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.
Masking is a great way to give depth to a card, allowing you to create the illusion of images being in the background. With the masking technique I have created a field of tulips on a card by only using a couple of flower stamps.
This technique can be used in so many different ways to create beautiful cards and images. It's a fairly simple technique in which you use a piece of sticky note paper to protect your stamped image from ink placed on top of it.
This is a standard A6 card done as a portrait orientation with the fold at the top. The base of the card is an A4 piece of Garden Green cardstock cut down the middle on the short side (21 cm side) at 10.5 cm and scored at 14.8 cm (11-3/4" x 4-1/8" scored at 5-7/8"). I used Whisper White cardstock for the front and the inside layers cut to 14.3 cm x 10 cm (5-5/8" x 4"). The other products I used are listed at the bottom of my YouTube video which you can see below. In the video I show you how to make the blue card using the Timeless Tulip Bundle (Timeless Tulips Photopolymer Stamp Set and Tulip Builder Punch) along with tips on how to successfully mask the images. The colours I used are Seaside Spray, Garden Green and Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I have stamped off with some of the images to create a lighter shade which looks like lavender.
I hope you like my video and cards and will give the masking technique a try for yourself!
I've been having so much fun with the new Tulip Builder Punch which is part of the Timeless Tulips Bundlefrom Stampin' Up!
I started off stamping and then punching out the flowers and leaves to give dimension to my cards but then I decided to take things to a another level with three dimensional flowers.
It is so quick and easy to make adorable tulips with this punch.
You can stamp the cardstock before punching or just decorate them using other techniques such as sponging, embossing, water colouring, blending, spritzing, or colourong with pencils or pens. You can also combine several of these techniques to add even more colour and depth to your tulips.
Tulip Builder Punch
To make these 3-D tulips all you need is some cardstock and the Tulip Builder Punch. You should punch out five flower pieces from a 2" x 6" piece of cardstock. Score the centre of each flower from the tip of the middle petal and fold each one in half lengthwise. If you want to decorate the flowers, you should do this now before gluing the sections together.
To decorate the tulips you will need some additional items besides just cardstock. Depending on the technique you use you may need some ink, pencils, pens, sponges, embossing folders, or daubers.
Glue all five flower pieces together to form the tulip, making sure you place a wooden skewer in the centre for the stem. You should colour the skewer with Stampin' Blends before attaching it to the flower. Punch out two leaf pieces from Garden Green cardstock and glue them together on the wooden stem. You could attach a banner with a sentiment to the stem if you wish.
Have a look at my video below to see how to put the flowers together along with other tips for decorating the tulips. I show samples of cards I've made at the end of the video as well as how to stamp the reverse image on a leaf using the Stamparatus.
If you like these tulips check out my other videos and blog posts using this stamp set!
I've seen lots of videos of magic colour slider cards online and I have been wanting to try this technique for a long time. I finally found a stamp set that lends itself to this technique; the Dressed To Impress Photopolymer Stamp Set. The solid outline images are perfect for colouring in which is why I used them for my cards.
I modified the way I made my cards from those I'd seen online so that they aren't too bulky. Most videos I watched used dimensionals to pop up the front so that the window sheet slid more easily. Also the videos I watched didn't make cards, per se, they only made the fronts which did not open however you could write your message on the back.
After a long night's thinking -- which is why I don't get much sleep -- I came up with an idea to use designer series paper on the front to hold the sliding mechanism. I also didn't like that the space was left blank after pulling the window sheet up to reveal the coloured image, so I decided to stamped on the rest of the window sheet which turned it into a hidden message!
I created my first card with the lipstick image and the sentiment that fits it perfectly -- Be As Bold As Your Lipstick! I chose a colour combination to match the Stampin' Blends I used for the lipstick: Rich Razzleberry, Lovely Lipstick and Smoky Slate. I used the layering ovals for the cutout and to make a frame in Lovely Lipstick. I also used white embossing powder for the sentiment on the front of the card and the little arrow on the pull tab. The inside of the card has a sentiment from the Stitched All Around Cling-Mount Stamp Set.
Once I completed my first card I had lots of ideas to do more cards so I decided to create a video showing how to make one. My second card used the shoe stamp and the matching Best Dressed DSP. This time I chose Granny Apple Green, Lovely Lipstick and Purple Posy for my colours which match some of the colours in the DSP.
The video (below) shows how to make the card and mentions the dimensions however I had to make a few adjustments since this was a landscape card which I hadn't tried to make before. In the video I explain how to figure out measurements for different sized apertures.
Here are the measurements I used for both cards:
*** Standard A6 card size base = 14.8 cm x 21 cm scored at 10.5 cm (5-3/4" x 4-1/8")
*** Whisper White cardstock (two pieces -- inside and front) = 14.3 cm x 10 cm (5-5/8" x 4")
*** Designer Series Paper = 14.3 cm x 10 cm (5-5/8" x 4")
*** Whisper White cardstock for insert = 14 cm x 8 cm (5-1/2" x 3-1/8")
*** Window Sheet for insert = 14 cm x 8 cm (5-1/2" x 3-1/8")
*** Scrap piece of cardstock for the sentiment on the front, the aperture frame, and the pull tab.
You can see a list of the products used under the description on my YouTube video.
After making this video I realised I didn't have to stamp the second image on the window sheet since I could have just cut it out of the white cardstock and glued it to the window sheet instead because you won't be seeing the bottom of the white insert.
I now have another idea for making a different magic colour slider card which will use less window sheet so . . . watch this space!
I started off the New Year playing with my free stamp sets from the Sale-A-Bration brochure. There are so many wonderful projects which can be made from the new Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogues and in this post I showcase the Power of Hope Bundle which includes a stamp set and the Stone 3D Embossing folder. You can get both these items for free with a qualifying order until 31 March 2020.
I've made simple, casual and avid crafter projects to satisfy everyone with this stamp set. All you need is some cardstock, ink and the Power of Hope bundle to make some lovely cards and decorations for the new year.
Sometimes the simplest projects turn out to be the most elegant. My first card only used three colours of cardstock (Whisper White, Basic Black and Real Red) along with ink and the stamp set.
I stamped all the images from the set using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I used the Stitched Rectangle dies to cut the three white pieces which I then layered on black cardstock to give some contrast.
I arranged the layered pieces on the red cardstock to decide where to put the sentiments and then used my Stamparatus for perfect placement. I left the inside of the card blank so it can be used for any occasion.
My next design was inspired by the paper lanterns I see at the Auckland Lantern Festival. I stamped the image on Petal Pink cardstock, cut it out with a circle die and then scrunched it up in my hands to give it a worn look. I used Lovely Lipstick cardstock for the top and bottom of the lantern, cut with the Stitched Rectangle dies.
The black centre section was embossed with the Stone 3D Embossing folder and layered on a piece of Lily Impressions designer series paper (also a Sale-A-Bration freebie). I used some Rose Metallic Thread as the handle for the lantern and behind the sentiment, which was heat embossed in black on Petal Pink cardstock.
I stepped things up a bit with my next card by turning it into an interactive card. When you press on the word 'power' in the sentiment on the front of the card the little lanterns light up!
The base of this card is basic black cardstock with whisper white layers. I stamped the front with Black Memento ink and then coloured each image with Stampin' Blends markers (Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, and Call Me Clover). I stamped the lady on a separate piece of thick Whisper White cardstock and coloured her in with Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay, and Basic Black Stampin' Blends and then cut the image out so I could layer her on the front of the card.
I turned the front piece over and put copper tape, mini flat led lights and a battery on it to make the lanterns light up. I then used Foam Adhesive Strips to attach it to the front of the card. I watched several YouTube videos to see how to create the light up feature and this was the first time I had tried that technique. Since the Stampin' Blends bleed through the paper it was easy for me to place the led lights in the correct spots.
For my next project I made a little lantern on which I stamped the images with Memento black ink. I used a rectangle piece of Petal Pink vellum and left the ink to dry for several minutes before I cut strips into the sides. I then used some gold thread to attach the Petal Pink Tassel to the bottom of the lantern.
Putting Petal Pink cardstock at the bottom and top of the lantern helped to hide the joins and hold the gold thread in place. I used some Petal Pink cardstock for the handle as well. I then cut several blossom images with the Seasonal Layers dies on the vellum and cardstock to decorate the lantern and to hide the seams.
I had a little hanging light leftover from a lantern I got last year so I created a hanger for it out of a paper clip, bending it into the shape I needed. I had originally planned to use a battery-powered tea light for the lantern, but that idea had to change after I attached the tassel to the bottom.
I made a video to show the light up features for the card and the lantern because the pictures don't do these projects justice.
I plan to make more detailed videos on how to create these projects in the near future so subscribed to my YouTube channel if you'd like to see them. Don't forget to check back here soon for more Sale-A-Bration and Occasion catalogue projects!
I've finally finished my Christmas projects but I can't seem to stop crafting! So now I've turned my thoughts to the new year by making cute easel cards with mini calendars attached. The easel card design is simple and can be used for lots of different projects but here I use it to keep my sticky notes handy as well as a way for me to check the date!
For this project I used the Sailing Home cling stamps with the matching Smooth Sailing dies. I chose my colours from the Come Sail Away DSP -- Whisper White, Night of Navy and Mossy Meadow. On the first card I used an anchor from the Sail Away Trinkets, attaching it with a bit of the Night Of Navy/Sahara Sand Baker's Twine. My video shows how to use the smallest silver brad from the Metallic Brads to attach the hands to the compass.
The base of the easel is made from a 30.5 x 10.5 cm (12" x 4") piece of cardstock scored at 15.25 cm and 7.6 cm (6" and 3"). Glue a 15.25 x 10.5 cm (6" x 4") piece of coloured cardstock to the bottom half of the front of the card and a 14.25 x 9.5 cm (5-3/4" x 3-3/4") piece to the inside of the card. Glue a 14.25 x 9.5 cm (5-3/4" x 3-3/4") piece of designer series paper to the coloured front mat.
Glue the mini calendar to a piece of coloured cardstock which is slightly larger than the calendar, in my case that was a 7.6 x 5 cm (3" x 2") piece. You should be able to purchase the mini calendars online from a store in your country, however they need to be bought several months before the end of the year. Alternatively, you could print out your own and staple the months together. Glue the mini calendar to the dsp on the front of the card towards the bottom.
Stamp a piece of Whisper White cardstock with images from the Sailing Home stamp set and cut them out using the Smooth Sailing dies or the 3.8cm (1-1/2") Circle Punch depending on the images you stamp. You can also cut out images from coloured cardstock with the dies, such as the hands of the compass, the ship's wheel or the rope.
You can see exactly how to make one of these cards on my video here.
I taught this card at one of my Parent & Child classes recently, but we made it with the Good Morning Magnolia Bundle (Good Morning Magnolia Cling Stamp Set and the Magnolia Memory Dies). Some participants chose to stamp the image while others created a 3-D magnolia using the dies.
This would be a perfect gift for someone or make it for your desk so you have some note paper handy and will always know the date!
Last year I made my first pop-up card by watching several different videos online and I even taught several classes using the Animal Outings and Signs of Santa stamps and Designer Series Paper. I really love how pretty pop-up cards are and how they show off the designs. They are perfect if you have a stamp set that has too many cute images and a flat card just won't do it justice.
This year I had a customer order five pop-up Christmas cards and now that I have a YouTube Channel I decided to make an instructional video to show how they are made. I re-sized the card base to fit in a standard size envelope (A6) and so I could create a card from one piece of paper. In fact, I can get 1-1/2 card bases from one A4 sheet of cardstock, so I can make three cards from two pieces of paper.
Pop-Up Christmas Cards
Most Wonderful Time Product Medley
Several of the cards I made for my customer used retired stamps and DSP, but three are made with current products -- Truck Ride dies, Stitched Stars dies and the Most Wonderful Time Product Medley from the 2019 Holiday catalogue.
The video shows you how to make the Christmas tree and reindeer card using supplies from the Most Wonderful Time Product Medley along with Old Olive and Whisper White cardstock and Old Olive and Golden Glitz inks.
Most Wonderful Time Christmas Pop-Up Card
I mentioned the sizes in the video and I have a Word Document I created last year with instructions in metric sizes showing the Signs of Santa bundle which is now retired. If you would like a copy of the instructions please give me your email address and I will send it to you. I would love to see the cards you make with my instructions!
OnStage was so much fun! I love seeing my fellow demonstrators and all the products which will be coming out in the new year. It's such a great way to get excited about what's to come, especially when I currently have tunnel vision making lots of cards and gifts for orders and upcoming Christmas markets.
Paperartsie Team at Auckland OnStage
Besides getting my hands on the new Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogues, I love to get some new products. However I think my favourite thing about attending OnStage is getting to swap papercraft gifts with other demonstrators. It's such an exciting thing to do at the beginning of the event and is a great way to mingle with everyone there.
Freebies from OnStage November 2019
I know I can (and do) go online to get inspiration and ideas from around the world. You just have to look at my Pinterest page for the proof. But I like to get samples which I can refer back to whenever I want, which is why I love swaps! Plus it makes me feel so special knowing that someone made that little gift or card to trade with me! Here are pictures of the swaps I received this year and I have made a video showing them in more detail with the names of those who made each, if there was one included with the swap.
If you'd like more information about any of these please message me and I'll give you the details attached to the swap. Some demonstrators have included instructions or product details with their swaps and others have just included their names so you can look it up at their website.
If you'd like to enjoy the thrill of OnStage then you should join Stampin' Up! You'll get a great discount on your starter kit as well as an ongoing discount on any of your future orders. Contact me or your demonstrator for more information and maybe you'll be swapping with me at next year's OnStage!
This is a standard A6 card done as a portrait orientation with the fold at the top. The base of the card is an A4 piece of Garden Green cardstock cut down the middle on the short side (21 cm side) at 10.5 cm and scored at 14.8 cm (11-3/4" x 4-1/8" scored at 5-7/8"). 
