Star Fold Christmas Card

 I recently attended an Altenew Educator Workshop led by Liz Ortiz, and we created fabulous star-shaped fun fold cards! 

For my card, I followed Liz's instructions and measurements using silver metallic cardstock, white cardstock, and watercolor paper I had watercolored and sprayed with shimmer spray for the blue elements. I did some embossing to add more texture to the panels. Here are the products I used from Altenew: Poinsettia Layering Die Set, Winterberry Poinsettia 3D embossing folder, Perfect Poinsettias 3D embossing folder, Fancy Peace die, and Blessings stamp set. 

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. 

Back of the card:

Top views:

Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases Challenge: ATG with fun fold cards (I'm on the DT and entering just for inspiration)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: More Than One Fold (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Stamp It (I stamped the Christmas sentiment on one side of the fun fold card) (1/5; ends 9/9/26)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG or option of following a sketch (1/6; ends at the end of the month)

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

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

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (5/6; ends 9/12/26)

Pearly Sparkles Challenge Blog: Pink, Pearls and/or Sparkle (I have lots of sparkle on my card!) (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: ATG with option of Embossing (1/5; ends 10/15/26)

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog: ATG Christmas (1/5; ends 10/15/26)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog: ATG (1/5; ends 10/15/26)

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

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: Reuse, recycle, repurpose: Rather than throwing away scraps of paper I made a mistake on (like when I get a smudge on a background or didn't stamp something clearly), I reuse the paper as die cuts I stack behind my sentiments dies like in this case where I have die cut an addtional 4 layers of scrap papers behind my "peace" die cut (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

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

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option to use die cuts (ends 9/12/26)

Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: R and S (I have silver cardstock and a star shape) (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

Allsorts challenge blog: I chose the ATG option this time (2/5; ends 9/11/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with embossing folders (3/3; ends 9/9/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Get in Shape (My card is a shaped card, so I hope that counts) (2/5; ends 9/7/26)

Peace On Earth Christmas: ATG Christmas (2/3; ends 9/3/26)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: Christmas (ends 9/2/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 9/16/26)

 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

Altenew September Inspiration Challenge

I'm thrilled to be hosting Altenew's September Inspiration Challenge this month! I live in rural west Michigan, and September means apple season in my area, so I took a photo of a local orchard and used the for this month's inspiration palette. I'm thinking the colors lend themselves to fall projects and even Christmas ones, but I look forward to seeing how crafters use the color palette in their own creative ways. I hope you'll join in and add your card to the linky for a chance to win a $30 gift card to Altenew!

Here's a look at my photo and the color palette for this month's challenge: 

If you'd like to join the challenge on the Altenew blog, here's the link: September 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew

Of course I wanted to create an apple-themed card for my project, so I chose the Craft-Your-Life: Sweet Harvest project kit from the many Altenew apple-themed products I own. This kit has dies to create apples and apple slices as well as stamps with some apple puns and other sentiments and the large apple tree branch I used as my focal point. It's a large stamp, so I decided on a 5 by 7 card to make the most of the stamp. I love fun fold cards, so I turned to an easy one that allows the stamped image to really shine. I trimmed my white card base to 5 by 8 1/2 and scored it at 1 1/2 and 2 1/4 on the 8 1/2 inch side and then flipped it over and scored at 1 1/2 and 2 1/4 inches again. 

To decorate the card base, I trimmed 3 white cardstock panels to cover the middle and side sections. The panels for the sides measure 1 3/8 by 4 7/8 and the middle panel measures 3 7/8 by 4 7/8. I ink blended Fresh Leaf ink from Altenew's Whispering Woodland ink collection onto the panels and then embossed them using the 3D embossing folder from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Painterly Perfection project kit. That embossing folder provides such lovely texture to panels. Once I had embossed the panels, I ink blended them a second time using the same Fresh Leaf ink to make the texture stand out a bit more. I adhered the green panels to the white card base. 

I stamped the apple branch image a few times using my Stampwheel 2.0 and then die cut them using the coordinating die from the add-on die set to the kit. I used the stencils to ink blend the image with the following inks: Burnt Red, Ruby Red, Cocoa Cream, and Reindeer Moss. I stacked two of the die cuts together and adhered them for added thickness. 

