Carrie's Custom Cards

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles Thanks For Being So Sweet Card

I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's August 2026 release! I've been having so much fun playing with the new crafty goodies they sent me, including this fun Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles set!

For this card, I ink smooshed a background using watercolors from Altenew's Watercolor 36-Pan Set. Then I used the stamps from the Sweet Popsicles set to stamp more texture onto the background using Fuchsia and Orange Cream Fresh Dye Inks from Altenew.

I die cut all the popsicles and used Altenew's Four Scoops Artist Marker set to color the popsicle sticks and the pink and yellow popsicles. The orange popsicle was die cut from paper I had watercolored with the same 36-pan watercolor set I used for the background. I die cut the sprinkles, toffee bits, chocolate topping and white chocolate drizzle and added them to the popsicles along with some stamping of toffee bits on the yellow popsicle. I love how many options this little set includes!

I decided how I wanted to arrange the popsicles and then stamped the "thanks for being so sweet" sentiment (also from the Sweet Popsicles set) onto the watercolored panel. Then I popped up the popsicles using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. To complete the background, I die cut some candy bits from the dies in the Sweet Popsicles set out of Brown Diamond Glitter Cardstock from Altenew's Brilliant Red Glitter Cardstock Set and added them around the popsicles.

I took a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inch panel of brown cardstock and mounted it to a white A2 card base and then adhered the watercolored panel on top.

Challenges I'm entering:

Allsorts challenge blog: Colors of Summer or ATG (5/5; ends 8/14/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 8/10 for the challenge; ends 8/19/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (3/3; ends 8/17/26) C10

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: ATG (ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 8/12/26)

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog: Summer Holidays (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

fourseasons: ATG summer (1/3; 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

Coneflower Love You Card

I've been creating more 6 by 6 cards recently, and I really enjoy the extra space to design with compared to A2 cards. I generally need non-machinable stamps on my cards anyway due to the foam tape I like to add to everything, so sending a square card doesn't add any extra cost to what I'm used to paying anyway.

For this 6 by 6 card, I trimmed a piece of 12 by 12-inch white Spellbinders cardstock to 6 by 12 and scored it in half to create a top-folding 6 by 6-inch card. Then I trimmed a piece of silver metallic cardstock to 5 7/8 by 5 7/8 inches and die cut some of the silver pieces for the card out of the center of the panel so it wasn't wasted. Then I trimmed a piece of shimmery blue metallic paper to 5 3/4 by 5 3/4 and embossed it with the embossing folder from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Magnificent Magnolias project kit. I used a craft knife to cut a slit in the top of the 3 vases so I could add my silver flower stems through them.

I die cut the petals from the August 2026 Craft-A-Flower: Coneflower set out of watercolor paper I had painted with Lindy's Magicals. I layered them up and then added the silver die cut flower centers using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. Then I decided where I wanted to put the flowers and leaves and adhered everything using a mixture of Instant Dimension Foam Tape and liquid glue. The Coneflower set will be available for purchase on Altenew's website starting August 6th.

I struggled with where to add the die cut "love you" sentiment from Altenew's August 2026 Craft-Your-Life: Painterly Perfection kit before deciding on the vase on the far left. That kit will also be available on August 6th.

To finish off the card, I added silver splatters using Altenew's Antique Silver Shimmer Relief Paste mixed with a little water.

Challenges I'm entering:
Allsorts challenge blog: Colors of Summer or ATG (4/5; ends 8/14/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: summertime blues (1/5; ends 8/19/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 7/10 for the challenge; ends 8/19/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (2/3; ends 8/17/26) C10

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: ATG (ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of no rectangles (8/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG (8/8; ends at the end of the month)

Triple B: ATG with birds, blooms, and/or butterflies (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Moments: Shimmer and Shine (1/3; ends 8/13/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 8/12/26)

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Art Studio Treasures Card

Today I am thrilled to be part of a hop on Instagram for Altenew's August release. If you'd like to hop along for a chance to win gift cards to Altenew, check out my Instagram account @carriesheridan.70 for more information.

I started this card by creating a black 5 by 7 card base. Then I trimmed a panel of cream cardstock to 4 7/8 by 6 7/8 and used the new Essential Textures: Canvas Impressions press plate and Rosewood ink (the darkest ink in the new Vintage Study ink collection Altenew released this month). It's a large press plate that covers a 5 by 7 panel.

Next, I die cut the pieces from the new Art Studio Treasures die set and used the same Vintage Study inks to add color to all the die cuts. I used vellum to die cut the little water jar. I stenciled the flower on the "canvas" using the new Painted Petals stencil set. The 3 flowers in that set all fit on the little canvas from the Art Studio Treasures set.

I used the new Nesting A2 Panels die set to create a little "table" for my palette, paintbrushes, and water jar. Then I arranged all the little pieces where I wanted them and set up the easel and canvas and adhered everything down.

To finish the card, I used the new One Go: Solid Circular Sentiments press plate and die set and Altenew's Obsidian Pigment Ink to create the "just a little reminder that you are awesome" sentiment. I stacked a few of the die cut circles behind the sentiment to give it some dimension. Then I adhered the panel to the card base.

Challenges I'm entering:

TIME OUT Challenges: Floral and Monochrome (2/5; ends 8/19/26) C5

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (1/3; ends 8/17/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (4/4; ends 9/3/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (4/4; ends 8/25/26)

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

Rural Farmstand and Breezy Day Card

I began this card by creating a black top-folding A2 card base. Then I trimmed a panel of white cardstock to 4 by 5 1/4 and stenciled Altenew's new Rural Farmstand stencil set onto it. I used the new Highland Flora ink collection for the purples you see on the card. Other inks used: Whispering Woodland, Red Sunset, Dessert Dreams, and Obsidian Black (for the sentiment).

I adhered the stenciled panel to a piece of purple cardstock I had trimmed to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 and then adhered that to the black card base. Then I die cut the pieces for the kites from the new Breezy Day layering die set out of white cardstock. I ink blended the pieces and stamped the pattern on the first kite using a stamp from the new Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles set and the Highland Flora ink collection. I assembled my kites and added them to the card using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

To finish the card, I adhered the sentiment (this was created using the new One Go: Solid Circular Sentiments Press Plate and coordinating die) to the bottom of the card.

Challenges I'm entering:

A Place To Start: ATG with option of no rectangles (6/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG (6/8; ends at the end of the month)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (5/5; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: Colors of Summer or ATG (2/5; ends 8/14/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 9/3/26)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (4/4; ends 8/21/26)

Cut It Up: Add a Sentiment (2/3; ends 8/17/26)

"Just Us Girls" Challenge: Die Week (2/3; ends 8/12/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 8/25/26)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with stencils (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog: Summer Holidays (1/3; 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

Embrace the Journey Aerial Cable Car Card

This card features many of the new release products: Mountain Peak stencil set, Tranquil Reflections ink collection, and Aerial Cable Car Layering Die Set. I created a black A2 card base and then trimmed a piece of cream cardstock to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 and stenciled the mountains twice. Then I stenciled them again on another sheet of cream cardstock and fussy cut areas out to add to the bottom of the card panel with Altenew's 1/8th inch Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

Next, I created a couple of the cable cars by die cutting them out of white cardstock and ink blending inks from Altenew's Sea Shore ink collection before assembling them and deciding where I wanted to place them on my card panel.

Before adhering the cable cars, I stamped "Embrace your own journey" from Altenew's Dotted Pinwheels stamp set using Altenew's Obsidian Pigment Ink. Then I adhered the cable cars using the 1/16th inch foam tape so I could tuck one of the cars slightly behind the mountain I popped up using 1/8th inch Instant Dimension Foam Tape on the bottom right of the card.

To finish the card, I adhered the stenciled panel to the black card base and added 3 Smoky Quartz Gem Sparkles.

Challenges I'm entering:

A Place To Start: ATG with option of no rectangles (7/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG (7/8; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: Colors of Summer or ATG (3/5; ends 8/14/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 9/3/26)

Cut It Up: Add a Sentiment (3/3; ends 8/17/26)

"Just Us Girls" Challenge: Die Week (3/3; ends 8/12/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 8/25/26)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with stencils (3/3; 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

Monday, August 10, 2026

Pitcher Vase of Coneflowers for Altenew August Release

I'm delighted to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's August 2026 release, and this card features the new Craft-A-Flower: Coneflower die set from the release. Each month, Altenew releases a new Craft-A-Flower die set featuring their keyhole system that makes assembling the die cuts a breeze. This set creates 5 different flowers along with stems and leaves. I had so much fun with this set!

For this card, I created a white A2 card base and then trimmed a panel of watercolor paper I had watercolored with Altenew's Lagoon Gouache from their Strolling Through New York Artists' Gouache set to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8. I embossed the panel using the embossing folder from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Painterly Perfection project kit to give it some good texture. I added Altenew's double-sided adhesive sheets in the new 4 1/4 by 5 1/2-inch size to the back of the watercolored and embossed panel and trimmed off the excess adhesive before adhering the panel to the card base.

Next, I die cut the flowers out of some watercolor paper I had sprayed and splattered with yellow inks. I die cut the leaves and stems out of white cardstock and ink blended them with inks from Altenew's Whispering Woodland ink collection. I die cut the flower centers out of rose gold cardstock. I assembled the flowers and then decided how I wanted to display them. I thought they would look pretty in a pink pitcher vase, so I die cut one of the pitcher vases from Altenew's Pitcher Vases Complete Bundle and embossed the pitcher with the coordinating embossing folder. I used watercolor paper I had ink smooshed with pink inks for the pitcher.

I arranged the flowers and stems in the pitcher vase and taped them down to the back of the pitcher so they would stay where I wanted them. I decided where I wanted the leaves and adhered them directly to the Lagoon panel. Then I popped up the vase and flowers using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

For the sentiment, I stamped "sending hugs" from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms set onto white cardstock and trimmed it to fit where I wanted it on the card front. I added a layer of the same rose gold cardstock I used for the flower centers behind the sentiment and adhered the layers together. Then I added more of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to the back of the sentiment strip and adhered it to the card front.

To finish the card, I added a few Bubblegum Dreams Enamel Dots near the 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. Altenew carries many wonderful craft products and has a great weekly sales section if you are looking for bargain prices to grow your Altenew collection. Altenew products used on my card: Coneflower CAF-Pitcher Vases Complete Bundle-Softly Sketched Blooms BAG-Painterly Perfection CYL-Whispering Woodland FDI-Bubblegum Dreams Enamel Dots-Strolling Through New York Artists' Gouache Lagoon-4 1/4 by 5 1/2 Double-Sided Adhesive Sheets

Challenges I'm entering:

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (5/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 8/19/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of fun folds (6/6; ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of no rectangles (5/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG (5/8; ends at the end of the month)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (4/5; ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (6/6; ends 8/12/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Colors of Summer or ATG (1/5; ends 8/14/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 9/3/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with option of "Tie it Up" (1/3; ends 8/19/26)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (3/4; ends 8/21/26)

Cut It Up: Add a Sentiment (1/3; ends 8/17/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (3/5; ends 8/10/26)

"Just Us Girls" Challenge: Die Week

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 8/25/26)

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

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Softly Sketched Blooms Art Studio Treasures Card

I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's August release! I used a lot of the new release products on this 5 by 7 card.

I started with a black 5 by 7 card base. then I trimmed a piece of white cardstock to 4 7/8 by 6 7/8 and used Altenew's Canvas Impressions press plate to emboss it. Then I ink blended an ombre effect on the panel using Altenew's new Highland Flora inks. I adhered the panel to the card base and set it aside.

Next, I stamped and stenciled the floral stamp from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms set and ink blended it using the coordinating stencils and the same Highland Flora inks along with Whispering Woodland inks for the leaves. I die cut it using the coordinating die in the set.

I die cut the elements from Altenew's Art Studio Treasures Layering Die Set and ink blended them with the same Highland Floral inks. I had fun adding a little of the ink to the miniature Petal Palette and to the ends of the little paintbrushes.

I adhered the pieces of the easel together and added the floral onto the easel to look like a piece of art someone was painting. Then I used the new One Go: Circular Sentiments Press Plate with Obsidian Black Pigment Ink and created a bunch of sentiments that I die cut with the coordinating die. I chose "wishing you all the best" and adhered it to the card front to finish the card.

Challenges I'm entering:

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 8/19/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of fun folds (5/6; ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of no rectangles (4/8; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create: ATG (4/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

We Love Stamping: Summer Blooms (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (5/6; ends 8/12/26)

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Flowers (3/3; ends 8/9/26

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Monochrome (2/5; ends 8/12/26)

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