Like popping a fresh berry into your mouth while picking them from the garden, I couldn’t stop once I started playing with the Made with Sweetness fruit-shaped dies! Happily, the TGIF Challenge #tgifc578 gave me a reason to make another card featuring the dies AND use my circle punch again. Here’s the inspiration:
And here’s my take:
The card stock square I blended the circles on is 4″ x 4″ in case you want to try it yourself, and all the supplies are listed below (thanks for supporting my small business and shopping with me!). Now to see this card come together quickly, watch this YouTube Short:
Fresh, fruity and fun for the summer, right? Speaking of summer, here’s a special offer for the weekend- you’ll use the Puffy Star stickers for Flag Day and 4th of July crafting, so shop now!
Our updated banner hints at what we are sharing this month in our New at SU! blog hop: The 2026-2028 In Color lineup is one we have been anxious to share, and you are going to discover that these beautiful colors are MUST HAVE hues!
While I was thrilled to have Crisp Cantaloupe back in our rainbow of colors, I wanted to challenge myself to try a combination outside my preferred palette, so I selected GOLDEN GLOW as my In Color and gave it some unexpected companions:
This color combination of Golden Glow/Bubble Bath/Berry Burst came from the new printable Color Coach and I just added stems and leaves in another new In Color, Peaceful Pine.
This center-flap fun-fold card was a pattern we used during my team virtual meeting this month ~ a cute twist on a traditional card, with a small area for a quick message. Of course, it had to use a circle punch, as that’s what I’m spotlighting in May…
The base of the card is just 5.5″ x 4.25″ with a layer of Designer Series Paper, and the flap added to the center is 8.5″ x 2.75″, folded in half. Doesn’t get easier than that!
I embossed the Berry Burst layer on the front with the Ladybug Picnic 3D embossing folder and lightly added Berry Burst ink to the ladybugs with a sponge dauber, which also gives the cherries a little shading as well.
Another new product you’ll want to add to your next order is the set of white gel pens! Adding a little highlight to the cherries with the pen is a pro-tip that gives them an illusion of shine.
You need an envelope to match, so I just used a leftover strip of polka-dot Golden Glow patterned paper layered on Berry Burst card stock on the left side to coordinate.
Gosh, this turned out even cuter than imagined ~ I’ll admit I was skeptical of the color combination until I tried it, and now I’m a bit obsessed (and that’s saying a lot since I believe that word is extremely overused).
Let’s see what the other artists did with the In Colors…
Golden Glow leans less toward mustard and more toward a warm yellow-tone. It’s truly growing on me after this project. If you want to get your hands an all FIVE new In Color Ink Pads – Barely Blush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue and Peaceful Pine – consider the Stampin’ Up!®️ STARTER KIT because you could choose all of them as a bonus in May, which is a smart shopping decision AND a chance to begin a very colorful adventure with me.
You’re welcome to simply order the supplies you need and allow me to serve your creativity! Here’s what I used on my cherry card:
I’ve been literally dreaming of a card by Kim Gibbons Fee since I saw it shared by the Global Design Project and couldn’t wait to finish my housework so I could escape to my craft room to put my Creative Juice spin on it!
The texture, the patterns, the ribbon and the POP just captivated my imagination! To CASE means to take the art and give it your own interpretation, whether it be the colors, the layout, the products, etc. I chose to mimic the layout and use the new 2026-2028 In Colors, landing particularly on Crisp Cantaloupe and Hydrangea Hue, as orange and blue are complementary colors!
My take on the #gdp548 challenge also uses the new All Aflutter bundle from the May-August catalog – a stamp set with a matching butterfly punch? You know I had to have it!
The Bloom Boutique Designer Series Paper combines all the new In Colors (PLUS a bit of gold bling!), and the Lazy Daisy embossing folder provided the background texture which just makes you want to feel it. My own “featured product” shows up as the circle punch for the sentiment (scroll back through previous posts this month to see the ways it’s been used so far in May).
Finishing touches included a double bow of ribbon and twine and a few teensy butterfly embellishments, then it needed an envelope to build excitement when discovered in the mailbox.
It’s just so pretty, and I’m glad Kim primed the pump for stamping today! You’ll love the new ink pad designs that these In Colors come in because they are super easy to open and magnetic to stack on top of the lid or other magnetic pads. The pad itself has returned to fabric, so remember to tap a few times in different spots when inking up your images.
See below for a way to get all the new In Color Ink pads FREE!
One of the techniques I wanted to show you with the circle punch was Reverse Masking with a torn edge. This makes for beautiful mountain backgrounds, or in this case, a sunset walk with a friend.
The secret to this technique is MASKING PAPER which you can punch and lightly stick to your card stock so it won’t move. Then I tore the sticky edge of a Post-it note to make the ragged edges, as you can see in this quick video tutorial:
Remember to carefully peel off your Masking Paper once you’ve finished blending the ink. Did you see a few more tricks-of-the trade, like making the banner longer by cutting it in half? And of course, add this technique to your circle punch repertoire as a card maker.
