Fill the World with Love

I’m not finished with Christmas projects just yet, but today I’m switching gears and sharing a card made with two love-themed bundles that will be available in Stampin’ Up!’s 2026 Mini Catalog. This card may look simple at first glance, but there are several thoughtful details I want to point out – so buckle in and get ready for the love…

Fill the World with Love

This card features the must-have Hope Love & Joy Bundle paired with the already-on-your-wish-list Endless Love Dies. I also incorporated a current textured paper you really need to see in person and a color combination that will serve you well over the coming months.

Here’s the card I made:

Hope Love & Joy, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, Valentine's Day card

I fell in love with the Hope Love & Joy Bundle the moment I saw it. Not only is it perfect for Valentine’s Day, it’s also a beautiful choice for Christmas cards and for cards that express sympathy, offer comfort, or share joy. There are so many ways to showcase these three words, and today’s card is just the first of several projects I’ll be making with this bundle.

Here’s a closer look at the Hope Love & Joy Bundle:

Hope Love & Joy Bundle, Stampin' Up! 166858Textured Details

It’s possible you were so focused on the sentiment and the large heart that you didn’t even notice the textured background on this card. Did you see it? No need to scroll back up (aren’t I the sweetest?!).

Here’s a closer look at the panel behind the heart and sentiment:

Hope Love & Joy, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, Valentine's Day card

I used a Blending Brush to apply Bubble Bath ink to a panel of Whispers of Texture Specialty Paper. If you missed this paper when it debuted in a recent Online Exclusives release, it’s definitely worth another look. The pack includes three sheets each of two designs – one with subtle stripes and one with a soft watercolor-style texture, which is the design I used here.

Here’s a look at the Whispers of Texture Specialty Paper:

Whispers of Texture Specialty Paper, 167106A Big Heart

I shared a project using the Endless Love Bundle last week, so I already know this one has landed squarely on your wish list for the upcoming catalog. If you missed that post, you can see it here. I didn’t use this large heart in that project, so I was excited to showcase it on today’s card.

Here’s a look at the Endless Love Bundle, available beginning January 6:

Endless Love Bundle, Stampin' Up! 167062Playing with Color

Before I share a graphic of the main colors used in this card, I want to walk you through a small color adjustment I made along the way – and I’m hoping this tip might be helpful for you, too.

My Melon Mambo ink pad is brand new and very juicy. When I stamped the “L VE” sentiment onto a 1-1/8″ strip of Thick Basic White, the color appeared deeper and richer than usual (almost closer to Poppy Parade). I could have removed some ink from the pad, but instead I decided to deepen the Melon Mambo cardstock elements to better match the stamped sentiment.

To do this, I colored the center of the white-embossed heart with a Melon Mambo Stampin’ Blend, adding subtle depth to the cardstock. Here’s a closer look – notice the difference between the center of the heart and the edges:

Hope Love & Joy, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, Valentine's Day cardI didn’t strictly need to take this extra step (but I had time to play), so I also dragged the Melon Mambo Stampin’ Blend around the edges of the Melon Mambo frame before assembling the card. Sometimes a little extra effort is exactly what it takes to reach crafting perfection. 🙂

While I used Bubble Bath on this card, the primary colors are Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, and Smoky Slate. If you love this color combination as much as I do, I hope you’ll save it for future inspiration:

Stampin' Up! Color Inspiration - Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Smoky SlateI sprinkled my card with five Strawberry Slush gems from the Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems. They offered a bright pink and a lovely shine.

Final Thoughts

This card is a great reminder that simple designs can still be rich in detail. From layered dies and subtle texture to thoughtful color adjustments, small choices can make a big impact. I’m excited to keep creating with these new love-themed bundles and sharing more ideas with you as the 2026 Mini Catalog approaches. Stay tuned – there’s plenty more love to come.

The Products

Bundles: Hope Love & Joy Bundle  Stamps: Hope Love & Joy  Paper: Whispers of Texture Specialty Paper, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Smoky Slate, Thick Basic White  Inks: Melon Mambo, Bubble Bath, Melon Mambo Stampin’ Blends  Accessories: Hope Love & Joy Dies, Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

Hope Love & Joy Bundle, Stampin' Up! 166858

 


PRODUCT SHARES – ORDER TODAY

I announced my Product Shares from the 2026 Spring Mini Catalog (and coordinating Online Exclusives) this week. There’s no better way to get a sample of everything. If you’d like to sign up or learn more, click on the image below:


Last Chance Sale

Many products from this year’s Holiday Mini Catalog have made their way to the Last Chance List (with many great discounts!), which means they will be gone when the current inventory sells out. To check out the Last Chance List, click on the image below:

For inspiration for this sale, CLICK HERE.

SHARE THIS:

15 Comments

  1. Two cool things i *love* about the card:
    – coloring the little heart with a Stampin’ Blend to match it to the juicy new pad. Nice attention to detail.
    – putting it on a Smoky Slate base. I’m not fond of Bubble Bath but when I saw the color inspiration, I thought, “wait? There’s gray in the card?” The gray balances the pink beautifully, and pink/gray is a favorite color scheme.

    I should know by now – you’ve helped me learn to like Garden Green, now I’ll start liking Bubble Bath, too lol!

    • Thanks, Vickie! I’m so happy my “pointers” were helpful. ♥ Bubble Bath is somewhere between pink and purple, so I don’t use it a lot. It does, though, look great with grays. I pulled out all the grays before landing on Smoky Slate on this one – it just worked so well with the other tones.

  2. Hi Brian
    Your card is awesome! I love how you used the textured paper and added a touch of color! I especially like the bubble bubble bath / Melon Mambo / Smokey Slate combo .
    What embellishments did you use , I couldn’t find it listed!

    • Ah! Thanks! I used the Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems (I chose the Strawberry Slush ones). They gave me a lovely pink and a lot of shine. I’ll now update my product listing…Thanks! ♥

  3. Lovely card! My first thought was that it’s early to be thinking Valentine’s Day,
    But then thought NEVER too early for love! Love blending on the textured paper!
    The little flowers in die set seem to match those in the December Paper
    Pumpkin!

    • Thanks, Barbara! I know, I know..it seems early, but we have to send out Valentine’s Day cards next month. 🙂 Thanks for your kind comments – I’m so glad you like the card. I’ll have to open up my December Paper Pumpkin to take a look. ♥

  4. Beautiful creation. Another bundle added to my list!

  5. What a pretty Valentine! I love all the elements. Somehow, I missed the gorgeous Whispers of Texture Specialty Paper. It’s on my list now. I love this card. Enjoy your day!

    • Thanks so much, Hilda! The specialty papers were quietly introduced in the Online Exclusives. They were included in the shares from November, so you may have a page or two already. 🙂

  6. I “love” this sweet valentine.

  7. This card is a gem, Brian! I’m glad you’ll be giving us more from this exceptional bundle! And keep those tips and tricks coming…

  8. Did you cut the letters out by hand?

Leave a Reply to Nancy Ross Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *