Category Archives: Tools and Accessories

A Happy Snowman Christmas Card

Why is this snowman so happy and excited? It’s because the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog is LIVE today! If you like snowmen, soon you will be making a card like this Happy Snowman Christmas Card with the Snowman Season Stamp Set and the Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper!

You will find this darling snowman stamp set and really fun designer paper in the Holiday Catalog plus the teeny tiny snowflakes in the Snowflake Sequins package. They are really for the Snow Globe Shaker Domes, but I couldn’t resist using a few with my Happy Snowman Christmas Card! I used the teeny tiniest dot of Multipurpose Liquid Glue and used the Take Your Pick Tool to place the sequins. They are really tiny!

The card base is Real Red (which I am super happy to be using with these cards and the Let It Snow Paper) and has a layer of this red pattern of Let It Snow Designer Series Paper. I hate to tell you that on the other side are glimmery snowmen that I hated to cut through and put glue on!!! Oh my!! But it had to be done if I wanted to use this red paper with white snowflakes. Of course, you could use this pattern at any time because the white dots don’t have to be snowflakes! Just to help this red stand out, I put a layer of Whisper White underneath it. Now if you don’t tell anybody, you can die cut the circle that the snowman is stamped on out of the Whisper White before you assemble the card. No one will ever see it or know!

After I die cut that circle out of the Whisper White layer, I stamped a snowman from the Snowman Season Stamp Set on it in Memento Ink. Then I could add just a tiny bit of icy shadows on the snowman and snow with my Stampin’ Blends and lightly color in the winter sky. This circle is layered on a Real Red larger circle, die-cut with the Layering Circle Dies and that is layered on a scalloped circle from the same set out of Sparkle Glimmer Paper.

The greeting is in the snowman set and stamped in Real Red Ink. I also layered this on a piece of the Sparkle Glimmer Paper. Just for fun, I added three tiny snowflake sequins to the greeting, too.

That’s it. Pretty easy card to make once you have the idea and the Sparkle Glimmer Paper adds a little pizzazz! The inside of the card has another one of the greetings stamped in red, plus “Merry Christmas” as well as some snowflakes stamped at the top, all on a layer of Whisper White since the red card base would be a little difficult on which to stamp a sentiment or write a note. It’s easy to decorate a layer inside your card with some stamping or a piece or strip of designer paper! And don’t forget the outside of the envelope!

Just as this snowman is excited, I’m sure you are excited to start shopping with the Holiday Catalog! You can combine your Holiday Catalog order with the Designer Series Paper Sale! And don’t forget about the Clearance Rack if you want to pick up some bargains!

Holiday Catalog Cover 2019

SHOP THE HOLIDAY CATALOG!


Last Chance to Order Cutting Blades Today!

Stampin' Trimmer Blades

The final batch of Stampin’ Trimmer Cutting Blades
(item 126995) will be available today, August 27, at 10:00 AM (MT), and when they sell out, they will be gone for good.

If I have my Time Zones correct:

9:00 AM Pacific Time

10:00 AM Mountain Time

11:00 AM Central Time

12:00 Noon Eastern Time

No guarantees! I expect that they will sell out in a few minutes (or that we will all crash the website!) so I suggest being on your computer, ready to add that number, 126995, to your order right away. If that is all you want, fine. If you want to order other products as well, have that order already entered into your Shopping Bag, or at least your order in front of you, and then just add the Cutting Blades. You will not be able to add the Cutting Blades to your order until the appointed time when they are available in the store.

Good Luck! Limit 3. While supplies last!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Using the New 3D Embossing Folder Plate

3D Embossing Folder Plate

What in the world is this blue thing, you might ask? It’s the new 3D Embossing Folder Plate! Well, what is that??

Because of the surprise change of Stampin’ Up! not carrying the Big Shot die-cutting machine anymore, they have also switched suppliers of dies and embossing folders. The new 3D embossing folders in the new catalog give that deep impression, even without spritzing with water, that our previous 3D Dynamic Embossing Folders did. However, with this new supplier, the folders are slightly thinner than the previous folders and therefore, you may have difficulty using them in your die-cutting machine.

