2 New November Creativity Kits - Snowflake Splendor & Perfectly Plaid

I've got 2 Creativity Kits for you this month and both are Christmas-themed!  Each Creativity Kit is $35 but if you order BOTH kits, you'll save $5!  The deadline to register is Tuesday, November 10.  Email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com to register.  

Snowflake Splendor Creativity Kit includes:

• 4 card project kits - all pieces are cut and embossed for you (other than what you'll use your Snowflake Wishes dies for)
• $20 of Stampin' Up! product
• Bonus ideas to continue using your kit pieces
• PDF of written tutorials
• link to recorded class videos creating the kit projects at a relaxed, slower pace - I want you to feel like we're stamping together!
• Earn 1 Joyful Stamper Reward Point for every 3 months you order Creativity Kits
• Kit shipping is included in the price
• The option to add on the Snowflake Wishes Bundle for just the catalog price.  I pay shipping and tax!

To complete the kit, you will need a die-cutting machine to use with the dies.  

Inks used are Balmy Blue, Night Of Navy, Highland Heather, Pool Party, and Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  

Adhesives used are Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Glue Dots, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

You can use the inks and adhesives you have (they are not included in the kit) or order them here.

 

Perfectly Plaid Creativity Kit includes:

• 4 card project kits - all pieces are cut and embossed for you (other than what you'll use your Pine Tree Punch for)
• $20+ of Stampin' Up! product
• Bonus ideas to continue using your kit pieces
• PDF of written tutorials
• link to recorded class videos creating the kit projects at a relaxed, slower pace - I want you to feel like we're stamping together!
• Earn 1 Joyful Stamper Reward Point for every 3 months you order Creativity Kits
• Kit shipping is included in the price
• The option to add on the Perfectly Plaid stamp set and Pine Tree Punch for just the catalog price.  I pay shipping and tax!

Inks used in the  projects are: Shaded Spruce, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, and Soft Suede

Adhesives used in the  projects are: Mini Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Seal, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

You can use the inks and adhesives you have (they are not included in the kit) or order them here.

How to Get a Joyful Stamper Creativity Kit

Email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com by November 10 for this month's kits.  Kits are $35 each.  If you'd like to add on the stamp set or Bundle, please include that in your email.  A PayPal payment request will be sent to your email and must be paid within 24 hours.  You do not need a PayPal account to pay - credit and debit cards can be used to pay the invoice.

👉The kits will ship by November 24.  If a product backorder delays the shipping of the kits, I will clearly and immediately communicate that to you.  Similar substitutions may need to be made if products become unorderable.👈

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!

Learn To Make Easy Treat Holders!

 Every Thursday at 11 AM ET I go live on The Joyful Stamper Facebook Page.  Everyone is invited for some stamping fun!  After the Live class, I'll post the replay below.  Did you know I offer the class kits free?  Just place a $35 order (before shipping and tax) by midnight Sunday October 18 and use the Host Code 4JHNU9ZJ.  You can create right along with me!  This week's projects feature easy-to-make treat holders.  

Click the photo for a full supplies list.

My local store overbought Reese's Cups and had them for a great price, so I scooped some up to pass out to trick-or-treaters.  Then I saw a fun holder Erica Cerwin of Pink Buckaroo Designs made and it was perfect for all the Reese's Cups I had!  Of course, I had to grunge it up a bit - it's Halloween!  I used the absolutely amazing Hallows Night Magic Bundle and Magic In This Night Designer Series Paper (it's on sale this month!)

Click the photo for a full supplies list.

Next up is this lollipop holder.  I like to include something fun in my Cards To Go and Creativity Kits, just to surprise and delight and say thank you.  It's fun coming up with a cute design each month!  I used both label dies from the Hallows Night Magic Bundle to cut Cherry Cobbler cardstock and 'Tis The Season 6"x6" Designer Series Paper (this, too, is on sale, and you get 48 sheets!).  The Pine Tree Punch with that paper is fabulous!  This design could easily be turned into a Christmas card!

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

👇👇👇👇👇

Place a $35 minimum order in my store by midnight Sunday October 18 and I'll send you the packets to make my Facebook Live projects.  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.  
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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 + Video + Written Tutorial

Happy Fourth of July to my American stamper friends!  The Revolutionary War period and the people who founded our country have been the historical subjects I've read the most about.  It absolutely fascinates me. I wish I could time travel back to that era (for a short while - I do enjoy our modern medical treatments)!

