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Splendid Day Online Class

October 26, 2022

The Splendid Day Suite

It’s always a splendid day when we get to do some stamping! I really enjoyed breaking out the Splendid Thoughts Stamp Set and Splendid Stems Dies from the Splendid Day Suite for my latest online card class.

While there are many items in the Splendid Day Suite, I did not use all of them. In fact, with this very fern-y based stamp set, I did not even use the color green. The Splendid Thoughts Bundle is featured in all 3 of my class cards. Check out my video for the class here.

Splendid Day in Night Of Navy

A Night of Navy card using the Splendid Thoughts Bundle.

My first card from the Splendid Day Online Class is all blue and white. I adore this classic color combo. The Designer Series Paper, Sun Prints, gives us something beautiful to work off of immediately.

I prefer the Thick White Cardstock when choosing a white card base. I also love lots of matting and layers. This card was really very easy to put together. The stamping is not two-step, even though it appears it might be. The outline and inner fill do not line up exactly at all.

Splendid Masculine Christmas Card

A masculine Christmas themed card from the Splendid Thoughts Bundle.

My second card from the Splendid Day Online Class took a more masculine turn. I chose some DSP from Painted Christmas, picking out a pine cone pattern. The Distressed Gold Specialty Paper added an elegant touch as well.

After heat embossing my fern outline with gold powder, I did a little water coloring using ink refill and a Water Painter. I did this on Very Vanilla Cardstock, not Water Color Paper or Shimmery White Cardstock. And the Stitched Rectangle Dies helped to bring this card together.

Let’s Celebrate a Splendid Day

A card made in purples using the Splendid Thoughts Bundle.

My third and final card from the Splendid Day Online Class is done in purples. The shiny Fresh Freesia DSP is from the Splendid Day collection. I paired this with some Rich Razzleberry embossed in none other than the Fern 3D folder.

This card features a lot of special touches, like some background stamping with first and second generation ink, as well as silver Metallic Mesh Ribbon. I used Rhinestone Basic Jewels to add another accent of silver.

Get Your Card Kits From This Class!

With a qualifying order over $35 in my online store using the Host Code BPR9P77S from October 24-30 2022, I will send you a set of card kits (1 of each design, 3 total) that you can use to recreate these cards at home. Your cards will be easy to put together- I will do all the cutting, die cutting and embossing (but no stamping).

If you miss out on this online class, just look for another one coming soon! You can also see my previous online class here. Join me on Monday evenings at 8pm (EST) for a live class on my FaceBook page, The Maine Stamper. Or watch for my YouTube videos posted shortly after, the The Maine Stamper channel. Hope to see you there!

Color swap cards one in Night of Navy and one in Calypso Coral and Cajun Craze.

I love to create a color swap card, and couldn’t resist trying my Night of Navy card (made with Sun Prints DSP) against a Calypso Coral/Cajun Craze card (made with Pretty Prints DSP). Many of the patterns on both of these sets of Designer Series Paper are identical in design, but vary in color. Which one do your prefer?

Christmas Lights Online Class

October 19, 2022

Christmas Lights

I am ready to switch gears and really start making Christmas cards! For this online class, I chose to focus on 2 bundles from Stampin’ Up!’s July-December Mini Catalog. You can watch the video on my YouTube channel here.

It is not often I showcase 2 different bundles for the same class. But in this case, one bundle, the Christmas Lights Bundle, had image stamps only. There are also some great dies, check them out here!

The second bundle I used is the Brightest Glow Bundle. This one coordinates perfectly with the Christmas Lights Bundle. And this time, the stamp set is made up of completely sentiments. Now you can see why I had to use both!

The Green Card

Green is my favorite color, and perfect for Christmas trees. It was really easy to make my first class card. I also relied on the 6 x 6 Lights Aglow Specialty Designer Series Paper. What makes it special? All the gold accents built into one side of each sheet. You will see the opposite sides of this pretty paper used below.

I chose the Wintry 3D Embossing Folders pine bough selection for this card design. Don’t you think it is classically elegant on the Evening Evergreen cardstock? For each of my Christmas trees, I stamped in VersaMark Ink and heat embossed with Gold Embossing Powder. I made the bows with Evening Evergreen 3/8″ Open Weave Ribbon.

Christmas Trees In Red

Of course, traditional Christmas colors are red and green. And Cherry Cobbler is the featured “red” color in the Lights Aglow DSP. My second card for this class relied heavily on red!

Christmas tree cards in red with the Lights Aglow Suite

I just love how cheerful these cards are! The DSP plays a big role here. Not only have I used it for a layering mat, I die cut my tree using DSP too. The garland is built in to the paper design! I chose the Gold & Vanilla Satin Edged Ribbon to create a bow for the top of my Christmas tree. And lastly, the Festive Pearls in gold add an additional rich touch.

Not A Christmas Tree Card

For the last card in this class, I decided to focus on the sentiment from the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. The best part about this fabulous red and green card? You can create it in either the landscape or portrait position. I love how this design works like that!

