Monday 29 March 2021

Easy cards with the Boho Indigo Product Medley Refill Kit

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

Let’s talk Boho Indigo. And let’s gloss over the fact that I completely overlooked this fantastic Product Medley when it launched last June and only just got round to using it a few weeks before it retires.

I ran a Zoom class with the refill kit on Saturday and everyone was in agreement; that these are some of the most gorgeous papers Stampin’ Up!® has ever produced.

Before we get to the projects I must warn you now that this is on the retiring list and only available while supplies last.

The Boho Indigo Product Medley (pictured above) is reduced to £39, for which you receive stamps, dies, ribbons, papers, label/image sheets and embellishments.

 
The Boho Indigo Product Medley Refill Kit (pictured above) remains at its original price of £21, which is still excellent value for just the papers, label/image sheets and embellishments... but when you can get the stamps and dies for an extra £18, well... why wouldn’t you?

Everyone in the class received half a refill kit plus the consumables to make their projects, which was a challenging list of four cards plus some 3D items. I’ll just show you the cards today, otherwise the blog post will go on forever! Please come back Thursday for the 3D items. 
 
Boho Indigo Stampin Up
 
First up are these two lovely cards using the embossed sheets which come in the kit. From a demonstrator point of view, I loved that these were embossed as it saved me having to do it when packing all those kits! And from a crafter’s point of view, they just look really lovely as a backdrop to the green and gold elements.

What I love about this kit is that the Designer Series Papers are all Misty Moonlight and Very Vanilla, but the elements which come in the pack are Garden Green and gold, providing a beautiful contrast.

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

This card uses one of my favourite designs of paper, with a cluster of elements surrounding the stamped label. I stamped mine with Sweet Strawberry, which happily is carrying over into the new Annual Catalogue in May.

As you don’t get ribbon in the refill kit, I used Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim, which is also carrying over. The gold flower and leaves are pop-out elements, while the small white paper flower is part of the kit and the blue flower is fussy-cut from Designer Series Paper.

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

This card also uses one of my favourite designs of paper – in fact I’d go as far as to say it is my favourite from the pack so even now I’m questioning the wisdom of covering so much of it up.

I’ve used a tag AND a label on this card, partly because I was just not getting through them all – and remember this was from only half a pack! You get two of every element sheet in the full refill kit. 
 
Boho Indigo Stampin Up

Again, this is decorated with pop-out leaves and a selection of flowers, some little paper embellishment flowers and some cut from the Designer Series Paper. This time I used Misty Moonlight In Color Ribbon which sadly and inexplicably is retiring soon, along with its sister ribbons from that range.

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

We made two more cards with a Thick Very Vanilla cardstock base and let the Designer Series Paper do all the heavy lifting here.

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

Aha, my favourite design gets a bit more of a showing here in this patchwork-style card. To create this, I cut a piece of Misty Moonlight cardstock about 1cm smaller than the card front. To create the ‘patchwork’ pieces, I began with the greeting label and used this to inform the width of the two panels above and below. I then measured the remaining space and cut a strip just a little narrower for the left. I tell you this rather than actual measurements as it should help you to recreate a similar design for any size cardstock. I’m not a big measurements person; I prefer to work by eye. I also appreciate that card sizes vary around the world... by which I mean literally everyone uses A4 except the USA!

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

This is a really simple and popular card design which adapts well to any Designer Series Paper. Again, a Misty Moonlight panel cut just smaller than the card front, then cut three equal strips of Designer Series Paper to fill. Ribbon around it before you stick it down, the label and flowers on top. Boom!

Boho Indigo Stampin Up

With my leftover supplies I quickly put together these three cards. One uses the three panels of Designer Series Paper on a portrait card, while the other two use the The Tailored Tag Punch (carrying over –phew!), which is ideal for using up any leftover scraps of Designer Series Paper.

‘Just a Note’ comes from the Simply Citrus Kit and the stamped feathers are from Tasteful Touches (carrying over).

I hope you love these projects and products as much as I do. On Thursday I will show you the box we created for the cards, plus a little pouch and hanging ornament.

If you are in the UK and would like to order this fabulous product medley, refill kit or indeed anything else, please visit my store and, if you use the April host code TRPKSXWR, I’ll send you a thank you gift in May!


Does your wish list come to more than £99? Please get in touch and I will help you get more for your money and unlock discounts all year round.  
 
 

Thursday 25 March 2021

Stampin’ Up!® Last Chance Products Sale


It’s nearly time for a new catalogue which means it is now time to clear out that warehouse to make room for more products. LOTS of products are retiring, some with huge discounts. 

