Saturday Card Sketch 818 - Mix & Match Patterned Papers + Glad Press N Seal Trick

 *sigh*  It's Saturday and normally our family would be at a cross country meet (or two) all day.  But all the big invitationals have been canceled.  It makes my heart hurt with disappointment.  Being outside in the cooler weather, dashing from point to point on the course to get a glimpse of our daughters racing, cheering ourselves hoarse, meeting up in the school tent with the other parents.....it's SO MUCH FUN.  Brian and I can easily log 6-7 miles of running ourselves just from sprinting around the fields!  

I think I'll bury my disappointment in stamps, ink, and paper.  And it is time for another Saturday Card Sketch from Splitcoaststampers!

Upon first glance at this week's sketch, my mind wondered how to easily cut those angles.  Fortunately the solution came quickly to mind!  And it isn't a difficult solution - I just like to over-complicate things in true Nicole fashion.

All the Designer Series Paper (DSP) is from Stampin' Up!'s Gilded Autumn Specialty pack.  I get a bit nervous about mixing patterns, so I am grateful that each paper pack has coordinating colors and patterns.  It gives me confidence when creating!

The horizontal DSP pieces are 2-1/8"x5-1/2".  The triangles began as a 3"x3" square.  Cut the square in half diagonally, from corner to corner.  

Tip: line up the bottom and top corners in your paper trimmer's cutting track.  Cut slowly while pressing down firmly on the guide to hold the paper in place.  I show this in the video below at the 3:00 mark.

I love filling my cards with lots of little details!  The "wreath frame" is from the Painted Labels dies set.  The leaves are cut with Gathered Leaves dies and Brushed Metallic Cardstock in copper and bronze.  Those leaf dies both cut and emboss in one pass through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine (make sure to read at the end of this post about my special promotion for this month when you order this machine in my store!).  It looks beautiful on the metallic cardstock!

After stamping the greeting (from High Tide) in Cajun Craze ink, I swiped a Blender Pen across it to slightly smear the ink.  The soft, blurred look adds something - and I can't come up with the right word - but I just know I love it!  Gold Glitter Enamel Dots added the perfect finishing sparkle.  Watch the video below to see this card come together and I also have a free PDF for you to save below that.

And here's how I used the Glad Press N Seal - after arranging the leaves on the wreath (without gluing them down), lay a piece of Press N Seal over the arrangement. Press to adhere the leaves to it, then gently lift up and flip over.  Apply glue to the backs of the leaves, flip back over, and lay on the wreath.  Slowly peel away the Press N Seal.  I LOVE this trick!!  Watch the video below to see it demonstrated.

See how to use a card sketch for inspiration!

Pin, print, or save the tutorial for this card.  Measurements and supply list are included in the tutorial.

👇Don't forget!👇

Place a $35 minimum order in my store by midnight Sunday September 13 and I'll send you the packets to make Thursday's Live projects (the Halloween Luminary Box and Popcorn Wrapper).  You must use the September Host Code RX9NSXJB when ordering.  

Free embossing folder when you order the new Stampin' Cut & Emboss in my store!  Details here.

Join my team of Joyful Stampers and get 2 stamp sets, card kits, and Rhinestones for free!  Details here.

September Reward Code

Use when shopping my store to earn a $50 shopping spree!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a catalog package here, if you don't already have a demonstrator you love.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a sign-up thank you!
• Shop my store and to save money check out the Clearance Rack and Discounted Bundles.
• Use this month's Reward Code to earn points towards a $50 shopping spree - read the details here.
• Join me every Thursday at 11 AM ET for my weekly Happy Half Hour Live stamping show on my Facebook page.  

Joy in being creative, community in sharing a common interest, purpose in what we make - this is stamping at its best!  Thank you, friends, for choosing me as your demonstrator!

Saturday Card Sketch 817 - Snowflake Wishes and Debossed Inking Technique

 Welcome to another Saturday Card Sketch!  Each week, I take the challenge sketch from Splitcoaststampers and create a video and PDF tutorial for you.  It's meant to show you how to let these sketches inspire your creative time. 

Remember that a sketch is for your inspiration - you do not have to follow it literally.  For example, those circles running diagonally on the sketch do not have to be circles.  I was inspired to use snowflakes!

I had a vision of those circles being snowflakes dropping quietly to earth, in layers of pillowy soft felt and touchable embossed cardstock.  Two other pieces of that vision were a soft, vintage feel and a debossed inking technique using the Winter Snow Embossing Folder.

The debossed inking technique is one more interesting way to use your embossing folders (watch for my upcoming recap post on the many ways to use your folders!).  

Debossed Inking Technique: open your embossing folder - gently tap an ink pad on the side of the folder with the raised images (the side without the Stampin' Up! logo) - place cardstock in the folder, close, and run through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss

The video tutorial for this card below demonstrates this technique.

Doesn't that felt look incredibly touchable and soft?  I love making cards that make people want to touch them.  The Just Jade felt is from the Festive Felt Combo Pack in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 29.  The edges of the Petal Pink snowflake are lightly sponged with Soft Suede ink.

I wanted just part of a sentiment from Snowflake Wishes, so after stamping in Early Espresso ink, I used Paper Snips to trim closely around the greeting I wanted.  Mini Stampin' Dimensionals were the perfect tiny size to adhere this to my card.  A sprinkling of Champagne Basics Rhinestones gave just the right amount of vintage sparkle!

Watch how this card came together!

Pin, print, or save the tutorial for this card.  Measurements and supply list are included in the tutorial.

Shop the Holiday Mini and Annual Catalogs! Earn points with the Joyful Stamper Rewards program!

Free embossing folder when you order the new Stampin' Cut & Emboss in my store!  Details here.

Join my team of Joyful Stampers and get 2 stamp sets, card kits, and Rhinestones for free!  Details here.

September Reward Code

Use when shopping my store to earn a $50 shopping spree!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a catalog package here, if you don't already have a demonstrator you love.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a sign-up thank you!
• Shop my store and to save money check out the Clearance Rack and Discounted Bundles.
• Use this month's Reward Code to earn points towards a $50 shopping spree - read the details here.
• Join me every Thursday at 11 AM ET for my weekly Happy Half Hour Live stamping show on my Facebook page.  

Joy in being creative, community in sharing a common interest, purpose in what we make - this is stamping at its best!  Thank you, friends, for choosing me as your demonstrator!

Saturday Sketch + Pinnable Color Combination

A little Saturday morning sketch to get your stamping started this weekend!  

I was feeling artistically daring the day this card was created, so I went with the ideas that came to me.  And while there are things about the card I don't like, there are other details that I'm very happy about!  

Happy #1 - the color combination of Mango Melody, Coastal Cabana, and Early Espresso.  I was a little unsure of putting these 3 together, but wow!  I'm glad I took the chance!  At the end of this post you'll find a color chart you can pin or save to your device.    

Happy #2 - sponging the die-cut pieces.  Using a Stamping Sponge, I lightly dabbed on color, starting with the lightest color (Coastal Cabana), then adding the darkest color (Mango Melody).  I LOVE the speckled texture of the sponge on the die-cut pieces!

Tip: Cut your Stamping Sponge in to 8 pieces.  3 sponges in a pack, cut in to 8 pieces = 24 sponges for just $4.  Add a pack to your next order and you'll have one for every color group (and they last a long time - I've had mine for several years now).

Happy #3 - the layered Ornate Frames Dies and triple Linen Thread bow.  All the scrolls and curls and ways to layer these dies get my mind spinning!  And SO many of our sentiments fit these dies.  Having options to present your greetings in unique ways keeps your card designs fresh.  

To get a full look to tied Linen Thread, cut 3 lengths and tie them in a bow, just like you would if had just 1 length of Linen Thread.  It's easier to shape and curl multi-strands of this.

Pin or save this color combination to always have fresh inspiration!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or use this form.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a sign-up thank you!
• Shop my store and to save money check out the Clearance Rack and Discounted Bundles.
• Use this month's Reward Code to earn points towards a $50 shopping spree - read the details here.
• Join me every Thursday at 11 AM ET for my weekly Happy Half Hour Live stamping show on my Facebook page.  
• Looking for community, a hobby, or a way to make extra money?  My team of My Joyful Stampers has a place for you!  Read more here.

Joy in being creative, community in sharing a common interest, purpose in what we make - this is stamping at its best!  Thank you, friends, for choosing me as your demonstrator!

3 Ways To Wow - Facebook Live Replay

Are you a Simple, Stepped-Up, or Stunning Stamper?  
Every Thursday at 11 AM ET I go live on The Joyful Stamper Facebook Page.  Everyone is invited - those of you curious about stamping, new to stamping, experienced at stamping, or already a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  You can watch the replay below and I posted a link to the Project Sheet with all the details of the cards we made.

On the bottom of page 75 in the 2020-2021 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog are 3 cards using the Heartfelt set.  They basically use the same supplies, except that each card uses a little bit more than the previous version to go from Simple to Stepped-Up to Stunning.  I thought all 3 samples were beautiful and a fantastic example of how to stretch your supplies.

Simple Heartfelt version

Stepped-Up Heartfelt version

Stunning Heartfelt version

  --> Get the Project Sheet with today's project details here.<--
Follow me on Facebook so you can be notified when I go live next.  I'd love to see you at the class (11 AM ET on Thursdays)!

June's Reward Code

Use this month's code when shopping my store to earn points towards a $50 shopping spree!  Read more about the Joyful Stamper Rewards program and print your points tracking sheet here.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or use this form.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a sign-up thank you!
• Shop my store and to save money check out the Clearance Rack and Discounted Bundles.
• Use this month's Reward Code to earn points towards a $50 shopping spree - read the details here.
• Get fresh ideas from The Joyful Stamper YouTube channel.  Subscribe and hit that bell!
• Looking for community, a hobby, or a way to make extra money?  My team of My Joyful Stampers has a place for you!  Read more here.

Joy in being creative, community in sharing a common interest, purpose in what we make - this is stamping at its best!  Thank you, friends, for choosing me as your demonstrator!

    

Make A Card Monday - Free PDF!

Hello, friends!  Many of you tell me you love tutorials because it allows you to easily indulge in and enjoy your papercrafting time.  Well, my love of freely sharing is fantastic news for you!  You can always get free tutorials here at The Joyful Stamper.  And I have one today.

The Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper (DSP) is the star of this card.  Those retro cars!  The pink flamingos!  The palm trees!  I challenged myself to use the Braided Burlap Trim, so I frayed the ends and used Tear N Tape to lay down a piece diagonally.  The original cut length was too long, so I snipped some off, heavily frayed that piece, and attached it underneath the sentiment.  

It's the beginning of the traditional vacation season, so palm trees and pineapples are on people's minds right now.  This would be a wonderfully timed card to send!

There are a lot of products on this card that will be retiring June 2 - the Tropical Oasis DSP, the Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder, the Braided Burlap Trim, and the Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots.  Make sure to pin or print the free pdf I have for you below so that you can make this card, too!

Click the image below to pin or print a free pdf for this card.

New Catalog Alert: If you have ordered from me since November, your catalog packages have been sent and are on their way to your mailboxes!  If you'd like one and haven't ordered since November, place an order of any size to be automatically included or email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com.

Joy in being creative, community in sharing a common interest, purpose in what we make - this is stamping at its best!  Thank you, friends, for choosing me as your demonstrator!

Tea Together

Hello, friends!  How was your weekend?  Yesterday I suggested an activity that is not the norm for me - hiking.  Hiking = bugs swarming my head, sticky heat, and itchy plants.  Nothing about that is fun.  But I didn't want to be boring, so asked my family if they wanted to go for a hike.  Emma and Brian said yes; Alaina and Caitlin think like me and, therefore, said no.  So it was just Emma, Brian, and I that trekked through the woods.  

Surprise!  I enjoyed it!  It was hot but the trees kept it shaded and bearable.  The bugs were almost non-existent.  And it was nice to have exclusive time with our oldest.  It was like the first 22 months of her life, when it was just the 3 of us before the sisters began arriving.  Only now she's 19 and has a much more expanded vocabulary.  And I didn't have to carry her.  Instead, she had to carry me!  

Life is full of sweet, simple moments, isn't it?  A cup of tea is a sweet, simple moment, just like a hike with the husband and oldest girl.  This Tea Together stamp set and Tea Time Dies are two retiring items I've adored!  The images are classics and, when paired with the gingham pattern in the 6"x6" DSP packs, remind me of my grandma's kitchen.

I have the card recipe at the end of this post (plus there's another Mystery Stamping Hour this Friday!).  But notice the watercolored rose.  I stamped both the tea pot and flower on Shimmery White Cardstock, which is great for watercoloring.  I used Mint Macaron and Lovely Lipstick Stampin' Write Markers to color directly on the red rubber of the rose stamp, huffed on it to re-wet the ink, then stamped it on the paper.  Because the marker ink is water-based, I was able to use an Aqua Painter to blend out the ink.  Going over the stamped image with the wet brush caused the ink to bleed just enough to create a watercolor look.  It's a very simple technique so give it a try!

Card Recipe to make this:

• Lovely Lipstick cardstock - 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", folded in half at 4-1/4"
• Shimmery White cardstock - to stamp and die-cut teapot and rose images
• Very Vanilla cardstock - to stamp and die-cut sentiment
• Tea Time stamp set 
• Tea Together Dies (discounted down to $8.60 from $21)
• Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper - 3" x 4" (my card uses Lily Pad Impressions, a retired 2020 Sale-A-Bration item, but Perennial Essence has the same look)
• 6"x6" Designer Series Paper - 2" x 4"; scrap to die-cut 
• Stitched Nested Labels Dies
• Mint Macaron Textile Ribbon
• Basic Pearls Jewels
• 2018-2020 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (lovely Lipstick)
• Subtles Stampin' Write Markers (Mint Macaron)
• Highland Heather ink pad - to stamp the sentiment

Join my Facebook group for this free, fun event here!

What is a Mystery Stamping Hour?  Read about it here!

May Reward Code = New In Color Sampler

Use the May Reward Code on orders placed in my store of $50 or more (before shipping and tax) to get a free 2020-2022 New Stampin' Up! In Color sampler!  Sampler packs will be sent out by the end of May PLUS you'll get a new catalog package from me! 

New Catalog Alert: If you have ordered from me since November, you are automatically on my list to receive a new Annual Catalog package next month.  If you'd like one and haven't ordered since November, place an order of any size to be automatically included or email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or with this form.
• Subscribe to The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a sign-up thank you!
• Shop my store anytime to give yourself the best crafting experience.  Check out the Clearance Rack and Discounted Bundles while you're there.
• You'll love my crafting videos on The Joyful Stamper YouTube channel!  Subscribe while you're there and click the bell so that you always have fresh inspiration.
• Looking for community, a hobby, or a way to make extra money?  My team of My Joyful Stampers has a place for you!  Read more here.

I love stamping and I love Stampin' Up!  Thank you so much for choosing me as your demonstrator.  I am grateful for YOU!