virtual album retreat

virtual album retreat

Imagine an online scrapbooking event where you can create a beautiful album that celebrates your milestones and memories, cultivate scrapbooking techniques, connect with a friendly community of crafters, and finish feeling inspired with a keepsake you’ll be proud to display.

Are you interested?

Then join us to turn your cherished moments into lasting memories—right from the comfort of your home at the Happiness Is Here Virtual Album Retreat! Held on April 29–May 1, 2026, we’ll start the Facebook live stream at 12:00 p.m. each day.

I will also be opening up my studio for all the the broadcast times as well! And offering two additional 2 page bonus spreads with your purchase!

This kit is your all-access pass to the three-day virtual scrapbooking retreat filled with:

– Creative inspiration: Discover new scrapbooking techniques and hone your crafting skills.
– Expert guidance: Follow step-by-step instructions from experienced instructors to complete your album with ease.
– Community and fun: Connect with fellow crafters, share your progress, and enjoy a supportive atmosphere.
– Memory making: Create a beautiful 10-spread (20-page) album that tells your unique story.

By purchasing this product, you’ll be able to attend Stampin’ Up!’s Virtual Album Retreat, a three-day Facebook event full of crafting and fun. Ask your demonstrator or visit the Virtual Album Retreat event page to learn more.

EVENT DETAILS
– What: Three-day virtual scrapbooking album retreat
– Date: April 29–May 1, 2026
– Start time: 12:00 p.m. (EST)
– Place: Online in a private Facebook group
– How: Purchase this Happiness Is Here Virtual Album Retreat 2026 kit; then once you receive the kit, scan the kit’s QR code to join the private Facebook group

KIT DETAILS #168051 $250.00 (earn $25 in Stampin’ Rewards!
Includes components needed to create 10 scrapbook spreads (excluding adhesive, ink, and tools) as listed below:
– Happiness Is Here Stamp Set
– Happiness Is Here Alphabet Stamp Set
– Golden Glow Shimmer Brush
– White Gel Pen
– Exclusive Designer Series Paper
– Printed precut images and stickers
– Linen Thread
– Moody Palette Glossy Dots
– Photo Placeholders
– 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Top-Load Memory Protectors™ Value Pack
– 4″ x 4″ (10.2 x 10.2 cm) Flip Flaps™

LIVE STREAM MAGIC
– On April 29–May 1, 2026, join us for exciting live stream workshops and presentations by staff from our Riverton office, including Stampin’ Up! CEO Sara Douglass. Gain expert tips, techniques, and tons of inspiration.
– Interact with other participants live and ask questions as we create together.
– Private Facebook group: Connect with fellow crafters, ask questions, share your progress, and get motivated by the amazing community.
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
– Download easy-to-follow instructions and enjoy video replays so you can craft at your own pace. Even if you can’t attend the live event on April 29–May 1, 2026, you can still purchase the kit and access all the materials you’ll need to make the album on your own time.
LANGUAGE
-This kit’s components (stamp sets and precut pieces) are in English only.
– The downloadable instructions are available in English, Dutch, French, and German.
– The live stream will be in English only.
– About a week after the live stream, its recording will be available to watch on demand with Dutch, French, and German captions.
If you come to the Stampin’ Studio all additional supplies will be available to share from my craft room supplies but you are welcome to order any of these additional supplies.

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES LIST (sold separately)
To complete the album, you will need the following supplies on hand:

Ink
– Calypso Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad™ (147101)
– Crushed Curry Classic Stampin’ Pad (147087)
– Garden Green Classic Stampin’ Pad (147089)
– Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin’ Pad (153118)
– Petal Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad (147108)
– Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad (147107)

More Additonal supplies:

Coloring Tools
– Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2 (149014)
– Stampin’ Journaling Pens (166647)
– Blending Brushes (153611)

Adhesives
– Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)
– Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
– Stampin’ Seal (152813)

Additional Supplies:

Tools
– Bone Folder (102300)
– Clear Block B (117147)
– Clear Block C (118486)
– Clear Block D (118485)
– Clear Block F (118483)
– Clear Block H (118490)
– Paper Trimmer (152392)

Other
– Cutting mat or sturdy cardboard *
– Scissors **
– Eraser
– Pencil and pencil sharpener
– Ruler
– Masking tape or sticky notes
– Stamp cleaning supplies

* This mat must fit inside a 12″ x12″ Memory Protector
** In addition to regular cutting, you’ll use the tips of your scissors to cut slits in some of the Memory Protectors. If the tips of your scissors aren’t sharp, you may need a craft knife.

NOTE: This kit does not include an album, but it’s not necessary to make your spreads. If you’d like to keep all your finished spreads in one place and you don’t currently have an album, consider purchasing either the 1-1/2″ Post 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Album (166515) or the D-Ring 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Album (166516).

I hope you will join us for this exciting album retreat!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – bubble bath, pretty in pink and secret sea

more color mondays – bubble bath, pretty in pink and secret sea

More Color Mondays today features Bubble Bath, Pretty in Pink and Secret Sea – in the Beach Boardwalk DSP pack there is a palm tree design which is super easy to make cards with – it has a border of palm trees on a bottom and top border – if you cut that page 5 1/4″ from the top and 5 1/4″ from the bottom edge you get two 12″ strips of palm trees – cut those again into 4″ pieces and you can make 6 of these cards from one sheet with paper from the middle to decorate the envelopes or the inside of the card!

Measurements:
BASE: Secret Sea CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
DSP: 4″ x 6″ cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″ save the extra for
inside decoration
Bubble Bath CS: 1/2″ strip
Pretty in Pink CS: 1/2″ strip

Cut the DSP into 4″ x 6″ pieces and then cut 3/4″ off the 6″ side.

Score the base card at 5 1/2″, adhere the Basic White layer to the inside of the card and adhere the 3/4″ x 4″ strip to the bottom of the Basic White layer. I reversed the pattern and used the B side for the inside decor.

I stamped Fun in the Sun from the Beach Time scrapbooking set in Pretty in Pink ink on the Bubble Bath cardstock strip. I stamped the sun image at the end of the sentiment. I tore the right-hand edge and adhered that strip to the Pretty in Pink cardstock strip. I offset the strips and tore the right-hand edge of the bottom strip to match the one on top!

I added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the sentiment strips.

I adhered the DSP to the card front.

I then adhered the sentiment strip with Dimensionals over the DSP.

I added Pearlized Faceted Circles around the sentiment and this simple but awesome card is complete. When you have Designer Series Paper this nice it is so easy to make lovely cards!

Try a pack of our gorgeous DSP today and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

swirled designs z fold card in 2 colors

swirled designs z fold card in 2 colors

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

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

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

celebrate spring february 2026 paper pumpkin alternate pop up card

celebrate spring february 2026 paper pumpkin alternate pop up card

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

creating unforgettable details in card making or scrapbooking

creating unforgettable details in card making or scrapbooking

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