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!”

Quiet Meadow Bundle Pocket Front Card

Pocket front card using the Meadows dies from the Quiet Meadow bundle from Stampin' Up! Image shows card standing.
Quiet Meadow Pocket Card – Standing

This Pocket Front Card idea came from a Splitcoast Stampers post. I thought the design would be the perfect final card in my 100 Days Project on Instagram. The project was a challenge to create something for one hundred days. I chose cards. It took me a few more than one hundred days to finish, but I enjoyed the process. This card is not one I would make for an everyday occasion, and I’ll need to craft a custom envelope for it because it is quite large. But I can see this design as a gift card holder or a cute Christmas card with a less elaborate collection in the v-shaped pocket.

How to Make the Pocket Front Card

A Pocket front card filled with die cuts from the Quiet Meadow bundle by Stampin' Up! accented with dragonflies.
The Pocket Card resting flat

The tutorial for this card on Splitcoast Stampers is excellent. It starts with a standard half sheet of card stock scored at 4-1/4″. Then, with the card in landscape position, the two corners are scored from 2-3/4″ up the side to 2-3/4″ in the midpoint of the front. These fold back, and with a small piece of washi tape to hold them in place, become the v-shaped pocket. One thing I added to my card was a 4″x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White card stock to the front of the card. You can’t tell because the corners are covered with patterned paper. But it leaves a nice little spot for a sentiment and a note.

For the insides of the pocket, I cut a bunch of the flowers and leaves using the Meadow dies and Mossy Meadow, Soft Succulent, Bumblebee, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron, and Blackberry Bliss card stock. I arranged my newly cut meadow in a balanced and pleasing layout to my eye. Then I added the butterflies using the same dies and Calypso Coral paper.

Next, I added the sentiment, stamped in Blackberry Bliss and die cut with the same dies, to the front of the card with Dimensionals. Lastly, I added punched dragonflies from the Dandy Garden paper. This is the same packet of DSP that I used for the front of the card. There are even little Blackberry Bliss dragonflies playing among the petals. Finally, for a touch of sparkle, I finished with some gold Metallic Pearls.

This is a very special occasion type of card, but it was fun to use all the dies and so many colors. I love the final effect. Big thanks to Dina Kowal for her excellent tutorial. Until next time…Ink up!