❤️ Heart of Christmas — Week 4

 A group of creative friends fr 1om the Art With Heart team are back with our Annual Heart of Christmas blog hop. Follow through the blogs each Monday night until the end of November for Christmas card inspiration.

This week I was inspired by Sharon Davern’s Christmas card, created using the Paper Pumpkin kit. When I first received the kit, I felt the colours weren’t quite me and thought I might struggle to use it. But once I paired it with Joyful Friends and Holly Joy Branches, everything came together beautifully.

I fussy‑cut the Joyful Friends characters (there are no dies for this set) and used Holly Joy Branches for the tree, presents, ornaments and star. The tree is stamped in Mossy Meadow, and the presents in Golden Glow.

• The Wombat is coloured in Crumb Cake with touches of Natural 600 and Light Pecan Pie.

• The Kookaburra is coloured with Azure Afternoon, Dark Smoky Slate and a little Light Pecan Pie, with the beak and feet in Crisp Cantaloupe.

• The lights the Wombat is holding are coloured in Real Red and Mossy Meadow, finished with Wink of Stella for sparkle.

The card base, envelope, bling and trees are all from this month’s Paper Pumpkin. I highly recommend these kits — I’ve used the cards and pieces for other projects, and they work beautifully even when creating with only what’s inside the box.

Measurements

• Card base: 140mm x 210mm, scored at 105mm

• Images: stamped on scraps of Basic White

• Golden Glow: scrap piece for accents

• DSP under sentiment: 90mm x 20mm, from A Little Christmas DSP

 

Full Card: Christmas card created using Paper Pumpkin, Joyful Friends and Holly Joy Branches

Wombat Close‑Up: Fussy‑cut Wombat coloured in Crumb Cake, Natural 600 and Light Pecan Pie

Kookaburra Close‑Up: Azure Afternoon and Smoky Slate Kookaburra with Crisp Cantaloupe beak and feet

Card & Envelope: Card displayed with coordinating Paper Pumpkin envelope featuring printed trees

I hope this inspires you — just as Sharon’s gorgeous card inspired me last week. Happy Stamping Hx

Next Up

We are visiting Sharon Davern to see what she has created this week:

If you get lost at any time, head to Sharon Davern’s blog, where you’ll find a full list of this week’s participants.

Calypso Coral week 14

A group of the Art With Heart Team is hopping through the Stampin’ Up! colours in alphabetical order, and week 14 is all about Calypso Coral

Here is my project: my weekly journal, created as a little Folding Album. I made two cards, scored them in half, and glued them together — giving me four sweet little pages to decorate. Each page has its own personality, inspired by the gorgeous scenes in the Waterside Retreat DSP

The oars, life jackets, and the bicycle on the front are all fussy cut from the DSP. For the bike, I penciled in the spokes using a tracing‑paper technique — such a fun detail! I also added a sheet from Bloom Boutique on one of the pages for a different look and texture.

Colours I used:

Calypso Coral (the base + some die‑cuts), Old Olive, Very Vanilla, and Crisp Cantaloupe. The backs of each Waterside Retreat picture are layered with Perennial Postage, and the sentiments + die cuts are from Relaxing Waterside, stamped in Calypso Coral ink.

My inspiration came from our recent trip to Noosa — watching the boats head out. While making this last night, I honestly felt like I was still there… coastal magic at its best

The journaling pages are tucked behind each picture — ready for memories, thoughts, and little stories.

I hope this inspires you.

📷Photos

Front opening with the journalling pages poking out of the Perennial Postage Die cut outs

Back opening with the journalling pages poking out of the Perennial Postage Die cut outs

Closer look at each page

📏Measurements

Measurements Coming Soon......

Happy Stamping Hx

Be sure to continue around the hop and visit the talented members of the Art With Heart Team to see their beautiful Calypso Coral creations. Visit my Instagram page @apaperparadise.

#artwithheartteamSU #stampinupaustralia #cardmakersofinstagram

Week 13 — Cajun Craze Journal Page 🧡

Week 13 — Cajun Craze Journal Page 🧡

A group of the Art With Heart Team is hopping through the Stampin’ Up! colours in alphabetical order, and Week 13 is all about Cajun Craze.

This week I’m sharing my weekly journal page, and I’m so happy with how it turned out. I combined two bundles — Fern & Flora and Help Me Grow — because I love mixing sets to create something fresh and unexpected. I also used a few leftover stamped and die‑cut elements from previous projects, adding extra details here and there to bring everything together.

🌿 Creative Details

I die‑cut the pots in Cajun Craze and used my Cajun Craze Blends to add shadowing around the pots, the stand, and under the leaves. These little touches really helped the elements pop. The design was inspired by a beautiful card Sara Douglas shared a few weeks ago, and it gave me the perfect starting point.

As you open the layers of the journal, you’ll find little pockets I created to slide my journalling pages into. A strip of Cajun Craze acts as both decoration and a pull‑tab to make the pages easy to access. On the back, I added another pocket with a decorative pull‑out that hides my 7th journalling page for the week — I love adding these secret spots for extra writing.

🎨 Colours & DSP

The SDSP I used is Scenic Coast, and the Highland Heather background looked so good behind all the earthy tones. It gave the whole page a soft, dreamy feel.

Card colours:

Cajun Craze, Highland Heather, Golden Glow, Old Olive, Old Olive two‑tone, Mossy Meadow, Basic Beige

Blends:

Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Peaceful Pie, Golden Glow

I honestly didn’t think I’d finish this in time, but once all the elements started coming together, I was absolutely over the moon. I hope it inspires you too 🧡

📷Photos

Inside the first layer of the journal page.

Inside the second layer of the journal page.

Showing the card that is at the back and on the base hiding a journalling page.

The journalling pages that are behind the SDSP triangles and the rectangle one from the back.

📏Measurements

Coming soon.......

Happy Stamping

Hx 🧡

If you’d like to see more gorgeous projects from the team, head over to my Instagram page @apaperparadise and check out the hop lineup.

Heart of Christmas Blog Hop 2026 Week 3

 

❤️ Heart of Christmas — Week 3

A group of creative friends from the Art with Heart team are back with our Annual Heart of Christmas blog hop. Follow through the blogs each Monday night until the end of November for beautiful Christmas card inspiration.

This week I’ve created a front pop‑out card — a fun interactive design where the card hides inside a little pocket. When you pull on the side of the card inside the pocket on the right‑hand side, the card pops open to reveal the inside panel. I was inspired by a clever idea I saw on Instagram and designed my own measurements and construction to make it work.

📸 Photos

1. 
   Front of the Card

2. 
   Card popping out with the A Little Christmas DSP house

3. 
   Inside the Pop‑Out Card

4. 
   Close‑up of the inside panel

5. 
   Inside of the card with Gold‑embossed “Merry Christmas”

I’ve used Noel Tidings for the sentiments, embossed in WOW! Gold embossing powder for that warm Christmas glow. The houses and trees are from Welcome Noel, and the SDSP is Luxe Foliage — all three available as a bundle along with a few coordinating elements. It’s a bundle I’ve absolutely loved working with; everything plays together beautifully.

The stars on the trees are die‑cut from the Luxe Foliage SDSP. Cardstock colours include Basic Beige, Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Peaceful Pine Pearlized SP, Secret Sea, and Pecan Pie. I stamped in Peaceful Pine ink.

Inside the pop‑out card, I coloured the windows of the houses using the Golden Glow Shimmer Pen — it gives the sweetest “lights‑are-on” effect. The house on the front panel is from A Little Christmas DSP.

To embellish, I used the Multicolor Christmas Baker’s Twine. I separated the colours and pulled out a few threads of one colour to create tiny bows for the front doors. A few Gold Adhesive‑Backed Dots finish the card perfectly.

✂️ Measurements

• Card Base: 210mm x 148mm, scored at 105mm

• SDSP (front of card): 142mm x 99mm

• Pocket: 134mm x 85mm, scored on three sides at 5mm

• SDSP (front of pocket): 118mm x 74mm

• Pop‑Out Card: 110mm x 155mm

• Front panel with house: 107mm x 68mm

• Inside panel: 104mm x 64mm

• SDSP strip (inside): 104mm x 14mm

• Tag mechanism: 55mm x 45mm, scored at 10mm on each end of the 55mm length

• Other cardstock: scraps suitable for die‑cutting

I hope this card inspires you. Happy Stamping  Hx 🧡

Next up, we are visiting Sharon Davern to see what she has created this week.

 If you get lost at any time, head to Sharon Davern’s blog, where you’ll find a full list of this week’s participants.

Heart of Christmas Blog Hop 2026 Week 2

 

❤️ A group of creative friends from the Art with Heart team are back with our Annual Heart of Christmas blog hop. Follow through the blogs each Monday night until the end of November for Christmas card inspiration.

This week I’m sharing my Shallowed Box card, created using the beautiful Pretty Poinsettia Bundle. I didn’t think I’d be able to join in as I’ve been busy in the craft room with thank you cards and birthday cards, but thankfully I already had the idea in mind and many of the pieces cut. I put the card together — and I’m so glad I did.

A piece of Bloom Boutique SDSP was sitting on my desk, and its neutral tones worked perfectly as a backdrop for the rich Cherry Cobbler poinsettias. The card design is a Shallow Box Card, something I’ve always wanted to make. I love the depth it creates, yet it still folds flat.

The arch on the front is cut using the Everyday Arches Dies and I used the front cut out arch and placed it at the back and placed the poinsettias in front, this gave them room to shine.

📸 Photos

Cherry Cobbler Shallow Box Card featuring Pretty Poinsettia bundle

Layered Cherry Cobbler poinsettias with Pool Party leaves and stamped Peaceful Pine stamped leaves

Shallow Box Card depth showing scored side panels

Flat panel with space for writing and decorative elements

📏 Card Measurements

All measurements in millimetres (mm):

Card Base Panels

• Front Card: 105mm × 148mm

• Back Card: 105mm × 148mm

• Middle Card: 102mm × 148mm

Side Panels (Shallow Box Sides)

Cut 2 pieces:

• 50mm × 148mm

• Score at: 5mm, 15mm, 25mm, 35mm

These scored sections create the depth of the box card while still allowing it to fold flat.

🎨 Colours & Inks

• Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Golden Glow, Pool Party and Basic White

• Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Peaceful Pine, Golden Glow

• Sentiments: Stamped in Cherry Cobbler and cut out using Words of Beauty dies

I hope this Shadow Box Card inspires you.   

Happy stamping, Hx 🧡

➡️ Next in our Hop

 Next up we are visiting Judy May to see what she has made this week.

If you get lost at any me, head to Claire Daly’s blog where you will find a full list of this week’s participants. 

💙 Blueberry Bushel — Art With Heart Colour Creations (Week 11)

 A group of the Art With Heart Team is hopping through the Stampin’ Up! colours in alphabetical order, and Week 11 is all about Blueberry Bushel.

This week I’m sharing my weekly journal page, inspired by peaceful seaside evenings and the soft hush of waves rolling in.

My page began with the Scenic Coast SDSP — which was unavailable at the time I did the project, but if you haven’t purchased it yet, I’m sure it will be back soon. It’s such gorgeous paper and perfect for creating calm, coastal scenes.

Full view of my Blueberry Bushel journal page, inspired by a peaceful seaside evening.

The Scenic Coast SDSP creates the perfect calm coastal backdrop.

I mixed and matched a few dies and stamp sets to build the layout:

• Relaxing Waterside Bundle

• Words of Beauty dies

• Banner Sayings Punch

• Rolling Waves Bundle

Alongside the Scenic Coast SDSP, I added Sunset Shimmer Vellum Iridescent, coloured softly with a Balmy Blue Blend, plus layers of Blueberry Bushel, Petal Pink, Crumb Cake, Balmy Blue, Granny Apple Green (two‑tone) and Basic White.

I stamped Crumb Cake ink onto Crumb Cake cardstock so it looked like the waves had just passed over, giving the scene that washed‑over shoreline feel. All sentiments are stamped in Blueberry Bushel.

Crumb Cake strip stamped so it looked like the waves had just passed over.

My journalling pages are tucked behind the Scenic Coast SDSP. I die‑cut the tops to create a wave effect and stamped tiny Blueberry Bushel shells across them — a sweet coastal detail that ties the whole page together.

Hidden journalling pages die‑cut into wave shapes and stamped with Blueberry Bushel shells.

I could just picture myself sitting in that little seat on a warm evening by the sea — so calm, so relaxing.

📏 Project Measurements

Base & Main Layers

• Backing card from SDSP: 190mm × 132mm

• Scenic Coast SDSP: 152mm × 132mm

• Crumb Cake card strip: 45mm × 132mm

Journalling Pages

• Original size: 148mm × 90mm

• After wave die‑cutting: 140mm × 90mm

Additional Elements

• Sunset Shimmer Vellum Iridescent — coloured with Balmy Blue Blend

• Shells stamped in Blueberry Bushel

• Wave‑cut journalling pages tucked behind SDSP

💙 Closing

I hope this project inspires you Happy Stamping Hx 🧡

💙 Hop Navigation

Be sure to check out all the other gorgeous projects and head to my Instagram page @apaperparadise.

✨ Art With Heart Team InstaHop – Week 8: Basic Gray ✨

This week we’re hopping through the Stampin’ Up! colours in alphabetical order, and Week 8 is all about Basic Gray 🤍🩶

I’ve created two projects — my weekly journal page and a birthday card for a special friend 💌

Both were inspired by Patty Bennett, who originally CASED this design from someone at Stampin’ Up! I loved the idea so much that I worked out my own measurements (lots of scribbling on scrap paper first!) so the card fits perfectly in an envelope, and the journal page matches my existing pages.

Front of the card

Inside the card

Inside the card opened

Front of the card open

Card with the message card pulled out

Card to write your message on

Front of the journal

Inside the journal

Journalling pages

Inside the journal

This week was also a great chance to use some of my bundles: 🌸 Scalloped Blooms 🌼 Boutique Blossoms 🦋 2026–2028 In Color® Butterflies

💡 Note: I used the Bloom Boutique DSP, it ties everything together beautifully.

And of course… I couldn’t resist April's monthly item, the stamp set Wild Bunch. That little snail is just too cute 🐌💕 Sadly the stamp set was so popular it went very quick. Hopefully Stampin Up! will have something similar soon.

🎨 Colours Used

Basic Gray (base), Basic White, Fresh Freesia, Bubble Bath, Barely Blush, Granny Apple Green & Pretty Peacock

🖊️ Blends Used

Bubble Bath, Barely Blush, Granny Apple Green, Pretty Peacock & Basic Black Light (which worked perfectly as Basic Gray!)

🎀 Tip: I coloured white ribbon with the Basic Black Light blend — it matched Basic Gray beautifully!

• 📏 Project Measurements

  Journal Page

  • White backing card: 190mm × 132mm

  • Basic Gray (cut 2): 184mm × 220mm

    • Score at 125mm and 160mm

    • On the 184mm length, mark 92mm

    • On the top and bottom, mark 25mm

    • Cut from the 92mm mark to each 25mm mark

  • SDSP pieces:

    • 190mm × 50mm — cut 2

    • 190mm × 50mm — cut 3

    • 190mm × 38mm — cut 4

    • 190mm × 125mm — cut 2

      • Mark 92mm on the 190mm length

      • Mark 25mm top and bottom on the 125mm length

      • Cut from the 92mm mark to the 25mm marks

  Journalling Pages

  • Base: 150mm × 95mm

    • Mark 75mm on the 150mm length

    • Mark 25mm top and bottom on the 95mm length

    • Cut from the 75mm mark to the 25mm marks

  Barley Blush Card

  • Base: 150mm × 105mm

    • Mark 75mm on the 150mm length

    • Mark 25mm top and bottom on the 105mm length

    • Cut from the 75mm mark to the 25mm marks

  Birthday Card

  Card Base

  • Basic Gray (cut 2): 240mm × 105mm

    • Score at 20mm, 56mm, 92mm

  SDSP Panels

  • 145mm × 105mm — cut 4

  Additional SDSP Layers

  • 50mm × 105mm — cut 4

  • 34mm × 105mm — cut 4

    • Mark 52.5mm on the 105mm length

    • Mark 25mm on the 240mm length

    • Cut from the 52.5mm mark to the 25mm marks (top and bottom)

  Insert for Card

  • Basic Gray: 138mm × 90mm

    • Mark 45mm on the 90mm length

    • Mark 22mm on the 138mm length

    • Cut from the 45mm mark to the 22mm marks (top and bottom)

  • Basic White: 128mm × 80mm

    • Mark 40mm on the 80mm length

    • Mark 22mm on the 128mm length

    • Cut from the 40mm mark to the 22mm marks (top and bottom)

    • This creates the pointed insert shape.

✂️ Extra Details

The inside pockets are finished with a scalloped edge die from Scalloped Blooms for that extra touch of detail.

Hope these projects inspire you 💕

Happy Stamping! Hx 🧡

➡️ To check out other projects using Basic Gray

Go to my Instagram page and check out my other team members gorgeous creations! @apaperparadise