Mailable Gift for Men

June 12, 20251 Comment

Adding to the growing “Mailable Gifts” list (you’ll want to PIN or bookmark that link) ~ this time it’s one a guy would appreciate!

Since it’s Father’s Day, I like to remember my sons and sons-in-love (I do the same for the girls on Mother’s Day). A gift card for a CAR WASH doesn’t break the bank (when you have many gifts to mail), and when I was at Quick Quack Car Wash purchasing gift cards, I saw that they also had AIR FRESHENERS for just $1!!

Of course, I had to come back to make a slimline card that would fit both the Duck Scent and the gift card! The Stampin’ Up!®️ Party Alphabet dies are large enough to show off the contrasting pattern on the front, and this is the inside of the card style:

I did have to cut off just a bit of the bottom of the “Duck Scents” to fit into a small envelope (as shown) – it’s a 6 3/4″ security envelope, like you can buy a box of at Dollar Tree. The card size is 3.5″ x 6.25″ when folded, and I’ll give you material measurements in just a moment.

One thing you will have to do is manipulate the sentiment on your clear block, so it will curve around the first letter, and fit on the Designer Series Paper. That’s easy to do with Stampin’ Up!®️ photopolymer stamps, like the Everyday Arches set I used for this card. Make sure to stamp this sentiment close to the left side of the patterned paper so you have room for the letters!

I’m here to make all the mistakes so you don’t have to- I had to make this card style 3 times before I got it right! Once I got it down, I made multiple versions. Here are the measurements:

11″ x 3.5″ cardstock for card base, scored at 6.25″ and 9.75″ (fold the smallest flap over and secure edges with Tear & Tape adhesive to create a pocket for a gift card).
Designer Series Paper for front layer: 6″ x 3.25″
Cardstock for inside of card: 5-7/8″ x 3-1/8″
Designer Series Paper AND card stock for 3 letters (and the shadow behind them): 2.5″ x 5″

Stamp any designs you want on your letters (like the birds) BEFORE you offset the card stock behind them for a shadow effect, then pop them up on the front of your card with dimensionals.

These cards turned out terrific with a combination of papers from the Everyday Skies 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper pack! Supplies listed below, and the SON card uses Cajun Craze, Blueberry Bushel and Cloud Cover (inside) card stock; the DAD card uses Azure Afternoon, Blackberry Bliss and Basic White (inside) card stock.

Would you give this card style a try? Leave me a comment (at top of post, next to the posting date) to let me know how you like it.

Product List

Fantastic Dad Slimline card with Stampin' Up! Party Alphabet dies

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

A Sketch to Show a Palette

May 5, 2025May 15, 2025Leave a comment

As I prepare for my annual Stampin’ Soiree & BOGO Sale this Saturday (featuring a NEW Stampin’ Up!®️ Catalog and Online Exclusives), I wanted to make a few samples with some of the fresh products coming tomorrow, May 6th! Since multi-tasking is the only way this one-woman show can get things done, I chose a simple sketch, which doubles as a way to show the color palette, and used it for my lunchtime live crafting video, too:

The first card I demonstrated was inspired by the #tgifc523 color challenge of Petnunia Pop, Balmy Blue and Daffodil Delight:

Starting simple – no mat on this card (though you certainly could add one), I stamped flowers from a new Online Exclusive bundle, Impressions Abloom on top of the 3-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ panel, then added 1-3/16″ squares of the colored card stock to the bottom:

When crafting from a sketch, give yourself some freedom to make changes! I didn’t add the palette to the Poppin’ By card, but used the darling filmstrip die to add the border at the bottom:

My favorite thing about this set is probably the tennis shoes you could add to the bucket of popcorn:

Moving along, let’s take that sketch and turn it SIDEWAYS, which is what I did for the Notes & Totes bundle from the new catalog, which I paired with the 2025-2027 In Colors (from bottom to top: Secret Sea, Timid Tiger, Cloud Cover, Darling Duckling & Strawberry Slush):

And finally, I used some Celebration Expressions Memories & More Cards to make this Happy Birthday card, and my friend Barb’s Million Dollar Stamp Set Layered Thoughts, this time putting the color palette below the main panel:

To see me create two of these cards (and share some tips), watch this:

If one of these new items or colors is something you must have, visit my Stampin’ Store starting on May 6th to make an order, or click on the Stampin’ Supplies link under any card you love.

