Fall Leaves Congratulations Card

I recently created a few alcohol ink panels for a fun class I took with Ishani, an Altenew Educator, and I had extra panels I decided to die cut using Altenew's Zero Waste: Autumn Leaves die. The die creates a bunch of leaves as well as the framed negative space from the leaf die cuts that can also be used on a project. Hence the "zero waste" name. It's a clever design, and I hope to use the frames with the negative spaces in another project.

For this card, I wanted to use one of the alcohol ink panels in the background, so I adhered it to a black card base that was 1/4 inch wider than a standard A2 size to give a bit of a black border on the sides. Then I trimmed another panel of black cardstock and embossed it with Altenew's Weathered Bark 3D embossing folder. I added some die cut leaves in a diagonal pattern and then stamped and die cut the "congratulations" sentiment using a stamp from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms set. I die cut the coordinating die two more time and stacked them all together to give the sentiment some dimension. Then I added the card to my splat box and covered the inside of the card with a scrap piece of printer paper. I used Altenew's Titanium White Gouache with Altenew's Fine Watercolor Brush Size 4 for my splatters. While the card was drying, I stamped a panel of white cardstock I had trimmed to fit on the inside of the card using a sentiment from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Never Stop Dreaming kit. I used Orange Cream and Brambleberry ink to stamp the sentiment and masked off the "you are" part with tape so that the purple didn't cover any of the orange in that sentiment. I added a couple of the leftover die cut leaves to the inside and forgot to take a photo before writing my message to my friend who just became an Altenew Ambassador. I want to give her a shoutout here anyway! She's put in countless hours creating amazing cards, and I'm so thrilled she's been invited to be an Altenew Ambassador. She's working on getting to 1000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, so I hope you'll consider checking out her channel and subscribing here: Different Ways for Sprays - Turn Your Paper Veggies into a Stunning Thanksgiving Card! 🥕🍅 | Altenew

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: 

October 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 10/29/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 11/12/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (1/3; ends 10/28/26)

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Autumn/Halloween (2/3; ends 10/28/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/3; ends 10/22/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 10/23/26)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Autumn (unlimited entries; ends at the end of the month)

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

fourseasons: Anything Goes Fall (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Fall (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

Reflections John 14 Card

Have you seen Papertrey Ink's monthly inspiration challenge for October? The colors are Scarlet, Classic Kraft, and Vintage Cream, and I just love these colors for a vintage look! The first card I made for this challenge can be found here: Carrie's Custom Cards: John 14:27 Card. I had some stamped and die cut pieces left over from creating that card and decided to do a second card to use them. 

I began by creating an A2 card base using kraft cardstock. Then I trimmed a panel of Papertrey's Dearest Jane pattern paper to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches and die cut the largest label die from Papertrey's August Reflections set out of the center of it. Then I die cut the same label die out of the backside of the Dearest Jane cardstock and popped it up on foam tape where the negative space was. I die cut the smaller of the label dies using Papertrey's Bitty Box Basics pattern paper in the closest color to Scarlet that was in the paper pack and adhered the stamped and die cut verse to the smaller label die cut. I adhered the label die to the center of the larger label die cut and then added the fox and bird from Papertrey's Wee Fold kit along with a piece of the laurel I had stamped and die cut. To finish the card, I added a few Nuvo drops in brown at the top and red at the bottom. 

If you are interested in the Reflections monthly subscription, you can find out more details on Papertrey's blog here: Papertrey Ink. The link is Nicki Baxley's affiliate link. She was the one who introduced me to the subscription, so I want to share her link with anyone interested. It's a great value: a scripture stamp, a coordinating die to cut out the scripture verse, and decorative label dies that can be used with the scripture but can also be used many other ways on projects. 

