Delightful Wishes card

 Want to turn a forsythia into an orchid?  Well I think I have with today's inspiration using the Delightful Wishes stamps.  All it took?... a change in colour palette! The translation took place by changing from yellows to lilac and pink!

By keeping the design simple and the colour palette simple too the end result is a clean and fresh looking card.

The simple addition of some simple scored lines on the white mat adds texture without distraction from the focal point. These are easily achieved with your trimmer and scoring tool or with a scoreboard or even a ruler and a score tool.

Keeping the sentiment simple on the front doesn't mean that you can't go to town on the inside though 😉. 

So what do you think has the forsythia turned into an orchid? 

Simply stunning Delightful Wishes cardwishes

Every year Stampin' Up! bring our 5 new colours. The colours are only around for 2 years and are in addition to their core colour families.  Called the  In-Color collection they are stand alone but work so well with lots of other members of the Stampin' Up! colour families . This year the 2025-2027 In-Color collection is made up of 5 beautiful colours that are sure to become favourites . As ever the colours have fun names. Cloud Cover is a soft grey/ pale blue . Darling Duckling a soft dusky yellow. Next is a colour who's name suggests green/blue Secret Sea.  Strawberry Slush is as the name suggests a beautiful pinky red. And finally Timid Tiger a gorgeous shade of orange. Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing projects using these gorgeous colours starting with today's inspiration.  

The card is created using the twig die from the Delightful Wishes dies. As soon as I saw this die I knew I'd be using it for more than just a twig!

I was drawn to using the new Secret Sea colour for this project because I wanted a simply stunning card and I think it turned out just so!

The card was created by die cutting the "twig' from a panel of Secret Sea cardstock.  Next I took a blending brush and added the same colour ink around all the cut surfaces.  Then die cut 2 "twigs" from gold foil. 

Adhere the cardstock pieces onto a card base made from the same Secret Sea colour cardstock.  Then carefully inlay the gold pieces into the gaps. 

The sentiment is from a stamp set called You are Remarkable.  This set has pretty images and wonderful inspirational sentiments. 

Save the pieces of the gold foil and Secret Sea twigs and use them to decorate the inside of the card.

So how do you view the "twig" die now? My first thoughts were lightning 🌩 and could be great for Halloween 🎃. 

My second thought was kintsugi. This is the Japanese art of fixing broken ceramics with precious metals in the belief that imperfections can be viewed as  an integral part of the history and value of a piece.

I love the stunning simplicity of this card. I think Secret Sea may be becoming a firm favourite of mine. What about you?

Delightful wishes best wishes card

 Did you know that you can create custom backgrounds for your cards with just stamps and inks? Well today's inspiration is a simple card made special by its custom background.  The background is created using  forsythia images created with the Delightful Wishes  stamp set. This beautiful photopolymer stamps set features 4 seperate stamps that line up to create the gorgeous forsythia image. This allows you to use any colour combinations you desire to create unique images.

At first glance you might be a little confused by what goes where but I have a short video to share with you at the end of this post that shows how I put them together. The stamps used are the bottom four of the above image.

Here is today's inspiration. 

The colour palette for this card is the inspired by a piece of textiles that caught my eye. 3 of the colours are from the upcoming 2025-2027 In-Color collection.  Called Timid Tiger,  Darling Duckling and a returning In-Color Strawberry Slush these three work so well together and were a great match along with shaded spruce add petal pink for the colours on the material. 

The wishing part of the sentiment is die cut from the coordinating Delightful Wishes dies. The die cut strawberry slush panel is dry embossed using the Mini corrugated 3d embossing folder . Just place your cardstock in the folder at an angle to get the diagonal ridges. 

Here is a short video sharing how I put them stamps together to make the forsythia image up.

Floral Delight suite fun fold card

 Monday afternoon is Live at 5 time for me over on my Facebook page here. (Just remember that's 5pm here in the UK 😉.) I'd love to have you join me . So is you don't already follow my Facebook page please do 😊. What do I do on my lives? Well it varies sometimes it's unboxing new kits other times it might be showcasing a stamp set or like yesterday's I made an easy fun fold. The fold is inspired by a video I spied by a lady called Diane Tuggle. In her video she used imperial measurements so I have adjusted them for us metric crafters.

For both the live and today's version I have used products from the Floral Delight suite. I have made so many beautiful projects using these products, there are more to come too 😍. 

For today's version I have used the hexagon dies from the Meant to Bee dies. Yesterday's uses the Everyday Arches dies but the fun fold will work  with all sorts of shapes, circles , florals, trees.... the list is as long as your imagination ✨️ 

This fun fold is called a freestanding pop up card. The only measurements you need are the for the card base. For piece one they are 10.5cm x 7.5cm scored at 2.5cm and 5cm.  Then for the second piece a piece of cardstock measuring 7.5cm x 7.5cm scored at 2.5cm and 5cm.  The only other dimensions you need to consider are those of the envelope you're using. Think about will the finished piece fit inside 🤔. 

I have used 3d foam to adhere the decoration on the card. The flowers were fussy cut from the beautiful Floral Delight pattern paper.  

Use up the pieces from the edges of the pattern papers to decorate the back of the card . This is where you will write your personal message. 

The card folds flat for posting and fits inside a C6 envelope. I have made so many projects using the adorable Tiny bee trinkets that I had to use some of the gorgeous Brushed brass butterflies to add a little something something to the project!

Here are both today's sample and the one made during my Facebook live yesterday. 

Here is the video showing how the project is made enjoy 😀

Delightful Wishes retro birthday card

 Yesterday I held my spring all day event. This event was an all day class filled with lots of great company, wonderful inspiration and creativity. The featured products were the gorgeous Floral Delight suite. It was just perfect for a spring event with it's beautiful shades of yellow colours and blossoms. The suite includes the Floral Delight  pattern papers, Floral and gingham vellums , the cutest Tiny bee trinkets and a gorgeous narrow yellow ribbon. 💛 🧡 💛 a true feast of spring for the eye!

Whilst everyone was creating their own beautiful projects I did a little Crafting myself! This suite is just so inspiring that I couldn't stop creating with it 😜. 

So today's project is one that was created as I sat with the amazing crafters and is influenced by their creativity. 

I'm calling this card a retro birthday card because the colour palette just reminded me of the browns, yellows and oranges of my childhood in the 70's . What do you think? Does it have a taste of the 70's in the colours? 

To create the texture on the yellow cardstock I first created a mask using one of the dies from the Delightful Wishes dies. I die cut it from a scrap of vellum but any thinner non porus medium will work such as thin acetate. 

I then took some embossing paste and using a palette knife swipped the paste through the the mask onto a piece of yellow cardstock. 

Repeating the process over the cardstock until it had the look I was after. Top tip when using embossing paste have a bowl of warm water to hand to wash your tools in immediately after using them. If you don't the paste doesn't come of and you risk ruining your tools. The paste dries quickly so it's best to have everything to hand before you start.

I used the embossed panel not only on the front of the card but on the inside too!

The combination of colours and texture with the satin ribbon and embossing paste give this project lots of va va voom.

The beautiful forsythia stamped image is achieve by stamping each part separately. I would recomend starting with the highlight of the blossoms first. Then use the blossom nside stamp, next the twig and finally the leaves. It sounds tricky but I promise it's not that bad as these stamps are photopolymer so easy to see through 😀. 

So does this card have retro vibes? Or is it just me 😅 ?

Storybook Moments fun fold card

 Small but perfectly cute today's inspiration maybe small in stature but it sure has the wow feature! I'm calling this fun fold a book diorama card.  Closed it lies flat but pops up to a beautiful diorama once open. It's made using the amazing Storybook Moments pattern papers and the amazing Storybook Friends stamps and the gorgeous dies that coordinate with them. 

The frames in these dies are just soo elegant 😍. The dies not only cut the stamped images but also some of the cute critters from the pattern papers , saving on the fussy cutting for those who aren't so keen 😉.

The front of this project shows how the addition of one of the elegant frames over a piece of pattern paper makes for a really pretty but oh so easy to create card front.

The card starts with a piece of cardstock measuring  10.5cm x 29.7cm scored at 1cm,10cm, 11cm, 20cm. Die cut or cut and appature in the center of the panel after the 1st scoreline, the 1cm one. Then reinforce all the folds starting at the 1cm scoreline.  The go mountain,  mountain,  mountain then valley.  The 1cm panel is adhered to the last panel next to the scoreline. So that it looks as below.

To secure the card I have wrapped a length of ribbon around the card covering it on the back with a mat of cardstock which can be decorated as desired.  I chose to use a 3d embossing folder called Distressed Tile.  Covering the ribbon on the back ensures it doesn't get lost.

Once opened the card shows off it's wow factor with its diorama appearance. I have decorated the inside with another of the gorgeous Storybook Friends die cut frames and another distressed tile embossed panel. 

A piece of pattern paper from the Storybook moments pack is adhered behind the appature. One of the cute critters is die cut from the pattern papers as well. 

 

I added another panel on the inside to write my message on that I also stamped my sentiment on and decorated with a little tone on tone stamping.

The overall size of this cute card is 10.5cm x 9.7cm , roughly 4¼" square. But it does fold flat and fit in a standard envelope!

Storybook moments and timeless plaid fun fold card

 A Little something different for today's inspiration....A different colour palette for spring.... shades of blue 💙. This colour palette was directed by the ever so cute blue watering can die cut from the Storybook moments  paper pack that effortlessly coordinates  with the gorgeous check papers in the Timeless plaid pattern paper pack!

The card is a very simple fold back fun fold. Starting with a piece of coordinating cardstocks measuring 14.85cm x 21cm and score at 10.5cm.  Next line up the top right edge of the card base with the edge of your trimmer and the bottom right edge with the gully and score diagonally.  Now this makes no sense so let me show you...

Once you've made your card base choose your pattern paper and cut to 9.5cm x 14.4cm.  Then follow the same process as for creating the fold on the card base but instead of scoring cut the paper. As the Timeless plaid pattern paper is a 6"x6" pack use the leftover piece for the inside of the card. Add a piece of white cardstock as a place to write your personal message. I also added the blue welly boots die cut to the inside for fun.

As this version of the fun fold is in the landscape orientation and I've chosen to add some quite weighty embellishments I have added a small scrap of coordinating cardstock to the bottom left corner of the card base on the inside just to give a little more stability when the card is standing. 

The fun spiral flowers are made by roughly cutting 3 different size circles out of cardstock then cutting into them in a spiral and rolling them to make the flowers . Here's a little video of how I created them.

The leaves are simply a piece of pattern paper folded in half and cut freehand. I then used the watering can die cut to sprinkle small brushed brass butterflies over the flowers. A simple linen thread bow and a sentiment and the card was complete. 

I would say that this card will need a larger envelope and will probably be best hand delivered due to the depth of the flowers .

Sneak peek of the 2025-2027 In-Color's

 Yesterday was crazy busy! In the morning it was my monthly card and a cuppa session. This takes place in a local cafe in my home town. You can make a card and have a drink all while enjoying the fun atmosphere, great company and lot's of chatting 😀.  Then I had to whisk my son to his English tutor session rush back for the hairdressers then home to my weekly Live at 5 over on my Facebook page here! And after that I cooked our Sunday roast for dinner because I didn't fo it the day before 🤣... life is never boring that's gor sure 😉

Anyway back to the creativity. There are alway's 2 designs to choose from for card and a cuppa. This month's theme was sweet treat's 😋. 

The doughnut card won out just slightly over the cupcake one on the day 😋.

Then for my Live at 5 session I created a simple card featuring all five of the 2025-2027 In-Color's! 

Stampin' Up! Always have great names for their colours, and they're usually alliteration which is always fun. And the upcoming 2025-2027 In-Color's are no different! Starting with Cloud Cover a soft grey blue. Darling Duckling a dusty yellow. Then there's a returning In-Color from 2013! called Strawberry Slush which is a gorgeous pink. The next colour is called Secret Sea which is a very deep dark blue/green colour. Then there's Timid Tiger 🐅 a gorgeous mid tone orange which has straight away become a firm favourite! 

If you'd like to see how the card came together please have a look at the video here

What's your favourite colour from the 2025-2027 In-Color's?  Will you be like me and change you mind as you go along? 😉

Storybook Friends fun fold card

 Wow where has the time gone! After a very successful weekend retreat and an amazing trip to Strasbourg in Framce for the Stampin' Up! Annual conference I'm finally back in the swing of things and have some fun projects to share with you all. One of the day's at my retreat we used the oh so cute Storybook Moments suite collection.  This includes 2 stamp sets and coordinating dies, 2 different pattern paper packs as well as embellishments and ribbon! 

For today's inspiration I have used the amazing Storybook Moments pattern paper .

And the coordinating Timeless Plaid papers which are just gorgeous 😍. 

So the fun fold I'm sharing here is great for showcasing these fabulous papers!  The variety and colour palette choices you have in these 2 packs of paper mean there is something for everyone! 

The fold doesn't have a name yet. Maybe you can suggest some in the comments at the end of this post? The card fits into a standard C6 envelope and folds flat for posting.  And it's really rather easy just 8 scorelines and 2 cuts and it's done!

The base is created from a piece of coordinating cardstock measuring 10.5cm x 29.7cm.  Then score from each end at 3cm, 5cm, 8cm and 10cm.  Next mark at 5cm up from the bottom on both sides. Then cut  diagonally from the mark to the 10cm scoreline. 

Fold the scorelines from the outside going inwards from both ends. Start with a valley first, then a mountain, then a valley and finally a mountain. 

Decorate each panel as desired.  I chose to use the oh so cute bunny paper for the center panel and coordinating strawberry and boho blue check papers for the sides. 

This card folds flat for posting but stands beautifully when open!

On the back I decorated a white panel as the place to write my message. The cute little bunny is cut from the pattern paper.  It even has a die that you can use if fussy cutting is not your thing 😉.

The sentiments for this card are from a set that coordinates with the scrapbook workshop kit that is an other wonderful addition to this gorgeous suite. Called Storybook Life it coordinates with not only the Storybook Life scrapbooking kit but is also useful for cards as well!

A final dusting of the oh so elegant Antique pearls  from the collection add just the right amount of subtle pop to the finished card.

Did you think of a name for this easy fun fold? Please comment below with you suggestions 😊 

Alternative card using the Brightest Birthday kit

 Yesterday I shared a video over on my Facebook page and am sharing the cutting details here today. The card takes inspiration and some materials from the amazing Brightest Birthday card kit. I just love this kit, the colours the designs and oh boy the amazing holographic foiling 😍. So I had to make a fun fold card which takes inspiration from one of the cards.

Here is the card I made and the inspiration card from the kit .

The card starts out with a piece of cardstock measuring 14cm x 29.7cm (A4 length). Score this at 10cm, 20cm, 22cm, 24cm and 28.5cm. Then rotate and cut into 2 pieces at 7cm x 29.7cm. The inner panel measures 7cm x 13cm and the stopper panel is 1cm x 8.5cm.

The front decorative panels are 2 each in a contrasting cardstock 9.5cm x 6.5cm and another 2 layers measuring 9cm x 6cm in white. The inner panel has a mat measuring 6.5cm x 12.5cm. 

Please watch the video to see how it comes together. 

Storybook Moments quick cards

 Today I'm on my way to Strasbourg France to attend Stampin' Up! #OnStage2025. This event is going to be so much fun with about 800 fellow demonstrators from all over the world ! As time has been rather limited lately I thought I'd share some inspiration that uses some of the gorgeous Storybook Moments pattern papers. 

One of the features of these papers are these beautiful cut apart sheets...

And 2of these amazing die cut sheets!

There are 11 panels on the cut apart sheets that are perfect for creating quick cards with. Below are just 4 cards made using them.

First up is a very posh looking gentleman bringing flowers for a birthday treat. And don't the strawberries look just yummy 😋 

The second card features one of the gorgeous frames .

This floral frame is just so pretty 😍 and perfect for an Easter card.

The final card uses the panel that features lots of the cute characters from the papers. The die cut of this elegant lady is just perfect for saying hello 👋. 

Four cute cards in no time at all.. perfect for those busy people or those who don't have access to die cutting machines.