One of the techniques I wanted to show you with the circle punch was Reverse Masking with a torn edge. This makes for beautiful mountain backgrounds, or in this case, a sunset walk with a friend.
The secret to this technique is MASKING PAPER which you can punch and lightly stick to your card stock so it won’t move. Then I tore the sticky edge of a Post-it note to make the ragged edges, as you can see in this quick video tutorial:
Remember to carefully peel off your Masking Paper once you’ve finished blending the ink. Did you see a few more tricks-of-the trade, like making the banner longer by cutting it in half? And of course, add this technique to your circle punch repertoire as a card maker.
One thing to note: Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends are the *PERFECT* colors for Winnie the Pooh, and this iconic friendship duo will warm your heart and your craft room.
Remember: When you invest in the Stampin’ Up!®️ Starter Kit this month, you could choose the 2026-2028 In Color Ink Pads as a BONUS!
Have you ever used circle punches to make RINGS? Today’s card teaches how to create nesting circles (with a ring around the outside) for a center of attention!
Black & white plus a POP of color is always a striking palette: The Stampin’ Up!®️ Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper (DSP) is a demonstrator favorite, and I’ve got a class coming in July for you to play with (and color!) these gorgeous patterns. Crisp Cantaloupe was the 2026-2028 returning In Color I paired with the black & white.
To create a “ring” of card stock, start by punching a smaller circle punch from card stock (a 2″ punch in this case) then center a larger punch (2-3/8″) around it to punch out a ring. A black & white polka dot pattern punched from the 1-3/4″ circle punch nests nicely inside the ring, with a little space around it to feel fancy.
For added texture on this card, score the black torn card stock strip every 1/4″ to give it raised stripes and wrap your ribbon around the back of the 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer before adhering it to the card base. You can add a bow with a glue dot as a finishing touch.
I colored an image from another piece of the DSP with the new Shimmer Brushes in Crisp Cantaloupe, Hydrangea Hue and Peaceful Pine (though the shimmer is difficult to catch on camera) and fussy cut it out for the posies. Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals raise the rings and give extra dimension. Add a small sentiment strip to say what you want to say.
As we continue to explore the versatility of circle punches, I’d appreciate hearing if this series is helpful to you and if you are learning anything ~ please leave a comment at the top near the posting date, then return to shop here:
Savvy stampers know the Starter Kit is the best value and you will save money on the products you already love: There is no obligation, only an opportunity to see if Stampin’ Up!®️ fits your life and helps you toward your goals! Click image to find out,
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
A day without friendship is like a pot without honey
The classic story of Winnie the Pooh spans generations, and emphasizes that happiness is found in simple pleasures, true friends and present moments, so I was absolutely enraptured by the new Silly Old Bear suite which arrived online this month at Stampin’ Up!®️ (and while the Hundred Acre Wood Embossing folder is being restocked next week, the other bundles and paper are still available – see links at bottom).
Eeyore’s story arc has always tugged at my heart: This gloomy old donkey just wants to be loved, and the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood wrap him in love. The power of friendship even pulls a reluctant smile from this character!
My card was crafted to show how to use circle punches as a peek-through element, shining the spotlight on Owl and Eeyore, and the Designer Series Paper shows the map of the forest.
The dies that match the stamp set also cuts the images from one of the designs in the paper~ demonstrator Cyndi Pratt figured out how many of the characters you can cut from one sheet:
My card is a simple fun-fold that opens like this:
The card base is a Z-fold (score the Very Vanilla 8.5″ x 5.5″ card stock at 2-1/8″ and 4-1/4″) and then simply attach a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ Peaceful Pine layer to the front half of the card folded back:
I’ve truly cherished the friendships found through Stampin’ Up!®️ ~ not just for myself, but watching the people in my Sprinkled Ink family forge meaningful relationships with one another has been a gift! This snapshot was taken of a few of us at OnStage (Stampin’ Up!®️ convention) this March, and it captures the camaraderie we share (and the joy we feel when we are together):
This may be the tribe you didn’t know you needed, and we open our arms to welcome other cheerful, creative people! During May, you not only get new friends, but you can choose NEW IN COLOR ink pads FREE in your Starter Kit (including the Peaceful Pine and Hydrangea Hue colors on my Eeyore card):
So if you are looking for a happy hobby, loyal friendships, and sweet stamping, this is your sign!
