Stampin With Leah

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

The join process has changed a bit (sign up for $135 and get a $170 coupon) and you now get a fantastic Welcome Box too. The perks once you’ve joined remain the same.

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Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

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HSS495 Inspiration Challenge: Sunflower Birthday Card

Leave a comment August 18, 2026 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

There’s something about sunflowers against a bright blue sky that just makes me happy! 🌻💙 For this week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge (HSS495), I was inspired by the beautiful combination of sunny yellow sunflowers and that gorgeous pop of blue.

I decided to recreate that feeling on a handmade birthday card using the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder, Stampin’ Blends and a little bit of ink blending.

To create my background, I embossed Basic White cardstock with the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder. I coloured the debossed side of the flowers with Stampin’ Blends—Pecan Pie for the centres, Golden Glow and Darling Duckling for the petals, and Granny Apple Green for the leaves.

Then came the fun part! I dragged an Azure Afternoon ink pad across the entire piece, creating a beautiful blue background while allowing the colourful sunflowers to really pop.

I added a birthday sentiment from Exciting Times, stamped in Azure Afternoon, and finished the card with Crumb Cake Baker’s Twine and three Golden Glow 2026–2028 In Color Butterflies.

I love how cheerful and summery this card turned out! It definitely captures the feeling of a field of sunflowers under a beautiful blue sky. 🌻

I hope you’ll stop by Hand Stamped Sentiments to see what the rest of the Design Team created, then join us with your own interpretation of this late summer inspiration board!

Want to grab the supplies for this card? Shop the links below or head to my shop.

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

The join process has changed a bit (sign up for $135 and get a $170 coupon) and you now get a fantastic Welcome Box too. The perks once you’ve joined remain the same.

Save 20%+ on your orders.
Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

HSS492 – A Bold Floral Birthday Card

1 Comment July 7, 2026 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

Hello, friends!

It feels so good to be back! If you’ve noticed I’ve been a little MIA lately, you’re absolutely right. Life has been wonderfully busy with home renovations and family commitments, which has meant my crafting (and blogging!) has taken a bit of a back seat. The good news is things are finally starting to settle down, and I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll have my craft room back up and running very soon. I can’t wait to get back to creating and sharing with you more regularly!

Today I’m excited to share my latest project for the Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge HSS492!

The inspiration board immediately caught my eye with its vibrant pinks, warm sunset oranges, bold black accents, and beautiful florals. Rather than recreate one specific image, I pulled inspiration from the overall colour palette and modern floral feel.

For my card, I blended Melon Mambo and Timid Tiger together using a Blending Brush to create a bold ombré background. I absolutely love how these two colours melt into each other—it reminds me of a gorgeous summer sunset!

To keep the focus on the colourful background, I heat embossed the label and birthday greeting from the Exciting Times stamp set in white. The crisp white sentiment really pops against those vibrant colours.

The finishing touch was adding the gorgeous black Floral Flight Accents. Their bold outline design creates such striking contrast and frames the sentiment beautifully without hiding too much of the blended background. A few 2026–2028 In Color Butterflies add just the right amount of sparkle and movement to complete the design.

One of my favourite things about inspiration challenges is that everyone sees something different. Whether it’s the colours, patterns, florals, or overall feeling of the inspiration board, it’s always amazing to see the variety of projects our design team creates.

I’d love to hear what inspires you most from this challenge board. Is it the tropical sunset, the bold black-and-white patterns, or those gorgeous bright florals?

Be sure to hop over to Hand Stamped Sentiments to see the rest of the Design Team’s beautiful creations, and I hope you’ll play along with us this week!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and thank you for sticking with me while life has been a little hectic.

Want to grab the supplies for this card? Shop the links below or head to my shop.

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

The join process has changed a bit (sign up for $135 and get a $170 coupon) and you now get a fantastic Welcome Box too. The perks once you’ve joined remain the same.

Save 20%+ on your orders.
Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

HSS486 – Zooming into Inspiration!

