Saturday Card Sketch 822 - Free As A Bird Sweet & Simple Card

It's time for another card sketch from Splitcoaststampers!  I look forward to these each week because this is how I so often begin a card or scrapbook page.  Sketches are THE BEST for inspiration...big fan here!

What I see when I look at this sketch: 

• There's a large background that could showcase a piece of beautiful Designer Series Paper (some of which is on sale right now!).
• Those two vertical lines could be ribbon or twine wrapped once or twice around the card.
• I've got lots of 1/2" wide strips left over from trimming down cardstock for mats - Layer 4 would be the perfect use for them as sentiment pieces.

  

A cheerful, bright card was what I was feeling so out came this sheet from the Ornate Garden Designer Series Paper pack and the Free As A Bird stamp set.  What could be more cheerful than a sweet little bird?

🌞Joyful Stamper Tip: Look at your dies in fresh ways.  That Cinnamon Cider "nest" is actually a die from Painted Labels!

I've got lots more tips for you, so watch the video below!

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

Sunday October 11 is the last day to sign up for October's Creativity Kit.  This month's kit features the beautiful Poinsettia Petals Bundle.  Details here.

Place a $35 order (before shipping and tax) in my store by midnight Sunday October 11 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.  

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!

Double Panel Gate Fold Card - Happy Half Hour Facebook Live

Hello, my joyful friends and stampers!  Every Thursday at 11 AM ET I go live on The Joyful Stamper Facebook Page.  Everyone is invited!  I'll post the replay and project sheet with details below after the Live class.

I'm showing a Double Panel Gate Fold card on today's Live show.  I first saw this on Splitcoaststampers and immediately wanted to make this! 

Get the Project Sheet with details here

 

It's not a fussy fun fold, which makes it super nice to create.  It also uses lots of lovely patterned paper (Designer Series Paper in Stampin' Up! lingo) - and who out there doesn't want to use up DSP?

I used a retired pack called Garden Impressions.  It came in 6" x 6" sheets and I just adore these colors together - Night Of Navy, Mango Melody, Shaded Spruce, and So Saffron.

I added a bow with Bumblebee ribbon.  This rich, golden yellow is my favorite yet.  I'm SO excited to use it with Cinnamon Cider on fall projects!

My main image was trimmed from the retired Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper, but you could also stamp and color the bird images from the Free As A Bird stamp set (it's the set my embossed sentiment came from).  Trimming images from your DSP is a great time-saver trick!

And here's the opened card.  Gotta dress up the inside, too!

I absolutely LOVE getting to know my joyful stampers and I want to meet YOU! Join me every Thursday at 11 AM ET on The Joyful Stamper Facebook page!

Shop from now through August 3 to earn $5 coupons - no limit!  And you can earn Joyful Stamper Rewards, too!

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 + Card Video & PDF Tutorial

My brother and his family stayed with us in our itty bitty one-story 1200 square feet home this week and it was crazy!  Crazy in a super fun way, though.  I love my niece and twin nephews.  They are 7, 5 and 5.  Those ages are so healing and healthy for an adult to take his or her mind off the cares of the world.  What's more important this morning than playing a Wii Mario Kart tournament?  Nothing?  Or what's more important this evening than roasting a marshmallow over a campfire for a s'more?  Nothing!

Using a sketch like this week's from Splitcoaststampers is a timesaver in week's like this past one where there wasn't much time to create.  There's even a forum thread to post a photo of what you make with the sketch, or to gallery gaze at what others did with it.

I loved the idea of combining the Buffalo Check background stamp with Free As A Bird.  The images were colored with Stampin' Blends, as were the pearls.  

Did you know you could color pearls, rhinestones, and ribbons with Stampin' Blends?  Since the Blends are alcohol inks, they can be used on both porous and non-porous surfaces.  I love that ability to have embellishments in whatever Stampin' Up! color I need!

Knowing people learn by different methods, I've created both a video and a written tutorial for this week's sketch card.  Enjoy!

Friend Like You Online Class Sunday, June 14 8 PM (ET) Details here.

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!

Last Day For Last Chance List!

We all love to see the fun, stampy things on a blog post but I also take seriously my job as a demonstrator to keep you informed of promotions and their deadlines.  It's disappointing to miss a sale that you were genuinely interested in!  So I must let you know that today is the last day to order anything from the Last Chance List.

Below you'll find favorite projects made with Last Chance items.  Click them to see their related blog posts.  

This Little Piggy set & In Colors

Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper

Stargazing set

Tea Together and Dies

Painted Harvest and Leaf Punch

Parisian Beauty Suite

I've got LOTS more projects on my blog that feature retiring products, but those were the stampers' favorites.  

Tip: You can search my blog for specific stamp sets by typing the name in the search box.  

Make sure to check them out, because I include pdfs, card recipes, tips and tricks, and photo tutorials in many of those posts.  

Grab your favorite Last Chance Products by shopping my store!

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!

