Month: January 2023

Gnome One Better Card

Gnome Card 1, using the Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set, gnome with flowers in his beard.

Friendly Gnomes Card Class, Card 1

Welcome to another weekly Card Class From ME! This time, I am featuring the Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set and Coordinating Gnomes Dies. I find it amazing that Stampin’ Up! was able to bring the Gnomes Dies back for another set of adorable gnome stamps!

In fact, I compared both stamp sets, the retired Kindest Gnomes (red rubber cling style), to the current Friendly Gnomes (photopolymer style) during my class. Watch the video here.

While there are 4 dies designed to cut out gnome shapes, there are only 3 gnome shapes in the current Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set. Each gnome has unique qualities (like our gnome with flowers in his beard!) and gives us a lot of cute options to work with.

Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set and Gnomes Dies.

Floating Eclipse Technique

While I like to pack my card kits with lots of cool elements for you, the Floating Eclipse Technique is something new to me. I thought these funky die cut circles would be the perfect backdrop for one of my gnome cards.

To begin, cut a piece of Vellum a little larger than your intended die cut. I used the biggest circle die from the Stylish Shapes Dies. I adore anything with a stitched edge!

Next, adhere strips of designer series paper, a half inch thick, to the Vellum. Be sure to leave a little space in between your dsp rows. Lastly, die cut your shape. This results in the look of “floating” dsp as the Vellum base fades into the background.

Floating Eclipse Technique.

Get To Gnome Your Card Kit

Let’s break down what your first gnome card kit holds in store, besides the awesome eclipse die cut circles.

Flowers & More Host DSP

This isn’t the first card class I have used this fabulous designer series paper, Flowers & More, on (see my previous card class here). I thought the bright and fun patterns in this paper pack would be perfect for my gnome card. Purple and posies just felt right for this gnome with flowers in his beard.

Flowers & More Host DSP.

Painted Texture Embossing Folder

I love adding an embossed piece to my card fronts. It is quick and easy, and provides great texture too. For this card from my Friendly Gnomes Card Class, I chose the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder. I didn’t want something too detailed or specific in pattern to compete with my flower dsp.

And by embossing with White Cardstock, it helps to provide a neutral spot for the background of what could quickly become a very busy card front.

The Star Of The Card, Our Friendly Gnome

With 3 different gnomes to choose from, how did I arrive at the gnome on this card? That was pretty easy! With my flower theme paper, I simply picked the gnome with flowers in his beard.

My favorite way to color stamped images, like this friendly gnome, is with Stampin’ Blends. Make sure you stamp you image in Memento Black Ink first, and add the color with a protected background behind it (like scrap paper), as the oil-based ink will bleed thru the paper.

Here is the color palette I used for my gnome:

HAT: Calypso Coral (Light and Dark)

SKIN: SU 800

BEARD: SU 200

FLOWERS: Light Daffodil Delight, Light Calypso Coral

SLEEVES: Dark Daffodil Delight

PANTS/SHOES: Dark Old Olive

Get Your Friendly Gnomes Card Class From ME

This is just one card in my featured class this week. If you would like to see the video from my online class, click this link. For more details on what is in this week’s class from Maine and how to get yours, click here.

I will be sharing more cards from the Friendly Gnomes Card Class, as well as my alternate cards and bonus cards, as this week goes on. Be sure to check back here or follow me, The Maine Stamper, on FaceBook.

Friendly Gnomes Card Class

Cards from the Friendly Gnomes Card Class.

Welcome to your weekly Card Class From ME! This week, I am using the adorable Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set. And lucky for us, the Gnomes Dies (from the July-December 2022 Mini Catalog) are still available to purchase and work great with the newest gnome stamp images.

Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set

Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set and Gnomes Dies.

I have to admit, although Gnomes are a huge fad right now, they are not my favorite thing. Now, don’t get me wrong…I don’t dislike them. I am just not “over the moon” for them like their biggest fans are.

But I do know many people who love the gnomes! And when we are creating our cards and projects, we are usually making them for someone else, not ourselves. So it stands to reason that I would work with the Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set so that I can make gnome lovers happy!

INSIDER TIP: Here is another secret about my “gnome” card class…you can easily substitute other focal images for the gnomes and still have the most amazing cards! Make sure you tune in for all my cardmaking tips and tricks.

Live Card Making Class On Monday

Every Monday at 8pm EST, I am live with your weekly card making class on my FaceBook page, The Maine Stamper. I create 3 beautiful cards and share tips and techniques along the way. This class serves as your tutorial when you receive your card kits in the mail and need to put them together.

Get Your Card Kits For Free

Card kits from the Friendly Gnomes Card Class.

Yes, FREE. You will receive 2 each of 3 card designs (for a total of 6 card kits!) when you place an order of $35+ (before tax and shipping) in my online stamping store using Host Code DYA7BFBR thru January 27, 2023. The card kits will be mailed on the Monday following the live class.

Want more details about what is in these kits? Check my blog post here for more info.

Get Your Embellishments For FREE Too

When you bump your order to $50 (before tax and shipping), I will send you the card kits AND a FREE pack of the embellishments ($8 value) I used on my cards. For the Friendly Gnomes Card Class, I used the Fun Flowers Resin Shapes. These fun adhesive-backed embellishments come in 5 colors: Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Fresh Freesia, Starry Sky and Parakeet Party.

Fun Flowers Resin Shapes Embellishments for the Friendly Gnomes Card Class.

Your Card Class From ME Awaits

The Friendly Gnomes Card Class will be featured during my FaceBook Live on Monday, January 23 at 8pm EST. I hope you join me to see how easy it is to put your card kits together. If you miss the live, catch the replay on FaceBook or my YouTube Channel, The Maine Stamper.

I look forward to getting your weekly card kits from Maine in the mail to you. And I know you will be looking forward to receiving them and creating gorgeous works of paper crafted art!

Something Fancy Bonus Cards

As I round out the week of the Something Fancy Bundle, I would like to share a few “bonus” cards! These are cards made with the bundle from my Weekly Card Class From ME, but are not part of the FREE card kits with purchase. They are simply more inspiration and card making ideas you may love.

Not sure how you can cash in on FREE card kits? Click here to get all the good details.

Flowers & More Designer Series Paper

I have been enjoying the Flowers & More Host DSP during my Something Fancy weekly card class. So I had to pull it out again for my bonus cards. This time I kept 2 things similar for each of these 4 very different cards:

  1. A Thick White Card Base
  2. A DSP layer that measured 3 x 4″ originally.

Bonus Card #1, With Sympathy

It is a sad fact of life that we make more sympathy cards than we would like to. The Something Fancy Stamp Set is rich in sentiments, (this post will tell you more about this stamp set!). And the sentiment that sends our deepest sympathy is a lovely one.

What I love about the Something Fancy Dies is that they are sized to layer or nest together. This way, you can have an outline like the one I used in my sympathy card.

I chose Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry and Early Espresso as my neutral colors for this card. I used the Bough Punch for 2 vellum leaves, and the Enamel Dot Essentials for subtle embellishments. My 3 x 4″ dsp is cut into thirds in length for this card.

Bonus Card #2, Happily Ever After

And they lived happily ever after! That is the best ending to a story. Now let’s talk about the story of how I made this card. I wanted a bright and fun pattern of designer series paper to start with. Next, I pulled colors from my dsp, like Tahitian Tide and Fresh Freesia to compliment it.

This time, I left my 3 x 4″ piece of dsp whole, but canted it at an angle. I continued to use angles for most of the card front elements. The Medium Daisy Punch is one of my favorite go-to’s when I need something quick and simple to add to a card.

After playing with these tag dies from the Something Fancy Dies the other day, I wanted to try a different topper cut out. In fact, I had some fun adding different colors of ink to my tags as well. I began with Crumb Cake Cardstock, added a little Tahitian Tide, then finished with Craft White Ink for an aged patina look.

Bonus Card #3, Everyday Magic

For my third bonus card, I wanted to use the sentiment “grateful for the everyday magic of you”. With a saying like that, this card had to also be a little…magical! Again, I kept my 3 x 4″ dsp fully intact.

With the red rubber style of the Something Fancy Stamp Set, the technique I used on my sentiment works perfectly! First, I inked the entire sentiment in Crushed Curry Ink. Next, I added Pumpkin Pie Ink to the middle portion of the stamp with a Sponge Dauber. Lastly, I added Sweet Sorbet Ink in the same manner.

The result of my stamped sentiment is a little magical, don’t you think?

Bonus Card #4, Good You Do

My last bonus card using the Something Fancy Bundle and Flowers & More DSP is the most monotone. I wanted green to go with my “good” style sentiment, and I did not add in additional colors.

Just like the other card bases in this series of cards, I chose white. I cut my 3 x 4″ dsp in half and placed it on my card sideways on a layer of Granny Apple Green Cardstock.

While using the dies from the Something Fancy Die Set, I chose the group of 3 that nest together. Because I wanted my sentiment die cut to be white so that I could stamp on it, I needed the middle die cut to be Granny Apple Green to match the other color of this card. That left the largest die to be white as well, which worked perfectly as a pop against the green background.

Something Fancy About All These Cards

I hope you have enjoyed my Something Fancy cards this week! If you missed other cards from this class, click this link to see the latest. You can also watch my class video by clicking here. Hurry, if you would like the Something Fancy Card Kits for FREE, time is running out!

I would love to know which card was your favorite this week. Be sure to come back and see me next week for another Card Class From ME.

Something Fancy Thanks & Hello Cards

2 cards made with the Something Fancy Bundle.

Something Fancy To Say

It’s time for a couple more Something Fancy Cards! For the last card in my weekly Card Class From ME, I finished using the Something Fancy Bundle with 2 themes in mind. One is “hello”. The other is “thanks”. Both are great reasons to send a card!

If you missed the other awesome cards in this week’s Something Fancy class, click here to see one.

Double Duty Embossing Folders

The thanks and hello in the background of my cards are actually embossed. I did this courtesy of the Thanks & Hello Embossing Folder 2 pack. These folders are small in stature, measuring just over 6″ long and @3.5″ wide.

Due to the layout of the words “thanks” on one folder and “hello” on the other, all in multiple languages and fonts, you will want to use these embossing folders in the landscape orientation.

Very Fancy Background Layers

I embossed white cardstock with the Thanks & Hello Embossing Folders for my cards. This way, I was able to add some ink color with a Blending Brush to highlight some of the words. It also brought out the color scheme for each card as well.

I continued my use of the Flowers & More Host Designer Series Paper pack, similar to the first 2 cards from this class. For these cards using the Something Fancy Bundle, I chose 2 patterns in 2 completely different colors: Fresh Freesia and Pale Papaya.

Both my Stylish Shapes Dies cardstock circle and the Something Fancy Dies sentiment assembly reinforce my chosen colors in purple and peach.

Something Fancy To Finish With

Fancy Sentiments

There are so many great choices in the Something Fancy Dies, it really is easy to pick a couple to layer together for your sentiment. I decided to heat emboss each sentiment from the Something Fancy Stamp Set with White Embossing Powder on color cardstock.

Because my colors are soft and pastel in nature, white embossing isn’t the boldest choice. To adjust my sentiments so that they were easier to read, I added like-color ink to each die cut. The embossed sentiment resists the added ink, while the cardstock surrounding it deepens in color.

Fancy Embellishments

No card is complete without a little ribbon or bling. Since Fresh Freesia and Pale Papaya are both In Colors, there are matching styles of ribbon available in each color. I folded over my Open Weave Ribbon instead of creating a swoosh or a bow.

And lastly, I added something fancy in the way of Pearl Basic Jewels. The pearls made an appearance on each of my cards from this week’s Card Class From ME!

Get Your Something Fancy Card Class From ME

If you think my Something Fancy cards are amazing and would love to create these same cards at home, I have just the thing. My weekly card classes feature not only a live assembly demonstration (video replay available to watch anytime after!), I also offer card kits with PDF card recipes, mailed to you from ME.

You can learn more about how my weekly card classes are structured by clicking here. The order process to qualify for the FREE card kits (6 total, 2 each of 3 designs) closes at end of day on Fridays. Missed this class? Come back to see my next one, new every week!

Something Fancy Birthday Card

Finished Something Fancy Birthday Card.

Something Fancy Card Class, Card 2

As my Something Fancy Card Class continues, I am turning to vibrant, bold and more masculine colors. Each of the cards in this series uses the Something Fancy Stamp Set and Something Fancy Dies.

This card really is the opposite of my first card in this class. To see something in floral purples and pinks using the Something Fancy Bundle, click here.

Some Pretty Fancy Colors

Just like my first card in this weekly card class, I am continuing to use the Flowers & More Host Designer Series Paper pack. This card is clearly the “more” in this huge collection of lovely 12 x12″ papers.

When I chose the designer paper to use for this masculine themed card, I also picked the color palette to match. That is one of the best things about Stampin’ Up!: color coordination is so easy!

I started with a Starry Sky card base, and layered in Parakeet Party, Basic Black and Tahitian Tide.

Layering Diorama Dies

Layering Diorama Dies

I have to admit, it took me a long time to even want to purchase the Layering Diorama Dies. At first, I was not a fan of the unusual blob-like shape. But, after seeing some amazing samples being made with these dies, I decided I had to have them, too!

I die cut my Basic Black layer first. Next, I ran my die cut piece thru my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine using the brand new Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder.

PRO TIP: die cut first and emboss second.

Some Fancy Black Pearls

Coloring pearls with a Sharpee marker.

The Pearl Basic Jewels come in white. But sometimes, you want something other than white to use as an embellishment. This is where a little creativity comes into play!

Did you know the pearls can be colored? One way to do so is to use any color Sharpie marker you have. This ink will transfer permanently and dry true to new color. Another option is to use the Stampin’ Blends.

PRO TIPS: color the pearls on their original sheet; circle around the bottom for complete coverage; let the ink dry for a few moments before using the newly colored pearl on your project.

A Fancy Belated Birthday Greeting

Sentiment options for the Something Fancy Birthday Card.

It is easy to find a sentiment in the Something Fancy Stamp Set! Likewise, it is easy to find dies in the Something Fancy Dies to use with your sentiment. What is difficult is actually deciding what color inks, cardstock and layering dies you want for your card.

I actually made up 4 different combinations of my sentiment before I made up my mind for the finished card. The picture above shows all the directions I was creatively going in!

Get Your Something Fancy Card Class From ME

This is just one more card in my featured class this week. If you would like to see the video from my online class, click this link. For more details on what is in this week’s class from Maine and how to get yours, click here.

I will be sharing more cards from the Something Fancy Bundle as this week goes on, so be sure to check back here or follow me, The Maine Stamper, on FaceBook.