Thinking of You

World Card Making Day: Autumn Opulence Interlocking Squares Easel Card

Autumn easel card featuring interlocking squares cut with Tile Garden Dies, Autumn Opulence paper, and a gold-embossed thinking of you sentiment.

Every handmade card is an opportunity to connect with someone, brighten their day, and remind them that they are loved and remembered.

For today’s Festive Friday challenge, I created an autumn easel card featuring the beautiful Autumn Opulence Designer Series Paper. I love the rich fall colors and all the texture and detail on this card.

I’ve made interlocking-squares cards before, but this time I used the new Tile Garden Dies to create the squares. The stitched and pierced details around the edges add so much interest! I turned the design into an easel card, with the gold-embossed “thinking of you today” sentiment serving as the stopper that holds the card open.

One of the things I love most about making cards is choosing a particular person as I create. A handmade card doesn’t need to be perfect or complicated. It simply lets someone know, “I was thinking about you today.” And that is exactly what Create. Connect. Encourage. means to me. 🩵🩷💜

Who would you love to encourage with a handmade card? I hope World Card Making Day inspires you to create a card—and then send it!

Open Autumn Opulence easel card showing the writing area, embossed Golden Glow cardstock, and gold-embossed “thinking of you today” sentiment.

Measurements & Details

  • 4-1/2” x 11” Cajun Craze CS scored at 2-3/4” and 5-1/2” (Blackberry Bliss CS)
  • Inside the card- 4” x 2-3/4” Basic White CS
  • 4” x 2-1/2” Golden Glow CS (Pecan Pie CS) embossed with Softly Woven EF
  • Sentiment label- Sweet Words & Label Dies (Winnie the Pooh) Cajun Craze CS
  • Sentiment “thinking of you today” – All Aflutter stamp set- Gold Heat Embossing
  • Sentiment “Wishing You every good thing”- Tile Garden stamp set – Gold Heat Embossing
  • Front of card- 4” x 5-1/4” Golden Glow CS (Pecan Pie CS)
  • 3-3/4” x 5” Autumn Opulence DSP embossed with Softly Woven EF
  • 2nd & 3rd largest Tile Garden Dies – Cajun Craze and Golden Glow CS (Pecan Pie CS)
  • A Gold Adhesive-Backed Dots

For the alternate color combination, use Blackberry Bliss in place of Cajun Craze and Pecan Pie in place of Golden Glow. I will be using this color combination for the video.

Video

Please join Steve and me live on Tuesday, Sept 15 at 7pm CT to watch the live video and see how the interlocking squares come together and how to assemble the easel card.

Please join us for our weekly live video every Tuesday at 7pm CT. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel here so you don’t miss future videos.

I hope you’ll join us! 

Welcome to another Festive Friday Challenge!

This challenge is inspired by World Card Making Day which is on October 3rd. The Inspiration List includes 10 different elements to choose from. Simply incorporate at least three of them into your project and link it up. The best part? Your project doesn’t have to be about World Card Making Day at all! #FestiveFridayChallenge

I’d love for you to join us! Create a card, scrapbook page, or 3-D project and share it with the challenge. If you’ve never entered a card challenge before, this is the perfect time to start. It’s fun, free, and a wonderful way to spark your creativity!

If you need help entering, just email me at Beth@StampingMom.com. I’d be happy to help you.

For my card, I chose Patterned Paper, Fancy Fold Card, Heat Embossing and Stitching. Which three items would you choose?

Please see all the beautiful cards made by the rest of the Design Team below.

International Christmas Stamp for Demonstrators and Customers

Our next Online Stamp Camp features the beautiful Home for Christmas Bundle!

Purchase the following four products-totaling $85.75- from my online store, and you’ll receive the Online Stamp Camp and 13 card kits free! Click here to order all 4 products.

  • Home for Christmas Bundle $51.25 #168509
  • Timeless Christmas DSP +Stickers $17.50 #168513
  • Christmas Berries $8.50 #168549
  • White Textured Ribbon $8.50 #168550

You’ll use these four products to complete your card kits. Your 13 card kits are free with your qualifying purchase; you’ll pay only $8 for shipping.

Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com to reserve your card kit before placing your order.

I would love to have you join us!

Join my Joy Team!

We are a group of joy filled stampers who buy Stampin’ Up at a discount. Whether you join to build a business or support your hobby, I think you’ll be happy on our team.  It’s a positive group of kind and caring gals.  We are also part of a large national team with lots of opportunities for prizes and other benefits. If you would like to have stamping friends all over the world and be part of this awesome community, I hope you’ll join us! Sign up to be part of the Joy Team. You get to choose $125 in products for only $99. You also get to be part of Stamping Joy Club free!

Join Stamping Joy Club!

Why join Stamping Joy Club? We have friends from USA, and all over the world. Join us and this will become something you look forward to every week! Everyone is welcome at Stamping Joy Club! Find out more details here.

In Joy Club, we make Samplers quarterly, like the one shown below.

Join Stamping Joy Club or learn more here.

Catalogs

If you would like me to be your demo, please email me and let me know you want the catalog sent to you. Beth@StampingMom.com If you purchase your supplies from someone else, please ask them for a catalog.

To page through the catalogs, click on “Catalogs” on the black bar at the top of the post or click on the catalog covers on the right side of the blog.

Online Exclusives

Did you know Stampin’ Up has products available that you won’t find in any catalog? See what’s available on the Online Exclusives today here. New products are added often.

Tutorial Bundles

Place a $35 or more order with me and get your choice of a card tutorial bundle free! I have dozens of tutorial bundles, choose your favorite here OR you can purchase this tutorial bundle for only $25.

Whether you’re new to cardmaking or have been stamping for years, you’ll have 13 new Christmas ideas you can recreate exactly or adapt using supplies you already own.

August 2026 Fun Fold Tutorial Bundle

Here's 12 Fun Fold tutorials with great directions and pictures showing exactly how to make these awesome projects! You can also use  whatever supplies you already own to make these cards. The directions are both in inches and metric, made with current Stampin' Up products.  You will be able to download the tutorial bundle immediately after checkout. Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com if you have any trouble downloading your tutorial bundle. I'll be happy to help you!

$25.00

 

Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com if you have any questions for me. 🙂

If you live in the USA, I would love to be your demonstrator if you are not working with one already!  You can click on the supply list at the bottom of this post to order any of these items through my online store. 

New to Stampin’ Up?

 If you would like to receive a copy of the current catalog and you don’t have a demonstrator you already work with, please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com to request a copy. 

❤️ I hope today’s project inspires you to create something meaningful, connect with someone you care about, and encourage them with a handmade card.

Create. Connect. Encourage.
One card at a time.🩵 🩷 💜

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below—I read every one.

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

🛍️ Shop with me

📌 Follow me on Pinterest

📘 Follow me on Facebook

📸 Follow me on Instagram

💜 Join my Joy Team




Blog Hop Index


🩷Stand Up to Cancer Day

Handmade cancer encouragement card in Crisp Cantaloupe and Hydrangea Hue featuring embossed sunflowers, three die-cut hearts, ribbon and a blue cancer awareness ribbon.

Stand Up to Cancer — A Card for My Dear Friend Jean 🌻🩷

Today’s card is very personal to me.

One of my very best friends, Jean, and I have been friends for 40 years. She’s also my stamping buddy and comes over almost every weekend to stamp with me. A lot of the cards and ideas you see on my blog came from Jean. We’ve spent countless hours over the years creating cards, talking, laughing and doing life together.

Jean is battling cancer for the third time. So today I’m dedicating this card—and this post—to my dear friend Jean. 🩷

🌻 Hope, Strength & Resilience

I love the beautiful sunflowers on this card, but I especially love what they represent.

Sunflowers have become a symbol of hope, strength and resilience for many in the cancer community. Those words make me think of Jean. Through it all, Jean continues to amaze me with her strength and grace.

I used the Sunflower Embossing Folder with Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock and then lightly brushed white ink over the raised flowers with a Sponge Dauber. It’s such an easy technique, but it really brings out all that beautiful sunflower detail.

I paired the Crisp Cantaloupe with Hydrangea Hue and added Crisp Cantaloupe Bordered Ribbon.

The stitched squares are from the new Tile Garden Dies, and those sweet little hearts are from the Extraordinary Life Dies. 🩷

Inside of handmade encouragement card with the sentiment “Friends don’t let friends fight alone,” a small heart, and coordinating envelope with a blue awareness ribbon.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Fight Cancer Alone

The inside of the card may be my favorite part.

It says:

“Friends don’t let friends fight cancer alone.”

After 40 years of friendship, I can’t think of a more perfect message. There are some things we can’t fix for the people we love. But we can show up. We can listen. We can pray. We can encourage them. And we can make sure they know they aren’t walking through the hard things alone.

That’s one of the reasons card making means so much to me. A handmade card is such a simple thing, but sometimes it says exactly what someone needs to hear:

I love you. I’m thinking about you. I’m praying for you. I’m here. 🩷

Cards for a Cause?

Jean’s journey has also gotten me thinking.

I’ve wanted to find more ways to use our love of card making to help others, and I’m considering doing a Cards for a Cause fundraiser for cancer research in honor of Jean. 🌻

I’m still thinking through what that could look like, but I love the idea of getting together to make cards, spend time with one another and raise money for cancer research at the same time.

Would you be interested in participating in something like that?

Please leave me a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And Jean—this card and today’s post are for you. You truly are the best! I love you my dear friend!

Friends don’t let friends fight cancer alone. 🩷🌻

Create. Connect. Encourage.

Close-up of handmade Crisp Cantaloupe and Hydrangea Hue card featuring white-ink-highlighted embossed sunflowers, three stitched squares with hearts, and Crisp Cantaloupe ribbon.

Welcome to another Festive Friday Challenge!

This challenge is inspired by Stand Up to Cancer Day which is on September 11th.. The Inspiration List includes 10 different elements to choose from. Simply incorporate at least three of them into your project and link it up. The best part? Your project doesn’t have to be about Stand Up to Cancer Dayat all! #FestiveFridayChallenge

I’d love for you to join us! Create a card, scrapbook page, or 3-D project and share it with the challenge. If you’ve never entered a card challenge before, this is the perfect time to start. It’s fun, free, and a wonderful way to spark your creativity!

If you need help entering, just email me at Beth@StampingMom.com. I’d be happy to help you.

For my card, I chose Orange, Strength Sentiment and Hearts from the Inspiration List. Which three items would you choose?

Please see all the beautiful cards made by the rest of the Design Team below.

International Christmas Stamp for Demonstrators and Customers

Our next Online Stamp Camp features the beautiful Home for Christmas Bundle!

Purchase the following four products-totaling $85.75- from my online store, and you’ll receive the Online Stamp Camp and 13 card kits free! Click here to order all 4 products.

  • Home for Christmas Bundle $51.25 #168509
  • Timeless Christmas DSP +Stickers $17.50 #168513
  • Christmas Berries $8.50 #168549
  • White Textured Ribbon $8.50 #168550

You’ll use these four products to complete your card kits. Your 13 card kits are free with your qualifying purchase; you’ll pay only $8 for shipping.

Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com to reserve your card kit before placing your order.

I would love to have you join us!

Join my Joy Team!

We are a group of joy filled stampers who buy Stampin’ Up at a discount. Whether you join to build a business or support your hobby, I think you’ll be happy on our team.  It’s a positive group of kind and caring gals.  We are also part of a large national team with lots of opportunities for prizes and other benefits. If you would like to have stamping friends all over the world and be part of this awesome community, I hope you’ll join us! Sign up to be part of the Joy Team. You get to choose $125 in products for only $99. You also get to be part of Stamping Joy Club free!

Join Stamping Joy Club!

Why join Stamping Joy Club? We have friends from USA, and all over the world. Join us and this will become something you look forward to every week! Everyone is welcome at Stamping Joy Club! Find out more details here.

In Joy Club, we make Samplers quarterly, like the one shown below.

Join Stamping Joy Club or learn more here.

Catalogs

If you would like me to be your demo, please email me and let me know you want the catalog sent to you. Beth@StampingMom.com If you purchase your supplies from someone else, please ask them for a catalog.

To page through the catalogs, click on “Catalogs” on the black bar at the top of the post or click on the catalog covers on the right side of the blog.

Online Exclusives

Did you know Stampin’ Up has products available that you won’t find in any catalog? See what’s available on the Online Exclusives today here. New products are added often.

Tutorial Bundles

Place a $35 or more order with me and get your choice of a card tutorial bundle free! I have dozens of tutorial bundles, choose your favorite here OR you can purchase this tutorial bundle for only $25.

Whether you’re new to cardmaking or have been stamping for years, you’ll have 13 new Christmas ideas you can recreate exactly or adapt using supplies you already own.

August 2026 Fun Fold Tutorial Bundle

Here's 12 Fun Fold tutorials with great directions and pictures showing exactly how to make these awesome projects! You can also use  whatever supplies you already own to make these cards. The directions are both in inches and metric, made with current Stampin' Up products.  You will be able to download the tutorial bundle immediately after checkout. Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com if you have any trouble downloading your tutorial bundle. I'll be happy to help you!

$25.00

 

Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com if you have any questions for me. 🙂

If you live in the USA, I would love to be your demonstrator if you are not working with one already!  You can click on the supply list at the bottom of this post to order any of these items through my online store. 

New to Stampin’ Up?

 If you would like to receive a copy of the current catalog and you don’t have a demonstrator you already work with, please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com to request a copy. 

❤️ I hope today’s project inspires you to create something meaningful, connect with someone you care about, and encourage them with a handmade card.

Create. Connect. Encourage.
One card at a time.🩵 🩷 💜

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below—I read every one.

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

🛍️ Shop with me

📌 Follow me on Pinterest

📘 Follow me on Facebook

📸 Follow me on Instagram

💜 Join my Joy Team


New In Colors Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stampin’ Pretty Pals’ Blog Hop!

This month, the Pals are showcasing the fresh and fabulous 2026–2028 Stampin’ Up! In Colors! Whether you’re a seasoned stamper or new to the fun, these new hues are sure to spark your creativity. Be sure to click through the links below to “hop” along and see how each Pal brought these gorgeous colors to life. You’re bound to find a few new favorites—and a little inspiration along the way!

Stampin Up Heirloom Boutique Bundle gift set of cards designed by demo Beth McCullough. See more ideas at https://stampingmom.com/new-in-colors-blog-hop-3/

I had so much fun making these cards that I ended up with seven altogether. I used the Heirloom Boutique Bundle, Bloom Boutique DSP, Beautifully Celebrated Dies, Phrases & Frames Stamp Set, 2026–28 In Color Butterflies, all five In Color cardstocks, and Gold Foil.

Stampin Up Heirloom Boutique Bundle gift set of cards designed by demo Beth McCullough. See more ideas at https://stampingmom.com/new-in-colors-blog-hop-3/

 Did you notice that Bloom Boutique DSP looks like the sheets your grandma probably used? I lovingly call it “Grandma Sheets DSP” after Brian Pilling shared that story at OnStage in Sydney, AU.

Stampin Up Heirloom Boutique Bundle gift set of cards designed by demo Beth McCullough. See more ideas at https://stampingmom.com/new-in-colors-blog-hop-3/

I’ve made a gift set of three cards using all five of the new In Colors. They look great in a gusseted bag with coordinating ribbon. Which color is your favorite? It’s hard to pick just one, but right now I’d choose Hydrangea Hue.

Measurements & Details

  • Card Base 7-1/4” x 5-1/2” scored at 3”
  • Inside 5-1/4” x 2-3/4” Basic White CS
  • 5-1/4” x 1-1/8” DSP
  • Card Front 5-1/4” x 2-3/4” DSP
  • 3rd Largest Beautifully Celebrated Dies
  • Phrases & Frames stamp set-sentiment

Video

Here’s a video with measurements and directions to make this project. Please join us for our weekly live video every Tuesday at 7pm CT. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel here so you get notified each week when I’m live. I do prize patrol each week during my video.

MORE INSPIRATION AWAITS! There’s a full lineup of creative inspiration waiting for you! Scroll down to hop along and enjoy what the rest of the blog hop team has crafted. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for next month’s theme: My Favorites in the New Catalog—we’ve already picked our must-haves!

Stampin’ Pretty Pals Blog Hop

  1. Beth McCullough
  2. Lisa Ann Bernard
  3. Peggy Noe
  4. Debbie Mageed
  5. Windy Ellard
  6. Su Mohr
  7. Rae Burnet
  8. Tricia Chuba
  9. Sue Jackson
  10. Stesha Bloodhart

International Christmas Stamp for Demonstrators and Customers

Our next Online Stamp Camp features the beautiful Home for Christmas Bundle!

Purchase the following four products-totaling $85.75- from my online store, and you’ll receive the Online Stamp Camp and 13 card kits free! Click here to order all 4 products.

  • Home for Christmas Bundle $51.25 #168509
  • Timeless Christmas DSP +Stickers $17.50 #168513
  • Christmas Berries $8.50 #168549
  • White Textured Ribbon $8.50 #168550

You’ll use these four products to complete your card kits. Your 13 card kits are free with your qualifying purchase; you’ll pay only $8 for shipping.

Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com to reserve your card kit before placing your order.

I would love to have you join us!

Join my Joy Team!

We are a group of joy filled stampers who buy Stampin’ Up at a discount. Whether you join to build a business or support your hobby, I think you’ll be happy on our team.  It’s a positive group of kind and caring gals.  We are also part of a large national team with lots of opportunities for prizes and other benefits. If you would like to have stamping friends all over the world and be part of this awesome community, I hope you’ll join us! Sign up to be part of the Joy Team. You get to choose $125 in products for only $99. You also get to be part of Stamping Joy Club free!

Join Stamping Joy Club!

Why join Stamping Joy Club? We have friends from USA, and all over the world. Join us and this will become something you look forward to every week! Everyone is welcome at Stamping Joy Club! Find out more details here.

In Joy Club, we make Samplers quarterly, like the one shown below.

Join Stamping Joy Club or learn more here.

Catalogs

If you would like me to be your demo, please email me and let me know you want the catalog sent to you. Beth@StampingMom.com If you purchase your supplies from someone else, please ask them for a catalog.

To page through the catalogs, click on “Catalogs” on the black bar at the top of the post or click on the catalog covers on the right side of the blog.

Online Exclusives

Did you know Stampin’ Up has products available that you won’t find in any catalog? See what’s available on the Online Exclusives today here. New products are added often.

Tutorial Bundles

Place a $35 or more order with me and get your choice of a card tutorial bundle free! I have dozens of tutorial bundles, choose your favorite here OR you can purchase this tutorial bundle for only $25.

Whether you’re new to cardmaking or have been stamping for years, you’ll have 13 new Christmas ideas you can recreate exactly or adapt using supplies you already own.

August 2026 Fun Fold Tutorial Bundle

Here's 12 Fun Fold tutorials with great directions and pictures showing exactly how to make these awesome projects! You can also use  whatever supplies you already own to make these cards. The directions are both in inches and metric, made with current Stampin' Up products.  You will be able to download the tutorial bundle immediately after checkout. Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com if you have any trouble downloading your tutorial bundle. I'll be happy to help you!

$25.00

 

Please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com if you have any questions for me. 🙂

If you live in the USA, I would love to be your demonstrator if you are not working with one already!  You can click on the supply list at the bottom of this post to order any of these items through my online store. 

New to Stampin’ Up?

 If you would like to receive a copy of the current catalog and you don’t have a demonstrator you already work with, please email me at Beth@StampingMom.com to request a copy. 

❤️ I hope today’s project inspires you to create something meaningful, connect with someone you care about, and encourage them with a handmade card.

Create. Connect. Encourage.
One card at a time.🩵 🩷 💜

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below—I read every one.

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

🛍️ Shop with me

📌 Follow me on Pinterest

📘 Follow me on Facebook

📸 Follow me on Instagram

💜 Join my Joy Team