Virtual Album Retreat 2026 Layout #1

This year's Virtual Album Retreat 2026, Happiness Is Here, was so good!  I treated myself to it to scrapbook our 30th anniversary British Isles cruise last year, and it has not disappointed!  Yes, it is an investment, but it is worth every penny.  (You can still get the kit HERE and watch the videos on replay like I've done.  Anyone who orders it from me will receive an extra $25 in Stampin' Rewards as a thank you.) 

Layout 1 can be used as a two-page spread or as a front title page and back closing page (which is what I've chosen to do.)

The journaling is in a pocket behind the smaller photo.  I will cut my page protector to be able to access that little gem.

Everything you see came in the Virtual Album kit except ink, journaling pen, and adhesive (plus tools like a paper trimmer).  It was really easy to create this page following the directions.

Remember, the Virtual Album Retreat kit is still available HERE, plus you'll receive a thank you gift from me!

Waterside Retreat Lifesaver Treat (May Card Crafternoon #5)

Normally we made four cards at my monthly Crafternoon card classes, but this month we made five projects, since the first project was a note card and I wanted to share a little treat idea.

Once again, we fussy cut from the DSP and used the April Paper Pumpkin stamp set to create this little lifesaver treat.  The small zip bag was from past kits- a way to upcycle what would otherwise be thrown away!

The back of the bag topper has a white square where you can write your message.
 

Waterside Retreat Bicycle Card (May Card Crafternoon #4)

To provide variety at my month Card Crafternoon, we dug into the Waterside Retreat DSP to make this fun fold card.

We fussy cut a bicycle from the DSP for the main focal image and stamped with a variety of stamp sets including the Scalloped Blooms stamp set and the small set from the April Paper Pumpkin box.

The main colors we used are Basic Gray and Cajun Craze with a pop of Pool Party.

My June Card Crafternoon will be 6/14, and kits are available if you can't attend in person.

Moonlit Flora Stamped Card (May Card Crafternoon #3)

The third card of May's card Crafternoon focused on stamping and coloring (with some die cuts added to the mix too).

This card was modeled after this year's On Stage After Hours stamping event but with an Inky Scrapper twist.

We stamped the ferns onto the Basic White background with Peaceful Pine and Old Olive and adhered to an Old Olive card base.  The ferns were die cut from Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, and Peaceful Pine.  The stamped die cuts were colored with Hydrangea Hue and Mossy Meadow Stampin' Blends and Golden Glow shimmer brush.

How do you like the Hydrangea Hue stamped butterfly with Wink of Stella shimmer?  This card sparkles in real life!

Save the date for June's card Crafternoon on 6/14!

Moonlit Flora DSP Card (May Card Crafternoon #2)

The DSP in the Moonlit Flora suite is absolutely gorgeous, so I designed the second card of my May Card Crafternoon class to feature the DSP.

I love how my ladies took the pieces and made the cards their own: some centered the rectangles in the middle of the card and others used different sides of the DSP.  We used all of the pieces of the suite except for the embossing folder, and added a little Wink of Stella to the butterfly.  The die cuts are cut from Mossy Meadow, Secret Sea, and Basic White.

Save the date!  June's Crafternoon will be 6/14!

Moonlit Flora Note Card (May Card Crafternoon #1)

Stampin' Up! offers a set of twenty 3 1/2" x 5" white note cards and envelopes that are a great value and canvas to work on.

Let pretty DSP do all the work like it does on this note card featuring the Moonlit Flora suite (DSP, stamp set, and dies).

By the way, this was the first card we made at my May monthly Crafternoon card class.

Who would you send this to?

Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder Card

When I received my Moonlit Flora suite, I had to try out the included Fern & Flora 3D embossing folder.  After running it through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine with Basic White cardstock, I rubbed Old Olive ink across the cardstock to create this card background.

I mounted the panel onto an Old Olive card base and added both Old Olive & Mossy Meadow die cuts.  I stamped the frame in Old Olive and the sentiment and butterfly in Secret Sea.  I finished the card with a few Dewdrops embellishments.

In Color Floral Spray Cards: Hydrangea Hue

No, you're not seeing double!  I had to create the same card in multiple colors.  Who can resist Hydrangea Hue? 

I did fussy cut the large flower and adhere it just to give it a little more dimension (but I'm not sure it was necessary).

What other color would you use to make this card?

In Color Floral Spray Cards: Barely Blush

The Floral Spray 3D embossing folder is absolutely beautiful (in my opinion), so I created this card using Barely Blush Two-Tone cardstock (with the coordinating dots). 

The congratulations stamp (in Basic Gray) is from a past Paper Pumpkin kit.

The second card uses both sides of the Barely Blue Two-Tone cardstock.  I fussy cut the large flower from the darker side and glued it onto the lighter panel.

Which do you prefer?

You Deserve a Treat Card

Our daughters have both recently finished their first year of their respective graduate school programs, so I sent this to our faraway girl (our Pooh Bear) since she can't come home very often.  It was actually the very first card that I made with the new Silly Old Bear suite.

On the Very Vanilla cardstock base, I added a Golden Glow panel, embossed with the Hundred Acre Woods 3D embossing folder that I swiped in Golden Glow ink.  I die cut the focal image from the coordinating DSP and the Sweet Words and Labels dies.  The honey pot and stamped sentiment are from the Sweet Old Friends bundle.

Did you know that when products are unavailable (but not retired/discontinued), you can click a box on the product page to be notified via email when it is back in stock?  Try it HERE for the Silly Old Bear suite!

In Color Fern & Flora Card

If you were able to catch my May Catalog Launch Facebook Live series, then you've seen this new In Color Fern & Flora card (and if you'd like, you can watch the replay HERE on YouTube).

I used the Fern & Flora bundle and all five of the new In Colors.  Can you name them all?  

(They are Barely Blush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Peaceful Pine, and Hydrangea Hue.)

Two-Tone cardstock gives you two shades of each color, so I had fun playing with the darker and lighter sides.  Next time, I will use a lighter color for the stamped stripes (NOT Peaceful Pine).  A Basic Beige cardstock base is a nice neutral as is the Basic Gray ink.

 

Silly Old Bear Baby Shower Card

For a recent staff baby shower, I created this Silly Old Bear tri-fold card for our team to all sign.

See below for detailed instructions on creating this scene using the DSP and coordinating dies.  (The stamped sentiment is from the Happy Happenings kit.)

The card base is Hydrangea Hue Two-Tone card stock with Very Vanilla cardstock and Silly Old Bear DSP.

You can find this tri-fold card design HERE if you'd like more information on how to make it. 

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how I created the front panel of this card.  I first stamped the frame twice and die cut them.  Then I fussy cut the bottom half to create a frame.

I covered the other die cut panel with the fussy cut frame and post-its to create the horizon line.

I used a blending brush and Peaceful Pine ink to create the "grass."

One of the DSP has images that can be cut with the coordinating dies.  I used washi tape to hold them in place to make sure they cut correctly.  (If you don't, sometimes things can shift a little as you're cutting.)

Aren't they cute?!?