Category Archives: Tools and Accessories

The Stampin’ Up! Daisy Punch is Back!

The popular Stampin’ Up! Daisy Punch is back in stock! This Daisy Punch has been so popular since it was first released in a pre-order for Demonstrators ahead of the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog that it has been backordered a couple of times because Stampin’ Up! couldn’t keep them in stock! If you have been waiting for the Daisy Punch to make lots of fun cards and projects, today is your day! Go ahead and order yours as soon as you can to make sure you get your hands on one!

Click HERE to order the Daisy Punch!

Yes, the Daisy Punch can be part of a Bundle if you would like to save 10% by ordering the Daisy Punch with the Daisy Delight Photopolymer Stamp Set.

Click HERE to order the Daisy Delight Photopolymer Bundle!

Here are a few examples of cards you can make with the Daisy Punch!

And really fun to use the Daisy Punch with the Wood Crate Framelits Dies!

Use the Stampin’ Up! Daisy Punch with the Daisy Delight Stamp Set or just punch plain cardstock with it as well! Decorate the daisy center with a punched cardstock circle or something like the Gold Faceted Gems. Add a few other Stampin’ Up! products to your order to reach $50 and get a Bonus Coupon to save $5 in August! Bonus Days end July 31. Have fun shopping!

Wedding Card with Bloomin’ Heart Inlaid Design

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You can make a beautiful, elegant wedding card with sparkle and glimmer just like this Wedding Card with Bloomin’ Heart Inlaid Design using the Big Shot and the Bloomin’ Heart Thinlits Dies.

This card came about because a customer asked me how a similar card she’d seen online was made. At first I thought there was some complicated technique to prevent the heart from being completely cut out of the paper. Then it dawned on me that it really was very simple! The heart was die cut out of the top card layer but NOT removed from the paper, as we typically do. Every card I have made with this die, I have separated the heart from the paper and adhered just the heart to another piece of paper. Here is an example of a card with just the die cut heart itself adhered to the front of the card.

To make this type of Bloomin’ Heart card, cut the piece of paper that you want to be on the card front, whether it’s a top layer or the card base itself. This paper that I cut as a normal layer is 4″ x 5 1/4″. Then using the Big Shot and the Bloomin’ Heart Thinlit Die, die cut the heart. When you pull off the die from the paper, use the Paper Piercing Tool or other sharp item or the Die Brush to just loosen a bit of the heart from the die without lifting the whole thing out of the paper. Get just enough of an edge so you can use your fingers or a the Piercing Tool or sharp scissors so you can pull the heart out of the die carefully while leaving the heart IN the paper. In other words, pull the die off the heart, leaving the heart in place. Either use the Die Brush to carefully and lightly loosen the die cut bits in the heart to remove those or use your sharp tool to poke them out.

Next, there needs to be a layer behind the heart. On this wedding card, I adhered a layer of Silver Glimmer Paper to the Whisper White card base. I cut this glimmer paper just slightly smaller than the die cut layer so nothing would show. Then I adhered the die cut layer over the glimmer paper making sure no edges were sticking out, making sure it was layered on straight on all sides. I only put Multipurpose Liquid Glue around the borders of the die cut heart layer although perhaps I should have put glue on at least a few of the inside die cut pieces, but then this allows the die cut areas to look a little more 3D not being glued down to the glimmer paper underneath. You can decide how to do yours.

I had also die cut the little flowers to glue onto the heart. I added a little Clear Wink of Stella to them for a little shimmer on the flowers. Then I added Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the centers of the flowers.

Finally it was time for the greeting. I might have used silver embossing for the greeting, but didn’t want to risk messing up the card at this point so I chose to just stamp with Powder Pink ink! The greeting is from the Beautiful Bouquet Stamp Set. Lots of great greetings to use in that set!

As you can see by this Wedding Card with Bloomin’ Heart Inlaid Design, you can use the Bloomin’ Heart Thinlit Die to create a different look than perhaps you can done before! Try it!

Order the Bloomin’ Heart Thinlit Dies at Stampin’ Up! Online HERE!

Quick and Easy Thank You Card

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Need a quick and easy thank you card? This one is certainly easy enough for anyone to make and has a little pizzazz besides! For some inspiration, I opened the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog, barely turned a few pages, and found a card of this design on page 129. It’s even labeled “Quick & Easy” on the catalog page! I wanted to try out my new Starburst Punch so this card was perfect.

I started with a sheet of paper from the Naturally Eclectic Designer Series Paper. I love the watercolor look of this pattern! Probably something we could make ourselves as a background with reinkers and an Aqua Painter! I looked on the back of the package to see what colors coordinated and Emerald Envy was one. Since I haven’t used this color very much, I thought this would be the perfect time so I made the card base with Emerald Envy Cardstock.

