April Crafternoon Card Class Card #1

This month's card Crafternoon was this past Sunday, and my ladies and I had a blast creating four cards!  I'm grateful for the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat and all of the generous Stampin' Up! demonstrators who freely share ideas.  (You can find the original card HERE if you're interested.)

This first card uses the Garden Poetry DSP & Garden Textures specialty paper along with the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat stamp set and Forever Florals bundle.  We used Blackberry Bliss, Fresh Freesia, Shy Shamrock, Lemon Lolly, and Black ink along with Bubble Bath and Basic White cardstock.

Instead of using rectangles, consider angling one edge of your DSP for a fun effect!

What in the World Is Paper Pumpkin?

In case you're not familiar with Paper Pumpkin, you might find this Stampin' Up! blog post really helpful (HERE).  Basically, it's a fun crafting experience that arrives at your door (unless you pause your subscription) and usually- but not always- makes nine cards (3 each of 3 designs) with an exclusive small stamp set and mini Ink Spot.

Here's a little thank you card that I made for a new subscriber with a past Paper Pumpkin kit.  You can sign up HERE to get your monthly crafting fun.  Everything you need is in the box except for maybe a pair of scissors.  Let me know if I can help in any way!

May Paper Pumpkin Subscription through 5/10

The May Paper Pumpkin subscription box, Sparkling Celebrations, is now available!  This kit makes nine cards (3 each of 3 designs) and includes silver foil elements.  This month's Stampin' Spot (mini ink pad) is Misty Moonlight.

Ordering closes 5/10, and the kits will begin shipping out 5/11.

The Wonderful Scenes Add-On dies coordinate beautiful with the April-June Paper Pumpkin boxes!

Order HERE! 

Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp: Picnic Basket Card Holder

Last but certainly not least, we actually started the Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp making this adorable picnic basket, which will hold all four cards and envelopes for gift giving if you so choose.

Again, instructions for all of these cards and the picnic basket are available so contact me for more info!

Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp: Card #4

The fourth card was a bonus that I added on from the original Stamp Camp because we had so many supplies left.  (I can't wait to see what everyone makes with their leftovers!)

(I've featured this fun DSP fold here before.).  I added a Mossy Meadow and Basic White die cut mushroom.  

For my 4/12 Card Making Crafternoon, I will be combining the Forever Florals stamp set with the Cute As a Bug dies.  Be sure to RSVP by 4/10!  Also, let me know if you'd like instructions for the Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp!

April Paper Pumpkin Subscription through 4/10

Tomorrow is the last day to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin to receive the Lakeside Retreat subscription box which makes nine cards (3 each of 3 designs) and coordinates with the NEW (coming in May) Waterside Retreat suite.  This month's Stampin' Spot (mini ink pad) is Peaceful Pine, one of the new In Colors!

The Wonderful Scenes Add-On dies coordinate beautiful with the April-June Paper Pumpkin boxes!

Order HERE!

Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp: Card #3

The third card highlights using the dies available in the Sweet Bug dies or stamp set/dies bundle.   

We added some shading on the die cuts and colored the stamped images with Stampin' Blends.  I did add some Wink of Stella on the little bell flowers, but it doesn't show well in the photo.

As I mentioned in previous posts, please reach out if you'd like info on how you could get the stamp camp tutorial!

Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp: Card #2

The second card from my Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp (more info HERE) was a Z-fold card focusing on fussy cutting motifs from the adorable DSP. 

If you look closely, you can see that we blended Soft Sea Foam ink into the background to help those images pop.

I love how the front panel overlaps the inside for a cute little "suprise."

We will be doing a lot of fussy cutting at my 4/12 Crafternoon Card Class beginning at 3 PM in my home, so be sure to RSVP by 4/10.  Also message me if you're interested in directions to the Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp.

Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp: Card #1

Last month, I held my Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp (just a half-day camp!) with a few lovely ladies.  What makes Stamp Camp different from a Crafternoon?  More products in your hands (like 1/2 pack of Cute As a Bug DSP) plus more advanced techniques including cutting many of your own pieces.

The first card we made focused on the stamps and coloring techniques with Stampin' Blends.

If you weren't able to attend in person but are interested in digital instructions, please let me know!

Happy Easter Cross Card (with a FREE Tutorial)

Happy Easter!  I made this cross card on a recent Live on my Facebook page (Thursday nights at 7:30 PM ET) and wanted to share it with you.

I used Thoughtful Journey 6"x6" DSP with Country Woods DSP plus die cuts from Beautiful Gallery.

As a gift to you for visiting my blog, click HERE for the instructions (including the YouTube link of the Facebook Live).  Please leave me a comment if you save these directions!  Did you know that my customers receive these weekly project sheets in our exclusive VIP Facebook group?  Place an order with me to become a customer of mine HERE.  Thank you!

Special Offer! Gliding Swings Bundle + Tutorial

Purchase the Gliding Swings stamp set, dies, and/or the bundle from me and receive an 8-page "Class To Go" for FREE!  (The Gliding Swings bundle was on my wishlist for a cardmaking class, but I've run out of time as it's on LAST CHANCE.)

 Here are some peeks at the projects:

Get this bundle before it's gone!  I will email you the PDF tutorial after you complete your purchase HERE.

Wedding Card

Recently, we showered a teacher at work who is getting married soon, and my team opted to get her a gift card so that she could get what she needed.  Of course I volunteered to make a card for us!  I decided to make a 7"x5" gift card holder so that there was plenty of room for all of us to sign.

I started with at 7"x12" piece of Basic White cardstock that I scored at 5" and 2" to make the card fold and a gift card holder pocket.  For the front panel, I added a piece of the gorgeous Lovely and Beautiful white & gold DSP (6 3/4" x 4 3/4") along with a Petal Pink Beautifully Celebrated dies frame and nested Basic White frame, stamped in Versamark and gold embossed from the Forever Florals stamp set.  The flower was die cut from the Simply Beautiful dies.  

The inside pocket is finished with a 7"x 3/4" strip of Lovely and Beautiful white & gold DSP and a 7"x 1/2" Petal Pink cardstock strip.  Only adhere the right and left edges to make the gift card pocket.

If you'd like to watch the YouTube save of the 4/2/26 Facebook Live, click HERE.  

Easter Joy Birthday Card

My (almost) sister-in-law's birthday is the day before mine, and I had a lot of fun making this Easter Joy birthday card for her!

I used the Easter Joy DSP with the die cuts along with the Paper Pumpkin coordinating dies, plus some fussy cutting of the February Product of the Month stamp set.  I couldn't resist adding a die cut butterfly cut with the Cute As a Bug dies!

To make it extra festive, I scored this card to be an easel fun fold.  I also added a Cute As a Bug snail die cut on the inside along with die cuts and some fussy cutting.

Shy Shamrock is one of the retiring In Colors (24-26) that I absolutely love and hate to see go!  You can find these products while supplies last HERE.  Thanks for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!

Spring Chicks Card

The idea for this card has been rattling around in my head for a while, so I'm glad I was able to make some time this weekend to bring it to life!  I thought it would be fun to color the chicks the same color as their dyed Easter eggs.

I used Pretty in Pink, Peach Pie, Lemon Lolly, Pool Party, and Petunia Pop DSP (cut from 3 1/2"-4" x 3/4") and Stampin' Blends with my Easter Joy bundle.   The eggs & chicks were all stamped with Basic Gray ink. (The DSP is from the Easter Joy suite or from last year's 6"x6" DSP.)  I colored each chick's beak with Dark Daffodil Delight beak and the chicks themselves with the light coordinating Stampin' Blends (Shaded Spruce for the Shy Shamrock chick).

Does anyone else still have a collection of decorative scissors from way back in the day?  I picked one to "crack" each egg and then had fun posing each chick with its egg.

 I finished off the card with 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems.  Chicks, I hope this card brightens your day!

March 2026 Card Class #4: Cute As a Bug Bridge Card

At each of my crafternoon card classes, I try to have some type of fun fold to keep things interesting.  We created this bridge card with the Cute As a Bug suite collection. 

Here's a close-up of the bridge (complete with Wink of Stella plus Old Olive, Real Red, and Bronze/Ivory Stampin' Blends).

The inside... without a sentiment yet because I'm not sure who's going to get it.

What's your favorite part of this collection?

March 2026 Card Class #3: Spring Basket Card

HAPPY SPRING!!! This card was copied after one that I saw on Pinterest; it was too pretty not to CASE! 

I love how springy it is!  A few of the ladies wove the gingham ribbon into the basket itself; so pretty!

Everything is from the Easter Joy suite collection plus Shy Shamrock, Balmy Blue, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, and Timid Tiger Two-Tone cardstock.

Who else is ready for spring?!?  

March 2026 Card Class #2: Happy Easter Card

This card did not turn out like I thought it would as I began designing it!

When I'm stuck or I'm not sure if pieces are going together like they should, I will lay them out and take pictures to compare.  Here are the different versions that didn't make the cut:

A fun part of this card design is that arch was cut from the larger arch used in card #3!  All of the other supplies are from the Easter Joy suite collection.

