january demonstrator swap cards

january demonstrator swap cards

I love swapping with others and getting new ideas – it can be a different color combination, a unique fun fold or a stamp set I do not own but all of the new ideas that come in the mail are so much fun! Isn’t it fun to get happy mail in your postal box, not just bills? LOL

Today’s post was supposed to go out yesterday and I got waylaid with a million other projects which seems like the norm anymore! But better late than never seems to be my motto these days!

Today’s first card comes all the way from the midwest from Ginger S. and is a host of monochromatic blues on the outside with an Unbridled Beauty surprise on the inside! It uses the Allin a Row embossing folder and the Nature Walk DSP. She even stamped the envelope with a horse!

Patty J’s card is a lovely masculine card featuring the outgoing Last Chance stamp set Autumn Tree’s deer and the sentiment from the Nature’s Symphony stamp set. The DSP is a mix of Nature Walk and the Last Chance Timeless Plaid DSP.
This next card from Jeanne T is a lovely floral design made with Floral Charm DSP and the Beautifully Celebrated Bundle of products.
Denise W’s swap card features the Easter time Mix & Match ephemera pack, the Splash of Sparkles Specialty DSP and the Softest Spring Puffy Stickers for the floral embellishment. The Sentiment is from the Woolly Friends stamp set. Such a sweet card that comes together fast with the Mix & match pack.
The next three swaps are 3D fun folds and they deliver with a BANG!

The first uses the Nature’s Symphony Suite of products and an easel card fun fold with a 3M sticky pad to hold the easel upright such a cute desk calendar idea from Andrea U.

The second project uses the same DSP Nature Walk and the Exploring Nature stamp set for the sentiment, exposed Brick 3D embossing folder and Pressed Flower motif embellishments, Beautiful Motifs die set and a tearing technique for the sentiment piece from Marie W for a lovely gender neutral easel card fun fold!
This last 3D calendar card uses the Boardwalk Fun Bundle and the Beach Boardwalk DSP for a super fun and summer-y tent fold 3D project from Lori V.
The last card that I received is from Kathi D and uses my new favorite bundle – Rolling Waves for a gorgeous monochromatic card using a technique I detailed a layering circles card from November 17, 2025. Go back and learn how to make this fun technique! Rolling Waves is a pre-order for the new Online exclusives release so it will be available to order in March!

I really do love learning how to make new and beautiful cards and other’s ideas can elevate your own game! Hope I inspired you to try some different card making techniques! Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
more color mondays – cloud cover, fresh freesia and highland heather

more color mondays – cloud cover, fresh freesia and highland heather

For today’s More Color Mondays Color Challenge I pulled from last week’s Sketch Challenge #110 and did a simple card using the Florals in Bloom Designer Series Paper which features pretty floral designs in Bubble Bath, Cloud Cover, Darling Duckling, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green, Peach Pie, Petunia Pop, Pretty In Pink, Secret Sea, Shy Shamrock, Strawberry Slush, Summer Splash, Timid Tiger

I picked the Cloud Cover striped B side of one of the choices of Designer Series paper and a complementary floral pattern for the two DSP pieces!

Measurements:
BASE: Cloud Cover CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″ and 2″ x 3 3/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Fresh Freesia CS: scrap for the sentiment die
Highland Heather CS: 2″ x 3 3/4″
DSP: (2) 1 3/4″ x 3 1/2″

PLace the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White layer in the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder. Place the folder in the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the #1 base platform and the #4 embossing plate. Emboss the layer.
Adhere the Cloud Cover striped DSP piece to the Cloud Cover matte.

Adhere the floral piece to the Highland Heather matte.

Pick a sentiment from The Right Words stamp set and pick a suitably sized Spotlight on Nature circle die.

Stamp the sentiment onto a Fresh Freesia scrap
and die cut with the Spotlight on Nature die using the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the #1 base, #2 thin die adaptor plate and 2 cutting plates #3’s.