Class Card 3 featuring the Lights Aglow Suite

For this card, I also used the Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder. I have covered the smooth rectangle middle section with more paper layers. My Gold Glimmer Paper die cut snowflake is cut in half and adhered to either end of the DSP for extra fancy bling!

Get Your Card Kits From This Class!

With a qualifying order over $35 in my online store using the Host Code 9M49JB9V from October 17-23 2022, I will send you a set of card kits (1 of each design, 3 total) that you can use to recreate these cards at home. Whether you are using the Christmas Lights Bundle, the Brightest Glow Bundle, or different stamps and dies, your cards will be easy to put together- I will do all the cutting, die cutting and embossing (but no stamping).

Another version of my green Christmas tree card! For this version, I stamped and heat embossed using gold powder before die cutting both the outside edges and the inner details…there are little cut-away dots that create a sweet garland.

Who Wore It Better? Green or Red? You decide!

Rustic Harvest Online Class

October 12, 2022

Rustic Harvest

Autumn is in the air, and the Rustic Harvest Suite is perfect for celebrating fall! In fact, this elegant set transitions from September thru Thanksgiving with its timeless stamps, dies and more. Take a closer look at the cards from this online class., or watch the class here.

Clean and Simple Pumpkin

For my first card, I chose to work with the Rustic Pumpkin Dies to create my pumpkin. If you look closely, you can tell that the pumpkin body is made up of 2 different dies and adhered together. I used a Blending Brush and some Cajun Craze Ink to give my pumpkin a little color.

And speaking of color, most of this card is Very Vanilla. I also used the Stitched With Whimsy Dies to add background interest. I heat embossed the sentiment from the stamp set Hello Harvest in gold embossing powder. My accent trim and embellishments also shine with golden tones.

When you are heat embossing, rub the Emboss Buddy Anti-Static Pouch over your cardstock before stamping your image in VersaMark. And if you have any stray bits of unwanted powder, use a small, dry paintbrush to carefully remove the powder before heat setting.

Designer Series Paper Card

This lovely flower card on Merry Merlot was so easy to put together. The Rustic Harvest Designer Series Paper is my focal point, so the only thing I had to stamp was my sentiment. I chose white embossing powder on black cardstock because I wanted the “chalk like” effect of the paper to continue.

Do you love this banner die cut from the Rustic Pumpkin Dies? It adds a grand flourish without effort. Another effortless part of this card is the embossed texture from the Leaf Fall 3D embossing folder. By the time I put all these amazing elements together, the only thing I needed to add was the pearls!

For the Love of Leaves

During my live class, I always save the most detailed card for last. And this one is a spectacular way to end the Rustic Harvest Card Class. Again, I pulled paper from the Rustic Harvest collection and chose colors to match. The deep Mossy Meadow helps to tone down a traditional red, orange and yellow leaf card.

Speaking of leaves, I really gave this oak leaf stamp from the Hello Harvest Stamp Set a good workout. I stamped around my card base before adding on my layers. And I used the matching leaf die to cut out additional Mossy Meadow leaves for accents. Of course, I had to add some colorful fall leaves in too. And this sentiment is heat embossed in copper powder.

Get Your Card Kits From This Class!

With a qualifying order over $35 in my online store using the Host Code from October 10-16, 2022, I will send you a set of card kits (1 of each design, 3 total) that you can use to recreate these cards at home. Whether you are using the Hello Harvest Bundle or different stamps and dies, your cards will be easy to put together- I will do all the cutting, die cutting and embossing (but no stamping).

Who Wore It Better? Very Vanilla with Cajun Craze or White with Tahitian Tide? You decide!

Potted Geraniums Online Class

October 5, 2022

Potted Geraniums

No matter the season, online classes and flowers are timeless. I combined both in my latest class, which you can watch here. And as you can see from my collection of Potted Geraniums cards, not all geraniums have to be red or pink.

Potted Geraniums In Purples

I find that most papercrafters are passionate about the color purple. Which makes sense to me! With the Geraniums Dies, these flowers in shades of purple seem more like lilacs or even hydrangeas.

For my first card of the class, I did a lot of die cutting. This is always better than a lot of fussy cutting, so make sure you pick up matching dies whenever they are offered.

When you bundle the Potted Geraniums Stamp Set and Geraniums Dies together, you will automatically save 10%. I also used the Deckled Rectangle Dies as a backdrop for my floral bouquet.

Leaf die from Geraniums Dies — This mysterious looking die is actually the background portion of a leaf and stem assembly…not a caterpillar or funny cloud.

Potted Petal Pink Geraniums

When I created my second card for the Potted Geraniums class, I continued to use designer series paper from the Host Rewards selection, Design a Daydream. The Petal Pink papers were soft and sweet, and embossing cardstock with the Twigs & Sprigs Embossing Folder made my tone on tone stand out.

In this card, I did some 2-step stamping. With the photopolymer stamps in the Potted Geraniums Stamp Set, you will easily be able to line up your stamps as well. First, I stamped the full pot image in Crumb Cake. Next, I stamped the partial pot image over the full pot image using Cajun Craze.

Traditional Potted Geraniums

For the last card in my Potted Geraniums Online Class, I chose very traditional colors: red and green. The designer series paper pack, Lovely In Linen, gave me a beautiful Evening Evergreen base to work with.

I did a lot of stamping with this card! Some of it was ink on coordinating color cardstock. Some of it was ink on white cardstock. It is fun to switch up the ordinary to make things extraordinary! And speaking of over the top…this Soft Succulent Satin Ribbon is divine.

Get Your Card Kits From This Class!

With a qualifying order over $35 in my online store using the Host Code FX2V76SX from October 3-9, 2022, I will send you a set of card kits (1 of each design, 3 total) that you can use to recreate these cards at home. Whether you are using the Potted Geraniums Bundle or different stamps and dies, your cards will be easy to put together- I will do all the die cutting and embossing (but no stamping).

If you miss out on this online class, just look for another one coming soon! Join me on Monday evenings at 8pm (EST) for a live class on my FaceBook page, The Maine Stamper. Or watch for my YouTube videos posted shortly after, on The Maine Stamper channel. Hope to see you there!

Color swapping on cards — Who Wore It Better? Pool Party or Petal Pink? You decide!

Trimming the Tree Bundle

September 28, 2022

Trimming the Tree Bundle

It may be September, but Christmas is coming! And while the best holiday of the year (in my opinion) is actually months away, the Trimming the Tree Bundle is expiring soon.

I hope this is not your first look at the Trimming the Tree Bundle. But if it is, plan to be amazed. There are so many good things in this “Perfect Partner” die set.

Perfect Partners September 1-30

We really are just days away from the Perfect Partners Die Sets end of sale. And while I have shared some of the other sets (click here to see one), I chose the jolliest bundle for last. First, lets take a look at the stamp set, Trimming the Tree.

Trimming the Tree Stamp Set

Whether or not you are creating Christmas trees, pine trees are universal. I love using pine trees in masculine themed cards. They also work well in a variety of other themes too! With the Trimming the Tree Stamp Set, 2-step stamping is very easy. The tree images do not need to line up perfectly in any way.

Tree Trimmings Dies

While the stamp set is available in the 2022-2023 Annual Catalog, the dies may only be purchased until September 30, 2022, or sold out (whichever event occurs first). I would hate for you to miss this big set of Tree Trimmings Dies! Not only do they cut out the stamped images, there are bonus dies that add texture or help you decorate your tree.

Some Assembly Required

For all the details and tips on creating this card, be sure to watch my demonstration here. Once I have shared my “Make It Monday” video, I love playing with color and making a new version of my card. Below, you will find the step by step tutorial in a fun new twist on color palette!

Trimming the Tree Card Recipe (original version)

Crumb Cake CS, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″, scored at 4-1/4″ for the card base

DSP (Sweetest Christmas), 3-1/2 x 5″

White CS, 3-1/4 x 4-1/2″

Assorted CS (Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Old Olive, Garden Green, Crumb Cake) 1-1/2 x 15/16″ each

Scraps: White for tree and sentiment piece, Crumb Cake for basket, Distressed Gold Specialty for star

12″ Real Red Ribbon

Please note, the color cardstock assortment will measure just over the white tag height. After you get to the top during assembly, flip the tag over and trim off the excess cardstock.

Additional Tools

In each of my cards, I chose a different embossing folder. For the Crumb Cake Card, I used the Timber 3D folder. When I did my color swap, I chose the snowflake pattern from the Wintry 3D folder set.

I love a great punch, and the Very Best Trio Punch is just amazing! With the 3 in 1 different punch options, I used 2 on my cards. One of these was the beautiful edge on my tags, and the other created the slot to pass the ribbon thru.

My 4 Step System For the Color Swatch

There are 4 steps to creating the “paint chip sampler” look on this card. If you work these steps in this order, you will find it easiest!

Emboss the white tag piece with your chosen embossing folder.
Stamp any imagery on the 5 colorful pieces of cardstock that will make up your sampler.
Glue the 5 stamped pieces of colorful cs to the white embossed tag. Start from the bottom and work up.
Punch the detailed edges at the top of the tag.

Once the white tag is complete, combine it with the DSP (punch the details on the top here too) and add the ribbon, making a bow. I liked this assembly added to my card front using Dimensionals.

Trimming the Tree with Details

After your tree is stamped and die cut, you need to add the basket to the bottom. Do you prefer the basket on the front of the tree, or from behind?

What tree is complete without some kind of ornaments? While I played with the Red Pearlized Enamel Effects Basics in my trial card, during my live demo I switched to Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels to make my tree sparkle.

And lastly, finish off your card with a simple sentiment. The die I used here does not outline your stamping. Therefore, I recommend you die cut first and stamp second. The photopolymer stamp set comes in handy for lining up the words.

Don’t Let This Christmas Sneak Up On You

While it may seem like Christmas is a long way off, now is the time to get this Trimming the Tree Bundle. Once the deadline is past, these Tree Trimming Dies will be gone forever. Pop over to my online store to get yours while you can….time is really running out!