Monday, May 18, 2026

RELAXING OFF THE GRID

Let's visit a Waterside Retreat this week!  I purchased this Waterside Retreat Suite mainly for the chairs in the Relaxing Waterside Bundle, but once I started using all the products in the suite, I have fallen in love with the designer series paper (DSP).

This card was initially made for my Coffee Club Challenge card.  Our challenge was to use a Tic Tac Toe Grid that was created by one of the Coffee Club gals.  We were to use the elements on the grid from any horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.  The items on the line I chose were Gems, Blue & Orange.


Using the blue and orange color combination had me intrigued so that was why I chose this line on the grid.  Gems are a no-brainer as I rarely create a card that doesn't have some sort of bling on it.

I hadn't opened my Waterside Retreat DSP yet, but when I did I discovered that two of the sheets have images that can be cut into card fronts.  I was also running late to create my Coffee Club card, so I was excited to see these beautiful waterside images where all the work was done for me--plus this one had blue in it--one color down!


Now I needed orange!  I grabbed a piece of Pumpkin pie and Timid Tiger cardstock (my two orange choices) to see if either would work.  Much to my surprise & delight, Timid Tiger looked great with this scene.  I think it brings out the color of the tall grass.  

I stamped the chair on Basic White with Black Memento ink and then colored it with Timid Tiger Stampin' Blends.  I added a Coastal Cabana and Pool Party book along with a couple of cattail die cuts, stamped a bird, and added a sentiment.  All that left was Gems.  I used butterflies from the 2026 - 2028 In Color Butterflies.

I'm really happy how my Tic Tac Toe challenge card turned out.  I may have cheated a bit as I realized after I finished the card, that "dies" were on another row.  Oh well.  I used a "bonus" box!


For the inside of the card I used a couple of the grass stamps to add some decoration.

Quick Tip:  Don't forget that you can get different tones of color from the same stamp pad.  Just stamp some images with full strength ink and some after stamping off.  

This is an important trick to remember.  Look at your lawn.  It isn't all the same color.  There are lots of shades of green in the same lawn (and hopefully not too much brown).  You can even stamp off multiple times to increase your color variation further.


A list of the products I used is shown below.  Click on any image to learn more.  Be sure to take a closer look at this Waterside Retreat DSP!


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Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA

Thursday, May 14, 2026

LET'S ROLL WITH THE IN COLORS

Today's card again features all five of the new 2026 - 2028 In Colors.  You also get see a fun technique as well as snippets of the Painted Patterns In Color Designer Series Paper.

No, the background isn't one of the In-Color Designer Series Paper designs--but wouldn't it be great it if were?

The background was actually made using the Rolling Marbles Technique.  I love this technique because it brings back such fun memories of playing marbles with my dad. 

Every time I use it, I'm reminded of sitting on the floor-- Dad at one end of the room and me at the other--with a marble placed halfway between us.  We would take turns rolling our marbles, trying to hit the one in the middle.  I'm not sure this was the "traditional" way to play marbles, but this was my dad's version, and it made the game special.  

Using this technique always makes be smile and brings back those happy memories.

If you have never tried the technique, watch this video to see how it's done.

Each of the decorative strips on the card are made with one of the designs from the Painted Patterns Designer Series Paper.  

These designs are big and bold so, because I had to keep my strips narrow to include all five of the colors you are only seeing a small section of each pattern.  Check them out in the Product List below to get a better understanding of the design.

The sentiment is from the Phrases & Frames Bundle.  Take a close look at the Hydrangea Hue die cut.  It was made with one of the new impressions dies.  Can you see how it is embossed?  These dies elevate a simple sentiment to a new level.

There was a lot going on with the front of this card, so I kept the inside relatively clean and simple.  I really wanted the focus to be on the beautiful sentiment.  This may be my favorite Anniversary sentiment ever.

A Hydrangea Hue mat and a strip of Barely Blush dotted DSP add a pop of color.

For all the details, use this link to download a tutorial.

Have I piqued your interest this week with the new 2026 - 2028 In Colors?  If you have fallen in love and would like them ALL, you can get all five of the ink pads for FREE when you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator during May.

These In Color ink pads are also the premier of the new style pads with magnetic closure.  It's a great way to try them out!

Interested?  View this flyer to learn more!

A list of the products used on today's card is shown below.


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Monday, May 11, 2026

2026-2028 IN COLORS WITH FERN & FLORA

This week I am going to be showing off our beautiful new 2026 - 2028 In Colors.  The five new colors are Barely Blush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Golden Glow, Peaceful Pine and Hydrangea Hue.

This card features the five new colors in a strip across the front of the card.  The colors are placed on the card in the order listed above.

I'm still trying to decide which one is my favorite.  At the moment I keep bouncing between Peaceful Pine and Hydrangea Hue -- but if history repeats itself, I'll probably find a new favorite once I start playing with these colors a bit more.

Do you have a favorite?

The background for today's card was made with the lighter side of Garden Green Two-Tone cardstock.  I embossed it with the brand-new Fern & Flora Embossing folder from the new Moonlit Flora Suite Collection.  Then I sanded the embossed surface lightly to reveal the white inner core of the two-tone cardstock.

Doesn't this easy technique give a nice effect?  

The die cut fern and the sentiment are both from the Fern & Flora Bundle.  And can you see the three tiny butterflies?  These adorable butterfly embellishments are also in the new May - August catalog and come in all the 2026-2028 In Colors.

I left the inside of the card sentiment free but added a larger strip of the embossed and sanded two tone cardstock to coordinate with the card front.

You can also see a peek of the envelope flap made with the same technique, but for it I used the dark side of the Garden Green two-tone cardstock to create just a bit of contrast.

Use this link to download a FREE TUTORIAL with all the details.

The products used for the card are shown below.  Click on any image to learn more or make a purchase.

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Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA
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