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This blog is for sharing a love of paper crafting. I love paper crafting -
and Stampin' Up! products in particular -
so much so, that I became an independent Stampin' Up!®™ demonstrator earlier this year!
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Enjoy browsing my blog, and I'd love to hear from you.
It is what helps make the time I put into this blog feel worthwhile, and always brightens my day.

NOTE: All Stampin' Up! Images © 1990–2025 Stampin’ Up!®

Thursday, November 13, 2025

More Step Cards Class

Today I have more step cards from our latest class.  The first 3 have a clear Autumn theme and are the ones we made in class.  At the end, I show 2 more versions of these cards - same types, but decorated differently.  Here's the list of materials used for the first three cards (all from Stampin' Up! (except for the little bit of ribbon & the squirrel that I found in my stash):

I had them make a bunch of leaves using the both the Autumn Leaves dies and the Changing Leaves Hybrid Embossing Folder.  They used blending brushes to add color to the leaves to make them look more real.  This is mostly what we used to decorate the cards, so we could focus on how to make the cards themselves.  Here's a look at the cards. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Light Up Nativity Cards & more

Today, unlike usual, I am not using Stampin' Up materials except for a bit of cardstock and ink.  I found a beautiful set of Nativity papers at Hobby Lobby that was 50% off, and I thought they'd be perfect for the nativity cards I wanted to make.  There are several pages that are great for backgrounds, and some pages that are great for fussy cutting to create scenes.  My niece and I shared them, and she has the cover, so I don't know who made them, but I thought in addition to a few nativity cards in general, they'd be great for trying out some lights I got from Pear Blossom Press.  They are SO MUCH fun!

I'll started with the lighted cards.  I got a package that had two types of lights.  They call one a halo light because it's forms a circle of light (that's the one I used on the card you see at the top of the page).  The other is called a "One Light".  I used that on the first lighted card I made.  The halo was second, and the remaining two cards were slimline cards that I did not use lights on.  Here's a look at each individually.

Thursday, November 6, 2025

October Swaps 2025

Today I've got a couple of cards - one a regular swap card, and one a digi-swap card.  The card you see above is the regular card swap card.  This month the theme was Mushrooms and Fall Colors. I started by making what I call a Dual Side step card.  It's a bit challenging to see in the picture - I should have been farther above the card when taking the picture (and it's already mailed so can't fix that!) - but the card has three steps in the center with the sides of the card as normal.  Here's a quick run-down of the materials I used for this card.  Most are from Stampin' Up!, but a few are not.  Assume all are Stampin' Up! unless I say otherwise.  Here's the materials list:

  • Autumn Leaves stamps and dies bundle 
  • Changing Leaves stamps and hybrid embossing folder (which includes dies) 
  • Cardstock in several colors: Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Pecan Pie.
  • Inks in most of those colors
  • Stampin' Blends: Peach Pie, Pecan Pie, Ivory, Boho Blue
  • Black Stampin' Write Marker
  • Walnut Spray ink (Tsukineko) 
  • Mushroom die (misc one in my stash)
  • Paper People dies (from Karen Burniston) 

And now for the digi-swap card.  I made it as a Joy Fold card.

Unfortunately, in the picture, my sentiment looks washed out.  Fortunately this is not so in real life!  

Once again, the materials list is mostly Stampin' Up!  If it's not, I've marked it otherwise in the materials list.

  • Printed Digi-paper (no clue where it came from) 
  • Cardstock: Secret Sea (5 1/2" x 8 1/2"), Wild Wheat (discontinued - 3" x 8 1/2"), Balmy Blue (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"), Basic White (2 7/8" x 4 1/8" plus some for sentiment & stamped/die cut images), Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, and Daffodil Delight (for leaves).  
  • Waves 3D embossing folder 
  • Autumn Leaves stamps and dies (leaves & sentiment),  
  • Cosy Christmas (cat stamp - came in a cardmaking magazine several years ago). 
  • Paper People (girl - Karen Burniston dies)
  • Balmy Blue twine
  • Inks & adhesives 

The background patterned paper piece is the printed digi paper.  I used the embossing folder on the front of this card to give it some texture.  Then I simply glued the card pieces together and added all my elements - some with glue and some with Mini Stampin' Dimensionals.   

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Step Class Samples

This time for class we're making step cards.  We're using the Storybook Garden Patch Bundle (which is currently on last chance), along with some discontinued products (Market Goodness stamps & dies and To Market papers).  I've got 3 example cards.