April 2021 "So Cool" Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

 The April Paper Pumpkin kit arrived and at first I thought it was going to be a challenge to come up with alternatives for this kit.  It didn't take me long to start creating and then I had so many ideas in my head.

Here is the projects the kit suggests.

And here are the alternatives I create with the kit.

A video showcasing all these projects is below.

https://youtu.be/scI3XHJsIqg

To purchase Paper Pumpkin kits, please go to https://www.paperpumpkin.com/en-ca/sign-up/?demoid=2177033

Happy Stamping!

Sunset Reflections

 We had our monthly team meeting and one of the other demonstrators, Angie, taught us how to make sunsets and sunrises using sponges.  I love this technique and I will be doing this again!

By changing the background matting colour, you will notice how the sunset colours change.  The top photo has more pink featured in the sunset due to the Mambo Melon matting colour.  The bottom card has more orange featured with the Calypso Coral matting.

Materials used include:

• Basic White cardstock
• Basic Black cardstock
• Mambo Melon or Calypso Coral cardstock
• Memento Black ink
• Rooted in Nature stamp set
• Blending Brushes
• Sponge Daubers
• Daffodil Delight ink
• Mango Melody ink
• Mambo Melon ink
• Cherry Cobbler ink
• Pacific Point ink
• Night of Navy ink
• Basic Grey ink
• Stitched Rectangle dies
• Wink of Stella

I hope you enjoy making this card as much as I did.  Here is a video tutorial.

Happy Stamping!

Easel Gate Fold card

 At our team meeting, another demonstrator Ann Anderson showed us how to make this Easel Gate fold card.  It is a different take on other gate fold cards.  I decided to do both a feminine and masculine card.

A video tutorial is here including all the material used in the making of the cards.

Happy Stamping!

Die Cuts and Doilies

 I was taking part in a card swap and the theme was a feminine card.  I wanted to think outside the box a little bit and not use some of the materials that I thought others would use.  This is what I came up with.

I love this card!  Around the neighbourhood, cherry blossoms are in full bloom and this card reminds me of this.

Materials used:

• Forever Blossoms stamp set
• Cherry Blossoms dies
• Pearl Basic Jewels
• Granite Gray Shimmer Ribbon
• Square Vellum Doilies
• Basic Gray cardstock
• Blushing Bride cardstock
• Old Olive cardstock
• Basic White cardstock
• Flirty Flamingo Stampin Blends
• Old Olive Stampin Blends
• Gray Granite ink

Video tutorial:

Happy Stamping!

More Colour Lifting Techniques

 

A different type of colour lifting technique was used for these cards.  This time, I used bleach to lift the colour of the cardstock.  It was amazing to see the variety of colours that resulted from using the bleach on cardstock.  It might not look like it, but only one colour of ink was used on each of these cards!  I then used clear embossing powder to set the ink before colour lifting the cardstock.

Materials used:

• Cardstock
• variety of ink
• Clear embossing powder
• Various stamp sets

For more detailed information about this technique, please watch the video tutorial

Happy Stamping!

Creating Backgrounds with Stampin Blends

 I wanted to do a very quick card but I was looking for a background that wasn't just plain cardstock.  I also did not want to use a stamp for the background because I wanted to feature the stamps on top of the background.  I decided to use Stampin Blends markers to create the background.

This card was so easy to make and I think very pretty.  Perfect to send someone to cheer up their day.

Materials used:

Basic White Cardstock

Granny Apple Green Cardstock

Memento Black ink

Stampin Blends markers

Pretty Perennials stamp set

Here is a video.

Happy Stamping!

Colour Lifting with Watercolours

 I saw this technique being done and new I had to try it.  It looked so fun and easy.  I will admit though, it is a little messy :)  Here is what I created.

Materials used include:

• Watercolour paper
• Waterpainters
• Versamark ink
• Clear embossing powder
• Inks - various colours
• Cardstock - various colours
• Various embellishments
• babywipes

A video tutorial is included to show you how to do this technique.

Comment below on your watercolour lifting creations!

Happy Stamping!

A quick Half Fold Card

 I wanted to create a card that showcased some of the beautiful designer series papers that I have.  This half fold card was perfect.

Materials used:

• Cactus Melody suite
• Memento Ink
• Pear Pizzazz ink
• Mossy Meadow cardstock
• Pear Pizzazz cardstock
• Basic White cardstock

A video tutorial is included below.

Happy Stamping!

Sunburst Card

 I wanted to do another card that showcased some of the beautiful designer series papers that Stampin Up carries.  I decided to try cutting up the paper and placing it on cardstock, omitting small pieces.  This is what I came up with.

This is a very easy technique and can be very eye catching.

The video below will teach you how to do this technique.

Happy Stamping!

Shadow Stamping

Shadow stamping is a simple stamping technique that looks like you did a lot of work to create the card.  This works much better if you have a two step stamp set.

Materials used include:

• Art Gallery stamp set
• So Sentimental stamp set
• Gorgeous Grape cardstock
• Gorgeous Grape ink
• Highland Heather cardstock
• Bermuda Bay cardstock
• Bermuda Bay ink
• Coastal Cabana cardstock
• Basic White Thick cardstock
• White Craft Stampin ink

A video tutorial is included.

Happy Stamping!

March 2021 Here's To You Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

 Another month has passed and the March Paper Pumpkin kit arrived.  The theme - Here's To You includes outdoor scenes and this kit had something special.  There were decorative masks included.  The alternatives are endless.  Here is what I came up with for this kit, including the two cards that were suggested in the kit.

A video featuring the March kit and all that it contains plus all the alternatives is below.

Please share your alternatives to the March kit below.

Happy Stamping!

Card Swap sharing

 We had our monthly team meeting and our theme for the Card Swap was not using any stamps.  You could use ink, paper and embellishments.  This is the card I made first, but for the swap, I substituted the stamped sentiment with a die cut.  I love how the flowers really pop with colour when placed on the black and white background.

Materials used:

• Arrange a Wreath dies
• Rhinestones
• Various bright coloured cardstock
• Basic Black cardstock
• True Love Designer Series Paper

Here is a video showing how to make this card.

Happy Stamping!

How to make a 5 min card!

 This is a simple stamping card made using the Tranquil Thoughts stamp set found in the Jan-June mini catalogue.  I wanted to show that you do not need a lot of supplies to make a beautiful card.

Materials used:

• Tranquil Thoughts Stamp Set
• Basic White cardstock
• Soft Sea Foam cardstock
• Soft Sea Foam ink
• Flirty Flamingo ink
• Basic Gray ink

A video tutorial link is here.

Happy Stamping!

Easel Card - Hey Birthday Chick

 

I am so excited to be creating cards with the Hey Birthday Chick bundle.  I think it is so adorable.  I wanted to try making an easel card so this is what I designed.

Materials Used:

• Hey Birthday Chick stamp set
• Birthday Chick dies
• Early Espresso cardstock
• Basic White cardstock
• Crushed Curry cardstock
• Pumpkin Pie cardstock
• Adhesive Sheets
• Black Memento ink
• Mango Melody stampin blends
• Poppy Parade Stampin Blends
• Pumpkin Pie Stampin Blends
• Petal Pink Stampin marker
• Daffodil Delight Stampin marker
• Highland Heather Stampin marker
• Bermuda Bay Stampin marker

A video tutorial can be found here.

Happy Stamping!

Alternating Gate Fold Card

 This card shows a different alternative to the Gate Fold Card.  I put overlapping pieces on the top and bottom of each side as show below.  A simple card to make and looks wonderful.  I was dreaming of a tropical vacation recently and this card shows it.

Material Used includes:

• Timeless Tropical Stamp Set
• In the Tropics dies
• Soft Sea Foam cardstock
• Mossy Meadow cardstock
• Pear Pizzazz cardstock
• Flirty Flamingo ink
• Pear Pizzazz ink

A video tutorial is included.

Happy Stamping!

Ombre Balloon Birthday Card

 I was teaching a virtual card class for teens and had a challenge to create a card that did not include stamps.  Due to copyright laws, paper cannot be prestamped for classes.  I didn't want to make a card that was too challenging as this was the first class and I wasn't sure how experienced the participants were.  This is what I came up with.  I love the Ombre paper.

Materials used include:

• Balloon Bouquet punch
• Ombre DSP paper
• Basic Black cardstock
• Basic White cardstock
• Basic Black Stampin write marker
• Wink a Stella

A video tutorial is here:

Happy Stamping.

It's Spring!

 I am looking forward to spring and all the colourful flowers that come up - daffodils, tulips, crocuses, iris, etc.  Our garden is a sea of colour.  Everything looks so cheerful after winter.  I wanted to create a card that reminded me of spring.  I am so pleased with how it turned out.  This is one of my favourite cards that I have created.  I did not put a sentiment on it so that I could use it for a variety of occasions.

Materials used include:

• Dainty Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder
• Petal Pink cardstock
• Gorgeous Grape cardstock
• Highland Heather cardstock
• Mambo Melon cardstock
• Mossy Meadow cardstock
• Pear Pizzazz cardstock
• Pastel Pearls

A video tutorial is below.

I hope you enjoy this card as much as I do.

Happy Stamping!

Simple Stamping With Vine Design Stamp Set

 Here is an example of how easy it is to make a card, only using ink, paper and stamp set.  I chose the Vine Design Stamp Set.

Materials used include:

• Vine Design Stamp set
• Old Olive ink
• Flirty Flamingo ink
• Memento Black ink
• Basic White Cardstock
• Daffodil Delight Cardstock
• Old Olive Cardstock

A video tutorial is below.

Happy Stamping!

Double Embossed Card

 I wanted to try combining two different embossing techniques to create this card.  I loved how it turned out.  At first, I wasn't so sure when I saw were the embossing powder was sticking, however once I heat set it, I was very pleased with the effects.  By adding some colour with the brayer, this completely changed the look as well.  The pictures below don't do it justice as the gold shine does not show up as well.

Materials used include:

• Ornate Style stamp set
• Ornate Borders dies
• A Touch of Ink stamp set
• Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder
• Versamark Ink
• Memento Ink
• Petal Pink Ink
• Gold Embossing Powder
• Petal Pink Dark Stampin Blends
• Old Olive Light Stampin Blends
• Mango Melody Dark Stampin Blends
• Blushing Bride 3/8" Metallic Ribbon
• Basic White cardstock
• Petal Pink cardstock

A video tutorial is available here.

Happy Stamping!

Resist Embossing with Watercolouring

 Resist embossing is an easy technique and I wanted to see how it would work with watercolouring.  I had done it before with ink and sponging.  This technique is very simple with so many possibilities.

Materials used include:

• Garden Wishes stamp set
• Pacific Point ink
• Granny Apple Green ink
• Memento Ink
• Watercolour Paper
• Clear Embossing Powder
• White Embossing Powder
• Water Painters
• Versamark Ink
• Granny Apple Green cardstock
• Pacific Point cardstock
• Basic White cardstock

A video tutorial is also available.

Happy Stamping!

Feb 2021 Bouquet of Hope Paper Pumpkin Alternatives.

 I love this month's Paper Pumpkin.  Here are some alternatives that I made using the kit as well as the 3 suggested patterns.

Alternatives:

A video tutorial is also available.

Please comment below with your alternative designs!

Happy Stamping!