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:

New at SU!- A Beary Cute Card Sketch

Welcome to all our Stampin’ friends from around the world to our October New at SU! blog hop where we are hoping you see how a SKETCH can get your creative juices flowing for card making. We’ll show you our version of the sketch…then YOU try it, too!

My card uses the Beary Cute bundle (stamp set + punch) and the Beary Christmas Designer Series Paper. Can you see how the card layout above was inspired by our card “sketch” below?

Don’t feel constrained to use the sketch in just one way. I turned it into landscape orientation for a second version, this time with a brown bear rather than a polar bear:

This landscape variation uses the same stamp set and punch with the “Walk in the Forest” Designer Series Paper, which is our MAKING A DIFFERENCE product. It coordinates with both the Beary Christmas suite AND the Merriest Trees bundle! For each package purchased in the USA*, Stampin’ Up! donates $3 to Marines Toys for Tots (*different amounts and charities are supported in different markets around the globe).

Even a simple card can have an unexpected bit of bling to catch the eye… each of my Beary Cute cards has a little sparkle! On the polar bear card, there is an gold star atop the tree (behind the sentiment) and on the brown bear card, it comes in the form of some glitter sequins (which are FLAT, so shouldn’t require extra postage) – both embellishments are included in the supply list below the Blog Hop links.

TIP: For the TREE with the brown bear, I turned my stamp upside down on my block and stamped off the Shaded Spruce ink one time before stamping the whole image over the dark details, like one of our Reversible stamp sets.

Have we inspired you to give this sketch a try? Tag us on social media with #newatsu so we can see your creativity!

If you haven’t seen all the other variations of this card sketch, click on any of our links for more inspiration:

October 2023 New at SU! Blog Hop: Sketch Challenge

Previous BlogNext Blog
1.iHeatCards2.bolgspot.com (US) – Magical Meadow
2.Joni in the Spotlight Stamping (US)-SKETCH CHALLENGE
3.My Flutterby Moments (US)- Garden Walk Sketch
4.De Kijkkast (NL) – Sketch with Winter Owls
5.Scraphexe (DE) – Sketch – Joy of Christmas | Fröhlich und Festlich
6.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Joy of Christmas
7.Stamping Flair (AU) – Translucent Florals with Delightful Floral DSP
8.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)- Layering Leaves
9.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Heartfelt Hexagon
10.Nature’s INKspirations (US) – Wishes All Around
11.Carterie Plus (CA)- Créer une carte utilisant un Sketch
12.Stampinxime (DE) – Sketch Challenge
13.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- A Berry Cute Card Sketch
14.24-7 Inkspiration (US) – Merriest Trees

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Product List

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!

Interior Diorama Card, Many Ways!

When there is a “scene” printed on Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, it’s perfect for creating a framed picture that pops up inside your card!

For this one, I used the A Walk in the Forest DSP, which is part of our “Making A Difference” Campaign ($3 from each pack purchased is donated to the “Toys for Tots” program). This paper coordinates with both the Beary Christmas Suite and the Merriest trees bundle!

Here’s a slightly different version of the same card using the Beary Christmas paper included in the Beary Christmas Suite:

Because it was so much fun -and simple- to make (I’ll share a how-to video below), I had to make multiple versions with different Designer Series Paper from the September-December Mini Catalog. It’s like the One Card, Two Ways challenge from the #tgifc438 WWYD? Challenge:

The design is roomy enough to sneak a treat inside (not a mailable option, obviously) and for this one I used Them Bones Designer Series Paper:

Sharp eyes may notice that the skeletons are smaller than those in the coordinating suite of Halloween products…because the stamp set I used was from the September 2019 Paper Pumpkin kit called “Bone Appetit”!

Before we get to the last version of the Interior Diorama card, here is the video tutorial:

The finished card (closed) is 4″ x 5-1/4″.

Begin with a 12″ x 5.25″ strip of Designer Series Paper and score at 1/2″, 4″, 4.5″ and 8″

Product List

My final Interior Diorama card is a Christmas Version using the O, Holy Night Designer Series Paper and Night Divine Bundle:

Will you be trying this card? Let me know what you think in the comments!