IN-PERSON (!) April Stamp Class

Wow, after a whole year of only Cards@Home Kits, it will be so wonderful to be able to see and stamp with some of you again!!  (See the previous blog post for details about what that will look like.)  I think I got a bit excited and went a little overboard in the designs; I was so happy to be able to stamp and use coordinated dies and paper that the cards may be a bit over-the-top, but I love them all!  If you come, you may need to stay a bit longer to add all the details (and work with how we'll be distanced), but I think it will be well worth it!

As you can see, the Butterfly Brilliance card (top left) is a type of easel card that can stand up when it is propped open.  I had to use the die-cut Designer Paper butterfly even though that paper has been sold out, because it looks so great with all the coordinated patterns. However, you  could easily stamp and die cut your own butterflies in six sizes and whatever color combinations you'd like almost as quickly, as I did for the inside of the card.  These butterflies also look great when colored with Stampin' Blends, we'll have to do that next time.

The stacked Ice Cream card is another type of taller easel style, do you see how I made good use of the top scoop to hold the tab closed? I am just tickled about how this worked out, and that you could alter the colors to suit anyone, of any age, on their special day!  The Designer Paper comes with 3 sheets of multi-colored "splotches" that are great for quick "scoops" made with the Ice Cream Cone punch, and there's even a "cone side" to make your card even easier.  And of course there's the Sweet Ice Cream stamps that we'll have to use for even more color combinations and options, plus popsicles, for next time!

The lower left card uses the Hey Chick and Hey Birthday Chick Bundles, which are so quirky with clever puns and creative die shapes that can lead to many fun cards.  For this one I created a "chicken coop" that has a pop-up element inside, complete with a dancing hen! It was great fun to make the chicken wire window, wood fence, and corn stalk; special details that are made easily with the textured die cuts. (Note that the Hey Chick stamps and Dies Bundle are on the retiring list and will not continue into the next catalog, so get them now if you love them like I do!)

The Birds & Branches card took me a while to create since I wanted a different way to have a window through the leafy frame to the nest with eggs, but still leave more space to write inside.  I finally came up with this 3-layered card, and discovered that the leaf-patterned Designer Paper from SAB  matched the die perfectly!  Gotta love it when so many things come together in the end!

STAMP CLASS DATE: Sunday, Apr. 18, 3:00 - 5:30 pm. (Maximum 6 attendees)

Deadline Date to reserve your spot: Tuesday, Apr. 13 

Cost = $15 or FREE with a minimum $45 order when you use the current Host Code: JWBWTA7V, or if you have a previous Class Credit. 

You may order these cards as a Cards@Home Kit for $15 if you pick up; + $2 for shipping per kit if mailed to you.  (Since I cannot stamp your card pieces per SU copyright policies, you may consider buying the stamp sets used, look among your supplies for stamps that would work, or simply write or print your own sentiments. You will receive blank white cardstock where I have stamped the samples, all the pre-cut/scored pieces and printed papers for the kit, and the printed instructions with color pictures.  Contact me if you have any questions.) 

(Note: if your order exceeds $150, do not use a Host Code, as you can keep the Host Rewards and still earn a Class Credit for a future class or get this month's Kit for FREE!)

In-Person Classes next month!

 Hello Stamping Buddies,

After a year of not being able to gather together to stamp and create, we are finally at the point of being safer from getting COVID, so I would like to start up in-person Stamp Classes again in April, hooray!   Here are some thoughts about what that will look like to keep us all safe.

1. Classes will be limited to ideally 4 people, but 6 would be the maximum attendance.  
2. The stamping "stations" will be distanced so that you will likely be working on a card by yourself at one end of a table, then we will rotate the 4 boxes as cards are finished. 
3. We will all start off masked.  If all of the attendees are already vaccinated (and 2 weeks have passed), then you can choose to take off your mask if you wish.  If anyone present is not vaccinated, then all masks should stay on. 
4. Hand sanitizer and antiseptic wipes will be provided so that you can clean/wipe your hands or shared tools (stamping blocks, ink pads, dies, etc.) as needed. 
5. You may wish to bring your own die-cutting machine with plates and your Scoreboard if you have these so that you can eliminate sharing equipment (and you won't have to wait to share my tools!)
6. You may bring your own scissors and adhesive, or you can wipe down those that I supply.

I think those are the important details that I can think of, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  The next blog post will have card pictures as well as the date and time.  I just finished the card samples and they look great; I can't wait to share them with you! 😃

The Last-Chance Products Sale!

With the new Stampin' Up 2021-2022 coming right around the corner, it's time to clear out some retiring favorites from the current catalog!  Some of these items are at deep discounts, but all will be leaving soon so be quick to check out the SALE pages and get them while supplies last! (Scroll down and watch for our favorite word: SALE!)

• All retiring items very limited in quantity, and will be available Mar. 24 - May 3 only.
• Note that any Stamp/Die Bundles that are discounted in the current catalog may be carried into the next catalog but without the -10% discount available now. 
• Get your wish list out and so that you don't miss out on those "I was going to order that" items!

Please be sure to use the new Host Code JWBWTA7V so that you can earn credit towards a FREE Stamp Class (with a $45 minimum order.)  I'm planning on starting up limited attendance classes next month (April), details to be coming out soon! Hooray, we can finally stamp together again!!

A very "COOL" kit from Paper Pumpkin

So Cool by Paper Pumpkin is the fresh, versatile, and fun taste of summer that stampers of all ages will want to savor.  This vivid, summer-inspired kit includes two full sticker sheets and all supplies needed to make 12 fun-shaped cards with matching envelopes. But, even more cool: it’s the first Paper Pumpkin kit designed with kids in mind!

If you have kiddos close at heart, such as children or grandchildren, you'll want to take advantage of this opportunity to subscribe now whether for just for the month of April or even more. Check out the So Cool video, to see for yourself —this kit offers the perfect way to engage younger ones and spark their imagination while introducing them to the fun of papercrafting. 

• Kit includes enough supplies to make 12 fresh, fun-shaped cards—6 popsicles and 6 blank semicircles to color—and coordinating envelopes. Kit includes card bases, 2 full sticker sheets, decorative die-cut pieces, embellishments, and more.
• Envelope size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" (11.4 x 14.6 cm)
• Coordinating colors: Blackberry Bliss, Bermuda Bay, Bumblebee, Cinnamon Cider, Old Olive, Terracotta Tile
• Coordinates with the Ice Cream Corner Suite from our January–June 2021 Mini Catalog.

Subscribe to the April Paper Pumpkin Kit between 11 March and 10 April at paperpumpkin.com!

Link to see how Paper Pumpkin works. 

(Note: Supplies may be limited toward the end of the subscription period.)

FREE shipping for one day only!

 

Surprise!! Stampin' Up is thrilled to announce that you can get FREE shipping for qualifying orders of $50 US  or more for one day only: tomorrow, 17 March 2021!  That means you could also qualify for FREE a Cards@Home kit or a Class Credit from me if you use the current Host Code WQAAXPWV when you order!  

So get your wishlist together and be ready for tomorrow, because you'll be saving at least $6.95 or more (10% of your total order, the normal cost of shipping) when you take advantage of this special!  Basic supplies like cardstock or inks that you always need, stamps or dies you've been eyeing lately... just do it!!  Yay, don't we all love sales and FREE stuff!

March Cards@Home Kit Reminder

Please note that the Deadline to request this month's Cards@Home Kit is coming up in a week, on 3/21.  I'll be prepping all the final parts to the kits this week, so if you would like to have one also, please let me know.

Your kit can be FREE with a minimum $45 order when you use the current Host Code WQAAXPWV, or if you have a Class Credit on the books.  Don't forget to order or miss out on these beauties, I love them all!

