Global Design Project – Stampin' With Candice

Shining Stars & Holly Jolly Branches | Global Design Project #GDP568

This week’s Global Design Project Challenge #GDP568 was another fun CASE the Designer challenge, featuring the talented Krista Frattin!

All week long, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to create for this challenge. I had a few ideas floating around, but nothing was really coming together. Then, toward the end of the week, my Stampin’ Up! order arrived with this month’s Product of the Month — the Shining Stars Dies! ⭐

OMG! I was so excited to get my hands on these dies, and as soon as I saw them, I knew they would be perfect for this challenge!

I decided to pair them with the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle and step a little outside my usual Christmas color palette. I took inspiration from Krista’s beautiful colors, changing them up just slightly to give my card a more festive feel.

And I have to say, I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!

Creating the Background & Adding Layers

I started with Lost Lagoon for my background, stamping a subtle pattern of stars using white ink. I love how the soft white stars add interest without taking away from the focal point.

Next, I stamped my Christmas tree in Old Olive and began building layers with the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle and Shining Stars Dies.

To add a little sparkle, I die-cut several trees and stars using Silver Foil Sheets. I love how the metallic accents catch the light and give the card that extra touch of holiday magic!

A Sneak Peek at Something New!

One of my favorite details on this card might be a little difficult to see in the pictures.

The greeting, several of the trees, and some of the stars were all die-cut from the new Textured Canvas Specialty Paper, coming in November as part of Stampin’ Up!’s Online Exclusives!

This paper is so cool! It adds a beautiful, soft texture to your projects, but what’s even better is that you can stamp directly onto it!

I also used a Blending Brush to add Old Olive ink to a few of the canvas stars, giving them a little extra color and dimension. It’s such a simple way to customize the paper while still allowing that wonderful texture to show through.

One of the things I love most about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is getting early access to new products like this!

And speaking of being a demonstrator, there’s an awesome joining special happening in October! If you’ve ever thought about joining my team, I’d love to share more with you. You can also visit the GROW section of my blog to learn more about the creative opportunities and benefits of being part of my team.

Ribbon, Stars & a Little Whimsy

To finish building my design, I added some Barely Blush stars and ribbon, along with the new Cherry Cobbler Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

We’ve had ribbon similar to this in the past, and it’s always been one of my favorites for Christmas projects. There’s just something about those festive stripes!

But did you notice the wispy ribbon flurries tucked behind the trees?

This is such a fun technique, and it’s one I recently shared when creating my Spooktacular Gift Bags!

By carefully pulling out one of the main threads from the ribbon, you can separate the fibers and create these wonderful, delicate wisps. I tucked them behind my trees, letting them loop and flow naturally across the card.

I love how they add movement, texture, and a little bit of whimsy without overwhelming the design.

For the finishing touches, I added a few Iridescent Pearls and layered my Lost Lagoon panel onto Cherry Cobbler cardstock, all mounted on a Barely Blush card base.

Those little details really brought everything together!

Sometimes the Best Projects Are the Unexpected Ones!

When I first sat down to create this card, I really wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. I had a general idea, a new set of dies I couldn’t wait to play with, a color palette that was a little different from my usual Christmas combinations, and beautiful challenge sample for inspiration.

But once I started creating, everything came together surprisingly easily!

I love the mix of textures, the unexpected colors, and all those wonderful layers. It’s definitely one of those cards that looks more complicated than it actually is and has that WOW factor I love!

That’s one of the reasons I enjoy participating in creative challenges so much. They encourage me to try something different, look at my supplies in a new way, and sometimes discover combinations I might never have thought to use.

What do you think? Would you use Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Barely Blush, and Cherry Cobbler for a Christmas card?

Have You Gotten Your Shining Stars Dies Yet?

If the Shining Stars Dies aren’t already on your wish list, you might want to add them! ⭐

They’re this month’s Stampin’ Up! Product of the Month, which means you can purchase them for just $5 with a qualifying $75 order!

I have a feeling these dies are going to be popular, so I wouldn’t wait too long if you want to grab a set before they’re gone.

Ready to shop? Visit my online store at candiceanderson.stampinup.net.

And remember to check out the other amazing creations for #GDP568. There’s always so much inspiration to be found!

Happy Stamping!

Learn • Connect • Create • Grow 🦋

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

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October 11, 2026

Candice1 Comment

Create Stunning Christmas Cards: CASE Techniques

This week’s Global Design Project challenge, #GDP560, is another fun CASE the Designer challenge, featuring Charlet Mallett!

I love CASE challenges because there are so many different directions you can take the inspiration. You can focus on the colors, layout, technique, or even just one little element that catches your eye.

For my card, I chose to focus on Charlet’s background technique and a similar layout, but gave it a Christmas twist using the Pretty Poinsettia Bundle. 🎄

I absolutely love how the soft background adds interest without competing with that gorgeous poinsettia. It really helps the rich colors and dimension of the flower pop!

That’s one of my favorite things about CASEing another designer—you can start with the same inspiration and create something completely your own. ❤️

Want to See How It Comes Together?

Check out my reel for a quick recap of how to create this stunning card!

Then use these quick tips when creating your own:

Create your own stencil. Cut the leaves from a thick piece of paper. I used one of the cardboard backers from a Designer Series Paper pack. Keep an extra piece handy to cover any open areas as you move the design around your background.
Start with watercolor paper. For the best results with this background technique, watercolor paper gives you a little more freedom to work with the water and ink.
Make your own color spritz. Add a few drops of reinker to a color spritzer along with water to create the soft background color.
Add some splatters. A Water Painter makes it quick and easy to add those little splatters of color that give the background even more interest.
Give your poinsettia dimension. Ink the edges of the poinsettia petals and leaves, then gently curl them with a Bone Folder before assembling. This adds beautiful depth and texture.
Customize your Rhinestones. Use Stampin’ Blends to add color to your Rhinestones so they coordinate perfectly with your project.

✨ Want to create your own?
Click here for a complete list of the products I used and an easy way to place your order.

No matter where your creative journey takes you, I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s learn, create, connect, and grow together—one project at a time. 🦋

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August 16, 2026

CandiceLeave a comment

July Paper Pumpkin Meets a Sketch Challenge

For this week’s Global Design Project Sketch Challenge #GDP558, I was inspired by my July Paper Pumpkin kit. This month’s kit featured easy-to-create easel cards, and I absolutely fell in love with the flowers, sentiments, and coordinating add-on dies. They were the perfect combination for bringing this week’s sketch to life.

I decided to stick with the same beautiful color palette from the kit: Hydrangea Hue, Timid Tiger, Melon Mambo, Darling Duckling, and Old Olive. I love how bright and cheerful these colors are together. While the Paper Pumpkin cards used softer tones, I created a similar look by stamping some of my images at full strength and others stamped off for a lighter shade.

Creating the Floral Panels

The sketch featured four rectangles separated by narrow spaces, so I reached for the Rounded Rectangle Punch to create my four panels.

I started with Basic White cardstock, stamping the leaves in Old Olive around the corners before adding flowers in Melon Mambo and Timid Tiger (stamped off). My goal was to create a floral frame around each rectangle while leaving the centers clean and open.

Next came my favorite part—adding dimension!

Using the coordinating add-on dies, I cut flowers from Hydrangea Hue, Timid Tiger, and Darling Duckling, along with leaves in Old Olive. Instead of leaving the leaves attached to their stems, I snipped them apart and tucked them throughout the design anywhere I wanted a little extra greenery.

Several of the flowers were popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals for added depth. I even allowed some of the flowers to extend past the edges of each panel before trimming them flush once everything was adhered. This helps create the illusion that the floral arrangement continues beyond the edges.

The finished panels were attached to a 3¼” × 5″ piece of Basic White cardstock using additional Dimensionals.

Adding the Sentiment

For the greeting, I stamped “hooray” in Melon Mambo on Basic White cardstock and carefully fussy cut it. The “it’s your day!” sentiment was stamped in Timid Tiger and cut using the Triple Banner Punch.

To pull everything together, I wrapped Crisp Cantaloupe Ribbon around the center of the card and tied it with White Baker’s Twine.

One thing I love about Stampin’ Up! products is how well many of the colors coordinate, even when they aren’t exact matches. The Crisp Cantaloupe ribbon paired beautifully with the softer stamped-off Timid Tiger images and tied the entire card together.

Creating the Easel Card Base

The card base is Hydrangea Hue cardstock, cut to 11″ × 4¼” and scored at 5½” and 2⅛” to create the easel fold.

I wanted to recreate the subtle plaid background from the Paper Pumpkin cards, so instead of embossing with the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder, I tried a different technique.

I inked the embossing folder, laid my cardstock onto the inked surface, and rolled over it with my Stampin’ Brayer. This transferred the plaid pattern without adding texture, which kept the fold nice and smooth while still giving me the look I wanted.

To finish the front, I adhered only the bottom portion of the white panel to the lower section of the card base so the easel mechanism could function properly.

Finishing the Inside

For the inside, I added a 3¾” × 5″ piece of Basic White cardstock.

I stamped the grid image three times in Timid Tiger, then stamped the “hugs & wishes” sentiment in the same color and punched it out with the Triple Banner Punch.

I attached the banner with Stampin’ Dimensionals, allowing it to act as the stopper that holds the easel card upright—just like the original Paper Pumpkin design.

Final Thoughts

This was such a fun card to create, and I know I’ll be reaching for these stamps and coordinating dies again soon. It’s always exciting to take inspiration from one project and transform it into something completely new.

If you’ve ever thought about trying Paper Pumpkin, now is a great time! New subscribers who sign up for the pay-as-you-go subscription by August 10 will receive 25% off their first kit. Even better, once you’re a subscriber, you’ll have access to purchase many past kits and refill kits while supplies last.

Click here to get started today!

Check out this sneak peek of what’s to come!

No matter where your creative journey takes you, I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s learn, create, connect, and grow together—one project at a time. 🦋

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August 2, 2026August 16, 2026

CandiceLeave a comment

Finding Inspiration Through Casing a Designer | #GDP528

Casing Inspiration: Three Unique Card Designs

A card design featuring pink flowers and blue accents, with a stamped greeting saying 'Thinking of you,' framed by a gray vertical panel, and a pink border.

I don’t know about you, but inspiration is often one of the hardest parts of creating. Looking at what you have and figuring out how to turn it into something that not only speaks to you—but to others as well—can feel overwhelming at times. That’s where casing comes into play.

Casing (Copy And Share Everything) is one of my favorite ways to spark creativity. I often look to other designers when I need a jump-start, and the Global Design Project – Case the Designer challenges are a perfect source of inspiration.

This week we cased designer Ann Alexander, and during my live I shared how I pulled different elements from her card to inspire three very different designs of my own.

Card One – Same Layout, New Look

A handmade card featuring a botanical illustration of leaves in white on a textured blue background, with a greeting that says 'to a great guy'.

For my first card, I stayed fairly true to the original layout, but changed things up by using very different colors and imagery. I started with one of the new suites coming in January, Nature Walk (#166936), and used several elements from the suite including the stamp set, dies, Designer Series Paper, and embellishments.

To keep this card simple, I let the DSP do most of the work and added a stamped leaf image in Secret Sea along with a simple greeting. This is a great example of how keeping the layout but changing the products can completely transform a design.

Card Two – Color Combo with a Twist

Card featuring a floral arrangement in a cup with a greeting that says 'HERE'S TO YOU!', set against a layered background of gray and pink.

For my second card, I wanted to focus more on the color inspiration while still using the basic design—this time with a bit of a twist. Because the floral image in Weekend Adventures (#167318) isn’t a large focal image like the cased card, I chose to frame it using the Everyday Arches Dies (#164629).

I stamped the image on Watercolor Paper (#149612) and colored it using Water Painters (#168253) with ink pads for a soft, blended look. The greeting was heat-embossed in white on black cardstock and punched out using the Banner Sayings Bundle (#167051).

To add texture, I used the Lovely Stripes 3D Embossing Folder (#167179 – coming in January) and kept the color palette clean and bold with Melon Mambo and Smoky Slate cardstock. I finished the card with Muted Palette Dots (#165155) for a subtle pop of detail.

Card Three – Smaller Scale, Same Inspiration

My final card is the one I demonstrated during the live. I kept the same core color palette from card two, but added Balmy Blue and Pretty in Pink cardstock for a softer feel.

A handcrafted greeting card featuring a floral design in a coffee cup on a pink background, with a black 'HERE'S TO YOU!' greeting, layered elements, and decorative embellishments.

A floral card design featuring a colorful arrangement of flowers in a mug, set against a pink and gray background with a greeting that says 'HERE'S TO YOU!'

This time, I resized the layout to better fit the smaller image by cutting the design down and adjusting the focal point. I also flipped the card and went with a horizontal design rather than a vertical one. I layered Balmy Blue Sheer Ribbon (#165767) behind the image and finished the card with Rhinestone Basic Jewels for just the right amount of sparkle.

A Simple Splatter Technique (Used on All Three Cards)

Across all three cards, I used one of my favorite easy splatter techniques with ink pads and Water Painters. What I love about this method is how versatile it is—you can splatter in any color, make the drops big or small, and it won’t ruin your marker tips or waste ink.

Be sure to watch the video to see just how quick and easy this technique really is!

One Design, Endless Possibilities

A display of three unique greeting cards featuring floral designs, each in different color schemes and layouts. The cards showcase a mix of elements such as stamped images, embellishments, and various backgrounds.

Seeing all three cards together really highlights why I love casing a designer so much. Even though each card was inspired by the same original design, they each have their own personality.

One focuses on layout with a fresh color palette
One leans into color inspiration with a bold, textured feel
And one adjusts the scale and proportions to better fit the image

By changing just a few key elements—colors, focal point size, textures, and embellishments—you can completely transform a design while still honoring the original inspiration.

The final result is three different and unique cards, all sparked by the same design. That’s the beauty of casing—it’s not about copying, it’s about letting someone else’s creativity jump-start your own.

So the next time you’re feeling stuck, take a look at the work of designers you admire and see what elements you can borrow to get your creativity flowing. Let their creativity spark your own. Remember—there’s no right or wrong way to case a card. The goal is simply to get those creative juices flowing and make it yours.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

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December 30, 2025

CandiceLeave a comment

#GDP527 – Reasons to Celebrate | Cheers & Sips Suite

Three handmade greeting cards featuring drinks. The left card showcases a colorful cocktail with a pineapple garnish, the center card displays champagne flutes with bubbles, and the right card features glasses filled with a cold beverage and ice, all with the word 'Cheers'.

When I saw this week’s Global Design Project challenge, I knew the Cheers & Sips Suite was the perfect choice to grab. I had so much fun creating for multiple occasions—starting with some bubbly champagne, moving into a simple just because, and wrapping it up with cozy, seasonal hot chocolate.

Such a fun and versatile set! ✨
Heads up—this suite is on the Last Chance List, so be sure to grab it before it’s gone.

For each of my designs, I added a few elements outside of the Cheers & Sips Suite—things like ribbon, embellishments, and even other stamp sets. Can you spot what they were? 👀
Before I break down each card, let me first share what is included in the suite.

What’s in the Cheers & Sips Suite

Just a reminder: the stamps and dies are on the Last Chance List, but the designer paper is still available.

Cheers & Sips Stamp Set #165588 (Last Chance)
Cheers & Sips Dies #165593 (Last Chance)
Celebratory Sips Designer Series Paper #165586 (Still Available)

The bundle also includes: (not used on these projects)

Glass & Gardens Embossing Folders #165597 (Last Chance)
Gold Striped 3/8″ Mesh Ribbon #165599

A Fun Surprise! 🥳

I entered these cards into the Global Design Project challenge and had the best surprise on Monday when I was tagged and notified that one of my designs was chosen as this week’s winner! 🎉

Can you guess which one?
Here’s a hint… it’s the one where I got a little creative. 😉

Card One – Bubbly with a Creative Twist 🥂

If you look closely at the Cheers & Sips stamp set, you’ll notice there is no stemmed wine or champagne glass. That didn’t stop me!

To create my glass:

I used the umbrella image as the base, masking off the top portion.
I masked the pin image to create two straight lines for the stem.

While the shape isn’t a perfect champagne flute, I still wanted that bubbly feel. To achieve that:

I used the Beautiful Butterflies Stamp Set #164608 (Last Chance) for the tiny dot images to mimic bubbles.

Additional details include:

Black Baker’s Twine #155475
2024–2026 In Color Flat Pearls #165266
Lasting Linen Stamp Set #167107 for a subtle textured background
Wink of Stella #141897 for sparkle (because bubbly needs shimmer!)

I kept the color palette mostly tone-on-tone with a pop of black:

Petal Pink Stampin’ Blends #154893 for the champagne
Peach Pie cardstock and ink
DSP also includes Pumpkin Pie accents

A handmade card featuring two champagne glasses filled with bubbles, with the word 'Cheers' written below. The card has a warm orange background and black accents.

Two champagne glasses with bubbles on a textured yellow and black card background, featuring a black ribbon and the word 'Cheers'.

Card Two – Let the DSP Shine ✂️

A handmade card featuring two stylized drink glasses, one purple and one orange, with a sprig of greenery, set against a textured, dark purple background and accented with a 'Cheers' message and ribbon.

For this card, I focused on using the suite itself and cut my images directly from the DSP instead of stamping.

The color combination came straight from the paper and was a little outside my comfort zone—but I loved how it turned out!

Details:

Peach Pie card base
Blackberry Bliss background embossed with the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder #161600
Old Olive DSP for the striped background
White Baker’s Twine
Cloud Cover behind the glasses
2025–2027 In Color Flat Pearls #165192

That brick texture adds just the right amount of interest without overpowering the design.

Card Three – Cozy Winter Vibes ☕

A handmade card featuring two drink images with ice, set against a patterned background, and the word 'Cheers' in stylish typography.

For my final card, I wanted a winter-inspired feel. The Cloud Cover DSP created the perfect backdrop.

I used a similar layout to Card Two but:

Flipped it horizontally
Varied the widths of the background strips
A smaller focal square for balance

Additional elements:

Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper #165929 for sparkle
Secret Sea for the background and stamping
Neutral Stampin’ Blends for the drinks

Instead of stamping the ice cubes inside the drinks, I placed them on top. My goal was marshmallows with a touch of Wink of Stella—but my daughter said it looked more like iced coffee. ☕❄️
Honestly… either works!

Finishing touches:

Straw from the More Than Autumn Stamp Set #164228 (Last Chance)
More Than Autumn Dies #164075 (Last Chance)
Secret Sea Bordered Open Weave Ribbon #166932 (available in January)

One Suite – Three Very Different Cards

Three cards.
Three completely different looks.
One versatile suite.

That’s just one more reason to grab the Cheers & Sips Suite before it’s gone. If it’s been sitting on your wish list, this is your sign. 💛

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #GDP527 #GlobalDesignProject #CheersAndSips #StampinUp #HandmadeCards #LastChance

December 23, 2025

CandiceLeave a comment

Day 1 – Creative Christmas Cards with Paper Pumpkin Kits

For Day 1 of my Christmas card challenges, I decided to reach for my Paper Pumpkin kit! I love how quick and easy these kits make it to get crafty — especially when time is short and creativity is flowing.

Three crafted Christmas cards featuring traditional holiday designs, including an ornament with 'Deck the Halls,' a card stating 'Merry Christmas,' and one proclaiming 'Joy to the World,' adorned with festive decorations in red and green.

This month’s kit was the perfect way to jump into the holiday spirit with some traditional red and green cheer. I wanted to see if I could stretch the kit a little further, so I challenged myself to create one card that worked for both of my Christmas card challenges — plus fit the #GDP520 challenge, too!

To round it out I couldn’t resist adding in a fun scrapbook layout using some of the leftover pieces, too!

A festive scrapbook layout celebrating Christmas with photos of a family, decorated with a 'JOY TO THE WORLD' title and seasonal embellishments in red, green, and gold.

A scrapbook layout featuring festive holiday elements, including photos of a child with a Christmas tree, decorative accents in red and green, and a 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' message.

Here’s what I took on today:
✨ #ACardADayInNovember – Day 1: Traditional Red & Green Cheer
🎅 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge – Day 1: Merry and Bright Beginning
💚 #GDP520 – CASE the Designer: Sue Mohr

It’s amazing how versatile these Paper Pumpkin kits are — you can create cards, tags, gift packaging, or even add them into your memory-keeping projects. My scrapbook page features the same theme as my card — bright pops of red and green, festive accents, and a cozy, cheerful vibe.

Paper Pumpkin is a monthly craft kit delivered to your door—perfect for quick, beautiful projects. Subscribe by the 10th to get next month’s kit

Promotional image for Paper Pumpkin kit featuring festive crafting supplies, including tags, treat boxes, and a Christmas stamp, all set against a green background.

If you haven’t opened your kit yet, this is your reminder: pull it out, play along, and see how far your creativity can go! ✂️✨

If you’d like to join in the fun and play along check out my Facebook group for links to both groups.
And Remember to share your own creations — I’d love to see how you use your Paper Pumpkin this season! 💌