New at SU blog hop Two-Tone Summer

I'm delighted to be back joining the New at SU! monthly blog hop.  I've been away for awhile as we had various other things going on in life that took my time, but I'm back for my first hop of 2026.

We're sharing some fabulous ideas and tips for using the relatively new to Stampin' Up! card stock.  I've chosen to use one of the beautiful new In Colors which is called Hydrangea Hue.  It's a mix of Blue, Lilac and hints of Purple, but is just so so pretty and doesn't it look great with Cajun Craze!  I saw the Duchess of Edinburgh in the media for a recent royal visit wearing a very smart dress in just this colour and she teamed it with a Cinnamon/Cajun Craze coloured hat and she looked stunning and so that was me sold and ready with my colour combo for this hop. 

I made the above card in advance of the hop, but have created a similar version in my youtube tutorial below.  On the day of filming my phone decided it was full so there are a couple of selective edits, but I'm sure it now flows and you can pick up my tips.  I hope you enjoy it. 

Two-tone cardstock is so flexible.  It comes in 12 x 12 inch sheets and is between Stampin' Up!'s usual card stock weight and our designer series papers.  Each sheet has as it says on the tin 2 tones one lighter than the other on one side and the slightly darker on the other.  You can flip a piece to add a frame to the other tone, emboss it and sand it as you'll see in the video, it's lighter for matt layers and therefore cheaper for postage potentially and you can stamp on it, heat emboss on it and more.  You can buy individual colour packs or mixed packs with a couple of sheets each of a selection of colours.  What more could a paper crafter want.  

On a  previous POST I used the Barely Blush for a girly sailing card using the Sunset Coast bundle.  There are even more ideas as you click around the hop using the links below.  

 Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop.

Happy stamping

Zoe x

Blog Hop Index

Supplies Used

Hydrangea Hue two-tone cardstock

Springtime scenes bundle

Flower accents

Try this eclipse card technique with your favourite stamps

 

I recently created this Eclipse technique card and had several people ask me how to create this effect.  I decided to make a tutorial using a different stamp set and have also shared below a sympathy card I made using the same technique.  For the card above I used the last chance list stamp set called Simply Beautiful and added a sentiment from the Sincerely Noted mix and match ephemera pack.  A sentiment from the same pack was used on the card below which features the Layers of Beauty stamp set.  Both sets are on the last chance list at low prices if you like a bargain and want options for creating this technique. 

You can use different colours, stampes and card layouts in terms of portrait or landscape and so the options are varied and numerous.  Great way to use matting layers that you may not usually try.  

Above I've team white with Secret Sea - my new Old Olive type colour that goes with just about anything - and Darling Duckling which is not always my go to colour as I'm not a fan of mucky yellows, but this one actually works for me.  

Below I've used Crumb Cake for the stamping and added a new In Color called Barely Blush and it really is barely pink, but it is just enough for a card like this and for the message it sends.  

So have I tempted you to try this technique? Here's my short video of another colour way and stamp for you to find out the how to and tips.  

There are so many ways you could create different versions of this technique.  I hope you have fun having a go with your favourite stamps.  

Happy stamping

Zoe x

Supplies used can be currently found in the Last Chance List with some amazing prices and for the next three days 11 to 13th June you can enjoy free shipping for orders of £60 or more and if you spend £70 or more be sure to look at the Product of the month which you can buy for £5.  

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Scenic Coast tutorial with tips for using embossed two-tone card and sanding

 

Happy Friday everyone.  This month for our Totally Techniques blog hop we are sharing ideas and tips for using our fabulous two tone cardstock.  If you haven't come across it yet it is exactly what it says on the wrapper two tone. This means a sheet is coloured on both sides one with a lighter shade of the same colour and the other a little darker.  The centre of this card is white so it's also perfect for adding texture by tearing edges which you can also colour if you wish with blending brushes or markers.   It's weight is between the usual Stampin' Up! ® card stock and our designer series papers which again makes it perfect for layers to keep the weight of your designs down to save a little on postage.  

For my card I've used the new In Color Barely Blush and it really is the lightest of pinks so very soft and beautiful.  If you team it with Crumb Cake it softens the latter and raises the soft pink.  

Now our main plan this month is to dry emboss the cardstock and then because as I've already mentioned use some gentle sand paper to rub off some of the colour on your embossed piece to add subtle changes and depth to your project.  

I've also chosen to use the fabulous Sunset Coast stamp and die bundle and show it in a somewhat different light to what you may have already seen with the gorgeous Scenic Coast specialty papers.  They are stunning and I love them, but I know not everyone is looking for bold and striking, and yet these stamps and dies can work in other ways and I hope you agree. 

My video shows how I created this card and has lots of tips for a couple of other techniques too.  You'll note that since the recording I've added a bird which I die cut with double sided adhesive on the back of the cardstock and the die is part of this set.  You can leave it off if you feel the need for a sentiment in that spot. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the video and the rest of the hop with different ideas for this fun and easy technique. 

Happy days and crafting

Zoe x

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SHOP supplies

Mixed two tone cardstock includes Barely Blush

Sunset Coast stamp and die bundle

In Color Dots

Fluid 100 Watercolour Paper

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Faux Metallic Embossing Technique - how to do it and lots of ideas for using it

 

Hello crafty friends

This month for the Totally Techniques blog hop we are sharing tips and ideas for the Faux Metallic Embossing Technique.  

I've used a fabulous bundle called Springtime Scenes and celebrated Ladybirds which have been out in their hundreds recently in our sash windows and in the garden, but that's good because they eat the bugs you don't want usually.  

Here's my tutorial

I hope you find the tips useful and like the somewhat different way I have used this technique.   

I'm sure you'll find lots of inspiration from my Totally Techniques friends and I hope you'll try this fun technique.  You can find another ladybird card with the Springtime Scenes bundle coming over the weekend or on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/zoetant. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Keep crafting

Zoe x

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Click here to enter

Shop Supplies

Springtime Scenes stamp and die bundle

Save 10% when you buy the bundle instead of individual items

Friendly Foliage stamp set

metallic embossing powder bundle

Versamark ink pad 

basic rhinestones

Garden Green Chevron ribbon

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Try this sketch challenge with the Gears and Textures Bundle

Hi I joined a sketch challenge group on Instragram and this our the sketch we decided to create with our stash for April.  

I used the Gears and Textures bundle and went for a more girly colour scheme than I've used before with this bundle.  The papers are part of an amazing pack called Mixed Up Patterns offering subtle designs in various colours.  I followed the sketch using the green, yellow and pink colours and I'm really happy with how this turned out.  I used the stamp set for some background imaging and then cut different gears/cogs for overlay.   To add my usual bling I used gold embellishments from the Kintsugi Suite.  I've found these so useful for subtle bling.  

You can see what the others did by visiting my instagram account and they are all tagged in my post with the sketch showing.  

I'll pop this in the post at some point to say hi to someone and brighten their day.  

Have a great weekend crafty friends.

Hugs Zoe x

LAST DAY FOR DOUBLE STAMPIN' REWARDS

Shop Supplies Used

Gears and Textures Bundle

Mixed Up Patterns 12 x 12 papers

Flower Accents gold

 

Ink pads

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