Tag Archives: Textured Notes Dies

Adorable Nutcracker Tags Made into Cards

Posted in Christmas, HANDMADE CARDS by

Hello Stampin’ Friends ~

Well, well, well… we are officially in the thick of a snowstorm here in Wisconsin—
and honestly, it feels like the entire state is buried under a fluffy white blanket today! ❄️
It’s the perfect kind of day to stay inside, stay warm, and enjoy a little creativity.

Today also happens to be Small Business Saturday, and while I never want to shout “shop small” at anyone, I do love the gentle reminder that days like this are a wonderful opportunity to support the people behind the storefronts—whether they’re local shops in town or the online businesses you’ve grown to trust. It’s really about connection, community, and choosing to lift each other up.

Yesterday I shared the replay of my Facebook LIVE where I highlighted two amazing kits, the Adventure Awaits Card Kit and the Nutcracker Tag Kit. Today, with the snow swirling outside, it seems like the perfect moment to cozy in and give you a closer look at the cards I created— Those tags are adorable on their own, but transforming them into cards felt like giving them a whole new purpose. I’ll walk through how I layered them, how I chose coordinating cardstock, and why simple tweaks made them feel extra festive and giftable.

Snowy days like this remind me just how comforting it is to create something with your hands. There’s a certain warmth that comes from crafting— from the quiet moments trimming paper,
to the satisfaction of adding that last embellishment, to the joy of knowing someone will smile when they open your handmade card.

Let’s begin with our first tag / card ….

You’ll notice that I switch out banners and greetings to create a whole new feel. My background is the Garden Green Two Tone paper, and secured to a Basic White A2 Card base. I embossed it with the Peaceful Greenery Embossing Folder and used a sanding block to remove some of the color and pull the white out! I love the festive look!!

Next up ….

I had a lot of fun with this card!! I was playing with the Designer papers I had on hand … my card front was create using the Branching Out dies and the Traditions of Christmas Designer Paper. I matted this backdrop with Crumb Cake to match her boot & hat. That piece was cut slightly larger and then I used my 1″ Circle Punch to create the same look as the dies. The little presents around her feet … they come from the North Pole Delivery Specialty paper. I also die cut a piece of Vellum using the Spotlight on Nature dies.

My third tag into card is …

I began by trimming the Pool Party color off my Nutcracker … I wanted to pull the Real Red and Old Olive out of this one. You’ll see the Old Olive in his shoulder pads. I again use the Traditions of Christmas Designer paper and the Branching Out dies. This time I used a partial sheet of cardstock as my mat … I wanted to leave a little more red showing. I added a smaller circle cut from Vellum using the Spotlight on Nature Dies… I do this technique to highlight either the tag (as in our second card) or the greeting as in this card.

My last tag to card is ….

Here’s my Little Drummer Boy card! Not sure if you caught this, but on cards 2 and 3 – I did not use the banners, so I used them as my backdrop!! My cardfront is Basic White and die cut with the Textured Notes Dies. I used Pecan Pie as my cardbase – I thought it looked nice with his hair and highlighted the rest of the colors. The bakers twine used for tying up the tags, was used as an embellishment to showcase the tags. On this one is saved the “For You” greeting because the Drummer Boy asks … Shall I play for you?

I had so much fun making these special cards. Cards truly make the perfect gift. They’re personal. They’re thoughtful… And they’re filled with a little piece of you. I hope this inspires you to share your creativity with someone who could use a little lift.

Stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy the beauty of a good snow day… it’s Wisconsin, after all. Tell me where you’re from and how’s the weather by you!!

Amber Autumn Meets Thoughtful Designs – Two Cards, One Bundle, Endless Inspiration!

Posted in Fall / Autumn, HANDMADE CARDS by

Hello Stampin’ Friends ~

Last night on my Facebook LIVE we played with a gorgeous trio of products—the Amber Autumn Bundle, the Thoughtful Designs Specialty Paper, and the Spotlight on Nature Dies. I wanted to show you how just a handful of supplies can create two totally different looks, all while keeping that warm, earthy feel we love during this season.

Both of my cards feature a Crumb Cake card base—it’s the perfect neutral to let the warm tones and cozy details shine through, and paired with our Stampin’ Blends … from there, the magic begins!

✨ Card One
For the first design, I reached for a beautiful green pattern from the Thoughtful Designs Specialty Paper. I die-cut it using the Textured Notes Dies and layered it with Mossy Meadow cardstock for a rich, earthy backdrop. The greeting, stamped in Mossy Meadow, found its home on a circle from the Spotlight on Nature Dies. To finish it off, I added a cluster of leaves and acorns from the Amber Autumn Bundle—colored with Stampin’ Blends for extra depth and dimension.

✨ Card Two
The second card showcases how you can use up those scraps—always a favorite tip of mine! I cut the Thoughtful Designs paper into 4” x 1” strips and arranged them for a striking background. This time, the star of the show is the pumpkin image from the Amber Autumn set, colored with Blends and seated on another die-cut circle from Spotlight on Nature. Simple, yet so warm and welcoming—it just feels like autumn on paper.

🌟 Why You’ll Love These Products
The Amber Autumn Bundle is a must-have for your stamp room—it’s perfect for creating cards, scrapbook pages, and gift packaging all season long. The images are versatile enough to carry you from late summer right into Thanksgiving. Pair it with the Spotlight on Nature Dies (a go-to for layering and greetings), and you’ll have endless design options.

And don’t wait too long on the Thoughtful Designs Specialty Paper—it’s currently on the Last Chance List and discounted! It’s one of those papers you’ll be glad you grabbed while you could, with its earthy tones and textures that pair beautifully with so many stamp sets.

💡 Tip: Don’t be afraid to pull out your scraps—sometimes those leftover pieces inspire the most creative layouts!

Happy Stamping, my friends! 🍂

No Tricks, All Treats! A Fun Fold Card That Pops! 🎃✨

Posted in Halloween, HANDMADE CARDS by

Hello Stampin’ Friends ~

Today, we’re creating a No Tricks, All Treats Fun Fold “Easel” Card that’s playful, interactive, and—best of all—super easy to make because the Spooky Sweet Designer Paper is practically doing all the work for you! This card is perfect for Halloween, but it’s so whimsical and fun that it’s hard not to smile while making it.

We’ll start with our Petunia Pop card base, cut to 11″ x 4 1/4″ and scored at 5 1/2″ and 8 1/4″. Burnish those score lines! Since this card is a portrait/vertical layout, the 5 1/2″ score forms the top fold, and the 8 1/4″ score lands about halfway down the front of the card base. This simple fold gives us our “fun fold” mechanism that will let the card pop up and stand for display.

Next, cut two pieces of Basic Black cardstock to 4″ x 5 1/4″ (front & inside mats) and a piece of Basic White at 3 3/4″ x 5″. Grab the Spooky Sweet designer paper and cut your favorite scene—like the cute house and sidewalk—to 3 3/4″ x 5″. Then, let’s bring in our stars: fussy cut the beary sweet little fairy and the banner from the paper. I added a little sparkle using Wink of Stella on her crown, wings, and scepter—because every fairy deserves a touch of shimmer! Both the fairy and banner are popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals for extra dimension and then attached to the designer paper… then attach to your black mat.

Here’s an important trick: when attaching the front of the card to the base, apply adhesive only from the second score line to the bottom edge of the card base. Leave the area above that top score line free of adhesive, or your fun fold won’t open properly.

Now for the inside—where the magic really happens! I stamped sparkles in Petunia Pop ink onto the white panel, then stamped my greeting on a scrap of white and die-cut it using the Textured Notes Dies. I dressed it up with some Petunia Pop shimmery ribbon and a piece of black cardstock behind it, then popped it up with Stampin’ Dimensionals in the middle of the inside panel. This creates the Easel mechanism, so your card stands perfectly. Finally, I added some fussy cut candy corn for a sweet little embellishment.

The best part? This card lays flat for mailing but pops up to display your cute creation at home—so it’s both practical and whimsical. The combination of fun folds, interactive easel design, and playful designer paper makes it a joy to create.

I encourage you to get creative with embellishments, die cuts, and colors—make this card your own! You’ll find links to all the supplies used today below for your convenience.

Thanks for flying by and spending part of your day with me …

Autumn Toile Magic: Create a Showstopping Background

Posted in Fall / Autumn, HANDMADE CARDS by

Hello Stampin’ Friends ~

I hope you enjoyed my Simply Sunday cards! Today, we’re stepping things up a notch and highlighting one of the real gems in the Autumn Toile Suite—the ornate background die found in the Amber Autumn Bundle. Honestly, this die was the first thing that caught my eye when I opened the suite, and once you see it in action, you’ll understand why. It’s a showstopper!

This intricate background die creates a stunning, leaf-patterned backdrop that instantly elevates your card designs. The beauty of it is you don’t need to fuss with multiple layers or complicated layouts—just one pass through your die-cutting machine and you’ve got a card front that looks elegant, rich, and detailed.

For today’s card, I started with a Very Vanilla card base to keep things simple. The magic happens when you pair it with the Earthen Toned Metallic Specialty Paper, included right in the suite. I ran the background die through with this paper, and the result is an absolutely gorgeous metallic leaf layer that shimmers and shines. To finish it off, I heat-embossed my greeting in Bronze Metallic Embossing Powder—and die cut with the Textured Notes Dies—so everything ties together beautifully.

Imagine this same design layered over a patterned background from the Autumn Toile Designer Series Paper—wow! The possibilities are endless, and the die does all the heavy lifting for you. That’s the brilliance of this suite: simple stamping and die-cutting turn into cards that look intricate and professional.

If you’re looking to add elegance and ease to your fall crafting, the Autumn Toile Suite is a must-have. With the Amber Autumn Bundle, metallic specialty papers, and coordinating accessories, you’ll have everything you need to create cards that impress without stress. Today’s card is just the beginning—I have more to share with you soon, so stay tuned!

Let me know what you think … comment below, and thanks for stopping by today!

Sunflowers, Texture, and a Pop of Color—Yes, Please!

Posted in HANDMADE CARDS, Techniques by

Hello Stampin’ Friends ~

It feels so good to be back creating and sharing with you again—and today I’ve got two beautiful cards to show you, featuring the Sunflower 3-D Embossing Folder. I have to tell you, this folder is pure magic. My head is spinning with all the ideas and techniques I want to try using it—seriously, it’s a creative goldmine!

For both of today’s cards, I started with one of my favorite and super simple techniques: inking directly onto the embossing folder. Yep, you heard that right! I tapped my Misty Moonlight ink pad directly onto the side of the folder where the image is concave. Once your paper is inside and you run it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, the ink hugs all the right places and leaves you with the most amazing textured print. And that’s just the beginning!

My first card design takes that embossed and inked background and cuts it into three panels (from a 5″ x 3 3/4″ piece). I mounted the panels onto a Misty Moonlight mat cut to 5 1/4″ x 4″, creating a striking visual with just a bit of white space between the strips. Then, to add a touch of softness and extra texture, I tied a simple bow with linen ribbon. The greeting? It’s from the Full of Charm Paper Pumpkin Kit—a great reminder of why I love and keep subscribing to Paper Pumpkin each month. Those exclusive stamp sets are treasures I reach for again and again!

Now, the second card… is what happens when you stamp with a friend and she has colorful ideas!! Wow, and does it pop with color! After embossing the image, I used a sponge dauber to lightly apply Crushed Curry over the sunflower petals. Then I went a bit bolder, deepening the flower centers with more intense color. To really bring out the detail, I used a flat paintbrush to tap on a bit of Pecan Pie ink—and the result is absolutely gorgeous! I framed this beauty using the Textured Notes Dies (just trim your embossed panel slightly smaller than the frame), then mounted it to a Misty Moonlight card base.

To finish it off, I used one of my go-to greetings from The Right Words stamp set—perfect sentiments for just about any occasion. I die-cut it using the Stylish Shapes Dies, which always seem to give my cards that polished look.

These two cards are just a peek at what’s possible with this Sunflower 3-D folder—and trust me, you’re going to want it in your collection. It’s a staple for any season and pairs beautifully with your favorite inks and techniques. So go ahead—treat yourself to a little creative joy!

And if you’re not already subscribed to Paper Pumpkin, now’s the perfect time to jump in. The stamps alone are worth it, and the kits offer fresh ideas every month. (Not to mention, they coordinate beautifully with products you already love.)

As always, I hope today’s projects spark a little inspiration in your heart. If you need any of the supplies mentioned—or have questions—I’m here to help. Happy stamping, friends!

🎉 Don’t forget, Stampin’ Friends — there’s still time to get in on my Tote-lly Awesome July Giveaway! 🎒 With every $50 order (before shipping & tax), your name goes into the drawing to win this adorable Strawberry Slush Craft Tote—perfect for carrying your supplies in style. Whether you’re crafting at home or heading to a class, this tote is a must-have! 🥰 Get your order in by July 31st to be entered. You’re going to love it!