Simply Zinnia Thank You Card Slanted Background In Color 2024-2026

In Color Zinnia Card Duos

If there were a contest for the “most cheerful flower”, don’t you think ZINNIAS would take the prize?

Today’s card(s) feature the Simply Zinnia bundle (an online exclusive available now in my Stampin’ Store) as well as the 2024-2026 In Color products that will be in my store on May 1st!

This slanted background is a handy template to remember (or PIN!) because you can create TWO cards in about the same time it takes to make just one!

It all starts with a 6″ x 3-3/4″ piece of In-Color Designer Series Paper. Mark it at 2″ on the bottom long edge (on the back side of the design you want to use) and at 4″ on the top long edge. Then cut it from the 2″ mark to the 4″ mark. Layer each of those pieces onto a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic Black card stock and you are halfway done.

TIP: The leftover 6″ x 2-1/4″ piece of Designer Series Paper fits perfectly on the flap of your envelope, giving you terrific coordination!

Watch the tutorial (speed it up, if desired) to learn how to finish up the card:

And why stop at 2 cards when you can make 10? Two in each of the 2024-26 In Colors: Petunia Pop (shown above), Summer Splash, Peach Pie, Pretty In Pink and Shy Shamrock!

These colors coordinate beautifully, so you can even mix up the colors on the flowers- with the alcohol-based Stampin’ Blends markers, the colors bleed together smoothly:

Here are a few wonderful ways to collect the new IN COLORS:

  • Join my IN COLOR COLLECTORS CLUB and receive a package each month (May-September) filled with a sampling of ALL the products in each of the colors, including an exclusive projects each month…PLUS a FREE BASIC BEIGE BONUS the last month!
  • Too impatient to collect slowly? Purchase ALL the colors in May or June from my Stampin’ Store and earn the Basic Beige Bonus FREE!
  • Join my Sprinkled Ink Team in May and receive 4 new In Color Products in the Starter Kit FREE!! Offer good May 1-31, 2024.

Traveling with Stampin’ Friends

Stampin’ Up! offers a reason to travel with friends: Two weeks ago, a few of my Sprinkled Ink team (& friends) flew to Houston, Texas for OnStage (the SU! version of convention). We went a day early and did a bit of sightseeing at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, followed by lunch at our new favorite mediterranean restaurant “Fadi’s” (there is *always* good food involved on vacation).

The next few days were filled with fun like stamping, learning, greeting friends from all over the world, celebrating milestones, eating more good food, winning Prize Patrol, hearing the vision and strategy of the company, seeing the new catalog and enjoying (enduring?!) so much togetherness!

This was the card I created to trade with other demonstrators using the Filled With Happiness bundle (I will show how to create this fun-fold in a future video). Swapping is an essential part of stamping events, and I came home with 30 different samples to display at upcoming events.

It’s fun to feel spoiled by all the SWAG you receive at these events~ I snapped this photo at our hotel of the amazing backpack and gifts we received on check-in. In addition, we took home rubber stamps, Designer Series Paper, a color wheel and the catalog (it’s important to leave extra room in your luggage for all the goodies)!

Next year, OnStage will be in Raleigh, NC (March 2025) and I’m already looking forward to it! What would you suggest are things we MUST SEE in/near Raleigh? Best food?

Would you like to come with us? There is room at our table for more stamping friends… invest in yourself with a Starter Kit and we’ll happily save you a seat!

A Card Folio to Gift Away

Dropping a Valentine on a friend’s doorstep may not be a custom any longer, but with today’s project, you can hang a set of hand-crafted greeting cards on a friends door as a gift that shows you love them.

I get my best ideas when I should be asleep, and this one came just as I was laying down last night, so I made a quick note on the notepad next to my bed and woke up ready to try it!

All you need is a 12″ x 12″ piece of non-directional (meaning there isn’t a top and a bottom to the design) Designer Series Paper (or DSP), a Simply Scored board, adhesive and 24″ coordinating ribbon:

Instructions (also in video):

  • Fold DSP diagonally from corner to opposite corner, with the pattern you want facing out.
  • Lay fold (longest side) of your folded paper (a triangle shape at this point) along the left side of the Simply Scored board and score at 1/4″. Turn and do the back side the same way.
  • Turn folded side to the top edge of the board and score at 6″ and 11″. Flip the triangle over and score the back side on the same measurements.
  • Open up your paper and fold along the 1/4″ score lines just off center.
  • Open again and fold the outside points (along the 6″ and 11″ lines) IN towards the center. Flip and fold the top points back-to-back, with the center folds at the bottom, creating two pockets on the outside.
  • Punch at hole (or two) at the top to tie together (leaving a loop to hang from is optional).

I used up a lot of the bits and pieces of the Softly Stippled Designer Series Paper I’ve had left over from other projects to create four simple cards (plus envelopes) to go inside the folio:

1″ x 3″ pieces of Designer Series Paper + your favorite punch
Or use a die with two contrasting patterns as background (Everyday Details Dies – NEW!)
Blend color on the plain Designer Series Paper images and emboss a greeting
Layer on 5-1/4″ strips from the same package of papers in varying widths and finish with focal point.
Don’t throw away the images on your Designer Series Paper that are on the edges! Cut them out and use them on the inside of your card!

2-1/2 weeks left of Sale-a-Bration ~ still time to collect your favorite SAB products FREE with qualifying purchase, and so much to choose from:

I appreciate the opportunity to serve you. If you find that I have taught you something, please order the supplies from my store and support a small business!

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Consider yourself invited to join my Stampin’ Up! team! During February 2024, purchase the STARTER KIT and choose an extra $30 in products in your kit ~OR~ select the Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio (as shown in the video) as your bonus option:

“Extra” Sweet Favor (and EXTRA rewards)

Have you ever stayed overnight where a candy or special small gift was left on your pillow? Those little touches are called “pillow gifts” and makes you feel fancy!

When I saw watermelon-flavored Extra gum while checking out at the grocery store, it made me think of the Watercolor Melon Sale-a-Bration stamp set, and how I could create along a theme:

A perfect size to drop off as a “thinking of you” gift- or leave on a pillow for guest – you pull on the ribbon and out slides the pack of gum:

This do-it-yourself project is simple and sweet, and I’ve got the video to prove it:

Slider box dimensions: 7-3/4″ x 3-1/4″ piece of card stock, scored at 1/2″, 1″, 3-1/2″ and 4″

Sale-a-Bration continues through February 29th; since it’s leap year, you have an “EXTRA” day to earn free products with each $50 purchase in my Stampin’ Store!

Did you also know there are TWO “Extras” you could choose from when you invest in the Starter Kit?

OPTION ONE: The first is that you may choose the Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio,

~OR~

OPTION TWO: Choose an EXTRA $30 in products in your Starter Kit! Usually you get to choose $125 of product in your kit for just $99, but through February 2024, you may select $155 (and pay only $99) if this is the option you decide on.

The Starter Kit is an offer ANYONE may select, and you will get a 20% discount while you also get to peek behind the curtain of being a demonstrator. There are no obligations to try it, so why not??

Copy the Catalog

Need paper crafting ideas? Look no further than any Stampin’ Up! catalog!

In today’s live video, I demonstrated how to use the So Very Merry stamp set to re-create cards made with the Circle Sayings bundle (if you have one, you *need* the other!).

The card on the left is found on page 147 of the annual catalog and the card on the right is the one I stamped:

Let me show another example. Card on left from catalog, card on right I created to show you how well these two sets interchange!

In my Angel version of the cupcake card from the catalog, the More Dazzle paper is truly heavenly, and I embossed the angel image on Vellum cardstock in gold embossing powder, then colored it from the back with Stampin’ Blends markers. TIP: To adhere the vellum to the white background, lightly sponge liquid glue to the back of the vellum for a no-show adhesive.

With two days left of our 35th Anniversary Starter Kit promotion, you may consider getting the starter kit for 35% off -OR- choosing 35% more in the starter kit ($168.75 product value) for the regular price of $99…and if you don’t know what to choose, these two interchangeable sets/bundles are a good place to begin, plus you can copy the cards I showed! More Starter Kit suggestions in the video:

Happy you stopped by! Have you ever copied an idea from the catalog and put your own “stamp” on it?

