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

CASEing the Catty #504 - CASE A January On-line Exclusive

CASE A January On-line Exclusive meets Spring Corners

Hello, Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and #504 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from Kathryn Mangelsforf, 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 Julia Quinn so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues 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 January On-line Exclusives by Stampin’ Up!. On-line Exclusives are released every 2 months and do not show in the Annual or Mini Catalogues. There are so many wonderful products that you find when you search the Stampin’ Up! On-line store. They are easy to find, just click on Shop and the drop-down list will include a tab for “On-line Exclusives”. So just click that category!

Amongst the many beautiful products, I found this project. For this week’s challenge I chose to use the layout below with the Spring Corners bundle:

I love Spring Corners stamps as the set includes many sentiments that stamp around the corner. The dies also include images that fit neatly in corners. This bundle is something a bit different. Here is my card:

I started by blending on a panel of Bubble Bath cardstock using Bubble Bath, Berry Burst and a touch of Blackberry Bliss Classic inks with some Blending Brushes. The corner sentiment was stamped in Versamark ink and then white heat embossed using the Wow White Emboss powder from the Basics pack, a Heat Tool and the Embossing Accessories Kit - don’t forget to use the Embossing Buddy to stop those embossed speckles.

A panel of Basic White card-stock was cut in half and then a square from each strip was cut from one end. The 2 squares were each die cut using the little floral corner. The leaf stamp from the Mixed Florals stamp set was stamped in Smoky Slate ink on the 2 taller white panels. On a seperate piece of Basic White card-stock, the cone flower stamp and one of the ladybirds were also stamped in Smoky Slate ink.

The leaves, flowers and ladybird were coloured with Stampin’ Blends combos, ie Bubble Bath, Berry Burst, Lost Lagoon, a touch of Lemon Lolly and the Colour Lifter. The flowers and bug were cut with coordinating dies and a bit of fussy cutting and then adhered over the leaves on the two longer panels with Mini Dimensionals. The decorated panels were arranged and adhered in place with Dimensionals.

To link with the touch of Blackberry Bliss inking on the blended background, a smaller straight sentiment also from the Spring Corners stamps was white heat embossed onto Blackberry Bliss card-stock. It was trimmed with my trusty Trimmer and positioned with Mini Dimensionals over a thin bow of Silver & White Sheer Ribbon. It had been cut in half lengthwise.

The final touch - some of the gorgeous Purple Adhesive-backed Sequins. They are a free product with a purchase of $100 or more. I have used the Berry Burst Sequins.

A Basic White card-stock panel was stamped in Smoky Slate ink with another sentiment and some tiny flowers from the Spring Corners stamps and the corners had a little Berry Burst blending. Two extra ladybirds were also added. A C6 Basic White envelope was stamped (and stamped off) with leaves in Smoky Slate.

Thank you so much for calling in to check out my CASEing of a January Online Exclusive project.

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this creative CASEing the Catty Crew. The next blog in the hop is by the lovely Julia Quinn. 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 you have created for this Challenge that has been inspired by the January 2025 On-line Exclusives. 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 then 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 love to see your creation.

#ctc504 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations  #mixedflorals  #springcorners  #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2025  #artisandesignteam

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #14 Bubble Bath

Bubble Bath with Spotlight on Nature

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order, focussing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is showcasing a pale pink colour called Bubble Bath. Bubble Bath is part of the Subtles Colour Family and is a soft colour that will coordinate with many other colours, such as other Subtles, Berry Burst, Moody Mauve or Blackberry Bliss. It would be wonderful for baby cards, flowers, …  and anything needing a pretty pale pink.

Bubble Bath is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Stampin’ Blends Combo; Subtles Designer Series Paper as well as a number of other products. 

This card has incorporated Bubble Bath as card-stock, Classic ink, Stampin’ Write Marker and Stampin’ Blends.

I love the Spotlight on Nature stamps and chose them for this week’s project. A couple of the large flowers stamp were stamped in Versamark ink on Basic White card-stock and gold heat embossed with gold Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool. They were lightly water-coloured using Bubble Bath and Lost Lagoon Classic inks and the fine Water Painter. The butterfly was also gold embossed and coloured with Bubble Bath and Moody Mauve inks.

The background panel was fully water-coloured with Bubble Bath, Moody Mauve and Blackberry Bliss inks on Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper. The effect of watercolouring never ceases to amaze me. Looking at the top right-hand corner, it looks a different pink than the Bubble Bath card-stock. The off-white colour of the water-colour paper certainly gives Bubble Bath a different tinge - though still very beautiful. When partially dry some Moody Mauve & Blackberry Bliss inks were splattered over the lighter sections. When fully dry, the panel was stamped and clear embossed using the leaf stamp from the Spotlight on Nature set.

A die from the Countryside Corners dies cut a couple of labels from Thick Basic White card-stock. Where popping a label up on Dimensionals, I love to use Thick card-stock to ensure it doesn’t sag. The card base is Bubble Bath card-stock. After the water-colour panel was cut into pieces and each piece was mounted on to a slightly larger piece of Bubble bath card-stock. This is a version of a Puzzle fun fold - not because of the difficulty of the fold, but because of trying to put all the card front pieces back in order! It is sort of like a jig saw puzzle. A little background stamping was added to the front label (using a stamp from the Spotlight on Nature set) before the arrangement of the floral/butterfly pieces. Here is a photo of the standing card taken from above:

To complete the card, a sentiment from the same stamp set was gold heat embossed on Bubble Bath card-stock and fussy cut. Gold Trim from the pack of Silver & Gold Trim - an Online Exclusive, was tied into a bow and tucked under the sentiment. A number of Iridescent Foil Gems were lightly coloured with a Bubble Bath Stampin’ Blend - Dark and then scattered around. 

