Thursday, October 2, 2025

Use These Colors: Timid Tiger, Pretty Peacock and Early Espresso

 Hey Everybody,

This is for a color challenge. Mary's challenge was to use timid tiger, pretty peacock and early espresso for our colors. The dessert option was to be creative with designer series paper.

The challenge can be found here.

I colored the top/middle and bottom of Happy with a different Stampin' Write markers. These are water-based markers. These are the only markers that can color red rubber stamps.

I colored each letter of birthday with a different color marker as well.
Happy was added to pretty peacock paper then added on top of the designer series papers which were added in strips down the card to mimic the coloring on Happy.
I used the designer series paper that I cut off my card to put the word, birthday on. I added the low profile dots in gold.
This is a fun stamp to use inspired by TX Stampin' Sharon as her million dollar stamp set. Lots more techniques to try with this fun set.

Keywords: CC1066
Stamps: Happy Place
Paper: white, early espresso, pretty peacock, SU Gathering Together designer series paper, SU Beautiful Gallery
Paper Size: A2
Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers-pretty peacock, misty moonlight, mango melody, early espresso, gold low profile dots, dimensionals
Techniques: coloring on stamps

Have you ever colored on your red rubber stamps? I remember it was very common years ago when water-based markers were what we had in addition to Sharpie markers.  There were no alcohol markers.

 Do you remember a time when we didn't have dies to cut out images?  I remember the first time I saw them. I saw them at the Strongsville Stamp show with Divinity Designs. They had many of their stamps with dies to cut them out. Those dies flew out of their booth. They were something new and a great new way to use your images. It sure beats fussy cutting, unless you love fussy cutting.

Well, that's it for today. Gotta get some cards made. This week I will finalize what cards I will use in my classes for October. In order to do that I use different stamp sets and fun folds or techniques, then choose what I like.

Thanks for stopping by today. Your turn to try using these three colors: Timid Tiger, Pretty Peacock and Early Espresso.

Blessings,

Sue


Wednesday, October 1, 2025

October Stampin' Up News

 Hey Everybody,

Can you believe it's October already? Where has this year gone? I can't figure out where the summer went and the whole year! Take a look at what's going on at Stampin' Up.

Blessings,

Sue


Stampin' Up News for October

 Today check out the Updated “Last Chance List” with discounts (formerly known and Clearance Rack)


World Card Making Day is on Saturday, October 4th, and Stampin' Up! is hosting a FREE virtual crafting event at 2 pm MT (replay available) Get all the details and Register Here

Join Stampin' Up Offer and Paper Pumpkin

 


Big news! From October 1 to 31, customers who sign up as demonstrators can choose between two amazing join offers.

get $125 worth of products for just $35

OR

$189 worth of products for just $99.

 In addition to FREE shipping, FREE business supplies, and a FREE Paper Pumpkin kit.


OR





monthly craft kits for creative cardmaking & paper crafting!

Unleash your creativity with a Stampin’ Up Paper Pumpkin subscription – These monthly, all-in-one craft kits are delivered straight to your door and are perfect for both beginners and experienced crafters. Each kit includes everything you need to make stunning handmade cards, home décor, and one-of-a-kind gifts with ease!

sneak peeks! details on the next three month's paper pumpkin kits





OCTOBER: Cozy Christmas

Subscribe by October 10!

Create heartfelt Christmas cards with classic charm and flocked accents.

• Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes

• Precut paper pieces with soft, stitched-look flocking

• Shiny red sequin embellishments

• Coordinating colors: Basic Beige, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Pecan Pie (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Real Red

Coordinating box delivers even more holiday magic!

 

NOVEMBER: Farmhouse Florals

Subscribe October 11–November 10

Craft festive goody boxes perfect for holding gift cards or small treats!

• Makes 8 projects: 4 each of 2 tag designs with 8 identical coordinating boxes

• Foldable box bases and precut paper pieces

• Linen thread and red dot embellishments

• Coordinating colors: Basic Beige, Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Old Olive

Delicate greenery pieces with double-sided printing add a sophisticated touch.


