The Afternoon Spread Card

I had so much fun playing with the September Craft-Your-Life project kit from Altenew! Everything on the card except for the enamel dots came from the kit. It includes the beautiful floral stencil, the dies that create cookies and mugs, and even an arch die and stamps that fit it perfectly!

I had help from my 4-year-old grandson die cutting the cookies, and I discovered he absolutely LOVES cranking the die cutter! Whether I have the plates in it or not! He was fascinated by the way it worked!

I created a cream-colored A2 card base and then trimmed a cream panel to 4 by 5 1/2 inches. I stenciled the flowers onto the cream panel using Altenew's Bubblegum Dreams and Whispering Woodland ink collections. Then I used a bit of Altenew's Pearl Shimmer Relief Paste for the stenciled flower centers. I set the panel aside to dry and created the little mug of tea and the saucer. I chose my colors based on the color palette for Altenew's July Inspiration Challenge.

I arranged the die cut cookies and the mug of tea at the bottom of the stenciled panel and decided how I wanted to arrange the stamped sentiment. I stamped it on the arch die cut and trimmed the arch die cut so the sentiment fit where I wanted it. Then I decided to add the 3 little leaf cluster die cuts that came in the kit. I ink blended them using the same Whispering Woodland inks I used for the stenciled background. Then I adhered everything to the panel using liquid glue and Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape for the tea cup. I adhered the panel to the card base and added a few of Altenew's Tea Party enamel dots 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 Craft-Your-Life project kits like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 Challenges I'm entering:

https://beautifulblossomschallenge.blogspot.com/?m=1: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/6: ends 8/12/26) 

https://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/?m=1: ATG (1/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 8/5/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (1/5; ends 8/5/26)

July 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

 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

Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles You're The Sweetest Person I Know Card

I'm back with another fun card for Altenew's August release, and this time I made patriotic popsicles with the Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles set. I paired the set with Altenew's Fireworks Stamp to create this A2 card. The Sweet Popsicles set will be available for purchase on Altenew's website starting on August 6th. 

I started by stamping a white A2 card panel with the fireworks stamp in blues and reds. Then I trimmed the panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 and added it to a panel of blue cardstock I had trimmed to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2. I stamped the "you're the coolest person I know" sentiment onto the bottom of the panel and then die cut the elements for the popsicle using white cardstock for the stick and the following glitter cardstocks from Altenew for the rest of the popsicles: Moonstone from the Milky Way Glitter Cardstock, Red Spinel from the Brilliant Red Glitter Cardstock, and Tanzanite from the Blue Crystals Glitter Cardstock. I ink blended the popsicle stick with Altenew's Peachy Glow Fresh Dye Ink. I assembled the popsicle and popped it up using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. Then I added the panel to a white A2 card base. 

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 (4/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 8/5/26)

A Cut Above: ATG with die cuts (2/3; ends 7/29/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Make your own background (2/5; ends 7/29/26) $25 gift card winner 7/29/26

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...: (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

Colorful Options: ends at the end of the month 

{PIN}spirational Challenges: (3/5; ends at the end of the month)

{Cupcake Inspirations}: (2/3; ends 8/7/26) Top Pick 8/10/26

We Love Stamping: Summertime or ATG with stamping (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

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

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (2/4; ends 8/21/26)

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

Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles Life With You Is Sweet Card

I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's August 2026 release! I've been having so much fun playing with the new crafty goodies they sent me, including this fun Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles set!  This set includes so many great elements from punny sentiment stamps to detailed dies to make and decorate the popsicles. The August release products will be available starting August 6 if you are interested in checking out this set. 

For this card, I created a 5 1/2 by 5 1/2-inch square card base using red cardstock and then stamped Altenew's Dotted Pinwheels stamp onto a white cardstock panel. I trimmed the stamped panel to 5 3/8 by 5 3/8 and adhered it to the red card base. 

Then I die cut the popsicle sticks out of white cardstock and ink blended Altenew's Peachy Glow Fresh Dye Ink onto them. For the popsicles, I die cut the following Altenew glitter cardstocks: Moonstone from the Milky Way Glitter Cardstock, Red Spinel from the Brilliant Red Glitter Cardstock, and Tanzanite from the Blue Crystals Glitter Cardstock. I added Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape to the back of the popsicles and adhered them to vellum arches I had die cut using Altenew's Nested Arches Die Set and then I adhered the popsicles and vellum to the card front. 

To finish the card, I stamped "life is sweet with you in it" from the stamp set included in the Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles set using clear embossing ink and white embossing powder and used my heat tool to emboss the sentiment onto red cardstock. I popped up the sentiment using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

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 (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 8/5/26)

A Cut Above: ATG with die cuts (1/3; ends 7/29/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Make your own background (1/5; ends 7/29/26)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie...: (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

{PIN}spirational Challenges: (2/5; ends at the end of the month)

Colorful Options: ends at the end of the month 

{Cupcake Inspirations}: (1/3; ends 8/7/26) 

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

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles: ATG (1/4; ends 8/21/26)

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

Sending Sweet Thoughts Card

I recently attended an Altenew Educator workshop led by my friend Ishani S, and we created 3 cards using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Fruits & Flowers project kit for all three of them. Ishani is a wonderfully creative cardmaker, and I love how all 3 cards turned out.

For this card, I started by embossing a panel of white cardstock with the 3D embossing folder included in the Fruits & Flowers kit. Then I trimmed the panel to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 and adhered it to a white A2 card base. I then trimmed a piece of purple pattern paper with a woodgrain pattern on it to 1 3/4 inch by 4 1/8 inches and adhered it over the bottom of the embossed white panel. Then I began die cutting and ink blending several of the fruits and the mesh bag from the Fruits & Flowers kit. I adhered all the little pieces together and then and then arranged a banana, a plum, and an orange in the mesh bag and added the bag where I wanted it on the woodgrain "counter." I used liquid glue to adhere the fruits where I wanted them and then to adhere the edges of the mesh bag to the card so the bag is slightly rounded where the fruits are adhered. 

I added an orange from the same kit and some leaves on the counter in front of the mesh bag using Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape. Then to finish the card, I stamped and die cut the "sending sweet thoughts" sentiment (also from the Fruits & Flowers kit) and stacked several layers of die cuts to give the sentiment some dimension before adhering the stacked sentiment to 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 project kits like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 
 Challenges I'm entering: 

A Place To Start: ATG with option of black and white (8/8; ends at the end of the month) Rising Star July Week 3

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of any holiday (8/8; ends at the end of the month) Top Rocker July 26-August 1

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Summer Splash (6/6; ends 8/2/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder and the optional twist of stars and/or stripes (1/3; ends 8/5/26)

Double D Challenges: Favorite Fruit (3/3; ends 8/2/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of any holiday (unlimited; ends 8/12/26)

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 8/2/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (5/5; ends 7/31/26)

Cut It Up: Emboss it (I used an embossing folder to create the white background panel on my card) (1/3; ends 8/3/26)

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

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

You Are So Sweet Pineapple Card

I recently attended an Altenew Educator workshop led by my friend Ishani S, and we created 3 cards using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Fruits & Flowers project kit for all three of them. Ishani is a wonderfully creative card maker, and I love how all 3 cards turned out.

For this card, I started with a pink panel I trimmed to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8 inches. Then I stamped the 4 foliage silhouette stamps in the Fruits & Flowers kit using embossing ink. I added clear embossing powder on top and heat set the stamped images so they show up as a tone-on-tone look. Most of the stamped images are hidden by the focal point, but a little bit of each one peeks through. 

Next, I die cute the pineapple from the Fruits & Flowers kit and the foliage and flowers from Altenew's Hibiscus Garden layering die set. I used some glitter paper from Altenew's Pink Brilliance Glitter Gradient Cardstock set for parts of the hibiscus flower. I added the smallest size and lightest color gem sparkles from Altenew's Pink Tourmaline Gem Sparkles set to the smaller flowers' centers. 

After doing some ink blending and assembling the die cuts, I arranged them on the pink panel using liquid glue in some places and Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape in other places  to create dimension. Then I stamped and die cut the "you're so sweet" sentiment and added it to the panel. I adhered the panel to a green top-folding A2 card base and finished off the card by adding more of the Pink Tourmaline Gem Sparkles to the card in a darker shade than I used for the flower centers. 

