Nutz about Stamping

What would you choose for this week's easy card map layout?

I could not be happier with this week's Paper Craft Crew card map. Want to know why? Because this past weekend my Big Shot died. A violent death. I have nobody to blame but myself either. I used the wrong 'sandwich' for a thicker embossing folder and thought I could still squeeze it through the machine. Nope. It literally exploded! I heard this loud BANG as a bolt sheared off in half and flew across the room, kind of like a bullet! 

I thought I could still use my machine but clearly not. It is dead. I have to say it has lasted me 7+ years! And since it was my own mistake I forgave myself and ordered the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine straight away. 

And then I realized that I had a card map challenge for the week and I always use my Big Shot for each challenge! Oh oh. So imagine my delight when I realized that I didn't need my Big Shot for this layout: 

 

And since the Annual Catalog is retiring soon (see my announcement here), I thought this was also the perfect chance to use up some of my products. You see that little banner strip on the card map? I thought right away that it could be a phrase so chose one out of my Art Gallery stamp set (not retiring but not sold as a discounted bundle in the next catalog):

Then for the squares I immediately thought of the Well Suited paper - it is definitely retiring so I had better get cracking on using it up. You see, I have seen the new catalog and its new paper packs. And I am in big trouble! 

If you want to order either or both of these products, click on one of the photos to link directly to my online store. 

Now for my card map, the rest was easy. Cutting some squares with my paper cutter and here is my final card:

What will you make with this week's card map challenge? Why not give it a try too? If you want to see what the other crew members created using the same challenge, click here to link over to the Paper Craft Crew site. 

Why so many hobby and career stampers have chosen to join Stampin' Up!

Are you a hobby stamper who would love to get your Stampin' Up! wish list at a discount? Perhaps you interested in earning extra income doing something amazingly fun! Maybe you ready to explore a whole new level of stamping with a really fun group of fellow stampers? 

Then consider a business opportunity as unique as you are!

When you purchase the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit and become part of my All About Stamping team as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you are in full control of how you want to enjoy your demonstrator status - you are welcome to run your business your way and I'll be with you every step of the way.

There couldn’t be a better time to join the Stampin’ Up! family.

To join, all you need to do is complete these quick and simple steps –

• Make a list of all the products you want, for a total of $125
• Click the ‘Join My Team’ button below
• Read the demo agreement and agree to the terms and conditions
• Add $125 worth of any products to the online starter kit order

Do you like the idea of:

• a discount on your favorite products?
• a chance to earn extra cash?
• TONS of exclusive creative ideas at your fingertips?
• a kit FULL of products of your choosing for only $99?
• a box of 2021-22 catalogs to hand out to friends and family??

Then join now! You only pay $99 for your entire kit! 

 

You get to choose what products you want to start with and what type of business supplies you want. Then we’ll ship the kit right to your door. 

• You have total control over the products YOU want in your Starter Kit!
•  The flexibility of setting your own hours and working from home; it provides part-time to full-time income and you are your own boss
• Creative and Business support including:
  A quarterly magazine filled with project ideas and business training
  A web site dedicated to providing you with training and information for your business
  A Demonstrator Business Web Site where your customers can see the products and classes you have to offer, and place orders through your Online Store
  Beautiful, exclusive artwork and high quality products to offer your customers
  Monthly coaching calls to help you move your business forward
• Monthly team meetings (virtual or local) and one-on-one support for business builders
• Give the business a try - there is no penalty to drop and no pressure from me - you do as much or as little as YOU want!

Need a Starter Kit idea? Click on the image below:

 

Live long distance? No worries. I offer free training calls (my expense), video business and creative tutorials, and if you love to travel, we can meet up at Stampin' Up!s Convention and Regional and GLOBAL events! [US, UK, NL, FR and DE only, sorry - note - kit prices vary in Euros]

Contact me ([email protected]) to join Stampin' Up! or sign up online (click on Join the Fun) whichever you prefer.

How to create beautiful patterns using your left over paper strips

Hi fellow crafters! Are you ready for another idea for using up your left over paper strips! Then this is video is for you.

I am going to show you how to create a beautiful paper pattern element for your cards that uses strips of card stock in a really fun way.  Are you ready to learn how?

 

I know we both have been having fun creating projects that use up our left over paper scraps and strips. Your request has pushed me to find several different ways to share with you. This project is quite simple but it does require the following two essentials which will make this project a breeze:

 

Adhesive Sheets:

 

 

Paper Trimmer:

 

 

The rest of the choices are up to you:

 

• color combination of your paper scraps
• phrase for the occasion you need
• punch or die-cut

I decided that I would create a thank you card, using a phrase from the Sweet Ice Cream stamp set. I don't have the punch because I won the stamp set at a Stampin' Up! event last year. (not sure you need the punch....)