DECEMBER: Watercolor in Bloom

Subscribe November 11–December 10

Show your love and appreciation with rich watercolor hues and elegant botanical flourishes.

• Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes

• Copper foil and copper sequins

• Precut paper and vellum pieces

• Coordinating colors: Copper, Garden Green, Night of Navy (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Pretty Peacock, Secret Sea, Shaded Spruce

Personalize your card greetings with customizable sentiment stamps!



Abundant Joy Dies Add-On—available only while supplies last!

Available to Paper Pumpkin Subscribers only while supplies last!

This add-on die-set coordinates with all three Paper Pumpkin kits shown above! Use requires a die cutting machine (not included).

Click here to shop the add-on set.

 

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Clean and Simple Challenge

 The challenge for today's card is to use weather. The challenge is also listed as clean and simple. So whatever you make for your card needs to be basic stamping and not a lot of elements or layers.

The challenge can be found here.



I stamped this cat in Memento tuxedo black ink and colored him with Copic markers. I fussy cut him so he could float on the water.
I used my blending brushes and balmy blue and lost lagoon inks to make the water. I used a piece of torn paper to make the waves with my blending brushes.


I added daffodil delight ink at the top as the sun. The cat was added with dimensionals. I covered the cat while I added the metallic mist. The sentiment was added last without dimensionals. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.

Keywords: CAS860
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps-Ahoy Matey
Paper: white, poppy parade
Paper Size: A2
Ink: memento tuxedo black, daffodil delight, balmy blue, lost lagoon
Accessories: blending brushes, torn paper, Taylored Expressions Unicorn sparkle metallic mist
Techniques: ink blending, coloring

Think about this challenge. When I saw it I looked at the stamps that I had and found what I used. What would you use? At first I thought of the stamp I had with an umbrella and rain, then saw the one I used and since it was fairly new, I used it. It was cuter than the umbrella stamp as well.

Because it was a clean and simple challenge I didn't bother looking at designer series paper.  I do like to add dimension with ink if I can. I enjoy using daubers and blending brushes to create backgrounds.

What is something you like to add to your cards?
Thanks for stopping by today.
I hope you stop by again soon.
Blessings,
Sue

Monday, September 29, 2025

Featured Stamper Challenge

 Hey Everybody,

Today's card is for a featured stamper challenge. For this challenge you go to the gallery of the person listed, and find a card you'd like to make and alter. Here is Lee Mae's gallery so you can take a look to see what card you would choose to replicate and change to make it yours.

Here is the card I chose.

Instead of using water with the distress oxide inks, I used the Unicorn Sparkle metallic mist.
I changed the orientation of the card and the colors. I also changed the stamp set.
I kept the technique the same and kept it a one layer card except for the card base layer.
Originally I used the pink and yellow and it made the beautiful orange color. I wanted a pop of color so I added wilted violet sparingly on my card. I added a bit of water to the panel when it was dried to get some splatter. Versafine is the perfect ink to use on watercolor paper like this.

The technique for this is called, Wrinkle Free Distress. It can be found here.
Here's a  video to help you see what to do. 


Basically what you do is put different colors of ink on your surface then spritz it with water and put your cardstock into it in different ways to get different colors and different looks.

Keywords: FS967
Stamps: Prairie Grass
Paper: Tim Holtz watercolor paper, basic black
Ink: Distress Oxides-fossilized amber, worn lipstick and wilted violet, Versafine onyx black
Accessories: Taylored Expressions-metallic mist, stamp positioner
Techniques: wrinkle free distress

This technique is fun because using the distress inks allows you to build on top of colors you have on your paper. Water base inks will mix and change colors and possibly give you muddied colors. Distress inks once dry, will take on the color added on top of it.

I like finding different background techniques to use then add an image on top of it. Sometimes it's just a stamp on top of it, sometimes it's an image placed on top of the background.

