Altenew October Release – A Rainbow Hello with Deco Leaves Background Stencil!

It’s here! The Altenew October Release is out, and it’s bursting with fresh, modern designs that had me inspired the second I saw them. One standout for me? The absolutely stunning Deco Leaves Background Stencil. The movement, the texture, the way it fills a card without overwhelming it — I was instantly hooked!

For this card, I knew I wanted to let the stencil take center stage but with a bright and playful twist.

Rather than choosing a single color family, I went for a full rainbow blend across the panel — starting with red and working through yellow, green, blue, and purple. Where the colors overlapped, I loved seeing those subtle secondary blends emerge — it gave the whole panel a soft, organic gradient while keeping that bold color story alive.

The Deco Leaves design really shines here. It has a structured, art-deco feel, but still flows beautifully when layered with vibrant ink. It catches the eye and holds it — exactly what I want in a background stencil!

To keep the focus balanced, I die cut a white picture frame using Altenew’s Picture Frame Die Set and layered it over vellum before placing it in the center. The vellum helped tone down the bold color just enough to make space for the sentiment without losing that vibrant backdrop.

For the sentiment, I went with a classic “hello” die-cut from the Timeless Sentiments Die Set, using black for the shadow and white for the top layer. It pops cleanly against the softened center and keeps the whole card feeling crisp and modern.

This month’s release is packed with pieces like this — versatile, bold, and beautifully designed to work across styles. The Deco Leaves Background Stencil is perfect for everything from minimalist neutrals to wild color blends (clearly!), and I know it’s going to become a staple in my collection.

If you haven’t explored the Altenew October Release yet, I highly recommend it — there’s so much to love for stenciling fans, die-cut lovers, and color enthusiasts alike.

Let me know what you're most excited to try — and tag me if you give this rainbow look a spin!

Products:

Altenew Deco Leaves Background Stencil

Altenew Picture Frame Die Set

Altenew Timeless Sentiments Die Bundle 

The Rabbit Hole Designs – Mini Christmas Release!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and The Rabbit Hole Designs is making it even better with their Mini Christmas Release! This festive mini collection includes the adorable One Line Santa Stamp and the super versatile Holiday Background Builder Stencil which is perfect for creating all your merry makes this season!

For today’s card, I had some fun with the Santa hats from the Holiday Background Builder Stencil. I inked them up in a classic red and a soft gray to create a playful, festive pattern. To build my focal point, I die-cut a stitched circle from red cardstock, layered a smaller white circle on top, and adhered both to the center of the panel with liquid adhesive.

Next, I stamped that cute Santa, colored him with alcohol markers, and fussy cut the image before popping it up on foam tape for dimension. To tie it all together, I added the finished panel to a red card base and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I layered it on stitched fishtail dies in white and red cardstock and placed it to the left of Santa. To finish off the card, I added a few red sequins for that perfect touch of festive sparkle.

This mini release is packed with Christmas charm! Whether you're crafting cozy cards or whimsical tags, these new goodies are sure to make spirits bright.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope this brings you some holiday cheer and inspiration for your own Christmas crafting!

Just a Little Hocus Pocus

Hello crafty friends!

As soon as October rolled in, I found myself reaching for bright colors and Halloween stamps — not because I had to make a card, but because I wanted to. I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump lately, and I’ve found that the best way out of it is to just play. No pressure, just color, cut, and create for fun. That’s how this card came to be — it started with me pulling out the Lunettes Witchy stamp from Stamping Bella, a favorite I hadn’t used in a while.

I reached into my stash and found a strip of bright, happy striped paper from an old Pink and Main – Warm Wishes pad. It’s been discontinued, but the playful colors were perfect for the fun Halloween vibe I was going for. 

I stamped Lunette on Neenah Solar White 80lb cardstock, colored her with Copic markers, and used my Scan N Cut to cut her out. Honestly, coloring her was the most relaxing part — no rules, just picking colors that made me smile.

I trimmed down another piece of white cardstock to 5.5 x 3.75 inches, adhered it to the background panel, and softly blended a bit of Altenew Golden Sunset Fresh Dye Ink in Sunray to the center area to give the witch a soft glow. Then I popped her up with foam tape — she deserved to stand out a little!

The sentiment is from the LDRS Creatives - Trick or Treat Pirouette Stamps. This set is currently on sale with the coordinating dies HERE. 

To finish things off, I added a few scattered dots with a black permanent marker for a touch of spooky sparkle, then adhered the whole thing to a white A2 card base.

This card was exactly what I needed — simple, playful, and just for the joy of creating. Sometimes the best projects come when we give ourselves space to just make something because we feel like it, not because we have a deadline or a plan.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope this inspires you to pull out a stamp you love, forget the rules for a bit, and just make something that brings you joy.

CHALLENGES:
SSS Wednesday Challenge - Pink

Word Art Wednesday - #718-719

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Halloween Party

Die Cut Divas - October AG

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2539 Halloween

Di's Digi Challenge - Hand Colored Image

Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - AG

As You Like it Challenge - My favorite is A2 size but I do tend to create square cards

Colorful Options October Challenge - DT Card

Hello crafty friends!

It’s a brand-new month, and that means a new Colorful Options Challenge! October’s theme is perfect for the season — Orange & Black. Whether you're going spooky or sweet, these bold colors are sure to inspire.

Not into Halloween? No problem! The rainbow option is always available — so feel free to go bright, bold, and colorful in your own style.

I pulled out an older favorite for this one — Cat Halloween from C.C. Designs — for a cute and spooky Halloween card!

I started by blending a simple inked background using the Blending 2.5 Circle Stencil from Picket Fence Studios. I placed it in the center of a white cardstock panel and blended Chamomile and Sunday Altenew Fresh Dye Inks to create a glowing full moon—perfect for a Halloween night sky.

Next, I stamped one of the cute images from the Cat Halloween Clear Stamp Set (on sale now) by C.C. Designs onto alcohol-friendly cardstock, colored it with markers, and fussy cut it out. I used foam adhesive to pop it up for a little dimension.

The sentiment was stamped directly under the image in black ink to keep things clean and simple. I trimmed the panel to 5 x 3¾, mounted it onto an orange scalloped rectangle panel, and then adhered everything to a black A2 card base for that classic Halloween feel. 

To finish the card, I added a few metallic star sequins for a little sparkle and to tie in that magical Halloween night sky vibe.

Be sure to head over to the blog for more inspiration from the amazing design team — you won’t want to miss what they’ve created!

Thank you for visiting!

CHALLENGES:

CC Designs Facebook Challenge - October *Scallops

Two Old Bats - Halloween

Critter Crazy - #103

Word Art Wednesday - #718-719

Park Hopping My Happy Place -  Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Allsorts - #833

Die Cut Diva's - October AG

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2539 Halloween

Di's Digi Challenge - Hand Colored Image

The Paper Funday Challenges - October DT Card

It’s time for a new month of creativity with The Paper Funday Challenges! Sponsored by the amazing Scrappy Tails and Varada Sharma, this month’s theme is Anything Goes with an optional twist of Cute or Creepy. Whether you’re feeling sweet and playful or spooky and mysterious, this challenge is your chance to create whatever inspires you. 

This month’s twist inspired me to create a cute card featuring the charming C.C. Designs Bats Stamp Set because Halloween doesn’t have to be scary!

I began with a crisp panel of white cardstock and placed it on my Stampwheel to make stamping easier and more precise. Using my favorite cloud stencil from My Favorite Things, I blended Distress Oxide Inks in Blueprint Sketch and Tumbled Glass to create a soft, dreamy sky that sets a perfect backdrop for my bats.

Next, I die-cut an oval panel and popped it up on foam tape right over the sky background to add dimension and draw attention to the focal point. I stamped the bats in Memento Black ink on the oval panel and colored them with Copic Markers to bring them to life with smooth shading and detail.

The sentiment was stamped in black on a strip of white cardstock, trimmed neatly, and popped up with foam tape to balance the design. To finish, I sprinkled a few metallic star sequins around the scene, adding a bit of sparkle and a magical touch to this cute Halloween card.

Head to the blog for more inspiration from the amazing design team!

Thank you so much for visiting! I hope this card brings a little bat-tastic joy to your day. 

CHALLENGES:

CC Designs Facebook Challenge - October AG

Critter Crazy Challenge - #103

Word Art Wednesday - #718-719

Penny's Paper - #606

Die Cut Diva's - October AG

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2539 Halloween

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Halloween Horror Nights

Relax, Refresh, Repeat: Cozy Up with the September Kit of the Month from La-La Land Crafts

Hello crafty friends!

There’s nothing quite like slipping into fuzzy slippers, wrapping yourself in a warm robe, and soaking in a warm bubble bath to unwind—and that’s exactly the vibe I channeled with the @lalalandcrafts September Kit of the Month. This month’s kit brings all the cozy spa-day feels right to your craft space, packed with adorable images and charming dies that make creating a breeze.

For my latest card, I combined the sweet Marci in Bathrobe Rubber Stamp with a few relaxing-themed dies to create a scene that’s all about self-care and calm. From soft textures to soothing details, this kit is the perfect recipe for relaxation and creativity!

Additional Products:

Ornate Frame Die

Note to Self Paper Pack

Scalloped Sentiment Labels Die

Copic Details:

Marci:

Skin: E000-E00-E11-E02, R20

Hair: E50-E51-E53-E55-E57

Robe/Slippers: N1-N2-N3-N4-N5

Eyes: True Blue Prismacolor Pencil

Be sure to grab this kit HERE before October 4th because once it’s gone, it’s gone! Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on these cozy vibes.

Thank you for stopping by! For more inspiration and creative ideas, head over to the blog and see what the amazing design team has crafted this month.

Stay cozy and crafty!

Let It Snow – A Mixed Media Snowman Card Full of Texture & Cheer!

Hi crafty friends!

Today I’m sharing a playful, snowy Christmas card that brings together Distress Inks, embossing, stenciling, and a super cute snowman for a festive mixed media mashup.

The Background: Inky Layers & Embossed Texture

There’s something so satisfying about stumbling on a technique that just works—like this clever one from Juliana Michaels! I scrunched up a paper towel into a ball, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and used it to do some controlled ink smooshing with Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide Inks. Instead of pressing my panel directly into the ink, I dabbed it on using the wrapped paper towel—this gave me way more control and created the perfect snowy texture without things getting too chaotic.

I started with the Picked Raspberry, wiped off the plastic, then went in with the Peacock Feather. To speed things up (because I’m way too impatient to wait), I heat set the panel—but feel free to let it air dry if you’re more relaxed than I am!

Next I brought in the Scattered Snowflakes Stencil by Simon Says Stamp and softly blended Distress Oxide inks through it suing the same inks mentioned above, just enough to make those gentle flakes dance across the background. 

To finish, I heat embossed the Merry Medley Background Stamp by Stampin’ Up! in clean, crisp white. The Christmas sentiments make a lively, festive statement which is perfect for capturing that snowy celebration vibe.

I then cut the panel down to 5 1/4 x 4 and adhered it to a panel of white cardstock. I used an inverted scalloped border die to frame the panel, giving the card a crisp edge. It also created a visual boundary between the busy background and the main focal point. 

To add even more texture, I ran the whole panel through my machine using the Fine Woodgrain Press Plate by Altenew—it’s such a subtle detail, but it adds the perfect finishing touch!

Center Stage: The Gifting Snowman

The star of the card is one of the charming snowmen from the Gifting Snowmen Die set by Waffle Flower Crafts. I dressed him up in the coordinating accessories from the set—scarf, hat, and mittens—and added soft blue ink shading to give everything a bit of depth and contrast. To make him stand out, I popped him up with foam tape and placed him right at the center of the snowy scene, where he adds just the right touch of wintery cheer.

The Finishing Touch: Let It Snow

Between his mittens, I tucked a "Let it Snow" sentiment from the Tiny Words Christmas set by Simon Says Stamp and die cut it using the Tiny Sentiments Banner Die from Poppy Stamps. It fit perfectly between his hands like a little holiday banner, tying everything together with a sweet and simple message.

This card was such a joy to create — full of inky layers, snowy texture, and a little bit of winter whimsy. It’s a great example of how you can mix stamping, stenciling, die cutting, and ink techniques to tell a complete story in one little scene.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this little snowman brought some cheer to your day.

Products Used:

Merry Medley Background Stamp – Stampin' Up! (retired)

Scattered Snowflakes Stencil – Simon Says Stamp

Gifting Snowmen Die – Waffle Flower Crafts

Tiny Words Christmas – Simon Says Stamp

Tiny Sentiments Banner Die – Poppy Stamps

Fine Woodgrain Press Plate - Altenew

Inverted Scalloped Border Die

CHALLENGES:

SSS Wednesday Challenge - AG

Word Art Wednesday - #718-719

Park Hopping My Happy Place - Blizzard Beach

We Love Stamping - Sept AG *Make it cute

As You Like it Challenge - Favorite Die - I love snowmen

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Sept *Mixed Media 

Peace on Earth - #96

Duckin' Cheers with the Prost! Bundle and Oh Duck!!! Stencil from The Rabbit Hole Designs

Let’s be honest — nothing says “party” quite like a duck with a drink and a whole lot of personality! The latest release from The Rabbit Hole Designs brings together unexpected charm and cheeky fun with the Prost! Bundle and the whimsical Oh Duck!!! 6x6 Stencil. I couldn’t resist putting them to work in a playful card that’s all about good vibes, a few bubbles, and a lot of laughs.

To start, I dry embossed the Oh Duck!!! 6x6 Stencil by running it through my die cutting machine with a panel of crisp white cardstock. This gave such a lovely, tactile impression — like those little duckies were about to waddle right off the page! I softly blended a pale green ink over the raised areas to highlight the texture without overwhelming the design.

Next up: the star of the show — those fun-loving ducks from the Prost! Bundle. I colored it with alcohol markers, giving it rich tones and a splash of cheeky character. I mean, who doesn’t want to party with a duck holding a beer?

For the sentiments, I paired the bold Prost! with a playful phrase from the Sentimentally Speaking Bundle, popped up with foam tape for extra dimension. A clean layout lets the details shine while keeping the focus on the festive mood.

Here’s to feathered friends and frothy ends — it’s time to quack open a cold one!

This release from The Rabbit Hole Designs is all about fun, celebration, and a little bit of sass. Whether you're crafting for Oktoberfest, birthdays, or just sending a smile, the Prost! Bundle and Oh Duck!!! 6x6 Stencil are sure to bring the party to your paper.

Ready to Party?

Be sure to SHOP this release HERE and use code CRAFTICARRI at checkout for a FREE exclusive gift with your order! 🎁

Trust me — you won’t want to miss out on the quacktastic fun.

Until next time, happy crafting!

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