From simple to chic to oh là là, I have 1 basic card design done in 3 different styles. Each card has been slightly stepped up from the last card. Each of the cards use the Celebrate Sunflowers stamp set and the final card uses the matching Sunflower dies as well. None of them were difficult to create though, it's just a matter of spending more time. So, on y go! Let's get stamping.

Cardstock Dimensions:
Early Espresso: 

• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• 4 3/16" x 2 15/16"

Whisper White: 4" x 2 3/4"
In Good Taste DSP: 5 1/4" x 4"

Cardstock Dimensions:
Early Espresso: 

• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• 4 3/16" x 2 15/16"
• 15/16" x 3 1/2"

Whisper White:

• 4" x 2 3/4"
• ​13/16" x 3 3/8"
  

In Good Taste DSP: 5 1/4" x 4"

Oh là là:
My final card uses the Sunflower dies extensively. I started by using the impressions mat for my Big Shot. (The new Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine will also have an impressions mat!) Using this special rubber mat, I was able to use the dies to emboss the sunflower images on Bumblebee cardstock. Then, I sponged on Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake, and Old Olive ink. The ink really helps the embossed images pop.

I cut a frame from the In Good Taste DSP using the Stitched Rectangle dies. Before cutting the frame, I mounted the DSP on Whisper White cardstock. This way, when I mounted it to my card using Stampin' Dimensionals, it wasn't too flimsy. 

I cut leaves from Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive cardstock and wheat from Crumb Cake cardstock. I sponged the edges with the same colors to help match the feel of the embossed panel. I stamped the greeting with Crumb Cake ink on Whisper White cardstock and cut around it with Paper Snips leaving a small border. I added a double bow of Linen Thread and a few Bumblebee enamel dots to tie it all together. 

Cardstock Dimensions:
Early Espresso: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Bumblebee: 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"
In Good Taste DSP: approximately 3 3/4" x 5 1/8"
​Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, & Crumb Cake: Scraps
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For last night's Mystery Stamping, we made this really easy and fun card that can show off Designer Series Paper or even your own stamped background. If you'd like to see even more samples, be sure to join my Facebook group where you can see the cards other members created. I have lots and lots of samples to share today, so on y go! Let's get stamping.

The Whale of a Time Suite is my absolutely favorite suite in this years catalog! The colors of the Designer Series Paper just make my heart sing. It is so vibrant and beautiful. I can't get enough! The suite contains the Whale Done stamp set, the Whale Builder punch, the Whale of a Time 6" x 6" DSP, sequins, the Seabed 3D embossing folder, and 3/8" Pool Party sheer ribbon. It is an awesome deal at an awesome price. While you don't have to get all of the items in the bundle, they are all fabulous and work so well together!

I have more samples using the Forever Fern stamp set today. This time, I am using the same card design to make three cards, from simple to chic to oh là là! Each card uses the color scheme of Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green, and Pretty Peacock, but each card has been slightly stepped up. So, on y go! Let's get stamping.

I shared this super simple watercolor technique a couple of weeks ago to make a graduation card, but I just couldn't resist sharing it again with the new Forever Fern stamp set. This set and these colors work beautifully together and these cards were so quick and easy to pull together. So, on y go! Let's get stamping.

Even though everything looks a little different this year, it's still the time to celebrate graduations! I love the use of rainbows lately to show love and support to people while we're social distancing, so I thought some rainbow graduation cards would be really fun. I made three different cards using the same basic layout, stamps, and colors, but each card uses a different technique. For these cards I used the retiring Check You Out stamp set. This stamp set has only been around for a year and it was one of my absolute favorites from this catalog. I'm so sad to see it go! Because I just couldn't put the set down, check out a 4th, very different graduation card using the same set at the bottom of this post.

While I chose a rainbow for my cards, they could be done in any color combination you like or even in just one color. 

On scraps of Whisper White cardstock, I stamped the owl with Crumb Cake ink and added a graduation hat and glasses. I also stamped the books. I fussy cut all of these images. For the greeting, I heat embossed it with white embossing powder on Basic Black cardstock. Before I attached all of these pieces with Stampin' Dimensionals, I laid down a little nest of Silver Metallic Thread over the Daffodil Delight circle. Then, I added the stamped images and a few basic rhinestones. 

Today, I have three card ideas to share with you. A very easy, Simple Stamping card using only stamps, ink, and paper; a card with a little bling added on; and a third card for those of you who like die cutting. All three cards use the Cup of Christmas stamp set and the Wrapped in Plaid 6"x6" Designer Series Paper. 
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All three cards were easy and fun to make! Whether you have limited supplies or a full craft room, beautiful holiday cards can be simple to make. 

I recently received the beautiful Friend Like You stamp set from a fellow stamper. I was so excited when it arrived in the mail, but I was knee deep in some other projects at the time and had to set it at the back of the stamp table. But today I pulled it out and made three awesome cards that go from simple to Wow!

All stamps and supplies used for these cards are available from Stampin' Up! If you are not already working with a demonstrator, I would love to help you purchase these supplies for your own craft room. Just send me a note.

First, I stamped the clump of leaves and stems using Old Olive ink. I stamped once and then stamped a second time further up and to the right to create a more faded image. Then I re-inked the stamp and stamped a third time, again, further to the right, but this time at a height between the first two. ​

To ink the flowers, I very carefully used the corner of my ink pad to ink the flowers in the desired color. This seems tricky, but with this set, it was pretty easy and I didn't experience trouble with ink on the wrong flowers. However, I don't think you could use this technique to get the flowers that are the same color in the samples in two different colors. They are just too close together.

I carefully lined up the images over the leaves I had already stamped. Since these are clear photopolymer stamps, it's easy to see through them to get perfect - or nearly perfect - placement. This stamp set is very forgiving, and if the flowers and the stems don't line up exactly, you won't really notice. Like the leaves, I stamped the flowers a second time to get the more pastel version you see in the back. Then I re-inked and stamped a third time.

Finally, I added the greeting in Rich Razzleberry and tied on a little ribbon. The polka dot tulle adds a great touch and is very easy to tie. I absolutely love it and find it works on so many projects. 

The DSP and the greeting strip are trimmed to match the edge of this embossed cardstock on the left. As you can see, on the right, they are staggered in length. 

On the piece of vellum, I very carefully scored a line 1/4 inch from each side. Then I flattened the vellum back out because it tended to curl up. This left a very subtle line framing the outside of the layer. 

Whether you're short on time or supplies or you want to go all out and make a Wow! card, the Friend Like You stamp set is a perfect vehicle for you creative juices!

You don’t need a craft room overflowing with supplies to create beautiful cards. All it takes is stamps, ink, and paper. It’s as simple as that! I created this gorgeous card using the To a Wild Rose stamp set, Melon Mambo and Soft Suede ink, and whisper white card stock – plus a little bit of painter’s tape. ​

The To a Wild Rose stamp set has three stamps for the rose and coordinating leaves. The stamps are made to create variations in color. For this card, I only used two of the stamps. The third stamp is an outline stamp. I love the way this rose looks without the outline though! (Ok, I love it with the outline too. It’s simply a gorgeous stamp set!)
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The stamps are also Dist-Ink-Tive stamps. The images have a photographic appearance. Because of this, you can use the same color ink (like I did) to stamp both of the layers, and it will still give you variations in colors. 
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​When you peel away the tape, you are left with a clean white edge, perfectly framing your stamped images. 
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To finish this card, I added a strip of whisper white cardstock that I had stamped the greeting on. It’s as quick and easy as that!
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While it’s simple to create beautiful cards with limited supplies, I have trouble stopping there! So, I created two more cards using the same background. 
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