Give this technique a try and see what you come up with.  Pick something from the gallery to get you started.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Make a card today and send it to someone.
You will be blessed and so will they.
Blessings,
Sue

Saturday, September 27, 2025

God's Plan For Sure

 Hey Everybody,

I had a friend tell me that her elderly mother-in-law, an artist, couldn't decide what to sketch in her sketch pad anymore. So my friend ask me if I had any line art that she could stamp and see if her mother-in-law would enjoy coloring them.

She used colored pencils and did a beautiful job of shading and coloring with multiple colors on the images.  It's truly amazing how an artist shades things. 

Here are the first two images she colored. In the top card, the image was trimmed close to the figures then added to Stampin' Up Thoughtful Journey designer series paper.

I was struck by the white areas she left, like the bottom of the dresses. The hair is very light on top because the sun is shining on it.

In the bottom card, I received it already die cut so I cut it a bit smaller so you would see more of the background.  I added colors of grass and sand to blend better with the printed images. Since these will go on dinner trays at a local hospital I decided to stamp something about kindness.


The next two are favorites. She colored and fussy cut them out. If you look closely you can see multiple colors in the flowers on the pansy card. It's funny each time I colored this card I made the pansies purple or blue. I never thought to make them this brownish color.

For the card on the left, I used dimensionals behind the lilies. I also switched the papers adding cajun craze behind the tiger lily. Then I added a green designer series paper behind that to bring out the green of the leaves and stems. I added a small, white bow and a die cut sentiment. Lastly I added the gems.

For the card on the right, I dry embossed the cajun craze panel and put it behind the flowers on the left. To bring out the yellow in the flowers, I added a yellow striped panel on the right.  I added a touch of lace ribbon because this felt a bit old fashioned to me. I added the die cut sentiment with gems to finish off the look.



I have to tell you that she colored these the colors she wanted to color them. I looked through my designer series papers to see what I had that might go with them.  Each and every time I found something that brought out the beauty of the colored image.  Not me for sure, but by God's leading these were put together.  
This was a bunch of mini challenges for me. I just had the colored image. If it wasn't cut out I looked at what it might go on top of and would I need to fussy cut it, die cut it or leave it alone.

The next card has such a  beautiful combination of colors on it. I never would have thought to color the petals two different colors. The flower looks so realistic to me. What a talent she has. I do envy artists and what they can do. To be able to look at things and be able to draw and color them is such an amazing ability. I know it comes from much practice. I tell people, I can't draw a straight line so I stamp! LOL

For this card I found designer series paper that went with the image. I popped up the image with dimensionals on the left side. I added a small bow of white ribbon, a die cut sentiment and some gems.  The card base is a partial fold so the flower can be seen on 1/2 of the card without the card front.
It's a piece of cardstock that is 6 3/4" instead of 8 1/2" long to make that shorter card front to add the images to.


The next card came to me already die cut so I just looked for something similar to use for a background. I colored the flowers and grass on the card a bit more to match the flowers on the designer series paper. Then I positioned the girl so she could see the tree. I added a card base of Azure Afternoon to bring out the blue in the sky. Lastly, I added gems.

The next card is also one of my favorites because of the colors she used. The image was die cut when I got it so I placed it off to the left of the card front. Since she was in water, I thought it would be good to add the texture of water with an embossing folder. I used lost lagoon paper and added that to an  azure afternoon card base.  I blended the water she is in to look a little more like lost lagoon. I die cut a sentiment and added gems to it.  
I like the texture of  her arms and skin. I also like the differences in the dark and light blue clothing. Many times I think of using two different colors not shades of the same color when I color clothing.

The last girl was colored with lots of white spots where obviously the light is shining. I've never colored that way. I color the folds in the clothing darker but never thought to leave some of the areas, white.  I'm learning so much about shading just by see what she's done with these images.

I would be fascinated to watch her color images.  I'd love watching and asking her what she's doing and why. I love to learn new things.  

When these were finished I photographed them and sent them to my friend so her mother-in-law would get to see the finished cards.
I asked my friend if we should stamp the back and sign her mother-in-law's name. I also asked if she thought her mother-in-law would like a thank you note from the hospital.
She said yes to both. She said to know she's helping someone else and someone is getting enjoyment out of what she has made, would bring her a lot of joy.

