Color, Layer, Cluster: Design Principles for Cards

July 6, 2026July 6, 2026Leave a comment

Artists learn formulas and principles that make their designs better, and as a paper crafter, there are skills you can gain, as well! Today’s lesson is a tried-and-true trio that enables you to create a lovely card EVERY. TIME.

Color. Layer. Cluster.

In it’s simplest iteration, this principle begins with a background color on paper, that paper is layered onto a card base, then images and sentiments are clustered together. Watch and learn in today’s video tutorial:

The first simple card uses Lost Lagoon ink added to the top layer with a blending brush. That layer is added to the card base with dimensionals. The vacation vibe is added with Under the Sun Ephemera and a greeting from the Sincerely Noted Ephemera pack.

This second card example shows how blending a bit of color to a black & white design layer (Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper) and clustering a few colored vases from the other side of the paper makes a marvelous mailable masterpiece!

Side note: The Artisan Sketched Garden DSP is DELIGHTFUL to color, and this Saturday, July 11th is a COLORING WORKSHOP featuring this paper at 1 PM or 7 PM in Hurricane, UT…RSVP by Wednesday to ensure you may attend:

The last example of the “Color. Layer. Cluster” principle is demonstrated in a Violet Dreams version, where the “color” part comes from the frame, and the cluster of violets was a pre-printed die cut, making it speedy to craft from start to finish:

While you may not be close enough to attend one of my classes in person, I do have a special offer during JULY 2026: When you order the Violet Dreams Suite Collection from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll get a FREE virtual class, along with the consumable supplies you need to make three projects:

If you are a demonstrator or customer who has purchased this from a different source, OR you only want to order the stamp set and die bundle, you can still register for the virtual class! Learn more HERE.

This formula for designing cards would work with stamped images as well. You may have already created a project following these steps, and didn’t even know it! If the concept is new to you, or clarified, I’d love to hear your thoughts: Does it help to think of creating a card like this?

Thank you for supporting my small business by shopping any of the links ~ Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni

Stampin’ Up!®️ Violet Dreams Appreciation Card

Violet Dreams Suite: 3 for Free!

July 1, 2026July 1, 20261 Comment

I am welcoming new Online Exclusive products in my Stampin’ Store in July with a SPECIAL OFFER, so read the whole post!

This month brings new Stampin’ Up!®️ products from “Fall-idays” to this LOVELY Violet Dreams Suite which will be every purple-lover’s 💜 favorite:

I love writing in PURPLE INK (and have a box full of violet pens) so I’m looking forward to sending some matching messages in the cards I create, and don’t miss how beautiful these products look on a scrapbook page! The suite includes a stamp set, coordinating dies, 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper, Ribbon and the prettiest embellishment blooms.

Dowload July Online Exclusive List

My first project with the Violet Dreams Suite was a simple card using one of the die cuts from the Designer Series Paper as the focal point:

This quick video tip will help you get a perfect layer for any shape of sentiment: Use the outline of the photopolymer stamp to trace & cut the shape FIRST, flip it over (lay on a contrasting background to see where to stamp) and add your saying! While I heat emboss this example, it could simply be stamped in a coordinating color.

It’s been a while, so I’m offering a “3 for Free” Virtual Class with the purchase of the Violet Dreams Suite from my store!

Here’s how it works: When you purchase the Violet Dreams Suite from my Stampin’ Store by July 31st, I’ll send you the rest of the supplies you need to make 3 exclusive cards (which you won’t see anywhere else!) and the link to the craft-along YouTube instructions. Supplies and link will be automatically sent to the address and email on your order!

This is a PERK for my customers, but here are two other ways to participate:

If you choose to order just the Framed Violets BUNDLE (stamps & dies) from my store, I’ll email you an offer to purchase the supplies & Virtual Class for just $10. This offer is also available for demonstrators on MY Sprinkled Ink Team.

If you are a demonstrator or customer who has ordered this from another demonstrator, you may purchase the Violet Dreams Class (includes supplies) for $25. Sign up via PayPal by July 31st.

I DO appreciate you, and love hearing what you are learning, what you are creating, and how I can best serve your art!

Getting AROUND to Piglet & Pooh Bear

May 16, 2026Leave a comment

One of the techniques I wanted to show you with the circle punch was Reverse Masking with a torn edge. This makes for beautiful mountain backgrounds, or in this case, a sunset walk with a friend.

Stampin’ Up!®️ Silly Old Bear card for a friend, reverse masking technique, circle punch, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet

The secret to this technique is MASKING PAPER which you can punch and lightly stick to your card stock so it won’t move. Then I tore the sticky edge of a Post-it note to make the ragged edges, as you can see in this quick video tutorial:

Remember to carefully peel off your Masking Paper once you’ve finished blending the ink. Did you see a few more tricks-of-the trade, like making the banner longer by cutting it in half? And of course, add this technique to your circle punch repertoire as a card maker.

One thing to note: Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends are the *PERFECT* colors for Winnie the Pooh, and this iconic friendship duo will warm your heart and your craft room.

Remember: When you invest in the Stampin’ Up!®️ Starter Kit this month, you could choose the 2026-2028 In Color Ink Pads as a BONUS!

Product List

Sweet Old Friends Bundle

Sweet Words & Labels Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

Party Banners Dies

Silly Old Bear 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

Barely Blush 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Golden Glow 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Barely Blush Classic Stampin Pad

Hydrangea Hue Classic Stampin' Pad

Golden Glow Classic Stampin' Pad

Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin Pad

Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Barely Blush Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Hydrangea Hue Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Stampin' Seal

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Up! Masking Paper

2 3/8" (6 Cm) Circle Punch

Small Blending Brushes

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

Product List

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

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

Daffodil Card Stampin’ Up!®️ Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebrations

Another Wonderful Year Daffodil Card

February 28, 2026February 28, 2026Leave a comment

Day number 6 for our Reasons & Seasons #celebrationcombination week using the Stampin’ Up!®️ Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebrations stamp sets, which were designed to stamp bold images with sensational sentiments together.

Some of these occasions which occur at the beginning of the year aren’t given the attention they deserve. For instance, have you ever thought of sending NEW YEAR cards instead of Christmas cards? While I haven’t shared a New Year card with this set here on my blog, my VIP Facebook Group did get to see the card I created for the turning of the year! When you make an order from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll be invited to join the VIP group, which gets EXTRA inspiration shared with them.

Let’s move on to the combination card, which could be for a birthday, and anniversary or any yearly celebration:

Yellow and Purple are complementary colors, so when I was considering what colors to pair with this daffodil, Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape popped into mind!

Remember the die we used on the missing middle Special Day card earlier this week? It also makes a lovely scalloped edge for a focal point! I also grabbed the background die from the same Lovely Arrangement die set to create a peek-through background from the Garden Green layer.

TIP: The perfect size for the Gorgeous Grape rectangle inside the scallops is 3-1/8″ x 1-15/16″ and yes, that is an unusual measurement, but it perfectly layers over the circles! The Basic White layer is 3″ x 1-13/16″ (or one tick over 1-3/4″)

Adding a circle for the sentiment embossed in white mirrors the scallops and pulls the purple in one more time.

I’ve loved these bold stamps for striking images paired with celebratory sentiments, haven’t you? Because they are flat, there is no coloring required, though I’ve done a bit of fussy cutting, as there are no dies to coordinate with the images…but they are super easy to cut out!

Your comments fuel my creativity, so please pause and say hello!

Product List

One more card left- see you MONDAY! ~ Loni Spendlove

Christmas Ornament in a Flip-Flap Card

November 5, 2025November 5, 20251 Comment

There have been a lot of MAILABLE GIFT IDEAS shared on my website this year, thus, it’s fitting that we add an ornament featuring the large Gold Hoops (also from my store) that could be hung on a Christmas tree. Awesomely, Stampin’ Up!’s new 4″ x 4″ FLIP-FLAPS allow the ornament to double as the decoration for the front of the card, and I have a video tutorial to help you learn how to make one!

By folding the Flip Flap pocket over the front of the card, you can slide the ornament inside and lift the flap to open and get it out. NOTE: In my tutorial, I adhered the flip flap to the inside layer, but you’ll want to adhere it to the back panel inside the card instead, so the ornament doesn’t fall out until you open the flap!

Using the Modern Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper and “A Child is Born” stamp set was an elegant combination, don’t you agree?

This next version was inspired by an ornament my teammate Angaleen taught us in our November team virtual Stamp & Chat meeting, and uses the North Pole Delivery Specialty Designer Series Paper, which includes printed die cuts:

Here’s how it looks when you open it up, and the back side of the ornament:

I didn’t use the Gold Hoop on this version, but will on the last one. Use any punch or die for your leaves. The recently retired “Bough Punch” was on my desk, so that’s what I grabbed for both the North Pole card and the next one, featuring my favorite Designer Series Paper from last year (and still available online), Nests of Winter.

The birds were fussy cut from the patterned paper and the sentiments came from the Traditional Labels bundle. I added some Cherry Cobbler delicate details from the Branching Out dies along the top and bottom of the Flip-Flap for this card (TIP: Add a piece of adhesive sheet to the card stock BEFORE you die cut them out, to make the berry branch stick without mess!)

Here is the card opened:

Ready to craft along with me? Watch the video (and rest assured, I usually don’t have such a beastly time with Stampin’ Seal + !!!). THANKS IN ADVANCE for choosing to shop with me! It allows me to have the time and resources to share more ideas with you without charging for the tutorials.

If you find these instructions useful, please shop by clicking any of the links to the products listed above! Another way to show your support: Scroll back to the comment section at the top of the post near the date and leave a COMMENT!

FINAL TIP for this card idea: Score your 4″ x 4″ Flip Flap at 4-1/4″ (the score will be close to the side with adhesive) before you attach it to the inside back panel of your card, so it folds over the front and lays flat.

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Witches Wear Pink Halloween Card

September 10, 2025Leave a comment

Annabelle Broom is a non-conformist witch who would rather help than hinder, and is the protagonist of a children’s musical play = one source of inspiration for this cute Halloween card! The other prompt for my color choices was the #tgifc541 color challenge of Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger and Secret Sea:

Secret Sea is a deep, dark navy blue, which is really lovely in real life, and a perfect substitute for black in Halloween cards. Using Basic Beige as my neutral background gave my card a bewitching-hour feel.

As Annabelle would rather wear PINK than black, this fantastic feline witch asserts her fashion sense with a pink (Strawberry Slush) tutu and is ready to fly to help lost children on her trusty broom!

If Spooky Season is your favorite, here are two opportunities to craft with me virtually, or in person:

Spooky Sweet VIRTUAL Crafting Class: Thursday, October 2nd at 4 pm MT

The video craft-along instructions will be broadcast on a private YouTube for those who register AND purchase the Spooky Sweet Suite Collection (an Online Exclusive). If you order the Suite from my store, the class is just $10 (includes shipping to you) and I’ll email asking if you’d like to join the class. Craft along LIVE with me -OR- watch later at your convenience.

Class kit includes card stock and envelopes, dimensionals, cutting guide and goodies for creating 5 projects SO CUTE, THEY ARE SPOOKY! ALSO NEEDED (not included): Adhesive, Paper Trimmer, Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad and the following Stampin’ Blends: Granny Apple Green, Petunia Pop, Pumpkin Pie, Smoky Slate.

If you have purchased the suite collection from another demonstrator (or as a demonstrator), the fee is $20 – contact me to register before September 22nd!

If you live in the Southern Utah area, you’ll want to come to the Cookies, Cards & Cocoa class at the Strap Tank Restaurant on October 16th, where you’ll learn to decorate 4 sugar cookies with LoveCookies Bakery and 2 paper crafting projects with me (DIFFERENT than the ones at the virtual class).

Register Here

Looking forward to brewing up some spooky sweet crafting with you!

Product List

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

New at SU! CASING Annette with Sunflowers

August 20, 2025August 18, 20255 Comments

With so many brilliant crafters in our New at SU! design team, the inspiration is always at our fingertips and this month I’m CASE-ing (Copy and Share Everything) the very artistic Annette Elias (De Kijkkast) with my Sunflower card:

This was Annette’s Amaryllis card from our December 2024 New at SU! hop:

I admired the unusual square shape of the card (mine is 5-1/4″ square), and all the amazing layers and details, though my version is simplified. The torn Designer Series Paper across the front was really beautiful! You can compare our cards side-by-side:

You can tell I prefer quick and easy crafting while Annette is an AVID crafter, but we can be inspired by each other!

The Sunflower 3-D embossing folder has been pretty popular this summer, and the sunflower paper (from Floral Impressions Designer Series Paper) lays over embossed and stamped sunflowers. I cut out one of the flowers and leaves to become my focal point. By using a sponge dauber and Pecan Pie ink pad, I make the center darker, and defined the petals.

Use the corners torn from the DSP to embellish the front of an envelope to let the recipient know they are about to open a delightfully sunny surprise!

Now you can hop over the Annette’s post to see how she copied Rochelle (of Stampinflair.com) and remember to PIN your favorite finds from our blog hop!

August 2025 New at SU! Hop: CASE a Design Team Member

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- CASING Annette with Sunflowers

2.De Kijkkast (NL) – CAS-ing Rochelle with Shabby Roses

3.Stamping Flair (AU) – CASING Anke with Beautiful Gallery

4.scraphexe (DE) – CASING Diane with Artistic Leaves

5.247 Inkspiration (US) – CASING Karen with Florals In Bloom

6.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – CASING Jan with Painterly Pears

7.iHeartCards2 (US) – CASING Rachel with Spooky Sweet

8.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)-CASING Amanda with Poppin’ By

9.Did You Stamp Today? (USA) – CASING Loni with A Little Banner Christm

Product List

HINT: Both Floral Impressions Designer Series Paper and Darling Duckling card stock are 15% off this month during the 2025-2027 In Color Sale!

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Sunflowers & Tractors

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025Leave a comment

Did you know Stampin’ Up!®️ releases NEW products every other month? July is one of those months, and I wanted to mix two of the new items together for a large slimline card: The T ractor & Co. bundle (photopolymer stamps + dies) and the fabulous Sunflower 3D embossing folder!

To make the sunflowers pop, after you’ve embossed an 8.25″ x 3.25″ of Darling Duckling card stock with this extra-large embossing folder, drag the Garden Green ink pad across the flat side (where the flowers are pushed down, not up).

An 8.5″ x 3.5″ Garden Green Mat behind the sunflowers frames it nicely, and the tractor is popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

The Pool Party card base is 9″ wide and 8″ tall, scored in half at 4″. This fits into a legal sized envelope.

Product List

Those are just two of the new products launched yesterday! Also check out the two new KITS for July (click on images to see the kits):

One more thing I’m looking forward to this month is the Sweeter With You Paper Pumpkin kit! In case you aren’t familiar with Paper Pumpkin, it’s a craft kit subscription by mail, and each kit includes an exclusive stamp set, ink spot and all the supplies prepared for you to enjoy a stress-free moment of creativity!

Each quarter, a coordinating set of dies is also offered to Paper Pumpkin subscribers, and they match all the kits released in those three months. The Circle of Seasons die set is only $12 and the strawberry die will also create an acorn (hint at the September kit!):

My Paper Pumpkin subscribers also receive a special email from me on the last week of the month, with ideas to use the stamp set, ink spot and add-on dies AFTER the kit is complete! I know you’d look forward to a kit in your mailbox each month, so give it a try!

Check out all the new products released this month HERE: