Crop and Create Delivered Cardmaking Fall 2026 Favorites

One of my favorite weekends of the year happened last weekend when my Brewers were in the middle of their amazing World Series. SCT Crop and Create Delivered Cardmaking was 3 days of amazing classes creating cards with the huge box of supplies we received. I just  now finished all my cards and am sharing them in three blog posts, so be sure to stop back.

My favorite of all the products we received were the amazing dies, stencil and stamps from Concord & 9th. The first two are shadow box cards and the third stands up in the inside. 

Another favorite of the classes and products we received was from Trinity Stamps. I made the Christmas card as was taught, but then created the other two cards on my own:

And here are the cards I created with the kit and class from Altenew: 

These SCT classes happen twice a year and all include classes and kits from 12 different companies.We also get inspired by cards and ideas posted in the Facebook group, and I have to give credit to Bette Manning for the first Altenew card and someone else who suggested a baby card with Mama and Papa Salt and Pepper shakers. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Altenew Kinetic Class Cards That Move!

I recently took a class from Altenew to learn how to make kinetic cards that move in different ways. I also received a box of new products to play with and learn along with the instructors. My first card combines a great sketch from one of the classes with a hidden movement that swings a cable car through the mountains. 

The Mountain Peak was created with layering stencils from Altenew and I added some glitter paste to the last layer for some snow. The cable car is a new die from Altenew called Aerial Cable Car. I die cut a stitched cloud and added a new favorite stamped sentiment both from Karen Burniston.

I also received the Let's Scoot scooter made with Altenew's amazing Key Hole System so it was easy to figure out where each piece goes in what order. I created a Swinging Doors card with a die set from Hot off  the Press. I decorated the front and inside pieces with Concord & 9th Splash Stencil Pack. Here is another look at this card with the doors are swung open:

It is difficult to capture the movement in both of these cards in still pictures, so I created a reel showing that motion:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Karen Burniston Cascade Pop-up Brunch and Pasta

Breakfast is my favorite meal to go out for, and I love a great eggs, bacon and toast meal! I made this card front with new breakfast dies, stamps and a crosshatch square from Karen Burniston. I also used a new embossing folder from Altenew called Ribbon Waves and my favorite copper cardstock from CutCardstock.

But just look at what happens when the card is opened! The pop up waffle-licious scene was created with Karen Burniston's Cascade Pop-up as well as her new Mealtime Elements and Mealtime Phrases stamp set. Here is another mealtime card I created with these same dies and stamps:

I CASED (copied and selectively edited) the napkins border from Sue Small-Kreider of Karen Burniston's design team. The salad was created with leaf dies from a KB tree pop up die set and  the wine glass is from her Wine Charms.

It is hard to show the amazing pop up motion of this Cascade Pop-up in still pictures, so here is a reel I made to show that:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen

Christmas in July Class Cards

My friend Deb Holms and I taught Christmas in July Fun Folds Cards this last week at Harts N Scraps in Rothschild. All the cards also featured Clear View Transparencies. Deb's card was the star card. My favorite card was the last one with the amazing blue jay from Altenew and the pop up frame from Karen Burniston. Which is your favorite?

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen

More Amazing Interactive Cards Inspired by Sam of Mixed Up Craft

 

I have been having so much fun trying interactive card ideas shared recently by Sam of Mixed Up Craft. This one is a sliding waterfall. Watch what happens when the arrow is pulled: 

To really see this movement and the next card be sure to watch the reel below...

I could not resist the new coffee cup scenery stamps and dies from Altenew and made another tiered wiper card with it. Here is the view when the snowflake is pulled:

Still pictures do not show the movement of these cards very well, so I made a reel:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Altenew Keyhole Easy Blue Jay or Cardinal Cards

I taught a Christmas in July class this last week and we made a Christmas card with this gorgeous layered blue jay die from Altenew. I needed some thinking of you cards to send to friends this week so I made several cards with the easy keyhole layering die cut set. The sentiment die is from Karen Burniston and the pretty sky paper is from Blue Knight Rubber Stamps. 

The same keyhole system die set from Altenew can be styled into a cardinal and I love how this card turned out! Which is your favorite?

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Merry Christmas to Me From Pinkfresh Studios

I didn't need anymore Pinkfresh Studios Washi Tapes with matching dies but that didn't stop me when they had a great sale from indulging myself. Flowers for the Soul is the name of the new set of wide washi tape with matching dies and the flowers are very cheerful and good for the soul for sure. I die cut a bunch and made many cards I will share today and next week. I also gifted myself the A2 Slider Card die set and this is what it creates laying  flat. But when the string is pulled:

Surprise! A secret message appears along with some more flowers and a rub on butterfly. 

I love dies that add a subtle texture and design to backgrounds so I also indulged and bought Pinkfresh Studio's Tulip Love coverplate die. It was a perfect background for more of the Flowers For the Soul. I folded the card front to make an easel and it is held up with a layered die cut sentiment from Altenew. 

Here's to a Happy and healthy New Year! 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Altenew's Feathered Beauty Cards

I took some time this week to play with new die sets I bought myself for Christmas. This layered bluejay beauty is from a set by Altenew I just couldn't resist. Their keyhole system to line up the pieces makes assembly so easy! I created the background by cutting out the center and replacing with vellum. Both the vellum and cardstock was embossed with a Sizzix 3D embossing folder called Flowing Waves. 

This Feathered Beauty is also gorgeous if you die cut it just in white and then brush on several shades of blue as I did on this card. The background was created with a Taylored Expressions Swirls Pierce & Cut plate and I added the perfect sentiment that we all need to hear sometimes. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Family Is Love Easel Scene From Scraps

Do you have a bunch of scraps from your favorite cardstocks? Most of us do and in my newest video here I share how to take them and create a magical love scene in just a few minutes.

My favorite cardstocks are the Stardream Metallics and linens from CutCardStock and I have accumulated quite a pile of cut pieces too good to throw away. I cut all the die cuts and made this easel card:

I have a new die set from Altenew called Fireside Escape and it reminds me of all the wonderful times we have had at the lake house around the fire pit. The chairs and fire pit are so easy to put together because of the brilliant KeyHole system from Altenew which I demonstrate in the video. Here is a look at the card folded down to mail:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Letterpressed Three Layer Card and Problem Solved

I have a confession to make – I don’t like to stamp anymore at least not large background stamps. Even with a stamp positioner, it is just too difficult to get a good image. But I do find “stamping” with press plates so much easier than regular stamping. There is one major problem though- the cost of the 100% Cotton Cardstock.Today I am sharing a solution for that problem: CutCardStock sells their Savoy 100% Cotton Card Stock for less than a third of other cotton cardstocks! And it creates beautiful letterpress images as you can see on this card I created:

On the CutCardStock blog here, I have posted a detailed tutorial on how I made this card. Each layer has beautiful leafy letterpressed images created with Altenew's Modern Leaf Background Press Plate and Stencil Set in my Spellbinders BetterPress System. Here is a picture of the template I used to create this three layer card:

The three layers show the letterpress beauty with no ink or "embossed" as on this layer, and with simple inking and the addition of stenciled color. Here are pictures of the three layers and inside sentiments:

The "kindness matters" die is from Ellen Hutson, the stitched foilage dies are from Kat Scrappiness and the Thank You die is from Karen Burniston.

I hope this card inspires you to give this three layered card template and letterpress technique a try now that we know there is a solution to high priced 100% cotton cardstock. Then join me in sending some handmade joy out into our world!

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

CASED Card with Altenew Bundle

I am on a mission to design with everything I have purchased this year but not played with yet. I had to buy the beautiful Blooming Freesia stamp, die and stencil set from Altenew but hadn't designed with it yet. I admit- this card was CASED from the brilliant Jennifer McGuire - the fun fold and design are pretty much the same as she did in her video and blogpost here. I pinned it two years ago and meant to try the fun fold but didn't until now. Thanks to Jennifer for her inspiration! 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Altenew Doves in Flight Cards

I took a few minutes this week to play with new dies I have recently received and made two cards with Altenew's Doves in Flight layering die set. Altenew has a brilliant Key Hole System to make lining up the different layers so easy! I hadn't made a split circle background in a while so I die cut some patterned paper and gold shimmer paper with Tonic smaller scalloped circle dies. I cut them in half and layered as you see. Then I embossed the whole panel with a Spellbinders text embossing folder. I put the dove together and attached with a sentiment from the same die set.

Here is a card I made the same way with a white dove and grey semi-circle pieces.

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