Category Archives: General Cards

Stunning All Things Fabulous Bundle

Leave a reply
Handmade greeting card created with the All Things Fabulous bundle

The stunning All Things Fabulous Bundle (154112) enables you to make beautiful floral cards and decorate 3D items. This bundle includes a set of 26 photopolymer stamps and is a 3-step stamp set. This gives you the ability to create a wonderful sense of depth to the flowers. With so many stamps, it is easy to get confused as to how to use them all. Let me share some things I have discovered to make it easier for you.

The stamp case insert has the three stamps for each flower grouped together in a line. That is helpful. The clear plastic sheet the stamps stick to not only has the stamped image of the stamp but also has the three stamps to use labelled in very tiny, almost microscopic print along with an arrow showing the direction the stamp faces to line up with each stamp of the series. Honestly, I did not see the tiny print even after someone said it was there. I thought the labelling was missing on my set. Finally, I was able to see it when I got the light to reflect just right off the plastic sheet. I have created a cheat sheet for you with the labeling and direction arrows hand-written so even aging eyes like mine can see them. I also found positioning the dies a little challenging at first so I have included the die to use next to each set of stamps. I hope this cheat sheet will help you as much as it has helped me. I keep it close by so I can see the positioning of each stamp. See photo 2.

Photo shows all the stamps and dies in All Things Fabulous bundle

On a side note, I though 4a and 5a were leaves with 4b and 5b being flowers to nest with the leaves. After several tries, it dawned on me that 4a and 4b were a two-step flower with 4c being the stem. The same is true for 5a, 5b, and 5c.

In 3-step stamping, ink the stamp with the least detail with the lightest color stamp, the next greater detail with the next darker ink, and the stamp with the greatest detail with the darkest ink. Sometimes it helps to stamp off once one of the colors to create a nice gradation of depth of color. Use the lines and spaces on each successive stamp in a series to guide in placement of each stamp. Have fun experimenting with different color combinations while practicing placement of the stamps. See photo 3 with some of the combinations I really like.

Photo share color combinations I have chosen for the three-step stamped flowers

TO MAKE THE STUNNING ALL THINGS FABULOUS BUNDLE CARD

Supplies:
Stamp sets – All Things Fabulous, Forever Fern (speckles stamp)

Inks –
Combo 1 for rose – Petal Pink, Blushing Bride, Rococo Rose
Combo 2 for rose – Purple Posy (retired), Highland Heather*, Gorgeous Grape
Combo for flower 5 – Balmy Blue, Pacific Point
Pear Pizzazz, Cinnamon Cider
*since Purple Posy ink is retired, use Highland Heather ink stamped off once for first layer

Cardstock – Whisper White 8 ½” x 5 ½” scored and folded for card base, 5” x 3 ¾”, scraps for large flowers and label;  Pacific Point 5 ¼” x 4”, Mossy Meadow 5” x 2”

Accessories – Fabulous Florals Dies, Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, Rectangle Stitched Frames, Stampin’ Seal, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Stampin Dimensionals

Instructions:
1. Adhere Pacific Point CS to card base with Stampin’ Seal
2. Randomly stamp small flowers and leaves on 5” x 3 ¾” Whisper White piece. Hint – Place all three leaf stamps on D acrylic block and only have to stamp it twice on this layer.
3. Fill in blank spaces with the speckles stamp using Cinnamon Cider ink. Then adhere this layer to card front.
4. Cut the Mossy Meadow CS out with the beautiful lattice die. Adhere it to the card front with a bit of Stampin’ Seal.
5. Stamp the greeting on Whisper White CS with Pear Pizzazz ink.
6.Use the next to smallest skinny rectangle to cut out the greeting. However, the label will be too wide and cover too much of the Mossy Meadow diecut. Make the label thinner by placing the die on the CS so that one edge of the die is close to the stamped image and run through the die-cutting machine. Place the resulting label back in the die matching the stitching on the ends and cutting off part of the width of the label.
7. Adhere the label to card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
8. Stamp the rose series of stamps that are open at the top on scraps of Whisper White CS once with the Combo 1 of inks and once with the Combo 2. Cut out with the matching die. Add to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
9. Stamp the flower 5 series with Balmy Blue and Pacific Point inks and cut out with die. Add to card front by corner of label with Stampin’ Mini Dimensional.

Order this stunning All Things Fabulous Bundle and follow along as I share different samples using this bundle in the next few blog posts. I will also be featuring it on this coming Friday’s FaceBook Live at 3 pm on my Soggy Stamper Facebook page.

Stamping With Kids Is Fun

Leave a reply
Simple handmade birthday card using the Zany Zebra stamp set. This card is a perfect one to make when stamping with kids.

Stamping with kids is fun and can be challenging or it can be very gratifying. There are some things I have learned over the years that might help you enjoy the time spent with your kids.

  • First you need to keep the projects simple. This card is a good example of this. I chose a stamp set that would appeal to children. This is the Zany Zebras stamp set (152536). The zebras are cute and don’t need to be colored in. You can fine other stamp sets that would appeal to kids on pages 94-99 of the 2020 – 2021 Annual catalog. I stamped the three different zebra images randomly on the Whisper White cardstock with Memento Ink and added a greeting in the middle. With kids I suggest they stamp the greeting first and then stamp the animals around it. That layer was then added to the card base of Mango Melody cardstock.
  • It is important to give the kids a brief lesson on how to use the stamps, ink pads, and adhesives. Show them to tap, tap, tap the stamp onto the ink pad rather than pressing down really hard. Teach them to close up the stamp pads as soon as they have finished using it to avoid getting ink all over everything. Show them how to clean the stamps as soon as they have used them by stamping off the excess ink onto scrap paper before washing them. This keeps your scrubber from getting filled with ink right away.
  • You may have a specific designed project for the kids to make but be prepared for them to do their own thing. I used to get so frustrated because the kids would totally cover the card with images ruining (in my mind) the composition by adding too much stuff. But you know what? They were having great fun and enjoying being creative! Isn’t that the purpose of introducing them to stamping?
  • Another thing I have learned when stamping with kids is to have a predetermined amount of product available for them to use. I had a class of girls that were about ten years old. The project included using self-adhesive rhinestones and I just put the package out on the table. I had intended them to each use only three rhinestones. However, they would have used the whole package if I hadn’t stopped them! Oops…lesson learned. Cut up the package into pieces containing the three rhinestones they are to use and give one to each stamper, then put the rest away.
  • Finally, relax! Stamping with kids is fun. It is a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon or when they are bored. The time spent together is well worth the effort and you are encouraging their creativity. I hope these point on stamping with kids help. Contact me for more ideas or answers to questions you may have.

Supplies to make sample card

Beautiful Prized Peony Bundle

Leave a reply
handmade greeting card created with the beautiful Prized Peony Bundle

Today I’m sharing a card I have created with the Prized Peony Bundle (154056), part of the Peony Garden Suite. Last Friday I introduced you to this beautiful Peony Garden Suite (154129) and showed you all the components of this suite.

In addition to the wonderful Peony dies (152701) that cut out the pieces to make the beautiful 3-D peony flower, this bundle has a lovely Prized Peony stamp set (152504), a DisINKtive stamp that creates the illusion of depth with just one stamp. The Peony dies also include dies to cut out the stamped images.

Supplies for sample card

What will you create with this beautiful Prized Peony Bundle? Head over to my online store to order it or contact me and I’ll place the order for you.

The Peony Garden Suite – My Favorite!

Leave a reply
Handmade greeting card with a 3-D peony flower as the focal point created with the Prized Peony Bundle.

The Peony Garden Suite is my favorite suite of the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog. I created the card above with some of the products found in this suite. Yes, that is a 3-D flower which is so easy to make using the Peony dies (152701) included in this suite. Click on the photo to go to the bundle in my online store. By purchasing the bundle, you save 10%. The greeting is one of the stamps in the Prized Peony stamp set (152504). While this photo doesn’t show the shimmer of the soft Gray Granite ribbon (152463) very well, it is really a beautiful ribbon. Just look at all the beautiful components of this Peony Garden Suite!

Photo shows product included in the Peony Garden Suite

Supplies Used to Create Card:

  • Gray Granite Cardstock 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ scored and folded at 4 1/4″ for card base
  • Light Gray subtle diamond pattern of Peony Garden designer Series Paper 5 1/4″ x 4″
  • Magenta Madness Cardstock 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ die-cut with peony dies then sponged with Magenta Madness ink
  • Mango Melody Cardstock scrap for the center of the flower
  • Garden Green Cardstock scraps for the leaf pieces then sponged with Garden Green ink when assembled
  • Whisper White Cardstock scrap for greeting die-cut with largest shaped die of Stitched So Sweetly Dies
  • Gray Granite ink to stamp greeting

You can easily see why the Peony Garden Suite is my favorite suite. I will show you more samples of cards and maybe a 3-D item made with this suite in the coming week. Check back here on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Contact me to order these supplies so you can create your own beauties. I’ll even include a free tutorial with your order.

Three Faux Watercolor Techniques

Leave a reply

Today I am going to show you three faux watercolor techniques. Yes, there are three ways to achieve a water-colored look without actually pulling out your watercolors.

handmade greeting card using Faux Watercoloring Technique 1

In the card above I used the first of three faux watercolor techniques.

  • Color directly on the rubber stamp with markers. You can use different colors in different spaces if desired.
  • Lightly Spritz the air above the stamp with water and allow the mist to fall on the ink. For a more detailed water-colored look, use just a little water. To have a less defined image use more water.
  • Stamp onto your cardstock and allow to dry. You can gently blot image with a paper towel if there is too much bleeding and water.

This next card demonstrates the second of Three Faux Watercolor Technique,s a watercolor wash. The background has been created with this type of faux watercolor.

handmade greeting card using the faux watercoloring technique that is a watercolor wash
  • Scribble on an acrylic block with one color of marker.
  • Above that scribble a second and third color. You can even blend them at the color junctures.
  • Lightly spritz the air above the block with water allowing the mist to fall on the block. You will want the block to have enough water on it that the colors start running into each other.
  • Stamp the block on a piece of cardstock.
  • Blot excess water and ink with a paper towel.
  • When cardstock dries, stamp an image over the watercolor wash.

This is the third Faux Watercolor Technique.

handmade card created with a third faux watercolor technique
  • Lightly mist cardstock, preferably watercolor paper, with water.
  • Stamp image with a water-based ink.
  • Mist the cardstock again so the ink starts to run. When it has run as much as you want, blot excess water with a paper towel.
  • When cardstock is dry, stamp greeting below the water-colored image.

To recreate these cards yourself you will need the following products:

  • Misty Moonlight, Soft Seafoam and Just Jade cardstock 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″ and folded for card bases
  • Thick Whisper White cardstock scraps for first two cards
  • Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper scrap for third card
  • Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper 5 1/4″ x 4″ for the first two cards
  • Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty Paper on third card
  • Forever Fern stamp set
  • Inks – Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz ink pads: Stampin’ Write Markers – Shaded Spruce, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Granny Apple Green
  • Accessories – Misty Moonlight 1/4″ Ribbon, Stitched Nested Lables Dies, Stitched So Sweetly Dies

Most of these supplies are new to the 2020-2021 Annual catalog which will go live on June 3. If you live in the United States and don’t have a current demonstrator and would like your own copy of the new catalog, contact me and I’ll be happy to mail you one.

Beautiful New 2020-2022 In Colors

Leave a reply
photo shows swatches of the new 2020-2022 In Colors

I’m excited to introduce you to the beautiful new 2020-2022 In Colors! Every year Stampin’ Up! introduces a set of five new colors to be used the next two years. This keeps our color palette fresh and current with the design industry without having to change the complete color palette. The new 2020-2022 In Colors are Bumblebee, Cinnamon Cider, Misty Moonlight, Just Jade, and Magenta Madness. As you can see in the card above, the colors complement each other magnificently! Check out swatches of them in the photo above.

Now let me show you how these beautiful colors work in a card.

Handmade card using the beautiful new 2020-2022 In Colors

Supplies for card

Ink :
Black Stampin’ Write Marker (100082)

Cardstock [CS]:
Cinnamon Cider (153078) * 8 ½” x 5 ½” scored at 4 ¼” and folded to make card base plus scrap for branch
Just Jade (153079) * 5 ¼” x 4” plus scrap for branch
Misty Moonlight (153081) * scrap
Bumblebee (153077) * scrap
Magenta Madness (153080) scraps for greeting and flowers
Whisper White (100730) 5” x 3 ¾”

Accessories:
Poppy Moments Dies (151594)
Well Written Dies (151816)
Birds & More Dies (152721) *
Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)
Paper Snips (103579)
Paper Trimmer (152392)
*Available to order June 3!

Instructions

  1. Die-cut with appropriate dies two Misty Moonlight birds, one Just Jade branch, one Cinnamon Cider branch, two Magenta Madness flowers, Magenta Madness Happy Birthday and one Bumblee sun using the flower center die from Poppy Memories Dies.
  2. Adhere Just Jade and Whisper Whte layers to card front.
  3. Cut the leaves off the Just Jade branch and glue to the Cinnamon Cider branch. Also glue the flowers on.
  4. Adhere the die-cut pieces to card front.
  5. Add eyes to the Bumblebee sun.

Which of these new In Colors is your favorite? Leave your answer below in a comment. If you live in the United States and don’t have an active demonstrator, Id love to be your demonstrator. Contact me if you would like your own catalog.

Another Ornate Floral Embossing Folder Idea

Leave a reply
handmade card using Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder

Here is another Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder (152725) Idea. I shared my first card in this blog post. This time I also used one of the Ornate Border Dies (152724) along the right side of the card. This border die is so delicate that you really have to have it mounted on another piece of cardstock. In this case, I used Mossy Meadow cardstock for the card base. See the detail of the embossing folder in this close up photo.

To Make this Card:

  • Fold 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Mossy Meadow in half to form card base.
  • Die-cut right edge of 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ piece of Petal Pink cardstock with Ornate Border Die and die-cutting machine.
  • Use the Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder and the die-cutting/embossing machine to emboss the Petal Pink cardstock after the side is die-cut. To emboss first would cause the embossing to flatten when run through the machine to die-cut the edge.
  • Glue the Petal Pink layer to the card front with Multipurpose Liquid Glue or the Fine-Tip Glue Pen.
  • Stamp the greeting from Free as a Bird stamp set (149468) on Whisper White cardstock with memento ink and the plumeria flower from the Timeless Tropical stamp set (151497) on another scrap of Whisper White cardstock.
  • Die-cut the greeting with the next to the smallest Stitched So Sweetly Dies (151690) and the die-cutting machine.
  • Color the plumeria flower with the Calypso Coral Combo Stampin’ Blends (144045) and then either fussy-cut the flower out or use the corresponding die from the In the Tropics Dies (151495). Save 10% by purchasing the stamp set and dies together in the Timeless Tropical Bundle (153811). Then use a glue dot to attach it to the label.
  • Put some SNAIL adhesive on the back of the label and attach loops of gold and silver metallic thread to the SNAIL.
  • Use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the label to the card front.

You can get the supplies needed to make this project by clicking on the items. They are linked to their location in my online store. When you place your order use the host code EQAYGMPG to receive a small thank you gift from me. Don’t use the host code if your order is $150 or more. With that amount you are your own host and will receive host benefits.

Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder

Leave a reply
image shows handmade Get Well Card using the Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder

The Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder (152725) is one of the items in this month’s featured Ornate Style Suite that will be in the new 2020-2021 Annual catalog. This embossing folder embosses tiny flowers and leaves sprinkled across your cardstock. It makes a subtle texture as a background for a focal image or, as in this card, the Ornate Floral embossing of this folder can be the focus of the card. It is so pretty that I didn’t want to cover it up!

The tops of the Ornate Floral 3D embossed strips looked like they were missing something, so I embellished them with white flowers die-cut with dies from the Ornate Borders Dies (152724) that are also a part of the Ornate Style Suite. I shared a card I created with these border dies here. I added leafy vines die-cut from Mossy Meadow cardstock with dies from the Garden Gateway Dies (151512).

The greeting is from the So Sentimental stamp set (151691) and was die-cut with a Stitched So Sweetly Dies (151690). You can order the stamp set and the corresponding dies as the So Sentimental Bundle (153828) and save 10%.

Directions for Card

  • Fold 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Pear Pizzazz in half to form card base
  • Cut 4″ x 1 1/4″ strip of Pineapple Punch, Mango Melody, and Flirty Flamingo cardstock
  • Place these strips in Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder and run through die-cutting machine
  • Adhere to card front as shown with favorite adhesive
  • Die-cut one each of the leafy vine dies from the Garden Gate Dies from Mossy Meadow cardstock. Glue them to the top of the embossed strips.
  • Die-cut from Whisper White cardstock two large flowers, three medium flowers, and two small flowers from the Ornate Border dies. glue them over the vines.
  • Stamp the sentiment on Whisper White cardstock with Memento ink and die-cut with one of the Stitched So Sweetly dies. Adhere it to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Come back on Wednesday to see more ideas for using the Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder. For more inspiration like my Soggy Stamper Facebook page and subscribe to my mailing list. The subscription form is in the upper right corner of my blog.

Beautiful Ornate Thanks Bundle

Leave a reply
photo shows all the pieces of the Ornate Thanks Bundle

Today I am sharing two Thank You cards created with the Ornate Thanks Bundle (154115). This bundle is part of the Ornate Garden Suite (154153) which is in the upcoming 2020=2021 Annual Catalog. If you are an avid stamper like me, you will love this chance to buy the suite now instead of having to wait until June. Click here to see the whole Ornate Garden Suite.

photo is of a handmade Thank You card created with the Ornate Thanks Bundle

This is the first card I created when I started playing with the Ornate Thanks Bundle. I was immediately drawn to the Ornate Border Dies shown here.

photo shows the Ornate Border Dies

I love this new Ornate Thanks stamp set(149471) because it’s a photopolymer set, I love the script font of the various sayings you can add to the big, bold thanks stamps. For this card I chose to add ‘for all you do’ to the ‘Thanks’. These cards are going to a couple friends who are highly stressed nurses right now.

To Make This Card:

  • Fold Bermuda Bay cardstock 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ in half for card base
  • Die-cut Pool Party cardstock 5 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ with the two dies in the upper right corner and adhere diagonally across the card front with Multipurpose Liquid Glue
  • Stamp greeting from Ornate Thanks stamp set on Whisper White with Bermuda Bay ink and die-cut with die from Stitched So Sweetly Dies (151690) and applied to card front with stampin’ dimensionals
  • Tie an overhand knot in Silver metallic edged ribbon and affixed to card front with mini glue dot.
handmade Thank You card created with product from the Ornate Garden Suite

This is the second Thank You card I created with the new Ornate Thanks Bundle.

To Make This Card:

  • Fold Pineapple Punch cardstock 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ in half for card base
  • Die-cut Call Me Clover cardstock 5 1/2″ x 1 1/4″ with Ornate Border die and adhered to card front
  • Stamp greetings from Ornate Thanks stamp set on card base with Call Me Clover ink
  • Add four sequins to flower centers with Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Now go order this new Ornate Thanks Bundle and begin creating gorgeous but easy cards with it. Share a photo of your card with me and I’ll share it here on my blog.

Flowering Foils Specialty DSP Card

Leave a reply
Handmade Birthday card using Flowering Foils SpecialtyDesigner Series Paper

Here is a Flowering Foils Specialty DSP card. This specialty designer series paper has both rose gold foil and silver foil embossing. It is my favorite of all the Sale-A-Bration free products. I love coloring the paper with Stampin’ Blends with stunning resluts. The paper is only one-sided and a little lighter in weight than Stampin’ Up!’s regular designer series paper but that is fine with me as the Stampin’ Blends soak through more leaving a soft water-colored effect on the reverse side. That is what I used as the background for the beautiful flower I colored and fussy-cut for the card It comes in a package of four different designs, three 12 x 12″ sheets each. Check out the patterns below.

index of Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper

To make this card use the following supplies:

  • Whisper White Cardstock, 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, scored and folded at 4 1/4″ for card base
  • Granny Apple Green Cardstock, 5 1/4″ x 3″
  • Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper – large floral design 5 1/4″ x 2 3/4″, scrap with one complete large flower
  • Combo Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blend Markers
  • Combo Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blend Markers
  • Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin’ Pad
  • Happy Birthday To You Stamp Set – a free Sale-A-Bration item with a $50 purchase
  • SNAIL Adhesive
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

I colored the larger piece of Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper and the scrap with the stampin’ blends and fussy cut the single flower. The Granny Apple Green cardstock was adhered to the card front. Then the larger piece of the dsp was turned over and adhered to the card front. The single flower was popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Finally the Happy Birthday was stamped in the bottom right corner with Granny Apple Green ink.

Here is another Flowering Foils Specialty DSP card I created and you can see two others I shared here.

Birthday card featuring Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper.

If you don’t already have this gorgeous Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper go order it here and then share with me what you create by email. I’ll feature it on a blog post.

Five New Sale-A-Bration Gifts Added!

Leave a reply

Today Stampin’ Up! added five new Sale-A-Bration gifts to your choices when you order from me during Sale-A-Bration. This is the last month of Sale-A-Bration, the time you can choose free items when you purchase $50 or more excluding shipping and tax. Check out the great new items below!

With each $50 purchase:

New Sale-A-Bration Gift Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper

This Flowering Foils Specialty Designer Series Paper (152312) has rose gold and silver foil embossing. It comes in 12″ x 12″ size with 3 sheets each of four designs. It is beautiful by itself but really stunning when color is added like I did in these two cards.

A second New Sale-a-Bration Gift is this great masculine stamp set (152300). It will be great for making all sorts of masculine cards.

image is of the Well Dressed stamp set

The third New Sale-A-Bration Gift that you can choose with a $50 purchase is the So Very Vellum Specialty Designer Series Paper. This vellum is embossed with a dotted pattern. These 12″ x 12″ sheets come with 3 each of 3 colors.

With a $100 purchase:

The fourth New-Sale-A-Bration Gift is the Tags In Bloom stamp set (152292). This stamp set coordinates with the Label Me Fancy Punch (151297) and the Label Me Lovely Punch (151296) found on page 41 in the spring mini catalog.

photo shows index for Tags in Bloom stamp set, the fourth New Sale-A-Bration Gift

The fifth New Sale-A-Bration Gift is the Rise & Shine stamp set (152303). This set coordinates with the Cup of Cheer Dies (151150).

Rise & Shine stamp set, the fifth New Sale-A-Bration Gift

Now that you have seen the fFive New Sale-A-Bration Gifts, go shopping! Click on the inks to find these items in my online store or contact me to place your order. These items are on an ‘as quantities last’ basis. Some of the earlier SAB items have sold out so go shopping now. There is only this month left of Sale-A-Bration!

Grace’s Garden Handmade Card

2 Replies
Photo shares Grace's Garden Handmade card created with Grace's Garden stamp set and Stitched Lace die

I love this Grace’s Garden Handmade card! Grace’s Garden stamp set (151513) is the first set to catch my eye in the new spring mini catalog. I love flowers in my garden and this set has flowers galore and a lovely garden gate. Check out the stamp set.

photo shows index of Grace's Garden stamp set

What is even better is that it comes bundled with Garden Gateway Dies (151512), Grace’s Garden Bundle (153789) for a 10% discount! Having the coordinating dies eliminates fussy cutting the flowers and gate. Note: the arched gate die is larger than the stamped gate. I have made it work by die-cutting the gate and the arch separately, cutting the gate in half and cutting the gate off the arch as shown in my second card.

photo shows picture of the Garden Gateway dies

To make Grace’s Garden Card I first folded a 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Whisper White cardstock to make the card base. Then I cut a 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ piece of Crushed Curry cardstock with the Stitched Lace dies (149625) and a die-cutting machine. I used the single edge die to make the scallops along the sides. I stamped the image with Gray Granite ink on Whisper White cardstock and colored the flowers with Light Lovely Lipstick and Light Granny Apple blends. I shaded the background with the Light Sea Side Spray blend. Then I cut the image out with one of the Painted Labels dies and mounted all this on the card front.

Now the ribbon I used on this Grace’s Garden Handmade card is tricky. I wanted a Granny Apple Green ribbon but the one in the catalog was wider than I wanted. So I took the Dark Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blend and colored the Whisper White 1/4″ Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon (151326). I love the softness and width of this ribbon and the fact that you can color it any color you wish with our Stampin’ Blends. You’d better stock up on this ribbon that will only be available in the spring mini catalog!

Diorama card created with Grace's Garden Bundle

I also created this beautiful diorama card using the Grace’s Garden Bundle. If you would like a picture tutorial of this card, contact me and I’ll be happy to send you one. The cost of the tutorial is $5.

Frosted Frames Birthday – Feel Free to CASE

Leave a reply
Birthday card created with Frosted Frames dies and Beautiful Friendship Stamp Set

This Frosted Frames Birthday card was a cinch to make and you can make it too. I started with a Smoky Slate card base, 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ folded in half. Add a 5 1/4″ x 4″ layer of Feels Like Frost 6×6″ Specialty Designer Series paper using SNAIL adhesive.

The next step for making this card is to cut a piece of Purple Posy cardstock with the beautiful large Frosted Frames die and a die-cutting machine. Adhere this to the card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Finally, stamp the greeting from the Beautiful Friendship stamp set on Whisper White cardstock with Rich Razzleberry ink. Cut it out with the smaller frame die and mount it on the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Tadaa! Your beautiful Frosted Frames Birthday card is finished. Write a birthday wish on the inside. Be sure to put your signature on the back like artists do because you really are an artist. Now put someone’s name and address on an envelope and mail it off.

Beautiful New Stamping Toys!

1 Reply
Handmade card created with Christmas Countdown stamp set and Frosted Frames Dies, two new stamping toys I just ordered

Beautiful new stamping toys arrived yesterday and I had to play with them right away. This stunning card was the result!

The first beautiful new toy is the Christmas Countdown stamp set that coordinates with the Christmas Countdown Project Kit which is an advent calendar with 25 little boxes to fill with all sorts of goodies. I plan to send this advent calendar as a family gift to our grandkids and greats.

photo of the Christmas Countdown stamp set index, a new stamping toy I ordered

I haven’t opened the kit yet to read the directions and don’t know how the stamp set is used with the kit. However, I love the cardinal on the branch of berries and wanted to use it on a card front.

I also ordered is the Frosted Foliage Bundle. I still enjoy last year’s Frosted Bouquet Bundle so really wasn’t sure I ‘needed’ this new bundle. They are very similar in detail. But…this beautiful frame that is part of the bundle got me hooked. Just look at it’s beauty!

photo of two of the Frosted Frame dies, a beautiful new stamping toy I just received

The big frame is shown cutting-side down and I turned the cutting-side of the inner frame up so you could see that it not only cuts but embosses the frame with stitching. I love it!

So I combined these two beautiful new toys to make this card. I cut a piece of Champagne Foil Sheets (144748) with both frames and saved the inner piece of foil for another project. Then I stamped the bird on Whisper White cardstock with Gray Granite ink (147118). I used the Light Cherry Cobbler (144576) and Dark Mango Melody (147944) Stampin’ Blends to color the image. I used the smaller frame to cut the image out. The card base is a 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Gray Granite cardstock (146983) and I layered a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock (119685) on that.

These beautiful new toys can be ordered from the Holiday Catalog beginning September 4. You will be thrilled with all the new toys available in this catalog! It will be hard to choose what to order first.

There are two ways you can a copy of this catalog into your own hands now. The first way is to join my team as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. You can even order things from it now if you join! Contact me if you are interested or visit my online store here.

The second way to receive a free catalog is to just email me your mailing address and phone number. I’ll give you a call to confirm your contact information and mail one out to you.

Using Pigment Sprinkles

Leave a reply

My first attempts at using Pigment Sprinkles (149663) was a learning experience. Pigment Sprinkles are a new product in the 2019-2020 Annual catalog found on page 179. They are watercolor crystals in some of Stampin’ Up!’s signature colors and are HIGHLY concentrated. They come in a set of 6 colors, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape, Mango Melody, and Melon Mambo. The bottles have a screw-on lid and a plastic insert with three holes that are covered with a hinged closure. Mix these crystals with water to make color washes.

I was going for a light blue wash for a sky and a green wash for grass. My first try using Pigment Sprinkles resulted in the green being OK but…oh my…did I ever get too much Bermuda Bay! I punched out a piece of blue painter’s tape to make a circle mask for the sun. That is why the white spot in my ‘sky’.

first try at using Pigment Sprinkles

My second try using pigment sprinkles was a little better as far as intensity of color was concerned. Can you say…green haze over everything? 🙂

second try at using Pigment Sprinkles

On my third try using pigment sprinkles, I put just one tiny clump of Bermuda Bay crystals, spritzed just a little water on the clump and then used an aqua painter to spread the color around. I added another tiny speck of crystals to another spot until I got good coverage. I also added a touch of the Bermuda Bay sprinkles to the Granny Apple sprinkles to change the color of the grass. A tiny touch of Daffodil Delight sprinkles colored the sun after removing the painter’s tape mask. This is what I was going for. I love the final card!

greeting card using Pigment Sprinkles and Inspiring Iris stamp set

So my advice to you is to get these Pigment Sprinkles and play around with them. They are easy to mix to get other shades and colors. Be sure to use watercolor paper or Shimmery White cardstock that will hold up under use of water. Most importantly, add just a touch of sprinkles at first and add more if needed.

Supplies Used:

Stamp Set – Inspiring Iris (photopolymer – 149268)
Paper (including cutting measurements) –
Bermuda Bay cardstock (131197) 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Watercolor paper (149612) 5 1/4″ x 4″
Whisper White cardstock (100730) 5 1/2 x 4″ for inside
Inks –
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink (132708)
Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin’ Pad (147104)
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin’ Pad (147099)
Accessories –
Pigment Sprinkles (149663)
Aqua Painter (103954)
SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
Blue Painter’s Tape (to tape off a border)

Thanks for coming by to visit. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit a while and browse through my posts. Please leave a comment so I know you have been here.