Beautiful Blues Designed Cards & Creative Inspiration

If you love the ease of a kit but still enjoy adding your own creative spin, you’re going to love today’s project. I’m sharing a closer look at the Beautiful Blues Kit from Stampin’ Up!’s Kits Collection, along with one of the many cards I created using the kit elements as inspiration.

The Beautiful Blues Kit comes with everything you need to create beautiful, coordinated cards right out of the box:

  • Beautiful Blues Exclusive Photopolymer Stamp Set
  • Clear Stamp Block
  • Night of Navy Classic Stampin’ Spot
  • 9 printed card bases and matching envelopes
  • Precut Paper Pieces & Dot Embellishments
  • Adhesive

The kit includes instructions to create three card designs (you can make 3 each of 3 designs), and they’re beautiful just as they are. The rich blues, floral details, and thoughtful sentiments make these perfect for thank you, encouragement, and sympathy cards. I crafted these following the instructions. I love how they turned out.

After making the cards as designed, I couldn’t resist creating something a little different using the kit elements as my starting point. For this fun fold card I used one of the print card bases in place of Designer Series Paper. I cut a 1″ strip off of the right side and adhered them to a Secret Sea card base. The 1″ strip is actually on the inside of my card along with a piece of Basic White cardstock.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed seeing both the cards as designed and my fun fold alternatives card.

  • Secret Sea card base: 5-1/2″ x 7-1/2″, Score on the long side at 3-1/4″
  • Beautiful Blues card base: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
  • Basic White cardstock (inside panel): 3-1/4″ x 5-1/2″

Happy Stamping!

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Beautiful Gallery Fun Fold

I’m so glad you’re here! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite fun folds—the Z-Fold card. This easy fold is a wonderful way to showcase Designer Series Paper, and I knew it would be perfect for this pretty thank you card.

If you’ve never made a Z-fold card before, you’re going to love how easy this one is. Start by cutting your card base to 5-1/2″ × 8-1/2″. With the long side at the top, score at 2-1/8″ and 4-1/4″. Fold the card in half at the 4-1/4″ score line. Next, fold the front flap backward along the 2-1/8″ score line. When you stand the card up, it should resemble a “Z” shape and look like the photo below when viewed from the top.

I used Beautiful Gallery Designer Series Paper, cutting it into 2″ strips, which makes the 6″ × 6″ paper ideal for this design. For the inside of the card, I added a touch of texture with Cloud Cover cardstock, embossed with the Joined Together 3D Embossing Folder.

To create both the sentiment label on the front and the label on the inside, I die cut two labels from the Label Me Grateful Dies using Basic White cardstock. The sentiment is stamped in Secret Sea ink, which pairs beautifully with the moody tones of the paper.

Tip: When adhering the sentiment label to the front of the card, be sure to apply adhesive only to the left side of the label—this allows the card to open properly and keeps the Z-fold functional. The inside label is adhered directly behind the front label, so it remains hidden until the card is opened. I finished the card with a few 2025–2027 Flat Pearls for just the right amount of subtle shine.

  • Secret Sea cardbase: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, Score on the long side at 2-1/8″, 4-1/4″
  • Beautiful Gallery Designer Series Paper: (3) 2″ x5-1/4″
  • Cloud Cover Cardstock (inside panel): 2″ × 5-1/4″
  • Basic White Scraps for die cut

Happy Stamping!

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So Much New! Catalog Launch, Product of the Month & Bonus Days!

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    Watercolor In Bloom Alternatives Part 2

    Welcome Back! If you’re just joining me, I’ve been sharing alternative card designs created with the December Watercolor in Bloom Paper Pumpkin Kit. I previously shared the cards made as designed, along with three alternative card designs created using the same kit elements. Today I’m sharing the remaining five cards, each one showing another way to use this beautiful and versatile kit.

    This thank you card was created using both the envelope and a cardbase from the paper pumpkin kit on a Coastal Cabana cardbase. i used the envelope in place of Designer Series Paper. The kit cardbase is used as a layer for the sentiment on the front of the card as well as the inside of the card. To finish this card I added those pretty Copper Sequins and a bow made with White Bakers Twine.

    Secret Sea cardstock is the card base for my next card. I also used the envelope again in place of where I’d normally use Designer Series Paper. The sentiment is stamped on a circle die cut with the Stylish Shapes Dies. Then I added the foliage die cuts to both the front and inside of the card.

    Here’s my next card using the pretty oval die cut and velum from the kit. I used the cardbase from the kit layered with Basic White cardstock on Shaded Spruce cardbase.

    My next card has several layers on the front of the Coastal Cabana cardbase. I trimmed the cardbase from the kit and layered it on Night of Navy cardstock. To create the rectangle that I stamped the sentiment on, I trimmed about an 1-1/8″ off of each end of the die cut. Then used those pieces layered under the ends, which makes it look like a rectangle.

    My final card is a Book Bind fun fold. I used the strips of left over kit cardbase for the strip on the binding and behind the circles. The circles are die cut from Night of Navy cardstock and the rectangle die cut from the kit. The sentiment is stamped on another die cut from the kit, then i punched the edges to round them a bit with a 2″ circle punch. I used an envelope to line the inside of the card.

    I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring different ways to use the December Watercolor in Bloom Paper Pumpkin Kit, as much as I did creating them. From the cards made exactly as designed to creating my own alternative layouts. If you missed any part of this series, Click below to read them:

    Cards made as designedPost 1 Click Here

    First set of alternative cardsDay 1 alternatives Click Here

    • Costal Cabana Cardbase: 4-1/4″ x 8-1/2″, score on the long side at 5-1/2″
    • DSP layer (made with kit envelope): 2-3/4″ x 4″
    • Sentiment layer 1 (made with kit cardbase): 2-3/4″ x 4-1/2″
    • Sentiment layer 2 Costal Cabana cardstock: 2-1/2″ x 4-1/4″
    • Sentiment (made with kit envelope): 2-1/4″ x 4″
    • Inside layer 1 (made with kit cardbase): 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • Inside layer 2 Basic White cardstock: 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″
    • Secret Sea cardbase: 4-1/4″ x 11″, score on the long side at 5-1/2″
    • DSP layer (made with kit envelope): 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • Inside Basic White cardstock: 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • Shaded Spruce cardbase: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, score on the long side at 4-1/4″
    • Basic White cardstock: 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • DSP layer (made with kit cardbase): 3-3/4″ x 5″
    • Inside Basic White cardstock: 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • Coastal Cabana cardbase: 4-1/4″ x 11″, score on the long side at 5-1/2″
    • Night of Navy cardstock: 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • DSP layer (made with kit cardbase): 3-3/4″ x 5″
    • Inside Basic White cardstock: 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • DSP Strip Inside (made with kit cardbase): 1/2″ x 5-1/4″
    • Night of Navy cardbase: 4-1/4″ x 11″, score on the long side at 4-1/2″, 5-1/2″
    • DSP Strips (made with kit cardbase): 3/4″ x 4″, (3) 1″ x 4″
    • Inside layer (made with kit envelope): 4″ x 4-1/4″

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    Happy Stamping!

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    Watercolor in Bloom Alternatives Part 1

    One of my favorite things about Paper Pumpkin is using the kit as inspiration rather than a rule book. For December’s Watercolor in Bloom kit, I followed the instructions for three cards (one each of three designs) which I shared with you yesterday. Click here if you’d like to read yesterday’s blog post. Then I created my own designs using the same elements.

    Today I’m sharing three of the eight alternative cards I made. These designs use only the kit contents plus a few basic tools — and they show just how versatile this kit can be! I created all three as a Z Fun fold card. They are one of my favorite fun fold, as they are easy to make and add some dimension and fun to the cards.

    To create this Z Fun Fold card, I started with Shaded Spruce cardstock for the cardbase. I then took one of the card bases from the kit and cut it into three pieces to use as the first layer for each of the panels.

    To create the front of the card, I used the die-cut elements in the kit. Stamping a few of the leaves and foliage on the die cut piece before adding the die cut leaves and sentiment. Then I adhered them it the front flap, finishing it off with a few of the pretty Copper Sequins. On the inside of the card, I stamped a few leaves along the left edge of a Basic White layer and adhered it to the inside panel, leaving plenty of space for a handwritten message.

    Z Fun Fold Tip: When adhering the front panel to the card base, be sure to add adhesive to only the left side of the layer. This allows the right side to move freely when the card is opened. That movement is what creates the fun fold and lets you see the front of the card as you open it.

    The next card I created I did almost the same thing. I used Basic White cardstock for the card base. Then on the inside Basic White panel, I stamped the foliage along the bottom edge.

    For the third card I used Night of Navy cardstock for the card base. On the inside of this card I used on of the envelopes to decorate the Basic White panel. I love the foliage decoration on the envelopes and wanted to use it on a few of the cards. So, I trimmed the envelope down to just a the strip with the foliage on it and added it to the base of the panel.

    These are just the first three of the eight alternative cards I created. I can’t wait to share the rest with you. This kit is full of possibilities, and I hope these ideas inspire you to create with your kit. Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll share my other alternative designs, including another fun fold.

    • Cardbase: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, score on the long side at 2-1/8″ & 4-1/4″
    • DSP layer (made with kit cardbase: 1-7/8″ x5-1/4″ (2), 4″ x 5-1/4″
    • Basic White inside panel: 3-3/4″ x 5″

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    Happy Stamping!

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    Crafting with the Watercolor in Bloom Paper Pumpkin Kit

    The Watercolor in Bloom Paper Pumpkin Kit, is full of soft florals, calming colors, and thoughtful sentiments. They are perfect for heartfelt cards any time of year.

    Today I’m sharing the three cards I created following the kit designs (with a slight change). These projects show how beautifully everything coordinates right out of the box, no extra products needed! I love how quickly these cards came together. That’s why I love kits so much!

    Miss You Card

    I made 2 very slight changes from the directions. First, I cut the Vellum piece in half. I wanted the vellum to be more visible behind the die cut leaves. Second, I placed one of the copper sequins in the center of the flower, which I did on all three cards.

    This design is all about the layered leaves. I love how the background leaves coordinate perfectly with the die-cut elements, they work beautifully together.

    This one might be my favorite! The die-cut rectangle frames the sentiment beautifully, and I love the leaves peeking out from the top and bottom for extra dimension.

    But the fun didn’t stop there 😉. After making one of each card as designed, I decided to use the remaining pieces to create a few alternative designs. I’ll be sharing my alternative card ideas later this week with different layouts, and some fun folds. Be sure to check back to see all the alternative cards.

    Whether you follow the instructions or love to experiment, Watercolor in Bloom offers endless creative possibilities. Stay tuned, I’ve got more inspiration coming your way this week!

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    Happy Stamping!

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