Tag Archives: Stampin’ Blends

DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: JUNE 2026 – FERN & FLORA

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Welcome back to DIY Calendars! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. This month, I’m using a bundle from the May-August 2026 catalog called Fern & Flora. It has tender sentiments and beautiful line drawn botanical images, making it a very versatile bundle.

  • Stamps: Fern & Flora
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Hybrid Black, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, Highland Heather, Fresh Freesia
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Fern & Flora dies, Stampin’ Blends, Blender pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I don’t often add 3-D elements to my calendars, but I wanted this sentiment to stand out. The original wording is “you make the world a better place” but I used a Blender Pen to hand-color the stamp and leave out the word “you”.

I wanted to see if the Blender Pen would work. We used to use Stampin’ Write markers for this technique, but since they’re no longer available I was looking for an alternative. It worked!

The panel of lines in the back has been stamped off to create a softer look. The calendar is mounted on a Highland Heather panel. It’s a color I don’t use very often, but I’m very happy with the way it combines with Mossy Meadow and Daffodil Delight. I’m debating on working my way through the entire Stampin’ Up! color collection – what do you think? There are a few colors that will definitely provide a challenge for me!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own 2026 DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

The 2027 Calendar will be available in September. I know some of you are already counting the days! For now, it’s only 2026 that’s available.

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

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COLOUR INKSPIRATION #210: GUEST DESIGNER!

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Today I’m quite pleased to be a Guest Designer for Colour* INKspiration Challenge #210. This one is really fun, as it’s all about the 2026-2028 In Color Palette from Stampin’ Up!

It took me a while to decide where to start as I love all five 26-28 In Colours. I ultimately chose to begin with Crisp Cantaloupe, as it’s a returning colour from the 2013-2015 Palette. Anyone else who has been around that long??

The background paper isn’t DSP. It’s our new(ish) Water and Dotted Lines Decorative Masks, colored with a Blending Brush. They’re quite large – 12″ x 12″ – so you could cover an entire page for a scrapbook layout or a 3D project. I’m quite smitten 💕

Flowers Fair can be used so many ways. Here I’ve coloured it, then cut it with one of the arch dies. Stampin’ Blends are my favorite way to colour these images, but you could use Watercolour Pencils, Blending Brushes, Watercolour, or even daubers to fill in the colour.

I decided to emboss the greeting with White Embossing Powder on a Peaceful Pine panel. I’m happy with the way the embossing makes the greeting “pop” on the card front.

Take a look at what the Design Team has created for this great colour challenge. If you’ve never played along, I hope you’ll give it a try! You can’t go wrong with such a gorgeous set of colours.

*Although I’m in the US and the standard spelling is “COLOR”, I’ve chosen to use the alternative spelling of “COLOUR” in recognition of the group identity. I’m sure you can make the translation. 😆

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COLOUR INKSPIRATION #208: LOVELY ARRANGEMENTS

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The Colour INKspiration crew has a fun challenge this time around. It’s time to say farewell to the Stampin’ Up! 2024-2026 In Color Collection: Shy Shamrock, Pretty in Pink, Peach Pie, Petunia Pop and Summer Splash. The challenge is to use at least one, or as many as all five retiring colors in a project. I chose Shy Shamrock and Petunia Pop.

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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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: MAY 2026 – SILLY OLD BEAR

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Welcome to DIY Calendars for May! Thanks for joining us this month – and every month – as we share our creative ideas. My choice for May is a new suite debuting with the 2026 May Online Exclusives that brings back very fond childhood memories: Silly Old Bear.

  • Stamps: Sweet Old Friends, Sweet Words and Labels (coming May 5th)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Azure Afternoon, Granny Apple Green, Golden Glow, Barely Blush, Bubble Bath, Strawberry Slush, Hybrid Black
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I grew up with the Silly Old Bear, and these images and phrases are very sweet and dear to my heart. I’m from the pre-Disney era, and my memories are of the line drawings from the original book. Fortunately, those are the images in Sweet Old Friend.

One caveat: due to licensing restrictions, this suite is only available in the USA.

I’ve colored Piglet and Pooh with Stampin’ Blends and added a wash of color to the calendar page with the Blending Brushes. I’m looking forward to seeing this on my desktop through the month of May!

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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CUTEST CREW KITTENS AND TWO TONE CARD STOCK

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I am smitten with Cutest Crew! These kittens are playful and chaotic and exactly how a kindle of kittens should be 😺

  • 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

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Have you seen enough kittens? NOT POSSIBLE. Cutest Crew! These kittens have been so much fun that I’ve had them on my desk all month long.

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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LOVELY BLOSSOM DESIGNER SERIES PAPER IS READY TO ROLL!!

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The Lovely Blossom DSP has pages with panels ready to be cut and put to use right away. Some of them are card front sized, but the ones I’m using today are perfect little squares. All the coordinating is done for you – just cut and paste!

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!

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Don’t you think puppies are perfect for a card? Especially a birthday card – and this one could say Happy Birthday inside – but also for a “I’m just thinking of you today, here’s a card” kind of card. And the paw prints on the envelope are such a fun sneak peek.

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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THE CUTEST CREW BIRDIES: SO GLAD WE’RE FRIENDS

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I can’t seem to let go of Cutest Crew! It’s perfect for so many types of cards. Though it’s quite well suited to cards for children, I think it’s also smashing for adults. Who wouldn’t love to get this in the mail??

  • 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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DIY CALENDAR BLOG HOP: APRIL 2026 – CUTEST CREW

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Welcome back to DIY Calendars for another month of hand-made desk top calendars. The crew has some beautiful spring designs for your pleasure and inspiration. My choice this month is the delightful Cutest Crew bundle.

  • Stamps: Cutest Crew
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Peach Pie, Smoky Slate, Granny Apple Green, Lost Lagoon
  • Accessories: DIY Calendar Template, Stamp Cut and Emboss Machine , Cutest Crew dies, Stampin’ Blends, Blending Brushes, Wink of Stella, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I gave the kittens a bit of a wash so they had a nice place to roll, and I added a little Wink of Stella because, well, Wink of Stella. I made the butterflies the same colors as the wash (Granny Apple Green and Lost Lagoon) so it would look properly planned.

5 kittens were a little long for the calendar page, so I trimmed off the leading feline and popped it under the month. I couldn’t leave it off altogether now, could I?

Click the button to travel through the Blog Hop and see what Sharon and Cheryl have created this month. We’re so glad you’ve joined us!

Would you like to make your own DIY Calendars? The template is just $6. Visit my secure page to make your purchase. (You can also find the page on the banner across the top of my home page.) You’ll receive links to download the templates in an email after you’ve paid. You’ll need to cut and paste those links into your browser. (You may need to check your spam folder to find that email.)

You are only purchasing a template, which you can download and print for your personal use. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

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