Magnolia Ballerina Thank You Card

A crafty friend recently lent me her Magnolia Ballerina bundle by Altenew (stamps, stencils, embossing folder, and dies), and I had fun playing with it. 

For this card, I chose a 6 inch square card base to avoid having to trim away any of this beautiful floral focal point. I used embossing ink and white embossing powder to heat emboss the stamped image and then ink blended Altenew's Highland Flora and Whispering Woodland dye ink collections along with Altenew's Lemonade Stand ink for the flower centers. 

After ink blending the stamped image, I die cut it and set it aside. For the background, I stamped the image from the set using more Lemonade Stand ink on an ink smooshed background. I stamped it a few times to make the tone-on-tone image stand out more. Then I added some stenciled elements using Altenew's Paper Echoes stencil and more Lemonade Stand ink. I adhered the ink smooshed, stamped, and stenciled panel to a dark purple panel and then adhered that to a 6 by 6 light purple card base. 

For the sentiment, I die cut the words "thank you" and their shadows using the same papers I used for the card base and dark purple layer of the card. I die cut several layers for the shadow and stacked them together to give the sentiment some dimension. 

To finish the card, I added the floral focal point with Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape and adhered the sentiment below it. Then I added a few small purple gems to the top right and bottom left of the card as embellishments. 

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. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 11/25/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (5/5; ends 11/12/26)

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

Allsorts challenge blog: Moodboard or ATG (4/5; ends 11/19/26) 

A Place To Start: ATG with the option of Easel Card (4/8; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 11/12/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Thanks/Thanksgiving (1/5; ends 11/18/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Thanks/Thanksgiving (1/5; ends 11/16/26)

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

Addicted to Stamps and More!: Die cuts and/or Stencils (I used both) (1/3; ends 11/24/26)

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

Coral Charm Peony Hello Card

I recently attended an Altenew Educator Workshop led by the creative Traci Starkweather, and she created a card design using Altenew's Coral Charm Peony. She did some lovely ink blending on her petals, but I decided to die cut my flower and leaves out of papers I had painted with alcohol inks instead. I just love the look of alcohol inks! And now that I use white posterboard instead of Yupo paper when working with them, I can die cut my panels easily. 

I started with a top-folding A2 card panel. Then I adhered a panel of black cardstock I had trimmed to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches. Once that was done, I die cut all the layers for the flower and leaves out of my alcohol ink panels and assembled the flower. This is Altenew's Coral Charm Peony, and it's one of their Craft-A-Flower die sets. 

Once I knew what size the flower would be, I decided to use Altenew's Fine Frames: Squares die set and die cut the largest square out of a panel of white cardstock I had trimmed to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. I then embossed the pieces using the 3D embossing folder in Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Eclectic Bouquet project kit and popped up the square using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. There is a small black frame around the popped up square because the Fine Frames: Squares die set cuts out a very thin frame around the squares it die cuts. I simply saved the thin white frame it die cut when I ran it through with my white cardstock panel for another project. 

I adhered my peony using more foam tape and then trimmed a sentiment from Altenew's Mini Sentiments 3D embossing folder. I went over the letters of the sentiment with the gold marker from Altenew's Essential Permanent Markers set and adhered the sentiment to the card. 

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. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 11/11/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (4/5; ends 11/12/26)

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 11/14/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Moodboard or ATG (3/5; ends 8/19/26) 

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 12/2/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/3; ends 11/18/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 11/20/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 11/29/26)

A Place To Start: ATG with the option of Easel Card (3/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 11/12/26)

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

A Cut Above: ATG with die cuts (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with embossing with option of Numbers (3/3; ends 11/11/26)

Triple B: ATG with birds, blooms, and/or butterflies (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

 

Coreopsis Card

I love how the color yellow is so cheerful and bright, and I decided to use it for a card to give my youngest daughter. I started with a white top-folding A2 card base and embossed a panel of yellow cardstock using Altenew's Lace-Topped Petals 3D embossing folder. I added some white pigment ink to the raised parts of the embossed panel and then trimmed the panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. I added it to the front of the card base and set it aside.

Next, I die cut several frames using Altenew's Decorative Frames Embossing Folder and Die Set. I stacked the frames together using liquid glue so the frame had some dimension and sturdiness to it. 

I die cut the flowers and leaves from Altenew's Craft-A-Flower: Coreopsis layering die set and assembled them after doing a bit of ink blending on the pieces for the flower centers. I decided on how I wanted to place the frame and the flowers and then adhered the die cuts to the card Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

For the sentiment, I die cut and stacked a few layers for the words "love" and "you" using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Painterly Perfection set. I adhered them to the card using liquid glue to finish the card.

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.

Challenges I'm entering: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 11/11/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/5; ends 11/12/26)

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (2/3; ends 11/14/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Moodboard or ATG (2/5; ends 8/19/26) 

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 12/2/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (2/3; ends 11/18/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 11/20/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 11/29/26)

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

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 11/12/26)

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

A Cut Above: ATG with die cuts (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with embossing with option of Numbers (2/3; ends 11/11/26)

Triple B: ATG with birds, blooms, and/or butterflies (2/3; 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

Give Thanks Slimline Card for Double Trouble #229

Today I'm up on the Double Trouble Challenge blog as a Crazy Cousin (a fun name they have for their Guest Designers). Be sure to check out the new challenge and play along here: Double Trouble Paper Crafting. 

For my slimline card, I created the card base out of white cardstock and then covered the entire front of the card with orange polka dot pattern paper. Then I chose some fun fall/Thanksgiving pattern paper and matted two pieces of it on black cardstock to follow the Try A Sketch on Tuesday sketch that Double Trouble partners with. Next, I trimmed a square of yellow cardstock and turned it to be a diamond shape to match the sketch. I stamped it with "Give thanks" and added a turkey I had made using my Silhouette Cameo 4 and a print and cut file. I stacked a few turkeys together and used liquid glue to adhere them together so the turkey is more stable. I adhered the yellow diamond with foam tape and then used more foam tape to add the turkey. This card has a lot of dimension, so it will be hand delivered. 😃

The sketch calls for a sentiment below the diamond, so I chose another stamp (from Altenew's Sweet Pumpkins bundle), stamped it on the same yellow cardstock as the diamond, and trimmed it to fit where I wanted it on the card to match the sketch. Then I added 3 gold leaf embellishments from Stampin' Up! to finish the card.

Here are the parameters for the challenge this week: Thing 1: 3 colors from the color wheel on the website (I used orange, yellow, and teal from the color wheel), 2 images (I have a turkey and leaves as well as the images on my pattern paper), and 1 slimline or mini slimline card base. Then there's the option of following Thing 3's suggestion of a sentiment, color, or image with the letter T.  I have a turkey, the color teal, and the word "thanks" in one of my sentiments. Finally, there's Thing 2's optional double dare to follow the Try A Sketch on Tuesday sketch. I enjoyed following the sketch as I don't typically try sketch challenges. They are a great source of inspiration, and this was a good reminder to play along with them more often. 

A big thank you to Suzanne and Melanie for inviting me to be their Crazy Cousin this month! 😊

Close up of the sentiments:

Challenges I'm entering: 

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

Try A Sketch On Tuesday (TSOT) (1/4; ends 11/22/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (1/3; ends 11/14/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Moodboard or ATG (1/5; ends 8/19/26) 

Love Those Pretty Papers - Part 2: ATG with pattern papers (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 12/2/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (1/3; ends 11/18/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 11/20/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 11/29/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Add bling (I added 3 gold leaf embellishments) (1/5 ends 11/11/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: Autumn or Christmas (1/6; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 11/10/26)

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

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 11/12/26)

fourseasons: ATG fall (ends at the end of the month)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...: We are Grateful (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG: ATG with a critter (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

Crafty Animals: ATG with animals (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Thanks/Thanksgiving (1/5; ends 11/16/26)

Triple B: ATG with birds, blooms, and/or butterflies (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

Triple Flap Card for Creative Creases #121

It's time for a new challenge on the Creative Creases Challenge blog, and I chose a fun Triple Flap Card

design inspired by Connie Stewart's video here: (28) 🔴 Triple Flap Card Tutorial: Christmas + Birthday Fun Fold Ideas - YouTube. I followed her instructions except that I enlarged the panel on the right side to accommodate the stamped Scripture verse I wanted to add to the flap and I also included an extra fold on the inside of the card with a hidden sentiment.

I started by choosing the pattern papers and coordinating solid color cardstocks I wanted to use for the card. Once I had them picked out, I began the process of trimming all the pieces and assembling the card base and layers. This is an A2 card, but it's pretty thick from all the layers, so I plan to use a 5 by 7-inch envelope to send it and will add additional postage. 

Once I had the layers assembled, I stamped and die cut Papertrey Ink's Reflections: John 14 verse. I recently started a subscription to PTI's Reflections monthly subscription and have loved receiving a verse stamp, a coordinating die to die cut the verse, and 2 decorative dies for only $25 a month (including shipping). It's a great value since I love to make cards with Scripture on them. I only used the verse stamp and coordinating die for this card, but I have used the decorative dies on other cards with this verse (here's a link to another card using the decorative dies: Carrie's Custom Cards: John 14:27 Card). I added 3 enamel dots from Altenew's Fall Harvest enamel dot collection around the sentiment stamp. 