Leave a comment April 14, 2026 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

It’s time for a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments , and this week we have a fun Inspiration Board for HSS486!

From race cars and checkered flags to sports and action-packed scenes, this board is full of energy, movement, and bold colour—and that’s exactly what inspired my card.

I was immediately drawn to the race car and checkered flags, which led me straight to the Ready Set Go stamp set. I wanted to capture that fast-paced, high-energy feel, so I designed my card with strong diagonal layers to mimic speed and motion.

My base is Coastal Cabana, with blended panels to create a racetrack-style background. The repeated “ZOOM!” stamping adds to the sense of movement, while the angled design keeps your eye travelling across the card.

The race car is coloured in Timid Tiger and Poppy Parade—inspired by the bold, vibrant tones from the board. I popped it up for dimension and added a few enamel dots for a playful finishing touch.

🏁 Inspired by the board:

Checkered flags → stamped accents
Race car → focal image
Action/movement → diagonal layout & “ZOOM!” background
Bold colours → bright, high-contrast palette

This card would be perfect for anyone who loves cars, sports, or anything fast and fun!

Be sure to check out the full inspiration board and join us for the challenge—I’d love to see what inspires you!

Want to grab the supplies for this card? Shop the links below or head to my shop.

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

Save 20%+ on your orders.
Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

thesearemystamps.com_cards_print_hss474 Download

Be sure to visit the Hand Stamped Sentiments blog to see all the gorgeous inspiration from the design team—and then join us by creating your own project using this colour challenge.

Cozy Fall Inspiration with Amber Autumn – HSS #474

Leave a comment October 14, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

As soon as I saw the Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge #474 board, I knew I wanted to feature the Amber Autumn Bundle. Its classic pumpkins, gourds, and foliage perfectly capture the cozy, layered textures and rich colours of fall shown in the challenge images.

This card combines the Amber Autumn bundle with the soon-to-be-released Vellum Basics (available November 1st — or you can get it early by joining my Stampin’ Up! team and adding it to your starter kit today!)

The background features the textured Need for Tweed DSP, and the metallic leaves are die-cut from the Earthen Tones Metallic Specialty Paper — a subtle shimmer that complements the soft fabric look perfectly.

🍂 Why You’ll Love the Amber Autumn Bundle

Perfect for creating elegant fall cards and Thanksgiving projects.
Gorgeous line art images ideal for colouring, blending, or embossing.
Versatile sentiments that work beautifully for gratitude, friendship, and seasonal celebrations.

Here’s a full list of supplies used as well as a printable card recipe.

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	Vellum Basics 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [160839]	Earthen Toned Metallic 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper [165901]	Need For Tweed 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [166144]
Basic Beige 3/8" (1 Cm) Classic Ribbon [165216]	Amber Autumn Bundle (English) [165893]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154882]	Darling Duckling Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [165288]
Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154897]	Cajun Craze Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154879]	Spotlight On Nature Dies [163580]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Basic White Medium Envelopes [159236]

If you love this bundle as much as I do, don’t miss my Amber Autumn PDF Tutorial — available now in my shop:
👉 https://payhip.com/b/5lef9

You’ll find step-by-step instructions for multiple cozy fall cards — perfect for crafting during those crisp October evenings.

💛 Join the Inspiration

Head over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along with Challenge #474! Use the inspiration board to spark your next fall creation and share your work with our creative community.

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my October Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

There are two great ways to join right now and so many reasons to be a part of my Ink Pad Pals team!

Save 20%+ on your orders.
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Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #471 – Creating with Love & Courage

Leave a comment September 2, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

The Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge #471 brings cozy fall vibes—plaid blankets, crisp leaves, and glowing light. I was especially drawn to the sunflower image, which I carried into my card design using the new Love & Courage Stamp Set.

This stamp set is available beginning September 3rd in the Stampin’ Up! September–December Mini Catalogue. It includes heartfelt phrases like “Support, strength, heart, faith, resolve, fight, hope, courage, survivor, believe” as well as a beautiful sunflower and ribbon image. These sentiments are designed to help us create meaningful cards of encouragement, gratitude, and solidarity.

Even more powerful, Stampin’ Up! donates $4 from every purchase of this set to breast cancer organizations in the country where you order. It’s a way for crafters around the world to come together and make a difference through creativity.

For my project, I chose to adapt the ribbon from pink to gold in recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place in September. Gold symbolizes courage, hope, and love—perfect qualities to share with families who are walking this difficult journey.

🌻 Whether your cardmaking supports breast cancer awareness, childhood cancer awareness, or another cause dear to your heart, the Love & Courage Stamp Set is a meaningful addition to your craft collection.

👉 You can purchase this set starting September 3rd through my Stampin’ Up! online store.

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my September Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

Join me live every Wednesday at 9am ( or catch the replay). Here is last week’s replay – you can still get this class until midnight tonight (Tuesday September 2nd, 2025).

See the details here: https://stampinwithleah.ca/2025/08/27/coffee-cards-august-2025-replay/

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

Save 20%+ on your orders.
Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

HSS468 – Celebratory Sips Inspiration Challenge

Leave a comment July 22, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

This week’s Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge (#HSS468) is filled with summery fun, so I reached for my Celebratory Sips 12×12 DSP and created a trio of refreshing drink elements to fussy cut. For the backdrop, I watercoloured loose circles on Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper using Azure Afternoon and Blueberry Bushel reinkers.

🌟 Watercolour Tip: Start by painting your circle shape with just water, then load your brush with a watered-down drop of reinker. When you add this to your wet area, the colour blooms beautifully, and using two shades together creates stunning blends and movement!

I mounted everything on Blueberry Bushel and Azure Afternoon cardstock, and finished the look with Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Adhesive-backed Gems. A perfect “Cheers—it’s your day!” kind of card!

👉 Join the HSS468 challenge and get inspired: https://handstampedsentiments.blogspot.com/

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:

Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my July Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

July 15 – 22 you can get the full kit, after that the PDF is still available – find details here: https://stampinwithleah.ca/2025/07/16/card-class-replay-not-29-anymore-with-birthday-treats-ephemera/

We are in month 3 of the In Colour Club – but it’s not too late to join and get these fabulous colours!

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

Save 20%+ on your orders.
Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

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Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #465 – Sunrise Sailing Fun Fold Card

Leave a comment June 10, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

Hello friends!
It’s time for another Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge, and this week’s sketch (#465) had me reaching for one of my new favourites—the Sunrise Sailing Bundle! I paired it with a fun fold layout and rich nautical tones to create a card that feels full of motion, encouragement, and seaside beauty.

Here’s my design for the challenge:

⛵ Card Details:

Base Colour: Misty Moonlight
DSP Background: Thoughtful Journey 6×6
Stamps & Dies: Sunrise Sailing bundle
Ink Colours: Night of Navy (for sentiment + boat), Misty Moonlight (blender brushed on embossed layer)
Embossing Folder: Hybrid folder (cuts and embosses in one pass!)
Embellishments: Iridescent Faceted Gems

This card opens in a Z-fold style, revealing a soft watercolour-style interior for your message. The front panel is accented with a stitched circle sentiment: “You’re destined for great things,” perfectly setting the tone for a card that’s ideal for graduation, a new job, or a big life adventure!

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:

💙 What I Love About This Card:

This project blends movement and meaning—from the sailboat imagery to the layered sky and sea. The Misty Moonlight ink blending over the embossed clouds and waves adds a dreamy, dimensional touch that makes this card feel like a little vacation.

🧭 Crafting Tips:

Use a hybrid embossing folder for crisp detail and easy layering—no second step required!
When blender brushing, apply ink lightly in circular motions to highlight texture without overpowering your design.
A Z-fold or gatefold base adds instant “wow” with minimal extra effort.

Want to Stamp With Me?

💌 Sweet Jar Virtual Card Class – July

Although this specific card design is not part of the class, I’ll be featuring the same Sweet Jar bundle and Florals in Bloom DSP in my upcoming virtual card class this July. The class includes pre-cut kits, a PDF tutorial, and video guidance to help you make several beautiful cards using these products.

Looking for more crafting fun? Join my June Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

This class has passed – but I still have 3 kits left and the videos are availble on replay – see the details and register now. It was AMAZING!!

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

Save 20%+ on your orders.
Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

Want to join the creative fun? Check out Hand Stamped Sentiments blog and share your own take!

Until next time,

Sweet Mother’s Day Card – HSS Inspiration Challenge #462

Leave a comment April 29, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

I’m excited to share my card for the Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge #462! Inspired by the soft pinks and florals in the challenge board, I used the Attention Shopper Bundle—on the last chance list!—to create this sweet Mother’s Day card. The background features the 2024-2026 In Color DSP in Pretty in Pink, and the card is finished with shimmer gems for extra sparkle.

Here’s the card I created:

The mini bouquets are colored with coordinating Stampin’ Blends (Pretty In Pink, Fresh Freesia, Smoky Slate, Granny Apple Green) and popped up for dimension above a Balmy Blue blended background. I love how the fresh colors and florals echo the inspiration photos! If you love the Attention Shopper Bundle, don’t wait—it’s only available while supplies last!

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:

Print Recipe

Product List

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	2024–2026 In Color™ 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [163777]	Greetings For All Mix & Match Ephemera Pack (English) [164862]	Attention Shoppers Bundle (English) [163644]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]
Pretty In Pink Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [163824]	Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [155518]	Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [145058]	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154885]	2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems [163781]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Basic White Medium Envelopes [159236]

Add All to Cart

Remember – you can earn 10% Stampin Rewards on any order over $25 canadian! Yay!

Upcoming Card Classes

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HSS 459 – Bandstand Card Download

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Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge #459

Leave a comment March 18, 2025 Leah Dixon - Stampin Up! Demonstrator

It’s time for a new Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge (#HSS459), and this one is full of dreamy pastels, elegant florals, and soft natural textures! The colour palette of Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink, and Peach Pie creates the perfect delicate, nature-inspired design.

For this challenge, I created a Bandstand Fold Card, a fun interactive design I learned from Dawn Griffith. This fold adds an elegant touch, making it perfect for showcasing beautiful layers of Designer Series Paper.

Here’s the Inspiration Image for This Week’s Challenge:

Here’s the card I created:

Project Details:

The soft floral design from Perennial Lavender DSP combined with the stunning Thoughtful Designs Specialty DSP creates a layered, ethereal effect, mirroring the inspiration challenge perfectly. The Labelled With Love Bundle adds the perfect focal point with a sentiment framed by delicate stamped florals and soft pastel butterflies.

Want to create this card? I’m including a full list of supplies below as well as a printable instruction sheet with full measurements and step-by-step details so you can recreate this Bandstand Fold yourself!

Here is a full list of the supplies I used:

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock $15.75	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock $18.00	Thoughtful Designs 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper $15.00	Perennial Lavender 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper $17.00	Labeled With Love Dies Bundle (English) $54.75	Everyday Arches Dies $40.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad $11.00	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad $12.25	Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad $12.25	Peach Pie Classic Stampin Pad $12.25	Blending Brushes $21.00	Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems $11.00
Paper Trimmer $39.00	Simply Scored $51.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue $8.25	Stampin' Dimensionals $6.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals $6.00	Sponge Daubers $10.25
Basic White Medium Envelopes $15.00

Add All to Cart

Join the Challenge!

Now it’s your turn! Create a project inspired by the #HSS459 mood board and share it with us. We can’t wait to see how this beautiful color palette and nature-inspired theme spark your creativity!

📌 Pin this project for later! 📩 Subscribe for more card tutorials and inspiration!

Special Offers and Upcoming Events

When you use my host code (6HQ62V46) this month, I’ll send you a link to an exclusive 34 Project Tutorial Bundle as a thank-you!

Upcoming Card Classes

Looking for more crafting fun? Join my April Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

Looking for more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

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