Couple More Altenew Online Class Cards

I have posted all the cards I made after participating in an online class from Altenew recently. As a bonus class, Jaycee of Altenew did a live Zoom and this was one of the cards he taught - or my version of it. I really had to go outside my box for this one- I normally do not do one layer cards and he left a lot more white space than I did, but the chipmunk and sending hugs flat tag were his. I chose a Striped Spiral stencil from A Colorful Life Designs and added some reddish-brown spatter. 

Jaycee showed us how to add wonderful highlights to this embossed background (made with Altenew's Cozy Sweater 3D Embossing Folder) by adding a tone on tone ink to the other side of the embossing folder and running it through a 2nd time. I decided to use Altenew's Chestnut Tree instead of the Majestic Maple on this one because I will be teaching it in a stamp camp and the smaller size will be better. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Christmas Countdown Ornament Gift Card

Did you know Christmas is less than 3 months away? Today on my blog and on the CutCardStock blog I am continuing my Christmas Countdown to encourage you to start early with your holiday projects to avoid the last minute stress.

My favorite cardstock is CutCardStock's Stardream Metallic and on this ornament gift card holder I used both their Jupiter Red and Antique Gold. The ornament, top and hanging charm were cut with a die by Emily More Designs I found in the Starry Night Creations booth at a stamp show.

Sometimes even gorgeous metallic cardstock needs some texture to make it more interesting. I used my dies from Crealies and the rubber mat in my Spellbinders Platinum Six to add texture and a hidden holiday message on the ornament. For step by step instructions on how to make this ornament gift card holder, visit the CutCardStock blog here. 

I also added texture to the back of the ornament with Poppy Stamp's Scandinavian Snowflake Plate. Then I added a piece of white cardstock to write a personal message on and sign:

In no time at all I have another Christmas project done for my holiday stash. Less stress and more joy- my goal for you and me!

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

 

Waffle Flower Sneak Peak Die and Stencils

I belong to the Waffle Flower Sneak Peak Club which means every month we are sent products that are going to be released the next month. In September we received the cake cover plate die and layering stencils to color it as well as the sentiment strips. I colored mine in fall colors and made this card.

Then I embossed a pink iridescent cardstock with the cover plate and quickly made this fun birthday card. I can't wait to see what else will be released with these early in October!

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen

Day 2 and 3 Cards from Altenew's Heartfelt Moments Classes

This card taught by Aditi Mahajan on Day 3 of the Altenew class I recently participated in combines all my favorites of the products we received. I love fall colors and lots of texture on my cards and can't wait to send this one to someone I love.

On Day 2 Donna Tuschoff taught us how to make this gatefold card and I made my tree in gold shades and created a 50th wedding anniversary card. Here is a picture without the vellum belly band:

The tree is in shades of gold mirror card and is cut in half to open in the center. I liked the idea so much I made one in shades of silver for a wedding card:

The layered love die is from Gina K Designs. Donna also taught us a different way to look at layered circle dies, and she made a non-traditional wedding card with hers. I need more Christmas cards so I took the idea and made this card with dies from Crealies: 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen

Altenew Heartfelt Moments Online Class

When I saw the pictures of the supplies for Altenew's Heartfelt Moments class I knew I had to grab them because of this layering tree and the embossing folder in the next card. Isn't this Majestic Maple gorgeous?! And with Altenew's ingenious Key Hole System it is so easy to layer each piece! I am a very experienced cardmaker but I did learn a lot and loved the cards the teachers made in the 3 days of classes. 

We received many supplies in the class package and this embossing folder (plus the tree above) is my favorite. I also loved the layered stamped squirrel and the leaves which are sold together as the Garden Friend die and stamp set. Much of the September release with these products is sold out, but you can of course sign up to be notified when they come back in stock.

I made these 3 cards after watching Day One of the Altenew class taught by Walter Zemrock. I added my own touches with dies and substituted products for coloring the trees, but I did learn much from his take on masculine cards. 

Stop back tomorrow to see the rest of the cards I made after taking this amazing class.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

The Perfect Combo - Double Envelope Dies With Postage Frame Dies from Crealies

Envelope Dies are the newest addition to Crealies and they pair beautifully with all the the Postage Frame Dies! In my new video here, I share several cards and how easy it is to create with these sets of dies.

The first card I made was a birthday envelope card with a fun new faux wax seal and a birthday balloon. I decorated the inside with more birthday images on the Odette Postage Frame.

 

In my new video I show step by step another way to combine those dies from Crealies. On the front is an Envelope card base decorated for Christmas. And on the inside of the top card is my favorite of the Postage Frame sets (because it is named after me!) decorated with more Christmas images.