Card Swaps + Your Time to Shine!

Stampers LOVE to exchange handmade cards! We swap our creations at any Stampin’ Up! event and my Sprinkled Ink team (& friends) are hands-down the BEST group to swap with (I’ve participated in a TON of swaps in 31 years, and they are better than all of them).

Would you like to see their talents? I thought so!

This was our September-December Mini Catalog Swap… you may have seen some of these cards if you’ve attended an event with me in the past few months:

Aren’t they spectacular? There are fun folds, embossing, foil paper, background stamps, die cuts, rubber stamping, Designer Series Paper and techniques galore to share with our customers and be inspired by. I’m certainly going to make a version of Robin’s fun fold and order the embossing folder Michelle used!

This was the card I crafted for the swap using the Curved Occasions stamp set (click link below card for stampin’ supplies):

We swap cards each time a new catalog launches, which means our next swap will be in January. As demonstrators, we get to pre-order from the publication the month before…it’s a nice perk!

Speaking of perks, there are 7 days left to take advantage of the 35th Anniversary Starter Kit Special! This is your chance to get a divine discount on crafting supplies AND see if you want to SHINE as a demonstrator!

There are no strings attached to the purchase of a starter kit, and you’ll get 20% off your future purchases through April 2024 (or forever, if you decide to stay with the Sprinkled Inkers as a hobby or business demonstrator!).

In addition, you’ll get a free ticket to OnStage@Home (our virtual Stampin’ Up! convention) on November 11th…it will be an amazing peek at the goings-on in the life of a demonstrator, and will give you insight into the possibilities of a bright future.

Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to swap cards with our friendly demonstrator family, participate in events and creative challenges, learn and grow personally and creatively, plus gain a new tribe of very talented, kind and supportive people! Why not??

Start with a Sketched Plaid Background…

…let your creativity flow free! An excellent all-purpose stamp does more than just one thing, and the Sketched Plaid background is that versatile stamping staple that will elevate your card making. Let me show you 4 different ways to use it (with a few links to bonus projects).

First, you can stamp the Sketched Plaid onto a card layer with the same color of ink (like this Best Wishes card previously stamped) ~ for today’s example, I blotted off the Crumb Cake ink once before stamping it a second time onto Crumb Cake card stock, making it a subtle canvas for masking my flowers onto:

Second, try stamping a small image inside the empty spaces, like the snowflake from the Beary Cute stamp set:

Third: Use a Stampin’ Blends or Stampin’ Write marker and a ruler to draw more lines in between the spaces, for a two-color plaid. You could adjust the thickness of these lines for a completely different look! This card also uses the So Very Merry stamp set, an online exclusive in my store.

Fourth, stamp the plaid in black (or emboss in black!) and color in some of the sections with Stampin’ Blends (I used the 2022-2024 In Colors, plus Daffodil Delight). I get such a KICK out of the groovy Curved Occasions bundle and with this kaleidoscope of color, the roller skates felt fitting:

Ready to watch HOW-TO? Here’s today’s demonstration to teach you how:

ONE MORE idea to share with you for visiting my page today: There is nothing that’s stopping you from cutting up your plaid layer and using it like I did with this card earlier this year…

After my Live Video (join me each Monday at 12:30 PM MT on my Facebook page or YouTube channel), I added a few embellishments to a few of the cards, including some retired In Color Matte Dots to the roller skate birthday card, and some of the new Adhesive-Backed Glimmer Paper from my store to the Santa Stained Glass card:

Remember- you can add any/all of these products to a Starter Kit this month and save 35% off the regular price OR get 35% more product FREE! Only 8 days left to get that special offer…click image below to choose what you’ll get in your Starter Kit:

Pumpkins, Punches & Masks for Autumn

After succumbing to temptation and adding the Pick of the Patch bundle to my crafting collection, I dreamed of combining it with the Abundant Beauty Masks (will hopefully be back in stock the week of Oct. 16!)

Pumpkin patches and sunflowers are the objects to take pictures with right now, and here are a couple of the cutest pumpkins in the sunflower patch (at least their grandmother thinks so):

Those adorable faces were the inspiration for today’s Lunchtime Live Crafting, and there are a few tips you’ll want to remember for aligning your stamps to make it easy to punch and how to use the masks, so here’s the replay:

DID YOU CATCH THAT THERE IS FREE SHIPPING TODAY through October 11, 2023 on orders over $75? That’s 3 days to replenish your supplies or get a start on holiday gifts!

That is a terrific deal (save 11%!) AND two more options to remember is our 35th Anniversary Starter Kit offer through October 31st(Starter Kits ALWAYS have free shipping, too!):

Choose 35% off the Starter Kit (normally $99): Select your own products ($125 worth) for just $64.35, free shipping, a free registration to OnStage@Home in November AND 20% off future orders through March 2024!

Choose 35% MORE in your starter kit: Select $168.75 in products for ONLY $99 (plus free shipping) and you also receive a free registration to OnStage@Home in November AND 20% off future orders through March 2024!

Will the Pumpkin Patch bundle and/or Abundant Beauty Masks be in your Starter Kit?

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Twist or Treat + October Join Special!

The “Sour Cream” package favor has been around for a while, but it’s a classic project to craft because it’s fast and adorable!

Obviously, they don’t usually stand up, but I wanted you to see how they “twist”!

It all starts with a 6″ x 6″ piece of Designer Series Paper and adhesive, then I added tags to coordinate using the Tailor Made Tags dies.

You can craft along with me in this video tutorial:

I wore my skeleton earrings to match the favor I demonstrated in the video! My Stampin’ Mama Sherrill Graff made them for me with the Bag of Bones bundle, black StazOn ink and shrink plastic:

Through October, Stampin’ Up! has an outstanding opportunity for the Starter Kit:

The Starter Kit is always the best value, but in honor of Stampin’ Up!s 35th anniversary this month, it’s absolutely irresistible!

35% OFF= Select $125 in product (including early release items only for demonstrators) for only $64.35, free shipping on the kit, PLUS a free ticket to our virtual OnStage event in November!

35% MORE= Select $168.75 worth of product and only pay $99 with free shipping, PLUS a free ticket to our virtual OnStage event!


With either Starter Kit, you’ll have the opportunity to see if the demonstrator life is for you! You’ll get to purchase your own supplies at a 20% discount through January 2024, get early access to new products and mingle with my Sprinkled Ink team. If you love it, you can keep going! I’m here to help you along the path and guide you as you explore the possibilities.

There are NO STRINGS ATTACHED…just a wonderful discount and a chance to try being a demonstrator with a warm & friendly group of creative people, and a peek behind the curtain at Stampin’ Up!

The Starter Kit is available to everyone, as many times as you’d like to take advantage of it, so click the image or Choose One button above to get started!

In Colors on a Leafy Card, with Ann

What a delight to have my dear friend and Sprinkled Ink teammate Ann Olsen in the studio with me! We got to stamp and visit together, and reminisce about some of our fun times together as demonstrators over 27 years together. PLUS, we stamped a few cards with current sets of In Colors, the Layering Leaves stamp set and the BOUGH PUNCH, which is finally back in stock!

My card started with Very Vanilla card stock and the 2023-2025 In Colors (Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Moody Mauve, Pebbled Path and Boho Blue). Ann’s card is the same layout on a white card stock base, but with 2022-2024 In Colors (Tahitian Tide, Starry Sky, Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party and Orchid Opulence).

Each colored section started out as 2″ x 1-1/4″ rectangles, which I forgot to mention during the video. Trim off the section on the top and bottom that hang over, after you adhere them to the front layer.

Which color combination do you like best? I usually prefer the vivid colors, but am feeling the fall weather and leaning into the vanilla/earthy tones today. The brighter colors are available through April 2024, so make sure you have ink refills and paper stocked up!

Product List

27 years ago, Ann had to ask me how to join Stampin’ Up! but I’ve become better at offering this opportunity to others! If you are interested in joining a creative community and expanding your circle of friendships, we have an AMAZING offer coming October 3-31, 2023: