Here's what I made during this week's Facebook Live session.  You can catch the replay on Facebook or YouTube.  

They are made using a technique I picked up via another Stampin' Up! demonstrator who watched this video by Jennifer McGuire.  I've used cheap craft foam to make a "fill" stamp for my image(s).  Using a stamp positioning tool like the Stamparatus®  allows me to position each element once, then ink and stamp as many times as I want.

Here's an example using the Good Morning Magnolia stamp set:

This image is filled using 7 hand-cut pieces of craft foam and three colors of ink: Petal Pink, Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil delight.  Once the image was stamped and coloured, I used the matching die to cut it out, then popped it on my card front with Stampin' Dimensionals.

 I'd like to draw your attention to the sentiment on this card...it's one of the brand-new sentiments from Stampin' Up!'s #smilesunshine Covid-19 Giveback PDF sentiment download bundle.  For US $12.00 you can get these fun and timely sentiments (some with images) to use in today's new world.  All the money from these goes to support 2 global charities working on Covid-19 issues.  In less than 1 day over US $41K had been raised!  Click on the pics below to place your order.

For this card I did an electronic cut-and-paste of the sentiment I wanted and had it print directly on my card panel.  Then I stamped the flower and coloured it with my craft foam fill stamps.

Here's the supplies used for these cards:

FREE Double Wonder Social Crafting Session with Tutorial – use your own supplies or purchase a kit!
Let's get together and craft via Zoom!  Shannon West, a Stampin' Up! staff member, created a fun template to transform 2 half sheets of Designer Series Paper (DSP) into 11 cards.  I will provide the template/measurements in a tutorial (for either Letter (inches) or A4 (centimetres) cardstock, and we can all meet up on Zoom to cut and assemble together!  This is a great way to use up some of your paper hoard and get a bunch of cards ready to send out or give as a gift pack.

Zoom Session: Saturday, 16 May, 1o:00 am AEST.  Check the time for your location.

If you're in Australia I can also send your choice of kits

• Your choice of 2 half sheets of uncut DSP, 11 shapes for sentiments, 11 unscored coordinating card bases and Whisper White inside panels, 11 envelopes, $25.00
• Your choice of cut DSP, 11 shapes for sentiments, 11 scored coordinating card bases and Whisper White inside panels, 11 envelopes, $30.00

Shipping via Parcel Post is an additional $8.95.
​
Kit ordering and pre-payment deadline

• Shipped: Wednesday, 6 May
• Melbourne pick-up: Sunday 10 May

I will provide a kit and written instructions to make 5 cards.  Participants will be able to add sentiments as desired with their own stamps and inks.  Kits can be picked up from my residence in Melbourne using safe, social distancing protocols, or I can ship via Australia Post tracked satchel.  Come give this a try - perfect if you've always wanted to try my classes and can't attend in person.  

​Online (Zoom) Group Assembly Session: Saturday, 9 May, 1:00 pm AEST (optional – click here to find your local time).  Meeting link will be shared when you place your order.
​
Card Kit:  includes all the pieces and printed directions needed to create 5 cards.  You will need to supply your own stamps and ink for sentiments, as well as having basic adhesive (like Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for assembly. 
​Cost: $30 + $8.95 optional shipping (Australian crafters only, sorry)
RSVP & Payment Deadline is Wednesday, 29 April to ensure timely delivery.

Today I'm sharing a pair of very simple cards that let the Designer Series Paper (DSP) do all the work.

​They feature the Mosaic Mood DSP, along with the coordinating Memorable Mosaic stamp set and Timeless Label Punch.  I know I've said it before, but the pictures in the catalogue (pp. 118-120) really don't do this paper justice.  One side of each sheet has glossy, embossed "tile" pieces that have so much dimension. You can get a sense of it in the picture below when you look towards the top of the white, twisted stripe on each card.  The multicolour stripes are also textured this way..

The two panels of DSP are different sizes, because that's what was hanging out in my stash.  Both sizes work great on the Terracotta Tile card base, and I used the same sentiment stamp and dies, just changed up the colours.  I'm happy to have these in my stash as gender-neutral options.

​Here's what was used:

I like just about every card I make, but some truly "spark joy," if you know what I mean.  This is one of those cards, which is why I had to recreate it when I saw Jessica Hart's post.

What have you created recently that's made your heart sing?  I'd love to see!  Send me pics at nhoetker@mac.com.

​Here's what was used to make this card:

May Monthly Card Class
I will provide a kit and written instructions to make 5 cards.  Participants will be able to add sentiments as desired with their own stamps and inks.  Kits can be picked up from my residence in Melbourne using safe, social distancing protocols, or I can ship via Australia Post tracked satchel.  Come give this a try - perfect if you've always wanted to try my classes and can't attend in person.  

​Online (Zoom) Group Assembly Session: Saturday, 9 May, 1:00 pm AEST (optional – click here to find your local time).  Meeting link will be shared when you place your order.
​
Card Kit:  includes all the pieces and printed directions needed to create 5 cards.  You will need to supply your own stamps and ink for sentiments, as well as having basic adhesive (like Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for assembly. 
​Cost: $30 + $8.95 optional shipping (Australian crafters only, sorry)
RSVP & Payment Deadline is Wednesday, 29 April to ensure timely delivery.

FREE Double Wonder Social Crafting Session with Tutorial – use your own supplies or purchase a kit!

Let's get together and craft via Zoom!  Shannon West, a Stampin' Up! staff member, created a fun template to transform 2 half sheets of Designer Series Paper (DSP) into 11 cards.  I will provide the template/measurements in a tutorial (for either Letter (inches) or A4 (centimetres) cardstock, and we can all meet up on Zoom to cut and assemble together!  This is a great way to use up some of your paper hoard and get a bunch of cards ready to send out or give as a gift pack.

Zoom Session: Saturday, 16 May, 1o:00 am AEST.  Check the time for your location.

If you're in Australia I can also send your choice of kits

• Your choice of 2 half sheets of uncut DSP, 11 shapes for sentiments, 11 unscored coordinating card bases and Whisper White inside panels, 11 envelopes, $25.00
• Your choice of cut DSP, 11 shapes for sentiments, 11 scored coordinating card bases and Whisper White inside panels, 11 envelopes, $30.00

Shipping via Parcel Post is an additional $8.95.
​
Kit ordering and pre-payment deadline

• Shipped: Wednesday, 6 May
• Melbourne pick-up: Sunday 10 May

Here are the cards I made during my Facebook Live session last week.  You can watch the replay on Facebook or YouTube.  Be sure to join me this week at 10:00 am AEST (you can see when that is where you are here).

​My theme this week was applying die-cut images to the background layer of my cards.

This one used the Abstract Impressions stamp set with its coordinating Springtime Impressions dies.  I woke up one morning with this idea in my head, and while the final product turned out the way I envisioned, the quick-and-easy application of the die cut during the session wasn't!  Isn't that always the way with the cameras rolling?

 did a second card later on and can say that with the use of a shim for more pressure, and probably another pass of my ageing (and therefore looser/less pressure) of my die cutting machine, the die cuts released their scraps easily and it all came together quickly.

Note:  these coordinating items are on the retiring products list...if you want them click on the images below to add them to your shopping cart.

This card is a CASE of one that Sara Douglass (Stampin' Up!'s CEO) posted on her Facebook page.  I changed it a bit to suit my tastes and time limitations (I used Stampin' Blends rather than watercoloring the flowers).  The card features the Timeless Tropical stamp set and coordinating In The Tropics Dies.  I will confess that I used the flower die from Bouquet Punch Dies as it had multiple flowers that cut as one piece and was less time-consuming to apply.  But, since the centre panel is so large, there is no need to cover most of the background layer, so it wouldn't take very long to place the individual flowers (the die cuts 3 flowers at once).  

Two pieces of happy news from the upcoming Annual Catalogue that relate to these cards

1. We'll be getting  new Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machines!
2. The double-sided adhesive sheets that make applying the die cuts like these so easy are making a comeback!

So if you need a 2020-2021 Annual Catalogue and aren't already working with a Stampin' Up! demonstrator give me a shout and I'll get one to you next month.

​Here's a complete supply list for these cards:

May Monthly Card Class
I will provide a kit and written instructions to make 5 cards.  Participants will be able to add sentiments as desired with their own stamps and inks.  Kits can be picked up from my residence in Melbourne using safe, social distancing protocols, or I can ship via Australia Post tracked satchel.  Come give this a try - perfect if you've always wanted to try my classes and can't attend in person.  

​Online (Zoom) Group Assembly Session: Saturday, 9 May, 1:00 pm AEST (optional – click here to find your local time).  Meeting link will be shared when you place your order.
​
Card Kit:  includes all the pieces and printed directions needed to create 5 cards.  You will need to supply your own stamps and ink for sentiments, as well as having basic adhesive (like Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for assembly. 
​Cost: $30 + $8.95 optional shipping (Australian crafters only, sorry)
RSVP & Payment Deadline is Wednesday, 29 April to ensure timely delivery.

ANZAC Day is the Australia and New Zealand Memorial Day observation.  Now honouring all who have served and sacrificed for these 2 nations, it originally commemorated the day in 1915 when troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in World War I, which started an 8-month, bloody and deadly stalemate. 

Also in April 1915, Dr. John McCrae was working in a British field hospital in Belgium.  After a 17-day battle in which a friend lost his life, he wrote the poem, "In Flanders Fields," from which poppies have become a British/Commonwealth symbol for dead soldiers.

You can learn more about the customary observation rituals by reading this article...it hardly needs to be said that this year is anything but customary, and all official ANZAC observations have been cancelled.  However, many across the country will be standing in their driveways/outside their residences/on their balconies at dawn this morning making the traditional salute to fallen soldiers.

In honour of all who serve their countries in whatever capacity, I give you more poppy cards.

This is the final card from my April Monthly Card Class.  It is a fun challenge to come up with card designs that can be made with minimal stamping, since none of my participants have the same items in their personal craft supplies.

For this one I turned to the Peaceful Poppies Elements on p. 25 of the January - June Mini Catalogue.  We used one of the black-on-black embossed elements, along with some of the white-on-vellum embossed flowers and leaves.  I gave each customer 2 sponge daubers in their kit, and the coloured panel coordinated with an ink colour I knew they owned (having requested a list of their ink inventory in advance).  They could use their choice of green ink (again, I knew each had at least one green to choose from).  The colours I sent out were Rich Razzleberry (like in my picture) Flirty Flamingo, and Highland Heather.  All turned out great!

Again, you'll see I used the same birthday sentiment on this card as I did the other 3 in this month's kit that needed one.  I could have mixed it up, but I wanted to show that there is a lot of versatility in a simple sentiment and a small collection of stamps shouldn't keep one from creating.

Why don't you join us and play along in May?  See class details below.

​May Monthly Card Class
I will provide a kit and written instructions to make 5 cards.  Participants will be able to add sentiments as desired with their own stamps and inks.  Kits can be picked up from my residence in Melbourne using safe, social distancing protocols, or I can ship via Australia Post tracked satchel.  Come give this a try - perfect if you've always wanted to try my classes and can't attend in person.  

​Online (Zoom) Group Assembly Session: Saturday, 9 May, 1:00 pm AEST (optional – click here to find your local time).  Meeting link will be shared when you place your order.
​
Card Kit:  includes all the pieces and printed directions needed to create 5 cards.  You will need to supply your own stamps and ink for sentiments, as well as having basic adhesive (like Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for assembly. 
​Cost: $30 + $8.95 optional shipping (Australian crafters only, sorry)
RSVP & Payment Deadline is Wednesday, 29 April to ensure timely delivery.

​Another card from my April Monthly Card Class.  This layout is CASE'd by Chris Margrie who posted some examples in Kylie's Love It Chop It Workshop Facebook Page.  If you're looking for ideas for using your Designer Series Paper, this is the group for you!  Click on Chris' name and request to join today!

This card is really quite simple, but has a lot of very fun features packed onto it.  

First is the cutaway card front...just trim off the top bit of your card front to expose the inside.  How much is up to you!

Measure and cut a piece of Designer Series Paper to fit the remaining front flap of the card base.

Emboss your inside Whisper White panel on the top part only with your choice of embossing folder, leaving a smooth section on which to write/stamp.

Cut or punch a shape to adhere to your card front and add a sentiement.

Embellish as desired.

Here's another card made in my April Monthly Card Class.  Liking what you're seeing?  Sign up for my May Monthly Card Class below!

I CASE'd this card from Nancy Novak on a demonstrator-only Facebook group.  I thought it would work really well for my class since I could send all the pieces and participants could add whatever sentiment fit from their stash. (SU! policy doesn't allow demonstrators to include stamped images in kits.)  To show that one doesn't need to have a huge inventory of product to make interesting cards I used the same sentiment stamp on all of the cards that needed one in this class.

It's fun to see how all of these shapes and different shades of green work well together.  Here's what we used:

​May Monthly Card Class
I will provide a kit and written instructions to make 5 cards.  Participants will be able to add sentiments as desired with their own stamps and inks.  Kits can be picked up from my residence in Melbourne using safe, social distancing protocols, or I can ship via Australia Post tracked satchel.  Come give this a try - perfect if you've always wanted to try my classes and can't attend in person.  

​Online (Zoom) Group Assembly Session: Saturday, 9 May, 1:00 pm AEST (optional – click here to find your local time).  Meeting link will be shared when you place your order.
​
Card Kit:  includes all the pieces and printed directions needed to create 5 cards.  You will need to supply your own stamps and ink for sentiments, as well as having basic adhesive (like Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for assembly. 
​Cost: $30 + $8.95 optional shipping (Australian crafters only, sorry)
RSVP & Payment Deadline is Wednesday, 29 April to ensure timely delivery.

Here's another of the cards we made in my April Monthly Card Class.  

I used the Small Bloom Punch to cut out the coordinating flowers from the Pleased As Punch Designer Series Paper.  They're glued to a Whisper White rectangle from the Stitched So Sweetly Dies.  That layer is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals on a Bermuda Bay layer cut with a larger die from the same set.  This is glued onto a Whisper White Note Card. Then we added die cut words from the Well Written Dies cut from Rose Glimmer Paper. Finally, we added Rhinestones to the flower centres.

I'm hoping the Small Bloom Punch will reappear in the next Annual Catalogue...and I'm holding on to mine regardless! 

​Here's what was used to make this card:

Mother's Day Gifts & Cards
Remember how much your mum gushed over whatever handmade gift you brought home from school for her?  Relive those glory days with handmade gifts this year, too!

The $30.00 Class Kit includes 

• materials to construct 1 box, including 3 Ghirardelli chocolates
• materials to construct 1 covered notepad
• materials to make 2 cards suitable for Mother's Day or other occasions
• printed assembly directions with pictures
• invitation to join a live Zoom meeting to create your projects in a group
• You may order additional boxes, notepads or cards for $7.00 each.
• You will have a choice of colours/paper designs.  

I am happy to ship your kit within Australia for $8.95 (Parcel Post).  Depending on where you live we may need to arrange Express Post for your to participate in the Zoom meeting.  Sorry, no kits shipped outside Australia.

RSVP and pre-payment deadline is Saturday, 25 April.
Zoom meeting will be Saturday, 2 May, 1:00 pm AEST.  Check the time for your location.

Here's one of the cards we made in my April Monthly Card Class.  I CASE'd the layout from Rachel Tessman.  The great thing about this card is how versatile it is - you can use any paper/cardstock/shape/sentiment combination you want!

For the class kits I used Perennial Essence DSP - one pattern for the card itself, and a second one for the petals of the Lily Pad Dies flowers.

Here's the measurements in both inches and centimetres if you'd like to give it a try.

Inches:

• Card base: 5.5” x 8.5”, scored at 1.5” and 4/25”
• Whisper White: 1 13/16” (or just over 1.75”) x 5.25”
  
• DSP: 3 pieces: 2.75”, 1⅛”, and 2⅛” wide, all 5.25” tall

Centimetres:

• Card base: 10.5 cm x 21 cm, scored at 4 cm and 10.5 cm
• Whisper White: 4.1 cm x 14.4 cm
  
• DSP: 3 pieces: 7.6 cm, 2.2 cm, 5.9 cm, all 14.4 tall

​Here's what I used to make my version:

Mother's Day Gifts & Cards
Remember how much your mum gushed over whatever handmade gift you brought home from school for her?  Relive those glory days with handmade gifts this year, too!

The $30.00 Class Kit includes 

• materials to construct 1 box, including 3 Ghirardelli chocolates
• materials to construct 1 covered notepad
• materials to make 2 cards suitable for Mother's Day or other occasions
• printed assembly directions with pictures
• invitation to join a live Zoom meeting to create your projects in a group
• You may order additional boxes, notepads or cards for $7.00 each.
• You will have a choice of colours/paper designs.  

I am happy to ship your kit within Australia for $8.95 (Parcel Post).  Depending on where you live we may need to arrange Express Post for your to participate in the Zoom meeting.  Sorry, no kits shipped outside Australia.

RSVP and pre-payment deadline is Saturday, 25 April.
Zoom meeting will be Saturday, 2 May, 1:00 pm AEST.  Check the time for your location.

May Monthly Card Class

I will provide a kit and written instructions to make 5 cards.  Participants will be able to add sentiments as desired with their own stamps and inks.  Kits can be picked up from my residence in Melbourne using safe, social distancing protocols, or I can ship via Australia Post tracked satchel.  Come give this a try - perfect if you've always wanted to try my classes and can't attend in person.  

​Online (Zoom) Group Assembly Session: Saturday, 9 May, 1:00 pm AEST (optional – click here to find your local time).  Meeting link will be shared when you place your order.
​
Card Kit:  includes all the pieces and printed directions needed to create 5 cards.  You will need to supply your own stamps and ink for sentiments, as well as having basic adhesive (like Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for assembly. 
​Cost: $30 + $8.95 optional shipping (Australian crafters only, sorry)
RSVP & Payment Deadline is Wednesday, 29 April to ensure timely delivery.

Double Wonder Social Crafting Session – FREE Tutorial – Purchase a Kit

Let's get together and craft via Zoom!  Shannon West, a Stampin' Up! staff member, created a fun template to transform 2 half sheets of Designer Series Paper (DSP) into 11 cards.  I will provide the template/measurements in a tutorial (for either Letter (inches) or A4 (centimetres) cardstock, and we can all meet up on Zoom to cut and assemble together!  This is a great way to use up some of your paper hoard and get a bunch of cards ready to send out or give as a gift pack.

Zoom Session: Saturday, 16 May, 1o:00 am AEST.  Check the time for your location. 

If you're in Australia I can also send your choice of kits

• Your choice of 2 half sheets of uncut DSP, 11 shapes for sentiments, 11 unscored coordinating card bases and Whisper White inside panels, 11 envelopes, $25.00
• Your choice of cut DSP, 11 shapes for sentiments, 11 scored coordinating card bases and Whisper White inside panels, 11 envelopes, $30.00

Shipping via Parcel Post is an additional $8.95.
​
Kit ordering and pre-payment deadline

• Shipped: Wednesday, 6 April
• Melbourne pick-up: Sunday 10 April