Light & Wonder And Autumn Trees!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few projects I worked on this week using two of the new Stampin’ Up!® die sets featured in the September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue:  Light & Wonder (item 165762), featured as part of the Lights Of Aurora Suite Collection (item 165768); and Autumn Trees (item 165899), featured as part of the Autumn Toile Suite Collection (item 165904).  On two of the projects I combined die cuts made with both die sets.

To complete the projects I used the following Stampin’ Up!® stamp set, Designer Series Papers, and additional die sets:

• Online Exclusives Mixed Florals photopolymer stamp set (item 164639) - the floral image on the Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) tag on the first project, stamped using Early Espresso ink (item 147114);

• two Shy Shamrock patterned papers from the recently retired - and previous 2025 Sale-A-Bration selection - Bloom Impressions 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 164944);

• one of the woven patterned papers from the Online Exclusives Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165560);

• Crumb Cake/Basic Beige/Gray Granite wood grain patterned paper from Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393);

• Cloud Cover patterned paper from 2025-2027 In Colour 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Stack (item 165300);

• Online Exclusives Impressions Abloom dies (item 165610) - flowers, and leaf die used for the petals of large daisy and coneflower;

• Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212) - foliage;

• largest circle die from Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - window opening in matting panel;

• smallest circle die from recently retired Around It All dies (item 164725) - I used the full circle die cut for the base center of the large daisy on the first project, and I cut the die cut approximately in half to make the center for the coneflower; and

• retired Tailor Made Tags dies (item 155563 - last featured in the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue) - for the small tag and tag hole reinforcer on first project.

I used frames for two of my projects:  one thrift store wood frame with inside back dimensions of 12" x 5"; and a dollar store wood frame with inside back dimensions of 9 7/8" x 7 7/8" with which I used a white cardboard mat I had on hand with a beveled edge window opening of 6 1/2" x 4 1/2", and over which I dragged my not-too-juicy Crumb Cake ink pad (item 147116).  I removed the glass from both frames, and for the dollar store frame used sandpaper to remove some of the shiny varnished finish.  For both of the frame projects I cut a medium weight cardboard panel to fit the frame's inside back dimensions, to which I glued a selected piece of Designer Series Paper.  For the first project I also used a bottle-shaped MDF shape plaque picked up at Dollar Tree (9 1/4" tall x 4 5/8" wide x 3/8" deep), which I also covered with DSP (one of the Shy Shamrock patterned papers from the Bloom Impressions DSP).  When gluing DSP to a larger cardboard or MDF base, as in these instances, I first use an old paint brush to spread the glue over the base, and immediately after laying the DSP over the prepared base I use a brayer (Stampin' Brayer - item 162936) to roll over the DSP to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and good even adhesion of the DSP to the base surface.  Unless there is a definite pattern on the DSP that I want to line up with the edges of the base surface I do not trim the DSP to exactly fit the dimensions of the base surface before gluing it to the base surface - I allow extra, and after the glue has fully dried I use my craft knife to trim away the excess DSP from around all edges of the base surface.

Just a brief summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock, watercolour paper, and DSP, and for scoring card fold lines.  To ensure sharp folds I also burnish the folded scored lines with my Bone Folder (item 102300).  The Bone Folder also comes in very handy for adding a slight curl to flower petals;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) for all die cutting; 
• Blending Brushes (item 153611 - package of three) and Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) for applying Classic Stampin' inks to cardstock die cuts for shading. For a little additional visual texture I sometimes lightly spritz the shaded die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185), blotting dry with paper towel to create a slightly mottled effect - often adding additional ink after the blotted cardstock die cut is fully dry; 
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the spatula and tacky putty tips are definitely a great help for manipulating and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755). 

On with the projects!

Although when I first picked this MDF bottle-shaped plaque up at Dollar Tree I was intending to use it for a Halloween-themed project I thought it would be fun to create a scene on it - with of course some big flowers! Because the MDF bottle did not quite fit inside the frame I used stacked 2" x 4 1/2" panels of medium weight cardboard to attach the bottle to the frame's background DSP-covered panel.  I glued the cardboard panels together - adding as many panels as needed to get a height equal to the depth of the frame.  I had some 1/8" thick cork sheeting on hand and used that to make the bottle's cork.  After trimming the cork shape I shaded around the edges with Early Espresso ink (item 147114), and then glued the cork to the center of the top of the MDF bottle.  When I glued the cardstock die cuts to the bottle base I allowed portions of the die cuts to hang over the sides of the bottle.  After the glue was fully dry on each die cut section I carefully trimmed off the excess cardstock with my craft knife - making sure that my blade was always very sharp.  If the blade is too dull it will cause tearing of the cardstock being trimmed away😢.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088) to shade around the edges of the DSP-covered MDF bottle;
• Summer Splash cardstock (item 163797), shaded with Shaded Spruce ink for the water die cut;
• Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) for the leaves, tree and "grass" die cuts, and the freehand cut stem for the coneflower.  When I used two dies to cut a section like the grassy shore that interlocked with the water die cut I used low tack tape to hold the two dies together while I passed the dies and cardstock through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine;
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), and Basic Gray ink (item 149165) for the rocks in the water - for these rocks I used the cloud dies, straight cutting the bottom edges;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), and Early Espresso ink; and Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), and Early Espresso ink for the shoreline die cuts;
• Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683), shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) for the flowers, and leaf "petals".  For the coneflower petals I lightly spritzed the shaded leaf die cuts with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), pinching and scrunching them up with my fingers;
• Pecan Pie cardstock, shaded with Pecan Pie ink, for the large circle flower centers, including the Around It All circle centers for the large daisy and the coneflower.  I also added some shading to both Around It All flower centers using Early Espresso ink;
• Early Espresso cardstock for the small circle flower centers;
• after assembling the flowers I added splatters using my Pecan Pie Stampin' Write Marker (Neutrals Collection Stampin' Write Markers - item 161697, currently available as one of the Last Chance Products) by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;

• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), and Early Espresso cardstock for, respectively, the tag and tag hole reinforcer.  Before die cutting the tag I stamped the floral image on the Very Vanilla cardstock, using one of the Blender Pens (item 102845 - package of three) to pull some of the Early Espresso ink from the stamped lines to colour the image.  After die cutting the tag I added shading using Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks, adding splatters by flicking a paint brush used to mix some of the Early Espresso ink with a little water; and 

• Very Vanilla baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) to tie the tag around the neck of the bottle.  I used a little dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue to secure the tag to the bottle. 

When choosing the colour palette for this project I was thinking about the misty/slightly foggy light of an early autumn morning.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Pretty Peacock cardstock (item 150880), shaded with Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118) for the large evergreen trees;
• Cloud Cover cardstock (item 165621), shaded with Misty Moonlight ink for the background evergreen trees, and foreground ground die cuts;
• watercolour paper, shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) for the deer edge die cut;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink for the foreground foliage, and small tree;
• Smoky Slate cardstock (item 131202) for the background mountains;
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shaded with Basic Gray ink (item 149165) for the mountain detail overlay; and
• watercolour paper for the cloud die cuts.

Before assembling the scene I used strips of cello tape to hinge the cardboard mat to the cardboard background panel along the top edge so that it could be easily flipped up and down to help me with the placement of the DSP panel (I used a full 6" x 6" sheet), and all the die cut sections.

The buttons added to the mat were from a bag of dollar store buttons I actually picked up at the thrift store.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" square top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• watercolour paper, shaded with Basic Gray ink (item 149165) for the deer edge die cut;
• after gluing the shaded deer edge die cut to the wood grain patterned DSP I glued both over a 2 5/8" x 4" panel of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045);
• the 1/4" x 4" strip of woven texture DSP was matted with a 3/8" x 4" strip of Basic Black cardstock; and
• to the inside panel I added 1/4" x 4" strips of both the woven texture DSP and Basic Black cardstock.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" square top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, the deer edge die cut, and the 3 3/4" square matting panel with 3" diameter circle window;
• Smoky Slate cardstock (item 131202) for the Light & Wonder foreground die cuts, and the 3 7/8" square matting panel;
• after gluing the deer edge and Light & Wonder die cuts to the 3 5/8" square DSP panel, I used Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) - trimmed as necessary - to attach the Basic White Thick cardstock matting panel; and
• Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush (item 141897) to add shimmery splatters.  I "whacked" the Glitter Brush against the handle of one of the Blending Brushes to make the splatters.  Just a word of warning - more than just the card receives shimmery splatters!

And finally . . .

For my "Archie" card project this week, included at the bottom of this blog post, I used  StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the kitty and flower images from the retired Grace's Garden stamp set (item 151513 - featured in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalogue) on watercolour paper, colouring the images with Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283), Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Highland Heather ink refill (item 147167), Old Olive ink (item 147090), and Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118).  I added splatters by flicking the paint brush used to mix a little Basic Gray ink (item 149165) and water.  For the base of the 5" x 4 1/2" card, and for the 4 3/4" x 4 1/4" matting panel I used watercolour paper.  I used the 2 7/8" square die from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut the window in the matting panel.  To the bottom of the matting panel I added strips from one of the Gorgeous Grape patterned papers from the January-February 2025 Sale-A-Bration Simply Marbleous 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 158128), and one of the Highland Heather patterned papers from the retired Subtles 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments (item 159255 - May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue).  On the back of the matting panel, at each end, I added one of the Mini Glue Dots (item 103683) to secure the ends of the white baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) placed over the DSP strips.  On the front lower left side I added one large and two small of the white dots from the Online Exclusives Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561).  I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesives Sheets (item 152815) to first attach the matting panel over the image panel, and then the image panel over the 4 7/8" x 4 3/8" Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) matting panel. 

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my projects - it is always fun to do a little mixing and matching with die cuts!

Just an update from last week on the status of the Everyday Arches dies (item 164629), and the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder (item 166145):  Stampin' Up! advises that the Everyday Arches dies are now expected to again be available for ordering the week of September 15, 2025, and the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder the week of September 29, 2025.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin’ Up!® products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and would be very pleased to be your demonstrator! If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com), and I will try my best to help!  In addition to the digital version of the September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue, the digital version of the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue is also available for you to access at your convenience on my website.   If visiting the online store don't forget to check out the new Online Exclusives as well as the Last Chance Products!  Just a reminder that all Last Chance Products remain available only while supplies last! 

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

"A garden without cats, it will be generally agreed, can scarcely deserve to be called a garden at all."

- Beverley Nichols -