Just Dreamin' Stamps: Waterside Retreat

Showing posts with label Waterside Retreat. Show all posts

Monday, May 25, 2026

Waterside Retreat: A Nautical Birthday Card for the Ocean Lover

Some cards are made for a specific person — and this one is for the friend who feels most at home near the water. Rowboats bobbing in a quiet cove, towering evergreens reflected in the stillness, mountains rising beyond the tree line… the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper does all the heavy lifting, and it is stunning.

I started with a Misty Moonlight card base, then added mats of Peaceful Pine and Gray Granite to build that beautiful layered depth before a single element was placed. The cool blue-grey of Misty Moonlight plays perfectly against the earthy greens of Peaceful Pine, grounding the whole design without competing with the DSP.

The star of this card is the Waterside Retreat DSP — I used it for both the woodgrain background mat and the focal watercolor panel. That front panel is backed with Pool Party and Peaceful Pine cardstock for extra dimension. The watercolor scene itself — those rowboats, the calm cove, the treeline — is so painterly and serene that it felt like framing a little piece of the Pacific Northwest.

The mats are wrapped with Baker's Twine, which adds that perfect rustic, dock-rope texture. A silver anchor charm is knotted right into the twine at the lower left — a small but impactful detail that ties the nautical theme together beautifully. From the DSP, I fussy cut a life vest, a fishing buoy, and a life preserver and tucked them along the bottom edge of the waterside panel, giving the card wonderful dimension without a single piece of foam adhesive.

The "Happy Birthday" sentiment comes from the retired Beautiful Butterflies stamp set — a versatile workhorse that deserves a spot in any collection, even if butterflies are nowhere to be seen on this card! It's stamped in Peaceful Pine ink on a white banner backed with Peaceful Pine cardstock, then adhered at a jaunty angle in the upper right. That little tilt gives the card movement and energy, keeping it from feeling too formal for a birthday celebration.

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.

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May Product of the Month

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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! ✂️💖

tams# 98644

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Monday, May 18, 2026

Set Sail for Dad!

There's something about a nautical card that just feels right for Father's Day. This design is layered, textural, and full of coastal character — the kind of card that looks like it took all day but comes together with a little planning and the right supplies.

The base is the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper, with its beautifully printed wood-grain giving the card a driftwood, seaside-cottage feel. Three panels cascade across the front in a staggered layout inspired by Bree Kathleen's design: a stamped wave pattern panel runs vertically down the left side, a vintage-style seashell postcard panel anchors the upper section, and a stunning watercolor sailboat scene takes center stage in the lower half. Each panel is matted with Misty Moonlight and Gray Granite cardstock, building up that rich layered depth that makes the design so satisfying to look at.

The sailboat panel is the showstopper — a moody blue watercolor scene with white sails catching the breeze and soft headland shapes in the distance. It's atmospheric and calm, exactly the kind of image that invites you to just breathe for a moment. Layered on top of the Misty Moonlight mat, it really pops.

Tucked into the lower-right corner of the sailboat panel, the sentiment comes from the April Paper Pumpkin kit — stamped in Misty Moonlight ink and backed with Misty Moonlight cardstock. The mix of bold print for "HAPPY" and "DAY" with a flowing script for "Father's" gives it a modern, editorial feel that contrasts beautifully with the soft watercolor behind it.

The star embellishment is the Loose Anchor Trinket — a silver metal anchor with a rope-ring surround, placed in the lower-left corner of the sailboat panel. It's weighty and detailed, and it grounds the whole composition (quite literally). Three Misty Moonlight dots from the Strawberries and Dots Embellishments line the bottom edge of the card, adding a clean, rhythmic finishing touch that echoes the Misty Moonlight throughout.

Every element on this card earns its place. It's a confident, cohesive design — and one any dad with an eye for the sea would be thrilled to receive.

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.

Click here to Join my Team!

Click here for more information or to purchase the class!

May Product of the Month

Click here for more information!

Click here for more information or to purchase the retreat

Click here for Last Chance Products

Click here to view the new May - August 2026 Catalog

Join the Fun!

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.

If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!

Happy crafting! ✂️💖

tams# 98622

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Friday, May 15, 2026

A Sweet Escape for Dad!

Sometimes a card just takes you somewhere. This Father's Day design does exactly that — a lazy summer afternoon, the kind of small-town ice cream shop Dad always seemed to know about, and that feeling that the day is entirely yours. That's the mood the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper brings every single time.

This card is built on a base of Waterside Retreat DSP, its weathered wood-plank pattern giving the whole design that relaxed, coastal-retreat quality. A top panel of the same DSP sits centered on the card, backed with layers of Misty Moonlight and Gray Granite cardstock — the navy depth of Misty Moonlight frames the watercolor scene beautifully while the Gray Granite adds just the right amount of grounding warmth underneath.

The centerpiece is a gorgeous watercolor vignette from the DSP itself: a charming ice cream shop facade, complete with a striped awning, hanging sign, and terracotta planters spilling with greenery. The loose, sun-drenched brushwork feels effortless and nostalgic — like a page torn from a summer sketchbook.

Tucked into the lower-right corner, the sentiment label reads Happy Father's Day in a bold, classic hand. It's stamped from the Relaxing Waterside stamp set in Misty Moonlight ink, giving it a soft navy tone that ties back to the mat layers perfectly. The label is backed by a coordinating panel cut from the Waterside Retreat DSP, adding another layer of cohesion to the design.

The finishing touch? A scatter of Pool Party Rainbow Adhesive Backed Dots — three little pops of color that add dimension and a playful, handcrafted feel without competing with the illustration. They're understated but they do so much work, drawing the eye around the card and softening the geometry of all those layered panels.

This is the kind of card a dad will actually keep. It's thoughtful, beautifully composed, and tells a story before a single word is read.

Have you crafted with the Waterside Retreat collection yet? I'd love to see what you've made — drop a photo in the comments below, or tag me on social. Happy crafting!

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.

Click here to Join my Team!

Click here for more information or to purchase the class!

May Product of the Month

Click here for more information!

Click here for more information or to purchase the retreat

Click here for Last Chance Products

Click here to view the new May - August 2026 Catalog

Join the Fun!

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.

If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!

Happy crafting! ✂️💖

tams# 98621

Product List

Add All to Cart