Online Card Class - The Maine Stamper

Sweet Citrus Sweeter Things

February 8, 2023

Sweet Citrus Card Class, Card 2

Sweet Citrus, Sweeter Things In Life

We are on to the next card from my Weekly Card Class From ME, featuring the Sweet Citrus Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. With the word “sweeter” in the sentiment phrase, I just knew this card had to have some pink in it. After all, what could be sweeter?

And not just any pink color would do. I chose a bright and bold pink, Melon Mambo. To coordinate with the citrus side of things, I pulled out Pumpkin Pie. Looking for a card more on the masculine side of things? Check out the first card from this card class here.

Move Over Lemons

While we did some two-step stamping in card #1 from my Weekly Card Class From ME, these citrus fruits did not require any stamping at all. You may be wondering how we got so much color (perhaps too much, but more on that later) without doing any stamping to apply ink.

I shared a lot of ways to use the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder, which is made up of an actual embossing folder and dies that work together at the same time. For this Sweet Citrus Sweeter Things Card, we used the hybrid to do most of the work first.

You can find my post with additional tips on using the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder here.

Making Citrus Choices

Okay, I am not going to lie. My Sweet Citrus fruits (which I thought would be grapefruit) turned out more like blood oranges, but not on purpose. Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie make some mighty dark citrus edibles. I even tried to “lighten up” on the ink during my live demonstration as seen in the card above.

After some thought and a few brutally honest opinions from other crafters, I went back to the drawing board long after my live demo card class. Looking for the video replay? Click here to see it.

Sweet Citrus Fruits, 2.0

The secret to the Sweet Citrus fruits for this card lies in ink pads and sponge daubers. Like I said earlier, no stamping at all.

First, I ran some White Cardstock thru my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine using the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder with the coordinating dies inside. Afterwards, I had completely plain white die cuts with great embossing details, just waiting for ink.

I used Sponge Daubers and selected ink pads to color in my citrus fruits. Beginning in the middle, I swirled on some ink (Melon Mambo for the dark version and Flirty Flamingo for the light version). Next, I added ink to the citrus fruit rinds (Pumpkin Pie for the dark version and Pale Papaya with a little Pumpkin Pie for the light version).

Layers of Sweet Citrus Goodness

This Sweet Citrus Sweeter Things card is not only heavy on sweet citrus, but also great layers. As you can see, I like to add a lot of variety in designer series paper that coordinate colors, but vary in patterns to create interest.

For this card, I chose paper selections from Enjoy the Journey and Flowers & More Host Designer Series Paper. Stampin’ Up! makes it really easy to coordinate designs using different product lines.

Get Your Sweet Citrus Card Class From ME

This Sweet Citrus Sweeter Things Card is just one 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 Sweet Citrus 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.

Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday

February 7, 2023

Sweet Citrus Card Class, Card 1

Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday Card

With a new week, comes a new Card Class From ME! This time I chose the fruity Sweet Citrus Bundle to work with. This bundle is made up of the Sweet Citrus Stamp Set and the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder.

The Sweet Citrus Stamp Set covers all varieties of citrus: lemons, oranges, grapefruit, limes and the like. If you change the colors you use, you can change your fruit choice too.

Not to be missed, however, is the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder. In fact, I talked about the amazing Hybrid Embossing Folder and shared some tips on using it in another blog post. Click here to see it.

Sweet Citrus: Lemons

For my first card, Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday, I chose to focus on lemons. And because I like to start with simple cards first, I just stamped and die cut the lemons for my card. How easy is that?

I like to start with the outline stamp for my two-step stamping process. In this case, the outline stamp of the lemons is pretty large. I had to place the photopolymer stamp on my biggest Clear Block (F). Next, I inked it up with Daffodil Delight Ink.

After I stamped the outline image, I applied the second stamp, the filler, with So Saffron Ink. While the ink differences are very subtle, both of my color choices are also very yellow. And now we have lemons!

Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder

Nothing adds quicker interest and dimension to a card than an embossing folder. And I love how inexpensive embossing folders are! Another bonus, they don’t take up a lot of valuable storage space in your craft room.

So whenever I get my hands on a new Stampin’ Up! Catalog, one of my first purchases is the embossing folders. In the January-April 2023 Mini Catalog, we have the Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder. I thought that this particular pattern would work really well with my Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday Card. And after I embossed it with Night of Navy Cardstock, I was happy with the result.

Sweet Citrus Color, Design & Embellishments

Colors used in the Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday Card.

Do you love the color combo I used for this Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday Card? I began with a Night of Navy card base. I also used this same color for my Cane Weave 3D embossed piece. But the rest of the design (after my very yellow lemons) comes from the Dandy Designs DSP.

The Dandy Designs DSP is actually a freebie during the January-February 2023 Sale-A-Bration Event, with a qualifying order. At first glance, you may notice purples and pinks. But, there are some bolder greens and solid blues mixed in, and that is what I chose to stand up to my very dark Night of Navy hue.

The finishing touches on this Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday Card are the embellishments. For each card in my Weekly Card Class From ME, I will be using a different color of twine from the Three Twine Combo Pack. In this card, I used the Bermuda Bay color. Lastly, I added Basic Rhinestones for a little bling.

Get Your Sweet Citrus Card Class From ME

This Sweet Citrus Zesty Birthday 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 .

Sweet Citrus Card Class

February 6, 2023

Welcome to your weekly Card Class From ME. This week, I am using the Sweet Citrus Bundle, which is found on page 49 of the January-April 2023 Mini Catalog by Stampin’ Up!. This fabulous bundle contains a Hybrid Embossing Folder, something that should not be missed!

Want to see another card class from me? Click here for the Two-Tone Flora Card Class.

The Sweet Citrus Bundle

This is an amazing bundle at an amazing value. You will get the Sweet Citrus Stamp Set, and the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder, complete with the Sweet Citrus Dies. Let’s break them down:

Sweet Citrus Stamp Set

The Sweet Citrus Stamp Set is photopolymer, which helps you to line up your two-step stamping easily because the stamps are see-through. While there are 11 stamps in this set, several of the images are linked together. That means there are more than 11 images altogether.

With two-step stamping, you will be creating your citrus outline and then filling the middle with the citrus inner stamp. And repeat this two-step process for the flowers! Just create the outline images, then add a center to each with the tiny dot like stamps.

Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder & Dies

Let’s get excited about the Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder! This is not the first one that Stampin’ Up! has created, but it is by far my favorite. The embossing folder and dies are designed to work together to both emboss and die cut at the same time.

While it is true that you can use either of these items individually (just emboss, or just die cut), the magic lies in the option to do them simultaneously. Keep these important tips in mind:

Add your die into the open embossing folder, same inside flap with the Stampin’ Up! logo on it, with the die cutting edge facing up. The citrus shapes will match up like a puzzle and sit nicely together.
Always put the hinged edge into your die cutting machine first.
Treat the hybrid combo of embossing folder and dies as if it were an embossing folder only. Use your base plate and the dark gray #4 plate. No other sandwich is needed.

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 card kits in the mail and need to put them together.

Get Your Card Kits For Free

Yes, FREE. You will receive 2 each of 3 card designs (for a total of 6 card kits!) when you place an order of $35+ (before tax and shipping) in my online stamping store using Host Code 46CH2PTE thru February 10, 2023. I will mail the card kits on the Monday following the live class.

Want more details about what is in these kits? Check my blog post here for more info.

Get Your Embellishments For FREE Too

When you bump your order to $50 (before tax and shipping), I will send you the card kits AND a FREE pack of the embellishments ($7.50 value) I used on my cards. For the Sweet Citrus Card Class, I used the Three Twine Combo Pack. These fantastic threads come in 3 colors: Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie and Garden Green.

Your Card Class From ME Awaits

I hope you enjoy the Sweet Citrus Card Class with my FaceBook Live Event on Monday, February 6 at 8pm EST. I hope you 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!

Two-Tone Flora With Love

February 3, 2023

Two-Tone Flora Card Class, Card 3

I have been enjoying all the flowers in the Two-Tone Flora Bundle this week. For the last card from my Weekly Card Class From ME, Two-Tone Flora With Love, I added hearts to my flowers for a perfect love themed card.

Missed the other cards in this series? Click here to see Card #1; and click here to see Card #2. They are all very different and very fabulous.

Love That Packs A Punch

I love cardmaking and rubber stamping! I also love using lots of different products on my cards. Besides the Two-Tone Flora Stamp Set and Two-Tone Flora Dies, I chose a few punches to help make this card over the top amazing.

