Creative Haven, Blends & Alcohol

Published on February 1, 2026February 1, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome! Whether you’re here for inspiration, ideas, or just a creative escape—I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

Alcohol Ink Backgrounds on Vellum with Stampin’ Blends

If you love experimenting with colour and texture, today’s technique is one you’ll definitely want to try. Using Stampin’ Blends, pure alcohol, and vellum, you can create beautifully soft, wispy backgrounds that are completely unique every single time.

This is a play-based technique — there’s no right or wrong, and that’s what makes it so much fun. No two pieces will ever look the same, and even the so-called “mistakes” often turn into your favourite results.

Why Vellum Works So Well

Vellum is non-porous, which means it doesn’t absorb liquid the same way cardstock does. When you add alcohol and alcohol-based ink to vellum, the colour sits on the surface and moves around beautifully, allowing you to manipulate it until you’re happy with the effect.

Colour Tips (Very Important!)

Stick to 2–3 colours maximum to avoid muddy results
Choose colours that naturally blend well together
Always start with your lightest colour first

Creating the Alcohol Ink Background

Place your vellum on a non-porous surface (glass, silicone mat, or craft mat).
Apply Stampin’ Blends directly to the vellum — dots, stripes, or loose areas all work.
Add alcohol around the edges and gently move the vellum to encourage the ink to flow.
Continue adding alcohol sparingly until the colours begin to blend.
Or use the air pump:
- Close to the surface for strong lines and texture
- Further away for a softer, wispy effect
Allow to air dry, or gently speed things up with a heat tool on low.

💡 Tip: If you don’t like how it looks, just add more alcohol and keep playing.

Different Effects You Can Try

Pump close: Bold lines and dramatic texture
Pump further away: Light, feathery movement
Tilt & Air-dried: Soft edges and gentle blending, moving the vellum around letting the alcohol move and blend
Layered colour: Dry one colour before adding the next for defined sections

Left- dried with Pump 5-10cm away, Right- dried with pump close to velum creating short bursts

Stamping & Embossing on Vellum

Stamping

Because vellum is non-porous, ink choice matters:

Memento Ink: Not suitable on vellum — it smudges
StazOn Ink: Works well for stamping on vellum, but not with alcohol as it will bleed, to get away with this stamp on the reverse side of the Vellum. Down side is the Alcohol ink will not be as vibrant.

Embossing -Powder & Heat

Colour the vellum with alcohol
Stamp on the front using VersaMark
Heat emboss with embossing powder
Heat tools can cause vellum to ripple. Work slowly and alternate heat from the front and back.

Don’t Throw Your Leftovers Away!

Die cut leaves, flowers, or shapes
Use scraps for layered backgrounds
Create multiple projects from one large sheet

Detailed dies look especially beautiful on alcohol inked vellum.

Final Thoughts

This technique is all about playing. Try different colour combinations, drying methods, and tools. Flip your vellum, stamp on the reverse, die cut your experiments, and most of all — have fun.

If you give this a go, I’d love to see what you create. Share your projects or tag me so I can admire your beautiful work!

Happy crafting,
Michelle

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

Lovely Blossoms Card & Stampin’ Repositioner

Published on February 1, 2026February 1, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome! Whether you’re here for inspiration, ideas, or just a creative escape—I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

On Friday’s Live with Michele, I played with the Lovely Blossoms Suite Collection and had a good play with the NEW Stampin’ Positioner by Stampin’ Up!®.

Tri-Fold card using the lovely Blossoms Suite Collection

This is such a fun, simple card to make, and the Positioner makes stamping so easy. I showed how I stamped the sentiment down the side (still practising that spacing 😅) and how effortlessly you can get great ink coverage when stamping the leaves.

My favourite tip came from my gorgeous friend Heather – The Songbird Stamper, who shared a brilliant way to use the small alignment plate to stamp on already die-cut banners. If you like to cut first and stamp later, this is a total game changer!