To decorate the card inner a few remaining leaves, bud & butterfly were added to a Basic White panel. I missed photographing the envelope, but it was stamped with the floral stamp in Bubble Bath ink. 

Below is a photo of the card, fully open. As mentioned, two labels were used - one on the front (popped up on Dimensionals) with the floral arrangement and the second one behind the front label on the back side of the stepped panels so the stepped panel on the other side can slip in-between the labels to help hold the card almost closed.

Thank you so much for calling in to check out my Bubble Bath project. I hope you found something of interest.

To continue with the Bubble Bath blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a special lady, Kate Morgan. I am looking forward to checking out Kate’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Cajun Craze as we continue the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our brilliant Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a wonderful lady. Check out her delightful creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue, and the coming September — December 2024 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#colourcreationsbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #spotlightonnature #countrysidecorners

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #46 Smoky Slate

Smoky Slate with Magnolia Mood

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order, focussing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a pale grey called Smoky Slate. Smoky Slate is part of the Neutrals Colour Family and is a wonderful light silvery grey that can coordinate with so so many colours. This colour can be used in many ways - consider a coloured flower with Smoky Slate leaves, or a Smoky Slate stamped image instead of using Black ink - it’s much softer; or it could be used as a neutral background - perhaps trees or mountains in the background.

Smoky Slate is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Stampin’ Blends Combo; Neutrals Designer Series Paper as well as Winter Meadows DSP; Faceted Gems Trio Pack; and the Celebrate Today Magnet Board Kit. 

Smoky Slate ink, card-stock and Stampin’ Write Marker plus the Smoky Slate design within the Winter Meadows Designer Series Paper have been used in the creation of these projects together with a range of non-Smoky Slate bits and pieces.

CARD 1

While so many colours can go with Smoky Slate I do especially love either yellow, pink or pool party with grey - so I chose pink this week, ie Bubble Bath and Berry Burst with a touch of Old Olive to go with the Magnolia Mood On-line Bundle. I adore this bundle.  I decided to have the magnolia flower stamped in Smoky Slate and either leave the flowers uncoloured with coloured background shapes or a coloured Magnolia with Smoky Slate background shapes. I couldn’t make my mind up as to which one so I created both. The two cards that are similar, but different. However, I do adore the coloured Magnolia.

As mentioned, the large magnolia stamp from the Magnolia Mood stamp set was stamped in Smoky Slate Classic Stampin ink. This produces a softer image with less contrast between the outline and the colouring, however, Smoky Slate ink is still strong enough to define the image well. This image was coloured with Stampin’ Blends, ie Bubble Bath, Berry Burst and Old Olive Blends Combos, plus the Colour Lifter to give soft highlights.

Some leaves and a flower were die cut from Basic White card-stock using the Magnolia Mood dies. Some colour was added with a Blending Brush, ie Bubble Bath ink on the flower and Old Olive ink on the leaves. Background shapes were also cut using the Thoughtful Expressions dies. The large label was cut from the Smoky Slate mottled design from the Winter Meadows DSP - this provided a subtle textured background with little effort. The smaller background shapes were die cut from Smoky Slate card-stock, with the small solid shape striped with a Light Smoky Slate Blend and a little Smoky Slate blending added with a Blending Brush.

A Basic White card background was embossed with the Leaf Fall 3D Embossing Folder - currently an On-line Exclusive. A thin strip of Berry Burst Glimmer Speciality Paper - another On-line Exclusive that comes with Old Olive and White Glimmer Speciality Papers, was laid across the centre of the embossed panel and the other elements were arranged.

A sentiment from the stamp set was stamped in Smoky Slate ink on the Winter Meadows DSP and fussy cut out. I had planned on adding the other two rows of the sentiment inside the card - but just remembered now - oops! Some of the beautiful Pastel Adhesive-backed Sequins were added near the sentiment and a little White Bakers Twine bow was tucked under the sentiment. It still needed a little something so some splattering was added with a Smoky Slate Stampin’ Write Marker.

The card inner was simply stamped with a Smoky Slate Magnolia and a strip of the Glimmer Paper adhered over. A C6 Basic White envelope was also stamped with a Smoky Slate Magnolia.

And now a card with a Smoky Slate Magnolia and coloured background shapes.

CARD 2

As mentioned, this card is similar but different. The background panel was embossed with the beautiful Layered Florals 3D Embossing Folder. The featured magnolia is simply stamped in Smoky Slate ink. The detail of this stamp is beautiful in just one colour. Some leaves were die cut from Smoky Slate card-stock. The flower and leaves sit on a Basic White label cut using a  Thoughtful Expressions die. The background shapes also used the Thoughtful Expressions dies, with the large shape cut from the Bubble Bath design from the Bright and Beautiful DSP. The smaller shapes and a thin strip were cut from a different speciality paper, the Soft Shimmer Speciality Paper - this gives a beautiful shimmer. It is retiring soon so don’t miss out.

A sentiment was stamped in Smoky Slate ink and fussy cut out. The final touch was a double Elegant Trim bow and some Bubble Bath sequins from the Subtle Adhesive Backed Sequins. Splattering was added with both a Smoky Slate Marker and the light Berry Burst Blend.

The card inner and Basic White C6 Envelope were decorated in the same way as the first card described above.

Thank you so much for dropping by on your way around the Colour Creations Blog Hop. I know there will be so much Smoky Slate inspiration throughout the Blog Hop.

To continue with the Smoky Slate blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Christine Blain. I am looking forward to checking out Christine’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - we use the same colour in so many ways.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Soft Sea Foam as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our brilliant Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a wonderful lady. Check out her delightful creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the new January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#colourcreationsbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #magnoliamood  #thoughtfulexpressions