Sweet Bugs?

Hello and Happy New Year!  Are there such things as sweet bugs?  Well, there definitely are in the new Stampin’ Up!® Sweet Bugs Bundle (item 167002) featured in the January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue as part of the Cute As A Bug Suite Collection (item 167007)!  This Bundle includes the Sweet Bugs photopolymer stamp set (item 166995) and the co-ordinating Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001).  Today I am sharing three projects I worked on this week using this new Bundle.  The Cute As A Bug Suite Collection also includes the Cute As A Bug 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 166994) - which has numerous images that can be die cut using the Sweet Bugs dies, the Old Olive 3/8" Specialty Rickrack (item 167006), and the Ladybug Garden Epoxy Shapes (item 167005).  Every item included in the Suite Collection, including the stamp set and dies, can of course be purchased individually.

To complete my projects this week I also used the following additional Stampin’ Up!® dies, and Designer Series Papers:

• Nature's Symphony dies (item 166925) - large leafy sprig, small leafy sprig, and wood plank die cuts.  These dies are also featured in the January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue, and are part of the Nature Walk Suite Collection (item 166936), which also includes the Natural Hues 12" x 12" Textured Specialty Paper (item 166929), the Nature Walk 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 166912), the Secret Sea 3/8" Bordered Open Weave Ribbon (item 166932), and the Faux Bronze Pentagons (item 166931);

• Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212) - additional foliage die cuts;

• Online Exclusives On Display dies (item 167020) - additional foliage die cuts made using the four-leafed plant die and the hanging succulent plant die.  I turned die cuts made using the hanging succulent plant die upside down, and trimmed them to make little forest ferns;

• large square and circle dies from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut window openings in framing mats;

• Early Espresso and Gray Granite striped patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Autumn Toile 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165882);

• Old Olive striped patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Floral Impressions 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165603); and

• Garden Green/Mossy Meadow/Old Olive plaid patterned paper from the retired Season Of Green & Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164324).

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

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring decorative lines on card front;
• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock, DSP, and watercolour paper, and for scoring the card fold line.  To ensure a crisp card fold I also burnished the folded score line with my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• 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).  For two of the projects (and my Archie project) I had to glue DSP to a trimmed cardboard panel, and after applying the glue to the cardboard panel, and spreading it over the panel surface with an old paint brush, I placed the DSP over the panel and used 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 cardboard panel.  After the glue was thoroughly dry I used my craft knife to carefully trim away any excess DSP from around the edges of the cardboard panel. 

I used Blending Brushes (item 153611 - package of three) and Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) to apply Classic Stampin' inks to shade/colour cardstock die cuts.  For the foliage die cuts I used Soft Sea Foam cardstock (item 146988), Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), all shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111).

The images for colouring were stamped on watercolour paper using StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406), and coloured using Classic Stampin' inks and Classic Stampin' ink refills mixed with a little water and applied using small paint brushes.  To colour the Sweet Bugs images I used:

• Real Red ink (item 147084);
• Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094);
• Azure Afternoon ink refill (item 161668);
• Granny Apple Green ink refill (item 147163);
• Old Olive ink refill (item 100531);
• Mossy Meadow ink refill (item 133651);
• Early Espresso ink refill (item 119789);
• Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669);
• Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029); and
• Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166).

For each of the mushrooms I used three die cuts:  I cut one full base mushroom from Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) to be used as the stem; another mushroom from Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) to be used for the gills, which I trimmed at the top of the stem portion and glued over the base (stem) die cut; and finally the cap die cut that I cut from either Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793), Timid Tiger cardstock (item 165626), or Crumb Cake cardstock.  I used Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to shade the Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla cardstock die cuts; and Real Red ink, Cherry Cobbler ink (item 147083), and a little Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to shade the mushroom cap die cuts.  

To add a little additional visual texture (a slightly mottled effect) to many of the shaded cardstock die cuts I lightly spritzed the shaded die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185), either allowing to air dry or blotting dry with paper towel.  I sometimes added additional ink shading after the spritzed shaded die cut was dry.

On with the projects!

