Round We Go

Stampin Up Round We Go

Round We Go is a fun new bundle that Stampin’ Up!®  has in the 2025-2025 Annual Catalog.  The bundle includes a stamp set and some dies.  I like it because it is something different and has lots of birthday sentiments included with it.

The colors I used for this card are Peach Pie, Lemon Lolly and Lemon Lime Twist.  The first thing I did was make the rosette.  I used the new 2024-2026 InColor Designer Series Paper for this.  You have to use the die twice to make one rosette and then you glue each end together.  Now if you look closely, you will see how I messed it up but decided to use it anyway.  Here is a close up of what NOT to do:

Stampin Up Round We Go

As you can see in the photo one side has pointed ends and one side and rounded ends.  Oops. I didn’t notice it until I had already made it.  I figured no one would look too closely to notice and if they did, hopefully they will laugh.

After making the rosette, I stamped and cut out the rest of the circles and all the parts that go with them.  It was kind of fun to mix and match all the colors.  I stamped the sentiment in Peach Pie.

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Leaf Collection Color Techniques

As most of you know, Buffy Cooper is my best Stampin’  buddy.  We have been friends for as long as I have been a Stampin’ Up!®  demonstrator (which is 16 years).  Buffy is very talented and has so many great ideas and techniques she uses with her cards.  These cards show a couple of techniques I learned from her.

This card technique is called Joseph’s Coat.  It is pretty simple to do but adds a real pop of color.

Stampin Up Leaf Collection, Joseph's Coat

To make the card above, I first add some color to a piece of Basic White card stock using Blending Brushes.  The colors I chose were Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green and a new InColor called Peach Pie.  I randomly added this ink until the entire piece of white cardstock was covered in color.

Next, I used the background stamp called Leaf Collection which is a new stamp in the Annual Catalog.  I inked it with Versamark Ink and them heat embossed it using clear embossing powder.  Next, I took a Memento Black ink pad and wiped black ink over the top.  The ink just sticks to the card stock that did not have an embossed image on it.  When you are done, then you just wipe off the black ink from the embossed leaves.

The sentiment I used was from the stamp set called Simply Said.  I cut it out using two dies from a new die set called Unbound Love.  I love how the two dies fit together.  I added some Daffodil Delight Ribbon (retired) and adhered it to a piece of Daffodil Delight card stock and a Granny Apple Green card base.

This next card, I did the opposite of the first card.  I stamped the leaves in Versamark Ink and embossed them with clear embossing powder on a piece of Basic White card stock.  Then I added Bubble Bath, Petunia Pop and Berry Burst ink using Blending Brushes over the top.  Doing it this way, left the leaves white.  I am sure there is a name for this but I don’t know what it is.

The sentiment is from the stamp set called Unbound Love which I cut out using the coordinating die set.  I added a piece of 1/4″ Diagonal Trim Combo Pack ribbon in white.

Which technique do you like best?

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Around The Bend Fun Fold

Stampin Up Around The Bend

You know I always love a fun fold card and the other day I saw one by Cindy Lee Bee Designs that I thought was very cute and clever so I decided to try it for myself.  This card is a fun fold because when you open it, the punched out sentiment is attached to the inside of the card.

Stampin Up Around The Bend, Stampin Up Heartfelt Hexagon

I used a 11″ x 4.25″ piece of Crumb Cake card stock and folded it in half for the outside of the card.  The inside is a 9.5″ x 4″ piece of Basic White card stock that is scored at 5.25″ and 7 3/8″.  I adhered the white piece inside of the card base in order to get the positioning of the punched sentiment.

For the outside of the card, I first cut a 2″ x 5.5″ piece of Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper on a Crumb Cake card base.  Then I added 2 1/4″ strip of Highland Heather card stock to each side of the DSP.  I estimated where the punched out sentiment will attach to the inside piece and used the Heartfelt Hexagon to punch out the hole on the card front.  I stamped the outline from the Heartfelt Hexagon stamp set and the sentiment in Highland Heather ink from the Simply Said stamp set (which is a new set coming out on May 1st) and punched it out using the Heartfelt Hexagon punch.  I added adhesive to the right side of the punched piece, closed the card and centered it in punched hole.  This way it adhered to the inside piece but lined up perfectly with the outside.

After this, I die cut all the flowers and leaves from the Around The Bend die set in Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Lemon Lolly and Shy Shamrock card stock and adhered them around the punched hole being careful not to get any adhesive on the punched piece.  I used a retired die set called Balloon Pop Up Dies for the balloon on the inside of the card.  The inside sentiment is from the stamp set called Layering Leaves.

The links below include everything but the new Simply Said stamp set because it is not available until May 1st.

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Seaside Wishes Sneak Peek

Stampin Up Seaside Wishes

As I am sure you know, the new 2024-2025 Annual Stampin’ Up!®  catalog will be live on May 1st.  I am also sure you have heard that the new catalog has a bit different set up than previous catalogs.  It takes a while to get used to the new format.  In spite of this, it is filled with amazing products.  As a demonstrator I was able to purchase a limited selection of products from it.

