Blending Brown Bears for Black Friday

November 25, 2025December 13, 2025Leave a comment

Bah, humbug to BLACK Friday. The only black piece of clothing I own is a pair of slacks I have to wear for the community choir, and would prefer a color, anytime. Can’t we call it “Happy-Shopping-in-your-slippers Day?” Maybe it doesn’t roll off the tongue…however, Stampin’ Up!’s holiday sale on some of our basic blocks of crafting starts today (and ends on December 1st)…and there is plenty of color to choose from!

If I had to choose between Basic White and Very Vanilla card stock, I’d pick Vanilla. It’s just a softer, elegant color. Both are very smooth to stamp and color on, and since the Stampin’ Blends Markers are on sale (and so is Vanilla card stock!), I made a card using a new November Online Exclusive bundle called Valentine Kisses that is unBEARably adorable:

The dies for the hugging bear even cut out a slot to tuck in a heart, a teddy bear or a bouquet of flowers!

I’m going to offer a Virtual Class using this bundle in January, and if you order it from my Stampin’ Store, you’ll receive an invitation to join the class!

And these cute bears aren’t stuck as Valentines, this card could be sent to anyone needing an extra squeeze:

Stock up on during the Black Friday sale on some of your basic crafting supplies, like adhesive and basic card stock. And if you have a newlywed couple, a new crafter or a teacher on your shopping list, snag a paper trimmer at 40% off as a gift!

Product List

A”pear”ently Online

July 21, 2025July 5, 2025Leave a comment

Pears have long held a place in the world of art~ they’ve been painted for centuries as a way to capture natural beauty and evoke a sense of calm and abundance. Let me share a handmade card inspired by that same timeless charm—created with the brand-new Painterly Pears Suite from Stampin’ Up!®️

This easy card layout is one you could use with practically every stamp set you own that matches some beautiful Stampin’ Up!®️ Designer Series Paper!

Have you ever added watercolor pencil OVER your stamped image? To shade the pears and flowers, that’s just what I did, no water added. They do blend better when the tip of the pencil is dull.

Use a strip of the same pattern on the inside of the card to carry the theme all the way through:

Isn’t this pretty? Sometimes simple is the loveliest, and the Painterly Pears will make you feel like a classic artist, without paying tuition or spending years learning painting techniques (which is why I love rubber stamping).

Product List

Painterly Pears Suite Collection (English)

Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Very Vanilla 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2

Perennial Postage Dies

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

<!——– CardSupplyList End ———

Keep your creative juices flowing! 🍊🧡– Loni Spendlove

Joseph’s Coat Technique with Patterned Paper

February 18, 2025Leave a comment

Last summer I taught you the Joseph’s Coat technique with Embossing Folders, so now it’s time to try this cool rubber stamping technique with Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, plus I’ve included a bonus version using Stampin’ Write Markers!

The technique begins by clear embossing a bold image over a pattern, then adding black (or dark ink) over the embossed paper, while the ink “resists” sticking to the clear embossing powder:

I used the graphic designs from the Toadstool Gardens DSP (from Sale-a-Bration 2025), and used the largest Perennial Postage die to cut a unique shape from the pattern, leaving just enough of the paper to add to the flap of my envelope.

The Thanking You stamp is large and bold enough to allow the pattern to be seen well through the embossing once the black ink is smeared all over the Designer Series Paper. You’ll want to use a tissue to wipe off any residue from clear embossed words, and the colorful pattern emerges just like the magic of the famous coat of Joseph in Egypt!

As a BONUS, I showed that you could create a pattern with Stampin’ Write markers to make a custom design, like Red, White and Blue for Independence Day:

Stampin’ Write Markers are part of the “Extra” perks of joining Stampin’ Up! during Sale-a-Bration!

Why not try the starter kit and choose Option 1? You’ll get $216 worth of crafting supplies for just $99!

To learn exactly how to do the Joseph’s Coat Technique (and more about Stampin’ Write markers or the opportunity to join), watch this video:

Just 10 days left to collect the Toadstool Garden Designer Series Paper (or another SAB product of your choice) for FREE during Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration 2025! For each $60 you spend, you can choose a free product and many new items were added at the beginning of February.

