Two Different Backgrounds

 Hey Everybody,

Today I have two cards where I've done different techniques to create a background for my cards. The first card is using shaving cream and the second card uses ink blending and direct to paper inking.

Our challenge was to do a shaving cream technique. I added pastel colors to the shaving cream and stirred it with the end of a paint brush. I used the scraper to apply the shaving cream on the white cardstock. I removed the shaving cream and dry embossed the white panel. Then I colored and cut out the images. I added the images with dimensionals. The image panel was added to a lemon lolly card base. This will go on a dinner tray at a local hospital once the shaving cream smell disappears. 

Keywords: MIX685

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company-Bunnies and Robin

Paper: white, lemon lolly

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: shaving cream, pretty in pink, daffodil delight and balmy blue reinkers, Easter Eggs embossing folder, dimensionals, paint brush, scraper, Copic Markers

Techniques: shaving cream technique, dry embossing, coloring

This second card was a frame left over from another card. I embossed the frame with the Stampin' Up! Paradise Garden Hybrid embossing folder.  I used my blending brushes to color in the leaves on the debossed side. Then I took granny apple green and pulled it over the frame direct to paper. Most of the times when I've done this technique, I've used very dark colors like navy and early espresso. I wanted to see if I liked using a lighter color. I like how it turned out.

I still have a few pieces of water coloring that Mia did that I want to use for backgrounds for cards. I build my cards around the colors she used.

Linda's featured stamper challenge can be found here. Here is the inspiration for my card.                                                          I loved the subject matter and colors she used in her card. I changed the orientation to vertical and used one frame instead of three. I used the negative space to highlight my 4 year old granddaughter's water coloring. I placed my bunny in the lower-right corner instead of the upper-left as the flower in my inspiration. I added the sentiment with dimensionals at the top of the card to balance out the image. Keywords: FS998 Stamps: Unity Stamps-Windowsill Woodlands, Stampin' Up-Notes of Spring Paper: white Paper Size: A2 Ink: bermuda Bay, Lemon-Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green Accessories: Prang watercolors, paint brush, Copic Markers, SU-large oval punch, SU-Paradise Garden Hybrid embossing folder, paper snips Techniques: direct to paper, embossing, water coloring, coloring, fussy cutting

These are two very different techniques for backgrounds and that's what I love about doing the different challenges on Splitcoaststampers. They come up with great ideas for challenges that stretch my skills and imagination.

Well, thanks for stopping by today. This week I will receive my new catalogs and some new items from the new catalog. I'll have new catalogs and new products at my April classes.

If you haven't signed up yet, do it soon before classes fill up.

Blessings,

Sue

 Hey Everybody,

Here is the new information about Paper Pumpkin for the next three months.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Blessings,

Sue

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!

subscribe to paper pumpkin!

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

APRIL: Lakeside Retreat
​SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEW WATERSIDE RETREAT SUITE!

Subscribe by April 10

Show your appreciation for the men in your life with cards inspired by tranquil waterside scenes.

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

• Precut paper pieces and enamel pebble embellishments

• Stamp set tailored to male recipients

• Coordinating colors: Balmy Blue, Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Peaceful Pine (Classic Stampin’ Spot - NEW In Color), Pecan Pie, Pool Party​

Coordinates with the Waterside Retreat Suite Collection (item 167932)!

MAY: Sparkling Celebrations

Subscribe by May 10

Create bold, celebratory cards perfect for invitations, congratulations, and special occasions.

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

• Precut paper pieces with silver foil

• Gem embellishments

• Coordinating colors: Blackberry Bliss, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Misty Moonlight (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie

Silver foil gives cards an eye-catching finish!

JUNE: Bikes & Blooms

Subscribe by June 10

These cheerful cards with standout silver details are made for feel-good moments.

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

• Silver foil and precut paper pieces

• Silver butterfly embellishments and linen thread

• Coordinating colors: Calypso Coral (Classic Stampin’ Spot), Crushed Curry, Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Pecan Pie

Metallic butterfly embellishments add pops of shine!

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Wonderful Scenes Dies Add-On—available while supplies last! Available only to Paper Pumpkin Subscribers! This add-on die-set coordinates with the Paper Pumpkin kits shown above! Use requires a die cutting machine (not included). shop the add-on!

A New Stamp Set Called Help Me Grow

 Hey Everybody,

 Today I have a card I made with new product that is in the Stampin' Up Online Exclusives.

It can be found here.  It is called, Help Me Grow.  I got this because it can be used for masculine or feminine cards.

I paired this stamp set with a new designer series paper called, Garden Poetry, which can be seen here.  I stamped the tools with versamark then heat embossed them with silver embossing powder. The flower handles are two different stamps; one is leaves and one is flowers. I played around with colors that would compliment the green background.  This set comes with dies.  If you don't purchase the dies, you can easily cut out the pieces and put the tools together.

I saw another demonstrator use smoky slate as the ink color for the metal part of the tools. That is a quicker way to get a similar look.  The sign was stamped in ink then stamped with the sentiment. If you wanted to save a bit of time, you could stamp the sign on colored cardstock then stamp your sentiment and cut out the sign.  I stamped on white paper with a light pink ink, then stamped my sentiment in green.

Garden Poetry Designer Series Paper

I will be playing a bit more with this set and will have a card using this set for our April class.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Sue

Faux Linen With a Pop

 Hey Everybody,

I completed two challenges today from Splitcoaststampers.  The first one is the Technique Challenge. Today was the 1100th challenge so we could choose from any of the challenges ending in 00.  I chose 200 which was Faux Linen With a Pop.  The challenge can be found here.

The challenge I chose can be found here.

Here are the directions.

Here is what you will need for today's technique:

• Cardstock
• Ink
• Stamps
• Gift bag tissue paper
• Two Way Glue Stick or your favorite type of glue stick

Step One. Cut your tissue a little bigger than the piece of cardstock that you will use to adhere it onto.

Step Two: Stamp your image onto the tissue paper and let the ink dry before moving onto step three.

Step Three: Wad up the tissue into a ball getting lots of crinkles. Then gentle unroll the wadded ball of tissue. CAREFUL - don't tear it.  Next - spread out the tissue, leaving some of the wrinkles visible. This will help achieve the faux silk effect.

Step Four: Stamp the same image onto a piece of white or very light colored cardstock.

Step Five: Using paper snips (sharp, small blade scissors) cut out the portion of your image that you want to POP.

Step Six: Take your colored cardstock and apply your glue stick to the entire surface. Now lay your white cut-out onto the cardstock and place the tissue on top - aligning the images. Press your tissue paper onto the glue covered cardstock, and be sure to leave in the little wrinkles. You can either trim off the excess tissue from the sides, but it's just as easy, and gives the piece a more finished look, if you just fold the extra tissue around the cardstock and stick the edges down on the backside of the cardstock.

Now you can finish your card as desired.

The stamp set I used is called, Notes of Spring which is a Product of the Month for April. It is a two-step stamping set.

Keywords: TLC1100 TLC200

Stamps: SU-Notes of Spring-Product of the Month

Paper: white, old olive, lemon lolly

Ink: memento tuxedo black, old olive, lemon-lime twist

Accessories: Copic Markers, Tissue Paper

Techniques: Faux Silk With a Pop

Our 2nd challenge is for the Clean and Simple Challenge which was to use a rarely used or new stamp. You can find that challenge here. 
The stamp I used is one of my favorite old, wood mount PSX stamps. I don't use it often, but I love it so much I can't get rid of it.
I stamped in Memento tuxedo black ink. The image was colored with Derwent watercolor pencils. Then I used a blender pen to blend the light and dark colors of the flowers and leaves. I used a fancy, old-fashioned looking die to cut out the image. I added small hearts from an embossing folder to complete the card.

I purposely used an oval die for this card to get used to different shapes besides squares and rectangles.

Keywords: CAS891

Stamps: PSX-Bleeding Heart stamp

Paper: white, bubble bath

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Derwent Watercolor Pencils, Blender pen, Cuttlebug-Love Language embossing folder, decorative oval die

Techniques: dry embossing, watercoloring

This next card is not a challenge card, it is a card for a local hospital near me. It will go on a dinner tray. I had a partial piece of dry embossed cardstock, so I made it into a card. 

I used  Azure Afternoon, Polished Pink and Gorgeous Grape with blending brushes and colored the debossed side of the embossed panel.  Then I used direct to paper technique with my Night of Navy ink pad.

I stamped this little guy and coloring him with Copic Markers. I cut him out with the Deckled Circles dies. Again, I wanted to use a shape other than a square or rectangle.

I stamped the sentiment and fussy cut it because it was already an unusual arrangement for a sentiment. Cutting it out made it stand out more. The image panel was added to a night of navy card base.  This card is more vibrant than the picture shows.

This card was made during a FaceTime session with a friend today.  Every now and then we'll FaceTime and stamp. The weather was crummy here and this is a great work around to be able to stamp with someone but not have to drive across town in crummy weather.

What's fun is we talk and stamp and help each other with what we're working on with suggestions or ideas of how to finish a card or what to add to it to make it 'just right.'

Do you FaceTime with anyone? How about to stamp?

Well, it's time to finalize my pre-order for our new catalog. I can order at 2 a.m. our time.

Thanks for stopping by again.

Blessings,

Sue

What's In a Shape?

 Hey Everybody,

I'm back again with another card.

Our challenge was to Think Spring. The challenge can be found here.  

I stamped these cuties from a retired Stampin' Up! set called, Fable Friends. I also used a set by Jillian Vance called, Spring Hootie for the sentiment. I colored the images with Copic Markers. I die cut the image panel then cut another oval as a frame around the image. I used the reverse side of the designer series paper. The designer series paper is from Stampin' Up! called, Painted Illusions. It was the Product of the Month last month. I love the combination of colors in this paper. It's too bad it's a Product of the Month instead of a paper in the Online Exclusives. I stamped the sentiment, Happy Spring. Inside is an Easter greeting. 

Keywords: CAS889

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Fable Friends, Jillian Vance-Spring Hootie

Paper: white, Stampin' Up-Painted Illusions designer series paper

Ink: memento tuxedo black, pretty peacock, granny apple green

Accessories: SU-oval framelits, Copic markers

Techniques: coloring, die cutting

While I looked at this, I thought about how often I use a rectangle shape for my image panels. How about you? Do you use ovals on your image panels?  How about circles?  How about other shapes other than squares or rectangles?

Take a look at your stash of dies. What shapes do you have that may be older, but fun to use? I looked in my gallery at Splitcoaststampers and found a few I had that were older.

The first card uses the Top Note Die. Do you remember this die?

How about this shape? It is popular right now in stamping.

Do you have a circle you could use?

How about a heart? It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to use a heart shape.

Well, it seems that there are many different shaped dies in my collection that aren't squares or rectangles. I know I have some other shapes. I may challenge myself to use them in the coming weeks with challenges.

Thanks for stopping by. Check out your dies and get stamping and die cutting.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Sue

A Block + Ink = A Background

 Hey Everybody,

I've got a new card for you today.

Stamping with blocks is our challenge for today. You can find it here.

Here is the technique:

 Take a smaller acrylic block, put a few drops of reinkers (or similar), two colors that will look good together but don't let them mix too much. Spritz with water and stamp on paper that can handle some water. Other options: smear an Oxide ink pad on the block, then spray another color on top, spritzing with water as needed. Oxides blend well so you don't have to worry about the dreaded 'mud.' In the end, you can use any water reactive medium you like.
Don't fill the whole piece of paper, leave some white space. Re-spritz with water if necessary but don't overdo. This isn't 'wrinkle free Distress' or 'dip and dab'. Be sparing and only stamp a few times! That's it! You'll have an interesting, colorful background to decorate in any way you like.

I used watercolor paper with pretty in pink and fresh freesia reinkers on blocks. I spritzed the blocks then stamped them down on the watercolor paper. I used a medium and a small block.
I stamped and colored this cutie pie. I fussy cut him so his hair would really stand out.

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 GMT Views: 203 Favorited: 1

Additional Info

Keywords: TLC1098

Stamps: Unity Stamps-Little Weirdo

Paper: watercolor paper, white, fresh freesia

Paper Size: A2

Ink: memento tuxedo black

Accessories: Copic Markers, dimensionals, water spritzer, pretty in pink, fresh freesia reinkers, acrylic blocks

Techniques: stamping with a block, fussy cutting, coloring

I found a video that demonstrates 4 different ways to use ink on your acrylic blocks.  She uses only one stamping of her acrylic block but my card used multiple times of stamping with ink so it formed a background.

Well, what do you think? Do you think you would like to try this then make it into a card?

I used the two colors with spritzing technique. You can experiment with inks and blocks and see what you come up with.

You can try both watercolor paper and regular white card stock like the video shows.

Well, thanks for stopping by today. I'll see you again soon.

Blessings,

Sue