Additional Information for July 23

When I wrote about the free shipping (when you spend $75 or more) on July 23, I forgot to remind you about Bonus Days.

Stampin' Up! Bonus Days

Bonus Days continue though July 31. Phone orders must be completed by 6:59 pm MDT and online orders must be submitted by 11:59 pm MDT on July 31. You will earn a $5 coupon for every $50 spent (before shipping and tax) to spend in August. All of the Bonus Day details are on my July 1 post.

In addition to free shipping on July 23 and Bonus Days through July 31, from July 23 to July 25, Paper Pumpkin subscribers can purchase past Paper Pumpkin Kits, Refills and Add-On's at a discount – some up to 75% off. You can browse the Refills, Past Kits & More here. To subscribe to Paper Pumpkin month-to-month, go here.

Paper Pumpkin August 2024 Subscription

If you have been considering a prepaid Paper Pumpkin subscription, now is a great time. Let me show you the savings you could enjoy for a 12-month subscription on July 23 when free shipping is available:

The 12-month subscription is $252.00 – please do NOT use my host code when ordering – rather look for the Stampin' Rewards box in your shopping cart. With the 12-month subscription you will qualify for $25.20 in Stampin' Rewards. Immediately add the items you choose for your rewards to your cart (this is a use them or lose them situation) to have the rewards shipped directly to you. In addition to the Stampin' Rewards, you will receive Bonus Days coupons, $25 to spend in August. Finally, if you choose to order the 12-month subscription on July 23 when free shipping is available, that is another $27.72 savings (or so depending if your Stampin' Rewards selection goes a little over). Let's see, that is $50 in free products, $25.20 to spend today and $25 in coupons to spend in August, and almost $28 savings on shipping.

No matter if you choose a month-to-month or a pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscription, if you subscribe by August 10, there is a bonus stamp that will be included with the August 2024 kit.

Thank you for visiting today!

Mark Your Calendars for July 23 - Free Shipping

I am excited to share that I just learned that Stampin' Up! is offering free shipping on July 23rd!

Free Shipping

Here are the details: All order types qualify for this promotion. Free shipping is for 24 hours only. Orders must be opened and closed on July 23, 2024. Ordering Deadlines

• Phone: 23 July 2024 at 6:59 p.m. (MT)
• Online: 23 July 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (MT)

Free shipping automatically applies to your cart after the qualifying amount has been met, which is $75 USD (before tax).

Coupon codes and product credits are non-commissionable and will lower your order’s retail amount. Orders must meet the qualifying amount to be eligible for free shipping.

The additional cost for expedited shipping is not covered by this promotion.

Prepaid 3-, 6-, or 12-month Paper Pumpkin subscriptions can contribute to the qualifying amount for free shipping (Month-to-month subscriptions do not qualify). Subscriptions billed and shipped this month will be charged for the normal amount ($24.50 USD shipping included) + tax. You can browse the Stampin' Up! website here or download a PDF of the catalog here.

Have a great Sunday and week ahead!

Simpler Sympathy Cards

Happy Sunday!

When I am short on inspiration or I am waiting for an appointment, I often flip through current and past catalogs. No matter how often I look at the books, I typically find something new to me. The final two sympathy cards I created last week were inspired by a card in on page 46 of the Stampin' Up! Mini Catalog January-April 2024 (see the card that inspired me below).

Flirty Flamingo Sympathy Card 

This card uses Flirty Flamingo paper from the Brights 6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2 cm) Designer Series Paper (163775), white and black cardstock and a silver foil paper (unfortunately it appears white on the left and black on the right of the embellishment. Since I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator on May 1, my selection of sympathy sentiments is rather limited, so the sentiment is from Altenew: With Deepest Sympathy. The scalloped circle is from my stash and the "willow branches" are dies from Stampin' Up! Winterly Tree Tops Dies (164065). I embellished with Silver Metallic Thread.

Honey Bunny Sympathy Card

This card uses paper from the CTMH Honey Butter paper packet, CTMH Flamingo cardstock, black and white cardstock and silver foil paper. the Flamingo cardstock was die cut with Stitched Swirl Background Thin Cuts (CC9227) which was available from CTMH during National Stamping Month in September 2022. I though the swirls looked like the trails from butterflies. The circle and butterfly were dies I've had in the stash for awhile. The butterfly die cut has open spaces in the wings that I covered with silver foil paper. Unfortunately I am not quickly finding the stamp set I used for "Thinking of you". I am pretty certain it is one I have in my stash from CTMH. When I find it, I will update this post. I embellished with Silver Metallic Thread.

Below is part of the page from the Mini Catalog that inspired me. The card in the catalog was created featuring the Botanical Beauty Stamp (162903).

 Botanical Beauty Stamp and card samples from January–April 2024 Mini Catalog

Unfortunately I missed the opportunity to download the recipes for the January–April 2024 Mini Catalog; I am curious how the lines on the lower part of the, I think, Berry Burst card. It looks like the Botanical Beauty stamp was used twice on the top part of the card. It was stamped once in coordinating ink and a second time with pigment ink and was heat embossed with white embossing powder.

Thank you for visiting today.

Winterly Tree Tops Sympathy Card

Happy Independence Day!

Today I am sharing the third of five sympathy cards I created last last week.

sympathy card created with Winterly Tree Tops

Is one of your first thoughts, "I have not seen this set in the catalog or on the website"? If so, there is a great reason. The Winterly Tree Tops Bundle (164066), which includes the Winterly Tree Tops Cling Stamp Set (164184) and Winterly Tree Tops Dies (164065), was recently used at Creativity Now, a creative virtual event for demonstrators.