 (See the March 3rd post for more details.)

Butterfly Brilliance and Dies: to cut or not to cut?

If you’ve noticed the new Butterfly Brilliance stamp set and Brilliant Wings dies, one of the first things you might be surprised to find is that the stamps and dies are all in one piece.  Should you try to cut them up, or keep them as a whole unit?  Let’s think about the pros and cons:

Keep stamps together: can stamp large backgrounds very easily, and can stamp many butterflies at once to be colored later.

Cut stamps apart: Can choose and use the stamps individually (obviously), easier to handle.

If you are hesitant about cutting the stamps apart but want to stamp and cut only particular butterflies, especially in duplicates, you can try using the following Negative Space frame method and your Stamparatus. This also works well any time you are stamping and die cutting multiples of one image for singular stamps and dies, like for a mass of Christmas cards, etc.

Directions:

1.  Cut a 4 7/8” x 6 ¼” piece of heavier cardstock with the Brilliant Wings dies. (This size will fit in the die envelope to be saved for later use.) Remove butterflies.

2. Place the Negative Space frame in the Stamparatus and wiggle the stamp into the cut-out shapes so that it is aligned. Close and open the clear door to attach the stamp. (Note I added a piece of scrap paper below the frame in step 4 when I realized that extra ink might extend into the next shape and be messy.) 

3.      Place a precut blank into the desired shape.  I’ve chosen the upper left corner butterfly here (pictured above).

4.    Ink desired image and stamp as usual (upper right picture).  Using a Mini Stampin’ Spot is neater, but regular size ink pads are faster although ink may extend to areas beyond your chosen image. Just be sure to have the scrap paper in your Stamparatus to keep it neat.

5.   Repeat steps 3 and 4 for as many pieces as desired. The beauty of this method is that it’s also easier and faster to die cut many blanks first and stamp them repeatedly in the Stamparatus rather than stamping first and then having to align and cut each image individually.  Save any Negative Space frames in the die envelope for repeated use.

6.    Color your butterfly: use an Aqua Painter (waterbrush) to easily spread the colored ink used in stamping, or stamp in black ink and color with markers or Stampin’ Blends to match the DSP or as desired. 

While the above method works very well, personally I’ll eventually cut up the butterfly stamps to be used individually, and know I can arrange them in the Stamparatus if I want a background format.

If you want to cut up the steel dies, you’ll need to use metal shears, an electric Dremel tool, or something that will not leave a sharp edge. Before I cut them up though, I’ll be sure to die cut ALL of the butterflies from the matching DSP first, as they are already perfectly aligned in mass now.

You may have noticed that the Many Messages stamp and die are also offered as a huge background stamp and die (pictured right).  The idea here is that you can make masses of words ahead of time and save for later use.  But the same Negative Space frame method would work if you only wanted a few duplicates of selected words. You could also cut the stamp into smaller pieces to use on a clear block or in the Stampartus either as individual stamps or smaller groups of stamps. I think that would make the words more easily useable, but it's your preference as it depends on your needs and preferred usage.   

Hope this all helps, let me know if you have any questions.  

Butterflies are here!

As some of you have already seen, the new Butterfly Brilliance Bundle, coordinating BUTTERFLY BIJOU 6” X 6” designer series paper, and NATURAL TOUCH SPECIALTY PAPER light wood grain textured specialty paper is now here!  This early-release product from 2021 Annual Catalog is so appropriate for beautiful spring cards, I can't wait to get my order play away!  

If you read the description of the stamps, this is one large background stamp of butterflies that can be stamped and cut out with the coordinating outline die.  The detailed butterfly die can also be added if you like.  But did you know that the outline die also cuts out the images of one of the Designer Paper patterns to get 6 colored butterflies? Oh wow, with eight 6" x 6" sheets of this design, creating lots of colorful butterflies is so easy!  

