Spooktacular Postage Collage Halloween Card

It has been way too long since I made a Halloween inspired project, so for this month’s spooky card I finally pulled out the Waffle Flower Postage Collage collection that I have apparently been hoarding in my stash for ages. I started with the Spooktacular Postage Collage stencils and blended all of the tiny Halloween images using Pinkfresh Studio inks to build up all the little details in the collage. Once the final stencil layer was complete, I added white watercolor splatter from the Starry Colors palette because apparently I physically cannot stop myself from adding splatter to a card. After everything dried, I used several coordinating postage themed stamp sets to add little cancellation marks, spider web details, and extra Halloween texture all around the collage before die cutting the entire panel with the coordinating die.

For the background, I layered the collage onto a deep eggplant purple cardstock panel that I embossed with a spider web texture. My first attempt did not emboss all the way to the edges and I hated it immediately, so I redid the panel and ran it through the die cutting machine twice so the spider web texture wrapped around the whole background. It was absolutely worth the redo because it made the card feel so much more finished. For the sentiment, I hot foiled the word “Boo” using a Pretty Pink Posh hot foil plate and Prism Glimmer foil, then layered it onto extra black die cuts for dimension.

I paired it with a white embossed “You Are Spectacular” sentiment from the Spooktacular Postage stamp set and arranged everything slightly off center across the collage. To finish the card, I popped the collage and embossed sentiment up with foam adhesive and added Black Magic Glitter Pops of Color around the potion, moth, and spider images for extra sparkle. I am completely obsessed with this teal, purple, and orange color combination and I think all the little postage collage details make this card feel playful and spooky at the same time!

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Music Man Scene Cards with Kindred Stamps

For this week’s Fandom Friday project, I created two classic movie inspired cards using the new Music Man stamp set from Kindred Stamps, and I had so much fun building these little dramatic window scenes! I started by stamping the character image twice and coloring both versions with my Ohuhu alcohol markers. I kept the coloring pretty simple with mostly two and three color blends since the image is on the smaller, detailed side. I used warmer red grays for the hair, soft gray tones for the boom box and sneakers, and blue leaning gray greens for the pants. I tested two different jacket color combinations because I could not decide between a more khaki brown or camel toned jacket, and honestly I still think both versions work depending on the mood of the card. Once everything was colored, I fussy cut the images and started building the scenes for each card.

For the first card, I created a bedroom window scene using patterned paper from the Nanny paper pad as wallpaper for the room. I die cut and stacked several window frames together to create dimension, then ink blended a dusky outdoor forest scene behind the window using Distress Inks and the Forest Stencil from Kindred Stamps. I layered darker blues around the trees for the evening sky, added greens for the tree line, and blended a soft path underneath the character to ground the scene.

After assembling the layered window frame, I added softly ink blended white curtains and attached them with a combination of foam adhesive and liquid glue so they framed the character without covering him up too much. I finished the inside of the card with the “I’ll always be right outside your window” sentiment, which worked perfectly with the whole scene. For the second card, I used the same outdoor blended background but skipped the dimensional window frame to create more of an outside perspective instead. I added the “You’re Beautiful In My Eyes” sentiment to the front and stamped “You’re My Jam” on the inside. I love that both cards feel connected while still telling slightly different versions of the same nostalgic scene!

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Rose Blossoms Floral Thinking of You Card with Scrapbook.com

For today’s card, I wanted to create something soft, layered, and full of texture using Scrapbook.com exclusives and the gorgeous Heirloom pattern papers. I started by stamping the large floral image from the Rose Blossoms clear stamp set using a brown alcohol marker friendly ink and colored everything in with OLO markers. Once the coloring was complete, I restamped the image in Weeping Willow Stellar Ink using my MISTI so the outlines would stay crisp and clean, then used the coordinating die to cut the floral image out. For the background layers, I die cut the largest stitched heart from the Nested Stitch Hearts die set using a pale blue floral paper from the Heirloom A2 paper pad. I paired that with a pale pink patterned paper panel trimmed to 3 1/4 by 4 1/2 inches, misted it lightly with water, and embossed it using the Polka Dots 3D embossing folder for lots of texture and dimension.

To build the rest of the card, I layered the embossed pink panel onto a vellum mat and added everything to an A2 card base covered with another brown patterned paper from the Heirloom collection. Before assembling, I stamped a repeating stitched pattern from the Background Builders 3 stamp set onto the brown paper using Cookie Dough ink for a subtle tone on tone look, then blended Cookie Dough and Weeping Willow ink around the edges for extra depth. I also added Cross My Heart Solar Paste around the edges of both the brown and pink layers and sprayed the embossed panel with the coordinating Solar Spray for a soft shimmer.

For the focal point, I cut the floral image in half and arranged the pieces around the blue stitched heart so the flowers framed opposite corners of the card. I popped the heart and florals up with foam adhesive for dimension and added the “Thinking of You” sentiment cut from dark brown patterned paper with a vellum shadow layer. To finish everything off, I brushed a little gold shimmer onto the sentiment and scattered Unicorn Tears Glitter Pops of Color around the design for the prettiest soft pink sparkle. I love how elegant and dreamy this card feels with all the layered textures and subtle shimmer details!

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Custom/DIY Mod Floral Gift Bag with Sizzix & Catherine Pooler

For today’s project, I created a reusable floral gift bag using the Sizzix and Catherine Pooler Print and Pattern collection, and I love how bright and cheerful it turned out! I started by creating my own custom patterned paper using the Print and Pattern Tool along with the Birds & Blooms #1 stamp set. I stamped a repeating design onto white cardstock using Catherine Pooler inks in Sweetheart and Serenade for one floral design, Tiara and Orange Twist for another flower, Mardi Gras for the leaves, and Cummerbund for tiny blue hearts scattered throughout the background. I have an Instagram carousel embedded below so you can see how I layered and repeated the stamped images to build the full pattern across the cardstock. Once my patterned paper was complete, I used the It’s a Party Thinlits die set to die cut the pieces for the gift bag and folded all of the score lines before assembling everything with a mix of double sided adhesive tape and liquid glue.

After the bag was assembled, I added some coordinating embellishments to finish it off. I die cut the scalloped flap closure from a dark teal cardstock and also die cut the small tag from the same die set using a light purple cardstock. I stamped a small star from the Print and Pattern Birthday Sentiment stamp set onto the tag using Sweetheart ink and attached the tiny reinforcement circle around the tag hole for extra detail. To make the bag reusable, I added a small velcro circle underneath the flap closure so the bag could easily open and close without damage. Finally, I tied the tag onto the flap using baker’s twine from my stash, wrapping it around the flap a few times before tying it into a bow. I love that this project turns handmade patterned paper into something functional and giftable while still feeling really polished and fun!

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Sweet Summer Mailbox Card with Scrapbook.com

For today’s card, I created a bright and cheerful little mailbox scene using Scrapbook.com exclusives and lots of color from the Gelato cardstock paper pad. I started with an A2 white card base and trimmed another piece of white cardstock slightly smaller to layer on top. Before attaching it, I lightly misted the cardstock with water and embossed it using the Ethereal 3D embossing folder to create lots of soft texture in the background. For the focal scene, I die cut the large postage rectangle from the Happy Mail Decorative Die set using one of the light blue papers from the Gelato pad. I used the Outdoor Scenes stencil with Picket Fence Distress Ink to add clouds and blended Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, and Lucky Clover Distress Oxides along the bottom for the grassy area. The clouds faded back a little after drying, but they still show up softly when the light hits the card just right, which I actually really love.