Rather than the Winterly Tree Tops Bundle, we had the option to purchase the Nests of Winter Suite Collection (164072) which includes the Winterly Tree Tops Stamp Set, Nests of Winter 12" x 12" (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper, Natural Tones Linen Thread, Earth Tones Shimmer Gems, Birch Wood 3D Embossing Folder, and Winterly Tree Tops Dies. Both the bundle and the suite will be available in an upcoming catalog (I think September, but watch my blog and/or Facebook page for updates).

I stamped the birds, branches and sentiment on white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (132708). I used the coordinating dies to cut the birds and branches. I trimmed the sentiment piece to focus on "thinking of you". I colored using Colorista Pencils. My goal was to color the birds to resemble male and female cardinals and the berries to look like blueberries since they are in season here. The colors I used were: Flint Grey, Dark Timber, Oak Tree and Chestnut Brown from the Natural Landscape bundle, Blue Teal and Azure Blue from the Bright & Vivid bundle and Primrose, Marigold and Poppy Red from the Floral Sensation package.

I used a scalloped oval die (The Paper Boutique Essential Nesting Dies Vol. III - possibly/probably retired) I've had for years to cut the Pine cardstock from CTMH; a good SU! cardstock substitute would be Shaded Spruce. I also used white, black and Sea Salt cardstock. While not perfect matches, either Costal Cabana or Lost Lagoon from Stampin' Up! would be good alternatives to the Sea Salt cardstock from CTMH.

close up showing Spotlight on Nature texture stamping

Before I layered the Pine onto the Sea Salt and the die cuts on the Pine, I used the texture stamp from Spotlight on Nature (163579) and an old neutral ink, Bamboo, from CTMH in a few spots where the texture could be seen coming from behind the oval and the birds/branches. Second generation stamping aka stamping off using Wild Wheat or almost any lighter, more neutral color would be a good alternative to achieve a similar look.

I assembled using Stampin’ Dimensionals® (104430) to layer the pieces.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Another Layers of Beauty Sympathy Card

This is the second of five sympathy cards I created last week. I used the Layers of Beauty Bundle (163519) which includes the Photopolymer Stamp Set (163514), Dies (163518), and Decorative Masks (163517) to create this card.

sympathy card created with Layers of Beauty

I stamped the floral spray from the Layers of Beauty Photopolymer Stamp Set (163514) twice onto white cardstock using a Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (132708). The first stamped image was onto the top card layer and the second was on a smaller piece of cardstock, making sure the rose with three leaves fit onto it. I then used the Layers of Beauty Decorative Masks (163517), blending brushes and Honey Butter, Pumpkin, Scarlet and Clover Stamp Pads from CTMH to color the images.

Layers of Beauty Dies (163518)

The "focused" image (rose with three leaves) was die cut with the die circled in red above. The die allows Layers of Beauty to be used in a decoupage style.

decoupage on Layers of Beauty Sympathy Card

After cutting the image with the die, I did trim a little more with my scissors and used the blending brush to "tone down" the white edges. Then I used Stampin’ Dimensionals® (104430) to layer the rose/leaves on top of the card front.

The sentiment is from CTMH: RYS102 Bluebird Sentiments. It was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

If you had questions about the Layers of Beauty Dies, or even if you did not, I hope you like the idea of decoupage, especially with this Bundle. Myself, I am very pleased with the results.

Have a great rest of your week.

What's New for July 2024

There is much Stampin' Up! news to share for July 2024. Please note, promotions begin on July 3 and I believe all promotions (product availability and Bonus Days) are in place at 12:00 am MDT.

Bonus Days

Stampin' Up! Bonus Days

Bonus Days are from July 3 until July 31, 2024. Phone orders must be completed by 6:59 pm MDT and online orders must be submitted by 11:59 pm MDT.

• Earn a $5 coupon for every $50 spent (before shipping and tax). 
• All coupon codes will be emailed right after a qualifying purchase has been made. Since a Customer Account is necessary, if you do not have an account with SU! online, be sure to create one prior to placing an order.
• You can earn multiple codes on a single order; if you earn multiple codes from a single order, you will receive one email with multiple codes. If you earn multiple codes from multiple orders, you will receive separate emails for each code earned. BE SURE TO SAVE THOSE EMAILS.
• All order types qualify for this promotion. Phone and email orders still require an email address.
• Orders started before the promotion begins will not count toward earning coupon codes. For example, if you add items to your cart before 3 July and wait to purchase until that date or later, then those items will not qualify towards earning coupons. You must add items to your cart and complete your purchase during the earning period. 
• There is no limit to the number of coupon codes you can earn per order or throughout the duration of the earning period. 
• Coupon codes can only be earned on commissionable items. Non-commissionable items, purchasing a catalog for example, do not count towards coupon earnings. 
• You must use a valid email address during checkout in order to receive their coupon code. If you place an order over the phone, you must still provide a valid email address to receive the coupon code.
• Starter Kit orders are excluded from this offer. All other order types qualify.
• For workshop orders, each customer who reaches a qualifying amount will receive a coupon code to their provided email address. 

Beginning on August 1 you can redeem the coupon codes you earned in July. The coupon codes are valid online until 11:59 pm August 31 (valid on phone orders until 6:59 pm MDT on Friday, August 30).

