Category Archives: cards

EARTHEN TEXTURES featuring DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

Posted on by
Reply

Since many of our gorgeous Designer Series papers are on sale this month, I’ve got some inspiration for you! This first card features the Earthen Elegance DSP, and it’s one of my favorites. The colors are rich and the designs are earthy and neutral.

Handmade card with a vase of feathery branches and the sentiment 'your thoughtfulness is much appreciated"
  • Stamps: Earthen Textures
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Gray Granite, Copper Clay, Pretty Peacock, Pebbled Path
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder, Earthen Treasures dies, Earthen Elegance Designer Series paper, Best Label punch, 3/8″ Textured Ribbon, Blending Brush

These papers mix well, but they stand alone quite admirably too. More to come on that!

Handmade card with a vase of feathery branches and the sentiment 'your thoughtfulness is much appreciated"

I used the Exposed Brick 3D EF (my new favorite) and added a little age with the blending brush and Pebbled Path ink. This Embossing Folder works well with both top or bottom faces. I used the Best Label punch to finish the end of my sentiment panel.

Inside of card with the sentiment "Thank You"

The sentiments in Earthen Textures are also complimentary, so I’ve added a little message inside with an extra die cut. This design would make a great masculine card, perfect for a birthday or Father’s Day.

Trust me, you can make this card! While there are multiple layers, none of them are difficult. Shop the Online Store for supplies.

The text Designer Series paper Sale Stock up and save 15% and images of Designer Series papers

There’s a Designer Series Paper sale in June! 15% off select papers – including Earthen Elegance! Shop early to avoid any disappointment.

It’s a great time to become a demonstrator! Join my team and create the opportunity you want. Select your choice of product valued at $155 for just $99 and you can be a happy shopper, enjoy early access to upcoming products, and save on every Stampin’ Up! purchase you make! If you choose, you can build a business, but that’s not a requirement. Try it out risk free – JOIN TODAY.

banner paper pumpkin welcome inn

Be sure to subscribe by June 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The June kit features 9 elegant, detailed cards. This is a card kit with an option to purchase coordinating dies while supplies last. You must be a subscriber to purchase the dies.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.

CIRCLE SAYINGS: USING UP BITS AND PIECES

Posted on by
Reply

I have a basket on my craft desk filled with odds and ends. It’s larger than it used to be – or should be – but I’m doing my best to clear it out. This card is almost ALL bits and pieces, and I hope you’ll forgive me for using retired products. There are current replacements for nearly all of this!

  • Stamps: Circle Sayings, Hippest Hippos (retired)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Grey, Sweet Sorbet
  • Accessories: 2 3/8″ Circle Punch, Vellum card stock, Stampin’ Blends, Big Boss, Stylish Shapes dies, Brick Embossing Folder (retired), Stampin’ Dimensionals, Country Gingham DSP (retired), Red Rhinestone jewels (retired)

Zany Zoo stamps and Designer Series Papers has an entire zoo filled with critters to stand in for that hippo, and our new Exposed Brick Embossing folder is even better than the old brick one! But there are two reasons I’ve shared this card.

First is that you can have a lot of fun with bits and pieces. I still have a bunch of circles left to play with, and it’s a great challenge to create a design with circles. Second is that when a project catches your eye, while you may WANT to duplicate it exactly, with a little looking about, you might discover that you have what you need to create your own version!

Stampin’ Blends bring this hippo to life with simple shading and only one color! Basic Grey and white are a variation of my favorite Black & White & POP of color combo.

Adding a little “something” to the inside of the card personalizes it, and shucks, isn’t that why we make cards? I needed another cupcake, and the Happy Birthday just the icing on top. <wink>

Do you keep a stash of odds and ends? How do you use them? I’d love to hear your tips, because I just *might* have a few left to use. You might find that Circle Sayings is just the right set to use those circles! Shop the Online Store.

Our beautiful new 23-24 Annual Catalog is available to EVERYONE!

text 2023-2024 Annual Catalog with craft images

Be sure to subscribe by June 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The June kit features 9 elegant, detailed cards. This is a card kit with an option to purchase coordinating dies while supplies last.

banner paper pumpkin welcome inn

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.

CIRCLE SAYINGS IN COLOR

Posted on by
Reply

In Colors Wild Wheat (23-25) and Orchid Oasis (21-23) work beautifully together in this birthday card featuring the new Circle Sayings stamp set. I chose a subtle design from our new color families Designer Series Paper for this simple layout.

handmade card in blue and gold with Happy Birthday message
  • Stamps: Circle Sayings, Nature’s Prints
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Wild Wheat, Orchid Oasis
  • Accessories: 2 3/8″ Pircle Punch, Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine, Basic Borders dies, Blending Brush, Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals, retired ribbon.

Circle Sayings is bundled with this big circle punch for extra savings. I found it easiest to punch the circle first and stamp second in this case. These are clear photopolymer stamps, making it easy to align them on the edge of the curve.

handmade card in blue and gold with Happy Birthday Message

I used the fern image from Nature’s Prints to soften the edges of the white card base, then brushed over them lightly with Orchid Oasis ink. The sentiment from Circle Sayings fits perfectly inside the border (of course it does!!) and the result is a surprisingly quick card.

There are 6 different edge treatments in the Best Borders dies – I chose the rickrack border because I liked it with the linear design in the DSP. Are you ready to dive into our new slate of In Colors? The Class of 23-25 are all beautiful neutrals that complement the rest of our color lineup. Choose your favorites at the Online Store!

Our beautiful new 23-24 Annual Catalog is available to EVERYONE! There’s a lot to explore and I’ll do my best to share what I love from this catalog. Our Color Refresh is at the top of my list. Be sure to check out our Online Exclusives in the Online Store – you won’t find them in the catalog.

text 2023-2024 Annual Catalog with craft images

Be sure to subscribe by June 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The June kit features 9 elegant, detailed cards. This is a card kit with an option to purchase coordinating dies while supplies last.

banner paper pumpkin welcome inn

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.

QUEEN BEE

Posted on by
Reply

Last weekend my Stampin’ buddy brought over the Queen Bee suite. We decided to see how it would work on a new layout I’ve been using. To keep things interesting, we made it in both landscape and portrait. I think both cards are winners!

Blackberry card with
  • Stamps: Queen Bee, Dainty Delight
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Crushed Curry
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Queen Bee dies, Basics 3D Embossing Folder, Vellum Card Stock, StazOn Ink, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Write markers, Dainty Flowers DSP (SAB 2023, retired)

I LOVE the embossing folders in the new Basic 3D assortment! You won’t find them in any catalog – they’re part of our new Online Exclusive collection. You can see them in the Online Store. They’re currently out of stock, and are scheduled to be available the week of May 1.

Please forgive the retired DSP – it was already cut and sitting on my desk as we started to design!

White card panel with small flowers

I added a floral image inside the card and colored it quickly with Stampin’ Write markers. I am an enormous fan of Stampin’ Blends, but for something this small I find it more satisfying to break out the traditional markers.

Black card with bees and sentiment "Thanks for lighting the way"

Here’s version 2. The primary differences are the layout (landscape now), the alternate embossing folder from the bundle, and the card base (black instead of blackberry!) The inside has a similar image, but if you have sharp eyes you’ll see it’s not exactly the same.

What do you think? Portrait or landscape?

white card

Be sure to subscribe by April 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The April kit is called ALL THE LITTLE THINGS. It’s a card kit featuring iridescent foil accents – don’t miss it!

Banner with Paper Pumpkin logo and mosaic-style flowers

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you.

We’re in the last month for the January-April Mini Catalog and Queen Bee is just one of the awesome suites available through May 1. The retiring list will be out this week, so beat the rush and get your Queen Bee bundle at a savings before it’s gone. Shop HERE.

The MINI POCKET ENVELOPE and the EASTER BUNNY

Posted on by
Reply

The Easter bunny used to bring eggs when my kids were younger – real eggs we colored ourselves, and the plastic ones filled with chocolate and money. That doesn’t happen any more. Must be the price of eggs. Fortunately, this little mini pocket is just the right size for a gift card so that you can send a friend to the grocery store for a dozen.

  • Stamps: Easter Bunny, Thanks a Bunch (SAB 23, no longer available)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Soft Succulent, Sahara Sand
  • Accessories: Bunny Punch, Big Boss, Mini Pocket Envelope dies, Tailored Tag dies, Something Fancy dies, Country Gingham Designer Series paper, White Watercolor pencil, Stampin’ Dimensional, Tear n Tape (TNT), retired ribbon

Well, we really do love our punches! This bunny punch isn’t available until mid-May – too late for Easter 2023 – but if you were lucky enough to get your hands on one before they went out of stock, this project is for you!

A little bit of White Watercolor Pencil adds softness and definition to the bunny’s ears, belly and tail – obviously the softest parts of the bunny! A dab of Petal Pink in on the tip of the nose is just enough color – anything darker is too much (ask me how I know.)

This Mini Pocket die is big enough for a gift card, but it also holds a Tailored Tag quite nicely. I recently indulged in a SECOND set of dies. I make a lot of these, and I decided to cut my die-cutting time in half by cutting two at once. That was an excellent investment.

The mini pocket envelope is an all-season essential – shop for it at the Online Store.

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves – like the bunny punch. Message me if you’d like to know when it’s back in stock. I’ve got a list and I’m checking it twice!

MARCH 2023 DIY: Love Cats

Posted on by
1

I love these cats – and this one might be my favorite! (Who am I kidding? They’re ALL my favorites.) Getting those blended colors is a cinch with the Stamparatus. My March calendar will bring a smile to my face all month long.

  • Stamps: Love Cats, Plentiful Plants
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Sweet Sorbet
  • Accessories: Stamparatus, Stampin’ Write markers, Stampin’ Blends, Dauber

I set up this Lazy Bones Jones on the Stamparatus and used a dauber to color him in with Crushed Curry. I repeated the process with Cajun Craze on his back, ears, tail and paws, then used an Early Espresso marker to fill in the curved line. The last pass with the Stamparatus was to use a Sweet Sorbet Stampin’ Write marker for the heart. I filled it in with a Stampin’ Blend – since I used the same color as the marker, a little smearing wouldn’t show.

The Plentiful Plants weren’t part of my original plan, but this guy looked like he was hanging out in a jungle. I stamped off the Old Olive so the color wouldn’t overwhelm my primary image.

I’m terribly fond of orange cats (don’t tell Bella & Gracie). We had an amazing tabby named Pookie who was more dog than cat, and I still miss him. There was a pretty epic post about him back in 2010.

He’s been gone for a long time now, but I still find myself stamping the Love Cats as orange cats. And now you can too! If you don’t have a Stamparatus, or the Love Cats stamps, or the colors you need to stamp a Pookie, you can find them HERE.

And now it’s time to visit Cheryl and Crystal to see what they’re up to for March!

Our new line of Online Exclusive products debuts today. These products will be available only in the Online Store, not in a catalog, and feature new products as well as a few returning favorites. See the full range and order today!

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Shop HERE for your favorites.

A BEAUTIFULLY HAPPY NOTE CARD

Posted on by
Reply

The Beautifully Happy Sale-a-bration stamp set didn’t catch my eye right away, but I saw someone else’s sample and…well, I’m pretty confident you know the end of that story. Before long it was at my doorstep! I paired it with our note cards and a little heat embossing:

  • Stamps: Beautifully Happy
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Pear Pizazz, Polished Pink
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Deckled Rectangle dies, Heat Tool, Embossing Tool Kit, White Embossing Powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I can’t remember the last time I made a card without Stampin’ Dimensionals. Huh.

Use a blender pen to wipe the ink off that white embossing powder so it won’t smear. And I used a lot of “dits” around this image, so I chose to stamp them off so that they would be more subtle. You can also stamp off the filler images that add the color inside the line drawings. It gives your project a softer look, especially when you’re using a bold color.

Sale-a-bration is nearly over. Beautifully Happy is one of the great options you can choose for FREE with a qualifying purchase. But don’t wait – February is almost over, and there is only one Sale-a-bration promotion in 2023. Shop and choose soon! See the choices HERE.

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Even better, when you place a qualifying order you will choose FREE Sale-a-bration products. Sale-a-bration ends February 28th and as always, those products are while supplies last.

The FASTEST CARDS YOU’LL EVER MAKE

Posted on by
Reply

When a new pack of DSP comes out with borders that face each other across the top and bottom, I do a happy dance. Those papers are the foundations of the fastest cards I make!

  • Stamps: Dainty Delight (sentiment)
  • Color Palette: Basic White (inside panel) and either Starry Sky, Orchid Oasis or Blackberry Bliss
  • Accessories: Paper, ink, and a stamp! Well, and Stampin’ Dimensionals and of course the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper from Sale-a-bration.

This paper is perfect for quick cards. I’ll cut 6 front panels that measure 4″ x 5 1/4″ from one sheet. Most often, I just measure 5 1/4″ from the bottom of the sheet, then rotate it 180° and repeat. Cut those 12″ strips into 3 panels, each 4″ wide and you have 6!

I made all of these up as Thank You notes, but here’s my little secret: I put them in my card box without a sentiment. It just takes a moment to cut a panel and a mat and stamp a sentiment. I’ll have just the card I need in 2 minutes flat.

The Dainty Flowers DSP is my favorite Sale-a-bration reward, and this paper is a big part of the reason why. If you don’t have this paper, try Awash in Beauty from the Annual Catalog – it has the same style of paper. Do yourself a favor and build a little card stash.

Dainty Flowers is sadly no longer available in North America but there are lots of other choices! Earn product for FREE with a qualifying purchase. See the choices HERE.

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Even better, when you place a qualifying order you will choose FREE Sale-a-bration products. Sale-a-bration ends February 28th and as always, those products are while supplies last.

EDEN’S GARDEN in MONOCHROME

Posted on by
Reply

Eden’s Garden hasn’t seen much ink recently, but I needed a sympathy card and this starry Sky monochromatic design was just the thing:

  • Stamps: Eden’s Garden, Something Fancy
  • Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Starry Sky
  • Accessories: Masking Paper, Dainty Flowers DSP – SAB 23, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I was inspired by Christie’s Stampin Spot and kept close to her design. This is a card I’ll make again to have on hand – it’s a design that lends itself to a variety of uses.

I also made a Crumb Cake version. I’m happy with it, but definitely prefer Starry Sky. The extra touch of the Dainty Flowers Designer Series paper really sets it off.

Earn product for FREE with a qualifying purchase during Sale-a-bration 2023. Everyone’s favorite Stampin’ Up! promotion ends February 28th. See the choices HERE.

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Even better, when you place a qualifying order you will choose FREE Sale-a-bration products. Sale-a-bration ends February 28th and as always, those products are while supplies last.

COUNTRY FLORAL with COLOR and CONTOUR

Posted on by
Reply

Happy Valentines Day, my crafty friends! I have one more Valentine for you using the Country Floral Lane Designer Series Paper. This time I’ve paired it with the Color and Contour stamp set. It’s an older set so you might have it – you could whip this card up this afternoon for last minute giving! (Well. Assuming you have nothing else that is demanding of your time. Quite the assumption.)

  • Stamps: Color and Contour, Country Bouquet, Friendly Gnomes
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Sweet Sorbet, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Scalloped Contour dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Country Floral Lane Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Blends, White Crinkle Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals

You might have seen versions 1 and 2 of this card a few days ago in THIS post. The change in DSP makes a big difference – there’s a lot of (Balmy) Blue in this version and it just FEELS different. Gotta love our DSP.

I keep a stash of pre-cut Basic White panels measuring 4″ x 5 1/4″ next to my primary work space. All of my cards have an interior white panel, even if they’re a lighter color. I like the crisp look of that white panel on the interior, and I think it’s a beautiful finishing touch. It makes any interior stamping stand out as well.

To borrow a concept, I did a Love It Chop It move on this entire pack of DSP. I don’t always love EVERY design in a package, but I sure loved Floral Bouquet! It’s a great balance of large and small, monochromatic and colorful designs with very appealing colors. You might just need to get yourself a package to see.

There’s still time! You can make someone’s day a little brighter doing something you love! Give a Valentine or two to someone who won’t be expecting one. ❤️ And Happy Valentines Day from the Maui Stamper 😘

Sale-a-bration 2023 is a great time to stock up on basics – or add something new and special to your craft stash. Earn product for FREE with a qualifying purchase. See the choices HERE.

Be sure to subscribe by March 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! The March kit is fresh and botanical, and includes a bonus stamp set to celebrate 10 years of Paper Pumpkin. It makes 9 cards and includes coordinating envelopes, and this month’s Stampin’ Spot is Polished Pink.

Paper Pumpkin subscriptions deliver ready-to-go projects to your doorstep every month, but you have ultimate control to skip or cancel 😱 if you decide it’s not for you. Don’t miss this kit!

New products in the January-April Mini Catalog are flying off the shelves! Even better, when you place a qualifying order you will choose FREE Sale-a-bration products. Sale-a-bration ends February 28th and as always, those products are while supplies last.