You will probably have to experiment with your machine and see what works best. Do NOT FORCE anything through your machine. Maybe you need a tiny bit of extra pressure to get something to go, but if it doesn’t go, just stop! Try a different sandwich. Stampers are trying different sandwiches, maybe even with their original Big Shot platform with the tabs or with one of the mats or things we have been able to buy in the past.

Yesterday I made a sandwich with the Big Shot Platform, then the thin squishy mat. It’s the silicone mat and when it runs through the machine it squishes out at the end a little bit. Next, I placed my paper inside my Scripty 3D Embossing Folder and put a cutting pad on top of that (only one cutting pad in the whole sandwich). That worked fine! There may be other combinations but I haven’t had enough time to experiment. Some people are using the cardboard from Paper Pumpkin kits or maybe a piece or two of the cardboard in the designer paper packages would work.

OR if you don’t want to fool with all of that, this is what this blue 3D Embossing Folder Plate is for! Use this with the new folders and it should work fine. As another Demonstrator said, “It’s only $10 and it works.” I don’t own it yet so I can’t vouch for it yet.

The sandwich would be (on the bottom) the platform that comes with your machine, the embossing folder with cardstock inside, then the 3D Embossing Folder Plate. Stampin’ Up! says depending on your machine you may still need a shim ( thin piece or two of cardboard works).

Stampin’ Up! is still working on a new die-cutting machine for us, but there is no time frame that has been announced. I don’t know if we will use this blue plate in a new machine or not.

As you start receiving the new embossing folders, just keep these things in mind, that you will have to try and see what works best with your machine. But be careful, don’t force anything and break your machine. If you have it right, it will work and you don’t have to use brutal strength to get it to go!

You will find the new 3D Embossing Folder Plate in the Die-Cutting and Embossing Category of the Online Store and then under Embossing. Let me know if you have questions.

First Day of the New Stampin’ Up! Catalog!

Good Morning Magnolia Hello Card

Today is the first day of the new 2019-2020 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog with new stamps, dies, embellishments and accessories! It’s the day we have been waiting for and the new catalog will be here this afternoon! This morning Stampin’ Up! is working to get the Online Store ready with the new products. It should be ready no later than Noon MT (1:00 PM CT).

I decided to make this card with the Good Morning Magnolia stamp on the front to celebrate the new catalog! I think this suite of products will be a big seller!

The card base is Mossy Meadow with a layer of Magnolia Lane Designer Series Paper. I think this package of paper is just gorgeous! I thought I was going to use two patterns on this card but once I laid this pink layer down I loved the way it looked and that was it! I used the really pretty 5/8″ Organdy Striped Ribbon across the card and under the flower. I may have gotten the last roll of it during our preorder! I was moving my products back and forth between my “order” and my “Stampin’ Rewards” and suddenly it wasn’t available! But I still had it listed on one of those places so I guess it was okay and I got it in my order! It is indeed backordered but they should have more available around June 24th.

I stamped the large magnolia flowers on Whisper White with the Memento Ink and colored it in with Stampin’ Blends. It was nearly dinner time and I was afraid it was going to take me a long time to color in this big flower and leaves, but it went very quickly! You don’t need to be real fussy about it or worry if it is absolutely correct. I think mine turned out fine! I started to cut it out with my Paper Snips when I remembered that there were dies! But I couldn’t find my Magnolia Memory dies, except for a few loose ones! So I obviously own them, I just have to find the rest of the package! In the interest of time and disorganization, I just went ahead and cut it out by hand. Easy enough!

I knew the large magnolia wasn’t going to show up extremely well against the patterned paper, but I liked the look anyway. I added a die cut large circle of Vellum Cardstock to put behind the flower. The magnolia is popped up on LOTS of Stampin’ Dimensionals!

The greeting is also in the Good Morning Magnolia Stamp Set and I die cut that with the new Stitched Nested Labels Dies. I was going to layer it on Mossy Meadow but there wasn’t much space and really, I just liked the greeting by itself. Funny how you don’t always know what card design you are going to come up with until you do!

Happy New Catalog Day (or afternoon!)! Check out the Online Store although expect there to be crowds of people there! Sometimes the website acts up on days like this! Once the Online Store is back up and running today, you can place an order!

