Easy Background Technique with Embossing Folders

 On my weekly Facebook Live class a couple weeks ago, I played around with the Bricks & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder.  I LOVE the look that resulted!  Check it out!

After embossing a 4"x5-1/4" piece of Misty Moonlight cardstock, I lightly dragged a Whisper White Craft Pad across it.  The ink pad brushed the raised portion of the cardstock, creating this gorgeous whitewashed brick wall!  

This is a pretty card that doesn't take a long time to make, either.  Follow the recipe below:

• Cut a 5-1/2"x8-1/2" card base from Misty Moonlight cardstock.  Fold in half at 4-1/4".
• Cut a 4"x5-1/4" piece of Misty Moonlight cardstock.  Run through Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine with Bricks & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder.
• Lightly drag a Whisper White Craft Ink Pad across the embossed piece.  Glue to card base.
• Stamp images from Posted For You - Balmy Blue ink on Balmy Blue cardstock and Petal Pink ink on Petal Pink cardstock.  
• Punch images with Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch.  Glue to card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
• Stamp sentiment on Whisper White cardstock in Misty Moonlight ink.  Trim and adhere to card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
• Use Dark Pool Party Stampin' Blends to color Basics Pearls.  Add to card.

This is the second card I taught.  It uses a clever Cut & Tuck trick to slip in a 1-3/4"x4" piece of your favorite Designer Series Paper (Plaid Tidings was used here).  Jump to the 15:00 mark of my Live and you'll see how to make the cut that lets you slip in the patterned paper.  I love how the Bricks & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder adds a masculine feel to this birthday card.  Stamp and punch a couple hearts using the Heartfelt Bundle (sentiment is from Posted For You), add Misty Moonlight Ribbon, and you've got a fun card to mail!

See the fall version of this Cut & Tuck trick (with written directions) here.

👉👉👉2 new Creativity Kits coming tomorrow!  Also new tomorrow - 2 stamp sets, 1 die set, 1 pack of paper!  Sign up for my weekly Stampin' News to see them first!👈👈👈

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 823 -Zany Zebras Birthday Card

There are 2 ways to interpret the sketch this week - as flat triangular layers, or as an Arrow Fold card.  Since the Arrow Fold is new to me, I decided to go that route.  I made a video and wrote a tutorial so that you could make one, too!

 

The Arrow Fold is pretty easy - it's just few diagonal score lines folded into that triangular shape.  Then you use adhesive to keep the folds shut.

🌞Joyful Stamper Tip: save paper by die-cutting pieces from the center of your cardstock mats.  In this card, I die-cut the Stitched Nested Label that the zebras are on from the center of the Whisper White mat.  The cut-out portion is covered by the Just Jade Designer Series Paper.

• Cut the card base to 5-1/2"x11" and score in half on the long side at 5-1/2"
• Mark the short side at 2-3/4".
• Mark the left and right long sides at 1-7/8", 3-3/4", and 5-1/2".
• Score from the 2-3/4" mark to each of the marks on the long side, both left and right sides.  You'll have 6 diagonal score lines when you are finished (3 on the left and 3 on the right), all radiating from the 2-3/4" mark.
• Watch the video to see how it's done!

Zany Zebras makes the cutest cards!  I wanted something fun and bright for my twin nephews' 6th birthdays.  After stamping the zebras, I went over them with a Blender Pen to fill in the image a bit with the stamped ink.  This is one of my all-time favorite techniques!  Add a pack of Blender Pens to your next order and give it a try - you'll see why it's a favorite! 

 

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

👇👇👇👇👇

Place a $35 order (before shipping and tax) in my store by midnight Sunday October 18 and I'll send you the packets to make my Facebook Live projects from Thursday's class.  You must use the October Host Code 4JHNU9Z when ordering. 

GIVEAWAY!  Sign up in October to receive Paper Pumpkin and be entered to win a 1 month Paper Pumpkin prepaid code!  Subscribe with me (Nicole Steele) to be entered.

Designer Series Paper Sale

October 1 - 30 | Shop your favorites!

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!

Inchie Technique with Under My Umbrella

 Several weeks ago I played along in some challenges and one of them was to use inchies on a card.  I grabbed Stampin' Up!'s Under My Umbrella stamp set and got to work.

Inchies are exactly what they sound like - 1 inch squares of stamped art work.  They're adorable!  You could stamp something unique on each inchie, but I chose

to make a collage, color it, then cut them in 1" squares.

Simple Steps to an Under My Umbrella Inchie Card

1. Cut a 4"x2" piece of Whisper White cardstock, then stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink a collage of the small flower images in Under My Umbrella.  🌞Joyful Stamper Tip: Begin stamping in the center of the cardstock and work outwards.  This ensures you don't end up with empty spots that are difficult to fill.
2. After I stamped the images, I used Stampin' Write Markers in Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Misty Moonlight, Bumblebee, and Balmy Blue to color them.
3. The Whisper White cardstock was cut into (8) 1" squares, then glued on to a 2-1/2"x5-1/2" piece of Misty Moonlight 2020-2022 In Color Designer Series Paper.
4. Glue the panel to a 5-1/2"x8-1/2" piece of Mango Melody cardstock folded in half at 4-1/4".
5. Stamp in Poppy Parade ink a sentiment along the right side of the inchies panel.
6. Tie Bumblebee Ribbon around the card along the left edge of the inchies panel.

Designer Series Paper Sale

October 1 - 30 | Shop your favorites!

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!

Posted For You Bundle - Facebook Live Class

 Hello, my joyful friends!  Every Thursday at 11 AM ET I go live on The Joyful Stamper Facebook Page.  Everyone is invited for a half hour of stamping fun!  I'll post the replay and project sheet below for today's Facebook Live Class projects after it's over.

I had the idea to use the Postage Stamp punch to make a window for a shaker card and it worked!  That feeling when what's in your mind comes out on paper exactly - that's exciting!  

To make the window with the Postage Stamp Punch (I'll show you how to do this in the Live class and its replay, too):

• Slide the punch in as far as it will go from the bottom of the Shaded Spruce cardstock and align the right edge of the punch with the right edge of the cardstock.  Punch once.
• Slide the punch to the left, letting part of the punch align with some of the already punched space.  Punch once.
• Repeat the previous step until you get a window as wide as you desire.

Sequins for Everything has been an overlooked gem in the Holiday Mini catalog.  The sequins do not have holes in them and they lay flat.  The red, green, pumpkin, and gold colors could be used for fall and Christmas cards.  They even come in a divided plastic container with a lid so they're easy to access and store.  

It was no holds barred when filling up the shaker window!  The stamped and punched images are from the Posted For You set that coordinates with the punch (but the punch is so versatile in its shape that it can be used with MANY other stamp sets).  I stamped them in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored them with Blackberry Bliss, Garden Green, and Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Markers.  

The gold cord is from the Wonders Of The Season Ribbon Combo pack.  The cord is easy to tie and it holds its shape firmly - a nice feature when trying to get that perfect bow. 

The soft, dainty elegance of this next card is beautiful!  The colors of Rococo Rose, Basic Gray, Petal Pink, and Gray Granite are what do it for me.  Adding the bits of Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim to the greeting and a torn Vellum Cardstock panel made me swoon!

The three background panels were glued to a 5-1/4"x4" piece of Whisper White cardstock before running it through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine with the Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder.

--->>>Project Sheet with measurements <<<---

Place a $35 minimum order in my store by midnight Sunday September 27 and I'll send you the packets to make today's Live projects.  You must use the September Host Code RX9NSXJB when ordering.  

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.

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!

Monthly Stamp Class Cards + a Giveaway!

Once a month, customers, team members, friends, and my mom gather to stamp.  I design the cards and have everything prepped and organized in envelope packets for them.  A lot of times, the inspiration for the cards is drawn from the Stampin' Up! catalogs (and if you would like to see all that inspiration yourself, request a catalog package.  I send them out at no charge!). 

We played with a mix of old and new this month and I'm showing two of the projects today.  The first card above has a gorgeous color combination of Mint Macaron, Cajun Craze, and Copper, pulled entirely from the palette in the Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper.

The Brushed Metallic Cardstock in copper was embossed with the Tasteful Textiles 3D Embossing Folder.  This folder is all-purpose and I love the subtle texture of the background.  

👉GIVEAWAY ALERT:I'm giving one away this Thursday - just share this Facebook Live class by hitting the share button, then type "shared" in the comments so I know to enter your name.  One person's name will be drawn to win this embossing folder!👈

The Brushed Metallic Cardstock was also used to cut sprigs using the Poinsettia Dies.

The sentiment is stamped on Very Vanilla and Early Espresso layers cut from the Stitched Nested Labels Dies.

Measurements for Happy Birthday Autumn card:

• Mint Macaron - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", folded in half at 4-1/4"
• Brushed Metallic Cardstock - 4-3/4" x 4"; scrap for die-cut sprig
• Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper - 3-3/4" x 1-3/8" (3 pieces)
• Very Vanilla - 3" x 1-1/2"
• Early Espresso - 3-1/4" x 1-3/4"

The stamp class attendees always want to keep sympathy cards on hand.  I thought combining the flocked Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper with Balmy Blue and Smoky Slate gave a lot of interest in a quiet, understated manner befitting a sympathy card.  I love the slightly milky look the flocking-on-vellum gives.  The Poinsettia Dies were used again to cut a sprig from Silver Foil Sheets.  

Blue Adhesive-Backed Gems were brought in for a little touch of iridescence.

The dove is stamped in Versamark ink, then heat embossed with Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder.  This particular dove is retired but the Dove Of Hope Bundle gives you multiple dove images, both stamped and die-cut, to choose from.

Measurement for With Sympathy card:

• Balmy Blue - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", folded in half at 4-1/4"; 3" x 2-1/4" (greeting label)
• Plush Poinsettia Specialty Paper - 4" x 3"
• Smoky Slate - 4-1/8" x 3-1/8"
• Whisper White - 3" x 3-1/4" to stamp dove
• Silver Foil - scrap to die-cut sprig

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

If you'd like one of my catalog packages and plan to order with me, request one here.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a catalog package here, if you don't already have a demonstrator you love and plan to order from me.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free Stampin' Blends cap label sheet 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 815 - Zany Zebras Rainbow Card

 This sketch STUMPED me at first.  That parallelogram is what stopped me in my tracks.  I'm sure there is a die somewhere in the stamping universe to cut that shape, but being creative means coming up with solutions based upon my available resources.  And I was successful!  There's a video and written pdf to save, pin, or print below this post.

When you're done making a card using this sketch, post it on the thread for this challenge.  There is no time limit and the thread is always open.  People are frequently check out the sketch galleries for ideas and we want to see what you make!

How can you not love these Zany Zebras?  I was thinking about this favorite gum of my childhood while making this card.  

Shop my store for the supplies used to make this card!  The written tutorial below lists what was used and their item numbers.  

Save the written tutorial in your idea file or Pin to your Celebrations board. 

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

If you'd like one of my catalog packages and plan to order with me, request one here.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a catalog package here, if you don't already have a demonstrator you love and plan to order from me.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free Stampin' Blends cap label sheet 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 814 - Slimline Birthday Card - Video + Tutorial

 It's Saturday Sketch time!  Do you find that each day of the week has a "feel" to it?  I can tell what day it is by my energy levels, no joke.  I can also tell the time of day by how I feel.  Emma, my oldest daughter, didn't believe me until she started randomly asking me the time; she was amazed that I was within 10 minutes every time!  It's why I don't wear a watch (and don't carry a phone, but there are more reasons for that one!).  

ANYWAYS....so could you tell it was Saturday?  It's time to make something!  The sketch artist did something different this week - she gave us a slimline design!  

Slimline Card - a card that fits in a business-sized envelope; measurements of the folded card are usually 3-1/2"x8-1/2", so begin with a 7"x8-1/2" piece of cardstock

I have fall on the mind, especially using the Brushed Metallic Cardstock in the Holiday Mini catalog.  I combined the bronze and copper colors with a piece of Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP).  There are SO many details to love on this card.  Let's take note of them!

The lightly distressed edges of Early Espresso, done with scissors 🍁 the Tasteful Textile embossed strip of copper Brushed Metallic Cardstock 🍁 the leaves stampes on vellum (yes, I used the retired French Foliage set, but I create with what I love and so should you!)

The greeting was stamped on vellum in Saddle Brown Staz-On ink and the Cajun Craze layer was cut from the Ornate Frames Dies.  Three Pumpkin Pie gems from the Holiday Rhinestones Basics Jewels package underscore the sentiment.  Tip: place Mini Glue Dots on the backside of the stamped vellum where the gems will hide them.  I forgot to do this in the video and used SNAIL/Stampin' Seal!

Shop my store for the supplies used to make this card!  The written tutorial below lists what was used and their item numbers.  

Save the written tutorial in your idea file or Pin to your Birthday or Man Cards boards. 

Watch the video to see how to make this card.

Shop the Holiday Mini Catalog! Earn points with the Joyful Stamper Rewards program!

If you'd like one of my catalog packages and plan to order with me, request one here.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a catalog package here, if you don't already have a demonstrator you love and plan to order from me.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free Stampin' Blends cap label sheet 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!

How to use Plaid to Make Birthday Cards for Guys

 Hello, my joyful friends!  Every Thursday at 11 AM ET I go live on The Joyful Stamper Facebook Page.  Everyone is invited for a half hour of stamping fun!  I'll post the replay and project sheet with measurements below after the Live.  You can print the project sheet for easy reference.

I had a request for birthday cards for men so I searched the Holiday Mini catalog for ideas to inspire me.  Success!  Can you tell which card I CASED?  Hint: it's towards the back of the catalog.

This card THRILLS me with how it turned out!  I mixed the Buffalo Check background stamp with a Bumblebee Stampin' Write Marker to create my own plaid pattern.  The pumpkins (from Gather Together) look semi-watercolored but were actually colored with a Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker.  

Tip: when doing simple coloring without any shading or layering of hues, or when coloring in small areas, use your Stampin' Write Markers.  They're more economical!  

This card features a homemade plaid background using Stampin' Write Markers and a Chalk Marker.  A ruler and Grid Paper were helpful in keeping the lines straight. 

Note: I actually went a different route for the background with this card in my live.  Now the background looks like faded flannel!  You have to check it out!  The project sheet shows my detoured project.

A detail that is totally me - the more frayed the Braided Burlap Trim, the more it makes my heart sing!  Do you have a stamping detail that says YOU?  Leave me a comment letting me know what it is!

Get the Project Sheet with details here.

If you need a copy of the catalog, request one here and I'll promptly send one out to you.

August 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!