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

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

Birthday Cupcake Fun-Fold Card

July 11, 2025July 5, 2025Leave a comment

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!

Download Cupcake Fun-Fold Tutorial

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Secret Garden Gate-Fold Thank You Card

June 28, 2025June 27, 2025Leave a comment

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.

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Scrapbooking with Everyday Skies Suite & Virtual Event

June 23, 20253 Comments

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:

Month by Month Album Retreat 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!

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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Mailable Gift for Men

June 12, 20251 Comment

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.

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Fantastic Dad Slimline card with Stampin' Up! Party Alphabet dies

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Arched Screen Divider Card Tutorial

February 24, 2025February 24, 2025Leave a comment

“and the 2025 winner in the Top Die-Cutting Tool category is……EVERYDAY ARCHES!”

Worthy of a standing ovation, the Stampin’ Up! Everyday Arches Dies (and coordinating stamp set) are truly a non-negotiable necessity in everyone’s craft room. Full stop.

With 10 nesting dies (the largest die is 5-3/16″ x 3-15/16″), you’ll marvel at the full range of crafting abilities of such a basic shape. (In case they are “currently unavailable”, fear not, they’ll be back in stock soon!). I’m here to help you see their potential, starting with the Arched Screen Divider Card:

Don’t arch an eyebrow (ha-ha)…this is just the front. When you open it up, the STAGE IS SET:

As a baby card, you could put a photo of the newborn in the center panel -OR- list their name, birthdate, birth place and vitals (handwritten, if you have lovely writing or print from your computer, if you don’t).

The back side gives more space to add photos or love notes:

What I love best is that the Beatrix Potter vibes make it a perfect decoration on a nursery shelf, or the parents could use each piece in a scrapbook!

A few close ups:

The “Know You are Loved” panel was completed after my demonstration, and it is the perfect fit.

I’ve got different versions to share with you, but first, the instructions in video:

On to the other versions, starting with a birthday card using the Full of Life Designer Series Paper and a sneak peek of the Arched Wishes stamp set, coming in March:

Because there are only 5 days left of Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration, I also had to make an Arched Screen Divider card with one of our freebies:

If the Terrific Toadstool bundle is on your list, don’t put off ordering it even one more second, or you’ll miss out on the Toadstool Gardens Designer Series Paper (free choice with $60 purchase by February 28, 2025)!

Tell me what you think of this card (comment section at top of post, by title and date posted) and you may receive the toadstool version in the mail!

For the Storybook Moments Baby card, you’ll need:

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Adventure Together- Reach for the Stars

January 31, 2025Leave a comment

Have you browsed through the Online Exclusive section of my Stampin’ Up! store recently??! There are so many hidden treasures there, and THIS is one of them:

Adventure Together Bundle

I loved the little camper so much that I used it for the last card swap with my Sprinkled Ink team!

This card paired the Stampin’ Up! Adventure Together bundle with the Everyday Skies Suite Collection (another Online Exclusive must-have) for a snapshot of camping under the stars and stories around a fire. Doesn’t it make you yearn for warmer weather?

It was wonderful to see how it paired with many of the designs in the Everyday Skies Designer Series Paper, and this one shows a different color combination and skyscape:

Which do you prefer- The blue night sky filled with stars or the purple clouds of the evening sunset? Comments are at the top of the post near the date!

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Adventure Together Bundle (English)

Everyday Arches Bundle (English)

Everyday Skies 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Fresh Freesia 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad

Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Bubble Bath Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Stampin' Seal

Stampin' Dimensionals

Two Tone Sparkle Gems

New at SU! Fruit Salad for Sale A Bration

January 15, 2025January 14, 20254 Comments

Good to see you here again – or for the first time! We have an international group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators dedicated to bringing you “What’s New” at SU! each month and our January 2025 hop is all about Sale-a-Bration Coordination!

Sale-a-Bration is Stampin’ Up!’s biggest event of the year, where you can shop, host and join with EXTRA PERKS. We are focusing on the products you can choose FREE, and combining them with items from our other offerings to show you how they mix & match beautifully. I’ll show you how the Fruit Salad Designer Series Paper (a free Sale-a-Bration item with a qualifying order in your market) can be used with the Everyday Arches bundle just released in the Online Exclusives!

Yum…fresh pineapple takes the stage in this card! Isn’t it spectacular how the back side of this paper makes a mouth-watering background, while the pineapple fussy cut from the front stands tall as the focal point on the layered arches?

For card #2, I wanted to feature as much of the fruit as possible, so to make the mat a bit smaller, I traced the inside of the arch die just larger than the one I used to cut the patterned paper and hand-trimmed it so I could get one two on the front with the sentiment. Sure to bring sunshine to a friend:

Next, I created a trio of arches for this Thank You card using a few different fruits from the paper:

The last card shows the versatility of the dies ~ You can even create OVALS!

Living up to their name, you can mix up the fruits and patterns of this paper for a delicious, refreshing recipe every time. You’ll be seeing more of this paper from me as I squeeze the most out of my Creative Juice! Next, move on to Annette’s post featuring the “Dance with Me” Sale-a-Bration stamp set and remember to save or Pin your favorites along the way!