How to use Designer Series Paper to create beautiful cards
- Alison Culliver
- Jan 18
- 8 min read
I'm Alison, and I live in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia.
In the past, I blogged on Blogger, but after completing a web design course, I've learnt to integrate my blog with a shop to sell the projects I create and showcase in my posts.
If you previously followed me at craftedbyalison@blogspot.com, thank you for joining me on this new journey. If this is your first time reading my work, welcome!
Let me share a bit about myself.
I enjoy making cards and gifts for my friends and family, and this blog is dedicated to helping you create something special for your loved ones too.
I post twice a week—on Sundays, where I typically feature a stamp set, dies, embossing folders, projects, and occasionally special Designer Series Paper (DSP), and on Wednesday evenings, where I offer techniques, colour related topics & techniques, fun folds or tools and tips.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions. You can email me at craftedbyalison@gmail.com.
I have had a wonderful day today, full of creating & sharing with fellow crafters. I attended my 11th! Online Stamping Retreat which is hosted by Lisa Curcio & Gina Hawley from the US & Kylie & Bruno Bertucci from Australia. They started the retreats in 2022 & they are jammed full of fabulous fun folds, tips & techniques. They hold 3 a year & I always eagerly anticipate seeing what they have come up with for us. It was loads of fun & I now have some fun creations to finish off this week. Now onto this week's project.
Today I am sharing how to use Designer Series Paper (DSP) to create beautiful cards. I have chosen the gorgeous Brushed with Beauty suite as it has lots of pretty florals & soft neutral tones.
Here is my finished card.
Now this might look like a regular card but when you open it up...
it's actually a pop up pillar card inside.
To create this card I used a regular Terracotta Tile card base (14.85cm x 21cm, scored in half at 10.5cm) & added a matte of Basic White to the inside left. Unfortunately the cardstock is now retired but it was the perfect shade to compliment the colours in the DSP.
I then cut a piece of the beautiful DSP 17cm x 14.45cm, scoring it at 1cm, 5cm & 9cm.
This was adhered on the right of the inside of the card. With the DSP folded flat towards the right edge of the card & the 1cm section facing up, I applied liquid glue to the 1cm section. I then used the score lines to fold the DSP into a box shape & adhered it to the left side of the card. This now formed the pop up pillar & left an area on the left for writing a message.
With the inside completed I then worked on decorating the front of the card.
I cut a matte using a different pattern from the DSP pack then cut a 6cm x 14cm strip of the same pattern used for the inside. This piece was scored at 1.5cm intervals but not folded. This was purely decorative.
I added this strip to the matte.
I chose to make a focal point for the sentiment, using a Basic White diecut using the Everyday Arches dies & stamping using the 2nd generation technique where you stamp once using full strength ink then stamping once on scrap then using the remaining ink to stamp onto your project. The colours I chose complimented the DSP colours - Petal Pink, Lemon Lolly & Old Olive & I used images from Petals of Beauty.
The sentiment comes from Words of Beauty & was fussy cut to seperate 'it's your' & 'birthday' into two sections.
I added it to the card front with dimensionals & added some of the gorgeous Pearls of Beauty & a small Linen Thread bow to finish off the project.
Here's a closeup of the front.
I love how the card has turned out. Simple but elegant. The DSP is stunning & doesn't need much more than a sentiment & a little bling.
That's it for my creation today. Now for some news from Stampin' Up®.
Stampin' Up® have many ways of shopping with a physical catalogue, online shopping & in person events. When items are about to be retired or are running low they are put on the 'Last Chance' list which means that there is limited stock & when it runs out, it's gone.
Stampin' Up® 's Annual Catalogue is sectioned it to have beginners, which is a step by step collection of materials in kits, then there is quick & easy where you select base materials & packs of pre-printed or diecut materials plus some stamp sets then there is create your way where you choose all the materials, stamps etc yourself & Create Your Way! In the quick & easy section Stampin' Up® have also provided some inspiration with a colour wheel & information of various ways to use colour combinations. I explored this in a bit more detail in some of my previous blogs on Blogspot. The other cool feature is that they provide card sketch & scrapbook layout ideas for you. This is great for any times that you need a little inspiration.
If you'd like to browse the catalogue online then click here. If you'd like a copy to hold in your hands, leaf through & put little notes all over it of what's on your wish list then shoot me an email at craftedbyalison@gmail.com or message me on my facebook page at craftedbyalison.
The mini catalogue is now available online & in printed form. There are loads of gorgeous new products in there. There's scrapbooking ideas & products, great tag dies & lots of Christmas themed products ranging from cute to elegant & traditional to modern. If you'd like me to send you a copy then send me an email at craftedbyalison@gmail.com.
Stampin' Up® also have loads of additional products available only online. These are called Online exclusives & have no end date, when the stock is sold out, that's the end of it.
Stampin' Up® have a great range of Kits including crafting, card making & gift giving. There are brand new kits added to the collection every month. Click here to check them all out in my online shop. As Stampin' Up® have so many beautiful kits available I usually feature a different kit in each
Sunday blog so that you can see the range.
This week the feature kit is Banner Botanicals, a stunning kit with moody dark colours, soft pastels, lots of pretty flora & fun, banner style sentiments.
Here's how Stampin' Up® describe it...
Put your love front and centre with the Banner Botanicals Kit. Each card design features a unique botanical motif, complete with a heartfelt sentiment displayed across a banner. This all-inclusive kit creates nine thoughtful cards to brighten someone’s day.
This is a stamping kit with all the supplies you need to create 9 beautiful cards including a stamp set & block, ink spot & matching envelopes.
If you feel that you need to add this to your list then click here to purchase one from my online store.
If you shop with me then there are some changes last year to the rewards program that you should know about. In the past we were able to create a host code & group together individual orders & pass on the 'hostess' benefits to customers with qualifying orders. This has now been replaced with a 'Rewards' program that gives all customers who place an order with a qualifying amount a credit of 10% of their order to use on future orders. This will be displayed during the checkout process or your order. Stampin' Up® feel that this is a fairer way of rewarding all customers.
There are some new ways to craft on offer at the moment which I will go through one at a time.
Ready?
1.Stampin' Up® held it's first ever Online Craft Class with the Traditions of Christmas craftalong & followed that up with a Brushed with Beauty Suite on November 21st and will be holding more events like this in the new year. I have started to create the projects from the Brushed with Beauty session & will share them with you in coming posts. Keep your eye out for more news of future dates.
2. Stampin' Up® will be holding a Virtual Card Making Retreat in January 2026. It has been designed for experienced or advanced crafters in mind but will also have a heap of tips & ideas for those wanting to explore more detailed card designing. To participate you just need to purchase the Retreat kit ($288AU) & this provides you with all of the materials you need & access to an exclusive FaceBook group where the event will be held. It sounds like a bit of expense but from past experience, what you take away from these type of events is well worth I have already received my kit & the quality & amount of product is well worth it. You can also download & print the instructions if you can't attend on the day as well as having a recording available after the event.it.
Here's some more info on how to join this retreat.
To craft along with the Stampin' Up® presenters and make 15 beautiful, all-occasion cards, you’ll want to purchase the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat kit. Everyone who purchases a kit will receive a link to the exclusive Facebook group where the live event will stream. We only have a limited number of kits, so make sure to order yours ASAP!
3. Starting last December, Stampin' Up® will be featuring a special 'Product of the Month' item that is only available with eligible purchases. There will be a new item every month with no clues as to what the item will be. It could be stamps, dies, papers - a complete surprise every month. You will be able to receive each month's product for just $9 when you spend $125 in one order. I have been able to order the first offering for December which is some lovely blue toned DSP & also have the January Product of the Month which is a very versatile stamp set. I will share some creations with you in future posts.
Lastly, there have been lots of great items added to the clearance rack which is now called Last Chance items so make sure you check them out using this link to my online store as there are some great discounts.
If you would like to purchase any of my creations that I feature in my blogs they can be found in my shop with today's card available tomorrow along with lots of different designs including feminine, masculine, special occasions, everyday events, something for the juniors or you can order something unique.
I hope you've enjoyed today's post.
My next post will be on Wednesday & I have a card sketch for you from one of the current catalogues.
In next Sunday's post I will feature a stamp set, no clues, just come back next week & you can see what I've created.
I hope you can join me for both of them & come back for more.
Til next take, take care & keep creating.
XX Alison
Here are some links to the products that I used today & some craft room essentials.
Stamps, Dies, Embossing folders & punches
Cardstock, DSP & paper goods
Inks & Markers
Embellishments
Adhesives
Tools
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