Happy Shopping!

Stampin’ Up! Last-Chance! Just 3 Days Left!

DISCOUNTED Last-Chance Products!!

Today is June 1st, which in Houston, Texas, means it’s the first day of hurricane season and we will be hearing how to prepare, what supplies to have on hand, what to do, where to go, etc. etc. Luckily we probably don’t have to worry too much about hurricanes until about August and September.

I predict these next three days will be like a hurricane – for us, the last days to buy retiring Stampin’ Up! products will go by so fast and we’ll be making sure we have the stamp sets we can’t live without and making sure we get our orders in! For Stampin’ Up!, it will probably be like a hurricane with a deluge of orders coming in at the last minute for retiring products and then on June 4th with a deluge of orders coming in for the new catalog!

The other day Stampin’ Up! discounted select products from the Annual Catalog and the Occasions Catalog. Discounts range from 10% off to 30% off. We all like ANY sale, especially on Stampin’ Up! products, so make sure you check it out. Products are only available while supplies last (of course!).

It’s really best just to look in the Stampin’ Up! Online Store under ‘Last-Chance Products” and then under “Discounted”. You can download the lists I posted a few days ago, but they won’t be up-to-date with what’s still available if anything sold out.

Of course, you can also check the Clearance Rack and any other products you want to order, retiring or not.

All orders must be in by Monday, June 3 at 11:50 pm MT!

Have fun shopping!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE!

New Stampin’ Up! Catalog Products Coming Soon!

New Catalog Products 1

I was lucky enough to receive my Stampin’ Up! preorder, available to Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators during May, on Friday high and dry! With all the rain we were having since Tuesday, I was worried that my box of beautiful new catalog products could be getting wet and damaged one way or another before it arrived on my porch! But fortunately, it wasn’t pouring down rain when the box arrived and all is well!

However, with all the weekend hoopla with rain and Mother’s Day, I haven’t gotten to play with anything yet, but I did get these photos taken. The lighting isn’t great but they will give you an idea of how lovely some of these new designer papers are.

The top photo shows the new In Color ink pads. You might notice one color is missing. There is a quality control issue with the Purple Posy ink so that one is delayed right now. Hopefully, they will get it all corrected soon. The new In Colors 2019-2021 are Pretty Peacock, Seaside Spray, Rococo Rose, and Terracotta Tile as I have them lined up in the photo. I also got the Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack of Mossy Meadow Linen Thread and 3/8″ Linen Ribbon with white edges. Over on the right side is beautiful 3/8″ Scalloped Lace Trim in Very Vanilla and below it the beautiful 5/8″ Organdy Striped Ribbon in Petal Pink. The dies on the left are the Magnolia Memory Dies. On the right are the Stitched Nested Labels.

New Catalog Products Punches

I chose these two punches (to start with!). The one on the left is the Perennial Flower Punch that goes with the Floral Essence Stamp Set. You can punch several of these petals and stack them to make a 3D flower. The one on the right is the Hot Air Balloon Punch which I bought because I’ve seen samples of magnolia flowers made with the punch (rather than a hot air balloon!).

New Catalog Products Bird Ballad DSP

This is the Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper, and even though I am not into birds, I love this paper! The images are so cute and pretty. It goes with the Bird Ballad Suite and Free As a Bird Stamp Set.

New Catalog Products Bird Ballad DSP2

This is the other side of the Bird Ballad papers.

New Catalog Products Garden Lane DSP

This paper (lighting not very good!) is the Garden Lane Designer Series Paper. It’s very pretty so I couldn’t pass it up!

New Catalog Products Garden Lane DSP2

This is the other side of the Garden Lane Designer Paper. So pretty!

New Catalog Products Magnolia Lane DSP

This paper is in the Magnolia Lane Suite, the Magnolia Lane Designer Series Paper. I bet this suite is going to be one of the most popular products

New Catalog Products Magnolia Lane DSP2

Here is the opposite side of the Magnolia Lane papers. Also pretty!

New Catalog Products Perennial Essence DSP

THIS PAPER! The Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper is hand-painted impressionistic imagery in rich colors, the catalog says. This photo doesn’t do it justice and I’m not sure it is a paper most people would just pick out on their own. But I’ve seen some gorgeous samples using this paper so I had to have it.

