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

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.

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COLOUR INKSPIRATION #208: LOVELY ARRANGEMENTS

I stamped off the Lovely Arrangements leaves to keep them from competing with the other elements. I actually like the uneven result as it increases the textural feeling. The flowers are colored with Stampin’ Blends. I’m going to miss the 24-26 In Color Collection!

The Nested Essentials dies are new to my craft arsenal, and the biggest hexagon said “try me!” It was too wide for the card, but when I cut it in half it worked perfectly. And the stripes in the DSP played so well with the stripes in the (most sadly retired) Pattern of Friendship die – I hope you’re lucky enough to have that die in your arsenal!

Take a minute to check out the Colour INKspiration page on Facebook. The challenge is open until Monday, May 11th at 5pm (AEST). You’d best check your favorite time zone calculator on that, and don’t forget that Australia is on the other side of the International Date Line from the USA. 😉

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CUTEST CREW KITTENS AND TWO TONE CARD STOCK

  • Stamps: Cutest Crew
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Gray Granite, Pebble Path
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Cutest Crew dies, Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder, Two Tone Card Stock, Stampin’ Blends, 1/8″ Ribbon (Bubble Bath), Pebble Path DSP (retired), Stampin’ Dimensionals

I hope you’ll excuse my use of retired DSP – I didn’t have Gray Granite, but I had Pebble Path, and I thought it worked pretty well! (A moment of silence, please, for Pebble Path, I loved that In Color!)

Along the same lines, I slipped in the Bubble Bath ribbon as it played very nicely with Pretty in Pink. Sometimes embellishments will give you double duty that way 😉

The kittens are a lot of fun to color with Stampin’ Blends. This little crew is an active bunch and they make for a very playful card!

The Cutest Crew dies are out of stock and due in the Warehouse the week of April 27th. Have you used the “Notify Me” option in the Online Store for out of stock products? It works like a charm!

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CUTEST CREW KITTENS WITH LOTS OF TEXTURE

I love the patterns of lines, both horizontal and vertical, anchored by the Misty Moonlight circle in the middle. The patterns in the embossing folder lined up almost perfectly with the Designer Series Paper – what a lucky coincidence! Oh, and have I mentioned the kittens??? 😉

I love how our embellishments are flattened out. I usually add a piece of card stock to the front of my cards before I put them in the mail, and I haven’t had any problems. Stampin’ Up! really does listen when we tell them things that work – and that don’t work!

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TWO TONE CARD STOCK AND ROLLING WAVES V2

The technique is quite similar – tear the paper, alternate sides as you apply it, and finish with the Rolling Waves die cut. I changed the sentiment panel to a Stylish Shapes banner, and the color palette is Pool Party and Coastal Cabana instead of Cloud Cover and Lost Lagoon.

We made this card in my crafting groups, and one of our members shared a hilarious story about someone in an aquarium rather arrogantly correcting her children: they are NOT Star Fish, they are not fish at all, they are Sea Stars. Oh my gosh, we laughed so hard – you had to be there.

That’s why we make cards together, isn’t it? For the fun, the laughter, and the connection.

Maybe you could send a birthday card to someone this week. It will bring a little joy to both of you. If you need supplies, shop the Online Store.

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LOVELY BLOSSOM DESIGNER SERIES PAPER IS READY TO ROLL!!

I know I said the puppies were the most fun to color, but I think I’ve changed my mind. The birdies can be any kind of crazy colors, and they still sort of make sense. That fact allowed me to match them to this beautiful DSP despite the face the result is somewhat improbable.

There’s been a tiny nest of Japanese White Eyes just over the fence at Mary-Next-Door’s house. We can hear the babies peeping, and unfortunately, so can Bella. She is obsessed, but for the time being the stucco wall is too far away, and the branches of the shrub are too small to hold her. Let’s hope it stays that way!

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PUPPIES! PUPPIES! PUPPIES!

I think the puppies are the most fun to color, although the birdies are right behind them (and there are only 3 birdies so they go faster 😆). Stampin’ Blends make it quick and colorful work.

The Woodgrain Wonder DSP is gorgeous, and the patterns are more uniform. It’s a versatile neutral paper that has lots of potential. Have some fun with it!

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ANOTHER ROUND OF HELLOS

  • Stamps: A Round of Hellos
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Misty Moonlight, Night of Navy
  • Accessories: Circle Punches (2 1/2, 2 3/8, 1 7/8, 1 3/4); Linen Thread, Low Profile Sparkle Dots (retired), True Blue DSP (Product of the Month, retired) Stampin’ Dimensionals

This True Blue DSP has sold out, as have the Daffodil Delight Sparkle Dots. I’ll be honest: it’s hard to keep everything current with our more fluid product releases. The good news is that there’s always something new, and you can almost always find a substitute for what you see here. If you have these products, here’s a great way to use them. If you don’t, challenge yourself to find something in your stash that will work. It’s usually just a matter of changing the color palette.

This is a great geometric layout that lets the Designer Series Paper do most of the work. Helpful hint: when you’re stamping the floral image, begin with the flower (this one is in Misty Moonlight). It’s much easier to align the dot at the top and the leaves below with the flower in place – at least for me!

Go ahead: Dig through your stash and find some DSP that is just begging to be used. If you’re one of the few paper crafters in the world without a DSP stash, well, you can always search the Online Store.

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THE CUTEST CREW BIRDIES: SO GLAD WE’RE FRIENDS

  • Stamps: Cutest Crew
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Pretty in Pink, Pool Party, Lemon Lime Twist, Darling Duckling
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Cutest Crew dies, Everyday Arches dies, Blending Brushes, Stampin’ Blends, Stripes and Dots DSP (Demo Exclusive), Dear Dots (retired), Ink Refill, Paintbrush and Bone Folder, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I resisted the Everyday Arches dies for much too long. They are GLORIOUS and I wish I’d taken the leap earlier – there was a sort of stubbornness about not having bought them right away. Sometimes my purchasing decisions are based on rather ridiculous ideas!!! But never mind, I have them now and I love them. In fact, I highly recommend them!.

No less an authority than the New York Times (Well Newsletter) is advocating hand written letters. A letter increases engagement and connection, and can provide comfort to the recipient. I won’t argue with that!

I recently learned a spritz-tip – sorry, it was late-night doom-scrolling and I can’t acknowledge the brilliant crafter. When you load up a paintbrush with diluted Stampin’ Up! ink refill, tap it on a bone folder instead of your finger for more satisfying speckles. Try it, it works!!

Shop the Online Store and create a memory you can send through the post.

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COLOUR INKSPIRATION 206: PUMPKIN PIE, SHADED SPRUCE AND GRAY GRANITE

  • Stamps: Fern & Flora (May – August 2026 Stampin’ Up! catalog)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Shaded Spruce, Pumpkin Pie, Gray Granite
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Fern & Flora dies, Blender pen, Gray Granite Variegated Trim, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I chose to use Blender Pens to color this image with these saturated hues. The Blender Pen allows a lot more control over the depth of color, and it’s easy to layer the color for more saturation. These are small images, so it was quick coloring.

I love this new Variegated Trim from the March 2026 Online Exclusive release. It’s like a wide Linen Thread – and we know how I feel about that.

Stop by the Colour INKspirations page to see the gorgeous entries to this challenge. You have time to create one yourself!

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