The holiday season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. But for many, it can also be a season marked by grief and loneliness. Whether someone is dealing with the loss of a loved one, missing family who can’t be near, or feeling isolated in the midst of the holidays, the season’s festivities can sometimes amplify those feelings.

As we celebrate this Christmas, let’s take a moment to reach out with kindness and compassion to those who may be struggling. Small gestures of connection can make a world of difference, reminding them—and us—that the true spirit of the season lies in love, empathy, and shared humanity.

As card makers, we have the ability to create something truly heartfelt to touch the lives of those experiencing grief or loneliness. The card featured here is just one example of how we can bring comfort and hope to others through the art of handmade kindness. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your circle of friends, family, or community, and consider who might need a little extra love this season. A simple card, crafted with care, can remind someone they are not alone.

This Christmas, let’s embrace the opportunity to be a light for others, especially those who may be going through difficult times. Whether it’s a simple phone call, a handwritten note, or an invitation to share a meal, these simple acts of kindness and inclusion will surely help bring comfort and connection.  It's so important to extend the joy and hope of the season to those who need it most.  After all, Christmas is about giving from the heart.

As we begin Thanksgiving week here in the U.S., I thought I'd share a remake from a past project...a Thanksgiving table favor.  This is a little bag to hold mints or a little gift and you can customize it to go with your tablescape or any event.

Here's the video, along with a pretty napkin fold by my husband, Jackie.  Enjoy!

Lisa's Inklings:

• Cut the designer paper to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2.
• Score on the long side at 2,4,6 and 8.
• Turn and score what will be the box bottom at 2".
• Assemble as shown in the video.

Enjoy your week as you prepare for Thanksgiving!  If you make some of these table favors, send a photo...I'd love to see!

On this week's Premiere video, we created this tri-fold 4" x 4" card with the precious Yuletide Village Photopolymer Stamp Set [164310].

 The base is constructed with the awesome new two tone card stock from our updated scrapbooking and memory keeping collection.

Below is the video with the process to make this fun fold card.

Lisa's Inklings:

• Halloween Memories 12" X 12" Two Tone Cardstock [166497]in Pool Party cut 4" x 12" and scorred at 4" and 8".
• Halloween Spells Designer Series Paper [166493]:3 pieces (Pool Party) cut at 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" 
• White Willow 12" X 12"  Cardstock [166703]2 Pieces cut at  3 3/4" x 3 3/4" and for the front image a die cut or cut piece at 2 3/8" x 2 3/8".
• Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482]to back the front image cut at 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

Use your Stampin' Blends to color the sweet yuletide images.

Get your crafting self busy...in your spare time this weekend ;)...  and create this fun fold for someone special on your list.  They will love it!

If you love paper crafting and want to be prepared for the holiday season (or just have fun creating beautiful gifts and cards), 

then this Black Friday Weekend Special is just what you’ve been waiting for!

Get all three of these fabulous online classes 

for just $47 – a $97 value! 

That’s like getting two classes for FREE! 

Buy Now!

If you're looking for an easy way to make line art images stand out without the need for coloring, heat embossing is the technique to try! I love this technique, especially when creating Christmas cards. The combination of heat embossing on colored card stock gives your projects a polished look with minimal effort.

In today’s project, I’m sharing a card design using the Yuletide Village stamp set. This set is perfect for this technique. For this particular card, I used red card stock, which pairs beautifully with heat-embossed designs, adding warmth and a festive feel to the holiday season.

Take a moment to watch the video below where I’ll walk you through the process and share tips to get the best results.

  Try this technique for your holiday cards with the Yuletide Village stamp set and watch the images pop on the front of your cards.

This week, we’re turning the spotlight on the charming Yuletide Village stamp set, and I couldn’t be more excited to share some crafting ideas with you! If you love crafting with  traditional Christmas images, this set will be a favorite.  This set featuries line-art images of village houses, a church, and other buildings and invites you to create your own cozy winter scene that’s perfect for cards, tags, décor, and more.

One of the things I love most about the Yuletide Village set is its versatility. Explore coloring with your favorite coloring tools like watercolor pencils, Stampin’ Blends, or ink and a blender pen to bring these scenes to life.  Use the included snow, banner, and tree images to personalize your scene or add the repeating brick wall stamp to create a fence for your village. So many possibilities and every project feels like a little piece of art.

For this card, the church  shows when the card is closed or open through the peek-through die-cut circle.  This technique is a fun way to highlight the main image.

Whether you’re creating heartfelt Christmas cards, unique tags for your holiday gifts, or a sweet framed piece for your home, the Yuletide Village stamp set is ready to help you bring your festive ideas to life.

Want to make this beautiful set part of your collection? Visit my Online Store today to purchase the Yuletide Village stamp set and start creating your own winter wonderland!

The Sentimental Wishes Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies are perfect for capturing the spirit of a vintage Christmas. Featuring classic holiday images, it’s a must-have for anyone who loves traditional holiday designs.  In this week's LIVE broadcast, we created an easy Christmas gift card holder using these products to create a project with a nostalgic feel.

If you missed the LIVE, you can take a look at the recording below.

Lisa's Inklings:

• Card base is cut 4 1/" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2".  Then, cut off  2 3/4" off card front.
• Cut patterned paper to 4" x 5 1/4".  Then cut 2 1/2" off the left side on the 5 1/4" side.
• You will need another piece of the patterned paper cut 1 1/4" x 4" for the gift card pocket.
• Basic White for inside: 2 1/2" x 4".
• Outside layers: 2" x 3 1/2" ( Shaded Spruce) and 2 1/4 x 3 3/4" (Poppy Parade)
  
  Pick up the Sentimental Wishes Bundle and the Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper in the online store and start crafting these gift card holders to get ready for Christmas!

Are you ready to learn a new fun fold card to wow your friends and family with a truly unique design?

I'm thrilled to introduce our Angled Specialty Fold Class Tutorial—a fantastic way to create a beautiful and impressive card that’s perfect for any occasion!

Why You’ll Love This Class:

Whether you’re celebrating a holiday, a birthday, an anniversary, or just want to send a special “thinking of you” note, this Angled Specialty Fold card is a showstopper. While the example card in this class tutorial is holiday-themed, the design is versatile enough to be adapted for any occasion. You can easily switch up the stamps, colors, and papers to match your sentiment.

What You’ll Learn:

In this 20-minute, easy-to-follow video tutorial, you’ll learn how to create this fun fold with confidence. The best part? While the design might look intricate at first glance, it’s actually quite simple once you have the right instructions. I’ll walk you through each step, ensuring that you’ll be able to recreate this special fold again and again.

And don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start—use the stamps, paper, and supplies you already have on hand! This class is all about making the most of what’s in your crafting stash, and you’ll love how easy it is to adapt the design to suit any occasion.

Learn at Your Own Pace:

This class is designed with your busy schedule in mind. You can access the video whenever you have time, so there’s no rush. Watch it once, twice, or more—it's totally up to you! And, as an added bonus, you’ll receive a detailed project sheet as a thank you that includes measurements and helpful tips to guide you through the process. It’s a great resource to keep on hand.

What’s Included in the Angled Specialty Fold Class Tutorial:

• 20-minute video tutorial – Learn how to make this stunning fun fold card at your own pace.
• BONUS project sheet – This project sheet includes the measurements, details, and tips you’ll need to create your card with ease.
• Access to the class anytime – Watch the video whenever it fits into your schedule.
  

Get Started Today!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn a new specialty fun fold! For just $15.00, you’ll gain access to all of the above. Whether you're new to fun folds or a cardmaking pro, this class will give you confidence to create beautiful cards that impress!

Click the link below to sign up for the Angled Specialty Fold Tutorial and let’s get crafting!

Sign Up Now for the Angled Specialty Fold Tutorial Class

I can't wait to see what beautiful cards you create, and I’m excited to share this fun new technique with you!

This week on Ink and Inspirations, we’re excited to feature the Sentimental Wishes Bundle—a perfect pick for your holiday card making. If you love a vintage feel with traditional Christmas imagery, this is for you!

The Sentimental Wishes Bundle includes a beautiful stamp set with classic holiday designs like a filled stocking, a holly branch, and Christmas candles. These images are perfect for adding a vintage touch  of days gone by to your holiday creations. And, when paired with the coordinating Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper, you’ll have an awesome combination for your holiday cards!

For this today’s project, we have a simple cardmaking technique, what I like to call the Window Pane Technique, that incorporates the Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper. The pattern papers from this collection have soft colors and traditional designs that complement these stamps beautifully.

In this video, I’ll walk you through the process of how to use these patterned papers to make a simple yet stunning backdrop for your sentiments and images.

Lisa's Inklings:

• Cut patterned paper at 2 3/4" x 4".
• Cut in half on the 2 3/4" side at 1 3/8".
• Cut in half on the 4" side at 2".

I can't wait for you to try this out and make your holiday cards extra special this season. 

Ready to begin? Head over to the Online Store and grab your Sentimental Wishes Bundle and Sentimental Christmas Designer Series Paper today. Your holiday card-making is about to get a whole lot more festive!

It's a great deal on paper crafting products coming this week! From November 13–15, 2024, save with these purchases from the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog:

Sale Items From the 2024–2025 Annual Catalog:

• 10% off ink, including pads, refills, markers, and Stampin’ Blends. Ink pad bundles and third-party ink pads (like Stazon and Memento, etc.) are NOT included.
   
• 10% off cardstock. Close To My Heart cardstock is NOT included.
   
• 20% total off all stamp and die bundles and stamp and punch bundles. (Stamp bundles are normally 10% off. With this sale you get an additional 10% off.)
   
• 20% off all Designer Series Paper.

All from the 2024–2025 Annual Catalog! This is a great time for you to get those bundles you’ve been eyeing. Or stock up on paper crafting essentials—every cute project starts with cute paper!

Sale prices will not show in the Online Store until Wednesday.

If I can help you with your order, please let me know!

Email me or text/call 409.719.2853.

This week, we've been spotlighting the beautiful Shepherd's Care stamp set, and today we're wrapping things up with a stunning monochromatic card in shades of blue.

While our previous easel card featured warm beige tones, this card takes on a rich and regal look with Misty Moonlight and Night of Navy. The contrast in color truly showcases the versatility of this stamp set and how different tones can bring out a whole new feel.

This design is not only elegant but also simple to recreate, making it perfect for making multiples to send out to family and friends. Whether you're looking to spread some love or offer comfort, this card design will surely resonate with its message of peace and hope.

Take a look at the video below to watch the easy assembly process, and see how quickly you can create your own beautiful cards with Shepherd’s Care.

Don't miss out on this meaningful stamp set! Click here to purchase Shepherd's Care from my online store and add it to your collection.

Our spotlight stamp set for this week is the beautiful Shepherd's Care from the Stampin' Up! Mini Catalog.  The images are lovely and the sentiments are spot on for those whose holiday might not be "merry" but may be going through some difficult times.  The Shepherd's Care stamp set is just what you need to create those greetings.

In this week's LIVE stream, we created very pretty card with this stamp set.  Featured is a simple watercolor technique that works well with this set.  You can watch the recording below.

Lisa's Inklings:
-Basic Beige card base is cut 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 2 1/4" and 5 1/2" on the 11" side.
-Also from Basic Beige: 4" x 5 1/4" for front layer; 4" x 4" for inside of card; 4 1/4" x 2 1/2" to stamp and fussy cut the shepherd; 1/2" x 3 1/4" for sentiment.
-Gold Foil: 3 3/4" x 5" for card front layer and 3/4" x 3 1/2" for behind sentiment.
-Watercolor Paper: 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".

Here are the special products that you will need to reproduce this card:

Product List

Shepherd's Care Cling Stamp Set (English)

[164300]

Basic Beige 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[164511]

Gold Foil Sheets

[132622]

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper

[149612]

Water Painters

[151298]

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[147116]

Whether someone in your life is grieving, facing an illness, or simply feeling the weight of life’s challenges, a card made with the Shepherd’s Care set can serve as a heartfelt reminder that they’re not alone. Handmade cards crafted with this set become more than just cards; they become keepsakes and symbols of hope.  Order your Shepherd's Care stamp set today.

A new line of products for Online Exclusives is here! You won’t find these items in any catalog, which means you will see fresh crafting supplies in the Online Store.

Along with other new products to spark your creativity, you will find the two new suites pictured here...the Marbled Elegance Suite and the Otterly Adorable Suite.

See all the new products in the Online Store today!