It's All in the "Halloween" Details

Although Halloween is still a few months away, now is the time to start creating your cards, tags and treats. Today, I created this Halloween card that has lots of small details to make a big statement!

I began by ink blending Basic Gray ink around a die cut 3.75 x 5 deckled rectangle.  I also used a cloud stencil, a gift from Paper Pumpkin years ago, and a circle die for a moon stencil.  This created a spooky night sky for my card. I also used washi tape across the bottom of the card as a mask to create a grounding effect by ink blending heavily across the bottom.

I die cut the house from the Spooky Halloween bundle in Basic Gray and Basic Black card stock.  I also die cut pieces of the Woven Textures DSP for the roof lines.  I chose the woven texture that resembled a thatched roof for my house's roof. I layered the pieces together with black dimensionals, which disappear when used on black card stock.

I stamped, colored and cut the cat and dog characters for the front of the card, then hand stitched the dog's stitches across his face.  

I black heat embossed the greeting on Basic White card stock and cut it out with the banner die, both from the Fright Night bundle.  The "EEK!" sentiment was also cut from this bundle. I cut this one three times and layered the pieces.  The top layer was partially torn to reveal a rough texture.

I cut a layer a little larger than my white panel in Basic Gray card stock and layered it on Basic Black card stock then added a few Shimmer Star Foam Stickers to finish off the card.

Not all cards I create entail this much detail, but sometimes I enjoy creating a card with so many intricate pieces for special people in my life.

"Tis the Season for Baking!

Most people consider the baking season to be in December, but why not move it back a few months! Lots of baking can happen in fall...pumpkin pies, pumpkin rolls, apple turnovers...need I say more?

So I decided to combine the More Than Autumn bundle with the new Homemade Treats bundle to create this fall baking card!

I began by ink blending Timid Tiger, Poppy Parade and Crushed Curry inks onto a piece of Basic White card stock cut to 3.75 x 5.  Then I used Timid Tiger ink to randomly stamp " 'Tis the Season for Baking" on the card front. I added brown faux stitching around the edges and set it aside.

I stamped, colored and cut several images from both sets and placed them on the card. I didn't adhere them to the card yet because I wanted to doodle hearts in specific areas to create balance.  To create the hearts, I used brush end of my  Stampin' Write marker.

Tip: Use the brush end of the Stampin' Write marker to create hearts by gently pressing the brush to the right, then left. The thinnest part of the brush should be the bottom of the heart.  

I stamped the "Nothing's Better Than" in Early Espresso ink. Then I used daubers to ink the word "fall" in Timid Tiger, Poppy Parade and Crushed Curry inks.  

I adhered all my pieces to the card front, added a few more hearts and that finished the card!

Thanks for stopping by! Fall is my favorite season and I'll definitely be creating more fall projects!  I hope you will visit again soon! <3

Fall Card Using Paper Pumpkin Add On Dies

As I am patiently (NOT) awaiting my new Paper Pumpkin kit, I created another fall card with the add on dies for this quarter.  You must be a Paper Pumpkin subscriber to order these dies. I used the strawberry die and the hello dies from this set.  The background for my sentiment is from the previous quarter's die set. 

I began by cutting an A2 card base in retired Soft Suede card stock. I cut a 4" x 5.25" panel of fall DSP and tore the bottom edge to reveal the white core.  I stamped a leaf pattern in the background using tone-on-tone stamping.  I used the two tone card stock in Pecan Pie and Cajun Craze to create the mushrooms and hand cut the stems from the same card stock.  

This is a simple sketch that comes together quickly when you need a card in a hurry. 

Tip: Keep a few pre-cut and pre-assembled die images on hand to add to a card when you are in a hurry!

 

Keeping It In the Box - Paper Pumpkin

I know there are lots of new stampers who were like me and wanted every tool, stamp set and DSP as soon as you began stamping.  But, also like me, I couldn't buy it all at once!  It has taken me over 25 years to accumulate my stash and I could always use a little more! ;)

So today I was inspired to create a few alternatives from the new August kit to inspire new stampers (and old ones as well).  And...it didn't hurt that we got an extra stamp set this month! Wow! This is the first time we've received two stamp sets in August that I can remember.  We usually do receive a second one in March, which it Paper Pumpkin's birthday!

And don't you love the Secret Sea ink cube!  The color is such a great neutral and I will enjoy having that for lots of projects.  Did you know the Secret Sea reinker is on sale this month?  While the cube is super juicy right now, after a lot of use, it will need to be reminded. Plus, all the other 2025-2027 In Color products are on sale too, so you can stock up on ribbons, embellishments, paper and other items.

All three of the cards below were made with only contents from the kit!  Enjoy your kit and don't be afraid to try something different!  It will stretch your creativity! 

Stepping Up Your DSP for an Autumn Vibe

Have you noticed that often Stampin' Up! DSP has black and white images in their DSP packs?  I love this for a couple of reasons.  First of all, black and white are classic. You can use it as is to create beautiful cards with very little supplies. But the reason I like it so much is that I can customize the paper to fit my mood.

For example, this time of year I begin to get the itch to create fall themed items.  With the black and white DSP, I can change the colors from in the original pack to more of an autumn vibe.  For example, the Mixed Media Florals DSP has lots of bright, cheerful spring and summer colors.  While this is amazingly beautiful, it doesn't work for me when I want fall colors.  So, I took one of the black and white images and some alcohol markers to add my own color theme.  I also added some splatter and smudging to give it more depth. I love how it turned out! This is the color scheme that is more of the fall vibe I was hoping to achieve!

Once my DSP was finished, I added it to a brown A2 card base. I wanted to make a joy fold card so I cut a smaller card and distressed it using the splatter stamp in the You Are Remarkable stamp set, I also embossed the sentiment from the set with white embossing powder. I adhered this smaller card as shown below to the right side of the card. 

I wanted the DSP to be the most notable piece on my card so I added a double linen thread bow to the small card and no other embellishments.

The card opens in two steps as shown in the photos below.

What do you think?  Are you ready to step up your black and white DSP to custom create your own color scheme for a card?

Surprise! My Paper Pumpkin Kit Arrived Today!

 What a great surprise! My August kit arrived today. This month we received a new In Color spot, Secret Sea and an additional stamp set.  The cards in the kit have a different feel to it as well, it feels like handmade paper and looks like it as well!

I went to work on my kit and created the three cards as designed. I am amazed at how quickly these cards came together and how beautiful they look! 

The cards in this kit are amazing as they are designed but I will challenge myself to create at least a couple more cards using the kit's contents to make a few alternatives!

New Technique: Inside, Outside Spotlight Stamping

Do you like to try new techniques? This is a fun one and creates an interesting card front. Stampin' Up! shared this new technique with demonstrators this past Wednesday in our Succeed Wednesday newsletter. I love getting these newsletters and learning new techniques and ideas! 

I began my card using an A2 Basic White card base.  I used the Deckled Rectangle dies, but any large open die would work. I used the Mixed Florals stamp set and Stampin' Blend Alcohol markers to color my images.  I also used the Mixed Media Florals DSP for the inside piece on my card. The splatter is from the Elements of Text stamp set.  This is on the Last Chance List and is a great staple for stamping backgrounds, so pick it up before it is gone!

The directions to complete the card are below. 

Step 1: Use a large to cut out the center of the card front. Stamp the main floral image in Memento ink on a separate piece of card stock; fussy or die cut the image, then adhere it to the inside of the card.  I used the coneflower from the Mixed Media Florals stamp set.

Step 2: On a new piece of card stock, stamp, stamp the same image again and fussy or die cut it out. Adhere it to the card front with repositionable adhesive, lining it up with the image inside the card.

