close up Stampin' Up! Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebration birthday card

Celebrating New Creativity

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.

Beyond birthday celebrations, there are many ways to combine these bold images and fun fonts for many special occasions!

close up Stampin' Up! Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebration birthday card

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.”

With the release of the January-April Mini Catalog AND new Online Exclusives that have been added to my Stampin’ Store, there are some other promotions to be aware of:

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.

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I appreciate being a part of your crafting journey~ Keep your creative juices flowing! 

🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove


Color Block Zinnia Stand up Card

Simply Zinnia, Simple Fun-Fold Thanks Card

Bright colored flowers shout “I LOVE YOU” as well as “THANK YOU” and “YOU’RE THE BEST!” Zinnias lead the garden in bold flower-power during the summer, so a color-blocked card that stands to display seemed like the one to craft today:

The Simply Zinnia stamp & die bundle is an Online Exclusive that you can NOT miss! For my demonstration, I used Versamark ink to stamp the zinnia image on both the Berry Burst and Coastal Cabana card stock pieces that fit on the card base.

However, the Zinnia bundle IS part of a larger Flowering Zinnia SUITE of products, which includes the Zinnia 3-D Embossing folder…so I also did a version of this card using it to make a “touchable” raised background.

This is how they stand:

There is a HELPFUL TIP for layering the petal dies in today’s video tutorial, which will save you time in assembly. Remember, you can click on the gear in the bottom right of the video and change the speed to make any tutorial play faster, if you are an impatient crafter like me!

Just a few more days to collect the Stamp + Die bundles you love, or the Cut & Emboss machines, for an ADDITIONAL 10% off.

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In Colors on a Leafy Card, with Ann

What a delight to have my dear friend and Sprinkled Ink teammate Ann Olsen in the studio with me! We got to stamp and visit together, and reminisce about some of our fun times together as demonstrators over 27 years together. PLUS, we stamped a few cards with current sets of In Colors, the Layering Leaves stamp set and the BOUGH PUNCH, which is finally back in stock!

My card started with Very Vanilla card stock and the 2023-2025 In Colors (Copper Clay, Wild Wheat, Moody Mauve, Pebbled Path and Boho Blue). Ann’s card is the same layout on a white card stock base, but with 2022-2024 In Colors (Tahitian Tide, Starry Sky, Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party and Orchid Opulence).

Each colored section started out as 2″ x 1-1/4″ rectangles, which I forgot to mention during the video. Trim off the section on the top and bottom that hang over, after you adhere them to the front layer.

Which color combination do you like best? I usually prefer the vivid colors, but am feeling the fall weather and leaning into the vanilla/earthy tones today. The brighter colors are available through April 2024, so make sure you have ink refills and paper stocked up!

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27 years ago, Ann had to ask me how to join Stampin’ Up! but I’ve become better at offering this opportunity to others! If you are interested in joining a creative community and expanding your circle of friendships, we have an AMAZING offer coming October 3-31, 2023: