Carrie's Custom Cards

Friday, July 3, 2026

Happy BIRD-Day Fun Fold For Creative Creases #117

It's time for a new challenge on the Creative Creases Challenge blog, and I pulled out my Altenew Craft-Your-Life: Whispers in the Canopy project kit to create this fun fold birthday card. I followed a tutorial on YouTube by Julie Baca of Sunny Day Stamping here: The Secret to Using Landscape Paper in Fun Fold Cards. I love interactive cards that have hidden panels for the recipient to discover! They are so fun! I'd love to see your fun fold projects in the Creative Creases Challenge gallery here: Creative Creases Challenge. It's always anything goes with a fun fold project on the CCC blog, and it's a great place for fun fold inspiration. 😊

To start my card, I chose the inks I wanted to use for the stencil set in the Whispers in the Canopy set, and then I chose my coordinating cardstock accordingly. Since I ink blended the stencil set using Altenew's Bubblegum Dreams and Whispering Woodland ink collections, I decided to use pink for the card base and green for the layers behind my stenciled panels. I added some of Altenew's Antique Gold Shimmer Relief Paste for the flower centers while stenciling the background. I love the touch of shine that gives to the background!

I trimmed the stenciled panels according to Julie Baca's instructions and matted them onto the green layers. Then I adhered them to the pink fun fold card base.

I trimmed another strip of the pink cardstock to be my sentiment strip that doubles as a strip to provide stability to the side layers when they open up. I used my Nelko label maker and transparent tape to create the "Happy BIRD-day" sentiment strip, and then I placed it on the pink strip leaving enough room for my bird. The bird was die cut from the same Whispers in the Canopy project kit as the stencil. The kit includes a large stamp set, a stencil set, a coordinating embossing folder, and a die set that creates 2 birds, 2 birdhouses, a branch, and a couple sets of leaves. I ink blended the layers of the bird and the 2 leaf clusters and then added them to the center section of the sentiment strip. The sentiment strip is adhered to the back of the two side panels. This allows the side panels to lift simultaneously.

For the inside of the card, I trimmed more of the stenciled background and matted the pieces to green cardstock. Then I trimmed a piece of green cardstock for the center of the inside of the card and added a layer of pink cardstock on top. I stamped "hope your day is" from Altenew's Build-A-Flower: Camellia Japonica and then stamped "eggcellent" from Sunny Studio's A Good Egg stamp set onto cream cardstock and trimmed and adhered it to the inside panel, leaving room for the nest.

I created the cute little nest and eggs using Altenew's Mini Delight: Nestled Whimsy set. I die cut the layers out of white cardstock and ink blended them using Altenew's Dessert Dreams ink collection. I adhered everything together and then added the nest and eggs between the lines of my sentiment.

For a finishing touch, I added some flat-back gold embellishments to the front 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 great weekly sales.

Challenges I'm entering:

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

Ellibelle's Corner: Ellibelle's Garden Party: Anything in or from a garden (4/5; ends 7/6/26)

Krafty Chicks Challenge: Birthday (ends 7/8/26)

The Pick 3 Challenge: Choose 3: Ink blending, sparkle, and sentiment (1/6; ends 7/18/26)

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

The Creative Crafters: ATG (1/3; ends 7/8/26)

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: ATG with option of shape card (1/5; ends 8/15/26)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog: ATG (1/5; ends 8/15/26)

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

Moving Along With The Times: Use a coloring medium (I used ink blending) (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

Allsorts challenge blog: Bees, blooms, or birds or ATG (5/5; ends 7/3/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 7/8/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of summer fun (unlimited; ends 7/12/26)

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

Crafty Catz: ATG (4/5; ends 7/3/26)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Something starting with "B": I have a bird and blooms (ends 7/7/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/8; ends 7/12/26)

Crafter's Cafe: ATG with the option of blooms (ends 7/12/26)

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

Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG: atg with critters (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

Crafting from the Art challenge: ATG (2/3; ends 7/8/26)

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

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards and Tags: I followed the birthday theme (ends 7/21/26)

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

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Whispers in the Canopy Birthday Card

July is a big month for birthdays in my extended family, so I have been working on birthday cards the last few days. This one features Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Whispers in the Canopy project kit. I used the stencils in the kit to create the background for this card. The inks I used were Altenew's Bubblegum Dreams and Whispering Woodland ink collections. I used Altenew's Antique Gold Shimmer Relief Paste for the flower centers.

After creating the stenciled panel, I die cut the little bird out of white cardstock and then ink blended him using shades of blue and black for his eyes, beak, and feet. Then I die cut the "happy birthday" words and shadows out of the Citrine glitter cardstock from Altenew's Gilded Glitter Cardstock set and the same pink cardstock I used for the card base.

I ink blended the edges of a white panel to match my blue bird and adhered the stenciled panel to it. Then I adhered the panel to the pink card base and added the sentiment and the little bird. I used several die cut layers stacked together to give the sentiment some dimension and then added Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to my bird to pop him up and make him look like he's resting on the end of the word "happy."

To finish the card, I added 6 flat back gold embellishments.

Challenges I'm entering:

June 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew:

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite Color Combo and Why: I love pink, green, and teal together because I think they are so cheerful and fun! (3/3; ends 7/2/26)

Cut It Up: Critters (3/3; ends 7/6/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Bees, blooms, or birds or ATG (4/5; ends 7/3/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 7/8/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of summer fun (unlimited; ends 7/12/26)

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (3/5; ends 7/1/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/5; ends 7/3/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Bees, blooms, or birds or ATG (3/5; ends 7/3/26)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Something starting with "B": I have a bird and blooms (ends 7/7/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/8; ends 7/12/26)

Crafter's Cafe: ATG with the option of blooms (ends 7/12/26)

Crafting from the Art challenge: ATG (1/3; ends 7/8/26)

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards and Tags: I followed the birthday theme (ends 7/21/26)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: First Row Down: Floral, Pink, Birthday

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

Friday, June 26, 2026

Sending an Ocean Of Thanks Card

I'm having so much fun with Altenew's ocean-themed products in their June release! This card features the Mini Delight: Graceful Seahorse set, and I just love the stamps and dies in this darling set!

I started by creating a blue background using watercolor paper and blue watercolors from Altenew's 24-Pan Watercolor set. I trimmed the panel to fit inside an A2 shaker pocket I created using vellum and a die from Miss Ink Stamps Postage, Seal, and Shaker Collection. I added adhesive to 3 sides of the pocket and adhered the pocket to the blue watercolor panel. Then I added gold glitter and gold and iridescent sequins to the pocket and closed the final flap to seal the shaker pocket.

For the front of the shaker pocket, I die cut the seahorse and seaweed using the Mini Delight: Graceful Seahorse set and papers I had used Lindy's Magicals on. I assembled the seahorse and added the die cuts using liquid glue for the seaweed and Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape for the seahorse.

To finish the card, I stamped "sending an ocean of thanks" from the same Graceful Seahorse set onto a scrap of watercolor paper I had used Lindy's Magicals on and adhered that to the card front.

Close up:

Challenges I'm entering:

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: At the beach (3/5; ends 6/29/26)

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Fish/Sea Creatures (3/3; ends 7/5/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: By the Sea (3/5; ends 7/12/26)

As You Like It Challenge: Favorite Color Combo and Why: I love pinks, oranges, and teals together because I think they are so cheerful and fun! (2/3; ends 7/2/26)

Cut It Up: Critters (2/3; ends 7/6/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 7/8/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of summer fun (unlimited; ends 7/12/26)

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (2/5; ends 7/1/26)

little red wagon: Feather, Fur, and Fin (3/3; ends 7/1/26)

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

Sea You Soon Card

My ocean-themed card started with watercoloring a background and then embossing it with Altenew's Mighty Waves 3D embossing folder. I would have been smarter to stamp the sentiment before embossing the panel, but thankfully with my MISTI stamp positioner, I could stamp the sentiment a few times to get a clear impression of the "sea you soon!" sentiment even though I used watercolor paper and had embossed the panel.

I die cut Altenew's Creative Cuts: Zero Waste: Beneath the Blue die using silver cardstock and then arranged the die cuts to create an ocean scene. This set creates so many wonderful pieces! It's a very intricate die, so I recommend using a metal shim with it. That really helped me get clean die cuts. I used some liquid glue and some of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape when creating the underwater scene to create layers of dimension on the card.

This card was meant for my daughter who is currently deployed on an aircraft carrier in the Middle East. I had planned to send it in her care package next week because that was going to be my last care package of this deployment and the "sea you soon" was a fitting sentiment. Then I found out this morning that her deployment has been extended for a third time, so I'll send a different card and keep this one for the last package. She recently passed her Air Warfare qualification, so I will make her a congratulations card and go back to making and freeze drying her favorite meals so I can support her in that small way.

Challenges I'm entering:

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: At the beach (2/5; ends 6/29/26)

Cut It Up: Critters (1/3; ends 7/6/26)

Alphabet Challenge Blog: E is for Embossing (1/1; ends 7/9/26)

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Fish/Sea Creatures (2/3; ends 7/5/26)

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: By the Sea (2/5; ends 7/12/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 7/8/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of summer fun (unlimited; ends 7/12/26)

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

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (1/5; ends 7/1/26)

little red wagon: Feather, Fur, and Fin (2/3; ends 7/1/26)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Something beginning with B (I have bubbles on my card) (1/3; ends 7/8/26)

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

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

When You Go Through Deep Waters Card

Some friends of mine are going through a rough time right now, and I wanted to make a card that reminds them of God's faithful presence through all our trials. I started by creating a top-folding white A2 card base. Then I embossed the 3D embossing folder from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Coral Reef Wonders project kit and swiped black ink over the top of the embossed areas. I trimmed the panel to 4 by 5 1/4.

Next, I die cut the seahorse from Altenew's Mini Delight: Graceful Seahorse set out of black and gold cardstocks and assembled it. I added one of Altenew's Antique Gold Sequins for his little eye.