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 project kits like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

A Place To Start: ATG with option of black and white (8/8; ends at the end of the month) Rising Star July Week 3

Double D Challenges: Favorite Fruit (3/3; ends 8/2/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of At the Seaside (5/5; ends 7/31/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Add some text (5/5; ends 7/27/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of any holiday (unlimited; ends 8/12/26)

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

Crafty Catz: ATG (5/5; ends 7/31/26)

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

July 2026 Inspiration Challenge | Altenew: 

 ****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (3/3; ends 7/27/26) 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

Fuits & Florals Thanks A Bunch Card

I recently attended an Altenew Educator Workshop led by my friend Ishani S during which we made 3 cards using Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Fruits and Flowers set. This card was one of the three cards I made, and I love the bright colors!

I started by die cutting the little fruits and fruit bowl from the project kit. Then I ink blended them with a variety of Altenew inks. I arranged the fruit in the base of the fruit bowl and then adhered the front part of the bowl with liquid glue on only the edges so that the bowl looks a bit rounded and the fruit fits in nicely. 

Then I embossed a panel of navy blue cardstock using the 3D embossing folder that comes in the Fruits & Flowers kit. Next, I trimmed a piece of yellow cardstock to 4 1/8 by 5 3/8-inches and stenciled the floral image in the background using the stencil set that is also part of the kit. It's a very versatile kit with lots of great stamps, dies, stencils along with the fun embossing folder!

Once my white pigment ink was dry on the stenciled flowers, I added pearls to the flower centers and then trimmed my navy blue embossed panel the way I wanted it to be on the yellow panel. I added my fruit bowl and then 2 small die cut flowers from Altenew's Creative Cuts: In the Woods set. 

To finish the card, I stamped my "thanks a bunch" sentiment (also from the same Fruits & Flowers kit) directly onto the panel. Then I adhered the panel to a white, top-folding A2 card base. 

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 project kits like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 Challenges I'm entering: 

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of At the Seaside (4/5; ends 7/31/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Add some text (4/5; ends 7/27/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (5/5 for the week; 6/10 for the challenge; ends 7/22/26)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of black and white (6/8; ends at the end of the month) Rising Star July Week 3

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of any holiday (7/8; ends at the end of the month) Top Rocker July 19-25

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Summer Splash (5/6; ends 8/2/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder and the optional twist of stars and/or stripes (2/3; ends 7/22/26)

Double D Challenges: Favorite Fruit (1/3; ends 8/2/26) Top Pick 8/4/226

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: ATG with option of shape card (7/8; ends 8/15/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of any holiday (unlimited; ends 8/12/26)

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (2/3; ends 8/2/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (3/5; ends 7/31/26)

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

Forest Friends Silhouettes Birthday Card

When I saw Altenew's Forest Friends Silhouette Die Set in their July release, I knew I had to order it! I live in a rural area on 22 acres of land that used to be a farm, and I see deer all over my property nearly every day, especially near the creek that runs through my backyard. I love watching them, especially in the early summer when the fawns are frolicking! I'm so blessed to live where I do!

For this birthday card, I created a few layers using Altenew's Nested Arches die set and warm brown colors. Some of the papers were watercolored, some painted with metallic acrylic paint, and some were ink blended with Altenew's Dessert Dream ink collection. The deer were die cut from watercolor paper I had painted with several colors of acrylic paints. 

The Forest Friends Silhouette die set has dies that create the tall tree on the left side of the card, the tree line just behind the deer, an owl (in the tall tree), a buck, and a fawn. To create the doe, I die some reverse die cutting so the doe would face the opposite direction as the buck and I trimmed off the antlers. 

For the mountain scene in the background, I stenciled Altenew's Majestic Mountain stencil set using Altenew's Dessert Dreams ink collection. I built up the layers using Altenew's 1/16th inch thick Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I stamped and die cut the "happy birthday" sentiment using a stamp and coordinating die from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Literary Blooms kit, and I die cut 5 layers of the sentiment die cut so I could stack them for dimension. 

To finish the card, I added 3 of Altenew's Apricot Frost Enamel Dots 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 stencil and die sets like the ones I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 
 Challenges I'm entering: 

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (2/3; ends 7/27/26) C10

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of At the Seaside (3/5; ends 7/31/26)

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

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! ATG with stencils (I used stencils to create the mountain in the background) (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Add some text (3/5; ends 7/27/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for the week; 5/10 for the challenge; ends 7/22/26)

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

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

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Summer Splash (4/6; ends 8/2/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (4/4; ends 7/27/26)

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

Floral Wreath Birthday Card

I needed a card for an elderly woman at my church who turns 85 tomorrow, so I stamped and die cut several of the floral stamps from Altenew's Craft-Your-Life: Literary Blooms and used the coordinating stencils to ink blend the following Altenew ink collections through them: Red Sunset, Warm & Cozy, and Whispering Woodland. Then I created a green card base that measures 5 1/2 by 11 and was scored at 5 1/2 to create a 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch square card base. I arranged the floral stamps in a wreath on the card front and adhered them with Bearly Art liquid glue. 

For the sentiment, I stamped and die cut the "happy birthday" stamp from the same Literary Blooms kit and die cut extras to stack behind the stamped sentiment for dimension. I adhered the sentiment to the center of the card and finished it off by adding a few enamel dots from Altenew's Warm & Cozy Enamel Dots 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 has many wonderful Craft-Your-Life project kits like the one I used here as well as a weekly sale section with great deals. 

 ****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges**********: ATG (1/3; ends 7/27/26) C10

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of At the Seaside (2/5; ends 7/31/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with florals as the focus (1/6; ends 8/12/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Fabulous Florals (2/5; ends 7/22/26)

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

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! ATG with stencils (I used stencils to ink blend the floral stamps) (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Add some text (2/5; ends 7/27/26)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Middle row across: Any color, free, sentiment (ends 7/30/26)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 7/22/26)

A Place To Start: ATG with option of black and white (4/8; ends at the end of the month) Overall July Rising Star Pick as well as Rising Star July Week 3

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 A Little Paper Hug Card

Have you seen the Mini Delight: Special Delivery set by Altenew? It was released earlier this month, and it's just adorable! So many cute details like the little twine and wax seal dies! Then there are coordinating stamps with great sentiments and a couple floral silhouette stamps. 

For my card, I started by stamping one of the floral silhouette stamps in Altenew's Reindeer Moss ink and then I blended a bit of Altenew's Fresh Leaf ink over the area I had stamped. Next, I die cut the pieces for the little mailbox, card, and envelope and ink blended and assembled them all. Then I adhered the die cuts to the card and chose where I wanted to stamp my sentiment. I stamped the sentiment in Altenew's Obsidian Black pigment ink and then mounted the panel onto a green A2 card base. 

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:

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Add some text (1/5; ends 7/27/26)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of At the Seaside (1/5; ends 7/31/26)

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

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Summer Splash (3/6; ends 8/2/26)

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

A Place To Start: ATG with option of black and white (3/8; ends at the end of the month) Rising Star July Week 2

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 7/22/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (2/5; ends 7/31/26)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Middle row across: Any color, free, sentiment (ends 7/30/26)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of any holiday (unlimited; ends 8/12/26)

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (1/3; ends 8/2/26)

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG with option of treats for Dad (3/3; ends 8/11/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (3/4; ends 7/27/26)

 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

Winterberry Poinsettias Christmas Card

Altenew's July release is full of Christmas goodies, including this lovely embossing folder and coordinating stencil set called Winterberry Poinsettias. I have 2 other poinsettia embossing folders but still couldn't resist ordering this set because I love having a coordinating stencil to ink blend the images. 

I have been making a few cards using kraft cardstock recently, and I thought why not try a Christmas card on kraft cardstock for a warm and cozy feel? I like how it turned out and think I'll try the folder and stencils with other colors of cardstock, too. For this one, I trimmed a piece of kraft cardstock to 5 3/4 by 5 3/4 and then embossed it with the Winterberry Poinsettia EF. I trimmed it further to 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 after embossing it. Then I used the coordinating stencils and the following inks from Altenew: Crimson, Velvet, Reindeer Moss, Cocoa Cream, and Lemonade Stand. 

I stamped the "May God's everlasting light make your season bright" from Altenew's Blessings stamp set directly onto the card panel and then added a few Nuvo drops to embellish the card. I have so many colors of Nuvo drops and forget to use them most of the time, so I was thrilled to see that I had a color that matches the berries so well. I added two at the top left of the card and 3 around the sentiment. 

To finish the card, I trimmed a piece of yellow cardstock to 5 3/4 by 5 3/4 inches and adhered the embossed panel to the yellow panel. Then I created a top-folding 6 by 6 card base out of green cardstock and adhered the top panel to it. 

I hope you will check out Altenew's July release on their website as it's full of great new products including many holiday-themed products like the ones I've used on my card. And 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. 

Challenges I'm entering:

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of any holiday (4/8; ends at the end of the month)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Summer Splash (2/6; ends 8/2/26)

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Christmas in July (unlimited; ends 7/21/26)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting: Thing 1: 3 colors, 2 layers, 1 holiday image (1/4; ends 7/19/26)

Make My Monday Challenge Blog: Christmas in July (1/3; ends 7/26/26)

Can You Handle The Pressure?: ATG with an embossing folder with an optional twist of stars and stripes (1/3; ends 7/22/26)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog: Christmas in July (1/3; ends 7/17/26)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/6; ends 8/12/26)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: ATG with option of patterns (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

The Card Concept: Christmas in July (I tried for a Clean and Layered style here (ends at the end of August)

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

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

A Place To Start: ATG with option of black and white (2/8; ends at the end of the month)

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

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 2/10 for the challenge; ends 7/22/26)

Alphabet Challenge Blog: F is for festivities (1/1; ends 7/24/26)

Crafty Catz: ATG (1/5; ends 7/31/26)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Middle row across: Any color, free, sentiment 

The Pick 3 Challenge: Yellow, ink blending, sentiment  (3/3; ends at the end of the month)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG with option of any holiday (unlimited; ends 8/12/26)

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

Crafter's Cafe: ATG with the option of Christmas in July (ends 8/12/26)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 7/19/26)

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG with option of treats for Dad (2/3; ends 8/11/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Fabulous Florals (1/5; ends 7/22/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/4; ends 7/27/26)

 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

 

Happy Birthday Flip Flap Card

 My grandson recently turned 4 years old, and I wanted to make him a fun, interactive birthday card. This card is not my typical style in that it's quite busy with a lot of different pattern papers. I figured he would love all the different animals, banners, etc., so I went a bit overboard! For the fun fold, I followed a tutorial by Connie Stewart here: Easy Pull Tab Flip Cards That Create a Wow Moment. I used Altenew's Nested Arches Die Set to die cut the arches on my card. 

I chose birthday papers and set about creating the card following the measurements and instructions in the video above. I also die cut a cupcake and frosting using Altenew's Mini Delight: Sweet Life set and presents using Altenew's Mini Delight: Time to Celebrate set. I added the cupcake to the front of the card with Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape and the present to the inside of the card using Bearly Art liquid glue for the two presents on the sides and more of Altenew's Instant Dimension Foam Tape for the present in the center of the pile. I let the pattern paper banners create the sentiments to wish Sawyer a happy birthday. 

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 Creases Challenge: ATG with a fun fold project. I'm on the DT and sharing just for fun. 

613 Avenue Create: ATG with option of any holiday (4/8; ends at the end of the month) Top Rocker July 5-11

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with option of Summer Splash (1/6; ends 8/2/26)

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

Mix It Up Challenge Blog: ATG with option of shape card (4/8; ends 8/15/26)

Love To Craft Challenge Blog: ATG (4/5; ends 8/15/26)

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

Paper Rocks Scissors: ATG with paper and/or scissors (I used scissors to cut my foam tape) (4/5; ends at the end of the month)

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

The Neglected Stuff Challenge: These pattern papers have definitely been neglected! They are at least 3 years old and are only the tip of my pattern paper iceberg! 😂 (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Inspiration Station: I was inspired by the colors in the picture and the balloons and balloon swags which resemble the shape of the banners on my card (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 7/22/26)

The Pick 3 Challenge: Yellow, frame, sentiment (I think the matted arches count as frames, but delete if not) (2/3; ends at the end of the month)

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)

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (2/3; ends 7/19/26) Top 5 Pick 7/19/26

Crafty Gals Corner: ATG with option of treats for Dad (1/3; ends 8/11/26)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: 4-legged friends (1/5; ends 7/15/26)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 7/27/26)

Double D Challenges: Potpourri: I was inspired by the colors in the mood board (1/3; ends 7/12/26)

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