Branches Through a Window for #gdp514

September 16, 2025September 15, 2025Leave a comment

There was one piece of Silent Snowfall Specialty Designer Series Paper left on my desk after cutting and mailing all the September paper shares, then I saw the Global Design Project sketch for the week, and imagined looking out a window on a quiet winter afternoon…

Here’s the prompt for the #gdp514 sketch:

Rummaged through more patterned paper for some worthy “wallpaper” and found the back side of one of the Autumn Toile papers would be perfect (isn’t the “front” or “back” irrelevant? The FRONT is whichever you want to use!).

Once it was adhered to the front, I cut the smaller arch from both layers, then added a dark wood window casing by cutting out two nested arches. In this picture you can really see the detail through the window:

The Silent Snowfall paper has a snowflake pattern dry embossed into it, so I heat embossed some random snowflake dots from the Branching Out stamp set over the debossed side to break up the repeating pattern and help it feel more natural and random. Once it was dry, I used a brayer to roll Cloud Cover ink over the top – the inlaid snowflakes are deep enough they don’t get any ink inside. I know that we don’t have a large Cloud Cover ink pad: You can use the refill to ink up an empty stampin’ spot, or use a piece of felt as the ink pad by squeezing some ink onto it.

Once the branches were stamped over the snowflakes, that layer was adhered to a 4″ x 5.25″ Cloud Cover card inside (8″ x 10.5″ when open), with the fold on the right:

This “card-in-a-card” design allows you to catch a few snowflakes on your tongue as you continue to unfold the greeting!

Finally, you open the inside to find a large area to write all the details a friend would love to hear from you.

Tomorrow, I’ll be mashing up the Branching Out bundle (there is a set of dies that coordinate with the stamp set) with another new bundle from the 2025 Sept-Dec Mini Catalog, and you’ll want to add it to your cart when you see how essential it is.

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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!

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Facing the Sun with Love & Courage

September 6, 2025September 5, 2025Leave a comment

A new CROP of craft supplies has been released this week online and with the new Stampin’ Up! 2025 September-December Mini catalog, and you’ll want to pick a few things to perk up your stamping space. Top of my list was the Love & Courage stamp set, which will be used whenever I want to send support to a friend fighting cancer, or any other life challenges:

Not only will my handmade hugs (a.k.a. cards) be filled with hope, but my purchase was a donation, too!

Of course, there will be plenty of pink cards crafted with this stamp set, but today I wanted to use yellow:

The Sunflower 3D embossing folder matches this set perfectly, and I know the gingham ribbon is retired, but this card just HAD to have it. Don’t you agree that it would brighten up the mailbox of someone who needs courage to face the day?

To give it a little more sparkle, I painted with Wink of Stella over the flower: It gives it a shimmery-shine as the card is tilted:

This stamp set is one of the LAST RED RUBBER stamps Stampin’ Up! will offer, as they recently announced that the raw material was becoming too difficult to procure. It makes me a tad nostalgic, for I fell in love with red rubber 33 years ago this month, when I became a demonstrator.

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Love & Courage Cling Stamp Set (English)

Sunflower 3 D Embossing Folder

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

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

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Dynamic Backgrounds with 6×6 Patterned Paper

September 1, 2025Leave a comment

Have ever looked at a stack of pretty designer series paper and think, “It’s too pretty to cut”? I hear you—but here’s the good news: when you do cut it, you can get the most out of every single sheet! I created this cutting map that turns any 6” x 6” piece of designer paper into perfectly sized layers for the front of your cards:

In my live video today, I walked through the process step by step and made the card shown here from the Autumn Toile pack of paper that will be available on September 2nd. (You’ll find the replay below if you want to craft along!) The cutting map is below so you can print it out, tuck it near your paper trimmer, and use it anytime you want to make lovely layers of backgrounds for your greeting cards.

The first cut you make (circled) will be 3-7/8″ into the square. The second cut will be to cut the leftover pattern down to 4-1/2″ tall, then other cuts as shown.

Layer the two large rectangles on a contrasting card stock base, and the two long strips go on a piece of card stock that is 2-1/2″ x 4-3/4″, which can be attached with dimensionals to either the left or right side of the front of the card.

For my samples, I used a mix of Stampin’ Up! designer series paper. Four of the patterns come straight from the September Paper Share I’m offering — fifty-three 6″ x 6″ sheets of Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, all cut down and ready for you to create with. It’s a perfect way to try every new design without committing to full packs, and it gives you plenty of variety for projects like this.

My last two examples of this sketch feature the Painterly Pears Suite and the Spooky Sweet Suite. Isn’t it terrific how the same cutting map works across completely different styles—fall-inspired pumpkins, happy holiday greetings, fresh pears, or playful Halloween motifs?! It’s proof that a simple template can stretch your supplies and spark new ideas.

Whether you’re making cards in bulk or just want a foolproof way to get more from your paper, this card design is one you’ll use again and again. Scroll down for the video, save all six card samples, and grab your trimmer—you’ll be amazed how quickly 6” x 6” papers can turn into a gallery of handmade cards.

The 1″ x 3-7/8″ piece from the cutting map goes INSIDE the cards, like this:

It’s my intent to return and show you why you may want to save the top right corner pieces (1-1/2″ x 2-1/8″)… hoping I remember to do it soon!

TWO more opportunities before you go:

The Autumn Toile paper (on the first card I demonstrated) coordinates with the September Paper Pumpkin kit, so if you adore autumn and those detailed designs, you will certainly want to subscribe by September 10th to receive a fall-filled box of coordinating crafting!
While the Spooky Sweet Suite paper is NOT included in the Paper Share, I *WILL* be teaching a Virtual Halloween class with the suite on October 2nd – Add the suite to your cart for an invitation to join the party, or visit the Facebook event page (link above) to find out how to register.

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

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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

Dinosaur Quarter Fold Card

August 18, 2025August 15, 2025Leave a comment

Some cards just make you grin from the moment you start cutting paper. This one certainly did—because honestly, how can you not smile at a trio of darling dinos in perfectly coordinated colors?

For this design, I paired three of the 2025-2027 In Colors—Timid Tiger, Cloud Cover and Secret Sea —with a fresh pop of Old Olive. The bold contrast gives each dinosaur its own “personality,” while the embossed background panels add texture without overwhelming the scene.

But wait- there is more to discover as you dig in to this fun-fold card! We call it a “Quarter Fold”:

It’s a greeting card that works for all ages—kids will love the creatures, and adults will appreciate the wink of whimsy. It’s easier to make than you think: 2 card bases (one long, one wide) overlap each other, and close like the top of a box. To help you create your own, I’ve got a tutorial to download and print so you can refer to it anytime~

Download Dino Quarter Fold Tutorial

Working with In Colors is one of my favorite ways to keep my cards looking fresh without overthinking. Stampin’ Up! has done the color-coordinating work, so all I have to do is choose my favorites and let the creativity flow. With the August 2025 In-Color sale, even dinosaurs know to nod YES to new colors!

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Farm’s Best Tractor Card

August 11, 2025September 5, 2025Leave a comment

The Tractor & Co. stamp set was on my desk when I saw the Global Design Project color challenge:

And that’s how I got to this:

But let me back up (pun intended):

I’ve been making samples for Fall StampFest (spoiler alert!) and while I was doing some “research” on social media, these bright colors – Darling Duckling, Poppy Parade & Pool Party – scrolled by, and then I couldn’t really get any work done until I pulled the colors out and put it onto paper, so-to-speak.

Plaid, cornfields and tractors MUST go together, but I also love a peek of the torn leafy Darling Duckling Designer Series Paper, just beneath the farm vehicle.

But my FAVORITE detail is the blue ribbon! Can you tell what I used to make it?

The ribbon medallion is made with the TIRE DIES!

Pull in a sentiment from the “More than Autumn” stamp set and the card is worthy of grand prize at the county fair, don’t you think?

Another winning opportunity: Darling Duckling is a 2025-2027 IN COLOR, thus the ink, card stock and the patterned paper are all on sale for 15% off during August 2025!

When you are ready to make a tractor card of your own, you can add all the supplies you need to your cart here:

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Dino-Mite Card (and a Secret to Quick Cards)

August 9, 20252 Comments

Today’s creation is proof that you don’t need a craft room full of supplies (or a time machine to the Cretaceous period) to make something “dino-mite.” This cheerful congratulations card came together in minutes using the Celebrations Expressions Memories & More card pack from Stampin’ Up! and the adorable Darling Dinos stamp & die bundle.

If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you know I love a good sketch challenge to get the creative juices flowing. This design was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #698. When you’ve got a great sketch, half the work is already done for you!

The Recipe for Easy Cardmaking

Card Base: Balmy Blue cardstock, because the white background of the cards need a contrasting color to stand out.

Panels: I cut down three different cards from the Celebrations Expressions pack to fit the sketch—two with fun, hand-painted patterns and one with bright, festive banners. Pre-printed designs are the secret sauce for fast crafting: no stamping, coloring, or choosing a color palette required – it’s done for you!

Focal Point: That sweet brontosaurus is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink directly onto Balmy Blue card stock and simply colored with Stampin’ Blends.

Finishing Touches: A few Starburst Sequins add sparkle, and a simple “CONGRATULATIONS” sentiment was trimmed from the card pack itself. Easy-peasy.

Leftover 1″ squares of the pre-printed cards pull the party all the way to the inside of the card:

Why Memories & More Packs Are a Game-Changer

If you’ve never crafted with Memories & More cards, think of them as your personal cardmaking shortcut. They’re designed for pocket scrapbooking, but their patterns, colors, and ready-to-use sentiments make them perfect for quick cards, too. In this project, I didn’t have to stamp the sentiment or create background layers from scratch—they were already there, waiting to be trimmed and glued in place.

Because I also have team members whose promotions I want to recognize, I created a second set of cards from the same card pack:

No stamping on this one! Just the Memories & More cards and coordinating card stock paired together so the celebration can get started quickly.

Give yourself the tools to create happy mail whenever the occasion pops up—because a handmade card always makes the celebration a little brighter.

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Come to a Craft Event -Live or Virtual!

August 7, 20251 Comment

You can watch a lot of videos, but nothing compares to getting your fingers IN THE INK! If you are like most people, you learn best by DOING, and there are so many exciting stamping events coming up, so choose the one(s) that work best for you:

Coming first is the “Remember the Adventure” Travel Journal class that is one week away in Hurricane, UT, so register quickly to ensure your seat! Bring 20-35 photos of a recent adventure and you can complete the album to show off your last adventure. Class Fee: $20 (a STEAL!) Find class details on the Facebook event HERE.

Next on the calendar is the September Paper Share!

Twice a year I offer a 6″ x 6″ sampler of all the new Designer Series Paper released by Stampin’ Up! in a mini catalog. With the September-December mini catalog coming (AND the September Online Exclusive release), there are 53 pieces of gorgeous papers that span through autumn and the holidays, and you can get a piece of each one to play with! Learn more HERE and reserve a share by September 1st!

The Southern Utah Fall StampFest will be Saturday, September 13th and you will want to bring a friend to this cozy crafternoon event! Save $10 when you register by August 30th!.

We’ll be offering the same projects to happy crafters in Utah County just a few weeks later (on September 27th). Grab your spot early before someone schedules your day for you!

Spooky Sweet Suite Class: October 2nd at 4 pm MT

The creativity continues into October, this time in a VIRTUAL CLASS for all those who love Halloween! The Spooky Sweet class will be one you can participate in while in your pajamas, as it will be broadcast on a private YouTube video for those who register and purchase the Spooky Sweet Suite Collection. 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, once you’ve checked out with the suite in your cart!

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

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!

You will also need: Spooky Sweet Suite Collection, Adhesive, Paper Trimmer, Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad and the following Stampin’ Blends: Granny Apple Green, Petunia Pop, Pumpkin Pie, Smoky Slate.

Finally, put these events in your calendar and watch for details coming soon:

Stamp Therapy Class – October 9th (Hurricane, UT)

Christmas Cards & Cocoa Class – November 20th (Hurricane, UT)

Keep your creative juices flowing at a class! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Popcorn Faux Shaker Card

August 4, 2025August 5, 2025Leave a comment

Creative Juice LIVE Crafting (on YouTube & Facebook) IS BACK…with a twist! Going forward, I’ll be going live in my channels at 12:30 p.m. MT ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH. As I *pop* back into your social feed, I have an a-maize-ing Faux Shaker Card tutorial to share with you in today’s video!

Traditional shaker cards are quite thick, so using a clear envelope to hold the shaker elements makes the card thinner to mail, and easy to make.

Colors used: Darling Duckling, Strawberry Slush and Secret Sea, which are all 2025-2027 In Colors, and an announcement you’ll appreciate is that tomorrow (August 5th) is the beginning of an IN COLOR SALE!

Many In Color products are 15% off through August 31st, and I need to remember to order refills for my ink pads…my shopping list is started.

Without further adieu, here is the VIDEO TUTORIAL for the Faux Shaker Popcorn Birthday card, and you may add the supplies to your cart with the list below the video: