Stamping Stray Ducklings February 2026 Blog Waddle – Let’s Get Sketchy!

February 10, 2026February 10, 2026Leave a comment

Welcome to our February Blog Waddle! We call ourselves ducklings, so we waddle from blog post to blog post, instead of hopping!! We are featuring cards created from a sketch. Do you like to use sketches? I certainly do, especially when I am stumped on where to start a card. Here’s the sketch I picked from Hand Stamped Sentiments!

The base is Old Olive with a 2″ strip of Highland Heather on the right. The fun thing about a sketch is that it is a starting point. I could have used circles or retired ovals, but I picked the Textured Notes Dies (#165555). I picked them before I knew they were put on the Last Chance List. But now is the time for you to grab them at a discount!

Here’s a sneak peek of my card

Using 3 patterns in the Lovely & Beautiful DSP (#166957) I cut 3 rectangles using the Textured Notes Dies. I then cut 2 additional strips from other patterns in the package. A Highland Heather flower with a Petal Pink center was created from the Simply Beautiful Dies (#166964). Two Old Olive leaves completed the embellishment.

The sentiment is from Banner Sayings (#167044) stamped in Old Olive directly onto one of the strips of DSP. You can save 10% when buying the stamps and dies together in the Banner Sayings Bundle (#167051). A little secret, I packed up a few stamping supplies just before we headed out on vacation and I forgot current embellishments to complete my card. So I added what I had in the bottom right-hand corner to complete my card. What do you think?

1. Sue Boerner – Stamping Sue’s Buzz
2. Sheryl Diemer – My Stamping Classroom
3. Kim Baker- Horsin’ Around Stamping
4. Lori Helvick- Loris Stamping Creations

You are always welcome to join me on 1 or 2 Monday nights a month at 7:30 p.m. Central Time for Mystery Stamping! Let me know you are interested and I will send the Clues and Zoom invite to you!

If you do not already have a United States Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I would love to be yours and help you to unleash your creativity. Please join me in person for Stampin Buffets, filled with seasonal cards from the Annual and Mini catalogs if you are in the Central, IL area! I have room for 5 people!

Ready to enjoy the demonstrator discount? Click the Contact Me button above.

Paper Crafting Blog Hop – Valentines/Love Theme

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026Leave a comment

Welcome to our January Paper Crafting Blog Hop with Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrators from all over the world, featuring cards for Valentine’s Day or with a love theme. Here is a sneak peek of my card. Below my full card picture is a list of links to all of this month’s participating bloggers. We are glad you are here!

I chose non-traditional colors for my card, starting with a Smoky Slate card base. The next layer is Petal Pink embossed with the Hearts of Love 3D Embossing Folder (#167071).

Next, I used a grayish piece of Country Woods DSP (#163393) and a piece of Thoughtful Journey DSP (163303). The final piece of DSP is from the Beautiful Gallery DSP (#165196). Tucked behind this layer is a Secret Sea die cut from the Greenery Lane Dies (#166876). The sentiment is from the Prayers and Promises stamp set (#167014) stamped in Secret Sea. A knot of Cloud Cover Textured Ribbon (#167182) and 3 Moody Palette Glossy Dots (#167180) are the final touches. What do you think?

Thanks for hopping with us this month. Next go to –> Julia’s blog to see what she has created.

All demonstrators in this month’s hop:

1. Tracy Held – Australia
2. Terri Stewart – USA
3. Sue Boerner – USA
4 Julia Quinn (Australia)

I hope you found some inspiration for your next paper crafting project for Valentine’s Day, love or anniversaries. Enjoy hopping through the blogs, looking at all of our projects! Please leave comments to let us know you stopped by!

My Events calendar has been updated with my online Mystery Stamping and in-person Stamping Buffets. Mystery Stamping is on Monday twice a month. All supplies used to make my card above can be ordered through my online store.

If you do not currently have a United States Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I would be love to be yours. Ready to enjoy the demonstrator discount? Click the Contact Me button above.

January Product of the Month Blog Hop

January 20, 2026January 21, 2026Leave a comment

Welcome to our new Blog Hop with Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrators from all over the world, featuring the January Product of the Month – Fabulous Sayings (#167972)! We are glad you are here!

I used the Lovely Arrangement Bundle (#167176 ) along with the Lovely Blossoms DSP (167168). The card base is Secret Sea and the next layer is from the Lovely Blossoms DSP. A strip of another pattern from the same package was added down the center. Five flowers from the Lovely Arrangements stamp set (#167169) were stamped in Secret Sea and die cut using the coordinating Lovely Arrangements Dies (#167175). Three leaves were stamped in Old Olive and die cut. The sentiment is from the January Product of the Month Fabulous Sayings stamp set. The final touch are two Old Olive Moody Palette Glossy Dots (#167180).

Thanks for hopping with us this month. Next go to –> Lorraine’s blog to see what she has created.

All demonstrators in this month’s hop:

1. Sharni Green – The Stamping Green (Australia)
2. Michele Jutrisa- Butterflys and Bows(Australia)
3. Shel Anderson- Stamp With Shel (Canada)
4. Sue Boerner – Stamping Sue’s Buzz (USA)
5. Lorraine Tierney – ChatnCraft with Lorraine USA
6. Tracy Held – Trace Of Creativity (Australia)
7. Julia Quinn – Handmade by Julia Quinn (Australia)
8. Lori Helvick- Loris Stamping Creations USA
9. Lisa Bowden – Made to Create with Lisa (USA)
10. Genna Gifford – The Stampers’ Mess (Australia/Facebook)
11. Janine Rawlins – Create with Janine (Australia)
12. Monique Fielder – Stamping With Moni-Q
13. Danielle Edwards – Scrappychics

I hope you found some inspiration for your next paper crafting project when you are creating cards with the January Product of the Month. Enjoy hopping through the blogs, looking at all of our projects! Please leave comments to let us know you stopped by!

If you do not currently have a United States Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I would be love to be yours. Ready to enjoy the demonstrator discount? Click the Contact Me button above.

Monday Mystery Stamping – 1/19/26

January 19, 2026January 20, 2026Leave a comment

Clue #1 Horizontal/Landscape card, Gather your supplies. (all measurements in inches)
Colored or White/Vanilla Card Stock card base:
– 1 @ 4 x 9-3/4. Z-Fold. See picture below for cutting (solid line) and scoring (dashed lines).
– 1 @ 4-1/4 x 5-1/2. Base.

DSP: 2 or 3 patterns
(A) – 1 @ 2-3/4 wide x 2-3/4 tall. Front.
(A) – 1 @ 9 wide x 3/4 tall. Cut into 3 pieces – 5, 2, and 2.
(B – C) – 1 or 2 pieces @ 2 wide x 2-3/4 tall. These can match or be different if using 2 pieces.
White/Vanilla Card Stock (CS):
– 1 or 2 @ 2 wide x 2-3/4 tall.

This card uses 3 pieces measuring 2 wide by 2-3/4 tall to the right of the 2-3/4 square on the front of the card. It is up to you hope many writing panels and how many DSP panels you want to use. You could use all DSP on the front and then add a 4 x 5-1/4 white/vanilla panel on the back for your written message.

Embellishments small – medium:
– for embellishments, use something that goes along with your DSP. I suggest something no bigger than 2-3/4 x 2-3/4.

I hope you like this Z-fun-fold card! Please join us if you like to make a card without knowing what it is until you are done!!

Stamping Stray Ducklings January 2026 Blog Waddle

January 10, 2026January 10, 2026Leave a comment

Welcome to our very first 2026 Blog Waddle! We call ourselves ducklings, so we waddle from blog post to blog post, instead of hopping!! We are featuring products from the new Mini-Catalog! Here’s a preview of my card.

The Simply Beautiful Dies (#166074) are the feature of this card. They are a part of the Lovely and Beautiful Suite Collection (#166981) and of course the Simply Beautiful Bundle (#166965)! The card base is Old Olive with a layer of Lovely and Beautiful Specialty DSP (#166957). A strip of Old Olive with the reverse side of the main DSP is about 1/3 of the way from the left side. I made this as a horizontal card, but it can easily be made as a portrait/vertical card.

The largest flower die cut from Highland Heather is on the bottom of the flower. The other large flower die was used in Fresh Freesia and Bubble Bath for the remaining 2 layers of petals. The center is Daffodil Delight and the Old Olive leaves have the 2 smaller leaves (with centers in tact) to add texture and depth.

The sentiment is from Banner Sayings (#167044) stamped I Highland Heather and punched out with one of the Three Banner Punch (#16750) punches. You can save 10% when buying these together in the Banner Sayings Bundle (#167051).

1. Kim Baker- Horsin’ Around Stamping
2. Sheryl Diemer-My Stamping Classroom
3. Lori Helvick
4. Sue Boerner

You are always welcome to join me on 1 or 2 Monday nights a month at 7:30 p.m. Central Time for Mystery Stamping! Let me know you are interested and I will send the Clues and Zoom invite to you!

If you do not already have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I would love to be yours and help you to unleash your creativity. Please join me in person for Stampin Buffets, filled with seasonal cards from the Annual and Mini catalogs if you are in the Central, IL area! I have room for 5 people!

Ready to enjoy the demonstrator discount? Click the Contact Me button above.

Monday Mystery Stamping – 1/5/26

January 5, 2026January 9, 2026Leave a comment

Clue #1 Vertical/Portrait card, Gather your supplies: (all measurements in inches)
Colored Card Stock card base
– 1 @ 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, score at 4-1/4
Colored Card Stock (either the same as base or complimentary)
– 1 @ 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 (mat for pinwheel)
DSP:
– 1 @ 6 x 6 small overall pattern, we will see both sides. Score at 1-1/2 on all 4 sides. Cut out all 4 corners. Fold each side in to the center and turn the right lower corner to the fold line. Burnish all folds. Tuck the 4th side under the first turned back corner.
White/Vanilla Card Stock (CS):
– 2 @ 4 x 5-1/4″ (one could be embossed, for the front of the card, the other goes inside if using dark card stock base)
– 1 strip or punched cardstock for the sentiment
– optional 2-3/4 square for message inside the pinwheel. Oops, my picture is upside down!! HaHa!!

Karla couldn’t join us online because her Internet service was down, but here is her card! Karla glued her pinwheel down and added an embellishment in the center.

I hope you like this fun-fold card! Please join us if you like to make a card without knowing what it is until you are done!!

Paper Crafting Blog Hop – December Winter Holidays!

December 17, 2025December 17, 20253 Comments

Thank you for stopping by on our December Paper Crafting Blog Hop with Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrators from all over the world, featuring cards for the winter holidays. Here is a sneak peek of my card. Below my full card picture is a list of links to all of this month’s participating bloggers.

I love holly and so I picked the Jolly Holly Bundle (#166120) to create this card! Both the stamps and dies in this bundle are fabulous plus it has a hybrid embossing folder!! The card base is Very Vanilla with a layer of Very Vanilla embossed and die cut with the hybrid embossing folder. It is stunning all on its own. If you love this bundle, grab it from the Last Chance section now! It would be perfect to use for thank you notes after the holidays!

I used Gold Foil (#165864 ) to cut out the largest rectangle and “joy”. The smaller rectangle is cut from Very Vanilla. The bells were stamped with Versa Mark Clear Ink on Vary Vanilla and heat embossed with gold embossing powder from the Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder (#165678). Simple and elegant, what do you think?

Thanks for hopping with us this month. Next go to –> Tracy’s blog to see what she has created.

All demonstrators in this month’s hop:

1. Tracy Held – Australia
2. Annette McMillan – Australia
3. Terri Stewart – USA
4. Julia Quinn – Handmade by Julia Quinn (Australia)
5. Sue Boerner – USA

I hope you found some inspiration for your next paper crafting project when you are creating cards this winter. Enjoy hopping through the blogs, looking at all of our projects! Please leave comments to let us know you stopped by!

If you do not currently have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I would be love to be yours. Ready to enjoy the demonstrator discount? Click the Contact Me button above.

Monday Mystery Stamping – 12/8/25

December 8, 2025December 9, 2025Leave a comment

Clue #1  Vertical/Portrait card, Gather your supplies:
Colored Card Stock:
–   1 @ 5-1/2 x 10-3/4, score at 1-1/4, 5-1/2, 9-1/2
– 1 @ 3-3/4 square, cut diagonally into 2 triangles
– 1 @ 3-1/2 square, cut diagonally into 2 triangles
DSP A:
– 2 @ 3-3/4 wide x 5-1/4 tall, one goes on the front, one inside. Can be different DSPs.
DSP B:
– 1 @ 3-1/2 square, cut diagonally into 2 triangles
– 1 @ 3-1/4 square, cut diagonally into 2 triangles
DSP C:
– 4 @ 1 wide x 5-1/4 tall
White/Vanilla Card Stock (CS):
– 1 @ 4 x 5-1/4″
Embellishments:
–   card front embellishment(s), use something that goes along with your DSP and theme. It should be at most 3 tall by 2-2-1/2 wide.

Score the base. Only 2 triangles, one of each size is needed for one card. Attach the DSP to the triangle leaving a border around the point. The largest triangle goes on the bottom flap. Adhere it close to the edge, the rectangle DSP will cover the edge. Attach the smaller triangle to the top flap.

One DSP goes on front and the other inside behind it. The writing panel goes on the left inside.

Cover both sides of the two flaps with the rectangle DSPs.

I hope you like this fun-fold card! Please join us if you like to make a card without knowing what it is until you are done!!

Monday Mystery Stamping – 11/10/25

November 10, 2025November 11, 2025Leave a comment

Clue #1  Vertical/Portrait card, Gather your supplies:
Colored Card Stock A card base: (these can be cut from one piece of cardstock measuring 10 x 7-1/4)
–   1 @ 5-1/2 x 7-1/4 wide, score at 1-1/2 and 3 on the 7-1/4 side
–   3 @ 1-1/2 x 7-1/4, with the 7-1/4 edge at the top, score at 1-1/2 and 3 on the 7-1/4 side (These can be a coordinating color to the base or the same)
DSP:
–   3 @ 1-1/4 tall x 4 wide. They can be random or cut from a 3-3/4 tall x 4 wide single piece
– 6 @ 1-1/4 tall x 1-1/4 wide squares. They can be 3 of 2 coordinating DSPs or one set of 3 can match the longer pieces.
White/Vanilla Card Stock (CS):
– 1 @ 5-1/4 x 4, writing panel for the back
Embellishments:
–  card front embellishment(s), use something that goes along with your DSP and theme. A cluster or largish label-type die with a sentiment and smaller pieces.

I hope you like this easy fun-fold card! Please join us if you like to make a card without knowing what it is until you are done!!

Stamping Stray Ducklings November 2025 Blog Waddle

November 10, 2025November 11, 2025Leave a comment

Welcome to our November Blog Waddle! We call ourselves ducklings, so we waddle from blog post to blog post, instead of hopping!! We are featuring Christmas cards! Here’s a preview of my card.

The Delicate Pines Bundle (#166074) is so lovely with stunning die cut pinecones and boughs! The card base is Crumb Cake with another layer of Crumb Cake with pine boughs stamped roughly in a “C”. The centers of each was colored with Cherry Cobbler. The pine cones were die cut with the Delicate Pines Dies (#166073) in Crumb Cake and Pecan Pie. The pine bows were die cut in Shaded Spruce.

Next, I stamped the large and medium “wheels” of pine boughs in Shaded Spruce and Crumb Cake. Cherry Cobbler accents the top layer. The sentiment, also from the Delicate Pines stamp set (#166067) was stamped in Crumb Cake.

This gorgeous bundle is also a part of the Elegant Pines Suite (#166079).

1. Sue Boerner
2. Kim Baker
3. Lori Helvick
4. Sheryl Diemer

You are always welcome to join me on 1 or 2 Monday nights a month at 7:30 p.m. Central Time for Mystery Stamping! Let me know you are interested and I will send the Clues and Zoom invite to you!