See all these samples IN PERSON – and MORE – at the Stampin’ Soiree, Saturday May 10th in Hurricane, UT. It’s FREE and open-house style, so plan to drop in with a friend between 1-4 pm!

One more announcement: If your wish list is long, the best value for Saavy Stampin’ Shoppers is the STARTER KIT, and starting tomorrow, May 6th, you can choose MORE in your starter kit, with no strings attached!

Scrapbooking with On the Go

April 30, 20251 Comment

Let me make you feel better about scrapbooking, as we gear up for National Scrapbook Day this Saturday, May 3, 2025! I’m working on photos from 2006 (I am indeed 20 years behind) and my style is “Git ‘er done!” Take a look:

The “On The Go” Suite Collection is a must have for memory keepers who also love to travel! It includes a cling stamp set, coordinating dies, Designer Series Paper, suitcase boxes, twine and puffy stickers (which I will be adding to my page, now that I remembered I have them 🤪). Of course, each product can be purchase individually, as well.

One more way to use your alphabet dies (and in the spirit of the #tgifc522 product challenge) is to use the negative section of the letters you’ve cut out:

Remember to save the centers of letters – like the O, R, P and A – and if you put an adhesive sheet on your paper before die cutting, your letters, the centers and your negative image will already be sticky to put on the page, just like a sticker.

I’m not a person who thinks every scrapbook page has to be a show-piece, or even have a bold title. Especially when creating multiple pages of one event, give yourself permission to make them simple. The people who are looking at your albums are there for the PHOTOS & MEMORIES, not the design and composition! Here’s my next page (another day of our Orlando adventure in 2006) and in case you were wondering, I prefer 8.5″ x 11″ pages because the albums I put them in fit easier on my bookshelf:

Seriously. Just get those photos on the page. Add a cute embellishment, then let your family flip through the walk down memory lane.

Need another push? Join Stampin’ Up! on Social Media this Friday for a free virtual event:

To start (or re-ignite) your passion for preserving your photos, Stampin’ Up!®️ is offering shoppers 2x times the reward points for 2 days on Friday & Saturday on orders over $20:

If you haven’t heard of our new Rewards Program (or don’t have an account with Stampin’ Up!®️) here’s how they work:

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(Plus a piece of Darling Duckling – a 2025-27 In Color coming May 6th)

Arched Wishes Birthday Card, Color Challenge

March 10, 20251 Comment

Rubber stamps should come with a warning label. Once you get a bundle with a punch or set of dies, Stampin’ Up! releases ANOTHER stamp set that coordinates, and then you MUST have it, because it extends the use of the first bundle…and the addiction continues! That’s what happened to me, and look where I am now. 😂

With new Online Exclusive products in my Stampin’ Up! store for March 2025, the Arched Wishes stamp set coordinates with the Everyday Arches Dies (which are essential for every paper crafter):

The TGIF Challenge #tgifc515 is a color combination that felt like a party, so I ran with it!

If you can see the bit of shimmer on the cupcake, it’s from the Wink of Stella pen, and I wanted to use the arch I cut out of the front panel on the inside of the card, so the party continues when you open it up!

The Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder gave the background a bit of texture and added interest, and there are a few other tips I shared in the “How To” video:

Switch it up and stamp the balloons on the back, or add a “Happy Birthday” sentiment in black (an afterthought following my live video). If you prefer not to fussy-cut the sentiment, make it a banner!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve your creative needs! Because of your orders, I am able to continue helping you squeeze the most from your paper crafting art.

Product List

Arched Wishes Cling Stamp Set (English)

Everyday Arches Dies

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

Fresh Freesia Classic Stampin' Pad

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

Blending Brushes

Basics Wow! Embossing Powder

Embossing Additions Tool Kit

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Mini Corrugated 3 D Embossing Folder

Summer Splash Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

Iridescent Adhesive Backed Discs

Stampin' Dimensionals

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Arched Screen Divider Card Tutorial

February 24, 2025February 24, 2025Leave a comment

“and the 2025 winner in the Top Die-Cutting Tool category is……EVERYDAY ARCHES!”

Worthy of a standing ovation, the Stampin’ Up! Everyday Arches Dies (and coordinating stamp set) are truly a non-negotiable necessity in everyone’s craft room. Full stop.

With 10 nesting dies (the largest die is 5-3/16″ x 3-15/16″), you’ll marvel at the full range of crafting abilities of such a basic shape. (In case they are “currently unavailable”, fear not, they’ll be back in stock soon!). I’m here to help you see their potential, starting with the Arched Screen Divider Card:

Don’t arch an eyebrow (ha-ha)…this is just the front. When you open it up, the STAGE IS SET:

As a baby card, you could put a photo of the newborn in the center panel -OR- list their name, birthdate, birth place and vitals (handwritten, if you have lovely writing or print from your computer, if you don’t).

The back side gives more space to add photos or love notes:

What I love best is that the Beatrix Potter vibes make it a perfect decoration on a nursery shelf, or the parents could use each piece in a scrapbook!

A few close ups:

The “Know You are Loved” panel was completed after my demonstration, and it is the perfect fit.

I’ve got different versions to share with you, but first, the instructions in video:

On to the other versions, starting with a birthday card using the Full of Life Designer Series Paper and a sneak peek of the Arched Wishes stamp set, coming in March:

Because there are only 5 days left of Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration, I also had to make an Arched Screen Divider card with one of our freebies:

If the Terrific Toadstool bundle is on your list, don’t put off ordering it even one more second, or you’ll miss out on the Toadstool Gardens Designer Series Paper (free choice with $60 purchase by February 28, 2025)!

Tell me what you think of this card (comment section at top of post, by title and date posted) and you may receive the toadstool version in the mail!

For the Storybook Moments Baby card, you’ll need:

Product List

Adventure Together- Reach for the Stars

January 31, 2025Leave a comment

Have you browsed through the Online Exclusive section of my Stampin’ Up! store recently??! There are so many hidden treasures there, and THIS is one of them:

Adventure Together Bundle

I loved the little camper so much that I used it for the last card swap with my Sprinkled Ink team!

This card paired the Stampin’ Up! Adventure Together bundle with the Everyday Skies Suite Collection (another Online Exclusive must-have) for a snapshot of camping under the stars and stories around a fire. Doesn’t it make you yearn for warmer weather?

It was wonderful to see how it paired with many of the designs in the Everyday Skies Designer Series Paper, and this one shows a different color combination and skyscape:

Which do you prefer- The blue night sky filled with stars or the purple clouds of the evening sunset? Comments are at the top of the post near the date!

Product List

Adventure Together Bundle (English)

Everyday Arches Bundle (English)

Everyday Skies 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

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

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Fresh Freesia 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad

Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Bubble Bath Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Stampin' Seal

Stampin' Dimensionals

Two Tone Sparkle Gems

New at SU!- Tied Up with Bows

December 18, 2024December 17, 20242 Comments

It’s Ribbon Week here on the Creative Juice Blog, and the New at SU! design team theme for December is “Tied Up with Bows” ~ so I went BIG with the bow on this slimline card, featuring the Happy Hibiscus, a NEW Online Exclusive bundle:

Wrapping a ribbon around a layer on your card gives it a nice finish, and you don’t see the ribbon from the inside of the card.

Before I tied the ribbon, I cut a length of the Silver & White Sheer ribbon in half down the center and laid two loops on my knot, then tied them inside the bow, giving it extra “fluff”:

The Happy Hibiscus bundle includes a 3-D Hybrid embossing folder (which cuts and embosses flowers at the same time, should you so desire), and I just pulled my Whisper White ink pad across the embossed Smoky Slate card stock to bring the embossing out.

