Words of Cheer Bundle

I couldn’t keep my hands off the Words of Cheer bundle once I got it. In fact, I should have posted some projects earlier, but I’m here now and there is still time to get your own set if you love it as much as I do. It’s available to the end of December 2021. The bundle has a stamp set with fourteen stamps, five images and nine sentiments. There are twelve dies included in the Christmas Cheer dies. The coolest part of this set is…oh, who am I kidding. I can’t decide, so I’ll just show you.

A Tag and A Card

Happy tag made with the Words of Cheer bundle from Stampin' Up!
New Year's card using the Words of Cheer bundle.

This is the first thing I made with the Words of Cheer bundle. I used two of the dies that layer together. The base of the “happy” sentiment is white cardstock. The happy is cut from the Be Dazzling paper from the previous Saleabration. The papers are some of my favorite Saleabration and there is another one coming up January 4.

I used the same happy die and the paper to make this fun New Year’s day card. The New Year sentiment is from the A Wish for Everything stamp set available in the Annual catalog. I used gold powder to heat emboss it on a small rectangle of black cardstock and I used mini-Dimensionals to add it just above the y in the last happy. The stars were cut from another die in the bundle. Super fun. Super simple.

Words of Cheer Christmas Card

Mixed media Christmas card using the Words of Cheer bundle from Stampin' Up!

This card started as a CASE of a card in the July-December mini catalog. The artisan made the card into a square, but I wanted something that would work in one of our pre-made envelopes. So I moved the sentiment below the image instead of layering it over the middle of the flowers. Then I got wild.

The base is Real Red with a 4″ square of Shaded Spruce. The flower is a multiple layered affair. I started out by stamping and die cutting the image. I used Tuxedo Black Memento ink because I wanted to color it in with my Stampin’ Blends. After I die cut the image, I placed it on the 3-1/2″ square piece of white cardstock and lightly outlined it with a pencil so that I knew where to stamp.

First, I stamped the dots in Versamark and embossed them with gold powder. Then I used Shaded Spruce to stamp some holly leaves. Next, I die cut some holly sprigs in Shaded Spruce and a few dotted sprays in Soft Succulent. I didn’t add those on yet. Instead, I erased my pencil lines and added the now colored in floral spray using Dimensionals. Lastly, I tucked in the die cuts under the edges of the raised flowers.

To finish off the card, I added the sentiment stamped in Shaded Spruce on top of a length of white glittered organdy ribbon, also in the mini catalog. And of course, I added gems to the center of each flower. I used the In Color gems in Bumblebee.

Mixed Media Words of Cheer

Mixed media Christmas card using the Words of Cheer bundle from Stampin' Up!

The last card I have for you this time is this mixed media beauty in Misty Moonlight. The dies are from the bundle. I cut the base from silver foil and the letters from Misty Moonlight. The background is a watercolor wash of Misty Moonlight on Shimmer paper. This is so easy to do, wash the paper with a bit of water to prep the surface. Squeeze a few drops of ink from the Misty Moonlight rekiner and using the wide Water Painter, layer on a coat of ink and let it dry onto the paper.

Next, I used the Adorning Designs Decorative Mask, the snowflake one (there are four total) and taped it down to my work surface over the painted paper. I sprayed the mask with a solution of shimmer paint and rubbing alcohol. The shimmer paint is a retired product but there are many similar products on the market if you don’t have one of the tiny jars of Frosty White in your stash.

I’m a huge fan of the mixed media artists I see on social media and I’m thrilled that I can use my favorite, reliable Stampin’ Up! products to create similar projects. Let me know if you’re a fan of mixed media too.

Until next time, “Ink up!”

Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

Gift boxes made with the Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin box from Stampin' Up!

I was a little surprised when I opened my November 2021 Paper Pumpkin, Gifts Galore. The previews showed a fun color combo of Flirty Flamingo, Pool Party, Old Olive, Real Red, and Evening Evergreen, so it wasn’t the colors that surprised me. It was the size of the snowman, tree, and a pile of presents. But as soon as I started working with the kit, inspiration hit.

As designed, the kit makes nine gift holders. The stamp set included three sentiments in a really fun font, as well as images of snow, a present, and a bow. I plan to fill the bags in these three with an assortment of wrapped chocolates. But they are perfectly sized for a fun pair of socks or a collection of skin care items, or even some loose tea and a tea ball. The bags that fit in these holders are imprinted with snowflakes and absolutely adorable. So, I loved the kit as designed, but look what I made.

Gifts Galore Home Decor

Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin alternative idea using desktop frames.

Because the size of the box fronts was so large, I started by measuring them. Turns out they are in the 5″x7″ range. Of course, I immediately thought of photo frames. I found some inexpensive wood options at my local hobby store and in moments had two cute decor options.

To decorate my snowman and tree, I used Shimmer Crystal Effects and some other gold shiny goo I had in my stash. I let that dry and then stamped my sentiments. The sentiment for the tree is from the Love, Santa kit (more on that later). I punched the opposite end of the snowman sentiment banner so that it would look symmetrical and placed a piece of woven Evening Evergreen ribbon underneath. The designer series paper in both frames is from the recent celebration.

For the tree, I also added some stamped, fussy-cut presents at the base. The large striped present is from Gifts Galore and the others are from the stamps in the Love, Santa kit. Super cute, super easy, and ready to be placed on a small table or anywhere that needs a festive touch.

Alternative Christmas Cards

Christmas card using the Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up!

I use a lot more cards than gift wrapping at the holidays, so of course I wanted to make some cards with this kit. For the first card, I used a base of Flirty Flamingo with a layer of white stamped in Pool Party. The way the snow stamp is designed, it creates an even pattern easily without rotating or any other effort. I stamped about two-thirds of the way down the white panel. The sentiment is stamped in Pool Party, too. To lift the snowman and add a little depth, I used Dimensionals to adhere it do the front.

After that, I trimmed off the overhang on the right side and bottom so the card will fit in a standard envelope. For the final touch, I added some inexpensive black rhinestones I found at the hobby store. They are huge and I can’t imagine what else I’ll use them for, but the worked perfectly for the “coal.”

Christmas card using the Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin from Stampin' Up!

The other card starts with a base of white and a layer of Flirty Flamingo on top. I used the ink in the kit and the striped rectangle to add some visual interest to that Flirty Flamingo layer. My lines are far from perfect, but the presents cover up a lot! To fit the presents on a standard card, I cut them out individually. The Stampin’ Up! paper snips really come in handy for this kind of fussy cutting. If you haven’t tried them, I highly recommend them and have multiple pairs for when I have groups over to craft. The presents are layers on the card using a combination of Stampin’ Seal and Dimensionals.

For the tag, I used the masking technique. I stamped “Merry” with Christmas masked off. Then I reversed that process. To make masking easy, I used removable labeling tape like this. (I don’t receive revenue from this link). The process is: Mask, Ink, Remove mask, Stamp, Clean stamp. Repeat. Don’t forget the remove mask or clean stamp steps or the results will be less than ideal. (Ask me how I know.)

Slimline Gifts Galore Alternative

Slimline card using Gifts Galore Paper Pumpkin kit.

My last alternative I’m sharing is a slimline card. I use the tutorial from Jenny Card Design for my measurements, mostly. Instead of cutting my base at 7-1/2″ x 8-3/4″, I use 7-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ so I only have to make one cut. (Yes, I’m that lazy of a crafter.) Everyone has their own favorite sizes, but this works for me.

First, I cut the layer of Pool Party a 1/4″ narrower on all sides and stamped in the same ink with the snow stamp. I used the Evergreen Forest 3-D embossing folder to create the next layer with Evening Evergreen cardstock. I tore the edge off the top of the paper to give it a more organic, mountain type appearance.

The Christmas tree is from the kit and cut right down the center. Below that are two layers of white cardstock, also torn across the top, and slathered with Wink of Stella because you can never have too much sparkle.

I used the same masking technique to stamp the sentiment on two halves of one banner in the kit in Evening Evergreen ink.

I told you this kit inspired me. If you have questions about the projects or would like to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, let me know. Until next time, “Ink up!”

Sparkle of the Season

The Sparkle of the Season bundle includes a stamp set with sixteen dies, five of them sentiments, and the Seasonal Swirls dies. It’s incredibly versatile because it has stamps and dies for all the fall and winter holidays. I used it recently to make both a Thanksgiving card and a Christmas card.

Thanksgiving Card with Sparkle of the Season

Thanksgiving card using the Stampin' Up! Sparkle of the Season Bundle.

Lovely fall colors, and a note of thanks, makes the ideal Thanksgiving card. This card employs lots of layers to get that vibrant fall vibe. I started with a base of Cajun Craze. Next I added two different designer series papers, the base from Tidings of Christmas and the strip of Expressions in Ink.

For the next layer, I used another piece of 3-1/4″ square Cajun Craze and embossed it with the 3-D timber folder because I love texture.

Then I started on the wreath. I used Bumblebee, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, and Evening Evergreen for all the elements. Most are just die cuts, but the Soft Suede and Cajun Craze are stamped first and then cut.

I finished this card with some Holiday Rhinestones and a bow of linen thread. The sentiment is from the set and stamped in Cajun Craze ink on Very Vanilla card stock. This is a great card for the avid crafter who loves lots of layers and details.

Sparkle Christmas Card

Christmas card made with the Stampin' Up! Sparkle of the Season bundle.

The second card I made with the Sparkle of the Season bundle is this traditional red and green creation. I started with a base of Evening Evergreen. I added a layer of the Tidings of Christmas designer paper, saving the strip I cut from the bottom. Next I embossed a 3-1/2″ square of Cherry Cobbler using the 3-D Timeworn Type folder.

For the wreath, I used Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent. These colors work so well together to add dimension to the die-cut pine boughs. I added a few stamped and cut pinecones in Soft Suede and few extra holly leaves in Evening Evergreen to fill out the wreath. The Cherry Cobbler linen thread came in a past Paper Pumpkin kit, but you could get a similar look by coloring regular linen thread with the Cherry Cobbler blends. (I tested it.)

I trimmed down the strip from my initial cut of the designer paper to 3/4″ by 3-3/4″ and then cut the same size piece from the Evening Evergreen In-Color designer paper. The sentiment is from the set, stamped in Cherry Cobbler on White cardstock. For a final touch of sparkle, I added a few Holiday Rhinestones.

This set was so much fun to experiment with as I made these cards. It’s available in the July-December 2021 catalog through the end of the year. Let me know if you would like to order a bundle for yourself.