Be Inspired - July 2026 - Creating Backgrounds

Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

CREATING BACKGROUNDS

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the July Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on projects that show wonderful backgrounds. However you have arrived here, whether from Melanie Hocking or directly here, I am so delighted that you are here.

As I was thinking about the type of background I would use my minds flittered around thinking “oo, I could do that; and then - well how about that … or that …. There are many types of backgrounds to try and many old favourites. In the end I decided to share one of my favourite backgrounds, that is Dry Embossed backgrounds. I love the subtle tone on tone texture that allows the focal point to shine while providing interest to the project.

You may recognise the gorgeous Floral Spray 3D Embossing Folder that was used to emboss the Basic White background. This is a wonderful embossing folder. I love that some parts of the background are left in-embossed to contrast with the embossed sections.

To provide a simple focal point a Party Banner die was used to cut the end of the Basic White banner that was mounted on Hydrangea Hue In Color Shimmer Speciality Paper. Violets were both stamped and die cut using the Pressed Violets bundle. I love working with this bundle as it brings warm childhood memories of picking violets for my Mum. The violets were coloured in Hydrangea Hue and the leaves in Soft Sea Foam with a touch of Peaceful Pine to add a little shading & depth.

Iridescent Pearls Basic Jewels add a little shimmer to the flower centres and around the sentiment. White ribbon was cut in half lengthwise and tied into a double bow then ticked in between the violets and sentiment.

The card inner was simply stamped with it of the violet stamps in Secret Sea Classic ink. I often use this ink instead of black. If you have time, the violets could be coloured with Stampin’ Blends, but my time was running away with speed so it is simply stamped.

A Stampin’ Basic White C6 envelope was also stamped with the violets in Secret Sea ink.

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

I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else has created for the Creating Backgrounds 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

Lynn Cheesmur

Maheswari Rajaguru  

Melanie Hockin

 

Be Inspired - June 2026 - Creative Sentiments

Be Inspired Design Team Blog Hop

Creative Ways to Use Sentiments

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the June Be Inspired Blog Hop where we are focusing on projects that demonstrate Creative Ways To Use Sentiments . However you have arrived here, whether from Maheswari or directly here, I am so delighted that you are here.

Generally, I use a sentiment to pull my design to a focal point and to set the reason for sending a card. This card is to help a friend celebrate her birthday. To add some creativeness in the use of a sentiment I have also used a sentiment from the Words & Wishes bundle in the background, that is, repeatedly die cut the word "Happy" and adhere it randomly over the background panel to give tone on tone texture and to subtly reinforce that sentiment, ie try to heighten a wish for happiness on the recipients birthday. To add a little depth to part of the background and show the sentiment technique a little more , some Berry Burst ink blending was added to the edges of a Bubble Bath background.

The Lily of the Valley bundle was used for the focal piece and one of the Nested Essential dies was used to cut a background piece to "ground" this focal panel. It was cut from the Moonlit Flora Designer Series Paper. 

Leaves and flowers were both stamped & gold heat embossed and die cut. Both were coloured with a fine water painter and Bubble Bath, Berry Burst and Peaceful Pine inks. 

The sentiment was white heat embossed on Blackberry Bliss cardstock and fussy cut. Sunset Sparkle Sequins add a little sparkle and retired Gold Twisted Thread was sued for a double bow.

The inner panel for writing one's personal message was repeatedly stamped with a sentiment down the LHS of the panel. This is another way to use a sentiment creatively.

Some subtle Bubble Bath stamping on a C6 Basic White envelope using the smaller Lily of the Valley image ties the envelope to the card it will hold.

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

I am so looking forward to seeing what other members of the team have created and to check out how they have used sentiments creatively.

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

Jaqueline Tobiczyk - only on Instagram

Lynn Cheesmur

Maheswari Rajaguru 

The list of Be Inspired Design Team Members hopping over on Instagram this month are:

Andrea Sargent @andreaksargent

Annette Ball @stampinwiththebees05

Annette Elias @de_kijkkast

Jaqueline Tobiczyk @touchofjoycs

Lynn Cheesmur @lynncheesmur

Maheswari Rajaguru @maheswarirajaguru

#instahop #cardmakersofinstagram #stampinupaustralia #ADT2026 #artisandesignteam2026 #stampinupdemonstrator #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupofficial #InstaHop #valleyinspirationswithandrea #beinspired

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

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