Hand Made Cards Archives - PageThe Maine Stamper

Birthdays Are For Everyone

February 5, 2020

Happy Birthday To You

Today, I am highlighting the Happy Birthday to You Stamp Set, FREE during Sale-A-Bration with a $50 order, and the Coordination Product Release, Birthday Dies. The coordinating dies are only available while supplies last.

This particular stamp set features a tiered cake decorated with flowers, complete with fancy cake pedestal. The sentiments cover solid reasons to eat cake: “Happy Birthday” and “celebrate”. Additionally, the phrase “To You” is included, and a stamp that could be used as sprinkles, confetti, or a shading accent.

Happy Birthday To You, #152308, 5 cling stamps

Birthday Fun Fact #1: The most celebrated date of birth in the world is Christmas Day!

Birthday Dies

The Coordination Product Release of the Birthday Dies makes cutting cake super easy! With the assist of your die cutting machine, you will have nice images of the cake on its stand, and separately, the trio of decorative flowers. An additional, larger cake stand as well as delicate leaves and sprigs complete the set.

Birthday Fun Fact #2: When your age and date of birth are the same, this is known as your “Golden Birthday.

Cards Created

I combined the stamp set and dies to make 3 uniquely different cards. Here are pictures of each with a little detail in the design process.

More Cake, Please

I love chocolate cake. And the more chocolate cake, the better. In this card, I expanded the cake to make it taller by stamping and die cutting 2 cakes and attaching an extra layer to the bottom. Each cake is made with Soft Suede paper and ink, and sponged to deepen the rich brown color.

Bring out the special cake stand for this beautiful baked goodness! I die cut the stand using Gold Foil Sheets. Stampin’ Up! sells foil sheets in black, champagne, copper and silver also. By removing the stamped cake stand with scissors, the die cut stand fits perfectly.

We eat with our eyes. This cake is made more appetizing with gorgeous floral decorations. I stamped the flowers on watercolor paper and heat embossed with white powder before aqua-painting in blue, green and yellow. In addition, the die cut leaves in Pear Pizzazz and sprigs in Daffodil Delight create volume.

Birthday Fun Fact #3: “Birthday Paradox” is the likelihood that out of 23 people, there is a 50/50 chance that two of them will have the same birthday.

Sepia Birthday Card

This elegant tonal card says “happy birthday”. But you could easily use the “celebrate” sentiment for a wedding or bridal shower card. Furthermore, by using only 2 colors (Very Vanilla and Soft Suede) the palette remains neutral and refined.

I stamped the cake on watercolor paper and heat embossed with white powder. After I die cut the image, the entire piece was aqua-painted in Soft Suede. A higher ink concentration for the cake deepened the color.

Sometimes, cards need a little lift. Stampin’ Up has numerous embossing folders to choose from to create texture. Here, I chose the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder and the Heirloom Frames Embossing Folder. Lastly, I attached the die cut cake and fussy cut sentiment with dimensionals for added stature.

Birthday Fun Fact #4: The month with the most birthday celebrations all over the world is…August. Runners up include calendar neighbors, July and September.

3 x 3 Mini

This little note card is dairy free, gluten free, calorie free and cake free. It is simply the die cut flowers! I stamped the image in memento ink and colored with a variety of Stampin’ Blends. The dies make it so easy to take the cake off the menu.

My mini card has spring color accents from Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron cardstock. I added elegance with a few adhesive pearls. The stamped sentiment “for you” comes from the set ‘Itty Bitty Greetings’, a perfect compliment to this teeny tiny card.

Birthday Fun Fact #5: More than 2 billion birthday cards are sent every year.

Get Your Cake Now

Say it with cake! With so many birthdays and celebrations taking place, this stamp set and the coordinating dies are a must have in your collection. You will be able to easily create wow projects in no time with this dynamic duo.

Contact me to discuss how you can earn these featured products for free. Or visit my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, to view additional cake making card supplies today. Someone you know is probably having a birthday soon, wouldn’t they love a homemade card?

Hey Lady!

February 4, 2020 2 Comments

Little Ladybug

The Coordination Product Release from Stampin’ Up! has officially begun. There are 6 new exclusive items that coordinate with products from Sale-A-Bration and the January-June Mini Catalog.

The exciting news: awesome products that make your projects stand out! The scary news: available only while supplies last, and may sell out quickly.

Today, I am highlighting the Little Ladybug Stamp Set, free to hosts with a $300 party during Sale-A-Bration, and the coordination release, Ladybugs Dies. This special stamp set is super adorable, with 4 images of cartoonish and colorable ladybugs, as well as a large flower, a line of 4 mini bugs and 7 sayings.

Little Ladybug, #152384, 13 cling stamps

Sentiment Stamps

Sentiments are important. When you purchase a stamp set that has cute images, you will always have cute. If you buy one that has great greetings or sayings, you hit the jackpot. Sentiments can be used in a variety of ways, not limited to their particular set. Let’s break these sayings down:

Basic Sentiments

Thinking of you. This is a great basic. I am thinking of you because…you are sick and I want you to be well. Miss you a lot. Things are tough for you and I care. So proud of you.

Thank you. Another essential basic. There are so many things to be thankful for, and a card is a great way to express it. Thank you for…my gift, your thoughtfulness, lending me comfort in my time of need, your much needed help.

Happy Birthday. This is probably the most used sentiment on the most commonly given card. It says it all: it’s your birthday! No need to expand on that.

Supplemental Sentiments

Spread your wings and fly. Here we go outside the box a little. This could be used for… congrats graduate. Happy promotion. Good luck on that move. I believe in you, encouragement.

You’re so sweet. This one goes in conjunction with a thank you card. It also works great for Valentine’s Day, Sweetheart’s Day, or to say “I love you.” Imagine it next to an image of candy or baked goods….mmmm chocolate.

You’re cute as a bug. Without doubt, this works great with the ladybugs, or any bugs. Consider it to welcome a new baby to the world, or perhaps a child’s birthday card. It could be used on Valentine’s cards also.

Hey lady! An opening for hello. How are you doing? What is happening? Just thinking of you. And again, perfect for ladybug cards.

Ladybugs Dies

Newly released, Ladybugs Dies, are the must have go with for this stamp set. Dies (used with your die cutting machine) will allow you to cut out your stamped image quickly, without the use of scissors. The dies included in this set work for each individual ladybug, the large flower and additional parts as well.

Ladybug Cards

I combined the stamp set and dies to make 3 uniquely different cards. Here are pictures of each with a little detail in the design process.

Lady In Pink

I featured the colors Flirty Flamingo and Poppy Parade for this card. Texture was added with the embossing folder, Beads and Baubles, on Whisper White cardstock. The plaid designer series paper is from the 6 x 6 stack in the Brights collection.

I stamped the flower and ladybug in Memento ink and colored them with Stampin’ Blends markers. After I die cut the images, I added them to the card with dimensionals to help them pop.

Gorgeous Grape Posy

This card is done in Gorgeous Grape, Basic Black and Whisper White. In addition to the Ladybugs Dies for the flower, I used the Stitched So Sweetly Dies for the rectangular shape.

Once again, the designer series paper is from the 6 x 6 stack in the Brights collection. This paper performs as a layering piece and as the flower petal heat embossed in black before die cutting. I have been longing to use the Tricolor Ribbon in purple, and this card features it seamlessly.

3 x 3 Mini Card

Little ladybugs + tiny card = great big fun! They say good things come in small packages. Did you know Stampin’ Up! sells 3″ x 3″ envelopes? This card will fit right in and make a sweet note.

I stamped the ladybugs in Memento ink and colored with Stampin’ Blends markers. The flowers were made using the Ladybugs Dies with Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie cardstock. The leaves and stem assembly from the dies are done in Garden Green.

This time I chose the embossing folder, Hammered Metal, for texture. This sentiment is from the stamp set Itty Bitty Greetings (so fitting!) and formed with the Classic Label Punch.

Don’t Miss Out

In conclusion, the Little Ladybug Stamp Set and coordinating product, Ladybug Dies, have lots to offer. Save these card images to Pinterest or share on Facebook. And don’t hesitate, make sure you purchase the necessary products to replicate my featured projects by shopping my online store https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, today.

Braided In Beauty

January 29, 2020 2 Comments

The stamp set, Beautifully Braided, is new to the Stampin’ Up! January-June 2020 Mini Catalog. With so much focus on other flower stamp sets and bundles, Beautifully Braided could be considered by some to be a bit of a sleeper. You can combine the purchase of Beautifully Braided with the Braided Border Punch for a 10% bundle savings.

Unlike most bundles, the stamp set can certainly stand on its own. Similarly, the punch does not specifically require the stamp set. The connection between the two is a single dotted stamp in the pattern of the punch design. Regardless, each component makes wow cards, and who doesn’t love a bargain?

*Full disclosure, I bought this bundle for the punch and fell madly in love with the stamp set. When in doubt on a purchase, you should always go for the bundle.

Beautifully Braided Bundle, Item #153821 https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net

Card Genre

I applaud a large stamp image that can be used frequently. This generous sized flower stamp from Beautifully Braided requires clear block f, the big daddy! Consider it for birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, congrats, Easter, Mother’s Day cards, and more. The sentiments are unique and refreshing, speaking to us of friendship and kindness.

Card Design

This flower stamp looks clean and crisp done in black and white. When you add color, you add endless possibilities. For you doodle fanatics- grab those markers, blends or watercolor pencils and go for it. Hello quick stamp and go peeps or newbies- this is designed for you. My technique freaks- heat emboss, watercolor, spotlight.

Stamp direct for a deeper color or stamp off for a subtle look. The filler stamp is not an exact match, so stamping is super easy- no perfect alignment needed for this artsy look.

Add additional color with blends or markers. Then tap the uncapped end of either with your bone folder over your stamped image. This creates a sporadic and delicate splatter effect.

Braided Border Punch

Border punches are not new to Stampin’ Up!. Yet the directive to punch, align and repeat can be tricky. It takes a little practice and patience to get it right. Therefore, I have a few tips that may help you in creating an awesome border.

Choose the correct paper size for the punch. Bigger is better!

Steady your punched paper as you align and punch again. Make sure the paper edge on the right remains flush against the punch lip (all the way to the back).

Are you still having trouble making perfect punched borders? A simple solution is to hide the imperfections. First, add ribbon thru the lattice style opening, then knot or tie a bow. Next, tuck the border behind some pretty top layers.

My less than perfect punched border. Coverups are in the works.

Make your border long and wrap the ends around the back when layering. Supermarket shortcut: secure with ordinary tape. No messy adhesive required in the front!

Sentiment Use

Do you love the sentiment, but have no room to stamp all of it? You should mask and condense. Here, I used the word “smile” from the stamp “your smile brightens my day”. Certainly you could stamp the complete version to the inside of the card for continuity.

No need to ink the entire saying, just the portion needed. It’s okay to get ink on surrounding words as long as you don’t go crazy, that’s where the next step takes effect.

Painters tape masks unwanted images, and removes easily from the block and stamp. Use the straight edge of the tape (not jagged) against your inked selection.

Align and stamp. The painters tape keeps unwanted ink off your project.

Colorful Cards

Above all, the beauty of the Beautifully Braided stamp set is its simple versatility. The Braided Border Punch can be used in limitless ways. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram as I share additional cards made with this great bundle.

Be sure to shop my online store and add the Beautifully Braided Bundle to your collection. Most importantly, start creating your own colorful garden projects. Share with others, and make them smile. You’ll be glad you did!