Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog Launch

Just two more days until the launch of the new annual catalog from Stampin' Up! As a demonstrator I have had a chance to see and purchase a few of the new items that will be coming out.  There are so many new and exciting new products that it is hard to decide what I like best! There are five new in-colors that will be around for the next two years. These colors coordinate beautifully with all of the other Stampin' Up! and show up in cardstock, ink, blends, ribbons, etc. There are beautifully coordinating designer papers, as well as lots of beautiful new stamps and dies to see as well. If you follow my page on Facebook or Instagram you have seen some sneak peaks. But in case you haven't, I'll share a few here.

Hand Penned Petals

Pansy Patch

Etched in Nature

Nothing's Better Than

Hand Penned Petals

These sets and more will be available for purchase beginning May 4. You can shop with me as your demonstrator at the Stampin' Up! website just by clicking on the link on the right of this blog page. If your order is less than $150, use my May host code NHSANBMP. However, if your order is more than that, you will earn your own Stampin' Rewards. In fact from May 4–June 14, 2021, qualifying orders ($250 or more) will receive our generous Stampin’ Rewards PLUS an additional $25 in rewards. 

Happy Stamping!

Card Crafting with Fabric

I have always loved fabric and fabric designs. So one of the things I like to do is use fabric in my cardmaking. I was introduced to this technique many years ago during a local craft shop hop. Fabric images are bright and colorful and can add a whole new dimension to crafting. They also allow for more variety at less expense than numerous stamp sets can.

Let me explain this simple process. You will need fabric with images that will be easy to cut out and that will fit on the front of your card. I look for designs that are bright and with images that do not overlap. You will also need uncut sticky back paper. This is the type of paper that is used to make address labels. The fabric is placed on the sticky side of the paper. If there is a lot extra space between images,  I will rough cut around the image, just so I can place them closer together on the sticky paper and thus save the amount of sticky paper I need. Then each images is hand cut each of the images I want to use. Once the images are cut out, they are  ready to use in whatever style card I choose to make. 

Here is one of the cards I made this week with fabric. 

What Is Paper Pumpkin?

Do you want to make amazing projects without all the prep work? Meet Paper Pumpkin—Stampin’ Up!’s crafty subscription program.  Paper Pumpkin is a monthly subscription box filled with all the supplies you need to make several cards and/or projects. Each month's kit is uniquely different, but each come with prepared, ready to assemble items to make several cards (including envelopes) or other small papercrafting projects.  Also included is an instruction sheet and a link to an online instructional video. Make the cards as is or let your creativity flow.  Each kit also comes with a reusable ink spot and a specially designed stamp set unique to that month's theme. These reusable items are an excellent way to begin to build your own crafty stash.

My Paper Pumpkin kit for March just arrived. Watch the unboxing video from Stampin' Up! to see just what is in this month's box. With this box, we also got a special add on bonus - a set of four stencils and and a stamping sponge.

Of course, I couldn't wait to check it out. I usually begin by making one of each design. This month I will be able to make 8 cards with the contents of the box if I use them just as is. Because these kits are complete with all the materials needed, Paper Pumpkin is an easy way to take some crafty goodness with you camping, on vacation, or to a friend's house, etc.  Here are my samples. 

I will use the rest of the materials in the kit to come up with my own designs. I may add some extras from my own crafty stash or from leftover previous Paper Pumpkin kits. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you just may see some pictures in the near future.

The next box comes out April 10. Here's a preview of what's coming in April. This "So Cool" Paper Pumpkin Kit is a little taste of summer fun, with enough supplies to make 12 colorful, shaped cards with coordinating envelopes. The kit also includes two full-size, matching sticker sheets, die-cut accents, fun embellishments, and more. This one is designed with kids in mind and will be great for adult/child interaction.

Sign up by April 10th and start your subscription now. Go to https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-us/sign-up/?demoid=2234261 for more information and to sign up.

The Butterfly Bouquet Collection

If you love butterflies, and who doesn't, you will quickly fall in love with this set of stamp and dies from Stampin' Up! As an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator, one of the things I enjoy is the opportunity to see new releases of their products. Right now Stampin' Up! is offering an early release of a collection that will be continue to be available in their new annual catalog, which debuts May 3. Just look at the beautiful stamps and dies in this new collection.  

The butterfly stamp is one large stamp that allows you to stamp all six butterflies at once. You can also then cut all six with the large die. There are six individual detailed dies that you can use to cut additional images in vellum or cardstock to add detail and dimension to the butterflies. By buying both as a bundle you save 10 %. 

But wait, there's more! As a special introductory offer, there are also two sets of designer paper. When the annual catalog debuts in May, the stamps and dies will be still available. However, the papers are a special release and are only available until then or as long as supplies last. One is a set of  48 6x6" double sided printed paper (8 each of 6 designs) and the second is two sheets of 12x12 exclusive woodgrain textured specialty paper.

One of the things I have enjoyed is making these beautiful fun fold cards. Both fit into a standard A2 envelope for easy mailing.

This is a landscape z-fold card. To make this card, I used SU's daffodil delight cardstock cut at 4 1/4 x 11" and scored at 2 3/4 and 5 1/2 ". The card was folded as a mountain fold at the 2 1/8" and a valley fold at the 5 1/2" thus creating a z. I cut my designer paper at 4 x 5 1/4" for the inside and 4 x 2 1/2" for the front flap. I used the largest scalloped die from SU's "Stitched So Sweetly" dies (#151690) to cut both the yellow flap and the white inset piece. The layered piece on the flap was cut with the second largest die from the same set. One of the pieces of the paper pack is made to perfectly match the large butterfly die to cut all six of these beautiful butterflies.  The butterfly I used was cut from that paper and then layered with a vellum butterfly cut with the matching detailed die.

This second card is portrait style z-fold card. For this card I used Bermuda bay card stock, cut at 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" and scored at 2 1/8" and 4 1/4". The dsp was cut at 4 x 5 1/4" for the inside and 2 x 5 1/4" for the front. I used a retired set of dies to cut my flap and inside piece. Even though I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I have many stamps that I have purchased over the years. The sentiment I used for both of these cards was from one of those. In both of these cards I left the inside blank, but you could certainly use whatever sentiments you like to create a card of your own.

The butterfly stamps and dies  as well as the papers can be purchased through my Stampin' Up! website (link on the right). If you love to stamp and do not have a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I would love to be yours.

My Story

My love of stamping started in 1999 when a friend first invited me to a home party/demonstration for a stamping company. I was hooked! My beginning attempts were very simple. Most of my cards were a piece of card stock with a stamped image which I colored with colored pencils. A simple stamp, a simple message, and I began making cards for family and friends. I was thrilled the first year to make all of my own Christmas cards to send out. ,

As I explored the card making process my love grew. I added layers, patterned paper, colored inks, and other coloring mediums. I learned to make dimensional cards with interesting and sometimes intricate card folds. As the years passed, I continued to learn more techniques and styles that have led me to where I am today.

After I retired, I began selling at local craft shows and markets. This led to requests for custom designed cards to fit the interests and personality of both the sender and receiver. No matter if a card is created for my own personal giving, for selling at a craft show, or for an individual customer, each card is individually hand crafted. As a result, even though there may be similarities, no two are exactly alike. My cards involve a variety of stamped and colored images, die cuts, embossing, and even fabric. And though I became an independent Stampin'Up! demonstrator in 2020, I use a variety of stamps, dies, and materials from other companies as well.

Like many others, Covid-19 has altered the business aspect of my cardmaking. I currently am not in any open market or attending craft shows, although a rack of my cards is available at a local farm market. Hopefully, there will be a return to an in person presence in the near future.