Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Swirled Designs Bundle For Some Artisan Fun!

Recently went to Stampin' Up!'s Backstage Leadership Convention in Vegas ... and it was AMAZING!  The fun all started for me with some fabulous humans gathering for dinner.  Most of the Artisans that were in attendance for the convention - past & present - got together to meet/reunite/hug/chat/laugh/etc. It. Was. Such. A. Highlight!  I am SO SO grateful for the Artisan teams I have been on and the Artisan community as a whole ... because "Once an Artisan, always an Artisan!" 😍  And as a reminder ... this is an international group!  We had so many countries represented and it. was. amazing to be apart of it.  My heart was SO full after!  

Since I organized the event, I wanted to have a little Vegas themed gift at the table for them.  Have to admit ... I was pretty bummed at first because a few things I was planning just didn't work out, due to some shipping issues.  But ... at least they looked pretty cute!  Hee.  So sharing that first, and then share some photos of us! 💗  We SOOOO missed those that weren't able to make it!!!! 😢

I brought all the "pieces" and put the bags together one I got to my hotel room.  My fabulous good friend & roomie, Chelsey, helped me!  So had to have a little photo shoot in our room with the bags & her! 💗😂


I used quite a few products on here ... all from Stampin' Up! ... although some are from awhile ago!  Do you recognize where the banner piece is from?!  If you have been around for a long time,  you may!  I had a "vision" for these bags, and I was SO GLAD that I still had some of these pieces!  Because they were perfect!  Hee.  

But also used the new Swirled Designs Bundle, that I LOVE!  That is a new Online Exclusive!  The Mini Alphabet Dies are phenomenal ... it's one big die that die-cuts all the letters!  So I just added some Adhesive sheet to the back of black cardstock, and ran the whole die through a few times.  Then found all my letters for the names!  It was so quick & much easier than it could have been! Hee.  And then of course the Stylish Shapes Dies always come in handy for me!  😍  The Damask Designs Embossing Folder added a bit of an "old world" Vegas vibe for me.  I embossed on Black Cardstock and then sanded a bit ... just to make it a little distressed and stand out a bit more.  






The restaurant we were meeting at had terrible lighting, so good thing I took some photos before!  Hee. 


And then look at all the cuties that were in attendance! 









Truly ... loved loved this night!  Thanks everyone for coming!!  💗💗💗  And thanks now for visiting and letting me reminisce a bit! 

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Friday, November 14, 2025

Natural Botanicals Sketch Fun With TGIF Challenge #551!

Yay!  It's challenge time!  I am excited to share this fun sketch challenge with you today because I LOVE a good card sketch!  It takes SO MUCH overthinking out of the equation!  (I know I'm not the only one here with this!  Haha.) So let's get started! 

All the supplies I used are from Stampin' Up!  And I started with the Natural Botanicals Stamp Set and I wanted to make it bold! 

And here is the card sketch that I worked with!

So much fun, huh?!  SOOOOOO many possibilities!  I want to see what you make with it! 

I went with some Basic Black cardstock with some stamping and white embossing to really make it pop.  After stamping and embossing the background - I added some die-cuts and a watercolored sentiment!  The dies are the Swirled Designs Dies (NEW ONLINE EXCLUSIVE RELEASE!) and the Wonderful Thoughts Dies for that fabulous flower.  😍  Yes ... that shimmer comes from the FABULOUS Wink of Stella Glitter Brush!  This thing is a dream to cleanly and easily add sparkle! 


And also ... with this latest online exclusive release ... we have Vellum back!  Great quality, FABULOUS Vellum!  So that is the embossed layer for this card! 


And one last look at the full card! 


I hope you enjoy this and I mostly hope you come play along with us!  Head on over to the TGIF Challenge Blog to see what the other designers made and to play along!  We can't wait to see what you make!  

Thanks so much for visiting!  Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help with anything!  

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Artisan Technique Time With Ruffled Ribbon! And More! ♡

Want to learn some fun techniques with ribbon?!  Well let's get started.  Let me show you a few tips to make these pretty projects.  I used the Christmas Greenery Bundle and the Traditional Labels Bundle for these projects also.  The Branching Out Dies also make an appearance!  All supplies used are from Stampin' Up! 


This is one of the fun things about being on the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team ... sharing different and fun techniques with you.  It helps me grow as a creator, designer, and crafter.  I have to admit ... I had a lot of fun playing with these!  So let's get into these fun Ruffled Ribbon Techniques! 


First up ... that fun tag!!! Here is how to make the base of the tag: 



***Note:  I also added some glue dots strategically behind some of the ruffles that looked like it need it.  And remember to stamp the top of the tag, if desired, before you adhere it down!  

I love that this Christmas bundle - the Christmas Greenery Bundle - makes very non-holiday projects as well!  It's so versatile!  Look how pretty this turned out with all the fun details! 





I think this tag is so much fun!  Now ... on to a more simple ruffled accent.  Did you see that cute ruffled sentiment on the card?! 


Here is how you make that! 


So easy and fun!  I also have a few little tips for you on some other aspects of this card!  That fun multi-colored greenery bit was easily done with some watercoloring!  I just picked my colors:  Lemon Lolly, Petal Pink, Soft Sea Foam, & Lost Lagoon, and added little "blobs" of color onto Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper.  Then die-cut the image! 


The fun background was made by simply adding some splatter to the Basic Beige card front.  Then die-cut the berries (TIP!!!  ADD ADHESIVE SHEET TO CARDSTOCK BEFORE DIE-CUTTING FOR EASY ADHERING!)  and just adhere them to the cardstock.



Also ... that GORGEOUS bow is just done by watercoloring some Petal Pink onto the watercolor paper and die-cutting.  Love the color variance it gives, versus just a piece of cardstock.  

