Friday, November 28, 2025

CHRISTMAS STAR SWIRLED DESIGNS

I wanted to use the star die cuts from Swirled Design today, and what better way to use them but for a Christmas Card?

I turned the large gold star die-cut into an "ornament" by layering it over the stamped circular swirl image from the stamp set.  To create a hanger for my ornament, I used one of the narrow scrap gold strips that are created when the star is die cut.  If you look closely at the star you will see that I had plenty of the little strips to choose from.  I adhered it above the star and then added a Cherry Cobbler & Gold Bow.

The front of the Cherry Cobbler card base was covered with the Cherry Cobbler Season of Elegance Specialty Paper.  Doesn't it make a pretty card base?

A brushed gold foil mat creates an elegant border around the Basic White cardstock, AND -- I was able to die cut the large star and several of the small stars from the center of that foil cardstock before I adhered the Basic White cardstock to it.  

I always try to remember to do this as it really stretches the use of foil and expensive specialty papers.  

The Merry Christmas greeting is from the Long Time No See stamp set.  It is stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink directly on the Basic White cardstock to keep the card nice and flat for mailing.  The small die-cut stars added to the center of the large star and above the sentiment also create a "flatter" card than other gems or embellishments would.

For the inside of the card I used another piece of the Season of Elegance Specialty Paper as the mat, and then I die cut a lot of stars from both the Season of Elegance Paper and little gold foil scraps that I can never seem to throw away.

I thought it really dressed up the inside of the card and tied it to the front.

What do you think?

Use this link to download a tutorial for today's card.

A list of the products I used is shown below.

Product List
Add All to Cart
on No comments:
Labels: , , , ,
Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA

Thursday, November 27, 2025

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 




Thank you to all my Stamping Friends and Family for your support, kind words and encouragement this year.

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.


"Give Thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  His love endures forever."

                                                                                         1 Chronicles 16:34

on No comments:
Labels:
Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

THANKSGIVING SWIRLED DESIGN

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the United States, I thought I would see if I could make a card appropriate for the celebration using this week's featured product, the Swirled Designs Bundle.

I decided to use the Diamond Die to create my focal point.  I die cut a diamond from three different patterns of the Gathering Together Designer Series Paper (DSP).  This is one of my favorite Autumn DSP collections in many years.  I love it not only because it has beautiful, foiled patterns of colorful leaves and autumn foliage but also because the reverse side has great subtle patterns that can be combined with the colorful foiled sides.

When I die cut the DSP with the diamond die from Swirled Designs Dies I retained the center portion of the diamond and adhered it in the middle of the "swirly" border of the diamond.

The Early Espresso background is embossed with a Leaf Fall die which provides pretty texture in person but is too dark to show up well in the photos.


The greeting is from Banner Sayings and was heat embossed with white embossing powder on Early Espresso cardstock.  

I used the small oval Swirled Design die to cut it twice--once using the center portion of the Early Espresso for the sentiment and the second time from Gold Foil for the swirly border.

A Gold Striped Mesh Bow and some Gold Pearls finish the card front.

For all the details use this link to download a tutorial.

A list of the products used is shown below.


Product List
Add All to Cart

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am very thankful for each and everyone of you!
on No comments:
Labels: , , , ,
Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA

Monday, November 24, 2025

INTRODUCTION TO SWIRLED DESIGNS

This week I am featuring a new Online Exclusive Bundle that was introduced in November.  I was immediately drawn to the bundle by the dies, but as I've worked with it, the stamps have started to grow on me.

Today's card uses all but one of the stamps that are included in the set.

I gave a lot of thought as to how I could best show off these graphical "background" image stamps and finally decided to use them to create my own designer series paper (DSP).

I decided to keep the "DSP" subtle by using tone-on-tone stamping.  


I randomly stamped each of the images from the stamp set.  The only stamp I did not use was the tiny stars.

I used Basic Beige cardstock and ink.  Basic Beige is a great neutral, but it is not a color that I use often.  I'm not sure why.  I think I just forget about it.  Maybe I need to move it to a more prominent place in my paper storage.

I really liked how the "DSP" turned out.  There are large swirly circles, speckles, tiny flowers, a large swooshy shape, some dashed stripes and dashed checks.


HINT:  When you stamp your own "DSP" start with the largest images and work to the smaller images using them to fill-in where needed.

Now that I had my tone-on-tone Basic Beige DSP, I needed to choose which colors I wanted to use to add a pop of color.  So, of course, if you follow me, you know I went to my trusty Color Coach for help.  There were several combinations to choose from, but I settled on Pretty Peacock and Real Red.  

The Swirly Oval and the leaves were die cut from Pretty Peacock.  The die cut flowers and a strip of Shiny Real Red Ribbon add the pop of color.

Since the Swirled Designs Stamp Set does not include greetings I used another new November Online Exclusive bundle, Banner Sayings.  This bundle includes a Tripple Banner Punch that makes easy work of creating a sentiment.


I made my "DSP" larger than required for the front so I had plenty of "scraps" left to decorate the inside of the card and cover the envelope flap.  A Real Red mat, a border for the decorative strip and some die cut flowers add a pop of color on the inside of the card.

Use this link to download a tutorial.  It provides a list of supplies, dimensions and step-by-step directions to make this card.

A list of the supplies used is also shown below.  You can click on any of the images to learn more about that product or to make a purchase from my Stampin' Up! store.


Product List
Add All to Cart
on No comments:
Labels: , , ,
Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA

Friday, November 21, 2025

FRIENDLY FOLIAGE & KINTSUGI INSPIRATIONS

For my last Friendly Foliage card this week I'm getting out the color!  Until today, we've had an "all-white" and a Gold & Beige card, so today it is time for color!

I took my color inspiration from the beautiful Kintsugi Inspirations Designer Series Paper (DSP).  

The colors on this card are Misty Moonlight, Petal Pink, Cloud Cover and Gold.


The front foliage was stamped with Misty Moonlight and die cut with both the inner and the outer die Friendly Foliage Die.  I love how you can see the Petal Pink DSP through the foliage.  There is something about that simplicity that just makes me happy!

The Happy Birthday greeting from Unbounded Love was heat embossed with White Embossing Powder on Misty Moonlight cardstock and fussy cut.

This is a very quick and easy card, but a few special details elevate it just a bit.  So while it IS quick & easy, it doesn't LOOK like it is.

See the FREE TUTORIAL at this link for all those details.

The inside is also quick and easy.  I used my go-to solution of adding a narrow decorative strip to give the inside a bit of color.  

I love sending cards to long-time friends so the sentiment on the inside, from Coneflower Celebrations, is one of my favorites.

A list of the products used for this card is shown below.  Click on any of the images to learn more about that product or to make a purchase.


Product List
Add All to Cart
on No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,
Location: Commerce Township, MI, USA
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)