Stepped-up projects using new Nests of Winter Suite from Stampin’ Up!®

There’s a new Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalogue coming our way soon, and I am lucky to have the Nests of Winter Suite, featuring Winterly Tree Tops stamps and dies, already.

This was available to demonstrators who signed up for the online global Creativity Now event. It was a fun opportunity to see an array of gorgeous projects using Winterly Tree Tops as well as some behind-the-scenes peeks at other products in the new September-December Mini Catalogue from Stampin’ Up!®.

Take a look at some of the projects I made. You could make these and more at my in-person Autumn Craft Day here in Derbyshire on 28th September. 

 

Find out more and reserve your spot here

 

As I’d taken the opportunity to purchase the whole Nests of Winter Suite, I decided to put it to good use and step up the projects of the day, switching some of the colours, too, to match the Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper.

This project uses one of my favourite pieces of Designer Series Paper from the Nests of Winter pack. I think these look like catkins, so would be suitable for spring projects too.

Instead of the plain Crumb Cake panel in the Stampin’ Up!® sample shown here, I stepped it up by embossing using the Birch 3D Embossing Folder from the Nests of Winter Suite and swiped it with my Craft Basic White ink pad. 

I completely forgot that I had the Natural Tones Linen Thread from the Nests of Winter Suite so used plain Linen Thread instead. 

 

The birds are coloured using Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers in Ivory and Cherry Cobbler, and I used the Colour Lifter to remove some of the ink for paler areas on the birds’ bellies and on the berries. The greeting is stamped using the Winterly Tree Tops stamp set.

I wasn’t keen on the colours of the original Stampin’ Up!® version of this card because I really don’t like grey, so I remade this one in Christmassy colours, in readiness for my Autumn Craft Day in Derbyshire. Guests will be able to choose if they make their cards with a Christmas theme or not, so I wanted to show different options. 

 

For my version I used a Shaded Spruce card base and die-cut the border in Garden Green. 

 

Instead of a plain Misty Moonlight background, I used Basic White, embossed using the Birch 3D Embossing Folder from the Nests of Winter Suite. 

 

I coloured the birds using the same Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers as before, with the addition of Old Olive and Granny Apple Green. 

There aren’t any festive greetings in Winterly Tree Tops stamp set but I used some from my stash, just to show the versatility of the set. 

 

By now I was going further off piste because I’m not very good at watching videos or following instructions.

This may have been inspired by one of the presenters’ bonus projects, I can’t remember. But for this project I used a Cherry Cobbler card base. For the border I used Garden Green cardstock, die-cut using the Winterly Tree Tops dies, then added some Garden Green and Shaded Spruce ink on top using a Blending Brush. This gave it a more natural look, with various shades of green. 

Behind this I used a panel of Crumb Cake which again I embossed using the Birch 3D Embossing Folder from the Nests of Winter Suite and swiped with white ink. This new embossing folder is HUGE. It’s as big as your platform for the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. 

 

Instead of stamping and colouring the birds, this time I wanted to show how you can die-cut selected birds from the Designer Series Paper as the dies fit perfectly. This makes for very quick cardmaking if you aren’t into colouring. 

 

For all of my Christmas greetings, on the fronts and inside, I used a stamp from the retired Cozy and Bright Christmas kit as it’s such a useful set. I will invest in a new Christmas greeting set once we are able to pre-order from the new Stampin’ Up!® September-December Mini Catalogue. 

 

My final card is one I think I may remake as I am finding the Shaded Spruce a little harsh on the eye, although it is always good to show different colour options as everyone has different tastes.

 

For this one, I used the negative piece from the earlier die-cut as a stencil, adding colour with a Blending Brush before turning it 180º and blending again.

The birds are die-cut from the Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper and coloured on top to make them more wintry. The greeting is punched out using the Labeled With Love Punch (also available as a set of three identical dies).

Do you like the look of this paper? Take a look here.

Everyone who attends my Autumn Craft Day will get half a pack of this paper (a full pack if they add on the Nests of Winter Suite). 

 

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.  

 

Please message me via my website 

 

Frequently asked questions

What ink do you use with alcohol markers?
Always use a water-based ink with Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers, to avoid the colours running into each other. Any Classic Stampin’ Pad from Stampin’ Up will work, as with Memento Tuxedo Black. 

How does the Color Lifter work?
Color Lifter is a bit of a misnomer because this clever marker from the Stampin’ Blends range pushes the ink to the back of the cardstock. This way you can create paler areas, and also correct mistakes. 

When is the Nests of Winter Suite available?
Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrators in the UK will be able to order the Nests of Winter Suite and Winterly Tree Tops stamps/bundle on a pre-order from 11pm on Monday 5th August 2024. Customers will be able to order from Wednesday 4th September 2024.

Do I need the Winterly Tree Tops stamp set and dies to make these projects? Not necessarily. You could make a version these projects using just the Nests of Winter Designer Series Paper. Some of the bird images in this paper fit the Winterly Tree Tops dies, or you could fussycut them. You would not have the pine tree border though.

What craft workshop is being held in Derbyshire?

Helen Read, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator, holds online and in-person classes throughout the year. The Autumn Craft Day will be held on Saturday 28th September at a pub in Horsley Woodhouse, Derbyshire. Early booking is essential here

Is the Derbyshire craft day suitable for beginners?

Yes, absolutely! Everyone works at their own pace from provided tutorials, and you choose which projects to make. There will be easy projects and more detailed ones, and everyone is always happy to help each other. Of course, I will be on hand to help too.

Is the Derbyshire craft day suitable for children?

This is not a children's event. Normally I say that children of secondary school age may attend with a paying adult, but this day would possibly be too long for them unless they are very keen crafters. If in doubt, please get in touch via my website.