A simple card can be transformed by an easy fun-fold element, and in today’s free tutorial, I’ll show you how to make someone’s birthday brighter!
Behind this simple facade lies a fancy surprise as you open the card:
The Everyday Arches dies are the star of this card, and an essential set of paper crafting tools that belong in every stamper’s arsenal.
Let me know if you like this idea by leaving a comment (top of post, near posting date), order the supplies you need below the button, then download the tutorial and give it a go!
Do you make consistent appointments with the doctor or the dentist to stay healthy? Do you have an exercise schedule or beauty regimen? Those promises you make to yourself for your well-being are the most important ones to keep, so make a pact to improve your connection with friends and to nurture your creativity:
Say HELLO to your monthly creative date – one you can do on your own, or with a friend!
APaper Pumpkin craft box arrives in your mail on or before the 20th of each month filled with everything you need to make a paper-crafting project: Pre-cut paper, an ink spot in a Stampin’ Up!®️ color, adhesive and an exclusive stamp set. There are also step-by-step instructions in the box AND a how-to video on YouTube each month. Your FIRST kit includes a clear block – keep it handy for future kits!
This is a sneak peek of the July kit – the deadline for this kit is July 10th, but you can subscribe anytime and get the next kit!
The Sweeter With You July Paper Pumpkin Kit will be a card kit that makes 8 cards: 4 each of 2 different designs featuring sun-kissed strawberries and gingham!
One other perk for subscribers is an optional Add-on die set each quarter that matches the kits for all three months. The July-September coordinating Add-on is the Circle of Seasons dies:
And here is a card I made with the Circle of Seasons Add-on dies to whet your appetite for a sweet crafting subscription!
From a silver foil “Hello” to the mouth-watering fruits, this card is quintessential summer! But that’s not all…the dies ALSO cut an ACORN (which will match the September kit!)
As a subscriber, you may add an extra kit for yourself or a gift, shop from extra kits or refills, skip a month, or cancel at any time. I send a Paper Pumpkin Patch newsletter to my subscribers the last week of every month with ways to continue to use their stamp set and ink spot after the kit is completed!
If you’ve ever wanted to attend a class, but couldn’t — if you need a happy hobby — or if you just love paper, ink and stamps– THIS SUBSCRIPTION is a way to show yourself (or a friend) a little love.
Did you know Stampin’ Up!®️ releases NEW products every other month? July is one of those months, and I wanted to mix two of the new items together for a large slimline card: The Tractor & Co. bundle (photopolymer stamps + dies) and the fabulous Sunflower 3D embossing folder!
To make the sunflowers pop, after you’ve embossed an 8.25″ x 3.25″ of Darling Duckling card stock with this extra-large embossing folder, drag the Garden Green ink pad across the flat side (where the flowers are pushed down, not up).
An 8.5″ x 3.5″ Garden Green Mat behind the sunflowers frames it nicely, and the tractor is popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
The Pool Party card base is 9″ wide and 8″ tall, scored in half at 4″. This fits into a legal sized envelope.
Those are just two of the new products launched yesterday! Also check out the two new KITS for July (click on images to see the kits):
One more thing I’m looking forward to this month is the Sweeter With You Paper Pumpkin kit! In case you aren’t familiar with Paper Pumpkin, it’s a craft kit subscription by mail, and each kit includes an exclusive stamp set, ink spot and all the supplies prepared for you to enjoy a stress-free moment of creativity!
Each quarter, a coordinating set of dies is also offered to Paper Pumpkin subscribers, and they match all the kits released in those three months. The Circle of Seasons die set is only $12 and the strawberry die will also create an acorn (hint at the September kit!):
My Paper Pumpkin subscribers also receive a special email from me on the last week of the month, with ideas to use the stamp set, ink spot and add-on dies AFTER the kit is complete! I know you’d look forward to a kit in your mailbox each month, so give it a try!
