#simplestamping – Stamp with MJ

Pretty Abstract Beauty

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! Today I have a pretty card for you using the Abstract Beauty DSP & the Hello Beautiful stamps & dies from our January-June mini catalog. Even though our new 2022-2023 Annual Catalog is launching in May, we still have our mini catalog until the month of June. Whoot!!

This is such a fun stamp & die set- geometric & a few little wonky shapes. And guess what? Yes- the stamp & die set are in the new 2022-2023 Annual Catalog. BUT you won’t see the bundled price carry over. To get it now, use this link: Hello Beautiful. And you won’t see this Abstract Beauty DSP again. But, ME always the optimist you can get the DSP now. Click on my store or use this link to order. I’ve added the products to the bottom for your convenience.

Here is the sketch I created. The picture is a little deceiving but the large Night of Navy hexagon’s center was cut so that the center is open & the DSP peeking thru. (Alternatively you could cut a smaller hexagon with the DSP & adhere above a solid Night of Navy hexagon but I was being stingy with the DSP. I think the floral DSP & the geometric shapes are so on trend…just like Stampin’ Up. Love these colors too.

I stamped the solid wonky oval in Polished Pink onto the Basic White wonky oval diecut. The sentiment is from the set & stamped in Black Momento. To add a little sparkle, I added the 2021-2023 In Color Jewels in Polished Pink. These jewels are also retiring & on sale (20% off) & they are still available as of Tuesday evening. So gorgeous!

Below are two close up shots.

That’s it for me today! I’ve been busy with creating for my card classes. I am enjoying thinking about my stamping friends & what they would like to create. Fun folds & techniques are always favorites as well as new products.

Stay well & have a great week!

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Hello Beautiful
Paper: Night of Navy, Petal Pink, Crushed Curry, Basic WHite
DSP: Abstract Beauty
Ink: Polished Pink, Black
Accessories: In Color Jewels
Tools: Beautiful Shapes Dies

ABSTRACT BEAUTY 4X6 Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ladybug inspiration from Card Class

Hi friends! I’ve got a really wonderful card to share with you. Wonderful because it was inspired by a couple of my friends & card class participants. I LOVE that we share ideas in class. I think I learn as much from the participants as they learn from me. Anyway, do you remember the ladybug card from April 6th.

The next classes are this Friday at 1p.m. & again at 7p.m. Then Sunday 24th at 2p.m. Registration deadline is today at 7 p.m. Email me if you’re interested.

I mentioned that you could flip the paper over the paper & make a black/white and red card instead of the Granny Apple Green & Crushed Curry side. Two friends did just that & it looked great. I had an extra kit cut so I decided to adapt the card using the”other side” of the paper.

Did I already mention that I love this bundle?! Ha- ha only a ‘gazillion times” right?! Anything with a punch is so quick & easy. Although I love our dies, the punches are especially good for mass production and card classes.

On this card, I flipped over the papers & added another ladybug & changed up the sentiment. I was inspired by Pinterest but this isn’t an exact copy; otherwise I would give credit to the creator. So many ideas out there- I grabbed an idea from here & there. Below are a couple of close-ups of my card.

Buffalo checks have been around for a while but still popular & I still love that black/white look! The dotted background is perfect for stamping on directly like I did with the sentiment. The Pattern Party papers will be missed as they were in a huge package of DSP as host gift. (If you love it too, you could host an on-line party before the end of April; just a $150 order qualifies. Connect with me if you’re interested).

I wrapped & frayed the ends of the black white twine from the soon retiring “Playful Pets” trim combo pack (20% off & in stock on Sunday). Black Matte dots were added. That’s it- easy peasy!

I hope you like this alternative to March’s card class card.

Have a great Monday, friends! Happy Stamping, Marilyn (aka MJ)

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Hello Ladybug
Ink: Black
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Basic White
DSP: Pattern Party
Punch: Ladybug Builder
Accessories: Black Matte Dots, Playful Pets black & white twine

Ladybug – Card Class card

Hello friends!! At my March card class, we created this adorable card. We kept it simple so it will be easily “mail-able” and fast. Since we had another card that was a little time consuming, it worked out perfectly.

The card base is real red so there’s an inner piece of basic white for writing a message. The black panel is topped with Pattern Party DSP, a host reward that is retiring soon. One side is colorful and fun & the other is black and white (and equally fun but more classic). I cut a very narrow strip of Basic Black card stock to place between the two patterns of paper.

I just love this ladybug.. So easy with the punch. It’s part of a bundle in the January-June mini catalog & you’ll want to grab before June so you can get the discounted bundle price. The sentiment is from the Hello Ladybug stamp set.

My next classes are Friday, April 22 and Sunday, April 24. If you live in the St. Louis area, I would love for you to join us.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Stamping! Marilyn (aka MJ)

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Hello Ladybug
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black and Basic WHite
DSP: Pattern Party
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Punch: Ladybug Builder

Real Red Flowing Flowers

Hello Friends! Happy Monday. I hope you had a great weekend. Today I have a pretty card for you. I hope you think so too.