After adhering the verse to the front of the card, I decided to add a die cut sunflower to the front of the card to hold the flap on the right side closed. I die cut the petal layers of Altenew's Bright Bloom layering die set 4 times and adhered them together and added the die cuts for the flower center and then popped up the flower using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I was careful where I placed the flower so that the flap could tuck in behind it on one side to stay in place. It's a thick card, and that flap did not want to stay closed on its own. 

For the inside of the card, I simply trimmed and scored a sentiment on the back of the pattern paper (this double-sided pattern paper has 6  3-inch by 6-inch decorative sentiment panels that can be trimmed to be used on cards or scrapbook layouts. I rarely use premade sentiments like this, but I loved this one. I scored the panel at 3 inches so it could be folded inside the card for an additional panel to flip open. This card is so fun with all the panels to open! 

I hope you'll join the fun over on the Creative Creases Challenge blog where it's always anything goes with a fun fold project: Creative Creases Challenge

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.

Challenges I'm entering:

TIME OUT Challenges: C5 (ends 11/11/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 11/11/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/5; ends 11/12/26)

Love Those Pretty Papers - Part 2: ATG with pattern papers (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Thinking of You (1/5; ends 11/9/26)

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

Book Binding Gatefold Pocket Card

I recently saw a new-to-me fun fold by Creative Moments By G here: Book Binding Gatefold with a Pocket, and I thought the format of this fun fold would be perfect for sending an encouraging scripture that could then be used as a bookmark or put on the fridge as an encouraging reminder. I ended up making 30 of these cards to send to the members of my Bible Study Fellowship class and the group of elderly people I regularly send cards to. 

I started by choosing some fall pattern papers and coordinating cardstock colors. I then followed the dimensions and instructions in the pdf from Creative Moments By G. I used thin strips of foam tape to pop the triangles up that hold the panel with the scripture verse. 

For the scripture verse, I stamped the verse from Papertrey Ink's Reflections: John 14 and then die cut it with the coordinating die. Then I used the negative die cut to create a jig in my MISTI so I could die cut a bunch of the coordinating dies and then pop the white die cuts back in the jig and stamp them quickly and easily. I did 40 of them, so I have a few extras to include inside future cards. I think this verse is perfect for get well, thinking of you, sending hugs, etc. type cards. Then I die cut the smaller decorative die that came in the PTI Reflections: John 14 subscription to put behind the verse and adhered the pieces to a panel of green cardstock I trimmed to fit inside the pocket that holds the gatefold shut. These were quick and easy to create and will hopefully be a blessing and encouragement to the recipients. 

In case the font is difficult to read in the photos, I thought I would type the verse here as it's such a beautiful one: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27. I can't say enough good things about Papertrey's Reflections subscription! A beautiful scripture stamp, a coordinating die, and 2 decorative dies for $25 a month including tax and shipping is such a great value, and I just love having the verses as inspiration for my monthly happy mail cards I mass produce. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases #120 - October 2nd-November 5th: I'm on the DT and entering for inspiration only 

TIME OUT Challenges: (2/5; ends 11/11/26) C5

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Autumn in the Woods (2/5; ends 11/15/26)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Fall + A Sentiment (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

{Cupcake Inspirations}: (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

Coneflower Take Care Card

A friend of mine is having her second round of chemo this week, so I sent out this "take care" card with an encouraging scripture (John 14:27) inside and a message that I'm praying for her. 

To begin the card, I die cut a bunch of Coneflowers from watercolor paper I had used Lindy's Magicals on. I used Altenew's Craft-A-Flower: Coneflower die set. I also die cut the stems and leaves out of white cardstock and ink blended them using Altenew's Fresh Leaf ink. I assembled the flowers and added the stems but left off the leaves until I decided what to put the flowers in. 

For the background, I used Altenew's Essential Textures: Stonewall Press Plate and gray ink on white cardstock and trimmed the panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8. I added it to a green top-folding A2 card base I had created to coordinate with the leaves. 

Then I looked through my die collection and decided to die cut one of the dies from Altenew's Eartheware Vases set. I ink blended it was some gray ink and then added 3 of the Coneflowers and taped their stems to the back of the vase to keep them where I wanted them while I played with the placement of the leaves. Once I decided where I wanted the leaves, I glued them to the stems and then added foam tape to the back of the flowers and vase and adhered it all to the card front. 

For the sentiment, I die cut the "take care" sentiment and shadow die from Altenew's Stylish Greetings Die Set and ink blended the words and shadow with Altenew's Fresh Lemon ink for the words (which I also used for the flower centers) and some of Altenew's Tangerine Dream and Passion Poppy for the shadow to match the Coneflowers. I added liquid glue to the part of the sentiment that I adhered to the vase and foam tape for the rest of the sentiment so it's the same height as the vase. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (1/5; ends 11/4/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (3/3; ends 11/2/26) C10

TIME OUT Challenges: (1/5; ends 11/11/26) C5

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 11/11/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/5; ends 11/12/26)

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