I’m usually a BIG COLOR crafter, but when someone responded to a poll on my Facebook Page and said they needed to make a wedding card, I remembered a neutral combination of Basic Beige & Basic White that had caught my attention and had to give it my own spin!
Don’t go into shock when you see flowers on my blog…I know it’s unusual, but the Lovely Arrangement bundle is an exceptional stamping investment, as you’ll see more of it this week here and on social media.
To give this wedding card a fancy texture, I used the APRIL 2026 PRODUCT OF THE MONTH – The Eyelet Blooms Die – on the bottom half of the Basic White layer. You can add this to your order for just $5 (while supplies last) once you reach $75, and a new product is added each month!
This is a very detailed die, and I’ve found that a good “sandwich” for my Cut & Emboss machine is as follows (from the bottom up):
Platform #1, Platform #2, Cutting Plate #3, card stock, DRYER SHEET (helps pull all the small pieces off), Eyelet Die, Cutting Plate #3, card stock “shim” on top, if your machine needs a little more thickness to get a firm cut through the card stock.
Once it was layered on the Basic Beige card stock base, I stamped “Congratulations” from the Reason to Celebrate stamp set and layered on the flowers and leaves. Flat pearls (retired) were added to the center of the flowers for a bit of bling:
What do you think of this color combo? I think it’s suck an elegant look and will be fabulous for a bride & groom.
I appreciate your orders from my Stampin’ Store and look forward to mailing you a card to say THANK YOU for your order!
The Wooly Friends bundle is back in stock and it’s time to get into SHEEP-shape stamping!
It was time to make some gray sheep (this card will be going to my sister-in-law in Ireland, where they have plenty of sheep, but not enough sunshine), so I chose a white background with subtle pink dots from the overlooked Mixed-Up Patterns Designer Series Paper. These patterns offer backdrops for your stamping that don’t overwhelm and aren’t specific to one suite or stamp set.
When you pull the tab on the right, the lamb on the left slides over to snuggle against the other one…
Make your own: First, stamp and punch all your pieces and layer the DSP onto the Garden Green card stock, then slice a 3″ slit about 1″ from the bottom in the center of the panel.
The mechanism is very simple: Just a strip of card stock with a 2″ x 1″ piece of card stock attached at the end. This slides through the slit on the front, then create a “channel” for the tab to slide through on the back using Adhesive Foam Strips:
I’m pointing to where the card stock sticks through from back to front. You’ll attach your sheep to that tab on the front with dimensionals.
Final step is to add details! I added now retired Brass Butterflies, but we have some new butterfly embellishments coming in the 2026-2028 In Colors next month.
Since today (Friday, April 17, 2026) is the last day of our 2x Rewards promotion, you may want to add the supplies you need to make this adorable card (links below).
Double rewards is BETTER than Free Shipping because if you’ve OPTED IN for rewards, you normally receive 10% of your total purchase back to spend on your next order (or save for a large investment, like the Cut & Emboss machine)…so DOUBLE REWARDS is 20% back! Note: Minimum order to earn Rewards is $20.
I’m revisiting an oldie, but a goodie: This classic shadowbox card is easy to make with any scenery-inspired Designer Series Paper and when it’s removed from the envelope, pops out to stand up!
What could be better than spun sugar (a.k.a. cotton candy) to celebrate any special occasion? This Strawberry Slush shadowbox is created from the same Beach Boardwalk Suite I spotlighted last week and it’s now on the LAST CHANCE list, so don’t hesitate!
