Big Hugs Pastel Card

I needed a card for a friend who had been ill for several weeks and decided to create one with purple and butterflies on it because she loves purple and butterflies. I thought this cheerful card would brighten her day, and she called me the day it arrived to let me know how much she loved it. Cardmaking is such a great hobby because it allows me to send happy mail to so many people. 

To create the background, I added white pigment ink to an A2 panel and then ink blended some Catherine Pooler inks over the front. I then embossed the panel with Altenew's Crisscross Blooms 3D embossing folder. 

I die cut Altenew's Craft-A-Flower: African Daisies and Fresh Flowers die sets in pastel colors and assembled them. I used a few foliage pieces from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Butterfly Garden project kit with the flowers and used that set for the yellow and orange butterfly I added to the card. I finished the card the "big hugs" sentiment from the Craft-Your-Life: Flourishing Garden kit. I ink blended some orange ink onto the sentiment after I die cut it with the coordinating die in the set. 

I finished the card by adding splatters of Altenew's Titanium White gouache and Carbon Black gouache. 

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.  Again, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew carries many beautiful Build-A-Garden sets like the one I used here.  

Challenges I'm entering: 

613 Avenue Create: ATG with twist of April showers (2/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog: Something old, something new: The African Daisies and Fresh Flower dies are old while the Crisscross Blooms embossing folder is a new one to my stash (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (I used several kinds of papers and cut my foam tape with scissors) (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Moments: ATG or bunnies and blooms (3/3; ends 4/12/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (unlimited; 4/12/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (5/6; ends 4/12/26)

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 4/15/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of die cuts (3/4; ends at the end of the month)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 4/27/26)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Layer it up: my flowers are layered die cuts. I hope that counts (unlimited; ends at the end of the month)

Cardz 4 Galz: Spring Flowers (3/3; ends 4/15/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG 32/3; ends 4/10/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: Springtime or ATG (3/5; ends 4/10/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (ends 4/18/26)

As You Like It Challenge: Simple or Fussy and Why? I definitely am a fussy crafter! I struggle with clean and simple and love to add more die cuts, embellishments, splatters, and embossing! I just really enjoy adding all those extra details! (1/3; ends 4/22/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (1/5; ends 5/11/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Spring Flowers or Showers (2/10; ends 5/17/26)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Easter/Spring (unlimited; ends 4/14/26)

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

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

fourseasons: ATG spring (unlimited; ends at the end of the month) 

Daisy Chain Challenges: no design paper (1/3; ends 4/29/26)

Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG: ATG with a critter of some sort (1/5; ends 4/29/26)

Crafty Animals: ATG with a critter (unlimited; ends at the end of the month) 

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Watercolor and/or Spring + a sentiment (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

The Pick 3 Challenge: Text, die cuts, and wings (2/6; ends 4/17/26)

Inspiration Station: The season (spring) and pastels inspired my card (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Diagonal from bottom left to top right: encouraging sentiment, free, and floral/foliage (1/3; ends 4/23/26)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 of something from your stash (more than 3 different inks) 2 of anything from your stash (3 different die sets) 1 of everything else from your stash (1 sentiment stamp) (3/4; ends 4/12/26)

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

 

Pristine Peonies Congrats Cards for Your Paper Insider

It's time for the Your Paper Insider April Instagram Hop, and I created these two cards for the hop and wanted to add them to my blog as well. If you'd like to check out my Instagram post about the cards, my Instagram handle is @carriesheridan.70. All papers used for both cards are from Your Paper Insider. 

I created these 2 cards during a wonderful Altenew Educator Certification Program class led by Susan Little. Susan had us break out our Altenew Watercolor 36-Pan Set to watercolor Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Pristine Peonies stamps after we stamped, heat embossed, and die cut the floral images. I used black pigment ink and then added Altenew's Clear Embossing Powder.

After finishing my flowers, I set to work on the other card elements. For the "congrats" card, I created an A2 card base using UltraWhite Smooth Cardstock. Then I die cut "congrats" and its shadow using Altenew's Versatile Greetings 2 die set and Glama Natural Clear vellum and Pink Aurora Origami paper. Then I embossed a piece of Environment Honeycomb using the embossing folder in the Craft-Your-Life: Fruits & Flowers project kit from Altenew. I die cut the letters of Susan's name (I sent this card as a congratulations for finishing the AECP) using Altenew's Creative Cuts: Feathered Beauty die set that contains a small alphabet die set. I used Magenta Thai Unryu paper for the letters of her name. I added one of the florals to the side of the card panel using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam tape to complete the card. 

For the "hi" card, I created a 5 by 7 card base using UltraWhite Smooth Cardstock. I used Altenew's Timeless Sentiments 2 Die Set to create the word "hi" and its shadow and using Glama Natural Clear for the shadow and Magenta Thai Unryu for the letters. For the background, I trimmed a piece of Magenta Thai Unryu (adhered to white cardstock for stability) for my first layer and then I trimmed a piece of Environment Honeycomb for the second layer. Susan had us mist this paper and then crumple it a few times to give it some texture. I also stamped it a few times using black ink and a brick wall rubber stamp to add even more texture to it in random places. Then I die cut Altenew's Garden Trellis Cover die using Light Blue Via Felt Stationery and added orange to most of the die cut piece using my Ohuhu alcohol ink markers. I adhered my layers together and then added the stamped image to the panel using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I adhered the sentiment using Bearly Art liquid glue. 

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 Build-A-Garden sets like the one I used here. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

613 Avenue Create: ATG with twist of April showers (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

We Love Stamping: ATG with stamping with option of Spring (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

The Crafting Challenge: My favorite color: I love magenta! (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog: Something old, something new: The Pristine Peonies stamp set has been in my stash for quite some time while the embossing folder I used for the congrats card is a recent addition to my stash that came in the April Craft-Your-Life: Fruits and Flowers project kit by Altenew (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

Creative Moments: ATG or bunnies and blooms (2/3; ends 4/12/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (unlimited; 4/12/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (4/6; ends 4/12/26)

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 4/15/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of die cuts (2/4; ends at the end of the month)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 4/27/26)

Creative Inspiration Challenges: ATG (2/2; ends at the end of the month)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Layer it up (unlimited; ends at the end of the month)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: Seasons/weather/ ATG (2/2; ends at the end of the month)

Cardz 4 Galz: Spring Flowers (2/3; ends 4/15/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 4/10/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: Springtime or ATG (2/5; ends 4/10/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (ends 4/18/26)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 of something from your stash (more than 3 different papers) 2 of anything from your stash (3 different die sets) 1 of everything else from your stash (watercolor pan set) (2/4; ends 4/12/26)

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

 

Multi-Panel Bridge Fold Card for Creative Creases #114

It's time for a new challenge on the Creative Creases Challenge blog, and I'm sharing the 80th birthday card I made for my amazing mom! I modified a card design by Sam Calcott here: Perfect Cards for Spring! | Check out my Multi Panel Bridge Fold Cards! My card is taller than hers, so I'll share the measurements I used later in this post. 

All papers used on my card are from Your Paper Insider. I used the following papers: Coldpress Watercolor Paper from the 50-pack for sale on the website, Metallics Silver Lustre from Box 2, and these papers from Box 14: Magenta Thai Unryu, Glossy Grey Beam Gmund, Magenta Non-Shed Glitter. If you'd like to subscribe to Your Paper Insider's quarterly box of mystery papers or shop for any of their specialty paper collections, I would love it if you shopped with my affiliate link. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you: Your Paper Insider. 

To create my card, I began by trimming a card base to 8 1/2 by 8 inches. I used the Glossy Grey Beam Gmund paper for this base, and it's hard to see in the photos, but it has a shimmery tone-on-tone pattern on it that's very pretty in real life. 

Next, I created 5 strips that were 1 1/4 inches by 10 and scored at 2, 3, 7, and 8 inches. I used the Metallics Silver Lustre paper for the strips and then decorated them as follows: 10 pieces measuring 1 3/4 by 1 inch out of Magenta Non-Shed glitter for the sides of the strips and 5 pieces measuring 3 3/4 by 1 inch out of Magenta Thai Unryu paper for the centers of the strips. I adhered everything together and set the card aside.

For the floral focal point, I used Coldpress Watercolor Paper and stamped Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Rocktrumpet stamp onto the watercolor using VersaMark embossing ink. I stamped it several times to be sure I had good coverage since watercolor paper is bumpy. Then I used silver embossing powder to cover the stamped image and heat set the image. I die cut the stamped image using the coordinating die for the set. 

I watercolored the flowers and leaves using Altenew's Watercolor 36-pan set and Altenew's Metallic Watercolor pan set and the coordinating stencils. This is a large floral stamp, and I wanted to keep it intact, so you can see why I enlarged Sam Calcott's original card design to accommodate it. I added the flowers to the card base using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape, being careful to only add it to pieces of the image that touch the card base. 

The sentiment is from Altenew's One Go: Solid Sentiment Strips Press Plate and coordinating die set. I used more of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to adhere the sentiment to the floral image. 

I added the "have a good day" sentiment (made with Glama Clear Natural vellum and more of the Magenta Thai Unryu paper) to the back of the card but forgot to snap a photo of it. I do have a photo of my mom, though, from the family gathering when we celebrated her birthday and the birthdays of 2 of my children if you scroll down to the end of the post. 

I hope you’ll share your fun fold projects over at the Creative Creases Challenge blog here: https://secretstamper.com/2026/04/creative-creases-challenge-april-3rd-to-april-30th/#more-49065. 

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.  Again, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew carries many beautiful Build-A-Garden sets like the one I used here.  

My beautiful mom with 2 of my children whose birthdays we were also celebrating that day:

Challenges I'm entering: 

Triple B: ATG with birds, blossoms, and/or butterflies (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

The Pick 3 Challenge: Text, die cuts, and stripes (1/3; ends 4/27/26)

The Creative Crafters: ATG (3/3; ends 4/8/26)

The Crafting Challenge: My favorite color: I love magenta! (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog: Something old, something new: The Rocktrumpet stamp set has been in my stash for quite some time while the Timeless Greetings 2 set is a recent purchase (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards and Tags: ATG with shaped cards (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: Anniversary or birthday card (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

Creative Moments: ATG or bunnies and blooms (1/3; ends 4/12/26)

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

Crafting from the Art challenge: ATG (3/3; ends 4/9/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (unlimited; 4/12/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (3/6; ends 4/12/26)

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Emboss it (I used silver embossing powder on the floral image) (1/5; ends 4/7/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 4/15/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of die cuts (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Happy birthday (1/5; ends 4/8/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 4/27/26)

Krafty Chicks Challenge: birthday (unlimited; ends 4/8/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: ATG with something in or from a garden (3/5; ends 4/6/26)

Creative Inspiration Challenges: ATG (1/2; ends at the end of the month)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Layer it up (unlimited; ends at the end of the month

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: Seasons/weather/ ATG (1/2; ends at the end of the month)

Cardz 4 Galz: Spring Flowers (1/3; ends 4/15/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 4/10/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (1/5; ends 4/9/26)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: Springtime or ATG (1/5; ends 4/10/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (ends 4/4/26)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week:  Diagonal from bottom left: embossing (heat embossing on the floral stamp), die cut, and fun fold (1/3; ends 4/9/26)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 of something from your stash (5 different types of cardstocks) 2 of anything from your stash (regular watercolor pan set and metallic watercolor pan set) 1 of everything else from your stash (VersaMark Ink and Silver Embossing powder) (1/4; ends 4/12/26)

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

 

Flourishing Garden Fence Post Card

I recently attended an online cardmaking class led by Altenew Educator Revati Panickar, and we had so much fun creating trifold fence cards together.

I chose some pretty pink woodgrain cardstock for my fence and trimmed my pieces according to Revati's instructions. I also added the woodgrain cardstock to the inside of the front panel to make it look more finished inside, but it does make the card harder to close (the front panel is quite thick). 

I used Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Flourishing Garden set for the oversize floral stamp. I stamped it with VersaMark embossing ink and then added white embossing powder and heat set it. I die cut it with the coordinating die. Then I ink blended through the coordinating stencils using Warm & Cozy, Whispering Woodland, and Dried Petals Fresh Dye Ink families from Altenew. 

I created the trifold card base by inserting an A2 card base opening to the right inside the A2 base with the fence (which opens to the left) and adhering them together to create a card that opens to the left and then to the right. To embellish my fence, I played around with where I wanted to add the Flourishing Garden image and trimmed it to fit the panel where I decided to place it. I adhered it using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

For the first inside panel, I added the trimmed bits from the stamped image and also die cut the letters to spell out my daughter-in-law's name since this birthday card is for her. I added the letters to spell out her name between the trimmed floral pieces and that completed the second panel of the card.

For the inner panel of the card, I stamped "happy birthday" using Altenew's Flourishing Bouquet set (not to be confused with the Build-A-Garden: Flourishing Garden set I used for the stamped florals) and added a couple stenciled and die cut pieces I had leftover from a project using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Butterfly Garden project kit. 

At this point, I felt like the front needed a sentiment as well, so I stamped and die cut "you deserve the best" using Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Morning Glory set. I really love when sentiments have coordinating dies! I die cut several layers and stacked them for dimension before adhering the sentiment to the front of the card. 