I stamped the greeting from the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set and the punched with the new Starburst Punch. This is a beautiful and useful stamp set. One of my favorites! It’s usually best to stamp first and then punch so you can see the placement of the words or image in the underside of the punch, but the Starburst Punch is pretty large so you can punch and then stamp if you prefer. Behind the punched out greeting, popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals, is a strip of ribbon folded over and criss-crossed for a decoration with the greeting. In this case I used the Lemon Lime Twist 1/2″ Finely Woven Ribbon. And then for just a finishing touch, I tied a small bow with the Linen Thread. The Linen Thread is a great product to have on hand, very useful in many ways.

I see the Starburst Punch being a great punch to have on hand. It is large enough to stamp many different greetings or add some embellishment on the stamped piece, Practically all you need is some designer paper on the card and this punch for the greeting! You will have a quick and easy thank you card in minutes!

Shop Stampin’ Up! For All the Supplies You Need!

Make Your Own Gift Bag With the Gift Bag Punch Board

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Make Your Own Gift Bag With the Gift Bag Punch Board

When I received my new catalog order the other day, as I quickly skimmed through the papers in the Whole Lot of Lovely Designer Series Paper, this pattern with the black background and little flowers just struck me that it would make a pretty gift bag! Of course the inside with the white polka dots is also really cute….which side to use??!

Instead of looking up directions online for how to measure, score, and fold the paper to make a gift bag, I pulled out my Gift Bag Punch Board. The instructions are printed right on the punch board so I didn’t have to go looking for them. A scoring tool is tucked right into the board in a storage slot. You can make the bag so that the sides are just straight, or you can score it as you make it so that the sides are gusseted and fold in a bit on the sides. This bag is basically a 3 3/4″ square size, but you can make various sizes with the punch board.

To finish off the bag, I just punched two holes in the top and threaded some new Pool Party Shimmery Ribbon through. Very pretty ribbon! I also made a little tag using a stamp in the Label Me Pretty Stamp Set. I die cut that with the Stitched Shapes Framelit Die and layered the tag on a die cut scalloped circle made with the Layering Circle Framelit Dies. I used some Linen Thread to tie the tag onto the bag. Linen Thread is a valuable product to have in your collection to use in many ways, sometimes as a visible accent and sometimes are something that doesn’t detract from the rest of the design.

Here’s the Stampin’ Up! video you can watch about the Gift Bag Punch Board and see how to use it.

I urge you to take a good look at the new designer papers in this new Stampin’ Up! Catalog because I think they are especially beautiful this year! I would say this Whole Lot of Love Designer Paper is my favorite, but then I’d say the Delightful Daisy paper is my favorite, but then I’d love the Foil Frenzy Paper, too! So look them over and let me know which ones are your favorites! Then try making your own gift bag with one of your favorite papers and the Gift Bag Punch Board!

SHOP ALL THE NEW PRODUCTS AT STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE!

Stampin’ Up! Is Taking Orders From the New 2017-18 Catalog!

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Stampin’ Up! is taking orders from the new Stampin’ Up! 2017-18 Annual Catalog now!

Shopping has begun!

If you click the photo of the catalog or the link, you can view the new catalog online. If you are new to Stampin’ Up! or do not currently have a Demonstrator to help you with your ordering and projects, I would be happy to be yours! If you would like a real copy of the Stampin’ Up! Catalog I can mail you a complimentary copy if you just contact me with your information. Email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com.

Need a Shopping List?? Just click HERE!

Need Color Help? Stampin’ Up! In Color Combinations Chart

Special Promotion For Hosts (or very big orders!)

During the month of June, if you hold a workshop or put some orders together from friends or have your own really big order of $350 or more, you would earn an EXTRA $35 in Stampin’ Rewards.

Catalog Corrections:

Empty stamp cases are still available but were left out of the catalog. They can be used for your stamps or storing other items. Maybe you want to cut this illustration out of your OLD catalog and paste it into your new catalog. Or print out this photo below.