October 2026 Inspiration Challenge – Papertrey Ink: (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Add a number (1/5; ends 10/21/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

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

We Love Stamping: Shades of Autumn (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Add text (ends 10/18/26)

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

little red wagon: Use a frame (I hope it counts that my larger die cut creates a frame around the smaller decorative label die cut) (1/3; ends 10/21/26)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Three of Something (I have three colors: red, cream, and kraft) (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Cardz 4 Galz: Add an animal (1/3; ends 10/27/26)

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

Alphabet Challenge Blog: M is for Motivational (I always find scripture motivational, but this particular verse is especially apt for your theme 😊(1/3; ends 10/28/26)

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

 

Warm Hugs Card for Just Us Girls #845

I'm thrilled to be the October Guest Designer up on the Just Us Girls Challenge blog, and this week's challenge is a Mood Board: 

I have the 3D Cozy Sweater embossing folder by Altenew in my stash, so I immediately thought of using that when I saw the photo. Then I wanted to create a mug and some leaves, so I got busy embossing and die cutting. The watercolor paper I embossed for the sweater texture background was painted with a gold acrylic paint, so it has some shine in real life. 

For the cute little mug, I used dies from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: The Afternoon Spread project kit and then ink blended the die cuts with inks from Altenew's Delectable Desserts ink collection. For the little tea bag, I used a blend of Altenew's Crimson and Cherry Sweet inks to mimic the color in the leaves. 

For the leaves, I die cut Altenew's Zero Waste: Autumn Leaves for the leaves behind the mug and Altenew's Creative Cuts: EZ Arrangement Antique Leaves set for the maple leaf in front of the mug. I die cut them using watercolor paper I had painted with a few acrylic paints in autumn colors. 

I then die cut "warm hugs" using dies from Altenew's Warm & Cozy Sentiments die set. I ink blended them with the Chocolate Hazelnut from the Delectable Desserts ink collection and Crimson and Cherry Sweet with a bit of Almond Butter (also from Delectable Desserts). I die cut a few layers of the words and adhered the stacked die cuts together before adding them to the embossed panel. I added Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to the back of the mug and die cut leaves and then added them to the embossed panel as well. 

I created a top-folding A2 card base using kraft cardstock and adhered a panel of the same watercolor paper I had die cut the leaves from as my bottom layer on the card front. Then I adhered the embossed panel using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to pop it up. 

Take a look at the Mood Board and show us how it inspires you this week! I hope you'll join the fun over on the Just Us Girls blog here: "Just Us Girls" 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:

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 10/29/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

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

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

Allsorts challenge blog: More than one fold or ATG (5/5; ends 10/23/26)

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

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with optional twist of "happy" (3/3; ends 10/21/26)

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

John 14:27 Card

I recently began subscribing to Papertrey Ink's Reflections monthly subscription, and I'm loving it so much! Each month they send a beautiful scripture stamp, a coordinating die to cut out the stamp (I love when there's a die for sentiments/verses!), and then a couple other dies to layer the verse on or use for other projects. It's such a great value for $25 (including shipping!). I don't have a Papertrey Ink affiliate link, but if you'd like to check out the subscription or purchase anything on the website, here's NickiHeartsCards' link: Papertrey Ink. She was the one who inspired me to subscribe to the Reflections subscription.

For my card, I wanted to use the monthly inspiration colors on the Papertrey Ink blog for a chance to win a $50 gift card, so I pulled out papers and inks in kraft, cream, and scarlet. I created a top-folding A2 card base out of kraft cardstock and trimmed a piece of Papertrey Ink's Dearest Jane pattern paper to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches and added a bit of twine to the left side of it before adhering it to the card front. 

Next, I die cut some of Papertrey Ink's Bitty Box Basics pattern paper in a shade of red that I think matches the color palette well. I used the dies that came in the Reflections set (this is the August set that includes the verse from John 14 that I used on this card) to create a frame by die cutting the smaller die out of the center of the larger one. Then I die cut the smaller die out of kraft cardstock to use in the center. I added the red frame with one layer of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape and then the smaller die cut using a double layer of the foam tape. In real life, it has a lot of great dimension.

I stamped the verse using Catherine Pooler's Coffee Break ink and die cut it with the coordinating die from the set. I die cut a couple more layers out of chipboard from packaging I try to recycle, and then I stacked those up and glued them together for dimension. 

I wanted to add a few more die cuts to finish off the card, so I looked through my Papertrey Ink stash and found a cute set called Wee Folk and stamped and die cut the deer (I used Catherine Pooler's Sand Castle ink for that) and laurel (I stamped that in Altenew's Ruby Red). Then I layered everything up how I wanted it and adhered it all down. 

I die cut another 20 of the coordinating die cuts for the verse and then quickly stamped them in my MISTI using a jig I created from the first stamped and die cut piece. I love doing that because it's so much quicker to die cut blank paper and then stamp on the die cuts than to try to line up the die on the stamped images 20 times. I plan to make a fun fold for the group of elderly people I send cards to regularly, and I will add this verse to the cards. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

October 2026 Inspiration Challenge – Papertrey Ink: 

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use pattern paper (2/5; ends 10/14/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

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

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

Allsorts challenge blog: More than one fold or ATG (4/5; ends 10/23/26)

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: ATG (unlimited; 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

Wildflower Tufts Peace and Strength Card

A good friend of mine from church was in a serious accident recently, and I want to visit her at the hospital this week. Of course I want to take her a card and some flowers when I go. Since I just received Altenew's November Craft-Your-Life kit this past week, I thought I would use it for my friend's card. It's such a pretty kit and will be available to non-subscribers in early November. 

I started with a white top-folding A2 card base. Then I chose my color palette. I wanted to use the colors from Altenew's Monthly Inspiration Challenge, so I pulled out Alpine Heather, Orange Cream, and Silverstone. I stamped the large floral stamp using Altenew's Obsidian black pigment ink and then ink blended the inks I had chosen through the coordinating stencils. Then I die cut all the pieces at once. This is one of Altenew's "One Go" sets where there's a large stamp, a coordinating stencil, and a large die that cuts all the images in one pass. 

I trimmed a panel of white cardstock to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches and ink blended more of the Alpine Heather ink along the edges of the panel. Then I embossed a white panel of cardstock with the Wildflower Tufts 3D embossing folder and trimmed it to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. I stamped my "praying for peace & strength" sentiment from the same kit and die cut it using the add-on coordinating die set for the sentiments in the kit. I die cut a couple more layers of the sentiment and adhered them together to give the sentiment some dimension. I also used the One-Go die to die cut plain white cardstock and found the matching pieces for the stamped, stenciled, and die cut flowers I wanted to use on this card. I adhered the white pieces behind my stamped ones for a little more dimension. I added the flowers and sentiment on the opposite places from the embossed wreath of flowers on the white panel to fill in the flat areas. Then I added 3 of Altenew's Black Onyx Gem Sparkles to the panel. I used Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to pop up the panel on the ink blended layer and added the layers to my card base to finish my card. My friend is going to have a long recovery ahead of her, so I think praying for peace and strength through the rehab process is very fitting for her. 

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. I enjoy my monthly subscription to the Craft-Your-Life project kits that come with a large stamp set, a die set, a 3D embossing folder, and a stencil set each month like the kit I used for this card. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

October 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

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

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

Allsorts challenge blog: More than one fold or ATG (3/5; ends 10/23/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with optional twist of "happy" (2/3; ends 10/21/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/3; ends 10/22/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 10/23/26)

Cut It Up: More Than 1 Die Cut (3/3; ends 10/12/26)

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG with optional twist of Fall Foliage (3/3; ends 10/13/26)

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

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: 3 of something (I have 3 black gem sparkles on my card) (3/4; ends 11/8/26)

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

Grateful Greenery Card

Pinkfresh Studios has a monthly inspiration challenge, and this is the second card I created for the October challenge. You can see my first card here: Carrie's Custom Cards: Pure Joy Z-Fold Card

I started with a black 5 by 7 card base because I wanted more room for the elements I planned to use on my card. Then I trimmed a panel of purple cardstock to 4 7/8 by 6 7/8 and adhered it to the card front. 

I used Pinkfresh's Joyful Day press plate and their Mimosa ink to create a leafy panel and trimmed it to 2 by 5 3/8 inches. I layered it on a black panel that is 2 1/8 by 5 1/2 inches. 

