Witches Wear Pink Halloween Card

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).

Looking forward to brewing up some spooky sweet crafting with you!


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Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove


Mailable Gift for Men

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 Wishes Birthday Card, Color Challenge

Rubber stamps should come with a warning label. Once you get a bundle with a punch or set of dies, Stampin’ Up! releases ANOTHER stamp set that coordinates, and then you MUST have it, because it extends the use of the first bundle…and the addiction continues! That’s what happened to me, and look where I am now. 😂

With new Online Exclusive products in my Stampin’ Up! store for March 2025, the Arched Wishes stamp set coordinates with the Everyday Arches Dies (which are essential for every paper crafter):

The TGIF Challenge #tgifc515 is a color combination that felt like a party, so I ran with it!

If you can see the bit of shimmer on the cupcake, it’s from the Wink of Stella pen, and I wanted to use the arch I cut out of the front panel on the inside of the card, so the party continues when you open it up!

The Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder gave the background a bit of texture and added interest, and there are a few other tips I shared in the “How To” video:

Switch it up and stamp the balloons on the back, or add a “Happy Birthday” sentiment in black (an afterthought following my live video). If you prefer not to fussy-cut the sentiment, make it a banner!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve your creative needs! Because of your orders, I am able to continue helping you squeeze the most from your paper crafting art.

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Arched Screen Divider Card Tutorial

“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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Two Bee, or Not Two Bee?

Shakespeare would have sent these Valentines!

These are called “Floating Vertical Bandstand Pop-up” cards, and when I watched Susan Campfield’s tutorial video, the bees popped into my mind and off to the craft studio I ran!

First: YES, these cards fit inside an envelope:

Once you take them out, they pop up, and the elements “float” in front of the stage:

“But where do you write on these cards?” you ask? On the back panel!

Whether you choose one bee or two, you’ll love the newly re-colored “Cute as Can Bee” Designer Series Paper released in the Stampin’ Up! Scrapbooking brochure. TIP: If you are planning to make valentines for 2025…THIS WEEKEND is the latest you should be ordering supplies to create them!

Stampin' Up! January 2025 scrapbooking Brochure

While I used the Bee My Valentine stamp set and Bee Builder punch (shopping links below), DON’T MISS the new Meant to Bee Bundle with two sizes of bees and NEW dies!

Meant to Bee Stampin' Up! Products

The Sale-a-Bration Purple Adhesive-Backed Sequins are a pretty way to add some sparkle, and they are a free option when your order reaches $60 before 2/28/25. I sprinkled them on the cards, along with a few hearts punched from the Petunia Pop glimmer paper:

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#creativechallengesu

Diagonal-Lock Fun-Fold Card

Fans of fun-fold cards, you’ll love the simplicity of this idea, which I call a Diagonal-Lock card, because of the way the front of the card locks into the back of the card. Don’t miss the video tutorial in this post!

For this first version, I paired a muted piece of the Sweet Days of Autumn Designer Series Paper pattern that I could write a message on for the INSIDE of the card, while using the fun forest friends on the front of the card. The leaves and sentiment adorning the front are from the Changing Leaves bundle.

The recipient will “unlock” the card to open and this is what the inside looks like:

Basic card instructions:

  • Start with an 11″ x 4.25″ card, scored in half at 5.5″.
  • Adhere a 5.5″ x 4.25″ piece of Designer Series Paper to the front AND inside of the card.
  • Make a small mark in the center of the front and BACK of the card (at 3.5″ for this A2 card size).
  • Cut diagonally from opposite corners of the open card in to the mark.

The next version for any holiday celebration (this would be a sweet December birthday card) has a 5.25″ x 4″ Designer Series Paper layer for the front, and a diagonally cut HALF piece for the inside, which leaves a mat around the card which frames it nicely. This time I used my beloved More Than Autumn bundle with the Take A Bow patterned paper:

By using half a sheet on the inside, there is still room to write, even when the pattern is bold. PLUS, you can use the other half for a second card:

Grab a sheet of card stock and paper trimmer to craft along with this video tutorial to make a template for this card to keep in your “fun-fold” file:

Finally, since the Nests of Winter paper was sitting on my table, I used the Winterly Tree Top Dies to die cut the bird duo and fussy cut the small bird to craft this version:

Click any link to order supplies and create cards of your own!

I love hearing from you~ scroll to top to leave me a comment.

Don’t forget a Paper Trimmer, which also makes a wonderful gift for a teacher, a budding crafter or a student:

Hollyhock floating frame and Sentimental Wishes Christmas Card floating Frame

Learn Paper Crafting with a Kit

If you can use scissors and glue, you have the ability to make pretty things with paper! All you need next is a kit: Lucky for you ~ the Stampin’ Up! Kit Collection is up to 30% off through October 31st:

Not only is a kit a wonderful starting point for any new paper crafter, they also give you ideas for further crafting, as I’m about to show you.

Playing with the Hello Hollyhocks kit (an all-inclusive, non-stamping kit), I demonstrated how to let the sketch for card #1 (on the left) inspire a future project (on the right):

Hello Hollyhock card sketch to Zinnia Card

Swapping out a hollyhocks for stamped and colored zinnias and creating your own splatter background made this “dupe” super simple.

Next, you can “step up” a card from the kit by cutting apart the card base and framing it on coordinating card stock:

Hollyhock card stepped up

Watch the video (below) to see what I did for the inside of the stepped-up version!

Finally, let a kit teach you a new technique to try, like this floating frame idea. The card on the left is from the kit, which inspired the Christmas card on the right:

Hollyhock floating frame card to Sentimental Wishes floating frame card for Christmas

Keep a few kits on hand for gift-giving occasions, too~ they are unique, thoughtful gifts!

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Fall Bird Card for a color challenge, Winterly Tree Tops by Stampin' Up!

Flowers & Feathers

Another sleepless night as I dreamed of creating this card 🥱 … trying to decide if creativity is a blessing or a curse!

The idea came from the #tgifc492 Inspiration challenge:

Think of it like a mashup of two songs, but two stamp sets: Enduring Beauty for the flowers and Winterly Tree Tops for the birds.

I wanted to give it a fall vibe, so picked a palette of Pecan Pie, Very Vanilla, Peach Pie, and Mossy Meadow (almost sounds like a recipe!). With a lot of layers and texture, it feels vintage and the sprinkle of three Drusy Embellishments adds a bit of glittery elegance.

TRIVIA TIME: “DRUSY” is an adjective that means “covered in minute crystals” and can describe the inside of a rock cavity that is lined with tiny crystals. These embellishments are truly gorgeous, but not easily mailable, as they do make the card quite bumpy. It needs a padded envelope if you are mailing it!

Peek inside the card:

Winterly Tree Tops is a part of the larger Nests of Winter Suite and features the beautiful birds. You may be interested in the coordinating craft kit called Nests of Christmas that is part of our crafting subscription service (Paper Pumpkin). It’s only available if you subscribe by October 10th, and if you use promo code HOLIDAY40 as a first-time subscriber, you’ll get your first kit at 40% off!

Now that the card is finished and shared with you, I’m looking forward to a nap!

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Pop-Out Book-Binding Card

Remember the SQUASH CARD we made last week? We’re using the SAME fold, just starting smaller, and putting it inside a book-binding card for a POP-ular fun-fold for your favorite POP this Father’s Day (or ANY OCCASION)!

At first glance, this looks like a normal book-binding card. But wait until you open it up!

Watch this tutorial and give this a try, and you’ll be chopping all your Designer Series Paper to 6″ square to make more!

The silver foil pop top and bottom really make it look like an aluminum can:

The Simply Sparkling stamp set and dies are just a taste of many incredible products only found in my online store, so while you are adding them to your cart, check out the other Online Exclusives.

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Squash Fun-Fold Card

Usually, I’m a bit more timely in posting my finished project from my Monday Lunchtime Live crafting videos, but we were focused on tending the grandkids. I’m just now getting settled back at home and sharing this (late Saturday night)…better late than never!

This fun-fold card is called a “squash card” and begins with an 8.5″ square piece of card stock. Once finished, the card squashes (or smashes) flat to fit into a standard Stampin’ Up! envelope.

Measurements for the pieces:

  • 8.5″ square card stock, scored at 4.25″ horizontally and vertically AND once diagonally.
  • Designer Series Paper: One 3.75″ square and two 3.5″ square
  • Basic White card stock: Two 3.75″ squares, plus a piece to stamp a greeting and/or images to embellish with.

I die cut images from the Designer Series Paper for the front of my cards, but you could just as easily stamp what you’d like for the top of your cards.

Now peek inside:

TIP: The same design can be used on a 12″ x 12″ piece of card stock to create a mailable scrapbook page! Place photos where any of the paper or card stock layers are, and save a spot to journal about the memories, then fold it up to send to a friend to remember a happy day together.

Watch for instructions:

Thanks for ordering the supplies from my Stampin’ Store so I may continue to bring you ideas to try!

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Good news! Starting June 5th, both the standard and mini Cut & Emboss Machines will be 10% off (they have NEVER been on sale before!) PLUS stamp + die bundles- which are already 10% off – will be available for an ADDITIONAL 10% discount through June 30, 2024.