In addition to the black wood frame from Dollarama, inside back dimensions of 7" square, glass removed, and edges distressed with a medium grit sandpaper, I used the following additional supplies to complete this project:

• Early Espresso ink refill (item 119789), mixed with a little water, to add splatters to the DSP covered background panel and to the watercolour paper framing mat - over these panels I flicked the paint brush used to mix the ink refill and water;
• watercolour paper, trimmed to 5 1/4" square, with window cut using the largest of the Stylish Shapes square dies;
• 5 3/8" square piece of Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the matting panel - I used double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) to attach the matting panel to the back of the watercolour paper framing mat - so that I was able to tuck die cuts under the inner edges of the watercolour paper framing mat I placed the tape strips on the back of the watercolour paper framing mat close to the outer edges;
• Soft Sea Foam cardstock (item 146988), Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) for the foliage die cuts;
• Basic White cardstock (item 166780) for the flower die cuts;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114), for the snail die cut;
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shaded with Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks, for the wood plank die cut;
• strip trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the shaded wood plank die cut to the watercolour paper framing mat; and
• two large and three small of the Early Espresso dots from the Online Exclusives Earthy Matte Dots (item 167213) - I added one of the large dots to each end of the wood plank die cut, and one of the small dots to the center of each flower.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4 1/4" x 4"  top-fold card:

• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the card base - the decorative scored lines were scored at 1/2", 3/4", and 1" from the bottom edge of the card front on the back side so that the lines would be raised on the card front.  Scoring lines is a quick and easy way to add a little subtle visual interest to cardstock;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) for the 4" x 3 3/4" inside panel;
• Soft Sea Foam cardstock (item 146988), Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), and Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the foliage die cuts;
• Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) for the mushroom cap die cuts;
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow tied around the small scrap of torn corrugated cardboard (I am a cardboard hoarder!) that I used for the base of the arrangement.  I secured the knotted ends to the card front with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue; and
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) - trimmed as necessary - to attach and slightly pop up the completed arrangement on the card front.

In addition to the white wood frame from Dollarama, inside back dimensions of 7" square, glass removed, and the edges distressed with a medium grit sandpaper, I used the following additional supplies to complete this project:

• watercolour paper, trimmed to 5" square, with window cut using the largest of the Stylish Shapes circle dies;
• behind the watercolour paper framing mat I attached the trimmed piece of the Season Of Green & Gold Specialty DSP using double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031);
• Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) for the 5 1/4" square matting panel;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 5 1/2" square matting panel;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114), for the wood plank die cut;
• Soft Sea Foam cardstock (item 146988) and Mossy Meadow cardstock for the Nature's Symphony foliage die cuts;
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430), trimmed as necessary, added behind the flower-toting bee, and the leaf-bearing slug.  I added one of the Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) behind the head of the scholarly ladybug; and
• strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) used to attach the fully matted image panel to the background panel.

For the "dotty" effect on the Azure Afternoon coloured cups of the bluebell flowers I used a small paint brush to dab on dots of clean water, blotting dry with a paper towel - a technique I also used on the body of the slug. 

And finally . . . 

For my Archie project this week, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the kitty and additional 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. The 8" x 4 1/2" trimmed watercolour panel was matted with an 8 1/4" x 4 3/4" piece of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045), and I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the matted image panel to the Autumn Toile DSP covered background panel.  The Early Espresso patterned DSP covered a cardboard panel trimmed to fit the 10" x 8" back opening of the Dollarama frame, glass removed.

To ensure a creatively inspired 2026 Stampin' Up! started January off with lots of excitement:

January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue

The January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue launched on January 6, 2026, and the digital version of the Catalogue is now available for you to access at your convenience on my website.

January Online Exclusives Product Release

Coinciding with the launch of the January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue on January 6, 2026, was the January release of lots of exciting new products in the Online Exclusives line.  You can browse the full Online Exclusives product range - including the latest releases - in the Online Store on my website.

Bonus Days

During Bonus Days, which are on now until February 2, 2026, a $6.00 CDN coupon will be earned for every $60.00 CDN of Stampin’ Up!® products purchased during this period.  Stampin' Up! will provide your coupon codes directly to you by email upon submission of your online order.  The coupons are then redeemable on purchases of Stampin’ Up!® products made between February 3 and February 28, 2026 - so be sure to save those emails providing your coupon codes!

January Product Of The Month

The Fabulous Sayings photopolymer stamp set (item 167021) is the January Product Of The Month.  This exclusive Product Of The Month, available while supplies last, is available for purchase for $5.00 CDN with any purchase of $100.00 CDN or more (before applicable taxes, shipping, and after the redemption of any Stampin' Rewards or other discounts) made during the month of January.

Stampin' Up! advises that the following products I used this week are not currently available, but I have included below the dates when Stampin' Up! expects the products to again be available for ordering:

• Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755) - week of January 12, 2026; and
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) - week of January 19, 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 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!! 

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

- Beverley Nichols -