ThePowerOfACard: Beginners

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Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Clean and Classic Cards

The term Clean and Simple is often used to describe cards and while I like them, I often think that simple is the incorrect term. They have a lot of "white" space but some of them are far more advanced than what I think card makers are looking for, especially beginners. Instead, I am using the term Clean and Classic and here are the characteristics I have used to make my samples:

Mostly neutral colors
Layers (lots of them!)
Texture
Small pops of color
No patterned paper
Designs that are more simple than complicated.

In the video, I am making a Smoky Slate card and my samples include Basic White, Basic Black, Basic Beige, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake. You could also use Night of Navy, Secret Sea, Pecan Pie, or really, any solid color you would wear in slacks or a skirt. As I show you the many examples (11 of them!), I give some useful tips along the way. I am also showing many of the new products that were just released on September 1! I think you'll find plenty of inspiration, whether you're a beginner or seasoned card maker.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Smoky Slate 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", 3-3/4" x 5", 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
Stamp Bundle: Poetic Petals
Stamp: Fragrant Layers
Ink: Memento Black
Embellishment: Natural Matte Dots
Adhesive and Tools

As you can see, this card comes together in a jiffy. I love this new bundle, which has three different floral designs in a square and three squares, each with a different edge stitching. You can pair them to make a framed flower motif, or use them individually. The sentiments from this set are awesome and quite versatile.

From the smallest layer of Smoky Slate, cut out the flower of your choice. I positioned mine near the lower right corner, making sure I had enough space below the die cut flowers for my sentiment. Stamp the sentiment below the cut out portion and add this layer to the larger piece of Smoky Slate with Dimensionals (and Mini Dimensionals behind the flowers). Don't be skimpy with these as you don't want your card to sag in the middle. Add these two layers with even more Dimensionals to your card base, which you've folded in half and creased with a bone folder. Add a few embellishments to the flowers. Normally, I add my embellishments in odd numbers, but decided that just the centers of the flowers were perfect. I think the shadows you get from adding dimension between layers make this simple card so very interesting.

To finish the card, I stamped my get well message on the inside with black ink. I also used a flower and leaves from the retiring Fragrant Layers bundle to add a coordinating touch to the inside and to the envelope. If you don't already have this bundle, check out the Last Chance List. It's one of my all time favorites and I am sad to see it retire!

My original card was made using Crumb Cake, which is my second most used neutral color of cardstock. I stamped in Secret Sea and chose the same color for my embellishments. The only difference is the envelope where instead of the flower, I stamped the words "Take Care".

We have a new set of square dies that come in a variety of edges and sizes. They are very similar to the circles in the Spotlight on Nature set. I stamped in Berry Burst using the Radiant Sunflowers stamp set, then added this to another square of white using Dimensionals. Before popping it up on my card base, I tied a knot with the Berry Burst Shiny ribbon around the card base. I finished by adding another butterfly on the inside and along the left edge of the envelope. I really love how you see the shadows from the cutouts on the die.

My next sample was inspired by the August Paper Pumpkin kit. (And if you don't have a subscription to this, I would highly recommend it because everything you need is included and it's like getting a fun card class delivered to your mailbox every month!) The five strips of Very Vanilla (3-7/8" x 7/8") were embossed with the Lazy Daisy 3D embossing folder before being added to the card base with Dimensionals. Then a label was punched from the new Advent Labels punch. This has an optional hole you can add for ribbon. I used Mossy Meadow and Very Vanilla Gingham ribbon, which was then tied with some Vanilla Baker's Twine (from the Essentials pack). I stamped in Mossy Meadow ink with stamps from Scalloped Blooms (another great sentiment collection). I added a strip of embossed cardstock to the in inside and embossed the envelope flap with the same folder.

You may have heard that Stampin' Up! recently released the Stampin' Hot Foil System and we have a great selection of hot foil dies, many of them with coordinating stamps! The Echos of Detail bundle is full of textures that are great for making shabby chic backgrounds. I used one of them to make a border along one edge of my raised white panel. Before adhering it to my card, I added a piece of Black Iridescent Ribbon. The Fern & Flora bundle was used for the label, sentiments and ferns. This makes a fantastic masculine thank you card!

I used a fun technique to make my next card. When you take Two Tone Cardstock, which has a white core, and a sanding block, you can make the paper look like it is linen! Run the sanding block (another new product) back in forth in one direction. Then rotate the paper 90º and repeat. The result is a very cool cloth-like look! I added this layer directly to the card base, but you could certainly raise it up too.

My focal point was made using the Fragrant Layers dies (aren't they gorgeous?). The frame was popped up over the second die cut piece of mostly solid flowers. To get the alignment, I peeled off the backings of the Dimensionals on the left side of the frame and stuck it down. This allowed me to slip the second piece under and get it perfectly in place under the flower outlines. Then I went back and removed the rest of the backings so the frame was attached fully. The sentiment was heat embossed in white and also popped up. I cut out more flowers/leaves in white and attached them to the inside, while I stamped flowers/leaves on the envelope in Crumb Cake ink.

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com Karen Sliwinski Stampin’ Up!®

The Sunflower 3D embossing folder has been around for a while and it's such a lovely pattern with very deep impressions. I added a panel directly to the Basic Beige card base, then added a plain strip with my sentiment stamped in Early Espresso and a sunflower from the Radiant Sunflowers set. Both of these were popped up with Dimensionals. To color the flower, I used the Shimmer Brushes in Golden Glow and a little Crisp Cantaloupe. The final touch on this strip were the Radiant Gems. I left the inside blank, except for a strip of embossed cardstock and the envelope flap was also embossed.

Another favorite embossing folder is Swirls of Magic. After embossing my Basic White panel, I spritzed it with the Hydrangea Hue Shimmer Brush. To do that, simply have the brush tip primed with ink and smack the pen against your bone folder edge. Be careful because the splatter goes where it wants to! Then I cut two circles from the Stylish Shapes dies, stamping my sentiment from the Balloon Festoon set on the smaller one. I adhered the larger circle directly to the embossed panel, then added two strips of Hydrangea Hue Bordered Ribbon around the panel, and finally, popped up the smaller circle. I stamped off the stars on the inside and envelope flap, then stamped Happy Birthday in full strength ink.

My first popped up layer was created by cutting out an arch (Everyday Arches dies) and embossing it with the new Softly Woven 3D embossing folder. I used the Words of Beauty bundle to do my sentiments (layering the because with white as the middle layer) and using black ink. Before adding these with Dimensionals to the arch, I added linen thread. It's helpful to add some Seal under the words - this really holds down the thread. Lastly, I added dots from the Adhesive-Backed Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments. More embossed strips of Basic Beige were added inside and to the envelope.

To add texture on this next sample, I first scored five parallel lines on the top and bottom of a panel of Crumb Cake cardstock. You can do this with your Paper Trimmer or a score board. Then I used a Blending Brush to add a little color to the outside edges - first with Crumb Cake ink, then to make it a little deeper, just a touch of Pecan Pie. The branch, from Nature's Symphony bundle, was stamped in Versamark ink, cut out, decorated with a little Linen Thread Bow, and popped up on the card front. The sentiments are stamped in Pecan Pie ink and more stamped branches complete the inside and envelope.

The Pretty Poinsettia bundle is one of my favorite new sets for Christmas! By using the Impressions Plate, the petals and leaves of the flower are so striking! I adhered four layers of petals with Mini Glue Dots, plus the center and tucked in a sprig of leaves with glue to my card base. My sentiment was stamped in Cherry Cobbler, then matted with a slightly larger piece of white. Note - each layer is popped up. A stamped poinsettia decorates the inside and envelope. Boy do I love this card!

My last sample features the use of die cut pieces to add texture to a panel. I cut out a full spider web and two partials from the Web of Fun bundle. Before adding them to my popped up panel of Basic Black, I spritzed them with shimmer ink. Several years ago, we had this ink and I still had some of it in a spritz bottle. You could also use Wink of Stella to add shimmer. My letters were cut with the Party Alphabet dies and stamped with Smoky Slate (second generation stamping). I popped them up over the

spider webs, then added little bats (more from the Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments) and a big die cut spider. The inside panel has Happy Halloween - I used the happy from A Family Celebration stamp set. Another spider web adorns the envelope corner.

So now that you've seen so many samples of Clean and Classic cards, are you going to make some yourself? Which one is your favorite? Do you have a go-to neutral that you use? Please let me know in the comments of the video! Happy card making!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Poetic Petals Bundle (English)

[168271]

$41.25

Fragrant Layers Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167150]

$24.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131202]

$14.00

Natural Matte Dots

[167510]

$8.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Basic White Medium Envelopes

[159236]

$15.00

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Pick Two! (That's Two Colors)

Today's video is sort of a technique - I am picking two colors and making cards with just those two colors. I have chosen Boho Blue and Copper Clay, both of which are part of the 2023-2025 In Colors, But I'm sure you are asking Why??? Stampin' Up! has 40 colors in their core line and 10 more In Colors - isn't it crazy to limit your cards to two colors? There are several reasons why I wanted to do so:

It's good for beginners who might not have invested in many colors yet. We all have to start out somewhere and it's nice to see that you can still be successful with limited color choices.
It speeds up the card making process because it simplifies choices. If the colors are already defined, then much of the decision making is removed!
It is pleasing to the eye, as long as you stay within normal art theory practices (complimentary or analogous colors are two prime examples).
It is good for experienced card makers too because it brings us back to the core of card making. Sometimes we get lost in the stuff and can spend lots of time and energy making the "perfect" card. I also find it helps me be even more creative and think outside of the box.

Today's card is quick to make and features the Season of Chic stamp set. I think the color combo makes this card equally lovely to send to either a man or woman, at any time of the year!

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Copper Clay 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; Boho Blue 4" x 5-1/4"; Basic White 4" x 5-1/4", (4) 1" x 6", 3/4" x 4-1/2"
Stamp Set: Season of Chic
Ink: Copper Clay, Boho Blue
Ribbon: Copper and Natural Ribbon 8"
Adhesive and Tools

Stamp each of the seasonal stamps on the strips of white - I stamped off the snowflakes and seashells, but kept the flowers and leaves at full strength. Remember to rotate your stamp/paper so that you get a nice randomness to your stamping. Adhere these strips to the Boho Blue panel making sure you cover the panel entirely with the strip (not like I did in the video and missed just a tiny bit!). Leave a small gap between the strips. Trim the excess pieces.

With the ribbon, tie a knot around a pen or pencil near the end of the ribbon and slide it off. Snip the loop diagonally which will yield a tidy little knot. Using Seal, adhere the ribbon on the reverse side, toward the bottom of the panel. Stamp the sentiment on the small strip of white, trim and pop it up on top of the ribbon. Adhere the entire panel to the card base of Copper Clay.

For the inside, stamp Thanks in Copper Clay and add stamped off images of the flower and leaf on either side. Stamp one of each image on the side of the envelope and you're done!

When selecting your colors, I mentioned complimentary colors - those that are opposite each other on the color wheel. I consider these two to be that (blue and orange). You could also choose analogous colors - next to each other, such as red and orange, or blue and green. Another option is to choose colors from one of Stampin' Up!'s color families (brights, regals, etc). Or you could use colors found in a pack of DSP. This next card was so quick because the paper was simply cut from the DSP sheet and matted. Then all I did was add a ribbon and sentiment! Here is another from that same pack and features the Cheerful Daisies.

I tend to make a lot of floral cards, but these colors work great for the It's a Science set. The In Color DSP pack makes the perfect backdrop for the circles of scientific elements, don't you agree? It's also fun to add some additional texture with ribbon and other embellishments like I did here with the jute.

I used the Sentimental Park Bundle and the die from the Earthen Textures to make the pot (paper is the Earthen Elegance DSP) - what a nice balance of the soft florals and the hard geometric lines of the background! And of course, you don't have to use both colors at once. The second card is made the Translucent Florals Bundle in just Boho Blue.

Lastly, I have two 3D projects to show - the first one is actually a card you can mail (yes, it fits into an envelope!). I used the All About Autumn DSP and the Autumn Leaves Bundle to make this piece for my Thanksgiving table - I plan to have everyone pass it around and share what they are grateful for. The second project is a pair of adorable old trucks, filled with nuggets of chocolate! What a nice little treat to leave on the desk of a co-worker or stick in the lunchbox of your kid!

I hope I have inspired you to limit your color palette, at least for a few cards, and see what you can come up with. Where will you begin? I'd love to hear how you do!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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