I am starting a new Craft Box Challenge video series. I've put together a few basic supplies for card making and put them in a box. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to make at least 8-10 cards (probably more!). Today is the first installment of the series where I introduce the contents of the box and make my first card. 

I know that sometimes when you see me craft that it appears that I have all the things. I have a shelf full of stamps, a drawer full of paper, all the inks, and lots of embellishments. If you're new to card making, that can feel a little overwhelming. So, part of the reason for the challenge is to show you ideas for creating cards when you're just starting and might only have a stamp set, a couple of ink pads, and some paper. 

Before I talk about the supplies that I placed in the box, I want to take a moment to talk about the third item on my list of favorite things about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I love the value of Stampin' Up!'s starter kit! Even if you never want to sell a thing, the starter kit is a fabulous value for both advanced stampers and beginners. You get to choose $125 worth of supplies (anything from the catalogs!) for only $99 and there are no shipping fees. 

So here's the box:

• Sweet Strawberry Stamp Set
• Strawberry Builder Punch
• 8 1/2" x 11" Thick Basic White cardstock
• 8 1/2" x 11" Brights cardstock
• Multipurpose Glue
• Classic Stampin' Spot Assortment
• Jet Black Stazon
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Clear Block D
• Paper Trimmer
• Misc. items: scissors, watercolor brush, pencil, black pen, sticky notes, Stampin' Shammy (These items aren't included in the cost tally.)

Cardstock:

• 5 ½” x 5 ½”, scored at 4 ¼”
• 2 ½” x 3”
• 2 ¾” x 2”

Coordinating Cardstock:

• 3” x 3 ½”
• 2 ½” x 1 ¾”
  

White or Vanilla Cardstock:

• 2 ¼” x 2 ¾”
• 2 3/8” x 1 5/8”
• 3 ¾” x 5”

Patterned Paper: 8” x 5 ¼”

This fun congratulations card uses the new You Are Amazing stamp set from the 2021 January-June Mini Catalog and the Artistry Blooms patterned paper from Stampin' Up! These big, bold greetings work well with patterned paper to create quick and easy cards. Here, I stamped the greetings with Magenta Madness ink and added a few starts on the edges with Mango Melody ink. I also used these colors for the cardstock. 

I tied the front with Linen Thread. I should have added a few Artistry Blooms Adhesive-backed Sequins, but I've run out! Y'all know this is my favorite embellishment. So don't worry, I've added another pack to my next order!

My second card using this easy fun fold design has a field of poppies on the front. I used the Painted Poppies stamp set for the poppy images and the Peaceful Moments stamp set for the sentiments. These two sets are designed to work together, and their coordinating dies work fantastically with both sets as well. 

I also sued the Flower & Field patterned paper that you can get for FREE during Sale-A-Bration 2021! I love, love, love this paper! With a black background the flowers really pop!

The front images sentiments are stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends alcohol markers.

The poppies on the inside of the card have been stamped with a splotch that is included in the stamp set. Here I have stamped it with Flirty Flamingo ink to match the patterned paper. 

For my last card, I didn't do any stamping at all! Instead, I used images from the new Snail Mail 12x12 Designer Series Paper pack. It is part of the Snail Mail suite of products, but I haven't had a chance to get the whole suite yet. (It's on my wish list!) In the meantime, I fussy cut some of the images from the patterned paper and arranged them on my piece of Blushing Bride cardstock to create a little scene.

For the middle layer, I cut a number of word balloons from another piece of patterned paper and layered them over the piece of white cardstock. 

I added a little snail and some more mushrooms to the inside of the card, but didn't add a sentiment because this seems like the perfect card for writing a little note to someone. 

The front is tied with a piece of Blushing Bride Bakers twin from the Snail Mail Twine Combo pack, also part of the Snail Mail suite. 
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To see exactly how I made these three cards, be sure to check out this video. I share lots of little tips for putting the cards together. 

The cards are all done on Blackberry Bliss card bases. The sentiments are stamped with Blackberry Bliss ink while the succulents are stamped with Jet Black Stazon ink. I also used the Brick & Mortar 3D embossing folder on two of the cards and some additional ribbon, twine, and rhinestones.  

Blackberry Bliss cardstock:

• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• 2" x 1 3/4"

Oh So Ombré patterned paper:

• 5 7/16" x 4 3/16"
• 3 1/4" x 1 1/2"

Blackberry Bliss cardstock:

• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• 5 1/4" x 4"

Oh So Ombré patterned paper:

• Granny Apple Green: 4 1/2" x 4"
• Blackberry Bliss: 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"
• 3" x 3/4"

Blackberry Bliss cardstock:

• 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• 3 3/4" x 2 1/4"

Oh So Ombré patterned paper: 

• Bermuda Bay: 5" x 3 3/4"
• Blackberry Bliss: 5 3/16" x 3 15/16"
• Various small pieces of Blackberry Bliss, Granny Apple Green, and Rococo Rose for the succulents. 

Click here to see the complete supply list for the Simply Succulents cards. All of these cards use the Oh So Ombré patterned paper. Because it is a Sale-A-Bration item, it is not on the supply list. Be sure to pick it for your FREE gift when you purchase the Simply Succulents bundle or $50 worth of other Stampin' Up! products. There will be a spot to choose your Sale-A-Bration gift on the checkout screen.

I have three birthday card ideas to share with you, but I want to talk about another joy of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator first. Each week, I am sharing some of my favorite things about being a Demonstrator. Last week, I showed you some cards from a recent card swap with other demonstrators who are part of the awesome Stampin' Up! community. This week, let's talk about pre-orders.

For these fun birthday card ideas, I used the new Ice Cream Corner suite that will be available next week from the *NEW* January-June Mini Catalog. (A suite that I was able to purchase early as a demo!) Each of the cards has the same basic design, but they each get progressively more challenging. 

The three popsicles are stamped in Soft Sea Foam/Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape/Blackberry Bliss, and Petal Pink/Terracotta Tile. The card bases are all Bermuda Bay with Blackberry Bliss and Terracotta Tile layers.

This first card uses only stamps, ink, and paper. Oh, and some Stampin' Dimensionals, because is it even a handmade card without Dimensionals? It is so quick and easy to recreate!

Bermuda Bay (card base): 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Whisper White or Basic Whie: 4 1/4" x 2 3/4"
Blackberry Bliss: 4 1/2" x 3"
Whisper White (sentiment): 1" x 3 1/2"
Terracotta Tile: 1 3/16" x 3 5/8"
​Ice Cream Corner Designer Series Paper: 2" x 4 1/4"

This slightly stepped-up version of the previous simple birthday card uses a faux-watercolor technique. Be sure to check out the video to see exactly how I did it and how I added splatters!

​Bermuda Bay (card base): 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper: 4 1/4" x 2 1/2"
Blackberry Bliss: 4 1/2" x 2 3/4"
Ice Cream Corner Designer Series Paper: 2" x 5 1/2"

The final, most complicated version of this fun birthday card features the same three popsicles using the faux watercoloring technique I used for the last card, but this time they have been fussy cut and added to a piece of Petal Pink cardstock. The sentiment is embossed with white embossing powder and fussy cut as well. And, I added a few of my favorite embellishment - the Artistry Blooms Sequins!

Click here to see the rest of the supply list. If you need to order any of the supplies to recreate these cards, simply check the items you need and then click "Add to Cart." Be sure to add the host code on the second screen under the pink "Checkout" button by clicking the + sign.