Eclipse Cards With New Papers

Ever since I discovered the Slatted Die Sets from Craft Addiction UK, I am on the look out for two pieces of identical patterned paper that I can make into a beautiful eclipse card. This one featured the new Beautifully Imperfect Paper Pack from Spellbinders  and the Checkerboard Die set. 

I also recently purchased some gorgeous scenes slimline paper from Divinity Designs which I cut down to create this lovely eclipse birthday card. I used the Slatted Square Die Set from Craft Addiction UK. I love that there are 4 different sizes to choose from and this one is the second largest choice. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

More New Beautifully Imperfect Cards with Spellbinders

When shopping the new Beautifully Imperfect Collection from Spellbinders, I couldn't resist the amazing papers and rub-ons. Today's cards feature them and this is my favorite of the cards I made with them. See all that texture? The paper and rub-ons create that illusion, although I did add one Tangled Thread and the holes in the top were from another die in that set. 

More amazing paper, rub-ons and dies from this collection made this card so easy to create. And the same applies to the card below:

I love how all these cards turned out and will be reaching for this Beautifully Imperfect Collection again and again soon.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Peace, Love, Joy- Holiday Stenciled Eclpsed Wishes

 

I love to stencil and also to create the eclipse look and in my newest video here, I combine those two loves on one easy to make beautiful card. I am sharing the video on my YouTube channel and on CutCardStock's channel. As I show in the video, I used Neenah Classic Crest Solar White from CutCardStock for the stencil blending as it is the best for blending. The card base is Midnight Blue linen also from CCS. 

I created the same stenciled piece twice with blue ink and the Snowflake Net stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. Then I cut Hero Arts Looking Glass Peace, Love and Joy out of one of them before darkening the words. I raised the top one and the pattern continues from the background to the front for the eclipse look. 

You can see how quickly this card came together when watching this short video and maybe you will decide to try one yourself for your holiday card stash.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Beautifully Imperfect From Spellbinders

When I saw the new Beautifully Imperfect Collection from Spellbinders I wanted it all! The collection includes fantastic dies, embossing folders, rub-ons, papers and press plates and I got most of it except for the press plates for now. Another new purchase waiting to be played with in my craft room was the Lindy's Magical Shaker Set from Katie Pertiet called Laurel Garden, and I combined those on the cards I am sharing today. 

I had this idea to die cut and create a stencil with the Deckled Edge Script die from Spellbinders and sprinkle some of the new Lindy's Magicals onto it and get two for one backgrounds. My favorite of the new Beautifully Imperfect dies is the Tangled Threads die set. I am not a fan of taking thread and winding it up and attaching some how to a card. These dies make that look so easy and fun to do. The sentiments on all the cards I am sharing today came from the Beautifully Imperfect Rub-ons and I cut them out with a deckle scissors. 

This is  the card I created with a piece of embossed watercolor paper under the stencil from above. The amazing new 3D embossing folder is called Crackle Paint and is also part of the Beautifully Imperfect Collection. I added more Tangled Threads and a rub-on sentiment. 

This set wasn't as bright as the first but too good to throw away, so I combined the two pieces for more texture, and again added some Tangled Threads and a rub-on sentiment. 

Come back tomorrow for some more cards with this amazing collection.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

New Waffle Flower Inspiration

I belong to the Waffle Flower Sneak Peak Club and each month I received a package full of products from the next month's release. Here is the card I made with new Snowcapped Pinecones stencils, stamps and dies:

This card is a gatefold with a floating surprise element inside. I learned how to make this fun fold recently from Jennifer McGuire. 

Another advantage to the Sneak Peak Club at Waffle Flower is that we can order early from each release and get them shipped for free with our Sneak Peak Package. I am from the turkey capital of the world and love turkey and pumpkin pie especially on Thanksgiving, so I couldn't resist the dies on this card:

Don't the roasted turkey and pies look good enough to eat? This card is another Floating Bridge Card and here is a look from the top so you can see how the bridge part "floats."

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

October Class Cards- Masculine Cards with Techniques

I had fun this month teaching masculine cards with various techniques and featuring dies from Dies...to Die For at ShopScrapbook.com. Here are the cards I taught:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Designs with Lucky Winnings

I have been blessed recently to receive two prizes from a couple of my favorite companies, and I had fun designing with what I won. I entered a contest at the Creek Bank Creations Creativity Facebook Page by posting a card inspired by one Creek Bank Creations taught in one of their weekly YouTube lives. Last week out of the blue I received their beautiful Bethlehem Nativity Die Set in the mail and found out I won! I made this 5 x 7 split easel card with those dies and the Merry Christmas circle die also from Creek Bank Creations.

Continuing my lucky streak, I received notice that I had won a gift certificate at Altenew after taking a class with them. I ordered the Zero Waste Ornamental Winter Pattern Die Set and created these two cards with it:

The backgrounds on both of these cards were created with new rub-ons from 49 & Market. I took the pieces I removed from the ornament ball and attached them onto the 2nd card. Behind the ornament in the first card is a piece of multi-colored glitter paper. 

I thank Altenew and Creek Bank Creations for my fun winnings!

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Autumn Colors and Sweater Weather

Which season is your favorite? My favorite season is autumn with cooler sweater weather and beautiful fall colors. Texture and CutCardStock’s cardstocks combine to make this card easy to make and beautiful.

I recently took an online class with Altenew and one of the instructors taught a card with this sketch and products. We both used the gorgeous Cozy Sweater 3D embossing folder and Garden Friends leaf dies. I die cut my leaves out of CutCardStock's Stardream Antique Gold and Copper and then added in some red using Red Pepper cardstock. 

My added touch to this card that was taught was to attach leaves in the 3 x 4 1/4 piece of white cardstock before embossing so those leaves were embedded into the embossing. Then I added some gold ink around the edges so the piece stood out against the white background. This card could be used for many reasons, but I added the perfect touch of gold in a Taylored Expressions Foil It sympathy sentiment. Here is another picture of this lovely card:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Spellbinders Peppermint Prancer Stitching Die Of the Month

Aren't these Peppermint Prancers adorable?? I made them with Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month for October. I have joined the club at Spellbinders where I receive one new stitching die set a month and this one is available until the 27th of October if you too want to join up. If not sure, you can purchase any of the club dies after the 10th of the next month until they are sold out. 

I learned from Jennifer McGuire how to make the floating acetate strip across both of these cards so my Peppermint Prancer pops out and floats along with the letters that spell my favorite holiday word: JOY. The stitching on this set of dies takes just minutes and you  can choose to stitch or not. The embossing folder on the back is also from Spellbinders.

The embossed background on this card was made with a new text embossing folder from Altenew and inking on the embossing folder itself so the words stand out. On this Peppermint Prancer I chose not to stitch his red nose. This one too pops out on acetate but lays flat to mail.

If you join the whole Deluxe Kaboodle club (so you get all the dies and embossing folders etc.), you also receive a free gift and October's is the "for U" and magic strip. I added a gift card using a new die from Gina K Designs I got in the fall Crop and Create Delivered online class kit.

I am going to be creating with each month's Stitching Die of the Month from Spellbinders for the rest of the year at least so stop back to see what is new, and if you like stitching you might want to join me in the fun!

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Crealies Mini Gift Bags Made in Minutes

In my newest video here, I share how to make small gift bags in just a few minutes like the one above using new Create a Box Mini dies from Crealies. This size is perfect for a gift card or small gift and I made this one for a friend's fall birthday. There are two more sizes in the new release at Crealies if you want to make a large or medium gift bag. 

Another of my favorite dies in the new release is the Stamp Strip die and I used it to decorate the front of my bag before adding some flowers and the sentiment strips. Here is a look at the back of this adorable mini gift bag:

I want to make small gifts for about 30 people at Christmas and in the new video, I show how fast and easy it is to use this die set to do just that.

This is the bag I made in the video. I chose to use the slot die in the set and put a ribbon through it for a quicker make. In this picture I stapled the ribbon shut but then decided to use clips to close it to make for easier opening. Here is a look at the back of this adorable little gift bag:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

September Class Cards

Here are the cards I taught in September's Fun Folds With Clear View Transparencies at Harts n Scraps:

If you are local, I am teaching many background techniques and Masculine cards in October and Winter Pop Up cards with Clear Views in November so call or stop by Harts n Scraps to sign up before the classes are full.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Day 3 of Fall 2025 Crop and Create Cardmaking Delivered

We started Day 3 with Concord & 9th and I posted those cards earlier in the week because they were my favorites. But I loved all the cards we created today too.  Next up was Hero Arts and look at these gorgeous stenciled cards:

Then we learned from Trinity Stamps how to make these awesome coffee cup shaped cards:

The last class of the weekend was with Honey Bee Stamps and we made 3 cool men's cards with their Man Cave die set. I changed mine up to feature Packer colors and numbers and simplified the other 2:

After the last class, we were treated to a video by Jennifer McGuire where she brilliantly combined products from many of the companies in her unique way.  Each night SCT gave away amazing prizes and maybe next year I will win:) As I have stated many times, the SCT Crop and Create Cardmaking weekends are worth every penny and I highly recommend them! 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Crop and Create Cardmaking Delivered Day 2

Here are the cards I made on day 2 of the Fall Crop and Create Delivered:

Gina K started off the day with beautiful stenciled gift card cards. Next up with Stamps of Life with a stairstep die used several different ways:

Picket Fence Studio's kit included adorable baby card dies:

Simon Hurley and Ranger closed out the day and I loved his mixed media backgrounds with all of his awesome products! I will play more and share more later. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Crop and Create Cardmaking Delivered First Day and Favorite Cards

Every year since it first started, I have been participating in the 3 day on line event put on by Scrapbook and Cards Today called Crop and Create Cardmaking Delivered. I will not miss one because in my opinion it is the best on line event for card makers! They bring together 12 different companies with excellent instructors and send a box of exclusive dies, stencils, stamps, paper and embossing folders worth 3 times what we pay! Here are the cards I made in the first class on Friday from Tayored Expressions:

We also got supplies to make a calendar which I will share a peak of later. Next up was Scrapbook.com and we used rub ons which I loved:

I loved the embossing folder and vase from Spellbinders as well as the lessons on how to ink them:

My favorite class of the weekend was Concord & 9th because of the "map" background helping us place the gorgeous colored leaves and flowers on these two cards:

The background die also cut out the lovely shape. I need to add some sentiments but am waiting to see what occasion I will use them for. I also used these dies to make one month of my calendar from Taylored Expressions. I will share more when it is done.

If you have never participated in Crop and Create Delivered, open registration for the Spring 2026 event starts October 20th and fills up very quickly (to over 3000 participants!!) 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen