Embellishing with Ephemera

Ephemera: “things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time”

Some of my friends are “junk journalists” while others are scrapbookers, and most of us make greeting cards often. One thing we all have in common is our enjoyment of embellishing our projects with pretty pieces of ribbon, jewels, and paper, or EPHEMERA.

In the 2024-2025 Stampin’ Up! catalog, there are 4 packages of ephemera to mix & match on projects of your choice- from scrapbooks to journals, from tags to cards. In this video, a special guest demonstrates how these bits & pieces ignite the imagination:

Here are a few other cards I created after all the “help” on the video:

TIP: When starting with a printed card base, create a background for your focal point with a plain contrasting color, such as a frame or tag, then “build” images on and around the background.

After creating with the die cut images, I realized the best way to store Epemera pieces would be in an album with the 6″ x 8″ pocket pages so you could punch out the pieces (which kind of want to fall out as you handle the sheets), sort, organize and view them easily in a binder! I’m not at home, or I’d snap a pic to show you, but here is the album and pages in a variety pack. You can click the images to add the products to your cart.

Here are the products we “played” with for our Mix & Match Cards. What will you use them for?

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New at SU! Tune In For In Color

Fresh new banner for our world-wide monthly New at SU! blog hop – and for the new catalog release in May, we are showing off those vibrant new 2024-2026 In Colors!

All the RETRO-feels of the “Tune In” bundle were impossible to resist, so I’ve made a wiper card with Summer Splash, Peach Pie and Petunia Pop:

This is the card when it’s closed and then…

…up pops the “You’re Super” message!

Quick video clip to see it in action:

What other gorgeous In Color goodies await you along the hop? Visit to find out:

May 2024 New at SU! Blog Hop: 2024-2026 In Colors

Previous Blog < > Next Blog
1.Merrick Makings (AUS) – New at SU! Creating with our new In Colours
2.Studio Shabaz (AU) – Nan Nan’s Garden of Love
3.Furry Cat Designs (UK) – Hello Petunia Pop!
4.Nina’s Southern Accents (US)- New In-Colors featuring Thoughtful Wish
5.I Heart Cards 2 (USA) – Round We Go with 2024-2026 In Colors
6.Nature’s INKspirations (US) – 2024-2026 In Color™ with Poised Peony
7.Attelyootje (NL) – New at SU! In Colors 2024-2026
8.Stamping Flair (AU) – Citrus Blooms with 2024-2026 In-Colors
9.Rebecca-Jo Unwin (AU) – New at SU! | May 2024
10.Playing with Papercrafting (CA) – Spotlight on Nature & the In Co
11.The Joy of Stampin’ with Rachael (US)- New at SU In Colors
12.Tricia’s Stamping Creations (US) – Simply Said
13.Scraphexe (DE) – In Colors 2024 – 2026
14.De Kijkkast (NL) – New In Colors in Vintage style
15.Creative Juice by Loni (US)- In Tune, In Color
16.247 Inkspiration (US) – Pretty In Pink

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Here are the supplies you’ll need to make & mail this “important message” yourself:

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Still here? Today is the LAST DAY to join my In Color Club, where you will collect ALL the products in each of these new 2024-2026 In Colors over the next few months, PLUS the Basic Beige FREE in September! Each month you’ll also receive complimentary supplies to create an exclusive project with your new colors.

In Color Collectors Club

Too impatient to collect one each month?! Consider starting your own Stampin’ Adventure with the May 2024 Starter Kit Special!

Pocketing Memories from Mexico

The Stampin’ Up! Incentive Trip* to Mexico was more marvelous than I even imagined! It’s a memory I will treasure and enjoy for years to come, so today I printed my photos and while the details are still fresh, I’m putting them into the album SU! generously gifted us at parting:

*Results aren’t typical- less than 1% of demonstrators earn the Incentive Trip each year. But even if it takes you 32 years (like me!) it’s worth the effort!

The 6″ x 8″ album didn’t come decorated like this…I embellished it with memorablilia collected along the way! The note that came with a set of luggage tags before we left home became the front focal point, the lanyard for our name tags is wrapped around and since rubber stamps got me to this adventure, I picked up a stamp for the Mayan symbol of 4 directions at the Cancun Mayan Museum gift shop.

Watch how I’m using pocket pages to add my photos and the new Ephemera packs to add fun details to every page:

A package of pages and an album are LESS THAN $20 – just IMAGINE what a great gift this would be for a graduation, a family vacation or birthday!

Here are the supplies I used (not including the card stock strips on the front of my album) so you can order them ASAP for your next celebration: You may want to order an extra to have on hand at this price!

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If you aren’t interested in my vacation pics, now’s the time to move along- but for those who want to see the highlights of this incredible experience, have a look-see!

If you ever have the opportunity to stay at Hotel Xcaret Mexico…SEIZE IT! As Cody said, “I didn’t even know there were places like this.” We also visited Tulum and Chichen Itza on different days. I met some demonstrators that I admire at the First Time Acheiver’s reception, along with the opportunity to visit with beloved Stampin’ Up! leaders.

We were also gifted a photo package which we used at the Xcaret Mexico park and the Xenses park: It was genius to be able to swipe your wristband and have a personal photographer of all of the adventures!


Ready to embark on an adventure of your own?

Join my Sprinkled Ink team during May 2024 and Stampin’ Up! will add four In Color product assortments to your kit FREE:

May 2024 Starter Kit Special: 4 In Color Products
Attention Shoppers Happy Birthday Slimline Card, 2024-2026 In Colors, Full

May Bonus: Colors in the Starter Kit!

Throughout the month of May 2024, there is a fabulous Starter Kit Special: You’ll get to choose $125 worth of your favorite products for just $99, then Stampin’ Up! will add FOUR 2024-2026 In Color products added to your kit FREE!

I wanted to show something you could make with these colors and potential items in your kit, so I demonstrated a simple stamping project on my Facebook page, inspired by a layout from the new annual catalog:

I failed to mention that this card is the ideal size to include a gift of ca$h, and here’s what I would stamp on the inside:

Basic masking and fussy cutting techniques are shared in the video you can watch here:

While that’s the smartest way to collect the colors quickly, you could also opt to add them one-at-a-time to your toolbox over the next 5 months by joining my In Color Collectors Club, including getting the new Basic Beige color collection FREE!

If you are in southern Utah, don’t miss my Catalog Carnival Open House this Saturday from 1-4 pm in Hurricane where you can craft a card, snag a snack, capture a new catalog, AND shop from my ONCE-A-YEAR-BOGO SALE!!

Attention Shoppers: I’m always delighted when you choose me to serve your creative needs – thanks for ordering your genuine Stampin’ Up! supplies from my Stampin’ Store by adding the products you love below to your cart, and watch for your thank you card in the mail when you allow me to inspire you!

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Simply Zinnia Thank You Card Slanted Background In Color 2024-2026

In Color Zinnia Card Duos

If there were a contest for the “most cheerful flower”, don’t you think ZINNIAS would take the prize?

Today’s card(s) feature the Simply Zinnia bundle (an online exclusive available now in my Stampin’ Store) as well as the 2024-2026 In Color products that will be in my store on May 1st!

This slanted background is a handy template to remember (or PIN!) because you can create TWO cards in about the same time it takes to make just one!

It all starts with a 6″ x 3-3/4″ piece of In-Color Designer Series Paper. Mark it at 2″ on the bottom long edge (on the back side of the design you want to use) and at 4″ on the top long edge. Then cut it from the 2″ mark to the 4″ mark. Layer each of those pieces onto a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic Black card stock and you are halfway done.

TIP: The leftover 6″ x 2-1/4″ piece of Designer Series Paper fits perfectly on the flap of your envelope, giving you terrific coordination!

Watch the tutorial (speed it up, if desired) to learn how to finish up the card:

And why stop at 2 cards when you can make 10? Two in each of the 2024-26 In Colors: Petunia Pop (shown above), Summer Splash, Peach Pie, Pretty In Pink and Shy Shamrock!

These colors coordinate beautifully, so you can even mix up the colors on the flowers- with the alcohol-based Stampin’ Blends markers, the colors bleed together smoothly:

Here are a few wonderful ways to collect the new IN COLORS:

  • Join my IN COLOR COLLECTORS CLUB and receive a package each month (May-September) filled with a sampling of ALL the products in each of the colors, including an exclusive projects each month…PLUS a FREE BASIC BEIGE BONUS the last month!
  • Too impatient to collect slowly? Purchase ALL the colors in May or June from my Stampin’ Store and earn the Basic Beige Bonus FREE!
  • Join my Sprinkled Ink Team in May and receive 4 new In Color Products in the Starter Kit FREE!! Offer good May 1-31, 2024.

Ice Cream, Adhesive Sheets and Last Chance Sale

When you have the right tools, any project becomes easier.

Adhesive sheets are a type of double-sided adhesive that make any piece of paper into a sticker, and they are indispensable for a project like PAPER PIECING. The Ice Cream Swirl dies are a perfect example of how you can create sweet cards to drool over, using adhesive sheets:

Start with a 5.5″ x 6.75″ card base (scored at 4.25″) and “build” layers with Designer Series Paper. The Lighter Than Air designs have creamy colors that I used to cut 3 swirls from, then built up my lemon-raspberry ice cream swirl. This is a card you’ll want to make triplets of at one time, just to use up all the pieces:

Today (April 9th) is the last day to register for my Crafting Happiness class on Friday, April 19th, where I’ll be featuring the Ice Cream Swirl Bundle (and you get a discount on the class if you purchase the bundle from my store)- OR you can use one of the stamp & die bundles you may already have.

A tutorial to teach how to use Adhesive Sheets:

Inside the card:

Today also begins the Stampin’ Up! Last Chance Sale– click image to shop!

I appreciate your order of genuine Stampin’ Up! products from my store! Your support give me the opportunity to continue sharing creativity with you. I’m always tickled to mail a hand-stamped card as a thank you for online orders!

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Coloring with Masks (Enduring Beauty)

Masks (the fancy Stampin’ Up! term for stencils) make coloring stamped images speedy and simple!

I was truly WOWed with how quickly I was able to color the floral spray image from the Enduring Beauty bundle with the coordinating masks, blending brushes and ink pads. This is a technique you may embrace if you don’t love to color, OR if you are just getting started, you can stamp and color this image with just two ink pads! Watch & learn how:

Did you catch how to die cut just half the image so you can add a layer of Designer Series Paper as the background? For the video, I added a second fold that opens on the right:

But you can just add a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ layer of Designer Series Paper behind the flowers to make it a regular card. I really like the look of the Poetic Expressions designs with the flowers, and used the colors of that paper for coloring the flowers, as well.

Turn the design sideways and try different colors, too.

It’s a beautiful stamp set to use for so many projects, and if you haven’t seen my two previous posts using this set this week, check out the Notebook Cover project HERE and the color challenge card HERE.

THANK YOU for shopping in my Stampin’ Store for GENUINE Stampin’ Up! products!!! It enables me to continue bringing you creative ideas and you are guaranteed high quality products with service from someone who cares about you.

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Craft Happiness with Ice Cream Swirl

From a firm believer that you have the power to create your own joy, here’s an opportunity to *literally* craft things with rubber stamps, ink & paper that make you feel (and those you share them with) gleeful!

Crafting Happiness Papercrafting Class Banner

This class will spotlight the Ice Cream Swirl bundle (Item #162771-NOT included in the class fee)- OR you can complete the projects with the Simply Sparkling bundle (Item #162871), the Beautiful Balloons bundle (Item #161457), of the Share a Milkshake bundle (stamps and dies sold separately) – any of which can be ordered in my Stampin’ Store:  http://bit.ly/lonistampinupstore. BONUS: When you order the Ice Cream Swirl from my store, I will email you a discount code for $7 off the class!

You can learn more about the class below the video, here’s a completely different card I made in my Monday Live Crafting today~

Watch the HOW-TO below, plus you can see a sherbet easel card using the Ice Cream Swirl bundle HERE

MORE CLASS DETAILS: Registered class members will receive a class packet with all the consumable supplies (card stock, envelopes, Designer Series Paper, etc) needed for 5 projects we create together during the class, PLUS two full sized accessories (2 embellishments we will use in class) and a color copy of the completed projects. Crafting Happiness Virtual Class fee: $37

Class packet includes*: 

  • Tinsel Gems Four- Pack (Item #161623)
  • Iridescent Shaker Circles (Item #161625)
  • Card Stock, Designer Series Paper and accessories cut for projects
  • One sheet of Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Envelopes and packaging
  • Sweet surprises!

(* while supplies last- if items sell out before packets are mailed, items of equal value may be substituted)

Also needed: 

  • Stamps & Dies of your choice (suggested bundles listed above)
  • Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (or Mini Machine) or similar die cutting machine for coordinating dies
  • Ink Pads: Pretty Peacock, Berry Burst, Lemon Lolly (OR Daffodil Delight), Calypso Coral, Lemon Lime Twist, Pecan Pie (OR Crumb Cake)
  • Watercolor Pencils Assortment #1 (Item #161700) OR Stampin’ Blends (colors above)

The class will be privately streamed to YouTube and you’ll receive a link via Email on April 16th to watch and craft along with me on April 19th, or watch at your convenience anytime! 

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Upcycle a Kit Box into a Gorgeous Gift

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!

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Unbox Your Craft-ivity

If you think you are not creative…THINK AGAIN!

Anyone can be crafty with a KIT, and I’m here to help you unbox some ways to be creative even when…

  • You think you don’t have time
  • You think you can’t afford it
  • You think you don’t have the space for crafting

Paper Pumpkin is the BEST craft kit subscription in the world, and each monthly box you’ll receive:

In this video, I show the Sweet Springtime Kit (February 2024), how to complete the projects as they are sent in the kit -OR- unleash your own ideas using the supplies from the kit or around your craft room:

While the full kits are sold out, there are refills for the Sweet Springtime kit (while supplies last) that you could easily add your own sentiment stamps to complete. They are available for subscribers only, so hurry and subscribe in the next step!

Click the button(s) to choose your Paper Pumpkin Path:

Here are the alternative projects I created with the Sweet Springtime Kit:

Now a look at what’s coming in the March “Memorable Meadows” Paper Pumpkin kit (SUBSCRIBE BY MARCH 10th to get this kit in your mailbox!!):

Share nature’s beauty with lovely all-occasion cards! Includes a free BONUS stamp set!

  • Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes
  • Precut vellum pieces & wood embellishments
  • Coordinating colors: Granny Apple Green, Garden Green, Balmy Blue, Night of Navy, Gorgeous Grape, Fresh Freesia

Perhaps you aren’t ready to make the commitment to a monthly subscription, but want a one-time curated crafting experience. I’ve got just the thing(s) with the Kit Collection in my Stampin’ Store which you can choose a la carte:

TWO NEW KITS are added to the collection every month, and while I indicated March 2024 kits would be added on Tuesday 3/5, I’ve learned that they are actually dropping into the store on THURSDAY, March 7th! I did get a peek at them today and I can tell you I’ll be grabbing BOTH kits…you’ll want to check them out in just a few days.

After the camera turned off, I did make a few more different cards with the leftover pieces from my kit (coudn’t let those gingham envelopes or adorable animals go to waste!). One of them I’ll share in my VIP Facebook Group and here’s the other:

And ONE (of four) #simplestamping cards I shared in my exclusive Paper Pumpkin email for my subscribers~ after the kit is complete and you have just the stamp set and ink spot remaining: