Stylish Shapes Dies

Little Monkey Swinging By Card

Little Monkey Card Class

Little Monkey Swinging By Card

As we “swing” into the second card from my Weekly Card Class From Maine, we are continuing our “monkey play”. I am using the Little Monkey Bundle by Stampin’ Up! and having so much fun.

Did you miss the first card from this week’s class? Click here to check it out, you will go bananas over it!

Green With Envy Monkey

For my Little Monkey Swinging By Card, I wanted some more natural or neutral colors. I started with a Mossy Meadow card base.

One of my favorite things to do is use a stamp from my set for background imagery. I chose the tree branch with leaves from the Little Monkey Stamp Set for this card.

As you can see from my picture, I did a lot of stamping with Mossy Meadow Ink. I made sure the outer edges looked lovely, because the middle mess would be covered up!

Color-Less Monkey

In keeping with the theme for this Little Monkey Swinging By Card, I wanted to keep the coloring to a minimum. I started with a square of Very Vanilla Cardstock and stamped my monkey in Pecan Pie Ink.

Next, I simply added color to the outer edges of the square with a sponge dauber. This added color to my piece without me actually coloring it in. I also added sponged color to the rest of my pieces for this card, which all happen to be from the Stylish Shapes Dies!

Little Monkey & the Swinging Sign

This Little Monkey Swinging By Card has some built in action…the sign actually swings!

To make this happen, I poked holes in both the sign and the bottom of my monkey’s hands. Next, I strung some Linen Thread thru the holes so that the sign could be connected to the card without being adhered down.

You can see the action “in action” during my live card class. Watch the replay here!

Get Your Little Monkey Card Class From ME

This Little Monkey Swinging By Card is just one card in my featured class this week. 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 Little Monkey 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.

Little Monkey Bananas For You Card

Finished card, Little Monkey Bananas For You

Little Monkeys Card Class

Little Monkeys Bananas For You Card

The Little Monkeys Bananas For You Card is first up for your Weekly Card Class From ME. This class is a more fun than a barrel of monkeys, featuring the Little Monkey Bundle by Stampin’ Up!.

Want to know more about this adorable bundle, which includes the Little Monkey Stamp Set and the Little Monkey Builder Punch? I shared some great details, and you will find them by clicking here.

Little Monkey Coloring

Coloring the Little Monkey with Stampin' Blends

I shared my favorite way to add color to stamped images while I made this Little Monkey Bananas For You Card…Stampin’ Blends! First, I started off inking up my images from the Little Monkey Stamp Set with Memento Black Ink. This ink is water based, and works perfectly with the oil based blends. Remember…opposites attract.

For my sweet little monkey’s face, I used SU800. Stampin’ Up! has a great collection of skin tone colors that range from pale pink to deep brown. I love using these blends on so many stamped images!

Coloring the banana images with Stampin' Blends

The monkey was not the only thing that I needed to color on this card. I filled it full of bananas too!

I chose Daffodil Delight for my yellow tones. If you would like to see my coloring process, watch the video replay here.

Monkey Crumb Cake

I love the simple act of adding texture to a card. For my Little Monkey Bananas For You Card, I chose a mini embossing folder. The Geometric Patterns measure just over 3″ wide, by 6-1/4″ long.

When I use the mini folders, I cut my cardstock to 3″ wide. This gives me a nice selection to work with, and it doesn’t take up the whole card front. I added Crumb Cake Ink to my embossed piece to give the cardstock some depth. It really helps draw the eye to the design!

Monkeying Around With Linen Thread

For this Little Monkey Bananas For You Card, I chose to wrap Linen Thread around the embossed and sponged Crumb Cake layer 3 times. I completed the look with a simple tied knot. Lastly, I added this piece to a mat of White Cardstock before adding it to my card front with dimensionals.

Get Your Little Monkey Card Class From ME

Little Monkey Bananas For You card kit

This Little Monkey Bananas For You 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 Little Monkey 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.

Beautiful Balloons Yay You Card

Beautiful Balloons Card Class, Card 1

Beautiful Balloons Yay You Card

My Weekly Card Class From ME happens to showcase a pretty awesome feature: celebrations! Our focus this week is the Beautiful Balloons Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. Need more info on this class? Click here.

Happy occasion cards are a lot of fun to make. If you need a celebratory card, you may need a balloon or two. I am here to tell you that this great bundle is not limited to just balloons. Let’s take a closer look at our first card of the week.

Bright & Beautiful Designer Series Paper

Not only Bright & Beautiful, but also Brand New! That is what this gorgeous designer series paper is.

This fun collection of DSP really only has 1 thing wrong with it. A single pack of this 6 x 6″ paper is just not enough. You will need more than 1 pack!

In this paper pack, you will find dip-dyed ombre hues, plus washes, strips, stars, confetti and more. The colors of this paper pack include Azure Afternoon, Berry Burst, Blueberry Bushel, Bubble Bath, Fresh Freesia, Lemon Lime Twist, Lemon Lolly, Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight, and Pretty Peacock.

Beautiful Balloons Dies

Perhaps the real star of the Beautiful Balloons Dies is the fringe die. I couldn’t wait to try it out and see how the fringe process would go.

Here is what I learned right away:

  1. If you don’t lay the paper slightly higher than the fringe die cut area, your fringe will not cut thru to the bottom. You will have a grate effect die cut that is surrounded by solid cardstock or DSP.
  2. The fringe needs a little help separating. You can easily do this with a quick finger ruffle.
  3. If your pattern paper allows, try flipping the design to create fringe layers that overlap when layered together, rather than stacking same pattern on top of same pattern.

Get Your Beautiful Balloons Card Class From ME

This Beautiful Balloons Yay You 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 Beautiful Balloons 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.

Beautiful Balloons Card Class

Beautiful Balloons Bundle

Beautiful Balloons Card Class

Welcome to your Beautiful Balloons Card Class! This week, I am using the Beautiful Balloons Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. This bundle is a brand new release in the 2023-2024 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog.

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 Beautiful Balloons Bundle

The Beautiful Balloons Bundle by Stampin' Up!.

Do you have something to celebrate? That would call for a card, and not just any card, but one with balloons on it!

No matter what “YAY” moment you are covering, the Beautiful Balloons Bundle may be your answer. This photopolymer stamp set has an assortment of balloon sizes with a little confetti twist. But if plain balloons, or balloons in pretty designer series paper is more your thing, just use the coordinating dies for perfect balloon shapes without the stamping.

So Special, Beautiful Balloons Bundle

What makes this Beautiful Balloons Bundle so special? Maybe you already have a balloon stamp set, and a punch and some balloon dies. It is possible, as balloons are pretty common elements for card making. Here’s a look at some other balloon options that Stampin’ Up! has given us in the past:

Even with the all assorted balloon stamps, punches and dies you may already own, this new Beautiful Balloons Bundle is pretty special. Wondering how? I cover that in my cardmaking class. Watch this bundle in action here.

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 $35+ (before tax and shipping) in my online stamping store using Host Code XQ6KHT4A thru May 6, 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 A Bonus Gift For FREE Too!

When you bump your order to $50 (before tax and shipping), I will send you the card kits AND a FREE Embellishment, the 2023-2025 In Color Dots, just like I used on my cards. You will have plenty left over to use on your projects for days to come.

Your Card Class From ME Awaits

I hope you enjoy the Beautiful Balloons Card Class with my FaceBook Live Event on Monday, May 8 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!

Circle Sayings Warm Hello Card

Circle Sayings Card Class, Card 1

Circle Sayings Warm Hello Card

My Weekly Card Class From ME happens to showcase a pretty basic feature: circles. Our focus this week is the Circle Sayings Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. Need more info on this class? Click here.

It is no secret that I love circle punches. In fact, I have a large collection of them. For my first card in this series, Circle Sayings Warm Hello, I was so excited to play with a brand new circle punch, the 2-3/8″ one!

A Warm Hello To Boho Blue

This first card in my Weekly Card Class From ME also features a brand new color: Boho Blue. This is just 1 of 5 of the 2023-2025 In Colors by Stampin’ Up!. This beautiful blue is found in the Countryside Inn DSP collection. Shop for this paper pack here!

These trendy In Colors (IN for just 2 years and replaced by something even more IN vogue) are something to take note of. And this gorgeous blue does not disappoint! When compared to Balmy Blue, another soft core color, Boho takes on a periwinkle hue, looking slightly more purple. I am in love.

Sunshine and Blue Skies

I love that the stamps in the Circle Sayings Stamp Set feature sentiments and images. And I used both on my 2-3/8″ Circle Punch for my card. While I stamped most of these images in another new In Color, Wild Wheat, I also added some ink with Blending Brushes to do some quick and easy coloring (my favorite kind!).

While playing with color options as I designed my card, I tried 2 different color sets. The one on the left has Daffodil Delight and Balmy Blue, with the Small Blending Brushes. The one on the right (which is used on my card) has Lemon Lolly and Boho Blue, using the regular sized Blending Brushes. Check out the ink on these blending brushes for huge differences in tones!

Get Your Dainty Delight Card Class From ME

This Circle Sayings Warm 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 Circle Sayings 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.