Cute As A Bug Card

Sometimes the cutest cards really do all the work for you—and this one is proof! 💛

For this sweet and simple card, I started with one of the 4" x 6" cutouts from the Cute As A Bug Designer Series Paper Pack. I don’t usually create cards in this size, but the panel was just too adorable to trim down. I wanted every bit of that cuteness to shine!

To complement the panel, I heat embossed a sentiment from the Sweet Bugs Stamp Set using Basic White Embossing Powder on a strip of Basic Black. That crisp white embossing really pops against the black and ties in beautifully with the bold outlines in the designer paper. The panel was mounted onto a 4 1/8" x 6 1/8" piece of Basic Black, giving it a nice frame and a little extra drama.

The card base is Thick Basic White, cut to 6 1/4" x 4 1/2", which makes this a 4 Bar Card. While this isn’t a size I normally use, it was the perfect solution to keep that cute panel intact—no sacrificing details here!

To add a little texture, I wrapped a piece of natural color twine across the top. The sentiment was popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals for just a touch of dimension. And of course, I couldn’t resist finishing it off by coloring the ladybug’s wings with Wink Of Stella for a subtle sparkle.

This card came together so easily, and that’s a great reminder that card making doesn’t have to be hard. Sometimes letting a beautiful designer paper panel take center stage is all you need. Simple, sweet, and totally worth it—just like this adorable card. 🐞✨

 

Faux Shaker Appreciation Card

Craft Roulette – Episode 301

I’m excited to share my project from Episode 301 of Craft Roulette, where the spin of the wheel once again pushed creativity in the best way possible! This week’s card came together beautifully—and only because of the fun challenge of following the parameters.

🎯 The Craft Roulette Parameters

• Project: Appreciation Card

• Colors: Apple Farm

• Element: Silhouette

• Random: An Old Product

Thankfully, my stamped sentiment fit the Appreciation theme perfectly, and everything else flowed from there.

🍎 Color Inspiration: Apple Farm

For my background, I ink blended on a Basic White card layer, using Stampin’ Up! colors inspired by classic apples:

• Daffodil Delight for Golden Delicious

• Strawberry Slush for Pink Lady

• Real Red for Macintosh Apples

The blended colors created a soft but vibrant backdrop that really brings the card to life.

🦋 Stamping & Silhouettes

To meet the Silhouette element, I stamped the butterfly and floral images in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.

• The butterfly and sentiment come from the retired Butterfly Sketches Stamp Set, fulfilling the Old Productrequirement.

• The flower is from the current Gallery Blooms Stamp Set, adding a nice mix of old and new.

✂️ Dies & Layers

Once stamping was complete, I die cut the panel using the largest die from the Perennial Postage Die Set.
That piece was then mounted onto a 5 1/4" x 4" Basic Black layer for contrast and definition.

✨ Turning It Into a Faux Shaker

Here’s where the fun really begins!

To create the faux shaker effect:

1. I placed the layered panel into a Clear Medium Envelope

2. Added shaker bits I had on hand

3. Taped the envelope closed

This entire shaker piece was then attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals to a top-folding A2 Lemon Lolly card base.

The result is a beautiful, interactive card with movement and dimension—something I might not have created without the Craft Roulette wheel guiding the process.

❤️ Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this card turned out. It’s a perfect example of how Craft Roulette stretches creativity and encourages trying new ideas—like turning an envelope into a faux shaker!

If you enjoy crafty challenges, inspiration, and plenty of laughs, be sure to join us on YouTube every Friday evening at 6:10 PM Central Time for Craft Roulette. You never know where the wheel will take us next!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy crafting!

 

Craft Roulette Episode 299 – Double Z Valentine Card

I’m excited to share my submission for Craft Roulette Episode 299, and this one really stretched me—in the best way! The project for this episode was a Double Z Fold, and I decided to challenge myself by creating an A2-sized Double Z card.

To start, I cut my Thick Basic White Card Stock to 8 1/2" x 7". I scored it at 4 1/4", then folded the front panel back in half at 2 1/8" to form the first Z Fold. To make the finished folded card measure 5 1/2" long, I simply cut off 1 1/2" from the bottom. That trimmed piece didn’t go to waste—it became the second Z Fold when attached to the card base. I love when every piece has a purpose!

The Craft Roulette colors were Rudolph, which was so much fun to interpret. I used:

• Real Red for Rudolph’s nose

• Flirty Flamingo for his ears

• Crumb Cake for his body

The element was Optimistic, and I leaned into that with a sentiment that is truly filled with optimism. The random was Plain Circles, which you’ll spot in the lovely doily featuring simple circular details.

I used the Valentine Kisses Bundle for this card, and these adorable bears are honestly perfect for any occasion—not just Valentine’s Day. The patterned paper comes from the Made With Love pack, and to finish off the design, I cut the Heart Doily in half for just the right decorative touch.

I am so happy with how this Valentine card turned out. It’s a design I never would have created on my own, but that’s exactly why I love Craft Roulette—it pushes me creatively, and I always learn something new.

If you haven’t joined us yet, be sure to catch Craft Roulette on YouTube every Friday evening at 6:10 PM Central Time. You never know where the wheel will take you, but I promise—it’s worth the spin!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope this project inspires you to try something outside your comfort zone too. 💕

 

Craft Roulette Episode 297 – A Thank You Holiday Card

Craft Roulette Episode 297 was another fun spin of Mr. Wheel! The Project was a Holiday Card, and I decided to make a heartfelt thank you card for the sweet holiday card my grandson made for me at Christmas. 💛

The Forest Colors spin inspired a cozy woodland scene. I used Forest Green, browns, pink, and coral for whimsical mushrooms growing in the forest, with yellow birds flying around to add a cheerful touch.

