EXCITING TIMES BACKGROUNDS

Posted on by
Reply

Graphic design has always fascinated me. I’m definitely nowhere near an expert, but I like to play with shape and color. I was inspired by an entry to Colour INKspirations #208 and created a very close CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone) using a different color palette.

If you’d like to replicate this concept, I have a few tips for you:

  • Choose 3 colors with similar color value (all light/medium/dark)
  • Create continuity by using the same color for the card base, sentiment, and accents
  • Use a Stampin’ Blend around the edge of the Bordered Rectangle punched sentiment to create a faux layer
  • Take a look at the 3 photos below for help in placing each color!

Does that help? I hope so!!

The Exciting Times bundle is currently showing as low inventory, so now is a good time to add it to your cart. Don’t forget the Stampin’ Blend to coordinate with your color palette – we’ve got all the colors!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: JULY 2026 CUTEST CREW

Posted on by
2

Welcome to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. I’m back with one of my very most favorite current stamp sets: Cutest Crew!

I love these birdies 💕 The Cutest Crew dies include individual dies for each bird, so I cut out a little flock. In the process I discovered that the dies cut out their wings!! The bodies are colored in the light tone of Stampin’ Blends, and the wings are in the dark tones.

As much as I love our new Glimmer Pens, I am still a huge Wink of Stella fan. I used it on the Rolling Wave sea foam die cut and used a Blending Brush to add a little color underneath. I also spattered a little Cloud Cover tinted water for texture. There’s a little bit of Lemon Lolly brushed across the top as well. I find the secret to good Blending Brushing is patience. Take your time and don’t rush it.

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Don’t miss the July Product of the Month! Begonia Belle is available with a qualifying order while supplies last. Shop early!!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

FLOWERS FAIR WITH A GINGHAM DSP

Posted on by
Reply

There’s a new release of Online Exclusives arriving in the store on July 1, and I’m really excited about the new Gingham Gallery DSP! It features all of the 2026-2028 In Colors, and I’ve think you’ll love it.

  • Stamps: Flowers Fair, Lovely Arrangements (sentiment, retired)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Peaceful Pine, Hydrangea Hue, Golden Glow, Barely Blush, Hybrid Black
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Everyday Arches dies, 26-28 In Color Dots, Gingham Gallery DSP (coming July 1), 26-28 In Color Ribbon, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I am absolutely smitten with Flowers Fair and love experimenting with new color combinations. I have a stamped stack of images sitting on my craft desk for whenever I’m inspired!

Take a look at the Online Exclusives available July 1st – and don’t forget the new Product of the Month! It’s another stamp set, and the June set sold out quickly. Don’t miss this one.

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

FLOWER FAIR: GET TWO CARDS FROM ONE IMAGE

Posted on by
Reply

Don’t you love getting double the results from one image? A large image like Flowers Fair is a great candidate for double dipping. Take a look at what I did:

After I’d colored the original image, I cut out middle with the Everyday Arches dies and used it for the second card. It was easy to cover the opening on the first card with a matted second image, and I stamped the same full image for the second card in Lemon Lime Twist to keep it softly in the background.

I kept the focal panel for the first card simple with plenty of white since the background was so colorful. The little butterflies from Cutest Crew fit perfectly on the edges.

Keeping the background softer allowed the focal panel to, well, be the focus. I stamped the sentiment in black to mute what was otherwise a very colorful card.

Flowers Fair was released during the March 2026 Online Exclusives. It’s a keeper – have some fun with it!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

FREE SHIPPING THROUGH JUNE 13th!!

Posted on by
Reply

Now’s the time to save – stock up on your favorites or just score great savings from the LAST CHANCE list! Orders of $75 USD or more are shipped for FREE – and qualify for the Product of the Month too!

You won’t want to miss this Product of the Month 💕

And if you’re looking for deals, shop LAST CHANCE!

LAST CHANCE DEALS FOR CRAFT LOVERS: BIG SAVINGS!

Posted on by
Reply

The latest LAST CHANCE update has some amazing deals – have you taken a look? Here, let me show you a few:

Handmade and Heartfelt is my favorite kit – I’ve purchased multiples – and it’s only $16. It makes a fantastic gift, too.

This bundle and DSP – Sunshine/Boho Vibes – is fun, colorful, and perfect for cheery cards. Buy the stamps ($9) and dies ($15) separately, not in the bundle, and save big bucks. The DSP is just $7.50!

Pro tip: Watch for Two Tone Card Stock Assortments to go to Last Chance. It’s a great way to build a small collection and try out this awesome product!

Finally, there are just too many In Color products to list, but go check out the full Last Chance list to see them. Ribbon, card stock, ink, Stampin’ Blends – this is your chance to stock up on this gorgeous palette before it retires and save a little cash while you’re at it!

Enjoy shopping, my Crafty Friends.

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

ENHANCE YOUR CRAFTING WITH MOONLIT FLORA DSP

Posted on by
Reply

Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper (aka DSP) is one of the most versatile design elements in my crafting bag o’ tricks. Our papers are smooth, two-sided, and beautifully designed to accent any project. The Moonlit Flora DSP is especially lush, and it really satisfies my tropical little heart.

I’ve added some shimmer to the fern die cut with our new Shimmer Brush. I got the idea after I’d adhered the fern to the card front, so the accent isn’t as precise as I’d like. In my house we call this Delayed Intelligence. Sigh.

All of the Fern & Flora images are beautiful, but I chose to use just the paper and the die cuts for this card. This layout is very simple – it uses 2 pieces of DSP and a strip of Secret Sea run through the Fern & Flora embossing folder. The hardest part is choosing which papers to feature!

Give this one a try with the Moonlit Flora DSP or any other paper you have in your stash. You’ll love the results!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: JUNE 2026 – FERN & FLORA

Posted on by
2

Welcome back to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. This month, I’m using a bundle from the May-August 2026 catalog called Fern & Flora. It has tender sentiments and beautiful line drawn botanical images, making it a very versatile bundle.

  • Stamps: Fern & Flora
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Hybrid Black, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, Highland Heather, Fresh Freesia
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Fern & Flora dies, Stampin’ Blends, Blender pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I don’t often add 3-D elements to my calendars, but I wanted this sentiment to stand out. The original wording is “you make the world a better place” but I used a Blender Pen to hand-color the stamp and leave out the word “you”.

I wanted to see if the Blender Pen would work. We used to use Stampin’ Write markers for this technique, but since they’re no longer available I was looking for an alternative. It worked!

The panel of lines in the back has been stamped off to create a softer look. The calendar is mounted on a Highland Heather panel. It’s a color I don’t use very often, but I’m very happy with the way it combines with Mossy Meadow and Daffodil Delight. I’m debating on working my way through the entire Stampin’ Up! color collection – what do you think? There are a few colors that will definitely provide a challenge for me!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own 2026 DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

The 2027 Calendar will be available in September. I know some of you are already counting the days! For now, it’s only 2026 that’s available.

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

COLOUR INKSPIRATION #210: GUEST DESIGNER!

Posted on by
1

Today I’m quite pleased to be a Guest Designer for Colour* INKspiration Challenge #210. This one is really fun, as it’s all about the 2026-2028 In Color Palette from Stampin’ Up!

It took me a while to decide where to start as I love all five 26-28 In Colours. I ultimately chose to begin with Crisp Cantaloupe, as it’s a returning colour from the 2013-2015 Palette. Anyone else who has been around that long??

The background paper isn’t DSP. It’s our new(ish) Water and Dotted Lines Decorative Masks, colored with a Blending Brush. They’re quite large – 12″ x 12″ – so you could cover an entire page for a scrapbook layout or a 3D project. I’m quite smitten 💕

Flowers Fair can be used so many ways. Here I’ve coloured it, then cut it with one of the arch dies. Stampin’ Blends are my favorite way to colour these images, but you could use Watercolour Pencils, Blending Brushes, Watercolour, or even daubers to fill in the colour.

I decided to emboss the greeting with White Embossing Powder on a Peaceful Pine panel. I’m happy with the way the embossing makes the greeting “pop” on the card front.

Take a look at what the Design Team has created for this great colour challenge. If you’ve never played along, I hope you’ll give it a try! You can’t go wrong with such a gorgeous set of colours.

*Although I’m in the US and the standard spelling is “COLOR”, I’ve chosen to use the alternative spelling of “COLOUR” in recognition of the group identity. I’m sure you can make the translation. 😆

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

A NEW CATALOG, NEW ONLINE EXCLUSIVES, AND TWO NEW KITS!

Posted on by
Reply

It’s a Stampin’ Up! shopping trifecta! Lots of new products, not to mention a new JOIN offer and a brand new Product of the Month! I hope you’ve got your list ready.

Let’s start with the new 2026 May-August catalog. It’s a brand new format, with lots of brand new products – including the 2026-2028 In Color Collection. Click on the catalog above to see a digital copy, or click HERE to shop the Online Store.

The star of the May 2026 Online Exclusives is definitely the Silly Old Bear Suite. I predict this to be a very hot seller – don’t wait to get yours!

This Specialty DSP is likely to be another hot seller. It’s just $5 with a qualifying order – don’t miss the chance to add it to your cart.

These two new kits are just the thing for that last minute card – they’re both stamping kits, which means you can use the included sentiments or substitute your own. Choose Serene Scenes, choose Pretty Party, or choose them both!

Before you place that order, take a look at the bonus you’ll earn when you become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in May. In addition to all the kit benefits, you’ll get all five NEW Magnetic Ink Pads in the 2026-2028 In Colors! It’s a sweet deal – message me if you want to chat about whether or not it’s a good fit for you.

Happy Browsing, Shopping, and Deciding!! Get started HERE.

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.