New at SU! – Gingerbread Gifts

October 15, 2025October 15, 20252 Comments

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.

Now lick your fingers and press the GO button for “Gathering Together” treats by Karen, your next stop along the sweet tour:

October 2025 New at SU! Hop: No Tricks, Just Treats!

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Astrids Papiereuphorie (AT) – Halloween Goodies

2.Did You Stamp Today? (US) – Halloween-ish Treat Pouches

3.247 Inkspiration (US) – Gathering Moments Treat

4.iHeartCards2 (US) – Halloween Treat Holders

5.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Gingerbread Gifts

6.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Gathering Together Treats

7.De Kijkkast (NL)- Kleine kersttractatie met Delicate Pines

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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:

Shop the Starter Kit NOW

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Joy-ful Color & Sketch Mash-up

October 10, 2025October 10, 2025Leave a comment

Some punny jokes begin with “What do you get when you mix a ____ with a ____?” but in paper crafting, MAGIC happens when you are given two different starting points, like a color palette and a sketch!

This card was born by marrying the Global Design Project Color Challenge #gdp517 with the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #FMS707 …AND combining the Abundant Joy Paper Pumpkin Add-On dies with with the Traditions of Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper! No stamping required for this project 😉

Hang in there…even though the Traditions of Christmas DSP is backordered right now, Stampin’ Up!®️ is rushing to have it re-printed and re-stocked mid-November. Meanwhile, get your Christmas Cards started by subscribing TODAY for the October Cozy Christmas Paper Pumpkin kit AND remember to include the optional Abundant Joy Add-On Dies (which coordinate with the October/November/December kits) to your next order!

October 10th is the last day to subscribe for the Cozy Christmas card kit, and the dies are darling on their own, with just a bit of pretty paper, and using a bit of glimmer paper for the JOY makes the season sparkle:

Next time you are needing some creative inspiration to strike, pick a color palette and card sketch and make your own mash-up!

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

No Tricks, All Treats: Candy Bar Books

October 6, 2025October 6, 20251 Comment

If your Halloween crafting stash is calling your name louder than a ghost in a graveyard, grab your Stampin’ Up!® Spooky Sweet Suite and conjure up something boo-tiful! Don’t worry, eat sweets with these dang cute CANDY BAR BOOKS:

I’ve brewed up two fun versions of this project. The Granny Apple Green “All Treats” Candy Bar Book holds two classic Hershey bars, while the Timid Tiger “Spooky Sweets” version was made to fit two Ghost Toast KitKats. Each one ties up neatly with ribbon to keep your candy secure until it’s time for a delicious reveal. Whether you’re giving these as gifts, party favors, or adding them to a Halloween goodie basket, they’re sure to get more “oohs” and “aahs” than a haunted house on October 31st.

These projects are surprisingly easy to assemble—no hocus pocus required! I’ve included an instructional video below, AND a printable .pdf with measurements.

Print .pdf Candy Bar Book Tutorial

Note that the belly band measurements are shown on white card stock, but the project uses Granny Apple Green card stock.

I embossed the covers to add some textured dimension (because even monsters like stampin’ style), then decorated with die cuts, stamped images, and a touch of sparkle. Isn’t it Franken-fun?

Here are the key measurements for both versions:

Green “All Treats” Book (fits two Hershey bars):

Cardstock base: 5 1/4″ x 6 1/2″ scored along shorter end at 2 3/8″and 2 7/8″
Belly Band: 1 1/2″ x 6 3/8″ scored at 1/2″, 2 7/8″, 3 3/8″ and 5 7/8″
Ribbon: 16″

Orange “Spooky Sweets” Book (fits two KitKats):

Cardstock base: 5″ x 6 3/8″ scored along the longer side at 2 3/4″ and 3 5/8″
Belly Band: 1 1/2″ x 8 1/8″ scored at 7/8″, 3 5/8″, 4 1/2″ and 7 1/4″
Ribbon: 16″

Want to see the whole project come to life? Watch my full step-by-step tutorial on YouTube here:

What else did we talk about today? The 3-day KIT SALE (through October 8th):

AND we discussed FAQs on the Starter Kit Special! Bottom line: If you are planning to order more than $35 in crafting supplies from my Stampin’ Store this month, you may as well choose the Starter Kit!

To make your shopping Spooky Sweet, I’ll list the supplies for these projects below and THANK YOU for choosing me to serve your creativity!

Product List

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Pink Sunflowers Spread Hope

October 2, 2025October 2, 20251 Comment

Painting October Pink in support of someone fighting Breast Cancer? This slimline card is one to pick!

This fits into a legal envelope and uses card stock wisely: Begin with an 8.5″ x 11″ BUBBLE BATH (edited) card stock and cut 4″ off one end, leaving an 8.5″ x 7″ card base. Score it in half at 3.5″.

Other card stock needed: Basic White, 3″ x 8″ and Strawberry Slush 3.25″ x 8.25″

From the center of the strawberry slush layer, cut the H, P, and E using the Party Alphabet dies…don’t worry, no one will know, since the layer is on the bottom!

Cut the piece of Bubble Bath card stock you cut off the card base down to 2.75″ x 7.75″ and stamp the sunflower image in Strawberry Slush ink. You should also be able to use the scraps for the ribbon!

With each purchase of the Love & Courage Stamp Set, Stampin’ Up!® will donate $3 to support the fight against breast cancer (PLUS you’ll earn $2.50 in Stampin’ Rewards- make sure you’ve opted in for rewards!)

You can make a difference while stamping – Thank you for spreading love & hope with your crafting!

Product List

Love & Courage Cling Stamp Set (English)

Party Alphabet Dies

Pretty In Pink 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Strawberry Slush 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Stampin' Dimensionals

<!——– CardSupplyList End ———-

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Fluffy Squirrel Birthday & Sprinkled Ink Swaps

September 29, 2025Leave a comment

The art my teammates create is astounding! The Sprinkled Inkers (and friends) host a card swap for each new print publication, including new Online Exclusives. Michelle snapped these photos and I wanted to brag on the creators:

There were fun folds we learned in a virtual team meeting, gift card holders, tags, layers, specialty paper, ornaments, fun folds, embossing… all the creative ideas you collect by being a stamper! I’m so proud of these demonstrators, and there is ROOM IN OUR FAMILY FOR YOU!

For 31 days in October, there are two fabulous starter kit offers, and there is no reason you shouldn’t give take advantage of one of these two unbelievable deals:

As part of my team, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the best card swaps EVER, and be embraced by a community of creatives you didn’t know you needed.

This was my card for the swap – just in time for Fall birthdays!

This playful card pairs the Stampin’ Up!®️ Fluffy Squirrel bundle (stamps & punch) with the Everyday Arches dies for an autumnal birthday greeting. The embossed background adds texture behind the sweet squirrels—one bringing a gift and the other gathering acorns. Turning the arches sideways adds to their versatility! A touch of twine and soft ink blending finish it off, making this card a charming way to celebrate someone’s day of birth in October or November.

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Funny Flamingo Missing Middle Card & Spooky Sweet Events

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025Leave a comment

Halloween is around the corner, but you don’t need to be limited to the Trick or Treat season when crafting with the Stampin’ Up!®️ Spooky Sweet products, and particularly the Designer Series Paper. This sheet has a flamingo dressed in a tutu that I’m going to use on a birthday card:

It’s TOO TOO cute when paired with the Not 29 Anymore stamp set for a card you can send to “THAT FRIEND” who is fiesty & fabulous:

This card is called a “Missing Middle” card, and is easier than it looks: Start with a 4-1/4″ x 8 1/2″ piece of card stock (mine is Granny Apple Green) and score it at 5-1/2″ and cut it at 7″… leaving you a 1-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ piece of card stock for the bottom of the card. (All the supplies I used are listed at the bottom)

Fold the top 1-1/2″ down and add a layer of Designer Series Paper, if desired. Lay the section you cut off at the bottom edge of the card, and attach a 2-1/4″ x 4-1/4″ piece of card stock to the top section and bottom section only. Then it will open like this and you can add a white layer inside to write or stamp on:

My flamingo is layered over a piece of retired Be Dazzling specialty paper, but any of our current Glimmer Paper brings the bling when you need it.

Heading into the Halloween season, there are a few events (online and in-person) you’ll want to know about:

First: The VIRTUAL Spooky Sweet Class happens Thursday, October 2nd, and the last day you can order the suite and be invited to join the class is September 24th! This gives me time to prepare and mail the supplies you’ll need, and for you to have the suite ready to use. Learn more at the event description on Facebook by clicking the image below, or on my event calendar HERE.

Second: Stamping is the best medicine to make you feel good, and you’ll stamp 3 FALL paper crafting projects at our Stamp Therapy sessions in Hurricane, UT on October 9th. Choose to attend the 10 am session or the 6 pm session, but register early, because these seem to fill up quickly. Class fee: $15.

Southern Utah crafters: Here’s another tasty opportunity for more Spooky Sweet crafting at the Cookies, Cards & Cocoa class on Oct. 16th at 6:30 PM at the Strap Tank Restaurant in St. George, UT.

Decorate 4 Halloween sugar cookies and stamp two paper crafting projects, while enjoying a beverage from the restaurant. Class fee: $35 ALL SUPPLIES PROVIDED! Click HERE to register by Oct. 9th

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

New at SU! Fluffy Squirrels & Branches

September 17, 2025September 16, 20253 Comments

There is always something NEW at Stampin’ Up! and September brought a SLEW of lovely new products, so the New at SU! Design Team is here to introduce you to your next “must have” item from the September-December Mini Catalog OR Online Exclusives!

I’ve chosen the Fluffy Squirrel bundle: A photopolymer stamp set with a coordinating punch, paired with the Branching Out bundle – both from the new Mini Catalog.

When creating a card with matted layers on the front, consider ways to make it different: Use a different shape for the layers, or score the card base in an unexpected way. This card base is 5.5″ x 8.5″ as usual, but scored at 1.25″ and 5.5″, so it folds around the inside greeting:

The color palette for this card is Lost Lagoon (pretty color for pines), Cajun Craze, Pecan Pie, Early Espresso and Basic Beige – feels like fall 🍂 and the squirrels make autumn adorable, sitting on a tree stump and gathering acorns for the winter. Optional idea: add some texture to the background on the top of the card by using the Birch Wood embossing folder after stamping the branches.

The best things for YOU to gather is paper crafting supplies for hours of contented crafting in every season, so keep a shopping list handy as you discover other items featured in our blog hop to squirrel-away for a stamping day (I’ve listed my products used at the bottom of this page).

September 2025 New at SU! Blog Hop: New Product Showcase

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Traditions of Christmas

2.Stamping Flair (AU) – Jolly Delivery Suite

3.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael- Gathering Moments

4.Did You Stamp Today? (US) – Christmas Shaker

5.Stampinxime by Ximena Morales (DE) – Herbststimmung bei Stampin’ Up!

6.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Fluffy Squirrel & Branches

7.iHeartCards2 (US) – New At SU! September 2025 – New Products Showcase

8.247 Inkspiration (US) – Spooky Sweet

9.De Kijkkast (NL) – Dreamy Card with Branching Out

BREAKING NEWS! Stampin’ Up!®️ is having a 24-hour STAMP SALE starting tonight at midnight, MT

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To see EVERY product that’s NEW at SU! BROWSE HERE

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

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.