Next, I built the mailbox and birds using more cardstock from the Gelato paper pad. I die cut the mailbox from orange shades and blended the edges with Check Engine Stellar Ink for dimension, then layered the black mailbox opening behind it. For the mailbox post, I used kraft cardstock and darkened it with Weeping Willow Stellar Ink before trimming and extending the pole slightly taller than the original die allowed. I attached the mailbox to the center of the postage panel with foam adhesive for extra dimension. The birds were assembled from layered pink and peach cardstock pieces with tiny black eyes and little orange cheeks, feet, and beaks. I glued their feet directly onto the mailbox while popping up their bodies with foam adhesive so they looked more dimensional. To finish the card, I stamped the “You Are Amazing” sentiment from the Graduation stamp set using Weeping Willow Stellar Ink and added it underneath the mailbox scene with more foam adhesive. Finally, I scattered Royal Blue Glitter Pops of Color across the sky area for some sparkle and shine. I love how playful and happy this card feels with all the soft texture, layered die cuts, and bright summer colors!

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Sunset Inspired Floral Birthday Card with Sizzix & Catherine Pooler Designs

Today I am rewinding back to the May 2023 SheetLoad of Cards sketch with the SheetLoad Rewind Creative Team and I had so much fun putting my own spin on this layout! I stayed pretty close to the original sketch while using products from Sizzix and Catherine Pooler Designs, especially the new Print and Pattern Toolkit. For my background, I created a repeating stenciled pattern using the Patchwork Tile stencil and several Distress Ink colors inspired by a sunset palette. I layered shaded lilac, seedless preserves, picked raspberry, saltwater taffy, carved pumpkin, and scattered straw to build up the colorful design, then added a little gold shine around the edges using Slippery When Wet Lunar Paste from Simon Hurley and Ranger Ink. I loved how the gold gave the busy background a soft glow without needing extra splatter or embellishing.

To build the rest of the card, I paired the stenciled background with embossed vellum and layered floral die cuts from the Friendly Florals Thinlits set. I embossed the vellum using the Scalloped Frame Florals embossing folder and added more Lunar Paste to highlight the raised details and edges. For the sentiment, I die cut “HBD” using the Folk Alphabet dies and added more gold shine so everything tied together. Once I had all my flowers, leaves, and layers assembled, I followed the sketch layout and popped up portions of the vellum panel with foam adhesive for dimension. I finished everything off with a few tiny gold gems because the card still needed just a little more sparkle. This card feels bright, layered, and full of happy sunset colors, and I love how it turned out as my take on the May 2023 SheetLoad sketch!

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Magical Newspaper Card with The Sassy Club Sasstastic Beasts

Today’s card was all about fandom fun and bringing a little bit of the magical world into my craft room! I pulled out the older Sasstastic Beasts stamp set from The Sassy Club and colored all of the adorable critters and wizard images with my Ohuhu alcohol markers. I wanted the coloring to feel soft and cartoony, so I leaned into visible marker strokes for the fur and hair instead of blending everything completely smooth. After coloring, I restamped the images with darker ink to sharpen the outlines, but things shifted a little in my MISTI and I was honestly devastated for a minute. Thankfully, I was able to recover the images with a white gel pen and some thicker highlights, and in the end I actually think it added even more personality to the finished card. Sometimes crafty accidents turn into happy little style choices! At least that's why I'm telling myself...

For the card design, I created a magical newspaper layout using The Sassy Club News Print die set and several coordinating sentiments and stamps. I embossed the main sentiment in gold because I loved the idea of the shiny gold lettering attracting all of the little gold stealing critters around the card. To give the newspaper background more texture and age, I blended distress inks around the edges and added watercolor splatter for an old magical paper look. Once everything was stamped and assembled, I layered the critters around the sentiment with thin foam adhesive so they looked like they were all reaching toward the shiny gold words. I finished the card by layering the newspaper onto patterned paper from the Wizard House paper pad and attached everything to a trimmed down 5x7 card base. I kept the embellishing pretty simple because I really wanted the cute characters and embossed sentiment to be the stars of the show, and I had so much fun putting this magical little scene together!

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