Welcome to the April, 2025 edition of the Sparkles Christmas Challenge! The theme for this month chosen by our host, Melanie, is Use the Word “Merry”. When you get finished here, I hope you will visit the challenge site to view the creations from the very talented members of our design team. After you’ve created your own themed card, please don’t forget to upload it to our gallery.
Here’s my sneak peek Merry card:
In just a few weeks, Stampin’ Up! demonstrators will be enjoying an online opportunity to participate in Creativity Now. The participants were able to purchase the holiday suite of products in advance so we can create along with the facilitators. This embossing folder and die set are included in the suite. I decided to create a simple card to showcase both of these products.
I am looking forward to both the Creativity Now event and the release of these new products! I can’t wait to share the suite with you!
What I Did:
The Basic White base measures 8-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches, scored at 4-1/4 inches
Trim a piece of Real Red cardstock to 5-3/8 by 4-1/8 inches
Run the Real Red cardstock through the Cut & Emboss Machine using the Peaceful Greenery 3D embossing folder
Stamp the sentiment, from the retired Framed & Festive stamp set, using Real Red ink on a 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 inch piece of white cardstock
Crop the sentiment panel and the white branches using the Peace on Earth Dies
Dry fit the placement of the branches and the sentiment panel on the front of the card
Add dimensionals to the back of the sentiment panel and adhere it to the center of the embossed Real Red cardstock
Add the branches under the sentiment panel and adhere using multipurpose liquid glue
I have some retired red dots left and added five to the front of the card
Stamp your inside sentiment in Real Red ink
With that, I’d finished this simple, but elegant, Merry Christmas card
First up – The Beautiful Blues Kit retailing for $23.00 USD, product # 165658.
Craft timeless handmade cards for sharing messages of friendship, support, and sympathy with the Beautiful Blues Kit. This all-inclusive crafting kit comes with everything you need to create nine lovely cards featuring hand-painted floral designs and a palette of soothing blues.
These colors, DSP, and die cuts are strikingly gorgeous!
Here’s the video for the Beautiful Blues Kit:
Second – the Share a Smile Kit, retailing for $14.00 USD, product # 165637.
Want to make a difference in someone’s day? Have an uplifting card ready to go at a moment’s notice with the Share a Smile Kit! This all-inclusive crafting kit offers fun, no-fuss crafting, with card bases, envelopes, and precut paper pieces for making bright and cheery designs. Store the completed cards in the included notecard box until you’re ready to give them out!
Check out these adorable cards which are sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face!
Welcome to the 204th Cardz 4 Galz biweekly challenge! Our host, Pamela, chose P is for ….. as the theme. When you finish here, I hope you will visit the challenge site to see the creations from the rest of the design team members. There’s loads of inspiration, and we would love to see your creations in our gallery.
This past school year I had to make a number of sympathy cards, which are always so personal and difficult. After making one of them, I decided to just make one to have on hand if needed. I’ve kept this peony DSP (designer series paper) just for these cards, even though the paper retired a couple of years ago. However, the layout of the card is a basic one and this card came together quickly.
Here’s my clean and simple P is for ….. Peony card:
Making This Card:
The Gray Granite base measures 8-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches, scored at 4-1/4 inches.
Trim the background DSP to 4-1/8 by 5-3/8 inches.
The Petal Pink Peony DSP measures 2-1/8 by 5-3/8 inches.
I trimmed the gray peony DSP to 5 by 2-1/4 inches.
After using my embossing buddy I stamped the sentiment on the 2 inch square with VersaMark ink.
Then, I covered the sentiment with silver embossing powder and heat set it.
The only dimensionals I used were placed under the sentiment square.
After using multipurpose liquid glue to adhere the three pieces of DSP, I wrapped a piece of Petal Pink ribbon around the long side of the card and tied it in a bow.
After trimming a piece of DSP to 6 by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap, I punched a 1-inch circle of coordinating DSP for the envelope seal.
After running the seal through my XYRON create-a-sticker, I’d finished this coordinated card, envelope, and envelope seal set.
Welcome to the 200th Make My Monday biweekly challenge! Woo-HOO! Our host, Jackie, chose Clean and Simple (base plus one layer) for the challenge theme. When you finish here, I hope you will visit the challenge site to see the projects from the rest of the design team. I always enjoy seeing how each member incorporates their own interpretation of the challenge themes. We’d love to have you join us by posting your CAS card in our gallery.
I wound up making two cards for this challenge. The first one is the one posted on the challenge site. The second one does a better job of having just the base and one layer. Both cards use Blackberry Bliss for the card base, and the retired New Horizons DSP (designer series paper). I’m down to my last few 6×6 inch sheets, and am really trying to use it up.
Here are my cards:
Measurements:
Since the second card is more in line with the theme, I’ll give the information for that card.
The Blackberry Bliss base measures 5-1/2 by 8-1/2 inches, scored at 4-1/4 inches.
Using the Painted Textures 3D embossing folder, emboss a piece of Blackberry Bliss cardstock. AFTER you emboss it, trim the cardstock to 4-1/8 by 5-3/8 inches..
Adhere the embossed cardstock to the card base using multipurpose liquid glue.
Trim a piece of New Horizons DSP to 3-3/4 inches by 5-1/4 inches.
Trim a coordinating piece of the DSP to 6 by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap.
Punch a 1 inch circle from the DSP for the envelope seal.
Rub down the DSP using your embossing buddy.
I wanted to use Blackberry Bliss ink and clear embossing powder. Therefore, I used my discontinued Stamparatus. If you don’t already have this kind of stamping tool, I highly recommend getting one.
Stamp the sentiment using Blackberry Bliss ink.
Clean the stamp, and restamp using VersaMark.
Cover the sentiment with clear embossing powder and heat set the sentiment.
Adhere the DSP to the dry embossed cardstock using multipurpose liquid glue.
Trim a piece of white cardstock to 5-1/4 by 4 inches for the inside panel.
Stamp your sentiment using Blackberry Bliss ink.
With that, I’d finished this coordinated card, envelope, and envelope seal set.
The individual color families were also refreshed. Some of your favorites have been moved to another family, some retired, and new ones added. Here are the new color families:
While I love a color refresh, it means I have to reorganize my color families to update them. I like to keep my stamp pads in the Stamp-n-Storage inkpad storage in color families. Same with my markers.
HINT: I use a stamp set container to store my markers. It allows me to keep store them flat and I can fit one color family in each container. I just write down a list of the colors on a piece of paper and slip it in the cover.
However, I haven’t reorganized my color families yet. Truth be told, my room is a mess right now because I am in the middle of reorganizing. I have so, so , so much retired product that I need to sell ASAP.
Welcome to the Cardz 4 Galz two-week challenge. I am the host for #198 and chose Flowers for a Friend or Flowers for Mother’s Day, which is in a couple of weeks in the U.S. When you finish here, I hope you will visit the challenge site to see the cards from the rest of the design team. I’m always fascinated by the variety of projects created by my fellow design team members. I look forward to seeing what you create and upload to our challenge gallery!
I’ve made my card for a dear friend who is having surgery next week. She’s much more of a clean and simple person, so this card is perfect for her.
Here’s my card:
Clean and Simple:
I used the Dainty Delight stamp and die set for this card. The DSP was the coordinating paper from the Sale-a-Bration in the beginning of this year. It’s beautiful and I need to use it more often.
The Rich Razzleberry base measures 4-1/4 by 11 inches, scored at 5-1./2 inches to create a tent fold card.
The DSP background measures 4-1/8 by 5-3/8 inches.
Trim a piece of DSP to 6 by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap.
Punch a 1-inch circle from coordinating DSP for the envelope seal.
After stamping the floral spray using Momento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock, I cropped it using one of the Dainty Delight dies.
Stamp the sentiment in black ink on white cardstock. Crop it using one of the deckled rectangle dies.
Trim a piece of white cardstock to 4 by 5-1/4 inches for the inside panel.
Stamp the sentiment on the inside.
Add a floral spray to the bottom left side of the white panel and color.
I also cropped the curved branch and leaves piece from the die set from Old Olive cardstock..
Color the floral spray using the blends combos for Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, and Petal Pink.
Tie a length of Old Olive ribbon around the DSP.
Adhere the DSP, using dimensionals.
Adhere the floral spray and branch using multipurpose liquid glue.
Add dimensionals under the sentiment and adhere under the ribbon.
Adhere the inside panel to the base using multipurpose liquid adhesive.
With that, I’d finished this coordinated set of the card, envelope, and envelope seal.
Welcome to Make My Monday card challenge # 182! Our host, Dawn, chose a back 2 school theme for this time around. When you are finished here, I hope you will visit the challenge website and see what the rest of the design team members created. I can’t wait to see your interpretation of our challenge, especially since mine needs some explaining!
Here’s my card:
Here’s my explanation on why this card goes with back 2 school:
Two years ago, during the summer of COVID, my daughter moved to Northern California in wine country to teach there. About a month ago, she moved from gorgeous wine country to San Francisco to start a new teaching position there. She’s always loved that city, and is thrilled with this new adventure. I created this card for her to celebrate her start of a new school year in a new city. So, you see, this card is for her own back 2 school.
Easy Peasy Card:
It took me longer to decide which colors to use than it did to create this clean-and-simple card. I simply let the DSP (designer series paper) do all the work. I didn’t even add any bling because I wanted the card to be all about the DSP.
The Merry Merlot base measures 4-1/4 by 11 inches, scored at 5-1/2 inches to create a tent card.
I used this stunning piece of DSP, which I trimmed down to 4-1/8 by 5-3/8 inches.
Next, I trimmed a coordinating piece of the DSP to 6 inches by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap. Then, I punched a 1-inch circle of DSP for the envelope seal, which I ran through my XYRON create-a-sticker.
I trimmed the white cardstock for the inside of the card to 5-1/4 by 4 inches and used a scrap piece for the sentiment banner.
Both sentiments come from the Color and Contour photopolymer stamp set, as does the floral spray I used for the inside and the front of the envelope. I stamped the sentiments and outlines for the floral sprays using Merry Merlot ink. Then, I stamped the flowers using Polished Pink ink.
After cropping the front sentiment using the smallest deckled rectangle die, I added mini-dimensionals on the underside of it. I wanted to have the sentiment rectangle stand out from the white parts of the background. Therefore, I outlined it using my Granny Apple Green Stamping Write Marker.
I wrapped a length of Polished Pink open-weave ribbon around the DSP and tie it in a bow.
Then, I adhered the sentiment over the ribbon.
Finally, I adhered the front and inside panels of the card using multipurpose liquid adhesive.
With that, I’d finished this quick and easy, clean and simple coordinated card, envelope, and envelope seal set.
Precut pieces (No prep work! Get right to crafting). Including printed die-cut sheets: sticker adhesive sheets & non-adhesive sheets
Makes 12 cards of 1 design
Gold foil accents
Folded card size: 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ (14 x 10.8 cm)
12 preprinted envelopes
Enough adhesive to complete projects
Linen thread
A 9-7/8″ x 6-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ (25.1 x 16.5 x 7 cm) printed designer box for storage or crafting on the go
Product colors: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Evening Evergreen, Garden Green, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie
Sale-a-Bration is in full swing until midnight on 08/31/2022!!
Sale-a-Bration runs until August 31, 2022. This means you can earn FREE products for just a couple of days! Take a look at these Sale-a-Bration products!!
FREE WITH A QUALIFYING $50 ORDER:
NEW ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE PRODUCTS WHICH ARE FREE WITH A QUALIFYING $100 ORDER:
If you live in the U.S. and don’t already have a demonstrator, I’d be honored to work with you.
Do You Want to Place an Order?
Of course you do, especially since you can earn FREE products with a qualifying purchase!
If you are ordering less than $150.00, please use the host code shown. If you are ordering more than $150.00, please contact me first so you an get your stamping rewards! Any order over $50 will earn a little surprise from me.
The HOST CODE through August 31, 2022 is W4Q23RT4.
Once again, thank you for stopping by my blog today! I hope you will take another minute and leave a comment.
Welcome to Just Peachy Stamping by Sue Jackson: an independent Stampin' Up demonstrator.
Through Stampin' Up!, I happily share my love of papercrafting through sales, classes, small stamping group meet-ups and workshops. I think that being a teacher in my "real life", I have a unique approach to sharing my fantastic hobby. I look forward to connecting with you!