One thing to note: Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends are the *PERFECT* colors for Winnie the Pooh, and this iconic friendship duo will warm your heart and your craft room.
Remember: When you invest in the Stampin’ Up!®️ Starter Kit this month, you could choose the 2026-2028 In Color Ink Pads as a BONUS!
Have you ever used circle punches to make RINGS? Today’s card teaches how to create nesting circles (with a ring around the outside) for a center of attention!
Black & white plus a POP of color is always a striking palette: The Stampin’ Up!®️ Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper (DSP) is a demonstrator favorite, and I’ve got a class coming in July for you to play with (and color!) these gorgeous patterns. Crisp Cantaloupe was the 2026-2028 returning In Color I paired with the black & white.
To create a “ring” of card stock, start by punching a smaller circle punch from card stock (a 2″ punch in this case) then center a larger punch (2-3/8″) around it to punch out a ring. A black & white polka dot pattern punched from the 1-3/4″ circle punch nests nicely inside the ring, with a little space around it to feel fancy.
For added texture on this card, score the black torn card stock strip every 1/4″ to give it raised stripes and wrap your ribbon around the back of the 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer before adhering it to the card base. You can add a bow with a glue dot as a finishing touch.
I colored an image from another piece of the DSP with the new Shimmer Brushes in Crisp Cantaloupe, Hydrangea Hue and Peaceful Pine (though the shimmer is difficult to catch on camera) and fussy cut it out for the posies. Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals raise the rings and give extra dimension. Add a small sentiment strip to say what you want to say.
As we continue to explore the versatility of circle punches, I’d appreciate hearing if this series is helpful to you and if you are learning anything ~ please leave a comment at the top near the posting date, then return to shop here:
Savvy stampers know the Starter Kit is the best value and you will save money on the products you already love: There is no obligation, only an opportunity to see if Stampin’ Up!®️ fits your life and helps you toward your goals! Click image to find out,
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
A day without friendship is like a pot without honey
The classic story of Winnie the Pooh spans generations, and emphasizes that happiness is found in simple pleasures, true friends and present moments, so I was absolutely enraptured by the new Silly Old Bear suite which arrived online this month at Stampin’ Up!®️ (and while the Hundred Acre Wood Embossing folder is being restocked next week, the other bundles and paper are still available – see links at bottom).
Eeyore’s story arc has always tugged at my heart: This gloomy old donkey just wants to be loved, and the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood wrap him in love. The power of friendship even pulls a reluctant smile from this character!
My card was crafted to show how to use circle punches as a peek-through element, shining the spotlight on Owl and Eeyore, and the Designer Series Paper shows the map of the forest.
The dies that match the stamp set also cuts the images from one of the designs in the paper~ demonstrator Cyndi Pratt figured out how many of the characters you can cut from one sheet:
My card is a simple fun-fold that opens like this:
The card base is a Z-fold (score the Very Vanilla 8.5″ x 5.5″ card stock at 2-1/8″ and 4-1/4″) and then simply attach a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ Peaceful Pine layer to the front half of the card folded back:
I’ve truly cherished the friendships found through Stampin’ Up!®️ ~ not just for myself, but watching the people in my Sprinkled Ink family forge meaningful relationships with one another has been a gift! This snapshot was taken of a few of us at OnStage (Stampin’ Up!®️ convention) this March, and it captures the camaraderie we share (and the joy we feel when we are together):
This may be the tribe you didn’t know you needed, and we open our arms to welcome other cheerful, creative people! During May, you not only get new friends, but you can choose NEW IN COLOR ink pads FREE in your Starter Kit (including the Peaceful Pine and Hydrangea Hue colors on my Eeyore card):
So if you are looking for a happy hobby, loyal friendships, and sweet stamping, this is your sign!
“O steadfast circle punch, quiet hero of the craft,
You press into the spotlight with a single, perfect draft.”
Of all the paper punches I own, the CIRCLE is the one that I reach for the most often. It’s simply a tool that every paper crafter must have on hand, and the only thing better than one circle punch is TWO!
Today I shared a three card ideas using a circle punch, along with a few paper crafting tips that will help you become a better creator in my LIVE CRAFTING VIDEO:
This is the card guests stamped at my Catalog Carnival Open house over the weekend, and it’s so simple to make by using the 1-3/4″ Circle Punch for the sentiment. The butterflies are stamped and cut out with the All Aflutter punch that drops tomorrow in my Stampin’ Store:
Hydrangea Hue (the color of the butterfly card) is a NEW 2026-2028 In Color, and I showed the new ink pad case in the video, which I KNOW you are going to obsess over both the pads & colors, so I made this notecard in every color (clockwise from top left: Barely Blush, Golden Glow, Hydrangea Hue, Crisp Cantaloupe and Peaceful Pine):
SIDE NOTE: Join my team in May 2026 and you’ll get all 5 of these In Color Stamp Pads in your Starter Kit FREE!
