AUGUST 2023: BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Oh these chunky little birds have stolen my heart! There’s something about the Bird’s Eye View crew that enchants me. These three are colored with Stampin’ Blends, and there’s a little color riddle in this calendar – do you see it?

A Handmade calendar page for August with 3 birds colored blue, yellow and green.
  • Stamps: Bird’s Eye View, Easter Bunny
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Azure Afternoon
  • Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Masking Paper

I’m always torn when new birdies show up in the catalog, because I might already have a *few* bird stamps. But I’m certain I don’t have any birds wearing glasses, so that gave me the justification I needed to add The View to my Stampin’ Collection.

After I stamped this little family, I decided they needed something upon which to stand. Fortunately, the Easter Bunny was more than willing to share a little grass, and masking paper made sure the grass remained in the background.

A Handmade calendar page for August with 3 birds colored blue, yellow and green.

I know I say this every month, but this month I will REALLY enjoy my desktop calendar!! Be sure and see what Cheryl and Crystal have done this month. And if you don’t have your own Bird’s Eye View Crew, I think it’s time you shop the Online Store.

A red, blue, white and pink graphic with the text "Ready Set Redeem" and "it's time to use those coupons you earned! You can redeem your $5 coupons between 1-31 August.

Beginning today, August 1st, you can redeem your Bonus Days coupons! Your unique codes, delivered by email in July with your $50 order, can be spent through August 31st.

Online Exclusives are HERE. These Limited Edition products are fresh, seasonal, and sure to sell quickly – don’t wait to SHOP!

Be sure to subscribe by August 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! This kit includes 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, and 8 coordinating envelopes. The kit is special because of the way it uses the meaning of flowers. On each card, you’ll find a small inscription of what the flowers represent.

"Paper Pumpkin" on red banner, "Meaningful Flowers" in blue on a pale blue background with images of stamped flowers

And don’t wait, because anyone who subscribes to this month’s kit will get a FREE stamp set! This Distinktive stamp set is perfect for a variety of occasions! 

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.

SEASON OF CHIC: WATERCOLOR

I’m a late arrival to Season of Chic, but I’m now a true believer. It’s a versatile two-step stamping collection, and that makes it perfect for this simple watercolor technique:

Two white handmade cards with the sentiment "Happy Birthday", one with yellow flowers and one with purple flowers
  • Stamps: Season of Chic, Go To Greetings/Something Fancy
  • Color Palette: Basic White with Orchid Oasis, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green and Parakeet Party/Basic White with Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Winter Wheat, and Old Olive
  • Accessories: Watercolor Paper, Stampin’ Spritzer, Dauber, Big Boss, Chic dies, Deckle Rectangle dies/Stitched Rectangle dies (retired), Metallic Ribbon/In Color Jute, Tinsel Gems/In Color dots

Do you have a favorite demonstrator (or two) whose work you never grow tired of? For me, Tami Hewlett is one of those people. She recently shared a stunning card showcasing a simple watercolor technique, and I really wanted to give it a try. Ink is applied to the stamp and the stamp is misted with water. Once it’s been stamped on watercolor paper, details are added using the two-step stamping technique.

Detail of a white handmade card with the sentiment "Happy Birthday” and yellow flowers

I don’t have the Tropical Leaf Bundle that she used, but these flowers made me happy. I tried a number of color combinations, and the range of yellows and purples were very satisfying. For this technique, it makes a big difference to have that two-step outline. It adds shape and definition to the soft, flowing watercolor.

Detail of a white handmade card with the sentiment "Happy Birthday” and purple flowers

I originally intended to use Orchid Oasis with Starry Sky, but the combination was too dark and didn’t have enough contrast. Highland Heather provided the balance I needed.

Each flower is unique, depending on where I placed the ink and how much water it got from the Spritzer. Tami applied the darker ink direct to the stamp, but I found it gave me more control to use a dauber.

A white handmade card with the sentiment "Happy Birthday” and yellow flowers

The watercolor paper makes a big difference. It absorbs the water, distributing the color evenly without distortion of the paper.

What color combination would you choose? I’m looking for more ideas! If you’d like to try this technique, shop for Season of Chic stamps and dies, or Tami’s choice, the Tropical Leaf bundle. Either way, I’m confident you’ll have a lot of fun!

Just a few more days to earn Bonus Days coupons! Through July 31st, with every $50 merchandise order you’ll earn a $5 coupon to spend in August. NO LIMITS!!

Online Exclusives are HERE. These Limited Edition products are fresh, seasonal, and sure to sell quickly – don’t wait to SHOP!

Be sure to subscribe by August 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! This kit includes 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, and 8 coordinating envelopes. The kit is special because of the way it uses the meaning of flowers. On each card, you’ll find a small inscription of what the flowers represent.

"Paper Pumpkin" on red banner, "Meaningful Flowers" in blue on a pale blue background with images of stamped flowers

And don’t wait, because anyone who subscribes to this month’s kit will get a FREE stamp set! This Distinktive stamp set is perfect for a variety of occasions! 

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.

SHARE A MILKSHAKE – 3 WAYS!

The Hello Irresistible Designer Series paper makes another appearance today with Share a Milkshake. The combination of Lost Lagoon and Lemon Lolly is truly irresistible!

A Handmade card with a patterned paper background, ice cream cone, and the sentiment “Life is Sweeter with You”
  • Stamps: Share a Milkshake
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Lemon Lolly, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Share a Milkshake and Stylish Shapes dies, Hello Irresistible Designer Series Paper, Basic Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The little cone was my starting point. When it popped out of the die, I confess: I squealed! You need to understand that ice cream is one of my family’s Love Languages. Growing up, there were always at least 4 different flavors in the freezer. We are serious about this stuff!

A Handmade card with a patterned paper background, ice cream cone, and the sentiment “Life is Sweeter with You”

I’m not sure what flavor a Lost Lagoon scoop would be, but it looks pretty good with Lemon Lolly so I’ll let you use your imagination.

Which of these 3 versions of Hello Irresistible do you like best??

That grid pops out of the die just perfectly, and it creates a bunch of gorgeous little rectangular shapes. I let them sit in a little heap for a long time before I swept them into the round file. I’m sure I’ll think of a use for them later.

In the meantime, shop the Online Store for Share a Milkshake and Irresistible You! You’ll find Hello, Irresistible only in the Online Store and only in the Online Exclusives!

Bonus Days are here in time for your Online Exclusives order! Through July 31st, with every $50 merchandise order you’ll earn a $5 coupon to spend in August. NO LIMITS!!

Online Exclusives are HERE. These Limited Edition products are fresh, seasonal, and sure to sell quickly – don’t wait to SHOP!

Be sure to subscribe by August 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! This kit includes 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, and 8 coordinating envelopes. The kit is special because of the way it uses the meaning of flowers. On each card, you’ll find a small inscription of what the flowers represent.

"Paper Pumpkin" on red banner, "Meaningful Flowers" in blue on a pale blue background with images of stamped flowers

And don’t wait, because anyone who subscribes to this month’s kit will get a FREE stamp set! This Distinktive stamp set is perfect for a variety of occasions! 

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.

STAMPS ON SALE and the BIGGEST WISH

I love the Biggest Wish stamp set. And it’s on sale today, along with all Annual Catalog stamp sets (does not include host, bundle or online exclusive.) I put “HELLO friend” together with a punched textural background for a quick card with a Big Wish:

White card with circle offset center and words "HELLO friend"
  • Stamps: Biggest Wish, Country Bouquet
  • Color Palette: Basic White, BubbleBath, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Stylish Shapes dies, 2 3/8″ Circle punch, Inked & Tiled “X” punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I have some very old Lost Lagoon ribbon, but I chose to keep this card current. I cut some Lost Lagoon paper into narrow strips and adhered them behind the circle focal point for a simple embellishment.

A white card with a circle containing the words "HELLO friend"

These punched elements are really easy to align for this technique! Punch a dozen and you’re ready to go – these were easy to do by eye. Biggest Wish has all the words you need in fonts that work together.

A Handmade card with a white textured background, and a circular element with the phrase “Hello Friend”

Biggest Wish is on sale TODAY July 19th for 15% off – along with all the Annual Catalog stamp sets (this sale excludes Host, Bundle and Online Exclusive stamps). Spend $50 and you’ll qualify for a Bonus Days coupon and save twice! Shop the Online Store now.

orange banner with text "24 hour stamp sale 19 July"

Bonus Days are here in time for your Online Exclusives order! Through July 31st, with every $50 merchandise order you’ll earn a $5 coupon to spend in August. NO LIMITS!!

Online Exclusives are HERE. These Limited Edition products are fresh, seasonal, and sure to sell quickly – don’t wait to SHOP!

Be sure to subscribe by August 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! This kit includes 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, and 8 coordinating envelopes. The kit is special because of the way it uses the meaning of flowers. On each card, you’ll find a small inscription of what the flowers represent.

And don’t wait, because anyone who subscribes to this month’s kit will get a FREE stamp set! This Distinktive stamp set is perfect for a variety of occasions! 

"Paper Pumpkin" on red banner, "Meaningful Flowers" in blue on a pale blue background with images of stamped 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. Stampin’ Up! also features an exclusive collection of kits that don’t require a subscription. Visit the Online Store to see what’s available.