Floral Squares...April Monthly Class to Go!!

 The 2021-2022 Annual Catalog is quickly coming to a close. Featured in the April Class to Go is a set that will be retiring May 2. 

The Monthly Class to Go features a stamp or die set and card kits made with them. For $35 this month you will get the Floral Die set plus 4 card kits using these dies. You also receive a PDF tutorial with full color photos of each card.

As an ADD-ON you can purchase the All Squared Away stamp set which coordinates with the Floral Dies for the catalog price of $23 and I will pay the Shipping and the Tax.

What a deal...right??

Here are the cards in this Class to Go.

 This card uses one of the floral dies. The card base is Basic Black, the mat is Basic White and the decorative mat is from the Pattern Party Designer Series Paper pack cut with a Contour die. The DSP behind the floral piece is also from this DSP. The floral piece is cut from Basic Black and the flowers are from the DSP. The bow is Bumblebee Gingham ribbon which is soon retiring. The gems are Pearl Basic Jewels.

This card uses another of the floral dies. The cardbase is Basic White, the DSP is from Heart & Home DSP. The cardstock is Basic Gray for the floral frame and the flowers are Polished Pink cardstock. The card is finished off with Polished Pink ribbon and a Polished Pink gem in the center. 

 This card uses all four of the floral squares and retiring Rainbow Glimmer DSP. The base is Basic White, the mat is Basic Black and the floral squares are cut from Basic White, backed with the Glimmer paper. Pearl Basic Jewels finish off the card.

This last card demonstrates the All Squared Away stamp set that coordinates with the Floral Squares dies. The stamp set has 4 background stamps but I only used 3 here. They are cut at 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" to fit snuggly behind the diecut squares which measure 2" x 2". They are stamped in Garden Green and placed on a Petal Pink card base. The Soft Succulent ribbon backs the sentiment from the All Squared Away stamp set which is stamped in Garden Green  onto Basic White with each end punched with the Lovely Labels pick a punch. The label measures 4 1/4" x 3/4".

This is the card that I demonstrated on the Facebook Live which can be viewed on YouTube here.

July 'Third Thursday' Mystery Card,

 

Here are the dimensions for this fun Mystery Card.

Clue #1

*Colored Cardstock 5 1/2 x 6 1/4, scored on long side at 4  1/4 (Piece A)

*Cordinating colored cardstock 5 1/4 x 8, scored at 4 (Piece B)

*Basic White or Very Vanilla scrap app. 3 x 3/4

*2-3 coordinating diecut images (colored if desired) that can be layered

*Coordinating stamp image

*Sentiment stamp app. 2 1/2 x 1/2

*Adhesives

*Gems, jewels, etc. to embellish

After you've gathered the above supplies, then watch this YouTube video to create this unusual and fun Mystery Card. 

I'd love to see your card so you can post a photo in the comments below or on my Facebook page in the album Mystery Card 7/15.

Have fun!!

CARD KIT COLLECTION

 Don't have many supplies? Don't feel artistic enough? Don't have much time? The new Card Kit Collection just might be for you! 

Go here to see the various card kits currently available. They are available only as long as supply lasts so if you see one you like...order it!! New kits will be added along the way.

These kits as all-inclusive. The stamping kits contain the card base and envelopes, stamp set, ink spot, acrylic block, adhesive and anything else needed to complete the cards to include ribbon or twine, gems, or cut-outs,

There are also non-stamping kits for those who just aren't interested in stamping. They are a little less since they don't contain the stamp set, ink or block.

Here are a couple of samples.

This stamping kit is called Sentimental Rose and is                                                                                     $19

This is a non-stamping kit called Kerchief and                                                                                            is $12

Go take a look!! And if you decide to order one and you don't already have a demonstrator, please use HOST CODE   ZWHB2FY6. Let me know if you have questions!

Bouquet of Hope February Paper Pumpkin Alternatives - from Casual to Artfully Avid!

 This month's Paper Pumpkin offered beautiful cards to reach out to those around us who are struggling. And there are plenty of those, aren't there. In fact, you may well be one of those too. If you are, please comment and I'd love to pray for you and send you a card.

 

Paper Pumpkin is an an inclusive box of goodies that come to you every month - project ready! Most of them are cards but sometimes it will be a 3D project of some kind. These can always be turned into cute cards if you don't need that many 3D projects. 

 

These are the 3 original Paper Pumpkin cards contained in this month's kit. All supplies to complete 9 cards, including cute matching envelopes, are included.

 They're beautiful, aren't they. You may want to make 9 of these cards. But sometimes we want something a little different as well. So we can take the supplies and create alternative cards or projects.

This first alternative card is a very simple card using only the stamps and the ink included in the kit, and 3 of the sequins, also in the kit. Great card for casual stampers!

This card uses a Basic White card base, the flower stamp and the Mossy Meadow inkspot. You simply stamp all the way around the outer edge of the card base. Then using a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 piece of white cardstock and the smaller flower image, the tiny leaf and a sentiment, you stamp the center part. Mount that on a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 piece of colored cardstock, adhere that to the center of your stamped base with dimenionals and finish it off with 3 of the sequins. Now you have a really nice card to bless someone with.

I stepped up this next card just a little bit by adding a piece of designer series paper in one corner (mine is cut with a Stitched So Sweetly die) and stamping your flower bundle in the opposite corner. The card base I used is Flirty Flamingo. The greeting is stamped on white cardstock and bannered on one end. 3 sequins finish off this card.

The next two cards are similar in that I again added a piece of designer series paper, one cut again with a Stitched So Sweetly dies, the other cut with an Ornate Layer die. On the first one I stamped the image with a different stamp set - To A Wild Rose - because I wanted a larger image. I also used the die cut greeting that is included in the kit and added the sequins to finish if off.

 On the second card, in addition to the designer series paper and the sentiment, I added one of the flower diecuts in the kit to the upper right corner and finished the card off with Old Olive ribbon.

The next two cards are for the more avid stamper. This one is stepped up just a bit more in that I added some greenery that I cut using the Wrapped Flowers dies in Mossy Meadow caredstock.

 

I used Bumblebee card base and a slightly smaller piece of designer series paper. The white sentiment piece is cut with the Stitched Rectangles and stamped with a sentiment from Tasteful Touches.  The greeting is stamped in Just Jade. Again I used one of the larger diecut pieces from the kit and added the additional greenery tucked under the top. I added one Just Jade dot from the 2020-2022 In Color Enamel Dots. 

I love the way the colors on the diecut piece coordinates with the paper from the Field of Flowers dsp  (Sale-A-Bration)

Last is a card for the more artfully avid stamper, using the card base from the kit as well as the gold stamped vellum piece. I cut a piece of designer series paper with the Ornate Layeers die and popped that up with dimensionals. I cut greenery using the Wrapped Flowers dies and also used a couple of pieces from the Forever Gold Laser Cut Specialty paper offered in the Christmas catalog (no longer available 😞) The sentiment uses a diecut piece but you could also use one of the sentiment pieces included in the kit (I did that on another one just like this). The gem is an Irridescent Pearl and the ribbon is Glittered Organdy ribbon.. If you didn't have the Forever Gold pieces, you could always just add one or two more diecut greenery pieces or cut a couple from a different color of green to add some interest.

I hope that you can see that the Paper Pumpkin kit can be used in many different ways. Plus once you have used up all of your consumables from the kit, you still have the stamp set and the ink spot to continue using!

If you've enjoyed this post, please click Follow on the left side so you'll receive notice of new posts!

If  you don't currently subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, give it a try! Go here to order. Let me know if I can help in any way. Message me or e-mail me at suzyzoo@verizon.net .

My Facebook page   

https://www.facebook.com/stampindede/

 To place a catalog order

https://deannablackmon.stampinup.net

Valentine Split Diagonal Card

 It's almost Valentine's Day! Do you have your Valentine cards made yet? If not, then give this Split Diagonal technique a try. It's so versatile and can be used in so many different ways!

Here's the card we made today on my Stampin Up  Facebook Live. You can go watch the replay if you want.

For this card I used one of the new Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper sets that you can get FREE with a $50 purchase from the Mini Catalog or the Main Catalog. This is the Flower and Field dsp on page 10. The card base is Cherry Cobbler and the card front piece is Powder Pink. The embellishments were cut using the Stitched Be Mine Framelits in the Main Catalog pg. 69 from the dsp and from Whisper White.

Card Base is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2

Designer Series Paper (dsp) is 4 x 5 1/4

Whisper White cardstock (cs) is 4 x 5 1/4

Coordinating cs 4 x 5 1/4

Coordinating cs strips (2) 1/2 x 8 1/2

The white piece is your template. Mark with pencil as follows

    Left side 1/2" down

    Left side 3/4" down

    Right side 3" down

    Bottom left to right  3"

Connect these marks with pencil then cut on the lines.

 

 

 Label 'top', 'center', and 'bottom'. You'll be using the top and bottom piece for this card.

 

Position these two pieces on the dsp and mark your cut-line with a pencil. Next cut your dsp along those lines. Set the center piece aside to use on another card later! 

 

Now take your two narrow strips and glue each along the cut edge of the dsp so that you have a narrow border on each. Trim top and bottom of each piece.

 

Attach the coordinating cs to the card base. Now attach the two pieces of dsp with dimensionals as shown in photo.

 

Stamp your sentiment then attach the cut-out embellishments at the top of the diagonal split as desires.

That's it! You're done. Here are a few other samples of cards made using the same technique. Go come up with your own ideas and I'd love to see a photo in the comment section!

 

 

ICE CREAM CORNER CLASS

You’ll be using this awesome bundle to create 4 sweet ice cream cards, including a shaker card! Here are two of them!!

This is a product-based class so the class includes the Sweet Ice Cream bundle and a few other products. 

Here are your options… 

 OPTION 1    Sweet Ice Cream bundle (stamps and punch), ¼ pkg. Ice Cream Corner designer series paper, pkg. Ice Cream Corner Sprinkles and your card kits ** $45** 

OPTION 2     ¼ pkg. Ice Cream Corner designer series paper, pkg. Ice Cream Corner Sprinkles, and card kits ** $10** (for those who already have the Sweet Ice Cream bundle) 

Mailing for Option 1 - $10,    for Option 2 - $5, or products can be picked up.  

RSVP (and payment) due **JANUARY 15** to give time for me to place the order. 

Payment can be made by Paypal, Venmo, by check or cash. 

 The class will be an IN-PERSON class, for those who are comfortable with that,  Sat. Jan. 30, 10 am Masks required and we’ll be socially distanced. 

 There will also be a ZOOM class Sunday, Jan. 31, 2 pm 

                                                                                              This is a fun-fold card!                                                                                        

Let me know if you plan to participate! E--mail me at suzyzoo@verizon.net

Quite Curvy Samples

The Quite Curvy bundle is so versatile. I didn't get the Christmas stamps because it was to close to Christmas and I knew I wouldn't use them. But the Quite Curvy dies paired with some Christmas paper could still work great for Christmas. 

The more I use this bundle, the more comfortable I get with it. I'm looking forward to having more time to experiment with patterned paper with the dies. I think you could mix coordinating cardstock with a designer series paper and have some very interesting creations. 

 But I needed to focus on the Quite Curvy Class kits before I ventured off the path! So these were the cards that were featured in the Quite Curvy Class. I was inspired by other samples I saw and then tried to make them my own. I incorporated a variety of styles from stamped and casual to die cut gold brushed metallic on a more formal card.

This card uses the Life is Beautiful stamp set, along with Mint Macaron, Bumblebee, and Terracotta Tile cardstock.

Tasteful Touches is one of my favorite stamp sets. I just wish it had coordinating dies. I end up fussy cutting every time I use it - which I do a lot!! Love that flower. The card base is Smoky Slate and the mat is Basic Gray. The Whisper White Curvy cut piece is layered over Peony Garden Designer Series Paper. The Mint Macaron greenery is punched with the Sprig punch.

This is my vines and birds card. The card base is Mint Macaron (can you tell that I like that color!) The Whisper White is cut and layered over the card base.The vines are colored and layered on. The two sweet birds are chatting back and forth.

Lastly is the more elegant card. The card base is Very Vanilla. The mat is Early Espresso. A 3x4 piece of Gold Brushed Metallic paper is attached at the bottom and the Very Vanilla die cut piece is attached over that. The flowers are Gold Brushed Metallic punched with the Blossoms punch. The leaves are cut with the retired Pretty Pines thinlets (one of my favorite leaf dies) from Early Espresso and the gold leaves are from the Forever Gold Laser cut paper (another one of my favorite things!!). Two Wonderful Gems on the flowers complete the card.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these cards.
 

Side Flap Card

 Here's another card that makes great use of your designer series - displaying both sides on the same card.

All that is needed is a card base 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, scored at 4 1/4, designer series paper 4 x 5 1/4 and Whisper White or Very Vanilla cardstock 4 x 5 1/4. You'll also need a sentiment piece to add to the flap and any other small embellishment that you may desire. Or you could just add an embellishment to the flap and put your sentiment elsewhere. Use your imagination!!

Here are 3 sample cards. The third one is demonstrated in the video.

 

Watch this video to see how easy these cards are to make! Let me know what designer series paper you used!

Side Book Fold card

 I love learning new techniques and unique ways to create cards. This one is so easy! And it doesn't look like your typical card.

I had fun coming up with different ways to do them! Watch the video here to see a demonstration of how to make this Side Book Fold card.

It can be made as a landscape card like the top three or in portrait style like the red and green Christmas tree card. 

