demonstrator swap card ideas

demonstrator swap card ideas

This month’s Demonstrator Swap was a potluck swap – so anything current in any catalog or Online Exclusive was available for us to play with and I got some fun cards to show you today!

This first card is from my upline organizer Denise W and she was inspired by the Amazing Tammy Wilson for her watercolor card using the Weekend Adventures stamp set from the Annual Catalog. She stamped the image in Saddle Brown StazON which is waterproof so she was able to stamp and go! She stamped the image on Watercolor paper and then used water Painters to color in the cup and flowers! Such a beautiful job!

My second swap entry was done by Susan W featuring the You Are Remarkable stamp set which is currently on SALE in the Last Chance list for 20% off at $16.00 from $20.00.
She also used the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder and the Textured Notes dies on a z fold fun fold card!
She stamped the inside as well as the envelope!
This Love and Courage stamp set is also on SALE on the Last Chance list for $22.50 down from the original price of $25.

The Love & Courage Stamp Set is made for those affected by breast cancer. For moments when words matter most, these stamps help you create cards that honor both the fighters and the friends who stand by them. Express love, support, encouragement, solidarity, gratitude, and appreciation in a meaningful way with the breast cancer sentiments and images in this stamp set.

With each purchase of the Love & Courage Stamp Set, we’ll donate $3 to support the fight against breast cancer around the world. We hope you’ll join us in making a difference this holiday season.

Patricia J made a lovely swap card with this stamp set! Get it before it is all gone!

This next fun fold card from Lyn L features the gorgeous Thoughtful Journey Designer Series Paper and the sentiment from Notes and Totes!

Love how this opens to reveal this lovely paper inside!

This flip up and open fun fold from Andrea U uses the Festive Friends bundle which was so popular this season it is currently unavailable but it will be back soon!

Look how cute this fun fold opens!

Lori V’s swap card is also on the Last Chance list on SALE for $19.80 if this is more your style.

So elegant and she stamped the inside as well.

This next swap card from Carol S. features a little old, a little new! Our favorite Extraordinary Flora Bundle and Washi Tape is mixed with the Eyelet embossing folder and the Spotlight on Nature dies for the something “old” and the something new is a sneak peak at the sentiment from the upcoming January – April 2026 Mini Catalog bundle Greenery Lane. She also used a stamp from that sneak peak set for some greenery on the envelope which I forgot to photograph!
I don’t know if shows up well in the photograph but Carol colored Antique Pearls with the Petunia Pop Stampin’ Blends markers and they are so pretty!
And our last demonstrator swap card for this month features a sneak peak at the upcoming Boardwalk Fun bundle from Kathi D.

Super cute card and as a reminder none of the sneak peak items are available until January 6th unless you would like to order them in a starter kit as demonstrators are in the pre-order period so these upcoming Mini Catalog sets are available to order as a Starter Kit item.
Because they are not currently available to the general public I will not have a link photo below. But check back after January 6th for those links to order these products!

Hope these cards inspired you for future projects – now go and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

party dies birthday card

party dies birthday card

Today’s card is made with the Party Dies Bundle to fabulous die sets combined for infinite possibilities! The Party Alphabet die set is a large alphabet set perfect for scrapbooking and card making and the Party Banner Dies and so versatile for creating Party Banner signage, cards and scrapbook pages! I already have so many things planned!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″ scraps for die cuts
Strawberry Slush CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer
DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer

Die cut the H and B from the Party Alphabet dies from the Basic White scraps, cut consecutive Party Banners that will fit on the card front from the two layers.

Take and emboss the card front with the UPCOMING All in a row Embossing Folder – a SNEAK PEAK from the upcoming January – April 2026 Mini Catalog!

This embossing folder will be available to see at my Open House coming up in January and will be available for purchase January 6th.

Plan on attending my Open House to get a catalog and see and play with some of the new products coming in the Spring!

Because this is a sneak peak it is only available in a starter kit for now and will not be in the photo links below!

Using my Glass Mat Studio, I taped down the middle of the H and B from the Party Alphabet dies to the glass grid making sure they were even.

I colored the lower halves of the dies with a Blending Brush and Strawberry Slush ink.

Adhere the Party Banner Dies together.
Adhere the Party Banner dies to the embossed card front in the center and then adhere the H and B on top of the banner dies. I reversed the H so that the colored sections were opposite for more visual appeal!
I added In Color Dots to the card in coordinating Strawberry Slush color and outside of the card is complete.
I grabbed the Happy Birthday sentiment from the With You In Mind stamp set and some Tuxedo Black Memento ink and stamped the inside of the card!
I blended left over color from the Blending Brush in an arc over the words for a little extra coordinating color!
This bundle is amazing and if you are a party planner or a scrapbooker worth every dime!

Hope you enjoyed today’s birthday card – now it’s your turn to go and create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

peace on earth christmas card – upcoming mini catalog sneakpeak

peace on earth christmas card – upcoming mini catalog sneakpeak

Starting in September comes a new holiday mini catalog – the September to December 2025 Mini Catalog! I will have copies available at my Open House – Friday, August 22nd 12pm – 3pm and Saturday, August 23rd 9am to 12pm!

This is one of the products we could pre-order and this one was featured in a demonstrator exclusive craft day a few weeks back!

This is a card I designed for the Christmas in July Demonstrator Swap! It features the Peace on Earth bundle along with the Peaceful Greenery 3D embossing folder and a fun technique.

Measurements:
BASE: Secret Sea CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Misty Moonlight CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper: 2″ x 3″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Place the Misty Moonlight layer in the Peaceful Greenery 3D embossing folder and run through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine using the Base plate #1 and the grey embossing plate #4 with the embossing folder sandwiched in between #1 and #4.
Using a direct to paper technique rub Versamark ink onto the edges of the embossed layer.
Using the brush that comes in the Embossing Additions Tool Kit (#159971) $27.00 dip the brush into the Silver embossing powder and then tap the powder from the brush onto the versamark ink covered paper. Heat with the Heat Tool until the embossing powder melts.

(Product Details for the Embossing Additions Tool Kit: Make embossing easier with the Embossing Additions Tool Kit. This kit includes an Embossing Buddy, Powder Pal, Crafting Tweezers, and Crafting Brush. The Embossing Buddy is a small bag of powder. Rub it over your paper before inking and embossing. This ensures the embossing powder stays only where you want it. The Powder Pal is an easy way to catch and funnel excess embossing powder back into its container. Use the Crafting Tweezers to hold items while embossing them. And the Crafting Brush is handy for brushing powder for keeping your paper and work area clean. Keep this kit on hand, and you’ll what you need to keep your embossing neat and tidy.

* Embossing Buddy
* Powder Pal
* Crafting Tweezers
* Crafting Brush)

Stamp the Peace on Earth sentiment in Secret Sea ink in the middle of the embossing folder outlined middle area.
Adhere the embossed layer to the Secret Sea cardstock card base.
Die cut the smaller dove image out of the silver hue Peaceful Garden glimmer paper and two of the stars.

Place it on the card front to see where you would like to adhere the dove.

Adhere the two stars to the right and slightly below the sentiment.
Place Stampin’ Seal + below where the dove will be adhered and fold a 5″ piece of Misty Moonlight and Silver edged ribbon that is part of the Peaceful Garden Suite of products, adhere the ribbon down and then remove the release paper from some Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the dove and adhere over the ribbon.
Adhere some Basic Rhinestone Jewels to the card front.
Stamp wishing you and Peace, Love and Joy in Secret Sea ink to the Basic White layer and adhere to the inside of the card.
The embossing powder dusting gives the edges of the card an antiqued look and enhances the Glimmer paper dove and stars for a gorgeous Christmas card!

This is a lovely set that can be used for so much more than just Christmas! Let me know if you would like a catalog and will not be at my Open House or upcoming Library Card classes and I will get one to you!

Now go and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!
As a reminder since this is a sneak peak and the products are not available until September 3rd for customers the photo links will not be available below.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

create your own shimmer paper cards

create your own shimmer paper cards

We used to carry Shimmery White cardstock and I LOVED IT!! It had this gorgeous sheen to it and a subtle sparkle. Well it retired and if you loved it too there is a way to make your own and the good news is … it’s even more versatile!

If you are not familiar with our Pearlized Enamel Effects there come in two versions and packs of three bottles of lacquer each:

#156310 Pearlized Enamel Effects Basics
$15.00
* 3 bottles: 1 each of 3 colors
* 1 oz. (29.5 g) each
Product colors: Black, Real Red, White Pearl

#161610 Metallic Enamel Effects Basics
$15.00
* 3 bottles: 1 each of 3 colors
* 1 oz. (29.5 g) each
Product colors: Copper, Gold, Silver

You can use this lacquer in so many ways. The small, thin tip makes it easy to outline stamped images or add detail. Draw attention to part of a stamped image. Write and draw shapes such as stars and hearts. Create dots to use on your creations. You will need to allow time for drying.

Did you know you can brush these directly onto cardstock and create a shimmer paper in these six basic colors and add drops of re-inker to them and create many more colors with shimmer!

Measurement Card #1
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
scrap for die cut
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ for painting and die cutting
DSP: 2″ x 4 1/4″ and 2″ x 3 1/2″

Card #2
BASE: Basic White CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ for painting and die cutting
Fresh Freesia CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ for painting and
embossing
Pebbled Path CS: scrap for sentiment piece

I experimented with different colors and different enamel effects to increase the combinations I could achieve!

My first sample I embossed colored cardstock – Fresh Freesia – with a new Beautiful Butterflies embossing folder.

I squeezed a few drops of White Enamel Effects onto a Silicone Mat and using a wet Water Painter I painted that embossed surface with the watered down enamel effects to give it a shimmer! Allow to dry fully before using on a card!
Next I did the same thing on Basic White Paper painted with White Enamel Effects.
For experiment number 3 I used Basic White CS and painted it first with the White Enamel Effects and then painted just the butterfly images with Gold and Copper Enamel Effects.
I die cut the large and small butterfly from the painted metallic butterflies piece.
For the first card I took scraps of the Nature’s Sweetness 12″ x 12″ DSP and took two different patters and a die cut from another sneak peak product the Linked Together Dies. I first arranged them together in a pleasing pattern on a 4 1/4″ x 11″ base cardstock folded in half.
Once I liked the pattern I removed the DSP and die and started to adhere the pieces onto the base.
I adhered the 2″ x 4 1/4″ piece across the bottom of the base card leaving a small border along the bottom of the card base.
Next I adhered the gold foiled cross-hatched patterned DSP in the opposite direction.
I glued the die cut piece from the Linked Together dies set overlapping the two pieces of DSP.
I grabbed a scrap of Copper Clay to draw out the copper shimmer on the butterflies and stamped Time To celebrate in the same Copper Clay ink.
I adhered the sentiment piece overlapping all three previous pieces.
I popped up the large butterflie die from the Beautiful Butterflies bundle and adhered it over the sentiment piece.
I die cut the body of the smaller butterfly out of the white shimmer paper and adhered it onto the top of the detailed die cut butterfly. I then adhered this smaller butterfly below and overlapping the left corner of the sentiment piece.
I adhered 5 brass colored embellishments f( I realized after I adhered them that these embellishments are retired but you could easily substitute the Adhesive-Backed Metallic Gems which come in Copper, Gold and A dark silver/platinum color and are faceted for a beautiful shimmer and shine!
For Card #2 I used the Fresh Freesia cardstock that I painted as the background.

I mixed Berry Burst re-inker into the White Enamel Effects to create a Berry Burst butterfly.
I painted on the Berry Burst enamel onto a sheet of embossed paper.

I adhered the Fresh Freesia background 4″ x 5 1/4″ to the Basic White card base.

I die cut the large butterfly out and die cut the large butterfly body out of the Fresh Freesia enameled scraps. i adhered the butterfly body onto the middle of the large butterfly and popped it up on Dimensionals on the card. I stamped the sentiment in Pebbled Path ink on a scrap of Pebbled Path cardstock and adhere it over the butterfly die.
I added three of the Adhesive-backed Drusy embellishments for extra special sparkle and shine!

The possibilities are endless colored paper and white or silver, black paper and all of the enamel colors, white paper and all the colors of enamel or color the enamel with re-inkers WOW what will you come up with?

Now go out and create some fun shimmer designs of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Reminder this blog post contains references to sneak peak merchandise that will not be available for purchase until January 7th so they will not appear below in the photo shopping icons.

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