Nutz about Stamping

What to do with a designer's choice challenge!

This week's Paper Craft Crew challenge is a: designer's choice!

So what does that mean? Well, it means that pretty much anything goes. Have some fun and go through your stash to see what catches your eye, or perhaps challenge yourself to use some products you haven't opened yet (gasp) or used in a long time.

For me, I knew that I wanted to use some of my Magnolia Lane designer series paper. When the last catalog retired I was shocked to see how my designer paper I had not used, paper that is no longer available to order. I try to only show products that are available to you to order at my online store, in case you really like something and want to add it to your collection. So I promised myself that with this new catalog I would use what I have - completely use it so that there are no left-overs when the catalog retires. 

Not hard to do when the paper is gorgeous:

Magnolia Lane Designer Series Paper
$11.50

I decided to make this lovely paper the feature on my card, completely covering the Whisper White card base with one pattern and then use a complementary pattern for the strip layer. 

My final decision was which stamp set to use. I chose a phrase from the Colorful Seasons stamp set:

Colorful Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set
$27.00

 

 

To feature the phrase, I chose two Stitched Shapes framelits. Three coordinating embellishments and my designers choice card is done:

 

Now it's your turn: I challenge YOU to create a card that features designer paper that you have on hand. And if you want to see what the other Paper Craft Crew design team members created as their 'designer's choice', click here. 

 

 

3 creative ways to supercharge your crafting fun

This month, Paper Pumpkin is providing unprecedented catalog coordination, giving you THREE new suites that you can mix and match with July’s kit.

July Kit + 3 Coordinating Suites (below) = SO many fun projects

1. Woven Threads Suite p. 13–14 

2. Garden Lane Suite p. 40–41 

3. Come Sail Away Suite p. 144–145 

Introducing Paper Pumpkin . . . a Stampin' Up! Monthly Kit Program. Each month a surprise kit arrives on your doorstep in a sweet box! 

***HURRY! Sign up by July 10 to get our unique July kit.

The July kit contains all you need to create pinable projects, including stamps, ink, paper, and accessories. Create projects like cards, journals, décor, and more! See below for Stampin' Up!s June 2019 sneak peek video to see what a kit looks like! 

It’s so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program by visiting here to create an account, then simply click SUBSCRIBE.

Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family – every month!

Of course, you’ll want to know more. So here are the fine details:

• Each month Stampin’ Up will send you a unique, surprise kit with a project – cards, journals, décor, and more! (They’ve even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you! How great is that!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories – everything but scissors.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape – who doesn’t need that?
• Stampin’ Up will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up after the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the following month. 
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95** per month (and shipping is included!)
• There’s no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want by logging onto the website and putting that month's kit on hold.

Ready to join? Go here to subscribe and get your Paper Pumpkin Welcome kit!

As promised, here is a sneak peek of the June kit: 

You need to try this creative way to use bold paper designs

In today's video, I am going to show you how to create a very simple but very beautiful friendship card. You can change the phrase on your card to match the occasion you need; I am going to use the 'hello' phrase from the Good Morning Magnolia stamp set. 

Good Morning Magnolia Cling Stamp Set
$36.00

 

For a long time I have been wondering how to use the Perennial Essence paper - I love the designs and colors used but they are so bold and I didn't know how to feature this paper pack. Until now!

Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper
$11.50

I decided that I would use my Rectangle Stitched framelits pack to create a feature frame around one of my favourite patterns in the Perennial Essence paper. The key to my card is to cut the paper so that the design will sit perfectly inside the frame. You will better understand what I am talking about when you watch my video below.

Here's my card:

Perennial Essence card

Stamp set: Good Morning Magnolia (149100)

Ink: Blackberry Bliss

Paper and cutting dimensions:
          Blackberry Bliss: 3 3/4" x 5 1/2"
          Whisper White: 2 1/4" x 1 3/4"; 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
          Perennial Essence paper (149100): 3 3/4" x 5"
   

Other: die-cutting machine, Rectangle Stitched framelits (148551), SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here's my video - watch for additional tips I share along the way:

How to make a non-gender baby card

I have several colleagues at work who are expecting their first baby and all of them have decided not to find out whether it will be a boy or a girl. 

So that can make it a bit difficult when creating a baby card. What commonly happens is that card designers choose yellows or greens for card bases, just to be on the safe side. 

This Hoot Hoot Hooray card uses combo of greens: Soft Sea Foam and Mint Macaron. The Mint Macaron layer was embossed using the Tufted folder, perfect for a baby card (and wedding cards too). 

Hoot Hoot Hooray Cling Stamp Set
$21.00

The rocking horse image was coloured using Stampin' Blends and here's where the fun happens. Both pinks and blues were used to color the image, making it perfect for a card that is non-gender specific. Add a simple, sparkly bow and the card is complete:

Below is list of supplies used to make this card. You can click on the 'shop now' button on the right side of my blog to link over to my online store. 

Supplies: 

• Stamp Sets – Hoot Hoot Hooray (149352);
• Card Stock – Soft Sea Foam (146988); Mint Macaron (138337); Whisper White (100730)
• Stamp Pads – Memento Tuxedo Black (132708)
• Misc. – Stampin’ Blends- Pineapple Punch Light (147030), Balmy Blue Light (148542), Flirty Flamingo Light (147932); Tufted 3D embossing folder (151785); (Dimensionals (104430); ¼” Textile Ribbon Mint Macaron (149480)

Measurements:  

• Soft Seafoam: 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” 
• Mint Macaron: 4” x 5 ¼”
• Whisper White: 3” x 3” 

Instructions:

1. Emboss the Mint Macaron cardstock.
2. Stamp and color the image on the Whisper White cardstock 
3. Layer cardstock. Use Dimensionals to attach the layer of Soft Seafoam cardstock
4. Tie a bow with the ribbon and attach to the card.

Bonus Days have begun!

Stampin' Up! Bonus Days are back! Grab your wish list to decide what to purchase this month and what you will get for FREE next month! 

 

 

Today’s the day you can start earning Bonus Days coupon codes to use in August! There is no limit to how many coupons you can earn, so now’s the perfect time to get items on your wish list from the 2019-2020 annual catalog.

 

Here’s the deal: For every $50 you spend July 1–31 (before shipping and tax), you’ll get a $5 Bonus Days coupon code that can be used August 1–31, 2019.

 

Use the link on the right side of this newsletter (Shop at my online store!) to place your qualifying order today! ***Remember to store your coupon code in a safe place to use next month. 

 

Have questions? Please ask: I am always happy to help!

Celebrate a special day with me

Happy Canada Day to my friends and family in the great white north! This is a special day for Canada and so to honor this celebration I made this fun card to mirror the Canadian flag. 

Instead of making my Real Red layers plain I decided to use the Woodland embossing folder to represent all the amazing trees that blanket the country. 

Woodland Embossing Folder
$8.50

I embossed an entire card front layer then trimmed it to just under 2" for each strip so that I could leave room for the maple leaf in the middle. And I created the solid Real Red maple leaf using the Seasonal Layers dies:

Seasonal Layers Dies
$33.00

Then all I had to do was assemble and my card is done! 

Here's a view from the side; I adjusted the lighting a bit when editing so that you can better see the embossed layers. 

 

I have decided to make all of you honorary Canadians for the day so that you can celebrate with me! Who's up for a fun celebration? I sure am!