Category Archives: Product of the Month

Hail, Hail… The Gang’s All Here! A Wild Bunch Birthday Fun Fold

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Happy Friday, Stampin’ Friends!

We’ve reached the grand finale of my Wild Bunch series, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with all the critters together on one card! 🐌🐄🐧🐨 If you’ve been following along this week, you’ve already met each of these adorable friends individually. But apparently, once I set out a chair from the Waterside Retreat Collection, everyone decided they wanted a seat at the party!

Today’s fun fold combines two of my favorite collections. The sweet animals from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set take center stage, while the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper and Relaxing Waterside Dies provide the perfect backdrop. I added colorful little banners to the “step” portion of the card for a festive touch, and then placed my chair front and center. Before I knew it, those playful critters started hopping on! I especially love the penguin perched on the arm of the chair—he looks perfectly content sitting there and enjoying the celebration.

Throughout the week I’ve shared several coloring techniques, and all of those ideas came together on today’s card. From watercolor pencils to soft shading with Stampin’ Blends and markers, these little friends have been such a joy to bring to life.

This card has an extra special purpose, too. It’s headed to my great-grandson, who is turning three! He absolutely loves animals, so I know the cows and that curious little penguin are going to make him giggle. Nothing makes my heart happier than creating something handmade for someone I love.

Since it’s Friday, I couldn’t resist adding a fun fold to the mix! I’m skipping the measurements and instructions today, but don’t worry—stop back tomorrow because I’ll be featuring this “Faux Step” Fun Fold with the Waterside Retreat Collection, complete with dimensions and step-by-step instructions.

Until then, I hope these adorable Wild Bunch friends have brought a smile to your face all week long. Happy Friday, and remember… creativity is always more fun when the whole gang is here!

Wild Bunch Meets Nature’s Symphony – An Adorable Koala Card

Posted in HANDMADE CARDS, Product of the Month by

Hello Stampin’ Friends!

Today’s card features one of my favorite little critters from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set—this adorable koala! I have to admit, I smiled the entire time I was creating him. There’s just something about that sweet face peeking out from all those leaves that makes this card extra special.

One of the things I love most about card making is combining products from different collections to create something unique, and that’s exactly what happened here. The sweet koala from Wild Bunch paired beautifully with the foliage from the Nature’s Symphony Bundle, giving this card a lush, tropical feel.

The background was kept simple with a piece of Garden Poetry Designer Series Paper, and then the fun began! I used that same designer paper to die cut all of the leaves. Layering them in various shades created wonderful dimension and texture, making it look like our little friend is happily nestled among the branches. I absolutely love how all those layers came together!

For the koala, I wanted soft shading and lots of character, so I reached for two favorite coloring tools. The base coloring was done with Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends, and then I added extra depth and softness with Watercolor Pencils. Combining the two mediums gives the image a hand-painted look while still keeping the coloring easy and fun.

The stitched circle frame helps draw your eye right to the star of the card, and the cheerful sentiment, “You Make Me Smile,” seemed like the perfect finishing touch. After all, that’s exactly what this little guy does!

I hope today’s card inspires you to mix and match products from your own craft room. Sometimes the most unexpected combinations turn out to be the most delightful. Until next time, keep creating, keep experimenting, and most importantly, have fun along the way!

Wild Bunch Playful Penguins Fun Fold Card

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Hello Stampin’ Friends!

These playful penguins from the Wild Bunch stamp set are having a little fun with today’s adorable fun fold! I wanted to create a scene that looked like a snowy igloo, and these curious little cuties seemed perfect for peeking in and out of their icy home. Their sweet expressions and playful poses make this card impossible not to smile at!

Begin with an 8½” x 5½” piece of Blueberry Bliss cardstock. Score and fold it at 4¼”. Then fold the top flap back onto itself to create the fun front panel. The inside layer is Basic White, with a 2″ x 5¼” strip embossed along the exposed edge. You’ll also need a matching embossed panel for the front flap. Any embossing folder would work beautifully, but I think the Brick Embossing Folder would be especially fun if you’re trying to create the look of an igloo.

For the igloo opening, I used the Everyday Arches Dies to create the doorway. Inside, I added Blueberry Bushel Designer Series Paper from the Garden Poetry collection and embossed it with the Wave Embossing Folder. To give it a chilly, wind-blown appearance, I lightly dragged White Craft Ink across the raised ridges, creating the look of drifting snow and blowing winter winds.

The three penguins were colored with a combination of the Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends and the Watercolor Pencils with Blender Pen …. and arranged so they appear to be popping in and out of the igloo. I can just imagine them gearing up for a snowball fight!

Now I have to ask… which penguin steals the show? 👀 Is it the little one peeking through the igloo, the curious fellow on the left, or the sweet penguin on the right? 🐧🐧🐧

I hope this playful card inspires you to have a little fun with your stamps and try a creative fold or two. Sometimes the cutest cards are the ones that tell a story and make us smile!

