Thursday, January 8, 2026

LOVE SMOOSHING

As I indicated in my New Year's Day announcement, the second card each week will be a card for those who like create stepped up cards that may be classified as cards for casual to avid crafters.

Or if you are a beginner and want to start learning some paper crafting techniques, you will love these posts.  My goal is that they will always include a video that gives you some great tips & tricks and shows you how to make the card.  Don't worry, if you are someone that learns best by reading instructions, a written tutorial will still also be available.

Today's card features the Smooshing on Glass Technique for the unique upper background.


No two backgrounds made with Smooshing will ever look the same, so be prepared to be surprised.  Watch the video to learn how to do the Technique.

After making the background on Thick Basic White cardstock, I layered the Made with Love Designer Series Paper--cut an angle--over the bottom of the Technique Sheet Layer.


The card base is made with Strawberry Slush cardstock.  This is a color I haven't used much and now that Valentines Day is approaching, I decided it was a perfect time to start!  Besides it is one of the coordinating colors in this Made with Love Designer Series Paper (DSP).  This paper is really pretty, and it coordinates with five different colors of reds and pinks.


I know cutting things at an angle stresses out some card makers.  I've included all the dimensions on the written tutorial but honestly, since the Technique Sheet is a full panel for the card front, the angle is not critical at all.  Just cut the DSP angle before you stamp the L VE on the card front so you can use your DSP as a guide for stamping.

To place the ribbon along the angle just fold the ends around the back and adhere them.  That will keep the ribbon in place at an angle.  I tied a separate piece of ribbon around the angled ribbon to create a bow.  If you try to do it all in one piece, you will have trouble keeping the angled ribbon in the right place.


HINTS WHEN MAKING TECHNIQUE SHEETS:  
  • When you create any type of Technique Sheet, cut the cardstock larger than you want it for the card front and then trim it down to size.  This will give you scraps to decorate the inside of your card.  
  • Alternatively,  grab some cardstock scraps and make some extra technique pieces while you are making the Technique Sheet.  I used a few Thick Basic White scraps to make some extra technique pieces which I used to die cut hearts for the inside of the card. 
  • If you are learning a new technique, practice a bit with scraps.  Getting an ink and water mixture that gives you a design you like can be a bit of trial an error.  I can tell you to spritz the ink 3 times, but if your spritzer is different than mine or you put more or less ink on your glass mat, you may need more or fewer spritzes -- so practice with your equipment.
  • Let the Technique Sheets dry completely before using them.  Placing them under something flat and heavy while they dry will help keep them flat.  A large Acrylic Block works well, but anything flat with some weight will work.
Use this link to download the PDF Tutorial.

A list of the products used is shown below.  Click on any image to purchase or learn more.

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Monday, January 5, 2026

SENDING HOPE

Welcome to the first full week of 2026.  If you happened to catch my video announcement last week about the changes coming at Fairless Stampin' Flair this year, then you already know that I am reducing the number of posts each week on this blog from 3/week to 2/week.  At this point the plan is to post on Monday and Thursday.

My goal is to have one card be a "Pat-Style" Stamps, Ink, & Paper (SIP) card.  This is a challenge I've made to myself as SIP cards are not easy for me.  I love lots of layers and details with Techniques and Fun Folds tossed in.  But I am going to try!  However, just you understand the "rules" I made for myself -- embellishments, like gems and ribbon are absolutely allowed on a "Pat-Style" SIP card.  

Today's card is my SIP card for this week.


Most weeks I will continue my practice of featuring a specific product each week.  This week I am featuring the HOPE LOVE & JOY Bundle.  I gave you a sneak peak of this new, unique bundle last Friday.  Today I decided to use the "H PE" stamp from the HOPE LOVE & JOY stamp set.  I used a variety of the images that are meant to replace the "O".


I wanted to create a bit of an ombre cascade of HOPE but had a difficult time decided which colors to use.  To give me some direction I Googled, "What is the color usually associated with HOPE?"  The most consistent response was "green".  Google says the color green is associated with new beginnings, growth and optimism.  That sounds like "hope" to me.

Other sources suggested "blue" and "yellow."  Blue because it represents spirituality, peace, serenity and calm and yellow because it stands for renewal, happiness, optimism and creativity.

Since I don't often use greens except at Christmas or for nature scenes, I decided to go with greens with a little pop of yellow at the top.


The images were much easier to choose.  A dove, a heart, and praying hands all portray hope.

As I indicated, SIP cards are not "easy" for me.  I think I spent more time figuring out this simple card than some of the avid card styles I typically make.  And I do have to admit that I couldn't resist making a stepped-up version of this same card.  I just needed to see what it would look like if the images were stamped on a separate piece of colored cardstock that was the same color as the stamped word and then die cut and adhered to the card with dimensionals.


Since I made it, I thought I may as well share it.  Just know, it is not my intent to do this with each SIP card I make.  Just consider it "baby steps"!  I think it is going to take me some time to fully embrace the SIP card challenge.

Do you like one better than the other?


Here is the inside of my card.  I chose to make it a Get-Well card as "getting well" certainly involves "hope".  The sentiments on the inside of the card are from the Unbounded Love and Friendly Foliage stamp sets.  

FYI -- The strip of Daffodil Delight DSP on the bottom edge was NOT PLANNED.  I made a boo-boo that I needed to cover up!  More on that in the Tutorial.  

The lesson for us all, don't stress!  There is always a way to fix a boo-boo!


The HOPE LOVE & JOY bundle will be available to purchase beginning tomorrow, January 6.  Since I cannot yet include a link for it to take you to my Stampin' Up! store, here is the item number for your reference.

HOPE LOVE & JOY BUNDLE:  Item # 166858.


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Friday, January 2, 2026

HOPE AND JOY FOR 2026

Today's Card is a sneak peak of a new bundle in the Spring Mini Catalog.  The stamp set is called HOPE LOVE & JOY.  It was inspired by Million Dollar Sales Achiever Evie DiPiazza.  When Stampin' Up! demonstrators reach $1,000,000 in sales they are given the honor of working with Stampin' Up! Designers to create a stamp set.

When I saw this bundle (yes, it includes coordinating dies) in the Spring Mini Catalog, it was first one to go on my Wish List!  It is a very unique set (in my opinion).  It includes the words of HOPE, LOVE & JOY in large font as shown in my card above.  But the uniqueness is that the "O" is missing in each of those stamps.  


Included in the stamp set are several images that can be used in place of the "O".  One is this little world stamp, but others include a star, a heart, praying hands and more.  The die set includes dies that cut out each of those little images plus others.


I thought the "Fill the world with HOPE" sentiment was perfect for January 2!  After all, isn't that what the beginning of a new year brings?  A new year is a time to let go of the old and focus on HOPE and anticipation for what the new year will bring.

This gorgeous Designer Series Paper is also new.  It is called Splash of Sparkles, and it does just that.  It has splashes of unique, modern, geometric, "watercolor like" images on both sides with sparkles of silver foil highlights on one side.  I can't wait for you to see it.  It is an Online Exclusive that will be available January 6, 2026.


For the inside of my January 2, 2026 card I used the JOY stamp and chose the little dove as my "O".

My prayer for 2026 is that it brings renewed HOPE & JOY to our world and to each and every one of you!


Since many of the products I used on this card will not be available until January 6, I am unable to provide links to those items in the Stampin' Up! Store -- because they aren't there yet.  For future reference, I've listed the new products and their Item Numbers below.
  • HOPE LOVE & JOY Bundle   Item #166858
  • Splash of Sparkles 12" x 12" Specialty DSP   Item #167200
Currently available products are listed below with links to my Stampin' Up! store.

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Thursday, January 1, 2026

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026

 Today I just want to share a quick card and wish you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!


This card is made with Secret Sea Cardstock and Silver Foil.  The HAPPY is from the Happy Place Stamp set.  It was stamped with VersaMark Ink and heat embossed with Silver Embossing Powder.

The NEW YEAR letters were die cut using the Mini Alphabet Dies.


Silver Foil was first adhered to an Adhesive Foam Sheet and then the letters were die cut.  The remaining adhesive backing was removed and the letters were adhered to the card front.  Super Simple!

I made my favorite simple type of bow which I call a "faux bow".  It is just ribbon folded back and forth a couple of times and then tied tightly in the center with a piece of cord.  In this case I used retired silver cord from Simply Elegant Trim.  When that cording retired, I stocked up, but I am now down to my last rolls of silver and gold.  I hope they come out with a similar replacement before I run out as I love this cording.


For the inside of my Happy New Year Card, I stamped the Happy stamp again, this time with Secret Sea ink.  Then I chose the "life" stamp to stamp below it.   

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  HAPPY LIFE.  That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?


A list of the products I used is shown below.


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