Spring Chicks Card

The idea for this card has been rattling around in my head for a while, so I'm glad I was able to make some time this weekend to bring it to life!  I thought it would be fun to color the chicks the same color as their dyed Easter eggs.

I used Pretty in Pink, Peach Pie, Lemon Lolly, Pool Party, and Petunia Pop DSP (cut from 3 1/2"-4" x 3/4") and Stampin' Blends with my Easter Joy bundle.   The eggs & chicks were all stamped with Basic Gray ink. (The DSP is from the Easter Joy suite or from last year's 6"x6" DSP.)  I colored each chick's beak with Dark Daffodil Delight beak and the chicks themselves with the light coordinating Stampin' Blends (Shaded Spruce for the Shy Shamrock chick).

Does anyone else still have a collection of decorative scissors from way back in the day?  I picked one to "crack" each egg and then had fun posing each chick with its egg.

 I finished off the card with 2024-26 In Color Shimmer Gems.  Chicks, I hope this card brightens your day!

March 2026 Card Class #4: Cute As a Bug Bridge Card

At each of my crafternoon card classes, I try to have some type of fun fold to keep things interesting.  We created this bridge card with the Cute As a Bug suite collection. 

Here's a close-up of the bridge (complete with Wink of Stella plus Old Olive, Real Red, and Bronze/Ivory Stampin' Blends).

The inside... without a sentiment yet because I'm not sure who's going to get it.

What's your favorite part of this collection?

March 2026 Card Class #3: Spring Basket Card

HAPPY SPRING!!! This card was copied after one that I saw on Pinterest; it was too pretty not to CASE! 

I love how springy it is!  A few of the ladies wove the gingham ribbon into the basket itself; so pretty!

Everything is from the Easter Joy suite collection plus Shy Shamrock, Balmy Blue, Lemon Lolly, Daffodil Delight, and Timid Tiger Two-Tone cardstock.

Who else is ready for spring?!?  

March 2026 Card Class #2: Happy Easter Card

This card did not turn out like I thought it would as I began designing it!

When I'm stuck or I'm not sure if pieces are going together like they should, I will lay them out and take pictures to compare.  Here are the different versions that didn't make the cut:

A fun part of this card design is that arch was cut from the larger arch used in card #3!  All of the other supplies are from the Easter Joy suite collection.

March 2026 Card Class #1: Easter Stripes Card

Last weekend, I held my monthly Crafternoon and guided the ladies in making four cards.

 This was a fun design to use up strips of the Easter Joy DSP and Pleasant Patterns speciality DSP along with the Easter Joy bundle. 

PRO TIP: Mix Lemon Lolly and Pretty in Pink Stampin' Blends to make the peach carrot.

St. Patrick's Day Card: Woolly Friends vs. Easter Joy

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching, and of course I wanted to make a card for each of my daughters.  I came up with a card sketch that I could use two ways and made them on my weekly Lives on my Facebook page (Thursdays at 7:30 PM Eastern time). 

Are you Team Woolly Friends (left) or Team Easter Joy (right)?  Please be sure to leave your choice in the comments!  For both cards, I used the Woolly Friends stamp set, Easter Joy DPS and Pleasant Patterns specialty paper along with Nested Essentials dies, Shy Shamrock glimmer paper, and In Colors shimmer gems.  I created the hats with extra Shy Shamrock, Daffodil Delight, and Basic Black cardstock.

Since the bow from the Easter Joy suite was too big for the bunny, I used the one from the Woolly Friends bundle instead.

Please comment Team Woolly Friends of Team Easter Joy for these two St. Patrick's Day cards!

Easter Joy Baby Card

One of my teachers is expecting her second child, so I made this card for them using the Easter Joy suite (or bundle plus DSP) to go along with a little gift.

I started with a Balmy Blue 8 1/2" x 5 1/2' cardstock card base and added a panel of Basic White 4"x 5 1/4".  The Crumb Cake and Balmy Blue DSP are from the Easter Joy suite.  I used my Alphabet a la Mode dies to cut the B, B, Y, and stamped the bunny in Balmy Blue from this collection.  I used my Pretty in Pink Stampin' Blends to color the bunny.  The gingham ribbon is also part of this suite (but of course everything can be bought individually if preferred).

The welcome and sweet little one sentiments are from the new Happy Happenings kit.  I love how products can mix and match to create something new!

I hope they love the book we gave them, Time for Bed, because it was one of our absolute favorites!

Saturday's Card Class

Saturday I had the opportunity to meet a fun group of ladies in my area known as the Appalachian Women's Social Club and teach a card class.  (Thanks, Amber, for the invite and for the delicious catered lunch and your fabulous banana pudding!)

I think the ladies had a good time crafting!  I know that I did (and I also learned a thing or two).  I'm looking forward to getting together with them for some of the events and hopefully hosting quarterly seasonal card classes.  

Mauvelous Lollies March Project Sneak Peek

If you're a current customer of mine, then you probably know about my collaboration with six other Stampin' Up! demonstrators across the country, the Mauvelous Lollies.  Each month, three of us create projects with a video of one project and written instructions for the other two based on that month's theme.  Here's a peek at my project this month, a fun-fold window card:

Anyone who places a minimum $50 order from me (before shipping/handling & tax) will receive the instructions for this month's projects.

What are your guesses for this month's theme?  Post them in the comments!
 

Masculine Birthday Card

Recently I needed a masculine birthday card for a co-worker, so I decided to use a card sketch that I found and make this card on my weekly Lives on my Facebook page (Thursdays at 7:30 PM Eastern time).

I had planned to use the front and back of this handsome Autumn Wishes 6"x6" DSP but decided to only show the front.  I used the January Product of the Month, Fabulous Sayings stamp set, and Basic Beige leaves die cut from Nature's Symphony dies (and leftovers from my February card class).

Did you know that my customers have an exclusive VIP Facebook Group where I post instruction sheets after each Thursday Live?  Anyone can watch and craft along with the Thursday Lives at 7:30 PM.

Cute As a Bug CASE

It’s really fun to take an idea (like two of the cards in the Mini Catalog on p. 42, below) and recreate it with a twist (& there’s nothing wrong with CASE-ing it exactly as is either).

Can you see how the two cards on the top right inspired my card?

I knew that I wanted to use Poppy Parade cardstock, so I used my Color Coach to select the coordinating colors of Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Night of Navy, and Petal Pink.  

PRO TIP: Stretch your die cuts but cutting them in half and hiding the cut behind another piece like I did with the Old Olive banner!

As always, don't forget to decorate the inside of your card and the coordinating envelope!  I will add a sentiment to the inside of the card when I send it to someone special.

You can still sign up for my Cute As a Bug Stamp Camp (3/21) through 3/8!

Cute as a Bug Sampler Card

You're not seeing things if this card looks familiar!  I told you that I really liked how this design could show all six designer series paper patterns, but the six on the back, to show off all 12.  This time I used the Cute as a Bug suite.

I can't wait for my new Stampin' Blends to come in.  I colored the caterpillar and leaf with (retired) Stampin' Write markers, and they don't blend well.  I fussy cut the mushrooms after stamping them on Very Vanilla cardstock and used my Pecan Pie Stampin' Blends.  I also used Basic Gray, Old Olive, and Poppy Parade inks.

Look closely at the bottom of the card to see the grass stamped along the bottom edge for a little extra interest.
 

February Crafternoon Card Class #3: Masculine Happy Birthday Card

Birthday cards are always in high demand for me, and sometimes it's hard to create masculine (or at least gender-neutral ones).  I think this card made with the  Nature's Walk suite would be perfect for anyone.

I got this idea for this one on Pinterest and then made it my own.  It is technique heave with several stamps/inks plus we used the die cut leaves negative as a stencil for blending ink on the front and inside of the card and the envelope.

 I love how Secret Sea coordinates so well with Pretty Peacock!

Easter Joy Sampler Card

This fun card design shows off all 12 pieces of the Easter Joy DSP on one card (and is one that you are going to see recreated many, many times).  Many thanks to Laura's Creative Cards & More for sharing this fun design.

I cut a 1/2" strip of each of the six DSP designs and then cut them at about 1/3 of the way down to flip over to show both sides of this pretty paper.

Can you see how well the foil shines on this fun DSP?  It is thicker than the usual weight of our DSP.  You can find the entire Easter Joy suite HERE, and we will be playing with this suite at my March Crafternoon Class on 3/8.  (Let me know if you're in the tri-state area and would like to attend!)

By the way, how cute is that bunny?  I am ready for spring!

 

February Crafternoon Card Class #2: Stippled Swirled Birthday Card (Times Two)

As soon as I saw the Nature's Walk suite, I knew that I was going to have so much fun creating with it!  This card design was part of the Connect & Create Online Creative Retreat Jan. 2026 that I participated in, and I have permission to recreate/share.  I love learning new things from other demonstrators (or from wherever I learn them)!

Both cards use the same stippled swirled DSP from the collection.  The first, darker card was my "practice" card and class "stample"/model.

The second card I made with my crafternoon ladies to walk them through each step.  It uses the same DSP, just the lighter design.  I haven't crumpled paper and applied ink direct-to-paper in a long time.  Those old techniques still look great

Which one do you prefer?

Free Shipping Feb. 18-20!

Free shipping on orders of $75 or more are available February 18-20 HERE!  Combine orders with friends to reach the $75 (which also makes you eligible to purchase the February Product of the Month, Painted Illusions DSP, for only $5!).

Monday Scrapbooking

A lovely group of ladies meets at a local library on the 3rd Monday of the month to craft, and I was able to join them yesterday since I had the day off.  It was a lot of fun, and I already knew most of them!

I brought my Weekend Adventures DSP and sticker sheet and was able to create another layout from our trip to Alaska last year (finishing the title at home).

I got most of my Thanksgiving layout put together there but then added the stamped sentiment and title at home.

If you're local and free, you should join them to craft on the third Mondays of the month!  Let me know if you need the details. 

February Crafternoon Card Class #1: Green Nature's Walk Card

My February Crafternoon Card Class featured the Nature's Walk suite.  Our first card used some of the green DSP with coordinating cardstock, stamped die cuts, and ribbon.

 I really like the addition of the black cardstock behind the long DSP panel.

In addition to a little stamping and DSP added to the inside of the card, we also stamped the same leaf cluster on the envelope.  (I love to stamp a large stamp on the fold of the opened envelope so that part of it is on the front at the return address area and part is on the back flap.)

Today, I'm giving a shout out for a happy birthday to my cousin Bjarne and a happy anniversary to my sister Amy and brother-in-love Jason!

Easter Basket Sketch Card (Two Ways)

Working with sketches is always inspires me and helps me quickly get inky without a lot of thought and effort, so for Thursday's Live at 7:30 PM on my Facebook page, I used this sketch as my inspiration. 

Rather than make a tag, I made a card using the Easter Joy suite, including both the Easter Joy DSP and the Pleasant Patterns Specialty DSP, the stamp set, and dies.  I had fun coloring my Easter basket items with Stampin' Blends markers!

I thought that this version had a little too much white at the top, so I added some Balmy Blue ink with a blending brush.  I also decided to make this card again with a few tweaks.

Which one do you prefer?

To a Great Guy Card

My great guy deserves a Valentine, so I made this card for him today using the #GDP534 sketch as my inspiration.

I started with my stack of Thoughtful Journey 6"x6" DSP and selected this wintry scene.  (Hurry!  Low inventory of this DSP so it's definitely only available while supplies last!) I grabbed my Nature's Walk bundle (stamp set and dies), Misty Moonlight and Basic White cardstock, plus Misty Moonlight and Blackberry Bliss ink.  Those beautiful watercolor leaves are just the gorgeous DSP!  I used Misty Moonlight & Silver ribbon behind my leaves cluster but you really couldn't see it so I added a quick little knot on top.

I crossed out the "like" in the sentiment and wrote in LOVE to fit today- and honestly every day!  My guy isn't a hearts and flowers kind of guy so hopefully he will love this card as much as I loved making it for him.

The Everyday Arches dies made this card sketch come together quickly.  
 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! 💕 I hope you have a special day!

A Paper Pumpkin subscription makes it so easy to create pretty cards! 

One Card, Five Ways

It's always a win when I work smarter than rather harder, so I love recreating a card sketch in different ways.  I had fun doing just that on a recent Facebook Live (Thursdays at 7:30 PM EST) on my Facebook page with the Nature's Symphony suite.

My first card only uses Very Vanilla, Pretty Peacock, and Old Olive cardstock, Pretty Peacock and Old Olive ink; and the Nature's Walk stamp set (plus some faux bronze pentagons).

The second card has the addition of the coordinating DSP.

The third card adds in coordinating die cuts.

I created two more in a different color scheme (Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, and Old Olive.

Do you prefer simple or more advanced?