Sale-a-bration January and February 2022

We are nearly three weeks in to the January and February 2022, have you seen the gorgeous items available from Stampin’ Up!? There are some gorgeous items which are available for FREE with a £45 or £90 spend. As with previous Sale-a-brations there is a gorgeous mix of papers and stamps.

Some of the items are stand alone and some of them co-ordinate or compliment items from the Annual or January to June Catalogue. There are some gorgeous items out there using all the new items and freebies.

The Sunshine and Rainbows DSP is something that I have seen so many gorgeous items created on Pinterest. They are definitely one of my favourite items in the Sale-a-bration offering

I am also loving the Friendly Hello Bundle which I can not wait to play with when I can get back into my craft room.

Ways to add oomph to a card using different items

Card using Coastal Cabana and the Biggest Wish Stamp Set with Artistry Bloom Sequins

In my last few videos I have shown how to make a set of 4x4 thanks cards and a box to hold them and some envelopes. I explained in my original video that I though that this simple card would work for 3x3 cards and maybe notecards but there may be a little too much white space on a normal card (14.8cm x 10.5 or 4.1" x 5.8".) Having made a ‘normal card’ I like it, but there is a bit too much white space and needs a bit of oomph to make it stand out and take away the white space. As this is a sentiment set, you could take another stamp set with mainly images, but I wanted to show that you don’t need another stamp set and that there a number of relatively simple ways to oomph up your cards.

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy ink, with Basic White paper

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set from Stampin Up and Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy ink, with Basic White paper

1. Using the reverse of one of the stamps, stamp a random pattern for the background..

2. Using the smallest stamp in the stamp set to create patterns.

3. Smooshing - using ink and water on plastic to create a watercolour background (please leave to dry before stamping the sentiment otherwise it may not stamp properly)

4. Ink Blending with a Blending brush

5. Ink Blending with a Blending brush and stencil

6. Splattering with Wink of Stella

7. Block stamping with ink and Wink of Stella

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set, Calypso Coral ink, with Basic White paper

A close up of a card using the Biggest Wish Stamp and Calypso Coral ink, with Basic White paper

Measurements

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm 

Imperial

4 1/8" x  5 7/8" (4 1/8” by full length scored at 5 7/8)

Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and Mango Melody ink, with Basic White paper

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and the smooshing technique with Melon Mambo and Night of Navy ink

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set blending brushes and mask with Melon Mambo and Magenta Madness

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and blending brushes with Melon Mambo and Magenta Madness

A card by using the Biggest Wish Stamp set Wink of Stella and Calypso Coral

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set Wink of Stella and Calypso Coral

My favourite is definitely the Wink of Stella and coloured splatters. Which is yours?

Simple box to fit a set of 4x4 inch (10x10cm) card

On Thursday I showed you how to make a set of some super cute thanks cards. I am planning to use them as thanks cards, but as I have made a few, I also wanted to put them in a box to gift them to friends. The super cute simple box also means that the cards and box are also perfect for craft fairs.

This box is an easy box to make and perfect if you are new to box making, or if you just want a quick easy box for your cards. I created the envelopes using the retired envelope punch board, I will probably but some envelopes as my envelopes are shocking, I have used the board more for boxes rather than envelopes. It is something I need to use more and practice using (apparently it takes 20 hours to be an expert in a new skill, so it may take a while.)

Simple 4x4 inch (10x10cm) box using Rich Razzleberry, Coastal Cabana and the Biggest Wish stamp set

Measurements

Metric

27.5cm x 17.5cm

score on long side (27.5cm) - 1.5cm, 3cm, 14.5cm and 16cm

score on short side (17.5cm) - 1.5cm, 3cm, 14.5cm and 16cm

Imperial

10 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches

score on long side (10 1/2 inches) - 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 5 1/2 inches and 6 inches

score on short side (6 1/2 inches) - 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 5 1/2 and 6 inches

Tips and tricks

• if possible use a score board (i struggle with straight lines on my trimmer)

• ensure all the score lines are all burnished (edges smoothed down to reinforce the crease, normally done using a bonefolder.)

• Lay the box out flat to work out which parts should be removed

• use liquid glue to ensure wiggle room

• rounding the corners will help close the box

• You can remove the tabs if you wish it works with and without the tabs (some people think it looks more professional with the tabs)

• Use your trimmer to remove the long tabs if you are not confident using scissors

Box template for where to cut and how the box should look following cutting before being put together

I think the box is super cute. The Coastal Cabana box was made using the measurements for CMs, rather than converting the measurements directly, I reworked the measurements for CM to avoid the random numbers (my brain works better in CM and half CM. I am still in love with the Rich Razzleberry, which is your favourite?

Simple Thank You Cards

I love getting inspiration from Pinterest and other Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators. I find their cards so beautiful with so many lovely products used. Sometimes though I love to return to simple cards. I find that I can make multiples of the simple cards quickly and also I am less likely to make mistakes if I am tired.

My inspiration for these cards was the stamp set ‘Biggest Wishes.’ this is a gorgeous sentiment set with bold lettering statement stamps and smaller swirly italic stamps for the sentiments which are Happy, Birthday, Hello, Friend and Thanks. I wanted to create simple Thanks card, which also used up some of my embellishments (I discovered that I had two packs of the Artistry Blooms Sequins open and wanted to use them up.)

Simple Thanks cards, using Biggest Wish and Artistry Blooms Sequins from Stampin' Up!

My colour inspiration for the cards came from the Artistry Blooms Sequins, these are Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Mango Melody and Rich Razzleberry. Coastal Cabana has been growing on me recently as I start to have the confidence to use brighter coloures. Rich Razzleberry has always been a favourite it was one of the colours which I fell in love with, when I learnt about the colour combinations and the first ink pad I owned. I have to confess I don’t use Calypso Coral or Mango Melody very often, they are colours which I should use more.

Simple Thanks cards using Biggest Wish and Artistry Blooms Sequins from Stampin' Up!

Measurements

Metric

Card Base - 10cm x 20cm (scored at 10cm)

Insert - 9.5cm x 9.5cm

Imperial

Card Base - 4 inches by 8 inches (scored at 4 inches)

Insert 3 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches

Tips and Tricks

• for the bases use a full sheet of A4 in Basic White

• score the paper at 4 inches (10cm) before cutting the card on the short side

• cut card at 4 inches move card around so uncut side is on measurements and cut again

• ensure to burnish completely

• to make the colours lighter use second or third generation stamping (stamp off on scrap paper once of twice depending on colour wanted)

• if you are unsure on lining up the swirly stamp either stick to the bold or practice lining the stamps up on a scrap piece of paper

• for perfect alignment use the Stamparatus or a stamp platform.

Simple Thanks cards, using the Biggest Wish stamp set, Rich Razzleberry and Artistry Blooms Sequins from Stampin' Up!

These cards can be created, with any stamps, inks, papers and embellishments. I love the Coastal Cabana version, which is your favourite?

So Excited for the New Mini Catalogue

Its New Mini Catalogue day. one of my favourite days of the year as you get to see all the gorgeous items in the New Catalogue. From new stamps and dies, to gorgeous hedgehog and ladybird punches, these items are definitely worth a glance to see if they are lovely enough to join your crafty stash.

I personally am in love with the Hedgehogs and can not wait to get into my craft room to play with them.

Happy Hedgehog Stamp and Punch Bundle from Stampin' Up! Examples created by Stampin’ Up! with the Happy Hedgehog stamp and punch bundle from Stampin' Up!

I am also in love with the new Layering Butterflies and Flowers Masks. The video below was created by Stampin’ Up! to showcase the new stencils.

These are some of my favourite new items, which are yours?