Printable Tutorial

Lovely Blossoms Tri-Fold card Download

tri-Fold card using the Lovely Blossoms Suite Collection by Stampin' Up!

YouTube Video

NEW Stampin’ Repositioner…How Can You Get One?

Want one of these great tools for yourself?
Join my team between 2 February and 3 March and Stampin’ Up!® will pop the NEW Stampin’ Positioner into your Starter Kit for FREE — how good is that?!

Just a heads-up: the Grid Paper isn’t included, but it can be purchased separately if you’d like.

👉 Message me if you’ve got questions or are ready to join — I’d love to have you on the team! 💕

How to Join

Thinking about joining Stampin’ Up!®? This really is a great time to jump in!

The Starter Kit is just $169 AUD, and you get to choose $235 AUD worth of products, including FREE business supplies — you pick what you want, so you can start crafting straight away.

👉 For all the joining details, click the link HERE.

What’s the Stampin’ Positioner?

The Stampin’ Positioner is a new stamping alignment tool that makes stamping easier and more accurate. It helps you:

perfectly align stamped images
create repeating patterns and Two-Step Stampin’ designs
stamp multiple projects quickly and easily

Perfect for beginners and experienced stampers alike!

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Lovely Blossoms Suite Collection (English)

Petal Pink A4 Cardstock

Basic White A4 Cardstock

Cloud Cover 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock

Secret Sea Classic Stampin' Pad

Cloud Cover Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

Uninked Stampin' Spots

Small Blending Brushes

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

Fabulous Sayings – Product of the Month Blog Hop

Published on January 21, 2026January 16, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

Welcome to my blog! Today I’m excited to be taking part in the Product of the Month Blog Hop.

I’m joining some truly talented Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrators from around the world. We’re so happy you could join us and hope you’ll find plenty of inspiration to create something of your own.

If you love discovering exclusive Stampin’ Up! products, then Product of the Month is for you. Each month features a brand-new, limited-release item that isn’t found in any catalogue or Online Exclusives. They really are something special and a lot of fun to create with.

Each product is available once per account and while stocks last, so it’s very much a “get it while you can” release.

January’s Product of the Month is Fabulous Sayings Stamp Set

I hope you enjoy seeing how I’ve used this month’s product and that it inspires you to try something new in your own crafting.

Fabulous Sayings & Cute as a Bug

This is a WOW sentiment set that truly covers most events. From Happy Birthday and Thank You to a simple Hello, it features two coordinating fonts that can be used together for impact or separately for a clean, simple look.

For this card, I stamped the “Happy Birthday” sentiment diagonally across the card front, starting on the third row down and using the complete sentiment without breaking it up with any other elements. I then filled in the top and bottom sections, staggering the “Happy Birthday” sentiment across the card.

As the sentiment is quite large and the font is a casual script, I simply stamped it across the card, lining everything up by eye.

To give the card a casual feel, I wrapped the gorgeous Poppy Parade Plaid from the Cute as a Bug Suite Collection around the matted card front to the back and wrapped some Baker’s Twine and finished it with a double bow. A simple stitched circle from the Stylish Shapes Dies in Basic White was softly coloured with a Blending Brush and Old Olive ink. I then added a die-cut images and fussy cut image from the Cute as a Bug Designer Series Paper to finish off this clean and simple card.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I hope you’ve enjoyed my projects and that they’ve inspired you to get crafty.

You may be starting here or have come from another blog—either way, there’s a list below to help you hop through all the blogs and discover lots of amazing ideas.

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

Product List

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

Cute as a Bug

Published on January 17, 2026January 17, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

Welcome to my blog — I’m so glad you’re here 💚
Today I’m sharing a fun and whimsical card project created using the Cute as a Bug Suite from Stampin’ Up! ®.

This suite is full of charm and personality, and while it may look playful at first glance, it’s incredibly versatile. With a few simple design choices, it works just as beautifully for adult cards as it does for children’s projects.

For this card, I focused on:

Layered die-cut mushrooms
Soft ink blending for depth
A balanced layout with gentle dimension

I didn’t go into this project with a fixed plan — I let the elements guide the design as I went, which made the creative process even more enjoyable. Sometimes those are the projects that turn out to be the most fun!

To make it easy for you to recreate this card, I’ve also put together a FREE printable PDF tutorial with measurements, product Links, and step-by-step instructions.

🎁 You’ll find the free printable further down in this post, so be sure to grab it before you go.

I hope this project inspires you to pull out your supplies, have a play, and enjoy the creative process — whether you follow the design exactly or make it your own.

Free Printable Tutorial

This printable tutorial walks you through creating a whimsical Cut as a Bug card featuring the Cute as a Bug Suite. With layered die cuts, soft ink blending, and simple dimension, this project is suitable for all skill levels and works beautifully for both children’s and adult cards.

Feel free to print it out or save it to your device for future inspiration.

Cute as a Bug 16.01.2026 Download

YouTube Video

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

Covered in Flowers – Stampin’ Blends Background

Published on January 10, 2026January 10, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome! Whether you’re here for inspiration, ideas, or just a creative escape—I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

On yesterday’s Live with Michele, I created this card using the Covered in Flowers Accents by Stampin’ Up!®. These stunning accents are perfect for enhancing both cards and scrapbook layouts. They can be left in their beautiful off-white colour, or coloured to suit your project using Blending Brushes, sponge daubers, or Blending Pens.

Stampin’ Blends Background

For this card, I created an alcohol-blended background and kept the accents white so they really stand out and contrast against the colourful backdrop.

When I create this style of background, I like to have control and treat it as a piece of art. Alcohol allows you to do exactly that. If there’s an area you’re not happy with, you can go back in later (even hours later) and adjust it by adding more alcohol. Just be mindful—adding more alcohol will cause the colours to move and blend further, depending on how much you apply.

Measurements Used…

There is no written tutorial, below you will find the YouTube Video to refer to.

Cutting Measurements

	Colour	Imperial/Letter	Metric/A4
Card Base Tent Fold	Basic White	4 ¼ x 11”, score @ 5 ½”	10.5 x 29.9cm, score at 14.9cm
Card Front	Basic White	3 x 4½”	7.5 x 12cm
Card Insert	Basic White	4 x 5 ¼”	10 x 14.4cm
Vellum		4¼ x 5½”	10.5 x 14.9cm

Tips & Tricks

Alcohol
Only use 90% alcohol or higher, such as Diggers alcohol, available from Big W or Bunnings.
Surfaces
Use non-porous surfaces only, such as Vellum or Window Sheet.
Colours
- Limit the number of colours you use any more than three could create a muddy colour.
- Use colours that will blend, I have used Complementary in Azure Afternoon and Old Olive plus Lemon Lime Twist (also a Complementary)
Tools
- Paintbrush or fine-nib bottle
  Used to transfer and apply the alcohol.
- Stylus (optional)
  Great for creating small dots or gently moving alcohol in detailed areas.
- Straw or Alcohol Ink Blower
  Helps control and move the ink around.
  - The more you blow the ink, the more it spreads and creates different shades.
  - Be careful not to inhale fumes when using a straw.
  - An alcohol ink blower gives more control and doesn’t spread the ink as much.
Stamping on Alcohol Ink
If stamping onto a completed alcohol ink surface, ONLY use Memento Ink.
Safety
Always work in a well-ventilated area.

YouTube Video

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Covered In Flowers Accents

Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Banner Sayings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper

Basic White A4 Cardstock

Adhesive Sheets

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

Swing Fun Fold Card with Kintsugi Inspirations Suite

Published on January 5, 2026January 5, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome! Whether you’re here for inspiration, ideas, or just a creative escape—I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

On yesterday’s ‘Live with Michele’ I created this card using the Kintsugi Inspirations Suite Collection by Stampin’ Up! ®.

This was a fun card to make and a very effective fun fold that works beautifully with the Kintsugi Inspirations Suite. On this card, I cut a rectangle from the card front, but you could easily swap this for any other shape that suits your chosen products. Just be sure that any embellishments stay within the cut shape, as overhanging elements can interfere with the card’s swing.

Printable Tutorial

Kintsugi Inspirations Pop-out Swing Card Download

YouTube Tutorial

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Kintsugi Inspirations Suite Collection (English)

Textured Notes Dies

Stylish Shapes Dies

Misty Moonlight A4 Cardstock

Basic White A4 Cardstock

Black & White & Gold Baker's Twine

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

Gears & Textures- Lets Craft Together Blog Hop

Published on January 4, 2026January 4, 2026 by Michele Jutrisa

We are a group of Australian Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrators who have come together to share our creative ideas with you. We’re so happy you could join us and hope you feel inspired to create something of your own.

Each month, we’ll be showcasing a variety of projects and ideas based on different products, themes, and creative challenges. We hope you enjoy hopping along and gathering plenty of inspiration along the way.

The first challenge for this year’s Let’s Craft Together Blog Hop is a Monochromatic Colour Challenge, created by Julia Quinn. A monochromatic colour challenge means working with just one main colour. Creating interest by using different shades, tones, and textures of that colour. It’s a wonderful way to explore depth and detail while keeping a clean, cohesive look.

Gears & Textures

I chose brown as my main colour and worked with Early Espresso, Pecan Pie, and Crumb Cake in both inks and cardstocks to create a rich, steampunk-inspired design. Using a monochromatic palette allowed the variation in tones to add interest while keeping the overall look cohesive.

To enhance the layered, industrial feel of the card, I incorporated torn cardstock, allowing areas of stamping and die-cut elements to show through beneath the surface. The Gears & Textures Bundle from the Mini Catalogue by Stampin’ Up!® was the perfect addition for this style, with its detailed imagery adding to the aged, mechanical look of the design. Additional depth and dimension were created through layered stamping, intricate die-cut elements, and multiple layers of embossing powder in gold, copper, and clear, bringing subtle shine and metallic highlights to the card.

This project was a wonderful way to explore the monochromatic colour challenge, showing how a single colour family can still create depth, texture, and visual interest.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read my blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed my projects and feel inspired to get crafty!

Whether you’re starting here or hopping over from another blog, be sure to follow the list below and continue the Let’s Craft Together Blog Hop. Each stop is packed with creative inspiration, ideas, and fresh takes on this month’s challenge—you won’t want to miss a thing!

Follow the Hop here..

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

Product List

Banner Sayings Bundle (English) [ 167051 ]

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147116 ]

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [ 147114 ]

Pecan Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [ 161665 ]

Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder [ 165678 ]

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

True Blue Florals Scrapbook Layout -Product of the Month Blog Hop

Published on December 18, 2025December 18, 2025 by Michele Jutrisa

Welcome to my blog! Today I’m excited to be taking part in the Product of the Month Blog Hop.

Each product is available once per account and while stocks last, so it’s very much a “get it while you can” release.

December’s Product of the Month is True Blue Florals.

I hope you enjoy seeing how I’ve used this month’s product and that it inspires you to try something new in your own crafting.

True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper

These photos have been sitting on my desk for about 12 months, waiting for the right products to come along. These pages are all about family—my Grandfather with his sister and his son (my Dad). The other page, taken at the same time, is about four generations, always connected by love.

The True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper was the perfect choice. It picks up the blues in Aunt Enid’s skirt and scarf, as well as in my top… and, of course, blue is my favourite colour. The designs feel very traditional, but with a slight modern twist thanks to the fine-line floral details.

I chose to fussy cut the flowers—good thing I don’t mind fussy cutting!

What I used…

I pulled in a mix of products from my stash—some that are already available and others that are coming in the New Year.

The title and the sprig die (cut here in Night of Navy) are a little sneak peek from the Beautifully Celebrated Bundle, which will be available in the January–April Mini Catalogue.

The flower and leaf dies used to fill in behind and around the main flowers were cut in Willow White and Balmy Blue. These are from the Charming Day Bundle, currently found in the Last Chance Products.

To finish off the layout, I added Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots, placing them in clusters of three around the flowers for a soft touch of sparkle.

This layout was created using Stampin’ Up!’s True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper, December’s Product of the Month, combined with favourites from my stash and a sneak peek from the upcoming January–April Mini Catalogue. It’s the perfect example of how exclusive, limited-release products can bring meaningful family memories to life.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I hope you’ve enjoyed my projects and that they’ve inspired you to get crafty.

You may be starting here or have come from another blog—either way, there’s a list below to help you hop through all the blogs and discover lots of amazing ideas.

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

Product List

True Blue Florals 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

Charming Day Dies

Charming Shimmer Faceted Dots

White Willow 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock

Night Of Navy 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

Baker's Twine Essentials Pack

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

True Blue Florals

Published on December 14, 2025December 14, 2025 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome! Whether you’re here for inspiration, creative ideas, or simply a relaxing crafty escape, I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

On this week’s Live with Michele, I created this beautiful card using the Product of the Month – True Blue Florals by Stampin’ Up!®. If you love exclusive products, you’re going to love Product of the Month—a special promotion featuring a brand-new, limited-release item every month. These products are some of the best Stampin’ Up! has to offer and aren’t available in any catalogue or in the Online Exclusives.

Each month, a new product is released and is available only once per account. Quantities are limited, so when they’re gone, they’re gone for good!

✨ December’s Product of the Month: True Blue Florals

This is a very simple layout, not too complicated, as the focus is on showcasing the fussy-cut florals. While fussy cutting does take a little extra time and patience, it is well worth the effort for the beautiful finished result.

The contrast of Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, and white, combined with the mix of textures from cardstock and vellum, gives this card a soft, elegant feel while allowing the florals to truly shine.

Tutorial

True Blue Florals Download

YouTube Video

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!

Stampin’ Up! products used in today’s Project

All products used are listed below and are linked to my On-Line Store

Product List

Add All to Cart

Current Stampin’ Up!® Promotions

Click on image to find out more.

If you enjoyed this post, please be sure to . . .

Hobby Haven Suite Collection – Live with Michele

Published on December 6, 2025December 6, 2025 by Michele Jutrisa

Hi there, and welcome! Whether you’re here for inspiration, ideas, or just a creative escape—I’m so happy you’ve stopped by.

On yesterday’s Live with Michele I shared a new card project featuring the Hobby Haven Suite Collection by Stampin’ Up!®. This gorgeous suite is part of the Online Exclusives, so you’ll find it only in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store.

A Closer Look at the Designer Series Paper

The Hobby Haven Designer Series Paper is the hero of this suite. Its beautifully illustrated designs celebrate five relaxing past-times—sewing, reading, gardening, and day spas. Each pattern offers a cosy, calming feel perfect for thoughtful, handmade cards.

The reverse sides of the papers feature soft, coordinating backgrounds, making them incredibly versatile. You’ll also find two sheets of die-cut images that can be used on their own or paired with the DSP for quick, creative accents.

Stamps, Dies & Embellishments

The suite includes the Creative Haven Stamp Set and Creative Haven Dies. This bundle features bold sentiments ideal for tags, labels, or stamping directly onto your card fronts. The dies also coordinate beautifully with elements in the DSP.

To complete the collection, you’ll find two finishing touches:

Garden Green Chevron Ribbon
Earthy Matte Dots

These pair perfectly with the soft, relaxing palette of the DSP and help bring your projects together with ease.

Printable Tutorial

Hobby Haven Card Download

YouTube Video

Thank you for stopping by and reading my Blog. I hope you have enjoyed my projects & that you’re inspired to get crafty!

If you’re in Australia and need help with your crafting needs and don’t have a Demonstrator, I’d love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me at 0408868771 or michele@jutrisa.com. Cheers!