As usual, the weekly sketch comes from Splitcoaststampers.  Now you know me - I love a card with layers.  I mean, Stampin' Up! has SO many pretty papers that I I look for every opportunity to use as much as I can!  And this sketch is perfect for that.  Let's dive in and see what I did!

You may think that the patterned paper came colored, but no!  That is a piece of Ornate Garden Designer Series Paper that was white with gold foiled flowers.  I colored the flowers in with a Dark Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blend and the leaves with a Dark Shaded Spruce Stampin' Blend!  Isn't it STUNNING?  And if you're worried about coloring on the gold foil - don't!  Tip: Just use your Color Lifter to go over those spots and the color will come right off.  

And then to lay a Square Vellum Doily over it - someone pick me up off the floor!

After I'd finished coloring and die-cutting and gluing and stamping, I took a step back and thought, "Hmmm....it looks a little bare above the doily....let's tuck a few stamped and punch pine trees there."  And I LOVED it!  I actually congratulated myself out loud - so shameless.  

Another thing I stumbled upon that looks fantastic - Just Jade and Merry Merlot for Christmas colors.  Yes!

Pin to your color board or save to your device

Save or print the written tutorial - just click the image below

Watch the video to see how to make this card

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!

Being a Busy Little Stamper Part 1

Hello, friends!  What a weekend the Steele family had!  It started off with some fantastic pizza Friday night and what made it extra-special is that ALL 5 OF US were present.  With Emma off at college, it's rare now for us all to eat dinner together.  Our stomachs hurt from laughing so hard at the stories we told and it was beautiful. 

Saturday night Brian and I went out with some college friends.  Even though we all live near each other, we hadn't hung out in over a year.  It was another night of hearty laughs (my abs are getting a great workout) but I noticed I was pooping out around 8:30!  I am a morning person (between 4 and 5 AM is my natural alarm clock), so that should not have surprised me, but I felt incredibly rude yawning every 2 minutes.  A spirited game of Taboo kept me going until 11 PM, though.  The beauty of being in the company of long-time friends is that they know, accept, and love you. 

To top off the weekend, I stamped a LOT!  Take a look at the first three projects:

It was Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers.  It is SUCH a fun event to kick-start your mojo and you end up with a huge pile of cards when it's over.  I stamped with no agenda for this event, so yes, my cards use retired Stampin' Up! product.  Why not?  It's still fun, it's still pretty, and I bet some of you still have these products and love them, too!  

In the above card, I used a mini ornament punch that co-ordinated with the Merry Minis stamp set to punch out a pile of ornaments in various colors.  I arranged them into a Christmas tree and added a sentiment in Real Red from Snowman Season.  A little sponging around the edges with Soft Suede ink and a Stampin' Sponge added a vintage flair.  The ornaments are brushed with Clear Wink of Stella.  Cardstock colors: Crumb Cake, Pineapple Punch, Blueberry Bushel, Mango Melody, Real Red, and Call Me Clover.

Aaahhh, this card.....this card makes my soul sing!  The mix of patterns from the Wrapped In Plaid paper stack, the 3 strands of linen thread tied in a bow, and the Ice Stampin' Glitter that frosts the Perfectly Plaid trees are lovely to me.  See the stitched scalloped rectangle?  That die is from a new set called Sweetly Stitched dies in the upcoming Mini Catalog.  It really is so sweet!  (Speaking of the catalog, I cannot WAIT for you to see the inside!!!  I'll be doing a catalog walk-through January 3 when it goes live.)

  
Then we have the classic cardinal from Toile Tidings.  He's stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Real Red cardstock.  To get the Real Red cardstock in the background soft and sueded, I ran a bone folder repeatedly over a piece of it until it was very soft.  Then I peeled it into two layers.  Try it!  You'll love the look.  The branch is colored with Stampin' Blends alcohol markers.  I added Toile Tidings glitter enamel dots for some sparkle and color.

I have 3 more projects to show you from my Virtual Stamp Night marathon later this week.  I promise you'll love them so be sure to stop back.  Even better, put your email into the subscribe box and you'll get my posts right in your inbox.

Mark your calendar for January 3 - that's when the Mini and Sale-A-Bration catalogs go live and I'll be doing a live walk-through!  Follow me on Facebook here.  Do you have a copy to follow along in?  If not and you aren't already working with a demonstrator you love, request a catalog.  You can also email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com to request a catalog package.  You'll love the happy mail!

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator and giving me the opportunity to earn your business!  My goal is to give you your best stamping experience!

Using Up the Bits and Pieces to Make Christmas Tags

There has been a massive amount of Christmas stamping in Nicole's Stamping Cottage!  It's all I've been making for weeks.  And I love it!  Christmas cards to mail out, gift card packaging for Santa to tuck into stockings, card boxes to gift card sets....paper scraps and bits and baubles cover my desk and floor.

I gathered up those scraps and bits and baubles, piled them on my desk in front of me, and said, "Nicole, you are not leaving until you use every last item!"  I sounded so stern that I was afraid to disobey.  So I made a stack of tags!

You'll notice all the punched pine trees.  My Wrapped In Plaid paper is down to nothing, so I used the Pine Tree Punch to quickly make a stack in various patterns.  Then I used the Wrapped In Plaid scraps in whatever size I had to create the tag bases (that's why they are different sizes and shapes).

Another thing I did was to pull out some older Stampin' Up! Sweater Trim (it's been years since we've carried it) because the spools were left with just a few inches and I wanted to them up, too.  An excellent match to the Sweater Trim is the Real Red Curly Ribbon Trim.

I had a couple punched pine trees from the Let It Snow paper pack so I added them to a Pool Party cardstock tag.  The snowflakes were stamped in Pool Party ink and are from the adorable Let It Snow stamp set.  The itty bitty greeting is from - well - Itty Bitty Greetings!  

This is one project you do not want to overthink.  Let's get real - it's a tag.  All they are is eye candy for gifts.  Which is why tags are PERFECT for the project leftovers on your desk.  Go crazy with them!  Besides, they are so cute and fun to make!  What can you make from what's on your desk right now?

The January - June 2020 Mini and 2020 Sale-A-Bration catalogs are being sent now to my current customers!

 If you'd like a catalog package at no charge and you aren't already working with a demonstrator you love, fill out the request form or email me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  Merry Christmas!

  

5 Days of Christmas | Gift Card Holders | Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of my series on gift card holders!  Did you miss any?  See them here:

• Day 1

It doesn't get any easier than this!  I used a Stampin' Up! mini shipping box to create this gift card holder.  The boxes come in packs of 8 and are scored and ready to assemble.  Just fold!  The finished dimensions are 4" x 3" x 2-5/8", so you could add some special chocolates along with a gift card, or fill it with crumpled strips of cardstock to act as a nest for the gift card.

Supplies used for this holder:

• Perfectly Plaid stamp set
• Pine Tree Punch 
• Wrapped In Plaid Designer Series Paper (DSP)
• Shaded Spruce/Gold Striped Ribbon
• Shaded Spruce ink and cardstock
• Cherry Cobbler ink
• Whisper White cardstock
• Stitched Nested Labels dies
• Basics Holiday Rhinestones Jewels
• Stampin' Up! Mini Shipping Boxes

A favorite trick of mine is to curl ribbon ends with a Bone Folder.  I tie the bow, leaving long tails, then take my bone folder and run it several times along each tail.  It adds a touch of playfulness and fullness!

I left the back of the box plain, except for some Wrapped In Plaid DSP.  

The only measurements you need for this holder are the ones for the Wrapped In Plaid DSP that covers the box sides:

• 3-1/2" x 2-1/4" (2 pieces)
• 2-1/2" x 2-1/4" (2 pieces)

Bonus: The 6"x6" Wrapped In Plaid paper stack is perfect for cutting these!  1 sheet is all you need per box.  You'll be left with a 1-1/2" x 6" strip that you can shred for filler in the box; cut into skinny strips, curl, and add to box top; or use as a mat for a sentiment on the box front.

Check out two other ways I used the Stampin' Up! Mini Shipping Boxes:

Original Post Here

This was part of my Daisy Lane Class To Go last summer.

Don't forget about this big Stampin' Up! sale that starts today PLUS another special from me!

  
Click here for the full sale list.

Click here to shop Retiring items.  These are available while supplies last.

Click here to shop Discounted items.  These are available while supplies last.

Click here for Holiday Catalog items that are carrying over.  Starred items will be available again in the 2020 Holiday Catalog.  Unstarred items will be in the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog in June.

• Orders must be placed with Nicole Steele at my online store between Tuesday, December 3 and Sunday, December 15.
• Free shipping applies to orders of $70 or more (before shipping and tax)
• Shipping will be refunded by a check mailed to you from me, Nicole Steele.  Checks will be mailed by December 15.
• Orders must use the Host Code B422JZJ2 if between $70 - $149.  
• Orders $150 or greater do not need to use the host code - I want you to receive your Stampin' Rewards and you will still get free shipping from me, Nicole Steele.
• Questions?  Ask me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com.

Herringbone Technique With Wrapped In Plaid Suite

If you live in the US, how was your Thanksgiving holiday, friend?  I cooked the entire feast (with the exception of dessert) and it wasn't that bad!  Allrecipes magazine had a day-by-day planner in an issue from last year and it was fantastic - easy to follow, simple but delicious recipes, and everything cooked at the same oven temperature.  No hiccups whatsoever!  The best part was that I WON our turkey this year.  The small, all-volunteer fire department the next town over holds its famous Turkey Bingo every November and I won a game on the first night!  Woo-hoo!  After enjoying it roasted with a honey butter glaze, that turkey's carcass is right now in my crockpot on low heat making stock for winter soups.  I also made a ginger-pear cranberry sauce that was delicious.  Allrecipes magazine is a winner in my book - we've never had a disappointing recipe.

Let's jump from turkey leftovers to PAPER leftovers!

The herringbone technique is an oldie but goodie.  It's a classic that sticks around because it makes such beautiful use of the smallest pieces of paper.  It's the equivalent of a quilt making excellent use of leftover fabric (or at least I imagine it to be; I've never been a quilter).  There's a photo tutorial for the herringbone technique below.   

I used Wrapped In Plaid Designer Series Paper on both these cards.  Once the strips were glued to a Whisper White cardstock panel, I wrapped Shaded Spruce/Gold Striped Ribbon around it like you would a present and tied it in a bow.  Then, I matted that panel to a Shaded Spruce (top card) or Cherry Cobbler (bottom card) cardstock panel.  The card bases are 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Thick Whisper White folded in half.

The tree tags were made with the Pine Tree Punch and Cherry Cobbler (top card) and Shaded Spruce (bottom card) cardstock.  The sentiments were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool.  Sentiments are from Perfectly Plaid ("Ho Ho Ho") and Snowman Season ("To/From"). Solid Whisper White Baker's Twine was used to tie the trees around the bow.

Tip: To stamp "Ho Ho Ho" vertically, ink just the first part of the sentiment as shown in the photo above.  Stamp once, ink the same way again, and stamp a second time just below the sentiment.  Repeat the process to stamp the sentiment a third time.

Herringbone Technique Photo Tutorial

Apply adhesive to a 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" Whisper White cardstock panel.

Diagonally lay a DSP strip.  Your strips can be any width you like.

Lay down a second DSP strip that is perpendicular to the first strip.

Lay down a third DSP strip that is parallel to the first strip and perpendicular to the second strip (see where the arrow is pointing in the photo).

Lay down a fourth DSP strip that is parallel to the second strip and perpendicular to the third strip (see where the arrow is pointing in the photo).

Repeat that process until that section is finished.  The same steps are used to complete the other sections of the Whisper White cardstock panel.

5 Days of Christmas Begins Monday December 1

If you like these photo tutorials, then connect with The Joyful Stamper in any of these ways:

• 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).  
• Shop the Clearance Rack for fantastic deals.
• Request a catalog, if you are not already working with a demonstrator you love.
• 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.

  

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

Easy Way To Get Snowy Trees With Embossing Powder

I can't throw out my paper scraps - argh!!!  More often, I hear paper crafters say they can't cut into their paper (they "hoard" it).  Well, there are no issues with that in Nicole's Stamping Cottage because I'm usually too excited to use it.  But I save every little piece!  Do you do this...stare at the piece in your hand... think, "Hmmm....I should toss this....it's no bigger than my fingernail....wait, I have a star punch I might want to use with this someday...." and back into the scrap bag it goes.  

Solution: this sketch from Splitcoaststampers that beautifully uses those designer series paper scraps!  Grab a handful, trim them down to 1/2" wide or so, and stick them on your card front at interesting angles.

Can you see how I did that on my card?  The paper is Wrapped In Plaid Designer Series Paper - and no way can I throw out any of that warm and cozy plaid!

Look at the "snow" on my trees!  No, it's not Snowfall Accents Puff Paint (go to this post to see what happens when you add that directly on a stamped image).  I dipped a Stampin' Sponge in a Versamark ink pad, then lightly tapped it around my stamped tree image.  I sprinkled on White Stampin' Emboss Powder then melted it with a Heat Tool.  Isn't that a great effect?  And if you overdo the Versamark, just take a paintbrush and brush off some of the embossing powder.

Ready to make this?  Yes you are!  I made a printable pdf just for you!  

Don't forget to shop the Online Extravaganza sale in my online store, now through this Friday the 22nd only!  Get discounts on select ink pads, cardstock, and bundles.  Click here to see what's on sale.