 

I decided to attach that envelope card to another 5 x 7 cardbase that opens from the top. On the inside is another sentiment and is where I will write my Christmas message.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

 

New Slatted Christmas Dies with Yana's Christmas Cheer Foiled Sentiments

I couldn't resist the new Slatted Christmas Tree dies from Craft Addiction UK or the new Christmas Cheer Betterpress and dies set from Yana and Spellbinders, and I am combining those two on all the cards I am sharing today. I love the slatted dies I received from Clipper Street Scrapbook Store out of Canada for eclipse cards (see below) but as this card shows, they are pretty just layered onto an embossed background. The Happy Holidays Sentiment 3D Embossing Folder is from Altenew and is perfect for adding a bit of embossed interest and holiday wishes to these cards. Yana Smakula has a whole line of gorgeous Betterpress Plates and Die Sets at Spellbinders with sentiments, and I used my Glimmer Machine to foil them for these cards. 

Here is a similar card except the embossed background is CutCardStock's Antique Gold Stardream Metallic Cardstock. The trees were die cut out of mirror cardstock and the bigger one raised for dimension. 

Of course my favorite way to use the slatted dies is the eclipse look with two pieces of identical patterned paper, and raising the tree so the pattern continues from one to the other. I put another perfect foiled sentiment from Spellbinders on this card.

Here is another eclipse look with the slatted tree die, and the foiled sentiment and tree die cut piece are on the inside of this card:

Cardmaking Joy and Hugs, Karen 

Stamperia/Spellbinders Candy Christmas Or Not- Dual Purpose Dies

Stamperia and Spellbinders have joined up to release some of the sweetest Christmas dies you will ever see. The release is called Candy Christmas Collection and I used the Gingerbread House, Sweet Borders and Gingerbread Banners on this card. Just look what happens when the card is opened:

This fun fold is called the Double Interlocking Gatefold Panel card and I learned how to do it from a video by Dawn Griffith. In my new video here, I show step by step how to make a card with this fun fold, but I needed a birthday card for a boy who loves planes. I love die sets that can be used for multiple seasons and reasons. Here is the card I made step by step in the video:

I used the Gingerbread Plane and Banners along with the Sweet Borders from the Candy Christmas release. Here is a look at the card when the interlocking panels are opened:

As I show in the video, the fun fold is not hard to make. I added a second plane with flowing layers of mirror card created with Spellbinders Rainbow Slice Tunnel Die. The layered sentiments are part of the Classic Sentiments die set also from Spellbinders. 

In the video I promised to post these pictures of the templates I shared.  But to fully understand how to make this fold, of course, you are going to want to watch the video here.

I hope my cards encourage you to give some of the ideas and products a try, and then send some handmade joy out into our world.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Fall Stencils, Dies and Embossing Folders

I love the colors of fall and wish they lasted longer than they do. I recently received the Leaves Master Creator Bundle from A Colorful Life Designs and new products from Altenew for the Heartfelt Moments Class and had a play before fall comes and goes. In the Altenew class bundle, we received the Cozy Sweater 3D Embossing Folder and the Majestic Maple die set shown below. I also grabbed the Chestnut Tree layered die set from them and combined those with the gorgeous Falling Leaves stencil to make this beautiful card.

The Dotted Leaves stencil from A Colorful Life Designs makes a perfect subtle background for the large Majestic Maple tree from Altenew. I remember struggling in the past to line up the layers on a die like this one, but Altenew has a brilliant Key Hole in all the die cuts that makes lining them up a breeze! Then you cover up the key holes with the last die cut. So easy to get perfect layered die cuts! 

I decided not to put sentiments on the first 3 cards I am sharing because I am not sure if I want them for birthdays, sympathy or thinking of you. I started this card by blending red, yellow and orange inks through the Geometric Leaves stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. Then I die cut Concord & 9th's Autumn Inlay Die and raised some of the leaves and inlaid others. 

For this pair of cards I simply blended a darker red ink through the Leafy Heart Frame stencil, then embossed with Altenew's Raised Thank You Sentiments Embossing Folders and then added a bit more ink to bring out the words. So easy and so lovely. 

The Leaves Master Creator Bundle of stencils from A Colorful Life Designs includes 5 stencils at a very reasonable price and of course we don't have to make only fall colored cards with them. I blended two colors of Lisa Horton's Metallic Inks through the Filigree Leaf stencil onto black cardstock and then embossed again with the Altenew Raised Sentiments 3D embossing folder. 

I am looking forward to the Heartfelt Moments class at Altenew this week for more fall and Altenew beauty.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

What Am I Spraying on Metallic Cardstock?

I never iron with spray starch but after seeing a technique with it, I rushed out to the Dollar Store and bought some. Below is the card front I created with spray starch in my newest video here. 

My favorite cardstock is CutCardStock's Stardream Metallic Cardstock. I used the Fairway Green for the cardbase and the card front started with Onyx Black. 

As I show in the video, I sprayed the black metallic cardstock with spray starch and added Ranger's Perfect Pearls before cutting out the Googly Eyes die cut with a die from Brass & Bliss. For the "Boo" and on the inside of the card I used CutCardStock's 6x6 Halloween Paper Pad.

I also show in the video how to easily make a second piece of the spray starch and Perfect Pearls on black metallic cardstock, and I used that to cut many Halloween dies. It is hard to see in still photos, but I put an acetate interactive spiral pop up in the inside of this card with floating bats and spiders and a ghost. That spiral pop up was created with a die from Creek Bank Creations. You will want to watch the video to see the spiral pop up in motion and how easy this card was to create. Here is another look at the card with the metallic multi-colored cardfront:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Hero Arts Layering Stencils - Couldn't Resist!

I saw a card created with Hero Arts Harbor Layering Stencils and immediately had to buy them and then play with  them! So pretty and so easy to create a gorgeous card! Just blend colors through the 3 stencils and then add a sentiment. 

This card was even faster because I used the same colors for the sky as the water as the packaging shows. I also recently purchased a set of box words from Hero Arts so I tried Peace here for a sympathy card. Not sure if I like the added words?

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Gourd-eous Spellbinders Stitched Dies of the Month Two Different Ways

Did you know Spellbinders has a Stitching Die of the Month set released every month? I am thrilled to be able to share September through December's Stitching Dies of the Month with you, and this card was made with the gorgeous set available now through September 27th for anyone who would like to join the club. If it does not sell out, it may be available next month if you don't want to join the club at this time. 

I love this month's set which has 22 dies that create pumpkin tops, leaves and the awesome "hello gourd-geous" tag. I made two cards with the set and both of them are Double Interlocking Gatefold Panel cards that I learned how to make from Dawn Griffith. I will have a complete video with templates and more new Spellbinders dies next Monday if you want to learn how to do the fun fold. Here is a picture of this card open:

I love fall colors and had fun stitching the pumpkin tops for this card. But I also love die sets that can be used in many different ways. Change the colors and leave off the stems and the stitched dies could be flowers! Here is the second card I made:

The embossed sides on both of the cards were made with the Luxe Backdrop and Border 3D Emboss and Cut set from Spellbinders. The pumpkin tops or flowers can be layered or not and stitched or not as is shown here. The inside of the card has more flowers and embossed edges:

It is difficult to show the interlocking gatefold fun fold in still pictures so I created a mini video with close-ups of these cards. But remember to check next week for a full length video showing step by step how to make a double interlocking gatefold card.

(If you subscribe and cannot see this video, it is available at my blog or Instagram or my Facebook page.) 

If you like easy stitching on die cuts and great value in the mail each month, then Spellbinder's Stitched Die of the Month Club is for you. But if you don't want to commit to the club membership, remember that if not sold out, the stitching dies are available to the public so you can check for past sets as well.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Crealies Personalized Pop Up Starry BDAY Cards

My favorite of the new dies in the latest release at Crealies is the Stars with Rough Edges and Stitchlines. I made the stars the highlights of this personalized card I made for my daughter:

The tiny letters in the Alphabet set in the Texto Negativo line makes adding a name or any words to personalize cards so easy. The see through oval that stands up was created with two sizes of the Elongated Ovals with Little Stripes die set.  I share this card and make this one step by step in my new video here:

 

My grandson’s favorite colors are navy and gold and he is turning 10 this year. I had fun layering lots of stars and then I added a Happy BDAY and his name to make this card really special. 

The gold cardstock I used in both cards is a new favorite called Stardream Antique Gold Metallic Cardstock from CutCardStock. 

Crealies is a company located in the Netherlands and specializes in unique creative dies and other products. Their prices are so reasonable and you will find shipping costs and time similar to many USA companies. Here is a link to their website: https://www.crealies.nl/en/home

The Stars with Rough Edges and Stitchlines and Elongated Ovals dies can be found in the July/August release here:

 https://www.crealies.nl/nl/juli-2025.html

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Quick Easy Kid's Cards with Taylored Expressions Create in Quads

I love Taylored Expressions Create In Quads stencils because you can easily make 4 colorful card fronts with one set of stencils. Today's cards were created with their Dream On set and I used primary colors to make 4 quick and easy kids cards. The Happy Bday dies with layers are from Crealies.

Here are two where I simply embossed the background and added a sentiment. The center flap on the celebrate card opens up with a place to sign in the mddle.

Because the stenciled part of this quad was full of stars, I added a slatted star with a glitter background and a perfect sentiment.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen