One Year After Leaving Stampin’ Up! – Christmas Card Making and Starting Over

Hi Friends! It’s hard to believe, but it has now been one year since I left Stampin’ Up after 23 years.

I went back and forth on whether I wanted to make a video about it at all. I didn’t want it to become a “why I left” video, and I certainly didn’t want to criticize a chapter of my life that gave me so much.

What I really wanted to talk about was starting over.

What does life look like when something that has been part of your identity for more than two decades suddenly isn’t anymore?

What happens when you know it’s time for a change, but you don’t have the next ten steps neatly mapped out?

That’s what I’m sharing in today’s video. Because this past year has taught me a lot about work, creativity, friendship, income, freedom, and trusting myself.

Some things have worked beautifully. Some things haven’t. I’ve changed direction more than once, learned an awful lot along the way, and discovered opportunities I never could have planned for.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that starting over does not mean starting from nothing.

We carry everything we’ve learned with us and that has certainly been true for me.

While I’m sharing my story in the video, I’m also making a whole collection of Christmas cards using a fun and easy accordion fold.

I love this style of card because one basic fold can look completely different depending on the papers, embellishments, colours, and supplies you use.

As you can see, I started with the same basic card layout but changed up the way I decorated each one. Some are landscape, some are portrait, and each has its own look.

While today’s cards are all Christmas themed, this fold would work beautifully for just about any occasion.

It’s also a great way to use what you already have. Your focal point could be a stamped image, sticker, die cut, punched piece, fussy-cut image – whatever you have on hand. Then pull in some of those papers, ribbons and embellishments you’ve been hanging onto and have fun putting them to use.

And these cards are very much in keeping with the way I like to craft now – using what I already have and mixing products from different places.

For today’s cards, I used:

• Retired Stampin’ Up products
• Dollar-store finds
• Washi from The Washi Tape Shop
• Lindy’s Gang embossing powders

I think that mix is part of the fun. You don’t need everything to come from one collection or one company to make something beautiful.

I’ve also put together a free PDF with the measurements for the accordion fold cards so you can easily make some of your own.

I hope you enjoy having the measurements handy so you can make some of your own. It’s such an easy, versatile fun fold. I know it’s been around for years, but it’s one I keep coming back to again and again for all kinds of occasions.

I love how this card came together! The Washi Tape Shop sent me this particular washi last year, and I’ve used it quite a few times – their rolls are so generous.

For the sentiment, I used one of Lindy’s Gang embossing powders. I’d picked up a few goodies from them a while back, but this was actually my first time using the embossing powder – holey, it’s gorgeous!

I ended up re-embossing the red strip because I wanted to pull a little more of that colour into the front layer of the card, and I’m so glad I did. It really helped bring the whole design together.

It was so FUN to pull in so many goodies in my craft stash to make today’s cards!

As a side note, I’ll be sharing some of the other Lindy’s products I picked up soon too, and next week I’ll also be creating with some brand-new washi from The Washi Tape Shop that’s being released then. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and I can’t wait to show you!

If you’re interested in some of the products I used in today’s cards, here are my links:

The Washi Tape Shop

I’ve truly been enjoying incorporating beautiful washi into my cardmaking, and it’s such a quick and easy way to add colour, texture, and detail.

👉 Shop The Washi Tape Shop HERE and save 10% on your order with my discount code: SERENESTAMPER10

Lindy’s Gang

I also used Lindy’s embossing powders in these cards. They add such beautiful colour and shine.

👉Shop Lindy’s Gang HERE and SAVE 10% off your entire order with code: SIMPLYSERENEWITHTINA

Shopping through my affiliate links helps support my channel at no extra cost to you, and I truly appreciate it.

And of course, I also pulled in bits and pieces from my Memories & More collection, along with some punches, papers, stamps and embellishments. I have to say, it feels SO good to be using these things again instead of just letting them sit in my craft room!

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And a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadians!

To everyone who is part of my Serene Stamper community, I’m so incredibly grateful for you all. Thank you for watching, crafting, commenting, sharing your stories with me, and continuing to be part of this journey.

I hope you enjoy the video, the cards, and the free tutorial.

Take care and HAPPY STAMPING!

P.S. If you’d like to learn more about The Serene Post, you can find all the details HERE. 💌