Embellish

Last chance to get Timeless Tulips with the February Class of the Month!

Ahh, I just love these purple tulips. They're so peaceful and hopeful, aren't they? Next time I sit down with these stamps I want to try to recreate a beautiful white tulip with purple rims which grows in my front flowerbed. The soil isn't great there, so they are delicate and small, the daintiest little tulips I've ever seen.

The 28th of the month is our deadline for participation--so today and tomorrow are your last shot at getting this class free with order. If you're unfamiliar with Class of the Month, this is the perfect one to start with! Every class contains four complete projects plus 2-3 bonus layouts, but this month's also comes with another free printable sheet with four additional layouts, and a super-easy and fun pop-up card you will love making to surprise people.

Need to be thrifty with your Stampin' Up purchases? Click here to read the whole deal about Song of My Heart's Class of the Month Club which helps you stay within your crafty budget!

Ready to play? The February 2020 code is: 9ACJFFXG and you just need to make sure your order is at least $35 before shipping and tax to use it. Let's go shop!  http://bit.ly/shopwithLyssa 

DON'T FORGET that it's SALE-A-BRATION right now! If you order happens to squeak up to $50, you can choose a freebie from the rewards brochure. Click here to see what your choices are this month! But please note we're all out of the Kerchief card kit and the Sequin and Twine Combo Pack. SAB is while supplies last, so get your bum in gear if you you had your heart set on something : )

I'm EXCITED for the March class of the month! I've chosen Positive Thoughts as our featured stamp set. It's a bargain at only $21 and there's SO much you can do with it! Look for the March COTM to post by March 3rd, coinciding with the 2nd release of Sale-A-Bration 2020!

Have you heard about my new Suite Sampler monthly box?

I've got a very special new adventure! Read on to see if you want to become part of this!

For years now I've wanted a different kind of monthly subscription. Not quite a kit, but not quite a random goodie box. Something in between, where everything coordinated but wasn't cookie-cutter. Where there were ideas if I wanted to use them, but potential to blissfully wander on my own, too.

I finally took the plunge and designed the monthly box club I wanted to be a part of! And both cardmakers and scrapbooks fans already LOVE it.

"The amount of work you put in to get these samplers together and mailed is amazing. It's like getting a surprise Christmas gift every month." -Judy

"The package looks so luscious, I’m excited to put the goodies to use!" -Barbara

"I loved getting so many pieces to play with last month, its like getting a taste of the whole suite and I loved it!" -Kim

Introducing the Suite Sampler from Song of My Heart Stampers!

• based around one of Stampin' Up's current product suites
• contains 12x12 papers and both 12x12 and 8.5 x 11 cardstock to match
• includes additional precut card bases and envelopes
• die cuts, embellishments, ribbon, twine and more all provided to match
• comes with more than a dozen page and card ideas in a special gallery
• See recent packing lists: February and January

The logistical details are easy-peasy!

• announced in advance so you know what suite is being featured
• each month you decide to play, you pay your invoice ($29) by the 10th
• if you don't pay your invoice that month, you'll skip a box (no charges)
• Payment is done through PayPal with your balance or any credit card
• hard-sided mailers keep your papers flat, protected and organized
• the Suite Sampler includes free monthly access to My Layout Library, my brand new resource site!

What is My Layout Library?

The other half of my dream was that I've been wanting to open a one-stop shop for all the printable papercrafting ideas you could use in a month of Sunday, faithful to my "real-life papercrafting" motto, and pay one small fee for everything. It's here! I've been busy transferring everything over into organized categories.

• Cheat Sheets Collections 1-24
• Volumes 1-6 Scrapbooker's One-Sheet Wonders
• Cardmaking One-Sheet Wonders
• Color Combining resources
• Common Cuts for Cardmakers 101, 102 and 103
• 52 Scrapper's Sketches of the Week
• more than 20 One-Sheet Wonders for cards!
• card "recipes" for each new catalog released.
• plus new resources added every month!
• easy, printable PDF format

PS--IF you're not interested in the Suite Sampler at this time, you can get access-only membership to My Layout Library for just $9 monthly. That's less than the price of a single class or Cheat Sheet per month! The site just keeps growing as more resources are added.

I hope you'll consider joining us and see if what I dreamed up could be just what you've been dreaming of! Email me today to start your invoice. [email protected]

Painted Poppies: Free Printable Idea Sheet

Love poppies? Me too! I just admire their bold elegance. Stamping with this sophisticated motif is super fun with all the vibrant colors and contrasts involved. This week I colored a whole sheet of poppies and then just sat and made cards until I ran out!

I colored my poppies and leaves with Stampin' Blends (in what color? Poppy Parade, of course!) and then stamped the flowers with the smaller spatter stamp in Poppy Parade ink for texture and dimension.

Love how this layout turned out. Great trick for when you have a single flower stem and you want to turn it into the main focal point. Poppies are such a bold flower, you can make bold choices with the colors and layouts.

I've put these four cards into a printable idea sheet for you--thanks for the feedback that you're LOVING the printables! Happy to save you paper : )

Download Spring 2020 Painted Poppies idea sheet

Did I convince you to buy the poppies? Let's go shop! 

Thanks for visiting my little piece of the interwebs today! Leave me a comment if you're enjoying the free printables and/or will be using one of these ideas or layouts. Your comments keep me encouraged and posting!

Happy Birthday to You: SAB 2020 Free Printable Idea Sheet

Are we ready for more Sale-A-Bration fun and freebies? Next up on my list of toys to play with was Happy Birthday to You, which is slightly mis-named in my opinion, because it's really all about weddings, engagements, showers and anniversaries! I had so much fun coming up with all kinds of cakes.

Giving it to you straight--I do recommend purchasing the limited-edition dies to match this free stamp set, as it gives you both a pedestal and lots of options for cutting out extra flowers and foilage. The cakes look even better against a cool backdrop!

I made a fun printable sheet for you to use as reference when you sit down to play with this sweet Sale-A-Bration freebie.  Enjoy!!

Download SAB 2020 Happy Birthday You idea sheet

Earn Sale-A-Bration free stamps and papers for every $50 spent--no limits! Let's go shopping! http://bit.ly/shopwithLyssa

What Sale-A-Bration stamp set is tops on your wish list? Let me know and I'll try to make it a priority to get some ideas out there for you! Here are the other ones I've done already.

• The Gang's All Here (Meerkats)
• Thoughtful Blooms and the Small Bloom Punch
• Power of Hope bundle with embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Please feel free to tell your friends about the free printables during Sale-A-Bration 2020!

Ready to Make It? Easy Rainy Day Cow Card

Instructions for "Rainy Day Cow" card designed by Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek for Song of My Heart Stampers. All supplies Stampin’ Up! "Ready to Make It?" cards can be created in fifteen minutes or less, with limited supplies. Try one today! #simplestamping

Stamps: Over the Moon

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Cardstock: Whisper White notecards and envelopes

Paper: Pleased as Punch limited-edition Spring Coordination

Accessories: Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Blends Markers: Balmy Blue, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink, Granny Apple Green

Instructions:

1. Cut a strip of 1.5 x 5 inch patterned paper and adhere vertically on notecard front about half an inch from the left hand side.
2. On scratch Whisper White cardstock, stamp the cow image in Tuxedo Black ink.
3. On the notecard, next to the patterned strip, stamp the saying in Tuxedo Black ink about an inch up from the bottom right corner.
4. Color the cow image with Stampin' Blends markers.
5. Cut out the cow image and adhere to card as shown, using dimensionals.
6. Sprinkle a couple of rhinestones upper left and lower right to embellish.
7.  Stamp inside the note card and on the envelope to match!

If you have 15 minutes, you can make a handmade card. Be sure to check out the rest of the EASY & FAST cards in the Ready to Make It category here!

Instructions for "Rainy Day Cow" card designed by Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek for Song of My Heart Stampers. All supplies Stampin’ Up! "Ready to Make It?" cards can be created in fifteen minutes or less, with limited supplies. Try one today! #simplestamping

Stamps: Over the Moon

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink

Cardstock: Whisper White notecards and envelopes

Paper: Pleased as Punch limited-edition Spring Coordination

Accessories: Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Blends Markers: Balmy Blue, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink, Granny Apple Green

Instructions:

1. Cut a strip of 1.5 x 5 inch patterned paper and adhere vertically on notecard front about half an inch from the left hand side.
2. On scratch Whisper White cardstock, stamp the cow image in Tuxedo Black ink.
3. On the notecard, next to the patterned strip, stamp the saying in Tuxedo Black ink about an inch up from the bottom right corner.
4. Color the cow image with Stampin' Blends markers.
5. Cut out the cow image and adhere to card as shown, using dimensionals.
6. Sprinkle a couple of rhinestones upper left and lower right to embellish.
7.  Stamp inside the note card and on the envelope to match!

If you have 15 minutes, you can make a handmade card. Be sure to check out the rest of the EASY & FAST cards in the Ready to Make It category here!

Sneak Peeks from the February Suite Sampler box!

Ahhhh! I am so excited to show off what I made with the February box from my new club, My Layout Library. Each box is a Suite Sampler, meaning it's coordinated around a specific suite or bundle from Stampin' Up and contains everything you can think of to accessorize with it. This month the theme was Honeybee Hive stamp set and the delicious Golden Honey foil-embossed papers from Sale-a-Bration.

Each month I use the box contents to create about 15 projects, both cards and pages, to show what you can do with a well-designed, color coordinated box. We have a Facebook community where everyone can post what they made with the box, too. You should join us--it's really fun! Anyone can be in the FB community whether they are a past, present or potentially future subscriber! : )

I didn't want to limit the Suite Samplers to JUST scrapbookers or JUST cardmakers, so each month I share ideas for BOTH! For instance, above is a double-page layout using the "sweet" die-cut headline provided in the kit. Below, I used it on a Sweet Sixteen birthday card!

Other headlines and layouts this month featured graduation and a vintage theater/film motif. Black and gold was a FUN scheme to work with!

I won't do this every time, but here's an itemized list of what was in this box, just to give you an idea of how fun it is to recieve. My goal is to pack a box that you can't WAIT to open! I want you to say WOW--every month!

* Golden Honey 12x12 patterned paper FULL pack

* Whisper White 12x12 cardstock

* Crushed Curry 12x12 cardstock

* Basic Black 8.5x11 cardstock

* Crushed Curry 8.5 x 11 cardstock

* Pear Pizzazz 8.5 x 11 cardstock

* 5 Crumb Cake quarter sheets

* 6 x 6 Gold Foil Paper

* 3 x 12 Black Foil Paper

* Gold Glimmer Paper sample

* Whisper White notecards & envelopes

* Stamped handmade honeybee “page candy”

* Black Mini Sequin Trim

* Skinny Whisper White Ribbon

* Crushed Curry Crinkle Ribbon

* Yellow/Gold baker’s twine

* Black Stampin’ Mini Dimensionals

* Polka Dotted Pillow Boxes

* Hexagon embossed background

* Embossing Paste brick wall background

* Three die-cut headlines, various materials

* Basic Adhesive Rhinestones

* Faceted Dots assortment

* Black Stampin’ Journaling marker

* Star die cuts in various materials, film strip

* Whisper White tags, labels and journaling boxes

I hope you've enjoyed a sneak peek into what it might be like to join My Layout Library with the optional monthly Suite Sampler box. For complete details on what's included in My Layout Library and what your options are for subscribing, click here! 

I hope to be sending YOU a fun Suite Sampler box soon! Then we can create with it together!

Happy Valentine's Eve! Cards you can make tonight

I love Valentine's Day (I'm a Valentine baby!) and I'm sorry Penni and I could not pull off our usual blog series this year. I do have a bunch of easy, simple Valentines to share, however! They use VERY limited supplies--- Thick Whisper White cardstock, Memento Black and Real Red inks, some rhinestones and some bits and bobs of this and that.

If you think you don't have time to make a handmade Valentine for your sweethearts for tomorrow, let me assure you these will be easier and take less time than even a quick trip to the drugstore to pick over what's left at this point!

Those are do-able, don't you think? Keep it simple, because done is better than perfect. Add some chocolate to your simple but heartfelt handwriten note, and you're golden! Instant Valentine.

Love limited-supplies, easy-peasy cards? You might like the Ready to Make It? blog category here at Song of My Heart. All the cards take 15 minutes or less from start to finish and use simple layouts without any complicated scores or measurements. Enjoy!

From simple to stepped up

I wasn't drawn to the Honeybee Hive stamp set until I found out there was FREE paper to go with it, available only during Sale-A-Bration 2020. The papers are soooo gorgeous that I broke down and bought the coordinating stamp set. And I'm so glad I did! Because when I really sat down and dug in, I made 11 cards in one sitting. I kid you not. And a bunch of them didn't even use the patterned papers at all!

I made two versions of this one--a completely clean, simple version using only black ink and a few rhinestones, and then a stepped-up version with some layers, piecing, coloring, rhinestones and gold foil, then mounted on a black card base. Which one do you like best?

Ready to recreate this look at home? Here's what you'll need to gather:

Click any link to go shop with Lyssa!

Honey Bee

Cling

Stamp Set

[151527]

Honey Bee

Stamp set bundle with dies

[153792]

Golden Honey Specialty Paper FREE with $50 order until 3/31

[152311]

Basic Black

8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100730]

Tuxedo Black Memento

Ink Pad

[132708]

Tuxedo Black Memento

Ink Refill

[133456]

Whisper White A-2 Medium Envelopes

40 pack

[107301]

Rhinestone

adhesive

Basic Jewels

[144220]

NEW! Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo Pack

[150893]

If you love the honeybee theme, sit tight for more inspiration! This month's My Layout Library Suite Sampler box features the Golden Honey papers and there are tons more projects coming down the line shortly. Bring on the bees!

February 2020 Class of the Month Club is here! Timeless Tulips

Tulip season will be here before we know it, and I'm prepared! It is hard to find a more elegant and hopeful flower than tulips. I was delighted to see a brand new tulip stamp set and matching punch bundle in the Spring 2020 Mini Catalog from Stampin' Up! It's a lovely excuse to jump over and play with the bright, bold yellows, reds and purples that lift our hearts every time spring shows up.

Timeless Tulips is a well-designed set with plenty of leaf and flower options, but also an impressive array of sayings, including two sentiments that are perfect for sympathy cards. Along with the coordinating punch, and bundled for 10% off, it's my choice for the February featured stamp set!

If you're not familiar with the way my online rewards club works, you're in for a treat!

All you have to do is place an order of $35 or more at my online Stampin' Up store: http://bit.ly/shopwithLyssa and use the special February 2020 code 9ACJFFXG. I get notification of that order and automatically send you the club project files for the month: four brand new layouts with measurements, supply lists and complete instructions, plus 2-3 bonus layouts each month.

This month I've thrown in four more bonus layouts on the last page because I just can't quit playing with this beautiful bundle!

I also send you a handmade "Lyssa original" card! Inside you'll find the samples of the month for you to try out and see if you'd like to add to your wishlist for next time. Who loves happy mail???

Each month's PDF file also comes with mailing tips, stamping basics, and any scoring or cutting guides needed. I've not had a single unhappy stamper yet! Complete online club details here

The last thing I do each month is keep track of who played along. Each time you participate by using the club code when you order, you get a point towards a shopping spree where I pay the shipping! Play five times and redeem $30 worth of new toys. Play ten times and get $60 in products of your choice! I LOVE spoiling my club members.

Sound awesome? Start playing today! ****Enter the code 9ACJFFXG before checkout**** if you forget, email me right away!

Suggested product to order:

• Timeless Tulips Bundle (English) [153793] $32.25
• Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder [151503] $9.00
• 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim [151254] $8.00

NOTE: It's Sale-A-Bration!!! And you can earn a free item from the SAB rewards brochure with every $50 spent AND use my club code for the month at the same time! Have your cake and eat it, too : ) Download the Sale-A-Bration brochure here to choose a freebie.

Browse my past months' classes and see if you have any stamp sets for which you'd enjoy taking a class! You'll love it--it's the next best thing to us stamping and learning together, right there in your craft room!

I hope you'll try Class of the Month--this one's particularly fun with a real WOW pop-up card and a beautiful bouquet card that will absolutely knock your recipient right over when they see it. You won't believe YOU made it!!! Let's get started.

Delay in Class of the Month for February

Hi friends--I'm having a little rougher recovery time than I planned on and the Class of the Month will not be available for a few extra days. I have not made it back into the stamp room yet to finish up the class on the Timeless Tulips punch bundle.

Trust me, it won't be TOO long because I can't WAIT to get back stampin' again! But I just wanted you to know in case your plans included ordering first thing tomorrow when the coordinating spring and Sale-A-Bration items begin.

IF you want to participate in COTM club sight unseen (bless you!) use the code 9ACJFFXG when you shop with Lyssa. Thank you!

Thanks for your patience as I try to be a good patient! Love, Lyssa