• There is no limit to the number of coupon codes you can redeem on an order during the redemption period. If using multiple codes, they must be separated by a space. 
• Coupon codes may be redeemed one time only. They cannot be redeemed after the 31 August. 
• Coupon codes may be redeemed for any product (excluding Starter Kits and demonstrator supply items). They cannot be used on exchanges.
• Bonus Days coupon codes can be applied to month-to-month Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and new prepaid subscriptions.

New Online Exclusive Products

All of the options are not included in the two flyers below, but here is a sampling of what you will find on July 3 when the Online Exclusives become available.

Greenery and Gold Suite Flyer Page 1	Greenery and Gold Suite Flyer Page 2
Iconic Celebrations Flyer Page 1	Iconic Celebrations Flyer Page 2

Two New Card Making Kits

Stampin' Up! has two new card making kits coming! The kits include everything you need to create fun crafts with simple instructions. Check the Stampin' Up! website on July 3 for kit details.

The final CTMH™ Products are here.

Cover July-August 2024 Product Release Exclusive CTMH™ Products

This digital flyer has all of the products that Stampin' Up! received from Close To My Heart. We are able to finish the Gnome series and pick up the Secret Garden Collection. It is my understanding that Secret Garden would have been the National Scrapbooking special in May 2024 if Jeanette Lynton had not decided to retire. Wowza! It is a beauty. There are also a few stamp sets, some albums and page protectors along with some stamp pads and cardstock (including a few new colors). Unfortunately the quantity that SU! was able to acquire is limited and stock may sell out. As of about a week or 10 days ago, we were also told that all of the products were not expected to arrive at the SU! warehouse by July 3, so you may see a couple of waves of product availability.

I think I am forgetting to share some news. Hopefully I will find some notes to remind me what I am missing. In the meantime take a look at the flyers so you know what will be available on July 1.

Have a great week ahead and if we do not "see" each other before Independence Day, have a wonderful time celebrating our great nation's birthday.

Wildflower Designs Sympathy Card

Sadly we recently needed sympathy cards again recently. This card was very much inspired by a card on page 40 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog May 2024-April 2025. If you do not have a copy of the catalog, you can download one in PDF format from this page.

sympathy card created with Wildflower Designs

Since I am relatively new to Stampin' Up! and I do not have many of the colors yet, I relied on my CTMH stash to aid me with completing this card.

From Stampin' Up! I used the Wildflower Designs Bundle (163334) which comes with the Wildflower Designs Stamp Set (163325) and Wildflower Designs Dies (163333), but you could use the Wildflower Designs Stamp Set alone to create this card. I used a sentiment from a past Close To My Heart card subscription kit (if you've followed my posts for awhile, you know I keep the stamp sets from the past card subscription kits nearby when I create). The CTMH colors I used were Journey, Acorn and Pine, but SU! colors Pretty Peacock, Pecan Pie and Shaded Spruce will produce similar results. I used Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (132708) to stamp the sentiment. For cardstock I used White Daisy, Journey and Pine. Basic White, Pretty Peacock and Shaded Spruce.

I created a total of five sympathy cards, one for each daughter and one for three of the granddaughters. Be sure to stop back over the next few days to see each card.

By the way, today is the last day for Bundled Savings. Save an additional 10% on all stamp and die bundles. In addition, save 10% on the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine or the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. The Bundle Savings can be found here.

Have a great day of rest before the hectic workweek begins again.

Happy Graduation Congratulations

Graduation season is upon us here in New York State. We received an invitation to a graduation party for the great-great-granddaughter of the woman who watched me while my mother worked when I was not old enough to go to school (and for at least one summer when I was to young to be on my grandparents farm). My goodness, that makes me feel old. Here's the card I created for this special occasion.

graduation card created with Sweetly Scripted

While the caption says "created with Sweetly Scripted" (Stampin' Up! item number 163600), in addition to the "congratulations" from that set, this card came together with a mix of items from my collection. In addition to the Sweetly Scripted Cling Stamp Set (163600) from Stampin' Up!, I also used The Future Is Bright Stamp + Thin Cuts (Z4706) in the April-June 2023 Close To My Heart Catalog and some unearthed treasures in my craft stash. Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (132708 is the Stampin' Up! item number) was used for the stamping.

To try to match the school colors better, I used a sheet of green cardstock from my stash. The pearl white cardstock is from Slice (remember that electronic cutting machine from Making Memories?) and was in the Metallic Paper package. I used the pearl white for the cap, tassel and brad (the smallest circle die I own from Tattered Lace Foundation 2 Nested Circles Die Set). Silver foil cardstock was used for the "brad" and tassel (as a shadow to the pearl white) and with a die from Scrapbook.com to cut and emboss the strip of stars.

The class year was created with QuicKutz dies I have had for awhile: the Quickutz 4x8 Dies - Chocolate Alphabet. I cut the apostrophe, two and four in black and green and slightly offset them so the green would have a black shadow. The stars were from set I found on clearance a few years ago: Sizzix Dotted Stars (Sizzix product number 662731). 

I planned to share this card Sunday (the graduation party was Saturday), but the weather did not cooperate and we were without power most of Sunday.

I hope you are inspired to mix some recent additions to your crafting library with some products you have had for a hot minute. Have a great week ahead!

Layers of Beauty Sympathy Card

If you follow my page on Facebook, Brenda's Paper Crafts, you saw this card a few days ago. I created the card when we learned that someone my mother attended school with passed away.

card created with Layers of Beauty

I stamped the floral spray using the Layers of Beauty Photopolymer Stamp Set (163514) onto white cardstock using Intense Black Ink from Close To My Heart (the Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (132708) from Stampin' Up! is another option). The stamped image was then die cut using the Layers of Beauty Dies (163518). I used an old Cricut cutting mat to hold the die cut in place while I stenciled using the Layers of Beauty Decorative Masks (163517) and Honey Butter, Rosy and Jade Stamp Pads from CTMH.

The Layers of Beauty Bundle (163519) includes the Photopolymer Stamp Set (163514), Dies (163518), and Decorative Masks (163517). The bundle is an extra 10% off the bundled price until June 30, 2024.

The card front was covered with the light side of Jade cardstock from CTMH after it was embossed with the Diamond Embossing Folder (Z3020) from CTMH. The floral spray was added to the card front using foam tape. The sentiment and die cut shape it is stamped on are from the Thoughtful Expressions Cling Stamp Set (162815) and Thoughtful Expressions Dies (162821). This was added to the card with a thinner foam tape.

I used some gold foil cardstock found in my stash to cut the layer placed behind the sentiment and to cut five leaves from the Layers of Beauty Dies (163518). The gold leaves are tucked in several places behind the floral spray. I really wish foiled cardstock photographed better.

This was the second card I created with Layers of Beauty. You will find the first card here.

I am very happy with the results. I hope this card brought a little bit of comfort to the family.

Card Sketch "19" in the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog

Yesterday I showed you the first cards I created inspired by this card sketch in the current Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog:

card sketch "19" on page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 24-25

While I was creating yesterday's cards I thought "why not squares?" So I played a bit in Cricut Design Space and came up with this:

cards inspired by sketch "19" on page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 24-25

Again, the blue/green card was created with a blue card panel that was cut on my Cricut Maker. This time I used Stampin’ Dimensionals® (104430) behind the blue squares on the red/blue card (using a stencil cut from heavyweight cardstock to assist with lining up the squares). I used a liquid adhesive add the stars.

Because I always need birthday cards, I used the birthday sentiment from the Sweetly Scripted Cling Stamp Set (163600) and stamped with a Sapphire Stamp Pad from Close To My Heart. I pulled cardstock from my stash so I do not know brand names or colors. The stars are free shapes in Design Space and were cut on my Cricut Maker (four sets of stars are in the file, two different shapes, two sets have the same size stars and the other two have 3 different sizes to add some visual interest) from CTMH White Glitter Paper.

This is the stencil I used to assist with adding the blue drop out circles and square to the red backgrounds. If you cut it from plastic stencil material, it would not want to grab the adhesive on the cardstock piece you are placing and the stencil would probably last forever.

stencil for sketch "19" on page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 24-25

If you have a Cricut machine and use Cricut Design Space, only free shapes were used to create the card so you should not encounter a cost when using the project. My Cricut Design Space project is here.

I hope you are inspired to try this sketch.

Cards Inspired by Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog - Card Sketch "19"

If you've looked at page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog, you might have noticed several card sketches. If you do not have a catalog, you can download a PDF of the catalog here.

page 22 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog May 2024–April 2025

Note - I numbered the sketches on the screenshot of the catalog above so it would be easier to identify which card sketch inspired the cards I created.

Today I am focusing on sketch "19".

card sketch "19" on page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 24-25

To create cards based on this sketch I turned to Cricut Design Space and used the free shapes. I knew cutting on my Cricut Maker would be the only way that I would be able to line up all of the circles on this card. You can access my Cricut Design Space project here.

cards inspired by sketch "19" on page 22 of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 24-25

The blue/green card was created with a blue card panel that was cut on my Cricut Maker. Then I began to wonder what I would do with 12 blue circles. I decided to make a stencil from heavy weight cardstock and use the stencil to align the blue circles. I used a liquid adhesive to place the blue circles though the stencil. I decided to decorate the cards with stars, but I think anchors or gems would also be nice. I also decided that some of the stars should be attached in a whimsical alignment to change the look of the card.

Some other variations on this sketch...You could also add some acetate behind the blue layer, use some Foam Adhesive Strips (141825) and sequins to make a shaker card. I attached the blue circles and White Glitter Paper stars flat to the red panel, but you could pop them up with Stampin’ Dimensionals® (104430) to create some depth.

The sentiments were stamped with a Sapphire Stamp Pad from Close To My Heart using the Sweetly Scripted Cling Stamp Set (163600) from Stampin' Up!. Because the cards were my prototypes–to prove to myself my Design Space file works as I expected–I pulled cardstock from my stash so I do not know brand names or colors. The stars were cut on my Cricut Maker (four sets of stars are in the file, two different shapes, two sets have the same size stars and the other two have 3 different sizes to add some visual interest) from CTMH White Glitter Paper.

I hope my cards inspire you to try this sketch.

Take care in this heat wave.

Birthday Card with Layers of Beauty

Not too long ago I needed to create a birthday card for my niece. This was a great opportunity to create something with the Layers of Beauty Bundle (163519) which includes the Photopolymer Stamp Set (163514), Dies (163518), and Decorative Masks (163517).

card created with Layers of Beauty

In addition to the Layers of Beauty Bundle, I used the Sweetly Scripted Cling Stamp Set (163600) and one of the 2024-2026 In Colors, Shy Shamrock.

I stamped the image with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. Since I do not have many Stampin' Up! Classic Stampin Pads yet, I used the following CTMH Stamp Pads with Blending Brushes and the Decorative Mask: Royal, Flamingo, Honey Butter, and Clover. I also used a Flamingo Shimmer Brush. The Shimmer Brush did "dull" the shading some, but added some nice shimmer. Next time I will opt for a Clear Shimmer Brush (if you try this technique, make sure you allow your blended ink to fully dry, but even that does not guarantee that your blended ink will not "run" a bit).

