Flowers for Every Season: Sunflowers

I seem to recall our neighbors having sunflowers in their backyard in prior years, but I don’t see them this year. But a lot has gone on in their yard — and ours — since last summer, so I’ll have to ask. In the meantime, I’ll have to continue to be satisfied with paper versions, as in this card combining the two stamp sets of the Flowers for Every Season Suite (pages 10-13 of the Stampin’ Up! 2020-2021 Annual Catalog).

Jar of Flowers | Celebrate Sunflowers | Stamps from the Flowers for Every Season Suite combine in happy effect on this late summer card.  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

I love this tilted frame layout! Here are a few tips to easily achieve this look:

  • Cut one layer with the second-largest (#2) Stitched Rectangle dies. Flat adhere it to a regular card front, tilting it so that the corners touch the edges of the card base as closely as possible.
  • Cut a frame using #3 and #5 Stitched Rectangle dies (you can cut them both at the same time). Flat adhere it so that it is straight to the card base.

After those two elements, go to town with the rest of the card!

Jar of Flowers | Celebrate Sunflowers | Stamps from the Flowers for Every Season Suite combine in happy effect on this late summer card.  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

Here I simply stamped and punched out the jar image, “resting” it on the inside edge of the frame. The sunflowers are not from the Jar of Flowers set, but rather the Celebrate Sunflowers set. I saw another demonstrator combine these sets and thought it was a great way to avoid fussy cutting the sunflower bouquet from Jar of Flowers, in case the thought of it makes you grit your teeth!

Here are a few variations on this layout:

Click the images below to add products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Jar Punch
[152703]
$18.00
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TBT: Happy birthday bokeh

I’ll admit I had only a brief hesitation before I sent this black feather to someone for his 60th birthday. Does this have some significance? A portent of something bad? We’ll see later if the birthday boy is worried about it!

Yes, this is an old card! At the beginning of the shutdown, so very many months ago, I went through and organized my card stash. That was fun! I discovered so many cards I loved — and thus couldn’t bear to send — and now I am enjoying finally passing them along, after making sure I’ve got a picture.

Bokeh is the name of this technique.  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

The technique on this card (which we made in camp February 2015!) is bokeh, the effect of a blurred, unfocused background in a photo. I think this is worth an upcoming technique video!

I didn’t want to cover up any of this beautiful background, so we heat embossed the sentiment on a strip of vellum and folded it behind the matted panel. As you’d expect, the stamp sets and coordinating dies I used are retired: Butterfly Basics and Four Feathers.

Watch for the video!

Posted in Birthday, Technique | Tagged , | 2 Comments

How to re-ink an ink pad

This is how I do it — and there’s a bonus tip about using photopolymer stamps!

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Recently retired bundles and stamp sets for sale

I have cleaned out my stamping area and can now offer retired bundles and stamp sets from the Stampin’ Up! products that retired June 2, 2020. You can see the items in this virtual garage sale here:

My email is at the top of the first page of each list, or you can message me here or on Facebook to let me know which items you want. I will remove items when they are spoken for and let you know the total, including any shipping costs (you can make a porch pick up at my house). Payment is via PayPal or check.

I’ll keep these lists updated as changes occur; you can see the effective date at the top of the lists. If this is successful, I’ll add retiring products that are older.

Thank you!

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Posted for You: Special Delivery

Over two months after its debut, this stamp set finally saw ink this week! Posted for You is a lovely and inexpensive set and, with its companion punch, is so versatile!

Posted for you | This sweet set is a natural with its companion Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch, but don't stop there!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

I thought I’d start out with the birds. (We have had an unusual number of birds in the back yard this year, and I believe the third family is in the bird house. Why?)

Posted for you | This sweet set is a natural with its companion Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch, but don't stop there!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

I love using Vellum Cardstock to soften Designer Series Paper (and, yes, it did hurt to hide the beautiful reverse side of this pattern!). Note how the graphic embossing pattern contrasts with the curvy pattern of the DSP. Another design trick is to repeat elements, such as the shiny thread in the twine and the Wink of Stella on the birds. Using contrast and repetition can make the difference in your stamping!

Click the images below to add products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Posted in 2020 Aug-Dec Mini, Birthday, Hello, Stampin' Blends, Tip | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Posted for You: Special Delivery

How to open and close an ink pad

We were in the basement, even before the tornado siren sounded, so Peter made this for Video Vednesday. He is looking forward to seeing your comments!

Posted in Tip, Video | Tagged | 2 Comments

Stitched Leaves: Blessed

I’m trying to hold back on fall projects, but the truth is, despite the heat we’ve had for the last few days, the season is indeed changing. I hear the chirping insects in the evening and lament the diminishing light in the front of the house.

I created this note card shortly after receiving my first — and only! — order from the Stampin’ Up! August-December 2020 Mini. (It’s not that I don’t have more on my list, just that I’m holding back.)

Stitched Leaves | Today's Tiles | In love with these dies!  So simple to create a little note card!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

I love these stitched leaves! You can cut both the outline and the stitching dies at the same time. Well done, Stampin’ Up! — so clever!

Stitched Leaves | Today's Tiles | In love with these dies!  So simple to create a little note card!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

That sweet little stitched label is from the Perfect Parcel die set.

Honestly, I have yet to ink up the coordinating Love of Leaves stamp set, except for a sentiment. I will stamp those beautiful, watercolor-like leaves soon! The question is whether I will stitch them …

Click the images below to add products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Posted in 2020 Aug-Dec Mini, Autumn, Friend | Tagged , | Comments Off on Stitched Leaves: Blessed

World’s Greatest!

2020-08 Paper Pumpkin

As we navigate a “new normal” in today’s world, there’s plenty of opportunity to papercraft! And, more importantly, there’s no better time than now to create something that’ll show the essential people in your life just how awesome you think they are.

Lately, it’s become especially clear who the everyday heroes are — they’ve always surrounded us! Teachers, doctors, hairdressers, nurses, delivery workers, cashiers, and even our friends, kids, and family members go above and beyond to enrich our lives. These people are truly the world’s greatest at what they do!

Celebrate and appreciate the everyday heroes in your life with the August Paper Pumpkin Kit. The cards included in this kit are specifically designed for celebrating life’s champions! This kit contains enough supplies to create nine cards (4-1/4” x 5-1/2”) and coordinating envelopes. Colors are Bumblebee, gold, Mint Macaron, Pacific Point, Soft Suede, and white. The kit’s stamp set includes Distinktive stamps — photo-realistic stamps that create an impressive, detailed image with a single stamp.

As a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you’re provided with everything you need to explore your creativity and discover new ways to craft. You can skip right to the fun! The deadline to sign up for the August Paper Pumpkin Kit is today, August 10. Sign up here.

Watch this promotional video to catch a glimpse of World’s Greatest by Paper Pumpkin!

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Peace & Joy: Merry and Bright

I certainly can’t claim to have a favorite product in the Stampin’ Up! August-December 2020 Mini Catalog! But I do have so much that I love, including the Peace & Joy bundle on page 18.

I’ve had a scrap of Granny Apple in my UFO (unfinished objects) pile for months and months. I can’t even remember why I made it. Hooray — it finally found a card!

Peace & Joy | Buffalo Check | This card lives up to the sentiment!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

I think the Joy dies are just genius. Here I used all three of the Bright layers, adhering a piece of Adhesive Sheet to an identically sized piece of Real Red cardstock to cut the top layer. If you look at the Joy card on page 18, that was more simply created by stamping the word and cutting it with the “medium” outline die. It’s your choice!

Peace & Joy | Buffalo Check | This card lives up to the sentiment!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

I cut out the Merry and And by hand. I love these sentiments that look like white embossing on Real Red cardstock — but are so much simpler!

So it’s your choice how to use this bundle. Watch for more samples!

Click the images below to add products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Joy Dies
[153530]
$32.00
Posted in 2020 Aug-Dec Mini, Christmas | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Peace & Joy: Merry and Bright

Gather Together: Stained Glass

The stained glass technique is an old one, but the results still amaze me! (If you’re not familiar with this technique, I demonstrated it on this card in yesterday’s video.)

Gather Together | The stained glass technique is an old one, but it has not lost its appeal!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

It’s easy:

  • Heat emboss a line image on vellum.
  • Color the image with Stampin’ Blends on the reverse (non-embossed) side.
  • Cut out and flat adhere on a color of card stock that enhances the coloring.

I think you can see in the following image how interesting the result is, but you really need to try this for yourself!

Gather Together | The stained glass technique is an old one, but it has not lost its appeal!  Please click to read more! | Stampin' Up! | HeartfeltInkspiration.com | Debra Burgin

Other notable aspects of this card include the random gold spatters. I stamped these in VersaMark, then embossed with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Just that little bit of sparkle is magical! First, however, I embossed the card front with one of the Meadow Moments embossing folders. It, too, has little dots! And although I tried other options, I couldn’t resist using Tasteful Textile for the embossing of the tag. The graphical effect of the tag is the perfect counterpoint to the organic nature of the card base.

Click the images below to add products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Posted in 2020 Aug-Dec Mini, Autumn, Stampin' Blends, Technique | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Gather Together: Stained Glass