Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Waterside Retreat Father's Day Card #3

Father's Day always gives me an excuse to reach for my most rugged, outdoorsy supplies — and this year, the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper absolutely stole the show. That gorgeous plaid background paired with a watercolor lakeside scene? It practically makes the card for you.

The plaid from the Waterside Retreat DSP went on top as the main background, and I pulled a coordinating panel of the lake and cabin scene to mat in Mossy Meadow and layer over center.

The fun part — and honestly the part that took the most patience — was the fussy cutting. I carefully cut the life vest and the crossed oars directly from the Waterside Retreat DSP, following every edge. The DSP has such rich illustrated detail that those elements look almost three-dimensional once they're popped up with dimensionals over the scene. The vest sits on the right, the oars lean casually on the left, and a little spotted trout peeks up from the water between them.

Fussy cutting tip

Use small, sharp detail scissors and a paper piercer to get into tight corners on the oar handles. Take your time — the more cleanly you cut, the more realistic the layered effect will look.

The sentiment — "Happy Father's Day" — from the Relaxing Waterside stamp is stamped in Mossy Meadow ink on white, then matted on Mossy Meadow cardstock for a clean, framed finish in the lower right corner. It keeps the eye moving through the whole scene before landing on the greeting.

This card comes together quickly once you've done the fussy cutting, and it has that handmade wow factor that dads who love fishing, boating, or cabin life are going to absolutely love. Simple layers, rich texture, and all that gorgeous paper doing the heavy lifting.

Check out the links below, to see all of the exciting things happening with Stampin' Up!

From now until May 31, 2026 when you join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you’ll get our new 2026–2028 In Color Stampin’ Pads FREE along with your Starter Kit! 

Or if you’d rather have different products instead of ink pads, we’ve got you covered there, too—you can add an extra $35 USD worth of products to your Starter Kit.

You’ll also enjoy all the perks that come with being a demonstrator, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, the opportunity to earn a modest commission, the chance to attend incredible training and crafting events, and so much more.

Click here to Join my Team!


May Product of the Month

If you love paper crafting and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to help! Shop through my Online Store to earn Stampin' Rewards for free and discounted products.

And if you're as passionate about crafting as I am, why not join my Stampin' Up! team? As a demonstrator, you'll get early access to the newest products and catalogs, enjoy exclusive discounts, earn a commission, and become part of an amazing global crafting community.
If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!
Happy crafting! ✂️💖


Product List

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Waterside Retreat Father's Day card #2

Masculine cards can sometimes feel like a challenge, but this design came together so naturally thanks to the beautiful textures and imagery in the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper.

The rich, weathered woodgrain background, from the Country Woods DSP, immediately sets the tone—rugged, outdoorsy, and perfect for a Father’s Day theme. It reminds me of an old dock or a well-loved fishing boat, adding just the right amount of character before you even start layering.

For the focal point, I used images from the Waterside Retreat DSP, creating a simple collage that tells a quiet story of time spent on the water. The fisherman scene brings warmth and contrast against the cool blue background, while still keeping that rustic feel. I love how this color choice gives the card a slightly vintage look.

To complement the main image, I added a few smaller elements—an anchor with rope detail and a vintage-style fish label. These layered pieces add interest without overwhelming the design, and they help reinforce that nautical, outdoors theme.

The sentiment, “Happy Father’s Day,” is stamped in Cajun Craze and kept clean and understated, allowing the imagery to remain the star of the card.


Don't forget the inside of the card. The sentiment from the Scalloped Blooms stamp set is stamped in Cajun Craze. The seagulls finish off the card, adding dimension and a light, whimsical touch. They’re the perfect little detail to make the design feel complete.

This is a great example of how combining strong patterned paper with simple stamping can create a meaningful, masculine card. It’s perfect for dads who love fishing, boating, or just being out on the water.

Check out the links below, to see all of the exciting things happening with Stampin' Up!

From now until May 31, 2026 when you join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you’ll get our new 2026–2028 In Color Stampin’ Pads FREE along with your Starter Kit! 

Or if you’d rather have different products instead of ink pads, we’ve got you covered there, too—you can add an extra $35 USD worth of products to your Starter Kit.

You’ll also enjoy all the perks that come with being a demonstrator, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, the opportunity to earn a modest commission, the chance to attend incredible training and crafting events, and so much more.

Click here to Join my Team!


May Product of the Month

If you love paper crafting and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to help! Shop through my Online Store to earn Stampin' Rewards for free and discounted products.

And if you're as passionate about crafting as I am, why not join my Stampin' Up! team? As a demonstrator, you'll get early access to the newest products and catalogs, enjoy exclusive discounts, earn a commission, and become part of an amazing global crafting community.
If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!
Happy crafting! ✂️💖


Product List

Monday, May 11, 2026

Waterside Retreat Father's Day Card

There’s something timeless and peaceful about a day spent by the water—and that calm inspiration is exactly what this Father’s Day card captures.

For this design, I leaned into the serene patterns from the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper, layering soft blues and subtle textures to create depth and movement. The combination of these papers instantly sets a relaxing, lakeside tone, perfect for celebrating dads who love the outdoors or simply appreciate a quiet escape.

The focal panel features imagery from the Waterside Retreat DSP to keep everything cohesive while adding a crisp contrast. I layered this over coordinating patterns from the Waterside Retreat DSP to frame the scene and draw the eye inward.

To add dimension and a touch of personality, I fussy cut the life vest and oars directly from the Waterside Retreat DSP. These little details bring the card to life and reinforce the outdoor theme without overwhelming the design. Placing the oars at an angle adds a bit of movement, while the life vest gives a subtle nod to lakeside adventures.

The sentiment, “Happy Father’s Day,” from the Relaxing Waterside stamp set, is kept clean and simple so it doesn’t compete with the imagery, but still stands out thanks to the Night of Navy cardstock mat.

This card is a great reminder that you don’t need a lot of embellishments when your paper does the storytelling. With a few thoughtful layers and carefully chosen details, you can create a design that feels both meaningful and effortlessly relaxed—just like a perfect day on the water.

Check out the links below, to see all of the exciting things happening with Stampin' Up!


From May 5 - 31, 2026 when you join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you’ll get our new 2026–2028 In Color Stampin’ Pads FREE along with your Starter Kit! 

Or if you’d rather have different products instead of ink pads, we’ve got you covered there, too—you can add an extra $35 USD worth of products to your Starter Kit.

You’ll also enjoy all the perks that come with being a demonstrator, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, the opportunity to earn a modest commission, the chance to attend incredible training and crafting events, and so much more.

Click here to Join my Team!


May Product of the Month


If you love paper crafting and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to help! Shop through my Online Store to earn Stampin' Rewards for free and discounted products.

And if you're as passionate about crafting as I am, why not join my Stampin' Up! team? As a demonstrator, you'll get early access to the newest products and catalogs, enjoy exclusive discounts, earn a commission, and become part of an amazing global crafting community.
If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!
Happy crafting! ✂️💖


Product List