Pansy Patch Diagonal Fun Fold

Stampin Up Pansy Patch, Diagonal Fun Fold Card

I have to say we picked a great time to head to Florida.  Tennesse had a mini ice storm right after we left.  I call it mini because everything was covered with a thin layer of ice. The schools were closed for a day and the city shut down. When we lived in Northern New York an ice storm meant inches of ice on everything. The trees were breaking, power poles were down and the roads were unpassable.  There was no power and no school for weeks.  Of course, this doesn’t mean that Tennessee should not have reacted this way because it is all what you are used to. In any case, I am glad we missed it.  It is 80 and sunny here and I am enjoying every minute of it.

The card I made for today is called a Diagonal Fun Fold Card.  This is what it looks like when you open it.

The center portion opens to the right and then the diagonal front piece opens to the left.  It was fairly simple to make.

First, I took a 5.5″ x 8.5″ piece of Basic White card stock that I folded in half.  Then I cut from the fold down to the corner of the front of the card to make the diagonal part. I took a 5.25″ x 4″ piece of Dandy Designs Designer Series Paper and cut that in half diagonally and adhered it to the front of the card.  I cut another piece of the same size and added that to the inside of the card.  Dandy Designs DSP is one of the products you can get for free during Sale-a-bration. It is a huge pack (48 sheets) of 12″ x 12″ double-sided paper that has four sheets of each design.  I absolutely love the colors of this paper.  They are so soft and beautiful.

Next, I took an 8″ x 3″ piece of Basic White card stock and folded it in half.  I added a 2.75″ x 3.75″ piece of Dandy Designs DSP to the back.  If you look at the photo above you can see why it has to be on the back since it opens the opposite way.  I used the stamp set called Pansy Patch and the coordinating Pansy Dies to make the flowers and leaves.  The Pansy Patch stamp set is a two-step stamp set.  That means it can take two or more stamps to make one image.  I first stamped the outside of the pansy in Calypso Coral ink, the middle section in Pale Papaya and the center of the flower in Highland Heather.  Then I cut them out using the coordinating die.  I cut three leaves out of Soft Succulent card stock.  The dies are different because they cut out the outside edge of the leaf and they emboss at the same time.  I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set called Heron Habitat and cut it out using a die from Stylish Shapes.

Don’t forget there is only one month left to Sale-a-brate and earn free products!  The products will be available while supplies last or until the end of February.  Plus, Stampin’ Up! added more items on February 1st!

 

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Cup Of Tea

Stampin Up Cup Of Tea

I know people think I am crazy because I don’t drink coffee.  Actually, I have never had a cup of it in my life.  I never even tasted it.  I just can’t stand the smell.  My parents did not drink coffee at all either and neither do my sisters.  I guess it depends on how you were raised.  I drink a cup of tea every day, though, and I do get a little cranky if I don’t have one (unlike a certain person who shall go unnamed who gets violent with no coffee).  Ask me how I know! 🙂

The Tea Boutique Suite of products is in the Stampin’ Up! 2022-2023 Annual Catalog.  The suite includes the Cup of Tea stamp set, Teacup Dies, Tea Boutique Designer Series Paper and Tea Boutique Cards & Envelopes.  You can order the entire suite using one item number (158670) or you can order things separately.  If you order the stamp set and the dies using the bundle item number (158667) you can save 10%. The Suite order number includes the 10% discount too.

To make this card, I first cut a 3.75″ x 5″ piece of the Tea Boutique Designer Series Paper and layered it onto a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of Fresh Freesia card stock and a Basic White card base.  Next, I cut out the tag using the Tailor Made Tags and the same DSP.  I stamped the tea cup using Orchid Oasis ink on a piece of Fresh Freesia card stock and cut it out using the coordinating die.  I stamped the leaves in Garden Green ink and the flowers in Fresh Freesia and cut them out too.  I adhered the flowers using Mini Dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment from the Sending Smiles stamp set and cut it out using a die from the Sending Dies.  Lastly, I tied a quadruple bow using white Baker’s Twine and adhered it using a Glue Dot.

Let me know if your parents drank coffee when you were growing up and whether or not you do too.  I would be interested in knowing if my hypothesis is correct or not.


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More Sale-a-bration Products Are Available!

Stampin Up Sale-a-bration

As a reminder, you need to use the item numbers listed below in order to get these products for free during Sale-a-bration.

Hello Ladybug

Stampin Up Hello Ladybug

Happy February!  Just think.  Winter is almost over and spring will be here soon!  There is nothing better than sunshine and warmth after a cold winter.  When we lived in Northern New York there were only two seasons:  Winter and July.  Nashville actually has four seasons which is wonderful.

I made this card using the Hello Ladybug stamp set and the Ladybug Builder Punch.  This is such a sweet set.  It has two different ladybugs, some flowers, a big  leaf and some cute sentiments.  The punch cuts out one of the ladybugs and the wings separately.

To make this card I first layered a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of Tea Boutique Designer Series Paper on a Basic White card base.  This DSP is 6″ x 6″ and is in the Annual Catalog. Next, I punched out the body of the Ladybug in Basic Black card stock.  I stamped the dots on a piece of Real Red card stock and punched them out using the punch.   I adhered the wings to the body using Dimensioanls.

Next, I stamped the leaves using Parakeet Party ink on a 2.75″ x 4″ piece of Basic White card stock.  The leaves overlap onto each other but the ladybugs hide it.   I stamped the flowers on Basic White card stock in Daffodil Delight ink first and then colored the edges of the stamp using a Sweet Sorbet Marker.  Then I cut them out by hand (don’t look too closely!).  I layered that on a 3″ x 4.25″ piece of Parakeet Party card stock and onto the card base.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Basic Black ink and cut it out using the Layering Circle Dies and adhered it using a Dimensional.


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Paradise Palms

Stampin Up Paradise Palms

After a long couple of travel days, Rob and I made it to our happy place.  On the way, we stopped at my son, Zachary’s house because we take every chance we get to see grandchildren.  We arrived in Florida on Saturday.  This is our view:

Now you know why it is my happy place!

I thought it would be very fitting to post a card using the stamp set Paradise Palms considering I get to look at one while we are here.  Paradise Palms has a coordinating set of dies called Palms.  I didn’t use them on this card but they are fun to use.

This card was super easy to make.  First I stamped the rectangles in Parakeet Party and Coastal Cabana ink using the stamp set called Watercolor Shapes on Basic White card stock.  This is a get set to use for backgrounds.  Next, I stamped the palm trees from Paradise Palms in Basic Black ink.  I layered this onto a Parakeep Party card base.  That is it.  Simple as can be!

Don’t forget, if you purchase the stamp set called Paradise Palms and the Palms die set, you will earn a free product from the Sale-a-bration catalog!

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Around The Bend

Stampin Up Around The Bend

Stampin’ Up! has really upped their game on Designer Series Papers.  There are some really gorgeous packs in the new 2023 January – April Mini Catalog as well as the 2023 Sale-a-bration Catalog.  The colors are just gorgeous and there are so many to choose from.  Plus, don’t forget there are also some beautiful packs in the 2022-2023 Annual Catalog as well.

I used a new pack of DSP from the mini catalog called Fancy Flora.  This paper is 6″ x 6″.  The best way to explain it is, it looks like it was made from gobs of paint in different colors.  I know that doesn’t sound the best but it is true.  Here is a photo of the different patterns:

Stampin Up Fancy Flora

Aren’t the colors just gorgeous!?!

To make this card, I first folded a 5.5″ x 8.5″ piece of Basic White card stock in half. Next, I used a new bundle called Around The Bend.  This bundle includes a stamp set and coordinating dies with the same name (Yay!).  I used one of the curved stamps that includes the two lines as the dots with Evening Evergreen ink and stamped in about halfway down the front of the card.  The die set includes one that goes with this stamp.  It cuts a scallop around each of the dots perfectly.

Next, I cut out all the flowers and leaves using Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen card stock and layered them above the curve line.  I cut a piece of the Fancy Flora Designer Series Paper and adhered that to the  inside of the back of the card.  I stamped the sentiment in Evenin Evergreen ink.  Lastly, I added some 2021-2022 InColor Opal Rounds between the flowers.


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Dainty Flowers DSP

Stampin Up Dainty Flowers

This has to be one of the easiest cards I have ever made but I think it is just gorgeous!  Believe me, it is not because of anything I created.  This beautiful card is made using the Sale-a-bration Designer Series Paper called Dainty Flowers.  All I did was adhere a piece of the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper to some card stock, stamp the sentiment from the Dainty Delight stamp set and a few Brushed Brass Butterflies.  That is it!  The best part this paper is free with a $50 order.

Stampin’ Up! sale-a-brates once a year.  They used to have it a couple of times a year but we were recently told that they are only going to do it once from now on.  So, that means January and February are the only times you can get free Stampin’ Up! products. This particular DSP coordinates with the Dainty Delight bundle.  If you order this bundle you can get the paper for FREE.  What could be better than that!

If you would like to see what else you can get for Free, click on the cover of the Sale-a-bration catalog on the right side of this blog.  There are stamp sets and other Designer Series Papers to choose from.  Some are free with a $50 order and others are free with a $100 order.  There is no limit to the amount o free things you can get.  Just remember that once a product in the Sale-a-bration catalog sells out, it will be gone for good.


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Sending Smiles Fun Fold

Stampin Up Sending Smiles Fun Fold

A couple of weeks ago I told you how I signed up for a virtual card retreat put on by some other Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators.  The retreat was last weekend.  Although I did not join the retreat when it was live, we were all given PDF directions on how to make all the cards they were showing ahead of time.  Plus we were given links so that we can go back and watch the videos on our own time.  Most of the cards were fun folds (which I love!).

We were given the directions for this fun fold card (officially called a Corner Fun Fold) by Brandy Cox.  If you know anything about Stampin’ Up! then you have heard of Brandy.  She is the #1 Demonstrator for sales in the entire company (and has been for a few years).  She used different papers, colors and stamp sets than I did but the design is the same

This is what my card looks like when you are opening it….

Stampin Up Sending Smiles Fun Fold

….and this is what it looks like completely open:

Stampin Up Sending Smiles Fun Fold

Isn’t that fun?  It looks complicated but it really is not.  The first thing you do is pick a piece of Designer Series Paper you want to use (I used Design A Daydream DSP) and cut it to 7″ x 8.25″.  Then you score it as in the photo below ( I used Brandy’s photo).

Then fold the diagonal score lines back and the straight ones forward.

Here are the measurements for the rest of the cards

  • DSP: 7” x 8-1/4” 
  • Blackberry Bliss (2): 4-1/2” x 3-1/4” 
  • Old Olive (2): 4-1/4” x 3” 
  • Basic White (3): 4” x 2-3/4” 
  • Old Olive: 4-1/2” x 3-1/4” 
  • Blackberry Bliss: 4-1/4” x 3” 
  • Balmy Blue (envelope): 6” x 2-1/2” 
  • Scraps: Basic White, Balmy Blue 

I used the stamp set called Sending Smiles to make my card.  This stamp set has coordinating dies called Sending Dies.  The colors I used were Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Blackberry Bliss and Blushing Bride.

It was a fun retreat to participate in.  Look for more cards I made using the ideas from it in the future.

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Dainty Delight

Stampin Up Dainty Delight

This has to be the craziest winter weather-wise I have ever seen.  One day it is sunny and in the mid 50’s.  The next day it is 5 BELOW ZERO!  Then it is 65 degrees and the next day it is snowing!  What on earth is going on!  I shouldn’t complain.  There is a lot worse weather out west and up north.  When I lived in NY you knew it would be winter from November – April.  You knew it would be warm in the summer and cool in the Spring and Autumn.  Here it is just willy nilly.  I still haven’t put away my summer clothes.

Sometimes I look at the stamp sets in a new catalog and I know I want them right away.  Then there are stamp sets that are very pretty but I might have something similar or I am not sure how much I would use them but then I look at the dies that coordinate with the stamps and I know they will be on my first order.  There are a few bundles like that in the new 2023 January – April Mini Catalog.  One of them is the Dainty Delight bundle.  The stamps remind me of wild flowers in Vermont.  The sentiments are great for many occasions.  But the dies…..The dies are what makes the bundle.  Yes, they cut out the stamp images but there are also a lot extra ones.  There are vines with leaves and a bunch of different flowers that have embossing on them.  They are just beautiful.

To make this card I first layered a 3 7/8″ x 5 1/8″ piece of the Dainty Flowers Designer Series paper onto a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of Rich Razzleberry card stock and a Blushing Bride card base.  You can get this DSP for free with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration.  It is beautiful paper with gorgeous colors and designs.  You are going to see a lot of cards made with it here.

Next, I cut out the vines using Pear Pizzazz card stock and the flowers using Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Blushing Bride card stock.  I adhered the vines to the card first and then the flowers on top using Multipurpose Glue.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Versamark Ink on Rich Razzleberry card stock, sprinkled White Embossing Powder on it and heat set it with my Heat Tool.  I cut off the end at an angle using my paper trimmer.

By the way, if you purchase the Dainty Delight Bundle you would earn the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper for free.  Remember, Sale-a-bration products are only while supplies last.  Once they run out, they are gone for good.

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Art Gallery

Stampin Up Art Gallery

Before I forget, I need to let you know that I am scheduling a bunch of blog posts ahead of time because I won’t be able to blog for a few weeks.  I wanted to let you know in case I happen to post something that may be unavailable to order due to the backorder situation.  At the time of the post, the item would have been available but sometimes things run out.  I apologize ahead of time if that happens.

I made this card using the stamp set called Art Gallery.  This set has coordinating dies called Floral Gallery.  You can’t get the discount on the bundle anymore since it has been in a few catalogs and the bundle discount is only available when it is in a catalog for the first time.  Either way, it is a beautiful set.  I stamped the flowers using Stampin’ Write Markers.  The best way to do this is to use a Stamparatus.  Sometimes when you color a stamp using markers you may miss a spot or two. If you use the Stamparatus you can just reink it and stamp again.  Then I cut it out using the coordinating die.  I also stamped the sentiment using the Art Gallery stamp set and Floral Gallery dies.

Next, I took a Mint Macaron card base and embossed it using the Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder.  I know I have been using this embossing folder a lot and I just realized it is retired.  Sorry about that but you can always use a different embossing folder.  This one happens to be one of my favorites since it adds a subtle texture to card stock.  There are a number of current embossing folders that can do the same thing.  I cut the frame out of Basic White card stock using the Fabulous Frames dies.  I backed the frame with a piece of the Design A Daydream Designer Series Paper.  This DSP is a pack of 48 double-sided sheets and you can get it for $18 as a Host Gift with a $150 order.

Next, I cut another piece of Basic White card stock using the Scalloped Contours dies.  I layered the flowers on top of that.  I adhered the sentiment using Dimensionals.  Lastly, I add some 2021-2022 In Color Opal Rounds.

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