New Catalog Products Perennial Essence DSP2

This is the opposite side of the Perennial Essence Designer Paper. Also beautiful.

New Catalog Stamp Sets

Here are the stamp sets I chose just to start in my pre-order! Just couldn’t have everything at once!

I also bought a package of the new In Colors cardstock but forgot to photograph it. We only had select products to choose from in our pre-order, not the whole catalog. Probably just as well because it was hard enough to choose from the pre-order! If I was super-rich, I would want it all, of course!

The new catalog goes live on June 4th. Even if you don’t have a copy, you will be able to see it online. If you are interested in Stampin’ Up! products and do not have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator you are working with, email me at Karen@Karenstamps.com with your contact information. Let me know if you are a new stamper or experienced and what you are most interested in making. If you would like a copy of the new catalog I would be happy to mail you a complimentary copy and be your Demonstrator.

In the meantime, be sure to shop the Last-Chance List of retiring products. It’s best to go to the Online Store and see what is available rather than read through the list. Also, for some fun bargains, don’t miss the Clearance Rack!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE!

Hurry & Shop the Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack!

Clearance Rack Banner 2019

The Stampin’ Up! Clearance Rack has been updated so don’t delay, race right over there and see what you want! Some items could go fast! Right now one of my favorite dies is on there…the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies! Make cute little treat bags with the Big Shot and decorate for any occasion.

There are all kinds of punches, dies, trinkets, designer paper, Watercolor Pencils 2, even a little bit of cardstock. There are some kits if you want to get an early start on Christmas cards. Just check it out!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Stampin’ Up! Last-Chance Products 2019

Stampin' Up! Last-Chance Products 2019 Banner
Image (c) Stampin’ Up! 2019

It’s Here! The Stampin’ Up! List of Retiring Products!

(Check Edit at the bottom about Cling Stamps!)

2018-19 Annual Catalog

Download the PDF HERE.

2019 Occasions Catalog

Download the PDF HERE.

SHOP Last-Chance Products Here!

The Fine Print:

Promotion Dates: April 15–June 3, 2019

  • All retiring items are only available while supplies last and will be discontinued after June 3.
  • Due to the high demand for retiring stamp sets, these items will have guaranteed availability until May 24; all other products are not guaranteed and are available while supplies last only.
  • Retiring items are eligible for Stampin’ Rewards with qualifying orders.
  • Retiring host sets may be purchased using Stampin’ Rewards from a qualifying party only. If a customer buys a product at retail price and then it is later discounted, Stampin’ Up! will not refund the difference.

There! That’s enough to get you started I think! You will need your reading glasses or magnifying glass to read the lists! Maybe someone with technical skills will make them better.

Let me know if you have any questions! I haven’t even looked at the list yet! Just wanted to get it up!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Edited to Add: If it looks like almost all stamp sets are retiring, remember the transition to Cling Stamps! All wood-mount (except Background stamps) and Clear-mount stamps will be replaced with the new Cling Stamps (with the really sticky label!). Here’s a note from Stampin’ Up! plus a list of the Carryover Stamps:

Effective immediately, stamp sets offered in clear-mount or wood-mount in the 2018–2019 annual catalog that are carrying over into the 2019–2020 annual catalog will be offered in clear-mount and/or wood-mount until existing inventory has been depleted or until June 4, 2019 (whichever comes first). If our inventory is depleted, you will be notified of the automatic switch to cling when placing an order for that stamp set. This means that you may end up purchasing select cling stamp sets (in carryover artwork) before they can be ordered from the catalog! All carryover rubber stamp sets will be available in cling medium only (with the exception of background stamps in North America) beginning June 4, 2019.

Carryover Stamps Transitioning to Cling PDF

De-Stress on Tax Day With the Stampin’ Up! Retirement List!

Retirement 2019

Today is Tax Day so I hope you got yours done and sent off to the IRS so this afternoon you can de-stress and relax with the Stampin’ Up! Retirement List later this afternoon at 1:00 PM (MT) when it comes out! You can mark off in the catalog what is going away and decide which Stampin’ Up! products you can’t live without.

Over the weekend the Stampin’ Up! event called OnStage was held in Auckland, New Zealand with local events of one day held in scattered cities around the world. Demonstrators received the next new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog, so you can look online and probably find a picture of the cover! They were also allowed to show photos of some of the new stamp sets, paper, and In Colors coming and the prizes and gifts they received. Any Stampin’ Up! event is a fun thing to attend, I can tell you for sure!

Just be thinking ahead if there are things you fear could sell out when the Retirement List comes out today so you are ready to POUNCE! Who knows, of course, but sometimes the In Color refills and cardstock that are going out are the first things to go. Any accessories with those colors are also susceptible! There are new In Colors coming!

The Retiring List is supposed to be released at 1 PM (Mountain Time) (2:00 pm Central) today so give me some time to check it out and get it posted and then come back to my blog and/or Facebook to find out all about it! Get your work done early so you can de-stress with the Retirement List!

New Major Stampin’ Up! Products Coming!

Breaking News

Big News From Stampin’ Up!

Yesterday we were surprised to hear some big news from Stampin’ Up! about new products that will be coming in the future. If you are on my Mailing List, you got this information yesterday afternoon in my newsletter.

Stampin’ Trimmer Being Replaced

Stampin’ Up! is retiring the Stampin’ Trimmer and all its accessories on June 3rd while they search for a suitable replacement, due to supplier issues. This will leave a gap in time until a new paper cutter is released, which will not particularly affect those of us who already own the trimmer or another paper trimmer. If you are new to stamping or have always wanted this trimmer, NOW is the time to purchase this one. However, if you want to see what new product comes out, then wait and see.

How this affects my customers is that replacement Cutting Blades could be an issue. Stampin’ Up! has increased their inventory and will continue ordering until September. When the retirement list comes out April 15, the Cutting Blades limit will be increased from 3 to 6. Even with increased inventory, these could go on backorder. So….if you need Cutting Blades to last until we get a new trimmer (if you decide to purchase a new one at that time), or RIGHT NOW, then I would order Cutting Blades ASAP and maybe as available throughout the retirement period. In other words, get what you need while you can! (At this moment it looks like the Cutting Mats and Scoring Blades are not available.)

Big Shot Being Replaced

Big Shot Machine

The Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine will be retired as Stampin’ Up! wants to work directly with a manufacturer to better meet our needs and designs after extensive research and evaluation including Demonstrator feedback. This should lead to a better product in the future, but in the meantime, we can still use the Big Shots that we own and even the new dies coming in the new catalog will still work in the Big Shot and any die-cutting machine you may own or purchase. It’s possible, due to machine differences, that maybe something like a shim may be needed with dies. Also, the “fancy” language of Framelits, Thinlits, Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, etc. will be simplified to just “dies” and “embossing folders”.

How this affects my customers is that you can continue to use your Big Shot as long as you like, until a new die-cutting machine comes out and you have the opportunity to choose to purchase or not. There will be new dies in the new catalog, made in a slightly better design. Perhaps we will need to add a shim or finagle something but we will figure it out together! The new die design seems like it will cut closer which will be great! New dies will be the new design. Old dies will continue to be sold until the inventory is depleted, then the new design will take over. There could be backorder situations during this transition.

If there are dies that you want now or in the near future, just like with the Trimmer and Blades, I would order what you want as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. No way to tell what could be sold out. (But of course, there are always new things coming that sometimes make us forget the old things!)

If you have always wanted a Big Shot, buy one now so you have it and you can reassess machines when a new one comes out. I love mine and would hate to do without it, but if you already have one, in a way, nothing changes!

There are no time frames given for these new products so there likely will be a long gap in between the retirement and new products announced. Just my guess.

The Retiring List comes out April 15. Anything you REALLY, REALLY want from the outgoing catalog or Occasions Catalog, I would not wait until April 15 when the rush starts. I’m sure we will hear more information as time goes on. Just keep in mind, Stampin’ Up! is always trying to make our stamping and papercrafting experiences and products as positive and high quality as possible so sometimes we have to go through these bumps in the road! But once the new pavement is down, we are usually very happy with the new products they have released! Keep your fingers crossed and enjoy what we do have!

Let me know if you have any questions/comments about these announcements of new Stampin’ Up! products either in an email or leaving a comment on this post!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

The New Stampin’ Up! Solution For Storage and Organization!

Stampin' Up! Storage Banner w Info
Image (c) Stampin’ Up! 2019

If you have been wishing Stampin’ Up! would come out with some stamping storage and organization solutions, your wish is about to come true! Stampin’ Up! just announced these new storage products will be available April 1st! Get ready to get your supplies all organized!

This new product line, Storage by Stampin’ Up!, provides you with modular storage solutions that let you organize—and customize—your space your way! This is different from many solutions out in the market. You can move pieces around, stack different ways, make it work for you and your space. Watch the video below to get an idea of how this new storage line will work!

Stampin' Up! Storage Configuration Chart
Click photo to read flyer!

This will give you some idea about the new storage solutions PLUS the Floral Grid Paper will be available! Very pretty grid paper to work on!

Stampin’ Up! says the old ink pads will not fit in this ink pad storage. So if you want, stock up on some new ink pads, introduced in the current catalog last June, you might want to do that during Sale-A-Bration, which ends Sunday, March 31, so you can take advantage of that!

ALL THESE NEW PRODUCTS WILL BE AVAILABLE APRIL 1st!

Butterfly Gala Thank You Card With Floral Garden Impressions

Butterfly Gala Thank You Card With Floral Garden Impressions

When my daughter was here for a visit last week and pulling out lots of paper and stamps, some retired, when we went to put away the Garden Impressions Designer Paper I honestly couldn’t remember if it was current or retired! I hadn’t used it in a long time! So I thought it was time to USE IT, along with the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set and the Butterfly Duet Punch to make this Butterfly Gala Thank You Card With Floral Garden Impressions.

The Garden Impressions paper is a pack of 6″ x 6″ sheets so it is a little easier to work with. So many pretty floral patterns and on the other side a more generic, plain design. This pattern with the Night of Navy background and So Saffron flowers jumped out at me so I chose to use that. The card base is Night of Navy with a Whisper White layer. The strip of designer paper is 5 1/4″ x 2″. The ribbon is the beautiful Gold 3/8″ Metallic-Edge Ribbon, so useful to have on hand.

The butterflies are stamped with the Butterfly Gala Stamp Set, colored with Stampin’ Blends markers and punched out with the Butterfly Punch. Unfortunately, at the moment, the punch is back ordered and unable to be ordered until they get more in stock.

The greeting on the card is from the same Butterfly Gala Stamp set, along with some other very nice greetings. Luckily I didn’t mess it up when I stamped it just above the ribbon. Well, somehow I did get a slight black ink smudge in the upper left corner, but I was able to cover it with the butterfly wings! The large butterfly is popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals and the other two are just adhered flat with Glue Dots.

Remember, Sale-A-Bration is going on just one more week!! Wow, does time fly!! You can still get the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper FREE with a $50 purchase, at least as I write this! I’m surprised this paper didn’t sell out early on because it is so fun with the butterflies on one side and some black and white designs on the other. If you like butterflies, you do want this paper!

If you didn’t want to take time to color in butterflies, you could simply make this same card without them! The Garden Impressions 6″ x 6″ DSP is pretty enough! Stamp a greeting, maybe add a ribbon and you’ve got a lovely card. Check out these products in the Stampin’ Up! Online Store and get your Sale-A-Bration order in before you miss out!

A Floral Card For Spring With Brusho

A Floral Card For Spring With Brusho

Late yesterday spring arrived, finally, and here is a Floral Card For Spring With Brusho to celebrate! My daughter has been visiting for a week (not long enough!) and she wanted to stamp and learn some new techniques! We played around with several things including the Brusho Crystal Colour (yes, that’s how it is spelled!). I haven’t used it much, even though it was something I wanted right away when it came out! There are different ways you can use Brusho. Mostly you just need to play with it!

