Welcome to the Stampin’ Pretty Pals’ Blog Hop, August 2026!

Welcome to our “Animal House” blog hop! This month, we’re having fun with all kinds of adorable animals, butterflies, and critters. If you’re looking for inspiration—or just a good excuse to play with your craft supplies—you’re in the right place! The Pals are sharing card ideas and paper-crafting creations featuring Stampin’ Up! products, and we hope you’ll find something that inspires you to create along with us. So, let’s get started and see what’s happening in our Animal House!

This card was inspired by a friend and fellow demonstrator (Jarmila Vik) during her April mystery stamping event.  It’s easy and shows off beautiful designer series papers, like Waterside Retreat, shown here.

Stampin’ Up! Waterside Retreat DSP

I used this sheet from the collection.

The beauty of this design is how it shows off both sides of your chosen patterned paper creating extra interest with no additional work. 

The entire suite of products is one of my very favorites this year. It’s the perfect suite for your outdoorsy creations; both cards and scrapbook pages. This suite is definitely one that you’ll keep to use over and over. Click the following link to see the birthday card I made for my son this year. Waterside Retreat Birthday Card.

Waterside Retreat Suite Item #17932

Two of the products I used to create the card are retired from Stampin’ Up!, a punch and the trim. Maybe you have them in your craft room. If not, improvise with something you DO have.

Retired Product List

• Natural 1/4″ Wavy Trim
• Labeled with Love Punch

Nuts & Bolts

• All measurements are in inches.
• Finished Size – A2 (4-1/4 x 5-1/2)

Acronyms & Jargon

• CAS = Clean And Simple
• CASE = Copy And Share Everything
• CS = Cardstock
• DSP = Designer Series Paper (aka patterned paper)
• SDSP = Specialty Designer Series paper (specialty patterned paper)
• SIP = Stamp Ink Paper

Paper Cuts

Cardstock

• Base  4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
• Writing Panel 3-1/4″ x 5-1/4″
• Labels 3″ x 1-3/4″
• Die Cuts – Scraps

Patterned Paper

• 8″ x 5-1/4″, Score at 1/2″ and 4″ on long side

Construction

1. Score, fold and burnish patterned paper. 
2. Fold the patterned paper at the 1/2″ scoreline. Glue down. This is the top of your card.
3. Fold the patterned paper at the 4″ scoreline, center over the card base and adhere with strong adhesive.
4. Writing panel: Align with the folded edge and vertically with the patterned paper. Adhere with strong adhesive. 
5. Decorate as desired.

Keep the inspiration going! Follow the lineup below to hop through each blog and see what the Pals have created for our “Animal House” theme. We hope you’ve found plenty of ideas to inspire your own creativity!

Be sure to join us next month when we’ll be creating with an “Autumn” theme. You won’t want to miss what the Pals have in store!

Leave a Comment

Before you go, please consider leaving a comment on our blogs.  We love to hear from you. 

Stampin’ Pretty Pals Blog Hop

1. Lisa Ann Bernard
2. Su Mohr
3. Debbie Mageed
4. Peggy Noe
5. Tricia Chuba
6. Rae Burnet —– Welcome to the Wild West!
7. Windy Ellard
8. Stesha Bloodhart
9. Beth McCullough

Thank you for visiting Wild West Paper Arts.

Have a wildly creative day!

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Feathered Friends Product Showcase:

#watersideretreat