Choose Happy, Day 2

I'm featuring cards made with Choose Happy this week, a fun little stamp set that is great for beginners, but can be a staple in any crafter's stamp room.  With tons of words, you can create greetings for all seasons, many occasions, and even make up your own phrases.  

Today I have a little birthday card for you:

 A mostly monochrome card in Summer Splash, this one makes a "splash" with raised letters spelling "BIRTHDAY".  

I started by randomly stamping "happy" in Summer Splash ink on Summer Splash designer series paper.  Then I added the little candles.

There is a stamp in the set that says "birthday", but I chose to step up my card with the Mini Alphabet dies and some Foam Adhesive Sheets.  Added to the back of the cardstock and run through the Cut & Emboss machine, the Foam sheets add lots of dimension to the letters.  

Then I used a retired set of dies (Sent Silhouettes) to make the large candles.

I love the stamped images on the patterned paper, as well as the raised letters.  Choose Happy is perfect for celebrating birthdays, and when you add in the Mini Alphabet dies, you've got a great little card!

Choose Happy is available currently, but may well be on the Last Chance List coming in a few weeks.  If you love it, get it now!

Product List

Choose Happy Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163701]

$21.00

Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad

[163809]

$9.00

Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock

[163797]

$11.50

Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[119683]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Mini Alphabet Dies

[162934]

$31.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

Foam Adhesive Sheets

[152815]

$8.25

Choose Happy

Choose Happy is a sweet little stamp set in the 2024-25 Annual Catalog.  It's featured at the beginning of the catalog, and could easily be overlooked.  But when I first saw it, I knew it could be a staple in my craft room.

So this week, as the Annual Catalog is heading toward retirement, I thought I would feature this stamp set with different cards each day.  Although the cards are quite simple and focus on stamps from Choose Happy, I did bring in other products to help jazz them up a bit.  It's something that anyone could do once they have a few extra products.

So first:  "hello spring"

 SO simple.  And it could be made without the "extras" that I incorporated.  So it would be a perfect card for a beginning stamper.  But with some additional products, it can easily be jazzed up.

I started with the bunny - SO cute!  Stamped in Gray Granite ink and colored with Stampin' Blends, I cut it with the smallest Stylish Shapes circle.  Then it was layered on a Pretty in Pink circle that I had punched from another project.  

The Basic White layer was embossed with the Cane Weave embossing folder, to give the card an "Easter basket" look.  And it's decorated with the 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems.   Simple!

With tons of words and lots of little images in the set, Choose Happy can help you create through all seasons, many holidays, and lots of occasions.  

Pick it up; you won't be sorry!

Product List

Choose Happy Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163701]

$21.00

Pretty In Pink Classic Stampin Pad

[163807]

$9.00

Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad

[147118]

$9.00

Pretty In Pink Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[163824]

$11.00

Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154904]

$11.00

Pretty In Pink 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163793]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

$11.25

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

1-3/4" (4.4 Cm) Circle Punch

[119850]

$23.00

2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems

[163781]

$8.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Grow With Love Meets Ocean Friends

I just received a new bundle, Grow With Love, and excitedly tore open the packaging, only to lose my momentum and creativity.  Does that ever happen to you?  

I had recently completed my February Paper Pumpkin box which coordinated with the Grow With Love bundle - but I didn't have the bundle.  So I ordered it and anticipated creating with it as soon as it arrived.

And then...nothing...

Creative reboot...

I pulled out my favorite designer paper, Friends of the Ocean, and got inspired.  Look:

 So what does this have to do with Grow With Love?  Well look at that little envelope on the front - that is the "seed packet" die from the Grow With Love die set.  I cut it with the Friends of the Ocean DSP to make a pocket for the front of my card:

Such a cute way to add a little extra note to your cards!

I'm sure I'll enjoy creating with the Grow With Love stamps and dies soon...I just had to experiment in another direction first!  

Ocean Friends is in the current January - April 2025 Mini Catalog, but will probably be retiring in April.  You won't want to miss out on this paper!  

Grow With Love can be found in the OnLine Exclusives, and I'm sure you'll enjoy creating with it!  Check it out here.

Product List

Ocean Friends Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164685]

$24.00

Ocean Friends Bundle (English)

[164692]

$49.50

Friends Of The Ocean Suite Collection (English)

[164697]

$81.00

Peach Pie Classic Stampin Pad

[163810]

$9.00

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[147086]

$9.00

Friends Of The Ocean 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[164684]

$12.50

Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock

[163797]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Ocean Friends Dies

[164691]

$31.00

Grow With Love Dies

[164803]

$37.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$130.00

2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems

[163781]

$8.50

Summer Splash 3/8" (1 Cm) Bordered Ribbon

[163786]

$7.50

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

[155475]

$11.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

One Sheet, Four Cards, Part 2

 Yesterday I showed you how I made four cards from one sheet of Designer Series Paper.  You can see those cards here.  

As I noted then, I saw a technique on a blog by fellow demonstrator Sharon Armstrong, and decided to give it a try.  

Start with a sheet of Basic White cardstock, 8-1/2" x 11", and one sheet of patterned paper, 6" x 6" (I used the Full of Life DSP):

Adhere the patterned paper to the white, using plenty of adhesive (I used Liquid Glue).  The paper doesn't have to be straight - you get more interesting designs if it's a bit wonky, like mine.  

Wait until your adhesive is dry, then cut your paper in to 4 pieces, measuring 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" each (cut the white paper in half in both directions).

Now you get to play with the pieces a little to see in which direction you will use them to make your cards:

Choose coordinating cardstock colors for a layer and a card base:

Cut your card base to the standard 4-1/4" x 11 OR 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and score in the middle; cut your colored layer to 4" x 5-1/4".  Then cut your white-with-DSP layer to 3-3/4" x 5".  

Choose your greeting and stamp or add your die-cuts:

Add a little bling, and your cards are done!  Easy!  Quick!  And fun!

Give it a try!  I know you have 6" x 6" DSP lying around (don't we all?)...this is a great way to use it!  

Product List

My Small Business Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[163720]

$19.00

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

$9.00

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$9.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

[147099]

$9.00

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

$9.00

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

[147143]

$9.00

Full Of Life 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[163357]

$12.50

Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146968]

$11.50

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161719]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

$11.25

Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146987]

$11.50

Petunia Pop 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163801]

$11.50

Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144243]

$11.50

Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146982]

$11.50

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$13.00

Tinsel Gems Four Pack

[161623]

$8.00

Glossy Dots Assortment

[158827]

$8.00

Rainbow Adhesive Backed Dots

[162758]

$9.00

Sponge Daubers

[133773]

$7.50

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00