We used real Watercolor Paper by Stampin’ Up! because that works the best, along with the Aqua Painter. You can apply water to the paper with the Aqua Painter or move the ink crystals around with it. You can also just pick up with crystals mixed with water and use as a watercolor paint to color in an image. The Watercolor Paper is a high-quality cotton paper that absorbs the water and doesn’t pill like Whisper White Cardstock does when you use water on it and try to move color around. Even if you don’t use watercolor paper often, you might like to keep a package or two on hand in case you come across a project you want to try with watercoloring.

The Brusho is fun to use because you get five little pots of color – Brilliant Red, Gamboge (orange), Moss Green, Prussian Blue, Yellow. You can use them individually or combine them or do whatever you want! It is recommended you do not even OPEN the pots as the powder is so fine and you’ll have tiny crystals all over. Just poke a hole or several holes in the lid with a Paper Piercing Tool or push pins or something so you can shake out minute amounts of color when you want them.

For my card, I stamped the flowers from the Petal Palette Stamp Set with Stazon Ink since it is waterproof. Then I just shook out a tiny amount of Brusho onto a clear block and picked it up with my Aqua Painter to color in the flowers and leaves. If the shade isn’t exactly what you wanted, you can go back and add more color for a deeper color or shading or blending.

I just wanted kind of a light blue, sky background for the card so I sprinkled just a very few crystals on the wet watercolor paper (I applied water around the flowers with my Aqua Painter) and kind of let it move on its own and helped it with the Aqua Painter so it went where I wanted it. Very easy and simple, not to mention fun!

The card base is Real Red to match the flowers and the greeting is from the Petal Palette Stamp Set. I had to add a little bit of bling with the Gold Faceted Gems.

My daughter and I also made some backgrounds while we played with the Brusho so we will have to make those into cards or something.

Take some inspiration from this Floral Card For Spring With Brusho and make your own card for spring to send to someone who just might really need a card that day!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! SALE-A-BRATION!

Last Month of Sale-A-Bration & New Choices and Products For You!

SAB 3rd Release Banner

Surprise! It’s the last month of Sale-A-Bration and Stampin’ Up! has added some new choices from the Annual Catalog to choose as your FREE product with every $50 purchase! Additionally, Stampin’ Up! has taken apart the Bundle for a $100 purchase from last month of the Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper and the All Adorned Stamp Set and made them each available with a $50 purchase!  So if you just have a $50 purchase, you can get just the beautiful paper!

Here are the additional products you may choose as your FREE Sale-A-Bration product.

 NOTE:  The Sale-A-Bration item codes provided in this flyer must be used in order for the items to be redeemed for the Sale-A-Bration promotion. (click to view)

SAB 3rd Release New Products

PLUS:  Beginning today, you can PURCHASE these products that coordinate with Sale-A-Bration products!  If you would like the framelits that cut out the frogs in the So Hoppy Together Stamp Set, now you can get them!  Just click the photo below or the link for the Sale-A-Bration Coordination Page in the Online Store!

SAB 2019 Coordinating Products March

Check out these new products and Sale-A-Bration choices in the Stampin’ Up! Online Store today!  Available through March 31 or while supplies last.

Sale-A-Bration 2019 2nd Release: 3 New Items To Choose From!

Sale-A-Bration 2nd Release 2019

Beginning today, there are 3 more items to choose from during Sale-A-Bration 2019, the 2nd Release.  This is about the halfway point of the great promotion called Sale-A-Bration by Stampin’ Up! With every $50 you spend, you can choose a free Sale-A-Bration product.  With a $100 purchase you have a couple of choices for one more valuable item instead of two $50 items.

The new items are a stamp set called All Adorned, a great stamp set to use with the Stamparatus, a new embossing folder called Country Floral, and with a $100 purchase, there is a beautiful choice, the Painted Seasons Bundle.  This Bundle comes with the Painted Seasons Stamp Set and the Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper.  This is really a beautiful set!  And in March you can purchase the coordinating dies separately.

Watch the Stampin’ Up! video to see this Bundle!

Here is a Stampin’ Up! video about the All Adorned Stamp Set and how fun it is to use it with the Stamparatus!

Keep these new releases in mind when you choose your Sale-A-Bration free items with your $50 or $100 or more Stampin’ Up! orders!  They are available starting TODAY! If there is something you really want, don’t delay.  Sometimes there are backorders!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! AND GET YOUR FREE PRODUCTS!