Check out all the new products released this month HERE:
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove
This week’s TGIF Challenge #tgifc531 is “Garden Gates” and I wanted to create a gratitude card that felt like you were walking into a Secret Garden:
After I created my card, I went back to the TGIF post and realized Wendy Weixler and I both had a similar idea for building the gate, but how delightful that both are unique!
The first type of card I thought of was the appropriately named “Gate Fold” card, so I had to think it through. I ended up cutting my gate in half, so you could enter the garden:
There are only 3 days left of the Suite BOGO Sale, so I chose to use the Impressions Abloom bundle and Designer Series Paper from the Floral Impressions Suite. Each piece of our suites also qualify for the sale, just remember that the lowest price suite or suite product will get the 50% discount!
Now enter the secret garden:
I used the arch die cut from the larger gate (cut for the front) on the inside, and let the profusion of flowers bloom on all sides!
Fun fact: The Secret Garden classic children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett was one of my favorite reads as a child, and though I’m a huge musical nerd, I DON’T really love the Secret Garden musical play. The book is definitely best (and there are a few decent movie adaptations).
This card just gives all the wonder of finding a secret garden behind a locked gate!
Now, if you’ve procrastinated, here’s your reminder to shop the SWEET Suite BOGO Sale.
Scrapbooking is about telling your stories and getting the photos off your phone! Myself, I tend to keep it simple to get it done. As part of our “Sweet, Suite Summer” series (since it’s the last week of our Suite BOGO50 Sale) I wanted to use the Everyday Skies Suite to show you how these products can be fantastic for memory albums!
My first page capturing a trip to Texas (many years ago) could NOT be more simple because the photo has the date and the front of the folder that the picture came in tells where it is. There are no Everyday Skies products on this page, but hold on…
On the second page, I start using the Everyday Arches dies, which is part of the suite. Cutting photos with the arches gives them a unique look. While my preference is 8.5″ x 11″ pages, you can do the same thing on a 12″ x 12″ page:
The title uses a few of our alphabet dies (listed in complete supply list, below) and a strip of the Everyday Skies Designer Series Paper makes it feel separated.
Moving to the third page (also the second page of the layout), I’ve added a whole 6″ x 6″ piece of the DSP to the lower corner to tie the colors together, and stamped the airplanes to indicate that we flew to Texas for this vacation:
To keep all the maps, ticket stubs and brochures together, page #4 actually acts as a pocket:
Just for fun, the postcard from the Alamo in San Antonio that I used on the bottom of the pocket page is 3-D, so when you move the page, a different image appears:
Try “framing” a larger photo with an arch outline, and watch the demonstration video to learn how I made the photo corners 😉
EXTRA! EXTRA! After the video, I made one more simple page to finish off my photos from that trip 21 years ago, and tie them together with the arches (and those photo corners show up again). This will face the Alamo page, completing the layout and telling the story:
The Everyday Skies suite was so popular when it launched a few months ago that it’s been out of stock. I’m super glad it is back in stock with time for you to get all of it (or just the parts you love most) before the BOGO50 Sale ends on June 30th!
If you are a scrapbooker, DON’T MISS the chance to join the VIRTUAL ALBUM RETREAT in July:
Don’t be put-off by the price: The kit includes FOUR stamp sets and 12 DOUBLE PAGE LAYOUTS (one pair for each month of the year) and the instruction you receive in the event will be worth the investment! Seriously….click to go check out the kit:
Once you purchase the kit, you’ll receive an email in early July to the exclusive Facebook Event page, so make sure your account has the best email for you! ALSO: When you purchase the kit, you earn $25 BACK in Stampin’ Rewards (if you’ve opted in) to use on your next purchase, or save up for a binder to put your pages in!
You’ll be so happy you joined the Virtual Album Retreat – order your kit today before they run out!
We are having a SUITE summer! I’m joining my international demonstrator friends to fill your cup to overflowing with ways to use Stampin’ Up!®️ SUITES to make your paper crafting projects truly SWEET (…while you can Buy One Get One Half Off in June!)
My project is a two-page 8.5″ x 11″ scrapbook layout using pieces of the Floral Impressions Suite! Florals are always popular for paper crafters, though I limit myself when it comes to flowers, I must say this suite is VERY versatile.
I used the Designer Series Paper, Impressions Abloom stamps and dies for my layout.
It began with a sketch for the second page and to counteract the busy pattern of the Designer Series Paper, I layered plain card stock on top:
These are actual pages from a personal family album I’m catching up on from 2006. Don’t judge me.
Every scrapbooker needs a letter die set for titles; I used the Alphabet a la Mode dies to caption this.
Remember to take a picture of the view out your front window or out the back door occasionally! These photos warm my heart each time I look at them because happy memories of this home rush back, though we don’t live there anymore.
While I don’t always love my handwriting, I cherish anything hand-written by my ancestors, so I force myself to write on some of my pages. Also, a single stamped flower was all the accent needed to finish this page:
Have you ever used a sketch for a scrapbook page? Leave me a comment (at the top of the post, by the posting date) and tell me what you like, before exploring all the other ideas we are sharing today:
June 2025 New at SU! Blog Hop: New Suite Collections
Whichever SUITE appeals to you, now is the time to add your favorite to your shopping cart…and get a second suite half off! This deal applies to individual suite products, as well, so I’ve shared some tips (below) for you. I’d be happy to serve your creative needs, if you don’t have another U.S. demonstrator serving you!
Welcome to another Sweet Suite SIMPLE Summer Stamping project: A D.I.Y. Travel Journal crafted with the Stampin’ Up!®️ On the Go Suite Collection!
This easy-peasy book began with an inexpensive composition notebook that I covered with the travel-themed On the Go Designer Series Paper by Stampin’ Up!®️
Crafting with a suite of products, like the On the Go suite takes the stress out of choosing colors or finding coordinating items, because it’s all done for you…even down to the matching puffy stickers and colored twine for the tags!
The puffy stickers really add a level of whimsy and fun!
Remember to stamp the top of each page with the date stamp, and your journal is ready for adventure:
I’ve got measurements and tips to make this project speedy and fun~ watch the tutorial:
Adding to the growing “Mailable Gifts” list (you’ll want to PIN or bookmark that link) ~ this time it’s one a guy would appreciate!
Since it’s Father’s Day, I like to remember my sons and sons-in-love (I do the same for the girls on Mother’s Day). A gift card for a CAR WASH doesn’t break the bank (when you have many gifts to mail), and when I was at Quick Quack Car Wash purchasing gift cards, I saw that they also had AIR FRESHENERS for just $1!!
Of course, I had to come back to make a slimline card that would fit both the Duck Scent and the gift card! The Stampin’ Up!®️ Party Alphabet dies are large enough to show off the contrasting pattern on the front, and this is the inside of the card style:
I did have to cut off just a bit of the bottom of the “Duck Scents” to fit into a small envelope (as shown) – it’s a 6 3/4″ security envelope, like you can buy a box of at Dollar Tree. The card size is 3.5″ x 6.25″ when folded, and I’ll give you material measurements in just a moment.
One thing you will have to do is manipulate the sentiment on your clear block, so it will curve around the first letter, and fit on the Designer Series Paper. That’s easy to do with Stampin’ Up!®️ photopolymer stamps, like the Everyday Arches set I used for this card. Make sure to stamp this sentiment close to the left side of the patterned paper so you have room for the letters!
I’m here to make all the mistakes so you don’t have to- I had to make this card style 3 times before I got it right! Once I got it down, I made multiple versions. Here are the measurements:
11″ x 3.5″ cardstock for card base, scored at 6.25″ and 9.75″ (fold the smallest flap over and secure edges with Tear & Tape adhesive to create a pocket for a gift card).
Designer Series Paper for front layer: 6″ x 3.25″
Cardstock for inside of card: 5-7/8″ x 3-1/8″
Designer Series Paper AND card stock for 3 letters (and the shadow behind them): 2.5″ x 5″
Stamp any designs you want on your letters (like the birds) BEFORE you offset the card stock behind them for a shadow effect, then pop them up on the front of your card with dimensionals.
These cards turned out terrific with a combination of papers from the Everyday Skies 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper pack! Supplies listed below, and the SON card uses Cajun Craze, Blueberry Bushel and Cloud Cover (inside) card stock; the DAD card uses Azure Afternoon, Blackberry Bliss and Basic White (inside) card stock.
Would you give this card style a try? Leave me a comment (at top of post, next to the posting date) to let me know how you like it.
“Summertime! And the Stampin’ is Easy!” (if you sang that in your mind~ Greetings, fellow musical geek!)
Since Stampin’ Up!®️ Suites (and suite products) are BOGO50 during June, I’ll be sharing some SIMPLE ways to use our current Suites for sensational summer stamping projects. In today’s video, I’m also revealing a BEAUTY SECRET!
Crafting in June, July & August has to be easy & breezy, so coordinated products in a suite bring a speedy card together in moments. Using the Impressions Abloom stamp set, you can keep this Thanks card ultra simple, or add layers and leaves:
The only thing to stamp on the second card is the sentiment! If you die cut a few extra pieces while catching up on your favorite television episode, you’ll have all the pieces prepared to put an “I appreciate you” card together in seconds:
Embossing a piece of Stampin’ Up!®️ Two-Tone card stock with the Pressed Flowers embossing folder and rubbing it with an emery board to reveal the white center makes this background terrific and touchable.
Some of the Impressions Abloom Dies have detailed inserts, so you can die cut them from cardstock, or remove the details to cut out the stamped image.
TIP:Washi tape keeps both the outline and the details together while you run them through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine.
All these products are part of the Floral Impressions Suite, and can be purchased as a complete collection or individually:
REMEMBER: For the Buy-One-Get-One-50% off special, the LOWEST priced items will receive the discount, so shop smart! Make separate orders and purchase 2 suites together in the first order (to get one suite half price), then use the *Stampin’ Rewards you earned on your first order for an additional discount on your second order, where you may order individual items from other suites (like more Designer Series Paper or embellishments).
*Stampin’ Rewards: Make sure you’ve OPTED IN to earn 10% back each time you shop! Save them or spend your rewards next time!
Scroll back up to the top to the comments (under the posting date) to tell me if you took the beauty secret and tried it!
One more day to SUBSCRIBE and receive the Floral Charm Paper Pumpkin kit in the mail!
Paper Pumpkin is a complete stamping experience in a box, and the June kit actually coordinates with a new Suite coming to my store in July: the Floral Charm Suite. If you are a current subscriber, you will also want to include the Hugs Abloom add-on die set to your next order, as it coordinates with the 2025 April-June kits:
There’s sweet offer during June on Stampin’ Up!®️ Suites – AND individual products from the suites! It is a bit tricky, so read carefully to understand how this BOGO sale works, then I’ll share summery stamping projects using the suites all month long!
What is included in the Buy One, Get One 50% off sale? All available suites and suite products from the 2025–2026 Annual Catalog and Online Exclusives. If a suite product is out of stock, there is no rain check, but come back often during the month to see if they return!
Which item will be half off? The 50% off discount will apply to the lower-priced item (for example, if you buy a full suite collection and a stamp set from a suite, the suite would be full price, and the stamp set would be 50% off).
Do the products I choose have to be from the same suite? NO- you can mix and match products from any suite!
How can I tell which item will be 50% off? The lowest priced item(s) will always get the discount, and the discount will appear in your cart once you’ve added two items within the sale parameters to your cart. You might choose to place separate orders: One with higher-priced items bundled together, and another with less expensive suite products.
I’ll be sharing simple projects with the Stampin’ Up!®️ Suites throughout the month, so let’s start with the Turtle-y Cute Suite and a fun-fold card you can create quickly, without doing any coloring, thanks to the Designer Series Paper:
The designs on the paper cover every occasion from weddings to picnics, and everything in between! My favorite pieces of the suite (after the DSP) are the Turtle Textures embossing folder and the Shades of Green Hexagons – a delightful little detail with a nod to a turtle shell!
Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove