Bewitched and Be Dazzling

Bewitched and Be Dazzling is the theme for today’s Halloween card, which features Sale-a-Bration Be Dazzling paper one last time! While Sale-a-Bration ends tomorrow, September 30th, it’s still not too late to earn free products with a qualifying order. The Penguin Playmates paper, Counting Sheep stamps and coordinating Sheep Dies showcased on this blog recently are still available today.

Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper
Counting Sheep Stamp Set
Sheep Dies

See the dancing sheep celebrating a birthday here.

Bewitched and Be Dazzling Card

Bewitched and Be Dazzling Halloween Card

Click the link below for a list of products used and cutting dimensions for this card.

Although Be Dazzling paper is extra sparkly and a fun element on today’s card, just substitute any glimmer paper for a similar effect. The paper shown below from the Beauty of the Earth Designer Series Paper is perfect for the spooky background. Cut the paper in half horizontally in order to include some of the white area, then trim off the bottom for the 3-3/4″ x 5″ background layer.

Beauty of the Earth DSP on the Bewitched Halloween Card

Lastly, create all the cute Halloween elements, like the witch, bats, and fence with the Frightfully Cute Bundle. The bundle includes the Frightfully Cute stamp set (156487), as well as the Frightful Tags Dies (156492) from the July – December 2021 Holiday Mini Catalog. When purchasing both items as a bundle (156493), you save 10%. While some of the dies are Halloween related, don’t overlook the versatile tag dies for non-Halloween projects such as this Penguin Playmates Christmas card.

Hopefully you have earned all the free products on your list during Sale-a-Bration. If not, you still have one day left! Enjoy!

Sale-a-Bration Sheep

Sale-a-Bration sheep are celebrating a birthday today with lots of dancing and plenty of glam! But the party will come to an abrupt end on September 30th, when you’ll no longer be able to get your hands on these adorable sheep!

Three of the products used on today’s cards are Sale-a-Bration items:

  • Counting Sheep Stamp Set (156591)
  • Sheep Dies (156600)
  • Be Dazzling Specialty Paper (156629)

Choose a FREE Sale-a-Bration product with every $50 or $100 you spend on Stampin’ Up! products (before tax and shipping). There’s no limit to how many rewards you can earn. However, it’s while supply lasts. Items may be gone, especially as this event ends soon. So hurry and choose your favorites!

NOTE: When I checked today, the Counting Sheep Stamp set was still available. But the sheep dies and Be Dazzling paper are SOLD OUT. As an alternative, you can hand cut the sheep and substitute any foil or glitter paper for the Be Dazzling paper to create this card. Also consider the Penguin Playmates paper as your free item. It’s featured in my blog post series that began on Day 1 here and ended on Day 7 here.

Dancing Sale-a-Bration Sheep

Sale-a-Bration Sheep: Counting Sheep stamp set with 2 sentiments and 3 sheep images.
Counting Sheep Stamp Set
Sale-a-Bration Sheep: Two dancing sheep are decked out with Be Dazzling accessories to celebrate a birthday today.
Sale-a-Bration Sheep Birthday Card

Just click the button below in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create this birthday card.

So don’t delay. Place your crafting order of $50 or more in my online store today, then choose your free Sale-a-Bration gift!

Penguin Playmates Day 7

Penguin Playmates Day 7 features two Christmas card designs using 4″ triangles of Penguin Playmates paper. Cut a 4″ square diagonally, leaving a gap you can fill with a variety of elements to make your card stand out!

On Day 1 of the series there’s information on how to get the Penguin Playmates paper during Sale-a-Bration, which ends September 30. You’ll want to check out the 4 card designs there too! Time is running out to get your free paper!

  • Day 2: explore 4 ways to use a 5″ x 3″ piece of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper. 
  • For Day 3: create a Christmas and birthday card with small strips of Penguin Playmates paper, but no penguins in sight.
  • Day 4: use 4″ squares in both vertical and horizontal layouts, plus a fun-fold card.
  • On Day 5: how to make simple and stepped up Christmas cards with 3″ squares of pretty Penguin Playmates paper.
  • Continue the series with Day 6 and learn how to use 1″ squares of paper four ways.

Just click the button below each card in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. Also at the end of the post is a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates cards today.

Penguin Playmates Split Card

Cut a 4″ square of Penguin Playmates paper in half diagonally. Next separate the pieces and adhere them in the corners on your card front. Then decorate the space in between with a piece of cardstock. Finally, add stamped images, a sentiment and fun velvety snowflakes.

Let It Snow!

Stamp Sets

Snowman Season Stamp Set
Peaceful Deer Stamp Set

Peaceful Deer Alternative Version

Similar to the Let It Snow Card, cut the Penguin Playmates square paper in half diagonally and separate the pieces, leaving a gap. However, for this version use ribbon between the pieces. Also die cut the greeting pieces with Layering Circles dies, rather than the tag and punch.

Friendships Dear

Penguin Playmates Day 7 Product List

Product List

With these two card designs, the Penguin Playmates Series comes to an end. Hopefully you have found awesome ideas you can use for several occasions. In the next post we’ll focus on other Sale-a-Bration items you can earn with a qualifying purchase.

Penguin Playmates Day 6

Penguin Playmates Day 6 features two Christmas card designs using six 1″ squares of Penguin Playmates paper. Additionally, there are two different designs for everyday occasions. All of these cards are great ways to use your small paper scraps!

On Day 1 of the series there’s information on how to get the Penguin Playmates paper during Sale-a-Bration, which ends September 30. You’ll want to check out the 4 card designs there too!

  • Day 2: explore 4 ways to use a 5″ x 3″ piece of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper. 
  • For Day 3: create a Christmas and birthday card with small strips of Penguin Playmates paper, but no penguins in sight.
  • Day 4: use 4″ squares in both vertical and horizontal layouts, plus a fun-fold card.
  • On Day 5: how to make simple and stepped up Christmas cards with 3″ squares of pretty Penguin Playmates paper.

Just click the button below each card in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. Also at the end of the post is a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates cards today.

Peekaboo Card

Create a little peekaboo card using both sides of six small squares of Penguin Playmates paper! Then strategically place Holiday rhinestones to accent the playmates peeking through the window.

Peekaboo Penguin Playmates Christmas Card

Sparkly Snowflake Card with Velvet Texture

Penguin Playmates squares and Snowy White Velvet circles create the background for this large sparkly snowflake. A bit of Gold Shimmer Ribbon ties the design together.

Snowflake Sparkle Christmas Card

Sale-a-Bration Items

By purchasing just $50 of Stampin’ Up! products during Sale-a-Bration, you can choose either the Penguin Playmates or Be Dazzling Specialty Paper as a reward. But why limit yourself to one when you can earn them both with a purchase of $100?

Penguin Playmates Day 6 Birthday Card

Next try out some more design options by combining the small squares with larger stitched rectangles. Choose beachy elements from the Friends are Like Seashells bundle. Then arrange the rectangles and your chosen stamp images to create this birthday card.

Seashells and Wishes Birthday Card

Stitched and Embossed Rectangle

Another great way to use small squares of Designer Series Paper is to arrange them in rows on a stitched rectangle. Afterwards, emboss the rectangle with the Timeworn Type embossing folder to achieve this beautifully textured focal point.

Sending Prayers Card

By combining small squares of paper with larger rectangles or circles you can create many unique cards for Christmas, as well as other occasions. Check out more cards in this series to find additional ways to use all your pretty papers! Day 7 will show you designs for triangles!

Penguin Playmates Day 6 Product List

Product List

Penguin Playmates Day 5

Penguin Playmates Day 5 has two playful card designs using 3″ squares of Penguin Playmates paper. Both of them have an embossed layer for a little extra texture. But they could easily be simplified by substituting plain cardstock.

On Day 1 of the series there’s information on how to get the Penguin Playmates paper during Sale-a-Bration, which ends September 30. You’ll want to check out the 4 card designs there too!

  • Day 2: explore 4 ways to use a 5″ x 3″ piece of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper. 
  • For Day 3: create a Christmas and birthday card with small strips of Penguin Playmates paper, but no penguins in sight.
  • Day 4: use 4″ squares in both vertical and horizontal layouts, plus a fun-fold card.

Just click the button below each card in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. Also at the end of the post is a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates cards today.

Simple Stamping

This card requires only minimal stamping with Just Jade and Fresh Freesia ink and the Penguin Place stamp set. The main image is provided by the Penguin Playmates paper (Sale-a-Bration item). In order to accentuate the image, mat it with a narrow black border. Then layer it over Just Jade cardstock embossed with the Merry Melody embossing folder for a quick card.

Snowflake Fun

Stepped Up Christmas Card Design

While the basic layout of this card is the same as the Snowflake Fun card, a few extra elements will be added. Firstly, add an additional embossed Vellum layer. Secondly, emboss the black layer with the same Merry Melody embossing folder as the Vellum. Finally, instead of stamping the greeting directly on the cardstock, layer it on a Stitched So Sweetly die cut, Also change the color scheme, resulting in a brand new look.

Fox Be Merry!

As you can see, it is easy to create many different cards using the same layout, but different colors or design elements. Check out the other cards in this series to find more ways to use all your pretty papers! Day 6 will show you designs for using 1″ squares – a great use for all those tiny pieces!

Penguin Playmates Day 5 Product List

Product List

Penguin Playmates Day 4

Penguin Playmates Day 4 features four card designs using 4″ squares of Penguin Playmates paper. Two are horizontal layouts, one is vertical, and the final one is a fun-fold card!

On Day 1 of the series you’ll find information on how to get the Penguin Playmates paper during Sale-a-Bration, which ends September 30. You’ll want to check out the 4 card designs there as well! On Day 2, explore 4 ways to use a 5″ x 3″ piece of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper. While two designs use a horizontal layout, two have a vertical layout. For Day 3 we shared a Christmas and birthday card. Both were created with small strips of Penguin Playmates paper, but no penguins in sight.

Just click the button below each card in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. At the end of the post there will also be a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates cards today.

Two Vertical Christmas Card Designs

Below are two different layouts for a vertical card. The first one features Snowy White Velvet and Be Dazzling paper. In order to tie in with the gold paper, the image is also heat embossed with gold embossing powder.

On the other hand, the second card accents the focal image with a narrow Basic Black border. In addition, this Hearwarming Penguin and Friends card coordinates the snowflakes in the penguin paper with the stamped Snowman Season snowflakes.

Penguin Playmates Day 4 Vertical Layout 1. Penguin Playmates Paper is accented with strips of Be Dazzling glimmer paper and Snowy White Velvet paper.
Magic is in the Air
Penguin Playmates Day 4 Vertical Layout 2. Penguin Playmates paper is accented with a 1/8" black border. Snowflakes are stamped in Fresh Freesia ink to coordinate with the snowflakes in the paper background.
Heartwarming Penguins & Friends

Penguin Playmates Day 4 – Horizontal Christmas Card Layout

In contrast to the two cards shown above, this card has a horizontal orientation. The 4″ square of Penguin Playmates paper works equally as well here. However, because there is more space on the sides of the paper than on the top and bottom, a strip of contrasting cardstock helps balance the layout. Choose a small greeting, and place it so that it doesn’t cover all the cute images on the DSP. Also add stitched triangles, or plain triangles, to the corners to create a frame. Lastly accent the wintry scene with a few Opal Rounds.

Penguin Playmates Day 4 Horizontal Layout. Add a contrasting piece of cardstock behind the 4" square to extend the image horizontally.
Greetings from Penguin & Friends

Fun Fold Christmas Card

This fun design is a great way to mix and match small pieces of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper. While the main image is still a 4″ square, the patterns on the band and inside right are from other scraps of Penguin Playmates DSP.

Penguin Playmates Day 4 Fun Fold Card with a decorative band. This is an easy fold that showcases multiple patterns of the Penguin Playmates paper.
Friends Like You
Open Friends Like You Card showing band and paper inside.
Inside of the Friends Like You Card Decorated with Penguin Playmates DSP

Penguin Playmates Day 4 Product List for all 4 cards

Product List

Look for more great Penguin Playmates designs in my next blog post, featuring 3″ squares!

Penguin Playmates Day 3

Penguin Playmates Day 3 features two card designs using the Penguin Playmates paper, but there’s not a penguin in sight! Instead, today we’ll be using 1″ x 4″ striped patterns to accent both a Christmas and birthday card.

On Day 1 of the series you’ll find information on how to get the Penguin Playmates paper during Sale-a-Bration. You’ll want to check out the 4 card designs there as well! On Day 2, explore 4 ways to use a 5″ x 3″ piece of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper: Two designs use a horizontal layout and two have a vertical layout.

Just click the button below each card in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. At the end of the post there will also be a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates cards today.

Penguin Playmates Day 3 – Christmas Without Penguins!

Being double-sided, one side of the Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper has patterns suitable for everyday occasions, such as the blue and white stripes which we’re incorporating into today’s Christmas card design.

Begin with a Misty Moonlight base. Then continue by adding a 1″ x 4″ strip of the blue and white striped DSP at the bottom. Also emboss a 4″ vellum square with the Evergreen Forest embossing folder and adhere it at the top of the card base. Lastly finish with Stitched Triangles and a Word Wishes die cut greeting.

Additionally, be sure to add some gold shimmer ribbon and gold sequins to embellish the wintry scene! For complete instructions, click the button below the card.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas with Word Wishes die cuts on an Evergreen Forest embossed vellum background. Add accents with Stitched Triangles and gold shimmer ribbon.
Evergreen Christmas Card

Celebrate a Birthday

Striped 1″ x 4″ Penguin Playmates paper works equally well for a Birthday card. First cut and fold Basic White Thick cardstock for the card base. Secondly emboss Just Jade cardstock with the Timeworn Type embossing folder for a decorative background. Thirdly add the Penguin Playmates striped paper near the bottom of the card front. Besides stamping a butterfly, flower and leaf image with the Positive Thoughts stamps, die cut more butterflies and leaves using the Nature’s Thoughts Dies. Finally arrange these elements on the card front and adhere them, popping some up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Penguin Playmates Day 3: Positive Thoughts, and Nature's Thoughts Dies create this birthday card design. For a lovely textured background, emboss the Just Jade cardstock with the Timeworn Type embossing folder, then add coordinating striped paper.
Nature’s Thoughts Birthday Card

Complete Product List for All Day 3 Cards

Product List

Be sure to watch for more great Penguin Playmates designs in my next blog post, showcasing 4″ x 4″ squares!

Penguin Playmates Day 2

Penguin Playmates Day 2 features four more card designs using cute Penguin paper: three Christmas cards and one Birthday card. Most Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Papers are double-sided, and usually one side has patterns that can be used for many non-holiday occasions. So one of the striped patterns was perfect for birthday wishes.

On Day 1 of the series you’ll find information on how to get the Penguin Playmates paper during Sale-a-Bration. You’ll want to check out the 4 card designs there as well! On Day 2, explore 4 ways to use a 5″ x 3″ piece of Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper: Two designs use a horizontal layout and two have a vertical layout.

Just click the button below each card in order to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. At the end of the post there will also be a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates cards today.

Penguin Playmates Day 2 – Horizontal Card with Raised Panel and No Mat

Firstly add Snowy White Velvet Paper to the card front to achieve wonderful texture! Cut a 2″ x 5″ strip and adhere it at the bottom of the card. Then add foam adhesive strips or foam adhesive sheets to the back of the Penguin Playmates paper to raise the panel. Finally, adhere the raised panel at the top of the card front, overlapping the velvet piece. For the sentiment, die cut the words with the Word Wishes Dies, then glue them over the velvet layer. Complete the design by embellishing the card with three or four Playing With Patterns Resin Dots.

This Penguin Playmates Day 2 card features a raised panel and a greeting die cut using the Word Wishes Dies. #inkshimmerandshine #penguinplaymates #wordwishesdies
Word Wishes for a Merry Christmas

Horizontal Card With a Mat

Similarly to the first card, the second design uses the horizontal layout, but this time with a Cajun Craze mat layer. Once the Designer Series Paper is matted, emboss it with the Tasteful Textile embossing folder. Doing so creates a snowy texture that adds a different look to the Penguin Playmates paper. Die cut the sentiment from Poinsettia Petals with the Stitched Rectangles Dies. Lastly, add some Holiday Rhinestones for a bit of sparkle.

Playful critters from the Penguin Playmates Designer Series paper are embossed with the Tasteful Textile embossing folder for added texture. Add a merry greeting with the Poinsettia Petals stamp set. #inkshimmerandshine #tastefultextile #penguinplaymates #poinsettiapetals
More Penguin Playmates

Penguin Playmates Day 2 – Vertical Card With a Mat

Switching card orientation, begin this vertical design by matting the Penguin Playmates paper. Add it to the left side of the card base. Secondly, build the penguin using the Penguin Builder Punch and Penguin Place stamp set. When purchasing these two items together as a bundle, you’ll save 10%. Also mat the greeting. For an accent, consider adding a few Fresh Freesia rhinestones from the 2021-2023 In Color Jewels pack.

Penguin Playmates Day 2 - This card design features the penguin built with the Penguin Builder Punch and Penguin Place stamp set. Purchase them as a bundle and save 10%. Then earn the Penguin Playmates paper with a qualifying order!
Merry Penguin

Vertical Card With No Mat

The Garden Birdhouses stamp set is a perfect complement to the Penguin Playmates striped paper (a Sale-a-Bration item you can choose with a qualifying order). Stamp images on white cardstock die cut with the Stitched So Sweetly Dies. Additionally, just by adding a little Shimmery Crystal Effects, you can create a sparkly glass house for the birds (Although it doesn’t sparkle much in the photo)!

Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper is not just for Christmas. This design features the paper and Garden Birdhouses stamp set and birthday wishes. Give your greeting a fun shape with Stitched So Sweetly Dies.
Birthday Wishes

Complete Product List for All Day 2 Cards

Product List

Look for more great Penguin Playmates ideas in my next blog post, featuring 1″ x 4″ pieces!

Penguin Playmates Day 1

Penguin Playmates Day 1 features four card designs using cute Penguin paper. How can you get this paper? Easy! Just place a Stampin’ Up! product order of $50 during Sale-a-Bration and choose it as your free reward! There’s no limit to how many free products you can earn! I’ll be sharing ideas for other products in the Sale-a-Bration brochure too.

The double-sided Penguin Playmates Designer Series paper features penguins, polar bears, foxes and snowmen. The second side has stripes, trees and other patterns that can be used for all occasions. Choose it as a free item with your qualifying order during Sale-a-Bration!
Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper

PLEASE NOTE: Sale-a-Bration products are available while supply lasts, or until September 30, 2021. Check here for current availability status.

Today’s Penguin Playmates designs feature 3″ x 4″ rectangles, combined with either 2″ x 3″ or 3″ x 3″ pieces. Using just two 12″x 12″ sheets, you’ll be able to create more than 20 cards. I’ll be sharing more of these ideas in this series. The two double-sided papers I chose are shown below. But you’ll be able to create similar cards with other designs from this paper pack. Or even use other pretty paper you already have!

Penguin Playmates paper side 1 has cute images of penguins, foxes, snowmen and polar bears in non-traditional Christmas colors.
Penguin Playmates designs Side 1
Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper Side 2 features stripes, trees and other patterns suitable for both non-traditional colored Christmas cards and many other occasions
Penguin Playmates designs Side 2

Click the button below each card to see the cutting dimensions and products used to create the card. At the end of the post there will also be a list of all products used on the Penguin Playmates Day 1 cards.

Penguin Playmates Day 1: 3″ x 4″ Rectangle & 2″ x 3″ Rectangle

For the Fox and Penguin Chillin’ card, place the larger Penguin Playmates rectangle in the foreground. Then use the striped smaller rectangle in the background. Stamp the sentiment from the coordinating Penguin Place Bundle. In order to provide a few accents, add green sequins from the Sequins for Everything pack, or other small embellishments.

A Penguin Playmates card using a 4" x 3" rectangle and a 2" x 3" rectangle. The Be Cool Be Chill Be Merry sentiment is from the coordinating Penguin Place Bundle. #inkshimmerandshine #penguinplaymates #penguinplace #christmascards
Fox and Penguin Chillin’ card

The ‘Tis Cute Penguin Season card reverses the rectangles, with the smaller rectangle in front. Before adhering the rectangles, stamp snowflakes from Snowflake Wishes in the top right and lower left corners. Also stamp the sentiment from Christmas to Remember in Fresh Freesia ink. Add a little bling with a couple of 2021-2023 In Color Jewels.

This Fresh Freesia Christmas card for Penguin Playmates Day 1 features the Penguin Playmates Designer Series Paper, as well as snowflakes from the Snowflake Wishes stamp set. The 'Tis the Season greeting is from the Christmas to Remember stamp set. #inkshimmerandshine #penguinplaymates #snowflakewishes #christmastoremember #christmascards
‘Tis Cute Penguin Season Card

Penguin Playmates Day 1: 3″ x 4″ Rectangle & 3″ x 3″ Square

On this Penguin Greetings card, the adorable penguin is accented with a Be Dazzling (Sale-A-Bration item) mat for lots of sparkly fun. Cut the little fox from the Penguin Playmates paper. In order to coordinate with the Be Dazzling paper, heat emboss the sentiment from Penguin Place in gold on white paper. For a fun shape, die cut the greeting with the Frightful Tags Dies , then add the small fox at the bottom.

Penguin Playmates Day 1 - This card showcases the Be Dazzling specialty paper, as well as the Penguin Playmates DSP. Both are items you can earn for free with a qualifying Stampin' Up! order during Sale-a-Bration! #inkshimmerandshine #penguinplaymates #penguinplace #snowflakewishes #bedazzling #christmascards #frightfultagsdies
Penguin Greetings Card

On the Be Cool Snowman card, the large rectangle becomes the background for a cute snowman from the Snowman Season stamp set. Firstly, stamp the snowman image in Versamark ink on Misty Moonlight or Night of Navy cardstock. Secondly, heat emboss the image with white embossing powder. Finally, mat the Penguin Playmates papers and layer the pieces as shown. Don’t forget to add a few sparkly rhinestones and swipes of Wink of Stella too!

The adorable snowman from Snowman Season joins the critters from Penguin Playmates Day 1 for a cool Christmas card. #inkshimmerandshine #penguinplaymates #christmascards #penguinplace
Be Cool Snowman!

Penguin Playmates Complete Product List for All Cards:

Product List

Look for more great Penguin Playmates ideas in my next blog post, featuring 5″ x 3″ pieces!

It’s Not Too Late for True Love

It’s not too late for True Love, but your last chance is here today! At 1PM MT this afternoon, the Stampin’ Up! Last Chance Product Sale begins. True Love is one of the Designer Series Papers from the January – June 2021 Mini Catalog that will be gone soon. It features black and white designs, perfect for coloring, like on these Color of True Love cards.

True Love Designer Series paperUse the black and white images or color them with your favorite pencils or markers,
True Love Designer Series Paper by Stampin’ Up!

Several other favorite papers and bundles are also retiring, including the Hydrangea Hill and Sand & Sea papers, and the Kangaroo & Company bundle. Click here to download the entire list of Last Chance Products.

Today’s card features the True Love Designer Series paper, and the Daisy Lane stamp set, which has been carried over to the Stampin’ Up! 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. Of course, you can substitute any other stamp set and paper you already have. The Playing with Patterns Resin Dots are also in the new catalog.

It’s Not Too Late for True Love DSP Coloring Tip

When coloring the True Love Designer Series Paper, you could use Watercolor Pencils, ink pads, Stampin’ Blends or Stampin’ Write markers. But, since there are so many daisies on this particular pattern, a brayer and Pineapple Punch ink pad are the quickest way to apply the overall color. Afterward, use Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends just on the leaves.

Product Details

May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit

May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit  - Batter Up! featuring a baseball theme to celebrate your favorite MVPs

The May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit, called Batter Up!, will help you knock it out of the park! With the Batter Up! Paper Pumpkin Kit, it’s your turn to go to bat for all the people who’ve gone to bat for you. This month’s timeless kit with a “throwback” theme contains enough grand slam supplies to create nine cards—and coordinating envelopes—featuring classic colors, pinwheel and pinstripe patterns, and vintage-washed paper pieces. There’s no “batter” way to root, root, root for your home team and honor the all-stars in your life!

While this month’s kit is perfect for creating masculine cards, it’s also designed for sport-lovin’ ladies and all baseball fanatics. (So all your bases are covered!)

A beloved baseball-themed kit would be incomplete without the sport’s signature, sticky snack—the official bubble gum of the MLB! A favorite in the field, the Batter Up! Paper Pumpkin Kit contains a couple sticks of the chewy staple; chew while you craft, slide a piece into a card, or save it for later.

Send a seventh-inning stretch in a classic card with all-star stripes, a nostalgic nod, and a stamp set fit for an MVP! But, before you give it all you’ve got, give this month’s promotional video a watch.

Don’t miss out on the creativity and spirit-raising fun! Subscribe to the May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit before May 10th!

Find out all the details and subscribe to Paper Pumpkin here:



May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit – Batter Up! Details

  • Kit includes enough supplies to make 9 cards – 3 each of 3 designs – and coordinating envelopes.
  • The all-inclusive kit includes printed card bases, die-cut paper pieces, embellishments, adhesive, ink spot, 13-piece stamp set and more!
  • Card size: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ (10.8 x 14 cm)
  • Envelope size: 4-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ (11.4 x 14.6 cm)

Batter Up! Color Pallette

Basic White, Bumblebee, Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede

May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit – New Subscribers Score a Home Run!

If you haven’t tried Paper Pumpkin before, now is the time!

New subscribers can purchase this month’s kit for just $5.00 USD (shipping included)! There are a limited number of kits available at this price, so order yours now! Enter the code HOMERUN0521 before the sale ends to receive this special introductory price!**

This promotion price will only apply to new month-to-month subscriptions; prepaid subscriptions are not eligible for the discount

**If the allocated kits are sold out prior to the subscription period, the sale will end and the subscription price will return to normal.

Subscription Details

Subscribe to the May Paper Pumpkin Kit at paperpumpkin.com between April 11 – May 10.

Note: Supplies may be limited toward the end of the subscription period.

May 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit - Score a Home Run with the special deal for new subscribers while supply lasts!

Start crafting for your favorite MVPs today!

A Little Hello

A little hello from me to you today. Happy Earth Day! This hello card demonstrates how to use the Stitched Triangles Dies in another way for a look that resembles a square envelope.

A Little Hello Card: How to Use Stitched Triangles Dies for an easy Envelope Card

A Little Hello How To

To create the card, begin with a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of thick Basic White card stock. Score it at 4-1/4″ and fold it to create a card base.

Next, use the Stitched Triangles Dies to cut two solid and two striped (or other patterned) papers with the large right triangle dies. Adhere the two patterned pieces on the right and left side of the card front and the two solid pieces at the top and bottom, as shown.

Punch or cut a 1″ square for the center of the triangles in a contrasting color. In the center of the square, add an embellishment, such as this little flower sequin.

A Little Hello Greeting

Stamp the sentiment from Itty Bitty Greetings on a small piece of Basic White card stock. Next die cut it with the Rectangle Stitched Dies (Item 151820). Finally, use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere this piece in the center of the bottom solid triangle.

If you don’t have the dies, trim the white paper to 2-1/2″ by 1/2″. But then consider adding this die set to your craft room. It has 13 dies that will add lovely stitching detail whenever you need a rectangle!

A Little Hello needs these Stitched Triangles Dies |Right triangles, equilateral triangles and isosceles triangles are all included in the Stitched Triangles Die set. All of them have lovely stitching around the edges for an elegant look that can’t be achieved by just cutting a square into triangles! in addition, there are 3 decorative triangle dies for banners, borders, and more!
Stitched Triangles Dies by Stampin’ Up! (Item 152710)

Also consider the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set! It’s on the Last Chance Products Sale list so it’s only available while supply lasts! Check out all the different occasion sentiments in this set. There are 32 stamps for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, Easter, Mother’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and more:

A Little Hello from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set | sentiments for Easter, Mother's Day, Christmas, Graduation, birthday, Father's Day, and many more occasions in one stamp set.
Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set

More Triangles

The last step is to die cut a 1″ x 3-3/4″ piece of solid color card stock for the bottom of the card front. The Stitched Triangles Dies have this fun mini triangle pattern die that’s perfect as an accent. Center it and glue it in the space below the envelope. Add a few embellishments that coordinate with the one you chose for the small square to complete the card.

See more Stitched Triangles cards.

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Thanks for stopping by! Have a crafty day!

The Color of True Love

What is the color of true love? Today’s cards feature the Stampin’ Up! True Love Designer Series Paper (item 154281). This is a black and white paper that’s perfect for designs like the Zany Zebras background prints, and also for coloring with Stampin’ Blends!

The Color of True Love Sympathy Card

Paper Layers and Stampin’ Blends

The Light and Dark Highland Heather blends, along with Light and Dark Old Olive are beautiful for coloring this sympathy card. Choose a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Old Olive card stock for the card base. Then add a black layer, 4″ x 5-1/4″ on top. Lastly, color and adhere the True Love Designer Series Paper which is cut to 3-3/4″ x 5″.

The Color of True Love for this sympathy card is Highland Heather. Simply color the True Love paper with Light and Dark Highland Heather and Old Olive Stampin' Blends for a soft comforting background.
True Love Designer Series Paper by Stampin’ Up! colored with Highland Heather and Old Olive Stampin’ Blends.

Preparing the Sentiment PLUS Sale-a-Bration News

First cut a piece of black card stock with the Stitched Shapes Dies. These truly versatile square, oval and circle shapes with stitching have been a go-to in my craft room! Several crafters I know have purchased multiple sets, just in case of damage or loss. Get them from the Last Chance Products section in my store while they’re still available.

Last Chance to purchase the Stitched Shapes Dies. These 12 circle, oval and square dies in graduated sizes make it easy to mat your images and sentiments!
Stitched Shapes Dies by Stampin’ Up!

Next, in order to make the sentiment show up against the black background, heat embsoss it with silver or white embossing powder. ‘Wishing I could heal your heart’ is a sentiment from the stamp set Heal Your Heart. And, if you didn’t earn the Heal Your Heart set for free with a product purchase during Sale-a-Bration, stay tuned for the next earning period! This year a second Sale-a-Bration will take place between August 3rd and September 30, 2021! (Due to some product shipping delays, this is an adjustment to the original scheduled dates.)

Alternative Sentiment

Meanwhile, if you need to make a sympathy card, consider a set on the Last Chance Products list, like the Timeless Tulips Bundle. The stamp set is not retiring, but the bundle which includes the stamp set, won’t be available with the 10% Bundle Savings in the upcoming 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. Don’t you just love a stamp set with a coordinating punch? If you do, be sure to order it before May 3rd when the sale ends!

The Timeless Tulips stamp set includes birthday, get well, sympathy, Easter and Mother's Day sentiments. It has a coordinating Tulip Builder punch, making it easy to punch out the large tulip and leaf to add dimension to your cards. The bundle with a 10% cost savings is retiring soon, but the individual products are still available in the upcoming Stampin' Up! 2021-2022 annual catalog.
Stampin’ Up! Timeless Tulips Bundle

Finishing Touches

This sympathy card is beautiful just as it is. But if you want to highlight the sentiment more, just add three Pastel Pearls to it. These pearls already have adhesive on the back, so they’re super easy to pop on the card wherever you like! Little strokes with the Wink of Stella glitter brush will add a perfect bit of shimmer and sparkle to your flowers.

The Color of True Love – Birthday Card

The Colors of True Love for this Birthday Card are Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green. The Hydrangea Haven stamp set includes this sentiment 'To an incredible woman'.
Stampin’ Up! True Love Designer Paper colored in Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends

Birthday Card Layout and Colors

The same layout and dimensions as the Sympathy Card can be used to create this birthday card. While the first card is colored in Highland Heather and Old Olive, this card features the Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends. Instead of heat embossing, stamp the the Hydrangea Haven sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Afterwards, die cut with two sizes of the Rectangle Stitched Dies. Once again, use Pastel Pearls and Wink of Stella to accent the flowers and sentiment.

Whatever the Color of True Love is for you, color a card today and send it on its merry way! Happy Crafting!

Tell All Your Friends!

Tell all your friends – Thinking of you today! Don’t just ‘Like’ their Facebook or Instagram post…take the time to create this card and send it. Creating the card in their favorite colors makes it extra special! This card layout is easy and the black background makes the colored triangles pop.

