Have you seen the Give it a Whirl Dies in Stampin’ Up!’s Annual Catalogue?
I think the Give It a Whirl dies are one of those buried treasures in the catalogue! Quietly hanging out on the back pages of the book, potentially overlooked – but I would like to correct that! This is a fun set of dies to create interactive spinner cards easily! Interactive cards are always a sure way to grab someone’s attention, and they always impress!
This is the card – designed to send happy thoughts to someone who could use some cheer in their day.
I designed this Give it a Whirl Card for February’s Stampers Club, so we did use a couple of Sale-a-Bration items on it (Dandy Designs Designer Series Paper and Beautifully Happy stamp set) which are no longer available, so if you didn’t pick them up during Sale-a-Bration, you could always use something similar from your stash! When I cut the Designer Series Paper to fit the piece on the cardfront, I actually ran it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine with the same die so that it would have the same stitched element around the outside edges – I think it makes it look more finished!
This die set has a number of items that can be used to cut out the window portion, or that could be used to embellish the finished card! You will want to have brads on hand – this card uses one of the Round & Square Brands – to attach the wheel, but other than that, all the components are in the die set.
I love the number of coordinating shapes in this die set! I did add an extra cut out in the actual card front, using a stitched circle from the Stylish Shapes Dies, just to make it easier to spin the wheel. I think it also highlights that there’s an interactive feature that way!
If you’re looking for an easy way to make a spinner card – Give it a Whirl! You can shop online, 24/7 for delivery to your door anywhere in Canada in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store – shortcut for shopping is yamstamps.com/shop. You can message me for assistance placing your order, or if you’d like to pay by etransfer. Please note that while I’m travelling, I will still be able to access emails but there may be more of a delay than usual due to time zone differences and schedule!
A monochromatic clean and simple Hello Around the Bend Card
I like clean and simple cards and I like elements that tie together – so this Hello Around the Bend card features both of those design elements!
I used the Around the Bend stamp set (available in red rubber cling mount or clear photopolymer verisions) and Around the Bend dies. There are also discounted bundles available with the dies and stamps – you can choose from the cling bundle or the photopolymer bundle to create this monochromatic card in Soft Succulent. I have been using a lot of that colour lately, since it’s a 2021-2023 In Color, so it’s slated to retire at the end of the Annual Catalogue sales period (30 April 2023). I like it and I want to use it while I can!!!
That being said….Stampin’ Up! has told us that there is a Colour Refresh going to be happening, which means we will see some new / returning colours in the new Annual Catalogue, and some colours will be retiring…so if you have some favourites, you may want to consider stocking up just in case…
Back to the Hello Around the Bend card!
I really liked the curved, leafy border die, so used that on the Soft Succulent cardstock on the front of the card, and then echoed that angle using the stitched curve die for the Very Vanilla cardstock on the inside of the card. I used a stitched square from the Stylish Shapes Dies for the sentiment stamped in Soft Succulent ink – figuring that the stitched edge tied in to the border dies. I aded the leafy die cuts behind the sentiment to give a little texture and balance to the cardfront.
Another reminder that discounted bundles are often only available for the first catalogue in which they appear – for example, the Around the Bend bundle is available right now from the January-April Mini Catalogue. We will know better which products are retiring and which may be re-appearing in future publications near the end of the month, but often, even if the individual items carry over, the discounted bundle does not. You may want to keep that in mind as you plan out your crafty spending over the next few months.
Budgeting your Crafting Dollars?
If you are interested in maximizing your crafting budget, consider joining my Stampers Club! It’s an online monthly craft class that you can attend “live” via Zoom or watch the recordings at your leisure. Each month, members get a packet of card supplies and we go through the construction of the cards together online. Crafters join club for a 6 month membership period (and can start in any month). During that membership period, each crafter places a $33CAD monthly product order, and once during their membership cycle, will receive Stampin’ Rewards (aka free money to spend on product) for that month’s club orders. A lot of members find it helps them keep crafting on a regular basis, and helps to budget out their spending – plus who doesn’t like free stuff?! We usually meet the third Monday of each month, though in March, we are meeting on the fourth Monday due to my trip with the Burlington Teen Tour Band!
If you’re interested in joining Club, please message me for more details – we’d love to have you join us!
Add some colour to this easy and elegant die cut card!
Stampin’ Up! Canada has some beautiful larger dies in the catalogues. The Two Tone Flora dies include dies that coordinate with the Two Tone Flora stamp set plus a larger detailed die that leaves a border around the cut section which I featured on this easy and elegant die cut card.
easy and elegant die cut card
The die is used to cut the detail in the cardfront, and then there’s a pop of colour in behind! Plus some Rhinestone Basic Jewels because who doesn’t like a little extra bling on their card?! I also added some Wink of Stella for some extra sparkle on the diecut (but it doesn’t photograph very well).
easy and elegant die cut card – insert
So as you can tell….you don’t need a lot of skill to create the coloured panel for this card….haha – that’s what helps make it an easy and elegant die cut card! If you can scribble, you can do this. I just did linear colouring, but you could do more organic blobby shapes (technical term…) or circles, or whatever. If you would like the details on how I created this card, click here to download the free tutorial pdf.
If you like crafting tips, tricks and tutorials, be sure to sign up for my newsletters! At the beginning of each month is the multi-project newsletter, then each week after that it’s smaller updates, with tutorials, tips or information, released each Tuesday. I’ll be releasing the February multi-project newsletter early, since the 31st of January falls on a Tuesday – and I don’t want you to have to wait until a week into February to get all the goodies! You can sign up the top right of the YamStamps blog page, in the box near the top of the YamStamps home page, or just click here.
In the meantime, if you’re in Ontario, hope that you are staying safe and not having to shovel TOO much snow right now!
Curved layers make this hello there card more interesting!
This hello there curved layer card uses Stampin’ Up! Canada’s Around the Bend stamp set and coordinating dies – and I think that this makes the usual “layer the patterned paper on cardstock and then onto the cardfront” look a little more interesting. Of course, I’m all about making an interesting card without spending 6 hours on it, so I’m happy about that!
Hello There Curved Layer Card
The Around the Bend stamp set is available in your choice of red rubber cling mount or clear photopolymer material – so when you place your order be mindful that they will have different item numbers (or just contact me and let me know which one you want and I will be mindful when I place the order for you!). The Around the Bend dies have coordinating shapes and angles, and there’s a discounted cling mount bundle or a discounted photopolymer bundle available. Have I mentioned how much I love the fact that the coordinating dies and stamp sets now have the same name so I don’t have to remember which ones go together?!
The scalloped layer on the Hello There Curved Layer Card is cut from the Dandy Designs Designer Series Paper which is a Sale-a-Bration item – you can select this patterned paper for free with a $120CAD product order. I picked the Pale Papaya cardstock for the curved layer and I also used Pale Papaya ink for the sentiment. After I finished the card, I decided I wanted to add a bit more bling to it – so I used some 2021-2023 In Color Opal Rounds to add shine and just a touch of colour.
Hello There Layered Card – close up detail
The Take Your Pick Tool with the Die Brush Tip make removing all the little bits easier – just place the die cut piece on the foam that comes with the Brush tip, then run the brush over the die cut piece. I put my foam mat into a shallow box to try to contain some of the little bits that tend to go flying (especially because I am usually doing it in a hurry….).
This is one of the cards we made during Stampers Club this month, though I didn’t think of adding the bling until after club! My Stampers Club is a great way for members to budget out their crafting spending. Each month, we meet (via Zoom/recording) and create the card projects from the packet of supplies each member receives. After club, we place a group order, and each club member gets a turn receiving the Stampin’ Rewards from the orders placed that month. Each member signs up for 6 months and has the option to continue for another 6 months. Some members take a break every now and then, and some just carry on! New members can start at any month, so we often have a rotation of new faces coming and going. Right now, since we continue to meet by Zoom, the bonus is that if you can’t make the club date, you can catch the recording, and still benefit from being in club. The other bonus is that you can be anywhere in Canada, you don’t have to be local to Burlington! If you’re interested in joining us, or have any questions about Stampers Club, feel free to contact me!
Coordinating stamps and dies means this gingko branch card is quick and easy to create!
I love coordinating products because they make my crafting so much easier – this gingko branch card is a perfect example of that. I’m even happier because Stampin’ Up! now calls the stamp sets and coordinating dies by the same name so it’s easy for me to remember which ones go together!
Gingko Branch Card
The Gingko Branch stamp set is one of Stampin’ Up!’s Distinktive stamp sets – meaning that the stamps have a texture that automatically provides depth and texture without any extra effort on my part – so you know it’s going to be a favourite for me! I simply inked this stamp with Old Olive ink, then when I applied the stamp to the paper, the shading and texture automatically occurred because of the way the stamp surface is constructed. (BONUS – if you don’t stamp it perfectly, no one will know because it’s not meant to be a uniform image!). There is the coordinating Gingko Branch Dies, and you can get the stamps and dies together in a discounted Gingko Branch Bundle during the January-April Mini Catalogue sales period (until 30 April 2023/while supplies last).
If you checked out the Sunday Swaps Page on New Years Day, you’ll have seen the swap card that I created for the Demonstrator Only Sale-a-Bration swap with the Beautifully Happy stamp set. Since it had multiple layers, I was thrifty and cut out the centre of the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper with a Stitched Rectangle Die. The DSP layer was covered up by my main stamped image. I then took all those smaller Stitched Rectangle die cuts and used them to create multiples of this card!! It made a perfect backdrop to the die cut gingko leaves. I added an Old Olive Cardstock layer that I dry embossed with the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder (still one of my favourites and a go-to in my craft room). Honestly, the thing that took the longest was taking off all the liner bits from the Stampin’ Dimensionals that I used on the back of the die cut!
If you’re in Canada, if you purchase the Gingko Branch bundle, you’ll be able to select a Sale-a-Bration item for free from the “free with $60CAD purchase” level! You could select the Dainty Flowers DSP that I used on this card as well – then you’ve got almost everything to just copy this design – now that’s quick and easy crafting! Sale-a-Bration runs until 28 February, but a reminder that Sale-a-Bration freebie products are also only available while supplies last – while there’s a good supply of all the products, you never know what’s going to be the runaway hit and sell out before the end of the official sales period!
You can shop in the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store 24/7 and have your items delivered directly to you in Canada, or you can contact me if you need assistance placing an order, want to pay by etransfer or have any questions. Let’s Sale-a-Brate!
Create a Pretty Pop Ups Card using the Stampin’ Up! Pretty Pop Ups Dies!
This pretty pop ups card is much more easy to create than you might think – all it takes is one pass through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to make this intricate looking card!
The Pretty Pop Ups Dies are a set of dies that create partial die cuts, and they emboss too! There’s additional individual pieces that can be used to accent the main dies.
Honestly, the thing that takes the most time on this relatively quick card is “fluffing up” the cut sections! I started by running my die brush tip attachment for my Take Your Pick Tool on the backside of the die cut, then used my fingers or bone folder to make a more firm crease.
Stampin’ Up! Canada Pretty Pop Ups Dies
I wanted a more monochromatic look for this pretty pop ups card, but I wanted that colour accent to catch your eye – a pop of colour for the pop up!
I used Very Vanilla as the main cardstock, then the pop of colour comes from Polished Pink Cardstock – though obviously you could choose whatever colour you prefer! I cut the Accent cardstock slightly smaller than the die cut piece to keep the focus on the hint of colour through the die cut areas, rather than having a coloured border around the edge (which I often use as a design element).
I always like easy and effective projects – so this ticks the boxes for me! If you want a project that takes a little more time and effort, though, may I suggest that you sign up for my Fantastic Fancy Folds Online Class? It’s currently in Pre-Launch pricing – so you save $10 off the regular $30 (Canadian) price if you register by the end of Wednesday 10 August. The class page will be available on Thursday 11 August. It features four different fun folds that look impressive but aren’t as difficult to make as you might think…though they will take a bit longer to create than this Pretty Pop Ups Card! (but since I’m the one offering the class, it’s still not going to be overly complicated!) Click on the link to get more information about the class and to register, and as always, please contact me if you have any questions!
