Cupcakes, Pop Art & Free Projects to Make!

On our last trip to Washington, D. C. my husband and I decided to step into the Hirshhorn Art museum, as it was one of a handful of Smithsonian buildings we hadn’t yet visited. It was a short tour, as most of the modern art didn’t appeal to either of us AT ALL. My personal philosophy on art is that it should do one- if not both- of the following:

  1. Uplift and Inspire
  2. Make the viewer happy

Big talk coming from a person whose biggest art influence was the game “Masterpiece” (do you remember that??) however, that’s my opinion and I stand by it.

One exception to my ambivalence toward modern art is Pop Art. I am attracted by color (no surprise) and bold images of pretty (or in this case, yummy) everyday objects!

Since I have a special offer (see below) for customers who purchase the Circle Sayings bundle from my Stampin’ Store, I wanted to show a card using the stamp set WITHOUT a circle. The cupcake image is my “food spirit animal” so I channeled my inner-Andy-Warhol to give you an eyeful of BRIGHT sweets!

Each section alternates between being raised by black dimensionals or having just the cupcake raised on a color adhered flat to the card:

Good thing card stock isn’t as dangerous as the food coloring it would take to make frosting in that color! These are the Stampin’ Up! colors I used: Calypso Coral, Tahitian Tide, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Parakeet Party, Gorgeous Grape

Here’s a special just for you:

Purchase the bundle from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive 3 never-seen project tutorials PLUS the consumable supplies to create all three projects! You’ll get the tutorials via email and the supplies in the mail by June 30th. Offer valid for U.S. customers only.

The Circle Sayings bundle includes a photopolymer stamp set and a NEW coordinating 2-3/8″ circle punch.

While I’ll send you all the card stock, paper, ribbon, etc. to create the projects from my tutorials, you may also need these items (found in my store, as well):

  • Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
  • Tahitian Tide OR Azure Afternoon ink pad
  • Lost Lagoon ink pad
  • Colored Pencils (I used Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils)
  • Suggested Stampin’ Blends combos (could use colored pencils or Stampin’ Write Markers): Lemon Lolly, Tahitian Tide, Berry Burst, Medium combo
  • OPTIONAL: Wink of Stella pen
  • Scissors and adhesive, clear blocks B, C & D for the stamps

Circling Round to Monochromatic Colors (Plus 3 for FREE)

It’s been fun to teach color theory in May and I really hope you’ve learned some skills to help you choose palettes for your paper crafting and rubber stamping projects! Today, I “circled around” to MONOCHROMATIC schemes, which isn’t limited to only one color, but can include 2 or 3 variations of the same HUE. Here are a few examples:

Stampin’ Up! yellows are a exquisite example of how 3 different tints, tones or shades can harmonize well: Crushed Curry (card base), Daffodil Delight (sentiment and banner) and NEW Lemon Lolly (focal point) are different depths of the same sunny color and coordinate together!

We have a variety of purples, and not all of them start in the same corner of the color wheel, so this is where you need to learn to “see” harmonizing colors. The three I used for this card were Gorgeous Grape (card base), Highland Heather (larger banner and cupcake frosting) and Fresh Freesia (background and cupcake liner).

The tutorial for this card style includes further explanation:

I chose to use the Circle Sayings Bundle for our lesson on monochromatic color ideas because I have an exclusive opportunity through June 15th for you: Purchase the bundle from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive 3 never-seen project tutorials PLUS the consumable supplies to create all three projects! You’ll get the tutorials via email and the supplies in the mail by June 30th.

Let me share a few additional Stampin’ Up! color trios that work well as monochromatic combinations. These are NOT all the possible pairings, only a few I came up with to get your juices flowing:

Now it’s your turn to give a “monochromatic” card a try!

Product List

Inside the cards:

New at SU!- Wild Wheat, So Refreshing

Welcome to the May 2023 New at SU! blog hop! As is our tradition with a new annual Stampin’ Up! catalog and the 2023-2025 IN COLORS (shown under our updated banner, above), we are here to help you fall in love with these hues!

