hey cupcake

We hope you’re having a fabulous week! Kelly is here with a project to inspire you to find some creative time this week and pull out some of those new goodies!

Hello and welcome! It’s Kelly here today for this week’s TGIF! I was inspired by Betsy’s lovely “MOM”
card that she shared during the Hip Hip Hooray release AND inspiration from Bath and Body Works!
Have you seen the new collection in the “Gingham” series? My card was inspired by the new “Gingham
Fresh” packaging…absolutely delightful! I’m always a sucker for pretty packaging and pretty bottles, etc.,
BUT it’s always fun to find fresh inspiration that gets your creative juices flowing! In fact, my juices are
flowing so freely that I don’t want to go back to regular life! Has that ever happened to you? LOL!

I started my card by creating the most important part: the GINGHAM, of course! I used the Square
Dance stencil using two shades of ink to achieve the look on the lotion and soap bottles that I
bought and was using as reference. The bottles show a loose, uneven gingham, so I didn’t stress too
much about getting things perfectly lined up! Yay for imperfection, right? Once the panel was stenciled,
I trimmed it down to 4 by 5 ¼ inches and set it aside.

The next step was to create the lovely floral strip; this was achieved by stenciling two of the cake
portions from the Takes the Cake stamp + stencil set. I used Laurie’s INGENIUS way of using the MISTI for the
stenciling! I watched her do that on the Instagram LIVE for the Hip Hip Hooray release and wondered
what rock I had been living under! Ha ha! Absolutely genius!!! I chose shades of yellow and green and
absolutely LOVE how it turned out! I think I’m going to make another card using it as it was intended for
a beautiful cake! Once all of the stenciling was complete, I die cut it using the Takes the Cake Floral Details die
collection.

I also die cut two of the Ribbon Maker: Petite Scallops out of white cardstock. I cut a panel of white
cardstock just wide enough for the floral pieces and then adhered the scallops on the backside using
ScorTape. The floral pieces are added to the panel using foam squares for dimension. Once that was
done, I added it to the gingham layer using additional foam squares. It’s no secret that I LOVE
dimension, but I have felt that I can’t mail bulky cards because they will get caught in the sorting
machine even if I use the non-machinable stamp. I asked a friend at the post office what I could do to
avoid having that happen. She told me to simply write “Please hand cancel” at the bottom of the
envelope under the address and that would help. I was visiting a widow that I had mailed a VERY heavy
and bulky card, and there it was, sitting completely unscathed on her side table! Whew! Now I don’t
worry so much about mailing bulky cards!

I die cut enough pieces to create the cupcake using the Hey Cupcake dies and inked them up using the same ink as the floral portion for continuity. I glued it all together and added some glitter. I also layered it onto one of the crimped circles using light gray cardstock for contrast. I think they look like little plates or chargers anyway, so it just added to the look, I think! I stamped the sentiment using the Tear Strip Tags: Birthday stamp set and then die cut it using the new Tear Strip Banner dies. I love having this additional option for these fabulous sentiments! I might have had TOO much fun making this because I didn’t want to stop! Ha ha! I can’t wait to give this along with the lotion and soap that was the inspiration for a coordinating look….that’s my favorite! Thanks for joining me today!

Welcome to Day 2 of our countdown to the release of our newest collection and our 4th anniversary celebration! We have an amazing giveaway today, so make sure you keep reading all the way to the end of this post for all of the info! It’s one day only, so you’ll need to enter TODAY! 🙂

**Important Note Regarding the Tear Strip Tags: Birthday stamp set

Before we get to today’s product introductions, I wanted to make you aware that due to a manufacturing issue there will be a delay of the release of the Tear Strip Tags: Birthday stamp set that we introduced in yesterday’s post. We will be releasing it as soon as we can get the issue resolved, but unfortunately it will not be available on release day and it will not be included in our buy-it-all bundle. Our sincere apologies for the delay, but we want to make sure we’re bringing you the best product possible!

Now let’s meet today’s new product introductions…

Below is a quick look at all of the new products. Click on the links below each product heading for more details and information (sentiments, measurements, etc.), or click HERE to see all of the new products in the shop. (**Please Note: although you can preview the new products in the shop, they will not be available to add to cart or purchase until 10am ET on Wednesday, April 26).

Gifts Galore stencil, Gifts Galore die, and Gifts Galore hot foil + stencil combo

Celebrations are always more fun with PRESENTS! Our Gifts Galore product suite is filled with mix and match possibilities. The Gifts Galore stencil can be used on its own for single layer cards, or incorporated some of our other coordinating products for more layering options. Our Gifts Galore die is filled with ribbons and bows that can be added to the stenciled or hot-foiled design. The layout of the Gifts Galore design may look a bit familiar as it’s the same block layout found in our Curio: Divider & Details II die, opening up even more possibilities for this popular die. If you love shimmer and shine, our Gifts Galore hot foil will foil a whole panel of patterned presents. The hot foil includes a stencil for just the ribbons, then you can add bows and toppers using the Gifts Galore die.

Click HERE for Gifts Galore 8-piece stencil info ($18)
Click HERE for Gifts Galore die info ($24)
Click HERE for Gifts Galore hot foil + single stencil info ($35)

I put together a video for you showcasing the Gifts Galore product suite – I’ll show you four different card ideas!

Hidden Messages die

This handy set of three lift-the-flap dies lets you tuck a sentiment under a flap, creating a fun interactive element. This die does coordinate with the above Gifts Galore product suite, allowing you to cut flaps from some of the gifts in the design. Of course this die can be used apart from the Gifts Galore suite for many other applications as well.

Click HERE for Hidden Messages die info ($16)

Takes the Cake die, Takes the Cake stamp + stencil combo, Takes the Cake Stand die, Takes the Cake Banner die, Takes the Cake Floral Details die

This new product suite really Takes the Cake! With lots of mix and match products within the suite, you can pick and choose for how you like to create. The Takes the Cake die can be used as a stand alone die, with lots of decorating options like layers, frosting options, and candles. The Takes the Cake stamp + stencil combo allows you to create stunning floral cake designs – on its own, or combined with the coordinating die Details die (there are individual flowers in the set as well). The Takes the Cake Stand and Banner dies are great accent pieces for incorporating more layering options into your designs.

Click HERE for Takes the Cake die info ($22)
Click HERE for Takes the Cake Stamp + Stencil combo info ($32)
Click HERE for Takes the Cake Stand die info ($6)
Click HERE for Takes the Cake Banner die info ($6)
Click HERE for Takes the Cake Floral Details die info ($18)

Angelica is joining us again today with a great video showcasing the Takes the Cake product suite…

Takes the Cake Mini die

If you can’t resist tiny things, the Takes the Cake mini die is for you. This die features many of the same design elements as the Takes the Cake product suite above (sans florals), but in a much smaller size. Perfect for smaller focal points, tags, etc.

Click HERE for Takes the Cake Mini die info ($9)

Hey Cupcake die + Party Bits, Buttercream Toppers, and Strawberry Toppers

Cupcakes are a party essential around here, so we just had to incorporate this sweet new die set, plus a few new embellishments! This set is the result of a customer request (thanks, Laura!). The Hey Cupcake die features cupcakes from a bird’s-eye-view and include so many fun decorating options from different frosting options, fruit, flowers, and more. They can double as cookies as well! Our new embellishments include festive clay sprinkles, frosting dollops, and strawberry sandwiches.

Click HERE for Hey Cupcake die info ($24)
Click HERE for Party Bits info ($4)
Click HERE for Buttercream Toppers info ($5)
Click HERE for Strawberry Toppers info ($5)

Sweet & Fancy Labels stamp set, die, and hot foil

These new labels are a little fancy and a whole lot of sweet! The stamp set features several mix and match sentiments which all fit inside the flourished label. The Sweet & Fancy hot foil features the same frame, but in hot foil form. The matching die coordinates with both the stamp set and the hot foil design.

Click HERE for Sweet & Fancy Labels stamp set info ($16)
Click HERE for Sweet & Fancy Labels die info ($7)
Click HERE for Sweet & Fancy Label hot foil info ($8)

Window Dressing Dotted Scallops die

Last but not least, we have this versatile new die. It’s perfect for cutting windows to show off the cupcakes from our Hey Cupcake set, but it’s a great basic that has so many other design options as well. The design allows you to either use the window or the resulting cut-out — both feature a dotted scallop border. If using it with the Hey Cupcake die, the larger window will show off 4 cupcakes, while the smaller is great for framing a single cupcake.

Click HERE for Window Dressing Dotted Scallops die info ($25)

Before I get to my projects for today, another reminder that Laurie will be hosting an Instagram Live tonight. If you’d like to see the products up close, join Laurie tonight, 3/25 at 8pm ET / 7pm CT on our Instagram channel. If you aren’t able to join us live, you can watch it any time from our feed.

Now I’m excited to share a whole lot of projects with you! Let’s start off with the Takes the Cake product suite…

My first two projects use the various Takes the Cake dies. This first card uses the optional layers from the main Takes the Cake die to make a pastel rainbow layer cake. So fun to glitter it up and add all sorts of fun details!

I started off by stamping the new Sparkler Background using a light gold ink. then I built my cake, cutting everything from white cardstock and sponging with ink. I cut the candles as well as the Cake Stand from gold mirror cardstock. I layered the Banner over my assembled cake, and stamped a sentiment from the Takes the Cake stamp set. The little vellum flowers embellishing the banner are actually from the Hey Cupcake die. Along the top I added some vellum “pinwheels” – these were actually cut from what is supposed to be the wrapped die included in the Hey Cupcake die. It works great for pinwheels as well, and I foiled them with the new Glow hot foil.

Next up is another card using the Takes the Cake die. This time I omitted the optional layers and created a solid cake, which I topped off with the different frosting options included in the die set. I glittered up that drippy frosting, and also sprinkled it full of our new Party Bits.

This time instead of using the cake stand in full, I used just the detail portion of the stand as both a “plate” at the base of my cake and two more to hold the banner. Across the banner I added some numbers cut with the Bold Numbers die for a Sweet 16 card. I’m actually going to need one of these in a few weeks when my baby turns 16! gasp! I again used a few of the flowers from the Hey Cupcake set to embellish my banner.

For this next card, I went all out and created a pretty floral cake using the Takes the Cake Stamp + Stencil set and all the matching dies.

I started by stamping the Sparkler Background in a soft taupe ink. Then I diecut the Takes the Cake Floral Details panel and went to work stenciling and stamping the floral design. The stencils make it go pretty quickly! The only part of the design that’s stamped is the greenery. I layered my lacy floral design over as solid Takes the Cake diecut, cut using the basic Takes the Cake set. I added several candles, as well as a banner and a sentiment from the Takes the Cake stamp set. For some extra shimmer and shine I used metallic gold paint on the candle flames and added some glitter to the centers of the sparkles in the background. LOVE how this one came together!

Next up is a sweet tag using the Takes the Cake Mini die. This sweet, tiny cake is perfect for tags or smaller focal points! I assembled one and layered it onto a Crimped Circle Tag diecut which was foiled using the Glow hot foil. The sentiment is the new Tear Strip Tags: Birthday stamp set, stamped onto the new Tear Strip Banners die.

Here is a side-by-side of a card using the full-sized Takes the Cake set and the tag using the Mini so you can get an idea of the size difference between the two. The Mini is definitely that! 🙂

My next Takes the Cake project is much simpler, and it would be perfect for a wedding or bridal shower card. I love how this set can be used for lots of occasions! I used the Takes the Cake Stamp + Stencil to create the floral panel. I then cut it using the A2 Arches die to frame the cake.

I did add some diecut details using the Takes the Cake Stand and Banner dies. I also added a little glitter to the flower centers for a bit of sparkle. I diecut a card base from the largest A2 Arches die from the set and adhered my cake panel to it to create the shaped card.

I had so much fun with the Takes the Cake product suite, I just couldn’t stop! I have a few more ideas for you. For this pair of cards, I wanted to create something dramatic with a dark background. I chose inks in shades of pink and periwinkle, and paired them with dark navy cardstock.

This first card is an anniversary card in which I used the floral piece to create the cake, as it was designed to be used. I layered it over a Deco Frames diecut. The Cake Stand was again cut from gold mirror cardstock for lots of shine. I stamped and heat embossed the anniversary sentiment from the Takes the Cake set onto the banner die. I used a couple of sweet bows from the new Gifts Galore die to embellish the ends of the banner.

For the second card in the pair, I wanted to do something different with that pretty Takes the Cake floral panel. Two of them stacked on top of each other is perfect for creating a floral strip that fills the center of a card.

I used the Sweet & Fancy hot foil and matching die to create the label to cover the center where the two floral panels meet. I thought this would make a beautiful mother’s day card, so I pulled out my Slim Alpha die and diecut “mom”. I added a small bow to the center of the “O”, cut with the Gifts Galore die. To frame the sides of my floral panel, I used scalloped strips cut with the Ribbon Maker: Large Scallops die.