Second panel of the card: 

Inner panel of the card: 

Flat lay view:

 Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases #113: March 6th through April 2nd: I'm on the DT and sharing just for inspiration

March 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 4/1/26)

A Place To Start: ATG (7/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Allsorts challenge blog: Things with wings or ATG (2/6; ends 3/27/26)

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Spring (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/6; ends 4/12/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (2/5; ends 4/6/26)

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

The Creative Crafters: ATG (2/3; ends 4/7/26)

Daisy Chain Challenges: Flowers (2/3; ends 3/28/26)

Crafting from the Art challenge: ATG (2/3; ends 4/9/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of fun folds (unlimited; ends 4/12/26)

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

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG or Make it Green (1/3; ends 4/5/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Spring Flowers or Spring Showers (1/10; ends 5/15/26)

Cardz 4 Galz: A Splash of Green (1/3; ends 4/1/26)

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

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

Sending Prayers African Daisy Card

A crafty friend of mine recently lost her mother, and I wanted to make a card for her. I had some pieces from previous craft sessions on my craft desk and decided to combine them to create my sympathy card.

I started by creating a white, top-folding card base and trimming a white panel to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches. I then taped off a section of the white card panel and ink blended Catherin Pooler's Tiki Torch ink to create an ombré orange stripe between my sections of tape. Then I removed the tape and decided on my arrangement of die cuts. I'm taking part in Altenew's Tuesday Live Challenge which is to have elements that go off the sides of the card base as well as Altenew's March Inspiration Challenge with a pink, green, and orange color palette, so I kept that in mind while choosing my leftover pieces and arranging them to go off the sides of the card base.

The green leaves are from Altenew's Creative Cuts: Strawberry Patch, and I liked the size of the foliage and that it's all in one piece. Then I had a couple die cut African Daisies from Altenew's Craft-A-Flower: African Daisy set as well as some butterflies from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Butterfly Garden project kit. I added the flowers and butterflies with Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape for a bit of dimension. 

For the sentiment, I had die cut "sending prayers" using Altenew's Versatile Greetings 2 die set and pink holographic and vellum papers from Your Paper Insider. If you'd like to subscribe to Your Paper Insider's quarterly box of mystery papers or shop for any of their specialty paper collections, I would love it if you shopped with my affiliate link. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you: Your Paper Insider. 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.  Altenew carries many wonderful die sets like the ones I've used on this card as well as a wide array of other crafting supplies. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

March 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 3/28/26)

A Place To Start: ATG (6/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Allsorts challenge blog: Things with wings or ATG (1/6; ends 3/27/26) Top Pick 3/27/26

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: Celebrate Spring with Gina K. Designs, March 2026: Celebrate Spring (4/4; ends at the end of the  month)

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Spring (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/6; ends 4/12/26)

Word Power: Words as focus (1/3; ends at the end of the month) 

Craft Rocket Challenges: No design paper (unlimited; ends at the end of the month)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (1/5; ends 4/6/26)

little red wagon: Signs of spring (1/3; ends 3/24/26) Featured Make 3/24/26

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Beautiful Blooms (1/5; ends 3/23/26)

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

The Creative Crafters: ATG (1/3; ends 4/7/26)

fourseasons: Spring (ends at the end of the month)

Daisy Chain Challenges: Flowers (1/3; ends 3/28/26)

Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG: ATG with an animal (or bird or bug/butterfly, etc.) (ends at the end of the month)

Crafty Animals: ATG with animals, birds, bugs/butterflies, etc. (ends 3/27/26)

Crafting from the Art challenge: ATG (1/3; ends 4/9/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of fun folds (unlimited; ends 4/12/26)

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

Magnificent Magnolias Thank You Card

This month I have the honor of being a Guest Designer at Elliebelle's March Garden Party. I hope you will join the fun by entering your crafty projects that feature anything in or from a garden. Here's the link to the Garden Party to add your creative works: Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party

To start my card, I die cut several magnolias from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Magnificent Magnolias project kit and ink blended the layers for the petals in pinks from Altenew's Bubblegum Dreams Fresh Dye Ink collection. I ink blended the centers using Altenew's Fresh Lemon and the little green pieces using Altenew's Fresh Leaf. Then I assembled the flowers using Bearly Art liquid glue. I die cut a circle using a retired set from Altenew called Fine Rings: Circles and added the flowers to the circle using liquid glue and Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. For the sentiment, I used the same Magnificent Magnolias project kit for the "Thank you" stamp and coordinating die. I die cut the coordinating die several times so I could stack several together for a bit of dimension. I then added the sentiment on top of the flowers and adhered it using liquid glue. 

For the background, I decided to go with black cardstock to make the flowers pop. I trimmed my black panel to 4 by 5 1/4 and embossed it using Altenew's Magnolia Dreams embossing folder. Then I trimmed a panel of white cardstock to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches and ink blended the sides of the panel in pink to coordinate with my flowers. I adhered the pink panel to the card base and then adhered the black panel and the vellum circle with my flowers and sentiment to finish the card. 

A big thank you to Elliebelle for inviting me to be a Guest Designer for her Garden Party and for all her sweet comments on my blog through the years. 

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-Your-Life project kits and beautiful embossing folders like the ones I've used on my card. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 3/28/26)

A Place To Start: ATG (5/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Allsorts challenge blog: Ribbons or bows or ATG (5/6; ends 3/13/26)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: Celebrate Spring with Gina K. Designs, March 2026: Celebrate Spring (3/4; ends at the end of the  month)

Cardz 4 Galz: Embossing (2/3; ends 3/18/26)

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Spring (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 layers (pink ink-blended panel, black embossed panel, vellum circle with flowers), 2 colors (pink, green, and yellow), 1 image (3 flowers) (3/4; ends 3/15/26) Top 4 Pick 3/30/26

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (1/3; ends 3/15/26) C10 $25 Lawn Fawn gift card winner 3/16/26

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

 

 

Basket of Strawberries Missing You Card

I have loved every class I've taken with Altenew Educator Ishani, and the one she led today using the Strawberry Patch die set and the Woven Basket die set was no exception! Such a fun class and another beautiful card design.

To start the card, I created a top-folding A2 card with double-sided cardstock that is pink on one side and orange on the other. It was perfect for this card because I wanted to follow this month's Altenew Inspiration Challenge over on the Altenew blog, and the colors this month are pink, orange, and green. It's a palette I just love!

For the background, I sprayed a panel with Altenew's Sunkissed Shimmer Spray and let it dry. Then I embossed the panel using the 3D embossing folder from the April Craft-Your-Life: Fruits & Flowers project kit. I'm a subscriber to the kit, so I receive it a month before it is released on Altenew's website. 

For the basket, I used Altenew's Cocoa Cream and Choco-Hazelnut fresh dye inks from the Dessert Dreams ink collection to ink blend on light brown cardstock. Then I die cut the strawberries out of white cardstock and ink blended them with Puffy Heart, Ruby Red, and Sweet Cherry. One piece I ink-blended Maple Yellow onto so the piece with the little seeds cut out has yellow behind it. 

For the flowers, I die cut them out of white and ink blended Orange Cream and Marigold onto the petals and Puffy Heart for the centers. I doubled up the flowers rather than having a single layer of petals like the photos on the brochure show. I just wanted them to have a little more dimension. 

For the leaves and strawberry caps, I ink blended some Catherine Pooler Grass Skirt and Lime Rickey onto white cardstock, going darker on the strawberry caps. I assembled the basket, strawberries, leaves, and flowers, Then I stamped "Missing your sweet face" (also from the new CYL: Fruits & Flowers project kit onto white cardstock and trimmed the panel along with the sprayed and embossed background at an angle. I adhered the pieces to the card base and then added the basket of strawberries and the extra strawberry and flowers to the panel. I used a mix of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape along with liquid glue so some items have extra dimension. 

For the inside of the card, I adhered the second piece of the sprayed and embossed background I had cut at an angle and added the stamped and trimmed piece of white cardstock (the sentiment is from the same CYL: Fruits & Flowers project kit) and an additional flower die cut. I adhered the panel to the inside of the card using Bearly Arts liquid glue. 

This card will be going out in this week's care package to my youngest daughter who is currently on an aircraft carrier near Iran in the middle of all this bombing. I'm being reminded that the Lord is my refuge and strength and the One in whom I put my trust. We were blessed to have word from our daughter a few days ago (I wasn't expecting her to be able to reach out to us), and she reassured us she is safe and well. She's also leaning on the Lord and doing daily devotions with some coworkers. 

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 Craft Your Life project kits, layering die sets, inks, cardstocks, and other craft supplies.

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 stamp sets, embossing folders, layering die sets, inks, cardstocks, and other craft supplies.

A look at the inside of the card: 

Challenges I'm entering: 

March 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder (2/3; ends 3/11/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist of fur or feathers (4/4; ends at the end of the month)

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 3/28/26)

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Make it cute (1/5; ends 3/11/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Make your own background (I made my own background by stamping the little balls of wool with the layering stamp set) (3/5; ends 3/9/26)

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

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (4/4; ends at the end of the month)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (I used scissors to cut the foam tape for this card) (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 3/12/26)

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

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

Allsorts challenge blog: Ribbons or bows or ATG (4/6; ends 3/13/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (5/5; ends 3/12/26)

 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