The Versatility of a Fabulous Kit

August 5, 2024August 5, 2024Leave a comment

Stampin’ Up! has the #bestcraftingkit (or kits) on the planet. Whether you just want to dip your fingers in the paper crafting ocean, or you want to commit to creativity each month…there’s a kit for you!

I wanted to showcase how amazing the July Paper Pumpkin kit “Painted Petals” was, and encourage you NOT TO WASTE A SECOND in subscribing for the August kit (and beyond).

After assembling one of the cards as intended from the kit, I created an “alternate” card by just adding a bit of Basic Black card stock. You may enjoy simply following the instructions, but if you want to stretch your artistic muscles, kits are a superb starting spot:

Fold the printed card base with the printed images INSIDE the card, then trim 1/4″ off the bottom and open side, making it 4″ x 8 1/4″ when open. Fold the front (colored) flap back on itself, add a 3″ x 4.25″ black card stock to the front left side of the card and attach your details. Adhere the card to a 5.5″ x 4.25″ black card stock base and voila:

Try turning your kit into scrapbook pages for your memory albums! The back side of the card became a faux strip behind my photo mats, and I added a simple floral border at the bottom:

Finally, don’t forget the box! On the months when the box matches the contents (usually Paper Pumpkin kits arrive in Poppy Parade boxes), you may want to gussy it up and use it as gift wrapping:

For the box top, I used one of the envelopes and the special Add-On Every Celebration Dies, which coordinate with the July, August AND September Kits:

Once your kit is completed, you are left with a small ink spot and the photopolymer stamps. With some basic supplies, you can create more fantastic cards, tags, gifts, etc.

So what is the August 2024kit going to be? Birthday Cards!

The “Time for Cake” craft kit will be shipped around the 15th and features the following, but you must subscribe by August 10th

Rose gold foil
Accordion card folds
A festive color palette
A birthday sentiment stamp set

Subscribers will also receive a gift with their kit: an additional stamp set! Those number stamps will become an indispensable tool in your stamping arsenal.

Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin NOW!

We have MORE INCREDIBLE a la carte kits that you won’t want to miss – stock up for yourself, to make with friends, or to give as gifts! The selection is always growing, so check back every month to discover your inspiration.

Explore the Kit Collection NEXT

Keepin’ It Cool with Pink Ice Cream

August 3, 2024Leave a comment

When we take the grandkids for Ice Cream, COLOR is always the biggest factor in choosing which flavor to get! According to their thinking, the brighter the color, the better it tastes?

For a hand-stamped birthday card today, the colors were chosen by the weekly TGIF Challenge, #tgifc484

I’m a big fan of images that pop out of the frame, and that concept works well here.

A quick swipe of the White Craft ink pad over the eyelet-embossed Daffodil Delight background allowed me to emboss it with white embossing powder – if double scoops of ice cream are better, so is double embossing!

Top if off with some sprinkles (Iridescent discs sparkle and catch the light, and they are flat for mailing as an added bonus) and you’ve served up a cute birthday cone!

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Remember to redeem any Bonus Days Coupons you earned in July this month (August)!

Joseph’s Coat Technique (with Embossing Folders)

July 29, 2024July 30, 20241 Comment

Revisiting a classic stamping technique- this time with 3-D Embossing Folders!

The Joseph’s Coat technique has been done with heat embossing in the past, but Stampin’ Up!’s beautifully detailed and deep image embossing folders really make it easier than ever to create colors that seem to POP from a dark background.

This was the second card I created in the how-to video today using the Layered Florals embossing folder, and it shows the vibrancy of the colors you can achieve with this trick. I also made these cards into a Z-Fold style that stand up to display.

In a nutshell, the way to make this stunning background is to emboss a white or vanilla piece of card stock, then color in the RECESSED images using sponge daubers + Classic Ink Pads -OR- Stampin’ Write Markers. Once you’ve colored all the images, drag a dark ink across the top of the background. I used Night of Navy ink over my Petunia Pop water lilies on this version.

Watch to learn how:

Peek at the details from the Changing Leaves Hybrid Folder Joseph’s Coat card…amazing, eh?

For best results, make sure your dark ink pads are inked up well to achieve the dark “background” in one swipe of your pad.

Here are the supplies I used – order them today, then give this technique a try!

Product List

Changing Leaves Bundle (English)

Layered Florals 3 D Embossing Folder

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Petunia Pop 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Sponge Daubers

Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad

Shy Shamrock Classic Stampin Pad

Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

Petunia Pop 3/8" (1 Cm) Bordered Ribbon

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

Stampin' Dimensionals

Just a few days left to earn BONUS DAYS coupons in July! Redemption for the codes you’ve earned this month will begin August 1st!

New at SU!~ LEAVES, but Make ’em Metallic!

July 17, 2024July 17, 20243 Comments

We’ve got an eye-catching theme for the July New at SU! Blog Hop~ putting the spotlight on some of the current METALLIC products Stampin’ Up! has to make your crafting super SHINY!

Though the extreme summer weather just ended (we are happy to be down to 102º Farenheit), and as much as I enjoy this season, I’m looking forward to the crisp feel of Autumn, so I created my cards using the Changing Leaves bundle (NEW to the Stampin’ Up! Online Exclusives) and the Dry Brushed Metallic Specialty Paper

Copper embossing powder for the leaf adds a second color to my mixed-metals, and a dot of Metallic Enamel Effects at the tip of each end of the sprig is the finishing touch!

It was so pretty, I made a second version! The softness of the embossed background and the separated Copper Clay Jute twine gives it an organic, woodland vibe.

Side-by-side, they reflect the details of nature- so lovely to imitate!

Don’t be too distracted by shiny objects, you’ve got more to see along the global “Make It Metallic” blog hop~ up next is Tricia with another new Online Exclusive product to get you holiday ready:

July 2024 New at SU! Blog Hop: Make it Metallic!

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)- Going for the Gold

2.Stamping Flair (AU) – Thoughtful Designs

3.Studio Shabaz (AU) – Lifetime Of Love

4.scraphexe (DE) – Höhenflüge mit Metallic-Effekten (Aventurous Sky)

5.Attelyootje(NL)- Season of Green & Gold

6.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Seaside Wishes in Metallics for New

7.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – Leaves, but Make ’em Metallic!

8.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Greetings of the Season

9.247 Inkspiration (US) – Layers of Beauty

10.iHeartCards2 (US) – Sophisticated Sled

11.De Kijkkast (NL) – Silver Magnolia

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Looking for more Changing Leaves inspiration? Check out my PREVIOUS post with 5 more card ideas and tips for using the Hybrid Embossing Folder included in the bundle!

If you are in the US, I’m happy to serve your creative needs, and don’t miss BONUS DAYS during July!

Hybrid Embossing Folder How-To

July 15, 2024July 15, 20244 Comments

Curious about how a “Hybrid Embossing Folder” works? Allow me to demonstrate how-to using the new Online Exclusive Changing Leaves bundle.

The embossing folder creates amazingly detailed leaves which are beautiful both embossed (raised) and debossed (recessed). Here is a “raised” example in Granny Apple Green using the embossed design for a background on a card:

Flip the embossed paper over and paint into the recessed images using water painters and ink refills -OR- water painters with Metallic Enamel Effects for shine:

Simply stamping the images and die cutting them to use on your projects is also an option. Watch for the tip to lining up all three leaf images in the correct spot, making them easier to die cut at the beginning of this video, in which I also demonstrate all the techniques I’m sharing:

I used my stamped/die cut leaves on a floating frame card:

Finally – and this is the HYBRID VERSION – the dies snap into the embossing folder! All you have to do is add your paper, run it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, and out come die-cut, embossed accents! This is a bonus project that shows the detail:

I borrowed the sentiment from another Online Exclusive stamp set called Comforting Thoughts for an occasion when there are just no words to express what you are feeling for someone’s heartache.

Try dragging your ink pad across the top of an embossed/cut leaf to bring out the details (or use a brayer rolled in ink), like the Pretty Peacock leaf on the card:

The Changing Leaves bundle is $54 (US) so it qualifies for a $5 BONUS DAYS coupon when you purchase it during July 2024. Collect coupons July 3-31st, then redeem them during August!

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!

So Very Merry Gingerbread House Christmas Card

Sweet Treat Challenge + New Online Exclusives

July 3, 2024Leave a comment

The Sweet Treats theme for the TGIF Challenge this week got me dreaming of sugar plums…

We’ll call it “Christmas in July”!

This was the #tgifc479 challenge to start our creative cogs turning:

The So Very Merry stamp set is not in the catalog, but *IS* still in the Online Exclusive section of my Stampin’ Store, and I embossed the gingerbread house on a banner cut from the Nested Essentials dies, then colored it with watercolor pencils and added Wink of Stella to the candy for sparkle (all supplies listed below). Though it’s hard to see in a photo, trust me that the treats glisten in the light!

Speaking of Online Exclusives, there are NEW ADDITIONS to that section of my store, and you’ll have a hard time choosing between the frightfully fun Halloween, the elegant Autumn or the gorgeous Holiday offerings. You have my permission to choose all of them! And there is MORE than just these shown.

Back to my gingerbread house card, the supplies I used are below and feel free to use the idea for your holiday mail, if you love it!

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Simply Zinnia, Simple Fun-Fold Thanks Card

June 24, 2024Leave a comment

Bright colored flowers shout “I LOVE YOU” as well as “THANK YOU” and “YOU’RE THE BEST!” Zinnias lead the garden in bold flower-power during the summer, so a color-blocked card that stands to display seemed like the one to craft today:

The Simply Zinnia stamp & die bundle is an Online Exclusive that you can NOT miss! For my demonstration, I used Versamark ink to stamp the zinnia image on both the Berry Burst and Coastal Cabana card stock pieces that fit on the card base.

However, the Zinnia bundle IS part of a larger Flowering Zinnia SUITE of products, which includes the Zinnia 3-D Embossing folder…so I also did a version of this card using it to make a “touchable” raised background.

This is how they stand:

There is a HELPFUL TIP for layering the petal dies in today’s video tutorial, which will save you time in assembly. Remember, you can click on the gear in the bottom right of the video and change the speed to make any tutorial play faster, if you are an impatient crafter like me!

Just a few more days to collect the Stamp + Die bundles you love, or the Cut & Emboss machines, for an ADDITIONAL 10% off.

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New at SU! A Lemony Sketch

June 19, 2024June 20, 20241 Comment

You’re here to see how Stampin’ Up! card sketches from the 2024-2025 catalog (pg 22) can improve your cardmaking skills, and our International #NewAtSU design team is taking the assignment seriously!

This is the sketch I chose:

Here is how it inspired me:

You’ll notice that I didn’t use 3 panels, but allowed my banner to visually divide the lemon Designer Series Paper. That’s the thing about a sketch = it’s there to give you a place to start, then run in whichever direction your heart takes you!

Try mixing up products, too! I thought the Mediterannean Blooms lemon paper would make a fabulous backdrop for the image from the Filled with Happiness set, and it did. That Navy & Yellow combination is summery and sweet.

I cut both the navy banner and the lemon oval in half to stretch across the card and give room for the Congratulations sentiment. This would be a unique baby congrats card, or a wedding celebration! It’s just generic enough to fit any occasion.

Once you’ve left me a comment and have filled your cup with creative juice (and your cart with supplies), move along to see how all the other stampers used these wonderful sketches, then TRY ONE YOURSELF.

June 2024 New at SU! Blog Hop: Catalog Sketch Inspiration – Visit them all!

1.Merrick Makings (AUS) – Secret Sketches of SU!

2.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – A Lemony Sketch, Congrats

3.I Heart Cards 2 (US)- Catalog Sketch with Country Woods Collection

4.Stamping Flair (AU) – Flower Cart Stamp Set

5.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Sketched Butterflies Sketch

6.Nature’s INKspirations (US) – A Sketch Inspired Thoughtful Journey

7.scraphexe (DE) – Sketch Layers of beauty | Liebenswerte Lagen

8.Stampinxime (DE) – Tune In – Geburtstagskarte nach S

9.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (USA) – Latte Love

10.247 Inkspiration (US) – Happy Little Things

11.De Kijkkast (NL) – Veggies and a sketch!

12.Joni in the Spotlight Stamping (USA)-New at SU-Catalog Sketch with La

Product List

Filled With Happiness Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

$20.00

Mediterranean Blooms 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$12.50

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Modern Oval Punch

$23.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

$30.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

$11.25

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$11.50

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$11.50

Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$11.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$11.00

Baker's Twine Three Color Pack

$8.00

Stampin' Seal

$8.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Boho Blue Limited Edition Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$63.00

Did you know the Boho Blue Mini Cut & Emboss Machine is less expensive than the white mini machine, with the same performance? AND all the machines are 10% off through June 30th – don’t miss it!

Stampin' Up! Tune In Bundle, Hidden Message card

Hidden Message TV Card – plus July Virtual Class

June 17, 2024June 17, 2024Leave a comment

Today on the Creative Juice Crafting Channel, an interactive birthday card featuring a hidden message that appears “on screen”… and NEWS FLASH, it’s a gift card holder, too!

When you pull out the “Stay Tuned” screen, the birthday greeting appears:

What’s on the inside of the card? A pocket ready for a gift card, gift certificate, cash or a note.

The TUNE IN stamp & die bundle has a “retro” feel and has been unique to play with, so I will feature it in my July Crafting Happiness Virtual Class! Another option that will work well with the virtual class is the ATTENTION SHOPPERS bundle. Both bundles are an EXTRA 10% off during June, so whichever you prefer, NOW is the time to order them and register for the class.

*** When you order either bundle from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll get an email with a discount code for $5 off the class registration fee.

The Crafting Happiness class will be privately streamed to YouTube on Wednesday, July 17th at 4 pm MT, and registered crafters can watch LIVE or at their leisure anytime after the live stream.

The class is designed so you can stamp along and it’s up to you to use the suggested stamp sets OR use a set of stamps + dies you already own. There will be 5 projects and this is what is included:

Class packet includes:

Gold & Silver 1/8″ Trim Combo Pack (Item #16133)
Neutrals Adhesive-Backed Sequins (Item #161627)
Card Stock, Designer Series Paper and accessories cut for projects
One sheet of Stampin’ Dimensionals
Envelopes and packaging
Sweet surprises!

Also needed (not included in class fee):

Tune In bundle OR Attention Shoppers bundle OR use one of your own,
Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (or Mini Machine) or similar die cutting machine for coordinating dies (MACHINES are also 10% off in June!!)
Ink Pads: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (#132708), Balmy Blue (#147105), Basic Beige (#163806), Cajun Craze (#147085), Versamark (#102283)
Watercolor Pencils Assortment #1 (Item #161700)- IF USING ATTENTION SHOPPERS BUNDLE or your own stamps that are line-art type sets.

Before I share the supply list (thanks in advance for supporting my business- I look forward to sending you a thank you card!), here is the video tutorial showing how to create this delightful “hidden message TV” card…craft along and pause as needed: