A pretty retirement card made using the Artistic Leaves stamp set and sponge daubers from Stampin' Up! to add colour

Colourful Leaves card – Technique Tuesday Blog Hop

Posted on September 2, 2025August 29, 2025 by Mo Rootes

Hello and welcome to the Technique Tuesday Blog Hop where we are sharing colouring techniques. I have used Sponge Daubers to add colour directly to a leaf stamp from the Artistic Leaves stamp set.

Colours used to make this card are:

To recreate the colourful leaves card, you will need:

Blackberry Bliss card base – 8¼” by 5⅞” – scored at 4⅛”
Strawberry Slush card – 5⅛” by 3⅜”
Basic White card – 5” by 3¼”
Blackberry Bliss card – 2½” by ¾”
Basic White card – 2⅜” by ⅝”
Basic White card – 5½” by 3¾” – for the inside

The large, detailed leaf, from the Artistic Leaves stamp set was randomly stamped all over the panel of Basic White card measuring 5” by 3¼” using Early Espresso ink.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Artistic Leaves stamp set used with colour added with sponge daubers to make a pretty retirement card

Using Sponge Daubers I added Crushed Curry, Strawberry Slush and Blackberry Bliss inks to the infill leaf stamp. I huffed on the stamp to remoisten the ink and stamped overtop of the detailed image.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Artistic Leaves stamp set used with colour added with sponge daubers to make a pretty retirement card

The stamped panel was then glued to the Strawberry Slush layer before being added to the Blackberry Bliss card front on Dimensionals.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Artistic Leaves stamp set used with colour added with sponge daubers to make a pretty retirement card

The sentiment, from the Sunrise Sailing stamp set was stamped on the small piece of Basic White card using Blackberry Bliss ink. The sentiment was then added to the card front.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Artistic Leaves stamp set used with colour added with sponge daubers to make a pretty retirement card

A trio of transparent adhesive-backed dots completed the card.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Artistic Leaves stamp set used with colour added with sponge daubers to make a pretty retirement card

Please hop on to see what colouring methods my fellow demos have to share with us today.

Order goodies/Join My Team

If you don’t have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator I would love to be yours! If you don’t have a catalogue and live in the UK, please let me know and I will be delighted to send you one. To order any supplies click on the “shop online” button at the top of the page. Alternatively, contact me and I would be happy to place an order for you. To join my team either click on the link above or click on the contact me button above and I will contact you with more information.

Details of the products I used for this project can be found below.

Mo x

Supplies used:

A striking congratulations card made using the Sunrise Sailing and Cheers & Sips stamp sets from Stampin' Up! and some ink blending.

Summer Sailing Card – Stamping Dreams Blog Hop

Posted on August 14, 2025July 31, 2025 by Mo Rootes

Hello and welcome to the Stamping Dreams Blog Hop where we are having ‘fun in the sun’. I have chosen to make my card using the Sunrise Sailing stamp set and dies.

Colours used to make this card are:

To recreate the summer sailing card, you will need:

Thick Basic White card – 8¼” by 5⅞” – scored at 4⅛”
Basic White card – 5⅜” by 3⅝” x 2
Basic Black card – 4½” by 2½”

Using the largest stitched square from the Stylish Shapes Dies I die cut a square near the top of one of the panels of Basic White card. I laid the die cut stitched square to one side and placed the negative panel over the remaining panel of the same side, holding it in place with tape from my stash.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Sunrise Sailing and Cheers & Sips stamp sets used with some ink blending to make a striking congratulations card

A 1” Circle was punched from a Post It note and added it in the upper third of the die cut hole to create a sun.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Sunrise Sailing and Cheers & Sips stamp sets used with some ink blending to make a striking congratulations card

I added Azure Afternoon ink with a Blending Brush along the bottom third of the die cut hole. Coastal Cabana ink was then brushed onto the upper two thirds over the masked moon. I stamped the ‘water across the inked square in 1st and 2nd generation Azure Afternoon ink. The mask was then removed, and a little Lemon Lolly ink was added to the colour the sun. The two panels were then separated.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Sunrise Sailing and Cheers & Sips stamp sets used with some ink blending to make a striking congratulations card

The sentiment, from the Cheers & Sips stamp set was added in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Using the same ink I also stamped a bird in the upper right corner of the inked area.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Sunrise Sailing and Cheers & Sips stamp sets used with some ink blending to make a striking congratulations card

From the Basic Black card I die cut the boat and sails using the Sunrise Sailing Dies. I glued the pieces together and mounted the boat onto the inked panel using Black Stampin’ Dimensionals.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The Sunrise Sailing and Cheers & Sips stamp sets used with some ink blending to make a striking congratulations card

A trio of Rainbow Dots completed the card.

Please hop on to see what my fellow crafters have made to share with us today.

Order goodies/Join My Team

Details of the products I used for this project can be found below.

Mo x

Supplies used:

A happy retirement card made using the lovely Sunrise Sailing stamp set and co-ordinating Dies from. Stampin' Up!

Sailing Race Card – Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop

Posted on April 26, 2025May 11, 2025 by Mo Rootes

Hello and welcome to the Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop where we are sharing something new. I have made a retirement card using the gorgeous new Sunrise Sailing stamp set and dies which will be available from the 6^th of May in my online store.

Colours used to make this card are:

To recreate the sailing race card, you will need:

Lemon Lolly card base – 8¼” by 5⅞” scored at 4⅛”
Basic White card – 5⅞” by 2¾”
Azure Afternoon card – 5⅞” by 1¼”
Basic White card – 5½” by 3¾” – for the inside
Scrap Lemon Lolly, Timid Tiger, Poppy Parade, Azure Afternoon & Pecan Pie

Using Azure Afternoon ink, I stamped the sentiment onto the Lemon Lolly card front.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The lovely Sunrise Sailing stamp set and co-ordinating Dies used to make a happy retirement card – Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop

I used the same ink to stamp the water image along the bottom of the 5⅞” by 2¾” piece of Basic White card. I used both first- and second-generation ink. I used a Blending Brush to add the same ink to the top of the panel after masking a small area for the sun. After removing the mask, I added colour to the sun using a little Crushed Curry ink with a Sponge Dauber.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The lovely Sunrise Sailing stamp set and co-ordinating Dies used to make a happy retirement card – Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop

From scrap Pecan Pie card, I die cut 4 of the medium sized boats using the Sunrise Sailing Dies. I then die cut the sails from scrap Lemon Lolly, Timid Tiger, Poppy Parade and Azure Afternoon card. I glued the sails to the boats and adhered them to the inked panel using a mixture of Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive, Mini Glue Dots and Mini Dimensionals.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The lovely Sunrise Sailing stamp set and co-ordinating Dies used to make a happy retirement card – Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop

I die cut a wavy edge from scrap Azure Afternoon card and added it along the bottom of the decorated layer before gluing the whole piece to the Lemon Lolly card front.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The lovely Sunrise Sailing stamp set and co-ordinating Dies used to make a happy retirement card – Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop

A trio of Rainbow Dots completed the card.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – The lovely Sunrise Sailing stamp set and co-ordinating Dies used to make a happy retirement card – Ink. Stamp. Share Blog Hop

Please hop on to share the inspiration provided by my crafty friends.

Order goodies/Join My Team

Details of the products I used for this project can be found below.

Mo x

Supplies used:

Good Luck Chick

Posted on September 5, 2021August 30, 2021 by Mo Rootes

Today I am sharing a jolly good luck chick card made to celebrate a friends’ retirement at the end of August. Like me she wok as a nurse for over 35 years at Royal Papworth Hospital, a specialist heart and lung hospital here in the UK. I am so looking forward to celebrating with her with a visit to our favourite café for a special full English breakfast.

Colours used in this project are:

To recreate the good luck chick card, you will need:

Poppy Parade card base – 8¼” by 5⅞” scored at 4⅛” – rounded upper left corner
Soft Suede card – 5¾” by 3⅞” – rounded upper left corner
Basic White card – 5⅝” by 3¾” – rounded upper left corner
Basic White card – 5½” by 3¾” – rounded upper left corner
Basic White ¼” strip

I started by stamping the 1^st dancing chicken on the right-hand side of the slightly longer Basic White panel. I stamped the same image onto three Post It Notes and cut around the images with Scissors and used these to provide masks.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – A quirky, fun and happy retirement card made using the Birthday Chick stamp set by Stampin’ Up!

One of the masks was placed over the stamped chicken and another chicken was stamped to the left. The second mask was then placed over the top of this chicken and another bird stamped to the left.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – A quirky, fun and happy retirement card made using the Birthday Chick stamp set by Stampin’ Up!

The last mask was then added to the third chicken and the chicken with a balloon was stamped so that she appeared to be floating out of the gang. The masks were then removed.

I used the following Blends Marker Pens to colour in the chicks and the balloon – Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Cinnamon Cider, Gray Granite, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight & Bronze

The stamped panel was layered onto the Soft Suede panel using Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive. The whole piece was then added to the Poppy Parade card base on Dimensionals.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – A quirky, fun and happy retirement card made using the Birthday Chick stamp set by Stampin’ Up!

The sentiment, from the Welcoming Woods stamp set, was stamped in Poppy Parade ink onto the strip of Basic White and the strip was cut down and flagged with Scissors. I added a trio of Red Rhinestones to finish the card.

www.crafty-rootes.co.uk – A quirky, fun and happy retirement card made using the Birthday Chick stamp set by Stampin’ Up!

I hope this card brings a smile to my friend’s face. Hope you like it.

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Details of the products I used for this project can be found below.

Mo x

Supplies used:

Sailing boats for a masculine themed retirement card made with Stampin' Up! products

Smooth Sailing

Posted on June 18, 2019June 8, 2019 by Mo Rootes

Here is a lovely card made using the Smooth Sailing dies, the Sailing Home stamp set and some more masculine colours.

To recreate the Smooth Sailing card you will need;

Blueberry Bushel card base 8¼” by 5⅞” scored at 4⅛”
Come Sail Away dsp 4⅛” by 3”
Poppy Parade 4⅛” by ⅜”
Crumb Cake 3¾” by 2⅞”
Whisper White 3 ½” by 2⅝”
Whisper White strip ¼” wide
Whisper White 5⅜” by 3⅝”
Scrap Whisper White

The Poppy Parade strip was glued to the side of the Come Sail Away dsp then stuck to the card front using the Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive.

www.crafty-rootes.com – Smooth Sailing dies and Sailing Home stamp set makes a cute reirement card

I die cut a stitched oval from the smaller panel of Whisper White and a slightly larger oval using the Layering Ovals dies.

www.crafty-rootes.com – Smooth Sailing dies and Sailing Home stamp set makes a cute reirement card

A watercolour wash was added to the stitched oval using an Aqua Painter and the Blueberry Bushel ink. When the ink was dry the panel was added to the Crumb Cake oval using the Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive and added to the card front on Dimensionals.

www.crafty-rootes.com – Smooth Sailing dies and Sailing Home stamp set makes a cute reirement card

The boats were stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and die cut using the Smooth Sailing dies. They were coloured in using Blends Markers. The boats were added to the oval with the liquid glue.

www.crafty-rootes.com – Smooth Sailing dies and Sailing Home stamp set makes a cute reirement card

The sentiment from the Itty Bitty Greeting stamp set was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto the ¼” strip of Whisper White. The strip was trimmed down and the ends flagged before it was glued to the card front.

www.crafty-rootes.com – Smooth Sailing dies and Sailing Home stamp set makes a cute reirement card

The Whisper White panel for the inside and the envelope were decorated with a boat.

This would make a fab retirement card.

If you don’t have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator I would love to be yours! If you don’t have a catalogue and live in the UK please let me know and I will be delighted to send you one. To order any supplies click on the “shop online” button at the top of the page. Alternatively, contact me and I would be happy to place an order for you.

Details of the products I used for this project can be found below.

Mo x

Supplies used:

A lovely Joy Fold retirement card made using the By the Bay stamp set by Stampin' Up!

A By the Bay Retirement card

Posted on March 19, 2019March 15, 2019 by Mo Rootes

Today I am sharing a card made for a friends’ upcoming retirement. She loves the sea and wild places so the By the Bay stamp set seemed like a perfect choice.

Making the Joy Fold retirement card

You will need;
Thick Whisper White cardstock 8½” by 4¼” and scored it on the long side at 5½”
Thick Whisper White cardstock 8” by 3” and scored it on the long side at 4” – rounded upper right corner on the score line
Twinkle, Twinkle dsp 5⅜” by 4⅛”
Twinkle, Twinkle dsp 4⅛” by 2⅞”
Blueberry Bushel 3⅞” by 2⅞” – rounded upper right corner
Whisper White cardstock 3¼” by 2¾” – rounded upper right corner
Scrap Whisper White cardstock

www.crafty-rootes.com – The By the Bay stamp set used to make a Joy Fold retirement card

I began by cutting, scoring and burnishing the 2 pieces of Thick Whisper White cardstock which make the card. I cut 2 panels of Twinkle, Twinkle Designer Series Paper (dsp) and adhered them to the larger of the Thick Whisper White panels with Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive.

www.crafty-rootes.com – The By the Bay stamp set used to make a Joy Fold retirement card

I stamped the cottage image onto the smallest piece of Whisper White in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and set it aside to dry. I coloured in the image using Watercolor Pencils in the following colours – Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry & Cajun Craze, using a Blender pen to smooth out the colour.

www.crafty-rootes.com – The By the Bay stamp set used to make a Joy Fold retirement card

I stamped the group of birds twice on the inside of the smaller card and used the same Watercolor Pencils to add some colour.

www.crafty-rootes.com – The By the Bay stamp set used to make a Joy Fold retirement card

The stamped panel was then added to the layer of Blueberry Bushel cardstock and then adhered to the smaller piece of Thick Whisper White, remembering that this part of the card opens from left to right. The whole piece was then added to the larger Thick Whisper White panel. All the glue was done using the Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive.

www.crafty-rootes.com – The By the Bay stamp set used to make a Joy Fold retirement card

The sentiment from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set in Blueberry Bushel ink onto scrap Whisper White cardstock and punched it out using the 1” Circle Punch. Using the Layering Circle framelits and the Big Shot I die cut a slightly larger scalloped circle from the middle of the Blueberry Bushel panel – nobody will know once all the layers are put together. I stuck the stamped circle onto the Blueberry Bushel scalloped Circle with Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive. The circle was then added to the card front on Stampin’ Dimensionals.