Stampin’ Up!®️ Butterfly Flight Hot Foil Watercolor Wash Greeting Card

Watercolor Background Butterflies

July 13, 2026July 14, 2026Leave a comment

Do you ever get the “itch” to create art? I did this morning when I saw Emma Goddard’s card featured on the Global Design Project’s “CASE the Designer” challenge #gdp556

That SPLASH of color on Emma’s card felt like creative juice, so I pulled out the new Butterfly Flight Hot Foil Dies, some watercolor paper and ink to “CASE” (Create And Share Everything) the washes of ink!

I started by making “blobs” of color (the technical term, I’m sure) onto watercolor paper using Water Painters and Timid Tiger, Melon Mambo and Pretty Peacock ink. TIP: If you squeeze your ink pad while it’s closed, some of the ink transfers to the LID of your ink pad and you can pick it up from the lid with a paintbrush so the water doesn’t damage your pad.

The Butterfly Flight Hot Foil dies were foiled in GOLD on Very Vanilla card stock (if you haven’t seen our amazing new Hot Foil system in action, click HERE to learn more) then colored with the coordinating masks. Watch how fun it is to layer on the color with Blending Brushes and the same ink pads used for the background:

The sentiment “Here’s to a new chapter” from the Sending Salutations stamp set feels appropriate for a butterfly card, as the creatures are known for their beautiful transformation from caterpillar to beauty queen! It could be used for a birthday, retirement, new job, new parents, beginning of a school year, or a wedding, don’t you think?

May you capture a moment to create today ~ it will fill your heart with happiness to make something lovely!

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Bikes & Blooms Diagonal Sliding Channel-Lock Card

June 23, 2026July 9, 2026Leave a comment

The Global Design Project color challenge #GDP553 felt “retro” to me, so I grabbed the stamp set from the June “Bikes & Blooms” Paper Pumpkin Kit and started playing.

I was reminiscing about the freedom we had during the summer growing up in the 1970’s: We would leave on our bikes and ride/play until dark, with a stop at one house or another for lunch. The rule was that we had to be home by dark! It was glorious to feel safe and to have the mobility our “wheels” provided.

TRUE STORY: One of my granddaughters just learned how to ride a bike without training wheels and she called me from her watch/phone as I was writing this post to tell me she was taking a ride around the block! While things are a little different than they were 50 years ago, I’m grateful she has acquired a new skill and a taste of her own freedom.

Back to our card of the day: Following the diagonal card fold shared earlier this month, I added a sliding channel lock piece that keeps the front flaps together, and slides off to open. TIP: When you cut your scored card stock diagonally to get two card bases from one sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock, cut it *slightly* shorter (like 1/16″) so there is a small gap between the edges when folded to allow the locking piece to slide easily.

The Perennial Postage dies were perfect for giving the bike image a frame and creating the mechanism. Watch how to create a channel lock and how this card works:

To fit the Peaceful Pine/Barely Blush/Timid Tiger color scheme, I colored one of the 2026-2028 In Color Butterflies with the Timid Tiger Stampin’ Blends marker. It was easy because it was already orange-ish in Crisp Cantaloupe. The extra embellishments actually cover up an ink smudge I made with my finger, and I wasn’t about to start over again 😆 FYI: The Card base is Basic Beige, which really gives it a 70’s Vibe.

This was a fabulous stamp set from the June “Bikes & Blooms” Paper Pumpkin kit.

If you missed the Bikes & Blooms kit, the good news is that the REFILL is in my store…and you don’t really need the stamp set to complete the cards because you can add your OWN sentiments and use an ink pad you already own. BUT, you do have to be a subscriber.

Paper Pumpkin (a marvelous monthly craft kit) is FOR YOU IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES YOU:

You’re just starting to paper craft or rubber stamp
You don’t have a lot of space to store supplies (a year’s worth of stamp sets and ink spots fit in one of the kit boxes which is smaller than a half a shoe box!)
You are traveling and need something fun to take along!
You enjoy a creative experience that is carefully curated for the season and includes everything you need (except a pair of scissors).

You can subscribe NOW and you’ll receive the July “Hooray for Birthdays” kit which guides you through creating 9 Easel Birthday Cards which stand up to display in a delightful way. Pause your subscription or cancel anytime (but you won’t want to!).

Already a subscriber? Remember to add the Detailed Flora Add-On Dies to your next order, for it will extend the usefulness of the stamp sets in the July, August and September kits!

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Fluttering By to CASE the Designer

May 19, 2026May 19, 2026Leave a comment

I’ve been literally dreaming of a card by Kim Gibbons Fee since I saw it shared by the Global Design Project and couldn’t wait to finish my housework so I could escape to my craft room to put my Creative Juice spin on it!

The texture, the patterns, the ribbon and the POP just captivated my imagination! To CASE means to take the art and give it your own interpretation, whether it be the colors, the layout, the products, etc. I chose to mimic the layout and use the new 2026-2028 In Colors, landing particularly on Crisp Cantaloupe and Hydrangea Hue, as orange and blue are complementary colors!

Stampin’ Up!®️ All Aflutter bundle with The

My take on the #gdp548 challenge also uses the new All Aflutter bundle from the May-August catalog – a stamp set with a matching butterfly punch? You know I had to have it!

The Bloom Boutique Designer Series Paper combines all the new In Colors (PLUS a bit of gold bling!), and the Lazy Daisy embossing folder provided the background texture which just makes you want to feel it. My own “featured product” shows up as the circle punch for the sentiment (scroll back through previous posts this month to see the ways it’s been used so far in May).

Finishing touches included a double bow of ribbon and twine and a few teensy butterfly embellishments, then it needed an envelope to build excitement when discovered in the mailbox.

It’s just so pretty, and I’m glad Kim primed the pump for stamping today! You’ll love the new ink pad designs that these In Colors come in because they are super easy to open and magnetic to stack on top of the lid or other magnetic pads. The pad itself has returned to fabric, so remember to tap a few times in different spots when inking up your images.

See below for a way to get all the new In Color Ink pads FREE!

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P.S. Come back tomorrow (5/20) for another amazing color combination featuring Golden Glow!!

Easter Celebrations

February 26, 2026Leave a comment

The Creative Juice Celebration Combination Card # 4 is for Easter, and I am following the Global Design Project “Case the Designer” Challenge! This is Leah’s card that we can CASE = Copy And Selectively Edit (or CASE = Create And Share Everything). #gdp536

Combining the Stampin’ Up!®️ Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebrations stamp sets (which are designed to work hand-in-hand), this is the card I’ve designed to meet the challenge, which continues our #celebrationcombination week,

The camera doesn’t pick up the shimmer and shine on both the specialty papers used for the bunny and the backgrounds, but it surely does make it pretty!

Another combination I love is Eyelet (embossing folder) and Gingham (ribbon) ~ it’s a classic that is always springtime fresh.

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Hope you are enjoying all the ways to mix these two stamp sets together for all the occasions that are happening during the first part of the year ~ go back to see what you’ve missed and return tomorrow for more! ~ Loni Spendlove

Fill the World with Love

February 9, 2026Leave a comment

After making and mailing over 200 Valentine cards through the last two weeks, I had to pause and have a nap today! I thought I was done with the season of Love, then I saw the #tgifc563 color challenge from TGIF Challenges and the Sketch Challenge #gdp534 from Global Design Project, and knew there was one more to make.

Blending these two challenges with the Stampin’ Up!®️ Hope, Love & Joy bundle and here’s the result:

Fill the world with Love, Stampin' Up! Hope, Love & Joy bundle

This card reminds me that a few simple layers of card stock and ink can be beautiful, and MORE THAN EVER, what the world needs is kindness, respect, charity, tolerance and LOVE.

I’ve watched as we’ve been (intentionally) polarized, and many dear friends jump on the bandwagon of one side or another before finding out where the wagon is heading. Often, what we believe is proven wrong when we have all the facts…or at least more nuanced, as life is. My choice is to flood the earth with as much GOODNESS as possible, one piece of art at a time, because that is what I have immediate control over.

Stepping off my soapbox and returning to stamping, I was pleasantly surprised at how embossing the black card stock added the subtle details needed for the background, and by using a blending brush to add Melon Mambo ink from the top of the arch fading downwards, it gives the feeling of love falling from heaven, when we love one another.

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If you don’t know where to begin creating LOVEly things with stamps, ink and paper, may I suggest a monthly craft kit? Our Paper Pumpkin kit is a box that arrives each month with everything you need to make multiple projects! Pieces are pre-cut, adhesives & embellishments are included, and while the instructions are in the box, you can also watch a video on the Paper Pumpkin YouTube channel for each kit!

The February kit will be a celebration of SPRING and will create 9 cards. Subscribe by the end of day on February 10th to receive this kit!

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Fab-Ewe-Lous Sheep & Free Ship LAST DAY

December 12, 20252 Comments

Some cards leap off the desk and insist on being created -this one was definitely in that category!

When the new Wooly Friends bundle arrived on my porch (available to customers beginning January 6th), the sheep all but marched themselves to my craft table. I paired them with December’s Product of the Month, the True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper (which you can add to any $75 order for just five dollars). The rich blues felt like the perfect stage for these fuzzy little scene-stealers.

To give the sheep their soft, pettable charm, I stamped them on All-Season Velvet specialty paper. It adds a texture that turns the card into something people instinctively want to touch, the way you might absentmindedly run your fingers over a cozy blanket.

My card follows the Global Design Project Sketch #gdp526, the lambs as the 3 circles drawing the eye:

Today is an especially good day to treat yourself to some craft supplies: It’s the last day of Stampin’ Up!’s free shipping offer on orders over $75, which makes this the perfect moment to tuck a few favorites into your cart and scoop up that $5 paper special along the way. BONUS: If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you can also shop the PP product sale, with past kits, refills and add-on dies included!

Consider this your gentle nudge to craft something that makes you smile. These little wooly faces certainly did the trick for me.

Spa Day Thanks a Million Card

November 10, 2025November 10, 2025Leave a comment

This week’s Global Design Project #522 (a sketch) and TGIF Challenge #550 (colors) both inspired this bright, cheerful card—perfect for sending gratitude for a little pampering!

I started with the Lasting Linen background stamp, which adds such a beautiful, subtle texture to the card base. That coral tone-on-tone pattern instantly gives it a warm, woven feel. Then I reached for the Branching Out dies to create the layered frame. I love how the stitched edges give a crisp, polished look while still feeling handcrafted.

The fun part was building the little “spa scene” in the center using the Notes & Totes bundle—those bottles and tubes are just too cute! I couldn’t resist adding a touch of copper and a tropical hibiscus for a splash of personality. The sentiment, “Thanks a million,” comes from the NEW Banner Sayings bundle, which includes a punch with 3 different banners, and sayings to match any occasion.

Together, these elements make a card that feels fresh and happy—just right for anyone you want to thank in style. It’s always so satisfying when different Stampin’ Up! sets play together this well!

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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

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

Farm’s Best Tractor Card

August 11, 2025September 5, 2025Leave a comment

The Tractor & Co. stamp set was on my desk when I saw the Global Design Project color challenge:

And that’s how I got to this:

But let me back up (pun intended):

I’ve been making samples for Fall StampFest (spoiler alert!) and while I was doing some “research” on social media, these bright colors – Darling Duckling, Poppy Parade & Pool Party – scrolled by, and then I couldn’t really get any work done until I pulled the colors out and put it onto paper, so-to-speak.

Plaid, cornfields and tractors MUST go together, but I also love a peek of the torn leafy Darling Duckling Designer Series Paper, just beneath the farm vehicle.

But my FAVORITE detail is the blue ribbon! Can you tell what I used to make it?

The ribbon medallion is made with the TIRE DIES!

Pull in a sentiment from the “More than Autumn” stamp set and the card is worthy of grand prize at the county fair, don’t you think?

Another winning opportunity: Darling Duckling is a 2025-2027 IN COLOR, thus the ink, card stock and the patterned paper are all on sale for 15% off during August 2025!