Saturday Card Sketch 832 - Zany Zebras Celebration

There's something bold, something bright in today's post!  And I've typed out a tutorial for my Zany Zebras card so that you can recreate it if you like.  The card is based on this week's Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge.  Don't forget to pin it!  Do you have a Pinterest board for sketches?  Having these ideas at the ready makes stamping so much easier!

I love the bright colors of Magenta Madness and Granny Apple Green!  The Basic Black accentuates the brightness of those two hues.  Celebration cards are easy to make with this color palette.

👇👇👇

Place a $35 order by midnight Sunday December 20 and I'll send you a packet to make THREE of these gift card holders (patterns will vary). ORDER HERE: http://bit.ly/ShopNicolesStore and USE HOST CODE QJXPTGRD

Select retiring products from the Holiday Catalog are being discounted up to 50%Shop my store to see everything on sale!  NOTE: if you can't find specific items in my store then that product has sold out.  Retiring products are sold while supplies last.

If you'd like a catalog package for the new January-June Mini and Sale-A-Bration catalogs, email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com 

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.  

Make cards, spread joy!  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!

Happy Half Hour Facebook Live - I'm Getting Wordy!

Being too wordy - that is something I've ALWAYS been accused of.  "You talk a lot" or "Let's shorten this a bit"  is not uncommon for me to hear.  I love to write.  I love to share.  I love words.  

WELL.  Today I'm using that to my advantage.  On my Happy Half Hour Facebook Live show, I'll demonstrate how you can use your word stamps to be super fun, creative elements on your projects.  Maybe I'll even dig up some scrapbook layouts to show you some word techniques on a larger scale!  

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!  After the live is over, I'll post the replay and project sheet below.

-->>Get the project sheet with details here.<--

Join the Online Classes with The Joyful Stamper group and get the tutorial file to see all the measurements, supplies, photos, and instructions!  You'll also have access to the video to put these cards together.  Cut cardstock packs are available to order.  

3 Ways To Order A Class Packet

Class packets are $25 + $5 to ship ($30 total).

• email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com
• Message me on Facebook
• Via PayPal (no PayPal account required)

You can use your own stamps, ink, and adhesive or order what you need in my store (don't forget to use this month's Reward Code and track your Joyful Stamper Reward Points!).

Mystery Stamping Hour

Next one is Sunday June 28 at 8 PM (ET)

Open and free to everyone!  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!

Daisies On The Diagonal

Indulge me a bit today please.  I pulled out some retired Designer Series Paper and used Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots from the catalog just expired.  They just fit so perfectly for this card and I couldn't resist.  I'm SURE you all have Stampin' Up! product you use that is no longer in the catalogs - and it's actually very fun to shop the stash and re-discover what you have!

I designed this card for my monthly team stamping bee for local members.  I design and prep 3-4 projects for us to create as we laugh and catch up.  It's a perk for my downline, but I absolutely LOVE being with them each month.  When the morning is over, everyone has visibly renewed energy plus 4 cute cards to send out!

I realized while taking these photos that the card can be vertical or horizontal.  Happy accident!  

Large and small daisies from Daisy Lane were stamped in Daffodil Delight on Daffodil Delight cardstock, then punched out using the coordinating daisy punches.  I LOVE that "smile" sentiment - it's not too large, not too small, and beautifully scripted in a readable font.

Did you catch the Night Of Navy diagonal strip on the Misty Moonlight card base?  It's 7"x1", glued diagonally, with the overhang trimmed.  It's a great design trick for pulling the eye along the daisy explosion!

The inside is a 4"x5-1/4" piece of Whisper White cardstock with the edges stamped in Daffodil Delight ink and the small daisy stamp.  We leave nothing naked when we stamp!

Card Recipe:

• Misty Moonlight cardstock- 8-1/2"x5-1/2" card base, folded in half at 4-1/4"
• Night Of Navy cardstock- 7"x1" strip
• 4-3/4"x3-3/4" piece of Designer Series Paper in this or this
• Daffodil Delight cardstock - to stamp and punch daisies
• Whisper White cardstock - 5-1/4"x4" for inside; 4"x1" for sentiment
• Night Of Navy ink
• Daffodil Delight ink
• Daisy Punch
• Medium Daisy Punch
• In Color Enamel Dots

Mystery Stamping Hour

Next one is Sunday June 28 at 8 PM (ET)

Open and free to everyone!  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!

2 Cards From Last Night's Friend Like You Online Class

I love Sunday evenings like yesterday's!  Last night was the first Joyful Stamper Online Class and the stamping ladies were enjoyable.  It is the best feeling to be with other people who get the passion for paper, stamps, and ink.  It's also a great feeling to know you can do this, with someone right there to help you out with your questions.  Join the group and you'll never miss these fun classes.

This colorful creation was Card #1.  Each class packet includes supplies to make 8 cards total, 2 each of 4 designs, plus envelopes.  The pieces are all cut, scored, die-cut, and embossed for you.  The live video is recorded so you can watch it as many times as you like, whenever you like and the written instructions are posted in the group as a pdf file for you to print or save.  It's truly class done 100% your way!

Isn't Card #2 cute?  With this one, you'll get supplies to make one in Misty Moonlight (shown) and one in Magenta Madness.  Same card, same layout, with the 2 colors swapped.

3 Ways To Order A Class Packet

Class packets are $25 + $5 to ship ($30 total).

• email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com
• Message me on Facebook
• Via PayPal (no PayPal account required)

You can use your own stamps, ink, and adhesive or order what you need in my store (don't forget to use this month's Reward Code and track your Joyful Stamper Reward Points!).

Join the group and get the tutorial file to see all the measurements, supplies, photos, and instructions!  You'll also have access to the video to put these cards together.

Mystery Stamping Hour

Next one is Sunday June 28 at 8 PM (ET)

Open and free to everyone!  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!

Flap Top Mini Gift Bag Birthday Bonanza Style

I wish my girls were still little and having birthday parties so that I could make these as favors.  They are easy to whip up and the Birthday Bonanza Designer Series Paper make them FUN!

The sentiment is from Perennial Birthdays and the images were trimmed from the Birthday Bonanza paper (both are retiring June 2).  There are lions, koalas, and toucans (see above) in the pack.

This is the view from the top of the box when opened.  The sides pinch in for an extra decorative touch (because 5-year-olds notice details like that).  I first saw this box made by Susan Levasseur of WOW Nola Creations.

The Cast of Supplies

Gather up: Paper Snips, cardstock, Designer Series paper, Bone Folder, Velcro dots, and image(s) to decorate the box front.  Measurements are given below.

The photo above shows the template measurements, where to score, and what the cardstock will look like once you've cut away the unneeded sections.  The spaces marked with a red X are where Tear N Tape is applied (don't forget about the narrow 1/2" flap on the far right of the photo).

Measurements:

• Basic Grey cardstock - 10-3/8"x7"; score on long side at 3-1/2", 5", 8-1/2", and 10"; score on the short side at 1-1/2" and 5-1/2"
• Mango Melody cardstock - 3"x3" (box front); 3-1/4"x1-3/8" (box flap)
• Birthday Bonanza DSP - 2-7/8"x2-7/8" (box front); 2-7/8"x1-1/4" (box flap)

Tips:

• Make a practice template with copy paper or old cardstock before diving into this project.  You may save paper by doing this!
• Use the Detailed Trio Punch to round the corners of the flap closure (the top left section of the cardstock in the photo above) and the cardstock and Designer Series Paper glued on the flap.
• Trim the bottom tabs at an angle so they close neatly and are tucked away.

More Birthday Bonanza Ideas

See the post plus a tutorial to pin or print here

See the post plus a video here

See the post plus a video here

A second variation of the koala card above (made the same way).

Shop the Birthday Bonanza Suite

Email me to order a Card Kit To Go from The Joyful Stamper

What's Included:

• All the supplies to create 12 cards - 3 each of 4 designs
• All kit elements are punched, die-cut, and scored for you
• a bottle of Tombow "green glue"
• 12 envelopes
• full-color photos of each card
• die-cut word sentiments in sticker format - just peel and stick!

Create with your kids!  Make a Mother's Day card!  Celebrate a graduation or birthday!  Tell someone thank you for that nice thing he or she did!  Let a friend or family member know you are thinking of them!

To Get Your Card Kit To Go:

Message me on Facebook or email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com.  Kits are $25 for porch pick-up or add $5 to have the kit shipped to you.  Printed papers may vary slightly from the photo but they will all be from the same pack with the same colors and similar patterns.

Get a kit now!  I have a limited number available. 

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.

My customers are the heart of my business and I am so grateful to all of them!  If you're new to me, welcome!  Please let me know how I can help you have your best stamping experience.

It's a BRIGHT celebration!

We celebrate five birthdays a year in the Steele home and it's a tradition to decorate the table and chair of the birthday person.  After the birthday boy/girl goes to bed the night before his or her big day, I pull out my box of decorations and party tablecloth and begin the process.  I throw bright crepe paper streamers over the chandelier in colors of blue, green, pink, yellow, and orange.  I cover the table with a liner that has sprinkles printed on it.  I stand up a 4-foot long cardboard cutout that spells "Happy Birthday" and has shiny purple and pink foil fringe.  There are pinwheels scattered about the table and a present waiting on top of the Special Plate, a platter that only the birthday celebrant may dine from.   

The birthday person also gets to choose what dessert mom makes.  We've had Chocolate Strawberry Delight, Chocolate Beet Cake with Homemade Frosting, Buckeye Cake, Apple Pie, and Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble.  When they girls were smaller, the cakes were more fanciful.  One year, I made a cake that looked like a CandyLand game board.  Another year, I created a pool scene on top of a cake using blue Jell-O, teddy bear graham crackers, and pretzel sticks.  The Pampered Chef sold this mixing bowl that I could bake a cake in, then invert it and stick a Barbie in it and it looked like she was wearing a huge fancy skirt.  None were bakery-perfect, but they all made my family feel so loved and so special.  And they sure were fun to create!

Much like this card:

Both the color scheme and layout are from Splitcoaststampers, a place from which I get a lot of stamping help.  See that polka-dotted ribbon?  I colored it with my Stampin' Blends to match my card!

I used the brush tip of my Stampin' Blends to color the little felt dots on this ribbon.  It didn't ruin the tips, although if you just touch the Blends tip to the ribbon dot, the color flows to it without having to move the Blends tip.  I was so tickled about this trick, I was talking out loud to myself!

Sometimes it's tricky to get a clean cut with more intricate dies.  A couple years ago, I read a tip that has worked perfectly every time and I'm passing it along to you:

I've used this tip to cut lacy hearts and detailed butterflies and the die-cuts peel right off the dryer sheet, leaving the little bits behind.

Must-Haves from This Card:

Color pearls, rhinestones, and ribbons any color you want; get beautiful shading and blending when coloring stamped images; no marker lines

You can make easy backgrounds with the Birthday Backgrounds set.  The stamps are designed so that you can ink and stamp without having to line images up.  They'll look good no matter where you stamp them.

Soft and easy to tie, this ribbon adds a playful touch to your projects.  And I showed how you can use your Blends to make the dots any color you need.

Shop my online store here to get these must-haves and don't forget to contact me to get your Holiday Catalog Package!