Card kit in the mail

Countryside Inn Mega Class, Part I

Countryside Inn Suite

Countryside Inn Mega Class, Part I

Welcome to your Countryside Inn Mega Class, Part I! This week, I am using the Countryside Corners Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. This bundle is a brand new release in the 2023-2024 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog. Missed the live card class? Click this link for the video replay!

Did you know that when you purchase a bundle, you automatically save 10%? When in doubt, buy the bundle. Nothing is more irritating than buying just the stamps or just the punch (or dies) and going back later to purchase the other half of the bundle.

Want to see another card class featuring a brand new bundle in the 2023-2024 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog? Click here.

The Countryside Corners Bundle

Are you looking for something that will go with absolutely everything when it comes to stamping and die cutting? If so, the Countryside Corners Bundle is perfect!

Countryside Corners Stamp Set

The Countryside Corners Stamp Set is cling red rubber. What may surprise you, though, is that instead of individual stamps for each rectangular cornered design, there is only 1 stamp in this set.

I shared some work-arounds on how to use this stamp set, along with the coordinating Countryside Corners Dies during my live card making class.

Countryside Corners Dies

I love good, nesting style dies. The Countryside Corners Dies are just that, too. Not only are you able to die cut the stamped images from the Countryside Corners Stamp Set, you can also use these dies with cardstock and other designer series paper as well.

Countryside Inn DSP

I just love the Countryside Inn Designer Series Paper! These gorgeous blue tones are peaceful and perfect, but on closer look they are also playful! Check out the critters that blend into the background of several prints in this pack.

If animal prints aren’t your thing, don’t worry! The opposite sides of the papers are plain and simple, and oh-so-easy to use.

Live Card Making Class On Monday

Every Monday at 8pm EST, I am live with your weekly card making class on my FaceBook page, The Maine Stamper. I create 3 beautiful cards and share tips and techniques along the way. This class serves as your tutorial when you receive your FREE card kits in the mail and need to put them together.

Yes, FREE. You will receive 2 each of 3 card designs (for a total of 6 card kits!) when you place an order of $50+ (before tax and shipping) in my online stamping store using Host Code HNH3ACN4 thru June 3, 2023. You will also receive a pack of Rhinestone Basic Jewels and a Countryside Inn DSP 6 x 6″ paper sampler. I will mail the card kits on the Monday following the live class.

Want more details about what is in these kits? Ask me today!

Get the Mega Class Offer!

When you bump your order to $100 (before tax and shipping, good thru June 10), I will send you the class offer here and card kits from the upcoming June 5 class (another 6 brand new kits!), plus an additional DSP sampler and a ribbon sampler. This huge offer is what makes this class “Mega”!

Normally, I don’t offer the previous week’s card class kits ever again. But with this Mega Class, you can wait until Week 2, then order to receive both Week 1 and Week 2 kits together. Plus, you will save on shipping by placing just one order in my online store, instead of 2 separate orders with 2 shipping fees.

Your Mega Card Class Awaits

I hope you enjoy the Countryside Inn Mega Class, Part I with my FaceBook Live Event on Monday, May 29 at 8pm EST. Please join me to see how easy it is to put your card kits together. If you miss the live, catch the replay on FaceBook or my YouTube Channel, The Maine Stamper.

I look forward to getting your weekly card kits from Maine in the mail to you. And I know you will be looking forward to receiving them and creating gorgeous works of paper crafted art!

Zany Zoo Raccoon Card

Zany Zoo Card Class, Card 3

Zany Zoo Raccoon Card

We are now on to the last card from my Weekly Card Class From ME. And this week features the Zany Zoo Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. And this last card has plenty of zany, but not as much zoo.

Want to see another card in beautiful, bright and fun colors using the Zany Zoo Bundle? Click here for a laughable llama lady!

Raccoon Peacock and Raccoon Petal

Just like my Zany Zoo Llama Card, this Zany Zoo Raccoon Card features a color that is newer on scene, Pretty Peacock. And I had fun finding an existing color to pair it with. When I realized Petal Pink added just the right softness to the rich Pretty Peacock, I was smitten.

Once again, I let the Zoo Crew Designer Series Paper lend a black and white element to my card. And how awesome is it that the dotted lines in the DSP match the dotted lines in the stamped raccoon’s tail?

Zany Zoo Raccoon Card Details

In my first card, I did some coloring with the Stampin’ Blends. For my second card, I used Water Color Pencils and a Blender Pen to color with. Now that we are on to the last card in my Weekly Card Class From ME, I picked yet another color medium: Stampin’ Write Markers.

First, I need to say that I love the new version of the Stampin’ Write Markers! The nib end (the small skinny one) is so much better than it used to be. I actually added my color to the balloons with the nib end, rather than the brush end.

And while some of my stamped image from the Zany Zoo Stamp Set is colored in, I left our star critter, the raccoon, un-colored. The black and white imagery works well on this card. After I added a touch of Wink of Stella to give my balloons some sparkle, I was happy with all of it!

Celebrate You!

Just like the first 2 cards in this series, the Zany Zoo Raccoon Card also has a heat embossed sentiment. This time, instead of a circle die or a banner die, I pulled out a punch.

The Banner Pick A Punch is one of my go-to favorites! This punch lets you work with 3 width sizes, 1/2, 3/4 and 1″, you can choose a custom length, and you have 2 punched end options. I think this punch is something to celebrate too!

Get Your Zany Zoo Card Class From ME

This Zany Zoo Raccoon Card is the last card in my featured class this week. If you would like to see the video from my online class, click this link. For more details on what is in this week’s class from Maine and how to get yours, click here.

I have enjoyed sharing cards from the Zany Zoo Card Class this week. Be sure to check back here or follow me, The Maine Stamper, on FaceBook, for more cardmaking inspiration and ideas.

Color Swap Card

Each week, I explore a color change-up with one of my featured cards. This week, the Zany Zoo Raccoon Card got a makeover. I swapped in the colors Pool Party and Bubble Bath, changed the designer paper pattern and embossing folder choice, and selected a new ribbon. Which card do you prefer?

Zany Zoo Llama Card

Zany Zoo Card Class, Card 2

Zany Zoo Llama Card

My Weekly Card Class From Maine happens to showcase some pretty zany critters! Our focus this week is the Zany Zoo Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. Need more info on this class? Click here.

This Zany Zoo Llama card may be the most zany. Imagine a knitting llama! And then add some pink eyeshadow and nail (or hoof?) polish to our talented crafting lady…er, Llama.

Llama Mambo and Llama Lolly

Aren’t these colors fantastic together? I am loving Lemon Lolly, a sweet new yellow tone from Stampin’ Up!’s color refresh. And even more than loving just one color, I also love finding great matches, like this one.

Both of these colors, Melon Mambo and Lemon Lolly, work really well with our Zoo Crew Designer Series Paper. The bold black and crisp white really pop with this pink and yellow! I added some interest to my Lemon Lolly Cardstock layer by scoring lines at the top and bottom.

Zany Zoo Llama Card Details

For the first card in this week’s class, Zany Zoo Alligator Card, I chose to do my coloring with the Stampin’ Blends. This time, I picked a different coloring method: Water Color Pencils.

I find that Water Color Pencils provide a really different way of adding color. While the coloring technique provides your image with a softer look, I prefer to finish my coloring by using the Blender Pen as the final step.

Blender Pens have a special, clear solution that softens harsh pencil lines and blends the coloring to make it smooth and seamless. A word of caution: too much Blender Pen will create pills on your paper. I chose Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive to color in my image.

You’re Too Wonderful

As I continue with my Weekly Card Class From Maine, I am keeping the continuity of heat embossing my sentiment in White Embossing Powder on Black Cardstock. For the Zany Zoo Llama Card, the sentiment “You’re Too Wonderful” from the Zany Zoo Stamp Set is perfect.

And speaking of perfect, the coordinating banner die in the Zany Zoo Dies is fantastic for this sentiment too. In fact, this banner die works on 2 out of the 3 sentiments in the Zany Zoo Stamp Set.

Get Your Zany Zoo Card Class From ME

This Zany Zoo Llama Card is just one card in my featured class this week. If you would like to see the video from my online class, click this link. For more details on what is in this week’s class from Maine and how to get yours, click here.

I will be sharing more cards from the Zany Zoo Card Class, as well as my bonus cards, as this week goes on. Be sure to check back here or follow me, The Maine Stamper, on FaceBook, for more cardmaking inspiration and ideas.