Friday, November 7, 2025

Cheers to Summer: Celebratory Sips into the Season's Finale!

Today, my husband cleaned the fireplace chimney, which means that summer in Northern Wisconsin has come to an end for another year. It's a sad right of passage in our family, but once the flames glow from the chopped wood, there's comfort in the air.

In honor of November, I am sharing a blog that is reminiscent of the ol' days. I read a post from another crafter who misses scrolling through social media to discover ideas - no need to join private groups or pay monthly fees. I understand that times have changed in my seventy-plus years, but for today, let's enjoy making cards for pure fun! The project sheet is a gift from me.

It's Your Card is a simple card to create. I have linked the project sheet (edited by jnelson). Look through your stash of Designer Series Paper to fussy cut whatever design you desire: pets, flowers, vehicles, and more. What to use, a punch or dies? That's fine, too. Select whatever wording you want and stamp it on a label. Be creative.

Take care,

Linda

PS: There are links on the project sheet because it was created a month ago. Feel free to ignore them. Today is for enjoyment.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Home

Welcome to Linda Ann Hinde's Tranquillity Cottage blog home page. As an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and retired teacher, I am dedicated to sharing my love of card making, scrapbooking, and planning with people who enjoy paper crafting. There will be times when I share my quilting and sewing projects, too. Don't be surprised if a picture of a favorite recipe shows up in the newsfeed since my interests are many.

My goal is to write about tips, techniques, and organizational ideas. I post a dozen card designs with free recipes on the blog each month, in addition to monthly planner suggestions, scrapbook sketches, kits, and helpful product links for select companies.

To stay in contact with you, I email a monthly newsletter with a complimentary card design with a project sheet. You will find my disclosure information on each post. I hope you enjoy the journey! Please follow my blog to receive updates.

Take care,

Linda Ann

Discover the Changes Happening at Stampin' Up!

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Info about Shopping, Stampin' Rewards, and Appreciation Gifts.

How to Stay Connected with Tranquillity Cottage Designs,

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Helpful Tips with Planners: Leisure, Professional, and Personal

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Tranquillity Cottage Designs

Linda Ann Hinde

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Wisconsin, USA

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/Y7rfXAy/homepage

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

The Art of Organizing Crafts: Series 6

Creative Ways to Organize Your Sentiments

In the world of Stampin' Up! the last day of September is our fiscal year. There's much to think about as a demonstrator. As I sat at the computer writing this post, my mind was spinning with topics such as:

Deciding what to do with retired stamps.
How to adopt SU's new packaging for stamp sets, past and present.
Which ideas to use when organizing stamps?

In a recent post, I shared my thoughts about which retired products I should keep, donate, or sell. Today, I realized I didn't mention another important reason - the sentiment. Therefore, in this sixth series of organizing, I will focus on sentiments and address the bulleted topics that are on my mind.

Take care,

Linda Ann

Questions? Click on the navy button for additional blog information and quick resource inks.

Some posts contain Amazon affiliate or Stamp-n-Storage associate links, where I earn a small commission from qualified purchases. It is important to me that I only recommend quality products that I use and enjoy! I am also an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Changes happening at Stampin' Up! in November.

Click HERE to read more.

Spreadsheet

How do I find the stamps when I am looking for a sentiment? I have a helpful process that I follow when my order arrives. Years ago, I started a Google spreadsheet with categories such as Birthdays, Get Well, Anniversaries, Congratulations, and so forth. I fill in the information before storing the stamp cases or envelopes. Below is a clip to show the columns and rows on the spreadsheet.

Sentiment Storage

Do you purchase stamps because of the wording or saying? I do. I keep the stamp sets with wording that is used often on my cards or scrapbooks. Scraps come in handy for favorite sentiments.

Plastic boxes purchased at Dollar General are handy for storage small cardstock scraps.

Set aside time in your planner to stamp sentiments. All those tiny scraps are useful when they are die cut or punched out and ready to use.

Plano Fishing Tackle Boxes are high on my list to store sentiments.

More Messages is a bundle that works perfectly for preparing sentiments and having them ready for card making.

I have used a magnetic photo album with much success until recently, when the adhesive started sticking to the labels. I need to use this storage system more before recommending it.

My mind will continue to spin with ideas for the sentiments and stamp sets. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I will appreciate your suggestions!

One of My Favorite Sentiments

Shop Amazon

Stamp Pressure Tool

Misti Stamping Platform (The Tim Hotz brand has been discontinued.)

Plano Tackle Box

Post It Tape

Magnetic Self Stick Album

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More Messages

Gone Fishing Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [161535]	Gone Fishing Dies [161541]	Plaster Painting 3 D Embossing Folder [164656]
Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044]	Basic Gray 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock [166680]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]
Basic Black 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Two Tone Cardstock [166704]	Basic Black 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock [166786]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]
Botanical Textures Suite Collection (English) [165563]	Botanical Textures 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165545]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Refill [133456]	Brushed Metallic Adhesive Backed Dots [156506]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]