I chose to HEAT EMBOSS the large flower, then watercolored it using Pretty In Pink ink and a Water Painter, before die cutting it out. The blossoms and leaves are also watercolored.

I will use this card for my next team member who promotes to Silver, though it would also be a lovely wedding card! Plus: a matching envelope. Finished size: 6″ x 3.5″

Before you move on to the next ribbon/bow project, what is your current favorite Stampin’ Up! ribbon? Tell me in a comment section (at the top of this post, by the date)!

Visit our international inspiration at each stop below, and PIN or save your favorite ideas:

December New at SU! Hop: Tied Up with Bows

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Crafters Northwest (USA)- Pretty & Practical Last Minute Gift Wra

2.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Cake Celebrations

3.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Happy Hibiscus Tied Up With a Bow! ***YOU ARE HERE***

4.Stamping Flair (AU) – Sophisticated Sled

5.Stampinxime by Ximena Morales (DE) – Weihnachtsrahmen

6.Astrids Papiereuphorie (AT) – Goodie mit Schleife

7.scraphexe (DE) – Baum mit Schleife

8.De Kijkkast (NL) – Driving home for Christmas with a bow!

9.iHeartCards2 (US) – Tied Up With Bows Snowy Wonder

10.24-7 Inkspiration (US) – Pool Party Pompoms

11.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (USA)- Knot a Bow

Product List

Adding Ribbon to a Handmade Card & Paper Share!

December 16, 2024Leave a comment

Are you in a rut of tying a ribbon around a card in the SAME WAY all the time? With so many unique ways to use ribbon on your hand-stamped creations, let’s explore just a few ideas! VIDEO TUTORIAL BELOW

First, try using your ribbon as a background: This Pool Party pompom ribbon is in the “Last Chance” section of my Stampin’ Store, and I’ve paired it with a Sale-a-Bration 2025 stamp set “Day to Celebrate” for this celebratory card. Consider planning ahead, because you’ll want some of this ribbon on hand once you can select this stamp set free (with a $60 order) in January!

Next, there are plenty of crafters who despise having to tie a bow! Weird, but true. So this one is a FAUX BOW and so easy to do (see video). NO BOW TYING REQUIRED. This non-traditional valentine is a second peek at a bundle coming in the January-April 2025 mini catalog called “Hugs for Love” and comes with the To The Point Label punch. The Cherry Cobbler & Gold ribbon looks lovely on Wild Wheat card stock, and gives it a use beyond Christmas:

Next up, not only is it pretty to have two different ribbon types, when you use twine to tie the second bow, it is less bumpy to mail! However, this project may get a little bumpy when you add a package of flower seeds to the pocket:

Another preview of some products coming soon…and the good news is that the Storybook Moments Specialty Designer Series Paper, Timeless Plaid Designer Series Paper AND the Petal Pink 3/8″ Scalloped Ribbon are all part of my Designer Series Paper & Ribbon Share

You’ll receive SIXTY-ONE 6″ x 6″ pieces of every Designer Series Paper in the Jan-Apr Mini Catalog AND January Online Exclusive products (not all paper is shown, just a sample). BONUS: Add a sampler of the 4 new ribbons (2.5 yards each), and you’ll have plenty of coordinating products to play with.

Reserve a Paper and/or Ribbon Share by January 7th!

But wait! I have two more ribbon ideas for you!

Have you ever created a gathered edge with a ribbon? Let it peek out from below a sentiment like this Black & Vanilla Large Check RIbbon ruffle on a piece of home-sweet-camper framed decor:

Yep- that’s another “first look” at the Adventure Together bundle (a January Online Exclusive) AND the Everyday Skies Designer Series Paper (included in the Paper Share).

And finally (or at first in the demonstration video), a unique way to tie a bow on a gift box- FAST. Just wait until you see how the bow keeps the ribbon in place! I used the Silver & White Sheer Ribbon:

AT LAST! Here’s the tutorial to watch:

Really looking forward to hearing what you think of these ideas of ways to use Stampin’ Up! ribbon on handmade greeting cards, gifts and more.

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!

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!