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.
When my children were little I loved finding that special gift they really wanted for Christmas but now that they are all grown up I find it difficult to get them presents because they just buy whatever they want as soon as they have the money.
So now I give them gift cards which they can use on what they really want . . . and who doesn't need extra money. But a gift card (or cash) alone doesn't seem special enough so I package it inside a handmade greeting card!
You can make a left or right opening card with this fun fold technique.
You can hide a gift card or cash behind the removable tag on the front of this card.
The tag can be used for gift giving as well or just leave it in the card as extra decoration.
This fun fold video shows how to make the tag/gift card holder cards.
These two cute cards used the Sweet Little Stockings bundle of products.
The inside of these cards reveal a pocket for you to hide a gift card or cash.
If you'd like to recreate these cute cards have a look at my instructional video here.
You can even change any existing greeting card into a gift card holder using a bit of extra paper and a punch as shown in my Quick Tip video.
I hope I've inspired you to dress up your prezzy card giving this year and I'd love to see what you make!
Recently I saw an amazing butterfly card using a colouring technique called Joseph's Coat which was so beautiful I had to try it for myself.
Butterfly Brilliance card with many colourful butterflies
After giving it a go with the Butterfly Brilliancestamp, I thought of Dolly Pardon's song 'Coat of Many Colors' and decide to make a colourful coat card using the Suit & Tie dies, Buffalo Check stamp and some sentiments from the Handsomely Suited stamp set.
Coat of Many Colours card for Father's Day
This technique is an unique way of adding colour to a card. I used my blending brushes to create different sections of colour on a piece of Basic White cardstock. Then I stamped my image in Versamark and heat embossed it with Clear embossing powder. The next step was to cover the entire white piece with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. It sounds a bit strange at first but the clear embossed areas will resist the black ink and allow the technicolour to show through, which I believe is why this technique got it's name -- Joseph's Technicolour Dreamcoat!
Two cards made with the Josephs' Coat technique
It's an amazing technique but very messy with all that ink, so I decided to try to replicate it without all the mess. That is how I created my faux Joseph's Coat technique. I made my cards by stamping the images with Versamark ink on dark cardstock and then heat embossed with White embossing powder. I then used my Stampin' Blends markers to colour on the white embossed image. Since the Stampin' Blends are permanent markers the colour stays on top of the embossed sections.
Two cards made with the Faux Joseph's Coat technique
Here are the two techniques side-by-side for comparison -- Real & Unreal.
Card made using the real technique on the left and the faux technique on the right.
I don't think there's a lot of difference between the two techniques. What do you think?
The two cards on the left were made with the 'unreal' technique and the one on the right is 'real.'
This is such a fun way to add colour to projects and the possibilities are endless. I even made a little card to fit in a 3" x 3" envelope using several stamps from the Floral Essence photopolymer stamp set. This was a little tricky trying to line up the images since Versamark ink is clear, however using photopolymer stamps makes it easier. I think I did a pretty good job.
Mini card made by colouring white embossed image with Stampin' Blends.
I am a member of the Global Monthly Video Hop and this card was perfect for our May theme'Only for Men'. If you'd like to see how to do this new technique have a look at my video below and you can learn how to make your own coat of many colours!
I'd love to hear your feedback on this to learn which technique you prefer -- the real one or the fake one!
The Sand & Sea products are one of my favourite collections in the new mini catalogue by Stampin' Up!
All the products work so well together -- Friends Are Like Seashells Photopolymer Stamps, Seaside Seashells Dies,Seashells 3D Embossing Folder, Opal Rounds self-adhesive gems, Seaside Shells stickers, Pearlescent Specialty Paper, and the Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper. You can stamp five of the shells on the large die cut image and them emboss them all in one go with your Cut & Emboss Machine!
Then you can use it as one large background image on a card or you can cut away each seashell to use them individually.
I even combined the two methods by attaching five stamped shells onto the large die cut image (Old Olive cardstock) and placed them on some Sand & Sea DSP.
You can get a stunning look by just embossing on the Pearlescent Specialty Paper.
For another card I highlighted the raised spots on the large die cut image using some Heat & Stick powder with the Gilded Leafing embellishment to make an elegant birthday card.
I created a card with the embossed background and added some sheen by sponging the Mossy Meadow cardstock with some Frost White Shimmer Paint. The shell and starfish were stamped on a piece of Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper before die cutting.
I sponged some Seaside Spray ink on Basic White cardstock which was embossed with the Painted Texture 3D folder to make it look like my seashells have been washed up on a sandy beach.
I used some blending brushes with the PearlescentSpecialty Paper to create realistic looking seashells and combined them with some of the beautiful Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper.
The coloured pearlescent shells also stand out well on a white embossed background.
I show you how to create this gorgeous card in my YouTube video below.
I've also made a few quick videos to show you how to get the best use out of the Sand & Sea dies and 3D embossing folder. You can see all of them on my C & C Designs channel.
There are so many things you can do with this fabulous collection that I am sure it will keep you crafting for a long time!
The Hey Chick stamp set has returned and works perfectly with the new Hey Birthday Chick stamp set from Stampin' Up!
I kept the original Hey Chick stamp set I got during Sale-A-Bration in 2017 and I am so glad I did because now there are dies that work with that set as well as new dies for the Hey Birthday Chick set.
These dies not only cut out the chicken images from the stamp sets, they also have a lot of extra accent pieces you can cut from cardstock.
I love the fence and chicken wire as well as the adorable corn pieces which can be put together on the stalk or used separately.
There is even a little die that will cut out marks that look like chicken scratches on the ground!
I made a few cards back in 2017 with the original Hey Chick stamp set but I don't like fussy cutting so I was limited with my creativity.
I made a round spinner card using buttons on the backs of each egg so they would not slide too quickly as they moved around the middle of the card.
I also made a spinner card with one egg being tossed between two colourful chickens!
With the new dies and a bit of inspiration after seeing a Z-fold card made by Patti Bagin, I threw myself into making my own fun fold card.
Here is the front of the card when closed. The little blue bow tie and chicks are made from the dies and I think they are so cute!
This is the card fully opened with all the chickens saying Happy Birthday!
This is a close-up shot of the front of the card as it would stand on a shelf.
I added layers to my card using Crumb Cake cardstock to hold up the chickens on the interior.
I coloured all the images with Stampin' Blends to give it a vibrant look!
Everywhere you look there is something different going on. The dies for these stamps sets allow you to make any type of farm scene you want!
I really like the cute little chick die cuts to which I added some colour with my pens.
The chicken tied to a balloon was so large I had to put it at an angle to use it on this landscape card.
I especially liked using the little die to create chicken scratch on the ground and the wooden fence can be made to any length by attaching more die cut pieces.
I even decorated a large piece of white cardstock on the back of the card so I had room to write a birthday message to the recipient.
I hope you enjoyed all the pictures of my chicken farm z-fold card!
To welcome in the year 2021 I designed a card to hold a mini calendar.
I created a special fold so that when the card is opened the mini calendar on the inside can be displayedon a desk or countertop.
If you love dragonflies you'll love this card as I used the new Dragonfly Garden stamps and matching Dragonfly Punch to cut out the large and small dragonflies from the Dandy Garden designer series paper.
You can find these new products in the 2021 Mini Catalogue by Stampin' Up!
This is perfect as a thank you card for a friend, however you could make it for anyone by just removing the sentiment on the left side of the card.
You can use it as a gift as well since the mini calendar can be displayed easily when opened.
I used my Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to add some bling to the wings of the dragonflies.
When I first made this design I stamped two dragonfly images and coloured them with watercolour pencils to match the background designer series paper before punching them out with the new dragonfly punch.
I stamped some of the smaller images on the mini calendar pages as well as on to the dsp. Be sure to stamp off the image on scrap paper before stamping on the calendar or it will be too dark to see the dates.
The card base was 10.5 cm x 29.7 cm -- I cut an A4 sheet of cardstock in half lengthwise.
I scored it at 7.5 cm and 9 cm from the short edge on both sides to create the special fold.
I cut four pieces of designer series paper to 7 cm x 10 cm -- two for the front and two for the inside. You could cut four pieces of the same dsp and use the opposite side on the inside of the card or choose complimentary designs and colours. The large dsp for the inside centre section is 11 cm x 10 cm.
I cut some cardstock slightly larger than the mini calendar and die cut the numbers from the centre of it before sticking it down on the inside. Don't forget to attach some ribbon or cord to the front before attaching the dsp so you can close the card.
I made a video showing how to make the 'Thank You' card as a participant of the Global Monthly Video Hop. You can see it here and I've put links to the other members of the GMVH in the description of my YouTube video so you can see more 'Thank You' projects from demonstrators around the world.
I hope you like my special card and have a wonderful New Year!
