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Showing posts with label #simplestamping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #simplestamping. Show all posts

Monday, 10 February 2025

Easy card ideas with Fruit Salad Designer Series Paper

Fruit Salad Designer Series Paper Stampin UP easy card ideas

I firmly believe that cardmaking does not have to be difficult, and you don’t have to throw every Stampin’ Up!® product from the catalogue at your designs.

These four simple cards are made with Fruit Salad Designer Series Paper, cardstock, greeting stamps and ribbon scraps. Stampin’ Up!® Designer Series Paper is a great way to get lots of variety in your images with minimal outlay. 

 You can cut the images out instead of stamping them, and get lots of mileage from one pack. In fact, this is how I managed to keep my classes going during lockdown, without asking customers to break the bank. 

Fruit Salad Designer Series Paper (164943) is perfect for this and what’s more, it’s free with a £55 order in the UK, which means you can select it if you order the two stamp sets used here – With You in Mind (164747) and Simply Said (163756) – along with any pack of assorted or single-colour A4 cardstock and some Basic White Thick A4 cardstock (159230) for your card bases.

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Easy card making using Enjoy the Adventure Memories & More Cards from Stampin’ Up!®

Stampin Up easy cards Enjoy the Adventure Memories More

 
Have you ever used Memories & More Cards from Stampin’ Up!®? I love them for quick and easy projects.

They are of course perfect for pocket scrapbooking, but also great for so much more. I have used them here to make some simple cards, combining Stampin’ Up!® Enjoy the Adventure Memories & More Cards with the coordinating Enjoy the Adventure Memories & More Cards & Envelopes, with just the addition of some fab Black and White Gingham Ribbon (a favourite of mine).

Monday, 21 September 2020

Feeling fruity? Check out my Simply Citrus projects

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

When Stampin’ Up!® first launched project kits, I was sceptical. We are crafters and therefore we like to create, right? But of course, as is so often the case, I was entirely wrong and ended up doing a massive U-turn.

Now I’m a huge fan of our kits, for various reasons. They are ideal for:

✂️ Experienced crafters in a hurry (no prep!)
✂️ Taking on holiday, when space is tight
✂️ Relaxed crafting with friends
✂️ Crafting with children
✂️ Introducing crafting to newbies
✂️ Gifts

So when I went on holiday this summer, I made sure to pack a craft kit and I chose this one, the Simply Citrus Card Kit.

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

This is a great kit to take because absolutely everything is included; even the ink pad and clear block. This makes is the ideal kit to gift to a friend who doesn't have the luxury of craft supplies, as they can get started straight away without any additional purchases. 

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

You can make the projects up exactly to the kit, or mix and match as I have done here. 

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

And because you get a stamp set, you can make more projects when you’ve used all your consumables - more on that later in the week.

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up

Simply Citrus Card Kit Stampin Up


Wednesday, 26 August 2020

Simple stamping with Forever Fern

 Forever Fern Stampin Up allthingsstampy Helen Read 

Could you make a card in 15 minutes or less? That is the challenge I set to my customers last week – and they have until tonight’s Show & Tell session to complete their projects.

I know it can be done because I’ve done it myself – and here’s one to prove it. Forever Fern and Ornate Thanks on a Whisper White Note Card; Bish, bash, bosh - done! I even stamped the envelope!

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Monday, 13 July 2020

8+ card ideas using Stampin' Up!®'s Field of Flowers

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

Following my cardmaking class on Saturday, using the Stampin' Up!® stamp set Field of Flowers, I have a mega post for you today.

Due to an absence of commonsense, I ended up offering eight cards in two hours, which was stretching the bounds of possibility a little but I think most people managed almost all of the cards in what turned into a three-hour session.

This was all held remotely via Zoom so we could keep safe, and everyone had their own Field of Flowers stamp set to play with, and stamp in their chosen colours. The Confetti Flowers Border Punch was offered as an optional extra.

As the elderly members of my family are running out of birthday cards and have been threatened with Dire Consequences if they go shopping, I decided to switch up the greetings for the cards I made during the session, so I can replenish their supplies.

You’ll notice I've used the silver foil-edged cards for this session; I don’t usually use retired Stampin' Up!® products but I these were such a bargain in May that I couldn't resist stocking up to keep class costs down. However, maybe I should have stocked up more because the class proved so popular that I ended up leaving myself short!

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

I kept the card layers largely neutral – Misty Moonlight, Night of Navy and a splash of Bumblebee – so people could add their own inks without clashing. While I made the initial samples in a wide variety of colours to show people different options, my personal choice of colours for the session was Granny Apple Green, Magenta Madness, Misty Moonlight, Bumblebee and Coastal Cabana. Bright and cheerful!

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

First card of the day was this one – as it was the most complicated. It uses a piece of the gorgeous
In Good Taste Designer Series Paper which goes with everything. I showed the project using the flowers punched out separately but not all guests had this option as the Confettie Flowers Border Punch was an add-on to the class.
If you don't have the Confetti Flowers Border Punch, when you’re stamping with Field of Flowers I suggest you use a paler green such as Pear Pizzazz, Mint Macaron or Soft Sea Foam for the grass and leaves. Then use a stronger colour for your flowers so they stand out. If you're using the punch, then anything goes!
 
 Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

Just changing one colour can give your project a whole new look. This is created using the One-Sheet Wonder technique but I swapped out the Misty Moonlight from my original sample on the left to use Coastal Cabana during the class. I think I prefer the darker version though, what about you?

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

A simpler version of this same card is to stick to just one colour – Magenta Madness – to stamp tiny flowers all over your background. Because there are several flowers on one stamp, this is really quick to make.

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

Another card I changed during the class was this one. I couldn’t find my strip of Bumblebee Designer Series Paper so thought (wrongly, as it happened) I must have run out and changed it to Magenta Madness. I hardly dare admit this but Magenta Madness is beginning to grow on me...

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

A classic triptych design. You can do this in one of two ways; stamp the whole piece and cut it into three. Or cut it up first and stamp afterwards. I tried both and decided that the best route would be to stamp the grass and flowers while it's still in one piece (a bit of careful lining up is required), then add dragonflies once it's sliced up. Can you spot the not-so-deliberate ‘mistake’? I added an afterthought dragonfly in the wrong colour!

Need a small piece of cardstock but don't have the right shade? I created this Coastal Cabana strip by pressing a piece of Whisper White into an ink pad.

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

When you’re making eight cards in a morning, you need at least one Simple Stamping project! And this one could hardly be simpler; just stamps, ink and one of our fabulous Whisper White Notecards & Envelopes. I use these All The Time, they’re just so handy to have.

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

Field of Flowers is such a versatile stamp set. You can make subtle, tasteful, classy cards with it... or embrace the Brights! I've used Magenta Madness, Granny Apple Green, Bumblebee and Bermuda Bay and popped up a single flower to add interest.

Stampin up Field of Flowers card ideas allthingsstampy helen read

And finally, here’s the original version of the Bumblebee card you see in the first picture. Just a simple strip stamped with grass and flowers, to show someone you’re thinking of them.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this foray in to a Field of Flowers and will consider adding this beautiful set to your shopping list. You can buy the set from my website here. And if you add the Confetti Flowers Border Punch on, too, you’ll save 10%!

 

Wednesday, 10 June 2020

Simple stamping with Forever Fern



It can be good to clamber out of your comfort zone – because you never know what you may discover.

And when I made this card, I learned that I can work with pink if I put my mind to it.

While that may not have been a favourite project of mine, these two definitely are. I found that the delicate leaves in the new Forever Fern stamp set really lend themselves to the brighter colours. What do you think?
Stamping in opposite corners of the card provides balance to the design.



Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Sneak Peek: Forever Greenery Suite

Stampin Up Forever Greener Suite Forever Fern stamp set allthingsstampy simple stamping

I can't wait a moment longer to show you some of the products from my favourite Suite in the new catalogue.

The suite is called Forever Greenery and the stamp set is Forever Fern. I was naturally drawn to the lovely green colours – I think the Designer Series Paper probably uses all the greens we have!

Here I’ve created three cards for three stages of crafter...
Stampin Up Forever Greener Suite Forever Fern stamp set allthingsstampy simple stamping

The #simplestamping project uses just one Garden Green ink pad and a pack of notecards and envelopes, and is perfect if you don’t have many supplies or if you’re just in a hurry. 

Stampin Up Forever Greener Suite Forever Fern stamp set allthingsstampy

The second project is for the casual crafter who may have some ribbon, embellishments and a punch (GREAT new punch, by the way!). 

Stampin Up Forever Greener Suite Forever Fern stamp set allthingsstampy

Finally, there’s a project for the avid crafter which uses ribbon, embellishments, the co-ordinating Forever Flourishing dies, along with the absolutely gorgeous Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper and some vellum, too. Which one is your favourite?
Stampin up stamping tip allthingsstampy Helen Read
If your Designer Paper is too bright for your project, you can tone it down a little by overlaying a piece of vellum as I’ve done here. This allows you to retain the design and keep the colours in the same palette without it dominating. 

You, too, can get early access to brand new products if you sign up as a demonstrator! Please get in touch if you would like to find out more.

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Friday, 27 March 2020

Simple Stamping with Honey Bee


How are you liking the Honey Bee bundle? For me, to bee or not to bee is no question because I love it. These were my Cuppa & Card projects for March. Sadly, I only managed to visit one venue before the lockdown so I’m glad I have the opportunity to share them here, too. 

For the above project, I stamped the bee in the centre of the panel, then stamped with Artisan Textures on top. A very quick way of colouring an image!

The second card features some die-cut stamped images, although for Cuppa & Card, where we keep things simple, they fussy-cut these instead. Such bright and cheery projects for worrying times.

However, I am determined to keep crafting through the crisis and hope you will, too.  My online store remains open for now, so please head on over to stockpile the real essentials... cardstock and adhesives!


Wednesday, 11 March 2020

Simple stamping with Honey Bee

Honey Bee Stampin Up Simplestamping AllThingsStampy Helen Read


When you’ve been crafting for many years, it’s easy to forget that not everyone has a room full of supplies to draw on as required. I remember the early days of seeing amazing projects which I hadn’t a hope of emulating because I didn’t have a fraction of the products required.

So it’s good to scale things back now and again and prove that simple projects can be just as striking. Whether you’re new to crafting or just in a hurry, this project is a fun one to make – and it’s so satisfying to produce something in minutes which you know will have a big impact if you send it to a friend.
Stamping tip stampin up helen read allthingsstampy
We don’t currently sell black rhinestones but you can make your own by colouring our basic rhinestones with a permanent black marker such as one of our Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker or a black Sharpie. 
Leave the rhinestone on its backing and colour very gently if using a Stampin’ Blend, to avoid smashing the brush tip. Allow to dry for a few seconds and then use as normal. 

Join stampin up helen read allthingsstampy

Friday, 6 March 2020

How to step up from Simple Stamping with The Gang’s All Meer

Simple stamping with The Gang's All Meer Stampin Up Saleabration

I’ve had enormous fun with these meerkats throughout Sale-a-Bration so far, but now I think it’s time to move on. The set has proved really popular, being chosen by the majority of my customers for their free Sale-a-Bration item. And the ladies who attended my Cuppa & Card sessions all enjoyed making these two #simplestamping projects.

Stamping tips from Helen Read Allthingsstampy
The same basic card design can be stepped up or down, according to your time, your supplies and your skills. Take a look at the evolution of this project... 
The Gangs All Meer Saleabration Stampin Up

And, to a lesser extent, this project...
The Gangs All Meer Saleabration Stampin Up

Both series use the same card sketch, but add or remove elements according to the time restraints and the crafting audience.

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Thursday, 6 February 2020

Painted Poppies Week: Lovely landscape



Real Red, Pear Pizzazz and Call Me Clover really make the poppies stand out on this #simplestamping project. I took inspiration from a talented stamper out there in the stampiverse but I'm afraid I can't find the original so I cannot credit her. If you know, please comment and I'll amend this post to give her credit.
You could make this project even simpler by stamping straight onto the notecard, but that cane be a little daunting for new stampers, so I prefer to give them a separate piece of cardstock so they have the option of turning it over if they're not happy with their first attempt.  


Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Painted Poppies Week: Simple to Stepped-up


I haven't posted a #simplestamping project for a while, so here you are... with a stepped-up calendar version thrown in for good measure.


This calendar card was one of my Cuppa & Card projects in January. It was a rash decision to make something so time-consuming within our one-hour session, but I had some calendar tabs to use up.

However, just in case I had more people turn up than calendar tabs, I had the second #simplestamping card ready to go. Same design as the calendar, just stuck onto a notecard instead. Cunning, eh?

Get the trendy white-on-black look of embossing without the tools, the faff and the time by using the new Label Me Bold stamp set. I love it!


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.