Tag Archives: Stampin’ Blends

COLOUR INKSPIRATION CHALLENGE #CI193 FEATURING BRANCHING OUT

Posted on by
Reply

Oh, I loved colour challenge #CI196 – Shy Shamrock, Summer Splash, Gray Granite and Early Espresso. I knew I wanted to use a lot of white space with those intense In Colours and Branching Out provided just the image I needed.

  • Stamps: Branching Out, Layers of Beauty
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Shy Shamrock, Summer Splash, Gray Granite, Early Espresso
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Branching Out dies, White 1/4″ ribbon, Woven Textures DSP, Blending Brush, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write Marker, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Shy Shamrock and Summer Splash are next door neighbors, but I assure you they’re both here. I used Shamrock for the greenery, then added a gentle wash of Summer Splash behind it with the Blending Brush. The layer under the Woven Textures DSP is also Summer Splash. And the Stampin’ Write Marker splatters are Shy Shamrock. (I may have to stock up on markers just so I can make those fine splatters!)

The white ribbon was transformed to Gray Granite ribbon with the magic of Stampin’ Blends. That ribbon is now on the Last Chance list (sigh) so you might want to stock up while you can.

I enjoy the Colour INKspiration challenges so much, and the team is the nicest group of crafters you could ask for. Take a look at their page – maybe you’d like to give this challenge a try! Here’s the inspiration photo for CI#196

And as always, I’m grateful for your support at my Online Store.

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

LLAMA CHRISTMAS OR LLAMA CELEBRATION??

Posted on by
Reply

Llamas are back – this time in landscape! Their necks aren’t quite as long, but there’s room for more of them, and more llamas can only be a good thing. Please tell me you agree.

  • Stamps: Long Time No See, Spooky Halloween
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Gray Granite, Smoky Slate, Lost Lagoon, Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade
  • Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, Paper Snips (no longer available), Sweet Sorbet Bordered Ribbon (retired)

I really wanted this to be a Christmas Card, but when I switched out the sentiment I had second thoughts. This sentiment is from Coneflower Celebrations, and I think it fits better. Ugh. I need to find order a Christmas sentiment this shape!

Either way, this card was colored with Stampin’ Blends much the way Tuesday’s card was. The llama-neck-sweaters have 3 colors, and if you look closely you’ll realize that some of the llamas are Smoky Slate and some are Gray Granite. Those funny starry background bits are from Spooky Halloween, because it was sitting on my desk begging to be included (Yes, the stamps talk to me, and I respond. And yes, that probably means I’m certifiable.)

Look at their perky ears! They’re waiting for you to tell them how handsome they are!! Go ahead, make their day. And then shop the Online Store for your own perky llamas.

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

LONG TIME NO LLAMA!

Posted on by
2

The only reason there isn’t a llama on my September DIY Calendar is that even without a neck it’s too tall. But there’s plenty of room on a card, especially a portrait-oriented card: check out my llamas from Long Time No See!

  • Stamps: Long Time No See, With You In Mind
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Memento Black, Crumb Cake, Petal Pink, Poppy Parade, Pool Party
  • Accessories: Stampin’ Blends, White Bakers Twine, Party Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Take Your Pick tool, Paper Snips (no longer available)

I took my time with this one, and it was really fun. I shaded each of the llamas a little differently, but kept their llama-neck-sweaters the same colors. (Please tell me you get the joke.)

I used the Pool Party Stampin’ Blend to color some White Bakers Twine, then poked holes to wrap it around the tallest neck. For some reason, I’ve been obsessed with deconstructing the twine lately – no idea why, I just do it.

I also indulged a whim and fussy cut the word BIRTHDAY from With You In Mind. I tried a number of sentiments on labels and banners, but this is what the card told me it needed. (Yes, I talk to the cards. And they answer me.)

Long Time No See is an Online Exclusive from earlier this year, so who knows how long it will be around. I’m happy to have it as I love these dorky faces with their dorky noses! Add a little whimsy to your crafting. It’s good for your soul.

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

DIY CARD-MAKING TIPS FOR SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS

Posted on by
1

One of the best reasons I know for making a handmade card is to honor someone special. I was invited to a bridal shower last month that I couldn’t attend (something about 2,363 miles over the ocean). I really wanted to be there, so I sent my heart in a handmade card:

  • Stamps: Delightful Wishes
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Crumb Cake, Timid Tiger
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Gallery Blooms dies, Textured Notes dies, Delightful Wishes dies, Patterns of Friendship die, Perfectly Pears die, Linen Thread, Dauber, vellum, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I used a LOT of different dies for this card. If it seems larger than usual, you have a good eye: I made this card a 5 inch x 7 inch format. I layered paper and texture, but since I had to mail it, I left off any embellishment other than my beloved Linen Thread.

My technique for this card was relatively simple: I set out a stack of papers of papers for layering and played with them, then die cut multiples of all my favorite floral bits and pieces and moved them in and out over the top panel until I was satisfied. It wasn’t exactly scientific, but it worked for me!

To add texture to the layers, I started with the Patterns of Friendship die. It’s one of my all-time favorites for texture, and I’m very sad to see it on the Last Chance list – but if you hurry, you can get a great deal on it. The Textured Notes dies are another product I consider indispensable for simple elegance – if they’re not in your crafty stash, maybe they should be!

Our niece – and Goddaughter – will be married in November, and that flight has been on the books for months! I won’t miss the wedding for the world. But since I couldn’t be at the shower, I sent her my love with a paper hug.

The 2026 DIY CALENDAR TEMPLATE is available! Buy it HERE.

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

COLOUR INKSPIRATION #193: SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

Posted on by
1

Colour challenges are a lot of fun, but I often end up scratching my head as I begin.My starting point is generally a stamp set, not a colour set, so it throws me off a bit. CI #193 isn’t a traditional set of Halloween colours, but after a few false starts, I got them to work.

  • Stamps: Spooky Halloween
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Balmy Blue, Highland Heather, Memento Black
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Spooky Halloween dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Perennial Lavender DSP, Kintsugi Inspirations DSP, Cloud Cover Faux Linen Ribbon, Purple Fine Shimmer Gems, Blending Brush, Stampin’ Blends, dauber, Wink of Stella, Stampin’ Dimensionals

There are a few adaptations on this card – I stamped on the Perennial Lavender DSP with Memento Black and Highland Heather for the background, and I stamped the sentiment on the Kintsugi Inspirations DSP. I also cut up the Cloud Cover Faux Linen Ribbon because I like the way it gets skinny and stringy.

It’s a small detail, but I cut off the cat’s paw and arranged it on top of the broom because the original looked unnatural. And there’s Stella on all of the Memento Black elements, because every Halloween card needs a little sparkle!

Here’s the INKpiration photo – how do you think I did? I had fun, and in my book, that’s the most important thing.

Have you tried a Colour Challenge? You can find all the details at the Colour INKspiration Facebook page.

(Note: Yes, I know in the USA we spell it color, but this is a South Pacific group and they spell it colour. For this post, so do I.)

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

CHARMING DAY MEETS ELEMENTS OF TEXT

Posted on by
Reply

I’m still working on using my DSP, but I’ve moved into current releases. Floral Charm has beautiful saturated florals, with gorgeous tone-on-tone coordinating patterns on the reverse. It’s an effortless paper that makes card design such a joy.

  • Stamps: Charming Day, Elements of Text, retired sentiment
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, Timid Tiger, Mossy Meadow
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut + Emboss Machine, Spotlight on Nature dies, Charming Day dies, 2 3/8” circle punch, Floral Charm DSP, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write Marker, Petal Pink Braided Trim, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I was very sad to see Elements of Text on the Last Chance list, so I’m pulling it out every chance I get. I’ve stamped off the Petal Pink ink here to get a softer background. You could also use Versamark ink if you wanted it even more subtle.

CONFESSION: I could have used the sentiment from Charming Day, but you have to ink the words separately and align them on the circle, and this perfectly-good-but-retired stamp was sitting on my craft desk saying “choose me!!”

So I did.

I added a few speckles to the Basic White circle with a Stampin’ Write Marker – just flick the brush against the cap for a light spatter. And that Petal Pink trim unravels quite easily, keeping some wave in the strands for a soft accent.

Elements of Text is on the Last Chance List so don’t wait too long to order! Charming Day is part of the Floral Charm Suite, an Online Exclusive from the July 2025 release. Happy shopping!

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

ONE MORE PATTERNS OF FRIENDSHIP CARD: BIRTHDAY!

Posted on by
Reply

Yup, I’m still rockin’ that Patterns of Friendship die! Today I’ve paired it with the Memories and More Celebration Expressions card pack and the Along These Lines stamp set for a colorful birthday card. I used the Patterns of Friendship die on the card front and love the result!

  • Stamps: Along These Lines, Spring Corners
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Balmy Blue, Pretty in Pink, Berry Burst, Granny Apple Green, Memento Black
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Patterns of Friendship die, Stylish Shapes die, Stampin’ Blends, Memories and More Celebration Expressions card pack, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I confess, there’s a bit of work to fussy cutting the balloons, but straight lines and simple curves are actually pretty easy. The cake is quick to color, and everything else is just layers. I love complex cards, but simple ones surely have their place!

The best part is that all the elements for this card are currently available. Shop the Online Store and see!

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

PATTERNS OF FRIENDSHIP: YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

Posted on by
Reply

This big but subtle die is my very best crafting friend right now! I’ve found so many ways to use it, and I love the texture. It’s a flat surface, unlike embossing, so there are no problems adhering images and embellishments. And it’s just gorgeous!

  • Stamps: Gallery Blooms, Beautiful Motifs
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Fresh Freesia, Petaunia Pop, Lost Lagoon, Memento Black
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Gallery Blooms dies, Patterns of Friendship die, Textured Notes dies, Stampin’ Blends, Petunia Pop Bordered Ribbon, Iridescent Ribbon, Retired In Color dots, Stripes and Florals cards and envelopes, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The Iridescent Ribbon is perfect for coloring with Stampin’ Blends – it’s one of my favorite tricks. Did you notice the subtle lines in the ribbon echo the lines in the Patterns of Friendship die? Gotta love that.

The Stripes and Florals Cards and Envelopes are on the Last Chance list, and they’re discounted, too. They’re another of my favorite tricks for a quick card.

Recently we’ve been experiencing some unannounced retirements of products due to various things outside our control. These items move from “unavailable” to “retired” without transitioning through the Last Chance list. If you love something, don’t wait to order it!

I would be VERY SAD to miss out on Patterns of Friendship. The Gallery Blooms bundle is expected back in stock the week of July 28 (that’s next week!) Beautiful Motifs bundle is currently in stock, and the dies are absolutely gorgeous – don’t miss them!

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

PATTERNS OF FRIENDSHIP: THE BIG DIE YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

Posted on by
Reply

I initially overlooked Patterns of Friendship because the stamps didn’t stand up and shout at me. But when I started seeing projects with this amazing texture, I went back to the Online Store and looked again, and there she was: the Patterns of Friendship die.

  • Stamps: Gallery Blooms, Elements of Text, Country Flowers (retired)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Fresh Freesia, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Patterned Friendship dies, Gallery Blooms dies, Textured Notes dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Cloud Cover Faux Linen Ribbon, Floral Impressions DSP, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Have you added one of the In Color Faux Linen Ribbons to your crafty stash? Oh, my – it’s gorgeous! I sliced this one lengthwise and used just a single strand to secure the bundle. That keeps the bow a little softer and mailing-friendly.

Gallery Blooms are perfect for coloring, and I used Stampin’ Blends this time. This closeup reveals a little detail: I used a scrap of Floral Impressions DSP behind the sentiment. It’s a little extra bit of texture in a card that’s already bursting with texture.

The Patterns of Friendship die is 6″ x 6″ so you can cut your panel to run either horizontally or vertically. If you look closely, you’ll see that the rows of little dots are balanced so that a 4″ card stock panel lands exactly between the rows. I love those kind of (semi-OCD) details.

I’m a bit of a texture nerd, so you can imagine how pleased I am with this new die. (Bonus: when you peel the card stock off the die, it makes a very satisfying noise.) There are multiple layers here: the dies, the paper layers, the DSP, and that big crazy ribbon. Have fun with it! You can find everything you need in the Online Store.

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

CHARMING (BIRTH) DAY

Posted on by
Reply

Have you seen Charming Day? It’s a new Online Exclusive, and yes, it’s another flower set. Telling myself “NO more flowers!” doesn’t seem to be working very well. In this case, it was the sentiments and the fonts that pushed me to Add To Cart. 😆

  • Stamps: Charming Day, Spotlight on Nature
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Strawberry Slush, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green
  • Accessories: Stamp Cut & Emboss Machine, Charming Day dies, Impressions Abloom dies, Floral Impressions DSP, Stampin’ Blends, Blending Brush, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I used a couple of tricks to make this easy. I used a Blending Brush with Pretty in Pink ink to create a light wash of color on my Basic White card base, then added a few textural elements from Spotlight in Nature. I inked the words on the sentiment separately so that I could offset them on the card front.

I cut the DSP and the mat to size and used just a little adhesive to hold them in place, then ran them through the Big Boss together. DSP is lighter weight than card stock, so the two pieces cut through cleanly. I pulled out the center ovals, then finished adhering the card stock and DSP and added them to the card front. The stitched frame on the inside fits inside the opening, so it needs to be carefully glued into place.

The Floral Impressions DSP is all about gorgeous florals, but the “B” sides of the papers are gorgeous tone-on-tone designs. So many options! Time to get crafting, friends.

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.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.