Friendly Seagulls Valentine Cards

January 13, 2025January 13, 20251 Comment

Now is the time to plan and create your Valentine cards, and since it’s Sale-a-Bration time at Stampin’ Up!, I knew you would enjoy using one of the products you could get FREE (with a qualifying order before Feb. 28th). The Friendly Seagull stamp set was the first thing I chose, because it’s so stinkin’ cute!

This card was speedy to put together because I followed the TGIF Sketch #tgifc507

A bit of diagonal embossing keeps the background clean and simple, but adds texture, while the seagull’s favorite snack becomes the added embellishment!

But if you dislike fussy cutting, I get it. When I don’t feel like trimming around an image, I reach for a punch to do the work, like the Heartfelt Hexagon. It made both the Simple and Stepped Up version of this card easy to create:

For the Stepped-Up version, I added dimension with the light Pool Party Stampin’ Blends marker and embossed the sentiments:

TIP: Order early in January to select Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration items you love (like the Friendly Seagull stamp set), so you can order AGAIN in February for MORE FREEBIES! There are products to choose with each $60 you order, and some that are options at $120 orders:

Watch the tutorial for both cards here, plus get a sneak peek of a card I’ll be sharing later this week, then add the supplies to your cart below and start stamping your own:

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While the little heart patterned paper I used was leftover from the Bee My Valentine Paper from last year, there IS a re-colored version of the same paper just released in the January Scrapbooking brochure and it’s called “Cute as Can Bee”. You could mix up the colors and create a Petunia Pop/Bubble Bath version of these cards! The heart design is in the lower right corner:

Ready for MORE Valentines? Join me in Southern Utah this Thursday for the Love, Hugs & Valentine’s Class! RSVP TODAY!

Embossed Fault-Line Cards

December 30, 20244 Comments

If this was a contest, you would have OVERWHELMINGLY voted for the Fault Line Cards as BEST OF SHOW! Since they have been such a hit, I wanted to try an EMBOSSED version, and they are just as show-stopping as the originals, just take a look (watch the video tutorial)…

The Happy Hibiscus bundle includes a photopolymer stamp set, hybrid embossing folder and coordinating dies. With all that divine coordination, it was a lovely choice for this project! This time I started with a 4.25″ x 9″ card base and pulled a white craft ink pad across the embossed Melon Mambo card stock to make the flowers pop.

Next, I used the Eyelet 3D embossing folder to create a background in hues of purple for a few toadstools (arriving January 7th- just in time to add to your cart and qualify for a free Sale-a-Bration product, like the embellishments on the card):

Watch this “How-To” tutorial for making Fault-Line cards of all types:

This version gives you one more look at one of the Designer Series Papers that will be included in the Paper Share (reserve your share by 1/7/25) and it’s called Wildflower Birthday, which is part of a suite of coordinating products in the Stampin’ Up! 2025 Jan-April mini catalog.

It is destined for one of my team members who has a birthday in January, and I know she’ll love it!

Not all products are available in my Stampin’ Store until January 7th, but here are the ones you can save to your cart now, or JOIN MY TEAM AND GET IN ON THE PREORDER immediately:

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Click image to reserve your paper share

“Thank You for the Gift” Notecards

December 29, 2024December 28, 2024Leave a comment

When was the last time you sent a thank you card for a gift you received? (Full transparency: This is something I need to do more of) Since it’s less than a week from Christmas, this is OUR chance to be gracious and grateful.

This Thank You card was designed to be speedy and simple to stamp, plus I’m using Stampin’ Up! Notecards & Envelopes, so they are pre-cut and scored. No excuses here!

The Humble Home bundle includes all the stamps you need, plus the Home Builder Punch. You can literally create a stack of these in just minutes.

To make it easy for you, too, print off the tutorial, then add the supplies you need to your cart below.

Print Humble Home Notecard Tutorial

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Humble Home Bundle (English)

Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes

Basic Beige 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Basic Beige Classic Stampin Pad

Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

Mini Glue Dots

Stampin' Dimensionals

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.

Getting A Little Bit Festive & Free Ship Days

December 9, 2024Leave a comment

The holidays should be festive and fun, NOT stressful! These fast last-minute projects meet both requirements because the thoughtfully patterned paper AND ready-to-use elements are simply delightful to mix and match:

A Little Bit Festive Designer Series Paper pack is in the LAST CHANCE list and some folks claim to have created up to 30 Christmas cards from the pack, just by added card stock bases, as shown above. They will all be unique, as there are no duplicate images.

Step up your card creations with the Gold-Dipped Cards & Envelope pack: All you have to do is fold them in half and add your focal points! Heat embossing a greeting is one way to add more shine, and many of the Little Bit Festive ephemera pieces also have gold foil details:

Easier to see the shine in the demonstration video:

Two more projects I created with this pack were:

An 8.5″ x 11″ scrapbook page layout. This was still very simple to make, and I could write a whole journal about my hot cocoa obsession…just need to take a few photos and add them!

And finally, this true “Busted Canvas” home decor piece! While not quite as quick as the other projects, it really didn’t take much longer to create, once the Mod Podge was dried on the front.

Grouping a bunch of the die cuts together makes an adorable vignette of all things Christmas!

Happy News! There are THREE FREE SHIPPING DAYS on orders over $75 going on from Dec 9-11, 2024!

Free shipping automatically applies to your cart after the qualifying amount has been met, which is $75

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Pink Goes Good with Green

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024Leave a comment

In a touching moment when two different girls connect as friends in the movie “WICKED”, Galinda makes the (grammatically incorrect) observation that “Pink goes good with green,” and it’s true not only because these two colors are part of a triad of colors that are proved to coordinate!

I met Cathy (and Janet, across the street from her) when I moved to Southern Utah in 1973 and we became dear friends and playmates. Something we ALWAYS looked forward to each year was the evening that the WIZARD OF OZ movie was shown on television, and since we had to watch it at the time it was scheduled to be broadcast (no “on demand video” back then), we made it a watch PARTY!

2024 was the 75th anniversary of the classic film, so we went to view it in the theater in January (with our friend Jolene, left, as Janet was out of town).

They have a poster from the Wizard of Oz hanging in the theater, as Cathy is pointing out. OBVIOUSLY, we had to repeat the party when WICKED arrived in theaters last month…however…guess who forgot to take a photo while 8 of us were gathered at the movie…

Never fear, we meet for lunch about once a month, and I’m going to snap a picture of us in December

This 2-page 8.5″ x 11″ layout was created in landscape orientation so you can imagine that it would make a terrific 12″ x 12″ layout as well. The teeny-tiny stars connect the pages from top to bottom, with a bit of sparkle. Isn’t it WONDERFUL that WICKED gave us a reason to use the Spells & Potions dies for more than Halloween? They may not last long, so don’t hesitate to grab them if you think you may want to use a broomstick or a witch hat for any memory keeping.

The titles on these pages come from the musical number “For Good” which will be in PART 2 of WICKED, coming to theaters in November 2025. This song really captures how a friend can make us better through their good influence, and I can say that Cathy has shaped who I’ve become. She is loyal, filled with faith, and truly good. BONUS: She has the world’s best MEMORY, so as friends, we rely on her to remember the things we don’t!

Some handy tips are shared in the “How-To” Video for laying out titles and extending an embossed design when the folder is small, among other things:

Follow me on Facebook for more Pink & Green projects this week!

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Fanc-ify with Christmas Labels

November 12, 2024November 12, 2024Leave a comment

Perhaps it’s the reader in me, but I am a typophile (someone who appreciates a pretty FONT). Stampin’ Up! combined lovely label dies with the gorgeous typography in the Christmas Labels stamp set, and it was a must-have BUNDLE for me.

The way a label can elevate a simple card or gift is what I wanted to demonstrate in a video tutorial:

These were the projects made during the video. The first card features the Season of Green & Gold Specialty Designer Series Paper, and the shiny gold accents aren’t as visible in the picture, but can be seen in the video:

Next is another simple card layout spotlighting a piece of the Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper, and showed how to create a contrasting matte behind the label by cutting a second label in half:

I’m sharing easy cards to encourage you to keep your holiday crafting attainable! No need to overthink it, or add stress.

Layer a color over the center of the larger label for a striking contrast, add a coordinating ribbon and the tag makes a basic box beautiful:

When bundles (stamps + dies -OR- stamps + punches) are introduced to my Stampin’ Store, they are 10% off the price of purchasing each product individually. CLARIFICATION: In the video, we thought the Christmas Label bundle and Christmas DSP would be in Seasonal Sale that begins tomorrow (11/13/24), however we learned that only bundles and patterned paper in the Annual catalog are included in the Seasonal sale, along with most ink and card stock:

Peppermint Gift Crate

November 7, 2024Leave a comment

As you begin to think about gifting, don’t overlook the supplies you already have! Pair your stamps and patterned paper with a small wooden crate (found at 💲🌳) and create packaging so sweet:

The Take a Bow Designer Series Paper has candy cane vibes, and a few thin strips can be attached with a good coating of Liquid Glue to the slats on the box, then add a label with a sentiment. Finish it off with stamped adornments and embellishments (the tiny Peppermints will be back in stock mid-November) and fill your crate!

The More than Autumn bundle has truly been scrumptious to play with! Filled with mouth-watering treats for Fall AND BEYOND, you’d regret not having it in your stamping studio.

Here’s a treat for you: Download the .pdf tutorial for this project today 👇🏼

Peppermint Crate Tutorial

Did you know I also send exclusive tutorials in my email newsletters to customers? PLUS my Paper Pumpkin subscribers get their own special “Pumpkin Patch” email at the end of each month.

Diagonal-Lock Fun-Fold Card

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024Leave a comment

Fans of fun-fold cards, you’ll love the simplicity of this idea, which I call a Diagonal-Lock card, because of the way the front of the card locks into the back of the card. Don’t miss the video tutorial in this post!

For this first version, I paired a muted piece of the Sweet Days of Autumn Designer Series Paper pattern that I could write a message on for the INSIDE of the card, while using the fun forest friends on the front of the card. The leaves and sentiment adorning the front are from the Changing Leaves bundle.

The recipient will “unlock” the card to open and this is what the inside looks like:

Basic card instructions:

Start with an 11″ x 4.25″ card, scored in half at 5.5″.
Adhere a 5.5″ x 4.25″ piece of Designer Series Paper to the front AND inside of the card.
Make a small mark in the center of the front and BACK of the card (at 3.5″ for this A2 card size).
Cut diagonally from opposite corners of the open card in to the mark.

The next version for any holiday celebration (this would be a sweet December birthday card) has a 5.25″ x 4″ Designer Series Paper layer for the front, and a diagonally cut HALF piece for the inside, which leaves a mat around the card which frames it nicely. This time I used my beloved More Than Autumn bundle with the Take A Bow patterned paper:

By using half a sheet on the inside, there is still room to write, even when the pattern is bold. PLUS, you can use the other half for a second card:

Grab a sheet of card stock and paper trimmer to craft along with this video tutorial to make a template for this card to keep in your “fun-fold” file:

Finally, since the Nests of Winter paper was sitting on my table, I used the Winterly Tree Top Dies to die cut the bird duo and fussy cut the small bird to craft this version:

Click any link to order supplies and create cards of your own!

I love hearing from you~ scroll to top to leave me a comment.

Don’t forget a Paper Trimmer, which also makes a wonderful gift for a teacher, a budding crafter or a student:

Counting Blessings Book Box Favor

October 29, 2024October 28, 2024Leave a comment

A great DIY is one that is prepared for you to put the finishing touches on, and these darling little book treat box accordion albums double as precious keepsakes, once you add photos and journaling of which blessings you are most grateful for.

The Book Treat Boxes give you the canvas to embellish, and I chose to use the back side of the lovely Splendid Autumn Designer Series Paper to cover my boxes, because it looks like colored leather or parchment, perfect for my vision of classic books:

Embossing the sentiment on the piece cut from the frame in the Splendid Autumn bundle adds a old-fashioned title to the album, and the Mini Alphabet dies personalizes the book.

You could fill these boxes with treats, but I chose to make a Gratitude album. Open it up and pull out the pages to add photos of who or what you are thankful for, and journal why they matter to you. You can add at least TWO strips of 3.25″ x 12″ card stock (scored every 2.5″) end-to-end to make long accordion pages, though this is just one strip: