Seasonal & Holidays

Rustic Harvest Online Class

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).

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!

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

Trimming the Tree Bundle

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!

  1. Emboss the white tag piece with your chosen embossing folder.
  2. Stamp any imagery on the 5 colorful pieces of cardstock that will make up your sampler.
  3. Glue the 5 stamped pieces of colorful cs to the white embossed tag. Start from the bottom and work up.
  4. 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!

Crafting Paper Shamrocks

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2 cards made using paper shamrocks

Green Shamrocks Wanted

Each year, as March 17th approaches, I am looking for ways to create paper shamrocks. Maybe you are like me, and don’t have much in the way of St. Patrick’s Day stamps or dies. But, that has never stopped ingenuity before! Let’s see how we can work around our lack of supplies to make amazing paper shamrocks.

Have A Heart

Any search for paper shamrocks on Pinterest will surely show you how to use heart punches to create your 3 (or 4) leaf clover. Consider yourself “lucky” if you have a heart punch that is just the right shape and size.

I find that a smaller heart punch or die will work better than one that is very large. After all, clovers are small in stature. When you punch out 3 or 4 hearts, depending on your preference, consider sponging some ink along the edges. This will give your heart “shamrock” some instant depth.

When you assemble your hearts, you have the option to overlap them slightly. Another option is to just have the heart edges touching. I find it is easier to adhere my hearts together on the back of a punched circle shape that is roughly the size of my paper shamrock to be. You can always trim away any excess circle paper when you are done.

Shamrocks To “Die” For

Consider yourself very lucky if you have an actual shamrock die. Crafting up gorgeous paper shamrocks will only be a matter of choosing a pretty shade of green!

But what about for the rest of us? Are we only left with heart punches to make our paper shamrocks with? I challenge you to take a look at some of your flower dies…you may be surprised by what you see.

In fact, there are quite a few flower dies (and even punches) that can be used to create shamrocks. Now, they may not look exactly like a real 3 or 4 leaf clover. But with a little imagination, they will come pretty close!

Four Leaf Paper Shamrock

Die cutting a shamrock with Pansy Dies

Take this great sample shamrock, using Garden Green Cardstock and the Pansy Dies. I think we have a great 4 leaf clover and stem! And all from a die set that is used to make flowers.

Three Leaf Paper Shamrock

Paper shamrock using the Pierced Blooms Dies

Another die example is one that is used on my finished card above. This paper shamrock comes from the Pierced Blooms Dies. I wanted to create a very unique look, so I chose a selection of Pear Pizzazz from the You’re A Peach Designer Series Paper Pack. Next, I die cut the stem in Mossy Meadow Cardstock for contrast.

I wanted my paper shamrock to have 3 leaves instead of 4, so I used my Paper Snips to cut away a section of the flower. Because there are pierced lines in this die cut, I was able to easily follow along the edge when cutting.

Using a marker to add lines to my die cut paper shamrock

And lastly, I used my Mossy Meadow Stampin’ Write Marker to add some line definition to my paper shamrock. Every little bit helps this flower turn into a sweet clover!

St. Patrick’s Day Sentiments

Now that you are looking at your flower dies in a new light, it is time to do the same with your sentiments. Once again, you may not have a “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” saying handy. The Word Wishes Dies have you covered though. Among the words of the major holidays, you will find “Happy” and “St. Patrick’s Day” as well.

Word Wishes Dies spelling St. Patrick's Day

More Than March 17th!

Maybe you are looking to use paper shamrocks for occasions beyond the typical March 17th date. After all, wishing someone good luck or well wishes in general occurs all year long! I have compiled a list of the current Stampin’ Up! stamp sets that may have just what you need to express fortune to your card recipient.

Lucky To Know You!

How lucky is the person who is on the receiving end of your card making? Whether you are wishing someone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, or sharing good luck wishes, the care and love you put into your card will surely show.

As you look for ways to craft up some paper shamrocks, be sure to view your supplies in a new light. And if you are still coming up empty, check out my online store for some of the items I have used here. I consider myself lucky to have you as a wonderful customer and fellow papercrafter.

Finished card with a paper shamrock using Pierced Blooms Dies