Home for Christmas Online Retreat! 🎄

 Hello, my stamping friend!

I have the sweetest news to share today — I've been invited to be one of six Stamp It demonstrators creating projects for this year's Home for Christmas Retreat! Christmas crafting alongside Tami White, Linda Cullen, Lori Mueller, Beth Brach, and Mikki Winebrenner, all in one retreat? Be still my crafty heart.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 3 — World Card Making Day — because that's retreat day, when we all craft together live in our private Facebook Group.

What's in the $92 Retreat

Your $92 retreat includes a class pack filled with coordinating products, plus 15 Home for Christmas class projects, tutorials, and 6 video demonstrations. The class pack includes:

• Timeless Christmas Designer Paper & Stickers
• Home for Christmas Two-Tone Cardstock Pack
• Christmas Berries Pack
• White Textured Ribbon
• Basic White Thick Cardstock & Basic White Regular Cardstock
• Timeless Metallic Paper

The 15 projects are a festive mix of cards, fun folds, and a Mini Album perfect for holding your Christmas photos and keepsakes. You'll want your basic tools on hand too — ink pads, paper trimmer, your Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine, Seal Adhesive, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

PLUS 10 Bonus Tutorials — 25 Projects Total!

Because more Christmas inspiration is always a good thing, you'll also receive 10 BONUS card tutorials featuring the Scalloped Christmas Cheer Bundle as a free gift with your retreat. That brings your total collection to 25 Christmas project tutorials!

What Else You Get

• 6 video demonstrations, so you can follow along step-by-step at your own pace
• Full replay access — craft live or in your pajamas later, no judgment here
• Giveaways throughout the day
• A special retreat gift, just because
• Access to our private Home for Christmas Facebook Group

Want the Featured Bundles?

If you don't already own them, you can add either bundle to your registration and get free shipping & tax on it:

• Home for Christmas Bundle — $51.25
• Scalloped Christmas Cheer Bundle — $46.75

Important Dates

• September 1 — Stampin' Up!' Virtual Card Retreat becomes available separately in my online store
• September 15 — Recommended sign-up date to make sure your kit arrives before retreat day (registration itself stays open longer!)
• September 20 — Our private Facebook Retreat Group opens, and the full schedule gets posted
• October 1 — Your complete 25-project PDF tutorial collection arrives in your inbox
• October 3 — Retreat day! Live crafting on World Card Making Day
• October 10 — Registration closes (join anytime before then and you'll still get full access + all the replays, even if you register after Oct 3)

Make It a 3-Day Celebration

If one day of Christmas crafting has you dreaming of more (same, honestly), you can add Stampin' Up!'s own Virtual Card Retreat (October 1 & 2, $165) to your registration and get free shipping & tax on it — turning World Card Making Day into a full three-day, 40-project crafting weekend. Prefer to grab it on its own? It's available separately in my store starting September 1.

I'll be sharing sneak peeks of what I'm designing as we get closer, so keep an eye on my page! I would love to have you crafting alongside me.

Register for the Home for Christmas Retreat

Happy Stamping! 

💛 Oksana

12+ Cards from ONE Paper Pumpkin Kit — Hooray for Birthdays Alternates

Hello, my stamping friend!

🌸 My July 2026 Paper Pumpkin kit has arrived, and I have to say… this one is amazing! The beautiful floral designs, gorgeous color combination, and the fun-fold cards really caught my attention. I was excited to create with it right out of the box! But, as always, I love putting my own spin on my Paper Pumpkin projects. I try to stay true to the kit’s original design and use what’s included, while adding just a few extra touches from my craft room — maybe an ink pad, some extra cardstock, or a little embellishment I have on hand. With just a few simple additions, I was able to create so many different cards — each one unique, but still keeping the beautiful Paper Pumpkin feel. 

The possibilities are truly endless when you let your creativity play! Here are the projects I created with my July kit… 

Want to see every card up close, plus a few tips I picked up along the way? I put it all together in a video for you below — give it a watch, and if you enjoy it, a thumbs up and subscribe on YouTube always means the world. 💛

Here is a short video showing everything I made:

And there you have it — 12+ cards from one little Paper Pumpkin kit! I hope seeing them all together sparks some ideas for your own stash of "extra" pieces. 

