Happy Birthday to a Special Downline

Today is one of my downline's birthday, so I had to make a PINK card just for her!

I used my Balloon Festoon bundle (stamp set & dies) with Bloom Boutique DSP, Barely Blush DSP, Barely Blush cardstock, and White Willow cardstock.  (The ribbon is from my stash.) I used Crisp Cantaloupe ink for the sentiment.

 The card base uses a folded card that I cut with the largest balloon die (and then covered with the Bloom Boutique DSP).  I had to mail this in a 5" x 7" envelope to accommodate the extra balloons.  I hope this made her day!  Happy birthday, teammate!

Thursday Live: Halloween Cat Paper Pieced Card

For my Facebook Live last week (each Thursday at 7:30 PM), I created this paper pieced easy easel Halloween cat card for one of our daughters.  (This card is for the same daughter who will call me and ask about the cats before her parents!)  You can find the YouTube replay with instructions HERE.

I saw this cat idea from Libby Stamps but had to guess on measurements.  I ended up using six 1 1/2" squares of Texture & Tone black & gray DSP.  The fifth square used half (for the right "ear" as you look at the cat, because the "left" ear and angled back are the same square cut on a diagonal), and then I added the "tail" strip (which I think is the perfect finishing touch).

The DSP rectangle was the leftovers from the 1 1/2" x 12" strip that I used to make the squares.

Here is the easel card propped open to enjoy.  I think our daughter will love it!  I certainly loved making it for her and sharing it live.  Be sure to catch me tonight at 7:30 on my Facebook page!

 

Thursday's Live: Masculine Thank You Card

No, your days are not off!  I'm catching up from a little vacation last week.  For one of my Facebook Lives earlier this month (each Thursday at 7:30 PM), I created a masculine thank you card for Kevin Lunt, the Stampin' Up! Field Success Managers Director, who attended our team retreat. 

I used my Fern & Flora bundle with Very Vanilla and Espresso cardstock, plus wood grain and Hydrangea Hue die cut pieces from the Hearth & Home DSP.

The Classic Greeting hot foil sentiment says it all!

I added some scrap strips from the DSP to add a little interest to the inside of the card before I wrote my thank you message.

I love how changing a color palette can completely change the look and feel of a bundle (stamp set and coordinating die cuts)!

Get Carried Away with Balloon Festoon: Daisy Card

This daisy card is the make & take that I made and taught for the 100 participants at the Connected Hearts team retreat.

It uses five Crisp Cantaloupe balloons to create the petals.  (Yes, I die cut over 500 individual balloons for the project!)

I like the inside even better!  

Team Retreat Swap Card

Another perk of our team retreat was participating in a ten-card swap.  (I made ten cards and then received back nine different ones- one went to the silent auction to help raise money to offset the costs of next year's retreat.

Since I used the Mosaic Garden DSP for my make & take project, I created this fun fold card with the patterns that I hadn't used.  I chose the Scalloped Blooms bundle for the stamp set and die cuts.  Can you see the Old Olive specialty rickrack behind the flower?

The front sentiment panel has dimensionals on the left side only so that the right panel can tuck behind it. 

Don't forget to decorate the insides of your cards and the coordinating envelope (not pictured)!

Get Carried Away with Balloon Festoon: Ice Cream Sundae Easel Card

This card was probably my favorite to make!  The ice cream scoops and the bowl were all made with Balloon Festoon balloon dies, and the cherry stem is a piece of the balloon string die.

Stamping from the bundle includes the sprinkles, sentiment, and the whimsical streamers.

My original plan was for the easel to open and rest on the sentiment strip, but the card didn't sit very tall.   Instead, I was able to hold it open with the top of the interior arch.

Who would you send this card to?  I'm looking forward to brightening someone's birthday!

November Paper Pumpkin Available Through 11/10

The window for subscribing the November Paper Pumpkin box, Tags of Joy, is now open! This month's kit creates 12 tags that can be used on gifts or as card accents. Who loves some gold foil?

Elevate your Christmas gifting with handcrafted tags adorned in eye-catching gold foil. 

• Makes 12 tags: 4 each of 3 designs 

• Precut tags and paper pieces 

• Green twine 

• Coordinating colors: Cherry Cobbler (Premium Stampin’ Spot), Crushed Curry, gold, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Real Red

These tags will coordinate with many of our holiday-themed DSP!

Don't forget that as a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you can also purchase the coordinating quarterly dies to stretch your creativity!

October Paper Pumpkin Subscription Closes Today!

The October Paper Pumpkin subscription box closes TODAY!  If you're not already a subscriber, you can learn more HERE (or sign up directly HERE)!

 

Get Carried Away with Balloon Festoon: Cacti Card

Feeling a bit prickly?  I had a lot of fun creating this cacti card (and have lots of ideas for sentiments inside)!

All of the cacti (except for the small circle) were created with the Balloon Festoon dies using Peaceful Pine cardstock, Peaceful Pine DSP (from the 2026-28 In Color Painted Patterns DSP) and Peaceful Pine DSP.  I added the cactus spines with the new white gel pen and the black journaling pen.  The background uses Radiant Foil specialty DSP.  The blossoms are from the Fern & Flora dies in Bubble Bath and Crushed Curry.

Can you believe that the terracotta pot is also a ballon die (cut into several pieces)?  I had a lot of fun ink blending the background. 

Who would you send this card to, and what message would you include inside?

Get Carried Away with Balloon Festoon: Pumpkin Card

To continue the creativity with the Balloon Festoon bundle, I created this pumpkin card with the Painted Patch collection and with five of the next-to-the-smallest balloons to make a pumpkin.  

I added a sentiment from Scalloped Blooms in Secret Sea and die cut Secret Sea leaves from Sweet Words & Labels.  Using my Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends to add details to the dies really made this look like a pumpkin.  What do you think?

Get Carried Away with Balloon Festoon: Fish Card

Recently, I attended a team retreat in St. Louis with 99 other Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the country.  I had a blast and have so many ideas to share!  I was invited to teach a make & take project, so I decided to get carried away with the Balloon Festoon bundle and see how many different, nontraditional ways I could use this party bundle.

I used the two smallest balloon dies to create these Calypso Coral fish paired with Whispering Woods DSP. 

Are you o-fish-ially a fan or not?

Thursday's Live: Card Sketch with Rectangles (Plus)

For last Thursday's Facebook Live (each Thursday at 7:30 PM), I used a simple card sketch and the beautiful All Wrapped Up DSP to get started on Christmas card creations.  (You can watch the YouTube replay HERE.) 

I fussy cut that beautiful bouquet from the All Wrapped Up DSP.  I used Secret Sea Two-Tone cardstock with silver hot foil and the Magical Christmas hot foil dies to create the sentiment.

The card base is Cloud Cover and the background rectangle is Peaceful Pine.  The adhesive-backed sparkle sequins are a beautiful addition to add more sparkle!

Have you started making your Christmas cards?  I'll have more ideas for you on tonight's Facebook Live at 7:30 PM!