Thank you for choosing me to serve your creative needs! These are the supplies for the first card, which I demonstrated in the video tutorial:

Product List

Upcycle a Kit Box into a Gorgeous Gift

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024Leave a comment

Maybe it’s because we’ve searched for a good box previously to no avail, but I am of the age that it’s difficult for me to throw away the boxes from Stampin’ Up! kits, or the pretty Paper Pumpkin boxes! They are such a perfect size for a half batch of BROWNIES, that it *almost* makes me want to bake a pan of ooey-gooey goodness, but then I’d want to eat the other half…

But what can we DO with those wonderful Stampin’ Up! boxes (aside from delivering goodies)??

Turn them into STATIONERY GIFT SETS!

Begin by covering the top with a piece of card stock and/or Designer Series Paper and embellish as desired. The February Paper Pumpkin kit box was also one I kept to modify, and because it was pre-printed, it took a smaller piece of card stock that I embossed for the center:

Next, you’ll also re-cycle the cardboard backing from a package of Designer Series Paper by cutting it into two pieces:

12″ x 6 1/4″ – scored at 4 1/2″, 6″ and 7 1/2″
4 1/2″ x 9 1/8″ – scored at 2 1/2″, 4″ and 6 1/2″

Those two pieces will create the dividers for your box. These easily fit 6-8 cards & envelopes on the large sections, a small book of postage stamps in the smallest section and your could add tags, small gift enclosures, a pad of post-it notes or a treat in the medium section:

Here’s the video tutorial to discover how simple it is to make this handy project:

After the video, I remembered I had some Dollar Tree goodies to send to my grandkids, and lo-and-behold, they fit in a 2-section box… just leave out the second section divider and you could also put twice as many A2-sized cards inside:

As demonstrated in the tutorial, I made a few simple cards using up the scraps from my pack of Perennial Lavender DSP and the Paper Butterfly Accents, along with the Perennial Postage bundle:

What are you going to put in your boxes? I’d love to see how *you* upcycle an empty kit box…share your creativity in my VIP Facebook Group!

Now that you’ve seen what you can make with the boxes, shop for more in the current Kit Collection:

Don’t miss the chance to subscribe before April 10, 2024 for the Delicate Wings Paper Pumpkin Kit, and add the “Thanks & Beyond Dies” to coordinate with the April, May AND June Paper Pumpkin kits!

Product List

Perennial Postage Bundle (English)

$51.25

Perennial Lavender 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$12.50

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Paper Butterfly Accents

$8.00

Black & White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Gingham Ribbon

$7.00

Brushed Brass Butterflies

$10.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$66.00

Small Blending Brushes

$12.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Mini Glue Dots

$5.75

Simply Scored

$36.00

New at SU!- Softly Sophisticated for SAB

January 17, 2024January 17, 20246 Comments

Happy to see you hopping through here! Our New at SU! global group of demonstrators have ALL the Sale-a-Bration products here for you this month, and trust me: You want them ALL. Whether you are ending here, or just starting, don’t miss a single post!

I get to showcase the Softly Sophisticated bundle that you could choose free through February 29th with a qualifying order in your country (in the US, it’s free with a $100 order) and it comes with a stamp set AND an embossing folder:

It feels so elegant in Very Vanilla and I used the Perennial Postage dies for this first card to show how a simple layout can be “next level” when you add a little embossed texture.

Only one little problem: The small die with the postage cancellation wasn’t long enough! So here’s HOW TO STRETCH a die!

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think of this project, or which SAB item is next on your wish list, then visit these posts to help you celebrate creativity during Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration – remember to save or PIN your favorites!

