Our Alphabet Challenge letter this week is R-Red. You can find the challenge here.
I love using red with black because of the wonderful contrast. So when I stamped this image I thought of leaving most of it black. This image is from Unity Stamps called, One of the Good Ones. I thought I'd color some of the parts red. Then I thought it looked too plain with the card base background, so I cut 1/2" strips of red and black paper and did a herringbone pattern. You can find the tutorial here.
I wanted to add some texture to the background so I dry embossed it with the old world paper 3D embossing folder. The image was added with dimensionals. I stamped this specific sentiment so it could go on a dinner tray for a guy at a local hospital.
If you were to do this challenge, what would you use for this Red challenge?
Take a look at the wide variety of interpretations of this challenge. I copied just some of the ideas ladies had.
I thought there would be Christmas cards and flowers, but I didn't expect animals. I also thought there might be foods like strawberries or apples in the gallery. All of the cards but one were stamped. The first one which is the snow scene, was drawn and watercolored I believe.
Now that you've seen some samples, maybe that gives you ideas on what you could do for a a card. I hope you give this challenge a try.
I'm off to find some strawberries or cherries or red candy stamps to make another red card.
July brings lots of new things from Stampin' Up! We have a new product of the month, new kits, new online exclusives, new paper pumpkin and a new join box! So check out this post to see all that is new and exciting at Stampin' Up! As always, if you have questions let me know.
Blessings,
Sue
July's Product of the Month
The brand-new Product of the Month for July is now available. Add it to your order for just $5 when you spend $75! You'll earn 10% in Stampin' Rewards too.
This month's exclusive product is the Begonia Belle Photopolymer Stamp Set. This Two-Step Stampin' Set allows you to combine the pairs of bloom or leaf images to create depth and texture, or use each image alone for a different effect. Additional sweet sentiments and decorative elements make this an amazing all-in-one set you simply must add to your collection!
The Daisy Days Kit includes everything you need to make a whole
album themed with vibrant daisies, bright colors, and fun summer motifs.
You'll get all the supplies needed to create 28
6.5" x 6" (16.5 x 15.2 cm) pages to fit in the included album
(measuring 7¾" x 7" x 1⅞", or 19.7 x 17.8 x 4.8 cm) that's
printed with bright daisy and gingham patterns. With printed pages, precut
printed pieces, journalling blocks, pockets and acetate elements, recording
summer memories is easy. Coordinating Stampin' Up! colors are Blueberry Bushel,
Crisp Cantaloupe, Crushed Curry, Granny Apple Green, Pool Party, Strawberry
Slush, and Timid Tiger.
Paper Pumpkin July-August-September
July: Hooray for Birthdays Subscribe by July 10
Say Happy Birthday with stand-up easel cards perfect for
showing off
Makes 9 cards: 3 each of 3 designs with 9
coordinating envelopes
Send cards with heartfelt messages of comfort and
appreciation.
Makes 9 cards 3 of each 3 designs with 9 coordinating
envelopes
Precut paper pieces and intricate precut card fronts
Gray and white
Coordinating colors: Basic Gray Calypso Coral, Gray
Granite,(stampin’ spot) Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink, Pool Party
September: Aspens of Gratitude
Subscribe August 11-September 10
Share your gratitude with cards featuring beautifully
hand-painted woodland designs.
Makes 10 cards: 5 each of 2 designs with 10
coordinating envelopes
Precut paper pieces
Self-adhesive gem embellishments
Coordinating Colors: Basic Black, Cajun Craze,
Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, (Stampin’ Spot), Golden Glow, Gray Granite,
Mossy Meadow, Pumpkin Pie
Detailed Flora Dies Add-On-available while supplies last!
Available only to Paper Pumpkin Subscribers!
The add-on-die-set coordinates with the Paper Pumpkin Kits
shown above! Use requires a die cutting machine (not included)
Introducing the Welcome Box
As part of the new join process, we’re introducing an elevated onboarding experience. All first-time demonstrators (beginning July 1, 2026) will receive a surprise Welcome Box—a gesture of appreciation and a warm welcome into the global Stampin’ Up! creative community.
What’s Inside the Welcome Box
A handwritten welcome letter from Sara
Stampin’ Up!-branded swag:
Pen
Pop-up pencil case
Pop-up waste basket
An exclusive card kit including:
Kit-sized stamp set
Full-size clear block
Classic Stampin’ Spot
Supplies to create eight “hello” cards
New demonstrators are encouraged to make and share these cards—especially with the eight complimentary catalogs they receive—to help spread the word about their new demonstratorship.
WELCOME BOX UNBOXING
Watch as we unbox the Welcome Box! Get a look at everything inside and see what makes this box the perfect welcome gift for new demonstrators.
Important Notes
The Welcome Box is exclusive to first-time demonstrators. Beginning July 1, 2026, anyone joining for the first time will receive a Welcome Box.
Current demonstrators have a one-time opportunity to order a Welcome Box after it launches. See below for details.
Rejoining demonstrators will receive all other joining perks (including the coupon code) but not a Welcome Box.
Stampin’ Up! will not market the Welcome Box as a perk of joining—in fact, we won’t mention it outside demonstrator communications. It’s intended as a surprise-and-delight gift that encourages organic excitement, curiosity, and a little FOMO—leading potential new demonstrators back to you to learn more!
Step One: Join
When you sign up as a new demonstrator, you will:
Choose a team leader
Read and accept the required legal agreements
Fill out some personal details
Pay the $100 fee to submit your application
Step Two: Shop!
Once your application has been reviewed and approved (you shouldn't have long to wait!), you will receive an email with your NEW demonstrator ID and your coupon code.
Your coupon code, valued at $125, can be redeemed on any order you place as a demonstrator!
Your order total can be more than your coupon code; you'll just pay the difference.
Any amount that you spend above the value of your coupon code will be treated just like all other orders you place as a demonstrator. That means it will receive demonstrator discount (20% at first), counts towards your first quarterly minimum, will earn Stampin' Rewards, and can also allow you to purchase the Product of the Month ($75+).
You will also be able to add eight free catalogues to any order (this option does expire after 9 months).
You will also receive a one-time special welcome gift from Stampin' Up! which will included branded merchandise and an exclusive card kit to help you spread the word of your new demonstratorship.
Don't worry if you don't meet the quarterly sales requirement to stay active as a demonstrator. There is still no penalty with nothing to return or repay! If you leave Stampin' Up! for any reason, you can rejoin after 45 days. At that point, you'll be able to choose whether to rejoin with your previous team leader or join a different team. This change applies to current demonstrators too. The only thing to note is that the welcome gift only sent when you join for the first time, so isn't sent if you rejoin later.
Paper Pumpkin™ Perk
New demonstrators will also receive a 50% off coupon code for their first Paper Pumpkin kit!
Two months after joining, you will be sent a coupon code by email. That code gives 50% off the first kit in any new subscription. That code will have an expiry date so make sure you plan to redeem it in time! It's a great way to try out Paper Pumpkin yourself as you get started as a demonstrator, making it easier to share it with others.
Linda's challenge colors this week are balmy blue, granny apple green and darling duckling. You can find her challenge here.
I cut the arch from a piece of white cardstock. I used pecan pie ink and pulled the ink pad over the outside of the arch. Then I dry embossed it with the Stampin' Up!-Timber 3D embossing folder to give it a wood look.
I stamped the image from Unity Stamps called Just Beak-Cause, in memento tuxedo black ink and colored it with Copic Markers. I put a circle on my paper for the sun. This is a mask so the blue ink doesn't touch the circled area. I used blending brushes and a cloud cut out to make clouds and grass. I removed the mask and colored the sun with Copic Marker. I stamped the sentiment in granny apple green. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.
Ink: memento tuxedo black, balmy blue, granny apple green, pecan pie
Accessories: blending brushes, Stampin' Up!-Timber 3D embossing folder, Copic Markers, mask for sun, arch die
Techniques: dry embossing, direct to paper, coloring, ink blending, masking
When I saw the colors for this challenge, I immediately thought of this chicken stamp. I knew I could make the sky with balmy blue and grass with granny apple green.
I could have made a yellow flower with stem and a blue sky. It truly depends what stamps you have in your collection.
Sometimes I look through my stamps to see what hasn't been used in a while. Then I try to find a challenge to use it.
What do you picture when you think of these colors? Take a look through your stamps, what will work? I hope you give this challenge a try.
Sabrina's challenge is to use a baby wipe technique. You can find her challenge here.
I stamped large and small daisies from the retired Stampin' Up!-set called, Daisy Lane and punched them out. I folded a baby wipe several times then added fresh freesia, pretty in pink, and melon mambo reinkers to the baby wipe.
I stamped a smaller flower for a background using the same baby wipe. I curled the flowers and added a dimensional beneath all of them. I added a yellow center which is retired Stampin' Up! product, but had a few left. I stamped the sentiment with the baby wipe ink and punched it out with the key tag punch. I added greenery for the flowers to sit on so they'd stand out. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.
Accessories: fresh freesia, pretty in pink, melon mambo reinkers, Medium and large daisy punches
Techniques: Baby Wipe Stamping
If you've never done the baby wipe technique, here is a tutorial video from Splitcoast.
Here are a few other samples of this technique that I've made in the past.
There you have it, the baby wipe technique. I hope you give it a try.
When I've done this technique I've put my baby wipes into a plastic case like the ones we used to get stamp sets in. That way I can close it when I'm finished and use it again later without worrying about it drying out. I use it later in the day or with other stamps then dispose of it. Toss the baby wipes and rinse the case.
Misti's challenge for today is to make a masculine card. You can find her challenge here.
I blended crushed curry, pumpkin pie and old olive inks on white cardstock. I dry embossed the white cardstock with the Stampin' Up-Paradise Garden embossing folder. I place the inked up side on the debossed side of the embossing folder. (I put it in with Stampin' Up logo on the back not the front.)
I pulled pecan pie ink over the cardstock then used the die to cut out the pieces with the Stampin' Up-Paradise Garden die and a piece of pumpkin pie cardstock.
I ran the crushed curry card base through the embossing machine in the same embossing folder with the right side up for texture behind my image panels. I stamped my sentiment in pecan pie on pumpkin pie cardstock and added it all to the card base. This will go to a nursing home for the use of the residents.
This was a different way to use a die for me. I usually cut out images with dies to give them a shape and a background. I saw how someone did this with a die and wondered how it would look with this die. I like how it turned out.
I also liked the idea that I wasn't having to color the leaves from the embossing folder in with brushes, or markers. I just blended the inks on white cardstock any way I wanted then embossed the cardstock. It was easy!
The Paradise Garden die set also has a hexagon that I want to try to use for something also.
Now it's your turn. Take a look at your dies and see if you can use them to shape your card like I did. Or find another creative way to use your dies. Or, maybe just get some dies out and use them. Sometimes they sit in a drawer or cabinet and are forgotten. Dust them off and create something with them.
Ardyth's challenge can be found here. It is a few previous featured stamper's galleries. You choose a gallery and look through it for something you can create and make your own.
Here is the inspiration for my card. CT0614 Tool Birthday by lisaadd at Splitcoaststampers.
Lisa uses a lot of rainbow colors in her designs. I liked the colorful hammers in a row so I did something similar with Band-Aids.
The band-aid dies are from Impression Obsession. I placed them horizontally in different colors. The sentiment is from Unity Stamps and a stamp set called, Danglin'.I cut out the sentiment strip in white so it would blend in with the background. I wanted to mimic the dots on the bandages, so I added texture to the background. This was then added to a real red card base. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.
Paper: white, real red, pumpkin pie, daffodil delight, garden green, blueberry bushel, white
Paper Size: A2
Ink: real red
Accessories: Impression Obsession-Bandage Die. Stampin' Up!-Beautiful Pattern 3D embossing folder
Techniques: dry embossing, die cutting
Now that I'm looking at this die set, I'm trying to think of other things I could do with it. Maybe I could add it to another element or image for a Get Well card. I'll have to go through my stamps and dies to see what else I could add this to.
What do you have in your stash that you could make into a rainbow card?
Stacy's challenge website is Food Network. You can find her challenge here.
Here is my inspiration for my card.
Watermelon Lemonade Slushie
I stamped the glasses from Stampin' Up set Cheers & Sips and covered them with a mask so I could stamp the watermelon and the vines which are from Stampin' Up called Watercolor Melon. I cut out the top of the objects so I could put the red and white paper behind them like a picnic spread. I added all of that to a green striped paper that reminded me of watermelons. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the hamster which is a Gerda Steiner stamp called, Melon Muncher and added him with dimensionals. The lemon and strawberry were stamped, colored and cut to go on the drinks. The tall glass was colored with sweet sorbet and pineapple punch markers to make it look like watermelon and lemonade were mixed.
This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital.
I know there is a lot on this page, but it was one of those cards where I thought of one thing then another and another. I had a lot of fun making this card. Most times when making a card, I have an idea of the stamp set I want to use but the card evolves and isn't something I have in my head to begin with.
When you make a card, do you have a finished image of the card in your mind before you begin? Or, does your card evolve like a process like mine do? Either way, we make cards and give them away. That's the beauty of card making. I love to encourage people with cards for no occasion at all.
I need to do more of that. Thanks for stopping by today.
