CASEing the Catty #568 CASE Annual Catalogue Stamp Set

CASE Stampin’ Up!s Annual Catalogue Stamps meets Flowering Meadow

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea & #568 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from Monique Fielder, as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps arrived directly here; either way I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog, I have linked to Rebecca Scurr so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues and On-line Exclusives as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". This week we are CASE-ing our favourite Stamps from the Retiring Annual catalogue. The card I have CASEd is found near the bottom of page 53 of the 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue.

I love so many stamps from the 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue but having to choose one, I chose the gorgeous Gallery Blooms stamps. Loving a wreath, especially one made of flowers I couldn't go past the wreath card on page 53. What I thought I would also show is CASEing with a completely different set, that is CASEing old and using new, so selected the beautiful Velvet Meadow suite. I had planned to stamp and colour my flowers but time and my body gave out on me so ended up fussy cutting flowers and leaves from the super gorgeous Velvet Meadow Speciality Designer Series Paper.

The stamp and die bundle from the suite is the Flowering Meadow bundle. This card is mainly created wth DSP and die cutting, The sentiment was stamped and white heat embossed on the new Peaceful Pine card-stock. I love this new In Colour.

With a Thick Basic White card base and mount layer, the background is one of the B sides from the SDSP - so soft and subtle. The fussy cut flowers from the DSP are Bubble Bath and Berry Burst and the leaves are Peaceful Pine. The die cut pieces are cut using the detailed dies from Basic White card-stock.

The bow is tied in the new Barely Blush ribbon. It is so subtle and I cut the ribbon down so it blended well with the colour scheme. The front design was finished with some gorgeous 2026-2028 In Colour Flat Pearls - they are so so beautiful.

The card inner is fairly simple - just a thin left over strip from the background DSP and some left over cut flowers and leaves. I love to simply tie the inside of the card with the front design.

I don't think I have mentioned previously, that I currently only add a little adhesive to the top in the inside insert so that it can be easily removed and a new one added if the recipient would like to re-use the card.

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this creative CASEing The Catty Crew. The next blog in the hop is by the wonderful Rebecca Scurr. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I wonder which project she has CASEd - I am sure her project will be something special.

Join In The Challenge: We would love you to share a project that you have created for this Challenge which has been inspired by the retiring 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue. To share, all you need to do is go to the CASEing The Catty Challenge Group on Facebook. If you aren't a member, it’s easy to request to join and once anpproved all you need to do is upload a photo of your project to the main section. You can click on the graphic below to be taken to the group on Facebook. We would so love to see your creation.

 

#ctc568 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations #galleryblooms #floweringmeadow  #velvetmeadowspeciality #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2026  #artisandesignteam #stampinupofficial

Be Inspired - April 2026 - Layout that Always Works

Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

A LAYOUT THAT ALWAYS WORKS

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the April Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on projects that are show a layout the always works. However you have arrived here, whether from Maheswari or directly here, I am so delighted that you are here.

I was excited to create under this theme and I hope you are inspired as you hop around to other members of the Design Team. Sometimes it can be hard to start with a blank piece of card-stock but if you have a layout in mind it makes creating so much easier - especially if they are tried and tested.

The layout I am sharing today has a central smaller panel for the focal section of the card. It is usually popped up on Dimensionals and sits over a background that complements central panel. The background can have blending - whether partial or across the full background. It could also have partial stamping of smallish images or words that compliment the reason for the card.  

I was planning on only partial blending but was carried away after seeing a beautiful photo of bluebells. The background panel was coloured in an ombre style using Shaded Spruce, Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green and Balmy Blue. Water and White craft ink were both splattered over the ink blended background. Some silver embossed stamping also was added to the background using the smaller Lily of the Valley image.

Leaves and flowers were die cut from Basic White card-stock using the Lily of the Valley dies. The leaves were coloured with Blending brushes with Shaded Spruce and Granny Apple Green Classic inks.  As the flowers and stems were fiddly, they were coloured with Stampin Blends, ie Shaded Spruce combo and Hydrangea Hue combo with the Colour Lifter. The die cut mesh was left white to add some subtle interest behind the flowers. 

A white ribbon was tied around the central panel with a bow just tucked underneath a white embossed sentiment from the coordinating stamp set. The finishing touch - some of the gorgeous 2026-2028 In Color Flat Pearls. While the pearls are Peaceful Pine the coordinate beautifully with this arrangement.

Thank you so much for dropping in on your way around the Be Inspired Blog Hop. I so appreciate you.

I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created for the A Layout That Always Works Blog Hop.  Next in line is the amazing Angela Meiritz-Reid. Just click on the "Next" graphic below to head over to Angela’s blog.

The full list of those participating in this Blog hop is:

Andrea Sargent <you are here

Angela Meiritz-Reid 

Annette Elias

Brian King

Emma Goddard

Heather Thomas

Lynn Cheesmur

Maheswari Rajaguru

CASEing the Catty #563 CASE The Easter Joy Suite

CASE Stampin’ Up!s Easter Joy Suite meets Scalloped Wishes

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea & #563 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from Rochelle Blok as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps arrived directly here; either way I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog, I have linked to Peta Stephens so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues and On Line Exclusives as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". This week we are CASE-ing the projects showcasing the Easter Joy Suite found on pages 34-36 of the 2026 Stampin' Up! January-April Catalogue.

As you can see above, I have CASEd the 3rd card down on the 2nd half of page 36. The card has an oval of flowers with 3 daffodils featured in the centre. As soon as I saw this card I thought of the gorgeous Scalloped Wishes bundle from the latest On-line Exclusives release. I turned the card to portrait and featured 3 die cut dragon flies instead of the daffodils. Of course I also  added my own touch with a bow and gems as finishing touches.

I started with a Basic Beige card base, I added a background panel from one of my favourite Designer Series Papers - Speciality Delicate Whispers. A Basic White Scalloped Oval, that was cut using the largest Scalloped Wishes die, was lightly Bronze Heat embossed around the edges and then was popped up on Dimensionals.

Basic White leaves were cut using the 2 leaf dies from the Scalloped Wishes dies and flowers with the flowers die. Using Blending Brushes, Old Olive ink was partially blended over each of the leaves - darker at the base then lightening to white at the tip. Each of the flowers had a little Pretty in Pink ink partially blended over them.

The coloured leaves were layered around the oval near the edge. Once they were arranged nicely, Glue Dots or Multipurpose Liquid Glue was used to adhere them in place. Most of the flowers were arranged near the base of the oval and a couple of flowers were sprinkled in other spots.

A double bow was added with Glue Dots and the flowers were positioned around the centre of the bow. Pretty in Pink glittering Gems were added to the centres of the flowers and a couple extra gems near the fussy cut Bronze embossed sentiment. The dragon flies bodies were cut from Bronze Foil and the wings from the Mossy Meadows "B" side of the Speciality DSP.

The card inner was simply a Basic White panel with a strip of the same DSP as the card front. A fourth dragonfly was also added. A C6 Basic White envelope was decorated with a remaining piece of the same DSP.

Thank you so much for spending some time here with me. I so appreciate you dropping in. 

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this creative CASEing The Catty Crew. The next blog in the hop is by the wonderful Peta Stephens and Marvi. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I wonder which project she has CASEd - I am sure her project will be something special.

Join In The Challenge: We would love you to share a project that you have created for this Challenge which has been inspired by the Easter Joy Suite. To share, all you need to do is go to the CASEing The Catty Challenge Group on Facebook. If you aren't a member, it’s easy to request to join and once anpproved all you need to do is upload a photo of your project to the main section. You can click on the graphic below to be taken to the group on Facebook. We would so love to see your creation.

 

#ctc563 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #valleyinspirations  #scallopedwishes  #easterjoy #delicatewhispers  #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2026 #artisandesignteam

Be Inspired - March 2026

Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

STAMPING TECHNIQUES TO USE FOREVER

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the March Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on projects that showcase Stamping Techniques To Use Forever . 

However you have arrived here, whether from Stesha Bloodhart or directly here, I am so delighted that you are here.

I didn't need to think long about which stamping technique to choose - I adore Heat Embossing! 

I often add Heat Embossing to my creations. No doubt you know what I mean but in case someone is wondering - you stamp the image using a sticky ink, like Versamark; and sprinkle Wow Emboss Powder over the sticky ink and cardstock; then shake off the loose powder. The remaining powder on the cardstock is heated with a Heat Tool. It is always a delight to see the emboss powder melt and change. The impact is wonderfull

For my project I gold embossed the Flowers Fair stamp onto Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper and on the bottom of a Basic White card front.

The images were watercolored with a Fine Water Painter and Pretty in Pink, Petunia Pop, Lemon Lolly and Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' inks (the first 2 are retiring In Colours that i am going to miss). Some of the flowers were fussy cut from the Fluid 100 panel and added to the central panel. The centre panel was cut with a Textured Notes rectangular die and mounted on a slightly larger piece of Pretty in Pink card-stock.

A gold embossed sentiment using the Springtime Scenes stamp set was also fussy cut and added with Dimensionals. Gold & White Ribbon and Pretty in Pink Gems gave the finishing touches.

The Basic White card inner was gold embossed with the top section of the Flowers Fair stamp.

Similarly, a Basic White C6 Envelope was also gold embossed with the same stamp. I do like to simply coordinate the card inner and envelope.

Thank you so much for dropping in on your way around the Be Inspired Blog Hop. I so appreciate you.

I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created for the Stamping Techniques to Use Forever Blog Hop.  Next in line is the amazing Angela Meiritz-Reid. Just click on the "Next" graphic below to head over to Angela’s blog.

The full list of those participating in this Blog hop is:

Andrea Sargent <you are here

Angela Meiritz-Reid

Annette Ball

Annette Elias

Brian King

Emma Goddard

Heather Thomas

Lynn Cheesmur

Maheswari Rajaguru 

Stesha Bloodhart

#beinspired  #beinspireddesignteam  #stampinup   #stampinupofficial  #stampinupaustralia #valleyinspirations  #artisandesignteam #artisandesignteam2026  #flowersfair  #stampinupofficial #springtimescenes

Be Inspired - February 2026

 Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

COLOUR PAIRINGS

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the February Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on projects that highlight Colour Pairings . However you have arrived here, whether from Stesha Bloodhart or directly here, I am so delighted that you are here.

As I thought of Colour Pairings, my mind went to colour buddies that work brilliantly together and have certain similarities. It was hard to choose, but I decided on a stunning pairing of two 2025-2027 In Colours, ie Secret Sea and Cloud Cover. The latter is almost a lighter version of the former. To lift these two colours to extra heights Fresh Freesia was added to provide a clearer and pretty contrast. What do you think of this colour combination?

Together with Cloud Cover, Secret Sea and Fresh Freesia this card also showcases a soon to be released bundle (and coordinating suite) called Delicate Whispers. I adore the stamped images and detailed dies - so beautiful.

The images were stamped in Secret Sea and coloured with either Secret Sea, Cloud Cover and Fresh Freesia using ink in the stamp pad lid and a Blender Pen. Some feathery leaves were cut from Cloud Cover Peaceful Garden Designer Series Paper and the little berries from the Secret Sea Lovely Blossoms Designer Series Paper. A strip from both of these DSPs were layered down the left side over a Basic White panel that had been dry embossed with the Paradise Garden 3D Embossing Folder.

All the stamped and die cut pieces were arranged down the card front near the DSP. Some Secret Sea Bordered Open Weave ribbon was wrapped around the card front and tied into a bow. A sentiment from the Delicate Whispers stamps was white heat embossed on Secret Sea card-stock. The final touches -  Frosted Iridescent Dots (from the Last Chance List) were sprinkled around.

The inside of the card was simply decorated with a little torn DSP and some extra stamped and die cut pieces.

A C6 Basic White Envelope was stamped with the flax flower images in Secret Sea ink. The card inner and envelope only need simple adornment to coordinate them with the card design.

Thank you so much for dropping in on your way around February's Be Inspired Blog Hop. I so appreciate time spent with you.

I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created for the Colour Pairings February Blog Hop.  Next in line is the amazing Angela Meiritz-Reid. Just click on the "Next" graphic below to head over to Angela’s blog. I wonder what colour pairings Angela has chosen. I know her project will be special.

The full list of those participating in this Blog hop is:

Andrea Sargent <That's me

Angela Meiritz-Reid

Annette Ball

Annette Elias

Brian King

Lynn Cheesmur

Maheswari Rajaguru

Stesha Bloodhart

#beinspired  #beinspireddesignteam  #stampinup   #stampinupofficial  #stampinupaustralia #valleyinspirations  #artisandesignteam #artisandesignteam2026  #stampinupofficial 

CASEing the Catty #558 CASE Colours of Easter Joy

 CASE Stampin’ Up!s Colours of the Easter Joy DSP meets Simply Beautiful  

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea & #558 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from Peta Stephen as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps arrived directly here; either way I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog, I have linked to Rebecca Scurr so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues and On-Line Exclusives as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". This week we are CASE-ing the the colours of Easter Joy Designer Series Paper (ie Balmy Blue, Lemon Lolly, Pretty in Pink, Peach Pie, Shy Shamrock & Crumb Cake) found on page 34 of the 2026 Stampin' Up! January-April Mini Catalogue.

The colours of the Designer Series Paper are pretty and fresh. I decided to create a card using the colours and not incorporate the DSP. Initial thoughts were to use Pretty in Pink & Peach Pie ink together on some flowers. I have a light pink rose that has different colours on the petal edges so decided to follow that idea. The stamens were coloured with Lemon Lolly. Shy Shamrock was delicately added to the leaves and Crumb Cake for the Gypsophila. A touch of Balmy Blue blending was added to the front label. I used two of the second largest label die from the Beautifully Celebrated dies to create a label that both sits on the back panel and opens to have a place to write a personal message.

Four of the larger flower dies were cut in Fluid 100 Watercolour Paper together with 2 of the smaller petal dies. Pretty in Pink was added to the 4 larger petals with a mid sized Water Painter and Peach Pie then was added to the edges. Lemon Lolly coloured the stamen pieces and Shy Shamrock was lightly added to 3 leaves. While the water-coloured pieces were left to dry, the remainder of the card was prepared.

I love the Simply Beautiful bundle - both the stamped images and die cut shapes. Most of the design was die cut apart from the little leaf spray being stamped in White Craft Ink on the plain Crumb Cake front panel. The label dies come from the coordinating Beautifully Celebrated dies. They are part of the same Lovely & Beautiful Suite.

The card base is Crumb Cake card-stock and the background DSP is from the Lovely Blossoms DSP. One of the white labels was centred on the inner DSP panel and the water-coloured pieces are adhered together and arranged on the top panel. A score line was added across the top curve and burnished. The tiny top section was adhered to the bottom label, creating a fold that allowed the top label to lift up to reveal the writing panel.

A triple Linen Twine bow was tucked under the larger flowers petals. A sentiment was white heat embossed onto Crumb Cake, fussy cut out and popped up on Dimensionals on the top label. The final touch some Pearls of Beauty were sprinkled around. Something else was needed so White Craft ink was splattered over the card.

As referenced, the card inner is revealed but lifting the top label and opening the half card front. The inner panel had a little Crumb Cake stamping. This Joy Fold card is a simple fun fold that had a great effect. A C6 Basic White envelope was similarly stamped.

I adore water-colouring and so had fun creating this Joy Fold card to share with you. I quite like combining different colouring techniques as seen here with a little Balmy Blue blending. Thank you so much for spending time here with me. I am delighted you called by.

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this creative CASEing The Catty Crew. The next blog in the hop is our coordinator, the wonderful Rebecca Scurr. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I wonder how she has used the Easter Joy colours - I am sure her project will be something special.

Join In The Challenge: We would love you to share a project that you have created for this Challenge which has been inspired by the Easter Joy DSP colours. To share, all you need to do is go to the CASEing The Catty Challenge Group on Facebook. If you aren't a member, it’s easy to request to join and once anpproved all you need to do is upload a photo of your project to the main section. You can click on the graphic below to be taken to the group on Facebook. We would so love to see your creation.

 

#ctc558 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations  #simplybeautiful  #beautifullycelebrated #lovelyblossoms  #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2026  #artisandesignteam