I have three birthday card ideas to share with you, but I want to talk about another joy of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator first. Each week, I am sharing some of my favorite things about being a Demonstrator. Last week, I showed you some cards from a recent card swap with other demonstrators who are part of the awesome Stampin' Up! community. This week, let's talk about pre-orders.

For these fun birthday card ideas, I used the new Ice Cream Corner suite that will be available next week from the *NEW* January-June Mini Catalog. (A suite that I was able to purchase early as a demo!) Each of the cards has the same basic design, but they each get progressively more challenging. 

The three popsicles are stamped in Soft Sea Foam/Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape/Blackberry Bliss, and Petal Pink/Terracotta Tile. The card bases are all Bermuda Bay with Blackberry Bliss and Terracotta Tile layers.

This first card uses only stamps, ink, and paper. Oh, and some Stampin' Dimensionals, because is it even a handmade card without Dimensionals? It is so quick and easy to recreate!

Bermuda Bay (card base): 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Whisper White or Basic Whie: 4 1/4" x 2 3/4"
Blackberry Bliss: 4 1/2" x 3"
Whisper White (sentiment): 1" x 3 1/2"
Terracotta Tile: 1 3/16" x 3 5/8"
​Ice Cream Corner Designer Series Paper: 2" x 4 1/4"

This slightly stepped-up version of the previous simple birthday card uses a faux-watercolor technique. Be sure to check out the video to see exactly how I did it and how I added splatters!

​Bermuda Bay (card base): 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper: 4 1/4" x 2 1/2"
Blackberry Bliss: 4 1/2" x 2 3/4"
Ice Cream Corner Designer Series Paper: 2" x 5 1/2"

The final, most complicated version of this fun birthday card features the same three popsicles using the faux watercoloring technique I used for the last card, but this time they have been fussy cut and added to a piece of Petal Pink cardstock. The sentiment is embossed with white embossing powder and fussy cut as well. And, I added a few of my favorite embellishment - the Artistry Blooms Sequins!

Click here to see the rest of the supply list. If you need to order any of the supplies to recreate these cards, simply check the items you need and then click "Add to Cart." Be sure to add the host code on the second screen under the pink "Checkout" button by clicking the + sign. 

There are so many amazing holiday stamps! But, if you're making lots of cards, it's better to choose bold stamps instead of outline stamps that need to be colored.

Create a prototype of the card you think you'd like to create. You want to start by creating one, so that you can figure out how to best create 25, 50, or 100. This is the prototype I created using the Tree Angle stamp set in Magenta Madness and Granny Apple Green.

I really like my prototype, but it's a little complicated to create in multiples. So, I simplified and came up with this second idea. It has the same colors and uses the same stamp set. 

Patterned paper can do some of the same things artistically that texture does. It adds interest to the background. But, it's quicker to make. 

My second idea would definitely be easier to make, but it was a little too simple for my tastes. So, I tried a third card. This card also uses the same colors and the texture is replaced with patterned paper.

Bows are pretty, but they definitely are more time-consuming to tie than a simple strip of flat ribbon or a knot. It can also save postage to use flat ribbons instead of bows. On my 3rd prototype, I used a flat ribbon instead of a bow.

A stamping platform like the Stamparatus can really speed up your stamping! The Stamparatus is particularly wonderful because it has 2 moveable doors. I cut pieces of Whisper White cardstock so that they were 7" x 4 3/4" which accommodates 6 circles. Then, I set up my greeting stamps on my Stamparatus and inked the first one in Granny Apple Green. I moved the door down two spaces and stamped a second time. Then, moved my door down two more spaces and stamped again. Once the green "Greetings" was stamped, I put the other two stamps on the second door, inked it with Magenta Madness, then stamped again three times. When the first three were done, I rotated my piece of Whisper White cardstock and did the same thing on the other side. Finally, I punched the six circles with my 2" circle punch.

Click here to see the supply list for these bright pink and green Christmas card ideas. Need the supplies? Simply check the items you need and click "Add to Cart." Be sure to grab the host code from the side bar to earn Frequent Shopper Points.

I am hopping with the talented stampers of the Pretty Cards & Paper International Design Team. We have all created projects using the Heartwarming Hugs or Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper. You'll find the complete list of designers at the end of this blog post that link directly to their blogs. I hope you'll click through and check out all of the amazing cards they have created! If you're in the US and would like to order Stampin' Up! product, I hope you'll come back here and order from me. Click the supply link to order any of the items I used today or other products of your choice!

Love patterned paper? It's on sale for the month of October. All of these papers are 15% off. Click to shop the Designer Series Paper Sale. 
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Pear Pizzazz cardstock: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Mossy Meadow cardstock: 5" x 3 3/4"
Heartwarming Hugs patterned paper: 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"
Heartwarming Hugs patterned paper: 1" x 4 3/4"

The sentiment piece is slightly different for each card.

My first card is the simplest of the three. It is such a quick and easy card design! I used the basic layout shown above and tied a piece of White Crinkle Seam Binding around the front. I stamped the greeting with Mossy Meadow ink and adhered it with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Whisper White cardstock for sentiment: 2 1/8" x 1"
​Mossy Meadow cardstock to layer sentiment: 2 3/8" x 1 1/4"

My second card design is just slightly more in depth. I used the Label Me Fancy punch to punch the greeting. I also punched it a second time from Pear Pizzazz cardstock. I cut this piece in half and adhered it behind the Whisper White greeting piece. I put both of these on a piece of Real Red cardstock. I also added some red ribbon from the All the Trimmings Ribbon Combo Pack. Still a very quick and easy card, but this time it uses a punch.

​Real Red cardstock for sentiment layer: 2 1/2" x 1 3/8"

My last card idea takes the basic design up a few notches. Our little package card is all decked out now with a watercolored poinsettia. I stamped the poinsettia with Stazon ink and watercolored it with Real Red ink and Bumblebee ink for the center. I stamped the greeting with Mossy Meadow ink and layered it on a piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock that I cut with the Stitched So Sweetly dies. I just love all the depth to this card!

​Whisper White cardstock for sentiment: 2 3/8" x 1 1/4"

Click here to see the complete supply list for these card making ideas using the Poinsettia Petals stamp set and Heartwarming Hugs patterned paper. If you'd like to order anything, simply uncheck any items you don't need and then click "Add to Cart." You can also add items not on the supply list by clicking the tabs at the top of the page after you add items to your cart.