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.

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!

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.

Welcome 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.

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 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.

Welcome 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!

I have a super fun trio of cards for you today with At the Pond (host) stamp set.  Watch the video below for complete demonstration as well as explanation of host rewards and Stampin' rewards.  I love the many ways Stampin' Up! offers freebies as a reward for shopping:)

My first sample is the one I designed for my Saturday Card Class (monthly, in-person class).  I wanted something very neutral in color that would be a great At the Pond card idea for a masculine card. 

When I went to demonstrate said card, I changed it up--of course!  My brain always wants to change things! LOL!  I made subtle changes, but everyone on my Facebook Live loved them.  Can you spot the difference??!!!

For the last demonstration (and change:) I really amped up the color using Parakeet Party (2022-2024 In Color) to brighten things up.  Again, this was a popular alteration!

I think the images from At the Pond stamp set are perfect for kids cards and masculine cards.  I don't know any guy who would not smile at this cute little frog! Having said that, I'm going to try my hand at a super girly frog card:)

You can earn this stamp set for free by placing a $150 order.  If you do that by the end of February, you will also get free Sale-a-Bration items!  That is a lot of great free product rewards from Stampin' Up!  In addition, if you place your order by Sunday, February 26th you will receive this card packet plus 3 more as a thanks for shopping with me:)

All supplies used are listed and linked below for your browsing and shopping convenience.

Welcome to the February installment of Trip Achievers Blog Hop where achieving demonstrators from across the globe join together to inspire your creativity with ideas galore.  You are at Candy Rattray, sweetstamper.com and the full list of blogs on this hop is at the bottom of my post.

Clover Bundle is a Spring Catalog new product and the punch sold out within weeks.  However, I adore the stamp set and set about to create Lucky Clover card ideas--and I can't stop!  LOL!  Click here to see the fun projects from my Lucky Clover Project Class.  And click here to see more Lucky Clover cards:)

I'm demonstrating this Lucky Clover card on my Facebook Live tonight at 7PM CT, so join me there for tips and tricks on adhering vellum.  Click here to see the fun projects from my Lucky Clover Project Class. 

Did you know this about clovers:

• There are hundreds of varieties of clover plants, grown all over the world. 
• Four-leaf clovers became associated with good luck because they are rare.
• Clover is associated with St. Patrick's Day because he used the extremely common tri-foliate clover in Ireland to demonstrate the biblical concept of the Holy Trinity:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Lucky Clover is such a versatile stamp set.  I love it when my card elements create a cohesive theme, and the map prints (both white and black  print) are perfect for my Lucky Clover card.  I used a trio of greens:  Garden Green, Parakeet Party (In Color), and Granny Apple Green for layered color.

Please follow me on https://www.youtube.com/@Sweetstamper and Facebook.com/sweetstamper for weekly live demonstrations and plenty of crafty inspiration!  I'm actually doing a full week (M-F) of Facebook Lives, so join me this week!

Now head on over to the next blog for more crafty inspiration, and thanks so much for stopping
by!

I adore Lucky Clover stamp set and did a whole class with it which you can see details of here. 

I featured Lucky Clover stamp set with additional Lucky Clover card ideas on a recent Facebook Live and love the versatility and fun factor of this simple stamp set.  We can share good luck wishes for

• graduates
• those taking tests
• co-workers receiving orders to another post
• co-workers with promotions
• friends/family moving
• anyone embarking on a weight loss journey
• kids going to camp
• and more!

People need to know we wish them well and are rooting for them!  Lucky Clover has a casual font and 3 sizes of clover, plus a spray of clovers, that are perfect for guys and gals.  With greetings for good luck, happy St. Patrick's Day, and friendship, you can cover a lot of ground with this one stamp set. You know me--I love versatility in stamp sets.  And Lucky Clover delivers that in spades!

Scroll down for my demonstration video, complete with clover trivia!

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

Today's card is one of 8 from my monthly Cards With a Twist for February, and I love the luxurious look and feel of the many layers and shapes.  Check out all 8 of my Sentimental Park card ideas here on the short video.

Let me point out a few things that make this Sentimental Park card come together:

• Rose Gold Foil oval--my favorite feature!  This paper in an oval shape is perfect for SO MANY projects.  I love it!  It brings instant elegance to any card and can also bring a vintage feel:)'
• Night of Navy Ribbon--this Spring Catalog item definitely reminds me of blue jeans...dressed up a bit.  It can definitely work in a masculine design, but the little bit of shiny edge gives it a slightly dressy look which I love.
• Multiple shapes and layers--with the Rose Gold Foil oval, Night of Navy textured oval frame, Shaded Spruce sprig, and Mint Macaron fancy label you get a riot of shapes, textures, and colors.

All the Stampin' Up! supplies are listed and linked below.  Be sure to subscribe to my email list so you can keep up with all my classes and news:  http://bit.ly/sweetstampernews

My Facebook Live demonstration focused on tips and tricks for easy water-coloring of a heat-embossed, stamped image.  By heat embossing (with gold:) the large flower from Beautifully Happy stamp set (free with a $100 order thru Feb. 2023), I created boundaries that make water coloring extra easy.Here are a few points about my design:  1. Using only 2 ink colors, I was able to produce lovely shades of both colors2.Water coloring with ink refills allowed me to vary the depth of color3.  I opted to stamp the greetings directly on the focal piece vs adding a flag, punch, die, etc.  That kept the focus on my flowers.

Be sure to watch the video for tips and tricks as well as full demonstration.  Please follow me on youtube.com/@Sweetstamper and Facebook.com/sweetstamper for weekly live demonstrations and plenty of crafty inspiration!