I told my friend to tell her mother-in-law that now she too had a Card Ministry for the local hospital.  Imagine getting older and feeling less useful all the time. Then someone asks you to use your gifts and talents to help others.  It's a win/win!

I pray that this woman continues to take an interest in coloring images for these cards. I had such a great time putting the cards together, that I signed up to do it any time there are new images.

We all need to be needed don't we? How wonderful at ninety-something to still be needed by others. What a beautiful gift God has given all of us in this ministry.  He never ceases to amaze me!

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Sue


Friday, September 26, 2025

It's All About Inspiration

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back and today I have an inspiration piece. Here is the inspiration I used for my card.


Here's my card.

I masked (covered) the bottom of the paper and blended yellows, peach and pinks for the sky. You can see the horizon line which goes across the whole card.
Then I masked (covered) the sky so I could blend the rest of the cardstock.
 I used early espresso and the hill from the set Sheltering Tree to make the carved out area in the foreground.
I stamped the trees from Lovely as a Tree in versafine black ink.

Then I stamped the sentiment. I like the text of this font as it looks masculine to me. This will go on a patient dinner tray at a local hospital. 

 This is a great example of using retired stamps to make cards that will be used. I don't save all of my stamps when they retire, but those that I save, I try to use
them in these challenges. I'm sure there are many that I haven't used in a while, but I'm trying to use them.
 
How about you? Do you have a way to use stamps that you've kept in your stash? I will sometimes go through my stamps and see what I have that I haven't used. Then I ask myself if I still like the stamp enough to make a card with it.

If the answer is no, then I pull the set. There are a few ladies I know that appreciate getting used stamps for their collection. First I see if they can use them.

Then I ask the few ladies that I know who have Card Ministries if they can use them.  Usually at this point, I don't have the stamps anymore! LOL

If they are not spoken for, I keep them and donate them to the huge garage sale my kid's former elementary school has each year in May.  What I like about this is that the money goes to keeping the tuition affordable.

At this point, their elementary school is K-8. In the last two years they have added 7th and 8th grade. I sure wish that would have been available when my kids were going there.

If you have stamps or craft supplies that you no longer use, let me know. I know lots of ladies with card ministries who will put them to good use.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Sue

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Join Stampin' Up Offer and October Paper Pumpkin

 Hey Everybody,

Stampin' Up has a fantastic deal to join coming in October.


Big news! From October 1 to 31, customers who sign up as demonstrators can choose between two amazing join offers.

get $125 worth of products for just $35

OR

$189 worth of products for just $99.

 In addition to FREE shipping, FREE business supplies, and a FREE Paper Pumpkin kit.


OR





October Paper Pumpkin Kit Details!

Create heartfelt Christmas cards with classic charm and flocked accents.

October Paper Pumpkin Kit Details:

Kit Name:  Cozy Christmas

This kit includes:

  • Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9 coordinating envelopes
  • Precut paper pieces with soft, stitched-look flocking
  • Shiny red sequin embellishments
  • Coordinating colors: Basic Beige, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Pecan Pie (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Real Red
  • Subscribe by October 10 to get this awesome kit!

For more information and to sign up for the monthly or to check out the prepaid subscription options, click here.  You can find them all in one spot now!

Abundant Joy Add-On Dies

Stampin’ Up! is offering an exclusive die sets that coordinating with THREE Paper Pumpkin Kits to Paper Pumpkin subscribers!

The die set that coordinates with the October, November and December Paper Pumpkin Kits is called Abundant Joy Dies.  Paper Pumpkin subscribers can purchase it now! Remember, this add-on is available only while supplies last, so it’s best to shop early!  And as always, the dies are not required to put the kits together as they are designed.  The die sets are an extra add-on to help you extend the kits and make more projects with them! You can find the Circle of Seasons Add-On Dies in the online store right here:







Use These Colors: Timid Tiger, Pretty Peacock and Early Espresso

 Hey Everybody, This is for a color challenge.  Mary's challenge was to use timid tiger, pretty peacock and early espresso for our color...