swirled designs z fold card in 2 colors

swirled designs z fold card in 2 colors

by | Mar 20, 2026 | card samples, color theory, die cutting, masculine cards, online exclusives, stamps ink paper, techniques

This simple birthday card starts with the fun Online Exclusive Swirled Designs bundle! This bundle comes with 10 geometric dies with ovals, diamonds, flowers and stars perfect for birthday and all occasions cards!

Measurements:
BASE: Strawberry Slush or Cloud Cover CS:
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 2 1/8″, 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″

Using the Tuxedo Black Memento ink pad, stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment on the lower center and then the lines image randomly on one of the 4″ x 5 1/4″ layers around the sentiment.
Die cut the large and smaller starts from the Swirled Designs die set from the 2025-2027 In Colors DSP pack.
Using the silicone mat, I transfer my multipurpose glue into a fine tip bottle for easier application onto thin dies like these. If you are interested in this non Stampin’ Up! product – text me for the link!

Apply glue to the large star and adhere to the stamped layer.

Adhere the smaller stamps strategically around the larger star die.
Stamp the lines image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on the other 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer and then the smaller star clusters in the matching ink for your cardstock color in each of the diagonal corners.

Score the base at 2 1/8″ and 4 1/4″, fold into a Z fold fun fold card.

Adhere to the inside of the card.

Place glue 1/4″ away from the edges of the front flap of the z-fold card base and adhere the other 4″ x 5 1/4″ paper that has the die cut on it.
Adhere some embellishments to the card and it is complete! This is one of the cards we will be making this coming Monday for my Studio Stamp-a-Stack! Register and come make cards with us – this group is a lot of fun!

What is a Stamp-a-stack? Come and make as many cards as you like – pay as you leave – count up the cards you got done and pay! $2.50 per card and make one of each or two or more of the ones you like or need!

Come get creative and create some artwork of your very own Monday, March 23rd starting at 1pm – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Here is a masculine version of this z-fold just by changing out the colors!
Product List
Swirled Designs Bundle (English) [ 167311 ]
[167311]
$42.25
Swirled Designs Photopolymer Stamp Set [ 167030 ]
[167030]
$19.00
With You In Mind Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 164747 ]
[164747]
$20.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
2025–2027 In Color™ 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [ 165300 ]
[165300]
$12.50
Strawberry Slush 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 165625 ]
[165625]
$14.00
Cloud Cover 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 165621 ]
[165621]
$14.00
Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad [ 165286 ]
[165286]
$9.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [ 132708 ]
[132708]
$8.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Blending Brushes Storage [ 160519 ]
[160519]
$16.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Swirled Designs Dies [ 167032 ]
[167032]
$28.00
Sparkle Dot Essentials [ 166991 ]
[166991]
$8.00
using the new stampin’ positioner tool

using the new stampin’ positioner tool

by | Mar 18, 2026 | stampin' tools

Stampin’ Up!’s new Stampin’ Positioner is the latest in a long line of practical and innovative Stampin’ tools! We are super excited to have a stamp positioning tool back in the Stampin’ Up! inventory and this one is exceptional.

With its spring loaded design, the stamp sits above the paper until you press on the plate and bring the stamp in touch with the cardstock, which makes this design ideal for this card technique!

When you are making a card with a repeating design – it is imperative to place the stamp in an exact position and be able to re-stamp if the image is not perfect. Placement is key for this type of project and this spring loaded board delivers!

Measurements:
BASE: Granny Apple Green CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scraps for masking

Place the Basic White CS layer on the bed of the Stampin’ Positioner and place the two magnets down on the paper to hold the paper in place.
Attach the floral stamp onto the Stamp Positioner plate – make sure that it is hovering over the cardstock layer exactly where you would like to have the stamped image.
Ink up the stamp and press down on the sring loaded plate to stamp the image.
Remove the plate and if the image did not stamp properly you can ink again and stamp in the same spot.

If the stamp if complete rotate the paper and place the plate with the stamp over the paper – adjust the paper if the stamp will not stamp in the place that you would like it to be.