I chose to use the stamp set called Flowing Flowers from the January- July mini catalog. It is a stunning flower, don’t you think? It is a one of Stampin’ Up’s DistINKive sets where the stamps create different opacities in a single stamped image for realistic depth and intensity. Look at that flower- it was stamped with a single stamp that was inked up with Real Red. Amazing, huh?

The Real Red panel is embossed with the Pretty Flowers Embossing Folder. Although much of it is covered up the parts of the panel that peek out give the card texture and depth.

The DSP is from the soon to be retiring Host DSP called Pattern Party. On one side is black and white designs and the other is colorful designs like this Granny Apple Green panel. . I’ve used it so much this year. It is on the retiring list so it’s a good time to order it along with all the other amazing products that will be retiring. I added two more retiring items. A bow in Double stitched Real Red Satin ribbon and the Holiday Rhinestones Basic Jewels.

I hope you consider taking advantage of all the last chance items which are only available while supplies last. Some are even discounted up to 40%. The stamp set will be with us at least until the end of the January-June mini catalog.

Happy Stamping! Marilyn (aka MJ)

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Flowing Flowers
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Basic White
DSP: Pattern Party
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Pretty Flowers EF, Double Stitched Real Red Satin Ribbon; Holiday Rhinestones

Hello Ladybug Swap Card

I made this card for my “crafting friends” card swap. Each month we get together & stamp & we also bring cards to swap. Most often I create simple cards that are easily “mail-able”.

I just love this “Hello Ladybug” stamp and punch bundle. Sooo cute & springtime-y (that’s not a word but you know what I mean, right?) My card base is Real Red with a 4” x 5.25 Basic Black layer. Before I adhered the Basic Black layer, I added a triangle of Sweet Talk DSP.

A quick way to cut a perfect triangle is to cut a square in half on the diagonal. Here I started with a 4” square.

The large leaf was stamped in Granny Apple Green on a panel of Whisper White. TIP: When stamping a large, solid image, use your Stamp-a-ratus. So if there’s an area on your stamped image that is too light, you can ink the stamp a 2nd time & re-stamp perfectly over the first stamped image.

Next I stamped the flowers in Daffodil Delight around the Granny Apple Green leaf. The ladybug is so easy! Punch the body in Basic Black. Then stamp the wings in Black ink on Real Red card stock & punch. TIP: When adhering the wings, add glue only to the inside of the wings. Avoid glue on the edges that won’t be in contact with the body.

My sentiment was stamped in black & after drying, I “over- stamped” the Daffodil Delight flowers.

Have a great weekend! Marilyn (aka MJ)

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Hello Ladybug
Ink: Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Jet Black Stazon
Card stock: Real Red, Basic Black, Basic White
DSP: Sweet Talk
Tools: Ladybug builder punch, Stamp-a-ratus

Just Peachy Crate

Hello there, friends! I put together this “Just Peachy” crate as a donation for a silent auction.

You may recall that I shared a Just Peachy One Sheet Wonder (OSW) back in November. I had so much fun creating the peachy cards. So much so that I have left only one sheet plus scraps of the 12 sheet Designer Series Paper (DSP).

So I gathered up eight (8) cards included our Basic White envelopes and made a little peach crate. I added a decorated peachy candle, a notebook & a peach pen. (non Stampin’Up)

Stampin’Up has a fabulous March special- 20% off the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine & select die & stamp bundles from our Annual Catalog including Sweet as a Peach bundle.

Below are the eight cards that were included in the crate.

I hope you have a great Monday & take advance of the sale. Marilyn (aka MJ)

Watercolor Shapes meets Flowers of Friendship

Hi Friends! Happy Monday! Now that I’m retired, I really like Mondays… it gives me a chance to start fresh with new goals. I had some challenges with my posts last week so I am sorry I missed you on Friday. Anyway, today I am sharing a card that is totally out of my comfort zone- only one layer if you don’t count the matte and the base. No DSP & no embellishments.

I made this card for the color challenge from Sunday Stamps. I love blues so their Winter Blues color challenge was right up my alley. I used Balmy Blue, Bermuda Bay and Early Espresso on watercolor paper.

I used the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #523; even though I didn’t make it in time for the challenge. Isn’t this a great sketch?! So many things that you can do with it. I wanted to try my hand with my new stamp set called Watercolor Shapes.

The Balmy Blue rectangle and the Bermuda Bay circles on my card are part of the Watercolor Shapes stamp set. I used a ruler and my Early Espresso marker to draw the lines around the Balmy Blue rectangle.

Next I masked off the lower edge of the rectangle & then stamped in Early Espresso the floral image from Flowers of Friendship. Last, my sentiment from Enjoy the Moment stamp set was stamped in Early Espresso.

Here’s one last look. Thanks so much for stopping over. Have a great Monday!

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Watercolor Shapes, Flowers of Friendship, Enjoy the Moment (sentiment)
Paper: Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay, Watercolor paper
Ink: Early Espresso, Balmy Blue, Bermuda Bay; Early Espresso marker
Tools: Stamp-a-ratus, ruler

Wildlife Wonder & Fussy Cutting Tips

I knew the minute I saw the Wildlife Wonder stamp set that I had to have it. I love making simple masculine cards especially when the Designer Series Paper (DSP) does the “heavy lifting”

I’m submitting this card to The Paper Players challenge for a wildlife CAS card.

This set doesn’t have dies but it’s easy to fussy cut. I have a few tips to make it look like it’s perfect even if it isn’t. I stamped my image on Basic White card stock & cut as close as I could without cutting into the inked area.

FIRST TIP: Color with the brush end of marker any white areas that shows around the edges from fussy cutting. Use the brush marker around the entire edge. Use the same color marker as your stamped image; here, I used Soft Suede.

Below is a close up where I colored along the bear’s back but not the legs. [some of the bear’s backside will eventually get cut off but I colored it all because I wasn’t sure exactly what would get cut off].

SECOND TIP: Stamped the image directly on the background paper before adding the fussy cut image. Here, the bear was stamped on the New Horizons DSP. Even though you won’t see the image when you add your fussy cut image on top of the background image there may be details that were cut off with fussy cutting. The bear is popped up on dimensionals.

Below are two close-ups. Look at the front paw & the chin of the bear. The details of the claw and chin hair were cut away on the fussy cut but with the image stamped on the background, these details show. It gives the bear some depth & definition.

I stamped the sentiment on a piece of the same DSP & cut it out. One last look at the card. I hope you like it!

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Wildlife Wonder
Paper: Soft Suede, Evening Evergreen, Basic White
DSP: New Horizons
Ink: Soft Suede, & Soft Suede marker
Technique: Fussy cutting

Sheltering You- Simple & Artistic

I think most of you know I like to make a few versions of the same layout and papers. The Stampin’ Up products are so versatile and beautiful that you can make simple cards that are gorgeous or you can step it up with all the coordinating products. So it is no surprise that I have a trio of cards for you today.

For my first card, I inked up the Poppy Seed Pod in Crumb Cake and stamped off before stamping on the Daffodil Afternoon DSP. In Early Espresso, I stamped the sentiment from Inspiring Thoughts. [This is the same for all three cards.] Then, it was mounted on an Early Espresso panel before adding to the Bumblebee card base. Easy simple but pretty, right? A great card to mass produce or for a class.

The second card is still simple but adds a little more. First, it is likely difficult to see, but the Early Espresso panel was scored at 1/4″ all the way around, creating a little frame for DSP panel which was elevated with Stampin’ dimensionals. Instead of centering the main panel, it was placed towards the top of the card so that a 1/2″ strip of Early Espresso card stock could be added to the bottom. Last an Early Espresso Faux Suede ribbon was added.

The Artistic card was so much fun! I just love all the embellishments from Stampin’ Up. I distressed the stamped image with Crumb Cake ink & our Blending Brushes.. That was adhered to a Scalloped Contour rectangle die. Bakers twine was wrapped and knotted; plus a little Bumblebee trinket was added. The entire panel was elevated with dimensionals on top of an angled Paper Lattice piece.

So you can see that you can make a variety of cards depending on your embellishments and techniques. You don’t have to have everything, but it helps to have a few things. I think ribbon and especially Bakers Twine add a nice touch and you get so much that they will last a long time.

Thanks- that’s it for me this week. Have a great weekend! See you all again on Monday! Marilyn (aka MJ)

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Inspiring Thoughts, Enjoy the Moment
DSP: Daffodil Afternoon
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Dies: Scalloped Contour
Embellishments: Paper Lattice, Bumblebee trinkets, Early Espresson faux suede ribbon, Bakers Twine essential pack
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Happy Birthday- Royal InKing Blog Hop

Welcome to InKing Royalty’s February Blog Hop! This is a great time of year to build your stash of handmade birthday cards, so we are sharing birthday-themed projects with you today. We are excited to share our creations and hope you love them! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.

Today I am sharing a masculine birthday card, although technically it could be for any baseball lover. In St. Louis, we love our baseball Cardinals so it is no surprise that I used the bright Poppy Parade on my card.

I used a splatter technique on my Night of Navy card base. I put a few drops of Whisper White Craft ink in a Water Painter & added a few drops of water & then tapped the end opposite of the brushes over my card stock for the splatter effect.

The DSP and the Stamps and Dies are from the Hey Sports Fan suite in our January-June mini catalog (page 68). This was one of the first things I ordered because we are BIG Sports fans. There’s twine and resin stars that coordinate with the DSP & bundle. I used Night of Navy resin stars and the Poppy Parade stars were made from the dies. I just love this suite, plus it pairs nicely with the Hats Off bundle in the Annual Catalog.

Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
Stamps: Your Biggest Fan
Paper; Poppy Parade, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
DSP: Hey Sports Fan
Ink: Night of Navy, Whisper White craft
Dies: Sport Events, Hat builder
Accessories: Resin Stars

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, circling back to the beginning with Brian King at Stamp with Brian. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it!

Thank you for hopping along with us. If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide: