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Bingo & BOGO, April 2023

BOGO 

Bingo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a super Saturday planned for you!  2 events, back to back.  Come to one or both--your choice.

  • 9:30-10:30 BOGO:

Come shop my newly refreshed retired stash.  Get it for FREE with an order of equal value.

  • 10:30-12:30 BINGO:
  • Play Bingo my way--super fast paced with tons of winners.

To attend Bingo, you must register so I can prepare your project packets and get Bingo prizes.  Click here to register for Bingo.


How to Make a Vintage Travel Card

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For my weekly Facebook Live, I wanted to create a masculine card and reached for Ready to Ride DSP.  There are some really awesome pieces and amazing designs.  

I wasn't crazy about the rest of the suite, and no one in my family is into motorcycles.  But Ready to Ride DSP is really fun to work with, and it is the main attraction in my vintage travel card!

Be sure to watch my demonstration video to see all the cool paper patterns and how I found this vintage travel piece.  

The paint spatter is from the new Online Exclusives stamp set Irresistible Blooms.  I think I'm going to use that stamp on a LOT of projects!

I used a very small amount of embellishment to support the gorgeous vintage travel image.  A little bit of ribbon and the rustic dots are the perfect small bits of texture to enhance the image while still allowing the focal piece to retain center stage.

Please follow me on https://www.youtube.com/@Sweetstamper and Facebook.com/sweetstamper for weekly live demonstrations and plenty of crafty inspiration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Something Fancy Meets By the Bay

Each month I create a set of 8 cards, 2 each of 4 designs...with a twist!  Today I'm sharing one set of cards so you can readily see what I call a twist.  I love to take the same layout and make subtle changes (or not so subtle as the mood goes:) to create another unique card.  

For April Twist Club I paired Something Fancy Bundle with the gorgeous By the Bay Designer Series Paper.  I love this paper and think it's a real showstopper.  Some of the pieces are like a piece of art.  When designing my cards, my aim was to really showcase the paper and let it shine--literally!

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Twist Club is a monthly class by mail available as a subscription which saves you money on the kit itself and any add-on's you may wish to add PLUS a $25 fun product bonus after 6 consecutive months.  You can also do just a single month--take the kit as a single class.  Click here to learn all about Candy's Twist Club.  

Keep up with all my classes and news: http://bit.ly/sweetstampernews  so you have access to all my class registration links and more.

 


Direct to Paper Technique

Blog Hop-Trip AchieversWelcome to the March installment of Trip Achievers Blog Hop where achieving demonstrators link together, from across the globe, to inspire you with creativity galore.  You are at Candy Rattray, sweetstamper.com and the full list of blogs on this hop is at the bottom of this post.

For today's card I'm sharing the Direct to Paper card-making technique featuring 2 of the new Online Exclusives products.

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The new Naturally Gilded Specialty DSP is perfect for Direct to Paper Technique as the foiling resists the ink which is vital for this fun papercrafting technique.  My favorite foil is copper, and you get 2 sheets of copper, 2 of silver, and 2 of gold in Naturally Gilded paper.  It's a must-have!

With such a bold focal point, I wanted a bit of subtle texture to add interest while keeping my focal point front and center.  Basics 3D Embossing Folders is a set of 3 folders, also part of the Online Exclusives.  Included are flowers, hobnail-glass dots, and crosshatch designs.  I used the crosshatch here.  

Please note the Basics 3D Embossing Folders are sold out at present, but they are coming back!

My greeting is from Easter Bunny stamp set!!!  I love the versatility of that sweet set.  You can see another card I made with both Easter Bunny stamp set and Naturally Gilded paper by clicking here.  

Be sure to watch my video demonstration of Direct to Paper Technique.  It's super quick and easy--my style:)  My tips and tricks will help you achieve optimal results effortlessly.

 

 

Now head on over to the next blog on this hop for more creative inspiration, and thanks so much for stopping by.


Easter Bunny Bundle Card Idea

easterbunnystampinupcandyrattrayEaster Bunny Bundle is adorable, and there are so many creative directions in which I can head with this incredibly versatile bundle.  I'm already thinking about bunnies in the snow!  Click here to see my Easter Bunny Home Decor and Treats Class projects for more ideas. Today I switched things up for a touch of elegance to showcase the brand new Naturally Gilded Specialty Paper from the Online Exclusives line of products.

Free fact about me:  I collected bunnies for many years, being a huge fan of Beatrix Potter.  I fell in love with her stories and incredible illustrations.  We lived in England for 9 years and were very blessed to visit her home--the grounds and house were amazing!

I decorated the nursery for my first child in all things Peter Rabbit.  We weren't sure if we were having a boy or a girl (those were the days before gender reveals:), so Peter Rabbit was safe...and adorable!

Today's Easter Bunny Bundle card idea features a simple Gate Fold layout which was actually the Mystery Card for my team meeting.  I'll share that card tomorrow as well as some information about the fun of mystery stamping.

Here are a few points about my soft, elegant Easter Bunny card design:

  1. By using a Blender Pen on the stamped bunny details, I was able to soften the edges and bring in a bit of color.
  2. A tiny bit of soft color (Soft Sea Foam ink for grass and cardstock for tag plus a single Calypso Coral flower) kept my neutral color palette of Soft Suede and Very Vanilla from being boring.
  3. Naturally Gilded Specialty Paper is in the Online Exclusives, and it's a stunner!  With gold, copper, and silver designs you have plenty of options for elegant designs.

Be sure to click here for more information about my Easter Bunny Home Decor and Treats Class.  Registration closes March 17th

 

 


Art Gallery Thanks for Customers

Kylie & Bruno's Blog Hop
Welcome to Candy Rattray, sweetstamper.com, on Bruno & Kylie's Demonstrator Training Blog Hop.  I'm so blessed to be part of this fabulous group and share the blog hop where we connect to show our customer thank you projects.  I love to help my customers "connect the dots" between the Mini Catalog and Annual Catalog, and that is the heart of today's Art Gallery card idea.  

  • Fancy Flora DSP (mini catalog) has such an artsy feel that it is a natural for pairing with Art Gallery stamps and dies.
  • There is a varied color palette in Fancy Flora that allows me to change up the ink and/or cardstock colors for a bit of variety. 
  • By using 2 sets of In Colors--the ones leaving in May and the ones staying--I help my customers focus on those super important colors.

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Be sure to stop at the other blogs on this blog hop, and please follow me on https://www.youtube.com/@Sweetstamper and Facebook.com/sweetstamper for weekly live demonstrations and plenty of crafty inspiration!

 

 

 

 


Monogrammed Note Cards

 

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I'm in love with the brand new Classic Letters Photopolymer stamp set (item #161267) from Stampin' Up! and knew that my first project with this must-have stamp set would be monogrammed note cards.

People love monogrammed gifts, and I knew that a set of neutral colored monogrammed note cards would be perfect for those people in my life that are hard to buy for.  My note card set is super affordable as well, utilizing Very Vanilla Note Cards (#144236--only $7 for 20 pre-scored note cards and envelopes!)

Be sure to watch my demonstration video below to see Tips & Tricks for using and adhering Dots & Spots die-cut piece.  I love using this die that can be dressed up or down!  For my monogrammed note card, I think it adds charm--in spades!

Classic Letters is part of the new Online Exclusives, a whole new category of Stampin' Up! products.  Online Exclusives are not found in any printed material ie. catalogs or flyers.  They can only be seen online (or at my local in-person events:).  Online Exclusives include stamp sets, bundles, punches, and embellishments.

If you do not wish to use my online store (shopwithcandy.com) for any reason and prefer to speak with someone, I'm always happy to help you with an order via phone at 210-355-5729.

Click here for my downloadable Inspiration Sheet with dimensions, pics, and product list.

 

 


Technique Tuesday--Dyeing Ribbon

Technique Tuesday Blog HopWelcome to this month's episode of Technique Tuesday Blog Hop where Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from across the globe join together to inspire you with a papercrafting technique.  March Feature:  Ribbon Techniques!


I love, love, love ribbon on handmade cards.  They add touchable texture and can be customized--what's not to love??!!!  For today's handmade card share, I'm featuring how to dye ribbon.

This technique is super simple, easily accessible to new card-makers but loved by veteran crafters.  One of my recent discoveries is how cool the Windowpane Check Ribbon looks when you dye it!  With its white background, it's a natural for adding color.

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With the beautiful mountains featured in Enjoy the Journey Designer Paper, you have an obvious focal point.  I used another piece of Enjoy the Journey Designer Paper for the background and a few dots for accent. 

My handmade card needed "a little something" and I reached for my favorite Windowpane Check Ribbon.  The color wasn't quite right, so I simply grabbed my Mint Macaron Dark Stampin' Blend to soften the white and tie the ribbon into my card base color.  Voila!  A little something that ties together all the components of my handmade card and elevates the whole design.

Now head on over to the next blog for more Ribbon Technique inspiration!

 


Like an Animal Specialty Paper Card Ideas

animalprintcardstampinupcandyrattrayLike an Animal Specialty Paper in the Spring Mini Catalog is a hidden gem.  With no coordinating stamps, bundle, or embellishments, it's just waiting for our own creative spin!  I created this card, celebrating courage, for my Saturday Card Class (in person) and Virtual Card Class (free packets and pdf's by mail).

Here are a few thoughts about my Like an Animal card design:

  • I used two  3" x 4" pieces, in different patterns, of Like an Animal Specialty Paper for maximum impact.
  • I wanted an elegant look and had a largely neutral color palette.  Coastal Cabana is a bit reminiscent of Tiffany Blue and delivered much-needed color but still keeping a classy look.
  • You can add a bit of color to the paper...or not.  I like them both but wanted to show the option of adding color.  I'll have the Blending Brush and Coastal Cabana ink in the project bin at my card class in San Antonio so my class attendees have options:)

Although this is one of the designs at my in person card class in San Antonio, it's also available as part of my virtual class with free packets in the mail.

 


Irresistible Blooms Card Idea for Blog Hop

Online Exclusives HopWelcome to the Online Exclusives Blog Hop where demonstrators from around the world connect and share projects featuring brand, new products.  We are all so excited!  You are at Candy Rattray, sweetstamper.com and the full list of blogs on this hop is at the bottom of this post.

For today's Irresistible Blooms card idea, I used the stamps, pretty paper, and cool embellishments from the suite--no dies.  A simple punch made the perfect frame for my heat embossed sentiment.

These products are available for purchase as of today and for the foreseeable future!  Hooray!  Please note that I used Pretty Peacock cardstock.  That is a previous (retired) In Color that is returning in May for the brand new annual catalog.  It will return as a Core Color vs an In Color.  I'm super excited about having this deep, rich color in our Core Collection.  My guess is that it will land in the Regals Collection.

Keep up with all my classes and news: http://bit.ly/sweetstampernews .  And please follow me on https://www.youtube.com/@Sweetstamper and Facebook.com/sweetstamper for weekly live demonstrations and plenty of crafty inspiration!

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