The dimensions for the landscape card are

card base - 4 1/4 x 11, scored at 5 1/2 & 6 3/4

Designer Series Paper cut at 1 x 4 and 4 x 4

The dimensions for the portrait card are

card base - 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, scored at 4 1/4 & 5 1/2

Designer Series Paper cut at 1 x 5 1/4 and 2 3/4 x 5 1/4

The extra piece of DSP is optional.I used the Stitched So Sweetly dies to cut mine on the two moose cards and the Ornate Layers Dies for the Christmas tree card.

Here's a description of each card.

 

This card uses Crumb Cake card base and Plaid Tidings for the 2 DSP pieces on the front. I stamped the image from the Ornate Style stamp set with Terracotta Tile onto Very Vanilla cardstock. I then used several Fall blends to color the flowers with...light & dark Cajun Craze, light & dark Pumpkin Pie, and light & dark Daffodil Delight. The leaves are light and dark Just Jade. The centers are dark Cinnamon Cider. I then sprayed the whole bouquet with a mixure of rubbing alcohol and Gold shimmer paint in a spritzer to add a sparkle to it. The leaves behind the popped up bouquet are from the Forever Gold Laser Cut Specialty Paper. The ribbon is from a retired combo set.

The portrait card cardbase is Whisper White cardstock and uses the Tis the Season paper set. The Perfectly Plaid stamp set and punch are used for the trees. The trees are stamped in Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler onto Whisper White cardstock, both of which coordinate with the DSP. The piece under the trees is cut from the Ornate Layers die set and makes a beautiful backdrop for the trees. The sentiment is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black. I pulled the strings out of the Whisper White Flax ribbon for the bow. The bottom photo shows how the Side Book Fold card opens.

 The other two cards are demonstrated in the video. Plaid Tidings DSP are used for both. The black and white card has Gray Granite ribbon and the Pretty Peacock card has Mint Macaron ribbon. 

I hope that you will give this card a try! I'd love to see a photo of your card so please post it here in  Comments or on the StampinDeDesDoins FB page.
 

 

 

 

 

Diagonal Layers to Use Stockpiled Designer Series Paper

 "My name is Deanna and I am a paper addict!!"

I have stacks of paper that should last me a lifetime! Before I can use what I’ve purchased, then something new and better comes along. Of course I have to have it too and before long I have accumulated quite a stash of paper. 

I saw a post the other day by LeeAnn Greff showing this technique, and I knew it would be great for using some of that stockpiled DSP. 

I’ll show you some completed cards then give you a tutorial for how to do them.

 

 

 

 First choose some paper that coordinates. Sometimes the front and back do, or you may have to choose two patterns from the same series.

The paper should be cut to 4 x 5 1/4. 

1. Place the piece on your trimmer so that you will cut on the diagonal from corner to corner. Make the cut (see photos below)

2. Turn the papers to the opposite diagonal. You will keep them together.

3.Pushing them together, position the paper from corner to corner again and make the 2nd cut.

4. When you have made both cuts, you will have 4 triangles. 

With this particular paper, when I turned the top and bottom over, I had coordinating patterns. If you use two different papers, you will simply cut both of them the same way and you will have pieces for 2 cards!

Choose a coordinating cardstock for the card base and select a sentiment or embellishment for the center.

 

1

2

3

4


What a great way to use up that collection of paper to make some really cute cards!!

How to Make a Double Bow

Sometimes a double bow on a card or a project just makes all the difference in the world! So I decided to learn how to make one. Previously I just tied two bows together! That works okay but is a waste of material. I watched several tutorials and practiced a LOT! It is really an easy process so I decided to do my own tutorial for my followers. This card has a double bow added to the front!

Isn't it pretty?

So here is the video. My advice is to practice, practice, practice. It will begin to come naturally! Enjoy!

Thanks for watching! Feel free to leave a comment! I love reading them!!

Cardmaking and Conversing

Cardmaking is so much more than just a hobby to me. I love cardmaking. It affords me an outlet for creativity. It's a time that I can withdraw from the busy-ness around me. It is also a time that I can talk with Jesus. I pray for the people that I am making the cards for. It seems that lately I have made more sympathy cards than usual so I take the time to pray for the family that has gone through a life-changing loss. Birthdays are a great time to thank God for friends and family. I pray for my friends who are ill or recovering from surgery as I make cards for them - asking God to heal them and give them patience as He does!!

I host card making workshops every month. I prepare samples for the workshop and a card kit for each one attending. I pray for each friend as I make their kit. Our most recent workshop was a Poppy Parade Party!

 Aren't these cute!!






I lead a Bible Study group. I made a Valentine treat for each of them and prayed for them as I did. I made 35 treats, so I had lots of time to pray!! What a privilege.

So you can see why I love card making so very much!!