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The Coordination Product Release has offered some great dies to go with special stamps in the January-June Mini Catalog and the Sale-A_Bration brochure. Today my focus is special as well…Special Someone Stamp Set and Special Days Dies.
Special Someone
The stamp set, Special Someone, offers two-step stamping capabilities. Two-step stamping is a process for stamping an outline shape in one color, and then stamping a filler shape in another color to create an instant image. In effect, two separate stamps cohesively making one two-toned image.
Two-step stamping is a great way to complete a project quickly. And the photopolymer stamps make lining up the filler image over the outline image a breeze. But don’t worry, you can choose to hand color the image if you prefer.
I adore the cute critters in this stamp set, raccoon, squirrel and mouse. They lend well to kids cards, but are also very life-like and realistic enough to use in cards depicting nature as well. The sentiments direct your cards toward birthday, thank you, and get well – the perfect trifecta.
Special Someone Stamp Set, #151643, 23 photopolymer stamps
Special Days Dies
The coordinating dies, Special Days, give you the ability to take your critters anywhere. Not only do they cut out your leading characters, you have the option to make balloons (oval and heart shaped) and strings to attach. There are also dies for flowers, grass and bows. A word bubble die lets your critters share their thoughts.
Special Days Dies, #153587, 17 dies
Special Cards
I had a lot of fun creating with this stamp set and their coordinating dies. Admittedly, the little mouse kinda stole the show. It is easy to experiment with shading colors to create soft or bold looks. I see pink and blue raccoons in my future.
For a Very Special Someone
For this card, I chose colors from the 2019-2021 In Color Collection. Seaside Spray, Purple Posy and Terracotta Tile are muted beautifully with black and white. I took advantage of different size circle punches to create peep holes for my friends.
The Special Day Dies allowed me to cut around the stamped images, so the animals could pop thru the holes with a colorful background behind them. I embossed the Whisper White cardstock using the Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder for a woodsy look. The little accent flowers (yet another die in this set) were capped with rhinestone jewels to add sparkle.
A Special Happy Birthday
The versatility of this special collection is the supporting props. As you can see, this card doesn’t have a single critter in sight. I chose bright colors for the oval balloons, but kept the heart shaped balloon a soft pink for greater contrast between them.
I found die cutting the strings a little tricky. The secret (learned by trial and error) is to line up the tiny hole at the base of the metal string die with the bottom stamped image of the string. Practice always makes perfect, and because these are small images, there is not a lot of waste in attempting to gain perfection.
Rich Merry Merlot acts as a neutral color with Crumb Cake, which is embossed with the Corrugated folder. I scattered a few Basic Adhesive Backed Sequins along the bottom and added Braided Linen Trim as complimentary embellishments.
3 x 3 Mini
This little mouse steals the show on a 3″ x 3″ card. He has designs on the daisy, two-step stamped in black and yellow and die cut. Small pieces of cardstock, Smoky Slate embossed in Mosaic and Daffodil Delight embossed in Scripty, blend with the gray mouse and yellow flower perfectly.
The stamped sentiment, with love, is a partial inking of the stamp “sent with love” from Itty Bitty Greetings. I inked only the portion of the stamp I wanted to use for this card. Lastly, I added 2 Frosted Epoxy Droplets along the white band. Their plain and simple element adds balance.
Make Special Cards
A home made card is always a special card, but the Special Someone Stamp Set and Special Day Dies really help to hone in on that factor. Remember, special qualities aren’t limited to the card itself. It is manifested in the card maker and the card recipient as well.
If you enjoy cards with cute critters, be sure to check out my post Hey Lady for ladybug card ideas. As always, if you need any card making supplies for the featured projects, please visit my online store https:www.juliemakson.stampinup.net. There are always surprises in the clearance rack, maybe you will find something special there as well.
Today I will share my thoughts and my projects using Stampin’ Up!’s Positive Thoughts Stamp Set, and from the Coordination Product Release, the Nature’s Thoughts Dies.
Let’s start with the stamps. The Positive Thoughts Stamp Set is new in the January-June Mini Catalog. Because it is not featured as a bundle, this set may have been overlooked in its simplicity.
This stamp set has plenty of natural attributes, from the butterfly and feather to the flower and leaves. Any of these make great background images in your stamped projects, or work well as a stand alone item.
Additionally, the sentiments are exceptionally unique. I believe they are perfect for occasions when you need to offer get well wishes, thinking of you, or sending supportive thoughts to someone you care about.
Nature’s Thoughts Dies
Nature’s Thoughts Dies, #153586, 11 dies
The Coordination Product Release, Nature’s Thoughts Dies, allow you to easily cut out the 4 main images of the stamp set. Even better, you have the ability to die cut detailed accent pieces to correspond.
I love the large rectangle with its whimsical detailed stitched effect. It is the perfect compliment to any project- a real workhorse in the craft room. You will find yourself reaching for this particular die quite often.
Positive Thoughts Cards
It is easy to create cards when the stamp set has multiple features to it. Stamps can be combined into a single project, or spotlighted separately. Following are my projects and a few “making of” details.
Hugs Prayers Love
I wanted to keep this card from being completely feminine, but not entirely masculine in nature. The grays and greens provide the perfect combination for the die cut leaves and sprigs. I softened this card by the use of Soft Sea Foam (a very pale green) and a white bow.
The rectangle die was used twice in this card, once in Whisper White and a shadow in Basic Gray. I used the Stitched Shapes ovals to create layering for the sentiment, a great way to add shape variety to the mix. The sentiment ‘sending positive thoughts…’ was randomly stamped in soft green on the white rectangle background as a filler to the starkness.
Butterfly Friends
Petal Pink and Pool Party combine to make this soft and sweet color palette. The beautiful Designers Series Paper (DSP) is compliments of Parisian Blossoms from the January-June Mini Catalog. Did you know the DSP is double sided? The patterns in this card are the front and back of the same paper. I also used the Parisian Flourish Embossing Folder on the white cardstock for texture.
I stamped the butterfly image 3 times in Petal Pink and die cut each one. The butterfly accents were die cut in Pool Party. I gave the butterflies and sentiment a lift, with dimensionals underneath. In addition, I used the embellishments Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels and Petal Pink Metallic-Edge Ribbon, both so very pretty.
3 x 3 Mini
Small images and die cuts lend themselves well to small cards. In this 3″ x 3″ card, I heat embossed the feather stamp image in black powder before die cutting. I am a fan of sponging, so ink was liberally applied by sponge to all the features of this card in corresponding colors. Sponging really changes the finished look, so make sure you try it!
My bricks were created using the Brick and Mortar Embossing Folder in Cajun Craze. The antique copper embellishment is one of 3 colors offered in the adhesive backed Designer Elements pack. And the sentiment is found in the stamp set Itty Bitty Greetings, one of 32 optional phrases.
Share the Positivity
Putting positive thoughts, actions and tangible items into the world helps to make it a better place to be. Giving someone a card that lets them know you care is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Cardmakers know there is a lot of love in the details.
If you need any of the items featured in my projects to help you create positively, please visit my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net. For more inspiration, check out my additional post regarding the Coordination Product Release. Most importantly, share the positivity today!