Take the masks that you pre-stamped and pre-cut and place one over the stamped image to protect it from the stamp and ink.

Once the second stamp is placed and stamped rotate the paper and mask the image closest to where the new stamp will be.

Place the plate back on the positioner and make sure that when it is stamped it will be in the right place.

Ink up the stamp and press down to stamp, remove the mask and rotate the paper for the last stamp to complete the wreath shape.

For this last stamp placement you will m=need two masks one for the left and right stamped images – cover with the masks, make sure that the stamp is hovering over the place you would like to stamp it. Ink up the stamp and press down on the spring loaded platform plate.
Remove the layer from the Stampin’ Positioner and using blending brushes color the flowers in Poppy Parade ink.
Color the leaves and the outer edges of the layer in Granny Apple Green ink with a blending brush.
Adhere the Basic White CS layer to the Granny Apple Green CS base.
Adhere three embellishments – I used some retired embellishments from the holiday mini but there are many current ones that would look excellent with this card like the Sparkle Dot Essentials!

This Stampin’ Positioner is a great tool to add to your Stampin’ Supplies. Now it’s your turn to create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Beautiful Motifs Bundle (English) [ 165206 ]
[165206]
$45.75
Beautiful Motifs Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 165198 ]
[165198]
$18.00
Gallery Blooms Bundle [ 165213 ]
[165213]
$53.00
Gallery Blooms Photopolymer Stamp Set [ 165211 ]
[165211]
$19.00
Basic White 8 1/2
[166780]
$14.00
Granny Apple Green 8-1/2
[146990]
$14.00
Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [ 147095 ]
[147095]
$9.00
Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147050 ]
[147050]
$9.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Blending Brushes Storage [ 160519 ]
[160519]
$16.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Beautiful Motifs Dies [ 165205 ]
[165205]
$33.00
Gallery Blooms Dies [ 165212 ]
[165212]
$40.00
Sparkle Dot Essentials [ 166991 ]
[166991]
$8.00
more color mondays – blueberry bushel, berry burst, and crushed curry

more color mondays – blueberry bushel, berry burst, and crushed curry

by | Mar 16, 2026 | card samples, color challenge, Designer Series Paper, fun fold, more color mondays, online exclusives, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s More Color Monday color challenge was a bit of a mistake I picked the colors and had a card deign in mind using the Homemade Sweetness Designer Series Paper but these colors do not directly appear in the DSP color listing. I had already announced this color challenge last week and did not want to change anything so I went with it! Hopefully this will show you all that even if you do not have all the colors that are in the DSP you can still design cards that work well with the Paper!

I saw this fun fold design on a fellow demonstrator’s website that is in my sideline and she is super creative always an inspiration – thanks Susan C.

This fun fold is called the Peek Through Diamonds fun fold and although I used cut outs from the DSP that were a little larger than I wanted and you cannot see the peek through as I intended my card turned out OK – sometime a card you design is just not your favorite! And that is ok – some one will love it!

Measurements:
BASE: Crushed Curry CS: 5 1/2″ x 11″
cut off 2″ score at 1″, 1 1/2″, 2″, 6 1/4″, 6 3/4″
and 7 1/4″
Blueberry Bushel CS: 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, (3) 1 1/8″
squares
Berry Burst CS: 1 7/8″ x 5 1/2″ embossed
(3) 1 1/4″ squares
DSP: 1 3/4″ 5 1/2″, and 2″ x 5 1/2″ and scraps
for cut outs
Basic White CS: (3) 1″ squares

Mount the three Basic White squares to the Blueberry Bushel squares and then mount to the largest Berry Burst squares.
Cut the Base cardstock at 2″ to make the base 5 1/2″ x 9″. Score at 1″, 1 1/2″, and 2″ to make an accordian fold on the left side of the card base and then score at 6 1/4″, 6 3/4″ and 7 1/4″ to make an accordian fold on the right-hand side of the card.

Lay the 2″ piece on the right-hand side for spacing purposes and adhere the blueberry bushel gingham DSP to the opening on the inside of the card base.

The flap on the right-hand side of the card will be on the inside of the card – it looks like it is the outside piece but it is not.

Adhere the DSP to this inside flap.

Decide which cut outs to place on top, middle and bottom of the diamonds and then adhere glue dots on the back of each side point of the diamonds.
Place the 2″ Crushed Curry layer that you cut off of the base card over the DSP flap and adhere the glue dots one to the left hand flap and to the 2″ layer on the right-hand side. Line up the top of the diamond with the top of the inside of the card so it does not stick out further than the card dimensions.
I decided the right-hand flap looked to plain so I added the Berry Burst layer and embossed it with the Ladybug Picnic 3D embossing folder.
Adhere the other diamonds first to the sides of the card, then to the one above or below with glue dots.

I added a small strip of Blueberry Bushel CS to the left-hand flap to add more color.

I added three Pearlized Faceted Circles to the card for a little sparkle! The card is complete!

Try this fun fold it’s easy and with a fun peek through to see more of your Designer Series Paper. Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Homemade Sweetness Suite Collection (English) [ 167481 ]
[167481]
$96.00
Filled With Sweetness Bundle (English) [ 167475 ]
[167475]
$56.50
Filled With Sweetness Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 167469 ]
[167469]
$24.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 144243 ]
[144243]
$14.00
Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146968 ]
[146968]
$14.00
Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 131199 ]
[131199]
$14.00
Homemade Sweetness 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [ 167467 ]
[167467]
$12.50
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Blending Brushes Storage [ 160519 ]
[160519]
$16.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Filled With Sweetness Dies [ 167474 ]
[167474]
$39.00
Pearlized Faceted Circles [ 166978 ]
[166978]
$8.00
celebrate spring february 2026 paper pumpkin alternate pop up card

celebrate spring february 2026 paper pumpkin alternate pop up card

by | Mar 13, 2026 | card samples, out of the box stamping, paper pumpkin/kit collection alternatives, paper pumpkin/kits collection, stamps ink paper, techniques

We were asked to bring an alternative Paper Pumpkin card to OnStage 2026 and this is my submission. Part of joining together at convention is to share ideas and it will be fun to see the creativity that will be on display. At the end of this post I will have some photos of some of the other submissions on display!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty in Pink CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Various pieces from the Celebrate Spring
February 2026 Paper Pumpkin
Chip Board

I used the card front from card #3 in the February 2026 Paper Pumpkin CXelebrate Spring kit and cut it down to 4″ square.
Stamp the bottom edge of this 4″ square layer with the Happy Easter from the Celebrate Spring stamp set in the kit in Shy Shamrock ink (also provided in the Paper Pumpkin kit)

I placed Stampin’ Dimensionals on it to pop it up to be able to put a slide mechanism underneath it.

I cut pieces of chip board I have saved from the packages of 12 x 12 papers I have purchased over the years.
I cut 2 pieces of each of these sizes: 1/2″ x 3 3/4″ and 1/2″ x 2″, and glued the smaller sections to the front and back of the bunny die cut from card #1 in the kit.
I adhered one of the longer pieces to the top edge of the 4″ square.
I removed all of the release papers from the four Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the 4″ square and placed Tear-n-Tape to the backside of the chip board, slip the bunny under the top chip board bar, remove the release paper from the Tear-n-Tape and adhered the square to the bottom of the card front.
(I later realized that I needed to place another piece of chip board at the bottom of this piece to stop the bunny from falling out the bottom! So you should do this step now instead of waiting for my fixing of my oversight LOL)
I cut a strip of 1/2″ x 6″ Pretty in Pink cardstock and slid the bunny all the way up and adhered this strip to the bunny’s back. This will be the pull mechanism to slide the bunny up and down to “pop” out of the Easter Basket!

At this point as I was moving the mechanism for the bunny I realized there was not a bottom stop point and that the bunny could be pushed below the card front piece so I lifted up the 4″ square and adhered another piece pf chip board to the bottom edge of the 4″ square to have a stopper for the slider mechanism!

I decorated the card front with the Easter Basket die from card #3 and the eggs die cut from the same card, i adhered it above the printed flowers so that the edges of the eggs were covering the top of the square.

I cut a banner edge on the Pretty in Pink strip that is the slider mechanism and wrote PULL on the slider tab!

Pull the slider tab and the bunny peeks out at your Easter Card Recipient – so stinking cute!

Hope you enjoyed this February 2026 Celebrate Spring Paper Pumpkin alternative card.

Below are some photos of the alternative projects shared at OnStage!

I hope you have a great day creating today – now it’s your turn to go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Celebrate Spring Paper Pumpkin Refill [ 168627 ]
[168627]
$13.50
Basic White 8 1/2
[166780]
$14.00
Pretty In Pink 8 1/2
[163793]
$14.00
Shy Shamrock Classic Stampin Pad [ 163808 ]
[163808]
$9.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Blending Brushes Storage [ 160519 ]
[160519]
$16.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Paper Pumpkin Subscription [ 166815 ]
[166815]
$27.00
Paper Pumpkin 3 Month Subscription [ 166816 ]
[166816]
$81.00
Paper Pumpkin 6 Month Subscription [ 166817 ]
[166817]
$162.00
Paper Pumpkin 12 Month Subscription [ 166818 ]
[166818]
$324.00
creating unforgettable details in card making or scrapbooking

creating unforgettable details in card making or scrapbooking

by | Mar 11, 2026 | card samples, embossing folders, more than a card, my favorites, out of the box stamping, scrapbooking, stamps ink paper, techniques

Sometimes creating something special for a card or a scrapbooking page makes that piece memorable or a little extra special.

This week I am going to be at our national convention called OnStage 2026 and I created a bunch of swap cards for the event.

We are expected to use only current products and current colors, so I modified a card I did a few weeks ago and instead of using Designer Series Paper to create the beach blanket in my beach scene I wanted to create a beach blanket made out of background paper that I made.

I looked through my embossing folder as I knew that I wanted to add texture on top of whatever background design I created and decided that the Beautiful Patterns would be a great choice to mimic a blanket texture and design!

I wanted to do matching colors for the card I had designed so I started with Crumb Cake and Balmy Blue inks and did a watercolor wash striped design on our Basic White Cardstock alternating with two wide brushes from our Water Painters three brush sets.

I then dipped my very wet brush into the lid of the stampin’ pad filled with ink refill dots of ink and tapped the side of the brush with my bone folder over the watercolored paper to create a splatter effect.
I decided that the Beautiful Pattern 3D embossing folder would create a nice embossed design over the paper, so I ran it through our Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the BASE #1 and Embossing #4 Plates.
I cut the 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ embossed layers into
1 1/2″ strips.
Then I cut the 1 1/2″ strips into 2″ segments so I created a little rectangular blanket shape.
I took our knife edged scissors which unfortunately are no longer for sale – but use a sharp scissors to cut small fringe across the short edges on both sides.
I added the blanket to the sand of my beach scene card!
Then I proceeded to make 99 more! LOL – now I am ready to swap!

Cannot wait to show you all the great cards I will be trading for in the next coming days! I will have all of them on display at this month’s Stamp-a-Stack class on the 23rd!

Make sure that you RSVP!

Now I am off to visit and stamp with new and old friends – hope you are getting to do the same! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Rolling Waves Bundle (English) [ 167145 ]
[167145]
$51.25
Rolling Waves Photopolymer Stamp Set [ 167142 ]
[167142]
$20.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 146982 ]
[146982]
$14.00
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 120953 ]
[120953]
$14.00
Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147105 ]
[147105]
$9.00
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147116 ]
[147116]
$9.00
Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (Imperial) [ 163987 ]
[163987]
$60.00
Paper Trimmer
[152392]
$28.00
Bone Folder
[102300]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal
[152813]
$8.00
Stampin' Seal+
[149699]
$12.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
[110755]
$6.00
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Blending Brushes [ 153611 ]
[153611]
$15.00
Blending Brushes Storage [ 160519 ]
[160519]
$16.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Rolling Waves Dies [ 167144 ]
[167144]
$37.00
Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels [ 158987 ]
[158987]
$7.50