To give the Shy Shamrock background some interest, I used my score board and, from the back of the cardstock, I scored some straight lines to create a little visual interest and a faux frame.

The elements were adhered to the card front with two different thicknesses of Foam Tape.

It is always nice to hear that the recipient thinks their card is pretty; I love it when I get feedback from the person the card was intended for.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead. Take care.

Today's Tip - Creating A2 Card Bases

As I mentioned the other day, I've been thinking more and more about creating my own card bases. One reason for creating my own card bases is to have the color on the entire front of my cards without adding another layer. Adding an additional colored cardstock layer to the card front adds some weight which may make it difficult to stand the card up and/or require more postage. It adds thickness which, added with the other embellishments, may make it hard to fit the card in the envelope and/or require more postage. Adding another layer also uses more paper. Finally, let's be honest, it can be difficult to line up just right so no white shows around the edges.

When I began my cardmaking journey years ago, I wish I had a quick reference for all of my questions. I write this post with new, and returning-to-paper, crafters in mind and for those who like to measure twice, double-check the measurements one more time, and cut once.

My personal preference for A2 (4¼" × 5½") cards is a side fold card which I can use as a 5½" high by 4¼" wide card (portrait) or as a 4¼" high by 5½" wide card (landscape). You will find many examples of this card size/style on my blog.

This diagram (partially mocked up in Cricut Design Space) shows how I go about cutting 8½" × 11" cardstock to create an A2 side fold card base.

A2 side fold cutting & scoring diagram

I think the A2 side fold portrait card is the most popular hand crafted card size. This is how Close To My Heart White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack (X254) were cut and scored. I have not purchased the Stampin' Up! Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes (159232) yet, but from the photo online, I believe this is how the cards are cut and scored as well. Cards cut and scored like this are easy to create and display, even with embellishments, because having the fold on the side prevents the card from opening in its entirety–the fold acts as a "anchor". When this card is displayed with the score at the top (landscape), it can "sag" a bit, but on a future post I will show you what you can do to prevent that.

I have read blog posts by and watched videos from people who prefer a top fold A2 card (portrait). For myself, I think this card style is nice when you know you will decorate your card so it is 5½" high, but what do you do when you found the perfect large sentiment, but it is too wide for a 4¼" wide card? This diagram (partially mocked up in Cricut Design Space) shows how I go about cutting 8½" × 11" cardstock to create an A2 top fold card base.

A2 top fold cutting & scoring diagram

It is not common, but I have seen videos where a card has the fold on the left and the card is 4¼" high and 5½" wide (landscape), but personally I do not prefer to create cards in this format. The nicest thing about creating cards this way is they are still a standard A2 size and finding envelopes to fit is relatively easy.

In future posts I will share how I cut Slimline cards, 4" × 6" cards and I will talk about using 12" × 12" cardstock to cut A2 (4¼" × 5½") cards.

I hope everyone, from new card makers to seasoned card makers found something helpful on today's post. If there are any topics you would like me to cover, please reach out via the contact form to the right and I will add it to my list of topics.

Please find a way to beat the heat that is heading our way. Take it easy and drink enough water. Putting the AC units in is at the top of my to do list for Sunday. Despite the heat, have a great week ahead.

Today's Tip - Card Sizes

Today's post is a continuation of my post about getting started with card making. Yesterday I wrote about minimum and maximum sizes for cards and letters to go through the United States Postal Service. I mentioned how I avoid cards that are too thick and I shared links to the USPS websites where mailing sizes, thickness and weight limitations are listed.

Today I am comparing what was familiar to me, Close To My Heart cards and envelopes, to what Stampin' Up! offers. I noticed that there can be some subtle differences between CTMH and Stampin' Up! cards/envelopes and I want to be sure that you are aware of them.

According to several sites I found online, including Cards for Causes, the 4¼" × 5½" card size is referred to A2 and 5" × 7" is A7. I did not find an alpha-numeric "standard" for 3½" × 8½" (Slimline) there, but Jennifer McGuire has this post, All About Slimline Cards, where she refers to the 3½" × 8½" size as the Popular Slimline which would fit a #9 Envelope.

Standard Greeting Card Sizes	card size	envelope size
A2	4¼" × 5½"	4⅜" × 5¾" (A2)
A7	5" × 7"	5¼" × 7¼" (A7)
Slimline	3½" × 8½"	3⅞" × 8⅞" (#9)

I updated this post to add this section...I've been scanning the Close To My Heart Blog and found a DIY Photo Cards! post where they listed several card sizes and the envelope that works with each card size; unfortunately the post will be disappearing soon with the closure of CTMH. Here's the list of card sizes and envelopes with links to envelope sizes CTMH and SU! do not carry:

Card Size	Envelope Type
3″ x 5″	4BAR
4″ x 6″	A6
5″ x 7″	A7
5″ x 5″	5¾” Square
6″ x 6″	6½” Square

The link CTMH shared to the 6½” Square envelopes now lands all available envelopes from Paper Source. At the bottom of the envelope page you will find an Envelope Size & Style Guide and if you select "Size Chart" under Paper Bar on the left menu you will find this Stationary Components Size Guide that is great for seeing what A# is what size in inches. While I was trying to find a link to 6½” Square envelopes, I found a guide on How To Make an Envelope Liner and Envelope Liner Template Kit to aid with creating the envelope liner if the flaps on your envelopes have a similar shape and size. If you are creating unique shaped cards, remember that additional postage might be required, and you may want an Envelope Template Kit (creates six sizes of envelopes) to create your own envelopes if you are unable to find the envelope size you need.

Comparing Close To My Heart Cards/Envelopes to Stampin' Up! Options

If you are familiar to the cards and envelopes from Close To My Heart our options were:

CTMH product name	item number	product description	card size
White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack	X254	50 card bases and envelopes	4¼" × 5½"
5" × 7" White Cards & Envelopes	X258	20 card bases and envelopes	5" × 7"
Slimline Cards & Envelopes	X257	20 white card bases and envelopes	3½" × 8½"

While looking through the new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog, I noticed a variety of cards available:

   

Stampin' Up! product name	item number	product description	card size	envelope size
Sunny Springs Cards & Envelopes	163754	5 cards and 5 envelopes:     1 each of 5 designs	4¼" × 5½"	4¾" × 5½"
Calming Creek Cards & Envelopes	163753	5 cards and 5 envelopes:     1 each of 5 designs	4¼" × 5½"	4⅜" × 5¾"
Brushed Gold Cards & Envelopes	162177	20 cards and 20 envelopes	4¼" × 5½"	4½" × 5¾"
Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes	159232	20 cards and 20 envelopes	5" × 3½"	5⅛" × 3⅝"
Basic White Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes	159234	20 total Memories & More card bases and 20 total envelopes: 10 small and 10 large	small & large (details below)	4½" × 5¾"
Basic White Medium Envelopes	159236	40 envelopes (fits 5½" × 4¼" cards)	n/a	5¾" × 4⅜"
Clear Medium Envelopes	102619	50 envelopes (fits 5½" × 4¼" cards)	n/a	5¾" × 4⅜"

The Sunny Springs and Calming Creek Cards & Envelopes are printed cards with envelopes that have the same pattern on the envelopes; the liner matches the card exactly and envelope itself is a subtle version of the pattern. The Brushed Gold Cards & Envelopes look like someone took a large paintbrush and gold paint to the card and envelope. I think the Brushed Gold would make fabulous holiday cards.

The Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes are little smaller than what CTMH Makers and customers are used to. They are ½" shorter in one direction and are ¾" shorter in the other. While this is good as far as saving paper if you are covering the entire card front, there were many times I wanted a "canvas" that was larger than 4¼" × 5½".

The Basic White Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes are designed to work with cards from Memories & More Card Packs. The Memories & More Card Packs are similar to the Picture My Life cards CTMH carried. The small card bases work with the 3" × 4" Memories & More cards while the large card bases with the 4" × 6" Memories & More cards.

At this point in time, Stampin' Up! does not offer a White 5" × 7" or Slimline card and envelope options (I did notice the Sweet Springtime Paper Pumpkin Past Kit (164385) has a slimline card where the finished size is 3¼" × 6¼"). I have not heard anything about Stampin' Up! expanding their card size options. I've created both 5" × 7" or Slimline card, but they are not my go to sizes so I am unsure how many other people would miss these sizes.

Since Stampin' Up! carries 8½" × 11" cardstock that is a good weight for card bases, my impression is many Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and customers make their own card bases. Stampin' Up! has two envelope only options that fit 5½" × 4¼" cards. Once is translucent so your decorated masterpiece shows through. The 8½" × 11" cardstock is one of the reasons I am thinking about creating more of my card bases in the future.

Stop by in a day or two when I share different ways I plan to create card bases, including creating the card bases from 12" × 12" cardstock.

Have a great week ahead. Don't forget Father's Day will soon be here.

Today's Tip - Mailing Your Cards

I originally was going to write one post about cards, but it become so long that it needed to be split into three posts. There are three things that lead me to start writing about cards. Did you know that there are minimum and maximum sizes for cards and letters to go through the United States Postal Service or there is an extra charge for mailing? Also, if you enjoyed the cardmaking supplies from Close To My Heart, I want to be sure that you are aware there can be some subtle differences between CTMH and Stampin' Up! cards/envelopes. Finally, I have been mulling different ways to create my card bases. I will share my thoughts and the pros and cons (as I see them) with you so you can determine what is best for you in your cardmaking journey. Some of the information I share might be "old news" to some readers, but there are probably some new card makers who would like to learn.

Mailing Your Cards via the USPS

Did you know that the USPS has physical standards for postcards and letters and if the item you are mailing may cost more if it does meet the requirements?  Greeting cards mailed in the United States have to meet the requirements of First-Class Mail or there is an extra charge to mail them. Please see First-Class Mail at the USPS website for features and pricing.

The two biggest concerns I hear when card makers talk about mailing their creations are: the USPS told me the card was too thick or the card weighed too much. There is a minimum and maximum length and height and a maximum thickness for cards sent via the USPS to addresses within the USA (including military destinations). The sizes for postcards, letters, large envelopes and packages are posted at Mailpiece Dimensions. The maximum weight is shared on the First-Class Mail page. I am not sharing the specific numbers here in case the USPS policies change causing any information I share here to be outdated.

To avoid the two biggest concerns most people have, I often used CTMH's Thin 3-D Foam Tape to create my cards and selected thinner embellishments or opted for using Stickles™ Glitter Glue, Liquid Pearls™, or similar rather than gems, buttons, etc. I recently purchased Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (144108) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) from Stampin' Up! and found them to be similar in thickness to the Thin 3-D Foam Tape. I cut a piece of heavy weight cardstock with a 1/4" slot in the middle to test the thickness of my envelopes and I use a kitchen scale to weigh my envelopes.

