Happy Half Hour Live Stamping Class - Timeless Tropical

Every Tuesday at 2 PM 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. 

The Tropical Oasis Suite makes such fun cards!  It's unlike anything I have in my stamp collection.  Do you have hibiscus, palm trees, and pineapples in your stash?  If not, add them to totally refresh your supplies!  And check out my Timeless Tropical Online Class below.  You get 8 projects in your class kit and they're ready to ship now!

You can find the project sheet for Tuesday's class with measurements and supply lists here. **Card on the left starts at 1:36** **Card on the right starts at 20:30** Follow me on Facebook so you can be notified when I go live next.  I'd love to see you at the class!

Through-out April, I'm posting at least 12 projects made with the Ornate Garden Suite.

• Easy, stepped-up, fancy fold, technique-driven, anything-but-a-card - it'll be a WIDE variety!  
• Every project will have detailed instructions and photos in a pdf.  
• Each project's tutorial will be sent via email as each project is posted here on my blog.
• To receive it, place a $50 order (before shipping & tax) in my store April 1-30 and use Reward Code SWDK2WN2.
• You will receive ALL the tutorials, no matter when in April you order.  

This is a free class as a thank you for ordering with me!  And you can order whatever you want!

My Timeless Tropical Online Class is ready to ship!  Read how to get a class kit shipped to you.

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!

Little Ladybug Tutorials + Free PDF

Have you shopped my Retired Stamp Set sale yet?  There's lots of bargains to be found, especially when you combine it with the Sale-A-Bration pretties!  Plus, you'll get my March Class Tutorial Bundle.  Stamps + ink = magic  | Free stamps + ink = pat-yourself-on-the-back magic!

I have more for you today, just because I LOVE to share and this card has me so excited that I just can't keep it to myself.

Meet Little Ladybug and her friends!  

That flower has me swooning.  I colored it with Stampin' Blends in Dark & Light Pineapple Punch and Dark Mango Melody Stampin' Blends.  Then I added some teardrop enamel shapes to mimic dew (they came in this month's Paper Pumpkin kit).

Look at this little sweetie!  She was colored with a Dark Real Red Stampin' Blend on the outside.  Her belly was colored with Dark & Light Basic Black and Dark Smoky Slate.  Then I went over the center of her belly in circles with the Color Lifter.  

This sketch is the one I followed when making the above card.  I saw those pointed shapes and immediately thought to use the Stitched Nested Labels dies.

Pin, download, or print the instructions for this card

Nicole's Retired Stamp Sale

• Shop my store here
• Shop my retired stash here

Sale-A-Bration ends March 31!

• Shop Sale-A-Bration freebies here

March Ordering Gift

Another Masculine Card Using High Tide + Video

I've been showing love to sets in the Annual Catalog recently.  Yes, the Holiday and current Mini Catalogs are amazing and exciting, but the Annual Catalog is 212 pages of loveliness itself!  I shopped my stash and pulled out High Tide.  Tha nautical images are fantastic for layering to create depth and to make water scenes.  Monday's post featured a card using High Tide for someone not expected to get better.  Today's card has a sentiment that makes it all-purpose and great for any occasion.  I like to shake up my projects by using quotes rather than the standard "happy birthday" or "thank you".  I adore words, and a card is a perfect canvas for using them in interesting ways!




Pinterest inspired this.  Watch the video to see how this was put together!




Card Recipe:

• High Tide stamp set
• Ink: Sahara Sand, Night Of Navy
• Night Of Navy/Sahara Sand Baker's Twine
• Night Of Navy cardstock: 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 base folded in half at 4-1/4; 5 x 3
• Sahara Sand cardstock: 5-1/4 x 4, edges distressed with Paper Snips
• Very Vanilla cardstock: 1-5/8 x 2-3/4 (2 pieces that are the left and right panels); 1-1/2 x 2-3/4 (1 piece that is the middle panel)
• Adhesives: Multi Purpose Liquid Glue; Stampin' Dimensionals

***Monday's card uses the same supplies***

Remember, any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) receives the project kits from Tuesday's Live!  Be sure to use Reward Code AHKD9ZWS for orders under $150.  Orders over $150 will get their own Stampin' Rewards plus the project kits.  Place your order by Midnight ET tonight!

You can find the project sheet for Tuesday's Happy (half) Hour Live projects here.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Want a catalog and don't already work with a demonstrator you love?  Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or via this form.
• Never miss a beat in the stamping world - subscribe to The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News, a weekly email that specially delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Sign up and get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a thank you!
• Stamping is more fun with pretty products you can count on.  Shop my store anytime to give yourself the best crafting experience.
• 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 (and the Starter Kit is the especially ULTIMATE bargain right now)!  Read more here.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  I appreciate your business!

Happy (Half) Hour Facebook Live Stamping Class

Reminder!  The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News is now delivered via a weekly emailed newsletter.  Subscribe and you'll get an exclusive pdf tutorial as a thank you.  You will not see this published anywhere else.  Thank you for your support of my business!

Every Tuesday at 2 PM 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!  

Watch the replay below

You can find the project sheet for today's Happy (half) Hour Live projects here.

Remember, any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) receives the project kits for today's Live!  You can order starting now and be sure to use Reward Code AHKD9ZWS for orders under $150.  Orders over $150 will get their own Stampin' Rewards plus the project kits.  Place your order by Midnight ET this Friday!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Want a catalog and don't already work with a demonstrator you love?  Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or via this form.
• Never miss a beat in the stamping world - subscribe to The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News, a weekly email that specially delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Sign up and get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a thank you!
• Stamping is more fun with pretty products you can count on.  Shop my store anytime to give yourself the best crafting experience.
• 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 (and the Starter Kit is the especially ULTIMATE bargain right now)!  Read more here.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  I appreciate your business!

By Your Side card using High Tide

What kind of card do you send someone who just isn't going to get better?  What should it say?  What should the colors be?  

Recently, I was approached with that challenge.  Combing through my supplies, I came up with several sets that had appropriate sentiments for that situation.  

The first set I discovered was High Tide.  This particular sentiment strikes just the right note for a card in which the person isn't going to get better.  It lets s/he simply know that you are right there with them to walk this journey.  The understated, neutral colors of Sahara Sand and Night Of Navy are appropriate for a man or woman and, combined with the nautical theme, produces a gentle feel.  Water has long been known to naturally relax and calm people.

To add dimension to the card, I used the largest square from Stitched Shapes dies to remove a portion of the rectangle panel.  I stamped the sentiment in full-strength Night of Navy and the birds in stamped-off-once Sahara Sand.  Then I used Multi Purpose Liquid Glue to adhere it to the Night Of Navy card base, inside its own negative space.  The Sahara Sand panel is adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals to give the inlaid square a recessed look.  

The lighthouse is stamped in Night Of Navy ink on Sahara Sand cardstock and cut with Paper Snips before adhering to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.  

For the full step-by-step directions to make this card, just click the image below to pin, download, or print the tutorial.

Tomorrow on my weekly Happy (half) Hour Stamping Class on my Facebook page, I'll show another card of this type using a different stamp set.  Make sure to join me at 2 PM ET.  As awkward and challenging these types of situations feel to us, it is important and worth the extra effort to make and send these kinds of cards.  When I resist sending a card because I feel inadequate, I remember this from Proverbs 25:11 - "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" - in other words, valuable and precious to the other person!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Want a catalog and don't already work with a demonstrator you love?  Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or via this form.
• Never miss a beat in the stamping world - subscribe to The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News, a weekly email that specially delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Sign up and get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a thank you!
• Stamping is more fun with pretty products you can count on.  Shop my store anytime to give yourself the best crafting experience.
• 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 (and the Starter Kit is the especially ULTIMATE bargain right now)!  Read more here.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  I appreciate your business!

Try This Dreamy Color Combination

I was feeling fancy on this fun Friday (and apparently alliterative, too), so today's stamped project is multi-layered, dreamy, detailed, heavily embellished, and just over-the-top.  Which is my favorite kind of card!  

What first inspired this card was the color combination of Highland Heather, Mint Macaron, Smoky Slate, and Gorgeous Grape (I made a graphic for you to pin, save, or print at the end of this post).  Since the word "dreamy" immediately came to mind, I reached for the Stargazing set.

I repeatedly stamped the Mint Macaron layers with Mint Macaron ink and the swirl image.  

Two Very Easy Techniques: The top cardstock layer's corners were separated (just use your nail).  The bottom layer of Mint Macaron cardstock was spritzed with water, crumpled in a ball, then flattened and dried with a Heat Tool.  

Nests of ribbon, twine, or thread are popular and for a great reason - the more imperfect and messy they are, the better they look!  I'm pretty good at being imperfect and messy 😁 so this works for me!  I made a Silver Metallic Thread nest on this card. 

To create a nest: run SNAIL adhesive on your cardstock, wrap the ribbon/twine/thread around 3 or 4 of your fingers several times, remove, and press the material to the cardstock where you ran SNAIL.  You can adjust however you like since SNAIL is a forgiving adhesive.

I wanted a bow that was full and shabby, so I cut lengthwise a piece of Mint Macaron Textile Ribbon.  I tied the 2 pieces together in a bow and the nicely frayed edges that resulted was exactly the look I wanted!

Pin, save, or print this color combination!

Remember, any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) receives the project kits from Tuesday's Live!  Use Host Code 349VN7VY and be sure to place your order by Midnight ET tonight!  See the project sheet here.  Click image to watch the replay.

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Want a catalog and don't already work with a demonstrator you love?  Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or via this form.
• High-quality stamping products make your crafting experience better so don't cheat yourself!  Shop my store for your crafting supplies!
• New to stamping?  Welcome!  The Beginner Brochure was designed for you.  Also check out this card for a perfect first dip into cardmaking.  I can mail it to you with a free catalog package - just email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com to request one.
• 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 (and the Starter Kit is the especially ULTIMATE bargain right now)!  Read more here.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  I appreciate your business!

Hold On To Hope Seriously Simple Card

As much as we love making cards, sometimes it is the message of the card that really counts.  The message may be on the inside, outside, or both, but the important thing is that the recipient of our card HEARS the words.  The words are what we are trying to communicate to someone, because that person needs to be uplifted and encouraged.  Our words can bring life to hurting people (Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit).  In these cases, I find simple, "quiet" cards to be appropriate.

I love this verse in the Hold On To Hope set.  It's appropriate when expressing sympathy, or when reminding someone that s/he is not alone in the struggle.  Ink dries slowly on vellum, so to get around that I inked my stamp with Versamark then immediately inked it with Pretty Peacock before stamping on the vellum.  I sprinkled Clear Stampin' Emboss powder over the verse, then melted it with my Heat Tool.  Now the ink is dry and won't smear!

The background is stamped directly on the Thick Whisper White card base.  I used Pretty Peacock and Mint Macaron Stampin' Write Markers to color directly on the red rubber flower image, then stamped it on the card base.  This is an easy technique, one that does not need to be done precisely.  Simply use the brush tip end of the marker to do a fast color on the stamp, then put stamp to paper.

The Pretty Peacock and Vellum ovals were made using the Stitched Shapes dies.  I cut an extra one from Whisper White to place underneath the Vellum to better highlight the verse.

If you have the chance to ever speak life-giving words to someone, do so!  The card does not have to be over-the-top, layered with doodads and paper, and made with 5 techniques.  Simple and quiet with a heartfelt message is powerful and effective, friends!

Ways to Connect with The Joyful Stamper:

• Shop my online store using the host code 7YNXHH3W and receive as my gift to you a 6 Pack of Christmas Card Tutorials ($15 value).  If you liked the one above, you'll enjoy these!
• Shop the Clearance Rack for fantastic deals.
• Search my blog in the sidebar box by stamp set, holiday, or technique.  You can also type in "tutorials" to pull up all the printable ones on this blog.
• Join My Joyful Stampers team - instant community of people who love stamping as much as you do!
• Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the monthly crafting kit for those who like neat, simple solutions to their crafting needs.  As part of your subscription, you'll receive a monthly newsletter with alternate ideas and an instructional video.
• Attend one of my local, in-person classes - laughter is good medicine!
• Follow me on Facebook for more interaction and spontaneous fun!
• Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration.
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see stamping demonstrations.

  

Hold On To Hope

Hope....what a beautiful word.  The power that simple, one syllable word imparts is life-breathing.  I've grappled with overwhelming situations and emotions, and hope - in the form of Jesus - is what kept me moving forward.  Hope is so powerful that to intentionally crush someone's hope isn't just mean and hurtful - it's cruel.
At our church's recent kids' camp, our pastor gave the campers a buzz phrase that was direct and simple to remember: You + Mission = Hope  

Making and sending cards is my mission to give others hope.  I love to write personal messages in my handmade cards and I pray as I write each one that the words I'm given would deliver hope to the one I'm writing to.  The last knot of a person's rope is Hope and I refuse to be the one to untie it.  Everyone needs hope.  No one is excluded from that need, which means it's always the right time to send a card.  

How To Make This Rainbow Card:

1. Cut Thick Whisper White cardstock to 8-1/2" x 5-1/2".  Score at 4-1/4" and fold.
2. Cut (4) 6" x 1/2" strips of 2108-2020 In Color DSP Stacks paper in each of the five colors.  Cut (4) 6" x 1/2" strips of Gorgeous Grape cardstock.  You should have a total of 24 strips.
3. To save paper, die-cut the middle of a 5" x 3-3/4" piece of Basic Black cardstock.  I used a butterfly die, but any shape will do (see photos below).
4. Cover with adhesive a 4-7/8" x 3-5/8" piece of Whisper White cardstock.  You can use SNAIL or Multipurpose Glue. 
5. Starting in the middle, adhere one of the 6" x 1/2" strips diagonally.  It should stretch from the top right corner to the bottom left corner.  
6. Continue to adhere the strips in rainbow order until the cardstock piece is covered.  Trim excess strips.
7. Glue covered panel to Basic Black mat.  Glue to card base.
8. Stamp "Hold On To Hope" sentiment in Versamark ink onto scrap piece of Basic Black cardstock.  Sprinkle with White Embossing Powder and heat set with a Heat Tool.  Trim to desired size.
9.  Adhere die-cut to card base.  Place Stampin' Dimensional down on card base where you want your Silver Metallic Thread to be.
10. Wrap Silver Metallic Thread around fingers several times, slide off and pinch center with fingers, and stick on to Dimensional.
11. Adhere sentiment with Stampin' Dimensionals.

You can leave off the Silver Metallic Thread and this card still looks great!

Shop my online store for the supplies to make this hope-filled rainbow card and I'll send you a Joyful Stamper Thank You Package that includes the new Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog, along with some product samples from that catalog.  I so appreciate you choosing me as your demonstrator!

Stampin' News:

~Get the best deal - join now for $99 and get free shipping, $155 of product YOU get to pick, plus a $10 coupon to use in September.  Yes, you can include Clearance Rack and Holiday Catalog items in your Starter Kit!

~The September Paper Pumpkin kit is Halloween themed!  It comes in a frighteningly fun purple box and wishes us all a Bone Appetit!  Subscribe now to receive it.

~Remember to use your Bonus Coupons by August 31!

You Can Do Hard Things

Yes, you can!  At 44, I have learned this lesson many times, but those much younger and greener to the experiences of life could probably use the encouragement.  I have someone in mind who is getting this card and it will be at the God-prompted moment (The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl. Proverbs 25:11).  

I turned to Sketch-N-Scrap's Card Sketch #149 for some help in making this colorful summertime card.

I took some liberties with the three star elements but those little images are SO cute!  And it was fun to pull out my Stampin' Blends to color them.  I added some straight stitching with black thread and my sewing machine along the top and bottom of the Whisper White cardstock panel, just like in the sketch.  The stitching could be drawn in with a black journaling pen, also.

Making this card reminded me of when I had my first lemonade stand around the age of 7.  I made an eye-catching sign, stacked the paper cups on my table, prepared batches of lemonade, filled my change box with coins and dollar bills, then sat there with a big smile, positive that crowds would soon flock to my little business on the corner of 7th and Maplewood in Ambridge, PA.

People did come and it was great!  Then during a slow period, one woman came and sat next to me and began to talk to me about expense and revenue, profit and loss, cost accounting, and the value of my time.  I remember feeling utterly bewildered at the big words and ideas she was tossing at my 7-year-old brain.  I remember swinging my legs in boredom and thinking, "Why can't this lady just buy some lemonade?"  She meant well, of course, and was trying to teach me a great business lesson.  As I grew into my pre-teens and teens and had other businesses I was better able to understand and use those concepts that nice lady had been trying to teach me.  

If you found yourself getting enthused as I related my profit and loss lemonade stand story, then consider joining my team of Joyful Stampers.  If you love being a smart shopper and getting a discount on high-quality products, then you also should consider joining my team of Joyful Stampers!

There is a fantastic deal going right now - $155 of product and free shipping for just $99, plus you get a $10 coupon to use in August (on your Holiday catalog pre-order, perhaps.....).  Sign up today and you'll get to see the online Holiday catalog right away!