See the list of retiring items on a handy spreadsheet here

 Shop the retiring list here

TIP: Look out for the discounts! There are some incredible bargains. 

If you are in the UK and would like to order, please visit my store and, if you use the March host code HYEBNWP3, I’ll send you a thank you gift in April!


Does your wish list come to more than £99? Please get in touch and I will help you get more for your money and unlock discounts all year round.  
 
 

Monday 22 March 2021

Friends Are Like Seashells Stampin’ Up!® card ideas

Friends Are Like Seashells Stampin Up

I am a sucker for a seaside stamp set, always have been. Maybe it’s something to do with living in landlocked Derbyshire, arguably the furthest from the sea that you can get within the UK.

We still can’t travel to the seaside, but we can create seaside-themed projects using the lovely Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set. And if some of the sentiments are a bit too sentimental for my tastes, then the many, many stamps more than make up for this. 
 

After a tiring week, I spent a relaxed Saturday afternoon playing with this gorgeous stamp set and dies, creating a huge mess ... but ultimately coming up with these two cards.
 
For my first card I began by blending ink onto some Basic White cardstock using the fab.u.lous Blending Brushes and inks ink Bermuda Bay, Pretty Peacock (retiring soon!) and Granny Apple Green. I splashed this with water and allowed it to dry, then ran it through the Seabed Embossing Folder from the Whale of Time Suite. Yes, I do have quite a collection of sea-themed products. 
 
I used the Natural Touch Specialty Paper to cover the whole of my card front, then built up my collage using stamped and colours seashells. 
 
I stamped the shells in Early Espresso, Soft Suede and Pretty Peacock, colouring most of them in simply by dragging the colour around using a Blender Pen. The main shell had a touch of Granny Apple Green, too, then I finished it off with a hint of Wink of Stella.
 
My embellishments are Just Jade from the 2020-2022 In Color Enamel Dots.

Friends Are Like Seashells Stampin Up
See the supply list here

I wanted my second card to look completely different so when for a totally uncharacteristic pink and white theme. I used the Seabed Embossing Folder as my base this time, then built up my image using various seashells stamped in – gasp – Melon Mambo, Flirty Flamingo and Blushing Bride. These are all colours from the Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper, which I had intended to use, but in the end I couldn’t bear to cut it up. I know... after everything I’ve ever said! But I WILL cut it up soon, I promise. 
 
Again, I finished off with some swipes of Wink of Stella and that same pack of enamel dots, using the Magenta Madness dots this time. 
 
When creating a collage-effect card like this, arrange the elements then snap a photo with your phone, so you can see how you want them when you start removing them to add adhesive.
Something you should know about the Seaside Shells dies is that within the set is one BIG one which cuts out several large shells with lots of seaweed around it. This is very cool as it co-ordinates with the Seashells 3D Embossing Folder, which I sadly forgot to order. And if you position your stamps carefully, using the Stamparatus, you can stamp and die-cut (or the other way round) for perfect positioning every time.
 
If you are in the UK and would like to order, please visit my store and, if you use the March host code HYEBNWP3, I’ll send you a thank you gift in April!
 

Does your wish list come to more than £99? Please get in touch and I will help you get more for your money and unlock discounts all year round.  
 
 

Monday 15 March 2021

Cards and scrapbooking using Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
 

Over the course of the past year I have welcomed some new ladies into our little crafting community who just happen to be scrapbookers. They make cards, of course, but scrapbooking is their first love.

I used to be a keen scrapbooker but fell out of the habit but I am happy to say their enthusiasm is reigniting mine. At last week’s Crafty Friday class on Zoom we were chatting about Memories & More cards. These are packs of 6"x4" and 3"x4" cards and sticker sheets which co-ordinate with some of our most popular Suites. They are designed to go with our Photo Pocket Pages which makes scrapbooking REALLY quick and easy, but as the ‘& More’ part of the name suggests, they can be used for so much more.

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Order the Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards here

With this in mind, one lady asked how they could be used on a 12x12 scrapbook page, while others said they’d love some ideas for using them on cards.

Challenge accepted! Over the weekend I made several projects using Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards. A 12x12 scrapbook page, as promised, and a few simple cards.

I say simple because there are genuinely no fancy techniques here. Other than the cardstock, few bits of ribbon, the ladybirds, the odd image from the Dandy Laser-Cut Paper and one stamp, everything comes from the Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards.

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

This scrapbook page was my first project and it came together so easily. I followed the principles outlined by Stampin' Up!® CEO Sara Douglass in her Facebook Live a few weeks ago. She simply made all her elements the same width as the Memories & More Cards and her page came together easily. 

You can watch Sara’s video here; you don’t need a Facebook account

I used Crumb Cake cardstock as my backing, because it’s a good neutral background – but mainly because that’s what I had (I really must get some more 12x12 cardstock!). 

Using a VERY old picture of my daughter (which I have actually scrapbooked before I think!), I found  the purple of her outfit was picked up beautifully by the Blackberry Bliss of the Memories & More Cards. But I found I could introduce strips of cards in other colours as long as I balanced them out. There are so many colours in the Dandy Garden Suite that you’ll find something to go with almost any photo.

I kept the page pretty simple, with some some of the sticker elements, Ladybug Trinkets and a leaf and dragonfly from the
Dandy Laser-Cut Paper as decorative elements. The ‘smile’ is cut out from a Memories & More card and all I can say is I’m glad you get two of everything as I completely messed up my first attempt!

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

There’s only one element I’m not happy with and that’s the sticker saying “A very special day”. I didn’t want to use it there but had a smudge of glue which pulled up the paper when I tried to remove it. Still, there are no mistakes, so the sticker did the job. 
 

Before popping up the stickers on Dimensionals, make sure you “de-stick” them first. You can do this using the old Embossing Buddy, some talc or cornflour, or simply by pressing them repeatedly onto your clothing to pick up the fluff. This will stop them from sticking down where they aren’t lifted by Dimensionals. Alternatively, you can stick them to a Foam Adhesive sheet and cut them out.

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

This card is a lovely celebration of dandelions, which are excellent for breeding butterflies. I chose various elements in Mossy Meadow and Bumblebee. 

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

Just as I’d added some Bumblebee Gingham Ribbon, I remembered I was saving it for my Butterfly Bijou Kits, so swapped to Mossy Meadow Braided Linen Thread instead. I quite like the contrast. 

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

For this card, I suddenly remembered I have some Basic White Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes, which are perfect for making quick cards. For super-fast cards, simply stick the Memories & More card on the front and you’re done, as they are sized to be slightly larger.

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

But I felt that was a bit of a cop-out so made slightly more effort with this one, fussy-cutting the greeting label from one of the Memories & More cards as my focal point and using some co-ordinating Calypso Coral-based cards as my background.

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

The Basic White Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes come in two sizes, to co-ordinate perfectly with the Memories & More Cards themselves, so there are these cute little cards, too. For this I just used some leftover strips to decorate the card front, finishing off with a sticker label which I stamped using Sweet Strawberry.  

Dandy Garden Memories & More Stampin Up
Shop the project here

I hope you have been inspired to take another look at the Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards and consider their many possibilities. If you are in the UK and would like to order them, please visit my store and, if you use the March host code HYEBNWP3, I’ll send you a thank you gift in April!


Does your wish list come to more than £99? Please get in touch and I will help you get more for your money and unlock discounts all year round.  
 
 

Monday 8 March 2021

Kickstart your creativity with All Things Stampy’s NEW Kits by Mail

Craft Kits Stampin Up Butterfly Bijou

Have you seen these beautiful papers from the new Butterfly Bouquet promotion? Would you believe these cards are made with just the Butterfly Bijou Designer Series Paper, and the only stamps I’ve used are greeting stamps? Ok, oops, I used a little dotty background stamp on the left one too.

What I’m clumsily trying to say is that even though the Butterfly Brilliance stamp set is currently on back order in the UK, you can still watch the butterflies flutter by on your cards by cutting out the images from the Butterfly Bijou Designer Series Paper. 

And with this in mind, I am very excited to bring you a new range of All Things Stampy exclusive kits – launching this month with a butterfly theme.

Each month I will be offering UK-based crafters a different Kit By Mail, featuring a range of top quality Stampin’ Up!® products hand-picked by me to help you create beautifully co-ordinated projects.

Please note: This is NOT a club. There is no monthly commitment; just purchase the kits which take your fancy as and when you choose. 

 Craft Kits Stampin Up Butterfly Bijou 

Each kit will contain half a pack of Designer Series Paper, at least eight sheets of co-ordinating cardstock, some ribbon and embellishments. It will not contain stamps or ink, although you are of course welcome to add these if you wish.

Plus, if you purchase the kit you will receive access to project ideas to help you get the most out of your new supplies.

Who are these kits for?

✂️ Crafters who enjoy having co-ordinating products at their fingertips
✂️ Crafters who like to ‘try before they buy’, without committing to full-sized packs
✂️ Crafters who want it all but the budget won’t stretch to the whole catalogue!
✂️ Crafters who are overwhelmed by choice
✂️ Crafters who need a little help designing projects
✂️ New crafters who are still building up their supplies
✂️ Crafters who love receiving happy mail!