To help you learn how to make a shadowbox card, I’ve made a tutorial video you can watch (you’ll find it as you scroll down) and features a sneak peek at the Waterside Retreat Suite coming in May, which coordinates with the April Paper Pumpkin Kit. As the PP kit will have it’s own unique stamp set, consider it an extension of the Waterside Retreat suite, with additional sentiments & images that will complement the suite. You REALLY DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS and must subscribe by April 10th:
This is the card I demonstrated in the how-to video:
There is room to write a message on the back of the card, and a fun anchor & rope detail on the front:
Naturally, I had to make a few more versions:
For the landscape shadowbox cards, you’ll score two pieces of 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card stock at 1/2″ and 1″ from both short sides, but if you want to make a portrait card (as shown below), score at 3/8″ and 3/4″ on the long sides:
Watch this video and you’ll be stamping shadowbox cards in no time:
As I mentioned in the video, I also have a Designer Series Paper Share in May where you can get a 6″ x 6″ piece of EVERY pattern dropping next month! Sign up early, as there may be backorders delaying orders (crossing my fingers we don’t have a problem)
While the Waterside Retreat suite is also a preview, you can order other supplies from my Stampin’ Store to create shadowbox cards, such as the previously mentioned Beach Boardwalk Suite, Cute as a Bug Suite and much more!
Do you have a standing appointment on your calendar for creativity? Not a someday, not a “when-I-have-time”, but a regular, reliable pause where ink meets paper and you focus on the divine act of making something from scratch.
One of the things I love most about Paper Pumpkin by Stampin’ Up!®️ is that each month, a fully coordinated, all-inclusive kit arrives at your door like a little box of possibility. No supply hunting. No decision fatigue. Just open the box and begin your date with creativity!
Here’s the part that might surprise you… the creativity doesn’t end when the kit is finished.
For this card, I used the stamp sets from the March 2026 “Fluttering Garden” Paper Pumpkin kit to create something entirely new for the Freshly Made Sketch challenge #FMS730. I wanted to see how far I could stretch those detailed stamps, and it turns out—they fly beautifully.
I discovered that my favorite way to color the hummingbirds is with blending brushes and ink pads. No need to be particular… JUST START BLENDING! The soft gradients give them a delicate, natural look and once you fussy cut them out, they look lovely.
The real gift of a monthly kit like Paper Pumpkin is that it builds your confidence while quietly expanding your skills. First, you follow the included designs. Then, you start to experiment with a new layout or color palette… until one day you realize you’re not just assembling—you’re creating.
I used two of the Nesting Essentials dies to create dual frames for this card, and the card colors are Very Vanilla, Pretty Peacock, Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive and Crisp Canteloupe (a returning In Color).
Having a monthly crafting ritual is grounding is grounding and you’ll find a Paper Pumpkin subscription is the mail you anticipate the MOST! The April kit, “Lakeside Retreat,” is available to subscribe to through April 10th. It includes a Peaceful Pine ink spot (an early release of a NEW IN Color!) and coordinates with the Waterside Retreat Suite which will be available in the May-August catalog:
It’s a flexible subscription, with the ability to skip a month or cancel at any time (but why would you?).
Stay tuned for some sneak peeks of this suite and the optional “Wonderful Scenes” Add On dies that coordinate with the April, May and June Paper Pumpkin Kits!
One more detail to point out on my hummingbird card: Add a wash of WINK OF STELLA GLITTER BRUSH over the wings for gorgeous shimmer & shine!
The best way to keep creating… is simply to begin.
I’ve been sharing Sunshine & Smiles with the Beach Boardwalk Suite for a few days here AND on my social media (FB & IG) ~ today’s projects include a card, a scrapbook layout and announcements for upcoming EVENTS where I hope to see your face!
I love the sheet of tickets and tags included in the Beach Boardwalk Designer Series Paper because they can be stamped to evoke a “winning” feeling for any celebration, like you won a drawing 🎟️ or a stuffed animal in a boardwalk game! On the inside of this card, I added one more ticket to remind the recipient that life is quite the adventure:
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, this Beach Boardwalk paper also comes in a different package with a sticker sheet, all ready to preserve the memories of a day at the park, carnival, beach or fair on a scrapbook page or complete album:
If you have a tropical vacation planned, a summer party or camp, pick up these products soon! And if you crave crafting adventures in southern Utah, here are the next few events I’m hosting ~ click on the images to learn more on the Facebook Events, or click the button to register!
