this time I made the colors really different, like Pink Pirouette and Rose Red. Instead of stamping on an ink pad, I colored rather randomly with Stampin’ Write Markers to try to get a shaded look with this stamp. I actually missed some spots on the flower and then tried to color in (not a good idea), but overall I think it still looks pretty good. The greeting is from the new stamp set Watercolor Words. For a little embellishment I added some Venetian Crochet Trim tied around the front of the card.

If you want to  try the Definitely Dahlia Stamp, available in wood- or clear-mount, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store.

June Paper Pumpkin Card From a Friend

June Paper Pumpkin Card

Today we got a pile of mail, maybe they have been hoarding it at the post office! You may recognize this as a Stampin’ Up! Paper Pumpkin card from the June 2015 kit.  Can you imagine how pleased I was to find a personal card in the stack and not just bills and credit card applications and solicitations of all sorts?! This card was from my college friend Sally, who lived across the hall in my dorm. By our fourth year we were roommates in an apartment and have remained in touch all these years. Sally has always been good about sending cards in the mail, but I think she has stepped up her game recently to help keep the post office going! We all need to be doing that because there is nothing like a note from a friend, especially these days when we mostly communicate by email and text messages.

This was her first Paper Pumpkin kit and she said she enjoyed it. Unlike some of us (me!) she said she has already sent out half her cards. I’m sure those recipients enjoyed finding a real card in the mailbox as much as I did!

With Paper Pumpkin you can make the card exactly as suggested by Stampin’ Up! in the directions or you can branch out and do whatever you want with the supplies. Each kit includes a stamp set and Stampin’ Spot for ink.

If you join Paper Pumpkin now through August 10th you will be signed up in time to receive the August kit in the mail. It is always a surprise what papercrafting project we will receive!

Just click HERE to sign up for Paper Pumpkin and see how much fun it is to get that red box in your mail! You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time. Hopefully you will enjoy some crafting time when your kit arrives and feel like you have given yourself a gift!

Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deal July 14 2015

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal July 14 2015
Here are the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals for July 14 – Monday July 20. Click the link or photo above to view in the Store.  If you see something you really want, better grab it because once a quantity sells out, that deal is gone. Also check the Clearance Rack for any new things they might add. Honestly, I can’t remember what was on there before each time I look at it, so just remember to check when you are ordering to see if there are any bargains on there that you want!

The Color Me Irresistible Designer Paper is on the Weekly Deals.  This is similar to the embossed paper that was free during Sale-A-Bration but BETTER because you also get paper that is already colored. Use the white paper plain or color it with sponging or spritzing or whatever method you like!  You also might really like the other designer papers available on the “deals” as well as the new pearls, washi tape and sequins, plus twine for embellishing.  And if you like an easy way to make gift boxes, then the discounted Gift Box Punch Board is for you!

The Watercolor Wishes Card Kit was not available until this month, and now it is so popular that it is nearly on backorder. If you are thinking about ordering this kit, I would do it today! More kits are on the way but there might be a backorder situation for a little while,   unfortunately. It really is a cute kit and easy to make some beautiful cards! AND a very nice stamp set comes with it! What a deal! You can see it displayed on page 80 of the Stampin’ Up! Catalog. Order several kits (if they are available) and get your friends together for a cardmaking day or evening! And the stamp set is one you will be able to use a lot!

Have fun choosing or get it all!! Check my Stampin’ Up! Online Store for the Weekly Deals, the Clearance Rack, the Watercolor Wishes Card Kit, and all the other Stampin’ Up! goodies!

Cottage Greetings Card Kit


One of the new Stampin’ Up! Card Kits is called Cottage Greetings. You can make 15 cards, 5 each of 3 designs, with the kit. You’ll want to add the stamp set Cottage Greetings available in wood- or clear-mount. It’s a lovely stamp set, whether or not you buy the kit.  You can use it easily without the kit so don’t worry you won’t get your money’s worth out of it! I love the font and the sayings.

Check out the video and find out all about the Cottage Greetings Card Kit. If you want to order it and the stamp set, just go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store. It’s a fun and easy way to get a stack of cards made!