How it works

Each month, normally on the 1st, I will announce the kit of the month and take orders for one week only. Kits will cost £20, including postage to anywhere in the UK. 

Once the supplies arrive with me I will post them out to you. A link to the PDF of project ideas will be emailed to you on the same day.

March Kit By Mail

My first Kit by Mail is a celebration of spring and features the brand new Butterfly Bijou Designer Series Paper. This beautiful new collection features colourful butterflies and some very lovely wood-grain paper.

Craft Kits Stampin Up Butterfly Bijou

The kit contains:

  • Half a pack of Butterfly Bijou 6”x6” Designer Series Paper (four sheets of each design)
  • Half a pack of Natural Touch Specialty paper, cut down to 6”x12”
  • Half a pack of Matte Black Dots
  • 2 metres of Bumblebee Gingham Ribbon
  • 2 metres of Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon
  • 2 sheets of So Saffron A4 cardstock
  • 2 sheets of Mint Macaron A4 cardstock
  • 2 sheets of Bermuda Bay A4 cardstock
  • 2 sheets of Basic Black A4 cardstock
  • 2 sheets of Basic White A4 cardstock
  • 1 Mini Paper Pumpkin Box

To order this beautiful and versatile kit, please click here to register before noon on Friday 12th March

Craft Kits Stampin Up Butterfly Bijou

Here is an example of what you could make using the supplies in the kit. I’ve die-cut the Basic White cardstock using Stitched Shapes Dies and stamped with the Peaceful Moments greeting stamp set. Everything else you see is part of this first kit. 

Craft Kits Stampin Up Butterfly Bijou
 

This card, too, was made from the kit, with the addition of some stamped spatters (Friends Are Like Seashells, which just happened to be on my desk) and a Peaceful Moments greeting. Using the butterflies on the edges of the paper like this means you get the absolute most value out of your Designer Series Paper and don’t have to throw those ‘half butterflies’ away!

There will be lots more card ideas and tips with this kit, so if you would like to order one, please click here to get started. 

And if you have any questions, please message me via my website

Craft Kits Stampin Up Butterfly Bijou

 

Tuesday 2 March 2021

Introducing Stampin’ Up!®'s new Butterfly Brilliance Collection

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

Did you get a glimpse of spring at the weekend like we did in Derbyshire? It was glorious and provided hope for better, warmer days ahead.

One thing to look forward to when the weather warms up is the return of butterflies to our gardens, and a new collection of products from Stampin’ Up!® attempts to bring those sunnier days forward a little.

It’s called the Butterfly Brilliance collection and features some gorgeous products which work together brilliantly but also stand alone.

Project inspiration

First take a look at some of the beautiful projects you can make with this collection. 
 
Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up
 

The products



Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up
 
First of all there is this amazing Butterfly Brilliance stamp set which is actually just one huge stamp, although you could cut it up into individual butterflies if you wish... and are feeling brave.

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

To coordinate with the stamp, although they work well alone, too, are the Brilliant Wings dies. This is a huge set of 12 dies; one big one cuts the stamped images all in one go (one great reason NOT to cut up your stamp!), and separate dies cut out patterned wings and much more.

The stamps and dies are, as usual, available as a bundle at 10% off.

Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up

The perfect accompaniment is this gorgeous pack of 6"x6" Butterfly Bijou Designer Series Paper. Again this fits the dies perfectly...
 
Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up
 
If you look carefully at this photo you’ll see you can cut out the butterflies all in one go using that big die. The reverse sides of the DSP have stunning watercolour washes and subtle designs. 
 
Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up


And what’s this? Natural Touch Speciality Paper, with the pattern, texture and colour of natural birch. Simply stunning. 
 
Butterfly Brilliance Brilliant Wings Stampin Up
 
If you want the whole lot – and why wouldn’t you? – you can buy it all in one go with one code, for speed.You’ll get the special bundle price for the stamps and dies, plus the Designer Series Paper and the Speciality Paper on top.


If you are in the UK and would like to order, please visit my store and, if you use the March host code HYEBNWP3, I’ll send you a thank you gift in April!


Does your wish list come to more than £99? Please get in touch and I will help you get more for your money and unlock discounts all year round.  
 
 

The small print

This is my personal blog and my sole responsibility as an Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator. All images are © Stampin' Up!® All content including photographs, projects and text are © Helen Read, unless otherwise stated. Please feel free to copy my ideas for your personal use and inspiration - if you are a SU demonstrator you may use these ideas for your events but please give credit where it is due. Please do not use my ideas for monetary gain, competitions or publication. The images on this blog - including blog buttons - should not be copied and used elsewhere on the internet or on CDs.