Etched in Nature--Card Inspiration for On Tour!

Yesterday my team and I participated in some virtual training provided by Stampin’ Up!. They are hosting sessions over the course of a week to demonstrators all over the world which is really exciting. As part of our event registration, we were given the stamp set Etched in Nature and I decided to use this set as part of my team’s Afterparty event that I hosted virtually.

It is always more fun to stamp together and even better when we all have the same stamp set to use. I designed 3 Make’n Takes to work on with my team. Now, I will be totally honest, this stamp set was not a style I would normally gravitate towards so it was a pretty good challenge for me to create cards that had a design and a feel that I loved. However, playing with the NEW In Colors, some ribbon and embellishments and the new Hand Penned Designer Series Paper made this a much easier project than I was anticipating!

I think these cards look fabulous as a trio and all have a really unique feel to them as individual projects. By designing them with the same color palette and using the Hand Penned DSP as the anchor, they work as a group. This stamp set doesn’t have coordinating dies or punches so I had to pull in a couple favorite options to help accentuate the design.

The base of this card is the new Pale Papaya. This is a really interesting color for me as it leans yellow and it leans orange based on the colors that you pair it with. This color is one featured in the Hand Penned DSP. I punched out a circle that highlighted the color. This swatch also allowed me to pull in coordinating colors such as the Mint Macaron and Misty Moonlight circles. Both of the card stock circles are stamped with images in Momento Ink from the Etched in Nature stamp set.

I added a die cut sprig in Basic White from the Forever Flourishing Die set to add to that natural feel. Thank You is also stamped in Momento Ink and behind the sentiment I added some of the Pale Papaya Open Weave Ribbon and Basic White Thread. A few Matte Black Dots finished off this card perfectly!

This next card is an example of #goodcarddesign and was a feature project design of our team meeting. I briefly touched on this topic on a previous blog post and I will be adding to my #goodcarddesign concept with more examples later this week—so make sure you check back if you are interested in this concept!

The base of this card is the new Soft Succulent color and its just such a warm green with a nice grey undertone to it. It definitely has a ‘neutral’ feel to it and I can imagine it pairing so well with our other 50+ colors!

I added a scallop detail in Misty Moonlight along the edge using the Peony Die and layed a strip of DSP from the Hand Penned collection. I did a bit of background stamping and stamped the sentiment out twice so I could pop up and isolate the word Happy Moments.

Between the two circles I added some of the Soft Succulent Open Weave Ribbon and some Basic White twine. A few Opal Rounds to add some glitz to this card was the perfect touch.

The final card in this trio is on a crisp Basic White card stock base. I added a middle panel that I ran through the Tasteful Textile 3D folder and added two strips of DSP from the Hand Penned Collection.

I wanted to focus on the butterflies from the stamp set on this project. Underneath the sentiment, stamped on Pale Papaya, I added a little strip of Polished Pink as scallop accent using the Stitched Be MIne Dies. The ribbon is amazing—I LOVE IT! It is the new Pale Papaya & White 1/2 Ribbon. A few In Color Jewels just finished things off perfectly!

Overall, I really really love how these cards turned out and believe that you can recreate them with ANY stamp set you might have that combines images and sentiments!

Create with Connie and Mary-Yellow Submarine Theme!

Hello friends! Thank you for checking in this week! This week our design theme was ‘Yellow Submarine’ and I decided to create a project that features the many yellow colors that Stampin’ Up! makes. This is actually a great card design to feature any of our colors, especially our upcoming new In Colors, so you might see this design again in the future!

I started my card on a Basic White base and added a layer with a stitched star die cut. I love stars and I am happy these dies are carrying forward.

Behind this die cut is where I added strips of all the yellow colors that Stampin’ Up! makes! I started with So Saffron, then Daffodil Delight, Bumblebee, Crushed Curry and Mango Melody. Now the Mango might be controversial (is it yellow or is it orange?) but in this configuration I think that it works.

The sentiment is from the Pierced Blooms stamp set and is stamped in Bumblebee ink on So Saffron card stock. I added two ribbons behind—Bumblebee Gingham and Daffodil Delight Ruched Ribbon. And a few Artistry Blooms Sequins and voila! A fun sunny yellow card!

I can’t wait to see what the other Design Team members come up using this theme. You can go BACK to see what Melissa has made and NEXT to see what Connie has created! Please feel free to comment or use my Hostess Code if you live in Canada for any of your ordering needs.

Good Card Design

Recently I introduced my team to the concept of #goodcarddesign. I want to teach them to start designing and creating their own cards. Designing your own cards develops creative confidence and helps you start to develop your own stampin’ style. The social media world is full of inspiration (Hello Artisan Design Team) but there is nothing like the feeling of creating a card you love to share with others!

So what makes up a GOOD CARD DESIGN?

I think there are several factors, the most being that the design must be repeatable—meaning you can make this card with any color card stock, Designer Series Paper, embellishment and punches/dies. It is also important to consider what you are using on your card. If you use Designer Series Paper and embellishments then your own customers are more likely to order and use them too.

A #goodcarddesign also only uses one or two stamp sets. This makes the design easy to replicate as it doesn’t need a variety of stamp sets. We all create those cards sometimes too (that use 12 different stamp sets) but in our virtual teaching world, minimizing the stamp set requirements goes a long way in developing #goodcarddesign!

I started by giving my team a picture of these card pieces. Similar to a Mystery Card concept, which is also fun and something we have done a few times this past Covid year.

I also shared my finished project so they had an idea of where I was going with my design.

I love so many things about this #goodcarddesign! I created this card with a Blushing Bride base and first layer. I stamped the starfish on the layering piece in the coordinating ink color.

Background stamping is also a criteria of #goodcarddesign. Afterall, we sell STAMPS, and we want to use them in a variety of ways on our projects. Background stamping is one of the easiest, especially using the tone on tone method.

I then added 3 strips of Sand & Sea Designer Series paper that is cut 3/4 x 3. Imagine how many cards you could make from one sheet of 12x12? The strips are also slightly offset. I find this style is also great for beginner stampers because they don’t need to worry about lining this up perfectly. Let’s take away that stampin’ stress!

I layered my sentiment on a circle and scallop circle from the Layering Circles Dies. In between the layers I added Braided Linen Trim (that I pulled apart at the edges as if felt like something nautical) and a retired ribbon.

I also added some Opal Rounds too! If you don’t show people how amazing they look, how are they going to know they need them?

And finally I flicked my Blushing Bride marker across the front of the card. This is a simple favorite technique of mine that just adds a little something!

How can you resist this adorable Weiner Dog? I absolutely LOVE the Hot Dog stamp set!

This adorable Hot Dog stamp set was perfect to illustrate how this #goodcarddesign can work with a completely different stamp set.

I swapped out the Sand & Sea DSP for the Fine Art Floral DSP and the base of my card is Soft Seafoam. You can see how I replicated the background stamping by using the little heart from the Hot Dog stamp set and added in some Basic Sequins.

I stamped out the weiner dog in Momento Ink and colored him with a light Cinnamon Cider wash with my Water Painter. I added in ‘Hi’ in the word bubble from the same stamp set. The little tiny bowtie is from the Birthday Chick Dies.

So that is #goodcarddesign sample number two…let me share another with you so you can see how fantastic this method works!

This is my third example of how #goodcarddesign works! You can see how different this card looks, but it has all of the same elements!

I started with a base of Smoky Slate and stamped some cute hearts from the Hearts & Kisses stamp set in the coordinating ink color. The DSP strips are from the True Love paper (I love a good black and white paper). This time I punched a 1 1/2 circle from Flirty Flamingo and layered a tag from the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch. I cut my 1 inch Basic Black strip to 2 1/2 long to end up with my final length.

Between the two tag layers I added some retired ribbon (I think it was from the Geared Up Garage collection) as I figure I need to quit ribbon hoarding! And its fun to think I used a masculine ribbon with some girly pink lips!

The lips are stamped in Flirty Flamingo ink and punched from the Hearts & Kisses bundle and the ‘Thank You’ sentiment is from another retired set, Take Out Treats.

All three of these cards are different and can appeal to a simple to avid stamper and are perfect example of how a #goodcarddesign can help you achieve three completely different cards!

I am excited to continue to educate my team on #goodcarddesign and plan to share future good card design concepts with them! I hope you are inspired to create something too!

Hey Chick!

Hello friends! This month the Artisan Design Team is sharing projects that feature the Hey Chick and Hey Birthday Chick bundles, the Sand & Sea suite and the Cactus Medley with the Succulent bundle! My assignment was to create some fun projects featuring the CHICKENS! Such a fun and cute couple of sets to work with!

As soon as I saw the big chubby chicken and the little chicks I knew I wanted to showcase them with a Diorama Card! This is such a unique card style to showcase a ‘scene’ and its a throwback to those fun shoebox diorama projects I loved make as a kid for a school project.

To recreate these projects you will need some Stampin’ Blends to add a hint of color to your chickens. The secret weapon and fun tip with this project is to take the wood stump die and the fence die and add extra details and dimensions to them by pressing them into the Cinnamon Cider ink pad prior to running them through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. The ink on the die will press into the card stock and transfer, giving the recessed area some ink detail!

I also used the Wired Up background stamp set with my projects. I inked it up, keeping it right in the stamp case, with Grey Granite and then lightly touched my surfaces to the stamp. By not fully pressing it I was able to just add the chicken wire detail in a few places. Its a faint but awesome detail.

I think the bright colors of Poppy Parade, Coastal Cabana, and Daffodil Delight really added to the whimsical feel of these projects. I was really happy with how cheery and fun the finished projects turned out!

The Daffodil Delight card is a traditional card fold. I added die cut chicken wire poking out from each side of the main panel for a fun detail. The sentiment in Coastal Cabana at the top of the card is the sign trimmed to look like a board instead of a sign post. I always look for ways to change how a die works and this was easy! I added a light coloring detail to the chicken on this card with Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight and Mango Melody Stampin’ Blends.

To create the Diorama card you will need a large die to cut the window in the front. I used the largest circle die from the Circles Dies in the Annual Catalogue (a crafters must have set!).

The base of the Diorama card is 6 3/4 x 4 1/2. You want to score this at 3/4, 1 1/2, 5 1/4 and 6. You want to peek and valley fold these score lines to create the raised up front area.

The Basic White background piece is lightly stamped with the Chicken Wire background stamp and measures 4 1/4 x 4 1/2. You can attach this and then piece in the chubby bowtie chicken and fence. I found this was easier as I knew exactly where to place it instead of adding it to the Basic White first.

I then added a Coastal Cabana back piece to the card which measures the same as the Basic White, 4 1/4 x 4 1/2. This also gives the card a bit of weight and makes it easier to stand up.

The little chick on the left hand side is attached with a Glue Dot on his one leg. This gives him the illusion of popping out. The two streamers are cut in Pumpkin Pie and Mango Melody card stock and are attached to the inside of the window. This also contributes to the diorama style and feel.

I finally I just love the belly band on the Mini Paper Pumpkin box. I just love these boxes. They are the perfect size for giving Gift Cards and little treats and fit our Basic White Notecards perfectly!

I created the Poppy Parade belly band to be 2 inches wide and stamped ‘Hey Chick’ in the coordinating ink randomly along the band. I used the chicken wire die again, this time in Coastal Cabana cards stock to add a bit of detail. The chicken with the balloon is colored with Stampin’ Blends and I couldn’t resist giving him a little bowtie! I love that the Birthday Chick dies have a die that cuts Happy Birthday! It was a fantastic addition to this project with the little cupcake trimmed from the Hey Chick stamp set.

If any of these projects have inspired you and you live in Canada, please consider shopping with me. I would love to get to know you and help in your creative stamping journey! I teach a lot of classes and facilitate a number of monthly groups!

Create with Connie and Mary--Easter Cards!

Hello friends! Our official theme this week is Easter Cards, however I have been sharing some Easter inspiration over the past couple of weeks. So hopefully if you haven’t visited in a while you can go back and take a peek! I really love designing Easter cards because I love the soft pastel colors of spring and Easter. Fun Fact—my 5 bridesmaids all wore a different shade of pastel back when I got married 20 years ago! 20 years! Where does the time go?

It was really easy to design this card based around the sweetest bunny ever! You can find this cutie along with an adorable lamb and butterfly in the Springtime Joy stamp set. I have made quite a few things with this set over the past few weeks. You can also follow me on Instagram @stampwithbrenda as I do post almost daily over there!

I also wanted to create a card that used some items that you wouldn’t necessarily think of as ‘Easter’ themed too!

I started with a crisp base of Basic white and ran a layer through the awesome Dainty Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder.

I then cut some squares from various papers to create a fun focal point.

I started with a square of the Love You Always Foil Sheets in the Sahara Sand. On top and at an angle I added some of the Love You Always Specialty Designer Series Paper in the Blushing Bride tone.

And finally I thought this was a good opportunity to showcase the Stitched With Whimsy Dies on a Basic White square with an amazing Gold Hoop! I love these embellishments and I really hope they continue with our new catalogue coming out in May.

I added a little greenery using the Forever Flourishing Dies in Soft Seafoam and added it to the left of the hoop with some glue dots. The cute little bunny is stamped in Momento Ink and colored with the Stampin’ Blends. A fun tip is to use the light Smoky Slate Blend to delicately color around the flower crown to give it a little depth and dimension.

The Springtime Joy stamp set doesn’t have a sentiment that says Welcome Easter so I had to stamp two different sentiments and hand trim them to create my own. I find you can almost always get the sentiment you want by combining a few different stamps!

I hope you are inspired to create something with this set! I have a few other projects I haven’t shared yet so keep checking back! I know the other designers have made some fantastic projects this week too. You can go BACK to see what Melissa has designed and NEXT to see what Connie has made.