Harvest Birthday Wishes | GDP563 Themed Challenge

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Sometimes the best cards come together when you have to work with what you’ve got!

This week’s Global Design Project #GDP563 challenge has a harvest and garden theme, which was perfect inspiration for a fall card. The only problem? Most of my stamps are still packed away while we renovate!

So I turned to one of my favourite resources for a quick and easy seasonal card: Designer Series Paper.

For this card, I used the August Product of the Month — Glow of Harvest 12″ x 12″ Specialty Designer Series Paper. The shimmer in this paper is absolutely gorgeous, and I knew those little pumpkins were just begging to be fussy cut!

I paired the pumpkins with the simple Addressed to You stamp set. I love the fun oval outline and that pretty scripty birthday sentiment. Sometimes you really don’t need a lot of stamping to create a card that has plenty of personality.

And because I loved last week’s GDP sketch so much, I couldn’t resist using that sketch again as the starting point for this card. I think the layout works perfectly with the pumpkins and lets that beautiful shimmer take centre stage.

I also added a few subtle stamped flowers in the background to give the card a little extra interest without taking away from the focal point.

I hope this harvest-inspired birthday card gives you a little inspiration to look at your Designer Series Paper in a new way — especially when your stamp collection happens to be packed in boxes! 😉

✂️Supplies Used:


Shop With Me

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 15%+ 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.

Join Now!

Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to check out the other Global Design Project #GDP563 creations for even more harvest and garden-inspired cardmaking ideas.


HSS496 Colour Challenge – Secret Sea, Cajun Craze & Pool Party

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It’s time for another Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge, and this week we’re playing with a gorgeous colour combination! For HSS496, the challenge colours are Secret Sea, Cajun Craze and Pool Party.

I decided to turn these colours into a Christmas card, using the beautiful Woodland Wishes with Winter Dreams Specialty Designer Series Paper as my starting point.

This particular sheet of DSP made creating with the challenge colours easy! The Secret Sea and white flocked snowflake pattern gives the card a beautiful wintery background, while the Pool Party and Cajun Craze bring in the pops of colour from the challenge.

I love the contrast between the deep Secret Sea background and the crisp white snowflakes. It creates such a pretty snowy scene without needing a lot of additional embellishment.

For my focal point, I used the adorable fox from the Woodland Wishes collection. I coloured him with Wink of Stella dipped in Cajun Craze ink, which gives the fox a little sparkle and coordinates beautifully with the Cajun Craze element on the card.

I added two stitched Cajun Craze banners (from the Nested Essentials dies) behind the fox and a Pool Party sentiment strip across the centre. A few Pool Party embellishments (from the Painted Patch Adhesive-backed Dots) and some linen thread finish everything off.

One of the things I enjoy about colour challenges is that they can push me to use colours together that I might not automatically reach for.

Secret Sea + Cajun Craze + Pool Party turned out to be such a fun combination for a Christmas card!

The flocked DSP does a lot of the work here, so I was able to keep the rest of the design fairly simple. Sometimes a beautiful piece of Designer Series Paper really is all you need to create a card that makes an impact.

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


SHOP HERE

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.

Join Now!

Now it’s your turn! Take a look at the HSS496 colour combination and see what you can create with Secret Sea, Cajun Craze and Pool Party.

I’d love to see what you make with these colours!

Be sure to check out the other Hand Stamped Sentiments creations for more inspiration, and if you create a project using this week’s colours, I hope you’ll share it with us.


September Product of the Month: Luxe Foliage Specialty Designer Series Paper

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Each month, Stampin’ Up! features an exclusive Product of the Month, giving you the opportunity to purchase a featured product at a special price with a qualifying order. I love this promotion because it’s a great way to add something special to your craft room while saving money!

For September, the featured product is the gorgeous Luxe Foliage Specialty Designer Series Paper (168599) and this month’s Product of the Month promotion begins on September 1st! . With a $100 CAD order (before tax and shipping), you can add this beautiful paper pack to your order for just $7 CAD! It’s a great time to stock up on your favourites and earn this month’s special offer!

If you love beautiful Designer Series Paper, I think you’re going to love this one!

Luxe Foliage Specialty Designer Series Paper features three elegant foliage designs with shimmering foil accents that add a gorgeous touch of elegance to your handmade cards and paper crafting projects.

Each package includes:

  • 12 sheets: 4 each of 3 single-sided designs
  • Acid and lignin free (this product is photo-safe)
  • Colours: gold, Peaceful Pine, Pecan Pie, Secret Sea

You can use the paper for stunning backgrounds and layers, or fussy cut the foliage and other shining images to create your own embellishments and focal points.

My Bonus Gift for You

When you order the Luxe Foliage 12X12 Specialty Designer Series Paper as part of Stampin’ Up!’s September Product of the Month promotion through me, I’ll send you my exclusive PDF Tutorial featuring projects created with this beautiful paper.

It’s my way of helping you get even more inspiration from your new supplies! Instead of wondering what to make first, you’ll have step-by-step project ideas ready to inspire your creativity.

This tutorial includes:

  • 12 inspiring projects
  • A variety of card styles
  • Creative layouts and ideas
  • Inspiration to help you get the most from this beautiful die

It’s available exclusively to my customers as my thank you for supporting my business.

SHOP HERE

Inspiration from the Stampin’ Up! Design Team

Need a little creative inspiration? The talented Stampin’ Up! Design Team has created some beautiful projects featuring the Luxe Foliage Specialty Designer Series Paper, showcasing just how versatile this collection really is.

From elegant cards to sweet 3D projects, these samples highlight the gorgeous foiled images, rich colour palette, and a variety of ways to use the patterns as both background and focal points.

Take a look at these beautiful projects below!

I hope these ideas inspire you to create something beautiful with your own Luxe Foliage Designer Series Paper. Whether you CASE one of these designs or put your own creative spin on them, this paper makes it easy to create stunning projects.

How to Get Yours

It’s easy!

  • Place a $100 CAD (before tax and shipping) order during August.
  • Add the Luxe Foliage Specialty Designer Series Paper to your cart for just $7 CAD.
  • Complete your order through my online store.
  • I’ll send you my exclusive PDF tutorial (around the 25th of the month) so you can start creating beautiful projects with your new paper.

Don’t Miss Out!

This special offer is available only during September and while supplies last, so if this paper has caught your eye, be sure to grab it before it’s gone.

I can’t wait to start playing with this beautiful paper! Between the shimmering foil, gorgeous foliage designs and rich colour combination, there are so many possibilities.

What would you make with Luxe Foliage first—a fall card, Christmas cards or something completely different?

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂

Simple & Shimmery with the August 2026 Product of the Month

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Sometimes a beautiful piece of Designer Series Paper doesn’t need much help to create a gorgeous handmade card. That was definitely the case with this card featuring the Glow of Harvest 12″ x 12″ Specialty Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Up!’s August 2026 Product of the Month.

This paper is absolutely gorgeous in person. The subtle shimmer adds just the right amount of sparkle, while the warm autumn-inspired colours make it perfect for fall cards and so many other handmade projects. The Glow of Harvest paper features six single-sided designs and coordinates with Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Golden Glow and Pecan Pie.

For this card, I wanted to keep things simple and let the beautiful paper be the star.

I used a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Glow of Harvest Specialty Designer Series Paper as the main focal point. The shimmer in the paper catches the light beautifully and gives the card plenty of interest without needing lots of additional layers or embellishments.

I added a strip of Golden Glow ribbon and a few Golden Glow Flat Pearls for some coordinating sparkle.

The sentiment comes from the Exciting Times stamp set. I heat embossed it in gold on Early Espresso cardstock, which ties beautifully into the rich colours in the Designer Series Paper.

The result is a simple, elegant card that really shows how much impact you can get from a gorgeous piece of specialty paper.

August Product of the Month

If you haven’t picked up your Glow of Harvest Specialty Designer Series Paper yet, August is the time!

The Product of the Month is a special Stampin’ Up! offering that gives you the opportunity to purchase an exclusive product for just $7 with a qualifying order. Glow of Harvest is the August 2026 Product of the Month and is available while supplies last.When you place an order with me, you’ll receive a FREE 12-project tutorial featuring the Product of the Month. That’s 12 more project ideas to help you make the most of your Glow of Harvest paper!

I love finding simple ways to showcase beautiful Designer Series Paper, and this card is a perfect example. A piece of specialty DSP, a little ribbon, a few embellishments and a beautiful embossed sentiment are all you need to create something special.

If you love card making and gorgeous paper, I think you’re going to have a lot of fun with Glow of Harvest!

SHOP HERE

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂

GDP562 Sketch Challenge: Cutest Crew Birthday Card

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There’s just something about puppies that makes a birthday card instantly more cheerful! 🐾💕

For this week’s Global Design Project sketch challenge, I had so much fun creating this bright and playful birthday card featuring the adorable puppies from the Cutest Crew Bundle.

I kept the layout fairly simple so those cute little faces could take centre stage, then added a few details to give the card some extra texture and personality. A little linen thread, some texture in the background (Sunflower 3D embossing folder on the Golden Glow strips and the pre-order Softly Woven 3D embossing folder for the background), and those pretty Crisp Cantaloupe In Color butterflies were just the finishing touches this card needed. 🦋

I love how a sketch challenge can take you in a direction you might not have chosen on your own. Starting with the sketch gave me a great jumping-off point, and then it was just a matter of playing with the colours and elements until everything came together.

The result is a fun, happy birthday card that would be perfect for any dog lover — or really anyone who could use a little puppy-powered cheer!

This project was created for Global Design Project #GDP562, a sketch challenge that is always a great source of card-making inspiration. If you enjoy card sketches, be sure to check out the challenge and see how other crafters interpreted it.

✂️Supplies Used:


Shop With Me

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 15%+ 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.

Join Now!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my GDP card! I hope these cheerful puppies bring a little smile to your day. 🐾💕


Holly Jolly Branches MEGA Stamp Camp: 10 Holiday Projects + A Weekend of Crafting Fun!

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If you’re ready to start your holiday crafting, I have something fun planned for you! 🎄

I’m excited to be joining Ange McKay, Gill Long, Kim Kroeker and Lori Willcox for our Holly Jolly Branches MEGA Stamp Camp, happening online October 3–4, 2026.

We’ve been busy planning a fabulous weekend of Christmas crafting, and this time we’re bringing you 10 awesome projects featuring a beautiful collection of coordinating Stampin’ Up! products.

And the best part? You can join us from anywhere in Canada!

A Weekend Full of Holiday Crafting

The Holly Jolly Branches MEGA Stamp Camp will take place online over two days:

Saturday, October 3: 10:00 AM–1:30 PM PT
Sunday, October 4: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM PT

We’ll be crafting together online, with plenty of inspiration, tutorials and fun along the way.

Your registration includes:

  • 10 Make ‘n Take projects, including pre-cut cardstock, envelopes and any die-cuts that aren’t included in the bundle
  • 10 video tutorials — presented live and recorded so you can watch them again later
  • 10 printable PDF tutorials
  • An additional BONUS tutorial featuring 5 more projects
  • Access to our exclusive Facebook group
  • A fun Mystery Stamping session
  • Entry into our prize draws

That’s a whole lot of holiday crafting packed into one weekend!

The Holly Jolly Branches Collection

Instead of focusing on just one suite, we’ve put together a carefully curated collection of products that we’ll be using throughout the camp.

The collection includes:

  • Holly Jolly Branches Bundle — stamp set and dies
  • Whispering Woods 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper
  • Winter Dreams 12″ x 12″ Specialty Designer Series Paper
  • White 3/8″ Textured Ribbon
  • Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Sequins

The Whispering Woods Designer Series Paper is especially lovely for holiday projects — and $4 from each package will be donated to organizations helping to spread a little holiday cheer. ❤️

Here’s a card sample using these products. This is not a project from the MEGA Stamp Camp — simply an example of the kind of beautiful holiday project you can create with this collection.

👉 See the details and reserve your spot now:

https://form.jotform.com/leahdixon41/hollyjolly-branches-mega-stamp-camp

We can’t wait to stamp with you!

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂

Christmas Crafting with Stitched Season DSP | Case the Catalog Challenge

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I am officially in full Christmas crafting mode! 🎄 With autumn Christmas fairs on the horizon, I’ve been pulling out my Christmas Designer Series Paper and looking for ways to create cards that are festive, eye-catching—and don’t take forever to make.

This card was created for this week’s Stampin’ Through the Catalog Challenge, and I had so much fun putting it together.

For this design, I used A Stitched Season Designer Series Paper for almost all of the colour and pattern. I cut four rectangles (1-1/2″ X 2-1/4″ each) for the background and then used the third-smallest Everyday Arches Die to cut the little bird from a different DSP piece as the focal piece.

No stamping or colouring involved. Just a bit of die cutting, layering and embellishing!

The card base got some extra texture from the Textured Tree Rings 3D Embossing Folder, which adds just the right amount of interest without competing with all those pretty patterns.

And then there’s that Happy Christmas sentiment! ❤️

I used the new Magical Christmas Hot Foil Die with red hot foil and the reverse plate. I LOVE how bold and shiny it is—and how quickly hot foiling can take a card from simple to special.

The Magical Christmas Hot Foil Die is part of the upcoming September–December collection. Customers will be able to order it beginning in September, but if you’re someone who just can’t wait to get your hands on the new products, you can join my Stampin’ Up! team today and take advantage of the demonstrator preorder.

That means you can choose all the preorder products you want and start creating before the new catalogue even goes live. If you’ve ever thought about joining my team, this is a pretty fun time to do it!

I’m really enjoying being in full Christmas mode already. There is something very satisfying about getting a head start on those Christmas fair projects—and this card is a perfect example of why I love Designer Series Paper so much.

🛒 Want to recreate this card?
Head to my online store or contact me today to grab your supplies.

✨ Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used:

(*PLUS – the Magical Christmas Hot Foil Die, Red hot foil and the Reverse plate – available Sept 2026 or now when you sign up to join my team)


Shop Here

📦 Want to create more with me? I’m currently in the middle of a reno so not offering in person classes, however I have some upcoming online classes and all my past classes are available here:

See my whole PDF shop here.

Looking for even more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team! We have a new Starter Kit! You get an fabulous Welcome Box and a $165 coupon for just $135.

  • Save 15%+ 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.

Join Now!

❤️ Thanks for crafting with me!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Festive Friday!

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂

Festive Friday: A Little Woodland Christmas Magic

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It’s Festive Friday, and I have another Christmas card to share with you! 🎄

I’m having so much fun getting a head start on my Christmas cards, and this one features the adorable Woodland Wishes stamp set.

There’s something about these little woodland images that makes me smile. The sweet little deer and bird make such a fun focal point, and I love how the soft, natural colours give this card a cozy woodland feel.

A pop of Real Red from the sentiment and those fun Adhesive-Backed Christmas Berries adds just enough Christmas colour, while the little bit of Linen Thread gives it a rustic finishing touch.

This one feels like Christmas in the woods to me—and I think it would be a fun design to make multiples of for your Christmas card stash!

🛒 Want to recreate this card?
Head to my online store or contact me today to grab your supplies.

✨ Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used:

(*PLUS – the Adhesive-backed Christmas Berries – available Sept 2026 or now when you sign up to join my team)


Shop Here

A couple of important reminders!

Today is the LAST DAY of Double Stampin’ Rewards!

For today only, qualifying orders (minimum $25 CDN) earn 20% in Stampin’ Rewards instead of the usual 10%. If you’ve had something on your wish list, today is the day!

And don’t forget about the 15% Designer Series Paper & Cardstock Sale on select papers, happening through August 31. Perfect timing if you’re starting to build your stash for fall and Christmas crafting!

📦 Want to create more with me? I’m currently in the middle of a reno so not offering in person classes, however I have some upcoming online classes and all my past classes are availble here:

See my whole PDF shop here.

Looking for even more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team! We have a new Starter Kit! You get an fabulous Welcome Box and a $165 coupon for just $135.

  • Save 15%+ 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.

Join Now!

❤️ Thanks for crafting with me!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Festive Friday!

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂

GDP561 Colour Challenge: A Soft and Pretty Christmas Card

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I’m playing along with this week’s Global Design Project colour challenge #GDP561, and I have to say… these colours are just gorgeous together!

This week’s colour combination is Hydrangea Hue, Soft Sea Foam and Peaceful Pine, and I thought they would make a beautiful, slightly unexpected Christmas colour palette.

I’m trying to get a head start on my Christmas cards, so I reached for the simple and lovely Hope Love & Joy Bundle to create this sweet Christmas card.

I started with a Hydrangea Hue card base, stamped with Hydrangea Hue snowflakes for a subtle background. I then added a torn strip of Soft Sea Foam cardstock across the middle, with a Basic White strip layered over top.

For the sentiment, I stamped the J and Y in Peaceful Pine, while the “O” is actually a Hydrangea Hue snowflake! I love finding little ways to make a simple card more interesting.

A bit of Peaceful Pine ribbon and the gorgeous Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes finished it off perfectly.

And speaking of those snowflakes… they are currently available through the Stampin’ Up! demonstrator preorder! If you’d love early access to new products and all sorts of fabulous preorder goodies, I’d love to have you join my team, Ink Pad Pals – see below for more details.

I hope this Global Design Project colour challenge inspires you to create your own project for #GDP561. Grab your crafting supplies and join the fun!

✂️Supplies Used:


Shop With Me

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.

Join Now!


HSS495 Inspiration Challenge: Sunflower Birthday Card

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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.


SHOP HERE

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.

Join Now!