October 05, 2026

Color Fusers--October

October 05, 2026/ Brenda Nelson

Hi friends!
I am so happy you are here! I was really excited about this month’s Color Fusers color combo—Golden Glow, Early Espresso and Mossy Meadow are perfect for fall crafting and I had an immediate idea for a scrapbook page!

I love all of the options we have for fall crafting! My favorite Designer Series Paper paper right now is the Painted Patch collection—particularly the two awesome plaid patterns—one which has this awesome Golden Glow leaf design on the reverse sign. Sometimes it is so hard to choose which side to use! However, this leaf pattern was the beginning of my scrapbook page.

The base of the page is Early Espresso and to me the DSP strip influenced the rest of my design by focusing on the leaf pattern and bringing it to life with the dies from the Autumn Fields Bundle. Die cutting them and popping them up with dimensionals makes the background so interesting. It adds texture and interest keeping them tone on tone.

I also used the Gingham Gallery DSP in Golden Glow to die cut the scallop section at the top of the page. I trimmed off the top (which also a smaller scallop) to give this a straight edge to butt up along the top of my page.

I thought this was a nice way to build another sentiment into the page. This sentiment is from the Winnie the Pooh Sweet Word & Labels set. I layered a flower and Mossy Meadow leaf behind with some Linen Thread. Adding a brush of the Golden Glow Shimmer Pen on the flowers gave them a really nice finish.

The same scallop die makes a smaller scallop option that I decided to use under the sentiment “We Are Family”. This sentiment is created by blending two stamps together. Another great aspect of the Autumn Fields stamp set.

I used the new Mossy Meadow Gingham ribbon (trimmed in half) to add some interest to the sentiment. Honestly, I rarely make a scrapbook page without ribbon or thread of some kind.

The stamp set also includes an image that looks like a sheaf of wheat. So I decided to add that on my oversized photo mat. This photo mat is designed to give you space to decorate. It is 8 1/2 by 4 3/4 and holds a 4x6 photo on the left. Adding some of the Golden Glow dots from the Painted Patch Adhesive Backed Dots was the perfect finishing touch.

I really love the combination of stamped and coloured flowers and leaves (using Golden Glow Blends, Shimmer Pen and Mossy Meadows Blends) and die cut leaves.

I really hope this page inspires you to create your own fall scrapbook page. Mine is waiting for the perfect memory—it’s a good way to motivate me to be outside!

Next up on the swap is Heather from the Songbird Stamper. You can see what she has designed by copying this link into your browser:

Or go in reverse and see what Melissa created first!

If you have enjoyed my project, please consider following me on Instagram as I shared a lot more over on that platform. I have also been sharing my 50 Things to Do When I am 50 List on the Lifestyle portion of my blog—feel free to check out what I have been up to. And if you are in Canada and need any crafting supplies, consider shopping with me so I can keep doing what I love!

September 07, 2026

Color Fusers--September

September 07, 2026/ Brenda Nelson

Hi friends! Welcome to September’s Color Fusers Hop. While the calendar says it isn’t officially fall, I am getting those vibes here in Alberta as you can feel a shift in the air!

Our color palette for this month also reflects that fall feeling so I could not resist making a scrapbook page!

This is me in yellowstone park last fall. It was a really beautiful place!

I started with a 12 x 12 base of Two Tone Crumb Cake and added a 5 x 12 section of Blackberry Bliss that I ran through our new Textured Tree Ring Embossing Folder. As the paper was longer than the folder (it is one of our oversized folders but still won’t cover a full 12 inches). I decided to add a section of polkadot DSP from the Neutrals collection and a strip of some long retired Crumb cake ribbon. This is a great way to mask off the fact that the tree ring design does not go the whole length of the paper.

I new that I was going to use the new Simply Leaves bundle and I wanted to find a creative way to share a bunch of leaves —focusing on some stamping, using card stock and of course DSP. Having a punch made this so quick! I decided to frame either side of my center panel in leaves focusing on the colours the Team is using this month.

The main sentiment on my page is from the Extraordinary Life stamp set and it definitely captures the sentiment of how I have been feeling and approaching my life this past year.

I matted my photo on a piece of Crumb Cake card stock to help draw attention to it against the Blackberry Bliss. I added a few other sentiments from the new Beautiful Together stamp set (I love the circles with Here & Now and Good Life).

The plaid little leaf is also a fan favourite of mine! And a few Neutral Matte Dots and I had my page together!

Please Hop around to everyone and see what amazing projects they have created this month. Next up on the Hop is the amazing former Artisan Design Team member Heather from the Songbird Stamper. I love everything she creates and we were on the team together a few years back!

If you prefer to got the other way you can check out Melissa Kerman and see what fabulous project she has designed.

Thank you for stopping by and if you are interested in what I have been up to besides stamping this year, check out my Lifestyle Tab and see what goals I have been crushing on my 50 Things to Do List!

Thanks friends!

July 06, 2026

Color Fusers--July!

July 06, 2026/ Brenda Nelson

Hi friends! Welcome to July—as a teacher, this is an exciting month. I think I live for not setting my alarm clock! And I now have time for more crafting, which is everyone’s dream!

This month the Color Fusers are creating with Cloud Cover, Crisp Cantaloupe (a new In Color but a returning color) and Poppy Parade. I decided to use this combo to create a scrapbook layout.

Isn’t my dog so adorable! I love that he wanted to join me for this picture!

I started my page with Cloud Cover Two Tone card stock on the original color side. I used the Fragrant Layers stamp set (one of my current favourites) as the main stamp for my page.

The new Gingham In Color DSP is at the top of my DSP list at the moment. I wish we had it for every color family as you cannot go wrong with gingham! I used a section in the small gingham in Crisp Cantaloupe under my photo. My last day of school picture is mounted on Cloud Cover card stock with some Crumb Cake Bakers Twine wrapped around.

The sentiment is from the Fragrant Layers stamp set and is accentuated by a little scallop border detail in Poppy Parade. This was cut using the Bordered in Beauty Dies.

I also added a die cut flower and leaf from the Heirloom Boutique Die set.

The flowers on my page are coloured using the lazy watercoloring technique and the leaves are coloured with a Cloud Cover Stampin’ Blend. I used a Golden Glow dark Stampin’ Blend for the flower centers.

I use one of my larger blocks to press my ink pad to it to create a palette. Then I used a water painter to lightly color the image. The trick is to really dilute the ink for your first pass or wash of color. Then you can go back and add shading.

I am also really enjoying our new Shimmer Pens and I added some Crisp Canataloupe over top of this flowers for a little bit of sparkle!

I also used a tiny leaf from the Extraordinary Life die set and some pearls from the Pearlized Faceted Circles on my page. Some background stamping with the same floral image also creates interest in the foreground of the page.

I really enjoyed crafting with this color combo as Crisp Cantaloupe and Poppy Parade both have a bit of orange undertone to them so they do buddy up really well.

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the team has designed this month! Next on the hop is the amazing Tami, who has such a fantastic style of stamping. I know you will be inspired!

If the hop gets broken, you can go in reverse from here to see what the talented Lou Kitzelman has designed for us this month!

Either way, please see what the Color Fusers team has designed! Feel free to leave me a comment or shop with me if you are in Canada! Every order helps me keep loving what I do!

March 02, 2026

Color Fusers--March 2026!

March 02, 2026/ Brenda Nelson

Welcome to our Color Fusers Blog Hop for March! We are so happy you are here! This month we have been creating projects with Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green and Berry Burst.

I just got a new stamp set, Fragrant Layers, and I thought it would be perfect for this project. I also wanted to add in the ticket die from the Boardwalk Fun dies.

I am really happy with how this project turned out. I started with a card base of Granny Apple Green. My layer is Basic White cut to 3 3/4x5.

I used Lemon Lime Twist and a Blending Brush to add a layer of color to rest behind the floral image. I used a Dark Granny Apple Green Blend to flick some color over top of that. I think it adds a bit of depth to the design.

I used my favourite colouring technique, that I have named ‘Lazy Watercoloring’. You simply smash your ink colours of choice onto a block and use a Water Painte4 to layer on the color by adding water to the ink and painting. I like to do a light wash of color first and then go back and add in some darker color. I used Berry Burst for the flowers and Lemon Lime Twist for the leaves.

It's FAST and makes me feel like I have some artistic talent! Behind the image I added some Crumb Cake Twine. I added a Berry Burst ‘ticket’ cut from the Boardwalk Fun dies. I cut it into two pieces so I could tuck each end on either side of the floral image.

I stamped a couple extra leaves on Granny Apple Green card stock to expand the floral image.

I decided I wanted the sentiment to pop so I embossed it with White Embossing Powder on some Basic Black card stock and added it to the floral with Dimensionals.

A few gems from the Pearlized Faceted Circles (my favourite embellishment of the moment!) made this card complete. I am so happy with it and plan to recreate it using a variety of different color combos!

We are welcoming to the Hop this month my fellow Artisan Alumni, Tatiana Tobin. I love everything she makes! You can also go backwards too see what Bonnie has designed—she is a seasoned stamping vet and blog hop contributor!

Click on Next Stop to see what Tatiana has made for March! Make sure to visit everyone and please feel free to leave a comment!

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Melanie and I are co-hosting a Craftin’ Fun in the Sun Cruise at the end of July/August. We would love to have you join us. DM for details!

November 07, 2025

12 Days of Christmas--Day 7!

November 07, 2025/ Brenda Nelson

Have you been enjoying our 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop so far? I hope you have been inspired by the projects that we have been sharing every day! Don’t forget to check out both of our blogs so that you don’t miss anything!

My next project is another tag of sorts! I cam across this adorable mug at a local grocery story and could not resist buying it as I knew I could use the Gingerbread Man Bundle to make a fun tag for some Swiss Miss Cocoa Flavored Popcorn.

TOP TIP: I have a couple good popcorn recipes on my blog!

I used a cello bag (found in the party section at the grocery store) to hold my popcorn by adding the empty bag to the mug then scooping in some popcorn and adding some Real Red Shiny Ribbon.

The Gingerbread Man dies are fun because they are designed to open like a tag! Isn’t that fun? So I knew that I needed to use it in the way it was designed and adding a tag to this matching mug was just perfect.

The dies also come with so many fun add ons like the candy cane, wrapped candies, accessories to dress up your gingerbread person and more.

Top Tip: Use a Basic Black Stampin’ Blend to color the handle on your sucker

My gingerbread girl is stamped on Pecan Pie card stock using White Craft ink and embossing powder. I then added a couple cute treats to their hand a bow for her hair.

On the inside I decided to combine elements from the Homemade Treats bundle and I was so happy that when the tag is closed, you don’t really see that there is something fun hiding on the inside!

I stamped the sentiment 2x and fussy cut out ‘Christmas’ to pop it up a bit. It is one of my favorite tricks. A cute little candy cane, heart (from the Bee Builder Punch) and a couple banners from the Joy of Christmas DSP and this fun little mug gift was complete.

Make sure to check out what Melanie shared yesterday and hit this button to see what she has in store for tomorrow. Between the 12 of us we are sharing projects every day!

Stampin' Supplies used for the Gingerbread Tag

Product List

Gingerbread Man Bundle (English)

[165785]

Homemade Treats Bundle (English)

[166017]

2 3/8" (6 Cm) Circle Punch

[161354]

Bee Builder Punch

[162553]

Christmas Tags & More 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Mix & Match Specialty Designer Series Paper

[165907]

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill

[147277]

Basics Wow! Embossing Powder

[165679]

Real Red 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Shiny Ribbon

[165876]

Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154843]

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[147084]

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

Pecan Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161717]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131297]

Pretty In Pink 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163793]

Don’t forget to leave a fun comment or send me an invite into our Stampin’ Fun in the Sun Cruise Facebook group to get more details on our next adventure!