Paper “Quilts” for TGIF Sketch

Paper Crafting is a LOT like quilting: Take scraps and put them together, and you’ve got a completely NEW object!

Late last night I “stitched” together a few panels to use for the #tgifc424 sketch challenge:

And because I couldn’t decide which I liked best, I made TWO versions, one for “paper-piecers” and the other for “fabric-piecers”!

Which version do you like best? I really want to know!

I can see a quilter including the second card with a comforter they would gift to a loved one!

My scraps were pieces of the Countryside Inn Designer Series Paper (15% off during June!) and I paired my paper quilts with the Basics Floral 3D Embossing Folder…have you seen this bundle of *indispensible* textures? Only available in my online store, they are the ones I reach for the most because one of them will go with [almost] anything I’m creating!

And can we take a minute to admire the Boho Blue Limited Edition Mini Cut & Emboss Machine I stamped on my card and the actual one in my Stampin’ Store? I really did stamp it in Boho Blue for my card, but the lighting at night doesn’t look quite right. I love the mini machine for quick cutting and it’s the one that sits on my desk, but remember; the regular size embossing folders only fit in the regular Cut & Emboss Machine.

Use up your Designer Series Paper scraps with this technique: Glue pieces next to each other on a piece of card stock (in line or randomly), then cut to desired size and use it like you would a regular piece of patterned paper!

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Pinwheel Tower Card

You are going to want to make this card, believe me!

Since most of our Designer Series Paper is discounted through June 30th, I’ll be demonstrating some projects to inspire you to pull out your patterned paper and use every last scrap. You can set an alarm for Mondays and join me live on my Facebook Page or YouTube Channel at 12:30 pm MT, or watch the replay at your convenience.

Without further adieu, here is the fabulous Pinwheel Tower Card I taught today:

It opens up to stand and displays 4 panels! This card is best created in landscape orientation, giving you plenty of area on each panel to decorate or write a message. The finished size of this card (laying flat) is 4.25″ x 5.5″, so it fits into our Basic Medium Stampin’ Up! envelopes perfectly.

You’ll be delighted at how EASY this fancy card is to create and if you want to craft along with my video below, gather these supplies:

  1. One 4-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ piece of Designer Series Paper
  2. Four pieces of 2-1/2″ x 4″ Designer Series Paper that coordinate (don’t have to be the same pattern, but from the same pack) with another four 1-1/2″ x 4″ pieces of Designer Series Paper.
  3. Four 2-3/4″ x 4-1/4″ panels of card stock that match one of the colors from your Designer Series Paper
  4. Simply Scored Board (or paper trimmer with scoring blade)
  5. Adhesive

Once you’ve made a Pinwheel Tower Card, you may want to make a larger version in a slimline card, which could also be a “mini album” if you add photos to some of the panels!

This version is 9″ x 4″ when flat, so it fits into a legal envelope (don’t forget to stamp your envelope, too).

For this larger version, here are the supplies you’ll need (and adjusted measurements):

  1. One 4″ x 4-1/4″ piece of Designer Series Paper (still score along the longest side at each inch)
  2. Four pieces of 3-3/4″ x 4-1/4″ Designer Series Paper (or cardstock) with another four 3-1/4″ x 3-3/4″ pieces of Designer Series Paper (or cardstock and scraps of Designer Series Paper, as shown)
  3. Four 4-1/2″ x 4″ panels of card stock that match one of the colors from your Designer Series Paper
  4. Simply Scored Board (or paper trimmer with scoring blade)
  5. Adhesive

I used the BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL Designer Series Paper along with the Sweetest Cherries stamps and Cherry builder punch on the Slimline version, and will list the supplies for the Hello, Irresistible original card below.

REMEMBER THE PAPER IS ON SALE THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023 – SAVE 15%!

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Cupcakes, Pop Art & Free Projects to Make!

On our last trip to Washington, D. C. my husband and I decided to step into the Hirshhorn Art museum, as it was one of a handful of Smithsonian buildings we hadn’t yet visited. It was a short tour, as most of the modern art didn’t appeal to either of us AT ALL. My personal philosophy on art is that it should do one- if not both- of the following:

  1. Uplift and Inspire
  2. Make the viewer happy

Big talk coming from a person whose biggest art influence was the game “Masterpiece” (do you remember that??) however, that’s my opinion and I stand by it.

One exception to my ambivalence toward modern art is Pop Art. I am attracted by color (no surprise) and bold images of pretty (or in this case, yummy) everyday objects!

Since I have a special offer (see below) for customers who purchase the Circle Sayings bundle from my Stampin’ Store, I wanted to show a card using the stamp set WITHOUT a circle. The cupcake image is my “food spirit animal” so I channeled my inner-Andy-Warhol to give you an eyeful of BRIGHT sweets!

Each section alternates between being raised by black dimensionals or having just the cupcake raised on a color adhered flat to the card:

Good thing card stock isn’t as dangerous as the food coloring it would take to make frosting in that color! These are the Stampin’ Up! colors I used: Calypso Coral, Tahitian Tide, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Parakeet Party, Gorgeous Grape

Here’s a special just for you:

Purchase the bundle from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive 3 never-seen project tutorials PLUS the consumable supplies to create all three projects! You’ll get the tutorials via email and the supplies in the mail by June 30th. Offer valid for U.S. customers only.

The Circle Sayings bundle includes a photopolymer stamp set and a NEW coordinating 2-3/8″ circle punch.

While I’ll send you all the card stock, paper, ribbon, etc. to create the projects from my tutorials, you may also need these items (found in my store, as well):

  • Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
  • Tahitian Tide OR Azure Afternoon ink pad
  • Lost Lagoon ink pad
  • Colored Pencils (I used Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils)
  • Suggested Stampin’ Blends combos (could use colored pencils or Stampin’ Write Markers): Lemon Lolly, Tahitian Tide, Berry Burst, Medium combo
  • OPTIONAL: Wink of Stella pen
  • Scissors and adhesive, clear blocks B, C & D for the stamps

Circling Round to Monochromatic Colors (Plus 3 for FREE)

It’s been fun to teach color theory in May and I really hope you’ve learned some skills to help you choose palettes for your paper crafting and rubber stamping projects! Today, I “circled around” to MONOCHROMATIC schemes, which isn’t limited to only one color, but can include 2 or 3 variations of the same HUE. Here are a few examples:

Stampin’ Up! yellows are a exquisite example of how 3 different tints, tones or shades can harmonize well: Crushed Curry (card base), Daffodil Delight (sentiment and banner) and NEW Lemon Lolly (focal point) are different depths of the same sunny color and coordinate together!

We have a variety of purples, and not all of them start in the same corner of the color wheel, so this is where you need to learn to “see” harmonizing colors. The three I used for this card were Gorgeous Grape (card base), Highland Heather (larger banner and cupcake frosting) and Fresh Freesia (background and cupcake liner).

The tutorial for this card style includes further explanation:

I chose to use the Circle Sayings Bundle for our lesson on monochromatic color ideas because I have an exclusive opportunity through June 15th for you: Purchase the bundle from my Stampin’ Store and you’ll receive 3 never-seen project tutorials PLUS the consumable supplies to create all three projects! You’ll get the tutorials via email and the supplies in the mail by June 30th.

Let me share a few additional Stampin’ Up! color trios that work well as monochromatic combinations. These are NOT all the possible pairings, only a few I came up with to get your juices flowing:

Now it’s your turn to give a “monochromatic” card a try!

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Inside the cards:

New at SU!- Wild Wheat, So Refreshing

Welcome to the May 2023 New at SU! blog hop! As is our tradition with a new annual Stampin’ Up! catalog and the 2023-2025 IN COLORS (shown under our updated banner, above), we are here to help you fall in love with these hues!

I chose to use the In Color I liked **the least** to show you that it really can create a beautiful color scheme. Wild Wheat contrasts beautifully with Berry Burst (a returning core color I adore) and Bubble Bath (a NEW core color!).

My mini slimline card – finished size 6.25″ x 3.5″- uses the So Refreshing bundle that I had to collect to show off my creative juice (literally). It’s a clean card design accented by silver sparkles in the edge of the ribbon and rhinestone accents.

To get the plaid on the picnic blanket, I lightly tapped my Bubble Bath ink pad over the blanket die (included in the bundle) before running it through the Cut & Emboss Machine, then sponged the same color onto the tassels when it was cut out.

Wild Wheat is a GLUTEN-FREE color, so don’t be afraid to try it! I found my color palette in the 2023-2025 In Color Chart below, which you can download and print for reference.

Next, discover another lovely In Color + Core Color combination from our international design team and PIN your favorite color combinations onto your Pinterest boards! Click on any link below

May 2023 New at SU: In Color Inspiration
Previous BlogNext Blog
1.Joni in the Spotlight Stamping (US)-Boho Blue & Misty Moonlight
2.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Copper Clay & Pebbled Path
3.My Flutterby Moments (USA)- Moody Mauve, Lost Lagoon &
4.Stamping Flair (AU) – Pebbled Path
5.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (USA)- Boho Blue, Lemon Lolly, Parak
6.Stampin Xime (DE) – Malve
7.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Boho Blue
8.Carterie Plus (CA) In Colors avec les couleurs de base/In Colors with
9.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – Wild Wheat, So Refreshing
10.247Inkspiration.com (US)-Moody Mauve
11.iHeartcards2 (US) – Moody Mauve, Bubble Bath &Blackberry Bliss
12.Annette Elias – De Kijkkast – NL – Wild Wheat-Copper Clay-Lost Lagoon

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Join my IN COLOR COLLECTORS CLUB and receive one set of all-new In Color products each month from May-September 2023! May is BOHO BLUE and club membership includes an exclusive project with prepared pieces and instructions in addition to all the Boho Blue products. Click image below to learn more or join.

Analogous Colors- What? And How to Use them

Another lesson in COLOR CONFIDENCE!

Analogous colors are three to five colors NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the color wheel. When used together, they create a peaceful, harmonious project that flows.

I store my ink pads by Stampin’ Up! color family, but I store my card stock in rainbow order (see below), which makes choosing analogous colors a piece of cake! To create today’s card, I started with Calypso Coral card stock (reminds me of my favorite roses beginning to bloom in my yard!) and chose the two colors right before it: Petal Pink and Flirty Flamingo.

Then I made the same card design and tried a different analogous color scheme, pulling Berry Burst and the colors on either side of it: Blackberry Bliss and Moody Mauve (new)!

Here are the 2023-2024 Stampin’ Up! Colors in Rainbow order:

  • Cherry Cobbler
  • Real Red
  • Poppy Parade
  • Sweet Sorbet
  • Melon Mambo
  • Flirty Flamingo
  • Petal Pink
  • Calypso Coral
  • Copper Clay
  • Cajun Craze
  • Wild Wheat
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Crushed Curry
  • Daffodil Delight
  • Lemon Lolly
  • Soft Sea Foam
  • Lemon Lime Twist
  • Parakeet Party
  • Granny Apple Green
  • Old Olive
  • Mossy Meadow
  • Garden Green
  • Shaded Spruce
  • Pretty Peacock
  • Lost Lagoon
  • Coastal Cabana
  • Pool Party
  • Balmy Blue
  • Tahitian Tide
  • Azure Afternoon
  • Misty Moonlight
  • Boho Blue
  • Blueberry Bushel
  • Night of Navy
  • Starry Sky
  • Orchid Oasis
  • Highland Heather
  • Gorgeous Grape
  • Blackberry Bliss
  • Berry Burst
  • Moody Mauve
  • Fresh Freesia
  • Bubble Bath
  • Early Espresso
  • Pecan Pie
  • Crumb Cake
  • Pebbled Path
  • Gray Granite
  • Smoky Slate
  • Basic Gray

Here’s my HIGHLY HUMAN explanation of Analagous colors and a simple fun-fold card (that I only mess up a few times…thank goodness for the ability to skip ahead on YouTube!):

There are a few days left to join the 2023-2025 In Color Club, where you’ll collect all the color collection products in the 5 new In Colors over the next 5 months. YOU CAN BE PART OF THE CLUB from anywhere in the U.S.A. ~ sign up by May 31, 2023 and learn more here:

A Thank-You Faux Step Card

Have you explored the Online Exclusive products in my Stampin’ Up! Store? One of the ones I’ve been loving is the Hello, Irresistible Suite and this Faux Step Card is a snap to put together using the products in the suite!

This is a Portrait (tall) version of the Rain or Shine card I created a few months ago (watch the tutorial HERE) and the card base measurements are:

  • Card Base is 11″ x 4.25″ (scored at 2″, 4″ and 7.5″)
  • Designer Series Paper: 4″ x 1.75″ (Pretty Peacock lattice piece) and 4″ x 3.25″ (leaves).
  • Tall panel is 2.25″ x 11″, scored at 5.5″
  • Designer Series Paper is 2″ x 5.25″ (Flirty Flamingo pink piece)

Emboss the greeting in white embossing powder on Basic Black card stock and fussy cut for the front. I did use the now-retired white seam binding ribbon around the bottom step panel, but you can substitute any that you have in your collection.

The coordinating dies cut the flowers from both the stamp set AND the Designer Series Paper, as I’ve done here, and then I embellished with a few of the Frosted Dots (also in the suite) using mini glue dots to adhere to the center of the flowers, or scattered across the front.

Once you make this card, you’ll want to make many more just like it, so cut your paper accordingly! Shop the supplies here:

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Complementary Colors in Card-Making

Understanding a COLOR WHEEL a little bit will help you put together beautiful color palettes for your stamping projects, and today we are talking about COMPLEMENTARY colors, or colors directly across from each other on the color wheel:

When you choose complementary colors, you create HIGH ENERGY in a palette, like this turtle card made from the Playing in the Rain stamp set from Stampin’ Up! using Azure Afternoon (blue) and Pumpkin Pie (orange):

You can always add a bit of a third color (in this case, Granny Apple Green) and still keep the two main colors in focus!

One thing I love doing with a new catalog is to look for card layouts I can copy. Both of the cards I am sharing today were inspired by this card on page 152 of the annual catalog (154 in the digital version):

This next complementary color card follows the same pattern or card layout, but uses the LOVELY new Lemon Lolly color paired with Fresh Freesia, which I cannot get enough of:

This time I used the Sweet Citrus stamps and dies (my signature for creative juice) and embossed the front panel with the Raindrops embossing folder after I stamped the greeting.

All of this is shared in my weekly video, and if you are like me and want it to play faster, just speed up the playback by clicking on the gear at the bottom of the YouTube video!

Now you know a little more about complementary colors, try it yourself! Find a card design in the catalog (or use one of my previous samples here on CJBL) and re-create it with your own colors and stamps.

If you want to copy one of the cards I shared today, here are the supplies I used for both cards:

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I appreciate the opportunity to serve your creative needs! Make time to stamp and find your happy place.

Using In Colors with Confidence

If choosing colors to use in your crafting is daunting, I have a tool for you!

The new 2023 In Color Coach will be going out with my email this week (if you aren’t subscribed yet, you will get it when you join my email list) and in Lunchtime Crafting LIVE today (video below), I showed a few examples using the page featuring the 2023-2025 In Colors.

Stampin’ Up! created Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Boho Blue, Moody Mauve and Pebbled Path (in the order they are on my Classic Birthday Card) to set the TONE for the next two years as “In” colors. A tone is a pure color (HUE) with GREY added.

These colors feel “retro” and “earthy” when I look at them…what adjective would you choose?

While they look fabulous together, they can also be combined with other colors from our collections and I used the Color Coach to create two more examples:

When I combined Boho Blue with Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink and Misty Moonlight, it felt SEA-worthy, so I put them on a Crumb Cake beachy background and used the new Circle Sayings bundle for a summer “Thinking of You” card.

Next, I looked at Moody Mauve and the Color Coach suggested pairing it with Petal Pink again and Flirty Flamingo. It needed one more color, and the new CORE color of Bubble Bath felt just right. The Crafting with You bundle was ideal for this Handmade Hug card. All these new products are available MAY 2, 2023 from the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog. Shopping links will be added at the bottom of this post on that day.

I “quilted” the background by running it through the Basics 3-D folder. This reminds me so much of a quilt I’ve snuggled under as a child!

Ready to add the 2023-25 In Colors to your studio? JOIN THE IN COLOR COLLECTORS CLUB!

Each month from May 2023 through September 2023, you will receive a package of one new IN COLOR products (May- Boho Blue, June- Copper Clay, July- Wild Wheat, August- Moody Mauve and September- Pebbled Path):

  • Classic Ink Pad
  • Classic Ink Refill
  • Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack
  • 5 sheets of Card Stock
  • Two 6″x6″ pieces of Designer Series Paper
  • 2 yards of ribbon

PLUS a bonus embellishment each month!

PLUS an exclusive project tutorial (supplies for the project will be included FREE, you’ll use your own ink and any stamp set to complete the project)

PLUS each month a member of the club will receive a set of the five 2023-2025 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers FREE until everyone has a set!

The Monthly Cost will be (plus $6 for shipping to you if you can’t pick up from Loni’s house in Hurricane, UT) and if you sign up, you are agreeing to all 5 months (worth it, I promise!).

Let me show you how to make the cards above and use the Color Coach to find a pretty palette:

Something Old, New & Blue for a Sketch

This is the great clean-out week in the Creative Juice Stampin’ Studio as I prepare for my New Catalog Carnival & BOGO Sale on May 6th!

As I was sorting through things, I found a few items that were retiring which I wanted to combine with a new bundle coming in the 2023-2025 Catalog: A piece of By the Bay Designer Series Paper and the Seashells 3-Dembossing folder. So when I saw the Freshly Made Sketch #FMS582 for the week, I knew exactly what to do!

Using a sponge dauber and my Whisper White Craft ink pad, I made the embossed background stand out a bit by rubbing the ink over the shells and seaweed, then pulled colors from the Designer Series Paper (Balmy Blue, Crumb Cake, Night of Navy and Soft Sea Foam) to use as my color palette.

If I had a “spirit shape” it would be a circle (I don’t like corners), so the Circle Saying stamp set – which coordinates with a new 2-3/8″ circle punch – was part of my first demonstrator pre-order from the new catalog, which you will be able to shop from starting May 2nd. HOWEVER, if you want to combine them with the embossing folder or pretty paper, you’ll need to snag them now in the LAST CHANCE SALE:

The Circle Sayings Bundle (photopolymer stamp set + 2-3/8″ circle punch) will be available on May 2nd, and here are the other supplies to collect NOW for this card:

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