Please note that unusually shaped mail, including square and vertical envelopes, and envelopes with other features (string, buttons, etc.) must be hand-canceled and are charged a nonmachinable surcharge. See the "Additional Charges for Irregular Mailpieces & Envelopes" section on the First-Class Mail page. Finally, you will always find the current prices for domestic and international mail at Price List - First-Class Mail.

I do not have first hand experience with mailing in other countries, but my impression is mail requirements are not as strict in the UK, Canada and other countries. I often see square cards created by UK crafters. I could be wrong, so if you are abroad and want to mail something, you should check with the local Postal Service before popping something in the mail. Other than the USPS website, the person working at the Post Office will always have the best answers to your questions.

I hope I shared something new for the long-time card makers and gave new card makers some good references for keeping their cards within the First Class requirements.

Come back in a day or so for a comparison of the card options Close To My Heart has and what Stampin' Up! offers in their Annual Catalog.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Lake Life, Other Exclusive CTMH™ Products and Bundle Sale

Happy June 5th! Today is the day!

[I forgot to mention this the other day...If your order (product total) is less than $150, please use Host Code UZGAQWS7 when you place your June orders. If your product total will be $150 or more, do not use the Host Code. Instead, look for the prompts in your Shopping Cart to add the Stampin' Rewards that you are eligible for. If the combined orders using the Host Code, placed by noon on June 30, reach a reward level, I will put your name in a drawing to receive the rewards. Your name can be added to the drawing multiple times, for each $25 you spend. Please be sure to check your mail the evening of June 30 because we only have 30 days from the day the code is created to close the order and redeem for the rewards]

Another selection of Exclusive CTMH™ Products are now available to order.

Cover June 2024 Exclusive CTMH™ Products Flyer

Lake Life is the collection that is being released (paper, scrapbooking and cardmaking stamps + Thin Cuts, scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops, etc.). In addition, there is a mix-in paper and coordinating cardstock, a stamp set that is perfect for thanking the educators in your life and a stamp + Thin Cuts "Hug In a Mug" that is great year-round celebrations. The digital brochure shows all of the options.

The colors featured in Lake Life are Acorn, Pine, Sage, Seabrook, Glacier, and White Daisy. There are even more limited quantities of Acorn, Pine, Sage, Seabrook, and Glacier cardstock and Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pads available. 

The colors featured in the Mix-In Paper Packet are Acorn, Pumpkin, Sundance, Limeade, Pine, and Black. If you purchase the Mix-In Coordinating Cardstock, you will receive one sheet of each color.

In addition, the Bundle Sale begins today.

Stampin' Up! Bundle Sale

Between June 5–30 save an additional 10% on all stamp and die bundles (excluding CTMH branded items)! Also enjoy a savings of 10% on the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine or the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. If you don’t already have a machine, there is no better time than during this sale. Or maybe you’re thinking of getting the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to take with you when you are on the go. What a great opportunity to add bundles or a die cutting machine to your "tool chest" when you will get an extra discount!

Finally, two new all-inclusive crafting kits will debut today. Check the Kits Collection page on the Stampin' Up! website.

It's supposed to be a hot one today. Be sure to keep hydrated and try to stay in a cooler location. I should have installed the air conditioners last weekend.

Thoughtful Expressions Thank You Cards

I recently created and sent (or delivered) a few Thank You cards.

cards created with Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set and Dies

To aid with keeping the cards quicker to complete, they are the same other than varying the colors, sentiments and how I applied a little color around the flowers and the hummingbird.

The flowers, hummingbird and die used for the sentiment layer are from the Thoughtful Expressions Bundle (included the Stamp and Die Set) from Stampin' Up! The color and White Daisy cardstock layers were cut with a Spellbinders die set I've had for years. The cardstock and inks are from Close To My Heart (Flamingo, Wisteria, Carpi and Journey). The sentiments are from past Close To My Heart card subscription kits.

I cut a scrap of cardstock with the die that coordinates with the flowers to protect that area when adding ink to the White Daisy layer. I added splatters from a Shimmer Brush on the Flamingo card. I used wadded plastic film (from packaging) to add color on the Wisteria card. A blending brush was used on the Capri card and a sponge helped me add color on the Journey card. I love the different look each technique creates.

I hope you have a fantastic first week of June and find a little time to be creative. Take care!

Mark Your Calendars for June 5th 2024

June 5 is a great day to visit the Stampin' Up! website.

Stampin' Up! Bundle Sale

Bundle savings are coming on June 5. Between June 5–30 save an additional 10% on all stamp and die bundles! In addition, save 10% on the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine or the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. There is no better time than during this sale to purchase a machine if you don’t already have a one, or maybe you’re thinking of getting the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to take with you when you are on the go. These machines help you quickly cut out stamped images for a single project or create multiples of the same project with ease. What a great opportunity to add bundles or a die cutting machine to your "tool chest" when you will get an extra discount!

Two new all-inclusive crafting kits will debut on June 5. Check the Kits Collection page on Stampin' Up! website on the fifth to learn more.

Cover June 2024 Product Release Exclusive CTMH™ Products

Finally, also happening on June 5, additional CTMH designed items will be available for purchase. Many items (paper, workshops, etc.) have a Lake Life theme and the featured colors are Acorn, Pine, Sage, Seabrook, Glacier and White Daisy. In addition, there is a mix-in paper packet and coordinating cardstock, a stamp set, stamp + Thin Cuts and stamp pads and cardstock that coordinate with the Lake Life collection. The digital brochure shows all of the CTMH designed options.

Today's Tip - Angel Policies

Many people who enjoy paper and other types of crafting only create to give something personalized, or decorated with the recipients' interests, to family and friends. Others create primarily as an artistic outlet or a way to relieve stress. And some like to make crafts to donate to charities or to sell for profit.

When you fall into the last group of creative individuals, you need to be aware that most, maybe all, craft manufacturers have what is known as Angel Policies. Angel Policies indicate how the image can be used, how many can be made, where items can be sold, etc.

Stampin' Up! has an Angel Policy near the bottom of the Stampin' Up! website. Stampin' Up! offers the Stamped with Love Photopolymer Stamp Set (161395) that includes a ©Stampin’ Up! image to use if you sell hand-stamped creations with Stampin' Up! products.

In an April 23, 2024 email, Close To My Heart informed Makers that the Close To My Heart Closure FAQ was updated related to the Angel Policy. Here is that section of the FAQ:

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Q: Will the Angel Policy regulating use of stamp sets and copyrighted designs remain in effect after the company closes?

A: Yes, the terms of the Close To My Heart Angel Policy are not affected by the company closure. As stated in the policy,

All Close To My Heart designs are copyrighted by CTMH Co. and are protected under United States and international copyright law, which means they cannot be copied without Close To My Heart’s permission. Close To My Heart’s Angel Policy grants limited permission (a license) to purchasers of Close To My Heart stamps to create hand-stamped artwork for sale. 

The copyright is held by CTMH Co., which is a separate entity from Close To My Heart. The fact that Close To My Heart is ceasing regular business operations does not change that copyright. In addition, the Angel Policy applies to “purchasers of Close To My Heart stamps,” not to Makers, so it is not affected by the termination of the Maker agreement, either. Visit Closetomyheart.com and click Angel Policy at the bottom of the page to view the full Angel Policy.

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Since the Close To My Heart website will no longer be available after June 30, 2024, and I do not know where you would be able to find the CTMH Angel Policy in the future, I made a PDF of the Angel Policy page as it appears on the Close To My Heart website. You will find it here. I know life circumstances change, and while you may not create items to sell with your CTMH stamps today, you may decide to create and sell items in the future.

If you need to find Angel Policies for other brands, I suggest using your favorite search engine. I have had good luck finding them that way, however I do not think I ever searched for the policy of a company that is no longer selling products.

I am not offering legal advice. I not trained in the law and laws vary across the United States and from country to country. I am posting this information to bring awareness to Close To My Heart's recent communication about their Angel Policy. If you have any questions about a company's Angel Policy, I suggest you either attempt to contact the company for clarification and/or consult with your own attorney.

Happy crafting! And have a nice Memorial Day!!

Sympathy Card created with Thoughtful Expressions

A former co-worker of my mother's recently passed. She was part of the unofficial retirees group that got together for coffee or lunch. I created this card for my mother to give to her husband.

card created with Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set and Dies

To create this card I used the Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set (162815) and Thoughtful Expressions Dies (162821). I stamped the floral spray and hummingbird with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad on Pool Party cardstock then die cut. I die cut a rectangle for the sentiment from Pool Party cardstock with a die from my stash (the die is square, but I used a technique I shared a few months ago to partially cut then realign the die and complete the cutting). I stamped with a sentiment I've had in my stash for awhile. One of the Thoughtful Expressions decorative dies was used to cut Black cardstock and I splattered it with Gold Shimmer Brush. The Zinnia 3D Embossing Folder created a nice background on the Lost Lagoon cardstock. To assemble the card I used a combination of liquid glue, flat adhesive and foam tape to assemble the card.

By the way, the first card I shared this month, now has a sentiment and a home. A birthday snuck up on us. I die cut a cardstock "banner" with a die from my stash then added a sentiment from one of the Craft with Heart™ Cardmaking Subscription Kits previously available from Close to My Heart.

card created with Thoughtful Expressions Stamp Set and Dies

I rarely create cards without a sentiment, but this time I am very happy I did. It saved me a late night. I think I will try to make more cards that just need a sentiment and addressing for the next time special occasions arrive quicker than expected.

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. It looks like the weather is going to be nice though maybe a little to warmer than I would prefer.

Save The Date - Free Shipping - Tuesday, May 21

On May 21, 2024, Stampin' Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $75 or more! This deal is for one day only, so you’ll have to act quickly.

Here are the details:

All order types qualify for this promotion. Free shipping is for 24 hours only. Orders must be opened and closed on May 21, 2024.

Ordering Deadlines

• Phone: 21 May 2024 at 6:59 p.m. (MT)
• Online: 21 May 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (MT)

Free shipping automatically applies to your cart after the qualifying amount has been met, which is $75 USD (before tax).

Coupon codes and product credits are non-commissionable and will lower your order’s retail amount. Orders must meet the qualifying amount to be eligible for free shipping.

The additional cost for expedited shipping is not covered by this promotion.

Prepaid 3-, 6-, or 12-month Paper Pumpkin subscriptions can contribute to the qualifying amount for free shipping (Month-to-month subscriptions do not qualify). Subscriptions billed and shipped this month will be charged for the normal amount ($24.50 USD shipping included) + tax.

As a reminder, former Close To My Heart VIPs will receive a free Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog with their first purchase (use the same email address with Stampin' Up! that you used with Close To My Heart). You do not need to add a catalog to your cart prior to checking out, a catalog will be added based on matching your email address to a list of CTMH VIPs.

You can browse the Stampin' Up! website here or download a PDF of the catalog here.

TGIF. Have a great weekend!