layering stencil

Love and Joy in Pink for Christmas with Simon Says Stamp + DieCember SALE!

December 29, 2025

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! The Twelve Days of Christmas are still going strong, so I am back today with a technicolor holiday card featuring one of my favorite holiday color combinations: pink and turquoise! This color combo is so versatile, in my opinion, because it can be made soft and muted with blush and pale aqua, or it can be vibrant with shocking pink and vivid turquoise. I chose to go the super vibrant route today to put some new goodies from the Simon Says Stamp DieCember release (Check out the full DieCember release HERE! And psst-there’s a fabulous sale to celebrate DieCember!). Let’s get started on the details!

*I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*

I began my project by running a panel of A2 white cardstock through my die cutting machine using the new Gathered Holly embossing folder. This folder is beautifully detailed and features a gorgeous holly bouquet for a generously-sized focal point, but it also has coordinating layering stencils that you can use to blend vibrant color on the images! Awesome, right? I used the Gathered Holly Stencils to blend Peony, Dew, and Mist Pawsitively Saturated Inks over the embossed images. The blending alone was enough to add some fabulous color and definition to the images, but I also wanted to increase the dimension with some pencil shadows. I used colored pencils to add shading to the leaves and some of the berries to help them pop even more from the embossed bouquet!

After I had finished embellishing my boughs of holly, I used the individual snowflake stamps from the Sparkle Season stamp set to stamp a snowy background behind the holly using Peony Pawsitively Saturated Ink. I used the “stamping off” method to make sure that the snowflakes were not overpowering to the main focal image, instead providing a bit of texture and interest behind the holly focal point. I also used a blending brush to lightly blend the same Peony ink around the edges of the card, making the snowflakes tone-on-tone. Once the stamping and blending were complete, I splattered the entire card front with some shimmering glitter watercolors, increasing the texture and wintry effect of the snowflakes!

For the greeting, I die cut the new Bouncy Merry Christmas detail layer from some vibrant pink glitter cardstock and the shadow layer from vellum, layering them together with liquid adhesive. I also stamped a smaller sentiment from Sparkle Season using Peony ink and die cut it with it’s coordinating die. I adhered the large die cut Merry Christmas with clear dimensional adhesive, then tucked the smaller sentiment beneath it with thin foam adhesive squares. I added a trio of individually stamped and die cut snowflakes from Sparkle Season, then finished the card off with an Iridescent White Cord bow and some Prism Pawsitively Dazzling Gems. So pretty, so festive, and so very sparkly!

Well, that’s all for my project today! To help DieCember go out with a bang, Simon Says Stamp is offering 20% off all Simon-branded dies!

Simply add code DMR25 at checkout to receive 20% off all Simon-branded dies from now through 12/31/25 at 11:59 ET! Happy New Year to us, right?

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy week-between-Christmas-and-New Year’s!

Simon Says Stamp January Card Kit: The Small Things- Now Available for Preorder!

December 14, 2025

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! The new Simon Says Stamp January 2026 (say what?!) Card Kit of the Month was just released and is now available for preorder! The The Small Things Kit such a lovely, peaceful kit filled with so many carefully curated products that work beautifully together or individually or with other products! Here’s a sneak peek at the contents of the kit:

The Small Things Kit features an absolutely beautiful stamp set that could be used for holiday cards and well beyond, layering stencils and coordinating dies, a spectacular embossing folder, patterned papers, embellishments, cardstock… so much value in one package and at a great price! The individual contents of the kit are valued at well over the $44.99 price tag (or $39.99 for subscribers, making an even better value! Click HERE to subscribe!)

I created two cards to share with you today, featuring a serene navy, teal, and turquoise color palette that I pulled from some of the absolutely stunning patterned papers included with the kit, perfect for creating those winter-but-not-holiday cards. Let’s get started with the details!

When creating a card set like this, I like to first decide on my color palette. I loved the gorgeous teal, navy, and green color palette with which the patterned paper was designed, so I selected a snowy night scene and then selected cardstock and ink colors to match.

My shaker card began with that gorgeous panel of patterned paper, which I made into a flat shaker background with some gorgeous sequins and leftover acetate packaging. I used the A2 Rectangles dies with the Lacy Point Frames to create an intricate frame which I popped up on my shaker front with thin foam adhesive squares. To embellish this peaceful scene, I stamped the beautiful deer images from The Small Things using no-line coloring ink, then used Copic markers to do some coloring, adding black Micron pen and white gel pen to the details on the eyes and hoofs. I cut them out (you could use the coordinating dies which are available for purchase separately!) and then created a snowy tree using the new Snowy Tree die. I arranged all of the die cuts in the corner of my shaker frame, then added a leftover holiday sentiment strip. Such a pretty, serene card. I can feel the crisp and cold night air when I look at this card!

My second card features a fun fold, allowing that gorgeous Crystal Snowflake Stencil set and coordinating die to be the star of the show! I blended the snowflake image using Eucalyptus, Raindrop, and Night, adding a layer of the Twinkle Texture Paste included in the kit over the second stencil and sprinkling Rock Candy Glitter over the top for gorgeous, ice-encrusted sparkle! I die cut the completed and dried snowflake with its coordinating die and added some shimmering Pawsitively Dazzling Gems to the snowflake for even more sparkle!

For the card base itself, I trimmed a 5.5″ x 8.5″ panel of white cardstock, then used my Simon Says Stamp Score Board to score lines at 2 1/8″ from the edge of each side, creating my A2 card base with a fun fold! I used some small pieces of painter’s tape to keep the flaps folded down, then used the “kissing” method to stamp the individual snowflakes from The Small Things with the same shades of ink that I used to blend the snowflake stencil! I simply loaded up the snowflake stamps with ink, stamped once (or twice depending on how vibrant the color was to start) on some scratch paper, then stamped a lovely and soft snowflake pattern all over the card front. I layered a strip of the included silver foil cardstock with the Sage cardstock over the center of the gate-fold card, then adhered the stenciled snowflake to the center. Finally, I added a silver embossed sentiment strip in the center of the snowflake!

Well, that’s all for my projects today. This card kit is available for preorder right now and will begin shipping in early January, so it will be perfect for those winter cards or to get a jumpstart on next year’s Christmas cards! (Can you even believe that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away?!)

The Simon Says Stamp Card Kits are such an incredible value; the value of the individual elements of each kit equals far more than the $44.99 price tag, so you’re getting incredible bang for your buck. If you are consistently interested in the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit of the Month, you can sign up HERE to become a subscriber for an even bigger discount on these carefully curated products. As always, Simon also makes each individual element of the kits available a la carte, so that you can pick and choose what you would like to purchase if buying the entire kit isn’t really your thing. Options galore! Who can say no to such incredible value though, right?

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Simon Says Stamp November 2025 Card Kit: Give Thanks!

October 14, 2025

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! The new Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit is now available for preorder, and it’s a gorgeous, autumnal themed kit, appropriately called Give Thanks. (Click HERE to see all of the details of what is included in the kit!) The kit includes beautiful autumnal imagery with fabulous stencils, two different stamp sets, sentiment die, paint, glitter, and even glossy accents! These kits are always a marvelous value, frequently worth double the cost (or more!) of the kit price; this kit is worth over $85, but retails as a kit for $44.99! Hard to say no to excellent value, right?

I love finding ways to add non-traditional colors to my autumn-themed projects, and the addition of that gorgeous Rainforest cardstock really adds a pop of modern autumnal color schemes to the kit. I have two projects to share with you today, so let’s get started with the details!

*I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*

These two projects are completely different, in both layout and color palette, but I feel like that helps to show the versatility of style that you can achieve with this card kit! One of the great things about card kits is that you start with a curated group of products that are selected to work nicely with each other, but where you take them is completely down to your own personal creative style. I adore splatters, and I find their mixed-media feel appropriate for the aesthetically chaotic feel of autumn leaves, so I decided to add splatters to both of my projects using the Distress Paint included in the kit.

For the first project, I allowed that gorgeous Rainforest cardstock to be the star of the show, accenting it with beautiful, shimmering gold. I heat embossed one of the wheat stalks from the Counting Blessings stamp set using Hero Arts Iridescent Gold Embossing Powder, stamping first in Simon Says Stamp White Pigment Ink, then adding the embossing powder over the top. The white ink beneath helps to make those images really pop on the dark colored cardstock. I used my sharp scissors to fussy cut the images, but coordinating dies are available separately if you prefer to use those! I trimmed down a panel of the Rainforest cardstock and splattered it with some diluted Distress Paint, included with the kit. I found some gold glitter cardstock in my stash that I cut slightly larger than my splattered panel, then butted both pieces in the upper left corner of my A2 Rainforest card front, creating a partial frame around the edge of my splattered panel. I trimmed and flagged a strip of gold foil cardstock that was about 4 3/4″ wide, allowing the edges to spill over the sides for added drama, and adhered the panel to my card front with foam adhesive. I added the heat embossed wheat stalks and sentiment pieces to the card front, then added a few Gold Pawsitively Dazzling Gems for added sparkle!

For my second card, I used the fabulous Red Maple stencil set, selectively using only the solid base stencil to create these solid, colorful maple leaves. The Give Thanks kit includes Sangria, Honey, Celery, and Petunia ink cubes, and so I used blending brushes to blend Sangria, Honey, and Petunia inks over the solid open stencil, rotating the stencil each time on my A2 card front. Once I had finished blending, I splattered the images with more diluted Distress Paint from the kit, adding a touch of whimsy and mixed-media aesthetic to the colorful leaves. I wanted to add a touch more dimension to the background, so I used the coordinating Red Maple die to die cut the stenciled images and place them in the exact same spots on my A2 card front, this time adhered with foam adhesive for additional dimension. For the greeting, I die cut the Thanks die that is included with the Red Maple die set, cutting the solid background from the Ivory cardstock included with the kit and the detail layer from the Tim Holtz Metallic Gold Kraft Stock included with the kit, as well. I heat embossed a coordinating sentiment strip from the Small Thanks using gold embossing powder. I popped up the sentiment pieces with a double layer of foam adhesive to help them pop further from the background, then tucked a maroon twine bow beneath the sentiments and added some sparkling Gold Pawsitively Dazzling Gems for one last touch of shimmer!

Well, that’s all for my projects today!

The Simon Says Stamp Card Kits are such an incredible value; the value of the individual elements of each kit equals far more than the $44.99 price tag, so you’re getting incredible bang for your buck. If you are consistently interested in the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit of the Month, you can sign up HERE to become a subscriber for an even bigger discount on these carefully curated products. As always, Simon also makes each individual element of the kits available a la carte, so that you can pick and choose what you would like to purchase if buying the entire kit isn’t really your thing. Who can say no to such incredible value though, right?

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Altenew April 2024 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

April 11, 2024

Hi friends! Altenew is hosting a blog hop to celebrate their latest release of fabulous stamps, dies, Press Plates, stencils, supplies, and more! You should have arrived here from Agnieszka, and your next stop is Jaycee. You can also start back at the beginning of the hop at the Altenew Blog. The April 2024 release is filled with more of the beautiful florals, textures, sentiments, and design elements that you’ve come to expect from Altenew each month; I find the new Press Plates to be particularly thrilling! I have been really leaning into blue lately, in lots of different intensities and in different color combinations. I have a pair of crisp blue and white cards using the new goodies to share with you today, so let’s get started with the details!

My color combination was inspired by the beautiful blues in the newer Woodland Garden alcohol markers set. I find myself reaching for blues frequently in the springtime; I find something about their crispness and vivid colors to be so clean and a great palate cleanser for the intense and rich colors to which I’ve been drawn during the fall and winter months.

For this first project, I used the newer Woodland Garden alcohol markers to do some no-line coloring with the Build-A-Garden: Morning Glory set. I stamped the image on some alcohol marker-friendly white cardstock using a very pale gray ink, then colored the image with the blues and greens in the Woodland Garden alcohol marker set. I always struggle getting the details of the flower centers perfect, but I used the yellow and tan Acrylic Markers after I had finished my alcohol marker coloring to add those tiny details. The opacity of the Acrylic Markers worked perfectly for the flower centers! I die cut the finished image with the coordinating die, included in the Build-A-Garden: Morning Glory set.

After I had finished my floral focal point, I used the Blue Mountains Fresh Dye Ink quartet with the background stencil included in the Build-A-Garden: Morning Glory set. This background image reminds me of a fence along which the morning glory vines can creep! I kept my color palette crisp and clean, adding some blue “sky” by lightly blending the lightest blue from the Blue Mountains set on the opposite corner of the panel. I trimmed off the edge of the stenciled and blended panel and added a strip of coordinating blue glitter paper from the Blue Crystals glitter cardstock pack to add some glitz to my card front. I popped up the floral die cut with some foam adhesive, allowing it to spill over the side and onto the “fence,” then heat embossed a greeting from Build-A-Garden: Morning Glory using white embossing powder onto some vellum, popping it up with a double layer of clear foam adhesive. Finally, I added some extra sparkle using some iridescent clear gems from the new Smokey Quartz Gems pack!

My second card features the beautiful new Baroque Elegance Press Plate. The Fresh Dye Ink line has one other fabulous facet besides its vibrant color palette: its thicker viscosity works beautifully with the Better Press! I used the Alpine Aster ink from the Blue Mountains Fresh Dye Ink quartet to press the Baroque Elegance image onto some letter press paper, then trimmed the panel down to slightly smaller than A2 size and blended Crystal Violet around the edges of the background. I mounted it on a panel of coordinating blue A2 cardstock, leaving a thin darker blue frame around the edge.

After I had created my background, I die cut the new Sparkled Frame die from some creamy white foil cardstock. The warmth of this foil cardstock worked very nicely with the creamy letter press paper! I also die cut a greeting from the new Timeless Sentiments 2 die, cutting the detail layer from some Blue Crystals glitter cardstock pack and the coordinating shadow from some lightweight vellum to allow that pretty letter press pattern to show through. I oriented the frame so that it was hanging off the side of the card front and trimmed the excess, then popped the frame up with some foam adhesive. I adhered the greeting within the confines of the frame, then embellished the frame with some new Deep Sea Sapphire gems. Such a simple, crisp, clean card!

Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now for some fun giveaway information:

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 04/17/2024 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 04/19/2024.
*The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.

Here’s the full hop list in case you get lost:

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!

Pinkfresh Studio “Artsy Floral” Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

March 25, 2024

Hi friends! I am hopping along with Pinkfresh Studio today to share their latest release of washi tapes, stamps, stencils, and dies, called Artsy Floral! You can find the full hop list at the link list at the bottom of this post. I pulled out some favorite shades of pink, purple, and green with lots of shimmering gold to create a classic Pinkfresh look, with lots of crisp white, shiny metallics, and a pop of vibrant color! Let’s get started with the details for my cards.

For my projects today, I used the beautiful new Artsy Floral Stamps, Dies, and Coordinating Stencils, along with the delicate Fluttering Butterflies Stamps and Dies, finally paired with the Notched Corner Frames dies, all products from the Artsy Floral release. I heat embossed the lush blooms from Artsy Floral onto some white cardstock using Iridescent Gold embossing powder, which I find to be a rich, lustrous gold. Some of my other gold embossing powders are a bit dull by comparison! I blended some of my favorite shades from Pinkfresh on these beautiful blooms using the Coordinating Stencils: Ballet Slipper, Sparkling Rose, Raspberry Bliss, Bubble Gum, Sheer Freesia, Hydrangea, Eucalyptus, and Spruce Tips. I will link all of the individual colors in the link list at the very bottom of the post!

Because the images were stamped/embossed and stenciled using the single stamp and layered stenciling sets, it was easy to die cut the finished images with the one-fell-swoop Coordinating Die and have a ton of beautiful floral die cuts to use on my project. I ended up with enough flowers to create not one, but two cards!

For my first project, I selected two different floral bouquets from the Artsy Floral product suite. I also heat embossed the single stamp with the butterflies and foliage from the Fluttering Butterflies Stamp set, embossing with the same lustrous gold embossing powder, this time on vellum to add some ethereal whimsy to the card without adding additional visual weight.

I trimmed down a panel of white cardstock, sized 4″ x 5.25″, and then placed one of the Notched Corner Frames dies that impressed the blanket-stitched design but did not cut out a shape on the interior of the panel. This created a subtle, textured background as a foil for my colorful flowers. I arranged the stenciled flowers on the textured background, allowing some of the vellum leaves to peek out from behind the arrangement to add more shine and interest to the card front. I added a couple of delicate butterflies to the arrangement, finishing everything off with a gold embossed greeting and some new Clear Gems with Gold Dust!

My second project uses up the Artsy Floral “leftovers” from my first project, this time on a bit larger canvas to allow my gold butterflies a bit more room for their fluttering. I trimmed down a white A7 card front and splattered it with some gold glitter watercolors. I also die cut a white Notched Corner Frame, which is intended to proportionally fit an A2 card, but the size works perfectly when the medium sized frame is offset on an A7 card front!

I popped the frame up on my splattered background using some foam adhesive, then arranged my flowers over the top of the frame, allowing a bit of vellum foliage to peek out from behind my floral arrangement. I added a trio of the butterflies, letting them fill up the white space surrounding my flowers and frame. A heat embossed greeting from Artsy Floral and some more Clear Gems with Gold Dust finished everything off! Is there anything more classic than pink, white, and gold?

Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now for some fun giveaway information:

Pinkfresh Studio will be giving away the full release on the Pinkfresh blog & YouTube channel. They also will be giving away a total of TEN $25 gift cards along the hop. The winners will be selected from the comments along the hop, so the more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!
Winners will be announced on April 2, 2024 on our GIVEAWAY PAGE. Winners must check that page & claim their prize within 2 weeks.

Here’s the full hop list in case you get lost:

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!