A Thank-You Faux Step Card

May 12, 2023May 11, 2023Leave a comment

Have you explored the Online Exclusive products in my Stampin’ Up! Store? One of the ones I’ve been loving is the Hello, Irresistible Suite and this Faux Step Card is a snap to put together using the products in the suite!

This is a Portrait (tall) version of the Rain or Shine card I created a few months ago (watch the tutorial HERE) and the card base measurements are:

Card Base is 11″ x 4.25″ (scored at 2″, 4″ and 7.5″)
Designer Series Paper: 4″ x 1.75″ (Pretty Peacock lattice piece) and 4″ x 3.25″ (leaves).
Tall panel is 2.25″ x 11″, scored at 5.5″
Designer Series Paper is 2″ x 5.25″ (Flirty Flamingo pink piece)

Emboss the greeting in white embossing powder on Basic Black card stock and fussy cut for the front. I did use the now-retired white seam binding ribbon around the bottom step panel, but you can substitute any that you have in your collection.

The coordinating dies cut the flowers from both the stamp set AND the Designer Series Paper, as I’ve done here, and then I embellished with a few of the Frosted Dots (also in the suite) using mini glue dots to adhere to the center of the flowers, or scattered across the front.

Once you make this card, you’ll want to make many more just like it, so cut your paper accordingly! Shop the supplies here:

Product List

Hello, Irresistible Suite Collection (English)

$74.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

$9.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Basics Embossing Powders

$18.00

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

$10.50

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

$31.00

Mini Glue Dots

$5.75

Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$66.00

Paper Trimmer

$26.00

Complementary Colors in Card-Making

May 8, 2023Leave a comment

Understanding a COLOR WHEEL a little bit will help you put together beautiful color palettes for your stamping projects, and today we are talking about COMPLEMENTARY colors, or colors directly across from each other on the color wheel:

When you choose complementary colors, you create HIGH ENERGY in a palette, like this turtle card made from the Playing in the Rain stamp set from Stampin’ Up! using Azure Afternoon (blue) and Pumpkin Pie (orange):

You can always add a bit of a third color (in this case, Granny Apple Green) and still keep the two main colors in focus!

One thing I love doing with a new catalog is to look for card layouts I can copy. Both of the cards I am sharing today were inspired by this card on page 152 of the annual catalog (154 in the digital version):

This next complementary color card follows the same pattern or card layout, but uses the LOVELY new Lemon Lolly color paired with Fresh Freesia, which I cannot get enough of:

This time I used the Sweet Citrus stamps and dies (my signature for creative juice) and embossed the front panel with the Raindrops embossing folder after I stamped the greeting.

All of this is shared in my weekly video, and if you are like me and want it to play faster, just speed up the playback by clicking on the gear at the bottom of the YouTube video!

Now you know a little more about complementary colors, try it yourself! Find a card design in the catalog (or use one of my previous samples here on CJBL) and re-create it with your own colors and stamps.

If you want to copy one of the cards I shared today, here are the supplies I used for both cards:

Product List

Playing In The Rain Cling Stamp Set (English)

$26.00

Brights 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$12.50

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.50

Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

$10.00

Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$10.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$10.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.50

Sweet Citrus Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

$23.00

Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder

$33.00

Fresh Freesia 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Lemon Lolly 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.00

Bright & Beautiful 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$12.50

Fresh Freesia Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Parakeet Party Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.00

Raindrops Embossing Folder

$9.50

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$128.00

Glossy Dots Assortment

$8.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

I appreciate the opportunity to serve your creative needs! Make time to stamp and find your happy place.

Conversation Bubbles Stencil

April 3, 2023Leave a comment

Crafter Problems #763: When you haven’t had time to play with a stamp set & die bundle before it’s about to be retired!

Today I showed how to use the dies from the Conversation Bubbles bundle (about to retire from the Jan-April mini catalog) to create a stencil for the background of a card:

Inspired by Cathy Zielke‘s concept on Youtube, I figured I could make my OWN stencil, and it worked beautifully! What other dies would you try to make your own stencil with?

My problem is YOUR opportunity: Starting tomorrow (April 4th), you can shop the LAST CHANCE SALE in my Stampin’ Store to collect the Conversation Bubbles stamp set and Conversation Bubbles dies at a discount! The bundle was $46.75 originally, but if you purchase them separately, the total will be just $32 (while supplies last)!

Watch the video here (feel free to speed it up on YouTube to make it quick and easy):

I hope I’ll have time to spotlight this playful bundle one more time before they are gone for good.

Meanwhile, set an alarm to remind you to shop my Stampin’ Store tomorrow for the Last Chance Sale!

Product List

Conversation Bubbles Cling Stamp Set (English)

$24.00

Conversation Bubbles Dies

$28.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

$8.75

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Tahitian Tide Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Orchid Oasis Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Sweet Sorbet Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

$9.50

Small Blending Brushes

$11.50

Basics Embossing Powders

$18.00

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

$30.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$125.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo Pack

$6.00

Grapefruit Easel Thank-You Card

March 9, 2023Leave a comment

When you are so grateful for someone you could just SQUEEZE them tight, here’s your card!

The Sweet Citrus stamps can become anything (oranges, lemons, limes and even coconuts!) so this time I used Mango Melody and Flirty Flamingo to turn them into GRAPEFRUIT.

But the best thing about this card is that it’s an EASEL card when you open it and stand the front up against the slice inside:

It’s a simple fancy fold: The card base is an 11″ x 4-1/4″ piece of Mango Melody card stock scored at 2-3/4″ and 5-1/2″, plus you’ll need another 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Mango Melody to adhere to the bottom half of the front of the card ONLY (below where it bends) to create the part that stands up. Then just decorate the front panel as desired.

Inside, you’ll need a piece of fruit to create a “stop” for the easel front to rest against. I used a slice of grapefruit popped up on a few dimensionals:

It’s a very easy card to make and yet it packs a (grapefruit) PUNCH!

Product List

Sweet Citrus Bundle (English)

$49.50

Mango Melody 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.25

Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$125.00

Gold Faceted Adhesive Backed Sequins

$8.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Paper Trimmer

$25.00

Thanks for visiting my website and choosing me to serve your creative needs. Your support means so much to me!

Here’s a bonus for reading to the end: I also made this card with the Beautifully Happy set from Sale-a-Bration (last month), just to show how versatile this style of card is.

Sweet Songbird Nest Treat Favor

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023Leave a comment

With only 8 more days of our ONLY Sale-a-Bration of 2023, and with the sun shining today, I chose to show you a project fit for SPRING!

This Sweet Songbird next was inspired by some that I had seen previously, and was reminded of when I discovered the Junior Mint Eggs at Dollar Tree! The green is a perfect Mint Macaron color and I wanted to put a next into a Mint Macaron tree.

Because Stampin’ Up! added a few catalog products to the choices for Sale-a-Bration, the Songbird Builder Punch is on the list you could choose free with your $50 US order before February 28, 2023, and while you don’t need the stamp set to create cute birds with the Country Gingham Designer Series Paper, the Sweet Songbirds stamp set does give you options for sentiments, nests and branches.

This would be a sweet favor at Easter dinner or, with the “Welcome” sentiment, at a baby shower, or Spring craft day with friends!

Measurements for the papers:

Mint Macaron: 2-1/4″ x 3-1/2″
Soft Suede: 3″ x 1-1/2″, scored at 1/4″ along the long sides, and at 1″ and 2″ from end to end to create the “nest”
Soft Suede scrap to stamp a nest on and cut out.
Scrap of Crumb Cake for sign
Country Gingham DSP: 2-1/4″ x 2-1/4″ to punch out bird

Here’s a how-to video (from my Lunchtime LIVE crafting video on YouTube & Facebook 2/20/23):

I had to use up the scraps of gingham paper on my desk, so I also made a slimline card…not a very “little” note of thanks when the finished card is 8-1/2″ x 3-1/2″!

IF YOU CHOOSE THE SONGBIRD BUILDER PUNCH AS A FREE GIFT before the end of February 2023, use item #164422 and order the Sweet Songbird stamp set #158721 as part of your $50 order to qualify for the free punch!

Product List

Sweet Songbirds Bundle (English)

$34.00

Country Gingham 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$12.00

Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Pale Papaya 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

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

$9.25

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Mini Glue Dots

$5.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Tear & Tape Adhesive

$7.00

Paper Trimmer

$25.00

New at SU! Legendary Ride

February 15, 2023February 15, 20236 Comments

We took the challenge to show you our favorite bundles from the newest January-April Mini catalog…without using Basic White card stock!

Thanks for pausing along the path of our February New at SU! hop- I’m so glad you’re visiting and hope all the ideas you save or PIN will give you inspiration for your next stamping project.

Basic white is a wonderfully smooth paper to stamp on, but did you know it has a lovely cousin, VERY VANILLA? I’m rarely without a full backup package of either of these stamping staple card stocks, but Vanilla is often overlooked, so I think you’ll see a lot of her today:

The Legendary Ride bundle is part elegant, a bit retro and all high adventure! The glossy black “Ready to Ride” Designer Series Paper that coordinates with the bundle captures it all.

For this card, I embossed the shorter (top) side of a Vanilla card (5-1/4″ x 7-3/4″, scored at 4″) with the Thanks embossing folder, then scored a 5-1/4″ x 4-1/2″ piece of the checkered Designer Series Paper at 1/2″ on the bottom of the directional side (so the images face up when you open it). Next, cut the top with a die from the Basic Borders and adhere it behind the Vanilla card before mounting it to the basic black card stock mat.

Before I cut my letters out, I adhered an adhesive sheet behind a piece of 4″ x 1-3/4″ Very Vanilla card stock and lined up my letters as close as I could. TIP: Hold them in place with a strip of washi tape. Adding the letters to my motorcycle card was easy: Just peel off the adhesive backing and they stick like STICKERS!

BONUS PROJECT:

Then I was left with the negative, which I adhered to a piece of the Sale-a-Bration Favored Flowers Designer Series Paper (a choice free with $50 order before 2/28/23) and cut with the same Basic Borders Die. I added a piece of Gorgeous Grape ribbon (currently in the Clearance Rack in my Stampin’ Store) before attaching it to a Very Vanilla card base:

Die cut once and get two cards!

Now on to more stamping adventures with our design team around the world…click on each one and save your favorites:

February 2023 New at SU! Blog Hop: J-A Mini Catalog Bundles, Without Basic White Cardstock

Previous Blog Next Blog

1.scraphexe (DE) – Ginkgo Branch | Gingko

2.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Something Fancy Bundle

3.I Heart Cards 2 (US)- New at SU! – Marigold Moments

4.Joni in the Spotlight Stamping (US)-Petal Park Suite

5.Terryfic Cards (CAN) – Share a Milkshake Bundle

6.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- Legendary Ride

7.Playing with Papercrafting (CAN)- Greatest Journey Silhouettes

8.Carterie Plus (CA)- Faut fêter ça

9.The Tantalizing Stamper – (UK)- Decorative Borders

10.247Inkspiration (US) – Flowers

11.De Kijkkast (NL) – Queen Bee

12.Stamping Flair (AU) – Easter Bunny

If you are in the U.S. and don’t have a demonstrator currently serving you, I’m happy to act as your craft supplier and have listed the items needed for the Legendary Ride card here:

Product List

Legendary Ride Bundle (English)

$50.25

Ready To Ride 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

$15.00

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

$10.25

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Basic Borders Dies

$29.00

Thanks & Hello Embossing Folders

$8.00

Alphabet à La Mode Dies

$42.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Adhesive Sheets

$11.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$125.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Cute as a Carrot Could Be

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023Leave a comment

Have you earned free products from Sale-a-Bration yet? Today’s project features two SAB exclusives: the Thanks a Bunch stamp set (free choice with a $50 order) and the Dandy Designs Designer Series Paper (free choice with a $100 order). The card design would work beautifully with other stamps and supplies as well.

If you count ink on your fingers, then I am a green-thumb…and these carrots prove it, right?

Here’s a quick video tutorial:

Along with the special products created just for this time of the year, SU! has released MORE products you could choose from our current offerings as free products with qualifying orders through February 28, 2023:

Product List

Thanks A Bunch Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

$18.00

Dandy Designs 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$30.00

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Pale Papaya Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad

$8.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.25

Pale Papaya 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Stampin' Seal

$8.00

A Thank You Each Day 🍎

October 26, 2022Leave a comment

Do you say “I’m sorry” too much? Women are the worst at apologizing, even when we haven’t done anything wrong!

I’m working on replacing “Sorry” with “Thank You” and had the opportunity to practice on Sunday when my husband was waiting for to go to church while I finished handouts for my primary class. When I was done (we weren’t late), I said “Thank You for your patience!” instead of ”Sorry to make you wait” and he was more gracious about the wait.

Of course, an apology when I HAVE done something wrong is appropriate, but when I can use THANK YOU instead, it feels more validating for both parties: “Thank you for listening” rather than “I’m sorry I’ve been talking so much”!

My card today is one I can use when someone has sacrificed their time to help me (and I have a friend in mind)…so instead of saying “Sorry I took your time” I can express my appreciation for their assistance!

It’s also a #multicrafting project: I used the Global Design Project sketch #gdp366 , the Apple Harvest stamp set to participate in the Stampin’ Through the Catalog challenge on Instagram and the colors Soft Sea Foam and Cherry Cobbler so I could share it for a Red & Green creative challenge I gave my Sprinkled Ink team.

Speaking of my team…there are just a few days left to take advantage of the Starter Kit+ promotion…just in time to buy your Christmas gifts from yourself as a demonstrator, or jump start a business to earn extra during the holidays 🎁

It’s a risk-free opportunity to join my Sprinkled Ink team and see if your passion for rubber stamps, ink and paper could also be your purpose! Click here to get $30 extra in your starter kit (already an awesome value) and see if you like being a demonstrator.

Product List

$24.00

$10.00

$9.25

Soft Sea Foam Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$9.00

$9.00

Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$9.00

$9.00

$125.00

$32.00

$8.00

$7.50

$5.00

$4.25

An Apple A Day

September 13, 2022Leave a comment

…keeps the boredom away! The Apple Harvest bundle is sure to inspire your creativity as it has mine; To be honest, the stamp set from the July-December catalog wasn’t really on my radar at first, but when the Perfect Partners Promotion introduced coordinating dies for the Apples, I perked up and paid attention! Fair warning: You may be feasting on many apple-inspired projects over the next few weeks.

Thanks to the #tgifc385 sketch, this was an idea that woke me up at 3 am:

Aside from the dies that cut out the apple images, there are LOTS of leaves (making it easier to cut out many at one time), a branch, different sizes of flowers that can be used on their own, a long label (I cut mine down to fit the THANKS sentiment), and my favorite: A double scallop! The scallop can cut a scalloped edge or a fine detail…like I used on my card.

Also being used a LOT in my current projects are the Iridescent Rhinestone Jewels…they pick up whatever color you stick them on and add a rainbow sparkle. Who can resist that?

There’s my inspiration – and to get you inspired, check out ALL the Perfect Partners pairings…but don’t hesitate! The coordinating dies (and thus, the bundles at a discount) are only available during September 2022 (or while supplies last).

Product List

Apple Harvest Bundle (English)

$53.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$10.25

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

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

$9.25

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$9.25

Gingham Cottage 12" X 12" (30,5 X 30,5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$30.00

Stitched Greenery Die

$32.00

Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$9.00

Shaded Spruce Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$9.00

Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

$9.00

Bronze Stampin' Blends Marker

$4.50

Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels

$7.50

Linen Thread

$5.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

$125.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.25

Mini Glue Dots

$5.25

Watercolor Inspired by Charlet

May 27, 2022Leave a comment

The saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” is true for the card I created today, inspired by a card from demonstrator Charlet Mallett on the Global Design Project #344:

I really loved her watercolored image and knowing that some of you are intimidated by watercoloring, I wanted to make it really simple. This is simple enough that ANYONE could do it:

I stamped the flower image from the Blessings of Home stamp set in opposite corners of a 3-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ piece of Watercolor paper (the key to a beautiful watercolored background), then used ink pads from the Subtles color family as my palette to pick up the color (from the inside of the lid, see example here) using Water Painters.

What I love about watercoloring is: It’s MESSY and BEAUTIFUL!

TIP: Keep a piece of scratch paper and a paper towel at hand to “practice” on and wipe off your Water Painter when you move to a new color…just squeeze the barrel to run the water and wipe the brush until no color transfers to the towel.

Mounted on a piece of Basic White card stock as a frame (3-3/4″ x 5″) and then attached to the front of a Pool Party card base, it’s a simple card that makes you feel like Picasso and the sentiment embossed in white on black card stock really stands out against the watercolored background.

Give this technique a try soon!

Product List