 

 

Stamp Set: Sweet Ice Cream #154456

 

Ink: Pacific Point

 

Paper and cutting dimensions: 

        Bermuda Bay: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"         4 1/2" x 1/4" 
        Whisper White: 3" square; 3" x 2"

        Gorgeous Grape: 4 1/2" x 1/4"

        Melon Mambo: 4 1/2" x 1/4"

        Pacific Point: 4 1/2" x 1/4"

        Basic Black: 4 1/2" x 1/4"

        Pumpkin Pie: 4 1/2" x 1/4"

        Bumblebee: 4 1/2" x 1/4"

        

Misc: Paper trimmer #152392; Adhesive Sheets #152334; Tailored Tag punch #145667; Multipurpose Liquid Glue #154974, Silicone Craft Sheet; Stampin' Dimensionals 

 

Here's this week's paper strip card idea - I hope you will give it a try. I have included a list of supplies under the card along with a video showing you how to create the paper strip element:

 

 

Thanks for watching my video - and don't forget to leave me a comment to leave your opinion! 

You just never know what exciting things you might encounter on a day's walk

Did you know that I live in the Netherlands? I have this amazing job that has taken me on a life adventure for a few years and I am loving every minute of it. 

Now the Netherlands is quite different from the part of the US and Canada that I have lived in before. It is very flat and very well organized. And situated beautifully on the North Sea. Although the country is small there has been importance placed on keeping the forests and the dunes as spots for daily strolls. And the Dutch do that. They are always out walking and cycling, even when the weather is wet, cold and gloomy. 

Since the pandemic hit, I have made it a daily feature to take a walk when my work is over - to get up and moving and out in the fresh air. Sometimes I take walks in the dunes. And I mean long walks. You can literally walk for hours in the dunes, up and down winding paths that sometimes give you a glimpse of the sea as you go. 

Last weekend as I walked I came across two amazing sights: 

Believe it or not, these Scottish Highland cattle are wild. They roam freely through the dunes here and there, keeping the grass under control. You never know when and where you might see them so I was really excited to come across them on my walk. They look so docile and I would love to touch those long shaggy manes. But best not. 

As I continued on my walk another amazing experience happened. I came down the path and spotted this fellow:

I stopped for a while and watched him (her?) watching me. After a bit I started walking towards him and he didn't move. At all. I kept expecting him to dash into the brush but he didn't. He just watched. And amazingly, I got to the point where this shot could be take - no zoom needed:

How about that for breathtaking! 

I plan to scrapbook these two photos when I have the time. What a memory to preserve. 

It's the Last Chance Products sale!

It's that time again everyone! 

If you love great deals, our Last-Chance Products Sale is the perfect time to shop. You’ll get deep discounts on your favorite products from the 2020–2021 Annual Catalog—and as an extra bonus—you’ll get a peek at the list of items carrying over to the other catalogs. Many items will sell out fast, so don’t delay—make sure to place your order today!

Click the image below to see the retiring products list: 

Promotion Details:

Sales Period: 24 March, 1:00 PM (MT) – 3 May 2021, 11:59 PM (MT)

• Only select items in the 2020–2021 Annual Catalog will be discounted.
• Sale applies to all order types except host items
• No minimum purchase is required.
• Retiring items are available while supplies last.
• Carryover items and some retiring items will not be discounted.
• Items carrying over from a mini catalog into another mini catalog will not be available until that catalog is released.
• Items carrying over from the annual catalog to another catalog will be available continuously.

And now click the easy button to hop on over to my online store! 

Do you want to know how to create a large focal point on your cards?

I can show you how using this week's Paper Craft Crew card map challenge:

The main decision is around the large oval in the centre. I have the Ovals dies and the Stitched Shapes dies but for some reason I wasn't happy with those. So I decided to go rogue and use my Stitched Nested dies - the largest one would perfect for what I have in mind for my card:

 

I have had a lot of fun crafting with my Fine Art Gallery bundle lately so I decided to try it again today as the focal point on my card: 

I decided right away to use the large phrase on my card - instead of stamped images which I normally would choose. I love that you can have 'just want to say' on the outside and then save the inside for an occasion that arises.

I also decided to use some of my Fine Art Floral designer series paper as a layer, instead of a white background which might be pretty boring to look at:

The rest was pretty easy to put together. I also used my Pierced Blooms dies for the leaves - to match the pierced edges around the Stitched Nested die:

 

Gather all the above products and the card map challenge, and here's my card:

Ok all. Now it's your turn. What will you create using this week's card map challenge? Gather your products together and give it a try. If you want to see what the other design crew members created this week, click here. 

Want to see the perfect way to connect across generations?

This Paper Pumpkin kit is "So Cool"! All the kids on the block think so. Our April kit was designed to make lasting memories and connect across the generations! Now available through 10 April! 

What is Paper Pumpkin? Paper Pumpkin is our monthly One-Stop Box™ that offers a unique variety of paper projects for subscribers of any skill level to enjoy! These thoughtfully-themed and all-inclusive craft kits enable you to explore your creativity, try new techniques, and discover your papercrafting potential.

Why Paper Pumpkin? Paper Pumpkin introduces an impressive collection of Stampin’ Up! products, from our one-of-a-kind ink pads to our eye-catching embellishments. Plus, the carefully-chosen components of each Paper Pumpkin kit highlight the unbeatable versatility and coordination our products provide! This easy and exciting way to stock up on supplies—and create small-batch projects for occasions of any kind.

ABOUT THE APRIL KIT

Name: So Cool

Details:

• Kit includes enough supplies to make 12 fresh, fun-shaped cards—6 popsicles and 6 blank semicircles to color—and coordinating envelopes. Kit includes card bases, 2 full sticker sheets, decorative die-cut pieces, embellishments, and more.
• Envelope size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" (11.4 x 14.6 cm)
• Coordinating colors: Blackberry Bliss, Bermuda Bay, Bumblebee, Cinnamon Cider, Old Olive, Terracotta Tile
• Coordinates with the Ice Cream Corner Suite from our January–June 2021 Mini Catalog.

 

Subscribe here to get your box full of shaped cards, full sticker sheets, and scrumptious memories to last a lifetime!

Want another fun idea for using up your leftover paper strips?

Hi fellow crafters! I am hearing that you want a second idea for those left over paper strips! This this video is for you.

I am going to show you another fun technique that will help you use up lots of strips of paper in a really fun way.  Are you ready to learn how?

 

Here are a few decisions to make in order to create today's card:

 

Choose five coordinating colors from your left-over paper. I chose: Bumblebee, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point and Gorgeous Grape. You don't have to use 5 colors; you can use less. 

 

Choose an image to diecut - I used two different die packs - Pierced Blooms:

 

 

And I chose Floral Gallery, which is part of the Art Gallery bundle:

 

 

You can purchase the dies separately but I am not sure why you would want to!

 

There is one other essential to make this project super easy (and less sticky) - Adhesive sheets!

 

 

Once you have this small number of items ready to do, then you can create cards like this one!

 

 

Here's another view:

 

 

Supplies

 

Stamp set: none

 

Ink: none

 

Paper and cutting dimensions:

        Whisper White: 3 3/4" square

        Paper strips (5 colors): each 4" x 1/4"

        Basic Black: 3 1/2" x 5 1/4"

        Card base: 11" x 4 1/4" (10.5 x 21 cm)??

        Adhesive Sheet: 3 3/4" square

 

Misc: Paper trimmer #152392; Pierced Blooms dies #154312; Adhesive Sheets #152334; Floral Gallery dies #154216, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Silicone Craft Sheet; Stampin' Dimensionals; Playing with Patterns Resin Dots #152467

 

Want to see step-by-step instructions for making this card? Watch my video below:

 

What set would you use to show off your favorite critters?

What a fun card map challenge this week! When you see favorite critters, what stamp set comes to mind?

For me it was instant: Wildly Happy! (click on the set photo to hop over to my online store)

How can you not love this stamp set? It is perfect for baby cards and children's cards, isn't it? The images are super sweet and perfect for those of you who love to watercolor, use Stampin' Blends, Stampin' Write markers, watercolor pencils and so on. 

The other fun part of this week's card map challenge is that there is no specific layout to follow. So your creative ideas can spill over onto your card stock. I decided to keep my layout very simple. I used a piece of the Well Suited paper pack:

my Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends and a strip of Basic Gray satin ribbon. To feature my favorite critters I chose to layer them onto one of my Stitched Nested Labels dies - such a nice way to feature my critters. 

Here's my card:

Now it's your turn. Try our weekly challenge and make a card using your favorite critters! We'd love for you to share your card over on the Paper Craft Crew but if you are too shy to do so, hop on over there anyway for a quick look at what everyone else created. You just might get some additional inspiration! 

See how one image can be the focal point and background image

Today's card is simple. But it is also very pretty in its design. 

This card uses so few supplies too which makes it a great notecard idea. All you need is:

• The Enjoy the Moment stamp set:
  
• Two colors cardstock: Old Olive and Very Vanilla
• One ink pad: Old Olive
• One super cute embellishment!
  
  
  
  

Supplies:

• Stamp Sets – Enjoy the Moment (154452)
• Card Stock – Mossy Meadow(133676); Sahara Sand (121043)
• Stamp Pads – Mossy Meadow (147111); Memento Tuxedo Black (132708)
• Misc. – Ladybug Trinkets (154299); Mini Glue Dots (103683); Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430); Paper Trimmer (152392)

Measurements: 

• Mossy Meadow Card Stock: 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored at 4-1/4”    2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
• Sahara Sand Card Stock: 2-1/4”  x 3-1/4”         

Instructions:

1. Use Mossy Meadow ink to stamp the pod and seeds images randomly from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of the front of the Mossy Meadow card. Also stamp one pod on the Sahara Sand panel.
2. Stamp greeting in black under the pod image on the Sahara Sand panel.
3. Adhere Sahara Sand panel to Mossy Meadow layering piece, then attach to front right side of card with dimensionals.
4. Use mini glue dots to attach ladybug to card front.

Easy right? Ready to give it a try? Click on the stamp set or Ladybug image above to place an order at my online store! 

Learn how to use leftover paper strips to make a playful colorful card

Are you a paper hoarder like me? Do you keep every leftover strip of paper because you are sure you are going to use it someday? Well then today's project and video is for you!  I am going to show you a fun technique that will help you use up lots of strips of paper to make a playful, colorful card. Once you give this technique a try you will come up with all sorts of different ways to use up scraps! Are you ready to learn how?

 

Here's how to get started. Look through your paper strips/scraps and find up to five colors that work well together. For my card, I chose:

• Pretty Peacock
• Rococco Rose
• Seaside Spray
• Just Jade 

Make sure your strips are different widths and long enough to cover the Whisper White layer that they will be adhered to. If you don't have different widths, use your Paper Trimmer to create strips using your paper scraps. 

 

Then, think about the occasion you want to make this card for and think about a phrase for the front. For my card, I chose to use my Playful Alphabet dies. If you want to order them at my online store, click on the photo below: 

 

And that's it. This card is so simple and fun to create. Watch my video below for step-by-step instructions and some BONUS tips along the way. (Don't miss a second card idea shared as well!)

 

Stamp set: none

 

Ink: none

 

Paper and cutting dimensions:

       Whisper White: 4 1/2" x 3";  2 1/2 x 2"; 11" x 4 1/4" 

       Just Jade: 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"; scrap strips
       Pretty Peacock: 1" square; scrap strips

       Seaside Spray: 1" square; scrap strips
       Rococco Rose: 1" square; scrap strips

 

Misc: Paper trimmer #152392; Playful Alphabet dies #152706; Tasteful Labels dies #152886; Multipurpose liquid glue #154974; Just Jade 2020-22 In Color Ribbon #153261; Tear & Tape adhesive; Woven Threads Sequins Assortment #149498

 

Here's my video - thanks for watching! 

 

See how to create unique, textured backgrounds for your cards

I love sharing unique background ideas for your cards and today is another fun idea! To make the embellishments you will use the Nature's Roots dies:

See the solid (not outline) dies? Grab those and some colored cardstock and see what you can make:

Want to this card a try? See the instructions below. 

Supplies:

• Stamp Sets – Many Mates (152633)
• Card Stock – Basic White (159228); Garden Green (108605); Soft Sea Foam (147012)
• Stamp Pads – Garden Green Ink (147089)
• Misc – Nature’s Roots Dies ( 146341); Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (150673)

Measurements:  

• Soft Sea Foam card stock: 11⅝” x 4⅛”; scraps for leaves            
• Garden Green card stock: 4” x 1 ¼” ; scraps for leaves
• Basic White card stock: 4” x 5 ¾”; 4” x 1”                             

Instructions:

• Fold the piece of Soft Sea Foam card stock in half to make a tent fold card base.
• Glue the larger piece of Basic White card stock to the card front.
• Using the Nature’s Roots Dies, cut out the larger and small leaves from the Garden Green and Soft Sea Foam scraps. Cut out 3 large Soft Sea Foam, 2 small Soft Sea Foam, 2 large Garden Green and 2 small Garden Green.
• Place the embossing dies shown below on each leaf and run back through the Stampin’ cut and Emboss machine. Ensure that the side with the grooves on it is facing down on the card stock.
  
  
  
  
• Glue these leave randomly over the card front.
• Using Garden Green ink, stamp the sentiment onto the Basic White card stock strip.
• Glue this strip to the Garden Green strip.
• Attach this to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

There are so many options with this simple map. What would you choose?

I mean really!

So many options come to mind for this week's Paper Craft Crew card map challenge. Right away these sets came to mind, when I thought about that large scallop image in the centre:

Healing Hugs

Sweet Ice Cream

Hey, Chick

And yes, I could simply die-cut a scalloped circle and stamp a phrase on it. So many choices!

But in the end I decided on my Art Gallery bundle. Why this choice?

Because I wanted to use some of my Fine Art Floral paper as a background.

And instead of the large scallop circle I could use the largest flower image in this set. 

I ended up stamping and die-cutting two extra stems; I cut apart the leaves to tuck under the flower on my card - just to help the flower stand out a bit more. 

Here's my card:

Now it's your turn - what stamp set/bundle will you choose for this week's challenge? If you want to see what the other crew members created, click here to hop over to the Paper Craft Crew website. 

Bring in the beauty of nature with the artistic designs in this new bundle

Bring in the beauty of nature with the artistic designs of the Butterfly Brilliance bundle and coordinating designer series paper, along with textured specialty paper that will put a pop of brilliance on every project.

 

The Butterfly Brilliance Collection is now available through 3 May 2021.

 

Early-release product from 2021 Annual Catalog. Click here to see the entire suite! 

Prepare yourself for a burst of butterflies with the Butterfly Brilliance Background Stamp. Use this stamp to create projects for Mother's Day, weddings, and more. Pair this stamp with greetings of your choice to customize it for the season or occasion. Stamp the line-art image and add color with your choice of coloring technique, or apply different colors of ink to the stamp before stamping to create a unique look. Whatever you do with it, the results will be glorious. 

BUTTERFLY BRILLIANCE BUNDLE #155821

Includes the Butterfly Brilliance cling stamp set and brilliant wings dies; early-release bundle from 2021 Annual Catalog available during the Butterfly Bouquet promotion. 

What do you do if you want all the butterflies?

The solution is the Butterfly Brilliance Collection. You’ll get beautifully detailed images and an unforgettable color scheme. Put everything together and your projects will be beautiful enough to take flight! Only available while supplies last.

The Butterfly Brilliance Collection includes
* Butterfly Brilliance Cling Stamp Set 
* Brilliant Wings Dies
* Butterfly Bijou 6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2) Designer Series Paper
* Natural Touch Specialty Paper

Product colors: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Just Jade, Magenta Madness, Mango Melody, Mint Macaron, Misty Moonlight, Poppy Parade, So Saffron

Click on any of the photos above to hop over to my online store! 

How to create a cute treat holder for many different occasions

I love 3D projects. I always have. Some however are very time intensive and just not my thing. I have so little time to craft each week and when I do I want to make something that is quick, easy and feels so good to make. 

Are you like this too? I know many of us are still stuck indoors after a year of dealing with this horrible pandemic. I thought I would have a lot more time to craft but didn't realize the headspace I needed to be in for crafting. I am so grateful for the time I carve out to stamp as it still feel marvelous. 

Today I want to show you how to make a really cute treat holder. It is perfect to pop onto someone's desk: at work perhaps if you are lucky enough to be out of lockdown? Or you can pop one onto a place setting around your Easter table. Perhaps in a lunchbox? Or sneak one onto a pillow some night? 

This idea is perfect for so many occasions - you just have to give it a try! My idea is an Easter idea - using the Wildly Happy stamp set:

I won this stamp set at a Stampin' Up! event a couple of years ago:

The images are perfect for baby events but can be used for other occasions too. Aaaaaw, how cute are these parent and kid animals? 

The bunny image is my choice for today's treat holder: 

 

And here's a side view:

Supplies

 

Stamp set: Wildy Happy (140408)

 

Paper:
        Fine Art Floral: 7 1/4" x 2"
        Pool Party: 2 1/4" square
        Whisper White: 2 3/4" x 2 1/4"

 

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black #132708

Misc: Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon #152453; Mini Glue Dots #103683; Scalloped Tag Topper punch #133324; Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends #154904; Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends #154884; Paper Snips; Stitched Shapes dies #152323; Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Fine Art Floral #154558; Simply Scored Tool #122334

Here's my video - watch all the way through for bonus tips and a second example!