Another “Watercolor” Retirement Card

After creating my original "faux watercolor card" with my Painted Lavender stamp set in purples, I wanted to see if I could use different colors to make the same stamp set look other flowers, possibly snapdragons or foxgloves. 

I used Bluebird ink for the sky, Limeade for the stalks, and Honey Butter and Rosy for the flowers.  The butterflies were stamped with Pumpkin.  (These are all CTMH ink colors.) The frame and flower/foliage dies came from the Sentimental Park dies and the sentiment is from the Sentimental Park stamp set.

I love using Stampin' Dimensionals (3D foam) to pop elements of my project, like this pretty frame.  They will still mail well with the added dimension (I think because they are a little squishy and can handle some pressure).

What do you think of my twist on the Painted Lavender stamp set?

Painted Lavender “Watercolor” Card

This card was so much fun to make!  It uses a beautiful faux watercolor technique.  You need watercolor paper, dye-based inks, stamps, and a paint brush or water brush.

I made a video of this technique on my Facebook page (HERE), so I won't go into full details here.  I used Close To My Heart's Journey, Mist, Wisteria, and Royal inks with Mist glitter paper and Wisteria and Royal cardstock.  (The purple gems were leftovers in my stash.) I used Stampin' Up!'s Painted Lavender and Sentimental Park stamp sets.

I'll have another version to share again soon.

Deepest Sympathy Card

Sadly two of my colleagues' mother lost her fight to cancer this weekend.  I made each of them versions of this card to send my condolences. 

I thought that the current Color My Heart Color Dare challenge #602 to use (Close To My Heart's) Periwinkle, Wisteria, and Royal was the perfect color scheme for these cards.  I grabbed my Stampin' Up! Painted Lavender stamp set and all three ink colors, plus Rosemary for the stems, to create this card.  The sentiment is from a retired CTMH stamp set, and the Periwinkle paper is from the retired Cherish the Memories collection.

To finish the card, I splattered Wisteria shimmer brush to add some interest, texture, and sparkle to the card.  I kept it simple so that I could focus on the message.   I love the versatility of stamping and how you can change the "tone" of your card/scrapbook layout with colors and sentiments.  

Please keep this family in your prayers if you can.

Painted Lavender Retirement Cards

Four of our staff members are retiring this year, and their reception was Friday.  I made each of them a card using the Painted Lavender stamp set & dies paired with the beautiful Perennial Lavender DSP (designer series paper).  

I cut various pieces with the dies on a variety of the papers, and then "mixed and matched" to create the four different (yet similar) cards.

Each card uses Gorgeous Grape (Stampin’ Up! ink) that I paired with CTMH Evergreen.  I also splattered Grape shimmer brush on each card panel.

I used a variety of the stamps & dies on each card.

The frame is from the Sentimental Park dies, and the sentiment is from the December 2023 Paper Pumpkin Kit.

I didn’t have enough paper left to use the die, so I added a strip of the pretty Gorgeous Grape DSP.

I hope the recipients like their cards as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Paper Pumpkin Kit: December 2023 Cards 7-9/9

Here are the final three cards from the December 2023 Paper Pumpkin kit.  Again, the first one followed the instructions exactly. 

The second one has more stamping and less flowers.

The third one changed the direction of the card but kept it pretty much the same as the original (with a little additional stamping).

Which one do you like best?

The Paper Pumpkin kit includes EVERYTHING you need to create these gorgeous cards (plus a gift box in this kit that I haven't made yet).  Learn more about Paper Pumpkin HERE.

Paper Pumpkin Kit: December 2023 Cards 4-6/9

I’m back to showcase the second set of Paper Pumpkin cards from the December 2023 kit that I received in my Stampin' Up! starter kit!

Again, I created the first card following the directions, but then of course I had to go rogue for the second card.  I trimmed the white panel down by about a quarter inch on two adjacent sides, and then cut the panel into 4/4 to space out like tiles on the card front.  I added one of the gold tiny flowers that should’ve been used on another project to complete this card.  (The gold is so much prettier in person than what I can show in the photograph.)

My final card is fairly true to the original, but with a different, shorter sentiment.

Here are this set of three of the nine cards.

You can find out more information about Paper Pumpkin HERE!  Which card do you prefer?

Paper Pumpkin Kit: December 2023 Cards 1-3/9

Paper Pumpkin is a fabulous Stampin' Up! subscription kit that includes absolutely everything you need to create all of the projects each month.  (You can learn more HERE.)  In my starter kit, I received the December 2023 Paper Pumpkin kit and have absolutely loved creating with it.  No matter what level of crafter you might be, you will enjoy the ease of creating beautiful projects with Paper Pumpkin.

This first card follows the Paper Pumpkin kit instructions exactly.  Of course, I had to add my own twist on the subsequent cards.  For the second card, I used a different sentiment (from the kit) and different flowers on the frame (obviously).

For the third card, I use one of the circle dies and the pretty floral accents.  (I may have to trim the leaves to put the card in the envelope.  By the way, did I mention that the envelopes are also beautiful?)

Here are all three for your inspiration.  Which one do you prefer?

