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.


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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am very thankful for each and everyone of you!
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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.


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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.


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