March 2026 Card Class #1: Easter Stripes Card

Last weekend, I held my monthly Crafternoon and guided the ladies in making four cards.

 This was a fun design to use up strips of the Easter Joy DSP and Pleasant Patterns speciality DSP along with the Easter Joy bundle. 

PRO TIP: Mix Lemon Lolly and Pretty in Pink Stampin' Blends to make the peach carrot.

St. Patrick's Day Card: Woolly Friends vs. Easter Joy

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching, and of course I wanted to make a card for each of my daughters.  I came up with a card sketch that I could use two ways and made them on my weekly Lives on my Facebook page (Thursdays at 7:30 PM Eastern time). 

Are you Team Woolly Friends (left) or Team Easter Joy (right)?  Please be sure to leave your choice in the comments!  For both cards, I used the Woolly Friends stamp set, Easter Joy DPS and Pleasant Patterns specialty paper along with Nested Essentials dies, Shy Shamrock glimmer paper, and In Colors shimmer gems.  I created the hats with extra Shy Shamrock, Daffodil Delight, and Basic Black cardstock.

Since the bow from the Easter Joy suite was too big for the bunny, I used the one from the Woolly Friends bundle instead.

Please comment Team Woolly Friends of Team Easter Joy for these two St. Patrick's Day cards!

Easter Joy Baby Card

One of my teachers is expecting her second child, so I made this card for them using the Easter Joy suite (or bundle plus DSP) to go along with a little gift.

I started with a Balmy Blue 8 1/2" x 5 1/2' cardstock card base and added a panel of Basic White 4"x 5 1/4".  The Crumb Cake and Balmy Blue DSP are from the Easter Joy suite.  I used my Alphabet a la Mode dies to cut the B, B, Y, and stamped the bunny in Balmy Blue from this collection.  I used my Pretty in Pink Stampin' Blends to color the bunny.  The gingham ribbon is also part of this suite (but of course everything can be bought individually if preferred).

The welcome and sweet little one sentiments are from the new Happy Happenings kit.  I love how products can mix and match to create something new!

I hope they love the book we gave them, Time for Bed, because it was one of our absolute favorites!

Saturday's Card Class

Saturday I had the opportunity to meet a fun group of ladies in my area known as the Appalachian Women's Social Club and teach a card class.  (Thanks, Amber, for the invite and for the delicious catered lunch and your fabulous banana pudding!)

I think the ladies had a good time crafting!  I know that I did (and I also learned a thing or two).  I'm looking forward to getting together with them for some of the events and hopefully hosting quarterly seasonal card classes.  

Mauvelous Lollies March Project Sneak Peek

If you're a current customer of mine, then you probably know about my collaboration with six other Stampin' Up! demonstrators across the country, the Mauvelous Lollies.  Each month, three of us create projects with a video of one project and written instructions for the other two based on that month's theme.  Here's a peek at my project this month, a fun-fold window card:

Anyone who places a minimum $50 order from me (before shipping/handling & tax) will receive the instructions for this month's projects.

What are your guesses for this month's theme?  Post them in the comments!
 

Masculine Birthday Card

Recently I needed a masculine birthday card for a co-worker, so I decided to use a card sketch that I found and make this card on my weekly Lives on my Facebook page (Thursdays at 7:30 PM Eastern time).

I had planned to use the front and back of this handsome Autumn Wishes 6"x6" DSP but decided to only show the front.  I used the January Product of the Month, Fabulous Sayings stamp set, and Basic Beige leaves die cut from Nature's Symphony dies (and leftovers from my February card class).

Did you know that my customers have an exclusive VIP Facebook Group where I post instruction sheets after each Thursday Live?  Anyone can watch and craft along with the Thursday Lives at 7:30 PM.

Cute As a Bug CASE

It’s really fun to take an idea (like two of the cards in the Mini Catalog on p. 42, below) and recreate it with a twist (& there’s nothing wrong with CASE-ing it exactly as is either).

Can you see how the two cards on the top right inspired my card?

I knew that I wanted to use Poppy Parade cardstock, so I used my Color Coach to select the coordinating colors of Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Night of Navy, and Petal Pink.  

PRO TIP: Stretch your die cuts but cutting them in half and hiding the cut behind another piece like I did with the Old Olive banner!

As always, don't forget to decorate the inside of your card and the coordinating envelope!  I will add a sentiment to the inside of the card when I send it to someone special.

You can still sign up for my Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp (3/21) through 3/8!