I'm Bringing Birthdays Back!

I have been really bad about sending birthday cards. REALLY bad! So bad that I need a stamp that says "Happy HALF Birthday"! But I'm making an effort to get back to this simple gesture because I know how special it makes someone feel to receive a card or letter that celebrates them. It's magic!

Shannon West from the Stampin' Up! Training department thinks that Facebook is ruining birthday cards! I think she's right! We settle for sending a quick message or text and we've gotten away from sending real cards. I'm joining Shannon in the official #imbringingbirthdaysback movement by committing to sending hand-crafted birthday cards to my friends and family this year. Will you join us in bringing birthdays back?

Stampin' Up! has all kinds of card-making supplies -- from all inclusive card-making kits like the Watercolor Wishes kit (below) to the stamps, ink, and cardstock you need to make cards from scratch.

I was excited to share some birthday card ideas with my ciLiving friends Thursday afternoon. Watch the video of my Creative Corner segment here.

My favorite new tool for birthday card-making is the Party Pop-Up dies from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogs. These dies make it so easy to create an extra special card with a pop-up feature in the middle.

See more birthday card ideas on my blog.

Watch my video for some tips and more card ideas using these fun new dies:
Tips:

• Pre-score your cardstock to line up the die before die-cutting. I used paper for the inside pop-up that was 7-3/4" x 4-3/4".
• Use the Precision Base Plate to get a smooth clean cut each time!
• The Big Shot Die Brush will make removing the little pieces from the die a cinch!
• Save the little pieces to use on your card -- or in a shaker!
• Try cutting apart the pop up element to use as the focal point on your card.

Shop for these Stampin' Up! products & more in my Online Store:

Big Shot [113439]	Party Pop-Up Thinlits Dies [140620]	Precision Base Plate [139684]	Big Shot Die Brush [140603]
#IMBRINGINGBIRTHDAYSBACK Single Wood-Mount Stamp [143573]	Party With Cake Clear-Mount Bundle [140814]	Party With Cake Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140672]	Watercolor Wishes Card Kit [140406]

 

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!  

Where do stamps go when they retire? Hopefully, your house!
Retiring List -- up to 50% Off

Clearance Rack

 

Use Hostess Code CCG7BCDF to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Free kits are mailed at the end of the month. Limit one per person. Learn More  

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me, your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!

3 Alternative Project Ideas for April 2016 Paper Pumpkin Lovely Little Wreath Kit

Do you like surprises? Paper Pumpkin is a monthly project kit subscription and each month's kit is a surprise. Whether you love the original project idea or not, there are endless possibilities for the supplies that come in the box. The April 2016 kit included supplies to make a cute little spring wreath. I love it! I'm making it up to give to one of the teachers at school.

I also love a good creative challenge, so I used some of the extra supplies to create some bonus project ideas. This first one is pretty straight forward. I just added some coordinating cardstock and Baker's Twine. I did two rows of the leaves and then added the tissue paper flowers folded into quarters. I used Mossy Meadow ink to stamp the greeting and colored the flowers with a Crushed Curry marker.

 

I love the way this Tiny Treat Box turned out! The Tiny Treat Boxes are retiring, so snatch some up ON SALE 50% off before they're gone! I wrapped a strip of leaves around the bottom of the box. It almost fits, but there is a little gap, so make sure to start and end in the back. The greeting on the tag is from the March 2016 Paper Pumpkin kit. I also added a Classy Designer Button to the center of the tissue paper flower.

 

I wanted the make a card that was more masculine, so I adhered the leaf strips across a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. I used one of the black tags from the kit and cut a banner tip on one end. I used the ink from the kit and a stamp from...oops! Looks like I used an already retired stamp set. Something to Say or Petite Pairs would be good alternatives.

The wisps behind the banner greeting are pieces that I pulled apart from the ribbon in the kit.

If you liked these bonus ideas, you'll love the out-of-the-box ideas I share with my Paper Pumpkin Subscribers. Subscribe with me and receive 10-12 exclusive project sheets to inspire your Paper Pumpkin crafting! Subscribe Now.

Check out this video from Paper Pumpkin to see how they created the original project.


We got a sneak peek of the May kit at On Stage. Wanna see? Subscribe by May 10 to receive the Many Manly Occasions Card Kit! Subscribe Now.

Did you know...Subscribers can purchase refills and past kits! Check it out in my Online Store!

Lovely Little Wreath Refill Kit [139197]

Tiny Treat Boxes [135829] ON SALE

Crushed Curry Baker's Twine [134586]

Classy Designer Buttons [138393]

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!

Where do stamps go when they retire? Hopefully, your house!
Retiring List -- up to 50% Off

Clearance Rack

 

Use Hostess Code CCG7BCDF to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Free kits are mailed at the end of the month. Limit one per person. Learn More  

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me, your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!

Last Chance Favorites: World of Dreams

While I am excited about picking out new stamps to add to my collection when the new Annual Catalog is released, I am sad to see some of my favorites be discontinued. Don't miss out on these awesome stamp sets before they're gone! Here are some samples with the World of Dreams stamp set. Click each images to see the original blog post with project details.

Get these retiring products before they're gone! SHOP NOW

World Of Dreams Clear-Mount Stamp Set [134186]	Petite Pairs Clear Stamp Set [122497]	Perpetual Birthday Calendar Photopolymer Stamp Set [137167]	2014-2016 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [133654] ON SALE
Ovals Collection Framelits Die [129381]	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack [133787]	Venetian Crochet Trim [134581] ON SALE	Very Vintage Designer Buttons [129327] ON SALE

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!

Where do stamps go when they retire? Hopefully, your house!
Retiring List -- up to 50% Off

Clearance Rack

 

Use Hostess Code CCG7BCDF to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Free kits are mailed at the end of the month. Limit one per person. Learn More  

*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me, your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!

Bear Hugs: Lake Full of Fish Card

What a busy week! I came back from On Stage to a full week of events, including Stamp Club and a big card class that I hosted with a few of my demonstrator friends over in the Springfield area. We each designed and prepared 3 cards for 40 stampers. The class went great! But it was a lot of work and I'm happy to return to a less hectic schedule this week.

Here's one of the three cards that I designed for the class. The layout is almost identical to the "girl version" I posted last month. This card would be perfect for so many occasions: Father's Day, Retirement, or Birthday!

I stamped the bear in Basic Black ink on Soft Suede cardstock and then used a sponge dauber to add some shading with the Chocolate Chip ink pad. For the fish, I watercolored with Old Olive ink (I should have added more color!) and then added some touches of Gold Wink of Stella to mimic iridescent fish scales. I love that Curvy Corners Trio Punch! Make sure to get it before it retires!

Stampin' Up! Supplies: Bear Hugs stamp set, Basic Black ink pad, Chocolate Chip ink pad, Marina Mist cardstock, Old Olive ink & cardstock, Sahara Sand cardstock, Crushed Curry cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, Zig Zag Embossing Folder, Bear Hugs Framelits, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Sponge Daubers, Aqua Painters, Gold Wink of Stella

Bear Hugs Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139546]	Bear Hugs Framelits Dies [140275]	Bear Hugs Clear-Mount Bundle [140823]	Curvy Corner Trio Punch [139683]	Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141898]
Zig Zag Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133738]	2-1/2" Circle Punch [120906]	Aqua Painters [103954]	Sponge Daubers [133773]

Click HERE to  Order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime!

Where do stamps go when they retire? Hopefully, your house!
Retiring List -- up to 50% Off

NEW! Clearance Rack

Use Hostess Code CCG7BCDF to get a FREE Make and Take Kit and FREE GIFT when you order $40 or more. Free kits are mailed at the end of the month. Limit one per person. Learn More  

 
*IMPORTANT* Make sure to "opt-in" to contact with me, your demonstrator, so that I know who/where to send your free kit!