Fun With Scenic Coast for Special Occasion Cards

I’ve completely fallen in love with the Scenic Coast suite collection showcased in the new Stampin’ Up Catalogue on pages 26 and 27. Having spent most of my life on the West Coast, nothing beats watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean and seeing the sailboat silhouettes as the day comes to a close.

I’ve been trying out this Sunset Coast stamps and dies as well as the Scenic Coastal 6 x 6 designer paper, and wanted to share some of the cards I’ve recently made with it. 

If you’re interested in purchasing this suite or the bundle, it’s currently out of stock due to its popularity, but you can join a “watch list” to be notified when it becomes available again.

Here Are My Cards: 

The idea for this card was actually inspired by Melissa Faust, who made a short video on YouTube. I wanted to CASE her design and experiment with her blending techniques. 

What you’re looking at is essentially a remake of her card. The only differences are the ink colours used for the water and sailboats, as well as the windows in the lighthouse, which I filled in using some additional blended cardstock.

Once I got the hang of how everything worked I created this card shifting the sentiment to the top, added extra dimensionals behind the lighthouse to make it stand out. 

I used stamping and blending techniques to create a sandy layer at the card’s base, speckling the sand using a small detail stamp from the Rolling Waves stamp set. 

I die cut the fishnet and shells using a beautiful die from the all inclusive Rolling Waves die set and coloured the shells with pastel blue and brown blends.  Once they had dried I  applied Nuvo iridescent drops to give them a subtle shiny finish. Blue iridescent self-adhesive backed sequins were added for some additional shine.

Previously, I shared my deep love for sunsets, so for this next card, I moved away from blending and stamping to focus on the background paper called Scenic Coast.

I must admit, when I first saw cards made with the Scenic Coastal suite, I was more attracted to the designer paper than to the stamps and dies. The paper made me want to "have it all," and I'm happy I chose to do so.

I have to say I'm in love with this card.  The layers of waves, seafoam and shells  were die cut using the Rolling Waves bundle. 

I've been experimenting with various retired papers, foils and blending to achieve the layering I wanted for the waves meeting the beach sand.  

This card showcases sentiments from the Scenic Coastal stamp set, the Rolling Waves dies, and a retired Stampin' Up! paper called Simply Marbleous DSP. The designer paper only required some blending around the die-cut waves to enhance the sense of movement. Tip: Don’t hesitate to explore your stash and incorporate older products that complement your project.

This is my latest card created for the Freshly Made Sketches #744 challenge, which ended on July 13th. I cut out the lighthouse for this sample and used a retired Embossing Folder named Smooth Sailing to make the background matte. It was a lot of fun!

Finally, my last card was designed as a special birthday card for a woman who adores everything related to outdoor living and nature. 

I combined various dies, mattes, and blending techniques to create this beachy scene. The gal on the towel was made using the July 2022 Day at the Beach kit by Spellbinders.  The palm tree is from a set called Paradise Palms, while all the other images come from the Scenic Coastal suite. I love how this card turned out.  

Paradise Palms Stampin' Up! Retired

So I've had fun playing with these beachy sunset cards, but that's all for the moment.  I hope to have more time soon to experiment with this suite's lovely papers, stamps, and dies. Such fun!  

If you enjoyed these cards or have any questions about their creation, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. If you live in the Abbotsford area and are interested in making any or all of these cards let me know.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Welcome Baby Card - Wooly Friends

This week's Freshly Made Sketches #741 by Narelle features three rectangles on a plain base.  This design leaves a lot of room open for interpretation.  The rectangles could be replaced with any kind of shape or image, just as long as there are three.  

There's still time to participate, so why don't you check out the FMS blog and then give it a whirl.   I'd love to see what your creativity brings to the table.  

Here's My Card: 

For today's welcome baby card I chose to stamp three sheep from the Wooly Friends stamp set by Stampin' Up!  They were too chubby to fit on a rectangle so I used the Stylish Details Dies to cut out three squares from Pool Party card stock.  The squares measure 1 7/8 X 1 7/8", and worked out well for the sketch design.  

The sheep are coloured with Pool Party and Pretty in Pink Stampin' Blends.  The heads were elevated with dimensionals to give more of a 3-D look.  A few random glittery blue sequins were added for some sparkle.  

The cardbase is Basic White followed by a Pool Party matte.  The Designer Paper for the top matte is from the Boardwalk Suite.  It was the perfect background for the sheep squares.  

I haven't completed the inside of the card yet, as I'm look for the perfect "EWE" saying for a new baby.  

Okay that's it for this week's card challenge, and I hope  you find it as adorable as I do.  There's just something so cute and appealing about these sheep.  Keeping the background and layout simple doesn't detract from the sheep themselves and they're sure to get a few awwws along the way.  Cheers, until next time.............

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006 

Click here to visit my shop 24/7

Holy Guacamole - FMS 731

Donna Mikasa is the host for the Clean Team at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  It's her first time hosting, and she's come up with a fun clean and simple sketch for us to try out.  

Here's My Card:

The rectangles in the sketch were just calling out for some fun characters to liven them up.  After careful consideration, I hauled out my retired Taco Fiesta stamp set which has lots of lively images.  This card certainly isn't "clean and simple" with so much going on, but it was really fun to make!  Here's what i came up with.  

Here's the inside of the card.  I love all the images in the Taco Fiesta stamp set.  They make me smile.  Instead of using a cardstock matte for the inside I chose to add a layer of the designer paper.  There are two reasons for this.  One, the card is lighter when you use DSP for the matte so mails cheaper and two you use your designer paper instead of having it on the shelf.  

Supplies and Instructions:

Stamps and Dies:

• Taco Fiesta #160732
• Stitched so Sweetly dies #159690 for rectangles (6)

Cardstock and Designer Series Paper:

• Basic White Cardstock 
• 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 for the card base
• 3 3/4" x 5" for the inside matte
• 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 piece to cut out the rectangles - cut six 
• Variety of small scraps to stamp the images on.  All images were fussy cut because I don't own the dies for this set.  Cutting and colouring is very relaxing. 
• Misty Moonlight 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" for matte layer on card front 
• Painted Illusions Designer Series Paper #167977
• Cut two mattes 5 1/4" x 4" - front and inside.  This 12 x 12   paper pack was the February Product of the Month and I've found it works as a background for so many of my projects.   

Ink and Blends:

• Basic Black Hybrid ink (NEW)
• Blends:  Granny Apple Green, Old Olive, Parakeet Party, Daffodil Delight, Timid Tiger, Crumb Cake, Smokey Slate, Poppy Parade, Summer Splash, SU500 brown

Accessories: 

• Adhesive Backed Shiny Sequins in Yellow
• Dimensionals 

I had a lot of fun stamping and colouring all these little characters.  I can't wait to see the reaction when my friend opens this fun birthday card.  What about you, do you like it?  If so drop me a comment.  I'd love to hear what your favourite taco character is.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

UPDATE APRIL 14, 2026: 

I'm very excited t o say that the Queen and her Princesses have been chosen at Freshly Made Sketches for this sketch #731.  Su Mohr's card was chosen as Queen (well deserved), and my card was chosen by Michelle as one of the Princesses.  See all the winners here.  Thanks Michelle and the FMS Design Team for providing such wonderful  weekly challenges, and to Donna Mikasa for this great sketch............always a pleasure and fun to participate! 

Popup Soccer Surprise - Masculine Birthdays

I like surprises and so when I saw the Valentines Pop Up card layout by Meg Loven of Lovenstamps, I was inspired to try out her design.  This is a very quick and easy card to make and a great way to use up designer series paper.  

Here is My Version of the Pop Up Card:

I decided to make a couple of male sport themed birthday cards.  This card would be great for either a boy or man who are interested in sports. Here's the first card I made using products from a soon to be released suite called A Wonderful Match.  

Here is the second version:

For the second card I added a little grass using the die cut from the Match Day dies on a scrap of garden green cardstock.  What a difference grounding the balls with grass makes.  Love it!  I also changed up the puffy stars to black and attached them on the front of the card to balance out the soccer shoes. 

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies:

• Match Day Dies - soccer ball
• Sizzix Circle Dies 1 1/4" or punch 
• Perennial Birthday #145760
• "Enjoy Your Special Day" - this is a Stampin' Up! sentiment stamp, but I can't remember what set it came from.  It'll be sitting on my desk until I run across the stamp set that's missing one.  Hopefully someone can point out what set it came from.....hint, hint! 

Cardstock and Designer Series Paper (DSP):

• Basic Black cardstock - card base 4 1/4" x 11 Scored at 5 1/2". Turn on longside and trim off 1 1/4" from edge. 

• Basic White cardstock:
• Cut two 4 x 4 pieces.  Adhere one piece to the inside of the card for the message.  The second 4 x 4 piece is adhered to the front of the card, leaving an 1/8" margin around it. 
  
• Cut 1" x 4" for the DSP strip to layer on 

• Pop Up Mechanism: Can be any color.  I chose Basic White so it blends in well with the inside message panel. Cut a strip 1 1/4" x 6" and score it at 1 1/2", 3" and 4 1/2".  Burnish the score lines.  Fold the two cut ends together and put adhesive on both sides.  Line this piece up with the score line for the center of the card, making sure you have even spacing to the bottom of the card.  Holding the pop up mechanism in place close the front of the card over top of it and hold for a few minutes to allow your glue to dry.  Decorate. 

• Designer Series Paper: A Wonderful Match 12 x 12 

• Cut two pieces 4 x 4 for the front and inside panel 
• Before adhering the front piece of DSP line it up with the white 4x4 matte on the card front and roll back the bottom edge towards the middle.  Before adhering the dsp matte, make sure there is enough room to add an image or sentiment in the part of the basic white piece that is now exposed.  The fold back can be adhered with a couple of dimensionals and the balance of the matte lined up and adhered to the 4 x 4 basic white matte. 
• Cut a strip 1" by 3 3/4" for the inside and adhere it to the basic white strip.  Note this DSP strip doesn't have to match the front or inside panel but should coordinator with the front when the card is closed.  
• Note:  One of the paper sheets in the Match Day paper pack has all kinds of images of soccer shoes, whistles, scarfs, etc.  I chose to fussy cut out a pair of soccer shoes to use on the front flap and a trophy for the back of the card from this paper. I could have also used one of the die cuts from the Match Day Dies as there is a nice trophy, a whistle and flag die cuts that would have added a nice finishing touch to the dark cardstock.   

Match Day Dies 

Ink: 

• Momento Black Ink

Accessories:  

• Dimensionals
• Wonderful Stars Puffy Stickers in Black and White

I loved making this card and can imagine it in all kinds of themes, and designs.  Once all the mattes and mechanisms are cut out it comes together really quickly.  I hope you enjoyed it to.  If you're interested in watching Meg's video click here

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 Online Shop 

Don't miss out - cash in your Bonus Day Coupons before Feb 28, 2026

There's still time to JOIN NOW and receive this Exclusive Offer !  Join Now before February 28th, and get the new Stampin' Positioner for FREE with your signup.

 

Branching Out Masculine Birthday Card

Freshly Made Sketches #718 - designed by Amy, is the first sketch of this popular sketch challenge site for the New Year.  It's so clean and sleek, I found it frightening, however decided to dive in an see what I could come up with.  Here's their sketch which closes on  January 12th in the afternoon.

Here's My Card:

Because this sketch was intimidating to me because of its simplicity and clean and simple lines, I didn't want to overthink what to make.  I decided to look through stamp sets I'd purchased at the end of the year but not used, for inspiration. Here is my card:

This 18 piece photopolymer stamp set with 10 coordinating dies is called Branching Out.  I bought it as a bundle because I'd ran across a Christmas card I wanted to recreate.  Unfortunately I didn't have much time to play with it.

Now that I'm giving this set a try, I'm pretty excited.  It's going to be one of those sets with a lot of potential and can be used way beyond the holiday season.  It would be great for fall/winter masculine cards, sympathy and friendship cards to name a few. This particular card is in celebration of one of my guy friends who has a birthday coming up the end of January.   I hope he likes it. 

See those tiny little pine cones they are cut out with one of the coordinating die cuts and then sponged with a dauber to add some depth and detail. It was a great way to use up some Pecan Pie paper scraps.

Supplies and Instructions: 

Stamps and Dies:

• Branching out Bundle for pine branches, pine cones - stamped and die cut, and sentiments inside and front cover 

Card Stock and Designer Paper: 

• Pecan Pie for card Base 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
• Early Espresso matte 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" and strip 1/4" x 5" for edge along DSP
• Sahara Sand (R) 5 1/4" x 4" - cut two one for front and one for inside mattes
• Country Bird House Designer Series Paper 

Ink: 

• Shaded Spruce
• Early Espresso
• Pecan Pie
• Pebbled Path 

Accessories: 

• Gold Self Adhesive Sequins 

I'm so excited I finally used the Branching Out bundle to make this card.  It's inspired me to explore more ways to use it.  I hope you liked this card and my take on the FMS 718 challenge.  I'd welcome your comments and or questions regarding how this card came together.  Thanks and see you again.  

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

Click here to visit my 24/7 online shop 

Click here to see the Jan to April Spring Catalogue

Click here to see January Product of the Month 

Click here to see how you can earn Bonus Day Coupons

Masculine Birthdays - Oh Ale Yes!

I often hear stampers say "making a guy card is the hardest" thing to do.  I use to agree with this statement but fortunately Stampin' Up! has been listening to demonstrator input and has been coming up with some great "guy" orientated stamp, paper and die sets over the past few years.  

When the 2022 Annual Catalogue was released in June 2022, I was super excited to flip to the Hobbies and Recreation section (pages 78 to 89) and see such a great variety of masculine products.  

One of them called the "Brewed For You"  bundle instantly hit my "favs" list, and honestly I can't say enough about this great bundle.   This set has both guy and gal appeal and is easy and fun to use when creating cards or scrap book pages.

Here's A Brewed For You Card I made: 

I used this set to create a birthday card for a guy friend.  I wanted it to be extra special as his birthday falls the day after Boxing Day, so he has missed out on cards and birthday celebrations over the years.  

This card features a pop up front panel in the front and a pop up box on the inside seam.  It's one of those cards that initially has some cutting and scoring but once you've got all the bits and pieces done, it comes together quickly and cleanly.  See video on Split Coast Stampers by Kim Peck 

For the inside of the card I just stamped the glassware outlines in Momento Ink and then I used the filler stamps in Cinnamon Cider and Crushed Curry to give the appearance the drinks were full.  Once they were coloured and the foam pieces had been adhered to the tops, I filled the coloured portion with Nuvo drops and let them dry to a brilliant shiny finish.  

Here's a side view showing the opening on the front of the card and how the pop up fits through the hole.  For my card I used the Stitched Ovals dies and used the largest one for the card front. I cut another oval the next size from a piece of wood grain dsp and used that as a layer for the drinks to sit on.  The drinks are mounted with dimensionals to this piece.  It's important to make sure before you permanently affix your images to the ovals that they don't catch in the oval when the card is being opened and closed.

   

Isn't this the coolest masculine card?  I think so, and so did my friend when he received it.  I'm working on a few more of these for January birthdays so will probably change up the dsp and the layout, but for the most part I'll use the same pop up design.  

Please let me know if you like these kind of fancy fold cards, and any tricks you have for making masculine card making simpler.  Or call me if you want to know more about this stamp bundle.  Cheers! 

Happy Stamping!

Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

Penny Hanuszak, Independent CDN Stampin' Up Demonstrator.