If you decide to try a Paper Pumpkin subscription, I hope that you will choose me as your demonstrator.  Thank you!

Sentimental Park Thinking of You Card

The fourth card in my color theory class uses a triadic color scheme: Bluebird, Honey Butter, and Limeade.

I began by random stamping the outline floral stamp from the Sentimental Park stamp set in Blueberry.  I used a yellow colored pencil to color the centers, but the went back & used my Honey Butter shimmer brush for an even prettier finish.

I used the largest frame from the Sentimental Park dies (cut in Limeade) for the sentiment and accented it with white, Honey Butter, & Bluebird flowers (all cut from the dies collection).

Here are all 3 versions.  I love how we all followed the same “recipe” but created different cards!  (Jade is the darker green & Rosy is the pink.)

A New Adventure Layout

Here is my first Stampin’ Up! layout!  The sketch (from the last Make It From Your Heart) is one that I have wanted to use since I first saw it, and I was finally able to do just that!  It was originally a one page layout, so I just flipped the sketch to make it a two page layout using many 2“ x 2“ squares in the NEW 2024-26 In Colors & the Unbounded Beauty suite. 

I laid out my paper squares to try to create a rainbow and used Pretty in Pink, Peach Pie, Shy Shamrock, Summer Splash, and Petunia Pop.  I love how I was able to mix in the Unbounded Beauty papers to "bridge" colors.

Here's a close up of some of the details of the Sentimental Park stamp set and coordinating dies.  (I absolutely love the frames in the dies set!)

I stamped my title directly on the right page with a Close To My Heart (retired) alphabet stamp set.  (I'm looking forward to SU!'s future expanded scapbooking line!)

For my flower cluster, I die cut the blossoms and stamped the outline stamp in black.  (I stamped one on the Petunia Pop DSP to add some dimension and used 3D foam tape to pop that center one up on the page.)

Thanks for letting me share my first SU! layout and this new adventure with you!  I hope you'll continue to follow along!

{Layout 26/52}

Sentimental Park Thanks Card

Continuing my color theory card class, we switched from the new In Colors 2024-26 to the CTMH Enjoy the Ride color palette to make an analogous card featuring Rosy, Pumpkin, and Honey Butter, with the Sentimental Park suite. 

How much do you love that intricate frame die?  I cut it out in Pumpkin and stamped the sentiment with Rosy.  I also added a few colorful flowers from the dies.

I love two-step stamps!  We stamped the center/"solid" flowers in Honey Butter and Rosy and then stamped the outlines over the tops in Pumpkin.  Here are all three of our cards:

If you don't currently have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, feel free to browse my website and shop with me HERE.  THANKS for your support!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  I am so grateful to be able to spend today with my mom, my daughters, and my extended family!  Here is the card that I made for my mom:

I used the stamp set that I bought in my Stampin' Up! starter kit, Sentimental Park, and the coordinating dies.  I really like how Shy Shamrock makes Pretty in Pink POP!  

The hexagon die cut is part of the Sentimental Park dies collection.  (I really love how some of the dies match the stamp set and some are "extra," like the hexagons.)  Hopefully at this angle you can see how I popped the flower cluster with 3D foam tape.

Don't you love how each of my friends took the same card design and pieces to create unique, beautiful cards?  Also, if you're following along, this second card in my recent card class hows a complimentary color scheme.

On a personal note, here’s my crew celebrating our mom and all the moms in our family.  (Yes, you’ll see this on a scrapbook layout at some point soon!)

Introducing the New In Colors Cards

For my first Stampin' Up! card class, I planned on reviewing color theory and to introduce the new 2024-26 In Colors.  The first set of cards use a monochromatic (one color) color scheme and seven 1.5" squares of cardstock and In Color 6"x6" DSP (Designer Series Papers).

This first card features Pretty in Pink.  (The sentiment stamp and Pebbled Path ink came in my first Paper Pumpkin kit, the December 2023 box.  Learn more about Paper Pumpkin HERE!)  

My second card uses Shy Shamrock.  I used coordinating In Color glimmer gems on each card.

Here are my cards paired with two friends' cards, clockwise from top left: Shy Shamrock, Petunia Pop, Summer Splash, and Pretty in Pink (not yet featured, Peach Pie).

Which new color is your favorite?

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!  How are you celebrating and memory keeping today?  I am going to be hosting an in-person class tomorrow beginning at 4 PM.

Have fun celebrating today!

The Next Chapter: Stampin' Up!

Today I officially begin the next chapter of my papercrafting adventure!  I'm really excited to be demonstrator with Stampin' Up!  They have been very generous and welcoming to us former Close To My Heart Makers.

I hope you'll join me for this next chapter!  In fact, my first class will be Sunday, May 5!  Check out (and bookmark) my NEW WEBSITE where you can find the May 5 class info (and can RSVP).  If you're a former CTMH customer/VIP, once you create your Stampin' Up! account (with the email you used with CTMH), then you should be able to find/search CTMH products there.

Aren't the new 2024-2026 In Colors just delectable?  I look forward to sharing lots of fun projects with them!

My blog will be under reconstruction for the next few days as I finish the transition.  Please come back often!