Gift From the Garden Card

Gift From the Garden Card

This is the first card I’ve made with the new stamp set Gift From the Garden. I saw a gift set of cards and things that Stampin’ Up! posted one day by a UK demonstrator and decided to get the stamp set. So cute! I haven’t started on the gift set yet but here’s my first card.  Very easy! Use the marker technique to color the flower pots and the plants separately, breathe on the stamp to remoisten and then stamp. I layered with matching colors, Cajun Craze and Wild Wasabi and adhered to the Sahara Sand card base. The greeting is stamped in Cajun Craze ink and comes in the set, of course.  I think the flower pot stamp is cute in itself so I placed it in the photo!
SU Gift From the Garden Gift Box

I love this cute gift set!  Maybe it is the colors! If you have a gardener in your life, maybe you need this Gift From the Garden stamp set!  Place your order today!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online HERE!

Definitely Dahlia Thank You Card

Definitely Dahlia Thank You Card

If you want to make a simple, easy handmade card, then try this Definitely Dahlia Thank You Card. Stamp the card, stamp the greeting, done and beautiful!  The beautiful Definitely Dahlia single stamp will do all the work for you! It is one big stamp, as you can see, and I am sure there are lots of possibilities for colors and creativity. Apparently dahlias come in lots of colors so there is lots of leeway in stamping your flower!

The Definitely Dahlia stamp comes in clear-mount or wood-mount.  My personal preference is wood-mount for large stamps like these and also background stamps. I like having that large stamp already mounted on the wood and I think it is sturdier for stamping a large area like that. Plus the stamp itself, this one, is decorative just as a stamp to set on your shelf!

The card base is Daffodil Delight card stock and the dahlia is stamped on Whisper White with Daffodil Delight ink.  The greeting is from the new stamp set One Big Meaning.  This stamp set contains all kinds of “Thank You’s” and we can all make use of those! The greeting is stamped with Memento Ink.

If you wanted to jazz up this simple card, you could certainly do that with ribbon, with a little bit of glitter and maybe the greeting on a banner or other die-cut shape. Stamp the dahlia on another paper and cut it out and make it a pop up on the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Lots of possibilities!

Shop Online at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Coloring For Adults – “You’ve Got This” Flower Card

You've Got This Flower Card

In the Sunday paper, I read an article about how coloring for adults is really a craze right now. Apparently there are all kinds of coloring books for grown-ups out there. The author described coloring as “transporting” because she was just concentrating on the page and what she was doing, not her worries and problems. While that is nice, we stampers have known that for a long time! When we sit down and stamp a card or project or get together in a class with other stampers, life tends to take a backseat and we can relax and just enjoy the creative experience. We often call it stamping therapy or say that all our stamping supplies are “cheaper than therapy”! We don’t even need to spend money on coloring books for grown-ups because we can just stamp an outline image, such as this flower from the You’ve Got This Stamp Set, and be “transported” while we color away!

The only trick to this card is masking.  Stamp the flower on the Whisper White card stock with black Stazon or Memento Ink (I didn’t have any trouble with the Memento ink even though it is not waterproof like Stazon). Then stamp it again on computer paper and cut out with Paper Snips (believe me, they make “fussy cutting” so much easier than other scissors). This cut out flower becomes the “mask”.  Lay it over the stamped image (good to apply dots of 2-Way Glue and let dry so it will be like a post-it note to hold it in place) and then stamp that background right over the mask and the flower! The mask will protect the flower image from the background ink. Remove the mask and then color in! If you are still using your Blendabilities, this flower is perfect for them.  Otherwise, use the Stampin’ Write Markers, in different shades if you like. Use Watercolor Paper and you can really work the coloring without making the paper pill.

You've Got This Flower Card Unmasked

The card base on this sample is Melon Mambo, the layer Blushing Bride. To color in the flower I used Pink PIrouette as the lightest color, Blushing Bride and thought I was using Melon Mambo for a few dark accents but it turned out to be Rose Red!  All Stampin’ Write Markers. The flower stem colors are a couple of greens, Wild Wasabi and Old Olive. The background ink color is Blushing Bride.

If you prefer not to color in, stamp the flower image, then stamp right over it without a mask, with the background image and your flower will automatically be colored in! Looks great that way also!

So if you would like to join the adult coloring craze, just stamp the “You’ve Got This” flower and color! Use Stampin’ Write Markers or use Blender Pens or the Aqua Painter. You have all kinds of choices. Just relax and enjoy the process! In the end you’ll have a lovely work of art!

To get your stamp set and coloring mediums, just shop online at Stampin’ Up! Don’t forget to check the Weekly Deals, too!

 

Flower Patch 4th of July Fireworks Card

Flower Patch 4th of July Fireworks Card

Would you believe this Flower Patch 4th of July Fireworks card is made from flower images? If you look at the Flower Patch Photopolymer Stamp Set, you will find some flower images that can be made to look like bursts of fireworks! All of these stamped images on this card are made from the Flower Patch Stamp Set and then embellished with some heat embossing.  You could also use glitter or rhinestones! If you purchase the Flower Patch Photopolymer Bundle, you will also get the Flower Fair Framelits Dies at a 15% savings on the Bundle!

To make these flowers look more like fireworks, I stamped the flower centers with Versamark Ink and used the Heat Tool and  Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Embossing is so much fun! You could also use the 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter or stick on some Rhinestone Jewels for some bling!

Look through your stamp sets and see what you could use to make a card, decoration, or treat for the 4th of July holiday! If you would like some of the supplies I used to make my Flower Patch 4th of July Fireworks card, you can order at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.

Watercolor Wishes Card Kit Is Here! Make Quick & Easy Cards!

Watercolor Wishes Card Kit

The long-awaited (well, for a month!) all-inclusive card kit, Watercolor Wishes Card Kit, is finally available from Stampin’ Up! This kit includes supplies for 20 different cards in 3 sizes and a very nice stamp set! Lots of people wished they could buy the stamp set separately while they waited for the card kit to be available. The stamp set has greetings you will use all the time when you make cards and projects in very appealing font styles. You even get a clear block in the kit to use with the stamps. The card kit comes with Stampin’ Dimensionals but you might also like to have Glue Dots and Multipurpose Liquid Glue or some other adhesives such as SNAIL or Fast Fuse (on the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals this week!).

Here’s what comes in the kit
* 20 cards total
* Folded card sizes: 4″ x 4″, 3-1/2″ x 5″, 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
* 12-piece photopolymer stamp set
* 20 card bases
* Die-cut accents
* Cardstock flag stickers
* Night of Navy and Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin’ Spots
* Washi tape
* Giftable Kraft box
* 50 sequins
* Wood die cuts
* Stampin’ Dimensionals
*Acrylic stamp block

Coordinating colors: Crushed Curry, Night of Navy, Pool Party, Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder

This kit makes a nice gift since the stamps, ink, block and everything is included (except the extra adhesives that might be useful) and comes in a nice Kraft box.

Shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store today!

Order yours today, and be sure to check out the Weekly Deals and the new products added to the Clearance Rack! Put the Watercolor Wishes Card Kit at the top of your list!

Watch the Stampin’ Up! video below to find out more about the card kit.

Altered Folded Mini Treat Bag

Altered Folded Mini Treat Bag

One more idea for using the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies, which are $10 off through Monday night on the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals. Make the regular mini treat bag, then fold over the top edge. Add a belly band to hold it in place and you’ve got a cute little envelope for a card and/or treat! Don’t forget all the cute embellishments that come in the set of dies, such as the strip of stars, hearts and dots, the heart and star, the words, etc. You can decorate your Altered Folded Mini Treat Bag any way you like!

For this project I just used a 6″ x 6″ piece of paper from the Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack.  No cutting involved.  But you do need to to place the large treat bag die carefully on the paper and make sure it is properly placed as you cover it with the cutting plate before running through the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine.  The Magnetic Platform helps hold it in place but you can also use some post-it type notes or washi tape to hold the die in place.  As you can see, there is very little paper waste!

Die Cut Mini Treat Bag

Make the mini treat bag, then fold over the top.  You can just do this or you can score first about 3 1/2″ from the bottom edge of the bag. Just figure out what size you want the bag/envelope to be.

Mini Treat Bag Folded

Go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and check out all the Stampin’ Up! Weekly Deals! Then if you liked my Altered Folded Mini Treat Bag, be sure to place it on your order before 11:50 pm MT Monday June 29, 2015. All the other items on the Weekly Deals are really great too so be sure to look!

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deal June 23 2015

Layered Letters Father’s Day Card

Layered Letters Father's Day Card

Father’s Day is tomorrow, Sunday June 21, so if you haven’t already, you better find some time today to make a card for the father in your life, whether it’s your own father, husband, uncle, grandfather, whomever!

I had fun playing with the new stamp set Layered Letters Alphabet. I liked this set from the moment I saw it and I think it will be a great set to use even for cards and projects and certainly for scrapbooking. Can you have too many alphabet sets?!  Probably not! One thing I like about it is the rectangle shape and the circle that you can stamp first and then put the letter inside of it! Of course you can just use the letters plain as well. I guess I just like the font. There’s something very comfortable to me about the letters.

To make this Father’s Day card, I used the new Cucumber Crush green for the card base, layered with Whisper White. I just “eyeballed” the stamping using my Grid Paper and centering the card on the grid, but you could also use the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig if you wanted to be precise. I stamped the rectangles but “stamped off” lightly one time before stamping on the card to make them lighter. Then I stamped each letter with our Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. The Father’s Day words come from the Crazy About You Stamp Set. This stamp set is a little pricey but comes with a lot of useful stamps.  And if you like, there is a Bundle with some Thinlits to choose from and save 15%.

Then for just a little more somethin’-somethin’ I added the top and bottom border from the Tin of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set. Don’t think this stamp set is only for the Tin of Cards!  I have used it a lot, separately, and you will too!

So there you have it, one idea for a Father’s Day card for tomorrow!

Get your Layered Letters Alphabet Stamp Set at the Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE!

Jump Into Project Life By Stampin’ Up! With Moments Like These

Project Life Moments Like These Cards

Stampin’ Up!, as you know, has partnered with Becky Higgins and Project Life to provide us with these wonderful kits for memory-keeping! These special kits coordinate with our Stampin’ Up! colors and come with an optional accessory pack plus coordinating stamp set. When you buy the Bundle (the card collection, the accessory pack and the stamp set) you save 15%!

The Project Life by Stampin’ Up! system is easy!  Just gather your photos, insert them into the pocket pages, add some of the cards to decorate or explain, write in some journaling, and you are done!  Now if you like, add some stamping and add some embellishments with any of your stamping supplies or use the too cute accessory pack that coordinates with each card collection. Do as little or as much as you like.

Stampin’ Up! and Becky Higgins featured the new Moments Like These set on their blogs! Check out Becky’s post HERE.

Cherry on Top Washi Tape Easy Card

Cherry on Top Washi Tape Easy Card

I dare you to play with the Cherry on Top Designer Washi Tape and not feel happy! Just the designs and bright colors can put you in a good mood when you are stamping. The same is true with the Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack, although today I only used the Cherry on Top Washi Tape. The card base is the brand new Whisper White Thick CardstockToday is the first day I actually used this thick card stock and I can tell you it really makes a nice card base. I didn’t add a layer or anything. While our regular Whisper White cardstock is very nice, it has always been just a little bit light for using as a card base.

To make this card, all I did was tear off strips of Cherry on Top Washi Tape and applied them on a diagonal. I let them extend over the edge of the card and then cut the excess off with a scissors. That way you don’t need to be exact with measuring, which would be nearly impossible. For a greeting I used “Just Because” from the A Dozen Thoughts Stamp SetThen because it was laying on the table and because I thought it kind of matched, I stamped the squiggly line along the bottom of the washi tape from the Tin of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set. You can see this stamp set is not JUST for the Tin of Cards Project Kit!

When you need a card in a hurry, try one like this!  Use washi tape and a greeting or strips of your favorite designer paper!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online HERE!