creativity now fun

creativity now fun

Back on June 22nd, Stampin’ Up! hosted an event open to all demonstrators called Creativity Now. One of the objectives for this event was to have fun stamping virtually with other demonstrators from around the world and to give us a sneak peak into some of the new products and sets that would be coming in the upcoming September to December 2024 mini catalog!
One of my downline, Robyn joined me to watch the virtual broadcast and create all of the projects along with all of the guest demonstrator presenters!
The sneak peak set from the upcoming mini catalog is called Wintry Tree Tops Bundle and features a gorgeous set of wintry stamps and coordinating dies.
Join me in this sneak peak look at this great new set!
It is always fun to create but doing it with a friend is even better. Robyn and I listened to the presentations and crafted together and made all of the projects!
The first project shown below used the gorgeous frame die in Basic Grey as a background over a Misty Moonlight card base and colored in the bird stamp with watercolor pencils!
One of the Bonus projects used the Nests of Winter Suite collection DSP. We fussy cut out lovely birds from the upcoming Designer Series Paper called Nests of Winter and used the frame again but this time we cut the die out of Shaded Spruce cardstock for a totally different look!
It is hard to see in the photo but the crumb cake layer is embossed with the new Birch Wood 3D embossing folder and it adds so much to the background!
The next project shown features the double bird stamp also colored with watercolor pencils, die cut and layered onto Crumb Cake cardstock layer that is adhered to a Early Espresso card base.
This scalloped gift box was decorated with a smear of Metallic Enamel Effects Basics and then we added the sprigs in a wreath arrangement and we added Iridescent Pearls as the berries.
The second bonus card used some additional Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper as the background and the Wintry Sprigs in the foreground.
The last card I have to show you used the negative die of the frame as a mask! This created a unique background – I really like the way this mask created a great background from something many would just thrown away!
Creativity Now is a fun perk of being a demonstrator! Looking for a fun community? People to craft with? I would love to have you join us on the next creative retreat! If you would like to know anything about what we do and the many ways to do this art of papercrafting whether as a customer or a new team member do not hesitate to contact me for additional information.

Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

pocket gift card

pocket gift card

These pocket gift card holders are super easy and I could not stop making different versions of them because they are so useful and well – EASY!
Measurements:
Card #1
Base: Early Espresso 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Wildly Flowering DSP: 4” x 12” – cut off 1 ½” x 4”
Score large piece at 1 ¼” x 5 ¼”
Early Espresso: inside card matte 3 ½” x 5”
Wild Wheat: inside card 3 ¼” x 4 ¾”
Basic White: Scrap for the sentiment piece
Card #2
Base: Berry Burst 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Dainty Flowers DSP: 4” x 12” – cut off 1 ½” x 4”
Score large piece at 1 ¼” x 5 ¼”
Berry Burst: inside card matte 3 ½” x 5”
Basic White: inside card 3 ¼” x 4 ¾”
Scrap for the sentiment piece
Adhere the Wild Wheat piece of card stock to the Early Espresso smaller cardstock piece.
Ink the sentiment in Early Espresso and stamp in the center at the top so it is visible when tucked in to the pocket.
Cut a 1 1/2″ piece off the 4″ x 12″ piece of DSP. Score at 1 1/4″ and 5 1/2″.
Take the 1 1/2″ x 4″ and adhere the piece to the backside careful to only adhere the edges of the sides and bottom forming a gift card pocket.
Fold the DSP at the 5 1/2″ score line and then fold at the 1 1/4″ score line the opposite way.
Wrap ribbon around 1 1/2″ DSP fold and knot the ribbon over the turned down DSP.
Adhere the backside of the DSP and place it onto the 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ cardstock.
Die cut a scrap of Basic White and stamp a sentiment onto the Spotlight on Nature with Early Espresso ink. Loop a strand of Crumb Cake Twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack through the die cut holes on the circle die and through the ribbon knot.
Slip the pocket card into the DSP pocket.
Place Adhesive-backed Neutral sequins on the pocket card and the sentiment piece.
Such a fun way to give a gift card!

I started playing with this design with some old Sale-a-bration designer series paper Dainty Flowers Sale-a-bration DSP.

Cut the 1 1/2″ piece from the 4″ x 12″ DSP piece.
Fold the DSP piece in hlaf at the 5 1/2″ score line fold the 1 1/4″ score line down the opposite way.
Wrap the ribbon around the folded down DSP and knot it.
Adhere the DSP piece to the 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ base of Berry Burst cardstock.
Adhere the Basic White cardstock piece to the smaller Berry Burst piece. Ink the Basic White piece with the sentiment in the upper center Basic White cardstock.
Adhere the 1 1/2″ DSP piece to the back of the pocket card. Only adhere the sides and bottom to the backside of the bottom of the pocket card.
Die cut a scrap of Basic White from the Spotlight on Nature dies. Stamp the sentiment onto the die piece. Tie a section of white twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack around the ribbon.
Here is a picture of the pocket card and and the pocket that it fits in.
Fit the pocket card into the pocket DSP.
Place Pastel Adhesive-Backed Sequins on the card and the gift card holder is done.

Now go and try this unique and easy pocket gift card holder and create some of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

for the guys swap cards

for the guys swap cards

Usually once a year in our demonstrator swap we do a guys swap and last month was our time to think of masculine ideas for cards. This is always one of the most challenging swaps for me to design for and it is a challenge for many of you as well! You are not alone so be comforted that we are all challenged on these designs and that I have several fun ideas for you to use for your future guy card needs!

My first card is from Veronica S and is for your male dog lover and is a simple stamped card using the single Doggone Friendly background stamp and a sentiment, stamped on Basic White with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Mounted on a Basic Black card stock base and a few Iridescent pearls and Gingham ribbon for some embellishments!

My next guy swap card is for your outdoorsman! This card from Kathi D features a Mossy Meadow base and layer die cut from the In The Grove die set over the gorgeous new Thoughtful Journey 6″ x 6″ scenic DSP to create a lovely and easy card!
Using Copper Clay DSP lends a masculine feel for this guy swap card from Andrea U. She used the retired Circle Sayings stamp set for this Book Bind fun fold swap card!
This fun guy swap card was designed by swap organizer, Denise W and features the Online exclusive Heartfelt Hexagon punch bundle with the carryover DSP Countryside Inn for a great masculine birthday card!
Do you have a motorcycle guy that you know and love? This great guy card from Lori V features the Legendary Ride dies with the Grassy Grove stamp set and dies in the background using Basic Beige ink and mounted on Basic Beige cardstock base.
Marcy W’s guy swap card features the Quiet Reflections and Notes of Nature stamp sets, the retired Foursquare Masks, Petic Expressions and Meadering Meadows DSPs and Thoughtful Expressions dies.
Trusty Tools stamp set and dies make this detailed Love you card such a creative and masculine way to say the four letter word, designed by Marie W for our guy swap.
Do you have a guy in your life that loves to fish?
I do my brother-in-law and this will be the perfect Father’s Day card fro him! Lyn L’s guy swap card used a 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of Gone Fishing DSP sliced down the middle about 1 1/2″ and bent on a diagonal to form a collar – so easy and cute! Just pay attention to the direction of the DSP if there is one – OOPS!
Hopefully Keith will not notice – LOL!
Judith P’s guy swap card is such a fun birthday card featuring the retired Hey Chuck bundle!
The Online Exclusives bundle Fluffiest Friends and the Grove Dies for the background creates a woodland scene for the out of doors guy in your life from Vickie G. Use the edge of your Stampin’ Snips to create that distressed edge on the Crumb Cake layer!
This last swap card reminds me of my childhood summers growing up near Presque Isle park in Erie, Pennsylvania! This will make a perfect birthday card for my father – whose birthday is today! Thanks to Susan W for this great swap card idea using the Beside Me stamp set which is awesome for all types of masculine cards and Under the Moon new in this current catalog!
My card for this swap I highlighted back on More Color Mondays April 22nd post featured the awesome new suite Take to the Sky Suite which is the best new masculine set in my opinion!
So when you sit down to create those precious works of art do not forget about those special guys in your life – they love to be appreciated and thought about! Now go create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Grove Dies
[157844]
$39.00
happy world baking day planted paradise out of the box stamping

happy world baking day planted paradise out of the box stamping

Did you know that today is World Baking Day – I love to make chocolate chip cookies and make a batch of my pan cookies for my open houses a few times a year as well as for my family more often. I wanted to make a cookie card for World Baking Day, so I starting looking over all of my stamps to see if I had anything that I could use for a cookie shape.

One of the cool types of stamps we have are the reversible stamps. Able to use both sides there are distinct advantages to this type of two-step stamping style.

During a past demonstrator only event I received the Planted Paradise stamp set – this is one of our reversible stamp sets and there were a few possibilities in this set!
One of the pots looked like a flattened Chocolate Chip cookie and I could use a tip of the foliage for a chip like shape.

Measurements:
Base: Early Espresso CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
scrap for the sentiment pieces
Basic White CS: 4″ X 5 1/4″
scrap for the sentiments

Using the rounded pot on the reversible smooth side, stamp in Crumb Cake ink along the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer. Stamp with the flat side at the edges of the layer, stamp multiple images on the Basic White layer.
Stamp the tip of the pointed single leaf in Early Espresso ink and stamp chip like images on the rounded Crumb Cake images.
Stamp several Yum Yum words from the Ice Cream Swirls on scrap paper.
Cut the words apart and adhere to scraps of Early Espresso cardstock.
Stamp “Hope your day is sweet” sentiment from the Ice Cream Swirls stamp set in between the cookie images.
Adhere the Basic White CS layer to the Early Espresso cardstock base.
Adhere the Yum Yum sentiments around the cookie images randomly around the card front.
I added embellishments to finish off this fun out of the box stamping with the Planted Paradise stamp set.
Here are a couple more traditional cards with this delightful set.
Try using your stamp sets in unique ways or more traditional – but now it’s your turn to create some art work of your own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’,
Natalie

delicate wings paper pumpkin alternatives

delicate wings paper pumpkin alternatives

What a great new Paper Pumpkin arrived for April! Have you seen the Delicate Wings kit? It is an all-inclusive kit that includes everything to make 9 cards and envelopes according to the printed instructions or so much more if you make alternatives!
Today’s blog post is all about Paper Pumpkin alternatives!

Here is a photo of the instruction sheet.

Below are all of the contents of the kit and the cards that it will make if following the included instruction sheet.
There is also an add-on package with four coordinating dies a shaped sentiment die, the word thanks, and a butterfly outline and inside detailed die! Such a cool add-on!
One of the great things about this kit is that the cards are printed on the front and back so if you cut them apart and add them to additional cardstock you can double the cards right off the bat! This first alternative card I used a half sheet of one of the card bases (Basic Gray background with butterflies in gold foiling). I adhered that piece to a basic White cardstock base. I cut the envelope apart and used the printed flap as the side piece and matted it onto Basic White cardstock scrap. I adhered one of the colored butterfly punch outs to the upper left hand side of the card and stamped one of the sentiments onto a sentiment piece.
I added Iridescent Rhinestones to finish this card off!
The second alternative card uses a New Basic Colored cardstock called Basic Beige – I really like this new neutral it will be great paired with almost any other color – I would venture to say!
I ran the envelope of Basic Beige through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine and used a small piece behind a quarter sheet of the Lost Lagoon base card. I popped up the Basic Beige large butterfly die cut and added a sentiment and embellishments for an easy and dynamic card!
For my third alternative card I used the embossed envelope piece and cut it in two parts and used a small piece of the Basic Grey card in between the two embossed envelope pieces! I added a Spotlight on Nature die cut for the stamped butterfly image in Basic Grey ink and stamped another envelope scrap for the sentiment. I added three butterfly small die cuts and embellishments to finish card #3!
Starting with a Basic Beige cardstock base for #4 alternative card I added a 1/2 sheet of the Lost Lagoon card piece and cut it down to 4″ x 5 1/4″ (save the scraps for lining the inside pieces!) and I used the middle pieces just like the instructions say to layer them and added them on top of the Lost Lagoon foiled layer. I added Iridescent Rhinestones and card 4 is done.
Alternative card 5 features another Basic Beige cardstock base and a 1/4 of the Lost Lagoon foiled card as a band across the center. I added a sentiment to the butterfly layer and added two small butterfly die cuts and rhinestones to the mix to set this card to fabulous! card #5 is done!
I used one of the diagonal pieces behind the Basic Beige butterfly partial cut out piece and mounted that onto the gold foil layer. I added four 1/4″ strips of the envelope flap gold foiled butterfly image to the base of Basic Beige, I added three Iridescent Rhinestones – I love the speckled image under the butterfly cut out!
Alternative Card 7 used half of a Lost Lagoon card base mounted onto a Wild Wheat card base. I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey ink onto one of the sentiment circle die cuts and added two butterfly cut outs and three rhinestones to complete the card!
For the last of this batch of alternative Paper Pumpkin cards I used a Basic Grey card base and added a 2 5/8″ x 5 1/2″ piece of the Basic Grey and gold foiled butterfly card base. I moounted the diagonal piece to the card base and then adhered the Basic Grey layer over that. I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap sentiment die cut I had laying around and stamped the little butterfly from the set onto the Basic Beige circle die and popped both of those up on Stampin’ Dimensionals! I added rhinestones for the final touch and that concludes and paper Pumpkin alternative cards for now, although I think I will be making more very soon!!

Hope you enjoyed these simple stamping alternative cards! Now it’s your turn – go create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie