Virtual Card Making Retreat ‘26: Card #2

The Virtual Card Making Retreat 2026 product bundle is still available, along with the instructional videos, and you will be amazed by how your creativity is stretched!  For the second card, we used the frame die in such a creative, unusual way!

We colored the flowers with Stampin' Blends alcohol markers (and were supposed to color the leaves that way also, but instead, I used the solid leaf stamp in Secret Sea).  If you look closely, you'll see "dew" drops created with the color lifter.

Do you enjoy coloring lined images?  If so, what is your favorite medium?  I am definitely still working on my Stampin' Blends (alcohol markers) techniques.

Virtual Card Making Retreat ‘26: Card #3

This beautiful tri-fold card uses two pieces of DSP (designer series paper) and some Berry Burst Two-Tone cardstock.

It was fun to use a blending brush to color the flowers and stamps to "color" the leaves.  The white matte dots were colored with Darling Duckling Stampin' Blend to turn them yellow.

I love all the stamped flowers!  We even added little dots with the Darling Duckling Stampin' Blend.

I'll be showing you how to make a similar card on tonight's Live at 7:30 PM (EST) on my Inky Scrapper Facebook page!

Virtual Card Making Retreat ‘26: Card 1

The Stampin’ Up! Virtual Card Making Retreat was incredible! I was able to complete a few of the 15 cards this weekend, and I learned so many things. I can’t wait to share in upcoming classes and events! 

This card features the exclusive Virtual Card Making Retreat stamp set PLUS a sentiment and dies from the {sneak peek} March Online Exclusive Forever Florals bundle (stamp set and dies).

Can you believe that there was no coloring?  Coordinating stamps colored in the flower centers in Darling Duckling, the tiny flowers in Fresh Freesia, and the leaves in second generation Granny Apple Green and Old Olive.

It's important to remember to stamp the inside of your cards and your envelopes!  This card also uses Cloud Cover DSP and Secret Sea (ink and Two-Tone cardstock) plus some white embossing for the sentiment.

I'm looking forward to sharing the card designs and techniques I've learned at future stamping classes/events.  Did you know that the retreat bundle is still available and that the videos will also be available for at least a year?

Weekend Adventures Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #3

For the third layout from this workshop kit, I went completely off script and did not cut the papers according to the directions and made my own layout instead.

Of course I’m using flip-flops to be able to add more photos to the layout to share more of our Alaskan adventure.

Don’t be afraid NOT to follow directions!

Weekend Adventures Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #2

During this holiday break, it has been so nice to have both our daughters home and to have TIME together (and of course in my studio)!  I had a lot of fun creating the three layouts in the Weekend Adventures scrapbooking workshop kit, and here are the cut pieces for layout #2.

I followed the directions pretty closely but had to had some stamped branches from the Branching Out stamp set with Old Olive and Crumb Cake ink.

In addition, I stamped my title in Cajun Craze with the alphabet set from the 2025 Virtual Album Retreat.  I love mixing and matching old/new product to stretch my supplies!

PRO TIP: As you use your alphabet stamps, but the used, inky letters onto a larger block.  That way, when you're done stamping, you can clean all of the letters at once.  That saves time because I invariably clean a letter, put it back on the carrier sheet, and then realize that I need it again.  With this method, I can grabby the inky stamp and reuse it as many times as needed before cleaning them all at once and then putting them back properly.

Also, I love to use flip flaps to include more photos without needing more space!

PRO TIP:  I use a free app on my phone, called LiveCollage, to add two photos to one 4x6 space to get two 3x4 photos when I get them printed.  I try to keep 3x4 flip flaps in stock!

Weekend Adventures Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #1

As you know, I am a scrapbooker at heart, and I love to use kits to make my layouts quickly.  They are beautifully designed and have great instructions you can follow (or not).  Here are some of the contents of the Weekend Adventures scrapbooking workshop kit: 

The guide walks you through how to cut each DSP and cardstock sheet, so here are the basics of the first layout:

For my layout, I followed the directions pretty closely but did add some Pecan Pie ink with a blending brush to distress some of the pieces.

I love using flip flaps to add more photos to my layouts!  They come in a variety of sizes and are such a fun way to include more photos without overwhelming your eyes.