Next, I die cut 2 ovals using Pinkfresh's Double Stitched Elongated Ovals: one in black and one from a pink pattern paper by Pinkfresh titled Live in the Moment. I adhered the two ovals together and set them aside. 

I used Pinkfresh's press plates, coordinating stencils, and coordinating dies from the Grateful Greenery set for the focal point and "Grateful for your kindness" sentiment. I used VersaMark ink with the press plates and gold embossing powder and heat set the embossing powder for a touch of gold to follow the colors in this month's challenge on the Pinkfresh Studio blog. I used Crown Me Lunar Paste for the berries in the focal point, so they have a nice shine and are more of a purple color in real life. They turned out more blue than purple in my photos unfortunately. 

Now that I had all my elements, I arranged everything on the card front and used liquid glue in some places and foam tape in other places for added dimension. I added 3 gold sequins to finish off the card. 

Close up:

Challenges I'm entering: 

October 2026 Challenge: Fall Foliage: (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 9/10 for the challenge; ends 10/15/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

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

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

Allsorts challenge blog: More than one fold or ATG (2/5; ends 10/23/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (2/3; ends 10/22/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 10/23/26)

Cut It Up: More Than 1 Die Cut (2/3; ends 10/12/26)

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG with optional twist of Fall Foliage (2/3; ends 10/13/26)

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

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: at least 3 colors: purple, orange, and green from the color wheel on your website; at least 2 autumn images: I have orange leaves in the background and a large leafy focal point; 1 metallic or glitter elements (I used gold embossing powder on the sentiment and large focal point) (1/4; ends 10/25/26)

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge: ATG with pattern paper (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Think Pink (1/5; ends 10/17/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Use pattern paper (1/5; ends 10/14/26)

{Cupcake Inspirations}: Fall 

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

Maple Leaf Card

I recently attended an Altenew Educator workshop led by the talented Ishani, and she had us die cut a large shape out of acetate (I chose Unity Stamp Co.'s Maple Leaf die) and then add die cuts to the shape using papers we had colored with alcohol inks.

I chose purples, oranges, and gray/greens for my alcohol inks (a mixture of Brea Rose, Ranger, and Jacquard alcohol ink colors) to follow the color palette for Altenew's October Inspiration Challenge. I added the inks to white posterboard panels I had trimmed to 9 by 12 inches to fit in the disposable aluminum pans I use to work with alcohol inks. I find thin posterboard (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby) is less expensive than Yupo paper and die cuts so much easier. The inks move great on the slick posterboard. 

After letting my panels dry, I die cut all three panels using Altenew's Zero Waste: Autumn Leaves die and then started layering the die cut leaves over the large acetate Maple leaf die cut. I trimmed off any overhanging parts of the leaves to keep the Maple leaf shape intact. 

I chose a white A2 card and decided I wanted an embossed panel under my Maple leaf. I embossed a panel of black cardstock using Altenew's Weathered Bark 3D embossing folder and trimmed it to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8. I added it to the white card base using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

Then I added the Maple leaf using more Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I had originally planned to add the sentiment to the middle of the Maple leaf, but I didn't like how much of the pattern I had created with all the die cut leaves that the sentiment covered up. Instead, I added the sentiment and another die cut to the inside of 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. 

Inside of the card:

Close up:

Challenges I'm entering: 

October 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 8/10 for the challenge; ends 10/15/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 10/12/26)

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

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of Think Pink (4/8; 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)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 10/28/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: More than one fold or ATG (1/5; ends 10/23/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with optional twist of "happy" (1/3; ends 10/21/26)

Crafty Calendar Challenge: Autumn/Halloween (1/3; ends 10/28/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (1/3; ends 10/22/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 10/23/26)

Cut It Up: More Than 1 Die Cut (1/3; ends 10/12/26)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Autumn (unlimited entries; ends at the end of the month)

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG with optional twist of Fall Foliage (1/3; ends 10/13/26)

Make My Monday Challenge Blog: Autumn/Fall (1/3; ends 10/18/26)

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

fourseasons: Anything Goes Fall (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