Seasonal & Holidays Archives - PageThe Maine Stamper

Sweet Conversations Kiss Holder

January 17, 2022

Sweet Conversations

It’s time for some sweet conversations! As the winter days move along, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It is the perfect time to have that sweet conversation to let someone know you care.

Stamping and chocolate are two of my favorite things! You will find that these adorable Hershey Kiss holders are quick and easy to make. Plus, they are fun to give away. Whether you are filling a basket for a grab and go, or hand-delivering each one, your recipient will feel your love.

Sweet Talk Suite

There is an entire collection, called The Sweet Talk Suite, dedicated to Valentine’s Day in the new January-June 2022 Mini Catalog by Stampin’ Up!. For my project, I focused on the Sweet Conversations Bundle, which includes the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set and Sweet Hearts Dies. When you purchase both together, you save 10% automatically!

Sweet Conversations Stamp Set and Sweet Hearts Dies

The Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper is the perfect collection of pinks, reds and purples for my project. But lets not stop at traditional colors! So Saffron, Granny Apple Green and Pool Party are featured too. Two of the sheets contain heart images that you can die-cut with the Sweet Heart Dies (or fussy cut if you do not have the dies or a die cutting machine). And this collection of paper works well for a decorative kiss holder too.

Kiss Holder Bliss

These Hershey Kiss holders are tiny treasures made from scraps of paper. For each base, I cut a 1 x 4″ piece of cardstock in colors of my choice, using my Paper Trimmer. Next, I scored each cardstock strip at 1″, 2″ and 3″,using the scoring blade on my Paper Trimmer. Lastly, I added Tombow Mulitpurpose Liquid Glue to one of the 1″ end pieces, and secured my holder into a triangle shape.

Cardstock strips for the kiss holder base

*Designer Tip: If you are using glue, hold and press the end pieces together for a short time while the glue partially sets. You can also use Mini Glue Dots or Tear & Tape instead.

From here, you simply decorate your kiss holder. Insert a Hershey Kiss (they will fit snugly, but that’s okay since you don’t want it to fall out accidentally), and gift away! But let’s take a look at some decorating options next…

Start With The Bases

The heart of our kiss holders is the base. While it is true that the base measurement will remain consistent (see above if you missed that part), we can certainly change up our base appearance.

Embossing Folders

For the most basic base, use plain cardstock. Let the decorative piece you add to the front be the star of the show. But also consider embossing your cardstock for added flair. Creating texture adds an entirely new dimension to your kiss holder.

When you emboss your kiss holders, consider the image size of your chosen embossing folder. Because the holder is essentially a collection of 1″ squares, you will want to use folders that leave smaller sized impressions. I used Star Crossed Embossing Folder (retired), Meadow Moments Embossing Folder and Checks & Dots Embossing Folder.

For a visual check, hold a 1 x 1″ piece of paper against your embossing folder. Whatever you see in that square is what will be seen on each side of the kiss holder. If you are happy with it, emboss away!

*Designer Tip: If you are embossing your cardstock, wait to score it after the embossing is complete. If you emboss it first the score lines will diminish, making if difficult to find the proper scoring location.

Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper I

Earlier I mentioned the amazing Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper. Consider using pretty pattern paper as your kiss holder base. Patterns always add great interest and variety, and they will work well for our kiss holder bases too. Keep in mind that DSP is a lighter weight paper than cardstock, and will tear easier. Score lightly to avoid ripped pieces.

Just like the embossing folder pattern, be careful choosing the design for your kiss holder. Again, consider how each 1″ square will look. I find it is better to use smaller, closer together patterns rather than larger or farther apart patterns. Below, the pattern on the left would not work well. The pattern on the right is perfect!

*Designer Tip: When cutting your designer series paper for the kiss holders, watch for orientation. You will want to see your pattern running down the 4″ length from top to bottom as pictured below.

Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper cut into kiss holders

Add Decorative Accents

The really fun part about creating these Hershey Kiss holders is adding on decorative accents. There are so many options to choose from. If you are crafting with kids and want to keep it simple, think about using store-bought stickers on plain cardstock bases.

If you are an avid crafter, get crafty! You may want to place 3-D items like mini layered flowers, buttons with ribbons or large gems onto your base. For my project, I focused on the universal symbol of love…hearts.

Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper, II

Sometimes, Stampin’ Up! designs paper that coordinates with their dies, which means you can skip the step of stamping and just die cut an awesome image. With the Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper, this is possible too. There are several different sizes of heart images (for the different sizes of dies in the Sweet Hearts Dies), so you need to line up your die to find the right image to cut with your die cutting machine.

Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper and Sweet Hearts Dies

*Designer Tip: To prep your chosen heart for die cutting, use your Paper Snips to cut into the designer series paper around the hearts you aren’t using yet. That way you will be able to use the other full hearts in the future. Don’t have a die cutting machine or dies? You can fussy cut the hearts with your Paper Snips too!

Cutting the Sweet Talk DSP to prep it for die cutting

Stamping With White Cardstock

Similar to the look of the Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper, you can make your own hearts by stamping. I used the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set and a 2-step stamping technique for my hearts. Beginning with scraps of White Cardstock, I first stamped the words and outline in a darker ink color. Next, I stamped the filler heart in a lighter color.

My ink pad colors are Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape, Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay. Just pick 2 colors, one lighter and one darker, that coordinate together. Stampin’ Up! makes this easy to do with their color choices.

2-step stamping hearts with the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set

*Designer Tip: Stamp the outline image first. It is so much easier to add the filler color as step 2. These stamps are designed to not line up exactly perfect, which makes it easier for beginner stampers.

Stamping With Color Cardstock

Maybe you are looking for more colorful hearts? Simply repeat the stamping steps from above but instead of using White Cardstock, replace it with solid color cardstock. For my color cardstock, I selected the lighter version of my chosen colors, in this case Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Highland Heather.

Stamping with the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set on color cardstock

*Designer Tip: When using color cardstock, it is not necessary to add the filler color. I have examples of filled and unfilled hearts above, which do you prefer?

Sweet Hearts To Die Cut For

After you have prepped your Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper hearts or stamped hearts with the Sweet Conversations Stamp Set, it is time to die cut them. You will need the Sweet Hearts Dies and a die cutting machine like the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Cranking all these hearts thru one at a time is still faster than using scissors to do the job!

Die cut hearts uisng the Sweet Hearts Dies

A Simply Sweet Gift

Once your bases are assembled and your decor pieces are finished, it is time to put them together. For my project, I only decorated one side (the front), but you could double your accents and decorate the back side too! Again, the combinations of possibilities are only limited to your imagination.

Designer Series Paper Die Cut Hearts

Here is a look at the finished Hershey Kiss holders using the hearts die cut from the Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper and plain cardstock in Melon Mambo and Flirty Flamingo:

Finsihed kiss holders using dsp die cut hearts

Stamped With White Cardstock Hearts

Here is a look at the finished Hershey Kiss holders using my hearts stamped on White Cardstock with Sweet Talk Designer Series Paper bases:

Finished treat holders with hearts stamped on white cardstock using dsp bases

Stamped With Color Cardstock Hearts

Here is a look at the finished Hershey Kiss holders using my hearts stamped on color cardstock with embossed cardstock bases in So Saffron, Pool Party and Highland Heather:

Hearts stamped on color cardstock placed on embossed bases

It Started With A Kiss…

Wouldn’t you agree that these sweet kiss holders are just the sweetest? If you need any of the products that I used in today’s project, pop over to my online store. (You will have to buy your Hershey Kisses elsewhere though!)

*Designer Tip: If you love chocolate as much as I do, purchase your Hershey Kisses in bulk. They somehow disappear during the creativity process!

Keep this project idea in mind for other occasions besides Valentine’s Day. A sweet treat turns any ordinary day into an extraordinary day, especially when home-made love is involved. Enjoy!

Bright Baubles In Pale Papaya

November 24, 2021

In Color: Pale Papaya Part II

I was hoping that the Bright Baubles Stamp Set would come to the rescue. I struggled with great difficulty to create a card with this color combo: Pale Papaya, Merry Merlot, and So Saffron. On the color swatch book, these colors seem to blend quite nicely.

But, as I pulled out the papers and began to design, I just didn’t feel these colors clicking. Merry Merlot is a deep red-wine color, lending itself to Christmas. I wanted Pale Papaya and So Saffron to be gleaming, glowing bright baubles. In the end, I may have come up with the “ugly sweater” of Christmas cards! Let’s see how I got there…

Slimline Card

While I was creating an unusual color-combo Christmas card, I decided to also start with an unusual size card base, the slimline card. To see another slimline card in an unusual Christmas In Color, click here.

To begin, I cut my Basic White Thick Cardstock Base to measure 7 x 8-1/2″ with my Paper Trimmer. If your trimmer doesn’t have an extended arm for measurements, just cut 4″ off the 11″ length of an 8-1/2 x 11″ sheet of cardstock.

Cutting a slimline card base with the Paper Trimmer

After your cardbase is cut to slimline size, score the 7″ width in half, at 3-1/2″. The Paper Trimmer has both a cutting blade (the darker gray color) and a scoring blade (the lighter gray color). Be sure not to confuse the two!

Scoring the slimline card base with the Paper Trimmer

Bright Baubles Stamp Set

The Bright Baubles Stamp Set is an over the top larger than life Christmas ornament set, with 2 different shaped baubles. With a slimline card in mind, I wanted to use both images of the bright baubles. Because I intended to color my baubles in with Stampin’ Blends, I needed a dark Memento Black Ink outline.

Stamparatus to the rescue! Did you know that this amazing tool comes with a foam mat that is needed for photopolymer stamp sets, but removable for cling (red rubber) stamp sets? This is based on the thickness or height of the stamps themselves.

Bright Baubles Stamps on the Stamparatus

After 3-4 ink-ups and stamps using Memento Black Ink, I was able to get the dark outlines I wanted. I love using the Stamparatus when I know I will need to re-stamp an image. This tool makes it effortless to repeat stamp and not worry about lining up my stamp each time, exactly.

Bright Bauble stamped images using the Stamparatus — *** Use extreme caution keeping the 2 included magnets far away from each other. They may shatter if the strong magnetic pull attracts them together. Replacement magnets are sold separately.

Colorful Bright Baubles

Coloring the round bright bauble image with Stampin' Blends

These Bright Baubles are big images, which makes them fun to color. I say this as someone who doesn’t necessarily enjoy coloring. In keeping with my color theme of Pale Papaya, So Saffron and Merry Merlot, I pulled my Stampin’ Blends and got to work. To temper my color palette, I also added a touch of Pool Party and Soft Seafoam.

Coloring the fancy bright bauble image with Stampin' Blends

After I finished coloring in my bright bauble images with my Stampin’ Blends, I used the coordinating die set, Delicate Baubles Dies and my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to die cut them. Notice that the white surrounding edge of my die cut bauble is larger on one side? My die shifted during the cutting process, so I simply trimmed it a bit with my Paper Snips.

Die cutting the bright bauble images with the Delicate Baubles Dies

Merry & Bright

In order to make my card more merry & bright, I relied on the sentiment stamp from the Bright Baubles Stamp Set. I love to create background paper by stamping a fully inked word image, followed by a stamped off image. And then I continued the process with Merry Merlot Ink… repeatedly!

Creating a background paper with a sentiment stamp from the Bright Baubles Stamp Set

After filling my paper with merry & bright wishes, I added some soft color with my Blending Brushes. I started with So Saffron Ink at the top. As I moved to the bottom, I switched brushes and color, to Pale Papaya Ink.

Colorful Cardstock

With my Basic White Thick Cardstock base, I don’t have to worry about adding an insert to the inside of my card. This also gives me more freedom to add layers to the card front without the worry of additional bulk. I began with a layer of Merry Merlot Cardstock, then added my Merry & Bright stamped and shaded paper over that.

Remember the dies I used to cut my bauble images? I die cut two more in Merry Merlot Cardstock to place behind each bauble. By placing them slightly offset, this creates a shadow for my baubles. I also added a piece of So Saffron Cardstock and Pale Papaya Cardstock behind each bauble as I assembled my card.

Beautiful Bright Baubles

Just like Christmas ornaments, ribbon and embellishments make them incredibly beautiful. I added a bow to the top of each bright bauble, using Pale Papaya Open Weave Ribbon and some Mini Glue Dots to adhere.

Adding ribbon bows to the bright bauble stamped images

There are certainly lots of embellishments to chose from! After careful consideration, I chose the Artistry Blooms Adhesive Backed Sequins. These sequins come in a variety of colors, and the shiny faceted gleam of Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana and Rich Razzleberry blended perfectly. I used my Take Your Pick Tool for easy application.

Adding Atristry Blooms Adhesive Backed Sequins uisng the Take Your Pick Tool.

Ugly Christmas Card?

This card sat on my desk for almost a week, while I pondered its fate. I just wasn’t confident that I had used the color combo to the best of my ability. I worried that I had created…an “ugly sweater” Christmas card! Then, I decided that even if it wasn’t the most glamorous of cards, maybe someone would love it. Or at least laugh with me, as I determine that if there is a place for ugly Christmas sweaters, why not ugly Christmas cards?

During my 2021-2023 In Color tour, I have created many cards. To see another unusual Christmas card color combo, click here. And if I have inspired you to try your hand at a Bright Bauble Christmas card (ugly or pretty), be sure to pick up the Bright Baubles Bundle so that you save 10% automatically. My online store has everything you will need!

My In Color tour will come to a close with just one more card, so stop back in soon to see how this chapter ends…

Tidings & Trimmings In Soft Succulent

October 13, 2021

Finished Tidings & Trimmings Card using Soft Succulent, Rich Razzleberry and Mint Macaron

In Color: Soft Succulent Part I

Papercrafters everywhere are thinking thoughts of Christmas as October deepens. While I turn to another 2021-2023 In Color, Soft Succulent, I am thinking Christmas too.

This soft, calm green shade may remind you more of spring, but don’t let it fool you. I find that Soft Succulent can hold its own along with Real Red and Cherry Cobbler for festive makings.

In fact, for this card, my challenge is to use Rich Razzleberry, a tone that lends towards purple. Along with Rich Razzleberry, I am tasked to use Mint Macaron. Mint Mac and Soft Succulent are very similar shades, but I was able to work all three of these colors cohesively for my Tidings & Trimmings Card.

Snowy White

I adore the sweet stockings from the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set. You will discover two different designs to choose from. And the good news is, they both fit the same die from the Christmas Trimmings Dies.

With my stockings, I wanted to use some colorful cardstock as the base. Rather than just stamping ink on top of my Soft Succulent cardstock and Rich Razzlebery cardstock, I chose to heat emboss instead. First, I stamped the stocking image using Versamark Ink. Next, I sprinkled on white embossing powder and set the powder with my Heat Tool. Then I ran each stocking thru my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to die cut it out.

Stockings heat embossed with white embossing powder and die cut with the Christmas Trimmings Dies.

*TIP: While prepping your paper for embossing, attach the cardstock to a clothespin or clip first. Hold on to the clothespin rather than the paper to prevent the Heat Tool from burning your fingers.

To top off my stockings, I chose to use the tied ribbon bow stamp from the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set. Again, I used Versamark Ink and white embossing powder, then heat set my bows. I chose a Rich Razzleberry bow for my Soft Succulent Stocking, and a Mint Macaron bow for my Rich Razzleberry Stocking. The white embossing brings the look together and adds elegance too.

Bow ribbon from the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set, stamped in Versamark and embossed with white powder.

Paper Delight

Even though I looked high and low for some Christmas designer paper in Rich Razzleberry, I could not find any. Instead, I chose a neutral design from what could be considered a fall pack of paper, Blackberry Beauty Specialty DSP.

Blackberry Beauty Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Barely noticeable but significant just the same, is the tone on tone stamping on the Rich Razzleberry Designer Series Paper. I measured my paper to stamp the berry sprigs from the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set in Rich Razzleberry Ink. By stamping in just the right location, my design elements would be accented.

Stamping a sprig from the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set on the designer series paper using Rich Razzleberry Ink for tone on tone.

As a fan of adding a lot of layers to my card fronts, I started with a Thick White Cardstock base. The thicker cardstock really holds up to the task at hand! Next, I added a layer of Rich Razzleberry CS, followed by Soft Succulent CS. Then, came the pretty designer series paper.

My card layers in Basic White, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Succulent and the berry colored designer series paper from Blackberry Beauty Specialty DSP>

And to add even more texture to my card, along with the heat embossing, I chose to use the Snowy White Velvet Sheets. From the Christmas Trimmings Dies, I chose 3 different “sprig’ dies from the Christmas Trimmings Dies and die cut them from this fuzzy velvet paper using my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. These sprigs look adorable peeping out of the tops of my Christmas stockings. They also add a brightness to this card.

Die cutting holly sprigs from Snowy White Velvet Sheet using the Christmas Trimmings sprig dies.

Stamping Sentiments

I chose two sentiments to work with from the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set. The scripty “Noel” is a timeless classic. I wanted to keep it front and center, so I stamped it in Versamark Ink on Soft Succulent CS. After that, I heat embossed it using white embossing powder.

Heat embossing the sentiment "Noel" in white embossing powder with my Heat Tool.

Next, I used the sentiment “May your days be merry & bright”. Again, I stamped in Versamark Ink, but this time only used the ink as a watermark image. Against my Mint Macaron CS, it shows very lightly and subtly in the background. By using Versarmark Ink instead of Mint Macaron Ink (tone on tone), I was able to keep my sentiment light and simplistic.

Background stamping a sentiment image using Versamark Ink.

Tidings & Trimmings Together

I felt that my stockings needed a little holly. With the Christmas Tidings Dies, this was an easy fix. There are two holly dies, but you will end up with four individual holly leaves after die cutting. How awesome is that? I chose Evening Evergreen CS as a great complimentary green for this particular task.

Die cut hollly leaves in Evening Evergreen from the Christmas Trimmings Dies.

After adding my sentiment pieces to my card front, it was time to add my stockings and the trimmings. I glued the holly leaves and bows to each stocking first, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. This made it easy for me to later place the decorated stockings on my card front.

Adding the holly and ribbons to the stockings using Liquid Glue Adhesive.

My next step was a dry fit for the Snowy White Velvet die cut sprigs and my stockings. A dry fit is when you put elements on your card front without adding any adhesive. You can move parts and pieces around as you decide where you want them to go.

When I was happy with the sprig placement, I removed the stockings and taped the base of my sprigs in place. I prefer to use Tear & Tape Adhesive for jobs like this.

Adhering the Snowy White Velvet die cut sprigs with Tar & Tape Adhesive.

Next, I simply glued down my stockings over the taped down sprigs. The stockings interlocked just slightly in a natural position. You can see that they are off-set in height nicely too.

Adhering the stockings to the card front.

To complete my card, I chose to add a few Pearl Basic Jewels. With all the white elements on this card, these pearls look very natural. I find it easiest to place adhesive backed embellishments on my projects using the Take Your Pick Tool.

Adding Pearl Basic Jewels using the Take Your Pick Tool.

Soft Succulent Success

If you enjoyed this Christmas card using Soft Succulent and the Tidings & Trimmings Bundle, please stop by my online store for the supplies you need to re-create it. Did you know that by purchasing the bundle instead of adding the stamp set and dies to your cart individually, you will automatically save 10%?

For another Christmas style card using the In Color, Evening Evergreen, click here. I have also explored Christmas cards in Polished Pink and Fresh Freesia.

My In Color exploration will continue with Soft Succulent, so be sure to come back and visit to see my next color combos and creations! It is with great joy that I experiment with color and delight you with my efforts.

Finished card using the Tidings & Trimmings Stamp Set.