If you're interested in getting your photos off of your phone, I am starting a new scrapbooking adventure in the new year.  I'd love for you to join me (in person or virtually)!

Stamp Camp: A Year of Flowers

Recently I hosted a stamp camp where we made 12 cards featuring A Year of Flowers bundle (stamp set and dies) with Regals cardstock and 6"x6" DSP.

If you're interested in this workshop for yourself, please reach out to me!

Snow Days Layout

The cold weather we're having makes we want to stay in and scrapbook!  Here's a throwback to a 2020 hike we attempted but couldn't complete because of ice.  The Snow Days scrapbooking workshop (layout #2 of the kit) was perfect to remember this fun day.

Holiday products don't have to be for holidays only!

{Layout #56/52}

Mackinac Island Layouts

It's gotten cold here, so I'm enjoying remember some summer fun!  My husband and I took a lovely day trip to Mackinac Island this summer, and I used the Close To My Heart/Stampin' Up! Enjoy the Ride collection to preserve these memories.

The first layout was based loosely on a CTMH sketch,  but the second layout was completely my own design.  When I have a lot of photos, I tend to use a grid design to fit them all in.

The third layout followed the scrapbooking workshop directions pretty closely.

The fourth and final layout was also based on a sketch.

I love how these turned out!  Thanks for letting me share them with you!

{Layout 52-55/52}

Reindeer Memories Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #3

Happy Halloween!  Here is the third and final layout from the Reindeer Memories Scrapbooking Workshop kit, which I used for Christmas Day highlights.

Again, I love how fast and easy this came together!  I still have lots of product left to be able to create a few more projects.

{Layout 51/52}

Reindeer Memories Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #2

Here's the second layout from the Reindeer Memories Scrapbooking Workshop kit (actually the first one in the instructions) that I used to scrapbook Christmas Eve.

I really liked the paper weaving stripes but felt that the top row needed to be extended across both pages.  Fortunately there is enough extra paper that isn't used in the three layouts that i was easily able to do that.  I also love how you can make your photos work for the sketch rather than follow it 100% exactly as instructed. 

{Layout 50/52}

Reindeer Memories Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #1

Using the Reindeer Memories Scrapbooking Workshop kit has made it really easy for me to scrapbook the highlights of last Christmas.  (Anybody else now humming or singing "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart...?"  You're welcome!)

I made the layout pretty much exactly as instructed and even refrained from adding any extra embellishments from my stash.  It was very quick and easy!

{Layout 49/52}

Enjoy the Ride Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #2

Using kits is such a fun (and easy) way to get photos on layouts and in books/albums for my family to enjoy!  Here is the second layout from the CTMH (now SU!) Enjoy the Ride scrapbooking kit.

Our family's Mother's Day get together provided the perfect photos to coordinate with this layout.  I am loving the squares on yet another layout, and of course I made the kit my own to fit my photos. 

NOTE: If you were a CTMH customer prior to its close, if you create an account with Stampin' Up! using the email you had your CTMH account with, then you can find the CTMH items that Stampin' Up! procured.

{Layout 28/52}

Enjoy the Ride Scrapbooking Workshop Layout #1

I have loved the Close To My Heart scrapbooking kits, and the Enjoy the Ride collection is no exception!  I love the fun summer colors and theme to this kit.

This kit helped me get some photos scrapbooked that have been printed but not used.  I love that it was so fast and easy!

If you are a former CTMH customer, you can find the CTMH exclusive products on the Stampin' Up! website if you create an account using the same email you had with your CTMH account.  This kit and the new Lake Life kit are now available!

{Layout 27/52}

Let's Go Anywhere Workshop Layout 2: Évora

After we visited the temple, we stumbled upon the gorgeous public library.

I love how the busy patterned paper complements the whimsy of the children’s section of the library.

This layout is the second featured in the now unavailable Let’s Go Anywhere scrapbooking workshop kit.  (Spoiler! Stampin' Up will start carrying some of our workshop kits in the near future!)

{Layout 17/52}

Let’s Go Anywhere Workshop Layout 1: Évora

When I saw the Let’s Go Anywhere collection, I knew I wanted at least one of almost everything because it’s perfect for my photos from my trip to Portugal a few years ago that haven’t yet been scrapbooked. (Hopefully you won’t get tired of this collection!)

Unfortunately, the scrapbooking workshop is no longer available, but I wanted to share my layouts with you anyway, because (in my opinion) they are so beautiful.  Almost everything else is still available, so be sure to check out this collection before the end of the month.

I used my alphabet Thin Cuts to add the towns name. I also added some extra photos with a 3 x 4 flip-flap that I had in my stash.  (I am super excited to announce that Stampin' Up! will be starting to carry flip-flaps at some point in the future!)

The arrows on the bottom right are pointing to my dad! That gives a lot of perspective on the size of the temple.

{Layout 16/52}

The Bee’s Knees Meets Cape Cod Meets Dream Maker

Although this card does not include any of the Dream Maker paper, I used a sketch from the Dream Maker card making workshop, and I LOVE how it turned out.  (I hope you do too!)

Each of the triangles is half of a 2“ x 4 1/2“ rectangle, cut on the diagonal. I ended up adding some really old, retired paper from my stash that happened to be out on my work table, and matches the Lagoon in Cape Cod. I had a lot of fun using an onion bag, sponge, and periwinkle ink to make the pretty textured background at the top of the card front.

I stamped the crab in Periwinkle and the coral in Toffee (from the Cape Cod Scrapbooking stamp set & Thin Cuts). I love the sentiment from the July stamp of the month, The Bee's Knees, so I stamped Hi in Bluebird on a Stitched Rectangle Thin Cut panel.  A little acrylic "sea glass" shell from the Cape Cod embellishments finished off this card perfectly (if I do say so myself). 

Hope you're all having a great summer!

The Bee’s Knees Meets Cape Cod

This card is a CASE from the Cape Cod cardmaking Workshop, but with several twists, including the addition of the soon to retire, close to my heart color of the year, Melon.

I splattered the card front with Toffee shimmer brush.  Then, I stamped the Hi sentiment (from the July stamp of the month, The Bee's Knees) in Lagoon and the rope in Toffee from the Cape Cod Scrapboking stamp set.  Using the Thin Cuts from that collection, I also stamped coral in Toffee and the seahorse and shells in Melon. The faux washi tape is a piece of one of the zip strips from the Cape Cod collection.

I really love this color combination of Glacier, Lagoon, Toffee, and Melon. Be sure to grab our color of the year before it is gone!

July CTMH Specials

How in the world can the year be half over already?!?  We have moved into the dog days of summer as July begins.  Here are peeks at this month's Close To My Heart specials.  (You can find everything HERE.)

First, we have a brand new Idea Book with exclusive products for July and August!

The Bee's Knees is July's stamp of the month, and this set of 15 stamps is only available through the end of the month for $5 with a minimum $50 purchase (or FREE if you're a VIP with a $50 purchase) or for $18.95 if you'd prefer not to spend $50 to get the discounted price.

The Bring Back My Pack special is featuring the beautiful For Always collection, and is available while supplies last until the end of July.

We have a new special collection called Memory Lane with its own beautiful paper pack, stamp set, and scrapbooking and cardmaking workshops.  Again, these items are available while supplies last, but through the end of August.

Again, you can find all this (and more!) right HERE!
 

Cosette Scrapbooking Workshop: New Orleans

When I bought the Cosette Scrapbooking Workshop, papers, etc., I planned to use them with our photos from our trip to Paris, but that was a bigger undertaking than I was ready for.  Instead, I decided that they would be a good fit for our trip to New Orleans (Spring Break 2018).

My first layout will use 4"x6" flip flaps on the right page to add more photos of the beautiful cathedral and our visit to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

After I started layout 2, I realized that I would like to add a photo of the Bourbon St. sign that I took but hadn't yet printed, so I just jotted a note on one of the included photo place holders, and I will add that photo when I get it printed.  (I also had a lot of fun journaling our dining experiences on this page on the various tags.)

Use your favorite photo collage app to make 3 x 4 photos!  Also, don’t be afraid to use those photo placeholders in the kit as photo mats. Just cut your pictures a quarter inch shorter on two adjacent sides.

I have one more layout to make of this trip of our stop to tour the USS Alabama and our visit to the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery.  Our scrapbooking workshops are such a fun way to create three related (or unrelated) gorgeous layouts!