HEART PUNCH PACK

While the new Country Bouquet Punch is not currently available due to back-order issues, you can depend upon the Heart Punch Pack in the 2022-2023 Annual Catalog by Stampin’ Up! to take care of your punched heart needs.

I adore that this is a 2-pack of punches. These punches work perfectly together, with the scallop edge heart slightly larger than the classic shaped heart. In my Two-Tone Flora With Love Card, I layered them together as such. Of course, they can be used separately too!

BOUGH PUNCH

The Bough Punch is probably my favorite and most reached for punch right now. I think adding a few leaves or sprigs to cards is classic and a great way to achieve an artful look. Check out how I used this punch in a completely masculine card here!

And I find that using a punch in papercrafting is a quick and easy solution to adding extra elements in. In this Two-Tone Flora With Love Card, I punched leaves in White Cardstock to add some brightness to the pink and red majority color palette.

Stamp, Emboss, Embellish

This gorgeous Two-Tone Flora With Love Card is bursting with sweet crafting techniques. From the two-step stamping to create flowers using the Two-Tone Flora Stamp Set, to the background stamping technique on the card base, it is easy to add similar ink colors to achieve a cohesive design.

There are other design elements on this card that bring it together too: the Elegant Eucalyptus Embossing Folder, the Gold Fine Shimmer Paper, and the Gold Shimmer Ribbon all play an important part. I finished off my card with the 2022-2024 In Color Matte Decorative Dots (which happens to be my FREE gift to you with a $50 order using my Host Code this week, along with the card kits from this class!).

Get Your Two-Tone Flora Card Class From ME

Card kits from the weekly online class using the Two-Tone Flora Bundle.

This Two-Tone Flora Hello Card is the final 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 a few more bonus cards from my Two-Tone Flora Card Class. If you love the Two-Tone Flora Bundle, you may want to check out the February Cardmaker Collective Club. Be sure to check back here or follow me, The Maine Stamper, on FaceBook, for more cardmaking inspiration and ideas.

Two-Tone Flora Thanks Card

February 2, 2023

Two-Tone Flora Card Class, Card 2

I am back at it with the Two-Tone Flora Bundle this week. For the second card in my Weekly Card Class From ME, I chose a more tropical vibe. Did you miss my first card using the Two-Tone Flora Bundle? Click here to see it.

Perhaps it is the cold Maine winter (our low temp will be -20 tomorrow night!), but I felt more “Aloha” than “Hot Chocolate” during my design process for this Two-Tone Flora Thanks Card.

Tropical-Tone Colors

I love the In Color, Tahitian Tide for its bold and bright blue tone. It is the perfect backdrop for my row of pretty posies. I used the smallest flower stamp in the Two-Tone Flora Stamp Set, along with the matching die from the Two-Tone Flora Dies.

Colorful Color Palette

Here is a look at the colors from my Two-Tone Flora Thanks Card: Tahitian Tide, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green.

For my flowers, I stamped off each color with the background flower stamp image. This gave me a lighter shade on White Cardstock. And while this makes the flowers look “pale”, the final result is worth it!

Next, I stamped the detailed stamp over my previous images. But this time I used fully inked shades in the exact same colors. The contrast of first and second generation ink is amazing.

Not-So-Basic Vellum

Vellum is one of those papers that is demure and understated. But it really adds a richness to your card projects when you add a little in.

You may have missed the new Vellum Basics from the January-April 2023 Stampin’ Up! Mini Catalog. After all, it doesn’t have the shine, shimmer or color to compete with all the rest of the new paper options.

I don’t find this new Vellum to be very basic, however. There are subtle patterns of stripes, polka dots and leaves on individual 12 x 12″ sheets. That takes them from basic to beautiful in my opinion.

The Secrets Of Adhering Vellum

I used a piece of the polka-dot Vellum for my Two-Tone Flora Thanks Card. When I layered it over the striped blue pattern paper from the Flowers & More Host DSP, the two completely different patterns worked perfectly together.

We all know it is difficult to adhere Vellum to a card front since our tape or glue will show thru the translucent paper. But it is easy to hide the adhesive when you add enough layers, and that is exactly what I did on this card!

Get Your Two-Tone Flora Card Class From ME

This Two-Tone Flora Hello 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 Two-Tone Flora 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.