Wild Bunch: A Little Cow with Big Memories

Posted in HANDMADE CARDS, Product of the Month by

Hello Stampin’ Friends,

Today I’m sharing another adorable critter from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set, and this little cow completely stole my heart! As soon as I saw her, I knew she had to become a Holstein—the same kind of cows I remember from my Grandma and Grandpa’s dairy farm when I was growing up.

Those memories came rushing back while I was coloring. Early mornings, country roads, and fields dotted with black-and-white cows are all part of my childhood story. Then, of course, I started thinking about my daughter. When she was little, she was absolutely fascinated with cows! Every road trip included an excited announcement of, “Cows!” whenever she spotted them out the car window. It became such a habit that even years later, I had to stop myself from pointing them out every time I saw one! 😂

For this card, I kept the color palette simple—just black and white, just like my little Holstein, with a soft pop of pink for a sweet touch. The background was stamped with Memento Ink to create a fun, playful pattern that lets our star of the show take center stage. The black tag behind the cow was die cut using the Nested Essentials Dies, while the soft pink greeting banner was created with the Stylish Shapes Dies. Together, they add just the right amount of layering and help draw your eye directly to our adorable little friend.

And speaking of coloring… don’t put those Watercolor Pencils away just yet!

That’s exactly what I used to bring this little cutie to life. One of the things I love most about watercolor pencils is how easy they are to use. They’re perfect for newer stampers who may be a little intimidated by coloring techniques, but they also offer plenty of possibilities for experienced crafters who already own “all the things” (or so they claim! 😉).

With just a little shading and blending, you can add depth, dimension, and personality to your stamped images without needing a huge collection of markers or specialty tools. They’re affordable, versatile, and honestly one of the most underrated products in my craft room.

They’re also a favorite when the grandkids come over. The watercolor pencils are easy for little hands to use, and these adorable animals from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set always bring smiles to their faces. Watching them color and create reminds me why I fell in love with stamping all those years ago—it’s not just about making cards; it’s about making memories.

This month’s Product of the Month is the Wild Bunch Stamp Set, and I can certainly see why. These sweet little critters have a way of bringing out stories, smiles, and a whole lot of creativity.

Thanks for stopping by today and sharing a little walk down memory lane with me. I hope this card inspires you to pull out those watercolor pencils, create something fun, and maybe even revisit a few happy memories of your own along the way.

Wild Bunch Week: Creative Coloring with the Cute Little Snail

Posted in HANDMADE CARDS, Product of the Month by

Hello Stampin’ Friends!

I’m here today with not only a cute card, but also a fun announcement! Over the next week I’ll be sharing projects featuring the adorable critters from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set, which just happens to be the Stampin’ Up! Product of the Month. The moment I saw these little characters, I knew I had to add them to my collection!

Even better, you can get this stamp set for only $5 with a qualifying $75 order from my online store. I hope you’ll follow along all week for inspiration, and be sure to join my Facebook Community for even more ideas and creative fun (CLICK HERE).

Since it’s Monday, I thought we’d begin with this adorable little snail. Let’s be honest—some Mondays start a little slow and steady around here too!

I’m also keeping today’s card nice and simple. The Old Olive card base measures 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″, scored and folded at 4-1/4″. The greeting and 5-1/4″ x 4″ card front designer paper come from the Exploring Nature Scrapbook Kit. Yes, I use scrapbook kits for all sorts of projects! I couldn’t resist pairing this greeting with a snail—something about the word “chasing” made me smile.

Behind the greeting, I’ve tucked a vellum circle cut using the second-largest circle die from the Stylish Shapes Dies, one of my absolute must-have die sets. The vellum softens the background while helping the greeting stand out beautifully.

Now let’s talk about our little snail! This cutie was colored using what I call a double-medium technique. I started with Stampin’ Blends, using Crumb Cake for the shell and Ivory for the body to establish the base colors. Then I brought in my Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1 and used Early Espresso to add the natural lines and texture you would see on a real snail shell.

One of the things I love most about crafting is experimenting with different supplies together. Don’t be afraid to mix your coloring mediums! Stampin’ Blends and Watercolor Pencils complement each other beautifully and can add extra depth and detail to your projects.

For a little extra fun, I added a trail of Wink of Stella behind the snail and a touch along the bottom of his body. It’s subtle, but it catches the light beautifully and adds a whimsical touch. To finish the card, I embellished it with three Pearls of Beauty in Crumb Cake.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this sweet little snail brings a smile to your face and inspires you to try mixing your favorite coloring mediums. And you can pick him up anytime this month in my Online Store … take a look HERE.

Don’t forget to stop by my Facebook Community for even more Wild Bunch inspiration this week. Then next week we’ll be switching gears and having some spooky summer fun as I begin sharing projects featuring the Frightfully Fun Suite Collection for Summerween!

Until next time, keep creating and remember—sometimes slow and steady creates something beautiful.

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