I had purchased some small notecards with a few different verses on at Hobby Lobby awhile back, and I chose the verse from Isaiah 43:2: When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. What a wonderful promise that is so comforting! I trimmed the notecard so that I could have the first part of the verse at the top left and the rest of it in the bottom right of the panel. Then I added it to the embossed panel with Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I added the panel to a black panel I had trimmed to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 and adhered that to a panel of gold cardstock I trimmed to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2. I adhered it all to the white card base and then added more of the Antique Gold sequins. Then I used Altenew's Gold Metallic Marker to add more dots of gold to the panel to look like splatter.

Challenges I'm entering:

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: At the beach (1/5; ends 6/29/26)

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

Ellibelle's Corner: I spy with my little eye: By the Sea (1/5; ends 7/12/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/5; ends 7/3/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 8/10 for the challenge; ends 6/24/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Bees, blooms, or birds or ATG (2/5; ends 7/3/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with embossing folders with a twist of boys to men (3/3; ends 6/24/26)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Monochrome + sentiment (4/5; ends at the end of the month)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (3/3; ends 6/29/26) C10

Cardz 4 Galz: Seaside/Coast (2/3; ends 6/24/26)

No more challenges.

I'd like to leave a blessing for all the lovely visitors to my blog:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

--Numbers 6: 22-26

Thankful For You Dragonfly Card

This thank you card was for my church's vacancy pastor who went above and beyond in his faithful service to our congregation in the interim between when our former pastor retired and when our new pastor was ordained and installed last Sunday. I wanted to make him a special card to thank him, so I pulled out some supplies and began working on this card.

I started with creating a top-folding white A2 card. Then I embossed a panel of white cardstock using Altenew's 3D embossing folder from the Craft-Your-Life: Always Sunshine project kit. The kit includes a stencil to color the foliage, so I ink blended shades of green from Altenew's Whispering Woodland Fresh Dye Ink collection to color the leaves. I added details with an Ohuhu alcohol ink marker for the stems.

Next, I die cut the dragonfly out of black, copper, and white cardstocks and ink blended the white cardstock using the same green inks I had used on the foliage. I assembled the dragonfly and added him to the panel using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

I trimmed a panel of white cardstock to 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 and colored the edges of the panel with the same Ohuhu green marker I had used to color the stems of the foliage on the background. I added the embossed panel to the panel with the colored edges and then added that to the card base. It was then that I noticed a cut on my finger had bled a bit onto the background near the top right. I used 3 enamel dots from Altenew's Whispering Woodland Enamel Dot set to cover the spots. Thank goodness for embellishments! 😂

For the inside of the card, I trimmed a panel to 3 3/4 by 5 and ink blended it with the Whispering Woodland ink I had used for the front of the card. Then I stamped Papertrey Ink's beautiful stamp with the Aaronic blessing on it. I love that blessing and have been including it on all my blog posts for some time.

Inside of the card:

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Things with Wings (2/5; ends 6/24/26)

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

Crafty Catz: ATG (2/5; ends 7/3/26)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of anything but a card (8/8; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 7/10 for the challenge; ends 6/24/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: Bees, blooms, or birds or ATG (1/5; ends 7/3/26) Top 7 Pick 7/3/26

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with embossing folders with a twist of boys to men (my card is for a man) (2/3; ends 6/24/26)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with stencils (I used stencils to color in the foliage) with the option of butterflies (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Monochrome + sentiment (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (2/3; ends 6/29/26) 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

Sending Peace and Comfort Fluttering Fantasies Card

Two of my friends recently lost their fathers, so I have been making more sympathy cards. This one is to a crafty friend who loves butterflies, purple, and splatter. I did my best to incorporate all of those favorite elements.

I started by creating a white A2 card base. Then I trimmed black cardstock to 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 and adhered it to the front of the card base.

Next, I embossed a piece of watercolor paper I had painted with Altenew's Lavender Gouache from Artists' Gouache Set: Strolling Through New York. I used the embossing folder from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Always Sunshine project kit to emboss the panel.

For the sentiment, I used Altenew's Beautiful Butterfly Press Plate set in my BetterPress to press the sentiment and then I used the coordinating dies to die cut the sentiment. I added it to the top left of the lavender panel.

For the butterflies, I die cut Altenew's Creative Cuts: Zero Waste: Fluttering Fantasies die out of vellum and then out of watercolor papers I had painted (one with Ultraviolet gouache from the same set as the Lavender gouache) and one I had used deep purple sprays on. I mixed and matched my butterfly die cuts and added the black bodies to them. Then I placed 3 of them on my card and splattered the card with Altenew's Carbon Black gouache.

Challenges I'm entering:

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Things with Wings (1/5; ends 6/24/26)

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

Crafty Catz: ATG (1/5; ends 7/3/26)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of anything but a card (7/8; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 6/10 for the challenge; ends 6/24/26)

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

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

Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG: ATG with a critter (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (1/3; ends 6/29/26) 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