I chose to use the In Color I liked **the least** to show you that it really can create a beautiful color scheme. Wild Wheat contrasts beautifully with Berry Burst (a returning core color I adore) and Bubble Bath (a NEW core color!).

My mini slimline card – finished size 6.25″ x 3.5″- uses the So Refreshing bundle that I had to collect to show off my creative juice (literally). It’s a clean card design accented by silver sparkles in the edge of the ribbon and rhinestone accents.

To get the plaid on the picnic blanket, I lightly tapped my Bubble Bath ink pad over the blanket die (included in the bundle) before running it through the Cut & Emboss Machine, then sponged the same color onto the tassels when it was cut out.

Wild Wheat is a GLUTEN-FREE color, so don’t be afraid to try it! I found my color palette in the 2023-2025 In Color Chart below, which you can download and print for reference.

Next, discover another lovely In Color + Core Color combination from our international design team and PIN your favorite color combinations onto your Pinterest boards! Click on any link below

May 2023 New at SU: In Color Inspiration
Previous BlogNext Blog
1.Joni in the Spotlight Stamping (US)-Boho Blue & Misty Moonlight
2.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Copper Clay & Pebbled Path
3.My Flutterby Moments (USA)- Moody Mauve, Lost Lagoon &
4.Stamping Flair (AU) – Pebbled Path
5.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (USA)- Boho Blue, Lemon Lolly, Parak
6.Stampin Xime (DE) – Malve
7.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Boho Blue
8.Carterie Plus (CA) In Colors avec les couleurs de base/In Colors with
9.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – Wild Wheat, So Refreshing
10.247Inkspiration.com (US)-Moody Mauve
11.iHeartcards2 (US) – Moody Mauve, Bubble Bath &Blackberry Bliss
12.Annette Elias – De Kijkkast – NL – Wild Wheat-Copper Clay-Lost Lagoon

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Join my IN COLOR COLLECTORS CLUB and receive one set of all-new In Color products each month from May-September 2023! May is BOHO BLUE and club membership includes an exclusive project with prepared pieces and instructions in addition to all the Boho Blue products. Click image below to learn more or join.

Analogous Colors- What? And How to Use them

Another lesson in COLOR CONFIDENCE!

Analogous colors are three to five colors NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the color wheel. When used together, they create a peaceful, harmonious project that flows.

I store my ink pads by Stampin’ Up! color family, but I store my card stock in rainbow order (see below), which makes choosing analogous colors a piece of cake! To create today’s card, I started with Calypso Coral card stock (reminds me of my favorite roses beginning to bloom in my yard!) and chose the two colors right before it: Petal Pink and Flirty Flamingo.

Then I made the same card design and tried a different analogous color scheme, pulling Berry Burst and the colors on either side of it: Blackberry Bliss and Moody Mauve (new)!

Here are the 2023-2024 Stampin’ Up! Colors in Rainbow order:

  • Cherry Cobbler
  • Real Red
  • Poppy Parade
  • Sweet Sorbet
  • Melon Mambo
  • Flirty Flamingo
  • Petal Pink
  • Calypso Coral
  • Copper Clay
  • Cajun Craze
  • Wild Wheat
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Crushed Curry
  • Daffodil Delight
  • Lemon Lolly
  • Soft Sea Foam
  • Lemon Lime Twist
  • Parakeet Party
  • Granny Apple Green
  • Old Olive
  • Mossy Meadow
  • Garden Green
  • Shaded Spruce
  • Pretty Peacock
  • Lost Lagoon
  • Coastal Cabana
  • Pool Party
  • Balmy Blue
  • Tahitian Tide
  • Azure Afternoon
  • Misty Moonlight
  • Boho Blue
  • Blueberry Bushel
  • Night of Navy
  • Starry Sky
  • Orchid Oasis
  • Highland Heather
  • Gorgeous Grape
  • Blackberry Bliss
  • Berry Burst
  • Moody Mauve
  • Fresh Freesia
  • Bubble Bath
  • Early Espresso
  • Pecan Pie
  • Crumb Cake
  • Pebbled Path
  • Gray Granite
  • Smoky Slate
  • Basic Gray

Here’s my HIGHLY HUMAN explanation of Analagous colors and a simple fun-fold card (that I only mess up a few times…thank goodness for the ability to skip ahead on YouTube!):

There are a few days left to join the 2023-2025 In Color Club, where you’ll collect all the color collection products in the 5 new In Colors over the next 5 months. YOU CAN BE PART OF THE CLUB from anywhere in the U.S.A. ~ sign up by May 31, 2023 and learn more here:

A Thank-You Faux Step Card

Have you explored the Online Exclusive products in my Stampin’ Up! Store? One of the ones I’ve been loving is the Hello, Irresistible Suite and this Faux Step Card is a snap to put together using the products in the suite!

This is a Portrait (tall) version of the Rain or Shine card I created a few months ago (watch the tutorial HERE) and the card base measurements are:

  • Card Base is 11″ x 4.25″ (scored at 2″, 4″ and 7.5″)
  • Designer Series Paper: 4″ x 1.75″ (Pretty Peacock lattice piece) and 4″ x 3.25″ (leaves).
  • Tall panel is 2.25″ x 11″, scored at 5.5″
  • Designer Series Paper is 2″ x 5.25″ (Flirty Flamingo pink piece)

Emboss the greeting in white embossing powder on Basic Black card stock and fussy cut for the front. I did use the now-retired white seam binding ribbon around the bottom step panel, but you can substitute any that you have in your collection.

The coordinating dies cut the flowers from both the stamp set AND the Designer Series Paper, as I’ve done here, and then I embellished with a few of the Frosted Dots (also in the suite) using mini glue dots to adhere to the center of the flowers, or scattered across the front.

Once you make this card, you’ll want to make many more just like it, so cut your paper accordingly! Shop the supplies here:

Product List

Complementary Colors in Card-Making

Understanding a COLOR WHEEL a little bit will help you put together beautiful color palettes for your stamping projects, and today we are talking about COMPLEMENTARY colors, or colors directly across from each other on the color wheel:

When you choose complementary colors, you create HIGH ENERGY in a palette, like this turtle card made from the Playing in the Rain stamp set from Stampin’ Up! using Azure Afternoon (blue) and Pumpkin Pie (orange):

You can always add a bit of a third color (in this case, Granny Apple Green) and still keep the two main colors in focus!

One thing I love doing with a new catalog is to look for card layouts I can copy. Both of the cards I am sharing today were inspired by this card on page 152 of the annual catalog (154 in the digital version):

This next complementary color card follows the same pattern or card layout, but uses the LOVELY new Lemon Lolly color paired with Fresh Freesia, which I cannot get enough of:

This time I used the Sweet Citrus stamps and dies (my signature for creative juice) and embossed the front panel with the Raindrops embossing folder after I stamped the greeting.

All of this is shared in my weekly video, and if you are like me and want it to play faster, just speed up the playback by clicking on the gear at the bottom of the YouTube video!

Now you know a little more about complementary colors, try it yourself! Find a card design in the catalog (or use one of my previous samples here on CJBL) and re-create it with your own colors and stamps.

If you want to copy one of the cards I shared today, here are the supplies I used for both cards:

Product List

I appreciate the opportunity to serve your creative needs! Make time to stamp and find your happy place.

NEW Catalog: What You Need to Know!

Some crafters waited up to place their order at 12:01 am this morning because they were so excited to get their hands on new colors, new stamps and new paper from the 2023-2024 Annual Catalog! You may be glad you waited, because there are a few details you need to know, and I’m here to help guide you.

First~ shipping may be slower than usual. Order early if you have an event or supply that’s running low!

After a record-setting April, SU! employees, staff and even executives have been all-hands-on-deck to pick and package your orders, and as of today (May 2nd), shipping times are 4-12 business days. That will get quicker over the next week as they complete orders from the Free Shipping day and catch back up, but I thank you in advance for your patience while waiting for your order.

Second~ in addition to all the amazing new products, there is also a new KIT available!

The Confetti Birthday Kit will have you shaking things up in your creativity!

Third~ There are a few new things available online only!

The Mini Cut & Emboss machine in BOHO BLUE is available to customers while supplies last.

Grid paper in the new In Colors to keep your stamping area clean.

A new SUITE in SPANISH (as well as English): Texturas Naturales

Finally~ If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, there is a new peek at the MAY Exploring In Color kit AND there is now an ADD ON that you’ll want to include in your next order!

The Add On kit is only available while supplies last and includes:

  • 18 cards, 6 each of 3 designs (Folded card size: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″)
  • 18 coordinating envelopes
  • Coordinating colors: Boho Blue, Copper Clay, Daffodil Delight, Moody Mauve, MossyMeadow, Pebbled Path, Wild Wheat

If you are not getting a Paper Pumpkin craft kit in the mail each month, here is your opportunity to subscribe and enjoy a happy hour of paper crafting each month! May’s kit is called “EXPLORING IN COLOR”:

WHEW! That was a lot of information, and I hope it helps you not to miss a thing! Happy Shopping!

Using In Colors with Confidence

If choosing colors to use in your crafting is daunting, I have a tool for you!

The new 2023 In Color Coach will be going out with my email this week (if you aren’t subscribed yet, you will get it when you join my email list) and in Lunchtime Crafting LIVE today (video below), I showed a few examples using the page featuring the 2023-2025 In Colors.

Stampin’ Up! created Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Boho Blue, Moody Mauve and Pebbled Path (in the order they are on my Classic Birthday Card) to set the TONE for the next two years as “In” colors. A tone is a pure color (HUE) with GREY added.

These colors feel “retro” and “earthy” when I look at them…what adjective would you choose?

While they look fabulous together, they can also be combined with other colors from our collections and I used the Color Coach to create two more examples:

When I combined Boho Blue with Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink and Misty Moonlight, it felt SEA-worthy, so I put them on a Crumb Cake beachy background and used the new Circle Sayings bundle for a summer “Thinking of You” card.

Next, I looked at Moody Mauve and the Color Coach suggested pairing it with Petal Pink again and Flirty Flamingo. It needed one more color, and the new CORE color of Bubble Bath felt just right. The Crafting with You bundle was ideal for this Handmade Hug card. All these new products are available MAY 2, 2023 from the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog. Shopping links will be added at the bottom of this post on that day.

I “quilted” the background by running it through the Basics 3-D folder. This reminds me so much of a quilt I’ve snuggled under as a child!

Ready to add the 2023-25 In Colors to your studio? JOIN THE IN COLOR COLLECTORS CLUB!

Each month from May 2023 through September 2023, you will receive a package of one new IN COLOR products (May- Boho Blue, June- Copper Clay, July- Wild Wheat, August- Moody Mauve and September- Pebbled Path):

  • Classic Ink Pad
  • Classic Ink Refill
  • Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack
  • 5 sheets of Card Stock
  • Two 6″x6″ pieces of Designer Series Paper
  • 2 yards of ribbon

PLUS a bonus embellishment each month!

PLUS an exclusive project tutorial (supplies for the project will be included FREE, you’ll use your own ink and any stamp set to complete the project)

PLUS each month a member of the club will receive a set of the five 2023-2025 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers FREE until everyone has a set!

The Monthly Cost will be (plus $6 for shipping to you if you can’t pick up from Loni’s house in Hurricane, UT) and if you sign up, you are agreeing to all 5 months (worth it, I promise!).

Let me show you how to make the cards above and use the Color Coach to find a pretty palette:

Home Decor SU! Dollar Tree Style (+ Stamp Clubs!)

It’s hard to resist wandering the aisles of the dollar store…it’s a treasure hunt, and the find of these decor pieces stirred up my creative juice:

You can paint them -or leave them natural- and use your favorite Designer Series Paper to put inside the circle! My version is painted white and I used the Hues of Happiness paper (now sold out on the Last Chance Sale).

Then I used the Alphabet a la Mode Dies to spell out a favorite quote (or ” ________’s Stampin’ Studio” if you are decorating your craft space). If you adhere Adhesive Sheets to the back of a piece of black craft foam, you’ll be able to cut out the letters on your Cut & Emboss machine and attach them to your sign easier. Foam doesn’t keep as rigid a shape as paper, but a TIP is to lay a ruler or straight edge down on your paper to line the letters up on BEFORE you adhere the paper inside the frame!

It’s nice to have dimensional letters that are black on all edges with the craft foam.

This was a project we made at our last Stamp Club in April– We start a NEW CLUB in June (meeting every other month) and if you are in Southern Utah, you can sign up to be part of the club or learn more here:

NOT IN SOUTHERN UTAH? I’ve got you!

You can host your own virtual party, join my team and start your own club OR be a part of my IN COLOR CLUB from ANYWHERE!

Each month from May 2023 through September 2023, you will receive one of the new IN COLOR:

  • Classic Ink Pad
  • Classic Ink Refill
  • Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack
  • 5 sheets of Card Stock
  • Two 6″x6″ pieces of Designer Series Paper
  • 2 yards of ribbon

PLUS a bonus embellishment each month!

PLUS an exclusive project tutorial (supplies for the project will be included FREE, you’ll use your own ink and any stamp set to complete the project)

PLUS each month a member of the club will receive a set of the five 2023-2025 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers FREE until everyone has a set!

This will be the order in which the colors will arrive: May- Boho Blue, June- Copper Clay, July- Wild Wheat, August- Moody Mauve and September- Pebbled Path

Monthly Cost: $35 each month (plus $6 for shipping to you if you can’t pick up from Loni’s house in Hurricane, UT).

Click the image above to join the In Color Club by May 15th!

Yes, you can be a member of BOTH CLUBS

Pop-Out Gift Card Holder

Sometimes technology makes things better, but often it just complicates things, like when the microphone gives feedback and you can’t figure it out. That’s what happened in today’s Lunchtime LIVE Crafting video, and switching the mic from one device to another didn’t work, so I simply forged ahead. Guess that’s real life, eh?

At least any gift cards I give for Teacher Appreciation, Graduation, Weddings or Mother’s Day will be prettily packaged and they’ll never know about my struggle to teach you!!

You are getting a preview of the new Circle Sayings Bundle (item # 161355) as well as the Countryside Inn Designer Series Paper (Item #161467) both of which will be available May 2, 2023 from the 2023-2024 Stampin’ Up! Catalog!

When you open the card, a pocket slides out to display your gift card, and you can tuck in a note to write on, as shown:

Here are the paper pieces you’ll need for this project, since the video may not have sound where I was explaining it:

  • Boho Blue card stock: 5.5″ x 8.5″ scored at 2.5″ and 6.75″ for card base plus a 5.75″ x 4.25″ piece scored at 1.75″ x 5.25″
  • Night of Navy card stock: 4″ x 5.25″
  • Balmy Blue card stock: 1.5″ x 8″ and 1.5″ x 8.5″ (both scored every 1/4″) for medallion
  • White card stock: 2.5″ x 5″ for two circles and optional 3″ x 4″ piece for insert to write message on
  • Designer Series Paper: one 3.75″ x 5″ piece for front of card, one piece 1.5″ x 4″, one piece 1.5″ x 5.25″ and optional 1″ x 3″ for bottom of message insert

You can speed up the video and watch how to assemble this card below…remember to add the Designer Series Paper to the front of the sliding pocket BEFORE you adhere the right flap of the card base down (my fluster will remind you!):

I appreciate your patience as I continue to learn how to successfully create videos to help you gain creative confidence!