For the Element, Toy(s), my adorable bear is holding a teddy bear toy, which couldn’t be more perfect. The Randomspin was Wonky, so I chose to place the Designer Series Paper wonky along with wonky stripes on the small paper strip at the bottom for extra personality.

I used the fabulous new Valentine Kisses Bundle along with the beautiful Brushed With Beauty Designer Series Paper. My card base is a pre-made Notecard, which comes with a matching envelope. The folded card size is 5" x 3 1/2", and they come 20 to a set for $10—such a handy staple to have ready!

The next layer is a 4 3/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Calypso Coral, embossed with the Forever Plaid Embossing Folder for added texture.

That bear die cut is so much fun! The die cuts out the arms and includes several options for what the bear can hold—a flower bouquet, heart, teddy bear, or a little jar. I added a touch of pink watercolor pencil to his ears and cheeks, then finished both bears off with Wink of Stella on their noses for a little sparkle.

The small sign was die cut from a scrap of woodgrain paper, stamped with hearts and XOXO. The tiny yellow birds are also included in the die set and are just the sweetest finishing touch.

Both the Valentine Kisses Bundle and Brushed With Beauty Designer Series Paper are available in the Online Exclusives section of my store.

🎡 Craft Roulette airs every Friday night at 6:10 PM Central Time on YouTube. Join us each week to see how everyone interprets the spins—I’d love for you to craft along!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy crafting! 💕

 

🌵 Craft Roulette Episode 296 – My Submission! 🌵

For Episode 296 of Craft Roulette, Mr. Wheel definitely kept me on my toes! At first glance, the parameters felt a little wild… but surprisingly, everything came together beautifully. Here’s how my card fulfilled each spin:

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🎨 Project: A2 Card

I created a classic A2 card (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") using Mossy Meadow Card Stock as my base. The deep green made a perfect foundation for the fresh and airy palette I planned.

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🌈 Colors: Fresh & Clean

For the “Fresh & Clean” color parameter, I chose a soft and breezy combination of:

• gentle greens

• warm yellow

• juicy melon orange

• a touch of orchid pink

This mix gave the card a clean, uplifting feel with just the right pop of personality.

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🌵 Element: From the Desert

To represent From the Desert, I used designer paper featuring desert blooms. The subtle florals added warmth and structure without overpowering the soft palette.

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🔧 Random: Edge Distress

For the random parameter, I added edge distressing.
The sentiment tag is ink-distressed with Mossy Meadow Ink, giving it a worn, organic touch that ties the design together.

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Even though the parameters looked a little crazy at first (thanks, Mr. Wheel!), this card turned out to be such a fun creative challenge.

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🎥 Join the Fun!

Catch Craft Roulette live every Friday evening at 7:10 Central on YouTube. It’s a blast—you never know what the wheel will bring!

 

Celebrating 50 Years with a Handmade Card

oday I’m sharing a special card I created for my neighbor’s 50th Anniversary. It was such a joy to step away from holiday crafting for a moment and work on something soft, elegant, and full of meaning.

I started with a Petal Pink card base, stamped tone-on-tone using the brand-new Lasting Linen Background Stamp. This subtle texture adds such a lovely, classy foundation without overwhelming the design.

For the focal layers, I used the Arched Dies, which frame everything so beautifully. The designer series paper is another new favorite—Brushed With Beauty, from our November Online Exclusives. Its soft florals paired perfectly with the warm Petal Pink.

The gold accents bring the whole card to life. I die-cut the “50” from gold glimmer paper I had saved from a wedding invitation. I also repurposed the delicate heart flourish from that same invitation, which felt like the perfect sentimental touch. A single pearl from the Pearls of Beauty Embellishments sits right above it, matching the DSP like it was meant to be.

Inside the card, I added a fussy-cut flower from the designer paper to tie everything together.

This was such an easy card to create, but I love how elegant and meaningful it turned out. It also reminded me how important it is to pause and make something just for the joy of it—especially during this busy holiday season.

I hope you’re able to carve out a little creative time for yourself, too. 💗

 

Craft Roulette Episode 295 — Turkish Map Fold Mini Card

For Craft Roulette Episode 295, my project prompt was Map Fold, so I decided to create a tiny Turkish Map Fold insert for a 3" x 3" card. I started with a 6" x 6" sheet of Timeless Plaid paper, which worked beautifully for this fold.

Why It’s Called a Turkish Map Fold

The Turkish Map Fold originates from historical map-making. Cartographers used this clever fold because it allowed large maps to collapse into smaller, more portable sizes without heavy creasing through the artwork. When opened, the fold expands into a full, flat shape—making it perfect for surprise elements inside handmade cards!

Before attempting it, I watched several YouTube tutorials to be sure I was folding everything correctly. Once I got the hang of it, the technique was surprisingly easy and very satisfying.

Color Palette — “Planter”

The color challenge included planter-themed shades, so I used:

• Terracotta orange

• Soil browns

• Greens for the plants

• Blues for the sky

Element — From the Sky

There are two tiny butterflies fluttering up in the sky area of the card.

Random — Three in a Row

Across the bottom front panel, I lined up three little plants in a row, which fit the prompt perfectly.

The “Hey” sentiment from the Charming Day stamp set tucked wonderfully into the cloud. All of the sweet critters and images came from the 12" x 12" Storybook Friends paper pack. Such a fun card to make, and the interactive map fold gives it the cutest surprise factor!

Craft Roulette airs Fridays on YouTube at 6:10 Central Time—come join the fun!