Who doesn’t love savings? Stampin’ Up! is running a flash sale on select stamp sets. But here’s the catch: this sale lasts only 24 hours.
Mark your calendars now for September 23, 2020. From 12 AM to 11:50 PM (MT) online, or 7 AM to 6:50 PM (MT) by phone, you can save 15% on photopolmer and cling stamp sets.
To see the complete list of stamp sets on sale, click here. There are 60 stamp sets in English, more if you create with additional languages. That equals a great amount of stamp set variety for an awesome savings!
Make a list and check it twice. Plan to purchase for yourself, or start that holiday shopping early. With these savings, it is easy to gift your family and friends with stamping goodies (or send that special someone your wish list to shop from!).
My online store (click here) will have a special category on September 23 titled “Stamp Sale”, and will list all the items on sale for the day. This will make shopping easy and convenient.
Sales like these don’t come along often, so be sure to take advantage of this stamp set sale. I know I will be!
Beginner to expert card makers, this fall card making kit is for you! Sign up to receive your card making kit in the mail and you will soon be assembling 8 beautiful autumn themed cards. In the comfort of your own home. At the time of your convenience.
Unable to make it to a Fall Stamp Camp? Don’t have tons of dies, punches, or embossing equipment? Missing copious amounts of fancy paper and embellishments? Or maybe you just want to save time but still create complex looking cards, homemade from the heart. I have you covered!
Features of the Card Making Kit
You will receive card bases and envelopes, plus numerous components to assemble 8 individual and unique cards. I designed each card layers deep, adding rich interest and value. Whisper White or Very Vanilla card inserts are provided for dark card bases. This is not a kit that contains repeats of the same designs!
There is no need to purchase or own specific stamping products to go with the making of the cards in this kit. Everything is included to make 8 A2-size (5-1/2 x 4-1/4″) complete cards. You supply the adhesive.
All of the hard work is done for you. You just need to assemble the cards! The Fall Card Kit contains die cuts (intricate die cuts come with adhesive sheet backing for adhering ease), punched pieces, designer series paper, heat and dry embossed designs, embellishments and non-Stampin’ Up! stamped images.
Included with the Fall Card Kit is a PDF download that contains directions and step by step color picture assembly for each card. Alternate ideas are provided to encourage your creativity.
Fall Card Themes
The cards in the Fall Card Kit are wonderful to celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving. But they would also be fantastic birthday cards, thinking of you cards and thank you cards.
As you assemble your card kit, you have the option to change features, swap parts and pieces, and create just what you need for your card giving occasion.
Order Your Fall Card Kit Today!
Submit your request for a Fall Card Kit here. The cost of the card making kit, PDF instructions and priority mail shipping via USPS is $39.
Fall Card Kits will begin to ship on September 18, to arrive in time for your fall card needs. You will receive the directional PDF attachment separately, by email.
Early Bird Special: the first 8 customers who order the Fall Card Kit will receive a FREE Bonus Gift in their card kit package.
The Fall Card Making Kits are limited, so please don’t miss out. Due to shipping fees, this offer is only valid in the United States.
Current social distancing practices make it hard for employees and demonstrators of Stampin’ Up! to gather for a good cause. But not impossible!
The world is suddenly virtual, and we continue being social online to connect. It is also still possible to donate our time and effort into making products to serve others. So, for this years Day Of Service, Stampin’ Up! did just that, and shared sunshine abundantly!
On May 21, 2020, cardmakers spent time creating, together from their homes, using the Share Sunshine PDF Download (from the COVID-19 Give-Back, see more here), and a specific designer arrangement. The ingredients needed were simple: card bases, designer series paper, the digital stamp set, embellishments of choice and adhesive.
In an effort to make and send (or donate) cards to loved ones, frontline workers, nursing homes, hospitals and churches, Stampin’ Up! provided each employee with the Share Sunshine PDF Download and contributed $12 per employee as part of their COVID-19 giveback. This resulted in a company donation of $5,820 for Day of Service!
Demonstrators, like me, and Stampin’ Up! customers joined in the global craft party. It was wonderful to have a basic recipe to follow to cut the DSP, and I am sharing it with you, so you can try this with any 12 x 12 paper you have on hand! Using the cuts as indicated, a full pack of DSP will net you enough pieces for 100 cards!
Designer Series Paper 12×12″ Recipe
From one sheet of 12×12″ paper, you will cut 6 @ 5 x 3 3/4″, 2 @ 5 x 3/4″ and 4 @ 2 x 3″. The samples in image #2 show the three different cuts applied to the card bases.
My Day Of Service Cards
I chose to work with the Bird Ballad DSP, item # 149592. It is currently on the retirement list, and on sale for $8.05 (originally $11.50). I pulled card bases in the core colors listed on the back of the Designer Series Paper pack.
The coordinating colors used for my card bases were: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Petal Pink, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede, and Whisper White.
FUN FACT: Not only are the coordinating colors listed on the designer series label, they are listed in alphabetical order.
Once I had my card bases, it was easy to cut the DSP in sizes according to the recipe. Then, I lined up the patterned paper to the cardstock base that I thought matched best.
Next, I grabbed my Share Sunshine PDF printed stamps and some punches. I focused on the sentiments that could be used at any time, for any occasion, leaving the “social distancing thoughts” behind. Keep in mind, you can replicate this procedure with any stamps you have!
Some of my sentiments were punched out, while I used my Paper Trimmer on others. I did pull out the occasional scrap of cardstock to add to my cards, as I am a layering kind of cardmaker by nature. I also used washi tape, ribbon and adhesive-style embellishments to dress up my cards.
Adding Punch Layers
I wanted my punched sentiments to stand out, so I decided to add a color base behind them. To do so, I simply punched cardstock in my color of choice with the same punch used on the sentiment. Next, I cut the color ‘background’ punched piece in half. This doesn’t need to be perfect, as only a small bit of it will be seen.
After the punched piece is cut in half, I attached glue to the back of the sentiment top and layered one of the colored halves behind it, letting the color show beyond the sentiment piece. I did the same steps with the bottom. Here is my layering at the half-way point:
The Finished Cards
These cards were quick and easy to put together! The hardest part was deciding which side of the designer series paper to put facing up (each side has a different pattern). Take a look at my results:
As you can see, I used many of the same sentiments, but in different font colors from the Share Sunshine PDF Download. By changing the card base color and the DSP, each card is very unique. And the range of elegant to masculine to just plain fun is amazing! All this from one pack of designer series paper…
Get Some Sunshine Today
Sunshine makes everything so much better, so using this term to send love is as natural as the sun itself. I know that when I send a homemade card to someone, it makes me feel good. And when I receive one from someone else, I feel even better.
What could be nicer than sending some sunshine to someone you love today? Make a card, send a card. It really is that simple. My online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, is always open if you need some basic supplies.
And it’s not too late to sign up for a very special Paper Pumpkin Kit, titled Share Sunshine. It will come in a bright yellow box, with a label to turn it into gift packaging. Make and send the cards, you get to keep the stamps and ink included. For more info, or to sign up, click here. Just be sure to do so by June 10, 2020 or earlier (some kits sell out before the cut off date!).
This kit will make 8 cards. The coordinating colors are Basic Black, Bumblebee, Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Shaded Spruce, White and Gold.
Let’s keep the sunshine rolling! Share your cards on social media using the hashtags #ShareSunshine and #SUDifferenceMaker. The world truly is a brighter place for our efforts.
My latest card exchange just took place! In April, while the showers fell around us and we gathered in our crafty places, flower cards were being made. All this, in an effort to share sunshine and exchange a flower card with a fellow papercrafter.
This exchange was similar to my Val Pal Card Exchange for heart themed cards in January/February. The directions were simple yet again. First, make a card with a flower on it. Next, mail it to me with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Lastly, receive another card-maker’s work in exchange. So fun to swap, even more exciting to see what flower cards everyone came up with!
The Flower Cards
Without further ado, let me introduce the flower cards of May, and delve into the intricate details of each!
Isabella’s Card
Isabella started with a round card base, from a previous Paper Pumpkin kit, that is silver-light blue (blue is her favorite color!). On a punched out pink heart, she drew a lovely flower design, coloring with markers.
The inside of Isabella’s card tells the story. April showers bring May flowers is her theme, with plenty of stormy clouds and rain in April, and beautiful spring flowers, triumphant in May. Besides flowers, Isabella loves to draw dragons. Her card is a masterpiece in art!
Ginny’s Card
The sentiment on Ginny’s card, “you can do it” is so encouraging! As is the bright Daffodil Delight yellow of her fabulous card. The delicate lacy overlay provides an exceptional back-drop for the bright pop of posy.
The leaves on Ginny’s card are stamped and die-cut. The flower is multi-layered, in the die cuts of designer series paper and stamped image, as well as punched cardstock. The center of her flower is a lovely pearl. Altogether, this flower card gives off feel-good positive sunshine-day vibes!
Dolores’ Card
Dolores used the Tulip Builder Punch (one of my favorites!) for her flower garden. The beautiful colors, yellow, red and pink, portray these tulips perfectly. She used a white gel pen to create outlines and dots, creating unique patterns on each one.
The spring green card base and layering piece are corner rounded on all four sides. Dolores’ flower stems and leaves are hand-drawn and colored, a perfect shade, complimentary to the card base. The sentiment, in red, is sweetly placed above the flowers. This card captures the essence of spring in the best possible way!
Jane’s Card
Even though Jane’s card is blue, it certainly doesn’t make us feel that way! Her card base is created with the retiring In Color, Blueberry Bushel. Jane hand-stamped flowers directly, then stamped off for the patterned background.
The leaf sprig on Jane’s card is die cut, with intricate vein detailing. Her gorgeous blue flowers were punched from cardstock and then shaped and curled by hand. The center of each flower is a carefully placed golden seed pearl. This card is such a lovely rendition of the classic blue and white combination!
Linda’s Card
Linda used the popular March Paper Pumpkin kit, No Matter The Weather, to help her create her exchange card. To the adorable girl in the rainboots with the umbrella card front, Linda added some additional, cheerful rainboots, using dimensionals to add depth. She hand-stamped a flower and flourish swirl, popping a perfect pink heart in the center of the latter.
Linda continued her floral theme on the inside, creating two baskets overflowing with stamped and colored flowers. To the top, she added an additional die cut spray of flowers, using dimensionals to give it a lift. Her card has undeniable charm!
Alisa’s Card
Alisa created a card in fun and bright colors on a Crushed Curry card base! Her background lays the foundation, with hand-drawn flowers done in watercolor pencils. A wash of water softened the pencil lines and blended the pinks, yellows, oranges and purples wonderfully.
Alisa hand-stamped and punched the top flower, then watercolored it. The neighboring flowers were punched in pink cardstock. She added additional flowers in tiny stature randomly, and accented her card with yellow, orange and pink embellishments. This card is a real pick-me-up, happy day card!
Holiday’s Card
Holiday created her flower card, starting with a soft gray-blue base. She used excellent layering technique, starting with the yellow and white stripe design paper. Her next layer is done in bright yellow, covered in a variety of hand-stamped flowers that really draw the eye!
For her focal flower, Holiday added a soft orange watercolor washed die cut as a backdrop. On top of that, sits the fun, open-looped 5 petal flower, in a peachy orange color. The center of her flower is an adorable, perfectly sized yellow sticker. The color combinations used here are well chosen, making this card a complete joy to behold!
Steph’s Card
You may be looking at this card and wondering what this one has to do with flowers. Steph took a unique and quirky stab at this, for sure! The April Showers theme plays out well on the front, with a stormy Granite Gray card base and a dozen-and-a-half crystal raindrops. There is even a cloudy sentiment above the pile of (flower embossed, upside down heart) shaped poo that is sitting on die cut grass. But inside…
Steph suggests if life hands you, well, you know…Grow A fresh start. Make the best out of what you are given! The individual letters are hand-stamped in gradient rainbow colors before she die cut them. There are 6 daisy’s, each inked differently, then hand punched. The bees are from a Paper Pumpkin kit, as well as the silver foiled banner. Let’s remember that rain and fertilizer grow the best flowers. This is a laugh out loud, memorable card full of countless details!
Julie’s Card
I chose the stamp set, Grace’s Garden, and the coordinating dies, Garden Gateway, for my flower card. I wanted to create a fun-fold card that would accent the die cut garden gate, and the double easel fold card came to mind.
While it may look technically difficult, it is simple scoring, folding and layering. There was a lot of coloring and die cutting, as well as some sponging, to bring it all together. Tomorrow’s blog post will feature the card recipe and pictoral how-to of the making of this flower card, so come back for more details if you are interested in seeing how this card was created.
Friends Are Flowers In The Garden Of Life
My April Showers Bring May Flower Cards Exchange was so much fun! My request for you to join me in making a flower card for exchange gave me something to look forward to, as cards were received by mail.
Now, as I mail these cards randomly to the participants in return, you have the sweet anticipation of wondering which one of these cards will show up in your mailbox soon!
I truly appreciate all who took the time to participate and share their love of cardmaking with others. There is great joy in the simple sending and receiving of a thoughtful, homemade card! Please continue to craft, create, and send sunshine to others. Be the unexpected flower in someone’s day!
Look forward to the next card exchange, Fall For Cards, with a fall theme, coming this September. I hope to see your participating card, then! More details will follow later…
My Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set review is coming to its conclusion. We have covered purchasing the stamp set and donating to the COVID-19 charities in Part I. In Part II, I gave suggestions on printing and storing the digital stamps. And, each post has offered examples of cards I made using the Share Sunshine Digital Stamps, and insights of creation.
Today, I continue my tips on using the Share Sunshine Digital Stamps. I will also add some pros and cons of these kinds of stamps.
My Number One Tip
I have been learning how to best use digital stamps. And, I have discovered that crazily chopping up all the images is not the greatest idea.
In the included index for the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, there are recommendations as to which punches and dies will coordinate with the stamps. If you want to use some of them, you need enough paper surrounding your image to do so. Pre-chopping images may hinder the use of a die or punch.
Therefore, I highly suggest you carefully choose and then cut to suit your intended purpose. (Or, just print out more images. There is always that option, too!)
Other Great Tips:
Use your cutting tool to get straight lines. In order for you to to use dies and punches, you will be required to cut your paper.
You can also select an image from the file, then copy and paste to print single items. This will give you plenty of room to work with too.
Pros of Digital Stamps
You can print these stamps ahead, store them and use them quickly and easily. There are no limits to the amount of times you can print from your purchased file.
There are no stamping errors here. Gone are smears, shady outlines and crooked images.
I love that these stamps won’t fall off their blocks, or get lost in my crafting piles of creativity. No need to clean them up after using them.
Less inky fingers. I only say less because you may still be inking other stamps to go with these digital images. Still, less inky fingers.
Cons Of Digital Stamps
You aren’t actually stamping. We love to stamp, don’t we?
While the images come in options of black or color, the colors are pre-determined. You don’t get to chose a specific color.
You will need electric, a computer, the internet, a printer and most importantly, printer ink. Makes grabbing a physical stamp and ink pad sound easy, right?
The images are great, but…there are techniques that don’t work. For example, you can’t mask them to use partial images like you could with physical stamps. These won’t work for second generation or shadow images. You can’t heat emboss these images. I bet you can think of even more limitations if you put your mind to it!
Is There A Stamp For That?
There are so many occasions and thoughts, words and phrases that we, as cardmakers, want to express artistically. Digital stamps, like those found in the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, give us the opportunity to voice our feelings.
A digital stamp set is much less expensive than the typical red rubber or photopolymer, manufacturing costs are nil. And a digital stamp set has the ability to pack so much more imagery into the included offering. Space is not limited to a stamp case or two.
Digital stamps may be perfect for beginner crafters with limited supplies. After printing the stamps, they can be simply cut and added to cardstock. Maybe a little designer series paper and some ribbon complete the look, and you have yourself a card! Now, it’s time to share sunshine, by giving that card away…
Have Another Quaran-tini!
All the images on this happy hour card are part of the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set. The “martini” is a perfect example of an image that is not exclusive to social distancing. Long term value, there.
Old Olive was the perfect choice for my cardstock base, and Terracotta Tile embossed with the Eyelet Lace Embossing Folder helped mimic the martini olives. I added Crushed Curry to spice things up, and Old Olive Stitched Edge Ribbon as my embellishment.
A quick coloring job with my Stampin’ Blends make this beverage good enough to get a chuckle out of, without actually imbibing.
There’s No Place Like Home (For Now)
The Gray Granite color in the sentiment was replicated in my card base and Neutrals 6×6″ DSP. I wanted “home” to be represented in colors we associate with love: pink and red. Therefore, Blushing Bride and Poppy Parade moved into my neighborhood.
I created the houses using the retired stamp set, Holiday Home, and the retired dies, Homemade Holiday Framelits. When I culled my stamp stash for housing choices, they were indeed vast. In The City, Pop On By, Cozy Cottage and At Home With You were almost used.
As is my tendency, I like to use small strips of leftover cardstock as embellishment. I also punched 2 small hearts using a retired mini punch, to show additional love here.
Things I Miss:
News flash! There is a list of things I miss. It is actually a lot longer than this list, however we only have 5 1/2″ of vertical space to work with on our card front.
I chose the black image from the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, and kept this one on the dark side (much like the humor here) by using a black card base. I am a huge fan of newsprint type DSP, and I picked a piece from the Call Sail Away Collection.
This card is kept simple on purpose. The focus remains on the list of missed things. I want my recipient to know “YOU” are missed.
What A Year This Week Has Been
And how! We can all relate to this sentiment. I will use this one for any difficult times. I wanted to keep this card extra fun, so I used bright pops of color, Pretty Peacock as my base, and adding in Granny Apple Green and Gorgeous Grape.
The DSP is from the Brights 6×6″ Collection. My fair lady is from the retired stamp set, Just Kidding. She has wonderful opinions to share at any time. I did some great coloring of this image using my Stampin’ Blends.
I stamped the calendar images from the retired set, Project Life, Day To Day. This stamp set also has images of January-December, and Sunday-Saturday. If I could have incorporated more on my card, I would have. (I do have self-control issues from time to time in that regard.)
Share Sunshine!
Regardless if you purchase the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set or not, the important thing is to share sunshine. As cardmakers, this is easy to do. Make a card, mail it, and cheer someone up.
Digital Stamps may be a thing of the future. We could see more and more of them being offered by Stampin’ Up!. Taking the time to learn a little about them now will make it easier for you to decide if they are something you want in your craft arsenal.
As always, my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, is open for business. Get the supplies you need to create the sunshine you will be sharing. Someone will be very glad that you took the time to show them you care!
