Stamp Images As Supporting Actors!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few card projects I worked on this week using images from a few new Stampin’ Up!® stamp sets as the "supporting actors" for focal stamped images and/or die cuts.  Stamp sets such as the Online Exclusives Swirled Designs stamp set (item 167030), and the Gears & Textures stamp set (item 166851) featured in the January-April 2026 Mini Catalogue, and both of which I used in my projects this week, have images that work great as "supporting actors", and in my projects I usually combined several of these "supporting actors".  Images - such as the gear images from the Gears & Textures stamp set can function as both "supporting actors" and as focal images for projects.  I used a faux watercolour technique a few times in my projects this week with the "supporting actors" images - either inking the stamps and then lightly spritzing the inked stamps with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two) before stamping the images on watercolour paper or lightly spritzing the watercolour paper with water before stamping the images.  The addition of the water - whether directly to the inked stamps or to the watercolour paper - allows the ink to flow or bleed across the paper, blurring any defined lines in the stamped image.  

To complete my projects this week I used the following additional Stampin’ Up!® stamp sets and dies:

• Gallery Blooms stamp set (item 165211);

• Sweet Bugs stamp set (item 166995);

• Heirloom Arrangements stamp set from the Heirloom Arrangements Kit (item 165007) - I also used one of the vellum pre-cut floral pieces from the Kit, combining it with the single butterfly image on one of the cards, and one of the single flower stem pre-cut paper pieces that was used as the focal image on another card;

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Impressions Abloom stamp set (item 165605);

• hole punch and "ladder" decorative edge dies from Gears & Textures dies (item 166853);

• square, circle, and banner dies from Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - I used square and circle dies (often combined) to cut framing mats and window openings in framing mats.  When using two dies to cut either a frame or a frame with a window opening I used low-tack tape to hold the dies together while I passed the dies and cardstock through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653);

• hole-punch decorative die from Nature's Symphony dies (item 166925) - after die cutting the hole-punch decorative strip in a Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) panel I used one of the Stylish Shapes banner dies to cut the finished die cut - tearing both of the banner ends of the die cut - the Nature's Symphony die does not  have an outer cutting edge;

• Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001) - mushroom die cuts;

• Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212) for two foliage die cuts used on the mushroom card;

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - On Display dies (item 167020) - hanging succulent die used for additional foliage die cut on mushroom card (die cut turned upside down); and

• Everyday Arches dies (item 164629) - 3 7/8" x 2 5/8" arch die used to die cut the Gallery Blooms image panel on the 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) top-fold card.

Just a quick note regarding the additional basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects - in addition to the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) that was used for all die cutting and embossing:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock and DSP, and for scoring decorative lines and the card fold lines.  To ensure crisp card folds I also burnished the folded score lines with my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• 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). 

For stamping the focal images I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406).  I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) to apply Classic Stampin' inks to shade/colour the foliage and mushroom cardstock die cuts.  

Since I did make a few cards I will not bore you with too many excrutiating details about each card beyond providing information about the additional products used for each card.

On with the projects!

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" square top-fold card for which I used my nearly dry Pumpkin Pie ink pad (item 147086) for combining the Swirled Designs cross-hatch image and the Gears & Textures "ladder" image for the faux watercolour technique background panel (I used the smallest of the Stylish Shapes banner dies to cut the banner die cut from a leftover piece of the stamped watercolour paper background panel):

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base and the 2 3/4" square frame with 2 1/8" diameter circle window;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3" square matting panel, and the Gears & Textures ladder die cut;
• strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the matted image panel to the card front;
• Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush (item 141897) to add glimmery splatters over the completed card front; and
• two large black dots from the recently retired Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) added to the Stylish Shapes banner die cut. 

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

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the card base, the 2 3/4" square framing mat with 2 1/8" diameter circle window, the 2 3/4" square x 1/4" wide frame glued over the 2 3/4" square framing window mat, and the 1/8" wide x 3 1/2" long strip added to the inside panel.  On the card front I scored two sets of three decorative lines, starting at 3/4" from both the top and bottomm of the card front, and then at 1/8" intervals;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the 3" square matting panel, and the 3 1/2" square inside panel;
• Berry Burst ink (item 144243) for the faux watercolour background  panel combining the Swirled Designs splatter image and the Gears & Textures gears and stripes images - from leftover pieces from the background panel I die cut the Stylish Shapes banner die cut (embellished with one of the large black dots from the retired Neutral Matte Dots) and cut the 2 5/8" x 1/2" strip (both ends torn) for the inside panel; and
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach the framed image panel to the Basic White Thick cardstock matting panel, and then to attach the fully matted image panel to the card front. 

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

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, stamped background panel, and the 3 1/2" square framing mat with 2" square window;
• Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) for the 3 3/4" square matting panel;
• Granny Apple Green ink (item 147095) to stamp the Swirled Designs circle and splatter images, and StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the cross-hatch image;
• I tucked one of the Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) behind the flower head; and
• to embellish the framing mat I used two and one large of the Bubble Bath dots from the Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 162758).

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

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the card base, 2 3/4" square framing mat with 2 1/8" diameter circle window, and inside panel's 3 5/8" square matting panel;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the front panel's 3 3/4" square and 3" square matting panels, and the 3 1/2" square inside panel;
• Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245) for the image panel, the front panel's 3 1/2" square matting panel, and the inside panel's 3 3/4" square matting panel;
• Granny Apple Green ink (item 147095) to stamp the Swirled Designs circle and splatter images; and
• one small and one large of the black dots from the retired Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) added to the Stylish Shapes/Nature's Symphony die cut.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5 3/8" square top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, image panel, and 4 3/8" square framing mat with 2 3/8" square window;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 5/8" matting panel, and the 1/8" x 4 5/8" (2) and 1/4" x 4 5/8" strips;
• Pool Party ink (item 147107) to stamp the Swirled Designs swipe and splatter images;
• Coastal Cabana watercolour pencil - used as a regular colour pencil - (Watercolour Pencils-Assortment 2 - item 149014) to add some additional shading to the Gallery Blooms image; and

• three large Pool Party dots from the recently retired Party Dots (item 164602) added to the lower right of the card front.

For each of the next two cards (both top-fold cards) I used Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678) to stamp the Gears & Textures hole punch decorative strip image on watercolour paper, then used a piece of scrap copy paper to mask off the images while I stamped the Gallery Blooms image.  I used Real Red ink (item 147084) and Lost Lagoon ink to colour the images.  For the first card I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the 5 1/4" x 3 1/4" card base; and Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 1/16" x 2 1/8" matting panel, and the Gears & Textures ladder die cuts.  For the second card I used Basic Black cardstock for the 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" card base, the 1/8" x  3" strip (ends wrapped around and secured to the back of the image panel), and the inside panel's Gears & Textures hole punch decorative strip die cut; and Basic White Thick cardstock for the 3 7/8" x 2 1/2" inside panel.  For each card I added a button from my stash, and through the white button on the first card I tied a bow using Very Vanilla baker's twine from the Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475), securing the knotted ends with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 3" top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, the image panel, the 2 3/8" square framing mat with 1 3/4" diameter circle window, and the 3/4" x 3" strip trimmed from a panel embossed using the Online Exclusives Lovely Stripes 3D Embossing Folder (item 167179);

• Pool Party ink (item 147107) to stamp the Swirled Designs swipe and splatter images - the Swirled Designs flower images were stamped using StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) as was the Gears & Textures gear image; and
• two small and two large Pool Party dots from the retired Party Dots (item 164602) added to card front - one large dot added to the center of the stamped gear image, and the remaining three dots added to the embossed strip.

For each of the next two cards (both top-fold cards) I used the small mushroom image from the Sweet Bugs stamp set as the focal image - colouring the images using Early Espresso and Real Red watercolour pencils (Watercolour Pencils-Assortment 1 - item 161700) and Cherry Cobbler watercolour pencil (Watercolour Pencils-Assortment 2 - item 149014) - all as regular colour pencils.

For the first card I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the 4 1/2" square card base, the image panel, and the 3 3/4" framing mat with 1 1/2" square window; Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 7/8" square matting panel, and 3" diameter (outer) circle frame; Berry Burst ink (item 147143) to stamp the Swirled Designs swipe and splatter images; and added one small and one large white and one large black dot from the retired Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) to the card front.

For the second card I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the 4" x 2 3/4" card base, the image panel, and the 2 3/8" square framing mat with 1 5/8" diameter circle window; Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" panel, and the Gears & Textures hole punch decorative strip die cut (ends torn); Granny Apple Green ink (item 147095) to stamp the Swirled Designs circle, splatter, and dash images; and strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the framed image panel to the card front. 

For the background panel on this card I used Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678) to stamp the Gears & Textures stripe and splatter images over a watercolour paper panel I had first coloured by "ink smooshing" Lost Lagoon ink mixed with water.  I used a 1/2" wide x 3 1/8" strip (ends torn) from a leftover piece of the background panel for the card's inside panel.  To complete this 3 1/2" square top-fold card I used the following additional supplies:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, and for the 2 3/4" square framing mat with 2 1/8" diameter circle window;
• Coastal Cabana cardstock (item 131297) for the 3" square matting panel;
• Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for the 3 1/4" square matting panel, the Gallery Blooms foliage die cuts (shaded with Mossy Meadow ink - item 147111), and the inside panel's 1/8" x 3 1/2" strip;
• Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink, for the On Display foliage die cut;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), for the mushroom stem die cuts;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the mushroom gills and cap die cuts - I used Crumb Cake ink to stamp the Gears & Textures splatter stamp image on the mushroom cap die cuts;
• I tucked one of the Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) behind the cap of the larger mushroom, and one of the Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) behind the cap of the smaller mushroom; and
• I added three small and one large of the Very Vanilla dots from the retired Neutral Matte Dots (item 165561) to the bottom left of the framing mat.

And finally . . . 

For the 4" x 3 1/2" top-fold "Archie" card, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, and the sentiment banner that was die cut using the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159 183). The "Missing You" sentiment, from the retired Sit Stay Relax stamp set (item 159152 - Host stamp set from the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue), was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708) prior to the banner being die cut.  I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the feline image from the retired Cheerful Basket stamp set (item 158674), and the floral image from the Gallery Blooms stamp set (item 165211) on watercolour paper.  The images were coloured using Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665).  "Archie" was die cut using the retired Full Basket dies (item 158679); and the Gallery Blooms floral image was die cut using the Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212).  The Cheerful Basket stamp set and co-ordinating Full Basket dies were featured in the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue.  I used Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) for the heart that was die cut using the heart sunglasses die from the Notes & Totes dies (item 165240).  The sentiment banner, image, and heart die cuts were glued to a Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) 2 1/2" diameter circle that was die cut using the Stylish Shapes dies.  To the card front I added a 3 3/4" x 1 3/4" panel of an Old Olive patterned paper from the recently retired Floral Impressions 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165603), and a 3 3/4" x 1 1/2" panel of an Old Olive patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Timeless Plaid 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 164678).  I used Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach the Basic Black cardstock circle die cut with all attachments to the card front. 

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I certainly had a lot of fun working on my "supporting actors" card projects this week!

February Product Of The Month

The Painted Illusions 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 167977), twelve sheets of paper, three each of  four double-sided designs, including the colours of Darling Duckling, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, Lost Lagoon, Misty Moonlight, Pretty Peacock, and Petal Pink, is the February Product Of The Month.  This exclusive Product Of The Month is available, while supplies last, 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) of Stampin’ Up!® products made during the month of February.

Bonus Days!

Just a reminder that the $6.00 coupons earned on purchases of 

Stampin’ Up!® products made between January 6 and February 2, 2026, are redeemable on purchases of Stampin’ Up!® products made between February 3 and February 28, 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.  A few items that have been recently added to the Last Chance Products Listing include:

• On Display dies (item 167020) - reduced from $54.00 CDN to $32.40 CDN;
• Just A Note dies (item 166101) - reduced from $29.00 CDN to $17.40 CDN; and
• Timeless Plaid 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 164678) - reduced from $17.00 CDN to $11.90 CDN.

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 cat doesn't care if you are smart or dumb, give him your heart and he will give you his."

- Abraham Lincoln -