Step 3: Replace the original rectangle die over the same opening and run it through your die cut machine one more time. This will create an ongoing image from the front of your card to the inside of your card creating an optical illusion!

I hope you'll give this new technique a try! I think I'll give this technique a try with DSP images instead of stamped images.  Check back next week to see how it comes out!

 

How to Cure Creator's Block Part 1/3

The Difference in a Quarter Turn...

Sometimes I cannot find my creative vibe and when this happens, I have strategies I use to help me get past it!  Today, I'm sharing with you one of the strategies I use and it involves DSP.

I begin by choosing a pack of DSP and just sort through it matching up colors and/or patterns that I like together.  I usually place two or three pieces together.  Next I arrange the pieces in a pattern I like and cut them accordingly.  For today's samples, I chose the Gathering Moments DSP from the upcoming September Mini Catalog. I usually use a 4 x 5.25 piece, a torn piece and a small strip to link the two.  Then I adhere the patterns to card bases. Once that is completed, I turn the cards a quarter turn to see if I like the pattern more in this direction.  After that is done, I set them aside.

Later, when I'm ready to make a few cards, I choose a stamp set and use the inks that coordinate with the DSP I worked with earlier. For the card bases I created earlier, I chose to use the Stay Warm stamp set in the September Mini Catalog and the Storybook Friends stamp set for the sentiments.

I hope these tips help you the next time creator's block comes your way!  I have a few more tips to share in the upcoming days.  Check back in the next few days for How to Cure Creator's Block Part 2.

Darling Duckling, Poppy Parade and Pool Party Color Challenge

Wow! What a color challenge! I wouldn't have put these colors together but they did work well as a grouping! This is the Global Design Project Challenge for the week.  When I started planning my card, I also decided to add a sneak peek at some upcoming products from the September Mini Catalog to my card.   

I chose Darling Duckling card stock as my A2 card base.  Then I added a layer of Poppy Parade card stock embossed with the upcoming Gathering Leaves embossing folder. I created my background by splashing some Pool Party ink and water on the Basic White card stock.  Then I stamped the acorn image in Poppy Parade ink.  I stamped the leaves, mushrooms and a retired sentiment, "warm wishes" images in Darling Duckling ink.  I ink blended around the edges of the white panel with Poppy Parade ink and an ink blending brush. I also added some faux stitching around the edge with a ruler and black pen.

I used the upcoming Stay Warm stamp set to stamp the hat and sweater images on Pool Party card stock with Black Memento ink.  I used a Pool Party Stampin' Write marker to deepen the color in a few areas and a white gel pen to add some highlights around the collar and sleeves.

After adhering the layers, I glued the sweater to the white panel and added the hat to the card with dimensionals.  I stamped the "Thankful for you" sentiment in Poppy Parade ink on Pool Party card stock. I used tear and tape to adhere a flagged ribbon behind the sentiment and used dimensionals to affix it to the card.

Most of the stamps used to day are from another upcoming stamp set called Gathering Moments.  This set will be a new Online Exclusive product.  I'll post live inks to the new products once they are available on Sept. 5th.

As I said at the beginning of the post, this is a unique color combination!  You can visit Instagram and search #gdp509 to see everyone's creative ideas! There's a lot of great inspiration!

Circle Christmas Cards Using the Painted Stripes Background Stamp

I am anxiously awaiting my demonstrator pre-order so that I can begin creating fall and holiday samples with the new 2025 products...but as I wait, I've been working on a few holiday items with the Painted Stripes Background stamp and a few retired products.  

Tip: The Painted Stripes background stamp is great for creating fast and easy backgrounds.  It is on the Last Chance List so it won't be available much longer.

I decided to make a few circle cards for a monthly card challenge and thought the background stamp would be fun to work with.  

For the first card, I used a large circle die to cut all but an inch on a folded piece of card stock.  I kept a small piece of the die off the card stock so that when cut, it would create a fold for the card. Then I stamped the Painted Striped background stamp twice, once horizontally and once vertically with Real Red ink.  This gave me a gingham pattern.  

I used the retired Jingle Jingle Jingle stamp set stamped with Crumb Cake ink for "Believe" and white embossed "in the magic" on Crumb Cake card stock. I fussy cut all the sentiment pieces out and adhered them to the card front.

I stamped the large bow from the Party Celebrations stamp set and fussy cut it out. I used dimensionals to adhere it to the top of the card. The fold for the card is behind the bow, which is hiding the small portion of the card that is not part of the circle curve.

For the second card, I cut two large circles using a circle die.  I glued the top of the circle to the second circle at the top and about a half inch long.  I used a scoring blade to score just below the glued area to create a fold similar to a book binding card. Then I stamped the Painted Stripes background stamp once in Granny Apple Green ink horizontally across the card. I used the random dots stamp from the Party Celebrations stamp set in Real Red ink between the green painted lines. 

I used the retired Santa Stache stamp set to stamp the nutcracker image in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored the image with Stampin' Blend alcohol markers.  I stamped the mustache another time and fussy cut it out. I adhered the nutcracker to the card at an angle and added the second mustache with dimensionals.  I added small rhinestone gems to his hat and jacket to add a little sparkle.  I stamped the large bow from the Party Celebrations stamp set in Blueberry Bushel ink and cut out only the bow portion, omitting the bow tails.  I adhered the bow to the top of the card with dimensionals. To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment "nutty or nice?" on a green stripe beside the nutcracker's hat.

Have you made a circle card? It is quite easy and gives a quirky vibe. :) I hope you will give it a try!

 

My Preorder Has Arrived!!

My preorder has arrived!  There are so many great new holiday products coming in the September-December Mini catalog and I can't wait to start creating with them! 

As a demonstrator, we are able to order them a month in advance to begin creating our projects.  The products will be available Sept. 5th for everyone.

In the meantime, take a peek in my box to see what's coming!

Spooky Halloween Trio With Hand Stitching

Hi Friends.  As I've shared before, I love Halloween and making spooky cute Halloween cards.  Today, I'm sharing a trio of cards I made using the Spooky Halloween bundle and the several of the 2025-2027 In Color products.  And did you hear...the 2025-2027 In Color products are on sale for 15% off during the month of August!

I began by stamping the cat and dog characters in Memento Black ink and coloring them with Stampin' Blend alcohol markers. I decided to add stitching using black embroidered thread on the dog's face and cat's shirt. In the upcoming Mini Catalog, there is a set of leaf dies that can be stitched so I though I would give stitching a try!

Once the characters were colored and cut out, I cut three A2 card bases in Basic White card stock.  I cut each of them to be top folding and cut 1.5 inches off the bottom front panel of each one.  I also cut 2" x 4.25" pieces of the striped pattern in the 20205-2027 In Color DSP pack. I chose Strawberry Slush, Cloud Cover, and Timid Tiger.  I adhered these to the front of each card base at the bottom to create the front panel of each one to measure 4.25" x 5.5. I also cut a thin strip of Basic Black card stock to bridge the two card stock pieces together.  It is .25" x 4.25" long.

I ink blended an area of coordinating color on the lower right side of each card, then stamped the sparkle image in the coordinating color on the ink blended area. Then I stamped a colony of bats on the upper right side of each card. I also used the bat dies in the bundle to add a few 3D bats to each card.

At this point the cards begin to emerge differently. I stamped a different sentiment on each card then added a few details specific to each card, making them unique.  To finish off each card, I added a few black Shimmer Star Foam Stickers.

I used the same sketch for each card, but different colors to make each one different.  I used all the stamps in the set but one.  

Have you ever challenged yourself to use all the stamps in a set? It does push you to be more creative and adds lots of character to your cards!

Happy Birthday to My Beautiful Mom

Happy Birthday to my beautiful mom! She turns 85 years old this year!  She is the best mom anyone could have asked for.  She raised me and my sisters to be independent women. She supported us and has always been there for us. 

This picture was taken earlier this year at Aspire Park in Clinton, TN.  The park has recently opened and she wanted to go to it one day this summer to see what it was like.  It is a great park and if you are ever in the area, you should definitely check it out!

To make my scrapbook page, I started with the Florals in Bloom DSP.  I used three different patterns in the pack for the background pieces.  I CASED an idea for my background stamping from the new upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog on page 44. I used a variety of background stamps in Strawberry Slush ink to stamp birthday words around the page.  This is a subtle technique but brings interest to the page!

All of my stamps are from past Paper Pumpkin kits. The balloons and cake images are also from past Paper Pumpkin kits. I colored the birthday cake image using ink pads and a blender pen.

Tip: Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin kits to slowly build your stamp collection.  And as a bonus, you will also be building your ink collection.  No ink spots are repeated for a year in the kits.

I used the Pressed Flowers embossing folder to add some texture to my "MOM" embellishment and embroidery floss for the balloon strings. The dies I used are from the retired Scalloped Rectangles and Layered Circles sets.

Please join me in wishing my mom a very happy 85th birthday!

My Cards for the August Creative Challenge SU!

Have you heard about the Stampin' Up! Creative Challenge for August? It is to create masculine cards and SU! has even given some optional color combos to work with!

I decided to make three cards for this challenge...a welcome baby boy card, a birthday card for a little boy, and a card for a gentleman heading toward retirement.  All my cards have a couple of things in common, background stamping similar to that on page 44 of the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog and some Paper Pumpkin stamps.

Tip: Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin kits to build your stamp collection and ink spots over time.

My first card is a welcome baby boy card.  I began with a Cloud Cover A2 card base. Then I cut a sheet from the Florals in Bloom DSP at 4" x 5.25" and stamped my sentiments on it using Secret Sea ink. I created some baby clothes using the retired All for Baby bundle and stamped a sentiment from the set on a piece of white card stock punched from the Labels of Love punch. I added a small strip of Lemon Lolly card stock behind my sentiment and cut a few stars from the card stock as well. To finish the card, I added a few Shimmer Adhesive Star Foam stars around the background.

For my second card, I used the last color combo in the chart above.  I made a birthday card for a little boy who loves bugs.  I used the Bee My Valentine stamp set and the Fright Night dies for the insects on the card.  I cut the EEK! sentiment from the Timeless Plaid DSP. I cut it 3 times and layered the pieces to create depth for my sentiment. I used a spiderweb mask and an ink blending brush to create a light image for the background of my Calypso Coral panel.  I also repeatedly stamped "birthday" on the panel in first and second generation stamping using Early Espresso ink. I adhered this piece to a 4" x 5.25" panel of Early Espresso two tone card stock. Both of these were adhered to an A2 Cajun Craze card base. I stamped "It's Your Day" and "happy birthday" in Cajun Craze ink using Paper Pumpkin stamps, then cut a banner from the Fright Night dies to place behind it.  I added a few Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots to finish the card.

For my third card, I used the second color combination in the chart above. These colors gave me a nautical vibe so I decided to make a retirement card. I began by cutting an A2 card base in Coastal Cabana card stock. I cut a second layer in Secret Sea two tone card stock and used the light side of the paper to stamp my sentiments in Secret Sea ink.  I also tore a small sheet of Cherry Cobbler card stock to add to the left side of the navy panel.  I stamped a compass image in Coastal Cabana ink and an anchor in Cherry Cobbler ink, then a sentiment in Secret Sea ink.  All images and sentiments are from past Paper Pumpkin kits. I added some thick white twine to give a more nautical feel to finish the card.

What do you think?  Are you ready to take on the August Creative Challenge? I hope you will give it a try!