Specimen Cards!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few specimen window card projects I worked on this week combining a few "coming soon" Stampin’ Up!® products with additional current, retiring, and retired Stampin’ Up!® products.

Specimen cards are very popular - there are many great examples, and tutorials for making them, online - and as with any creative enterprise you do not need to follow any rules! Specimen cards are definitely a lot of fun to make (one could even say addictive!😺), and are great additions for nature/garden or junk journals; decorations for gift packaging; bases for greeting cards etc. - or of course, just to be displayed and enjoyed! There are no restrictions as to overall size, size or shape of the windows, how much or how little you want to decorate them - or what you choose as, and where you place, the "specimen" or focus of the cards.  

I thought that with the recent addition to my collection of two new "coming soon" Bundles that will be featured in the May-August 2026 Catalogue it was a great time for starting some specimen card projects!  The Bordered In Beauty Bundle (item 167557), which includes the Bordered In Beauty photopolymer stamp set (item 167555) and the co-ordinating Bordered In Beauty dies (item 167556), will be featured as part of the Beautiful Ordinary Life Suite Collection (item 167562).  The Extraordinary Life Bundle (item 167719), includes the Extraordinary Life photopolymer stamp set (item 167713) and the co-ordinating Extraordinary Life dies (item 167718).  *Each of the stamp and die sets can also of course be purchased individually, separate from the Bundles.  If you do wish to purchase both the stamp set and co-ordinating dies be sure to use the Bundle item number when submitting an online order to receive the 10% Bundled Savings!*

For my projects this week I did just use my scissors to cut out the Bordered In Beauty stamped tags, labels, and pattern strips.  I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes for and to set the eyelets in the stamped tags.  All eyelets were purchased at my local scrapbooking shop.

For the bases of my specimen cards I used either cardstock (Basic Black cardstock - item 121045; and Crumb Cake cardstock - item 120953) or medium weight cardboard covered with Designer Series Paper (linen patterned paper from the recently retired Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 165560; Crumb Cake check patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 162593; and a Cloud Cover patterned paper from the Nature Walk 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 166912).

To cut the window openings I used the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) for the circle and square windows; and the retired Stitched Rectangles dies (item 151820) for the rectangle window (fern specimen card).

Behind each window opening I glued a trimmed piece of inkjet Transparency Film (boxes always available at the thrift store) - as I did not have any Window Sheets (item 142314) currently on hand.

For the backing panels behind the clear windows I used: (1) a trimmed piece of inked book paper; (2) a piece of book paper over which I had glued a "waxed" piece of tissue paper on which I had first stamped an image; (3) a piece of stamped and "waxed" copy paper over which I had glued a stamped and die cut image; (4) a piece of image stamped watercolour paper; (5) an inked and script stamped piece of "waxed" copy paper; (6) a trimmed piece of Basic Black cardstock on which I had glued an ink shaded cardstock die cut; and (7) a piece of inked and image stamped copy paper that had been adhered to (ironed onto) a piece of freezer paper.  

I was inspired to try making "waxed" paper by watching the Crafty By Toni "Let's Make Some Wax Paper" YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt8bZY5DFV0) - another very fun technique!  I have tried the technique with a variety of thin papers - copy paper, tissue paper, single ply of a napkin etc - and inspired to try the freezer paper technique by watching her "H Is For Handmade Paper....Easy Junk Journal Technique With Freezer Paper" YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AA6QncqCjo).  All of her videos are very instructional and entertaining!!

Additional Stampin’ Up!® stamps and dies that I used to complete the projects:

• recently retired Online Exclusives Elements Of Text stamp set (item 164774) - script and splatter images;

• recently retired Online Exclusives Grow With Love stamp set (item 164797) - "From The Garden Of" sentiment;

• .retired Happiness Abounds stamp set (item 159238) and co-ordinating Blossoming Happpiness dies (item 158823) - featured in the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue - for large single flower image;

• retired Queen Bee stamp set (item 160476) and co-ordinating Queen Bee dies (item 160484) - featured in the January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue - large floral decorated bee image;

• retired Honey Bee stamp set (item 151527) and co-ordinating Detailed Bee dies (item 151526) - featured in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalogue - large and small bee images;

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Gallery Blooms stamp set (item 165211) - large peony image; and

• the "coming soon" Fern & Flora stamp set (item 167739) and co-ordinating Fern & Flora dies (item 168991) - the stamp set and co-ordinating dies, which will also be available together in the Fern & Flora Bundle (item 167745), will be featured in the May-August 2026 Catalogue - moth and floral stem images, and the large fern die for the cardstock fern die cut.

I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) to apply Classic Stampin' inks to shade/colour the cardstock die cuts, and around the edges of the card bases - with the exception of the Basic Black cardstock bases - and the die cut/trimmed stamped images.  To add a little additional visual texture to some of the shaded elements I lightly misted the shaded element with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two), either allowing to air dry or blotting dry with paper towel.  I used Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) to stamp the images on the two Basic Black cardstock card bases, and used one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773 - package of five) to lightly apply more of the Craft Stampin' White Ink around the edges of the card bases.

To cut the small half square notches in the top and bottoms of most of the card bases I used a long-retired Stampin’ Up!® 1/4" Square Punch (item 104943), lining up the edge of the punch with the sides of the card bases, and punching the notches with the back of the punch facing up so that I could guage more accurately that I was punching out a half square.

Due to the discontinuation of StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) I have been looking for a replacement strong black ink, and for the black ink used for the stamping of additional images and sentiments for this week's projects I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink by Tsukineko, purchased at my local scrapbooking shop.  I have not yet had an opportunity to try the new Basic Black Hybrid Ink (item 166648) that Stampin' Up! is introducing as a replacement for both the discontinued StāzOn Jet Black Ink and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708), and which will be featured in the May-August 2026 Catalogue.

To shade the stamped and die cut/trimmed images for this week's projects I used Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  To shade around the edges of the coloured stamped and die cut images I used only Crumb Cake ink.  I stamped the images for colouring on watercolour paper, and used - with the exception of the large Queen Bee image - Classic Stampin' inks and Classic Stampin' ink refills, mixed with a little water and applied with a small paint brush, to colour the images.  My usual practice is to die cut the image before I colour it in the extremely likely event I mess up the die cutting!!

To colour the cheesecloth that I used on several of the projects I used Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029) mixed with water (I squeezed a few drops of ink refill into a small spray bottle and then added water).  I first wet the cheesecloth with clean water and then sprayed it with the ink refill/water mixture.  The colouring is very subtle but I just wanted an off-white shade.

Just a quick summary 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;
• 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
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755). 

On with the projects!

Additional supplies to complete this 4 5/8" x 2 3/4" Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) card with 1 1/2" square window opening:

• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) for the tab die cut (I first folded the cardstock and lined up the top edge of the die so that the cutting edge was just above the fold line so that I would end up with a double tab die cut), the stamped and die cut bee image, and the stamped and trimmed heart label.  The tab die cut and trimmed heart label were shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) for the die cut edge strip (this strip was trimmed off the side of the die cut stamped note paper image); and the trimmed and stamped decorative strip, label, flag, and note paper; and
• Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the die cut heart.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 3" Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) card with 1 3/4" diameter circle window:

• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) for the stamped and trimmed tag, label, and decorative strip images;
• after gluing the layered stamped and trimmed images I used black Stampin' Dimensionals (Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo Pack - item 150893), trimmed as necessary, to attach the arrangement to the card base; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the loop threaded through the tag's eyelet - I used a tiny dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue to secure the knotted end to the edge of the window.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5" x 2 5/8" Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) tag card with 1 3/4" diameter circle window:

• Crumb Cake cardstock, shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) for the die cut edge pieces (trimmed from a note paper die cut), and for the stamped and trimmed flags, and small label images;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the stamped and trimmed large label, and the stamped and die cut bees;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the die cut bracket, and the two 3" x 5/8" strips glued behind the two Crumb Cake cardstock die cut edge pieces; 
• Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) for stamping the script and splatter images on the background panel; and
• Real Red ink (item 147084), Old Olive ink refill (item 100531), and Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) to colour the floral stem image.

To make the diagonal "tag" cuts with my scissors on the top left and right of the card I used a small pre-cut tag as a cutting guide.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 3 3/4" card with 2 3/8" square window opening:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to shade the edges of the Woven Textures DSP covered card base - including around the edges of the window opening;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the stamped and die cut bee image, and the stamped and trimmed flag, decorative strip, heart label, and tag images;
• Early Espresso ink for additional shading on the stamped and trimmed tag image;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the note paper edge die cut;
• under the arrangement on the lower left corner of the card I added a strip trimmed from the stamped watercolour paper backing panel - before stamping the note paper image on the watercolour paper I had sprayed the watercolour paper with an Early Espresso ink refill (item 119789)/water mixture that was heavy on the water; and
• Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Real Red watercolour pencils (Watercolour Pencils Assortment 1 - item 161700) to colour the Queen Bee image.  I used the watercolour pencils as regular colour pencils - I did not add any water.

On the back of the left side of the card I added a torn strip of corrugated cardboard that had been drybrushed with white acrylic paint, and behind this I glued some more of the cheesecloth. 

Additional supplies used to complete this 6 1/2" x 3 3/4" card with 2 3/8" square window opening:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to shade the edges of the Woven Textures DSP covered card base - including around the edges of the window opening - and around the edges of the stamped DSP covered 2 3/8" square;
• Shaded Spruce cardstock (item 146981), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the tab die cut;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), shaded with Crumb Cake ink and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) for the stamped and trimmed tag image;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks, for the stamped and trimmed flag, note paper, label, and decorative strip images;
• Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) for stamping the script and splatter images on the background panel;
• Pool Party ink refill (item 122933) and Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088) to colour the butterfly images; and
• Real Red ink (item 147084) and Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) to colour the large flower image.

I used a tiny dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue to secure the knotted end of the twine looped through the eyelet on the stamped tag image.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4 3/8" x 2 5/8" card with 3 1/4" x 1 1/4" window opening:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to shade around the edges - including the edges of the window opening - of the DSP covered card base;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the tab die cut;
• Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986) and Gorgeous Grape cardstock (item 1468-987), both shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the two small flag die cuts;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the stamped and trimmed label and tag images;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 1/16" wide x 3/4" long and 1/16" wide x 1 7/16" long strips added to the bottom right corner of card base (strips wrapped around and glued to the back of the card base);
• Highland Heather ink refill (item 147167) to colour the image butterfly; and
• Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) for the fern die cut.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4 1/2" x 3 7/8" Nature Walk DSP covered card with 1 7/8" square window opening:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to shade the edges of the DSP covered card base - including the edges of the window opening;
• Cloud Cover cardstock (item 165621), shaded with Crumb Cake ink and Early Espresso ink (item 147114), for the tab die cut;
• Pool Party ink (item 147107) to stamp the label image on watercolour paper - additional shading done using Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 147116), shaded with Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks, for the note paper edge die cut, and the stamped and trimmed flag, heart label, and tag images;
• Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Pool Party ink refill (item 122933), and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to colour the butterfly and moth images;
• Pecan Pie ink for background colouring on stamped background panel; and
• small dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue used to secure to the card base the knotted end of the twine looped through the eyelet on the stamped tag image. 

And finally . . . 

For the Archie scrapbook layout, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I used:

• a 5 1/2" x 5 3/4" piece of Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245) for the base matting panel;
• for the window photo mat a 5 3/8" x 5 5/8" piece of Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) over which I had glued a 2 1/2" x 5 5/8" strip of Granny Apple Green patterned paper from the retired Brights 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortment (item 163775 - featured in the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue) before using the retired Stitched Rectangles dies (item 151820) to cut the 2 5/8" x 3 7/8" window opening;
• double sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) to attach the trimmed photograph to the back of the window framing mat - the window framing mat with photograph was then glued to the Lemon Lime Twist cardstock matting panel;
• retired Pierced Blooms dies (item 154312 - featured in the May 2021-April 2022 Annual Catalogue) to cut the large and small flowers from Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229), the flower centers from Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199), and the leaves from Garden Green cardstock (item 102584); and

• to complete the layout three small and two large of the white dots from the Online Exclusives Natural Matte Dots (item 167510) were added.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun making these specimen cards and can't wait to work on more!  It is always lots of fun to mix and match new products with favourite retired products!

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 updated 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!! 

"Wherever a cat sits, there shall happiness be found."

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