One of them was a bundle called Seaside Wishes.  I knew I had to purchase this set because of the sand dollars that are included in it.  Here is why:

Every year Rob and I are able to go to the Florida west coast and every year I come home with lots and lots of sand dollars.  I love them and it is fun to collect them. Rob thinks I have more than I need but you always need more shells and more sand dollars, don’t you think?

The Seaside Wishes Bundle is in the new catalog.  It includes a stamp set, a hybrid embossing folder and dies.  A hybrid embossing folder can work like a normal embossing folder but it also comes with a large die where you can ink, emboss and cut at the same time.  To do this, I added some a new color called Basic Beige ink by tapping the ink pad directly onto the embossing folder.  You can also use a brayer if you have one.  Then you lay the die down on the folder.  It fits perfectly around the sand dollars.  Then you lay the card stock (I used Basic Beige) on top and run it through your Cut & Emboss machine.  As you can see by the photo, the sand dollars have ink on them, are embossed and cut into separate pieces.  So much fun!

I also used a new Designer Series Paper pack called Country Woods.  It is a great pattern for background.  I layered it onto a piece of Basic Gray card. stock and a Basic White card base.  I stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray ink.  Lastly, I added some Pebbles Enamel Shapes (retired).

I have a long list of products I will be ordering from this catalog and am looking forward to May 1st!  I am sorry I can not post links to the new products because they aren’ available yet.

 

Quick & Easy Simply Zinnia Cards

Sometimes you need a card and you don’t have anything appropriate for the occasion already made.  Designer Series Paper to the rescue.  Stampin’ Up!’s DSP is so beautiful that it is easy to make a card using it.  Then all you need to do is add a stamped sentiment and you are all done.  Below are three examples of quick and easy cards made with DSP.

To make this first card I used a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of Flowering Zinnias Designer Series Paper with a Highland Heather card base.  I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set called Simply Zinnia with Highland Heather ink and then colored a piece of white Baker’s Twine using the dark Highland Heather Blends and tied it around the DSP before adhering it to the card base.

Stampin Up Simply Zinnia

This second card uses the same piece of Designer Series Paper with an Old Olive card base.  I wrapped a piece of Old Olive ribbon (retired) around the bottom and adhered a sentiment from a new product that will be in the 2024-2025 Annual Catalog called Saying Something Ephemera Pack.  This pack of sentiments is all stamped and ready for you to adhere to your project.  You are going to love these!  You will be able to purchase them on May 1st.

This last card, again, uses the same Designer Series Paper with a Blackberry Bliss background.  I stamped the sentiment from Simply Zinnia with Versamark ink and then heat embossed it using white embossing powder.  I cut the tail using the retired Banners Pick A Punch.

The Flowers Zinnia Designer Series Paper and the Simply Zinnia stamp set and coordinating dies are part of the Online Exclusive product line.  They are not in any catalog but are available to purchase online.  You can click HERE to see these Online Exclusive Products as well as all the others that are available.

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Flowers Of Beauty Sneak Peek

Stampin Up Flowers Of Beauty

Here is another sneak peak from the upcoming 2024-2025 Stampin’ Up!®  Annual Catalog.  The products are from a new suite called Unbounded Beauty.  This suite includes two stamp sets, two sets of dies, Glimmer Paper, Designer Series Paper and resin dots.  Most of the colors in this suite are the new 2024-2026 InColors.

I made this card using the Flowers Of Beauty Dies.  I cut out the stems using Basic White card stock and the flowers using Summer Splash and Pretty In Pink card stock.  I layered them onto a piece of Unbounded Beauty Designer Series Paper and a Petunia Pop card base.  I added some of the 2024-2026 InColor Resin Dots to the centers of the flowers.  The sentiment is from the stamp set called Happy Little Things.

I can’t put links to the new products because they are not online or available yet.  Sorry about that.

Simply Zinnia & New InColors

Stampin Up Simply Zinnia

Hello everyone!  I am sorry I haven’t posted in a while but Rob has been traveling for business a lot lately and I decided I wanted to go with him so I went to Orlando for a few days.  It was nice to get away.  The weather wasn’t the greatest but it was nice to have a change of scenery.  By the way, if you are ever in Orlando you have to go to an Italian restaurant called Christini’s.  It is the best Italian restaurant I have ever been to.  Their attention to detail is amazing.  They had an accordion player, flowers in their drinks and the place looked awesome.  It was such fun!

I have been wanting to play with the new 2024-2026 InColors.  I love them because they are bright and fun.  I wrote a post about them a couple of weeks ago but I hadn’t made anything using them.  I thought the Simply Zinnia Suite would be perfect to show them off.  This suite is an Online Exclusive (which means they are not in any catalog)  includes a stamp set, coordinating dies, an embossing folder and Designer Series Paper.

I first cut out all the flowers and the centers in the Simply Zinnia die set using Pretty In Pink, Peach Pie and Petunia Pop. I cut the leaves out in Shy Shamrock.  Next, I embossed a piece of Basic White card stock with the Simply Zinnia embossing folder and adhered it to a piece of Basic Black card stock.  Then I layered them onto a Summer Splash card base.  I added some of the new 2024-2026 InColor Shimmer Dots which will be available for purchase on May 1st.

The sentiment is a die set from Altenew called Timeless Sentiments.  I adhered it to the card using Dimensionals.

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Coloring Class Part 2

Earlier this week I told you about a coloring class I took during the last couple of weeks.  It was put on by Kelly Taylor who is an amazing colorer (which I am definitely not!).

This is the fourth card we made during the class.  I have to admit I did a much better job at it as time went on.  Compared to the last card I showed you earlier in the week, these are much better, although still not the best.

This next card got a little more complicated then the previous ones.We used all four shades of each other on every element (except the tiny blue flowers). I did better on the flowers but the leaves definitely need some more practice.

#AltenewAcademy

Here is the fifth card we made.  I think I did better on the leaves this time.  This was my second favorite card.

#AltenewAcademy

Here is the last card we made.  I think I am starting to make some progress although I still have a long way to go.  The funny thing, Kelly made it look so easy.  I don’t think I will ever do as well as she does, but I can definitely see some improvement.  I do love the pop of white on the black background.

#AltenewAcademy

So, I know I got better with time and practice.  Some of the coloring I did ended up in the garbage and tried again.  And again.  And again.  Maybe after a few hundred more classes, I will get good at it.  It was fun to do and I would definitely do it again if given the opportunity.

Coloring Class

Last week I took a virtual coloring class using alcohol markers.  I have never been a very good colorer so I wanted to see if I could improve by taking a class.  I could not find a Stampin’ Up!®  product class using Stampin’ Up!®  Blends so I went with another company (Altenew).  The teacher’s name is Kelly Taylor and she is amazing.

The class had six lessons.  Each one got a little harder and a little more detailed.  One of the nice things about this class is I could watch some of the video to get an idea on how it worked.  Then I could rewind it and follow along while stopping it while I tried to do what the teacher said.  It was fun to do, although I am not sure how much progress I made in the coloring department.  Below are a few of the cards I made in the order I took them.  I do feel I did get better as the class went on but I am hoping they (or someone) does another class.

The first card I made was the simplest.  Each leaf and berry was only two colors so it was not too hard to do.

#AltenewAcademy

The next class showed us how to glaze.  This means you use a couple of colors (one light rose and one darker) and then place another completely different color over the top (yellow).  Plus she showed us now to shade with lighter and darker colors.

#AltenewAcademy

The third card was a 5″ x 5″ fun fold card.  Kelly showed us how to add more depth to your images using shading.  I have to say, although this card is pretty, it was not my best as far as coloring goes.  It definitely does take some practice. Her cards always came out so smooth and perfectly blended.  This one definitely needs some work!  It is ok.  You can laugh.  I certainly laughed at myself with this one but I figured I would show you the bad, the ugly and the good as I went.

#AltenewAcademy

I’ll post the past few cards we did in a couple of days.

Cheerful Daisies

Stampin Up Cheerful Daisies

Hello everyone.  I hope you are all doing well.  Spring has sprung here in Nashville and I am loving that it is only March.  The trees have beautiful flowers on them, the tulips and daffodils are up and open and the grass is turning that bright green.  It is a little weird though because some mornings when I walk it is 35 degrees out and other times it is 55 degrees.  It is kind of hard to figure out what to wear.  This weekend they say it might be 80 here.  I can live with that for sure!

I decided to take out some of the Stampin’ Up!®  Decorative Masks (or stencils) to make a card.  I have a bunch of them but rarely use them.  I don’t know why because they add a lot of interest to a card.  I need to use them more often.  I decided to use one of the current sets called Foursquare for my card.  There are a couple ways to make masking or stenciling easier.  You can tape down the card stock and stencil or you can use what is called a sticky mat to hold both down.  I have a Waffle Flower sticky mat that I love so I used that.  The card stock and the stencil don’t move when you add color which helps.

I first used a 4″ x 5.25″ piece of Basic White card stock with Soft Sea Foam ink and a Blending Brush for the top of the card stock.  Then I used Lost Lagoon in the middle and Shaded Spruce on the bottom.  When I was done, I layered that onto a Basic White card base.  Then I cut out the Cheerful Daisies large die twice and layered them on top.  I stamped both sentiments from the stamp set called Happy Little Things (which is an Online Exclusive stamp set) in Versamark Ink on Basic Black card stock and heat embossed them using White Embossing Powder.  I layered them on top using Dimensionals.  Lastly, I added some retired Matte Decorative Dots.

As a side note, the Foursquare Decorative Masks are retiring at the end of the current Annual Catalog so if you like them, you should order them soon.

I hope it warms up wherever you live very soon!

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