Expand a Sketch for a Scrapbook Page

May 1, 20267 Comments

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!

Product List

Nature Walk 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Secret Sea 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

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

Adhesive Sheets

Alphabet à La Mode Dies

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

2025–2027 In Color™ Flat Pearls

ALERT: In honor of National Scrapbooking Day, there will be a 24-hour FLASH SALE on MAY 2, 2026 with 20% off select Scrapbooking supplies:

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Ewe Are Loved Interactive Slider Card

April 17, 2026April 16, 2026Leave a comment

The Wooly Friends bundle is back in stock and it’s time to get into SHEEP-shape stamping!

It was time to make some gray sheep (this card will be going to my sister-in-law in Ireland, where they have plenty of sheep, but not enough sunshine), so I chose a white background with subtle pink dots from the overlooked Mixed-Up Patterns Designer Series Paper. These patterns offer backdrops for your stamping that don’t overwhelm and aren’t specific to one suite or stamp set.

When you pull the tab on the right, the lamb on the left slides over to snuggle against the other one…

Make your own: First, stamp and punch all your pieces and layer the DSP onto the Garden Green card stock, then slice a 3″ slit about 1″ from the bottom in the center of the panel.

The mechanism is very simple: Just a strip of card stock with a 2″ x 1″ piece of card stock attached at the end. This slides through the slit on the front, then create a “channel” for the tab to slide through on the back using Adhesive Foam Strips:

I’m pointing to where the card stock sticks through from back to front. You’ll attach your sheep to that tab on the front with dimensionals.

Final step is to add details! I added now retired Brass Butterflies, but we have some new butterfly embellishments coming in the 2026-2028 In Colors next month.

Since today (Friday, April 17, 2026) is the last day of our 2x Rewards promotion, you may want to add the supplies you need to make this adorable card (links below).

Double rewards is BETTER than Free Shipping because if you’ve OPTED IN for rewards, you normally receive 10% of your total purchase back to spend on your next order (or save for a large investment, like the Cut & Emboss machine)…so DOUBLE REWARDS is 20% back! Note: Minimum order to earn Rewards is $20.

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Inside Flip Flap Homemade Sweetness Mini Accordion Album Stampin’ Up!®️

New at SU! ~ Flip Flap Brag Book for Grandma

April 15, 2026April 15, 20263 Comments

If you’ve seen the Flip-Flaps in the Stampin’ Up!®️ store and wondered “What are those for?” you’ll be happy you popped in to visit the April New at SU! Blog Hop! These demonstrator artists from around the world have created a variety of projects to help you discover how much FUN Flip-Flaps can be in paper crafting.

Flip Flaps were originally designed to be used on Scrapbook layouts to give you the opportunity to add more photos to a page ~ check out this video from last year so see how they extend your memory keeping options!

On to my little jar of joy project!

The brag book every grandmother needs, this mini-accordion album is another adorable project using the Filled with Sweetness Bundle and one you could create for Mother’s Day gifting this year!

Stampin’ Up!®️ Homemade Sweetness Mini Accordion Album, Filled with Sweetness

I die cut a lining for the front and back of the jar from the Homemade Sweetness Designer Series Paper to make it more sturdy and adhered to the first 3″ x 3″ Flip Flap to the heart jar cover on the inside:

Stampin’ Up!®️ Mini Album using Homemade Sweetness Designer Series Paper, Filled with Sweetness bundle and Flip Flaps

After that, I used 6 more Flip Flaps (seven total for the album and there are 12 in each pack). Simply fold over the self-adhesive flap and adhere it to the next one so that all the squares are stacked on top of each other. The last Flip Flap will need to be adhered to the back cover with Tear & Tape adhesive.

You can add photos to both sides and I added a few inserts/additions fussy cut from the patterned paper and one using the Wooly Friends Bundle:

The album is almost as cute as my grandkids, don’t you agree? If you are ready to make a few of these for Mother’s Day, you’re in luck ~ starting today (4/15) through Friday, you can earn double rewards! (Check your account to make sure you are OPTED IN to earn rewards)

April 2026 New at SU! Blog Hop: Flip-Flaps

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Envelope Mini Book

2.Did You Stamp Today? (US) – Nature’s Symphony Mini Album

3.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Flip Flap Brag Book for Grandma

4.247 Inkspiration (US) – Sweet Old Friends

5.scraphexe (DE) – Flip Flaps

6.De Kijkkast (NL) – Happy Mail-card with lovely Arrangements

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If you love these products, check out other ideas I’ve shared previously using the Homemade Sweetness Suite such as this Vellum Jar Thank You card and a berry sweet gift bag from our March N@SU! hop.

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Stampin’ Up!®️ Waterside Retreat Shadowbox Card

Shadowbox Cards (& Paper Pumpkin Peek)

April 7, 2026Leave a comment

I’m revisiting an oldie, but a goodie: This classic shadowbox card is easy to make with any scenery-inspired Designer Series Paper and when it’s removed from the envelope, pops out to stand up!

Shadowbox card with Stampin' Up! Boardwalk Fun

What could be better than spun sugar (a.k.a. cotton candy) to celebrate any special occasion? This Strawberry Slush shadowbox is created from the same Beach Boardwalk Suite I spotlighted last week and it’s now on the LAST CHANCE list, so don’t hesitate!

To help you learn how to make a shadowbox card, I’ve made a tutorial video you can watch (you’ll find it as you scroll down) and features a sneak peek at the Waterside Retreat Suite coming in May, which coordinates with the April Paper Pumpkin Kit. As the PP kit will have it’s own unique stamp set, consider it an extension of the Waterside Retreat suite, with additional sentiments & images that will complement the suite. You REALLY DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS and must subscribe by April 10th:

This is the card I demonstrated in the how-to video:

There is room to write a message on the back of the card, and a fun anchor & rope detail on the front:

Naturally, I had to make a few more versions:

For the landscape shadowbox cards, you’ll score two pieces of 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card stock at 1/2″ and 1″ from both short sides, but if you want to make a portrait card (as shown below), score at 3/8″ and 3/4″ on the long sides:

Watch this video and you’ll be stamping shadowbox cards in no time:

As I mentioned in the video, I also have a Designer Series Paper Share in May where you can get a 6″ x 6″ piece of EVERY pattern dropping next month! Sign up early, as there may be backorders delaying orders (crossing my fingers we don’t have a problem)

Reserve a Paper Share

While the Waterside Retreat suite is also a preview, you can order other supplies from my Stampin’ Store to create shadowbox cards, such as the previously mentioned Beach Boardwalk Suite, Cute as a Bug Suite and much more!

Shop Now

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Your Ticket to Crafting

March 30, 2026Leave a comment

I’ve been sharing Sunshine & Smiles with the Beach Boardwalk Suite for a few days here AND on my social media (FB & IG) ~ today’s projects include a card, a scrapbook layout and announcements for upcoming EVENTS where I hope to see your face!

I love the sheet of tickets and tags included in the Beach Boardwalk Designer Series Paper because they can be stamped to evoke a “winning” feeling for any celebration, like you won a drawing 🎟️ or a stuffed animal in a boardwalk game! On the inside of this card, I added one more ticket to remind the recipient that life is quite the adventure:

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, this Beach Boardwalk paper also comes in a different package with a sticker sheet, all ready to preserve the memories of a day at the park, carnival, beach or fair on a scrapbook page or complete album:

If you have a tropical vacation planned, a summer party or camp, pick up these products soon! And if you crave crafting adventures in southern Utah, here are the next few events I’m hosting ~ click on the images to learn more on the Facebook Events, or click the button to register!

Register for Cookies & Cards Class

The Catalog Carnival & BOGO SALE is Open House style, so just bring a friend and drop in for all sorts of fun freebies and snacks at 350 S 400 W ~ it’s a ticket to create!

VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS ANYTIME: CLICK THE “CLASSES & EVENTS” LINK IN PINK BAR ACROSS THE TOP

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

New at SU! ~ Berry Sweet Bag with Online Exclusives

March 18, 2026March 18, 20264 Comments

Let’s take a simple treat bag and give it a little glow-up… or should I say a gussie-up! 🍓

For our March New at SU! Hop, we are turning your attention to the Online Exclusive products that Stampin’ Up! releases every other month—including March! My project started with the Hearts Gusseted Treat Bag and I dressed it up with the Filled with Sweetness bundle and Homemade Sweetness Designer Series Paper, which I’ve been featuring for a few weeks (scroll back through for ideas when you have the time).

This bag is generously sized (4″ x 6″ x 1-1/4″) and could hold a sweet treat like Strawberry Pretzels, a berry cute kitchen towel, or a Berry Burst Ink Pad and spool of matching Ribbon! It’s proof that packaging can be just as meaningful as what’s inside.

The Stampin’ Up!®️ release of new products every other month feels a bit like opening a fresh batch of inspiration on a regular rhythm. If you haven’t already, it’s worth making a habit of browsing those new supplies. You never know when you’ll find a hidden gem that sparks your next project—just like this bundle did for me.

As you hop along, may this inspire you to look at your basics in a new way: The shelf-life of these treat bags extends beyond February with a little love shared anytime during the year in a fresh & fruity way!

Here are the faces of a few of the New at SU! Design Team members from the U.S.A.~ L to R: Amanda (Did You Stamp Today?), Rachel (The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachel), Loni- ME! (Creative Juice by Loni) and Diane (24/7 Inkspiration). We met up at OnStage last week (Stampin’ Up!®️’s convention) to snap a quick photo to say Hi!

Keep hopping to see more Online Exclusive inspiration from those ladies and others… there’s plenty of sweetness ahead! 🍓✨

March 2026 New at SU! Hop: Online Exclusives

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.New at SU! Online Exklusive Produkten !

2.iHeartCards2 (US) – New At SU! Blog Hop – Online Exclusives

3.Stamping Flair (AU) – Cutest Crew

4.247 Inkspiration (US) – Capturing Smiles

5.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)- Honey Fun

6.Astrids Papiereuphorie (AT) – Gartenpoesie

7.Did You Stamp Today? (US) – Cutest Birds Hello

8.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Berry Sweet Bag with Online Exclusives

9.De Kijkkast (NL) – Springtime Scenes Online Only

Product List

Stampin’ Up!®️ has been knocking our ONLINE EXCLUSIVE products OUT OF THE PARK, but we do still offer physical publications three times each year, and they make for wonderful reading material (and shopping lists)! My customers who have purchased recently will receive one of the new May-August catalogs in the mail, but if you don’t have a demonstrator serving you, send me a message with your mailing address and I’ll add you to the list!

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Filled with Sweetness bundle by Stampin' Up, A spoonful of thanks card

A Spoonful of Blueberry Thanks

March 13, 2026March 9, 2026Leave a comment

The jar from the Stampin’ Up!®️ Filled with Sweetness bundle is quite large, so I wondered if I could just use part of it on the front of a card, and the answer is YES! Be sure to print the tutorial for this card below

Using Vellum Card stock (like my pull-out fruit jar card), I stamped the jar with STAZ-On ink (to make it quick to dry and not smudge) then colored on the BACK of the vellum to fill the jar with Blueberry Jam.

I remembered to use the curved-line die to create a slit in the top of the jar to slide my spoon handle through! Silver foil sheets really make the handle look like a metal utensil.

Print the instructions to make your own, and the supplies are listed below for easy shopping! If I’ve served you well, I would appreciate your support in my Stampin’ Store 😃 🧡 🍊

Print .pdf Tutorial

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Twisted Easel Card Love You Berry Much

March 10, 2026March 9, 2026Leave a comment

A card that pops up to say hello always brings a little extra fun to the mailbox. This one does just that with a playful twisted easel fold that lets the sweet strawberry jar take center stage. This is how it fits in the envelope as a flat card:

The trick is to fold your card base from the front lower left corner back along the fold as evenly as you can. If you’d like to score it, mark at 1-1/4″ in from the top right corner and score back to the fold on the opposite corner. As you open it, it twists and props against the raised strawberry on the inside of the card:

I created this card using the Filled with Sweetness Bundle from Stampin’ Up!®️ – which we are playing with for a few days on Creative Juice by Loni – and the little strawberries make it feel like you’ve captured sweetness in a jar! “Love you berry much” seemed like the perfect message for a grandchild. It’s the kind of happy mail that could arrive in a mailbox hundreds of miles away… and still feel like a hug.

This week inside my VIP Facebook Group, we’re having a fun brainstorming session about long-distance grandparenting through snail mail. Many grandparents can’t always be nearby for everyday moments, but a handmade card can travel where we can’t. Imagine a grandchild setting this card on their desk or dresser, the strawberry jar standing proudly like a tiny reminder that Grandma or Grandpa is thinking of them!

Make an order of $50+ (before tax & shipping) from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive a set of 19 exclusive papercrafting tutorials (including another great idea for the Filled with Sweetness bundle from me!), a handmade card AND you’ll be invited to join my private Facebook group for my VIP customers!

Handmade cards don’t just carry ink and paper. They carry love, encouragement, and a sweet connection across the miles. 🍓💌

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Revisit for more projects “filled with sweetness” here and on my social media, which will help “squeeze your creative juice”!

Made With Love & Letters

January 27, 2026Leave a comment

Whenever I can craft smarter (not harder), it’s a win!

This Valentine card duo only requires ONE pass through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine, and you’ll have letters and the negative space to create two LOVE LETTERS:

Cutting Guide (supplies listed at bottom for easy adding to cart!):

Two Basic White Thick card bases, 8.5″ x 5.5″ scored at 4.25″
Two Real Red card stock layers: One cut to 5.25″ x 4″ and one 5″ x 3.75″
Two pieces of Made with Love Designer Series Paper: One cut to 5.25″ x 4″ and one 5″ x 3.75″
Scraps of Real Red and Flirty Flamingo for heart embellishments.

It’s so simple to do, and you can follow along with a short video. ** Remember to die cut the letters from the smaller Real Red card stock (5″ x 3.75″)

Important note: There are just a few days left to earn BONUS DAYS coupons with each $50 ordered from my Stampin’ Store by February 2nd!

Collect all the coupon codes emailed to you after your order(s) and set a reminder to redeem them in February!

Product List

Made With Love 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Party Alphabet Dies

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

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

Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Valentine Kisses Dies

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Seal

Short History of Valentine Cards

January 13, 2026Leave a comment

Long before die cut hearts and doilies, Valentine’s Day began as the feast of Saint Valentine, a priest martyred on February 14th for performing marriages for despite a ban by a Roman Emperor. By the Middle Ages, poets were already linking the date with romance, and lovers began exchanging handwritten notes and verses to mark the occasion. Early valentines were intimate, the declarations of affection carefully folded and sealed with wax.

By the 1800s, new printing techniques and affordable postage turned those private notes into something more playful and decorative. Elaborate lace trimmed cards, colorful illustrations and clever verses filled Victorian mailboxes. In America, Esther Howland helped popularize these printed valentines, transforming the tradition into the greeting card exchange we know today.

Something that hasn’t changed is the heart of the practice: Valentine cards focus on taking time to say “you are loved” with paper, ink and imagination.

This card, inspired by the #creativechallengesu January sketch, carries history forward in a fresh way. The soft layers of Stampin’ Up!®️ Love Notes Mix & Match 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper give it a collage charm (nod to the past), while the stamped elements from the Valentine Kisses bundle dish a dash of whimsy (embracing today).

You can play along, as well! Create a card inspired by this sketch and post it on your social media with the hashtag #creativechallengeSU during January 2026.

Paper changes and styles evolve, but the magic of sending love through a handmade card keeps fluttering along, like a blue bird of happiness winging a love letter to it’s intended 💌

Interested in a longer history of Valentine cards? Visit this excellent article by Rare Bird Antiques!