Whenever I can craft smarter (not harder), it’s a win!
This Valentine card duo only requires ONE pass through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine, and you’ll have letters and the negative space to create two LOVE LETTERS:
Cutting Guide (supplies listed at bottom for easy adding to cart!):
Two Basic White Thick card bases, 8.5″ x 5.5″ scored at 4.25″
Two Real Red card stock layers: One cut to 5.25″ x 4″ and one 5″ x 3.75″
Two pieces of Made with Love Designer Series Paper: One cut to 5.25″ x 4″ and one 5″ x 3.75″
Scraps of Real Red and Flirty Flamingo for heart embellishments.
It’s so simple to do, and you can follow along with a short video. ** Remember to die cut the letters from the smaller Real Red card stock (5″ x 3.75″)
Important note: There are just a few days left to earn BONUS DAYS coupons with each $50 ordered from my Stampin’ Store by February 2nd!
Collect all the coupon codes emailed to you after your order(s) and set a reminder to redeem them in February!
Long before die cut hearts and doilies, Valentine’s Day began as the feast of Saint Valentine, a priest martyred on February 14th for performing marriages for despite a ban by a Roman Emperor. By the Middle Ages, poets were already linking the date with romance, and lovers began exchanging handwritten notes and verses to mark the occasion. Early valentines were intimate, the declarations of affection carefully folded and sealed with wax.
By the 1800s, new printing techniques and affordable postage turned those private notes into something more playful and decorative. Elaborate lace trimmed cards, colorful illustrations and clever verses filled Victorian mailboxes. In America, Esther Howland helped popularize these printed valentines, transforming the tradition into the greeting card exchange we know today.
Something that hasn’t changed is the heart of the practice: Valentine cards focus on taking time to say “you are loved” with paper, ink and imagination.
This card, inspired by the #creativechallengesu January sketch, carries history forward in a fresh way. The soft layers of Stampin’ Up!®️ Love Notes Mix & Match 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper give it a collage charm (nod to the past), while the stamped elements from the Valentine Kisses bundle dish a dash of whimsy (embracing today).
You can play along, as well! Create a card inspired by this sketch and post it on your social media with the hashtag #creativechallengeSU during January 2026.
Paper changes and styles evolve, but the magic of sending love through a handmade card keeps fluttering along, like a blue bird of happiness winging a love letter to it’s intended 💌
Interested in a longer history of Valentine cards? Visit this excellent article by Rare Bird Antiques!
For supplies to create your own Valentine cards, thanks for shopping my Stampin’ Store ~I’ll mail a hand-stamped thanks!
The beginning of a new year makes me want to clear a little creative space and ask a simple question: how do I want to show up for the people I love? For me, one of the easiest and most meaningful answers is birthdays. A handmade birthday card is a small thing, but it carries a reminder that someone was thought of before the day even arrived.
This bright, happy card was created by pairing the Reason to Celebrate stamp set from the new January–April Mini Catalog with Seasonal Celebrations from the January Online Exclusives, which serendipitously pair together perfectly (certainly it was good planning on the part of Stampin’ Up!®️). The bold greeting anchors the card with confidence, while the playful stamped party elements on blocks of color bring in movement, color, and a sense of joy. Together, they strike that sweet balance between cheerful and heartfelt, which is exactly what birthday cards should feel like.
Stampin’ Up! Reason to CelebrateStampin’ Up! Seasonal Celebrations
Beyond birthday celebrations, there are many ways to combine these bold images and fun fonts for many special occasions!
As the year unfolds, I’m prepared to remember the lives of people I love, not just with faceless texts, but with something tangible they can hold. A birthday card says, “You matter. I planned ahead. I made time.”
In addition to the opportunity to earn Bonus Days Coupons for every $50 spent between 1/6-2/2, a new Product of the Month has been added for January (while supplies last):
Here’s to a creative year ahead, to new stamps finding old favorites, and to celebrating birthdays, one handmade card at a time.
We card creators are constantly faced with a dilemma: Which side of this pretty paper should I use when both front and back designs are beautiful? The Wow Bow Fun Fold lets you use BOTH sides and is easily crafted from ONE PIECE of 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper:
This idea was adapted slightly from my friend Frances Martin of Frenchiestamps.com and you can see her versions HERE.
As I explain in the tutorial video, I like to pair bold designs with small patterns, and most of the time, Stampin’ Up! does the work for us by creating Designer Series Paper (DSP) that coordinates on front and back with contrasting colors and patterns. You can take your cue for the colors of your card from the DSP itself, as well. For my demonstration card (above) I chose a Fresh Freesia card base and Old Olive layer on the front, which matches the Lovely & Beautiful Designer Series Paper I used.
Two more versions: One showcasing the Made with Love DSP and the other featuring Cute as a Bug paper — tomorrow can’t come soon enough for you to collect all these patterns!
All of these papers will be included in the Paper & Ribbon Share, where you’ll receive a 6″ x 6″ piece of each paper arriving TOMORROW (Jan. 6, 2026) to play with! Don’t hesitate, the deadline for reserving your share is TODAY (Jan. 5, 2026). If there are any shares left over, they will be offered first-come-first-served at the Card Cafe Class in Hurricane, UT on January 15th.
The video will walk you through making this easy fancy fold card, and the measurements are below.
Card Measurements:
Card base 5.5″ x 8.5″ card stock
First layer 4″ x 5.25″ card stock
Designer Series Paper 6″ x 6″ – cut 3/4″ off bottom and score remaining piece at 1.5″ and 4.5″
Use 3/4″ strip INSIDE the card!
This final sample uses the Hobby Haven Designer Series Paper available now in my Stampin’ Store. It is NOT included in the Paper Share, but sure makes beautiful cards for folks with hobbies such as crafting, baking, houseplants (shown), sewing, self-care, etc. :
COMING TOMORROW, January 6th:
Customers may begin to order from January-April Mini Catalog and January Online Exclusives!
NEW Product of the Month drops!
NEW KITS available!
BONUS DAYS earning period begins: Earn $5 coupon for each $50 spent (in addition to collecting 10% back in Stampin’ Rewards!) to redeem between February 3-28, 2026!
When your heart hurts for a friend’s grief and you just want to wrap them up and cry with them, use your hands to create a hug-with-a-fold-in-the-middle (a.k.a. a one-of-a-kind sympathy card).
The True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper – the Stampin’ Up!®️ Product of the Month for December 2025 – reminds me of material a quilter would use, so I chose to craft a paper quilt card. I started by cutting two 1-3/4″ squares of each of the 6 double-sided sheets, then cut each in half diagonally. The sentiment square is the same size. Then it was time to “piece” them together:
Finished card size: 4-1/8″ x 5-1/2″ (the Balmy Blue panel is 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″). There were enough triangles to go across the front of the envelope AND a similar row inside the card, so they all feel stitched together as a matching set.
Sometimes your hands show your love more than your words can. I hope this will be the case for this heart-felt piece of art.
The True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper (DSP) is available with qualifying purchase only while supplies last. A new POTM is released on the first Tuesday of each month.
While the True Blue Florals DSP is NOT included in the January Paper Share, you could create a quilt card similar to this one with some of the other patterns which WILL be included. Reserve your share by January 5th by clicking the image or link.
When my cousin Valarie asked if I could make a Gift Card Folio like one she had seen on a social media, I watched the video she shared and said ABSOLUTELY!
This is a larger version of a classic interactive card design called a “Waterfall Card”, and this one presents FIVE GIFT CARDS (or would be an excellent base for a mini photo album). After a few tries and tweaks, I was satisfied with the result – give this a try! You can follow along with the video instructions below 🖥️
I’ve used the Modern Christmas Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up!® to embellish this folio, though I show a few other versions made with the retired “Season of Green & Gold” DSP in the video. The black, white & gold is just so elegant, and of course, you can choose any colors/patterns/paper that fit your occasion.
TIP: Add gift cards to each of the five panels with mini glue dots, or use the panels and both sides of the folder for photos of a event to remember!
When you pull the tab, the “waterfall” begins to cascade, and a “secret message” appears:
Maximizing the use of materials was important to me, so this version uses a full sheet of 12″ x 12″ card stock (and a full sheet of 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper, if you cut it wisely), plus a few extra pieces. WATCH the tutorial to see HOW TO CUT the card stock!
Measurements:
11-7/8″ x 9″ Basic Black card stock, scored at 4″ and 8″
12″ x 3″ Basic Black card stock, scored at 1″, 2″, 3″, 4″ and 5″
6″ x 1-1/2″ Basic Black card stock, scored at 1″ and 4-7/8″
5 pieces of card stock 2-1/2″ x 3-3/4″
Designer Series Paper: TWO 8-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ and TWO 8-3/4″ x 3-5/8″
Gold Foil sheet: 1-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ for the belly band
Scraps of card stock for label, scraps of Designer Series Paper for embellishments inside.
Making paper crafting easy for you is my goal. What did you think about this tutorial? Please leave a comment and tell me what you’ll use this idea for (comments are found at the top of the post, next to the posting date).
If you’ve been waiting for a good time to subscribe to the BEST MONTHLY CRAFT KIT, OR you need a unique and creative gift for a friend, this is your sign! From December 1-9, pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscriptions are discounted as follows:
3-month prepaid: $61.00 (regular price $81.00)
6-month prepaid: $122.00 (regular price $162.00)
12-month prepaid: $244.00 (regular price $324.00)
This price includes shipping! Now, here’s the fine print:
* Subscriptions purchased during this promotion start immediately with the December Watercolor in Bloom Kit. This kit cannot be skipped.
* Do not purchase multiple subscriptions for the same recipient. The subscriptions will all start with the Watercolor in Bloom Kit, so the recipient will end up receiving duplicates of the same kit each month.
* If you are already a Paper Pumpkin monthly subscriber, this is a great opportunity to save on your upcoming kits!
* If you ALREADY HAVE a pre-paid subscription and wish to take advantage of the sale, go into your account and PAUSE your currrent December kit, unless you wish to have 2 of the same boxes shipped to you (the other would be a lovely gift to give!).
There are so many things I’ve learned while being a Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrator beyond rubber stamping: This marvelous company was the first to train me on Crucial Conversations (which I’ve invested in three times since then), leadership and time management skills, self-care, communication, and most recently I’ve returned from #StampinUpBackStage (our leadership conference) in Las Vegas, where we learned to connect more meaningfully with our creative communities. What a blessing to have the personal development opportunity to help me grow into the best version of myself, so I can serve YOU!
It was delightful to share my cards with others, and receive many lovely hand-stamped creations in return, so the las-minute midnight stamping session paid off!
While not a holiday card, it has the feel of the season, and would make an excellent birthday or wedding card for someone celebrating during the winter:
If you are here to learn card-making skills, I’d love to send you a THANK YOU card when you order supplies from my Stampin’ Store! Make sure you OPT IN for REWARDS (earn 10% of your purchase back to save or spend next time) AND OPT IN to allow me to contact you!
Ready to embark on your own Stampin’ Up! personal adventure as a demonstrator? You will be loved and cherished in the Sprinkled Ink team, my demonstrator family!
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!
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
Remember the anticipation of getting to open one door each day on the calendar counting down to Christmas? You can re-live that giddy feeling with the new 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar!
Behind each door are brand-new, never-before-seen dies, paper, embellishments, and other exclusive items you won’t find in any of the Stampin’ Up! catalogs or in our online store which all coordinate with the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar photopolymer STAMP SET (a double set, INCLUDED with the calendar!), worth well over $125.
This set (and the supplies in the calendar) are NOT Christmas or Holiday-specific, but can be used year-round for crafting happiness.
While I don’t want to spoil the surprises inside, I am going to share more ideas using just the stamp set (along with card stock and ink) from October 22-26th on my Creative Juice by Loni Facebook Page, beginning with this Summer Splash “Thinking of You” card.
Serendipitously, there will be THREE DAYS of FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75 from October 22-24, 2025, so this is the time to save 11% AND check off a Christmas gift for a paper crafter!
Now, if you are a crafter yourself, the BEST deal is the October-Only Starter Kit offer, and you could choose to add the 12 Days of Crafting to your Starter Kit for just $35 (and still choose a few more products!):
If you order the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar from my store (while supplies last) OR join my team, you’ll receive 12 project tutorials using the supplies from the calendar before the end of 2025!
The theme for the October New at SU! blog hop is “No Tricks – Just Treats!” and I’m sharing a Gingerbread Man Tag for a cute Holiday Gift Idea for neighbors, co-workers or anyone who deserved a jolly bit of baking!
Crafters LOVE to give presents, and the details make each gift delightful. This creative idea will have the recipient “baking spirits bright” for a delicious treat hot out of the oven!
The Gingerbread Man bundle includes a die that cuts a cookie that folds in half to form a card. I decided that when it opens, it should look good enough to eat (or rather, HAS been eaten):
I have a few TIPS to make this project easy to prep for making multiple tags:
The 1/2″ strips of Basic White card stock you have left over from making card layers are perfect for the icing squiggles: Remember to put a strip of adhesive sheet on the back of that strip before die cutting, and each squiggle can do one wrist and one ankle on the gingerbread man.
Including the Gingerbread man, you can get all the pieces cut in 3 passes through the Cut & Emboss Machine, if you follow the format below.
The 3rd picture shows all the pieces cut and ready! You’ll end up with two candy canes: one with a white base and one with a red base.
I did add a little sponging of Crumb Cake ink around my cookie with a blending brush, and used another 1/2″ strip for the banner:
The festive hot pads with a POCKET can be found on Amazon HERE for less than $2 each and have some , and the skinny spatulas HERE. The Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookie mix was at my local grocery store, but you could substitute a Sugar Cookie mix, which is often found at the Dollar Tree (or whatever mix is available in your area.
Before you move on to another tasty treat stamped by one of our dazzling New at SU! design team, I’ve added the supplies needed for this project to the end of this post to help you get started on your holiday gifting quickly (U.S. crafters only), and I’d appreciate hearing from you if you liked (or copied) this idea ~ you can leave a comment at the top of my post, near the date.
Remember: If your shopping list is more than $35 in October, 2025, your best shopping deal is the STARTER KIT! With two specials this month to choose from (plus a discount on your future purchases- including your Christmas Gifts! – through March 2026!) there are no strings attached to just give it a try…and possibly a wonderful adventure ahead: