Happy 2021!

Dear Stamping Friends,

Well, 2020 is behind us. What a year–roller coaster of emotions and events, but reflecting back also many meaningful lessons and silver linings. I am grateful for 2020. I learned to not take anything for granted: my health, my time spent with others face to face, and doing the things I love (like eating at a restaurant and going to the movies!) because just like that, in a snap, it can all change. I have always loved being home (even pre-pandemic I was a telecommuter reporting into the main office in NYC but living in MA, and now NC), and being home with my family since March has been an amazing gift making me love it even more.

This card features a new stamp set from the Jan-June Mini Catalog called Borders to Backgrounds (pg 30 – available Jan 5!) as well as items from the Playing with Patterns Suite (pg 100 AC). Sadly, the coffee cup retired from the Holiday Mini, but I will still use it because I love it so.

The other gift of 2020? Showing me how important having a craft like stamping is to me. I do not know what I would have done this year without my craft. I love it so much, it gives me tremendous joy, and since March I have used my craft to share that joy with others. I joined two RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) lists in March and have sent almost 250 cards to random strangers in need of a paper hug. While I hope my card brought a smile to the recipient, each time I popped a card in the mailbox my heart grew. To the 10 year old who was sad to have a Covid Birthday, or to the couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary alone this year, or to the young mom who just received a cancer diagnosis, or to the freshman college student who was not transitioning well because she was the only one in her dorm, or to the 100 patients at an assisted living facility who would be alone at Christmas, and to the many others…I still think of you. Another incredible gift.

The inside sentiment is from one of my favorite stamp sets: Best Year (pg 133 AC).

So stamp on, dear friends, and let’s keep the joy going through 2021. We need it this year more than ever. Happy New Year, and happy stamping.

Kelly

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 7 of my 7 Days of gratitude. It’s a simple one today – almost time to put the turkey in the oven. I am so grateful to you, and wish you a day filled with good food and moments of giving thanks, no matter how many are around your table this year.

Supplies:

  • Stamp Sets: Life is Beautiful and Gather Together
  • Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Whisper White
  • Plaid Tidings designer series paper (of course, my favorite!)
  • Inks: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Bumblebee, Old Olive, Blackberry Bliss
  • Markers (for the birdhouse): Blackberry Bliss and Soft Suede

Have a healthy, safe, and happy Thanksgiving, and happy stamping! Kelly

Giving Thanks, Again – Day 6

Thanksgiving Eve, and I have started to bake and cook. My little family is going to feast. Feels silly to go to all this great lengths for just 4 people, but we are sad we aren’t with my family (for the first time, in a very very long time) and decided we wanted the table to resemble the Thanksgiving meal we are used to sharing with my parents, brother, and his family. Besides, the comment from my oldest “What? We aren’t going to have Great Grammy’s Baked Corn?” is what got me…so here we go.

Today’s project features the Harvest Hellos stamp set and the Apple Builder punch. I love this set and having a coordinating punch is always a good thing. I used this set a few weeks ago using the apple image, see my post for World Teacher’s Day. Below is a card I made using the same design, but hte pumpkin image instead:

(Note the apple stem and the apple leaf on the pumpkin card–that’s because I was on a roll of stamping punching with my punch that I forgot to turn my stamp around and use the other leaf!)

Here is a Thanksgiving version of this stamp set:

And, of course, using up all that Plaid Tidings patterned paper–what will I do when this catalog is over and we don’t have the plaid anymore? I think I’ve used it in every project this week!

Stampin’ Supplies:

  • Harvest Hellos stamp set
  • Whisper White cardstock
  • Cajun Craze cardstock
  • Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper
  • 2020-2022 In-Color 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper
  • Momento Black stamp pad
  • Cajun Craze stamp pad
  • Crumb Cake stamp pad
  • Stitched Nested Labels dies
  • Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder
  • Stampin’ Blends: Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Misty Moonlight, Just Jade, Bronze

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Give Thanks – Day 5

Only a few more days until Thanksgiving, and I’m getting this post in right under the wire. Today Stampin’ Up had a 24-hour Black Friday 10% off sale on almost every item in the Annual Catalog, including Bundles AND Suites – wow!

Online Extravaganza 2020
Visit my Online Store for my details!

Well, in classic 2020 fashion, they experienced a number of technical issues with their websites, so they are extending this sale for another 24 hours and will now run through 11:59 PM (MT) on Wednesday, 11/25. Wahoo! Be sure to check it out!

That sale had me go back to the Annual Catalog for today’s project. Often during the holidays, we focus on the new Holiday Mini catalog or Occasions catalog, that we forget about our year-long Idea Book. So pull that out and start creating!

Today’s card features the Arrange a Wreath Bundle. I love love this bundle and have had it really since the Annual Catalog was released in June, but honestly, this is the first I’m using it. (No judging allowed…I’m sure you have a few items you have not used. Now is the time to pull those out!) This bundle includes an all-occasion stamp set that has bold images and year-round sentiments. The coordinating dies, cut out all the images in the stamp set, plus some additional images. Love!

And, here’s my card! Same card, just slightly different colors with one using Cherry Cobbler and the other using Cajun Craze.

I need a bit more practice with this stamp set and dies, because it didn’t turn out exactly as I was picturing in my head, but it’s all good. It still gets the important message across: I give thanks to you, for all that you are and all that you do.

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Harvest Blessings – Day 4

I almost forgot about this stamp set, and I’m so glad I didn’t because it is a good one!

Country Home was first introduced in the Holiday Catalog in 2018 and it’s been in the Annual Catalog ever since. The set features images that are definitely for Fall/Thanksgiving and even Christmas, but you really could use this stamp set all year round, for any occasion. The sayings are full of gratitude and who wouldn’t love the watering can with the tiny words that fit in the little oval circle. So sweet.

Card Front

My favorite sentiment in the stamp set says “Simply thankful for all the good things” and that pretty much sums it all up, doesn’t it?

Stampin’ Supplies:

  • Country Home stamp set
  • Mint Macaron cardstock
  • Bumblebee cardstock
  • Whisper White cardstock
  • Gilded Autumn Designer Series Paper
  • Momento Black stamp pad
  • Gray Granite stamp pad
  • Stitched So Sweetly dies
  • Tin Tile 3D embossing folder
  • Stampin’ Blends: Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Mint Macaron, Crumb Cake
  • Bumblebee gingham ribbon

Happy Stamping! Kelly

Season of Thanks – Day 3

It’s the season of thanks, and I am grateful for you!

This project features the Gather Together stamp set and Gathered Leaves dies.

They are a carryover from last year’s holiday catalog, and I am glad it did. It is gorgeous, and I love the sayings as well. It pairs nicely with the stunning Gilded Autumn specialty paper and Basket Weave and Metallic ribbon combo pack.

Grateful for you! Kelly

Always Grateful – Day 2

Stampin’ Up! has so many wonderful fall-themed stamp sets and coordinating products, and making just one card of one design is not possible. If you’ve been following my blog you know how much I love the Plaid Tidings patterned paper, but did you know it is part of a suite? Yup, the Plaid Tidings Suite which features the Celebration Tidings Bundle, Plaid Tidings paper, and 3/8″ Embroidered Ribbon. The Celebration Tidings Bundle includes the Celebration Tidings Stamp Set (13 photopolymer stamps) and the Celebration Label Dies (15 dies).:

Gorgeous!

Always grateful for you, Kelly

7 Days of Gratitude

Seven days to go until Thanksgiving. While some have already decorated for Christmas, my house is still decked out in fall decor and pumpkins and my little family of four will be hunkered down and giving thanks this holiday. While 2020 was not the year we expected, we have a tremendous amount to be thankful for. And the Late Night Stamper is VERY thankful to all of you! My readers, my customers, my team. Grateful for your business, support, and friendship.

To help show my gratitude, I’ll be posting a Thanksgiving card each day from now until Thanksgiving. (THEN we can turn to Christmas!)

Day 1 – Banner Year Bundle

The Banner Year Bundle includes the Banner Year stamp set and the Banners Pick A Punch. I overlooked this bundle at first, but am so glad I got it. The stamp set has 29 photopolymer stamps (!) that are simply adorable and represent fall, Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.

BANNER YEAR PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH)

The punch is a must-have: one punch, six options! It punches banners in two designs in three widths.

BANNERS PICK A PUNCH

I love these two cards because this design is a great way to use up all those little scraps!

Happy stamping! Kelly

Happy November!

November 9th, where did October go!? I wasn’t able to do much stamping in October because life is BUSY, but I did start a new thing last month. I am a Paper Pumpkin subscriber and up until last month I used to simply follow the instructions included in the project kit exactly. Doing that is very enjoyable – you don’t have to think, all the paper is measured and cut for you, it’s terrific…BUT….

So first, what is Paper Pumpkin? It is a monthly project subscription offered by Stampin’ Up! and aside from Stampin’ Up!’s starter kit, it is the best deal going. $22, includes tax and shipping, and arrives in your mailbox every month. You get the project of the month, a full stamp set, adhesive, and an ink spot. WOW. Most months the kit includes supplies to make a bunch of cards (in the October Kit, it’s a box of 8 cards and lined envelopes), but sometimes you get a gift item, packaging, or something else. In September, the project was to make a bunch of fall cracker boxes (the kind you fill with treats and the recipient pulls the ends apart to get into the treats). I didn’t really need those, so used the product to make alternative cards instead…and I am hooked!

I used up every inch of my October Paper Pumpkin kit. Here are the two cards the October kit makes:

Aren’t they gorgeous?

And now for some fun alternatives! Add a sheet of Cherry Cobbler, a sheet of Just Jade, and take apart the lined envelope and use the “liner” as patterned paper. Chop the card fronts up and you’ve got double the layers. Also, be sure to use up every bit of the gold sheets, the edges (see peace card below) and even the words in another language for gold accents (see red Merry Christmas card)…the possibilities are endless!

Become a Paper Pumpkin subscriber and I will send you a PDF each month of alterative projects. This month’s PDF showcases another 9 projects. f you aren’t a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you are missing out. Use this link to subscribe! You will not regret it — it is super fun to push your creativity and create “out of the box!” (pun intended, ha!)

Happy Stampin’! Kelly

World Teacher’s Day

Let’s admit it. Teachers are the best and now more than ever they deserve all the kudos and awards. I think my professional life is crazy right now, but I cannot even imagine their day to day! We are so grateful for the boys’ teachers, especially now with remote learning!

This card is a “fun fold” and boy is it fun. [special thanks to fellow demonstrator Sharon Armstrong for this layout]. A mini card “closes” the front and then you can write on the inside.

Card base is standard half a piece of cardstock cut 4.25 x 8.5, fold in half and then cut half of the front off so it measures 2.75. Layer the inside and outside “flap” with DSP. Then, cut matching piece 3×8, score at 4. adhere to inside middle and decorate the outside (front).

Here’s the same layout in fall colors:

Of course I’m using Plaid Tidings DSP (still a favorite) and I’m using the Harvest Hellos stamp set from the Annual Catalog. This was in last year’s Holiday Mini, and boy am I happy it carried over. Color it with blends and it is simply gorgeous!

Happy stamping, and thank you teachers!

Kelly

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