I love stamps, and today I'm showcasing a brand new Mini Catalog stamp set--Daffodil Daydream from the upcoming January-June Mini Catalog.  My bright yellow card is all about Spring and sunshine and happiness!

Daffodil Daydream stamp set does have a coordinating set of dies, and I'll share a future post with projects that include the dies.  But I love to take a bundle and break it down to its simplest form.

My yellow color scheme features the bold brightness of Mango Melody.  The lighter yellow on the greeting tag is So Saffron.  Those yellows are dark and light counterparts of one another.

All products used are listed and linked below except for the Daffodil Daydream stamp set because it is not available until January 4th.  I've provided the item number on the pic (#157786) so you can add it to your Shopping List! 

Plus the gorgeous Iridescent Basic Rhinestone Gems #158130!  You definitely need those on your Shopping List.  They are truly iridescent, picking up light and sparkling beautifully.  They have a flat head so they are a little flatter than our regular rhinestones when you put the card into an envelope.

Please follow me on YouTube and Facebook for twice weekly live demonstrations and plenty of crafty inspiration!

I have been having so much fun creating with the Crane of Fortune suite in the new January-June Mini Catalog.  With gorgeous foiled Designer Series Paper and elegant asian art images, it's easy to make handmade cards that stand out with easy sophistication and wide appeal that spans ages and genders.

Here are a few features of my handmade card featuring Crane of Fortune suite:

• I used an all-neutral color palette which is a natural for easy sophistication.
• 2 different foiled patterns are used from the gorgeous Symbols of Fortune DSP.  It's hard to choose just one!
• A pop of black helps ground all the other neutral colors.
• With a variety of die cut and punch shapes, there is a lot of detail and touchable texture which really adds to the sense of luxury in this handmade card.
• Wink of Stella on the darkest part of the wing add just a touch more shimmer and finesse!

Crane of Fortune suite goes live with the January-June Mini Catalog on June 4th.  All other products are listed and linked below.

Click here to see all the details of my Crane of Fortune Card Class by Mail.  If you like this suite, you will love my class!

I introduced two Sale-a-Bration 2022 items in my Facebook Live demonstration with both a his and hers birthday card--perfect for the young and young at heart.

Awesome Otters (#158087) is an adorable cling rubber stamp set, and it is absolutely free with a $50 order beginning January 4th.  You may not recognize the designer series paper I used.  It's another Sale-a-Bration item you can earn for free with a $50 order beginning January 4th.  With 48 sheets of 8" x 8" Designer Series Paper in a variety of soft and neutral colors, Simply Marbleous DSP (#158128) will be super popular.  

Which do you prefer--my boy birthday card or girl birthday card???

Watch my YouTube below to see how these super cute cards come together.  Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel here so you don't miss my twice weekly live demonstrations.

I created this simple seasonal thanks handmade card for my monthly card class (local, in-person card class in San Antonio) to help us all thank the many people who help make our Christmas season special. 

Whether small or large acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, and/or love, a handmade thank you card is the perfect way to convey our gratitude.  And gratitude is a big part of celebrating the whole of the Christmas season!

Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper is the star of my handmade card, and it will be returning in the 2022 Holiday Catalog.  I'm excited as it's a gorgeous set of papers and we will have another whole season to enjoy it!  It's linked below, so grab it while you can or you will have to wait until next July!

Click here for details of my monthly card class on January 15th. We will be using ALL new products from the upcoming January-June Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration.  If you are in the San Antonio area, you don't want to miss it!

I'm so very excited about my January Cards With a Twist Card Class by Mail!  Each month I create a class of 8 cards centered around a single stamp set.  Crane of Fortune caught my eye on my first pass through the new Mini Catalog.  I love Asian art!

As a child of the 60s I grew up with my Dad having served in Vietnam (early in the conflict) and bringing home some lovely pieces of furniture and art from the Orient.  He took numerous trips to the area even after he came home from deployment and always brought gifts back with him.  I had a beautiful music box with a lady in traditional Japanese dress which played Fur Elise.  That music box is long gone, but my appreciation for Asian art remains.

All the details of January 2022 Cards With a Twist Card Class by Mail can be seen in the short video below.  You can pre-register here. Just click!

This class is packed with 8 awesome card ideas for Crane of Fortune Bundle/suite

Did you know the crane is symbolic in most cultures across the world?  They are mostly symbols of strength, longevity, and good fortune.  These themes are perfect for January as we begin 2022.  I want to start from a place of strength and hope and share that with those I love.

Click here to sign up now for January Class by Mail with Crane of Fortune.

Welcome to the December edition of Trip Achievers Blog Hop where Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world--who have earned the most recent Incentive Trip--connect to inspire you to make awesome paper crafting projects!  You are at Candy Rattray, sweetstamper.com and the full list of blog hop participants is all the way at the bottom of this post.

I'm so excited to share with you a super cute card idea for the new Hello Ladybug Bundle which debuts in the upcoming January-June Mini Catalog aka Spring Catalog 2022.  It's definitely fresh and feminine and holding the promise of Spring!

All current products are listed and linked below for your convenience.  I used the following Spring Catalog products which will be available January 4th:

     Hello Ladybug Bundle (#157699) stamp set and punch, $32.25

     Flowering Fields DSP (#157670) $11.50

     Heart & Home Doilies (157956) $5.00

     Polished Dots (#158134) $7.50

Be sure to follow me at facebook.com/sweetstamper for twice weekly demonstrations:

Teach Me Tuesday @ 4PM CT

Simple & Stepped Up on Thursday @ 4PM CT

In addition to my regular demonstrations, I'll be highlighting and showcase new Spring Catalog products.  Don't miss it!  If you are not on Facebook, follow me on You Tube--just click here to find me.

Welcome to Share it Sunday Blog Hop where Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from around the world collaborate to inspire you on Sunday.  You are at Candy Rattray, sweetstamper.com and the full list of blogs on this hop are at the very bottom of this post.

During the winter holidays, MANY people struggle with depression and general sadness.  Most often that traces back to loss of loved one(s).  My heart goes out to those who struggle during the holidays when the world is seemingly glowing with pretty lights, joyful music, scurrying shoppers, parties, celebrations, and family gatherings.  I created this seasonal card idea using Positive Thoughts with this in mind.

• Painted Christmas DSP has some lovely foliage images which are perfect for conveying the season without being all about Christmas ornaments, stockings, and such.
• In Color Shimmer Vellum is perfect for adding a bit of shine and a special touch.  Its subtle prettiness is just right.  Wintry Embossing Folders--I used the pine branch one--gives touchable texture and repeats the pine image in the DSP.
• "Hugs, Prayers, Love" is one of my favorite sentiments in the whole catalog.  It's more personal than "thinking of you" and such a nice way to say you care.  Positive Thoughts is a stellar stamp set (with coordinating dies which I did not use on this card).
• Ornate Frames sets off my sentiment with loads of style.

We are in the very first month of Winter, and there are many folks that need our cards of encouragement and card.  I hope my Positive Thoughts card idea inspires you to make--and send--your loving thoughts to someone who needs a lift.

Be sure to follow me at facebook.com/sweetstamper for twice weekly demonstrations (Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 4PM CT) as well as YouTube..  Now it's time to hop along to the next blog for more creative inspiration!

 Cute, quick, easy gift packaging is something we all need in our lives!  Pretty packaging elevates even the simplest gift.  You're going to love my DIY gift bag!

I created this medium-sized gift bag during a Facebook Live, and the recording is below so you can watch the step-by-step process. It's quick and easy, I promise!

My medium-sized gift bag is perfect for treats as well as socks, a scarf, gloves, and other soft gifts.  The finished size is 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" and the gusset is 1-1/2".

Here are the measurements:

Take 12" x 6" DSP.

Score 1-1/2" on the short side.

Score 1-1/2", 5-3/4", 7-1/4", 11-1/2

And here is the Inspiration Sheet so you can download and print it yourself.  

Change up the paper to suit any occasion!  My medium-sized gift bag is pretty, practical, and useful!  Be sure to click on the video below to see the step-by-step process.  I promise it's quick and easy!

Please like my facebook.com/sweetstamper and set your notifications so you can catch me live (or watch the replay) on my twice weekly stamping demonstrations.

Not on Facebook?  Subscribe to my YouTube Channel where I download all my Facebook content plus more!

I demonstrated the super fun Stack & Shuffle Technique for my Teach Me Tuesday Facebook Live this week, and I love it!  (Some folks call this Stack, Cut, & Shuffle Technique but I like my shorter name--it sounds like a fun dance!)

Stack & Shuffle Technique is where you take a stack of DSP, cut it, shuffle it, and then lay it out in a patchwork quilt-type pattern to make beautiful backgrounds in minutes.  It's a wonderful DSP card idea helping you USE vs hoard your DSP!

Tips & Tricks: 

• This works best with small patterns.
• You need some contrast in your patterns.
• You can cut all 4 pieces at once--with ease--with your Stampin' Up! Paper Trimmer

DSP:  5-1/4" x 4"

1. On the short side, cut the stack at 2-3/4"
2. Take that stack and cut on the long side at 3"
3. Now take the long skinny stack from your first cut and cut at 2"

Be sure to watch my video below for the step by step demonstration.

Click here for my Inspiration Sheet so you can download and print out the measurements.

Please like my facebook.com/sweetstamper.com and set your notifications to catch my twice weekly Facebook Lives.  I love sharing practical, pretty papercrafting with you!