Carrie's Custom Cards

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree Squeeze the Day Card

Altenew's August subscriptions are available for purchase on the Altenew website now, and I'm excited to share this card I made with the Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree set as a Guest Designer for this release. This set includes dies for a tree, leaves, lemons, and a pot for the tree. Here I've only used the lemons and leaves, but it's a versatile set for sure. There are also sentiments dies. One says, "squeeze the day" and the other is the word "hello" and its shadow.

I die cut the lemons and sentiment strip out of watercolor paper I had watercolored using Altenew's Strolling Through New York Gouache: Primary Yellow. I added some details using Altenew's Citrus Burst Watercolor Brush Marker. Then I die cut the leaves and branches and ink blended them with Altenew's Whispering Woodland Fresh Dye Ink collection. I created a background by ink smooshing some blues from Altenew's Watercolor 24-Pan Set and adhered my lemons, leaves, branches and sentiment strip (cut in two pieces to fit the space I had in mind for the sentiment) using liquid glue and Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I adhered the panel to a white A2 card base and then added a few Whispering Woodland Enamel Dots to finish off 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:

Double D Challenges: Lemons (3/3; ends 8/31/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 9/12/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 8/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Sunflowers or Something Yellow (4/5; ends 9/13/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (3/5; ends 9/2/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Lots of layers (3/5; ends 8/31/26)

The Creative Crafters: ATG (3/3; ends 9/8/26)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Alcohol ink and/or summer + a sentiment (4/5; ends 9/1/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (3/3; ends 8/31/26) C10

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

Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree Hello Card

As a Guest Designer for Altenew's August 2026 release, I had so much fun creating with the release products, including this Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree set. The set includes dies to create a lemon tree in a pot along with a "hello" die and its shadow and a "squeeze the day" sentiment strip die.

For this card, I started by creating a top-folding white A2 card base. Then I created a background for my tree by using Altenew's Essential Textures: Stone Wall Press Plate with gray ink. I trimmed the panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 and set it aside.

For the tree, I die cut the leaves out of a green panel I had colored with green alcohol inks. The tree trunk and branches I die cut out of brown cardstock. Then the lemons were die cut from a watercolor panel I had watercolored using Altenew's Primay Yellow gouache from the Strolling Through New York Artists' Gouache set. The pot was die cut out of watercolor paper I had ink smooshed with pink inks. I used the same pink panel to die cut the shadow for the "hello" sentiment and die cut the "hello" sentiment out of the same yellow watercolor paper I had used for the lemons. I die cut a few extra word shadows and stacked them together for a bit of dimension.

To finish the card, I arranged my lemon tree and pot against the stone wall background and adhered it with Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. Then I added the sentiment to the top left of the card to finish the card.

Challenges I'm entering:

Double D Challenges: Lemons (2/3; ends 8/31/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 9/12/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 7/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Sunflowers or Something Yellow (3/5; ends 9/13/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (2/5; ends 9/2/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Lots of layers (2/5; ends 8/31/26)

The Creative Crafters: ATG (2/3; ends 9/8/26)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Alcohol ink and/or summer + a sentiment (my leaves were die cut from alcohol ink backgrounds I had created with green alcohol inks) (3/5; ends 9/1/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (2/3; ends 8/31/26) C10

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

Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree Love You Card

It's such a thrill to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's August 2026 release, and I really enjoyed creating with all the great new products, including this Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree set.

To start this card, I created a white A2 card base. For the next layer, I die cut Altenew's Alhambra Mosaic Cover Die out of kraft cardstock and trimmed it to fit the front of the card. I adhered it down to the white card base.

Next, I die cut the pieces for the lemon tree and pot. I used watercolor paper and Altenew's Tree Bark and Paper Bag Watercolor Markers for the tree, Moss Watercolor Marker for the leaves, and Primary Yellow Gouache for the lemons. I added more yellow using one of Altenew's alcohol ink markers from the 4 Scoops set. The pot was die cut from watercolor paper I had ink smooshed with blue watercolor from Altenew's Prussian Blue watercolor tube from the Palette Perfection Watercolor Tube Bundle.

I assembled the tree and pot and added them to the die cut background using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. To finish the card, I die cut and adhered the "love you" sentiment using dies from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Painterly Perfection kit and the same blue watercolor paper I die cut for the pot along with some vellum scraps for the shadow layers of the words.

Challenges I'm entering:

Double D Challenges: Lemons (1/3; ends 8/31/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 9/12/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 6/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Sunflowers or Something Yellow (2/5; ends 9/13/26)

Cardz 4 Galz: Kraft and Blue (1/3; ends 9/2/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (1/5; ends 9/2/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Lots of layers (1/5; ends 8/31/26)

The Creative Crafters: ATG (1/3; ends 9/8/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (1/3; ends 8/31/26) C10

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

Saturday, August 22, 2026

EZ Arrangement: Garden Mix Birthday Postcard

Altenew is re-releasing a die set from one of their previous Cozy Comfort retreats, and I love all the pretty floral and foliage elements in the set. The set is called EZ Arrangement: Garden Mix, and I paired it here with a postcard die from Waffle Flower and a stamp set from Spellbinders.

I started by creating a white A2 card base. Then I trimmed a panel of watercolor cardstock I had painted with Lindy's Flat Magicals: Creamsicle Orange. I adhered that to the card base using Altenew's double-sided adhesive sheets in the new 4.25 by 5.5 inch size. I just trimmed off the excess adhesive and adhered the panel to the card base.

Next, I die cut the postage stamp die out of white cardstock. Then I chose a couple sentiments from Spellbinders' Parcel & Post Sentiments stamp set and stamped them on two sections of the postage die. I adhered the postage die to the card front using Bearly Art liquid glue.

For the remaining sections of the postage die, I added flowers and foliage from Altenew's EZ Arrangement: Garden Mix die set. I die cut the flowers and foliage from watercolor cardstocks I had painted and ink smooshed for texture. Some of the flowers are popped up using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape, and some are adhered with Bearly Art liquid glue.

Close up:

Challenges I'm entering:

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Embossing or ATG (5/5; ends 8/28/26)

Inkspirational: Garden (unlimited entries; ends 8/28/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (2/3; ends 9/6/26)

{Cupcake Inspirations}: In the Garden (2/3; ends 9/12/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (3/5; ends 9/7/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (3/6; ends 9/12/26)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 or more of something from my stash (5 different flower/bud dies) 2 or more of something from my stash (orange, purple, green paints/sprays/inks) 1 or more of something from my stash (2 sentiment stamps) Thing 3: I used foam tape and also layering of my die cuts for this card (4/4; ends 8/30/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (2/3; ends 8/24/26) C10

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

One Go: Sweet Pumpkins Birthday Card

My husband's birthday is coming up next week, and so I broke out Altenew's One Go: Sweet Pumpkin bundle to make his card. This bundle is similar to the Craft-Your-Life kits in that it has a stamp set, a coordinating stencil set, an embossing folder, and a die set. You can purchase the elements separately, but it's nice to have them all since they coordinate so well.

I started by creating a top-folding white A2 card base. Then I stamped the pumpkins and leaves (one large stamp stamps out 9 pumpkins and 14 leaves all at once) using Chamomile ink from Altenew's Golden Sunset ink collection onto light orange cardstock for a tone-on-tone look. Then I used the coordinating stencil set to ink blend the pumpkins and leaves. I used Golden Sunset inks and Milk Chocolate ink from Altenew's Delectable Delights ink collection for the pumpkin stems. After I was finished ink blending the stamped images, I die cut them with the special die in the set that die cuts all the pieces at once. So quick and easy!

I decided to do a white-on-white background so I could follow the challenge prompt at Die Cut Divas, so I trimmed a panel of white cardstock to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches and embossed it with Altenew's Pumpkin Patch 3D embossing folder. I glued it to the front of the card base.

Then I die cut and embossed the fence from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Rustic Charm project kit and cut it in half because I only wanted the fence to come partway across the front of the card. I added the fence to the card using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape so it stands out a bit from the pumpkin patch behind it.

Next, I arranged a few of the pumpkins and leaves and added them to the fence using both liquid glue and more foam tape.

To finish the card, I used Altenew's Raised Sentiments 3D embossing folder and embossed "happy birthday" onto a strip of white cardstock. I then trimmed the sentiment in half and added some Sunray ink (the lightest in the Golden Sunset ink collection) to it. I adhered it to the card using foam tape.

Challenges I'm entering:

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: Let's Celebrate White With a Splash of Color from Birch Press Designs: white on White with a splash of color (3/4; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Embossing or ATG (I used 3 embossing folders on my card: Pumpkin Patch, Rustic Charm for the fence, and Raised Sentiments) (4/5; ends 8/28/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with the option of bees (I used 3 embossing folders on my card: Pumpkin Patch, Rustic Charm for the fence, and Raised Sentiments)(1/3; ends 9/9/26)

Inkspirational: Garden (unlimited entries; ends 8/28/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (1/3; ends 9/6/26)

{Cupcake Inspirations}: In the Garden (1/3; ends 9/12/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Going Round in Circles (I hope my circular pumpkins count, but remove if not) (1/5; ends 8/26/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (2/5; ends 9/7/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (1/3; ends 8/24/26) C10

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

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Winterberry Poinsettia Fun Fold Card

I just love Altenew's Winterberry Poinsettia 3D embossing folder! It has a coordinating stencil, and I used that for my card here: Carrie's Custom Cards: Winterberry Poinsettias Christmas Card if you'd like to see what it looks like when ink blended with the stencils. For this card, I went with embossing pattern paper and then going over the embossed areas with white pigment ink. I love the soft look that created on the pink woodgrain pattern paper.

This card base started as a normal side-folding A2 card base, but I trimmed off a portion of the card front so that the inside of the card peeks out on the right side. Then I trimmed my embossed panels and adhered them to the front and inside of the card.

Next, I die cut Altenew's Poinsettia Layering Die Set out of white cardstock and gently folded the petals for some dimension. I assembled the layers and then die cut the center out of the same pink woodgrain patter paper I used for the embossed background. I added that to the flower and adhered the flower to the card front with Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape, taking care not to add any of the foam tape on the right side of the poinsettia where the card front is trimmed off (otherwise I would have glued the card shut).