Splitcoaststampers Card Sketch 789

I have never been one to watch TV other than Jeopardy! every night (yes, every night - I am devoted to that show and determined to be a contestant).  But, saints on skates!  Alaina and I have found ourselves bonding over a multitude of fantastically entertaining fare lately.

Brain Games.

The Masked Singer.

Survivor (I was around for the season when Rob and Amber fell in love and my college freshman was a newborn during Season 2 in the Australian Outback (hands down the best-looking Survivor season)).

I think all that TV watching is messing with my stamping mojo, though, because I found it difficult to make this card, even with the help of this week's sketch from Splitcoaststampers.

When in a stamping funk, my trick is to pull out a small pile of pretties and pile them on my desk.  I use only those supplies to make something.  It helps me focus.  In my pile was: 

• Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper
• Free As A Bird stamp set
• Ornate Frames Dies
• Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
• Noble Peacock Rhinestones
• Metallic Twine & Sequins Combo Pack (sadly, it was announced yesterday that supplies ran out - Petal Pink Metallic Edge Ribbon would be a beautiful substitute)

The Pool Party cardstock seemed too bright so I swiped a Whisper White ink pad across it a few times.  The look is GORGEOUS!  I'm definitely revisiting that trick to make a background for a future project!  The bird and leaves were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink (the ink to use when coloring with Stampin' Blends) and colored with Light & Dark Calypso Coral (bird) and Light & Dark Mossy Meadow (leaves) Stampin' Blends.  

Cutting with Paper Snips: there are no dies for the the Free As A Bird set, but with the right scissors, it isn't hard to cut out the images.  Paper Snips are the best for what we call "fussy cutting" because they are small, which makes them easily maneuvered, and sharp to the tip of the blade.  A blade that's sharp to the tip means small snips and tight turns are a piece of cake!  You don't have to use the entire blade to cut, which makes cuts more precise.

Cutting Tip: move the paper, not your scissors.  Paper Snips are extremely sharp so moving the paper will give you a nice smooth outline that hugs the image.

Vellum always adds a subtle touch when you need "something" but not a lot of it (or you don't know what that "something" is 😂).  The greeting was stamped in Basic Gray ink on Gray Granite cardstock.  Gray Granite is not an "official" color in the Bird Ballad DSP, but that's ok!  Stampin' Up! is the best when it comes to color coordination but there are no stamping police that say you have to stick to the program.

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 this Friday!

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!

CASEing the Sale-A-Bration Catalog

When you want to stamp but you don't know where to start (or you don't feel like thinking up something), just open your Stampin' Up! catalog!  They do a fabulous job filling it with beautiful samples, all for our inspiration.  

On page 14 of the 2020 Sale-A-Bration catalog, in the top left corner, is a gorgeous card and it's meant to feature the Stone 3D Embossing Folder.  However, I don't have that folder so I did a simple little trick that still adds texture.  Read on for the details!

I started with a Calypso Coral card base, cut to 5-1/2"x8-1/2", scored and folded in half at 4-1/4".  Next, I cut a 5-1/4"x4" piece of Calypso Coral cardstock and used a Stampin' Spritzer to mist it with water.  The water makes the cardstock soft for what I did next - I crumpled it into a ball!  Don't be gentle, either - squeeze it tight, unfold it, then crumple it again.  This is one time you WANT all those folds and wrinkles!

Use a Heat Tool to dry it, or you can set it aside to dry naturally.  Next, use a Stampin' Sponge to lightly dab Versamark ink in random spots on the wrinkled cardstock.  Sprinkle on Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, then melt with a Heat Tool.  Stunning!  And yet another technique where imperfection adds to its beauty (see another one here).  The best adhesives for attaching a piece like this are either Mini Glue Dots or Stampin' Dimensionals.

Now add a 5-1/2"x1" Petal Pink cardstock strip.  Tie Petal Pink Metallic Edge Ribbon around the card in a bow.  Go big with that bow!  This ribbon is gorgeous and we want it to get noticed.  Die-cut a label from Stitched So Sweetly dies in Petal Pink cardstock and stamp the sentiment from Free As A Bird in Early Espresso ink.  Attach to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Add three Pearls underneath the sentiment.  Last, use Paper Snips to cut an image from a piece of Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper and glue with Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Click the image for the tutorial to pin, save, or print.

Stamping is supposed to be FUN, so if coming up with original designs is stressful for you, DON'T!  Just pull out your Stampin' Up! catalogs and find something to recreate.  You can copy the sample exactly, or change a couple things based on what you have in your stamping area.  

***Tip: if you see a sample in the catalog that you need more help deciphering what the concept artist did, email me your question.  I LOVE stamping and would be thrilled to help you have an enjoyable journey!***

Remember, any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) receives the project kits for today's Live!  Use Host Code AHKD9ZWS and be sure to 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.
• High-quality stamping products make your crafting experience better so don't cheat yourself!  Shop my store for your crafting supplies!
• 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!
• 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!