Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop - Playing With Sand

Hello and welcome to another Around The World On Wednesday Blog Hop!

Every month, this amazing team of stampers from all over the world comes together to create projects based on a theme, aiming to spark your creativity! The team members hail from every time zone where Stampin’ Up!® operates. It’s truly incredible how Stampin’ Up!® connects so many people from different parts of the world. It’s a real pleasure to be part of this Design Team, organised by the wonderful Angie McKenzie from the US. You can see where we’re all from in the image below.

This month’s theme is ‘Playing with Sand’, and straight away, I thought of the beach—a pretty Aussie thing to do! I took my dog to the beach over the weekend because she’s a beach bunny, always running around, meeting other dogs and their owners and, when it’s warm, splashing in the ocean. 

For this theme, I used the Rolling Waves Bundle to create a birthday card. A friend kindly collected sand for the card while on patrol with Surf Life Saving Australia. I have chosen colours that make the card suitable for gifting to anyone.

My card base, mat layer and background layer are Coastal Cabana card stock. I stamped the water image in Coastal Cabana ink on the card stock.

The waves were die cut from the Rolling Waves Dies  using Coastal Cabana and Basic White card stock. These pieces were glued to the piece with the water images. I added some Crumb Cake card stock to the base of the water images under the oceans edge. I stamped some of the small abstract sand images from the Rolling Waves stamp set in Crumb Cake ink on this piece. I then glued some lines of sand on this piece. I didn’t want to cover the whole piece of Crumb Cake with sand as I felt it may make a mess when someone opens it in their home.

I created the shells by colouring  Basic Beige card stock with some blended Crumb Cake ink and then spattered Stampin’ Blends in Crumb Cake and Pecan Pie on the card stock. Then die cutting the shells and adhering them with glue to the card.

The Umbrella was die cut from Basic White and Basic Black card stock. Adhered together using Tear n’ Tape and adhered to the card front using Dimensionals.

I stamped the sentiment in Versamark™ Ink on a piece of Basic Black card stock. I sprinkled some white embossing powder on top and set with the heat tool. I fussy cut this sentiment and then adhered it to the card front using Dimensionals.

Next up, we’ve got the lovely Rochelle Laird-Smith, who’s going to share something truly beautiful with you. Click on the next blog button below to find out more and get inspired!

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Kelly Taranto - US

Chris Smith - US

Bree Renwick - US

Lori Willcox - CA

Cheryl Hamilton - US

Thanks for  visiting my blog today! You are appreciated!

For more information about the Rolling Waves Bundle 

Click image below 

Colour INKspiration - #211

Hello and welcome Colour INKspiration #CI211!

The Crew’s colour palette is just gorgeous! I chose for this image inspiration for this challenge. I’m a big fan of hydrangeas, and that wreath on the blue door is stunning. 

The Help Me Grow Bundle is becoming a favourite from the Online Exclusives Range currently available. I hope you have been able to look at all the Online Exclusives. There are some amazing products available online only. I decided to create my card using Misty Moonlight as the colour of my pots as I have some very pretty blue pots that look so beautiful around my home.

The card base and mat layer are Misty Moonlight stock. The last layer is Misty Moonlight embossed with the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder. I glued the embossed layer to the slightly larger mat layer and adhered the card front using Dimensionals.

I die cut a piece of Basic White card stock using one of the Everyday Arches Dies. I used Hydrangea Hue ink and a Blending Brush to lightly colour this piece. 

I cut a length of the Wood Grain Designer Paper and used the die from the Help Me Grow Bundle to make a shelf for the pots to sit on and adhered it to the base of the arch piece. This shelf piece is wider than the base of the arch. I adhered the two pieces to the card front using Dimensionals.

I cut two Pots from Misty Moonlight card stock. Using a Blending Brush and Misty Moonlight ink I coloured the edges of the pots to give them some definition and dimension.I cut the leaves from Peaceful Pine card stock. Two of the thinner sprigs. 

I lightly coloured a piece of Basic White card stock using Bubble Bath ink and Hydrangea Hue ink. I die cut multiples of the flowers from these coloured pieces of card stock. I did this to soften the colours.

I adhered the leaves to the pots using glue and then the flowers to the leaves. I adhered both pots to the top of the DSP shelf using Dimensionals. I tied a length of Bubble Bath Faux Linen Ribbon in a double bow and adhered it to the top of the right pot using a GlueDot®. This ribbon is gorgeous!

The sentiment is stamped in Versamark® ink, sprinkled on some white embossing powder and set with the Heat Tool. Adhered it on top of the bow using Dimensionals. The final touch three of the Hydrangea Hue In Colour Flat Pearls around the pots.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’re inspired by our colour challenge and my card today.

Click on image below to see this product in my online store

Colour INKspiration - #210

Welcome to another fabulous Colour INKspiration Challenge. 

#CI210 has us creating with the beautiful new 2026 -2028 In Colours! I am so excited as these colours are just divine. They all speak to me and I couldn't wait to use them all together.

Picture credit - https://www.stampinup.com.au/

I decided to use the Fern & Flora Bundle and coordinating Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder. I also wanted to soften the colours a little for this project.

I started with a Barely Blush card base. I cut mat layer of lightest side of the Barely Blush Two Toned card stock and embossed it using the Fern & Flora 3D Folder before gluing it to the card front. I cut and then tore a strip of the darker side of the Two Toned card stock to go down the left hand edge of the card. It was adhered with glue.

I cut two circles from the Spotlight on Nature Dies and adhered them together and to the card front using Dimensionals. This gives a lovely depth to the central die cuts.

I used Blending Brushes on Basic White card stock to create softer coloured card pieces to die cut in Peaceful Pine, Golden Glow, Crisp Cantaloupe and Barely Blush. The centre of the flowers were cut using Basic White. I love how these little flowers come together. I used both Golden Glow and Peaceful Pine to give some of the leaves some variegation. I then used the Peaceful Pine Stampin' Blend to spritz some ink on the leaves. All these little die cuts were glued in place to the circle die. I curled the little flowers at their edges.

I tied a length of Linen Thread in a double bow and adhered it to the base of the blooms.

I stamped the repeated pattern image in Hydrangea Hue ink on a strip of the Hydrangea Hue Two Toned card stock. I then punched it out using the Three Banner Punch. I stamped the sentiment from the Fern & Flora Stamp Set in Hydrangea Hue ink on Basic White card stock and punched it out using the Three Banner Punch. I glued these banners together before adhering them using Dimensionals. Three of the Barely Blush  2026 - 2028 In Colour  Dots were the final touch for my project. 

Fern & Flora Bundle

Click on the image below to find out more about this Bundle

Around the World on Wednesday - Let's Celebrate!

Welcome to the Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop for May.

This month"s theme is "Let's Celebrate"! I have many reasons to celebrate this month and the most important reason is my 33rd Wedding Anniversary. I purchased the gorgeous Waterside Retreat Suite as I knew I would enjoy making my husband a card from this Suite. My husband loves relaxing and reading a book, he also loves being out in nature. So the beautiful scene in the background of my card represents nature and I put the little book image on the arm rest of the chair to include his love of reading. My husband would think reading a book in nature would be something to celebrate. We have had our anniversary and my husband loved his nature inspired card.

Below is an image of the design team, and where they live around the world!

I started with a pecan pie card base. I then cut to Matt layers and embossed one with the Lovely Stripes, 3D Embossing Folder. I adhered the two mat layers together. The beautiful scene in the background was cut from the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper. There are so many beautiful scenes and images on this paper. I adhered it to the mat layers using glue.

I stamped the chair in Pecan Pie ink and then coloured using Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends. I stamped the book in Peaceful Pine ink and coloured using peaceful pine. Stampin’ blends. I die cut these coloured images using the coordinating dies. I adhered the chair using Dimensionals, and the book using Glue Dots™ to the background scene and the embossed layer.

I tied a length of Linen Thread in a knot and adhered it across the bottom of the scene and all three layers before adhering to the card base using Dimensionals. I stamped the love you sentiment in Peaceful Pine ink from the Help Me Grow Stamp set on a piece of basic white card stock. I die cut the sentiment using the dye from the Scalloped Blooms dies and adhered it to the bottom right of the card using Dimensionals.

Up next on this month's Blog Hop is the wonderful Rochelle Laird-Smith.

Click on the next button below for more Celebration ideas.

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Marga Bultena - DE

Kim Fee - UK

Angie McKenzie - US

Chris Smith - US

Thanks for stopping by. I am sure you will find inspiration as you hop around to help you celebrate too!

Waterside Retreat Suite

Click on the image below to find out more about this suite

Colour INkspiration - #209

Hello and welcome to Colour INKspiration #CI209!

We have another fantastic colour challenge to share with you. This months fun inspiration image was chosen by crew member Rose Packer. Isn't it a beautiful image and wouldn't you like to be resting in that gorgeous scene.

Picture credit - https://www.postermywall.com/index.php/posters/search...

I recently purchased the gorgeous Help Me Grow Bundle. My initial plan was very different to how my card turned out, but, I am very happy with my project.

I started with a Cloud Cover card base. I then added two Basic White mat layers, one embossed with the Lovely Stripes Embossing folder. I popped the two white layers up on Dimensionals.

I die cut the shelf out of Cloud Cover card stock. I had to trim this piece. Then I die cut the pot in Basic Beige card stock and used Basic Beige ink and a Blending Brush to add dimension to the pot. 

I die cut four the  leaf foliage and five flower clusters from Gorgeous Grape and Garden Green card stock. I then coloured a piece of Basic White card stock using Gorgeous Grape ink and  a Blending Brush I die cut some more flowers. This was to give some lighter coloured flowers for my blooms. 