Using the Highland Heather ink and a blending brush color the edges with the ink.

Adhere the Basic White layer to the card base leaving even borders.

Adhere the Cloud Cover DSP piece vertically to the left side of the White embossed layer leaving an even border on the left-hand side.

I adhered the floral DSP layer perpendicular to the Cloud Cover piece positioning it higher on the card so that I could adhere the sentiment piece below and at their junction of the the pieces forming a triangular shape which is appealing to the eye!
Pop up the sentiment piece onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and place in the junction of the two DSP pieces.
I added three Purple Fine Shimmer Gems to finish off the card.

Sketches are a simple way to find your card or project inspiration – try picking out a card sketch today and design a card or scrapbook page from the sketch design! Go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

april guy swap

april guy swap

I hear from customers that the card ideas they struggle with the most are for guy or masculine cards! At least once a year our demonstrator swap group – shares masculine card ideas as it is one of the most requested types of designs!

Last month we did a card swap for the guys and these are the cards we all came up with!

My first sample swap card is from Lori V and she did a black and white Criss Cross fun fold card featuring the One More Year stamp set (#164777) that is still available on the Last Chance List.

My second swap card features the Layering Leaves stamp set which was on the Last Chance list and is now sold out and the Bough Punch (#157711) which is currently on the Last Chance list but is unavailable but they are asking interested customers to sign up for notification once the punch comes back in stock!
This swap card by Marie W. uses the Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder on Black cardstock and the Layering Leaves stamped in Old Olive and punched out and popped up on Dimensionals through a window cut out in th embossed layer – so clever!
Carrollann A cased a Rachel Tessman card from Stamp Your Art out .com for this Storybook Moments suite card using the Timeless plaid DSP. The lovely frame die cut on the card front came from the Storybook Friends Dies (#164674) and the Timeless Plaid DSP (#164678) make for a lovely guy themed card!
This next swap card designed by Judith P features the Bistro Burger bundle which are still available on the Last Chance list and discounted!

#163648
BISTRO BURGER CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH)
Last Chance Item
BISTRO BURGER CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH)
discounted price $18.40
original price $23.00

#163649
Last Chance Item
BISTRO BURGER DIES
discount price $16.80
original price $28.00

This waterfall card featuring the Wooded Acres stamp set was desined by Jeanna T.

#165451
WOODED ACRES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
price $17.00

Carol S’s swap card used Simple Birthday, The Right words and Textured Notes stamp sets.
It also features the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder and the Timeless plaid DSP for a great masculine Birthday card!
This next swap card features a fun surprise pop up feature on the inside of the card and uses the Country Woods DSP and the Simple Birthday large format single stamp by Lyn L.
Kathi D’s swap card comes in a coordinating envelope using the Textured Notes bundle and the Woven Textures DSP as a lovely neutral background for a fabulous guy card vibe!
Andrea U’s swap card features another Last Chance stamp set called Beside Me that is deep discounted! There is a special origami pop out surprise on the inside of the card when you open it up!

#160780
Last Chance Item
BESIDE ME CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH)
Sale Price $13.00 Original Price $26.00

My last swap card is from our swap hostess and one of my uplines in the company – Denise W.
This card conveys simple elegance with the Country Woods DSP and The Right Words sentiment set on the Modern Oval punch!

I hope these guy cards inspired you and gave you a bunch of ideas for the next card you need to make for those special men in your life! No go out and design a guy card for someone special – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$12.00
Bough Punch [ 157711 ]
[157711]
$24.00
humble home double box fun fold

humble home double box fun fold

This Double Box Fun Fold card is super easy once you have the dimensions and what a fun standing 3D card for your favorite person!

Measurements:
BASE Piece #1: Pecan Pie: 9 3/8″ x 4 1/4″
   scored at 3/8″, 1 3/8″, 2 7/8″ and 3 7/8″
BASE Piece #2: Pecan Pie: 3 1/2″ x 5 1/8″
   scored at 3/8″ and 1 3/8″
   scraps for Humble Home punch
Basic Beige CS: 3 3/4″ x 4″
   3 1/4″ x 3 3/4″
Real Red CS: 1 1/4″ x 4″ and (2) 5/8″ x 4″
   scrap for die cut
   1/4″ strip for Humble Home punch for heart

Stamp the Home image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Pecan Pie scrap and punch out home and save the heart as well.

Die cut a medium circle from the Stylish Shapes die set in Real Red CS and stamp the “from our house to yours” in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

Run the Basic Beige smaller piece through the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder.
Run the three Real Real pieces through the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder.
Fold the score lines in as mountain folds and add Tear and Tape to the first and smallest scored panel.
Peel off the release paper from BASE #1 and fold the second score line from the end and attach the Tear and Tape piece to the card base.
If you attach while the paper is folded flat this will put the scored tab with the Tear and Tape in the correct place to allow the card to open and close within the parameters of the envelope size.
Attach the Forever Plaid 3D embossed Real Red pieces to the box panels the two pieces of the same size attach to the side of the box and the larger piece goes on the top panel of the box.
Adhere the Basic Beige embossed piece to the BASE #2 piece.
Place some adhesive on the end opposite the Tear and Tape end to attach to the BASE #1 box.
I placed the piece upside down on Box #1 so that I made sure to only adhere where the end of the piece would meet on Box #1’s surface (you do not want to adhere past the box edge)
Flip over Box #2 and adhere the left hand edge to Box #1.
Peel the release paper from the Tear and Tape, fold over the first two panels and then collapse box #1 and with the first to panels from Box #2 folded to the back – press firmly to secure the Tear and Tape to the card base.
(I decided to add a layer to the card base after doing this step OOPS!! so if you would like a layer under Box #2 do this before adhering the end of Box #2.
I adhered the small Real Red sentiment circle die to the surface of Box #2.
I adhered a Pecan Pie small heart to the Real Red circle die.
Adhere the Humble Home punch house to the card front and I added three Real Red hearts coming out of the chimney.
I decided to add another layer to the card base so I detached BASE #2 and adhered the Basic Beige layer to the card base then reattached BOX #2.
This is a view of the card standing up!
I added three Iridescent Adhesive-Backed Discs to the card front to finish the card off with a little bling!

Try this Double Box tutorial soon with stuff from your own stash and let me know how it turns out!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

new online exclusives  – encircled in nature product review

new online exclusives – encircled in nature product review

Yesterday, Stampin’ Up! released some amazing new stamp sets, dies, bundles and suites in their Online Exclusives promotion. This program was developed to bring you new stamps more frequently than the publication of catalogs will allow! So we have new stuff coming out more frequently – more choices!!
This is one of the stamp bundles that I will be showing you over the next few weeks and it is lovely. A stamp set called Encircled in Nature with a twig wreath and coordinating stamps and dies to make fantastic wreaths and tree scenes and even things outside of the wreath image, flowers and sprigs of leaves and stars and a moon for so many possibilities!

I have tutorial directions for an in depth Z fold card with a watercolor wash background technique and other samples to show the diversity of this year round set!

Measurements for the Tutorial card:
Base: Coastal Cabana CS 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/2 and 2 1/8″
Basic White Layers: (2) 4″ x 5 1/4″
scrap of Pretty Peacock for the die
I started with a E size acrylic block and laid the Coastal Cabana ink pad on the surface of the block to transfer the ink.

I sprayed the surface of the Basic White cardstock layer and the acrylic block with water.
I laid the acrylic block on the center of the Basic White layer and let the ink soak in for a minute.
Pull off the acrylic block and either let the paper dry naturally or if you are in a hurry grab your Heat Tool and dry it heating both the underside of the paper and the surface to help with the paper curling that occurs when the paper is wet.
I stamped the twig wreath stamp image onto the upper center of the watercolor space.
I rotated the image and re-stamped for a thicker twig wreath image.
I stamped the curved tree image in Pretty Peacock and then without re-inking the stamp I stamped the image again to provide a fuller image with more depth.
I stamped the sentiment in the middle of the wreath in Pecan Pie ink like the wreath.
I stamped the stars and moon image in the upper right hand corner in Pretty Peacock ink.
I die cut the solitary tree out of Pretty Peacock scrap and adhered it to the bottom left hand edge of the watercolor square.
I ran that whole layer through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder.
I scored the base card and used a bone folder to crease the score lines.
I added color to the Iridescent Pearls with the Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Blends marker and allowed them to dry.
I added SEAL Adhesive to the front panel.
I added the embossed layer to the front panel and added the Pretty Peacock-colored Iridescent pearls to the card front.
I stamped the single tree in Pretty Peacock ink on the second Basic White layer and adhered it to the inside of the card.
This is the finished Z fold card!
The stamp set comes with 11 stamps 7 image stamps and four sentiments in print and cursive fonts.
The die set comes with 10 dies. two to cut out the inside and outside of the twig branch wreath so you can cut the inside only, outside only or both! Two tree stand alone dies and one tree that cuts out the single tree stamp, one die for the flower stamp, one die for a stand only berry wreath and one die that cuts two pine boughs at once.
Note: I purchase on Amazon full sheets of magnet paper and cut them to size and stick them to the paper that the dies come on – I find it easier to remove them from the magnet sheets instead of the tape that holds them in place on the original paper packaging .
My next card sample uses just a part of the single tree stamp. I stamped in a variety of colors to create a rainbow effect on 1 1/4″ squares matted in black and mounted onto a Real Red card base.
I popped up the sentiment onto Stampin’ Dimensionals and added Black and White Gingham ribbon in a loop under the sentiment.
I added a few sparkle gems to complete the card.
My next card sample used just the flower image and flower die from the bundle in Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green and Gorgeous Grape markers and Highland Heather CS for the dies. I embossed a center panel from the Basics 3D embossing folder pack and added the dies and flowers to the bottom of the card. I added a sentiment, ribbon and Purple Sparkle gems to the card as well.
The wreath is one of the main items in this set and the next two samples use the two different wreaths. This first wreath sample I die cut the stand alone (Meaning the die does not have a stamp that coordinates with it) on Basic White cardstock and colored the branches in Old Olive marker and the berries in Light and Dark Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Blends! Then I die cut the pine boughs in Mossy Meadow CS and added them under the colored wreath for depth and texture. I added a linen twine bow and Iridescent pearls and popped up a sentiment matted in coordinating Cherry Cobbler Cardstock. I adhered the wreath to a Basic White cardstock background embossed with the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder and mounted that onto a Mossy Meadow cardstock base.
I recently finished a swap card for this month’s swap and used the leaf die on the Oxidized Copper DSP and with two passes made four sprigs of gorgeous leaves I glued them into a wreath on another embossed Exposed Brick 3D layer and mounted that onto a Pretty Peacock cardstock base. I stamped the sentiment on the basic White layer before embossing and added Adhesive Backed Seuins Trio in Pretty Peacock coordinating colors to finish the swap card!
My last Sample card uses only the stand alone tree dies in Gorgeous Grape cardstock. I made a cloud background with a mask made from the Basics Borders die set, with Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape blending brushes. I mounted the Basic White layer onto Gorgeous Grape card base with a sentiment and Iridescent Pearls around the wording to finish this elegant and simple card!
Here are six ideas for this new Online Exclusive bundle and that is just the start of the possibilities for this set. Check out the rest of the Online exclusive offerings that just dropped yesterday from a new latte suite to a magnificent Magnolia bundle!

Now go create some art work of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie