Sunday, May 31, 2026

Flourishing Bouquet Hidden Message Card

I was recently playing with Altenew's Flourishing Bouquet stamp and stencil set, and I created 4 A2 panels with the one oversized floral stamp in the stamp set. I heat embossed the floral image using white embossing powder and then stenciled the image using Altenew's Dried Petals and Whispering Woodland ink families. I used one of the panel to create an anniversary card for my oldest daughter and her husband (see the post here: Carrie's Custom Cards: Flourishing Bouquet Anniversary Card), I ruined another panel while experimenting with embossing with a cover die (it cut through the panel despite my using the correct sandwich for embossing with a die), and I used the last 2 panels to create this anniversary card for my parents. They will be celebrating 59 years together on June 16th. What a beautiful example of Christian marriage they have been to our family through the years. 

I trimmed one of the remaining A2 panels to 4 by 5 1/4 and fussy cut the large floral from the second panel so that I could create a flap to hide my sentiment behind. I scored the fussy cut flower along the side so I had a small flap I could glue down to the back of the card panel. Before adhering it to the panel, I decided where to place my sentiment so that the floral flap would hide it fully. Once I decided on the placement of the stamp, I stamped the sentiment and adhered the flap to the card panel. 

I trimmed a piece of green cardstock to 4 1/8 by 5 5/8 and then ink blended the sides of a piece of cardstock 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 using Acai Berry with a light hand. I adhered all the layers together and added them to a white A2 card base. To finish the card, I added 3 enamel dots from Altenew's Whispering Woodland Enamel Dot set, placing them around the hidden sentiment. 

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 










Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases Challenge: I'm on the DT and entering just for fun

May 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Get Creative with Altenew

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/6; ends 6/12/26)

We Love Stamping: All Creatures Great and Small or ATG (1/5; ends 6/3/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Wedding/anniversary (1/5; ends 6/1/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends at the end of June)


Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 6/10/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Mountains or Coast (3/6; ends at the end of the month)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Raffle: Anniversary/Wedding category (3/4; ends 6/7/26)

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of May flowers (3/8; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG (3/5; ends 6/4/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/5; ends 6/3/26)

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love Challenges Blog: Anniversary card (ends at the end of the month)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: The Beginning of May With Poppy Stamps: Die cuts and celebrations (3/4; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 6/12/26)


I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

--Numbers 6: 22-26

 

Friday, May 29, 2026

Wishing You All the Best Wedding Card

I needed a couple of wedding cards for my 2 nieces who are getting married soon, so I followed a tutorial by Jackie Bolhuis here: Easy Fun Fold Card Template (Use Any Stamps, Ink & Paper) to make 2 fun fold wedding cards that are also a part of the Altenew Educator Instagram Hop starting today. My IG account is @carriesheridan.70 if you'd like to follow me and participate in the hop for a chance to win Altenew gift cards. 

For the front of the card, I die cut Altenew's Lace Die out of the same green cardstock I used for those panels and trimmed it, so it covered the left and right panels to add some pretty texture to them. 

For the teal blue focal point, I die cut two shades of teal cardstock using Altenew's Ornate Nesting Die Set and decorated them with 2 flowers I die cut using Altenew's Darling Dahlia Die Set. The "wishing you all the best" sentiment is from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Fruits & Flowers project kit. I used the coordinating die to die cut a few layers to stack behind the stamped sentiment for dimension. I added some Nuvo drops to the flower centers for a bit of shine and dimension. 

For the inside of the card, I stenciled Altenew's Lattice Blossoms stencil with Altenew's Autumn Blaze ink onto a panel of orange cardstock. 

For the center of the card, I used the same shades of teal cardstock to die cut 2 rectangles using Gina Marie Design's Stitched Rounded Rectangles Die Set. I embossed the smaller rectangle using Altenew's Enchanted Beginnings 3D embossing folder and used the coordinating stencil to add a bit of tone-on-tone ink blending to the bride and groom. If you are looking for an easy and elegant embossing folder for wedding cards, I highly recommend this one. 

To finish the card, I added a small bit of the Lace die cut and stamped "congratulations" from Altenew's Flourishing Bouquet stamp set to the inside panel below the embossed bride and groom. I love the font for the elegant sentiments in that set. 

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew carries many wonderful embossing folders, stencils, project kits, inks, and die sets like the ones I used here.










A look at the other card I created for the IG hop:


 Challenges I'm entering: 
Creative Creases Challenge: I'm on the DT and entering just for fun

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Wedding/anniversary (1/5; ends 6/1/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends at the end of June)


Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 6/10/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Mountains or Coast (1/6; ends at the end of the month) Winner 6/3/26

A Place To Start: ATG with option of a fun fold (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Raffle: Anniversary/Wedding category (1/4; ends 6/7/26) Top 3 Pick and prize winner 6/8/26

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of May flowers (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG (1/5; ends 6/4/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (1/5; ends 6/3/26)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (I used scissors to cut my foam tape) (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love Challenges Blog: Wedding card (ends at the end of the month)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: The Beginning of May With Poppy Stamps: Die cuts and celebrations (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 6/12/26)

{PIN}spirational Challenges: My card features the vibrant colors in the inspiration photo this month (ends at the end of the month)


I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

--Numbers 6: 22-26

Enchanted Beginnings Wedding Card

I needed a couple of wedding cards for my 2 nieces who are getting married soon, so I followed a tutorial by Jackie Bolhuis here: Easy Fun Fold Card Template (Use Any Stamps, Ink & Paper) to make 2 fun fold wedding cards that are also a part of the Altenew Educator Instagram Hop starting today. My IG account is @carriesheridan.70 if you'd like to follow me and participate in the hop for a chance to win Altenew gift cards. All stamps, dies, embossing folders, and stencils listed are from Altenew. I've named each product below in the description but am saving time by mentioning that here instead of each time I list a product. 

Altenew provided a color palette for this hop, and there were 10 colors in the palette. I wasn't able to fit them all in a single card, so I created the two wedding cards using the colors across the two cards. You can see a photo of both cards at the end of my post. These aren't my go-to colors, so it was a good opportunity to play with new combinations. 

I followed Jackie's measurements for the card elements, so be sure to watch her video for the measurements. For the panel on the front left, I embossed the lighter purple panel using Crisscross Blooms 3D embossing folder. For the panel on the right, I trimmed a piece of dark orange cardstock and opted to leave it plain since I had so much going on with this card already. For the front focal point, I die cut and embossed a purple frame with the same purple from the card base using the Craft-Your-Life: Frozen Moments project kit. Then I embossed and stenciled the bridal couple using Enchanted Beginnings 3D embossing folder and stencil set and Autumn Blaze ink. I used a heavier hand to stencil the dress and flowers and then just used what was left on the brush for the groom. I trimmed the embossed and stenciled panel to just larger than the cut out area in the frame so that I could glue the edges to the back of the frame. Then I adhered the frame to ONLY the left gatefold panel using instant dimension foam tape. 

For the orange panel adhered to the right gatefold panel, I stamped the floral stamps from Craft-Your-Life: Delicate Garden using Orange Cream ink. I stamped them using my Stampwheel 2.0 so I had room for all three stamps at the same time. I then turned the orange panel over and stamped them again so they would show up when the panel is opened to the center as well. I stamped "congratulations" from the Bouquet of Poppies set in the middle of the flowers at an angle. I made sure it was hidden when the card is closed. 

For the inside of the card, I stamped the large floral stamp from Craft-Your-Life: Bewitching Rose using Fresh Lemon ink for a tone-on-tone look. The Emily Dickinson quote I stamped inside is also from that same set. I love that quote for wedding cards. 

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew carries many wonderful embossing folders, stencils, project kits, inks, and die sets like the ones I used here. 










Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases Challenge: I'm on the DT and entering just for fun

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with stencils (I used a stencil to color the embossed bride and groom) (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Embossing + a Sentiment (ends at the end of the month)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with a twist of embellishments (1/3; ends 6/10/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Wedding/anniversary (2/5; ends 6/1/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends at the end of June)


Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 6/10/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Mountains or Coast (2/6; ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of a fun fold (2/8; ends at the end of the month)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Raffle: Anniversary/Wedding category (2/4; ends 6/7/26)

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of May flowers (2/8; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG (2/5; ends 6/4/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (2/5; ends 6/3/26)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (I used scissors to cut my foam tape) (2/5; ends at the end of the month)

Heart's Quest Celebrations of Love Challenges Blog: Wedding card (ends at the end of the month)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: The Beginning of May With Poppy Stamps: Die cuts and celebrations (2/4; ends at the end of the month)

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 6/12/26)

{PIN}spirational Challenges: My card features the vibrant colors in the inspiration photo this month (ends at the end of the month)


I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

--Numbers 6: 22-26


 

Friday, May 1, 2026

Congrats Fun Fold For Creative Creases #115

 It's time for a new challenge on the Creative Creases Challenge blog, and I hope you will join the fun by linking up your fun fold projects here: Creative Creases Challenge.


For the measurements and instructions for my fun fold card, I followed a tutorial by Connie Stewart here: ðŸ”´ Hidden Message Card Tutorial That Went Viral in My Friend Group. I found some fun double-sided pattern paper with cute little fruits and veggies in jars on one side and a red gingham pattern on the other side and used that paper for the accordion part of my card. Then I found some coordinating cardstocks in red and orange for the other layers. I followed Connie's tutorial and assembled the card. Then I stamped "You are amazing" from Altenew's Vintage Garden stamp set and added that to the front of the card with a few yellow enamel dots from Altenew's Colorful Wonder set. 

For the inside of the card, I stamped "congrats" from Altenew's Bouquet of Poppies set. I added some stamped and die cut root veggies from Lawn Fawn's Rooting For You stamp and die set. I stamped a couple extras for the back of the card, too. 

To finish the card, I stamped "Wishing you" and "endless happiness & success" using stamps from Altenew's Gracious Gardenias Craft-Your-Life project kit. Then I added the extra root vegetables I had stamped and die cut for the inside of the card before adhering the panel to the back of the card. 




Here's a look when the flap on the inside is open:


A view of the center panel when the flap is open:


View of the back of the card:


Flat lay views of the card: 





Challenges I'm entering: 




Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 5/12/26)

As You Like It Challenge: Brights or Pastels and Why: I tend to use pastels on my cards to women, but for men, I like to use bright colors like I used in this card. Bright colors work well for themes like congratulations, too. (3/3; ends 5/7/26)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Across the bottom: Pattern paper, layers, red 

Allsorts challenge blog Anything but square (1/5; ends 5/8/26)



Crafty Catz: ATG (1/5; ends 5/7/26)

No more challenges. 


I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog: 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

--Numbers 6: 22-26