Capturing Smiles On A Silly Safari!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a project I worked on this week using a "coming soon" Stampin’ Up!® Bundle:  the Capturing Smiles Bundle (item 167133), which includes the Capturing Smiles photopolymer stamp set (item 167130) and the co-ordinating Capturing Smiles dies (item 167132), will be part of the March 2026 release of new Online Exclusives products, available starting March 3, 2026.  The stamp set and co-ordinating dies will also of course each be available separate from the Bundle, but when purchased together using the Bundle item number the 10% Bundled Savings will apply!

To complete my project this week I combined images from the Capturing Smiles stamp set and die cuts made using the Capturing Smiles dies with the following additional current, retiring, and retired Stampin’ Up!® stamp sets and dies:

• Silly Safari stamp set (item 165254) - featured in the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue;

• Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001) - flower and leafy stem die cuts - no mushrooms for this project!🙀;

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - square dies used for the Silly Safari "photo" frames, and for the frame matting squares;

• from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - On Display dies (item 167020) - the two plant dies (the die cuts made using the hanging succulent plant were turned upside down);

• from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Just A Note dies (item 166101) I used the binder clip, binder clip prongs, and clipboard clip dies;

• images from the January 4-February 29, 2024 Sale-A-Bration Jungle Pals stamp set (item 162950), die cut using the co-ordinating Sale-A-Bration Jungle Pals dies (item 162973); and

• I used the large corner tropical foliage die from the retired Tranquil dies (item 154331 - featured in the January-June 2021 Mini Catalogue).

All stamped images were stamped on watercolour paper using StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406), and coloured using the following Classic Stampin' ink refills and Classic Stampin' inks, mixed with a little water and applied using small paint brushes:

• Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166);
• Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283);
• Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669);
• Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029);
• Real Red ink (item 147084); and
• Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118).

The Silly Safari Stylish Shapes photo frames were die cut from watercolour paper using the 2 3/4" square and 1 1/2" square dies.  While passing the dies and watercolour paper through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) I used low tack tape to hold the two dies together.  I added splatters to the frames by flicking over the frames a paint brush used to mix the Basic Gray ink refill and water.  I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the watercolour paper frames over the trimmed Silly Safari images.  The frames' square matting panels were cut from Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) using the 2 3/4" square Stylish Shapes die.

I also used Basic Black cardstock for the film strip, camera lens outer ring, the base camera, and the two binder clip die cuts.  The binder clip prongs and the clipboard clip die cuts were cut from Basic Black cardstock that I had first covered with some silver foil tape (picked up in the plumbing aisle of my local Home Depot).  For the clipboard clip die cut I lightly sanded the die cut before applying black acrylic paint, which I buffed over the die cut using my fingers.  After gluing the completed stamped/die cut camera slightly offset over the Basic Black cardstock base die cut I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets to attach the completed and matted camera to the center of the background panel.

For the four Sweet Bugs flower die cuts I used Melon Mambo cardstock (item 115320), shaded with Berry Burst ink (item 147143).  For the Sweet Bugs leafy stem die cuts I used Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111).  

For the two Tranquil corner die cuts I used Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink.  For the On Display foliage die cuts I used Lemom Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), also shaded with Mossy Meadow ink.

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

For a little additional visual texture on the Sweet Bugs flowers and the On Display foliage die cuts I lightly misted the shaded die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two), allowing to air dry.

I added Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430), trimmed as necessary, behind the Jungle Pals lemur, sloth, and tiger that had all first been glued to film strip die cuts (I tore each end of all of the film strip die cuts).

I began the project with a thrift store wood frame, glass removed, with inside back dimensions of 10" square.  For the background panel I used a Garden Green patterned paper from the Nature Walk 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 166912) to cover a medium weight cardboard panel that had been trimmed to fit the inside back dimensions of the frame.

In addition to the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) that was used for all die cutting, my other basic tool/supply used to complete my project this week was Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755), which I used for the main adhesive.   Since I had to glue DSP to a trimmed cardboard panel I first applied the glue to the cardboard panel, using an old paint brush to spread the glue over the panel surface.  After placing the DSP over the panel I 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.  The next step, before securing the DSP panel into the frame, was to glue the shaded corner Tranquil die cuts to the upper left and bottom right corners of the DSP panel.  After securing the DSP panel into the frame I then began assembling the additional elements onto the panel.

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 potted-flower-toting feline image from the retired Online Exclusives Fluffiest Friends stamp set (item 162846) on watercolour paper, colouring the image panel using Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Real Red ink (item 147084), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Basic Gray ink refill (item 149166).  I used the Stylish Shapes 1 7/8" square die to die cut the image panel.  I used my retired Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) to add splatters to the image panel by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid.  I used Peach Pie cardstock (item 163799), shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink, for the two flowers die cut using the Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001).  The Sweet Bugs leafy stems (trimmed) were die cut from Soft Sea Foam cardstock (item 146988), and shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111).  I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the image panel over the die cut flowers on the front of the Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) 5" x 3 1/2" top-fold card base.  For the 4 3/4" x 3 1/4" inside panel I used Basic White cardstock (item 166780), and added two small and one large of the Peach Pie dots from the recently retired Party Dots (item 164602) to the card front.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had lots of fun starting to play with the Capturing Smiles Bundle!  With some paper, ink, a few stamps and dies and a little imagination you can go anywhere you want - even on a Silly Safari!

Bonus Days!

Just a reminder that you have until February 28, 2026, to redeem the $6.00 coupons that were earned on purchases of Stampin’ Up!® products made between January 6 and February 2, 2026!

Free Shipping!

Just a reminder that today - Friday February 20 - is the last day for FREE SHIPPING!  Free shippping applies to a Stampin’ Up!® products order of $100.00 CDN or more (before applicable taxes and after the application of any Stampin' Rewards or other discounts) so it is a great opportunity to stock up on supplies for your spring art and crafting projects!!

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that the Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001) are currently out of stock but are expected to again be available for ordering the week of March 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!

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!! 

"I take care of my flowers and my cats.  And enjoy food.  And that's living."

- Ursula Andress -