Tell all your friends - Thinking of You! Create this special butterfly and triangle handmade card in your favorite colors! Make it as simple or fancy as you want! Emboss, die cut, layer, add texture and of course, add a little bling! #inkshimmerandshine #thinkingofyou #butterfly

How To Tell All Your Friends With this Card

Supplies You’ll Need:

  • Card Base – Smoky Slate card stock, 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″, scored at 4-1/4″
  • Layer – Black card stock, 3-3/4″ x 5″
  • Stitched Triangles Dies in 3 sizes, or cut 3 right triangles by hand.
  • Stitched Shapes Dies, or other circle punch or die to fit your butterfly image
  • Tasteful Textile embossing folder to add texture to the triangles
  • Butterfly stamp
  • Versamark ink for embossing
  • White and gold embossing powders, for the butterfly and sentiment
  • Cardstock in three shades to match your color scheme, plus white for the stamped image.
  • Opal Rounds or other embellishments
  • Stampin’ Blends to color the butterfly

Assembling your Thinking of You Card

First, prepare your card base and center the black layer on the base. Second, using your die cutting machine, cut the circle and triangles with the Stitched Triangles and Stitched Shapes dies. In order to add texture to the triangles, run them through the die cutting machine with the Tasteful Textile embossing folder. Add the triangles to the card front by placing the smallest one about 1/4″ from the right side, then layering the larger ones on top. Next, stamp your butterfly image in Versamark ink on the circle and heat emboss with gold embossing powder. Similarly, stamp the sentiment in Versamark ink on the black card stock and heat emboss with white embossing powder. By using Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the circle to the card, you add depth.

Finally, add details to the butterfly by coloring it with Stampin’ Blends and adding Wink of Stella for some sparkle. Also, add three Opal Rounds, which really add another layer of bling!

For more ways to use the Stitched Triangles dies, see the Stitched Triangles Dies post. Also, visit my Triangle Cards board on Pinterest. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Hydrangeas and Hummingbirds

Are hydrangeas and hummingbirds good companions? Normally I would say they are not, but on this Hello Friend card they make a perfect pair! The Hydrangea Hill Designer Series Paper is so beautiful on its own, but the hummingbird and pastel pearls add a little extra interest to the card front.

Hydrangeas and Hummingbirds: Hello friend card with Hydrangea Hill Designer Series Paper. This handmade card has a base of Seaside Spray card stock, dry embossed with the Tasteful Textile embossing folder. The sentiment in Gorgeous Grape ink and the Highland Heather hummingbird are from A Touch of Ink stamp set.  A couple large Pastel Pearls accent the stamped images for a beautiful and easy card.

Card Base And Embossing

Choose an 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Seaside Spray card stock for the card base. First score it at 4-1/4″. Secondly, emboss the card front up to the score line with the Tasteful Textile embossing folder and the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine.

Hello Friend Sentiment and Hummingbird

Cut a piece of white card stock with the Rectangle Stitched Dies to create a nice stitched border around the focal point. (Another alternative is to trim a piece of white card stock to 2-5/8″ wide, 4″ high). On this piece, stamp the hummingbird from the A Touch of Ink (2021 Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration – retired) stamp set, or other chosen image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink in the upper portion.

A Touch of Ink two-step stamp set featuring hummingbird, butterfly and flower images. #atouchofink #inkshimmerandshine
A Touch of Inks SAB stamp set

A butterfly, such as one from the Floating & Fluttering stamp set, would also be great for this layout.

Floating & Fluttering two-step stamp set from Stampin' Up! Features several butterfly images and leaves. Easily stamp and color them with the coordinating layer stamps or Stampin' Blends.
Floating & Fluttering stamp set

Also use Highland Heather ink to color the hummingbird. With a Dark Highland Heather Stampin’ Blend, accent the bird’s feathers. Another nice touch is to add the small dots around the hummingbird in Seaside Spray ink. Stamp the sentiment from A Touch of Ink in Gorgeous Grape ink at the bottom of the rectangle.

Assembling the Hydrangeas and Hummingbirds

Because we want to have a substantial background of hydrangeas, trim the Hydrangea Hill Designer Series Paper (DSP) to 2-1/2″ x 5-1/2″. Adhere the DSP about 1/4″ from the left side of the card base to complete the background. Layer the white rectangle over the background, centered about 1/4″ from the right.

Finishing Touches

Lastly, to finish the card, add a little Wink of Stella to the bird’s wings for bit of sparkle! Use three purple Pastel Pearls to highlight the bird and sentiment.

If you like this color combo, grab Seaside Spray products from the Last Chance Products Sale, as they are retiring soon! NOTE: the Seaside Spray card stock was still available in the 2019-2021 In Color Pack as of this morning.

For more great card layouts and ideas visit Ink, Shimmer and Shine on Pinterest!

You might also enjoy a craft kit full of all the supplies you’ll need for a spring or summer project! Get all the details!

Happy Crafting!