Special Guest Stamper On The Happy Half Hour Today!

I have a super special Stamping Guest on my Happy Half Hour today!  She's an adorably creative free spirit that you are all going to love.  We're stamping in tandem to create two cards that will make you RUN to your stamp desk!  And if you're new to stamping, you'll LOVE that you can make something so pretty! 

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.

Click the image to watch the replay.

You can find the project sheet with measurements and 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)!

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!

Easy Foil Paper Technique You Have To Try Now!

This technique went over HUGE with the team at the last meeting.  Everyone wanted to know how it was done and when I told them, they were floored at how easy it was!  Their reactions told me I had to share it with you, friends.

Here it is, the Sanded Foil Technique:

• Place a piece of foil in your favorite embossing folder and run it through a die-cut and embossing machine.
• Place the foil on your desk/table.
• Use fine grit sandpaper or a nail filing block (I found mine at the dollar store) to gently rub it across the foil paper.
• The raised parts of the foil from the embossing will make contact with the sandpaper/filing block and the color will be removed.

That simple removal of color creates this gorgeous metallic variegated effect.  And it takes just seconds with a $1 item!  The above card uses Noble Peacock foil, Noble Peacock Rhinestones, the Timeless Tropical Bundle, Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper, and Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder.  I also used Soft Sea Foam and Lovely Lipstick cardstock.

This card uses Black Foil with the Painted Poppies bundle and Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper.

The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Greetings.  Use a Chalk Marker to add small dots to the poppy centers - it makes them stand out from the background.

In my Tuesday Happy Half Hour Facebook Live class, I demonstrated this technique.  It's the first card in the video and I jump into at 1:00.  Click the picture to watch that video.

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.

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!

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. 

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!

Happy Half Hour Live Stamping Class

Isn't that card stunning?  I saw Susan Levasseur, a fellow demonstrator, make it using our masks (stencils) and I HAD to do it, too!  I changed the layout a bit, but otherwise didn't mess with her creative genius.

Our stencils are a BARGAIN - 4 to a pack for $6!  We carry two packs:

Project Sheet with measurements and a full supply list available here.

Watch the replay to see how to use our masks - just click the image below.

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!  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!

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!

Timeless Tropical for Splitcoaststampers Card Sketch 790 + Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

It's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks....me being the old dog.  I spent yesterday hanging out with my 7 year old niece, who is a whiz at jumping rope.  She's in a traveling club at her school.  I learned all kinds of jump rope moves and routines - combinations of heel and toe moves; front, back, and side kicks; in and out - and I learned this at almost 45 years of age!  In my front yard!  In front of my neighbors!  It was so fun, I took my niece to a PJ Dance Party at my local library that night and threw myself into jumping, skipping, shaking, wiggling, and spying for animals in the jungle.  It was exhilarating!

Have you been considering trying something new?  How about stamping? 

• Pick a sketch 
• Pick a pack of Designer Series Paper
• Choose three colors of cardstock that coordinate from the Designer Series Paper 
• Pick a stamp set and one color of ink

Let's break down how I followed the steps above.  

• Pick a sketch: Splitcoaststampers weekly card sketch 790 used here
• Pick a pack of Designer Series Paper: I used Tropical Oasis (LOVE the wild bursts of color)!
• Choose 3 colors of cardstock that coordinate with the DSP: Lovely Lipstick, Old Olive, and Daffodil Delight work!
• Pick a stamp set and one color of ink: the Timeless Tropical set and an Early Espresso ink pad 

Many stampers' first technique was heat embossing.  I used it on this card.  Stamp your image in Versamark ink, sprinkle embossing powder on the stamped image, and tap off the excess.  The powder will stick to the Versamark ink and you then use a Heat Tool to melt the powder.  Just plug it in, turn it on, and point the heat at the image.  Then watch the magic happen!  The powder melts and turns shiny!

Download, pin, or print the step-by-step tutorial to make this card.

Did you catch this week's Happy (half) Hour Stamping Class?  

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

Click here to watch the video.

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 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!

A Giant Pineapple!

It's amazing what a walk on a sunny day can do to lift one's spirits.  I got up yesterday and was fine really but the need to MOVE was strong!  So I leashed up Lily and off we went, making a pit stop at my parents' home (just over a mile from us).  I talked to my dad and grandmother for a long while.  By the time Lily and I returned home, my mind was energized and I felt like the world was my oyster and anything was possible!  My eyelashes would suddenly be longer, thicker, and darker!  My house would have dusted itself!  Consuming chocolate everyday would turn out to be great for my waistline!

The walk was a good one.  

And so is this card!  But I can't take credit for the original idea.  I found it on page 11 of the Sale-A-Bration brochure, in the bottom right corner.

If you think every project you make has to be 100% your own idea, stop with that thought!  Stampin' Up! packs its catalogs with beautiful samples for all skill levels and styles of stampers.  It's okay - and encouraged - to make something exactly like you see it!  I changed just two things on this card - the sentiment and the color of the flower - and that was only because I needed a "hello" card and I had a Grapefruit Grove ink pad sitting on my desk.  Let's focus on the details and at the end you'll find a tutorial to download for your personal use.

The background is the stunning Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder.  Tip: to get a deeper impression, lightly spritz your cardstock with water before running it through a die-cutting machine.  

After it was embossed, I used a Stampin' Sponge to lightly rub Soft Suede ink across it.  The raised parts of the embossed pattern pick up the ink from the sponge while the more recessed areas do not get inked.  It's such a FUN look!

The pineapple top and bottom and flower dies are found in the In The Tropics dies set.  Before die-cutting the flower, I stamped the image from Timeless Tropical in Grapefruit Grove ink.  Tip: use a bone folder to gently curl the pineapple top's leaves to give it more interest.  

I added a striped sequin from the Metallic Baker's Twine & Sequins Combo Pack, a free Sale-A-Bration item.

"Hello" was stamped on So Saffron cardstock in Pear Pizzazz ink, then trimmed with Paper Snips.

Click to download your free tutorial for this Hello, Pineapple! card.

Remember, any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) receives the project kits to make both cards demo'd during Tuesday's Live!  Use Host Code 349VN7VY and be sure to place your order by Midnight ET this Friday!

You can find the project sheet here.

Happy New Year From The Tropics!

Well, not really.  I'm not in the tropics.  Brian wishes he was in the tropics.  I wish there was a foot of snow on the ground.  But it has felt like spring the last week here in Pittsburgh, PA and it's the end of December so that's pretty tropical in my book.  

My point is Happy New Year!

Did you stay in?  Go out?  Years and years ago, Brian and I went to Times Square to watch the ball drop.  The crowd was sectioned off in "holding pens" for safety and once you were in, you were in until midnight.  We got there around 6pm and quickly realized the smart, experienced celebrants wore adult diapers - no joke!  The confetti that rained down at midnight was spectacular.  That feeling of finally being a part of something huge you've only witnessed on TV for years was incredible.

The Tropical Oasis suite took my breath away when I first saw it in the 2020 Mini Catalog (request a catalog package here).  The MANY bright colors caught my eye first, quickly followed by the stamp and die images.  I actually felt my heart beat a bit faster as I pored over the suite pages.  Let's check out all the details on this card!  

Yes, these flowers in the stamp set have a die, so if you don't like fussy cutting, yay!  I frayed the ends of the Braided Burlap Trim so that it would stand out more.  To do this, gently pull the sides of the trim with your right and left hands until it's separated to your liking.  I used Mini Glue Dots to stick the trim down on my card. 

Can you see the subtle woven background?  I tapped a Soft Suede ink pad on the raised pattern side of the Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder, then laid a piece of So Saffron cardstock on it.  Lightly pressing the paper with my fingers transferred the pattern.  I love how some spots didn't transfer as strongly as others - that variation is wonderful!  

I used the Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder in the more traditional way here.

In addition to dies for the flowers in the Timeless Tropical stamp set, there are dies to cut palm tree fronds.  I cut a bunch in Pear Pizzazz and used Stampin' Dimensionals to tuck them behind the flowers.

To color the flowers, use Sponge Daubers.  Slip one on your finger, tap it on the ink pad of your choice, then apply the color in a circular motion, using a light touch.  You can layer color using this method, going darker with each application, or use multiple colors.  

I went too dark with the flower centers, so I added Gold Faceted Gems to hide it a bit.

It tickled me to no end to find the "thank you" sentiment in Timeless Tropical fit inside this leaf die!  I stamped the leaf in Pear Pizzazz ink on Pear Pizzazz cardstock, then die-cut it with the coordinating In The Tropics dies.  

And do you see that paper?  *sigh*  Tropical Oasis it's called.  It's lovely, and it's available January 3, which is THIS Friday!

Speaking of January 3.......

You're invited to my Catalog Launch Party!

I'm so excited about the January - June 2020 Mini Catalog that I'm devoting an entire day to showing off the stunning projects you can make with its new products!  January 3 is the day it goes live, along with the 2020 Sale-A-Bration catalog.  Follow my Facebook page and set your notifications to alert you when I go live so you don't miss it!

What is Sale-A-Bration? It's a special brochure with tons of fun product that you can earn for free.  Level 1 items are earned with every $50 order and Level 2 items are earned for every $100 order.  There are no limits to what you earn.  

• Order $50-->earn one Level 1 item
• Order $100-->earn two Level 1 items OR one Level 1 item
• Order $150-->earn three Level 1 items OR one Level 1 item plus one Level 2 item PLUS Stampin' Rewards (free product of your choosing)!
• And it just keeps going!

Need your own copy to follow along with during my Catalog Launch Party on January 3?  Request a catalog package here or email me at nicole @thejoyfulstamper.com with your mailing address.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator and giving me the opportunity to earn your business!