I'd love to know — which card is your favorite? Drop a comment and let me know, or tell me which one you'd want a tutorial for next! 

 Happy Stamping! 

💛 Oksana

New Class To Go: Violet Dreams 💜

 Hello, my stamping friends!

I have been dreaming in violets lately, and I am so excited to finally share this one with you. 

There is something about this palette — the rich purples, the fresh greens, the delicate little violet blooms — that just feels like a warm hug in card form.

Violet Dreams – Class To Go is officially open for registration, and I cannot wait for you to get your hands on this one. This kit is all about beautiful florals, rich layers, pretty Designer Series Paper, and creative layouts that make every card feel special. From birthdays and friendship to sending love and simply letting someone know you care, these versatile designs are perfect for so many occasions. 

Here's everything included in your kit: 

• 8 beautiful card projects, every supply included 
• $25+ in products to use during the class and beyond 
• PDF instructions, emailed along with your video tutorial when your kit ships 
• A BONUS PDF Tutorial ($15 value) to help you stretch your supplies even further and keep creating 

The details: 

💜 $45 — shipping included 

📅 Register by August 23 

📦 Kits ship by August 29 

Want to make even more with your violets? If you fall in love with this palette the way I did, you can add the Framed Violets Bundle — the exact stamp set and coordinating dies used to create these cards — to your order for just $49.50, with no tax or shipping! 

 And if you would rather use supplies you already have on hand, the bonus PDF tutorial is also available on its own in my shop. 

I would love to have you join me for this one. Come create something beautiful with me — one dreamy violet at a time. 

Register Today

Happy Stamping! 

Oksana

APPT Blog Hop - July 2026 Kit

Hello, my stamping friend!

Thank you so much for stopping by today on our Paper Pumpkin Blog Hop. I love being part of this Paper Pumpkin community where we can share extra ideas and inspiration beyond the kit — the possibilities really are endless! 

Today I created simple but fun projects using the July 2026 Hooray for Birthdays kit. I started with one of the beautiful oval labels included in the box. Instead of using it as-is, I cut it in half to create two smaller focal points, which I then layered into my card design. It’s such a great way to stretch your supplies and get more from the kit! 

The card folds flat to fit inside the envelope:

Measurements:

• Berry Burst CS: 4 1/4 x 11" scored at 3 1/4"; 6 1/2" and 8 3/4";
• Basic White CS: (2) 3 x 4"; 2 x 4";
• DSP (card base from PP kit): 2 7/8 x 3 7/8"; 1 7/8 x 3 7/8";
• Other: oval label cut in half, flowers, stems and greetings from the kit;

I also didn’t use the greenery and flowers that were originally meant to go with the oval label, so I decided to use those extra pieces to decorate the gable box instead — nothing goes to waste! 

To finish the box, I trimmed one of the card bases into a strip and added a touch of Old Olive to tie everything together. I added the sentiment, a few finishing touches, and just like that… the gable box was complete! 

I love how a few small changes can turn the kit into something completely new while still keeping the original Paper Pumpkin charm.

My goal with Paper Pumpkin is always to extend the kit while still using as much of the contents as possible—adding only simple basics like cardstock and ink.

I hope today’s projects inspire you to look at your kit pieces in new ways.

Continue hopping along to see more creative ideas.

I did not stop with just 2 alternate projects! Come back for more inspiration in a few days. 

Happy Stamping!

💛 Oksana

August Is Here! Here's What to Take Advantage Of

Hello, my stamping friend! 

Can you believe it's already August? There's a lot happening this month, so let's get you caught up on everything worth grabbing before it's gone. 

 🏷️ Last Chance List Refresh 

 The Last Chance List just got a refresh, with new items added and savings up to 50% off! These are retiring favorites — once they sell out, they're gone for good. If there's something you've had your eye on, now's the time. 

 🍂 August Product of the Month — Glow of Harvest 

This month's featured product is Glow of Harvest, a gorgeous specialty paper with soft shimmer, fall pumpkins, leaves, and acorns in warm browns, beige, and soft orange. You can add it to your order for just $5 when you spend $75 — such a steal for a paper this beautiful. 

📄 Select DSP & Cardstock Sale 

Select Designer Series Paper and cardstock packs are on sale this month too — a great time to stock up before fall projects kick into full gear. 

 ✨ New Kits just landed! 

Two brand-new kits just landed, and they're both pure home decor fun! The Witchy Whimsy Hat Kit lets you craft your own decorative witch's hat — spiders, webs, black cats, and eyeballs mixed with pretty rosettes, ribbon, and lace for a playful (not scary!) Halloween accent piece. And the Crafted Blooms Kit is a total showstopper: three dimensional floral art pieces with uplifting sentiments, perfect for displaying on a clipboard, corkboard, or your favorite deep-set frame. Neither one is cards — they're both made purely to decorate your space, and I love that. 

🎁 Paper Pumpkin — Sign-Up Deadline & Special Offer 

 If you want August's Paper Pumpkin kit, sign-ups close August 10! And if it's been a while since you subscribed (or you've never tried it), I've got a treat for you: 25% off your first month. It's the easiest way to see what all the fuss is about. 

That's a lot of goodness packed into one month! Let me know if you have questions about any of these, or if you'd like help building an order. 

Happy Stamping! 💛 — Oksana

Simple Sketch with Endless Possibilities – Flora Suite Inspiration

Hello, my stamping friend!

One of my favorite things about card making is discovering a layout that can be used over and over again. Today’s card, created with the beautiful Moonlit Flora Suite

This sketch begins with a 3 7/8 x 5 1/8” piece of Designer Series Paper, a focal embellishment, and a sentiment. It’s simple to assemble, yet the finished card has lots of dimension and visual interest. 

What I love most is how versatile this sketch is. While it looks beautiful with the Moonlit Flora Suite, you could easily recreate it using almost any Designer Series Paper in your collection. Change the colors, flowers, die cuts, or sentiments, and you’ll have a completely different look every time.

I’ve included the sketch to inspire you to look at your paper stash in a new way. Sometimes all you need is a fresh layout to spark your creativity

Would you like to see how to make it? Watch a short video with step-by step instructions.

I hope this sketch inspires you to pull out your favorite papers and create something beautiful. If you do, I’d love to see what you make!

If you’re looking for even more inspiration, my paid tutorial includes additional card designs, complete measurements, and step-by-step instructions to help you make the most of this beautiful suite. 

 Happy stamping,

Begonia Belle

Hello, my stamping friend!

The Begonia Belle stamp set is July Product of the Month, and honestly… it deserves the spotlight. This gorgeous two‑step stamping set lets you build your dream begonia in any color palette you love. Soft pastels, bold bright, moody jewel tones — it all works.

This card is one we created during Crafting Happy Hours at a local Wine shop, and it’s the perfect example of how simple layouts can still be absolutely stunning. Two‑step stamping makes it easy, beautiful, and beginner‑friendly.

The best part? The Begonia Belle stamp set is only $5 with a $75 order this month. A total steal for a set that gives you endless color possibilities.

If you’ve been wanting a stamp set that’s simple, elegant, and wildly customizable, this one’s a keeper.

Say hello to Sketch #2 — simple, flexible, and perfect for quick cardmaking.

I used this sketch for my Begonia Belle card. Two DSP strips + an accent layer + your focal point = done. 

Both of these cards were created using this sketch - I just changed the orientation:

Color Combo used: Bubble Bath/Berry Burst and Peaceful Pine.

Measurements:

• Peaceful Pine CS: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2";
• Berry Burst CS: (2) 1/2 x 5 1/2"; 
• Basic White CS: 2 3/4 x 5 1/2"; piece for stamping;
• DSP: (2) 3/4 x 5 1/2";

Quick video:

Now is your turn! Create a card using this sketch, And do not forget to add the Begonia Belle stamp to your collection. All supplies are available in my store. 

Happy Stamping!

Begonia Belle Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [168592] $5.00	2026–2028 In Color™ Designer Series Paper [168218] $12.50	Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144243] $14.00	Peaceful Pine 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [167691] $14.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780] $14.00
Bubble Bath Classic Stampin' Pad [161664] $11.00	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad [147143] $11.00	Peaceful Pine Classic Stampin Pad [167679] $14.00	Sweet Words & Labels Dies [167627] $37.00	Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels [158987] $8.00