In the Regals Collection (page 4), the color swatch for Garden Green is incorrect. Click here to see the correct color.
The Soft Sayings Card Kit Refill (page 11) does not include a clear stamp block. The text should read as follows:
“Includes everything from the Soft Sayings Card Kit—minus the stamp set, ink, clear stamp block, and box—so you can create 20 cards.”
The It’s Your Birthday sample (page 73) uses the bows from the Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits Dies (in the 2017 Occasions catalog), which retired May 31.
The Super Duper Stamp Set artwork (page 74) makes it appear as though the dotted line image is part of the Yay! Image. They are actually two separate images.
The photo for the Whole Lot of Lovely Designer Series Paper (page 188) shows the two center papers with the wrong designs on the back. The black paper with the bold flowers should be shown with the multicolor stripe design on the back, and the green paper with white leaves should be shown with the pink and white flowers on the back.
The Stampin’ Trimmer Replacement Mat (page 205) includes two replacement mats, instead of one as listed.
Some of the images in the Tranquil Tulips Stamp Set artwork (page 223) are sized incorrectly.

I hope you will find the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog exciting and inspiring! Just think of the millions of ideas, card and projects that will come out of all those wonderful products in the catalog!

The Store is open! You can shop for anything you want in the new catalog. There are a few things backordered. You can figure those were extremely popular with Demonstrators during our Preorder. There are some things that we blasted through more than Stampin’ Up! could ever have imagined or predicted, but don’t worry, they are working on getting everything back in stock as soon as possible! Let me know if you have any questions!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

What is Your Retirement Plan For This Weekend?

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What is your retirement plan? I don’t mean the one where you turn 65! I mean what is your retirement plan for not missing out on Stampin’ Up!’s Retiring Products! Can you believe this is the last weekend for the current Stampin’ Up! Catalog, and, don’t forget, the Occasions Catalog?! Both of these catalogs will come to an end on May 31 at 11:55 Mountain Time (for online orders). Select products have discounts up to 50% off! All current Bundles are retiring as “Bundles” although some stamp sets and dies have carried over into the new catalog but will be available separately. So if the Bundle is still available now, get it for 10% off. If both stamp set and dies are on sale, check the math to see which is the better deal.

Click photo to view the Annual Catalog!

Click photo to view the Occasions Catalog!

Click These Links!

Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products List PDF

(some of these products are already sold out)

Easiest thing! Shop Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products Online! If they come up in the store, the products are still available!

For more Bargains, add on some products in the Clearance Rack!

Don’t Forget! The Eastern Palace Suite Bundles are only available, with a FREE GIFT, until May 31.

Eastern Palace Premier Bundle
$103.50

Eastern Palace Starter Bundle
$60.50

Have a wonderful weekend!

Click the share buttons below if you think your friends would be interested in knowing about Stampin’ Up! and the promotions going on right now!

Owl Punch Cats Sitting on a Wall

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One of my dear stamping friends sent me a picture of a card the other day with five cats sitting on a wall, all made with the famous Stampin’ Up! Owl Builder Punch! She said “You have to make this!” Here is my own version of Owl Punch cats sitting on a wall! It was fun to make!

In order to have a little bit of sky, I used Marina Mist for the card base. The wall is made with Smokey Slate card stock embossed with the Big Shot and the Brick Wall Embossing Folder. I cut it down a little to fit on the card. I also sponged on some Craft Whisper White Ink Pad (retiring soon, low inventory) for a little look of clouds in the sky. For the cats, I found scraps of designer paper and punched out the owl body shape and cut off the feet! You can just cut the tail by hand, but I just kind of slid my Owl Punch over to the side and punched after I could “see” the tail inside by punch. Since I couldn’t fit all five cats on the wall, I put one on the ground. And if you like, you can draw in some whiskers showing from the back with a black marker.

The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched out with the Classic Label Punch. Now that punch makes pointy ends, but somehow I decided to slide the punch over and make a small banner punch in each end.

The Owl Punch is retiring this year, so don’t miss out on getting yours! It is one of the most creative punches we have ever had, I would say! Thanks to my friend Iska for sending me this fun idea! She knows how much I have liked the Owl Punch over the years!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online 24/7!

Ways to Use the Stampin’ Up! Owl Punch

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There are so many ways to use the Owl Punch by Stampin’ Up! and for those reasons I really hate to see the Owl Punch on the Retiring Products list. In looking back, I see that it has been around for many years, but the punch is so versatile I cannot believe that we will not have it available soon. If you do not already own the Owl Punch, I would urge you to grab one before they are gone. I’m sure most serious stampers already have one, but if you are new, you may not be famiiar with all the creativity this one punch affords.

The baby card I have posted above has been one of my most popular cards! All I did was punch out the portion on the Owl Builder Punch that would be the chest area of the owl. Yes, you can make baby clothes out of this piece of the Owl Punch! Click the link or the card photo above to go to the blog post for more information.

Here’s an anniversary card I made using the Owl Punch to make a couple of loving owls in silhouette! And I can’t tell you how many times I have punched those little hearts to use on various cards and projects!

The Owl Punch can also be used to make monsters for a birthday card! Just add some arms and scary faces! Click the link or the photo to go to my blog post for details.

If you have made a great project with the Owl Punch, click the “Leave a Reply” button at the top of this post and leave a comment! I’d love to hear!

These are just a few examples of ways to use the retiring Owl Builder Punch, and I can’t begin to tell you about all the creative ideas I have seen out there using the Owl Punch. Do a search online and you will find them. If you are so inspired, be sure to purchase the Owl Punch on the Retiring List before it goes away May 31.

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Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products

Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack

Quick! Go Shop at the Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack!

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New Items on the Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack TODAY!

It’s been awhile, but today Stampin’ Up! updated the Clearance Rack so you may find some new bargains there! Believe me, some of those products are going fast!

Lots of different embellishments, ribbons, papers, a few punches, washi tape, some dies and more!

You can add any Clearance Rack items to your regular order with any current Stampin’ Up! items or retiring items, so put it all together!

If you want to shop the Retiring Products, click HERE to check out the Online Store for availability!

Go enjoy the Stampin’ Up! bargains, up to 60% off, on the Clearance Rack today!

Make Easy Animal Party Favor Treat Boxes and More!

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Two of the items on the Stampin’ Up! Retiring Products List are the Pyramid Pals Thinlits Dies and the Playful Pals Photopolymer Stamp Set which can help you make easy animal party favor treat boxes and more! It’s an infinite number of cards, party favors, gift boxes, party decorations and more that you can make. Fill these Pyramid Pals with candy or a treat or just make them for fun or for a decoration. Just think of the fun you could have with your children or grandchildren if you make the box and then they help you decorate the pyramid to make an animal. Or just make a pyramid box, decorate with some designer paper or stamping or perhaps a clear window cut out, and use it as a party favor or gift box. Use the stamp set to decorate the boxes or just to make cards and other projects.

Both the Playful Pals Photopolymer Stamp Set and Pyramid Pals Thinlits Dies are still available as I write this post, so if you think this is something that would be fun and useful to own, grab it while you can. All retiring items are available until May 31 or while supplies last.

The Playful Pals Bundle may not still be available but you can order the dies and stamp set separately. It’s a fun and different product to use!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! FOR RETIRING AND OTHER PRODUCTS THIS WEEKEND!

Make Easy Punch Art Easter Bunnies

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If you are making some last minute Easter cards or bunny tags for Easter baskets, here are two ways to make easy punch art Easter bunnies. Punch art is always fun and easy to make and you can be so creative with your punch shapes and of course Big Shot dies.

I started with the card on the right with the Crumb Cake card base. To give a little interest, I stamped the Easter eggs from Basket Bunch randomly on the background of the card. You can do each one individually or do as I did, put all three eggs on a block and stamp! I stamped off once after inking up the stamps with Crumb Cake ink to give a very light watermark look on the card. You can achieve the same look with Versamark Ink.

For the bunny on the Crumb Cake card — I used a heart shape from the Sweet & Sassy Framelits Dies and turned it upside down. The ovals for the ears are made with the Layering Ovals Framelits Dies. The face is stamped with the bunny face pieces in the March 2017 Paper Pumpkin Kit. I often forget to use the exclusive stamp set I get in each Paper Pumpkin Kit, but today I remembered! The Easter greeting is stamped with the Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set! Boy, was I glad THAT set was not on the retirement list! I use it all the time! Such a good “go-to” stamp set for almost any greeting you need! I prefer the wood-mount set. Those are little Enamel Shapes on the end of the greeting, punched with the Classic Label Punch.

The other punch art Easter bunny on the Pink Pirouette card base, is made with the 2″ Circle Punch for the face. The ears are made with the same oval die cuts as the other card. The greeting has little pearls (retired). I couldn’t resist putting a little blush on the bunny’s cheeks with some Pink PIrouette ink and adding a little bow with the Smokey Slate 1/8″ Ribbon.

Here’s another Punch Art Easter Bunny I made a few years ago. Just click the link. If you would like more ideas, just do a search in the box on the right for “bunny”.

Sometimes you have to think outside the box for new ways to use your punches and dies and other tools and accessories. There are so many creative ideas out there! If only there was enough time to make everything that is cute!

You could also use a punch art or die cut bunny on a baby card or tag for a baby gift! Bunnies aren’t just for Easter!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online! Check out the Retiring Products category!

The Stampin’ Up! Retirement List for 2017 Is Here!

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It’s certainly sad to see some of these Stampin’ Up! products being retired, but it is fun to shop the retirement sale and to look forward to new products coming June 1st in the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog!

Click HERE for the Stampin’ Up! Retirement List and Sale!

Click HERE to go shopping at the Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Remember, products are available “while supplies last”! However, since the stamp sets are manufactured by Stampin’ Up!, they will continue to manufacture all retiring stamps until May 22 and then they will be available “while supplies last”.

Be careful that you are not choosing one of the foreign language stamps unless that is what you want! With so many things to choose from, sometimes we choose the wrong number item!

More information later! Just go enjoy the list and the shopping!

If you were a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, you could be getting a peek at the new catalog online right now! Just buy the Starter Kit for $99 and choose $125 worth of product and you’ll be a Demo in minutes online!

Retiring Stampin’ Up! In Colors 2015-2017

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Can you believe that it will be time for a new Stampin’ Up! Catalog before too long and with it the retirement of the Stampin’ Up! In Colors 2015-2017?! Every two years we get a new set of current, trendy colors in ink, paper, and accessories and that means the set from two years earlier will be retired.

Why should you be thinking about it now?? Because often these colors sell out really quickly after the retirement list comes out. I guess we all procrastinate and even though these colors and accessories have been available for two years, now we decide we really must have them! If there are any of these colors in any of the In Color products that you want, I suggest you go ahead and order them as soon as you can. In fact, if you order them during Sale-A-Bration, perhaps they will help you earn a free Sale-A-Bration product!

Just click on any of the photos below to go to the 2015-2017 In Colors Page.

If you are buying any of the ink pads, be sure to get the ink refills so you can keep using your pads in the future! You don’t want to have to go online to buy them when they are in high demand! And if you already own the ink pads, get the ink refills right away!

Here is a card I made with some of the In Colors that are retiring.

Shop Stampin’ Up! During Sale-A-Bration!

Super Bowl 2017 Punch Art Football Game Card

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Today is the big day! It’s Super Bowl Sunday in Houston, Texas! Here are my little Owl Punch football players ready for Super Bowl 2017 on this card! Don’t think this card is only for a Super Bowl game. You could make this for the sports fan in your life. But when you have such a big event in your city, it’s fun to be able to make a card or project out of stamps, ink and paper.

Isn’t the Owl Punch probably the most versatile punch ever created??! There’s always something you can do with the Owl Punch! Here the owls represent the football players on the field. I wonder who kicked the final field goal?

This is a pretty easy card to make. Just cut some very narrow strips of paper for the goal post and the lines on the football field. Make the football out of a circle punch, as I described in this post. The “Awesome” greeting is stamped from the Marquee Messages Stamp Set. Just change the greeting and have it be a birthday card or “thinking of you” card or maybe congratulations on the big game.

There were lots of Super Bowl parties going on last night around Houston. And apparently it is the biggest aviation day of the year with 1600 private aircraft arriving! Someone said they will all want to leave right after the game, too! All I can think of is how much money is involved just in those private planes! Oh, and for and extra $5000, you can get a helicopter ride for up to 6 people from the airport to beat the traffic to a golf club near the NRG Stadium where the game will be played.

President George Bush and his wife Barbara are expected to do the coin toss! I’ve seen them before at an Astros baseball game so they are quite the sports fans and quite the icons in Houston! They make their home here in Houston so they have always been an important part of the city.

I heard one newscaster say she would be sad when all the Super Bowl excitement is over for Houston. It’s been a big deal here, to say the least. Now we will just see who wins the game, how well the commercials played, and how the halftime show with Lady Gaga goes. Rumor has it that hundreds of drones flying around are involved. Who knows?

When it comes to finding a way to celebrate almost anything in life, there is probably some way to express yourself with rubber stamping and papercrafting, so check out all the great supplies in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Enjoy the game!

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies Are Available Again!

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If you recall, back in November, Stampin’ Up! released these new Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies as an early release from the upcoming new Stampin’ Up! Catalog. Well, they were SO popular that Stampin’ Up! couldn’t keep up with the demand until they got a lot more in stock! Well, that day was yesterday so now the Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies are available again! I ordered mine at the time and have been using them ever since. I really love these dies! They just add a little something to the piece with the stitched look, just a little something that looks really nice. And as stampers, we are always looking for that little extra that finishes a card or project.

Here is just one sample I made with the Stitched Framelits Dies to add that stitched look border to my greeting, If you have some of the other shape dies with the scalloped edges, you can add another layer underneath the stitched shape and it adds a nice look, too.

Watch this Stampin’ Up! video for more ideas on using these framelits! Then go to Stampin’ Up! Online and order yours today! (And remember, these were originally released before the holidays!!)

Check out these dies and other products at Stampin’ Up! today! And don’t forget, with every $50 purchase you get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product!