It's a Fontastic blog hop with New at SU

 Welcome to the October 2026 New at SU blog hop where we are sharing projects using different fonts. I've turned to my  Party Alphabet dies to create two handmade Christmas cards getting full use of my piece of card.  You could vary this design to suit the papers and embossing folders you have.  For example cut the letters from the gold Neutral Noel DSP  and set them onto a coordinating colour piece of card.  The options are numerous and it can use as much of the card and papers you choose.  Off cuts can be used for the stars or other embellishment.  These are from the Welcome Noel dies.  

Once you've cut your letters for the card above use Stampin' Blends, markers or water colour pencils to add your chosen design or colour.  If you prefer a crisp look use a ruler to keep your colouring in straight lines.  If you struggle with colouring within the lines make it wonky/wavy on all lines and then it looks just right too.  

I used the smaller tree stamp from Welcome Noel to heat emboss the trees in white and then die cut them with the coordinating die.  These trees slip nicely under the letters if you raise the letters on dimensionals. 

You can stick with just 'JOY' or use a stamp from another set to extend the sentiment.  I used 'Wishing You' from the Sending Salutations stamp set.  I masked the rest of the stamp so that I could just get the part I needed.  

Don't let the remaining piece of card go to waste. Create a second card using the aperture left.  I embossed mine using the Swirls of Magic folder and the red stars compliment the ribbon and stars in the folder design.  

 

The gold textured dsp adds a touch of luxe and a little sparkle for Christmas.  

Quick tip

So as not to bulk the card make sure you add the ribbon to a part of the design that is lower than the outside die cut piece so that the knot is at the same level as the embossed layer.  Keeps the postage costs as low as possible.  The embossed layer is on Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Thank you for visiting my blog and enjoy the hop.  If you like what you see please do give me a follow here or on Facebook

Have a great end to your week. 

Zoe x

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Easy Faux Tile Technique stamping tutorial

Hi and welcome to September's Totally Techniques Blog Hop.  I have several examples for you this month of this simple, but very effective and versatile technique.  The basic tools are a scoreboard, card and some stamps and ink.  From there you can upgrade your design with diecuts, embellishments or sentiments or whatever captures your imagination.  

I found that the Gears and Textures stamps and dies worked really well for this and you can create cards for everyone and just change the colours.  I have also used a couple of flower sets for floral stamping and more girly colour scheme or with a little imagination you can use a stamp from a set coming in November as an online exclusive to create a simple Christmas card that will wow your friends.  The set used is called Notes of Collage and at first sight lends itself to collage stamping or mixed media but as you'll see it can transform into a simple festive design also. 

And finally a quick and easy Christmas card design.  Watch out in November for the Notes of Collage bundle when the November Online Exclusives arrive.  

Enjoy the hop and have a fabulous weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

Zoe x

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Stepping up your card ideas for the New at SU blog hop

Welcome to my take on the New at SU blog hop for September 2026.  The theme for the hop is Simple to Stepped Up card making.  I've used a very easy fun fold and added to it to step it up and added different elements too.  It's easy to make with just stamps, ink and paper or you can step it up with embellishments, layers and die cuts with a little stamping too!

The simplest version of the card created with Daffodil Delight DSP and Lemon Lime Twist stamping.  
 

You can simply step up this basic version with some more colours and embellishments.

Colours used for version 2 are Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist and Coastal Cabana.  I've added some dots for a little more detail. 

Version 3 which is stepped up with an additional folded piece, die cuts and dots to cover my stamping bloopers!  I used the Holly Jolly Branches and Welcome Noel dies to create my focal point. 

The measurements for the card are as follows

Metric

Base card   23 x 15cm  score at 14 cm

First flap    13 x 11cm  score at 11 cm

Second flap 10 x 5cm score at 8cm  

DSP

Base 14.5 x 13.5cm

First Flap  10.5 x 10.5cm

Second Flap if required 7.5 x 4.5 cm

Imperial 

Base card 9 x 6" score at 51/2"

First Flap 41\4 x 5" score at 41/4"

Second flap 4 x 2" score at 3/4" 

DSP Imperial

Base 51/4 x 53/4"

First flap 4 x 4"

Second Flag if required 3 x 13/4"

I've had lots of fun with this card and I think the possibilities are endless.  It is perfect for using lots of different off cuts of DSP, different stamps and lots of occasions.   I'd love to see what you make. 

Enjoy the blog hop

Hugs Zoe x

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Cardmaking idea for your favourite gardener

 In my last post I shared a tutorial for creating a water colour wash and then using the result to die cut pieces to create designs and also how to enhance the water colour wash with metallic embellishment.  The video I shared shows how to create the wash and some ideas including embossing paste and embossing powder to enhance what you create. 

At the time I also created this card using the Scalloped Bloom dies to die cut the flower heads and leaves and used gold foil card to add my metallic embellishment as leaves and also some Flower Accents in gold for a little more sparkle.  

The flower pots are dies from the Help Me Grow bundle which is currently on the last chance list, but buy the stamps and dies separately you might find a little more discount from the usual bundle 10% off.  

Before die cutting the pots I used a blending brush with Cajun Craze ink to add soft colour to white card.  It's a great tool for adding shading by putting more pressure on your brush to add deeper colour.   I then gently spritzed it with water and blotted it off almost immediately to create the detail to the pots. You remove quickly so as not to make the white card react to the moisture.  I also used a retired Cajun Craze marker to add splatters once I had die cut the pots.  

With a journalling pen I add stems to the flowers free hand which once the leaves were added looked better. I'm no artist that's for sure.  

My sentiment and many used in my previous post are from a set called Sending Salutations, which at first look it didn't grab me, but now I'm finding it really useful and I love the script font mixed with the modern block capitals. 

Check out my video in my last Stampingscene post. 

Using different colour combos you could create some similar, but varied cards using this idea. 

Have fun trying

Zoe x

COMING SOON ON 1st September

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Sending Salutations

 

Help Me Grow dies

Help Me Grow stamp set

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Ideas for metallic embellishment with water colour wash tips

 

I have really enjoyed creating for this blog hop, mainly because I love to tinker with ink and see what I can do.  Our theme is Metallic Embellishment and many I'm sure will share some fab ideas for using the new Hot Foil Machine that Stampin' Up! has recently launched. However I don't have this yet and so decided to share some different metallic embellishment ideas with you using embossing powder, embossing paste, flower accents gems and water colour washes.  I hope you like the simple ideas to create some rather different designs.  

Watch the video tutorial to see versions of both these cards being created and a bonus idea at the end.  Enjoy the blog hop.

Thanks for joining our monthly Totally Techniques Blog Hop we share a technique and lots of ideas on the last Friday of each month usually.

Have a great weekend.

Zoe x

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Available to buy from 1st September 

Shop Supplies

Embossing paste

Fluid 100 watercolour paper

secret sea ink refill

Cajun Craze Ink card page

Flower Accents

wow metallic embossing powder bundle