Don’t need ink? You can choose an additional $35 worth of products for your Starter Kit instead. That’s $160 worth of products for only $99!
Circling back to our circle punch projects, the next card I demonstrated was the “Old Friends are the Best Friends” card featuring the Silly Old Bear Designer Series Paper and more of the new In Colors. This one layered the 2″ circle (Pooh & Piglet) over the 2-3/4″ circle punch:
And the last card was a “Golden Glow”up of the Moonlit Flora suite as a peek-through card – you’ll want to watch to see how this one is done in the easiest way:
This is NOT a comprehensive list of ways to use the Stampin’ Up!®️ circle punches, only the very beginning! Check back often this month for MORE sensational stamping with circles as we launch our May products starting May 5th.
Both Silly Old Bear and Moonlit Flora Designer Series Paper is included in the Creative Juice Paper Share and tomorrow (May 5th) is the deadline to reserve your share.
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
This handsome dude is my oldest Grandson, and he was recently baptized! It’s rare we can get him to cooperate for photos (age typical), so these pictures are to be TREASURED 😆
When I saw the Freshly Made Sketches #734, I realized that it would make a terrific map for one half of a scrapbook page layout, so I started with the #FMS734, using Lincoln’s dapper face as the focal point:
Secret Sea card stock is a blue/dark gray essential Stampin’ Up!®️ color that is softer than harsh black, and paired with a piece of Nature Walk Designer Series Paper, it let the photos shine. A small crumpled strip of Cajun Craze card stock separates the pictures and gives more earthy texture.
I’m not ready to let the Alphabet a la Mode dies go, even though they are retiring…if you don’t have them yet, GRAB THEM TODAY before they sell out, because they are scrapbooking MUST HAVES!! Make sure you line the card stock with Adhesive sheets before cutting to make the letters/numbers into stickers for your pages!
I’m usually a BIG COLOR crafter, but when someone responded to a poll on my Facebook Page and said they needed to make a wedding card, I remembered a neutral combination of Basic Beige & Basic White that had caught my attention and had to give it my own spin!
Don’t go into shock when you see flowers on my blog…I know it’s unusual, but the Lovely Arrangement bundle is an exceptional stamping investment, as you’ll see more of it this week here and on social media.
To give this wedding card a fancy texture, I used the APRIL 2026 PRODUCT OF THE MONTH – The Eyelet Blooms Die – on the bottom half of the Basic White layer. You can add this to your order for just $5 (while supplies last) once you reach $75, and a new product is added each month!
This is a very detailed die, and I’ve found that a good “sandwich” for my Cut & Emboss machine is as follows (from the bottom up):
Platform #1, Platform #2, Cutting Plate #3, card stock, DRYER SHEET (helps pull all the small pieces off), Eyelet Die, Cutting Plate #3, card stock “shim” on top, if your machine needs a little more thickness to get a firm cut through the card stock.
Once it was layered on the Basic Beige card stock base, I stamped “Congratulations” from the Reason to Celebrate stamp set and layered on the flowers and leaves. Flat pearls (retired) were added to the center of the flowers for a bit of bling:
What do you think of this color combo? I think it’s suck an elegant look and will be fabulous for a bride & groom.
I appreciate your orders from my Stampin’ Store and look forward to mailing you a card to say THANK YOU for your order!
Because I have an events tab at the top of my website, I forget that you may not be seeing all the chances to gather and create together, so let’s do a quick overview of what’s coming up~ click on any of the images or links for details!
Decorate 4 Spring Sugar Cookies and stamp 3 cheerful cards in Hurricane, UT on Tuesday, April 28th! Register by 4/24
The VIRTUAL ALBUM RETREAT will be held from April 29th-May 1 and there is just enough time to order your BIG BOX OF GOODIES to have it arrive before the event! But if it arrives later, you can always catch up because it will be recorded. Complete 10 spreads (20 pages) with plenty of product left over to create more and learn new Scrapbooking tips & techniques from the comfort of your own home.
Saturday, May 2nd is my ONCE-A-YEAR Catalog Carnival and BOGO Sale in Hurricane, Utah. Drop in (open house style) between 1 and 4 pm with a friend to shop, stamp and snack…my treat!!
The Designer Series Paper Share has helped crafters sample new patterned paper, without breaking the bank! You’ll receive SEVENTY-NINE 6″ x 6″ pieces of ALL the DSP dropping in May for just $29 (if you pick it up from me) or $36 shipped to you…but reserve your share quickly (by May 5th) to avoid potential backorders.
Coming Summer 2026…check back soon (click EVENTS tab at top):
Happy Mail Card Class
Mini Album Class
Kit Together Event
Color My World Class
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove