More Specimen Cards!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few more specimen card projects I worked on this week - I had so much fun working on the specimen cards shared in my April 24, 2026, blog post (https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2026/04/specimen-cards-hello-today-i-am-sharing.html) that I just had to make some more!  These specimen cards will find homes in a garden or junk journal.  These specimen cards began with a piece of medium weight cardboard (cereal and cracker boxes etc.) covered with Designer Series Paper.  To cut the window in each of the cards I used square dies from the Stampin’ Up!® Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183).

After cutting the window openings I then trimmed the card to the final size, and behind each window opening I glued a trimmed piece of inkjet Transparency Film (boxes always available at the thrift store) - but of course Window Sheets (item 142314) would also work great. 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. To complete my cards this week I used the following Stampin’ Up!® Designer Series Papers, stamp sets, and additional dies:

• Crumb Cake patterned paper from the Wood Grain Wonders 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 167428);

• Early Espresso patterned paper from the recently retired Autumn Toile 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165882);

• Gorgeous Grape patterned paper from the recently retired Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162593);

• Smoky Slate patterned paper from the recently retired Country Lace 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163415);

• linen and woven textured papers from the recently retired Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165560);

• Pecan Pie linen textured paper from the retired Floral Delight 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 164700);

• Pretty Peacock and Misty Moonlight patterned papers from the retired Earthen Elegance 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 161503) - with the Pretty Peacock patterned paper I also used a piece of Cloud Cover/Lost Lagoon patterned paper from the current Nature Walk 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 166912); and with the Misty Moonlight patterned paper I also used a piece of Night Of Navy patterned paper from the retired Take To The Sky 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163436);

• for several of the window backing panels I combined the grid image stamp from the Heirloom Arrangements stamp set included in the retiring Heirloom Arrangements Kit (item 165007) with the splatter image from the Gears & Textures stamp set (item 166851).  Both images were stamped on watercolour paper, and before stamping the Gears & Textures image I misted the stamp with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two) - sometimes being quite liberal with the water so that the final stamped splatter image did not have too much definition;

• butterfly and note paper images from the Extraordinary Life stamp set (item 167713) - the die cut butterflies were die cut using the co-ordinating Extraordinary Life dies (item 167718), but the note paper images that were not used as window backing panels were trimmed with my Paper Trimmer (item 152392).  From the Extraordinary Life dies I also used the tab, flag, stitched heart, and note paper edge dies;

• tag and label images from the Bordered In Beauty stamp set (item 167555) - although these images can definitely be die cut using the co-ordinating Bordered In Beauty dies (item 167556) I decided to trim around them using scissors.  From the Bordered In Beauty dies I did use the long tab, small label, and bracket dies;

• larger of the two floral stems, and both moth images from the Fern & Flora stamp set (item 167739).  The die cut moth images were die cut using the co-ordinating Fern & Flora dies (item 168991), from which I also used two of the fern, the label, and the small four-leafed stem dies (on one of the cards I added to the stem die the trio of tiny flowers die cut using the Sweet Bugs dies - item 167001).  From the Sweet Bugs dies I also used the tall stem, and the small mushroom (including cap) dies; 

• from the retired Honey Bee stamp set (item 151527) I used the large bee image, which was die cut using the co-ordinating (and also retired) Detailed Bee dies (item 151526);

• from the Scalloped Wishes dies (item 167452) I used the two leafy stem dies;

• from the Help Me Grow dies (item 167166) I used the the garden trowel, and both multi-leafed stem dies;

• from the Capturing Smiles dies (item 167132) I used the film strip die (occassionaly using just the narrow perforated edge of the die cut);

• from the recently retired Just A Note dies (item 166101) I used the clipboard clip die - adding to the clip the tiny Phillips screw that was cut using the Gears & Textures dies (item 166853);

• from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Gliding Garden Swing dies (item 167136) I used the tall "cedar" foliage die;

• from the retiring - and also currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Joyful Squares dies (item 166849) I used the decorative frame embellishment die;

• from the recently retired On Display dies (item 167020) I used the four-leafed plant die; and

• I also used two of the banner dies from the Stylish Shapes dies.

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

For the foliage die cuts I used Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), and Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), all shaded using Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) - with a little Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) added to the dried sections of the foliage.  

Images for colouring were stamped on watercolour paper using VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink by Tsukineko, purchased at my local scrapbooking shop, and coloured using Classic Stampin' inks and Classic Stampin' ink refills mixed with water and applied with a small paint brush.  All additional black ink stamped images were also stamped using the VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.

On several of the cards I used cheesecloth that I had coloured using 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.  With a higher ratio of water to ink refill I got a subtle just off-white shade for the cheesecloth.

Just a brief summary of the additional basic tools and supplies I used to complete the cards, in addition to the Paper Trimmer (item 152392):

• 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 embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

Since I did make a few of the specimen cards I will not burden anyone with excrutiating details for each, other than to indicate dimensions, and additional products used 😺!

On with the projects!

This Wood Grain Wonders DSP covered card measures 4 1/4" x 3", and the additional supplies used:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) for stamping the Heirloom Arrangments and Gears & Textures images, and for shading around the edges of the card (including the inside edges of the window opening) - one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773 - package of five) works great for applying ink to the edges of the card;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) for the tag and note paper images - additional shading done using Crumb Cake ink.  I used my Crop-A-Dile to enlarge the hole for and to set the eyelet in the top of the tag;
• Very Vanilla cardstock, shaded using Crumb Cake ink and a little Early Espresso ink (item 147114), for the mushroom gills and stem.  I used an Early Espresso watercolour pencil (Watercolour Pencils Assortment 1 - item 161700) to draw some shading lines down the stem;

• Petal Pink cardstock (item 146985), shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084), for the mushroom cap;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cut - shaded using Crumb Cake ink;
• Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) for the tab die cut;
• Pool Party ink refill (item 122933) to colour the Extraordinary Life butterfly;
• Pool Party ink refill and Crumb Cake ink to colour the two Fern & Flora moths.  I used Crumb Cake ink to shade around the edges of the butterfly and both moth die cuts; and
• two small and one large of the Poppy Parade dots from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Dear Dots (item 165848).

This Early Espresso patterned Autumn Toile DSP covered card measures 4" x 3", and the additional supplies used:

• Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to shade the edges of the card (including the inside edges of the window opening);
• Gray Granite ink (item 147118), Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), and Early Espresso ink to colour the Fern & Flora moth image panel;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the tag image - additional shading done using Crumb Cake ink and a little Early Espresso ink - again I used my Crop-A-Dile to enlarge the hole for and to set the eyelet in the tag;
• Crumb Cake cardstock, shaded with Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks, for the Capturing Smiles film strip edge strip;
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the small Bordered In Beauty label (over which I glued the Capturing Smiles film strip die cut);
• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), for the tab die cut; and
• three buttons from my stash.

This Gorgeous Grape patterned Perennial Lavender DSP covered card measures 4" x 3 3/8", and the additional supplies used:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to shade the edges of the card, including the inside edges of the window opening;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the note paper and label images - additional shading done using Crumb Cake ink;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cut, the Extraordinary Life flag die cut, the Bordered In Beauty bracket die cut, and the base of the Gears & Textures screw die cut - the center piece was die cut from Crumb Cake cardstock (shaded with Crumb  Cake ink);
• Basic Black cardstock covered with foil tape for the Just A Note clip die cut, the Fern & Flora label die cut, and the Joyous Squares decorative die cut - for a faux metallic effect I scuffed up the foil covering on the die cuts with a fine-grit sanding sponge before working some black acrylic paint into the surface;
• Gorgeous Grape cardstock (item 146987) for the Stylish Shapes banner die cut;
• Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986) for the Extraordinary Life stitched heart die cut, and the tiny trio of Sweet Bugs flower die cuts; and
• Highland Heather ink refill (item 147167), and  Gray Granite ink (item 147118) to colour the Extraordinary Life butterfly image panel.  I used my retired Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) to add splatters.

This Country Lace DSP covered card measures 4 3/8" x 3 1/2", and the additional supplies used:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) for shading around the edges of the card, including the inside edges of the wiindow opening;
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784) for the Honey Bee image - additional shading done using Crumb Cake ink;
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shaded with Basic Gray ink (item 149165) and Crumb Cake ink for the trowel blade;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, and highlighted with Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) applied with one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773), for the trowel handle - for the handle loop I used Very Vanilla baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475), using a tiny dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue to secure the knotted end to the card;
• Crumb Cake cardstock for the Extraordinary Life note paper edge die cut - shaded with Crumb Cake ink;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cut;
• Gray Granite cardstock, shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the tab die cut; and
• an "almost" Old Olive button from my stash (with black embroidery thread tied through the holes), and a small bulldog clip picked up at Dollarama.

This linen patterned Woven Textures DSP covered card measures 3 3/4" x 3 1/2", and the additional supplies used:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to shade all edges of the card, including the inside edges of the window opening;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cut;
• Timid Tiger ink refill (item 165283) to colour the Extraordinary Life butterfly image;
• Timid Tiger ink refill, Old Olive ink refill (item 100531), and Gray Granite ink (item 147118) to colour the Fern & Flora floral stem image panel; and
• two small and one large of the Petal Pink dots from the retiring Dear Dots (item 165848).

This Woven Textures DSP covered card measures 3" square, and the additional supplies used:

• Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to shade all edges of the card, including the inner edges of the window opening;
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the tab and bracket die cuts;
• Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), and Pool Party ink refill (item 122933) to colour the Extraordinary Life butterfly image panel;
• and
• three small and two large of the Pool Party dots from the retiring Dear Dots (item 165848).

This Floral Delight DSP covered card measures 3 3/4" x 3", and the additional supplies used:

• fine grit sandpaper to lightly distress all edges of the card;
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink and Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) for, respectively, the Heirloom Arrangments and Gears & Textures images;
• Garden Green ink refill (item 102059) to colour the Extraordinary Life butterfly image;
• Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), for the tab and the Scalloped Wishes foliage die cuts;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), shaded with Crumb Cake ink, for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cut; and
• button from my stash with Gray Granite baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) tied through the holes.

This Pretty Peacock Earthen Elegance DSP covered card measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/2", and the additional supplies used:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) for shading all edges of the card, including the inside edges of the window opening - also for shading all edges of the Nature Walk DSP strip
• Crumb Cake ink and Pool Party ink (item 147107) for stamping, respectively, the Heirloom Arrangements and Gears & Textures images;
• Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) for colouring the Extraordinary Life butterfly image - additional shading done using a Pumpkin Pie watercolour pencil (Watercolour Pencils Assortment 1 - item 161700);
• Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117) - edges shaded with Crumb Cake ink - for the Stylish Shapes banner die cut;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cuts;
• two small and one large of the Pool Party dots from the retiring Dear Dots (item 165848); and
• I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes for and to set the two black eyelets.

This Misty Moonlight Earthen Elegance DSP covered card measures 5" x 3 1/2", and the additional supplies used:

• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) to shade all edges of the card, including the inside edges of the window opening, and all edges of the Take To The Sky DSP strip;
• I used watercolour paper that had been painted with stripes of Granny Apple Green ink refill (item 147163) and Old Olive ink refill (item 100531) mixed with water for the long tab die cut - trimmed so that only the tab portion of the die cut would show beyond the edge of the card;
• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), for the tab die cut;
• Granny Apple Green ink refill to colour the Extraordinary Life butterfly image - additional shading done with Crumb Cake ink;
• Granny Apple Green ink refill and Balmy Blue ink refill (item 147168) to colour the Fern & Flora moth image - additional shading done with Crumb Cake ink;
• Balmy Blue ink refill, Old Olive ink refill, and Crumb Cake ink to colour the Fern & Flora floral stem image panel - splatters added using my retired Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481);
• two small and one large of the Night Of Navy shaded dots from the retired Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (item 161448 - featured in the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue); and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) wrapped around the card over the Take To The Sky DSP strip - I secured the knotted ends with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  Over the wrapped Linen Thread I added a button from my stash.  (The Linen Thread was of course wrapped around the card before I glued the tab die cuts to the back of the card).

And finally. . . 

For my Archie project this week, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I made - surprise - a specimen card!  I covered the 5" x 3 1/2" card with a Cloud Cover/Lost Lagoon patterned paper from the Nature Walk 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 166912), shading all edges of the card, including the inside edges of the window opening with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116).  I used Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the Capturing Smiles film strip die cuts (actually one die cut that was cut in half).  I used Pumpkin Pie ink (item 105229), Granny Apple Green ink refill (item 147163), Pool Party ink refill (item 122933), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Highland Heather ink refill (item 147167), Crumb Cake ink, and Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118) to colour the images from the retired Cheerful Basket stamp set (item 158674), and the current Online Exclusives Cutest Crew stamp set (item 167146).  I used my retired Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) to add splatters to the window backing image panel. The Fern & Flora moth image (die cut using the co-ordinating Fern & Flora dies) was coloured using Granny Apple Green ink refill, Pool Party ink refill, and Crumb Cake ink.  The sentiment, from the retired Catch You Later stamp set (item 158037), was, like the images, stamped on watercolour paper, and the edges of the trimmed strip shaded with Crumb Cake ink.  I also shaded the edges of the Cutest Crew image strip (both ends torn) with Crumb Cake ink.  To complete the card I added two of the small and three of the large Pool Party dots from the retiring Dear Dots (item 165848).

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on some more specimen cards!

June Product Of The Month

The Wild Bunch photopolymer stamp set (item 167987) is the June Product Of The Month.  This exclusive Product Of The Month is now available, while supplies last, for purchase for $7.00 CDN with a 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 June.  There is a limit of one Product Of The Month purchase per month per Stampin' Up! account holder. 

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that both the Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475), and the Heirloom Arrangements Kit (item 165007) are not currently available for ordering.  While the Baker's Twine Essentials Pack is expected to again be available for ordering the week of June 29, 2026, Stampin' Up! has not been able to provide an availability date for the Heirloom Arrangements Kit.

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!  The digital version of the May-August 2026 Catalogue is 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!! 

"Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic."

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