Bright Star Stampers

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Valley in Bloom Sympathy Card | Simple Layers, Beautiful Results

Hello, my stampin' friends!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're here to see the beautiful card I made this week. I'm calling it my Valley in Bloom Sympathy Card because I used products from the Valley in Bloom Suite to create it.

I want to give credit to Ronda Wade for the design. This is one of her Creating for Christ cards, and I thought it was just perfect for a sympathy card.

Would You Like a FREE Card Kit?

Here's a little something special for you!

When you place a $50 order in my Online Store (before shipping and tax and after using any rewards you have), I'll send you a FREE card kit with enough supplies to make two of these beautiful cards!

Remember, I can't do the stamping for you, but I can provide the cardstock and die cuts. You'll need to supply your own ribbon and embellishments. But here's an idea—why not add those to your order to help reach the $50?

After placing your order, just email me and let me know you'd like the card kits. I'll take care of the rest!

Let's Talk About That Gorgeous Paper!

The Designer Series Paper I used is called Valley in Bloom, and I have to admit, when I first saw it, I thought, "That's a LOT of green!"

Now, don't get me wrong. I like green, but usually in little touches, not big splashes!

But here's something I've learned about our Designer Series Papers. Sometimes all you need to do is cut those busy patterns into smaller pieces, and suddenly they aren't so overwhelming. That's exactly what happened with this paper!

The card base is Soft Sea Foam, a beautiful pastel green that works perfectly with the pattern I chose. I also used a color-on-color layered panel on the front. It's a subtle detail that adds just the right amount of interest. You can see it better in the close-up photo. I attached the panel with Stampin' Dimensionals to give it a little lift.

And speaking of little details, don't you just love that birdhouse?

I collect birdhouses, and this particular one sits on the shelf above my crafting space. It has so many of my favorite things—flowers, birds, ladybugs, bees, and a touch of the outdoors.

Sorry, I digress! But you know how much I love those little things!

Coffee, Chat and Cards — Join Me on Wednesdays!

I made this card during my Facebook Live this week! My goal is to be live every Wednesday at 4:00 PM for a little Coffee, Chat and Cards.

It's a fun time to visit, share a few laughs, and, of course, make something pretty!

Be sure to join me next Wednesday because I have a special Flash Class planned! You won't want to miss it!

Watch the Card-Making Video

If you missed my Facebook Live, you can still watch the video and see how this card comes together.

Watch the Valley in Bloom Sympathy Card Video

And while you're there, have you subscribed to my YouTube channel yet? I'd love it if you would!

Be sure to click that little notification bell so you'll know when I post a new video. I'm also planning to start going live on YouTube, so stay tuned for that!

Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. I hope this card inspires you to pull out some of your favorite Designer Series Paper and make something beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day.

Happy Stampin',

Mary Lou

Bright Star Stamper

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Cutting Instructions:

Soft Sea Foam card base: 4 1/4" x 11", score and fold at 5 1/2"

Card Panel: Soft Sea Foam 4" x 5 1/4"

Designer Series Paper: 3 3/4" x 5"

Vellum: Die cut with Sweet Words & Labels die

Basic White Circle: Die cut with Stylish Shapes die-this one was the second largest

Lily of the Valley stem: die cut in Basic White

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Print Recipe

Product List

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Extraordinary Life Noteworthy Card

Hello! How's it going with you? Our weather is finally calming down. The temps are cooler and there is rain in the forecast. All good things after nearly two months of extreme drought and temps over 100. Maybe fall will be really pretty. It's one of my favorite times of the year. What's yours?

My card today is one we made on the crafting cruise that Melanie Hockin and Brenda Zorn sponsored. It features the Extraordinary Life Bundle and Beautiful Ordinary Life Designer Series Paper. This card could be used for a birthday card or congratulations card. I am going to use them as thank you cards.

The Extraordinary Life dies have some really cute accent pieces.

The notebook stamp is in the stamp set and there is a die to die cut the piece of 'paper'. How cute is that?

The row of butterflies is so much fun and is from the Bordered in Beauty bundle. First you stamp the butterflies in Pretty Peacock ink and colored with a Wink of Stella pen to pull just a little bit of color to the wings. That is such a great way to add color that is a more watercolor effect.

Want to see how to assemble this card? Here's my YouTube Link

Cutting Instructions:

Basic White cardstock: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", score and fold at 4 1/4"

3" x 3" piece for stamping/die cutting,

another piece 3 1/2" x 1" for stamping butterflies

Basic Black cardstock: 3" x 3" for die cutting

Pretty Peacock cardstock: 3 3/4" x 5" layer

Designer Series Paper: Beautiful Ordinary Life

Dot Layer: 3 5/8" x 4 7/8", strip for inside: 4" x 1/4"

Pink Lines: 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" to die cut heart; 4" x1 3/4" for inside

Other Supplies: Array of Dots

Thanks for stopping by to see my card. I really love what I do and would love to share the experience with you. Are you signed up for my email list? Scroll back to the top of this post and sign up-I'll send you this cute card to see in person!

Stay tuned for some news! October is the beginning of the new Stampin' Up! year and there is always some new promos.

Have a great day! And Happy Stampin',

Mary Lou Foster

Your Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator

SHOP WITH ME HERE

Supplies Used to Make This Card

Print Recipe

Product List

Friday, September 25, 2026

Violet Dreams Suite Sending Love Card

Hello! Today's card is made with one of my favorite colors: violet or shades of purple. Stampin' Up!'s® Violet Dreams Suite Collection has everything you need to craft and make beautiful cards and other projects.

This is the YouTube thumbnail that goes with the video I did making this card. My Chat GPT assistant designed it for me. Her name is Olga and doesn't mind being bossed around. I am pretty picky so she has to start over sometimes. I am enjoying using Olga for things like this because I am not very good putting one together by myself.

I took the picture on my crafting desk because it has pretty good light. Nothing fancy but you can see the details better. Notice those blue dots behind the die cut violets. They are stamped in Hydrangea Hue. That stamp is in the stamp set, how cool is that? I really love the Adhesive Backed Blooms on the sentiment label.

Want to see the entire Suite Collection? Check it out HERE

Here is the Link to the Video

Cutting Instructions:

Card Base: Cut 11" x 4/14", score and fold at 5 1/2"

Gorgeous Grape Layer: cut 4" x 5 1/4"

DSP layer: 3 3/4" x 5a'

DSP strip behind label: 3 3/4" x 1 1/2"

That's it. Inside is a piece of Basic White cut 4" x 5 1/4"

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you like the pretty violet card.

Until next time,

Mary Lou Foster

Your Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator