dynamic swap cards

dynamic swap cards

I love getting the mail! More times than not being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator that participates in card swaps – I find happy mail in my mail box! It is always a thrill to open up a card and discover the design that the demonstrator on the other end dreamed up! I love the surprise of it all! What stamp set was used, what techniques, the embellishments and the fun extras are all such a creative inspiration! Hopefully they are for you also and that is why I share my monthly swaps – you get to see different demonstrator’s styles and stamp sets that I do not own and creative ways to do your cards!

the first swap card is from Carol S. and she used the Earthen Textures bundle of products (#161514) is the 10% saving bundle with the stamp set and coordinating dies. The suite (#161518) contains the bundle, the Earthen Elegance DSP and the Natural Wavy Trim (#161517) used on the card.

Jennie T’s card features the Festive and Fun stamp set (#162078) colored with Stampin’ Blends this fun fold I have detailed in a past blog post and it is easy to show off some fun DSP pieces!
The FREE sale-a-bration DSP Flight and Airy is featured in this swap card from Kathi D. It is paired with the Timeless Arrangements bundle of products (#161526) and Misty Moonlight Inner Braid ribbon (#161638).
Susan W’s bright and cheery swap card features the Spiral Dye background stamp (#156927) stamped in multiple colors. The sentiment is from Kindest Expressions (#161415).
This swap card from Judi M uses the Wintry Owls bundle (#162157) which is on the Last Chance list! It also features the Fragrant Forest background stamp (#162108) which is being carried over.
Vickie G’s swap card is a fun pop up design using the Beary Christmas Suite of products which are retiring soon but still available Beary Cute stamp set (#162016) and the Beary Christmas DSP (#162015) the Beary Christmas Memories and more pack is still available also (#162027)
Lori V created this swap card in Calypso Coral and Lost Lagoon using the Heartfelt Hexagon Bundle (#162889) available online currently!
Masterfully Made DSP is the highlight of this next swap card (#161192) made by Denise W. along with color coordination in the Masterfully Made Suite Collection (#161207)
This is a Swing and Sway fun fold swap card from Marie W. using the Zoo Crew Suite collection (#161319) The Zany Zoo stamp set (#161305) and the coordinating DSP (#161304) are so versatile in sweet animal print on one side and black and white geometrics on the other! She also used the Merry melody 3D embossing folder on the front panel (#156392).
Mimi H. used the book binding fun fold and the Little Monkeys Bundle with the retiring soon (still available) Garden Walk paper (#162227). She also used the Elegant Eucalyptus 3D embossing folder (#159170) this is a 2 pack of folders that fits in the mini Stampin’ Cut and Emboss!
This pretty swap card uses the Sparkling Snowflakes set from the current mini and will be a carry over product (#162158). Gale R. made the sentiment piece from the new Deckled Circles dies (#162286) another carry over product and the creative matte out of the coordinating tag for that bundle (#162164) the Sparkling Snowflakes Tag Topper!
This card is from one of my sister demonstrator side lines named Lyn L. and she used the Supremely Awesome (#161560) stamp set and the Deckled Rectangles die set (#159173) from the 2023-2024 Annual Catalog!
This swap card used retired DSP called Dainty Flowers and the Natural Wavy trim which has been very popular (#161517) and the sentiment and inside stampings are from Dainty Delight (#161078)
This card is from Veronica S. and it uses one of my favorite papers out of the current mini catalog Merry and Bright DSP it sold out quickly but there are still items available on the Last Chance list if you are interested! She also used the Year to Celebrate stamp set (#162279) which is retiring soon and is on sale for $11.40 while supplies last. Current hostess code is SQAAWK23. In the new year I will be starting a program and sending a little something to everyone that orders using the current hostess code! Look for all the details soon!
And to finish off the November swap cards is an out of this world LOL swap card by Susan K. using the Stargazing DSP (#161175) and the coordinating Stargazing Suite (#161189) It’s such a bright and fun card! The inside sentiment reads “You’re stellar” Love that!
Hope these swaps inspired you to go out and create some artwork of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

Product List
Paper Snips
[103579]
$11.00
using negative die cuts

using negative die cuts

Sometimes using negative die spaces is easy you can visualize a card from the negative cut work. I had two 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ sheets of paper in coordinating colors laying on my desk last week and I happen to shift one over the other and thought this would make a pretty unique card. Happy Accident!

I save my negative die cuts a lot and try to see if I can use them in anyway before tossing them into the circular file!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
Layers: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ die cut negatives
Scrap white for the sentiment

I die cut four different dies out of the Pool Party cardstock below and it made a nice pattern so I hung onto the piece to see if I could use it.

I was die cutting for a swap last week and this piece was so pretty I decided to use it for a card – I thought it might be a fun mask for a background paper or for a card front. I ended up throwing it on my desk and the two pieces worked well together.
Adhere the two negative pieces together and then adhere to the card base.

I stamped the sentiment piece from the Stylish Shapes dies with Coastal Cabana ink from the Something Fancy stamp set. I popped up the sentiment onto Stampin’ Dimesionals and added to the lower Stylish Shapes negative die space.

I added the Ombre Decorative Dots to the card as a finishing touch and made a lovely card out of recycling the left over pieces.

Try to use the scraps and bits off you stamping area and see what lovely things you can make – go and create some art of your own one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

extending dies and folders

extending dies and folders

Have you ever wanted to emboss and die cut something but needed a larger size? Did you know there is a simple trick to extend your dies and embossing folders? In today’s blog post, I will teach you these simple tricks to extend your dies and folders to use on slim line cards and beyond.

Today’s card is a slim line card and it measures 7 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored on the 7 1/2″ side in half at 3 3/4″. If you want to emboss a layer to fit the entire length of the card you need an embossing folder that is 8 1/2″ long, right? Wrong – you just need an embossing folder that has a design that will be easy to match up. Our embossing folders are 4 1/2″ x 6″ long so you need to run it through twice.
Have you ever found the perfect sentiment for the card but the die you want to use isn’t long enough – no worries there is a way around that problem too!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 7 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 3 3/4″ on the 7 1/2″ side
Basic Black layer: 2″ x 8 1/2″
Scraps of the 2022-2024 In Colors for die cutting

Place your black layer in an embossing folder that has a pattern that is not to tight and complex. I choose the dots from the Basics 3D embossing folders pack, this pattern is easy to match up, the dots fit easily back into the surrounding pattern and match up to make a continuous pattern sampling. Run through the Stampin’ Cut and emboss machine and remove from the folder.
Flip the layer and place the last full dotted line in the folder matching the dots up. You will fill the embossed paper slip into the pattern of the embossing folder and “lock” into place. Place the unembossed side inside the folder and run that side through the machine in the folder.
Cut the floral dies from the Timeless Arrangements die set out of the 2022-2024 In Colors Collection: Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party, Tahitian Tide, Orchid Oasis and Starry Sky card stocks. Adhere them in a pleasing pattern to the right hand underside of the Basic Black embossed piece.
To extend a die, place the die on the paper and add the top cutting plate to lie over 3/4 of the die, leaving the end of the die exposed and not under the cutting plate. Run this portion under the top cutting plate through the machine.
Stamp the desired sentiment onto the die cut space – this allows you to see how long the extend die cut needs to be.
Line up the die and place the top cutting plate only over the bottom of the die.
So you can extend most dies to accommodate the space within!
Add a few more Timeless Arrangements dies to the left hand side of the sentiment piece.
Adhere using Stampin’ Mini Dimensionals to the card front center. Add three Brass Butterflies to the card front and this card is complete!

Try to extend some of your embossing folders and dies next time you stamp and go create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

more color mondays – pretty peacock, coastal cabana and balmy blue triple panel card

more color mondays – pretty peacock, coastal cabana and balmy blue triple panel card

It’s More Color Monday again. Pretty Peacock, Coastal Cabana and Balmy Blue. This triple panel card is another fun way to use colored strips.

Measurements:
BASE: Coastal Cabana cardstock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
Basic White 4″ x 5 1/4″
Pretty Peacock, Pool Party, and Balmy Blue 1/4″, 1/2″ and 3/4″ strips

Take the 4″ x 5 1/4″ cardstock, cut the piece
diagonally in three pieces.
Adhere different sized strips to the middle piece in alternating colors.
Adhere the top diagonal piece to the top of the card and adhere the bottom diagonal piece to the bottom of the card.
Place Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the middle piece and adhere to the middle space.
Cut two small leaf dies from each colored cardstock and adhere one of each color under the top and bottom of the middle piece.
Stamp a sentiment on the top diagonal piece from the Timeless Arrangement stamp set.
Stamp another sentiment on the bottom diagonal piece in Pretty Peacock ink.
Place 3 Pastel Adhesive-backed sequins on the card front.
This fun strip card is a great way to use strip scraps – try this technique soon and create some art of your very own.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

strips, scraps and sequins

strips, scraps and sequins

This card features strips, scraps and sequins.
It is a fun way to make a card with strips and scraps.

Measurements:
BASE: Smoky Slate 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 4 1/4″
3″ x 4″
Basic White CS: 4″ x 5 1/4″
3″ x 4″

Using the 3″ x 4″ pieces of Smoky Slate and Basic White, tear the strips and adhere them to another 3″ x 4″ piece of card stock.
Adhere the 4″ x 5 1/4″ piece of cardstock to the Smoky Slate card base.
Adhere the strip piece to the card base.
Stamp the Timeless Arrangement sentiment in Old Olive, die cut the sentiment and place Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the sentiment piece. I adhered the scraps from a previous card under the sentiment piece and adhere to the card.
Place five Neutrals Adhesive-backed sequins on the card front.
Here are a few examples of different strips and scraps.
You can use this technique with all kinds of cards, strips and scraps!
Try this technique with your strips and scraps.
Go and create some art of your own – one stamp at a time.

Happy Stampin’
Natalie