3 Fun Ways to Use the Balloon Festoon Bundle

 The Balloon Festoon Stamp & Die Bundle may immediately make you think of birthdays and celebrations—and it is wonderful for both—but the dies can do much more than create a simple balloon bouquet.

For this class, I made three bright and cheerful cards. We started with the more involved projects and worked our way toward a very easy card with a slightly unexpected twist.

The Balloon Festoon Bundle

The stamp set includes useful celebration greetings, but I think the dies are the real stars of this bundle. They include several sizes of balloons, delicate balloon strings, small highlight pieces, and larger shapes that could also be used for party decorations.

Throughout the class, I mixed cardstock and patterned paper to create balloons with different colors and textures. Using papers from the same Designer Series Paper pack made it easy to build a coordinated color combination without having to plan every color individually.

Project 1: Book-Fold Balloon Birthday Card

Our first project is a book-fold card with a narrow striped panel along the side and a colorful balloon arrangement on the main section.

The card base begins with a standard half-sheet of cardstock. An extra score line creates the narrow book-binding section, which is secured closed while the larger section opens like a traditional card.

I layered balloons of several sizes over patterned paper, using a combination of flat adhesive and Stampin’ Dimensionals. One of the larger balloons also became the sentiment label for “Hip Hip Hooray.”

When arranging a group like this, I like to place the largest pieces first and then tuck the smaller balloons into the remaining spaces. I also wait to glue everything down until I am happy with the overall balance.

Project 2: Arched Tri-Fold Shaped Card

The second project uses three large arch-shaped die-cuts connected with small cardstock hinges.

When opened, the card stands across three panels. The balloons continue from one section to the next, creating a full celebration scene. The final panel includes a white arch for writing a personal message.

The hinges are simply small cardstock rectangles scored through the center. I placed strong adhesive on each side of the score line and used them to join the three arches.

A few tips from this project:

Keep balloons on the inner panels fairly flat so the card can close.

Use Dimensionals mainly on the front panel, where there is more room.

Arrange everything before gluing so balloons do not interfere with the folds.

Check the finished width and height against an envelope before completing the decoration.

I used adhesive sheets behind the delicate balloon strings and highlight pieces. That turns them into easy peel-and-stick die-cuts and saves a great deal of fiddling with liquid glue.

Project 3: Balloon Daisy Card

The final project is the simplest card, but it may be the most unexpected.

Instead of using the balloon shapes as balloons, I turned them sideways and arranged five large white die-cuts around a yellow circle. Suddenly, the balloons became daisy petals!

I layered the flower over small floral patterned paper, added a banner greeting, and finished it with a few tiny ladybug embellishments.

This is a great example of looking beyond the intended purpose of a die. Circles can become flower centers, balloons can become petals, and leaves can become wings or feathers. Turning a shape in another direction can open up an entirely new group of projects.

The large flower extends beyond the card front but can flatten for mailing.

A Few Tips for Using Detailed Balloon Dies

Adhesive sheets are especially helpful behind thin strings and small balloon highlights.

Cut extra balloons while your machine and supplies are already out. Leftovers make quick birthday cards later.

Use balloons cut from patterned paper to add color and shading without extra stamping.

Try using a balloon as your sentiment label rather than adding another separate shape.

When layering several pieces, add Dimensionals only on the centers at first. This leaves room to tuck more die-cuts underneath.

Shop the Balloon Festoon Bundle

The Balloon Festoon Bundle is available through my Stampin’ Up! online store.

SHOP THE BALLOON FESTOON BUNDLE HERE

You can also visit CraftWithCheryl.com to find my current classes, shopping links, and other ways to craft with me.

Which project is your favorite: the book fold, the arched tri-fold, or the balloon daisy?

Scalloped Blooms Cards: 3 Cheerful Card Ideas with Embossing & Fun Folds

 This week’s free card class was all about the Scalloped Blooms Bundle, and I kept the projects bright, cheerful, and very doable.

Sometimes it is nice to have a class that doesn’t feel complicated. This bundle has great scalloped dies and sweet sentiments, so I used those pieces along with papers and supplies I already had on hand. You do not always need every piece in a suite to make beautiful cards.

In this class, I made three cards:

Card 1: Striped Flower Birthday Card
This card uses colorful striped patterned paper with die-cut flowers and leaves. It is simple, happy, and a great way to let the paper and dies do most of the work.

Card 2: Scalloped Shape Card
The second card is a shaped card made with the large scalloped die. I added patterned paper, ribbon, and butterfly embellishments. This one also came with a little live-class adventure when I thought I had lost a die. Spoiler: I found it about 12 hours later!

Card 3: Daisy Thank You Card
This was the card I was most excited about. I inked the embossing folder before running it through the machine, which created a beautiful yellow background while keeping the daisies white. Then I added the scalloped circle layers and a thank you sentiment.

The Scalloped Blooms Bundle is available now, and it is a fun one if you like dies that can be used in lots of different ways.

Shop for the supplies here: Scalloped Blooms Card Class

Stamping Cross Country Digital is also still available. The fun is starting now, and the main event is next week. Digital registration is a great option if you want the retreat experience without waiting for a box in the mail.

You can find current links, class replays, shopping information, and my email signup at CraftWithCheryl.com

Silly Old Bear Fun Fold Card | Mystery Stamping #26

 

Silly Old Bear Fun Fold Card | Mystery Stamping #26

Mystery Stamping is always a fun surprise, and this project turned into the sweetest fun fold card featuring the Silly Old Bear Suite from Stampin’ Up!

For Mystery Stamping #26, we used one set of clues to create one completed card. I followed the clues along with everyone else and ended up with this cheerful fun fold design.

A Sweet Fun Fold Card

This card has such a cozy, storybook feel. The Silly Old Bear Suite is perfect for creating cards that feel warm, friendly, and a little nostalgic.

The fun fold adds interest without making the card feel difficult. It’s a great layout to use again with other designer papers, stamp sets, and greetings from your own craft room.

Use What You Have

One of the best parts of Mystery Stamping is that everyone’s card looks a little different. You do not need to have the exact same supplies I used.

For this card, you can substitute:

• A favorite designer paper
• Any cute stamped image
• A greeting for friendship, birthday, thank you, or encouragement
• Coordinating cardstock and embellishments

The clues give you a starting point, but your creativity makes the card your own.

Featuring the Silly Old Bear Suite

I used the Silly Old Bear Suite for my card, and it is such a fun collection for creating sweet, playful projects.

If you love the look of this suite, you can shop the bundle through my Stampin’ Up! store.

Shop the Silly Old Bear Bundle Here

Watch the Replay

You can watch the full Mystery Stamping #26 replay and craft along at your own pace.

I hope this project gives you another fun fold idea to try. Whether you use Silly Old Bear or something already in your craft room, this layout is a great one to keep in your cardmaking toolbox.

Happy crafting!

Cheryl

Wild Bunch Card Class: 3 Cards + Treat Packaging with Stampin’ Up!’s Product of the Month

 This week’s free class was all about the Wild Bunch stamp set, which is the current Stampin’ Up! Product of the Month. And oh my goodness — these little critters are just plain fun.

We made 3 cards and 1 treat packaging project featuring the penguin, koala, snail, and cow images from the set. I usually make three projects in a class, but there were four cute critters… so clearly we needed four projects. That’s just good crafty logic. 😉

Project 1: Penguin Thank You Card

Our first card featured the adorable penguin image. I used a masking technique to make three penguins look like they were standing together, then added one extra cut-out penguin on top with dimensionals.

This card also used a mix of Stampin’ Blends, colored pencils, and a blender pen for soft shading. It’s a simple way to add detail without making the card feel complicated.

Project 2: Koala Birthday Card

The second card was a sweet birthday card with a peekaboo-style window. The koala is stamped on the inside layer so he shows through the circle opening on the front of the card.

Then I stamped and colored a second koala, cut out just the head, and popped it up for a little dimension. It gives the koala such a cute look.

Project 3: Snail Fun Fold Card

For the third card, we used a fun fold layout with the snail image. I used mirror stamping so the two snails could face each other.

This one also uses patterned paper with a woodland/mushroom feel, called Cute As A Bug DSP, which was perfect for the snails. A little Wink of Stella gave them just enough sparkle.

Project 4: Cow Treat Packaging

The final project was a treat holder using the cow image from Wild Bunch and the Playful Packaging Dies.

This would be such a fun idea for party favors, little class gifts, table treats, or a simple handmade surprise. I used chocolate in the package, but there are lots of treats that would work.

Featured Product: Wild Bunch Bundle

The Wild Bunch stamp set is Stampin’ Up!’s current Product of the Month and can be added to a qualifying order for just $5 while supplies last.

Shop With Cheryl Here

This is also a great time to check your wish list because Stampin’ Up! is offering free shipping on qualifying orders through June 13, 2026.

Watch the Replay

You can watch the full class replay below and craft along whenever it works for you.

Stamping Cross Country

The digital option for Stamping Cross Country is still available, too. If you enjoy online crafting events with tutorials, videos, prizes, and lots of inspiration, I’d love to have you join us.

You can find replays, shopping links, email signup, and event info at:

CraftWithCheryl.com

Sweet Bugs Mystery Stamping Card | Fun & Easy Cardmaking Tutorial

This week’s Mystery Stamping project was such a fun and cheerful one! For Mystery Stamping #121, we created a cute handmade card featuring the Sweet Bugs Stamp Set and Cute as a Bug Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up!

I love how bright and happy this card turned out. The patterned paper does so much of the work, and the stamped little bug image makes the card feel playful and sweet. It’s the perfect kind of card to send to a friend just because.

Sweet Bugs Mystery Stamping Card

Mystery Stamping is always a fun way to create because we start with the pieces from the clue/supply list and then assemble the card together step-by-step. You don’t know exactly what the finished project will look like until we’re done, which makes it a little crafty surprise!

For this card, I used:

• Sweet Bugs Stamp Set

• Cute as a Bug Designer Series Paper

• Coordinating cardstock

• A simple “hello friend” greeting

• A few little embellishments for extra detail

As always, you can follow along with the same products or use what you already have in your craft room. This layout would work beautifully with lots of different patterned papers and stamp sets. Here's the clue:

A Fun & Easy Handmade Card Idea

This card is a great reminder that cute cards don’t have to be complicated. A few layers of pretty paper, a stamped focal point, and a sweet sentiment can come together to make something really special.

The Cute as a Bug Designer Series Paper adds so much charm to the background, and the Sweet Bugs images are just plain fun. This would be a great card for friendship, encouragement, or happy mail.

Watch the Full Mystery Stamping Tutorial

Watch the full tutorial in the video above and create along with me step-by-step.

You can find supplies, current offers, and more here:
https://CraftWithCheryl.com

Thanks so much for crafting with me each week. I hope this project inspires you to pull out some patterned paper and make a cute card for a friend!

Happy crafting,
Cheryl

Splash & Relax Card Class: 3 Summer Card Ideas with Stampin’ Up!

 Summer showed up in the craft room this week!

For this class, I used the Splash & Relax Bundle from Stampin’ Up! to create three cheerful summer cards. This bundle is an Online Exclusive and is full of fun little beach-themed pieces — flip-flops, sunglasses, beach balls, sunscreen, a drink cup, a life preserver, and cute greetings to go with them.

This class ended up having more die cutting than I expected, but the finished cards were worth it. Adhesive sheets were a huge help with all those tiny pieces, especially the sunglasses and flip-flop straps.

You can shop the bundle here:  Splash & Relax Bundle 

You can also find all my current links, email signup, Product of the Month details, and Stamping Cross Country information at:

CraftWithCheryl.com

Card 1: Embossed Hello Sunshine Card

The first card is a bright embossed layer card with a fun “Hello Sunshine” greeting. I used a Coastal Cabana background and added lots of beachy details, including a life preserver, flip-flops, sunglasses, a visor, a beach ball, and a drink cup.

This card is a good reminder that even a simple card layout can feel extra special when you add texture and layered die cuts.

Card 2: Bright Striped Card

The second card uses bright striped designer paper and three little framed summer images. I added flip-flops, a beach ball, and sunglasses to small stitched squares, then placed them across the front of the card.

The greeting, “It’s your day to make a splash,” makes this one perfect for a summer birthday or a happy just-because card.

Card 3: Beach Towel Fun Fold

The third card is a fun fold with a beach towel feel. I used the upcoming Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder on the background to create the look of sand, then added a striped designer paper layer as the beach towel.

A few little beach accessories finished it off — sunglasses, sunscreen, and flip-flops. This one is such a fun way to use embossing folders and designer paper together.

A Few Helpful Tips

Adhesive sheets are your friend with this bundle. They make those tiny die-cut pieces much easier to assemble, especially the flip-flop straps and sunglasses lenses.

I also liked using darker cardstock for the sunglass lenses and adding a little shimmer with Wink of Stella. It is a small detail, but it gives them a fun finished look.

Current Happenings

The June Product of the Month is the adorable Wild Bunch stamp set. It is such a cute one, and I’ve already had fun creating with it.

The full retreat box option for Stamping Cross Country is closed, but the digital option is still available. Digital registration gives you access to the online retreat fun without the mailed box.

You can find all my current links here:
CraftWithCheryl.com

Thanks so much for stopping by and crafting with me!

Wild Bunch Fun Fold Birthday Card | Mystery Stamping #78

Last night's Mystery Stamping was filled with creativity, laughter, and plenty of surprises as we worked through the clues together to create this fun fold birthday card.

For this week's Mystery Stamping project, I featured the adorable Wild Bunch stamp set, the June Product of the Month. The charming little cow makes the perfect focal point for a cheerful birthday card and adds just the right touch of country charm.

Why I Love This Card

This project combines several things I enjoy:

• A fun fold that adds interest without being difficult
• Designer paper doing much of the work
• Simple coloring for a personalized touch
• A design that works with many different stamp sets

The clue:

The fold creates a card that feels a little extra special while still being easy enough to recreate with supplies you already own.

About Wild Bunch

The Wild Bunch stamp set is Stampin' Up!'s featured Product of the Month for June. The playful animal images are perfect for birthdays, encouragement cards, children's cards, and everyday greetings.

Wild Bunch is Stampin' Up!'s June Product of the Month. Customers who place a qualifying order can purchase this exclusive stamp set for just $5 while supplies last. 

Shopping Link: CraftWithCheryl.StampinUp.net

This little cow quickly became a favorite while designing with the set. The image is easy to color and works beautifully with rustic, country-inspired papers.

Missed the Live?

No worries! You can still watch the replay and craft along at your own pace.

I share new Mystery Stamping projects, cardmaking classes, and paper crafting inspiration every week.

For more tutorials, classes, and creative ideas, visit:

CraftWithCheryl.com

Happy crafting!

Cheryl