The pot, leaves and flowers were glued together. I glued the Cloud Cover shelf in place then adhered the pot at the top of the shelf using Dimensionals.

I stamped the sentiment in Versamark™ink on a piece of Basic Black ink. sprinkled some white Embossing Powder on top and set with the Heat Tool. I die cut it with the two piece label die. I adhered it to the right hand side of the pot using Dimensionals. I kept one lot of flowers and a leaf  sprigs and glued them together and glue a small bow of Linen Thread to them.. I adhered it to the bottom right of the pot using Dimensionals.

Help Me Grow Bundle

Click on image below for more information about this bundle

Stamping Inkspirations Blog Hop - Sketch Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Stamping Inkspirations Blog Hop for May 2026.

We have a fun sketch challenge this month and I adore this sketch. It was difficult to decide which stamp set to work with. I adore the Moonlit Flora Designer Series Paper and wanted to use this gorgeous paper for this month's project.

The card base, mat layer and embossed mat layer is Berry Burst. The Fern and Flora Embossing Folder gives great depth to the backgrround. It also coordinates so beautifully. The embossed layer is glued to the mat ayer then popped up on Dimensionals from the card base.

I cut the Moonlit Flora DSP to match the sketch. I love the contrast of the Berry Burst paper and the floral paper. This layer was popped up on Dimensionals on top of the embossed layer.

I stamped a strip of Mossy Meadow card stock with the repeated stamp from the stamp set before adhering it with glue across the centre of the DSP layer. I tied a double length of Linen Thread around the Mossy Meadow strip and tied it in a bow on the right hand side

I cut some leaves and flowers from the  Flora and Fauna Dies using Berry Burst, Mossy Meadow. Old Olive and Basic White card stock. I adhered them to the left side of the card front using glue. I stamped the sentiment layer using Secret Sea for the sentiment and Berry Burst ink for the frame. Then die cutting it with the coordinating die.

The card was completed by adhering three of the clear Dewdrop Embellishments around the flowers and leaves.

Up next on this months blog hop is the wonderful Karen Henderson!

Click on the next blog button to keep hopping and see all of the team's wonderful interpretation of this sketch.

 Mo Rootes  ●  Leonie Stuart

Karen Henderson  ●  Angie McKenzie  ●  Jan Musselman

Thanks for stopping by. You are appreciated!

Click on image below to see details about the Fern & Flora Bundle.

Colour INKspiration - #208

Hello and welcome to Colour INKspiration #208!

This challenges inspiration image was chosen by all the crew as we farewell these beautiful 2024-2026 In Colours. We have been challenged to showcase our favourites. It was hard not to use them all as they are so pretty together. It is the time of the year that we say goodbye to retiring In Colours but excitedly welcome the new range of In Colours.

Image Credit - https://www.stampinup.com.au/.../2024-2026-in-color...

I chose the gorgeous Layers of Beauty Bundle for my card. I think this may be my favourite stamp set since it was released as I love working with the masks and Blending Brushes. As the idea for this design came to me I decided not to add Peach Pie. I truly love Cath Kidson fabric designs and went from there for my card.

The card base and mat layer are Summer Splash. I stamped the mat layer with the large bloom stamp in Shy Shamrock ink.

I stamped the large bloom in Memento® Tuxedo Black ink before colouring the bloom using the Mask and Blending Brushes. Pretty in Pink, Shy Shamrock, Coastal Cabana and Petunia Pop ink. After I die cut the bloom I adhered one side to the stamped mat layer using Dimensionals. I cut what was hanging off with scissors. Then I adhered the other half to the other side of the mat layer and repeated the process. I then adhered this layer to the card front using Dimensionals.

I stamped the sentiment in Coastal Cabana ink on Basic White card stock and used my paper trimmer to trim close to the letters. I adhered this on top of the bottom bloom using Dimensionals and glue. Three Coastal Cabana Flat Pearls finished off my card.

I have truly enjoyed these In Colours and I am having a difficult time saying goodbye to them. My favourite would have to be Shy Shamrock. What is your favourite from these In Colours?

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will feel inspired to use the retiring In Colours to make a project of your own or perhaps join us for this challenge in our Facebook group.

Product List

Layers Of Beauty Bundle (English) [163519] $99.75	Layers Of Beauty Decorative Masks [163517] $27.00	2024 2026 In Color™ Flat Pearls [165266] $15.00
Blending Brushes [153611] $27.00	Basic White A4 Cardstock [166781] $25.00	Summer Splash A4 Cardstock [163798] $25.00
Pretty In Pink Classic Stampin Pad [163807] $15.75	Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad [163811] $15.75	Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [163809] $15.75
Shy Shamrock A4 Cardstock [163796] $25.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $7.50	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $12.75
Paper Snips [103579] $21.00	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $244.00	Stampin' Trimmer [129722] $50.00

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