Halloween is one of my favorite times to step outside the traditional handmade card format and create something a little more dimensional. Don’t get me wrong—I love a beautiful card, but sometimes the occasion calls for a project that can hold a little surprise! This Halloween treat box combines die cutting, ink blending, and simple assembly to turn paper into a fun little gift bag. I especially love that the finished project has plenty of personality without requiring compli

Sometimes a Halloween card needs more than a spooky stamped image to make an impact! For this project, I wanted the card base itself to become part of the design. That is what I love about a diamond stair step fun fold card—it gives you multiple layers, angles, and surfaces to work with, creating a dimensional handmade card before you even begin decorating it. For this Halloween design, the combination of the bold black cardstock, patterned paper, and adorable character image

There’s something about a shaped card that makes a handmade card feel instantly more special. Instead of starting with the usual A2 rectangle, I wanted to let the shape become part of the Halloween design itself. For this project, I reached for the Coffin Folio Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps and built the card around that dramatic silhouette. The result is a spooky Halloween card with plenty of personality, but the design also reminded me of something important: you don’t ne

I love a birthday card that feels cheerful and a little bit unexpected, and this rainbow unicorn card definitely falls into that category! For this project, I combined die cutting, pattern paper, and stamping to create a card that has plenty of personality without requiring a complicated cardmaking technique. The fun part is that the same design principles can be used with supplies you already have, even if unicorns and rainbows aren't your thing. My goal with this card was t

Have you ever looked at a die set and thought, “I know this was designed for one particular project, but what else could I do with it?” That is one of my favorite questions to ask when I’m cardmaking. I love finding ways to use supplies a little differently, especially when it means getting more versatility from something I already have. For this project, I took the Magic Journal Builder Die from Scrappy Boy Stamps and used it as a cardmaking tool rather than using it for its

Halloween cards are one of my favorite opportunities to step outside my usual design comfort zone. While I enjoy creating clean and simple cards throughout the year, Halloween gives me permission to play with rich colors, bold patterns, and interactive layouts that tell a story the moment someone opens the card. For this project, I wanted the card itself to become part of the experience. Instead of creating a traditional front-and-center design, I chose a square tri fold layo

There are some card designs that immediately tell a story, and scene cards are always at the top of that list for me. I love how they invite you into a tiny world where the stamped images become characters instead of just embellishments. While scene cards can sometimes look intimidating, they don't have to be complicated. By choosing a detailed background stamp and a handful of coordinating images, you can create a card that feels rich and layered without needing dozens of pr

One of my favorite things about making birthday cards is finding creative ways to make the design feel just as special as the person receiving it. Sometimes that means reaching for bright colors, and other times it's about choosing a focal point that instantly tells a story. When I saw the Mailbox Shaker with Mouse Ears Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps, I knew it would be the perfect starting point for a cheerful birthday card that looks like happy mail arriving on someone's s

Graduation season is one of those times of year when I always seem to need a few special cards on hand. Whether you're celebrating a high school graduate, a college graduate, or someone earning a professional certification, a handmade card adds a personal touch that makes the occasion even more meaningful. I also love creating graduation cards because they're easy to customize with school colors, graduation years, and personal embellishments that make each card feel unique.

There is something magical about creating a card for an engagement. It's more than celebrating a milestone—it's about capturing the excitement of a couple beginning their own happily ever after. Whenever I sit down to design an engagement card, I like to create something that feels timeless and elegant while still reflecting the personality of the couple receiving it.

Gift cards are one of the easiest gifts to give, but they can sometimes feel a little impersonal. As cardmakers, we have the ability to transform a simple gift card into something that feels thoughtful, creative, and handmade. That's exactly what inspired today's project.

As cardmakers, it's easy to look at a detailed patterned paper and wonder how to use it without overwhelming the rest of the design. The Dragon Kingdom collection from Scrappy Boy Stamps immediately caught my eye because of the bold scale pattern and fantasy-inspired theme. Rather than treating the patterned paper as a simple background, I wanted it to become part of the storytelling while still allowing the focal elements to stand out.

There are times when a handmade card can say exactly what someone needs to hear. Whether a friend is recovering from an illness, navigating a difficult season, or simply having a tough week, an encouragement card can be a meaningful way to let them know they're not alone.

There’s something special about creating handmade cards that honor the people who serve our country, but I know patriotic and military-themed cards can sometimes feel a little intimidating to design. It’s easy to overthink the layout, struggle with bold patterned papers, or feel unsure about how to make everything work together without the card becoming too busy. For this project, I wanted to create a Memorial Day card that felt meaningful and layered while still being simple

There’s something so fun about creating a card that instantly tells a story the moment someone sees it. Scene cards have always been one of my favorite styles because they give you the chance to combine coloring, stamping, and layout design into one finished project that feels playful and full of personality. For this birthday card, I wanted to create a bright and cheerful scene with a cozy coffee shop vibe while still keeping the overall design easy to recreate with supplies

Sometimes a gift card is exactly what you need… but it can feel a little impersonal on its own. I’ve been reaching for ways to dress them up without adding a lot of extra time or complexity, and this coffee cup shaped gift card holder has quickly become one of my favorite solutions. It’s fun, practical, and perfect for anyone who loves coffee (which, let’s be honest, is a lot of people!).

Sometimes a gift card can feel a little impersonal, even when the thought behind it is meaningful. That’s exactly why I love creating handmade gift card holder boxes like this one. By turning a simple gift card into part of an interactive handmade project, you instantly make the gift feel more thoughtful, memorable, and fun to receive. For this project, I created a 3D book-style gift card holder box with a playful boy band theme, and the hidden pocket inside adds that extra s

Pattern paper is one of those supplies that many of us love to collect, but it can sometimes be tricky to know how to use it in a way that feels polished instead of overwhelming. I often find myself reaching for patterned papers when I want to create a card with lots of visual interest but still keep the design clean and balanced. That was exactly the inspiration behind today’s card.

There’s something about die cut cards that can feel a little… flat. You start with a great idea, cut all the pieces, put it together—and it’s nice, but it doesn’t quite have that finished, polished look you were hoping for. I’ve been there more times than I can count. I walk through all 16 tips in the video so you can see exactly how everything comes together, but here I want to share the design thinking behind those choices so you can start applying them to your own cards ri

Sometimes the best cardmaking ideas come from looking at your supplies a little differently. That was exactly my goal with this project—I wanted to see how far I could stretch a few die sets and turn them into something completely new. Instead of using each set as intended, I mixed elements together to create a shaped shaker card… and this adorable little pig backpack design came to life.