Kintsugi Inspirations

 "Kintsugi : the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum."

 "It's a practice that embraces the imperfections of an object, transforming breaks and repairs into beautiful, unique features. This technique is not just a method of restoration, but also a philosophy that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and resilience."

I love so many things about Japan and its culture. Kintsugi is a fine example of of this very fact.

To repair a broken object, showing the break, the "imperfections",and making it beautiful!

So, when Stampin' Up! brought out the Kintsugi Inspirations Suite Collection, there was no question of "if" I would get it.

In my last Cards to Go kit, I used much of the different elements of the Suite to create these two cards.

For this card, the card base (of Midnight Muse) has been Embossed with the Joined Together 3D Embossing Folder. The vases and flower and cut, using the Kintsugi Imperfections dies, straight from the Kintsugi Inspirations Specialty Designer Series Paper. Add a sentiment and it's good to go!

With this card, I have die cut a vase from Basic White cardstock, then run it through with the Embossing Folder so that the vase has the embossed blossoms. I've then rubbed an ink pad directly onto the embossed vase image, and used a blending brush to add some colour to the edges of the vase.

I've used the die cut "cracks" for branches, and added the diecut blossoms.

Finished with gold embossing the sentiment and the "Flower Accents" embellishments.

What do you think? The possibilities are endless with these products - it's only the tip of the iceberg....

Florals in Bloom - get a Suite deal!

Last month, I used the Florals in Bloom Suite collection to create my Cards Kits to Go.

The ideas for these cards came straight out of the 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue. I love using the catalogue for inspiration, and sometimes just love replicating the cards straight out of the catalogue!

Here is one I copied directly (as I thought it was so striking!) from page 46.

This next one, I took inspiration from one of the cards on Page 40 and changed things around a bit.

I have loved playing with all the different products in this suite which has two stamp & die bundles, Designer Series Paper and embellishments.

See the full Suite and all the products available in it HERE.

June is a great month to by products from Suites, or full Suite collections as you can Buy One, Get One 50% off. 

You don’t have to buy a suite and suite products all from the same suite collection for the discount to apply. You can buy ANY suite products from ANY suite.

This is only while supplies last - so DON'T WAIT!!

 

Quick Cards with Wildflower Birthday Suite collection

It's been a while now, and we're almost at the end of both the current Mini Catalogue (January - April) and current Annual Catalogue (2024-2025).

May will see the release of the 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue - which of course will see the arrival of new In Colors.

For now tough, we say goodbye to some favourites from the 2025 January-April Mini Catalogue and the 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue, as well as the retiring 2023-2025 In Colors.

Make sure to order any Ink Refills, cardstock and other items of those colours - while supplies last!

My March Cards to Go Kits featured products from the Wildflower Birthday Suite Collection with the addition of the Stripes & Florals Mix & Match Cards & Envelopes and some other cardstock.

These cards are quick to make as the Specialty Designer Series Paper features two full pages of die cut elements with Gold Foil accents.

Sentiment for the first and second card are from the

 Greetings for All Mix & Match Ephemera Pack

This third card is taken taken from a sample in the Mini catalogue and changed slightly.

Wildflower Birthday Suite

Stripes & Florals Mix & Match Cards & Envelopes

 The Gold Weave Trim (mesh type ribbon) as been used on all three cards as have the Party Dots embellishments. You can buy these items individually or altogether in the Suite.

Luckily, I think this Suite collection is hanging around a little longer "online" after the Mini Catalogue sales period has ended!

Craft for a Cause

Last post, I mentioned that the Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP) was the Product Giveback for Stampin' Up! this year.

I have loved using this paper, and have held a Card Buffet which featured use of this paper heavily in the cards that could be made.

Below is a very small selection of what was on offer in my Card Buffet class.

This very simple card uses an image from the DSP, cut out with a tag die from the Greetings of the Season dies. With the addition of a dry embossed background and a heat embossed sentiment on another piece of the DSP, a little ribbon and layer of coordinating cardstock and the card is done!

The next card is a very similar in design, this time die cutting an image directly from the DSP (with the coordinating Sentimental Wishes dies) and adding a couple of die cut little branches. It once again has a sentiment that is heat embossed and this time a larger piece of DSP as the background layer.

Grab yourself a pack (or two) of the Sentimental Christmas 12" x 12" (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper to Craft & Give Back this Christmas season.

Quick Christmas Cards

Did you know that each year, Stampin' Up! donates a portion of sales from a specific product to global cause? This is called the Product Give Back. You can "Craft for a Cause" and know that you are helping towards this cause.

This year, the Product is Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper (DSP).

It's easy to make a stack of quick Christmas cards with the designs of this paper.

Here is just one example.

The Reindeer image is simply fussy cut straight from a page of the paper.

Add some ribbon, bling, a sentiment, and one of the other designed in the paper pack, and you have this card! I have put this on a card base of Pretty Peacock, as I think it sets it all off in the best way.

What do you think?