Botanical Frame Tags For Garden Journals!

Hello!  With my garden journal in mind today I am sharing several botanical-themed frame tag projects I worked on this week using a few of my current favourite Stampin’ Up!® dies, including two featured in the January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue:  Sweet Bugs (item 167001), and Nature's Symphony (item 166925).

From these two die sets I used, respectively, the mushroom dies and the tall leafy stem die; and the large leafy sprig die, and the small hole punch decorative strip die.  As with my previous mushroom projects I used three die cuts for each mushroom (large and small):  one complete mushroom base die cut used as the stem; one partial mushroom base die cut, trimmed, used as the gills; and the mushroom cap die cut. 

For the base or stem die cuts I used Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116); for the gills I used Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), also shaded with Crumb Cake ink; and for the mushroom cap die cuts I used:  Very Vanilla cardstock, shaded with Crumb Cake ink; Pretty In Pink cardstock (item 163793), shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084); Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416), shaded with Real Red ink;

Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793), shaded with Real Red ink and Cherry Cobbler ink (item 147083); Gorgeous Grape cardstock (item 146987), highlighted with Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) applied with one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773 - package of five) using a pouncing motion; Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665); Balmy Blue cardstock (item 146982), shaded with Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118); and Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679), shaded with Lost Lagoon ink (item 161776). I used the splatter stamp from the Gears & Textures stamp set (item 166851) to add a little additional visual texture to the Very Vanilla and Pecan Pie cardstock mushroom caps - for the Very Vanilla cardstock mushroom caps I used Crumb Cake ink, and for the Pecan Pie cardstock mushroom caps I used Early Espresso ink (item 147114). 

To complete the projects I used the following additional die sets, kit components, stamp set, and Designer Series Papers:

• for additional foliage die cuts, the Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212), and the Online Exclusives On Display dies (item 167020);

• Online Exclusives Just A Note dies (item 166101) - bulldog clip, binder clip and prongs, and paper clip dies.  I die cut the bulldog clips, the binder clip prongs, and the paper clips from Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) that I had covered with silver foil tape (picked up in the plumbing aisle of Home Depot), and I lightly sanded the bulldog clip die cuts with a fine grit sanding sponge before painting them with black acrylic paint.  Before the paint was dry I used my fingers to "buff" the painted surface of the die cuts, effectively removing most of the paint - paint will remain in the recessed and distressed sections of the die cut.  Before painting the bulldog clip die cuts I used my stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) to score two decorative horiztontal lines at 1/8" and 1/4" from the base of the clips;

• Gears & Textures dies (item 166853) - hole punch strip and lattice dies;

• Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) - rounded corner rectangle dies used for clipboard tag bases (largest die - 3" x 2 3/8"), and clipboard "page" frames (2 5/8" x 1 7/8");

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - square dies used for square frames and for the Basic Black cardstock bases for the square frame tags, and for windows in the clipboard "page" frames; and circle dies for frame windows.  For the square frames I used the largest square die (2 3/4" square), nested with a smaller square or one of the circle dies; and I also used the largest square die for the Basic Black cardstock bases for the square frames.  When cutting the frames (either the square frames or the clipboard "page" frames) I used low tack tape to hold the two dies together while I passed the frames and cardstock through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653); 

• from the Heirloom Arrangements Kit (item 165007) - the Pecan Pie patterned envelopes and Heirloom Arrangments stamp set;

• retired Honey Bee stamp set (item 151527 - featured in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalogue) for the small bee image used on one of the clipboard "page" frames.  I stamped the image on a piece of vellum (Vellum 12" x 12" Specialty Paper - item 167099) using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708), and after gluing the vellum to the back of the window opening on the clipboard "page" frame, I added a trimmed piece from one of the Pecan Pie patterned envelopes behind the image panel;

• for the square frames and additional decorative elements I used patterned papers from the following Designer Series Papers:  recently retired Mixed Media Florals (item 164638 - black & white and coloured designs); recently retired Floral Delight (item 164700); recently retired Botanical Textures (item 165545); retired Masterfully Made (item 161192 - Pretty Peacock); and Perennial Lavender (item 162593 - two patterns).

I adhered panels from the Pecan Pie patterned Heirloom Arrangements Kit envelopes, and various patterns of Designer Series Paper to white cardstock from my stash prior to die cutting the clipboard "page" frames and square frames.  I used the backing cardstock to add a little more stability to these pieces - I would be manipulating these frames as I added the framed elements and wanted to avoid damaging the envelope paper and DSP when doing so.

I used the following cardstock for the background panels for the square frames, and one of the clipboard "page" frames:   Balmy Blue cardstock (item 146982), Pool Party cardstock (item 122924), Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679), Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986), and Basic Black cardstock (item 121045).  Each of these cardstock panels was stamped using Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) and the grid stamp from the Heirloom Arrangements stamp set and the splatter stamp from the Gears & Textures stamp set.  I used the Stylish Shapes banner dies to cut additional tag embellishments from the leftover pieces from the stamped background panels.  I also used the banner dies to cut addtional tag embellishments from the cardstock covered with the Pecan Pie patterned envelope paper.  

I used Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to shade all edges - including around the windows - of the clipboard "page" frames, and the edges of the additional embellishments die cut from the cardstock covered with the Pecan Pie patterned envelope paper.

I used Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277), applied with one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773), to highlight the edges of the Balmy Blue and Basic Black cardstock binder clip die cuts.

For the foliage die cuts I used Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), Pool Party cardstock (item 122924), Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679), and Pretty Peacock cardstock (item 150880), all shaded using Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111).  

For some additional visual texture (mottled effect) on several of the shaded cardstock die cuts - foliage, mushroom caps, and the two Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) clipboard bases - I lightly spritzed the shaded die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two), blotting dry with paper towel.  Often I would apply additional shading ink after the spritzed die cut was thoroughly dry.

Just a quick note of the additional basic tools and supplies I used this week to complete my projects in addition to the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) that was used for all die cutting, and the Simply Scored Scoring Tool (item 122334):

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock and DSP - can also be used for scoring lines (fold or decorative);
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the spatula and tacky putty tips are a great help for manipulating and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755). 

I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) to apply Classic Stampin' inks to shade/colour cardstock die cuts.

On with the projects!

For this clipboard frame tag I used Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) - shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) - for the clipboard base and the Gears & Textures decorative strip die cut.

For this tag I used Pretty Peacock Masterfully Made DSP covered cardstock (the edges slightly distressed with a fine grit sandpaper sponge) and Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) in addition to the Pecan Pie patterned envelope paper covered cardstock for the Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishments.  Over the envelope paper banner I added one small and one large of the Pecan Pie dots from the Online Exclusives Earthy Matte Dots (item 167213).

For this tag I used Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the Stylish Shapes banner and trimmed Gears & Textures decorative strip die cuts.  On the Basic Black Stylish Shapes banner die cut I added two Pool Party dots from the recently retired Party Dots (item 164602).  For the bow tied to the bulldog clip die cut I used some waxed black cord from my dollar store stash. 

For this tag I used alcohol markers to colour the leaves on the Botanical Textures DSP frame; Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the large Stylish Shapes banner die cut and the trimmed Gears & Textures decorative strip die cut; and Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the small Stylish Shapes banner die cut.

For this tag I used Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) for the binder clip; Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the trimmed Gears & Textures decorative strip die cut; and Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the trimmed (and both ends torn) Nature's Symphony decorative strip die cut.

For this tag I used the large open square die (2 3/4" square) from the Joyful Squares dies (item 166850 - featured in the January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue), nested with the 2 1/8" diameter Stylish Shapes circle die to cut the frame from Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229).  I used Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the trimmed Gears & Textures strip die cut; and Botanical Textures DSP covered cardstock for the Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment.

For this tag I used Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679) for the binder clip and small Stylish Shapes banner die cuts; Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), for the Gears & Textures decorative strip and lattice die cuts; stamped Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986) for the medium Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment; and Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the large Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment.

For this tag I used Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), shaded with Old Olive ink (item 147090), for the binder clip; cardstock covered with Pecan Pie patterned envelope paper for the small Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment - on which I added one small and one large of the Orchid Oasis shaded dots from the retired 2022-2024 In Colour Matte Decorative Dots (item 159186 - featured in the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue); and stamped Misty Moonlight cardstock (item 153081) for the larger Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment.

For this tag I used Balmy Blue cardstock (item 146982) for the binder clip; and stamped Balmy Blue cardstock for the Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430), trimmed as necessary, to attach the DSP frame, with frame elements attached thereto, to the stamped Balmy Blue cardstock background panel.

For this clipboard tag I used Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114), for the clipboard base; stamped Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679) for the small Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment on which I added one small and one large of the Pecan Pie dots from the Online Exclusives Earthy Matte Dots (item 167213); and cardstock covered with Pecan Pie patterned envelope paper for the larger Stylish Shapes banner die cut embellishment. 

For this last clipboard tag I used Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the clipboard base; and Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), for the trimmed Gears & Textures decorative strip die cut.

And finally . . . 

For my Archie card project this week, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the images from the retired Grace's Garden stamp set (item 151513 - featured in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalogue) on watercolour paper.  I used Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Real Red ink (item 147084), Old Olive ink refill (item 100531), Mossy Meadow ink refill (item 133651), Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669), Azure Afternoon ink refill (item 161668), Early Espresso ink refill (item 119789), and Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118) for colouring the image panel. Over the image panel I added splatters using my retired Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid. From Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) I die cut a frame using the large frame die from the retired Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163 - featured in the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue).  I also used Basic White Thick cardstock for the two trimmed Gears & Textures lattice die cuts, and for the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" top-fold card base.  I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the framed image panel to the card front, after which I glued the trimmed Gears & Textures die cuts to the card front.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my botanical frame tags - if they don't all find a home in a garden journal they can certainly be used on card fronts!

Stampin' Up! advises that the Gears & Textures stamp set (item 166851) is now expected to again be available for ordering the week of February 2, 2026.

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 January-April 2026 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 full range of Online Exlusives Products as well as the Last Chance Products Listing - but just a reminder that all Last Chance Products are 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!! 

"Cats teach us how to find beauty in stillness and silence."

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