This week at Ink and Inspirations, we’re celebrating the joy of celebrating birthdays with your handmade creations. Today’s project is extra special—it’s a 40th birthday card for my daughter! 

Milestone birthdays deserve to be celebrated in style, and what better way than with a handmade card? Using the Birthday Celebration Bundle and the gorgeous Wildflower Birthday Specialty Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up!, I created a card that’s both elegant and meaningful—just like this special occasion!

A milestone birthday is more than just another year—it’s a beautiful reminder of life’s journey and the memories yet to come. This card design reflects that sentiment with a bold "40" in Gold Foil in front and center, thanks to the amazing number dies included in the Birthday Celebration Bundle.

The number dies in this bundle are the perfect size to highlight any milestone birthday! Whether it’s 40, 50, or beyond or for one of the littles in your life, you can customize it to fit the celebration.

There’s something so meaningful about receiving a handmade card, especially for a milestone birthday. It’s a gift from the heart... a piece of art created with love. And the best part? You can create a customized, one-of-a-kind card for any age with this versatile bundle!

Want to create a milestone birthday card of your own?

The Birthday Celebration Bundle and Wildflower Birthday Specialty Designer Series Paper are available now in my Online Store! Grab yours today and start crafting heartfelt birthday cards for the special people in your life.

Shop now: 

Birthday Celebration Bundle (Includes stamp set and dies with 10% off)

Wildflower Birthday Specialty Designer Series Paper

Stay tuned for more birthday inspiration this week on Ink and Inspirations and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube.

Welcome to Birthday Celebration Week here at Ink and Inspirations! This week, we’re celebrating the joy of handmade birthday cards with the stunning Birthday Celebration Bundle, the Wildflower Celebrations Specialty Designer Series Paper, and other fabulous products from Stampin’ Up!

Today’s card is all about making a wish—a sweet sentiment for a birthday celebration!

This birthday card is designed to bring a smile to anyone’s face with its beautiful and cheerful colors and, of course, a big Make a Wish sentiment!

Why Handmade Birthday Cards Matter

A handmade birthday card isn’t just a card—it’s a heartfelt hug in an envelope. Imagine the joy on your loved one’s face when a card like this one made just for them!

Want to make this card?
The Birthday Celebration Bundle and Wildflower Celebrations Specialty Designer Series Paper are available in my Online Store! Click below to grab your supplies and start crafting beautiful birthday cards today!

Shop Now

Stay tuned for more birthday inspiration throughout the week! 

Every relationship has a story. Some are filled with love and devotion, some with laughter and adventure, while others are built on support and understanding. No matter the chapter you’re in, a handmade card is a heartfelt way to celebrate these special connections.

Today’s card is designed with love and friendship in mind—perfect for sharing on Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day. With a mix of elegance and charm, this card is the ideal way to say, “Our story is one for the books.” The For the Books Stamp Set paired with the Hearts of Elegance Dies, combine to create a classic and heartfelt design creates a design. 

Featured Products:

For The Books Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[164836]

Hearts Of Elegance Dies

[164915]

Storybook Moments 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper & Sticker Sheet (English)

[166617]

Whether you’re celebrating a love story, a cherished friendship, or the people who have been part of your life’s journey, this card is a beautiful way to share your appreciation. Handmade cards have a personal touch...they are a piece of your heart, crafted with love.

Want to create this card yourself? Visit my Online Store today to get the For the Books Stamp Set, Hearts of Elegance Dies, and all the supplies you need to bring your creation to life. Start crafting your story today!

There’s something special about books, isn’t there? They transport us to new worlds, teach us invaluable lessons, and sometimes, they even spark our creativity.

This week, I’m celebrating all things books—from reading for personal growth to crafting beautiful, book-inspired projects!

Whether you're a book lover, a paper crafter, or both, get ready for a week filled with creativity, inspiration, and a special handmade project featuring the For The Books Bundle!

Books don’t just sit on our shelves collecting dust (well, most of them 😆). They inspire us, motivate us, and even make the perfect gifts when we find one that we'd like to share with others. And what better way to celebrate our love of books than by incorporating them into our crafting?

So get ready for some fun content focusing on reading, personal development, and, of course, a book-inspired crafting project that you’ll love on our LIVE Thursday, February 6th on Facebook and YouTube at 4 PM ET, 3 PM CT, 2 PM MT, and 1 PM PT.

Today's project is a fun fold card with an angled front, featuring the For The Books Stamp Set—a set that’s perfect for book lovers and crafters alike.  This set and coordinating dies feature adorable book-themed stamps and dies that will make your projects shine with a bookish theme.  So shop now and add it to your "library" of stamp and die bundles!  

For The Books Bundle (English)

[164843]

$28.75

 

 

Let’s make this week a celebration of books, creativity, and handmade creations! What’s your favorite book to read over and over again? Drop your answer in the comments—I’d love to know!

Do you have a friend or family member who lives alone or might be navigating a tough season? Imagine the joy on their face when they find a handmade card in their mailbox—just a simple but heartfelt reminder that someone is thinking of them.

This week, we'll be talking about making a difference with our handmade cards and it’s all about spreading kindness, one card at a time. Sometimes, it’s the smallest gestures that leave the biggest impact, and sending a handmade card is one of the easiest ways to do that.

Today’s featured card is perfect for reconnecting with a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while or brightening the day of someone who lives alone. With its warm latte theme, it’s a cozy way to send a little love.

This card uses some fabulous products that are part of the Last Chance List. If you’re a coffee, latte, or cocoa lover—or know someone who is—these are must-haves! They’re only available while supplies last, so now’s the time to grab them at a discount:

• Latte Love Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [163455]- Only $8
  Perfect for stamping adorable coffee cups, sentiments, and more.
• A Little Latte 12" X 12" Designer Series Paper [163453]
  These charming patterns are full of coffee-shop vibes and include sweet cups you can fussy cut for easy accents.  This pack is not discounted but totally worth the price!
• Natural 3/8"  Polka Dot Trim [163465]
  A versatile ribbon that adds the perfect finishing touch to your project.

The adorable cups on today’s card? They were cut directly from the patterned paper! If you’re feeling creative, you can also stamp the cups and fussy cut them with your trusty Paper Snips to add your own spin.

Why Handmade Cards Matter

Handmade cards aren’t just paper and ink—they’re a heartfelt expression of care. Whether it’s a simple “thinking of you” note or an encouraging message, your card has the power to bring light to someone’s day. This week, let’s focus on sending a little love, one handmade card at a time.

Shop These Supplies Before They’re Gone!

Ready to recreate today’s card or start your own card-making journey? These featured products are flying off the shelves, so don’t wait! Visit the Online Store now to snag these Last Chance items before they’re gone.

Let’s make a difference together this week, one card at a time. Who will you send a little love to today? 

This week on my LIVE, we tried something super fun and unique—a Pop Up Center Fold Card featuring those cheerful Friendly Seagulls from Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration. 

I’ll admit, these seagulls didn’t catch my eye right away. But let me tell you, once I started playing around with them, I couldn’t stop! They’re just so whimsical and full of personality—they’re perfect for spreading smiles with your handmade creations.

This Pop Up Center Fold card involves 3 scores and 2 strategically placed cuts.  Watch the recording of the video below and try it on your next card!

Lisa's Inklings:

• Card base is cut 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  
• On the 8 1/2" side, score at 2 1/8, 4 1/4, and 6 3/8.
• Turn and with the 5 1/2" side up, cut between the two outside score marks at 1 3/4" from each side. (Refer to video.)
• Patterned paper: Cut two pieces at 2" x 5 3/8".
• Light neutral card stock for the back is cut at 4" x 5 1/4".

This fun fold design adds so much dimension and interest to your cards! Trust me, it’s easier than it looks and so much fun to make!

Sale-A-Bration is happening now, so when you spend $60 or more, you’ll qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration product! It’s the perfect time to stock up on goodies and snag these adorable seagulls. Click here to shop now and reach that $60 qualifying amount!

CASE is the acronym for Copy And Share Everything or Copy And Selectively Edit and refers using another card or project as inspiration to create a card or other project.  Today's project is a CASE from a card in the Sale-A-Bration brochure. 

Here's the card.  You can see the similarities.

The gulls are stamped on three pieces of Basic White that are cut 1 3/4" wide by 2" tall.  Black Memento ink was used to stamp the images and the gulls were colored with Stampin' Blends in Balmy Blue, Gray Granite, and Daffodil Delight.

That blue gingham on the bottom layer is from the 6 x 6 Timeless Plaid Designer Series Paper collection.  This stack of papers is perfect for using with this stamp set.

Don’t wait—Sale-A-Bration ends February 28th! Get some supplies to create this card and reach the qualifying order of $60 or more and get your FREE Friendly Seagulls stamp set. Head over to my online shop today and get ready to have fun creating with Friendly Seagulls.

Today's card project features an easy watercolor technique with the Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Friendly Seagulls.  

It's been a while since I've used this technique but these Watercolor Pencils plus a Blender Pen make for a super easy method for coloring.  This coloring medium was the first for me all those 18 years ago when first introduced to Stampin' Up!

In this quick video with this card assembly, you'll see how easy it is to use these Watercolor Pencils.

Today's card project features an easy watercolor technique with the Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Friendly Seagulls from Stampin' Up! If you’re looking to create something cheerful, these seagulls will surely bring a smile to the recipient.

For this card, I used one of my favorite methods: watercoloring with Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen. It’s such a simple yet beautiful way to add color to your stamped images. This technique holds a special place in my heart as it’s the first one I learned when I joined Stampin’ Up! 18 years ago.

With just a few strokes of the pencils and some blending, you can achieve beautiful colors and shading that make your images pop.

In this quick video with the card assembly, you'll see how easy it is to use these Watercolor Pencils.

Earn the Friendly Seagulls Stamp Set for FREE!

The Friendly Seagulls stamp set is part of Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration promotion, running through February 28th. During this time, you can earn this adorable set (and other fantastic products) for FREE with every $60 purchase from a select group of Stampin' Up! products.

To make it easy to qualify, I recommend adding the Watercolor Pencils to your cart. Pair them with some other crafting staples to reach the $60 threshold—and just like that, you’ll be creating with these friendly seagulls in no time!

Don’t wait—Sale-A-Bration ends February 28th! Grab your Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, and other must-have supplies to qualify for your FREE Friendly Seagulls stamp set. Head over to my online shop today!

If you need an idea for a card for a friend, here's one from our latest livestream with the Terrific Toadstools Bundle.    This simple design and classic cuts is the perfect backdrop for these trendy toadstools.  You can see the video how-to in the segment from the recording of the livestream below.

Lisa's Inklings:

• The card base is cut 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2".
• Patterned paper is cut 4" x 5 1/4" for the bold print and 1 1/2" x 5 1/4" for the contrasting strip.
• Gold Foil:  3/4" x 4"
• Basic White for sentiment is cut 1" x 2 3/4"for sentiment and 4" x 5 1/4" for inside of card.

That adorable patterned paper is a Sale-A-Bration offering, Toadstool Gardens, and you can get it FREE with a qualifying purchase of $60 or more.              

Shop now for the Terrific Toadstools Bundle add on some necessities and reach $60 so you can earn the Toadstool Gardens DSP for FREE!

Just poppin' in with Terrific Toadstools Bundle (English) [164790]on this  terrific Tuesday! Hope you all had a great weekend.

Today's card is a simple design with it's narrow card front flap.  The base is a single layer of cardstock and shows off the patterned paper...Toadstool Gardens.  (Earn this paper stack for FREE with a $60 product purchase.)

Lisa's Inklings:

• Card base is Basic White 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" covered with a 4" x 5 1/4" of designer paper.  Don't you love those bright colors?
• Front mini card is in Basic White is 10 1/2" x 2 3/4" scored and folded in half at 5 1/4". 
• Front piece of designer paper is cut 2 1/2" x 5".
• Old Olive label is cut with the Greetings of the Seasons dies.
• Punch toadstool pieces from Basic White first; then stamp. 
• Sentiment is stamped on a piece of Basic White that is 2 3/8" x 3/4".

You can create some fun cards with this precious bundle!  Order your Terrific Toadstools Bundle  today and have fun crafting!

You may have noticed that toadstools are popular and the Terrific Toadstools Bundle hits the mark for that trend.   Last week on our livestream, we shared a sweet fun fold card that will be so easy for you to re-create!

Watch the recording below to see the process and tips for using this bundle!

Lisa's Inklings:

• Card Base is cut 4 1/4" x 11".  Score at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4".
• Toadstool Garden DSP (FREE with a qualifying purchase): Cut 2 pieces at 2 1/2" x 4".
• Wrap and apply ribbon after adhering patterned paper pieces.
• Punch toadstool pieces from Basic White before stamping.

Join in on the toadstool trend and craft your own little "mushroom" garden on your cards or scrapbook pages.  It's a great way to usher in the upcoming season even though we are still freezing for a while!

Get your trendy Terrific Toadstools Bundle today in the Online Store and get this precious coordinating paper FREE when your order totals $60 or more!  Stay tuned for more inspiring ideas throughout the week!

Happy New Year, friends! 🌟

As we step into a fresh year, it’s the perfect time to let our creativity shine and spread a little love through the art of paper crafting.

This week’s LIVE was all about creating heartfelt projects with the Hearts of Elegance Bundle and the beautiful Marbled Elegance Specialty Designer Series Paper.

These gorgeous products are a match perfect for creating Valentine’s Day cards, love notes, or thoughtful keepsakes to share with your loved ones. From die-cut hearts to rich, marbled patterns, this combination allows you to craft with beauty and grace.

During the LIVE broadcast, we showcased two heartfelt projects that you can easily recreate at home. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, these designs are versatile and can be adapted to match your personal style.

If you missed the broadcast, you can catch the replay where I walk you through the projects step by step.

Lisa's Inklings (Card):

• Base: Real Red is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2  
• Two pieces of DSP- one is 2 x 4 1/4 and 1 3/4 x 4 and a small die cut heart
• Basic White: Embossed die cut heart, 7/8 x 3 3 1/4 for sentiment, and 4 x 5 1/4 for the inside.

(Bag)

• DSP: 6 x 6 scored at 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 4 1/2, and 5 1/2.  Turn and score at 1" for the bag bottom. Die cut a small heart.
• Basic White: Die Cut heart

Both the Hearts of Elegance Bundle and the Marbled Elegance Specialty Designer Series Paper are available in the Online Section of the Online Store. Don’t wait too long—these items are sure to be favorites this season!

 Use the instructions and inspiration from the LIVE to craft something special. Whether it’s a heartfelt card for Valentine’s Day or a little handmade bag with a sweet treat, your creations will surely spread peace, hope, and light.

Let’s make 2025 a year filled with creativity and connection. I can’t wait to see how you use these products to share your love and light with others. Be sure to share your projects—I’d love to celebrate your creativity with you!

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.

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'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.