New at SU! – Gingerbread Gifts

October 15, 2025October 15, 20252 Comments

The theme for the October New at SU! blog hop is “No Tricks – Just Treats!” and I’m sharing a Gingerbread Man Tag for a cute Holiday Gift Idea for neighbors, co-workers or anyone who deserved a jolly bit of baking!

Crafters LOVE to give presents, and the details make each gift delightful. This creative idea will have the recipient “baking spirits bright” for a delicious treat hot out of the oven!

The Gingerbread Man bundle includes a die that cuts a cookie that folds in half to form a card. I decided that when it opens, it should look good enough to eat (or rather, HAS been eaten):

I have a few TIPS to make this project easy to prep for making multiple tags:

The 1/2″ strips of Basic White card stock you have left over from making card layers are perfect for the icing squiggles: Remember to put a strip of adhesive sheet on the back of that strip before die cutting, and each squiggle can do one wrist and one ankle on the gingerbread man.
Including the Gingerbread man, you can get all the pieces cut in 3 passes through the Cut & Emboss Machine, if you follow the format below.
The 3rd picture shows all the pieces cut and ready! You’ll end up with two candy canes: one with a white base and one with a red base.

I did add a little sponging of Crumb Cake ink around my cookie with a blending brush, and used another 1/2″ strip for the banner:

The festive hot pads with a POCKET can be found on Amazon HERE for less than $2 each and have some , and the skinny spatulas HERE. The Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookie mix was at my local grocery store, but you could substitute a Sugar Cookie mix, which is often found at the Dollar Tree (or whatever mix is available in your area.

Before you move on to another tasty treat stamped by one of our dazzling New at SU! design team, I’ve added the supplies needed for this project to the end of this post to help you get started on your holiday gifting quickly (U.S. crafters only), and I’d appreciate hearing from you if you liked (or copied) this idea ~ you can leave a comment at the top of my post, near the date.

Now lick your fingers and press the GO button for “Gathering Together” treats by Karen, your next stop along the sweet tour:

October 2025 New at SU! Hop: No Tricks, Just Treats!

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Astrids Papiereuphorie (AT) – Halloween Goodies

2.Did You Stamp Today? (US) – Halloween-ish Treat Pouches

3.247 Inkspiration (US) – Gathering Moments Treat

4.iHeartCards2 (US) – Halloween Treat Holders

5.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Gingerbread Gifts

6.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Gathering Together Treats

7.De Kijkkast (NL)- Kleine kersttractatie met Delicate Pines

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Remember: If your shopping list is more than $35 in October, 2025, your best shopping deal is the STARTER KIT! With two specials this month to choose from (plus a discount on your future purchases- including your Christmas Gifts! – through March 2026!) there are no strings attached to just give it a try…and possibly a wonderful adventure ahead:

Shop the Starter Kit NOW

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

No Tricks, All Treats: Candy Bar Books

October 6, 2025October 6, 20251 Comment

If your Halloween crafting stash is calling your name louder than a ghost in a graveyard, grab your Stampin’ Up!® Spooky Sweet Suite and conjure up something boo-tiful! Don’t worry, eat sweets with these dang cute CANDY BAR BOOKS:

I’ve brewed up two fun versions of this project. The Granny Apple Green “All Treats” Candy Bar Book holds two classic Hershey bars, while the Timid Tiger “Spooky Sweets” version was made to fit two Ghost Toast KitKats. Each one ties up neatly with ribbon to keep your candy secure until it’s time for a delicious reveal. Whether you’re giving these as gifts, party favors, or adding them to a Halloween goodie basket, they’re sure to get more “oohs” and “aahs” than a haunted house on October 31st.

These projects are surprisingly easy to assemble—no hocus pocus required! I’ve included an instructional video below, AND a printable .pdf with measurements.

Print .pdf Candy Bar Book Tutorial

Note that the belly band measurements are shown on white card stock, but the project uses Granny Apple Green card stock.

I embossed the covers to add some textured dimension (because even monsters like stampin’ style), then decorated with die cuts, stamped images, and a touch of sparkle. Isn’t it Franken-fun?

Here are the key measurements for both versions:

Green “All Treats” Book (fits two Hershey bars):

Cardstock base: 5 1/4″ x 6 1/2″ scored along shorter end at 2 3/8″and 2 7/8″
Belly Band: 1 1/2″ x 6 3/8″ scored at 1/2″, 2 7/8″, 3 3/8″ and 5 7/8″
Ribbon: 16″

Orange “Spooky Sweets” Book (fits two KitKats):

Cardstock base: 5″ x 6 3/8″ scored along the longer side at 2 3/4″ and 3 5/8″
Belly Band: 1 1/2″ x 8 1/8″ scored at 7/8″, 3 5/8″, 4 1/2″ and 7 1/4″
Ribbon: 16″

Want to see the whole project come to life? Watch my full step-by-step tutorial on YouTube here:

What else did we talk about today? The 3-day KIT SALE (through October 8th):

AND we discussed FAQs on the Starter Kit Special! Bottom line: If you are planning to order more than $35 in crafting supplies from my Stampin’ Store this month, you may as well choose the Starter Kit!

To make your shopping Spooky Sweet, I’ll list the supplies for these projects below and THANK YOU for choosing me to serve your creativity!

Product List

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

New at SU!- Happy Birthday Gift Bag

July 16, 2025July 16, 20255 Comments

It’s a Birthday Bash for our July New at SU! Blog Hop, and our demonstrator design team from around the globe will inspire you to create a personalized birthday celebration using your Stampin’ Up! supplies!

Remember the classic handled-gift-bag topper? I’m giving it a fresh look with the fabulous Party Dies Bundle (banners + big alphabet)!

Stampin’ Up!’s Sweet Jar stamp set has the perfect candles to stamp along the bottom edge of the bag in colors to match your theme!

The largest banner die is approx. 5″ x 7″ so you could create a topper for various sizes of bags. The plain white bag I used is about 5″ wide by 8.5″ tall, so I used the 4th largest banner die on a 4.5″ x 11″ piece of Shy Shamrock card stock (folded in half) for this topper:

Make sure the top of the banner die lays just off the folded edge as you cut through both layers with the bottom part of the die, so you don’t cut this piece into two pieces! Once you’ve die cut the banner, hold the fold up to the top of the bag and mark just outside the edges of the handles, then use a paper trimmer or snips to cut along the folded edge BETWEEN the two marks. This gives you a slit to slide over the handles (after decorating the topper and inserting your gift into the bag)

The On the Go Designer Series Paper gave me the color palette and the patterned paper for this project, and has a full page of adorable luggage tags that make perfect gift tags, too! Sentiments come from the hilarious new stamp set in my Online Exclusives called “Not 29 Anymore” and I also cut a second set of letters from Basic Black card stock to give it a shadow behind the DSP:

I’ll be making more of these to wrap birthday presents in, giving someone a laugh when I gift it! Would it make you giggle? Give me your thoughts in the comments at the top of the post, next to posting date.

Be sure to visit the other party-people participating in sharing birthday ideas this month:

July 2025 New at SU! Hop: Happy Birthday!

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – Happy Birthday Gift Bag

2.iHeartCards2 (US) – Charming Day Birthday

3.Stamping Flair (AU) – Painterly Pears Birthday Card

4.Astrids Papiereuphorie (AT) – Happy Birthday

5.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)- Paper Tags Birthday Fun

6.Did You Stamp Today? (US) – Blooming Phrases Birthday

7.De Kijkkast (NL) – Happy Birthday with All Zipped Up

8.247 Inkspiration (US) – Birthday Celebration

9.Stampinxime by Ximena Morales (DE) – Happy Birtday New at SU

10.scraphexe (DE) – Happy Birthday

Ready to make your own? Here are the supplies you can purchase in my Stampin’ Store, and thank you for supporting your demonstrator!

Product List
———->

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Card Sketch & More Mailable Gifts

April 21, 20251 Comment

A sketch is a springboard for creativity, and today I dove into creating cards from my stash of Designer Series Paper using this sketch:

Card #1 was a sympathy card using some gilded botanical patterns that have been around Stampin’ Up! a long time, and I wanted to show it off! The Nature’s Sweetness Specialty Designer Series Paper only needed an embossed sentiment added to make this greeting card perfect:

It made me smile to combine something old and something new for Card #2! I used the retiring Friends of the Ocean Designer Series Paper with the new Online Exclusive Pattern of Friendship stamp set for this version of the sketch:

You’ll notice that circle shapes draw the eye when used with rectangles!

Card #3 brings us to another “mailable item” idea: BALLOONS!

In my demonstration video, I suggested blowing up a balloon and writing a message on it, then deflating it again to include inside the card. It’s double fun to have to blow it up to read the greeting! You could also “reveal” what experience you have planned to celebrate with (“I’ll pick you up for birthday lunch on me this Friday at noon!”) by writing it on the balloon.

The birthday card used the Wildflower Birthday Specialty Designer Series Paper and Birthday Celebration stamp set.

And finally, since Graduation season is imminent, Card #4 was created with the On the Go Suite Collection and includes a LUGGAGE TAG:

This will be for my niece who is graduating from High School this month and off on a grand European adventure to celebrate (remember when we were just happy to have cake & ice cream to mark a milestone like graduation 👩‍🎓 😂?)

I added the tassel after the demonstration in the video, and think the detail is adorable.

Missed the LONG LIST (and growing) OF MAILABLE GIFT ITEMS? Check it out HERE!

If you enjoy learning “how-to”, here’s today’s sketchy tutorial:

Thank you for choosing to shop with me. Most of the products used were linked throughout this post – just click on a product to add it to your cart…and watch for an exclusive tutorial bundle from me when you spend more than $50 in one month!

Connecting with you is a joy ~ Check out my upcoming events (in person AND online):

Bistro Burger: Masculine Birthday & Gift Box

March 24, 2025March 24, 2025Leave a comment

A double-patty burger is a satisfying meal for a birthday celebration AND makes a terrific card, thanks to Stampin’ Up!’s Burger Bistro bundle (stamps & dies). In particular, it also pairs well with the Timeless Plaid 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper, as you’ll see…

I like coloring this stamped image with our Watercolor Pencils, which you can use without water!

You can watch the tutorial for both card and gift box here:

It’s hard to stop with one card, when the plaid paper makes each card so unique!

A reminder to order any ink refills, card stock, or embellishments in the 2023-2025 In Colors that will be retiring at the beginning of May. I used Boho Blue and Pebbled Path, both leaving soon, on these projects! Often colors sell out long before the last day, so don’t delay.

A useful gift for the man who likes to grill burgers would be a shaker of hamburger seasoning, and this 2-4-6-8 box is just the right size. It’s speedy to make, starting with an 8-1/2″ square piece of card stock (instructions in the video).

SAVE/PIN this post, then give this card and gift box duo a try the next time you need a masculine birthday gift!

Loaded Envelope for a Happy Bee-Day

March 17, 20251 Comment

As we continue with the BIRTHDAY theme for March, today’s project is a Happy B-Day LOADED ENVELOPE! You saw the mini version a few weeks ago, and this time we started with a 12″ x 12″ piece of Designer Series Paper to make pockets that hold all the goodies a crafter could want.

On the side of the paper that you want for the outside of your envelope, score on each side at 3-1/4″, then turn 90 degrees and score 3-3/4″ from the bottom edge. You can watch the video below for exactly how to do this.

NOTE: This project works best if the pattern on the outside of your envelope is non-directional, like the flowers on this paper, which don’t have a right-side-up. I did make sure the bee paper was vertical on the back side, so the inside of my envelope shows them the correct direction.

Fold both sides toward the center and press open the “collar” and connect the sides in the front with Tear & Tape. Next, fold up along the 3-3/4″ score line to create the lower pocket(s). You may choose to cut about 1-1/2″ along the right side score line before folding up the pocket, so you can fold it down, as I did on the sample above, which allows you to fold the right edge down, revealing the back side of the paper, and forming a 3rd pocket (where the sticker is inserted).

Add finishing touches to decorate the front of the envelope, like the smallest hexagon focal point above, with a bee, flowers and sentiment. Follow along as I demonstrate:

Stuff your gift with a handmade card, paper snips, adhesives, embellishments (like the Tiny Bee Trinkets!) and other crafting essentials…like chocolate (dressed up in a sleeve of matching paper)!

I hope you’ll have as much fun making one of these as I did! Which crafty friend would appreciate this gift?

Thank you for shopping for the supplies below ~ your support means the world to me as a creator.

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3 Stampin' Up! Sentimental Wishes Tags for Christmas

New at SU!- Sketches are for Tags, Too

October 16, 2024October 16, 20245 Comments

Sketches are a Stamper’s secret design tool, and not only do they work for greeting cards and scrapbook pages, sketches also help you master a GIFT TAG…and a beautiful tag will level up any gift!

For our October New at SU! blog hop, I selected 3 tag sketches from page 16 of the September-December Mini catalog and combined those sketches with a set of products that evoke classic Christmas vibes.

The sketches gave me a starting point for my creativity, and a suite of Stampin’ Up! products helped limit my options, which actually makes it easier to be artistic. All supplies are listed at the end of this post.

The Joy/Candle tag mostly features stamping the images from the stamp set:

The stocking tag shows how you can cut some of the images from the Designer Series Paper with the dies, which also match the stamped images:

Finally, the Very Merry tag puts the focus on the sentiment:

The wonderful thing about tags is that they dress up any gift, along with a bit beautiful ribbon ~ see how they make a Kit Collection box fancy? Remember that all the kits are ON SALE this month (see below).

But that’s not all! Tags are adorable on a greeting card, as well:

Not only are tags a miniature piece of art, they are also a terrific way to use up scraps! Try cutting some of your smaller pieces of card stock into tag shapes, and have them ready to pair with a sketch.

Tell me what you think of these tags- leave a comment link at the top of the post!

Visit all the other posts to see how a sketch inspired their projects:

October 2024 New at SU! Hop: Sketches-Crafter’s Secret Design Tool

1.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – Sketches Are for Tags, Too

2.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)- Playful Ghosts Triple Panel La

3.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Cute Snowy Scenes card

4.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Shepherd’s Care for New at SU

5.Stamping Flair (AU) – Humble Home Sketch Card

6.Stampinxime by Ximena Morales (DE) – Sketch Challenge

7.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Sketches Surfing Santa

8.De Kijkkast (NL)- Peaceful Trees and a Sketch

9.247 Inkspiration (US) – More Than Autumn

10.iHeartCards2 (US) – Sketches & Mix & Match Ephemera

11.Nature’s INKspirations (US) – Golden Greenery Sketch

12.Studio Shabaz (AU) – Regal Winter

When you purchase the Sentimental Christmas patterned paper, Stampin’ Up! donates $3 to support children’s literacy in each of it’s markets. In the U.S. the donation benefits First Book.

Snag some kits for Christmas, while they are on sale up to 30% off during October, and add a tag to the top for thoughtful and creative Christmas gifts:

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Build Creative Muscles – Get 40% Off!

September 23, 2024Leave a comment

When I taught piano lessons, I’d tell my students “Practice trumps talent when talent doesn’t practice”. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not creative,” believe me when I say CREATIVITY CAN BE LEARNED!!

The easiest way to become more artistic is to have a starting point. Paper Pumpkin – a monthly craft box kit subscription – gives you a place to practice. Let me show you how:

On the left is a card created as designed for the September Paper Pumpkin Kit (“Autumn Abundance”). It took me less than 5 minutes to make it, following the instructions in the box. I thought the colors were so pretty, I chose to use the same palette on another card. Using Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry and Night of Navy ink pads, I followed a sketch from the Stampin’ Up! Sept-Dec Mini Catalog (pg. 16) to make the second card. It was simply stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and used the Labeled with Love punch to make the trio of panels.

Each quarter, there is a coordinating die set available to add-on to the kits, so I used the same sketch & colors to create a second version with the die-cut leaves using the dies for last quarter. They are sold out, but you CAN order the Merry Tags & More Dies (which coordinate with the Oct-Dec 2024 kits) while supplies last.

Next, this Thank You card in the kit (left) had a beautiful base. What if you needed a small gift package?

Make it into a box, of course! I’m teaching you how to make all these alternate projects in today’s video, so watch here for instructions:

Also included in the kit this month was this third card project- it was a 4″ x 4″ Autumn card, then I looked at the window and it made me think of a shaker card:

The snail and leaves shake around inside!

The kit is terrific to get your creative juices flowing, and making the projects as intended, you will learn the basics of paper crafting. You can always make different projects with the supplies you have in the box, and I send an EXCLUSIVE email each month to my Paper Pumpkin subscribers with ways to use the stamp set and ink spot after the kit is complete!

HERE’S THE DEAL:

Try a Paper Pumpkin craft kit subscription with 40% off your first month (new subscribers only)! Use promo code HOLIDAY40 when you subscribe HERE by October 10, 2024!

You are peeking at the “Nest of Christmas” October Kit, which coordinates with the Nests of Winter Suite in the Sept-Dec Mini catalog, and you could try it at a discount! This kit will make 10 Christmas Cards.

While the September Autumn Abundance kit isn’t available as a full kit, the refill IS available in my store (limited supplies available) and you could use other stamps and ink pads you already have to make it. You must be a current Paper Pumpkin subscriber to order refills or add-ons, so sign up and then start shopping the extras, using the same email you subscribed with.

Paper Crafts with ZEST!

July 8, 2024Leave a comment

The frame die from the Citrus Blooms bundle offers such versatility when you are considering summery cards or gifts, and in my Live Crafting broadcast today, I couldn’t stop with just one project.

The first card I demonstrated was the elegant “gate-fold” card, which opens to reveal a simple branch of mouth-watering fruit. For once in my career, I DIDN’T add a sentiment to this card! It seems like it could be used for any reason, so I left the options open.

The measurements for this gatefold card are:

Night of Navy Mat: 5.5″ x 4.25″
Basic White card stock: 4″ x 10.5″, scored at 5.25″
Designer Series Paper for gate flaps: 5.5″ x 5″, folded in half at 2.5″
A piece of Designer Series Paper to die- or fussy-cut your preferred citrus from
22″ Navy & Gold Glimmer ribbon

While I didn’t demonstrate the second card, I’ll show you how to cut the larger navy layer from the frame using a 4.25″ x 5.5″ piece of card stock in the short video below.

Finally, when I found the Lemon Crisp Kit Kat candies, I knew I needed to make a favor (before I ate them all and regretted my life choices).

Measurements for this project:

Cut the frame from a 4″ x 5.5″ piece of Designer Series Paper, then score it at 2-1/8″ and 3″ in the center.
Night of Navy card stock 2-7/8″ x 4.5″, scored on all four sides at 1″ to create the “box” that holds two candies inside.
Navy 1″ x 8.5″ for the band around the outside (you’ll cut off the excess on the top after wrapping it)
Ribbon- as long as you want (tie a knot or a bow)

Now you have all the pieces prepared (right?), watch HOW to make each of these projects:

JULY is the month to earn BONUS DAYS COUPONS!

Add these items to your cart to earn your first coupon(s) AND make the projects shown here!

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You are the reason I am able to bring inspiration to you once a week without charging a fee. Thank you for your orders, comments, and shares. It means so much to me, I hope you know!

Paper Purse/Tote for Happy Bday Shoppers

June 10, 2024Leave a comment

The vibrant In Color combination from the Global Design Project challenge #gdp449 felt like just the ones to use for today’s Live Crafting project

Your stampin’ stash can be used for MORE than cards, and this little purse/shopping tote/beach bag template can be used for gifting things such as gift cards, candy, money, jewelry, etc. The finished size of the box itself is 3.75″ tall, 3.5″ wide and 1″ deep.

The inspiration for the gift bags in the shopping cart came from a swap from my team mate Heather Goins, a.k.a. the Crazy Cardmaker. I love how she stamped onto patterned paper and colored the tissue paper in!

Normally, I wouldn’t pair foil paper AND glimmer paper, but this time it really added all the shimmer needed for a birthday celebration.

This is the month to add the NEW Attention Shoppers bundle to your collection: A stamp set + die bundle is discounted 10% when it is new to a catalog or publication PLUS in June 2024, bundles are an *additional* 10% off!

Did you notice the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machines are also 10% off?

The video will walk you through creating this boxy tote, and scroll down for printable instructions using the Tune In Bundle!

You can keep going to the tutorial but don’t forget to click and add these products to your shopping cart:

Product List

Attention Shoppers Bundle (English)

Petunia Pop 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Peach Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

2022–2024 In Color™ 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Berry Burst, Old Olive & White 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Glimmer Specialty Paper

Silver Foil Sheets

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Petunia Pop Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Shy Shamrock Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

Tear & Tape Adhesive

Adhesive Sheets

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Stampin' Dimensionals

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

1-3/4" (4.4 Cm) Circle Punch

2 3/8" (6 Cm) Circle Punch

Simply Scored

I had created this pattern for a project that I shared with the Stampin’ Leaders Project Sheet group. The instructions will give you the same measurements for the Attention Shoppers version!

tune-in-happy-birthday-purse-loni Download