The Catalog Carnival & BOGO SALE is Open House style, so just bring a friend and drop in for all sorts of fun freebies and snacks at 350 S 400 W ~ it’s a ticket to create!
VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS ANYTIME: CLICK THE “CLASSES & EVENTS” LINK IN PINK BAR ACROSS THE TOP
Let’s take a simple treat bag and give it a little glow-up… or should I say a gussie-up! 🍓
For our March New at SU! Hop, we are turning your attention to the Online Exclusive products that Stampin’ Up! releases every other month—including March! My project started with the Hearts Gusseted Treat Bag and I dressed it up with the Filled with Sweetness bundle and Homemade Sweetness Designer Series Paper, which I’ve been featuring for a few weeks (scroll back through for ideas when you have the time).
This bag is generously sized (4″ x 6″ x 1-1/4″) and could hold a sweet treat like Strawberry Pretzels, a berry cute kitchen towel, or a Berry Burst Ink Pad and spool of matching Ribbon! It’s proof that packaging can be just as meaningful as what’s inside.
The Stampin’ Up!®️ release of new products every other month feels a bit like opening a fresh batch of inspiration on a regular rhythm. If you haven’t already, it’s worth making a habit of browsing those new supplies. You never know when you’ll find a hidden gem that sparks your next project—just like this bundle did for me.
As you hop along, may this inspire you to look at your basics in a new way: The shelf-life of these treat bags extends beyond February with a little love shared anytime during the year in a fresh & fruity way!
Here are the faces of a few of the New at SU! Design Team members from the U.S.A.~ L to R: Amanda (Did You Stamp Today?), Rachel (The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachel), Loni- ME! (Creative Juice by Loni) and Diane (24/7 Inkspiration). We met up at OnStage last week (Stampin’ Up!®️’s convention) to snap a quick photo to say Hi!
Keep hopping to see more Online Exclusive inspiration from those ladies and others… there’s plenty of sweetness ahead! 🍓✨
Stampin’ Up!®️ has been knocking our ONLINE EXCLUSIVE products OUT OF THE PARK, but we do still offer physical publications three times each year, and they make for wonderful reading material (and shopping lists)! My customers who have purchased recently will receive one of the new May-August catalogs in the mail, but if you don’t have a demonstrator serving you, send me a message with your mailing address and I’ll add you to the list!
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
A card that pops up to say hello always brings a little extra fun to the mailbox. This one does just that with a playful twisted easel fold that lets the sweet strawberry jar take center stage. This is how it fits in the envelope as a flat card:
The trick is to fold your card base from the front lower left corner back along the fold as evenly as you can. If you’d like to score it, mark at 1-1/4″ in from the top right corner and score back to the fold on the opposite corner. As you open it, it twists and props against the raised strawberry on the inside of the card:
I created this card using the Filled with Sweetness Bundle from Stampin’ Up!®️ – which we are playing with for a few days on Creative Juice by Loni – and the little strawberries make it feel like you’ve captured sweetness in a jar! “Love you berry much” seemed like the perfect message for a grandchild. It’s the kind of happy mail that could arrive in a mailbox hundreds of miles away… and still feel like a hug.
View from the back
This week inside my VIP Facebook Group, we’re having a fun brainstorming session about long-distance grandparenting through snail mail. Many grandparents can’t always be nearby for everyday moments, but a handmade card can travel where we can’t. Imagine a grandchild setting this card on their desk or dresser, the strawberry jar standing proudly like a tiny reminder that Grandma or Grandpa is thinking of them!
Make an order of $50+ (before tax & shipping) from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive a set of 19 exclusive papercrafting tutorials (including another great idea for the Filled with Sweetness bundle from me!), a handmade card AND you’ll be invited to join my private Facebook group for my VIP customers!
Handmade cards don’t just carry ink and paper. They carry love, encouragement, and a sweet connection across the miles. 🍓💌