I die cut and embossed a bow from Altenew's Elegant Bows bundle and added it to the poinsettia. Then I stamped "Faith is at the heart of the holidays" from a retired Altenew set called "Blessings" onto the pink woodgrain pattern paper using VersaMark ink and white embossing powder. I heat set the sentiment and trimmed it before adhering it to the poinsettia.

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

Challenges I'm entering:

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: P and Q: I have Poinsettias on my card (ends at the end of the month)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: White on white with a splash of one color (2/4; ends at the end of the month)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: :ATG with embossing folders with option of Tie it Up (I added a bow to my card) (3/3; ends 8/19/26)

Peace On Earth Christmas: ATG Christmas (ends 9/3/26)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Christmas without snow (ends 8/21/26)

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge: ATG with pattern papers (ends at the end of the month)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 of something from my stash (3 Altenew products: Winterberry Poinsettias EF, Elegant Bows EF and Die Set, and Blessings stamp set) 2 of something from my stash (2 inks: white pigment ink and VersaMark) 1 of something from my stash (1 pattern paper) Thing 3: I used foam tape and also layering of my die cuts for this card (3/4; ends 8/30/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 9/12/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Embossing or ATG (I used heat embossing and a couple 3D embossing folders for this project--the Winterberry Poinsettia EF and the Elegant Bows EF) (4/5; ends 8/28/26)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (4/4; ends 9/23/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/6; ends 9/12/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (2/5; ends 9/7/26)

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

Diagonal Stepper Card

I have been seeing this Diagonal Stepper Card on a number of youtube channels, including Iced Images who I think may have come up with the original design, and I have been wanted to try it out for awhile now. Today was the day! I followed a tutorial here: Funky Diagonal Stepper Card (Live Replay), and Laura put the measurements in the video description. I decided against having as many layers as Laura did, but if you like matt layers under the pattern paper, she includes the measurements for those, too.

I chose some yellow cardstock for the card base, and diagonal strip, and the sentiment strip. Then I die cut Altenew's Bright Bloom layering die set to create several sunflowers. I used watercolor paper I had painted with a light yellow for the flower petal layers and then ink blended colors from Altenew's Golden Sunset ink collection over the light-colored die cuts. For the flower centers, I die cut the pieces out of a light brown cardstock I recycled from a thank you note I recently received, and then I ink blended Almond Butter over the centers and Milk Chocolate over the little rings that encircle the centers (from Altenew's Delectable Delights ink collection). I assembled the flowers and set them aside.

After following Laura's instructions to create the card base, I then chose some pattern paper I felt worked well with the browns in the flower centers. I trimmed it according to Laura's measurements and then stamped the "sending you sunshine and love" sentiment from Altenew's Build-A-Flower: Canterbury Bells set. I trimmed the same pattern paper but with the other side up for the diagonal strip (plain tan cardstock on that side). Then I arranged 3 of my flowers on the strip and added them using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape for dimension. Then I added the sentiment strip. To finish the front of the card, I added some bling from my stash.

For the back of the card, I used more of the tan side of the double-sided cardstock and trimmed it to cover the back panel of the card. I stamped "thankful for you" on white cardstock using Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Morning Glory set and then ink blended a bit of Sunray ink (the lightest color from Altenew's Golden Sunset ink collection). I added the sentiment to the tan panel and then adhered another one of the sunflowers using more Instant Dimension Foam Tape. Then I forgot to take a photo of the back of the card until I had already written a note for my daughter, so I apologize for my terrible handwriting! 😂

This card was surprisingly easy to create, and those are the best fun folds!

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

Back of the card:

Challenges I'm entering:

Creative Creases #118 - August 7th through September 3rd: ATG with a fun fold (I'm on the DT and entering just for inspiration)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 of something from my stash (ink colors) 2 of something from my stash (cardstocks: yellow and double-sided pattern paper) 1 of something from my stash (1 layering die set) Thing 3: I used foam tape and also layering of my die cuts for this card (2/4; ends 8/30/26)

The Neglected Stuff Challenge: I haven't used the Build-A-Flower: Canterbury Bells set in years! It's retired now, but I thought the sentiment in it was perfect for these sunflowers! (ends at the end of the month)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week Fun fold, gems, dies (1/3; ends 8/27/26)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (ends 9/12/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Embossing or ATG (I chose ATG for this card) (3/5; ends 8/28/26)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (3/4; ends 9/23/26)

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG or Summer Vibes (3/3; ends 9/7/26)

Creative Crafting Uncles: ATG (3/3; ends 9/12/26)

fourseasons: Summer (ends 8/25/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/6; ends 9/12/26)

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards and Tags: ATG with fun fold/shaped cards or tags (2/5; ends at the end of the month)

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 9/2/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (1/5; ends 9/7/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: Sunflowers or Something Yellow (1/5; ends 9/13/26)

Hand Stamped Sentiments stamping challenge blog and paper craft challenge blog: (ends 8/31/26)

Inspiration Station: 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