Color, Layer, Cluster: Design Principles for Cards

July 6, 2026July 6, 2026Leave a comment

Artists learn formulas and principles that make their designs better, and as a paper crafter, there are skills you can gain, as well! Today’s lesson is a tried-and-true trio that enables you to create a lovely card EVERY. TIME.

Color. Layer. Cluster.

In it’s simplest iteration, this principle begins with a background color on paper, that paper is layered onto a card base, then images and sentiments are clustered together. Watch and learn in today’s video tutorial:

The first simple card uses Lost Lagoon ink added to the top layer with a blending brush. That layer is added to the card base with dimensionals. The vacation vibe is added with Under the Sun Ephemera and a greeting from the Sincerely Noted Ephemera pack.

This second card example shows how blending a bit of color to a black & white design layer (Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper) and clustering a few colored vases from the other side of the paper makes a marvelous mailable masterpiece!

Side note: The Artisan Sketched Garden DSP is DELIGHTFUL to color, and this Saturday, July 11th is a COLORING WORKSHOP featuring this paper at 1 PM or 7 PM in Hurricane, UT…RSVP by Wednesday to ensure you may attend:

The last example of the “Color. Layer. Cluster” principle is demonstrated in a Violet Dreams version, where the “color” part comes from the frame, and the cluster of violets was a pre-printed die cut, making it speedy to craft from start to finish:

While you may not be close enough to attend one of my classes in person, I do have a special offer during JULY 2026: When you order the Violet Dreams Suite Collection from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll get a FREE virtual class, along with the consumable supplies you need to make three projects:

If you are a demonstrator or customer who has purchased this from a different source, OR you only want to order the stamp set and die bundle, you can still register for the virtual class! Learn more HERE.

This formula for designing cards would work with stamped images as well. You may have already created a project following these steps, and didn’t even know it! If the concept is new to you, or clarified, I’d love to hear your thoughts: Does it help to think of creating a card like this?

Thank you for supporting my small business by shopping any of the links ~ Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni

Reasons & Seasons Celebration Week

February 23, 2026February 23, 2026Leave a comment

Last month I shared the Anniversary swap card I created using the Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebrations stamp sets (which were designed to coordinate!) and this week, you’ll see the two sets combined to create something for every season included, starting with a simple fun-fold birthday card.

Stampin’ Up!®️ Fun Fold Birthday card with Reason to Celebrate and Seasonal Celebration stamp sets

The colors on this birthday celebration are Daffodil Delight, Shy Shamrock and Berry Burst, which is a combination that could be used for everyone. By stamping the party hats and confetti randomly on the front and inside layers, you’ve created your own party for the mailbox. The Lasting Linen background stamp also gives a bit of texture to the background of the Daffodil card base.

The key to this card is to shave off 1/16″ of an inch on the right-side of the card front, so the 7.5″ x 4.75″ Shy Shamrock card can fold over the front without buckling the card.

Small details like a few shiny embellishments top it off:

Make your own with these supplies from my Stampin’ Store:

Product List

See you tomorrow for another Celebration Combination Card!

Go Nuts Birthday Treat Card

October 27, 2025Leave a comment

If having a sweet tooth is wrong, I don’t want to be right! Admittedly, I do *attempt* to control it, but peanuts are healthy, right? Even in a bit of caramel and nougat?

“Festive Treats” is the TGIF Challenges theme this week- this birthday treat fits for #tgifc548

Here’s a 90-second tutorial, then I’ll write the measurements below:

Card Base: 11″ x 6″, scored at 4-1/4″, 5-1/2″, 6-3/4″ and 8″

Card layer (front and inside: 5-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ with 1/2″ strips to stamp on.

Looking for more treat stamping to share with a sweet tooth? Check out the Candy Bar Books or Gingerbread Cookie Christmas Gifts featured earlier this month on Creative Juice by Loni.

Just 4 days left to take advantage of the Starter Kit Special! Smart Stampers won’t let this amazing shopping deal pass by (with the opportunity to get a discount on your stamping supplies, birthday and holiday gifts through April, 2026!) This offer EXPIRES OCTOBER 31, 2025!

Product List

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

Product List

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

It’s a Sweet Suite Summer- BOGO50 Sale!

June 5, 2025Leave a comment

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:

Download Card Tutorial

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

Crafting Cards with Party Dies

May 19, 20251 Comment

Sometimes you have to invest in your hobby, and when you are ready to do so, may I suggest the Stampin’ Up! Party Banners Dies and Party Alphabet Dies? You’ll save 10% when you bundle them together in one purchase, and, as I mention in the instructional video below, you can claim them as “exercise equipment” 😅

A shaped card is as fun to create as it is to receive! The 5th largest banner die is just about 5.5″ x 4.25″, so these cards fit into the basic white Medium Envelopes:

We made the Pretty Peacock version (left) in the live crafting video, then when we were done, I looked at it and realized that the Damask Designs Embossing folder probably needed to be turned vertically, so created a second with the “Thanks” from a previous Paper Pumpkin kit Add-On die set called “Thanks & Beyond” (shoutout to my PP Craft Kit subscribers!).

This week is high school graduation in southern Utah, and I’m still making cards for grads! This Shy Shamrock card is the banner turned sideways, with letters cut from 2024-2026 In Color Glimmer Paper, and the lock/key/sentiments from Tags to Go.

Finally (for today, at least), I demonstrated this slimline card to remind you of the Eclipse Technique with alphabet dies:

A card for any cake-consumption celebration!

Learn how to make all these banner-themed cards in this video:

If I’ve inspired you to add the Party Die bundle to your list, please shop in my Stampin’ Store!

Better yet…choose these dies as part of a Starter Kit and only pay $99! The other perks of being a demonstrator are even better than the discount: A community of friendly crafters, the opportunity to create a business you love – or a hobby that brings you purpose and passion.

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊- Loni Spendlove

Wildflower Birthday Tri-Panel Pop Up Card

February 11, 2025Leave a comment

The best way to teach about which adhesive to use for paper crafting is to make a card, right?

Since my daughter’s birthday is coming up, I had a reason to create an over-the-top greeting card to celebrate, and the Stampin’ Up! Wildflower Birthday Suite has all the cake and flowers that girl could want!

I’d love to see her face when she opens it and the three panels swing out!

Because there is ALWAYS a “right tool” for a job to make it easier and secure, there are also correct ADHESIVES for different parts of paper crafting. Adhering papers together? You can choose between Stampin’ Seal or Multipurpose Liquid Glue (your personal preference). Want something to pop off the page? That’s the job for Dimensionals! Need to attach a small embellishment or twine bow? Pick a Mini Glue Dot.

Learn more by watching the way this card comes together:

Some of the adhesives take time to master (I’m looking at YOU, Stampin’ Seal!), but once you practice and learn a few tips, you’ll have them mastered.

What’s YOUR go-to glue?? Which one do you still need help with? (Comments are found at the top of the post, under the date, and I really want to hear from you)