Color & Contour just keeps coming back to my desktop. The floral images are so appealing and the sentiments are right on target – and in such a great combination of fonts. I love such versatile stamp sets!
Stamps: Color & Contour
Color Palette: Poppy Parade, Mint Macaron, Bumblebee, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stampin Blends, Big Boss, Scallop Contour Dies, Pattern Party DSP (Host), Dimensionals
I find so much inspiration in the work of other crafters. Chris Smith created THIS gorgeous card for a SplitCoast Color Challenge, and the only real adjustment I made was to change out the flowers to these beauties from Color & Contour.
The Pattern Party Designer Series Paper is my Go-To these days! One side is printed in color, the reverse is in black and white, and every sheet is gorgeous. It’s available as a Host Reward with a qualifying workshop.
Ready to add your own creative touch? I’d be honored if you CASE’d my CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone)! All the supplies you need are available in my Online Store.
Have a big Wish List? Joining Stampin’ Up! is a great way to bring it all home – and you’ll enjoy all the benefits (discount, early access, exclusive events) plus during Sale-a-bration you can choose one of these bundles in addition to all the great products in your kit. $99, no tax, no shipping, no obligation to ever buy again. Contact me to chat about the possibilities, or visit my site to learn more. I promise no hard sell!! It has to be right for you.
Oh, I do love black and white with a pop of color! My dear friend Robbie showed me this fun fold, and I thought it was perfect for our Host Pattern Party DSP and the Floral Squares. I confess I was also inspired by the black and white gingham ribbon in the current mini as well!
Stamps: Many Messages
Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Big Boss, Floral Squares dies, Messages dies, Stampin’ Blends, Pattern Party DSP (Host), Black & White Gingham ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals
The papers in Pattern Party have gorgeous color on one side (both tone-on-tone and rainbow brights). The reverse side for every sheet is a black and white pattern. I LOVE THEM ALL (oops, sorry, got carried away with myself.) This huge pack has 48 sheets, so there are 4 of each design – plenty for a big project, and enough so that you don’t fear cutting into one sheet.
The Fun Fold part of this card is that front panel. Mine is 2 3/4″ wide and 5 1/2″ tall, with a DSP layer that’s 2 1/2″ wide on the front and a Basic White panel of the same width inside. Pro tip: Make your inside panel a smidge (highly scientific mathematical term) shorter – maybe 5 7/’16” tall – so that it doesn’t crowd the top fold and make your card wonky (highly scientific paper management term.)
Please note this is a highly scientific blog.
The dies for the Floral Squares include small flower dies that coordinate with the floral images in each square, but I preferred coloring with my Stampin’ Blends. I find it so therapeutic to sit with a stack of die cuts and just color. I did a few with Watercolor pencils as well, but I love the vivid color and shading of the Stampin’ Blends.
This is a different die, combined with Poppy Parade and Old Olive. I love the bold stripes on the back panel – they begged to pair up with Poppy Parade.
My Floral Square panels are adhered to a 2″ square of Basic Black card stock, letting the image and the color stand out. You can leave them without color and adhere them to a patterned paper background, but that wasn’t the look I wanted for this project.
Fresh Freesia made a softer looking card, and that criss-cross railroad track pattern was a great match for the lighter look. I used the dotted lines on all the card fronts to let the bold backgrounds be, well, BOLD.
I oriented this last square on what seemed to be the side for me. A slightly different direction gave it a casual look, and the combination of Daffodil Delight and Calypso Coral added to that laid back style.
Which is your favorite? Leave me a comment and if you’re feeling frisky, tell me why!
There are stamps (All Squared Away) that coordinate with the Floral Squares dies, but I didn’t use them this time. I left off the sentiments as well so that I could add them when it was time to send each card. I like having options <wink>
Don’t miss everyone’s favorite promotion, SALE-a-bration! Earn free stamps, dies, or gorgeous paper at two sales levels! Available while supplies last through September 30th.
I guess you’re either a cat person or you’re not – and I am a cat person. When I saw Clever Cats in the mini catalog (available TODAY!) I put it at the top of my list. The set has a Halloween theme, but I had other plans:
Stamps: Clever Cats, Free as a Bird
Color Palette: Basic Black, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
This captures cats so well – in the box, no matter what. The shreddies were a bit of a wild inspiration as I looked at the image of the cat and the box, and as luck would have it, I had the right color on hand. Some things are meant to be.
The Stamparatus is an enormous help in getting a clear, even impression from this bold image. I used a number of colors, but Memento Black was clearly the winner in my mind. It took a 3 impressions for me to be satisfied with Memento Black, but only 2 with Stampin’ Up! Classic Ink. But regardless of the number, the Stamparatus creates a perfect image – and re-image – every time!
I put a 1/4″ strip of DSP across the bottom of the panel on the inside of the card, and I added a sentiment from the now-retired Ridiculously Awesome stamp set. I created this card with the colours of Colour INKspiration #104 in mind.
The Mini Catalog is now live in the Online Store, and Clever Cats can be yours with a couple of clicks. We’re celebrating Sale-a-bration V.2 in August and September, so you’ll choose free gifts with your $50 or $100 purchase. Shop HERE.
Here’s one last peek at the Sassy Snailed It snails! It’s a snail parade, celebrating great accomplishments – I’ve die cut and colored this lineup with Stampin’ Blends. I have LOVED this stamp set, and I’ll be sorry to see it retire in just a couple of weeks.
Color Palette: Poppy Parade, Pale Papaya, Granny Apple Green, Pool Party, Highland Heather, Gray Granite, Basic Black, Basic White
Accessories: Snailed dies, Big Boss, Stampin Blends, Peony Garden (retired Designer Series paper)
(My apologies: I used a couple of retired elements for this card.)
I cut out a bunch of these snails and started playing with colors. I decided I liked using Gray Granite as a neutral body color to offset the rainbow of snail shells, and once that was in place, the fun of combining the colors began!
I thought that setting alternate snails up on Stampin’ Dimensionals helped separate them and give more sense of motion. The shading got easier as I went along, as I could just repeat the process with different colors.
I created another version with a Gorgeous Grape card base and Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Mint Macaron, Balmy Blue and Gorgeous Grape snail shells. I used the Gray Granite blend to shadow underneath the die cut snails.
This bundle leaves the lineup for good on June 30. Shop the Online Store for your own Slither of Snails!
Can I just go out on a limb and say you NEED the Color and Contour Bundle? The images and sentiments make gorgeous cards, and the dies – especially the layering scalloped rectangles – are indispensable. Oh, and Blends: you’ll need Stampin’ Blends.
Stamps: Color and Contour, Sweet Strawberry
Color Palette: Pale Papaya, Mint Macaron, Basic White, Memento Black
Accessories: Big Boss, Scallop Contour dies, White Crinkled Seam Binding ribbon, 21-23 In Color DSP, Champagne Rhinestones, Stampin Dimensionals
This card is a Fancy Fold. It’s pretty tricky to photograph and get the full impact, but the scalloped focal point opens on a hinge to the right, and the card opens the normal way to the left. My inspiration was a Stamptastic Designs Youtube video and she does a great job of explaining how the card is constructed.
I used the dark Mint Macaron Stampin’ Blend to color the White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon. It is VERY easy to do, and dries in the blink of an eye. (Really.) I also used the leaf image to create an abstract border on the white panel inside of the card. Those little extras aren’t necessary – but they make a card so personal.
Each scalloped rectangle has a different detail on the edge, but they nest beautifully. The large stitched scallop edge die is also part of the set, and I confess I clapped my hands and laughed out loud when I figured out that I could add that to the edge of the card. Those details are truly a Stampin’ Up! trademark.
Spend a little happy time coloring with Stampin’ Blends this weekend. And don’t forget the Last Chance products from the January – June Mini Catalog! They’re available while supplies last, but gone for good on June 30th. Find all of them HERE, and click HERE if you’d rather just see those on sale.
I need to practice my coloring skills with Stampin’ Blends, so I produced a handful of images from Hand-Penned Petals and got to work. To my delight, this image is a PERFECT image for the purpose! Not too big, not too small, not too complex – it’s just right. Here’s what I did with the results:
Stamps: Hand-Penned Petals
Color Palette: Pale Papaya, Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green, Basic White, Memento Black
Accessories: Big Boss, Penned Flowers dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, 21-23 In Color DSP 6×6 pack, White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Champagne Rhinestones
Today’s serendipity: The Champagne Rhinestones are a FABULOUS match with Pale Papaya! (Forgive me shouting, please.)
The White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon is my favorite. When tied, it’s still soft enough to slip through the USPS without extra postage. You can add color with Stampin’ Blends. And it’s just so pretty! It’s part of my Must Have Stash.
My technique with Stampin’ Blends is pretty simple. I start with an overall light blend wash, then add the deeper tones and go back with the light tone to do the blending. I use the shading marks in the stamp to guide me, but I don’t have a sophisticated system for dark/light placement. Learning that is on my to-do list <wink>
The Hand Penned stamps and dies are available in a bundle, saving you precious crafting dollars! Stop by the Online Store to get yours today.
While you’re shopping, don’t forget to check out Last Chance shopping for the January – June 2021 Mini Catalog! June 30 is the retiring date for products in that catalog that don’t carry forward in the new 21-22 Annual catalog. Don’t miss out – check the Mini Catalog page HERE.
You know how it is. An unexpected injury, a surgery you’d hoped wouldn’t be necessary…and there you are, out of your routine and needing more help than you want to request. The Back on Your Feet stamps know how it feels, too, and are the perfect solution to send a little heartfelt commiseration to a friend in need.
Stamps: Back on Your Feet, Forever Fern
Color Palette: Very Vanilla, Mossy Meadow, Petal Pink, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Basic Grey
Accessories: Stampin’ Cut and Emboss (The Boss), Layering Circle dies, Linen Thread, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Blends, very very old and retired printed vellum
The little sprig at the end of the branch looked a lot like the leaves from Forever Fern, and from there it was a very short leap to the printed vellum that has been lurking in my stash since Moses inked a stamp. It may have been an SAB choice, or it may not have, I have no idea – but it was perfect for this project. I colored it with Stampin’ Blends and used it as background.
Would you look at that face? If that isn’t the face of compassion and sympathy, I can’t tell you what would be.
And make note of this: Sale-a-bration ends next Sunday, February 28th. Don’t miss the chance for free – FREE! – stamps and paper available with your qualifying purchase. Shop HERE.
While it’s perfect for creating Valentines, the Lots of Heart stamps from the January-June mini catalog are truly year-round images. The companion Many Hearts dies provide great options as well, and I spent a delightful afternoon creating a variety of cards:
Stamps: Lots of Heart, Lovely You
Color Palette: Basic White, Coastal Cabana, Poppy Parade, Gold
Do you keep a little stash of die cut bits? I can’t seem to bear to throw them away, but eventually it drives me crazy to have all those pieces. My goal this month is to use ’em or lose ’em!
One I got started, was on a roll. This version most closely resembles Melissa Davies card, which I used for my inspiration. I wanted to play with some non-traditional Valentine colors, and Highland Heather and Daffodil Delight were a great way to switch it up.
The greeting is from Itty Bitty Greetings – one of my most indispensable stamp sets. You can see just a hint of the Subtle Embossing Folder on the Highland Heather panel, and the end of the Purple Posy strip was shaped with the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch. There’s a little Wink of Stella too [wink, wink}.
My intent was to create a rainbow with that row of horizontal hearts, but I stopped after 4 rows. I liked the way it looked, and I was eyeballing it and they were lurching downhill! That’s Rich Razzleberry, Magenta Madness, Calypso Coral and Mango Melody, and the Bumblebee Gingham ribbon across the front.
I confess that I squealed a little teeny squeal when I realized the gingham echoed the design in the heart! A few Champagne rhinestones finished this one off.
I went monochromatic in my favorite blues and greens for this version. That’s Misty Moonlight, Just Jade, Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana in the lineup, and I used the Scripty Embossing folder on the Misty Moonlight panel. I left off the glitz and glamor to give this one a more masculine feeling.
I really love that horizontal row of tiny hearts!
I think I spent more time cleaning the stamps than I did putting these cards together! It was a lovely way to spend an hour or so, and these will be in the mail in time for Valentines Day.
If your heart is just bursting for any of these supplies, you can shop right HERE. You don’t even need to put on your shoes to do it! And don’t forget to make your Sale-a-bration choice – there are just a couple of weeks left.
These are the toadstools of childhood, the ones occupied by talking caterpillars or lining forest paths. They’re charming but carry the scent of foreboding, as if to say look but don’t touch. The whimsical nature of this design signals the friendly nature of these fungi:
Stamps: Snailed it
Color Palette: Basic White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Just Jade, Mint Macaron, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Fine Tip Glue Pen
This one is doodled again, but I chose to doodle two sides instead of all four. I think this would make a charming post card!
The Fine Tip Glue pen has again made an appearance, giving my toadstool a shiny surface and a reflective gleam.
When I first saw the Mojo Monday 552 sketch, I envisioned it in Designer Series Paper. Once I started working, I switched to textured paper, but the idea of using DSP was still in my head. I finally got it out of my head and onto a card:
Stamps: Snailed It, Lots of Heart, The Right Angle
Accessories: Big Boss, Snail dies, Stitched Shapes dies, Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder, Blending Brushes, Bumblebee Gingham Ribbon, Wink of Stella, Fine Tip Glue Pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals
The card sketch is the same – I followed the dimensions in the challenge – but this is the original layout. My first card made for this challenge was a mirror image of the design, since that snail was traveling East. This snail is Westward Ho!
I’m totally sold on using Wink of Stella and the Fine Tip Glue pen to make eyes – any eyes – really sparkle. I don’t use the fine tip, I unscrew the entire top of the bottle and dip right in with a bamboo skewer. You need to let the excess drip back into the bottle, but I find it gives me better control when I want to “paint” with the glue.
The horizontal row of hearts in Lots of Heart is perfectly sized for adding to the envelope or the inside of the card – or both! Why be either/or when you can be both/and?? Ask yourself this more often.
Take that idea of Both/And with you to the Online Store and you too can be overrun with cute little paper snails! They’re highly preferable to the slimy kind, at least if you ask me. You may discuss amongst yourselves.
