Fern & Flora!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few projects I worked on this week using a few soon-to-be-released Stampin’ Up!® products that will be featured in the May-August 2026 Catalogue as part of the Moonlit Flora Suite Collection (item 167749).  

The Moonlit Flora Suite Collection will include:

• the Fern & Flora photopolymer stamp set (item 167739) and the co-ordinating Fern & Flora dies (item 168991), which will also be available together in the Fern & Flora Bundle (item 167745);

• the Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder (item 167744);

• the Moonlit Flora 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 167737); and

• the Dewdrops Embellishments (item 167748 - 180 adhesive-backed pieces in two sizes (4 mm and 5 mm) and three colours - Secret Sea, Old Olive, and clear).

For my projects this week I used the Fern & Flora stamp set and co-ordinating dies, the Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder, and, for the background panel on the first project, one of the patterned papers from the Moonlit Flora Designer Series Paper.

To complete the projects I also used the following additional Stampin’ Up!® die sets:

• Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001) - for mushroom die cuts because where there are ferns there are sure to be a few mushrooms too!🍄;

• Online Exclusives Help Me Grow dies (item 167166) - small grass die cuts (using one of the dies from the strip of three large and three small flower/grass dies); and

• for a frame for one of the cards I used the "newspaper" die from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Notes & Totes dies (item 165240).  I used the smallest square die from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut the frame's square window opening.

I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp all images and the sentiment on watercolour paper.  For colouring the images I used Classic Stampin' inks and Classic Stampin' ink refills, mixed with a little water and applied using a small paint brush.  

I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) to apply Classic Stampin' inks to shade/colour the cardstock die cuts.  To add a little additional visual texture to some of the shaded cardstock die cuts (i.e. foliage, mushroom caps) I lightly misted the shaded die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two), either allowing to air dry or blotting dry with paper towel.

For foliage die cuts I used Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) all shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111).

For the mushroom die cuts I used Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) and Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), for the base mushroom die cuts and mushroom gills; and for the mushroom caps I used Cajun Craze cardstock (item 119684), shaded with Cherry Cobbler ink (item 147083).  I used an Early Espresso watercolour pencil (Watercolour Pencils Assortment 1 - item 161700) to lightly draw a few shading lines on the mushroom stems.

For both card bases I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229).

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

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;
• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock, watercolour paper, and scoring card fold lines.  To ensure crisp card folds I also burnished the folded scored lines using 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 the first project I had to glue DSP to a trimmed cardboard panel, and 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.  

On with the projects!

For the first project I began with a black frame from Dollarama, glass removed, with inside back dimensions of 10" x 8".  The cardboard panel, trimmed to fit the frame's inside back dimensions, was covered with the patterned paper from the Moonlit Flora DSP.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 3/4" x 3 1/4" and 5 1/8" x 3 5/8" panels;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the 5" x 3 1/2" panel, and the small Fern & Flora flowers.  I used the blade of my craft knife to ruffle all edges of the panel;
• Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush (item 141897) to add some shimmery splatters to the fully matted panel;
• after gluing the arrangement of the Sweet Bugs, Fern & Flora, and Help Me Grow die cuts onto the matted panel I glued the panel to a corrugated cardboard panel (approximately 7" x just under 6") reclaimed from some packaging.  After doing a little tearing I used white acrylic paint (picked up from the dollar store) to add some dry brushing and splatters to the corrugated panel - I hate to relegate any cardboard to the recycle depot without thoroughly considering all the crafting possibilities!; and
• I glued the piece of bark rescued from my back garden last fall to the completed panel, and once the glue was thoroughly dry used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the completed panel to the DSP-covered background panel that had first been secured into the frame.

For the second project I began with a thrift store wood frame, glass removed, inside back dimensions of 6" x 4".  I arranged the Sweet Bugs, Help Me Grow, and Fern & Flora die cuts, including the two stamped and die cut Fern & Flora moth images, onto an oval wood slice cut for me by my brother-in-law (thank you Brian!).  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• over the cardboard panel trimmed to fit the inside back dimensions of the frame I glued a piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), which I had embossed using the Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder.  Before embossing the cardstock panel I lightly misted the cardstock with water (using one of the Stampin' Spritzers) - dampening the cardstock makes it more pliable which will help reduce any cracking that might incur with the force inflicted on the cardstock during the embossing process.  After embossing, and after the cardstock was thoroughly dry, I used one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773 - package of five) to apply Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) over the embossed panel.  Applying either a darker or lighter ink over an embossed design will help accentuate the embossed design - and of course you can choose to use either the side of the cardstock that has the main design elements embossed (raised) or debossed (recessed) [https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2025/08/all-about-sunflower-hello-sunflower-in.html];
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the small Fern & Flora flowers; and
• Basic Beige ink (item 163806), Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), and Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) to colour the Fern & Flora moth images.  After die cutting the images I sponged Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) around all edges.

After securing the embossed cardstock-covered cardboard panel into the frame I glued the wood slice with the completed arrangement onto the panel.

My Basic Beige ink has, what is to me at least, a distinct soft green hue - and although I am sure that others would see the hue differently I am certainly not unhappy about the soft green effect! 

Additional supplies used to complete this 5 5/16" x 4" top-fold card:

• Basic Beige ink (item 163806) to colour the stamped Fern & Flora image, and to add the additional splatters.  The watercolour paper image panel was trimmed to 4" x 2 3/4";
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 1/8" x 2 7/8" matting panel;
• Basic Beige cardstock (item 164511) for the 4 1/4" x 3" matting panel;
• Very Vanilla baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) for the bow tied around the fully matted image panel;

• strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the fully matted image panel (with baker's twine bow) to the card front; and
• two small, one medium, and two large of the Antique Pearls (item 164679) added to the image panel.

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

• I die cut the Notes & Totes/Stylish Shapes image frame from watercolour paper that I had coloured by first dragging my Basic Beige ink pad (item 163806) across and then lightly misting with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers;
• Basic Beige ink to add splatters to the stamped and die cut Fern & Flora frame image before the sentiment was stamped.  I sponged all edges of the die cut sentiment frame with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Basic Beige ink, Real Red ink (item 147084), and Crumb Cake ink to colour the Fern & Flora stamped and die cut images.  I sponged all edges of the two die cut Fern & Flora moth images with Crumb Cake ink;
• after gluing the sentiment frame to the bottom of the watercolour paper Notes & Totes/Stylish Shapes frame I tucked the two stamped and die cut floral and foliage images behind the bottom edge of the frame's window opening, using trimmed pieces of Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to secure the top sections of the die cut images to the top edge of the frame;
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) to attach the two stamped and die cut moth images to the image and sentiment frames; and
• strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the completed image/sentiment frame combination to the card front.

And finally . . .

For my Archie project, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the image from the retired Peace Within stamp set (item 114312 - featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue) on one of the canvas patterned papers from the Beautiful Gallery 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 165196).  I used Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), Basic Beige ink (item 163806), Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669), and Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118), mixed with a little water and applied with a small paint brush, to colour the image.  I wanted a softer image so tried to be careful to not be too heavy handed with the ink pigment.  After gluing the DSP image panel to a cardboard panel trimmed to fit the 3 1/2" x 5" inside back dimensions of a repainted thrift store wood frame, glass removed, I tucked some cheesecloth around both side edges of the panel before securing the panel into to the frame.  Tucked into the cheesecloth I added eight small off-white buttons from my thrift store stash.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I certainly had a lot of fun with my projects this week, and am certainly looking forward to working on more projects with the products from the Moonlit Flora Suite Collection!

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

• StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) - week of April 13, 2026;
• Sponge Daubers (item 133773) - week of April 13, 2026; and
• Sweet Bugs dies (item 167001) - week of April 13, 2026.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin’ Up!® products I have used in my projects - or maybe want to stock up on supplies before price increases (https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2026/03/easters-on-its-way-hello-today-i-am.html) or discontinuation of products - 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 Exclusives Products - including all the new products released last month - as well as the Last Chance Products Listing!  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!! 

"Indeed, there is nothing on this earth more peaceful than a sleeping, purring cat."

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