I've also had some questions about how to best use the large background stamp individually with the die cuts, as like the Many Messages stamp and dies, this takes a little planning depending on what you want to do.  When I get my Butterfly bundle, I'll show you how to do that with both sets, stay tuned.  

In the meanwhile, if you're interested in exclusive BUTTERFLY BIJOU Designer Series Paper, please note that this will be available only during the Butterfly Bouquet promotion (3/2 - 5/3) and while supplies last. If you don't want to be disappointed, be sure to order yours soon and please use the current Host Code = WQAAXPWV to earn credit towards a FREE Card Kit/Class Credit or hand-stamped cards from me. 

March Cards@Home Kit

With so many really fantastic stamp and die Bundles plus gorgeous Designer Papers, sometimes the biggest challenge is which one to try out first!  I really liked the way all of these cards came out this month, and it was so much fun!  Hope you like them too!

I hope you got the Oh So Ombre Designer Paper which was free with SAB last month, as the top left card shows a really fun and simple way to make up flowers layers in ombre tones as is done here with the Peony Dies.  Don't you just love how the Polka Dot Tulle ribbon subtly picks up the dot/circle design on the reverse side? You can choose to stamp any words inside, as this is a really versatile card front for just about any occasion. I can see making up a bunch of these cards in different colors and leaving the inside blank, to be stamped later as needed.  Or you could make up a set of cards with different flower colors to give as a gift; very handmade and complicated-looking but easy to do with the dies. 

The Snailed It! card has to be one of my favorites, both due to the happy pattern images and the card layout. With so many fun paper designs that match the stamp set, I was tickled to be able to use just about all of them with my double-flap gatefold card.  And while the stamped snails are cute when you color them, the dies also cut out images from the patterned paper so you can make this card with only a little stamping. I don't like snails or toadstools/mushrooms in my garden, but love them here on this card, so very cute and colorful! 

The lower left card uses both a patterned flower print and its matching gold overlay from the Art Gallery Suite. Since this name brought framed artwork to mind, I thought a fancy frame from the Ornate Layers dies would be appropriate and really set off this wonderful layering of flamingo pink tones and gold accents.  Then I added it onto a fancy-looking (but easy to do) vellum flap for even more rich layering, and topped it off with a shimmery gold-pink bow.  I hope we can all get together to stamp very soon, as the stamps and dies within the stamp set are really fun to do with 2-3 ink tones to make up your own custom colors and then die cut them out, gold accents or not.

The Hydrangea Haven card (lower right) is also high on my favorites list because I love purples and blues. Check out the flat out gorgeously colored hydrangea flower, it is just die cut from the patterned Designer Paper! I also used the tiny flower border die to cut the 6 flowers below, then reshaped and set them back with silver beads, so fun and dimensional, and yet different! This modified Z-fold opens in a neat way to reveal even more pretty layers of patterned papers inside.  Since the Hydrangea Hill paper has blossoms printed in purple (Highland Heather), blue (Seaside Spray) and lavender (Purple Posy), it looks like I have some more card variations to make up in bunches! 

Deadline Date to order this Kit: Sunday, Mar. 21. 

*Cost = $15 if you pick up, + $2 for shipping per kit if mailed to you. 

This Cards@Home Kit can be FREE with a minimum $45 order when you use the current Host Code: WQAAXPWV, or if you have a previous Class Credit. 

(Note: if your order exceeds $150, do not use a Host Code, as you can keep the Host Rewards and still earn a Class Credit for a future class or get this month's Kit for FREE!)

*Since I cannot stamp your card pieces (per SU copyright policies), you may consider buying the stamp sets used, look among your supplies for stamps that would work, or simply write or print your own sentiments. You will receive blank white cardstock where I have stamped the samples, all the pre-cut/scored pieces and printed papers for the kit, and the printed instructions with color pictures.  Contact me if you have any questions.