January New at SU! Hop: Sale-a-Bration

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.Joni in the Spotlight Stamping (US) SAB FLIGHT AND AIRY

2.scraphexe (DE) – SAB Schlichte Eleganz (Softly Sophisticated)

3.iHeartCards2 (US) – SAB Most adored

4.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – SAB Heartfelt Hellos

5.Stamping Flair (AU) – Sunny Days DSP

6.Stampinxime (DE) – Detailed Dogwood

7.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (USA)- SAB Cradled in Love

8.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Jungle Pals for New at SU

9.Carterie Plus (CA) Trusty Tools/Fidèles Outils

10.Attelyootje (NL)- SAB Watercolor Melon

11.Nature’s INKspirations (USA) – Softly Stippled DSP

12.Creative Juice by Loni (US) – Softly Sophisticated for SAB

13.My Flutterby Moments (USA)- Jungle Pals

14.24-7 Inkspiration (US) – Flight & Airy

15.De Kijkkast (NL) – Going “Wild” with Jungle Pals

I’ll be spotlighting the Sale-a-Bration Watercolor Melon stamp set on Saturday, January 20th, so drop in for another visit!

Product List

Softly Sophisticated Bundle (English)

$23.75

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$128.00

Perennial Postage Dies

$33.00

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

$10.50

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Use a 6″x6″ Designer Series Paper for This Card!

January 8, 2024Leave a comment

Some patterned paper comes as 12″ x 12″ and a few of our fancy designs are 6″ x 6″, so today (and to help you use up your Paper Share!), I’ve got a fun fold slimline card which uses a 6″ x 6″ piece of Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper:

On the left is the card closed flat, and on the right, it’s open to see all the panels.

Cut two 2″ wide and two 1″ wide pieces from one 6″ x 6″ piece of pretty paper to fit into each section. You’ll also need a 1″ x 6″ and 2″ x 6″ panel of card stock to fit where you will write a message. The finished size is 3.5″ x 6.25″ when folded flat.

Here’s a different version with a piece of the Lighter Than Air Designer Series Paper, which already comes as 6″ x 6″-

I created a belly band for this one to keep it closed, then when you slide it off, it opens to wish you a Happy Birthday:

If you didn’t snag a stack of patterned paper in my Designer Series Paper Share, I have a few left! Get one piece of EVERY paper in the 2024 Jan-April Mini catalog for $18 (if you pick up from me in Hurricane, UT) or $22 shipped to you, while supplies last. Both pieces used on these cards ARE INCLUDED IN THE SHARE.

Need more ideas to try for 6″ x 6″ paper?

I love making Sour Cream treat containers or use the Corner Angle card technique to get 4 cards from one piece of paper!

The Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper (and Perennial Lavender suite) coordinates with the January Paper Pumpkin craft kit! Subscribe by January 10th to receive the Lovely Lavender kit:

Make love-themed cards for special occasions, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and more with this all-inclusive kit that arrives in your mailbox in January. The kit includes a unique photopolymer stamp set and ink spot and…

• Makes 8 cards: 4 each of 2 designs with 8 coordinating envelopes

• 4 bonus tags that punch out from the card front

• Precut paper pieces and linen thread

• Coordinating colors: Garden Green, Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Berry Burst

Product List

Perennial Lavender 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$12.50

Perennial Postage Bundle (English)

$51.25

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.50

Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Paper Trimmer

$26.00

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$66.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Sent by Blueberry Post

January 3, 2024January 5, 2024Leave a comment

Rooty-Tooty Fresh & Fruity! Tomorrow- Thursday, January 4th- the January-April Mini Catalog goes live AND 2024 Sale-a-Bration begins!

I admired the “Blueberry Bunches” stamp set (item #162692) the moment I saw it: It feels like a floral, but it’s a fruit, and that’s kinda my “jam” (see what I did there?).

I’ve paired the stamps with the Perennial Postage bundle (Item #162608) for the sentiment and postage stamp die (in various sizes).

This is the second largest die and after I cut a piece of basic white, I stamped the blueberries in the center, then used Masking Paper around the edges so I could blend Pool Party ink from the outside into the image- a technique called “Reverse Masking”. As you carefully peel off the masking paper, the background appears as a frame!

Once I colored the image with Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers, I “cancelled” the postage stamp with the cutest little detail of the cancellation mark, which I dipped into Memento Tuxedo black ink before running through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine on top of my colored postage stamp.