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!”

Nature’s Harvest for Every Crafter

Nature’s Harvest is such a great stamp set. It’s part of the Harvest Meadow suite in the 2021 July-December mini catalog. It has four sentiments and three images, but I’m going to show you three different projects that are similar, but so very different. No matter what type of crafter you are—beginner, casual, or avid—this stamp set is for you.

Beginning Crafter Card with Nature’s Harvest and Limited Supplies

A beginning crafter card using the Nature's Harvest stamp set from Stampin' Up!

I made this card with the Nature’s Harvest stamps, Misty Moonlight and white cardstock, Misty Moonlight ink, a paper cutter, adhesive and some Elegant Faceted gems. That’s it. Oh, and an envelope. But the envelope and the gems are optional.

I started with a base of Misty Moonlight, a half sheet scored in half. Then I added a 4″x 5-1/4″ layer of white that I stamped with two images from the stamp set. To lighten the image of the texture stamp, I stamped on scrap paper after every re-inking using the second generation image. This technique basically creates a second ink color for projects. I stamped the small flower image at full strength.

Next, I cut a piece of Misty Moonlight 2-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ and stamped the large flower image using Misty Moonlight ink. I also added a couple of the texture images at the bottom so the stems weren’t floating in space. Finally, for the sentiment, I used a piece of white card cut to 1-1/4″ x 3″ and the Misty Moonlight ink. I used Dimensionals under the large flower and the sentiment. And for the final touch, I added three gems.

Stamping the envelope is a nice touch if the card is going in the mail.

A Casual Twist on the Natures’s Harvest Card

A distressed style card using Nature's Harvest from Stampin' Up!

For this next card, I used similar products. Instead of White cardstock, I used Very Vanilla. And I added the Diamond Weave ribbon and Brushed Metallic Dots from the Harvest Meadow Suite. And I added a second color of ink, Crumb Cake. There are a couple of other changes I’ll walk you through.

The card base, first layer, and layer with the large flower are all the same measurements as above. I used the Crumb Cake ink for the texture image and also to distress the initial layer. To distress the paper, I used my scissors to rough up the edges of the paper and even tore bits off and then sponged the Crumb Cake ink on the outside edges of the paper. I did the same with the Misty Moonlight panel after I added the large flower.

For the focal flower, I stamped the image using Versamark, and heat embossed it in gold. To add a touch of color, I filled in the leaves and petals with the Garden Green and Daffodil Delight watercolor pencils. It’s subtle, but adds a nice touch. That layer is lifted on Dimensionals.

Next, I stamped the sentiment in Misty Moonlight on Very Vanilla and fussy-cut it out. It’s layered on top of a 4″ length of the ribbon. For the final touch, I added three metallic dots.

An Avid Option

A multilayered card featuring Nature's Harvest stamp set from the Harvest Meadow suite in the Stampin' Up! minicatalog.

This last card takes advantage of three more products in the Harvest Meadow Suite: The Harvest dies, Cork Specialty paper, and the Harvest Meadow designer paper.

I really enjoyed adding all the layers and details to this card. Instead of the stamped layer on top of the Misty Moonlight card base, I used a 4″x5-1/4″ piece of the designer paper. Next, I used the dies to cut out some of the silhouette images in the die set. I used Misty Moonlight paper so I could get that lovely tone on tone elegance. Using the dies, I also cut out my large flower that I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used that ink so I could color in the image with Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers in Just Jade, Daffodil Delight, and Cinnamon Cider.

Next, I used my Dark Misty Moonlight marker to color three basic pearls. If you have tried this with your Stampin’ Blends, it’s a great way to get perfectly matched rhinestones or pearls for your projects. The large flower is floating above the die cuts on Dimensionals.

Lastly, I put together the multilayer sentiment. I started by cutting the cork paper with the long banner die in the Harvest dies set. Then I used a technique I learned at On Stage. I inked up the Thank you sentiment in Versamark, and then directly inked the stamp in Misty Moonlight before stamping it on the white cardstock. This allowed me to use clear embossing powder on the sentiment, giving it a bit of shine and dimension. This is a really fun way to create any color embossed image and the Versamark ink is totally safe to mix into the colored ink pads. I die cut that using the smaller banner die. Two metallic dots make the cork layer look like it’s been punched down with brads, but it’s really on Dimensionals.

Which card is your favorite?

Let me know if you’d like to order the Nature’s Harvest stamp set or any of the products mentioned, or shop with me using the code on the right.

Desert Colors: Painted Poppies

Stampin' Up! Painted Poppies using Pale Papaya and Soft Succulent In-Colors

I wanted the Stampin’ Up! Painted Poppies set from the moment it came out. But I didn’t buy it until quite late. I love red poppies as much as the next girl. And yes, I did pull over on the side of the road in France when I saw a field of them to take a picture. But poppies in my part of the world aren’t red. They’re orange.

I just noticed some poppies have sprung up in my naturalized garden. I can’t wait for them to bloom, and I owe my neighbors some thanks. But when they do bloom, I’m sure they will look similar to this: a nice soft green and a warm golden flower.

Painted Poppies Card Details

I started with a base of Soft Succulent. This new In-color is so pretty and soft, with a slight gray tone. Next, I added a layer of white card stock stamped with the poppy flower image from the set in Soft Succulent. Finally, to finish the background, I used the large spatter stamp with Pale Papaya to add an artistic feel.

For the focal point piece, I stamped the flower in Memento ink and used the new In-Color Stampin’ Blends to color it in. The sentiment is from the Dragonfly Garden set. Next, I trimmed the paper to 1-3/4″x3-1/2″ and mounted it on a piece of Soft Succulent cut to 2″x 3-3/4″. Finally, I tied a knot of Pale Papaya Open Weave ribbon around the assembly before adding it to the card on Dimensionals.

For the final touch of sparkle, I used three Genial Gems. That’s it. A simple, elegant card in the desert colors I love. You can order all these products with me by clicking on the image of the annual catalog on the right. Until next time…Ink up!