You’re So Sweet … It’s Scary!

You're So Sweet...It's Scary card layout showing Halloween patterned paper you can create with the Frightfully Cute Bundle.

You’re So Sweet … It’s Scary is a fun sentiment from the Frightfully Cute Bundle by Stampin’ Up! Combine the greeting with a subtle, not so scary witch, and a cute little cat for a sweet Halloween card. You’re So Sweet Halloween Card Create Your Own Designer Series Paper Use the Brights Designer Series Paper as the background for a quick card. Firstly, choose from one of four patterns in the paper pack. In order to step up the card design, customize it with your own pretty paper. Just stamp the small bats in Gorgeous Grape ink all over the…

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A Penguin Party

A penguin party is in full swing today to celebrate a birthday! But it’s cold outside, so they’re dressed with hats and scarves to keep warm. With the Penguin Builder Punch, it’s a snap to create as many penguins as you like. Of course, you’ll also want the Penguin Place stamp set in order to create all of the penguin accessories. So save 10% and purchase both products together in the Penguin Place Bundle! Penguin Place Bundle: Penguin Place stamp set PLUS Penguin Builder Punch Creating the Penguin Party Card In order to create a Penguin Party card, start with…

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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…

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Enjoy Life in your Craft Room!

Enjoy Life bicycle card using sponge daubers, Circle Tab punch, and multiple ink colors.Each year I look forward to June! School’s out, concerts, festivals and BBQ season are in full swing, and birthday season begins in our family. (Of course, we celebrate birthdays almost every month of the year, but we’re especially blessed with summer birthdays galore!) Summer means time to relax, spend more time outdoors, root for our favorite ball players and teams, wear sandals and flip flops, and sip cool, refreshing beverages! It’s a great time to enjoy life!

So, to start the summer season off, we used the Enjoy Life stamp set in the 2019-20 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog (shown below) for our card! This set was designed by million-dollar sales achiever Connie Fitzgerald with her family in mind. It has both great sentiments and images that can be used to celebrate lots of occasions. One of my favorites is “Wake up. Kick butt. Repeat.”  As usual, my stampers are able to use any of our featured stamp set sentiments and images so that they can make cards suitable for upcoming occasions. Here are the options available in the Enjoy Life stamp set.

Images and sentiments in the Enjoy Life stamp set include a bird, butterfly and bicycle, Thank You kindly, and Wake Up. Kick butt. Repeat.

Enjoy Life stamp set

For the Enjoy Life class, I designed several cards using this set with sponge daubers and some of the gorgeous Stampin’ Up! colors! The designs vary from easy to more challenging. We often choose to do the most challenging card first, because after a long day, we’re freshest and most attentive at the beginning of the evening. However, two of the cards for this class used sponge daubers, which were new for some of the stampers, so we did the easier of the two cards first.

Wake Up. Kick Butt. Repeat. Sentiment from Enjoy Life stamp set by Stampin' Up!

Wake Up. Kick Butt. Repeat – Enjoy Life!

Colors:

  • Granny Apple Green
  • Mango Melody
  • Flirty Flamingo
  • Balmy Blue
  • Basic Gray
  • Basic Black Archival

Crafting Tips:

  • Stamp the grass from Enjoy Life at the bottom of the Whisper White piece.
  • Use the sponge daubers, beginning with Mango Melody, then Flirty Flamingo, and finally, Balmy Blue ink in a circular motion to create the sunrise.
  • Finally, with a well-inked stamp, stamp the person and sentiment in Basic Black archival ink. If you have the Stamparatus, or other similar tool, you can use it to make sure you get a good solid black stamped image.
  • Use the Hardwood stamp to create the small strip on the left, or use a piece of patterned paper. about 1/4″ wide.

Additional Enjoy Life Cards

For the other two cards use a similar technique with sponge daubers or aqua painters to create the background, then stamp images or sentiments from the Enjoy Life set in Archival Black ink on top.

Precious Privilege sentiment from Stampin' Up! Enjoy Life stamp set. This handmade encouragement card also features the Layered Leaves embossing folder.

All of the card bases are Balmy Blue, 8-1/2 x 11″, folded in half. In addition to the Whisper White layer (2″ x 4″), the card above uses the Layered Leaves embossing folder for the Basic Gray layer, which measures 3-1/2″ x 4-9/16″.

Enjoy Life bicycle card using sponge daubers, Circle Tab punch, and multiple ink colors.

For the bicycle card use an Aqua Painter and overlap the ink colors slightly. Create a background using the Hardwood stamp in Basic Gray ink on Whisper White card stock. Punch Silver Foil with the Circle Tab punch and use the Tabs for Everything (retired) or other stamp set and a 3/4″ circle punch for the “To Do” sentiment. The Hardwood layer is 3-3/4″ x 5″. The Whisper White layer is 2-1/4″ x 4″. The Basic Gray layer frame is 2-3/8″ x 4-1/8″.

Enjoy Life in your stamping space, and be sure to let me know if you have questions about any of these designs!

If you need any supplies, visit my online store. I’d love to be your crafty coach! If you’d like more stamping news and inspiration, sign up for email updates.

Wishing You Sunny Days

Wishing You Sunny Days Ahead card

Wishing You Sunny Days Ahead is one of the great sentiments in the Stampin’ Up! Sunny Days stamp set. There are several others that I love too, like Make Your Dreams Happen, and You Can Do Hard Things. All of them work well for all occasion cards, especially when combined with the cute fruit and lemonade stand images in the set. This stamp set is retiring June 3rd! It is still available, only while supply lasts. It’s a great set for summer when lemonade is often my beverage of choice on a hot muggy day! Be sure to take a…

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Those Who Inspire Us

Using the Crafting Forever and Part of My Story stamp sets together for those who inspire us every day.

Who inspires you? Is it an artist, a decorator, or a writer? Those who inspire us need to hear from us! Whether you like their creations on Facebook and Instagram, pin their pins on Pinterest or follow their blog, they love to get your feedback! How about letting them know you appreciate them by sending a card? The card I’m sharing today will go in the mail to one of the many people who inspire me! Crafting Forever is Part of My Story! How long have you been crafting? For me, it’s as long as I can remember! So, crafting…

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Feel Better

Humming Along stamp set with Hummingbird Framelits Dies

What could make someone feel better faster than a rainbow-colored hummingbird on a handmade card in bright spring colors? Today’s card is another one that we created in a recent card class! If you were lucky enough to get the beautiful Grapefruit Grove & Lovely Lipstick Foil Sheets for free during Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration, you’ll be able to create this card as shown. If not, substitute any foil you have! Here are all the details: Supplies for Feel Better card: INSTRUCTIONS: Now, brighten someone’s day by mailing your masterpiece to them! Now that you’ve completed your card, try different color…

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Crisp and Cool – Fall is here!

This year I was beginning to wonder if Fall had been hijacked! The temperatures were in the 90’s near the end of September, and the leaves were all still green. But in the last week, the weather has returned to more normal fall temps, the leaves have changed color, and many of them are now on the ground. What a difference a week makes! Some of the leaves I colored recently have made their way onto today’s card, along with the ‘Crisp and Cool’ sentiment that just didn’t fit Wisconsin temps a week ago.   To Create This Crisp and…

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Stitched From the Heart to Celebrate Love

Happy Valentine’s Day! Let’s celebrate love, for all the couples tying the knot today, and for everyone who has special people in their lives! Do you have pretty paper in your stash? Use some for a background and to cut out two hearts for this easy card! The card base is Stampin’ Up! Tip Top Taupe card stock, 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″. Heart layer: 5-1/4″ x 3″ Love Blossoms DSP stack (retired), or any pretty paper. Cut the largest Square Shape with your Big Shot and the Stampin’ Up! Stitched Shapes Framelits from Whisper White card stock. Add two hearts – these…

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It’s Time to Deck the Halls with Stampin’ Up!

It’s Time to Deck the Halls

This card layout is a great way to use up your tiny pieces of pretty paper. The 1″ square punch is on the clearance rack right now for just $9.60! The Merry Mice stamp set is also on sale – see details at the end of the post.

Photo of Deck the Halls card
How to Make It:
  1. Cut a Cherry Cobbler card base
    5-1/2” x 8-1/2” and fold in half.
  2. Cut a Very Vanilla layer, 4-1/2” x
    3-1/4”.
  3. Cut a Garden Green layer, 4-1/4” x
    3” and set aside. (These 3 colors of card stock are also available in the This Christmas combination package, which includes 8 sheets of each color.)
  4. Use the 1” punch or a paper cutter
    to cut 6 – 1” x 1” squares of This Christmas Designer Series Paper.
  5. Glue the 6 squares evenly spaced
    onto the Garden Green layer. HINT: attach the two end squares, leaving a ¼”
    margin at top & sides, then center 1 square between them in the top row.
    Then do the bottom row so the squares are ¼” from the bottom of the Green layer
    and lined up with the top row.
  6. Run the Garden Green layer and
    squares through the Big Shot with the Lovely Lace embossing folder.
  7. Now attach the embossed Garden Green
    layer to the Very Vanilla layer.
  8. Add the Very Vanilla piece to the
    Cherry Cobbler layer.
  9. Stamp the banner from the Number of Years stamp set in Cherry Cobbler Ink.
  10. Stamp the sentiment, It’s Time to Deck the Halls, from the Merry Mice stamp set in Garden Green ink on the banner.
  11. Cut the banner out, using the Big Shot and the Large Numbers framelits.
  12. As an alternative, stamp the Merry
    & Bright or Christmas Joy stamp from the Stitched with Cheer stamp set in
    Cherry Cobbler ink on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock and cut the banner out with the Big Shot and Bunch of Banners framelits.
  13. Attach the banner to the center of
    your card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
  14. Add 3 random rhinestones wherever they look best on your small squares.

NOTE: the 1” square punch used to punch the square for this card is currently on the Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack, while supplies last. The original price is $16, on clearance for $9.60. It’s a great tool for cutting small squares to use up your small scraps, as these small pieces are difficult to cut with the trimmer.The Merry Mice stamp set is on sale as part of the Stitched from the Heart promotion. You can see the new Stitched Shapes framelits dies and the stamp sets that are on sale only in November here.

Oh Christmas Tree I See You in the Catty

Time to get out those Christmas Tree stamps! Then, when you’re looking for stamping inspiration, start with the Stampin’ Up! catalogs! They’re full of ideas for color combinations, card layouts, gift packaging and more. Casing the Holiday Catty Last week we were inspired by this simple and elegant Christmas card on page 48 in the 2016 Holiday Catalog: Of course, we changed it up just a bit, and this is our version: How to Make this Simple Christmas Tree Card: Cut a Whisper White thick card stock base to 4-1/4” x 11”, score at 5-1/2″ and fold.** Rub the Embossing buddy…

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Reindeer Tag

Christmas Tags for All Your Gifts Here’s a quick little tag that will add a cute touch to all of your Christmas gifts! How To Make It: Cut Whisper White card stock to 2″ x 3-1/2″. Punch one end of the Whisper White piece with the Scallop Tag Topper punch. Stamp the ‘To: From:’ stamp from the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set, near the bottom of the tag in Real Red ink. Cut a 2″ x 2″ piece of Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper (DSP) and adhere it to the card, centering it between the sentiment and top of…

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This Christmas

Season of Cheer Card When we gathered earlier this week for the Shimmer and Shine Christmas card class, we made this card featuring the Stampin’ Up! This Christmas Designer Series Paper and the greeting from the Jar of Cheer stamp set. There are lots of layers, but it’s quite easy to stamp and assemble! Cut the following: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ Mint Macaron card base 4-3/4″ x 2″ Garden Green card stock 4″ x 4″ This Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP) (2) 1″ squares Cherry Cobbler card stock 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ Mint Macaron card stock Fold the Mint Macaron card base in half. Adhere…

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Merry Little Treat Bag

Christmas Tag for a Treat Bag or Card Today I have a little treat bag for you that we made last week at our Holiday Crafting Open House. We’re lovin’ the new Stampin’ Up! Copper Embossing Powder and Holiday Catalog! Cut a 2” x 3.5” piece of Whisper White regular or thick card stock with the Paper Trimmer. Punch one end of the tag with the Scallop Tag Topper punch. Stamp the ‘Merry’ sentiment from the Jar of Cheer stamp set in the middle at the bottom of the tag in Cherry Cobbler ink. Stamp the Solid Xmas tree shape…

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Holly Jolly Gift Card and Envelope

Have a Holly Jolly Gift Card & Envelope Last week at our crafting open house we made this cute little 3×3″ gift card and used the Envelope Punch Board to make a matching Crumb Cake envelope. Cut a piece of Crumb Cake card stock to 3” x 6”. Score at 3”. Stamp the sentiment “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” from the Stitched With Cheer stamp set in Cucumber Crush ink, near the bottom of the card front. Stamp the hat pieces in Real Red using the Jolly Friends or Cozy Critters stamps set.  Punch out the hat pieces with the…

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