Find ideas, instructions and materials used to make a variety of paper-craft projects using Stampin' Up! products. As an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator in New Zealand I love to share my passion for creating things with paper including cards, boxes, gifts and decorations. I find that making things is a fun and relaxing past-time which relieves stress and gives me a purpose to be active every day. If you have any questions or want to learn more about Stampin' Up! feel free to contact me.
When I tell people what I do as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator I often hear them say, "I could never do that because I'm not creative." I don't see myself as creative, artistic or even talented. That's the genius of stamping . . . you can make something that looks great with just a stamp, ink and paper. In this blog I'll show you how to make a simple card and then step it up to a more embellished card with just a few extra steps.
First choose a stamp set (or two), some cardstock, and one coloured ink pad. I used the Amazing Silhouettes cling stamps for the focal point of my cards and choose the words 'thank you' from another stamp set. For my first cards I simply stamped one image and the words directly on to Basic White cardstock.
Simple Stamping with Amazing Silhouettes stamp set
I was able to quickly create some simple thank you cards in three different sizes -- 3" x 3", notecard and Memories & More small card size. The ink colours I used were Granny Apple Green, Polished Pink and Soft Succulent. By using just one colour on white it created a simple elegant card which anyone can make!
Stepped up cards made with the Amazing Silhouettes stamp set
I then added a few more elements to a basic card to step it up. I used the same image and coloured ink on white but this time I layered it onto a coloured A5 (14.85 x 10.5 cm) card base and added some ribbon. By fussy cutting the sentiment and popping it up using some Mini Stampin' Dimensionals I created a bit of depth to the flat card which made it look completely different than the original, however it didn't take much more time or effort than my original cards.
Embellished cards using the Amazing Silhouettes stamp set along with some die cutting
For my more embellished cards I introduced some die cutting, jewels/pearls, ribbon, and embossing. These cards took a little longer to make but the same starting elements were there -- stamp, ink and paper. I explain how I created of these 'avid crafter' cards under each of the photos below.
Embellished card using Amazing Silhouettes stamps in Granny Apple Green colour
This card started out the same as my 'casual crafter' card but I added more stamped images and then die cut the white layer using the Stitched Greenery die. I used the small label die from the Harvest dies set for the sentiment which is layered on top of Granny Apple Green Sheer Ribbon and White 3/4" (1.9 cm) Frayed Ribbon. I heat embossed a leaf image on Basic White cardstock in White Embossing Powder and and then coloured it in with a Granny Apple GreenStampin' Write pen before fussy cutting it out. I placed the leaf image on top of two circles made from the Layering Circles dies with some white thread sticking out from behind the middle layer. I finished off the card with three Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels.
Embellished card using Amazing Silhouettes stamps in Polished Pink colour
Embellished card using Amazing Silhouettes stamps in Soft Succulent colour
I really enjoyed making this tree card as it uses a lot of different techniques. I stamped the tree image from the Amazing Silhouettes cling stamps three times on a layer of Basic White cardstock. I used the same tree stamp to create the grass at the bottom of the card by just stamping it multiple times in different spots. I heat embossed the words on Soft Succulent cardstock in White Embossing Powder for the sentiment. I used the Beautiful Trees Dies on Basic White cardstock to cut out the birds and tree trunk. I used the same die set to cut the foliage and sentiment in Soft Succulent cardstock. I added some colour to the foliage by stamping it multiple times with the tree stamp. I layered everything on the front of the cards using Mini Stampin' Dimensionals. I finished the card off with some baker's twine and Pearl Basic Jewels.
Granny Apple Green cards
Polished Pink cards
Soft Succulent cards
Whether you like simple cards or more complicated ones I hope I've inspired you to try stamping. There is always something available for the simple, casual or avid crafters from Stampin' Up! So if there is any way I can help you in your crafting journey, please let me know.
I watched a video by a Canadian demonstrator, Tina Zinck, about the Open Book Easel Card technique. This method creates very impressive cards but it is a simple technique. Since I am spending more time at home due to the pandemic I finally got a chance to try this technique and now I am totally in love with Open Book Easel Cards!
You can make them for any occasion just by changing up the type of designer series paper and stamps you use. So far I have made six different cards using a variety of papers and colours, but I'm sure I'll be making lots more!
I used a gold foil edged card as the background for my Christmas Tree design. The layers were made from papers in the Most Wonderful Time Product Medley along with the stamps and dies. I used the Scripty 3D Embossing Folder to create the top layer and lightly sponged some Old Olive ink on the lettering to make it stand out. I made some Gold Foil ornaments for the Christmas tree using the little bauble die from the Little Treat Box Dies.
I then decided to make a monochrome card using some black and white music paper (retired from Stampin' Up!). I used a piece with the music and words for Deck the Halls as the front layer and I didn't feel I should cover it up, so I decorated around it with a garland made from the Wreath Builder Dies. I added a little bow with the Real Red Braided Linen Trim and embellished the wreath with Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels.
If you need to make lots of cards quickly then you should use a Memories & More card pack! These packs come with 50 double-sided cards, stickers and other elements which are sized perfectly for making cards or doing scrapbook pages.
With two different sized cards in the packs (4" x 6" and 3" x 4") you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to putting a project together. These sizes are made to match perfectly with any of the card and envelope packs available from Stampin' Up! Plus with the included stickers you can make lots of cards without even stamping!
I used a few cards from the Magnolia Lane Memories & More card pack to make three different cards. I started by cutting three of the 3" x 4" cards into strips and then placed them on card fronts in slightly different arrangements.
The first card I made has the strips spaced slightly apart on a Magnolia Lane large card with a couple stickers and some silver thread to finish off the front.
For the inside I simply layered one of the printed vellum sheets over a large 4" x 6" sentiment card.
For my second card I glued the strips on a piece of 3" x 4" whisper white cardstock before embossing the piece using the Subtle embossing folder. This gave some texture to the design. I then used some more stickers to decorate the front including a sentiment.
My final card was created on a whisper white Notecard and I placed the strips with a small gap between each piece. I used more stickers from the Memories & More pack to decorate the front of this little card.
Have a look at my video to see how I cut the cardstock and for some tips on using the Memories & More card packs.
I hope you enjoyed these samples of ways you can quickly create cards.
Saturday, October 5th is World Card Making Day and I decided to offer a Free Christmas Card Making Class here in my home. I've been advertising all over Facebook and other internet sites so I am hopeful that there will be a few people coming to make cards. Today I've been busy making lots of Christmas cards as samples for the class.
I will be using the Night Before Christmas Memories & More cards and envelopes in the class because it is very easy to put together a few elements to make a card quickly. However, since I didn't know what the final cards would look like I decided to spread all my supplies out on my dining table.
I grabbed some retired DSP, threads, stamps and embellishments to bling up the cards as well. Even though it looked like a card shop had thrown up all over my table, it was an organised mess!
My original plan was to create four sample cards for the attendees to choose from but once I started combining my supplies together I created 10 cards and I could have kept going! I even got out last year's Poppy Parade coloured cards and envelopes which worked well with some of the images in the Night Before Christmas card pack. I was trying to create simple cards in case those attending were new to papercrafts, but I couldn't help but add embellishments and die cuts.
So I ended up with 5 samples of beginner cards and 5 samples of more complicated cards. I will let those who show up have a choice of which one they would like to make or they can just create their own card from the supplies I will have on the table -- once I clean up my mess! 😅
I could spend days playing with this set by fussy cutting and punching out all sorts of shapes from the cards since the colours coordinate so well and with just a few extra elements I would have 50 Christmas cards. But I didn't want to make things too difficult since I want to get people interested in card making and not scare them away! I will do some more 'messing' about with the cards that are left over after Saturday to make more Christmas cards for my markets and future classes because for me . . . everyday is Card Making Day! 💟
