SENDING HOPE

Welcome to the first full week of 2026.  If you happened to catch my video announcement last week about the changes coming at Fairless Stampin' Flair this year, then you already know that I am reducing the number of posts each week on this blog from 3/week to 2/week.  At this point the plan is to post on Monday and Thursday.

My goal is to have one card be a "Pat-Style" Stamps, Ink, & Paper (SIP) card.  This is a challenge I've made to myself as SIP cards are not easy for me.  I love lots of layers and details with Techniques and Fun Folds tossed in.  But I am going to try!  However, just you understand the "rules" I made for myself -- embellishments, like gems and ribbon are absolutely allowed on a "Pat-Style" SIP card.  

Today's card is my SIP card for this week.

Most weeks I will continue my practice of featuring a specific product each week.  This week I am featuring the HOPE LOVE & JOY Bundle.  I gave you a sneak peak of this new, unique bundle last Friday.  Today I decided to use the "H PE" stamp from the HOPE LOVE & JOY stamp set.  I used a variety of the images that are meant to replace the "O".

I wanted to create a bit of an ombre cascade of HOPE but had a difficult time decided which colors to use.  To give me some direction I Googled, "What is the color usually associated with HOPE?"  The most consistent response was "green".  Google says the color green is associated with new beginnings, growth and optimism.  That sounds like "hope" to me.

Other sources suggested "blue" and "yellow."  Blue because it represents spirituality, peace, serenity and calm and yellow because it stands for renewal, happiness, optimism and creativity.

Since I don't often use greens except at Christmas or for nature scenes, I decided to go with greens with a little pop of yellow at the top.

The images were much easier to choose.  A dove, a heart, and praying hands all portray hope.

As I indicated, SIP cards are not "easy" for me.  I think I spent more time figuring out this simple card than some of the avid card styles I typically make.  And I do have to admit that I couldn't resist making a stepped-up version of this same card.  I just needed to see what it would look like if the images were stamped on a separate piece of colored cardstock that was the same color as the stamped word and then die cut and adhered to the card with dimensionals.

Since I made it, I thought I may as well share it.  Just know, it is not my intent to do this with each SIP card I make.  Just consider it "baby steps"!  I think it is going to take me some time to fully embrace the SIP card challenge.

Do you like one better than the other?

Here is the inside of my card.  I chose to make it a Get-Well card as "getting well" certainly involves "hope".  The sentiments on the inside of the card are from the Unbounded Love and Friendly Foliage stamp sets.  

FYI -- The strip of Daffodil Delight DSP on the bottom edge was NOT PLANNED.  I made a boo-boo that I needed to cover up!  More on that in the Tutorial.  

The lesson for us all, don't stress!  There is always a way to fix a boo-boo!

Use this link to download the tutorial.

The HOPE LOVE & JOY bundle will be available to purchase beginning tomorrow, January 6.  Since I cannot yet include a link for it to take you to my Stampin' Up! store, here is the item number for your reference.

HOPE LOVE & JOY BUNDLE:  Item # 166858.

Product List

Unbounded Love Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [163378]	Friendly Foliage Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [167021]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146990]
Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144245]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	Brights 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165301]	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089]
Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095]	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [147145]	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [147094]	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220]

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A THANKSGIVING FUN FOLD

It has been a long time since I made a Double Z fun fold.  It had been so long that I couldn't remember the dimensions for cutting and scoring the two card bases, so I had to try to find one of my old tutorials.

That's when I realized how long it had actually been.  I finally found one, and it was from 2023!  I used to make this fun fold all the time because it is very easy but looks complicated.

It is also a great way to show off a Designer Series Paper (DSP) Collection because there are so many different panels that you can use several different designs on the same card.  This card today uses four different patterns from the gorgeous Gathering Together DSP.

My challenge (to myself) this week was to use Two-Tone Cardstock, and I thought this Double Z Fun Fold would be a good way to use both sides and show off the two shades.

The large Double Z card base is made with the dark side of Pecan Pie two-tone, and the small Double Z card base is made with the light side of Pecan Pie two-tone.  

All stamped images and greetings on today's card are from the Amber Autumn Bundle.  These leaves are so much fun to color.  I'll admit that my version of these oak leaves don't look much like my neighbor's oak leaves that now cover my grass.  Those are pretty much just a solid brown.  If I'd colored mine with solid Pecan Pie, that is about what the ones on the grass look like, but who wants solid brown leaves on a card?  Not me, so I gave them a little "unrealistic" colors.

I chose colors from the DSP, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, and a tiny touch of Old Olive Stampin' Blends to color my leaves.  Since we do not have Crushed Curry Stampin' Blends, I substituted Daffodil Delight.

If you would like to make a Double Z Fun Fold, use this link to download a tutorial with all the cutting & scoring dimensions.

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

Product List

Amber Autumn Bundle (English) [165893]	Traditional Labels Dies [165864]	Pecan Pie 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock [166688]	Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131199]
Gathering Together 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [165969]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]
Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154892]	Cajun Craze Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154879]	Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154897]	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154883]
Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [161674]	Flower Accents [165171]	Leaf Fall 3 D Embossing Folder [159847]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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ENJOY LIKED TOGETHER AND ARCHES

For today I decided to combine another new set that I just received.  It is the Everyday Arches Bundle which was introduced as an ONLINE EXCLUSIVE in January.  I have not used the Everyday Arches Stamp Set on this card--only the dies, but the bundle part of a beautiful suite that also includes this gorgeous Everyday Skies 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (DSP).

This card uses one of my GO-TO card sketches. I featured this layout in my Template Time Learning with Friends video yesterday.  This is my Sketch.

The circular shape on the sketch can be changed to any shape and obviously the width of the diagonal strip can be changed to better suit the focal point you choose.

If you missed yesterday's Learning with Friends watch the replay to see some additional examples of this card layout--and also some important assembly tips.

I have used this layout more times than I can count, but I never get tired of it.  It is not as versatile as some of my card sketches, but there is something about that diagonal element that just "speaks" to me.

I hope you like it too and will give it a try.  Be sure to watch the video for those important hints to make assembly easy.

My arched focal point was made by first cutting a piece of the Everyday Skies Designer Series Paper  with an arched die from Everyday Arches.  Then I adhered the Night of Navy lattice die cut made with the Linked Together die to the DSP and snipped off the areas that protruded.  

The Moody Mauve Arch window frame was made by die cutting with two Everyday Arches dies laid one inside of the other.  Doesn't it give a pretty view of the beautiful sky though our window?

To finish the inside of the card I just adhered a couple of the DSP strips that were left over from the card front. Adding DSP strips to the message layer and then matting it to a coordinating cardstock color is a simple way to bring the inside of your card to life. It's quick and easy, but more importantly, it doesn't look like it has been forgotten.

Use this link to download a copy of the tutorial with all the necessary dimensions and step-by-step directions.

A list of the products used is shown below.

Product List

Linked Together Bundle (English) [164810]	Everyday Arches Dies [164629]	Night Of Navy 12" X 12" Card Stock [124282]	Moody Mauve 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [161723]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Everyday Skies 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164622]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]	Iridescent Faceted Gems [163368]
Exposed Brick 3 D Embossing Folder [161600]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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