But this card has so many fun details!  DId you notice them all?!



I hope you enjoyed these tips & tricks on making this tag and card!  I hope you give them a try cause they are SO MUCH FUN! Let me know if you have any questions or need help getting any of these fabulous Stampin' Up! supplies!  ♡ THANK YOU so much for visiting! 

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Time for 30 Days of Christmas Card Making!

Day 1 of 30 Days of Christmas Card Making!  My dear friend, Martin, does this fabulous challenge every year!  It's so fun to play along, so let's get started!  Do as many as you are able and want to.  And share what you make!  First day is all about Merry & Bright!  So here is what I did to kick things off! 


Love bold & striking colors on a white background.  Just makes those fabulous colors POP!  I used Lemon Lime Twist, Melon Mambo, and Secret Sea! 


All the supplies I used are from Stampin' Up!  The FABULOUS die set, Christmas Greenery, was used to make the holly and berries and then the white sprig die-cuts as well.  The Traditional Labels Bundle was used for the greeting and the VELLUM (YES! Vellum is back from Stampin' Up! and I am so excited cause it is FABULOUS quality!!) label layer.  I LOVE the detail from the Traditional Wreath folder also! 




So what do you think?!  What is your fave detail?!  Here is one last view of the full card: 


I hope you enjoy!  Let me know what questions you have or if I can help you get any Stampin' Up! supplies that you've had your eye on!  And play along in November with this challenge!  It's so much fun! 

Thank you for visiting! Don't hesitate to reach out if I can help with anything! 

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Friday, October 31, 2025

Bring It On!!! With the Everything But the Kitchen Sink TGIF #549 Challenge!

Well this is a fun challenge!  It's a fun Style Challenge!!! Go BIG for these projects!  Bring. It. On! And bring everything!  Hee!  Here is what I submitted for the challenge ... 


I brought a LOT to the table here!  Hee.  I did watercoloring and ink blending and stamping - OH MY!  I have lots of colors and used lots of die sets, etc, etc.  I even used the ☆ FABULOUS ☆ Stampin' Up! 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar!  Which comes with a stamp set ... not a spoiler because it is shown when you order it & something else I used - which I won't say because it would be a spoiler.  Hee.  

But such a fun challenge!!! 


Quick list of what I used ... all from Stampin' Up! :  Christmas Greenery, Everyday Arches, Label Me Grateful Dies.  Colors: Petal Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Peach Pie, Lemon Lolly, Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green, Costal Cabana, Azure Afternoon, Whisper White.  Stamp Sets: 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar, Not 29 Anymore

And check out some more details.  I even drew on some stitch marks for a little doodling!  💖



One last look at the full card! 


I hope you enjoy this card!  Please let me know if you have any questions!  And head to the TGIF Challenge Blog now to see what the other designers made and to submit your own!  Can't wait to see it!  

Thank you so much for visiting!  Please let me know if I can help you get your hands on any Stampin' Up! supplies! 

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Home Decor Alternative With Farmhouse Floral Paper Pumpkin!

Oops!  I forgot to share this with you!  And I love it!  I love it for the simplicity but yet also makes an impact ... in your home!  Yes!  I made a little home decor piece with Stampin' Up!'s August Paper Pumpkin Kit called Farmhouse Floral.  You can check out the other alternatives that I made with this kit in THIS POST and THIS POST.  


How fun and cute is this?! 💖 I made it with pieces of the kit that I just cut up and repurposed a bit.  And then added a few extra products available through Stampin' Up! It was so easy to make and is so cute to display!  

I cut some strips Basic White Cardstock and a pattern from the Designer Series Paper pack called Floral Impressions. Then adhered them to a piece of cardstock cut to the size of the frame.  (This is a 4"x6" frame.) 

I then inserted that into the frame and the rest of the pieces are adhere to the outside on the glass.  This gives your project that pop! 


These flowers are from the kit too!  I just cut them out from the bag they were with in the kit and added them to the frame!  Then added the greeting, using a Blending Brush to add a little soft color.  Sequins went in the middle of the flowers and a label cut from the Label Me Grateful Dies "grounded" the focal point! 😍

Hope you enjoy!  Thank you so much for visiting! Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.  Would love to help!  And if you need to get signed up with your own Paper Pumpkin subscription or any other Stampin' Up! supplies ... let me know!  That's my speciality!  

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Friday, October 17, 2025

Inspiration Time With TGIF Challenge #547!

Can't stop, won't stop ... using the Iridescent Treat Bags!  Hee.  They are good for anything and everything and I love them so much!  So yes ... still am using them for this inspiration challenge that we have for you this week with TGIF Challenge #547!  Let's get started! 


I took the inspirational photo (posted below) and used the colors from it as my inspiration!  

I took the variety of orange with the pops of black and went to town.  Added a bit of gold also.  All supplies are from Stampin' Up!  The oranges I used were Peach Pie & Timid Tiger ... did a watercolor wash & added some die-cuts in those colors.  There is a Crushed Curry die-cut in there also! The stamp set I used for the floral image is from Weekend Adventures, the greeting from Beautiful Butterflies.  I used the Gallery Blooms Dies with the Perennial Postage Dies for the side accent.  


One more shot of the full card.  Those Iridescent Treat Bags are SOOOO pretty in real life!  


Hope you enjoy!  Now ... just head on over to the TGIF Challenges Blog to play along and to see what the other designers made!  We can't wait to see what you do this week!  

Thank you so much for visiting!  Please let me know if I can help you with any of your papercrafting needs!  

Contact: designwithink@gmail.com

Use Your Stash! With Sunny Summer Fun!

Today is a fun Use Your Stash Hop! with a super fun theme ... Sunny Summer!  So I went all in!  I used the Rays of Light and Sharing Sunshin...