Next, I set about die cutting the background branches, foliage, and apples. I used Altenew's Berry Branch Layering Die Set and the foliage from Altenew's Creative Cuts: Feathered Beauty Layering Die Set for the branches and foliage. I ink blended them with Choco Hazelnut, Fresh Leaf, and Reindeer Moss inks. Then I die cut two apples from the Sweet Harvest project kit and ink blended them with Burnt Red and Ruby Red to match the apples on the stamped focal point. I added a few black lines on the die cut apples using Altenew's Fine Liner Pen Set so they matched the stamped apples. I also added a few small black spots on the die cut apples for texture. I adhered the branches, foliage and apples to the panels and trimmed them where needed. Then I added the stamped focal point to the center panel using Altenew's 1/2 wide and 1/16th inch thick Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

The "thankful for you" sentiment is from the Sweet Harvest project kit as well, and I used the coordinating die from the add-on die set to die cut several layers. I glued the layers together for dimension and then decided to add an offset of Brown Diamond Glitter Cardstock from the Brilliant Red Glitter Cardstock Set. I glued the stamped sentiment stack to the glitter cardstock, leaving a bit of the glitter die cut showing at the top of the sentiment for a touch of sparkle. I used more of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to adhere the sentiment to the card front. 

To finish the card, I added a few of Altenew's Whispering Woodland Enamel Dots around the sentiment and to the top left of the card front. 

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. 

Close up to see the texture on the embossed panels and the glitter cardstock behind the sentiment:

Side view:

Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Creases Challenge: ATG with a fun fold project: I'm on the DT and entering just for inspiration (ends 9/4/26)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: Apples (1/3; ends 9/7/26) C10

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

Allsorts challenge blog: All Creatures Great and Small or ATG (1/5; ends 9/11/25)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Shapes (I have rectangles and circles on my card) (1/5; ends 9/7/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: use die cuts (ends 9/12/26)

Crafter's Cafe: ATG with option of easel card (1/8; ends 9/12/26)

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

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

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...: Sweater Weather: I hope my apples count as a fall-themed project (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

Aerial Cable Car Card in Vintage Study Colors

What a pleasure it's been to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's August 2026 release! So many fun new crafty goodies to play with! For this card, I wanted to showcase the new Vintage Study ink collection, and I thought it would be perfect with the new Mountain Peak stencil set. I love that the Mountain Peak stencil set includes a mask of the mountain to make it easy to create multiple mountains on a project.  

For the background, I trimmed a 5 by 7-inch panel using cream cardstock and then ran it through my BetterPress with Altenew's new Essential Textures: Canvas Impressions Press Plate and Rosy Terra ink. I stenciled the mountain stencil twice onto the panel. I trimmed the panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. I stamped "life is a beautiful ride" from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Tranquil Trail set onto the panel. Then I fussy cut the mountain in the front and adhered everything down to a black A2 card base, popping up the mountain I fussy cut by using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

Next, I die cut, ink blended and assembled Altenew's new Aerial Cable Car Layering Die set and added a few details with a white acrylic marker from Altenew's Acrylic Marker 24-Color Set vol. 1. I added the cable car and cables to the card and tucked the cable car just slightly behind the mountain in the front. 

To complete the card, I added 3 of Altenew's Black Onyx Gem Sparkles around the sentiment. 

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew has many wonderful Mini Delight sets like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Cut It Up: Transportation (1/3; ends 8/31/26)

Creative Knockouts: Use your favorite embellishments (I love gems for embellishments to add some sparkle!) (3/3; ends 9/3/26) C10

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 9/28/26)

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

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

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

Krafty Chicks Challenge: Masculine (2/3; ends 9/1/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (2/3; ends 8/28/26)

 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

Ride More, Worry Less Card

What a special blessing to be a Guest Designer for Altenew this month! I've had so much fun playing with the August release products! For this card, I used the new Rural Farmstand Layering Stencil Set with the new Let's Scoot Layering Die Set for a fun card!

I started with a black A2 card base. Then I stenciled the Rural Farmstand set using the following Altenew ink collections: Highland Flora, Whispering Woodland, Red Sunset, Vintage Study, Dessert Dreams, Warm & Cozy. I trimmed the stenciled panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. Then I stamped "Ride more, worry less" onto the panel using a stamp from Altenew's Build-A-Garden: Tranquil Trail set. I adhered the stenciled background to the black card base.

Next, I die cut the pieces from the Let's Scoot die set using white cardstock for most of the pieces and black cardstock for the seat and tires. I ink blended the pieces using inks from the Highland Flora set and a few gray inks from my stash. After ink blending the pieces, I assembled the scooter and adhered it to the card front using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

To finish the card, I added a few of Altenew's Black Onyx Gem Sparkles to the card around the sentiment. 

If you're interested in doing some crafty shopping at Altenew, I'd be so grateful if you used my affiliate link here: Carrie's Altenew Link.  I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Altenew has many wonderful Mini Delight sets like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

Cut It Up: Transportation (2/3; ends 8/31/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (4/4; ends 9/28/26)

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

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 8/28/26)

 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

One Go: Solid Circular Sentiments Press Plate Card

One of the products in Altenew's August 2026 release is a cleverly designed press plate and coordinating die set that creates 10 different sentiments all at once. I had fun inking up the press plate with 2 different colors for this card: Obsidian Pigment Ink and Volcano Lake dye ink (both from Altenew). After running the press plate through my BetterPress with both colors, I die cut the sentiments using the coordinating die that die cuts all 10 sentiments at once. 

After I had all my sentiments die cut, I used the die to die cut a piece of white cardstock I had trimmed to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. I set aside the die cuts and used the negative for a frame. I adhered the frame to a black A2 card base. Then I die cut a few more sets of circles with the die so that I could stack the sentiments on a few layers to pop them up a bit from the white frame. I alternated the Volcano Lake sentiments with the Obsidian sentiments and then added some of Altenew's Black Onyx Gem Sparkles 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 has many wonderful Mini Delight sets like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

Creative Knockouts: Use your favorite embellishments (I love gems for embellishments to add some sparkle!) (2/3; ends 9/3/26) C10

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

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 9/28/26)

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

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (4/5; ends 9/2/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Lots of layers (I hope the layers of die cuts behind each sentiment count. Delete if not) (4/5; ends 8/31/26)

Krafty Chicks Challenge: Masculine (1/3; ends 9/1/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 9/5/26)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 8/28/26)

 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

Sunflower Daisy Thank You Card

I had so much fun creating this card with an older Altenew set that is now retired. I don't tend to use my layering stamps much now that I have so many layering die sets and layering stencil sets, but this thank you card is for a friend who told me her favorite flower is yellow daisies. I pulled out my Altenew Build-A-Flower: Sunflower Daisies set and stamped the flowers with inks from Altenew's Golden Sunset ink collection. I used Altenew's Delectable Desserts inks for the flower centers. Once I had stamped them, I die cut them and then decided on my card design.

I started with a side-folding white A2 card base and adhered a piece of watercolor paper I painted with inks from Altenew's Whispering Woodland ink colleciton. I smooshed the ink onto a piece of acetate and added some water so I could paint with the it. I let it dry and then spritzed the panel with more water to give it some texture. After adhering the watercolored panel to the card front, I cut the card front on the diagonal using my paper trimmer. Then I added 3 of the stamped and die cut flowers along the diagonal. I stamped 3 sentiments from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: The Afternoon Spread project kit (coming out on September 2nd) and added some gems in matching tones. 

For the inside of the card, I embossed an A2 panel of brown cardstock with Altenew's Daisies 3D embossing folder and then trimmed it to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. I adhered it to the inside of the card, and it peeks out where the card front has been trimmed. I'll write my message to my friend on the back 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. 

Challenges I'm entering:

Creative Knockouts: Use your favorite embellishments (I love gems for embellishments to add some sparkle!) (1/3; ends 9/3/26) C10

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

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

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

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with embossing folders (2/3; ends 9/9/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 9/28/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers (4/6; ends 9/12/26)

little red wagon: Anything Times Three (I have 3 sunflower daisies and 3 sentiments) (ends 9/1/26)

Hand Stamped Sentiments stamping challenge blog and paper craft challenge blog: (2/2; ends 8/31/26)

Inspiration Station: (2/8; 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

 

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) Top 3 Pick 9/2/26

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