Tag Archives: Bonus Days July 2023

SEASON OF CHIC: WATERCOLOR

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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!

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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

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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.

BEST LABEL and SOMETHING FANCY

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I’m still playing with DIY backgrounds. I’ve found that punches work well as every piece is the same size and shape. Best Label created a lot of texture!

  • Stamps: Something Fancy, Country Bouquet
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Lemon Lolly, Soft Sea Foam
  • Accessories: Best Label punch, Big Boss, Stylish Shapes Dies, Textured Floral Dies, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I confess that I grew a little weary of lining up and adhering all those little Best Labels. Don’t look too closely, as they’re not perfectly straight! If I were to make another, I would use pencil lines or washi tape to create a grid, but I was feeling bold and trusted my eye to get it straight. Oops.

A Handmade card with a textured background and a square element with the phrase “Here’s to beautiful beginnings and happily ever afters”

The little hearts are from Country Bouquet. Since they’re open, they’re a light-touch accent to the sentiment. I thought about adding some Lemon Lolly Solid Gems but left them off in favor of the little floral clusters from the Textured Floral dies.

A Handmade card with a textured background and a square element with the phrase “Here’s to beautiful beginnings and happily ever afters”

I hope you’re inspired to have some fun creating backgrounds with punches. Maybe I’ll try a little larger one next time 😁 Have a look at the Online Store.

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

Bonus Days are here, just 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!!

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.

Hello Irresistible and Textured Floral

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I’m still playing with Designer Series Paper, and found a fun way to add a little interest. I’ve cut this sheet from Hello Irresistible into tiles and reassembled them as a background. An embellished sentiment from Textured Floral is all it needs!

A Handmade card with a printed background and a floral circular element with the phrase “Birthday Blooms for you”
  • Stamps: Textured Floral
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Lemon Lolly, Calypso Coral
  • Accessories: Hello Irresistible Designer Series Paper, Stylish Shapes dies, Stamp Cut and Emboss machine, White Bakers Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Each tile is 1 1/4″ x 1 5/8″. You can use a pencil line, washi tape, or your trusty eyeballs to get them straight. I like to lay everything out before I adhere it, then put down the left and right top corners. Then I center the middle piece on those two.

I’ll do the left row top to bottom next in the same way. Once those two lines are set, the rest are easy to match up. It sounds harder than it is, trust me!

A Handmade card with a printed background and a floral circular element with the phrase “Birthday Blooms for you”

Lemon Lolly is my new favorite ink. Well. This week it is. Ask me in a few more days.

All my die envelopes are labeled with BIG letters. It doesn’t take much time, and it saves me a lot of hunting and bad-word-muttering. (Never fear, this would be things like “dang it” and “rats”. I’ve cleaned up quite a bit.)

Ready to make one of these? Trust me, once you’ve done one you’ll do a dozen. Stick around and you’ll see what I mean. 😉 Need supplies? Find yours at the Online Store.

COMING SOON!! Online Exclusives will be available starting July 6th. These Limited Edition products are fresh, seasonal, and sure to sell quickly – don’t wait to SHOP!

Bonus Days are coming – just in time for your Online Exclusives order! Starting July 6th, with every $50 merchandise order you’ll earn a $5 coupon to spend in August. NO LIMITS!! Earn all month from July 6 to 31. ANNNND we’ve also heard there will be new goodies in the Clearance Rack on July 6th. Cue the fireworks! 💥

Be sure to subscribe by July 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! Make 9 accordion fold cards with the July kit. It includes a Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Spot and plenty of embellishments.

cartoon seashore scene with text "Fun in the Sun Paper Pumpkin Kit"

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.

JULY 2023: INKED & TILED

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Inked and Tiled is my new top-of-desk fave! Today those flowers make a super-bloom meadow for my July DIY Easel calendar:

A Handmade desktop calendar for July 2023 with a field of yellow flowers
  • Stamps: Inked & Tiled, Lighting the Way
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Parakeet Party
  • Accessories: Daubers, paper snips, masking paper

I use daubers to apply the ink to the stamps. They’re faster than markers, and I think the coverage is better. After I stamped them on the calendar, I stamped the flowers again on masking paper and fussy cut them with my snips to mask the flowers. Such a mindless activity when you’re on hold (forever, and ever, and ever, and ever) with the tax department.

A Handmade desktop calendar for July 2023 with a field of yellow flowers

I ink the stem with the daubers first, then use Lemon Lolly on the top of the flower. I dip the edge of a dauber in Daffodil Delight and carefully add it to the base of the blossom. (Sometimes more carefully than other times!)

A Handmade desktop calendar for July 2023 with a field of yellow flowers

The background is stamped with an image from Lighting the Way – I think it’s a lightning bug swarm. I used Lemon Lime Twist, stamped off once to keep it soft and in the background. The background mat is Parakeet Party, because I liked it better.

Cheryl and Crystal have July calendars for your too! Please take a moment to see their work. We 💕💕💕 your comments!!

Create your own calendar template, or see details for purchasing mine HERE. For all other products, shop the Online Store.

COMING SOON!! Online Exclusives will be available starting July 6th. These Limited Edition products are fresh, seasonal, and sure to sell quickly – don’t wait to SHOP!

Bonus Days are coming – just in time for your Online Exclusives order! Starting July 6th, with every $50 merchandise order you’ll earn a $5 coupon to spend in August. NO LIMITS!! Earn all month from July 6 to 31.

Be sure to subscribe by July 10th for your Craft Escape in a box! Make 9 accordion fold cards with the July kit. It includes a Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Spot and plenty of embellishments.

cartoon seashore scene with text "Fun in the Sun Paper Pumpkin Kit"

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.