Sweet Strawberry Birthday

Sometimes you see a card that begs to be made! I saw THIS card by the Alaska Stamper and knew I could put it together with the Sweet Strawberry stamp set (carrying over to 2021-2022!). It’s a great feeling to be able to sit down and create something happy in a hot minute!

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sweet Strawberry birthday card
  • Stamps: Sweet Strawberry, The Right Triangle (retiring May 3)
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Poppy Parade, Soft Succulent (21-23 In Color)
  • Accessories: Strawberry punch, Stampin’ Blends, Big Boss, Subtle Embossing Folder (retiring May 3), Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots, sequins from the craft archive

Teri made her card with leftovers from the So Cool Paper Pumpkin kit, but I was able to use what I had on hand to CASE her project. I loved the parallel lines she created down the side of the card, but I’m not as precise as she is, so I guesstimated the spacing and used a thin ruler and the light Soft Succulent Stampin’ Blend.

PRO TIP: If you plan on dry embossing your panel, be certain to doing all the stamping BEFORE you run it through the Big Boss. If you try to stamp once it’s embossed, it’s difficult, perhaps impossible, to get a clean image.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sweet Strawberry birthday card

I used the Stamping Off technique with the strawberry stems and leaves when I added the “fill” stamps. I kept the outline stamped images strong, but wanted a lighter touch for the foliage. I stamped the strawberries full strength. I had an extra leaf – but not really extra at all- it was perfect for inside the card.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Sweet Strawberry birthday card

Find a card you love and make it your own! Just be sure to give credit to the original artist. It’s the right thing to do.

Need supplies? Shop HERE. Just a few more days to shop from the Retiring List and then that beautiful Subtle Embossing Folder will be gone.

NB: The Strawberry punch is currently unavailable to order. I will shout from the rooftops when it comes in!

Snailed It: Magical Mushrooms

The Stampin’ Up! January – June mini catalog is filled with delights, and these sweet mushrooms are Exhibit A. They remind me of the Alice in Wonderland sort of mushroom, and I find coloring them to be endlessly appealing. Because they’re magical, they lend themselves to whimsical colors.

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Snailed It Magical Mushrooms birthday card
  • Stamps: Snailed It, A Wish for Everything
  • Color Palette: Basic White, Petal Pink, So Saffron, Mango Melody, Mint Macaron, Basic Black
  • Accessories: Big Boss, Snail dies, Subtle Embossing Folder (retiring May 3), Stitched So Sweetly dies, Polka Dotted Tulle Ribbon (retiring May 3), Blending Brush, Stampin Dimensionals

The Subtle Embossing folder is such a go-to texture on my craft desk that I’ve actually ordered a second one in the dire event that something happens to mine. It creates a dobby, fabric-like impression on our card stock that doesn’t distract from anything else: it’s SUBTLE.

Speaking of subtle, be still my heart but I do love our Blending Brushes! No more blobs or streaks, just lovely subtle washes of color. You can build color, you can blend colors, you can spend all day playing with your Blending Brushes! (Not that I would do that, of course.)

Maui Stamper Stampin Up Snailed It Magical Mushrooms birthday card

I have a my own technique for adding the ribbon to the back of a focal point. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos where crafters just seem to wave their fingers in the air and viola! they have a beautiful, casual ribbon bundle for their project. When I wave my fingers in the air, well, it’s just messy, let’s leave it at that.

My technique is to put some Stampin’ Seal on the back of the panel and then place the ribbon, layer by layer, on that adhesive. I flip it back and forth to see how it looks, and if I’m not happy with it, it’s simple to pull it off the adhesive and reposition it. Once I have the look I want, I add a small piece of tape (the ordinary desktop kind) to secure everything in place.

The Clearance Rack has been updated – snap up Designer Series Papers, ribbons, embellishments, punches and more at great prices – while supplies last. Or if you prefer, snap up the Snailed It bundle and go color some mushrooms of your own. I promise it will be magical.