Next I have some projects showcasing the new Hey Cupcake die. I had so much fun with these, too! I went to town diecuting and putting together all kinds of cupcakes with all the toppings. I’ll share an Instagram reel soon showing these in progress. For this card, I took four of my fancy cupcakes and nestled them inside the larger window from the Window Dressing Dotted Scallops die.

Besides the new toppings and embellishments we’re adding to our lineup, we have lots of goodies already in the shop that are great for the cupcakes as well. I used the White Puffy Paint, Candy Crumble Mix, and Nuvo Chocolate Drops. For the sentiment, I foiled the Sweet & Fancy Label onto aqua vellum and diecut it using the matching die. I heat embossed the sentiment, which is from the Sweet & Fancy Labels stamp set.

Next up, a whole lot MORE cupcakes! Here I filled my card front with so many yummy cupcakes and other little goodies from the Hey Cupcake die…little wafer cookies and strawberries.

Once again the sentiment is from the Sweet & Fancy Labels stamp set, the frame was hot foiled, then diecut with the Sweet & Fancy Label die. All of the cupcake “wrappers” were cut from colored vellum.

Next I used the smaller die from the Window Dressings Dotted Scallops set to create this slimline card. The smaller square from the set is perfect for framing out a single cupcake, making them look like they are inside a pretty bakery box! I cut three of them in a row from a Crimped Slimline panel.

I added this diecut panel to my card base, popped up with foam, and tucked a cupcake inside each. I added a few other little diecut embellishments around the openings…wafer cookies, cherries, and strawberries, all from the Hey Cupcake set. I finished it off with a Tear Strip Tags: Birthday sentiment stamped onto a Tear Strip Banners die.

One last cupcake card…this one feels like a picnic! I used the Window Dressing cut-outs from the card above, this time layering my cupcakes over them almost like little napkins or doilies. I also used the larger die from the Window Dressing set to create the panel in the center of my card.

The plaid was done with the Tartan Builder Diagonal stencil. The sentiment is from the Sweet & Fancy Labels stamp set. Such a fun and happy card!

Next I have several project showcasing our Gifts Galore product suite.

This first card uses just the Gifts Galore stencils to create a perfectly mailable card that’s fairly quick and easy to do. I added just some sequins to the center of the bows for a little sparkle.

For the sentiment, I used the Hidden Messages die to cut a flap from the green gift. Before adhering my stenciled panel to my card base, I used a pencil to mark the opening, then stamped the sentiment (from the Tagged Elegance set) centered in my outline. Erase the lines, and adhere the panel, and you’re all set with a quick and easy project that still has a fun, interactive element.

Next I again used the Gifts Galore stencil, but this time stepped it up by incorporating some dies for lots of dimension. Like I mentioned in the description of this product suite at the start of this post, the layout of Gifts Galore coordinates with our Curio: Divider & Details II die. After stenciling, I diecut my panel with the Divider die, then popped up all of my gifts onto a black card base. I used the Gifts Galore die to add all of the little ribbons, bows, and tiny tag details. The sentiment was stamped with the Sweet & Fancy Labels stamp set and cut with the matching die.

My next card uses the Gifts Galore hot foil. I foiled a panel of white cardstock. I used the stencil that’s included with the hot foil to add color to the ribbons. Then I topped them off with diecut bows, cut with the Gifts Galore die.

For my last project today, I hot foiled a whole bunch of Gifts Galore panels onto various cardstock colors, then used the Curio: Divider & Details II die to cut them all out.

I used the Gifts Galore die to add all of the fun bows and details. I stacked them all up on a Crimped Slimline base, and stamped the “happy birthday” sentiment from the Takes the Cake Stamp + Stencil set. I turned this into a birthday card, but if you used holiday colors it would be perfect for that as well!

Now that you’ve gotten to meet all of today’s new products and see them in action, you can “greet” them for a chance to win a prize – and it’s a doozy today! In honor of our 4th birthday, we are giving away four…yes, FOUR complete Hip Hip Hooray collections! That means four lucky winners will receive every single product we’ve revealed over the last two days, each bundle valued at $447!

Read on for details…

Comment here on the blog for one entry (one comment per person).
Comment on our Inspiration Team Members’ blogs for more entries (linked below – one comment per person, per blog)
Comments close TONIGHT 4/25 at 11:59pm EDT
Winners will be posted at 7am ET on Wednesday, April 26 here on the blog

Now for more inspiration from the team…