happy birthday sneak peak card

happy birthday sneak peak card

by | Feb 26, 2026 | card samples, die cutting, my favorites, online exclusives, sneak peak, stamps ink paper

Rolling Waves are a great analogy for life sometimes – you just need to roll with things! Today’s post should have posted yesterday but for anyone that has been following me – you know this week was a busy and hard one that eventually everyone needs to deal with. Late in January we lost my mother unexpectedly and Saturday was her Memorial Mass. I stayed in Northern Virginia for a few extra days to work on things at her home and drove back late Tuesday night with the intention of getting everything I needed to do done on Wednesday! I almost succeeded – I just didn’t get this post typed up and finished in time so it is here for you today.
One of the special things about stamping is that it is my ME time, my solace, my saving grace – it is how I pamper and “take care” of myself – truely – it is something I have loved and enjoyed for 25 years now!

It is so important to have time to recoup and regenerate especially when you are taking care of children and parents and are in that middle space. This is my comfort zone and if you know me I gravitate towards summer, sun and water! This card combines all of that into a fun and whimsical birthday card!

Measurements:
BASE: Crumb Cake CS: 4 1/4″ x 11″
scored at 5 1/2″
Basic White CS: 2 1/2″ x 3″, scraps for
umbrellas, sentiment, shells and foam dies
Summer Splash CS: scrap for water and
umbrella dies

Die cut the shells out of a scrap of Basic White CS.
Using blending brushes and Summer Splash, Flirty Flamingo and Crumb Cake ink, I colored the shells and starfish.
I cut a corner out of a scrap of Basic White CS about 3″ on the bottom side and about 2 1/4″ up the side. I stamped it with the large water stamp in Balmy Blue and blended the color with a blending brush as well.
I adhered it to the card front corner.
I die cut the foamy water die out of Summer Splash CS and set it on the card corner above the Balmy Blue stamped piece.
I die cut the foam out of a scrap of Basic White CS tucked it under the Summer Splash die.
I stamped the Crumb Cake CS with the sand image in Crumb Cake ink and then adhered the foamy water dies down over the corner piece.
I adhered some of the shells at the water line.
I die cut two umbrellas out of scraps of Basic White CS and then one of each design in Flirty Flamingo and Summer Splash. I adhered them in alternating patterns.
I adhered the Flirty Flamingo and White umbrella to the card.
I popped up the Summer Splash and White umbrella on Stampin’ Dimensionals over the lower left-hand edge of the Flirty Flamingo and White umbrella.

I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Rolling Waves stamp set in Summer Splash on a long 1/2″ strip of Basic White CS and slid it back and forth until I decided on the location of the wording and adhered it down to the card.

I adhered the last two shells to the left-hand side of the Happy Birthday sentiment.
I added three Pearlized faceted Circles from the Lovely and Beautiful Suite of products to finish off this fun card that did my soul good!

Take time out each day to do something you love and take care of yourself so you can be good for others! Now go and create something beautiful – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Remember since this is a sneak peak and not available until March 3rd to customers the rolling waves stamps, dies and bundle will not appear below in the photo clickables.

Product List
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 120953 ]
[120953]
$14.00
Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock [ 163797 ]
[163797]
$14.00
Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147105 ]
[147105]
$9.00
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147116 ]
[147116]
$9.00
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147052 ]
[147052]
$9.00
Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [ 163809 ]
[163809]
$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
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive [ 154031 ]
[154031]
$7.00
Pearlized Faceted Circles [ 166978 ]
[166978]
$8.00
more color mondays – petunia pop, peach pie and summer splash

more color mondays – petunia pop, peach pie and summer splash

by | Jan 26, 2026 | card samples, color challenge, embossing folders, In Colors, more color mondays, my favorites, online exclusives, product of the month, stamps ink paper, techniques

Today’s More Color Mondays color challenge features some very cool new stamp sets, plus did you wonder where Sale-a-bration had gone?
Well, let me. tell you about that! This past year Stampin’ Up! announced to the demonstrators that they were developing a program to replace Sale-a-bration called the Product of the month promotion!

So instead of just two months of sales items to get for FREE with a qualifying over they are doing a YEAR LONG promotion for every month that a demonstrator or customer spends $75 they are eligible to buy one Product of the Month per that month for $5. Today’s card is made with January’s incentive “fabulous Sayings” stamp set! This is the coolest stamp set with the coolest fonts!

Measurements:
BASE: Summer Splash CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, 1 1/2″ x 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 1 1/4″ x 4″

This card is also made with the new Mini Catalog stamp set Shell Collecting – this is a reversible stamp set! This means if the image is symmetrical you can turn the stamp over and stamp the backside that is the flat side – I always stamp that off on my grid paper so that the background is lighter than the detailed side at full strength!

For the non-symmetrical stamps this Shell Collecting stamp set have reversed images and the non-symmetrical stamps. Use the backside of one and the front detailed side of the other to get both sides!

I stamped the conical shell detailed stamp in Petunia Pop ink full strength.

This particular shell is not symmetrical so I took the other conical shell and turned it so that the flat side was upwards and stamped it into the Petunia Pop ink and stamped it off once on the grid paper, then I stamped it over the detailed image for a filled in look!

I then stamped the starfish image in Peach Pie ink.

The starfish image is symmetrical so there is only one starfish in the collection so I turned the starfish over and stamped off so that the inside filled portion is lighter.

Then I stamped the larger shell in Summer Splash ink.

I also used the January POM (Product of the Month) that I explained in the intro of this blog post – the January selection is called Fabulous Sayings and it is a fantastic sentiment stamp set. I stamped the Happy Birthday from this Product of the Month in Summer Splash ink on the Basic White strip.

Since there are two stamped images of the larger sea shell these are non symmetrical and you will use the detailed side of one and the flat backside of the other stamp. I used the other flat backside at half strength to fill in the background of the shell.
Finish the Basic White layer by alternating colors and shells to completely fill the page.

Take the layer and emboss it with the Soft Waves 3D embossing folder.

Take and adhere the Basic White sentiment strip to the Summer Splash matte strip.
Adhere the embossed layer to the card base and then pop up the sentiment strip across the card front.

I added two silver faceted snowflake embellishments – I know these are snowflakes but they look like stars or starfish to me as well!

The Product of the Month promotion is ONLY while supplies last – so make your supply list and get your order in if this is the set for you!

Below is a picture of the set – it is a great one and it’s only $5 with a qualifying order of $75!
Best $5 I have spent recently!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Fabulous Sayings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 167972 ]
[167972]
$5.00
Shell Collecting Photopolymer Stamp Set [ 167016 ]
[167016]
$21.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock [ 163797 ]
[163797]
$14.00
Peach Pie Classic Stampin Pad [ 163810 ]
[163810]
$9.00
Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad [ 163811 ]
[163811]
$9.00
Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [ 163809 ]
[163809]
$9.00
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
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Soft Waves 3 D Embossing Folder [ 164695 ]
[164695]
$11.00
Faceted Snowflakes [ 166077 ]
[166077]
$10.00
more color mondays – pretty peacock, blackberry bliss and crumb cake

more color mondays – pretty peacock, blackberry bliss and crumb cake

by | Jan 12, 2026 | card samples, color challenge, die cutting, embossing folders, new catalog, online exclusives, stamps ink paper, techniques

I wanted to create some fun background papers for this card so I took each of the challenge colors and did the same technique with each (I only have pictures of the Pretty Peacock version)

The first thing I did was blend color onto a 4″ x 5 1/4″ layer of Basic White CS with a Blending Brush.

Next I placed a drop of Ink refill in the lid of the ink pad and dipped the wide Water Painter into the ink and liquified it with extra water.

I splattered the ink onto the layer that was set on my glass mat.

Do not disturb the over splatter it will be used in the next step of the technique!

I then moved the layer and sprayed the over splatter with a Stampin’ Spritzer filled with water.

I turned the layer blended color side down on the glass matte surface over the water and patted the layer down to absorb the water – I moved the layer around to wet different portions of the layer in the over splattered water.

Allow the layer to dry.

I repeated this step with the other two colors of ink – Blackberry Bliss and Crumb Cake.

I cut the Crumb Cake layer into 1 1/2″ x 4″ strips and added it to the Crumb Cake card front.

I forgot to take pictures of the next steps – so sorry! I stamped the large leaf image from the Nature’s Symphony stamp set in Pretty Peacock ink and then cut them out with the corresponding die.

I cut the large leaf die from the Blackberry Bliss colored layer.

I cut a circle die from the Spotlight on Nature dies in Crumb Cake CS and stamped the “you make me smile” sentiment in Pretty Peacock ink.

I arranged the Blackberry bliss dies and the stamped Pretty Peacock leaves under the sentiment circle. I popped the circle up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and finished arranging the leaves in a loose cluster around the card!

I added 5 Faceted Snowflakes in the pretty Peacock hue to finish the card with a sweet color coordination – I think the snowflakes look like stars and loved the faceted look it gave this card!

I hope this inspires you to try this fun background technique and see what you can create – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Nature Walk Suite Collection (English) [ 166936 ]
[166936]
$84.75
Nature's Symphony Bundle (English) [ 166926 ]
[166926]
$46.75
Nature's Symphony Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 166919 ]
[166919]
$19.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 120953 ]
[120953]
$14.00
Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147092 ]
[147092]
$9.00
Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [ 133648 ]
[133648]
$5.50
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147116 ]
[147116]
$9.00
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [ 121029 ]
[121029]
$5.50
Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad [ 150083 ]
[150083]
$9.00
Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [ 150090 ]
[150090]
$5.50
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
Stampin' Spritzer [ 126185 ]
[126185]
$6.00
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Nature's Symphony Dies [ 166925 ]
[166925]
$33.00
Faceted Snowflakes [ 166077 ]
[166077]
$10.00
double front flap fun fold card – boardwalk fun bundle

double front flap fun fold card – boardwalk fun bundle

by | Jan 1, 2026 | card samples, Designer Series Paper, embossing folders, fun fold, In Colors, new catalog, online exclusives, techniques

Happy New Year! Normally I post on Monday-Wednesday – Friday of each week but I wanted to wish you all a great and creative NEW YEAR! Happy 2026 – can you believe it’s another new year? They seem to come faster and faster these days LOL!

Today’s card is a very simple double front flap fun fold card! Follow along and learn how to make one of your own!

Measurements:
BASE: Pretty in Pink CS: 5 1/2X 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Bubble Bath CS: 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″
Flirty Flamingo CS: 3 1/4″ x 4 1/2″
DSP: 3″ x 4 1/4″
Basic White CS: 1″ x 3 1/4″, 4″ x 5 1/4″

Thanks to Juli B. for the initial inspiration. I am using the Beach Boardwalk Suite Collection of products and just a reminder these will be available in this coming Tuesday and will not be able to be included in my photo links below until after their release to the general public. These are available in a starter kit and to active demonstrators currently!

Take the BASE and score in the center at 4 1/4″ then cut 1 1/4″ off the left-hand edge.
Score the 1 1/4″ cut piece at 3 1/2″.
Glue the smaller tab with Multipurpose liquid glue and match the score line up with the edge of the BASE paper’s right-hand edge. Adhere down at the level you want it to swing over the front.
Emboss the front flap – this could have been done at the beginning as well. I used the Beautiful Patterns 3D embossing folder which is an Online Exclusive from the Brushed with Beauty Suite.
Stamp the Celebrate on the right-hand edge of the 1″ Basic White piece and the Happy Birthday in the center of the 4″ Basic White layer in Pretty in Pink ink.
Adhere the 4″ Basic White layer on the inside of the card base to cover the Pretty in Pink flap insert.
Add ribbon in a knot around the left-hand edge of the 1″ Basic White piece and adhere to the small flap.
Adhere the DSP to the Flirty Flamingo layer and then adhere those to the Bubble Bath layer.

Adhere that flap layer to the card front being careful to measure where you want to adhere – sometimes I eyeball that but if you are uncertain you can place the layer where you want it and add a sticky note to the back edge then you will know where to place the glue only on the right-hand side of the sticky note and you will not inadvertently glue your card together!

I added three Pretty in Pink 2024-2026 In Color Flat Pearls (LOL – I actually added the 2025-2027 Strawberry Slush Pearls because that is what I had but the worked great with a slightly darker pink hue – use what you have!) to the card front for a coordinated bit of bling to finish this fun birthday card.

I always have a tendency in the winter especially after a large snow storm to make wistful summery cards – so here is your little bit of sunshine for today instead of all this snow outside my Stampin’ Studio!

Now go and create something fun today for the first day of the new year – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Bubble Bath 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 161718 ]
[161718]
$14.00
Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 141416 ]
[141416]
$14.00
Pretty In Pink 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 163793 ]
[163793]
$14.00
Pretty In Pink Classic Stampin Pad [ 163807 ]
[163807]
$9.00
Versamark Pad [ 102283 ]
[102283]
$9.50
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
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Beautiful Pattern 3 D Embossing Folder [ 167097 ]
[167097]
$10.50
Pretty In Pink 3/8" (1 Cm) Bordered Ribbon [ 163784 ]
[163784]
$7.50
2024 2026 In Color™ Flat Pearls [ 165266 ]
[165266]
$8.50
2025–2027 In Color™ Flat Pearls [ 165192 ]
[165192]
$8.50
jolly holly cut out card

jolly holly cut out card

by | Nov 5, 2025 | card samples, Christmas card ideas, die cutting, embossing folders, online exclusives, techniques

Did you know that the Jolly Holly Online Exclusives bundle contains a hybrid embossing folder that does a PARTIAL die cut on the holly background! This is such a cool technique – you can gently bend the holly leaves up to give the card front extra depth and dimension or tuck a sentiment card in between the holly leaves like I did on this card!

Measurements:
BASE: Cherry Cobbler CS: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″, scrap for the word die
Garden Green CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″, scrap for the sentiment matte and the holly dies

Hybrid emboss and die cut the Jolly Holly leaves on the Garden Green CS layer.
Stamp two holly clusters in Garden Green ink. Using a Blender Pen pull the green ink inward to color the holly leaves. Using a Cherry Cobbler dark Stampin’ Blends marker color the berries in the holly clusters.

Die cut the White sentiment rectangle from the Jolly Holly die set, two holly leaf bundles and the word joy from the Cheery Cobbler CS.

Pop up the embossed background on Stampin’ Dimensionals onto the Cherry Cobbler card base.

Tuck the white sentiment rectangular die cut into the partially cut holly leaf background. Adhere with a little dab of Multipurpose Glue on the back of the sentiment rectangle and under the holly leaves that go over the rectangle.

Glue the Joy die to the sentiment matte and pop up the colored holly leaf beside the word.

Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ Basic White CS layer to the inside of the card.

I saved the 1/8″ strip I cut from the Garden Green CS and adhered it to the White layer.

Adhere the other colored holly leaf onto the Garden Green strip.

I adhered three red Traditional Sparkling Sequins around the sentiment to finish off this easy and fun Christmas card!

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

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Jolly Holly Bundle (English) [ 166120 ]
[166120]
$54.00
Jolly Holly Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [ 166117 ]
[166117]
$19.00
Traditional Sparkling Sequins [ 165875 ]
[165875]
$8.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 166780 ]
[166780]
$14.00
Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 119685 ]
[119685]
$14.00
Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [ 102584 ]
[102584]
$14.00
Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147089 ]
[147089]
$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
Water Painters [ 168253 ]
[168253]
$13.00
Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [ 154880 ]
[154880]
$11.00
Blender Pens [ 102845 ]
[102845]
$14.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [ 149653 ]
[149653]
$140.00
Jolly Holly Hybrid Embossing Folder [ 166119 ]
[166119]
$41.00
Traditional Sparkling Sequins [ 165875 ]
[165875]
$8.00