Spellbinders | Star Wreath

Hello there, today I have a mini star shaped card to share using the new Spellbinders Barn Star Wreath Etched Dies from the Country Christmas Collection by Annie Williams. The plan was to put the star on a card but after it was assembled, I preferred it as is, so made it into a little shaped card instead! 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off by die cutting the base layer of the star from the Spellbinders Barn Star Wreath Etched Dies from Spellbinders Mulberry ColorWheel Cardstock. I then cut the star again, but this time with the inserts in (there are two in the set to choose from) from Spellbinders Orchid ColorWheel Cardstock. I adhered the Orchid one on top of the Mulberry one using liquid glue. 

I then die cut the foliage from the set - I cut the pine piece from Spellbinders Teal Topaz ColorWheel Cardstock, the berry piece from Spellbinders Waterfall and Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock, and the holly leaves from Spellbinders Peridot ColorWheel Cardstock. The orange slice was cut from Spellbinders Carrot, Saffron and Beeswax ColorWheel Cardstock and assembled and adhered using liquid glue. 

The pine cone was cut from Spellbinders Acorn and Truffle ColorWheel Cardstock. The layers were adhered together. I then adhered all the pieces to the star using liquid glue. I die cut the bow from Spellbinders Mulberry ColorWheel Cardstock, adhered the pieces together and then adhered it to the centre of the star. 

I hot foiled the Spellbinders Merry Messages Plate onto white cardstock using Spellbinders Champagne Foil and the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System. It was die cut out using the coordinating die (the sentiments are all on one plate and then you die cut all at once too). I adhered the 'seasons greetings' one to the star using foam tape. To finish, I cut another star from Mulberry cardstock, made a score line at the top to create a hinge and adhered it to the back of the first one to create a mini card.

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

I think the star would look great as a little tag too! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great weekend! 

Altenew | July 2025 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Altenew today to celebrate the July 2025 release with a fun and inspirational blog hop. There are lots of new stamps, dies, press plates, stencils and more in this release including new glitter cardstock, which is super pretty! There are lots of Christmas and holiday themed products in this release but lots that can be used all year round too! 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I have tons of projects to share with you this month, so I hope you will grab a drink and a snack and enjoy seeing what I have made. I am going to start with the non-Christmas projects first. 

LARKSPUR

My first card today uses the new Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Larkspur Layering Die Set. I cut the stem and flowers from white cardstock and added ink blending to them using Altenew Mini Blending Brushes. I used Altenew Bubblegum Dreams Fresh Dye Inks for the petals, adding in a little Midnight Violet for depth. 

I used Altenew Green Valley Fresh Dye Inks for the stem. I assembled and adhered the flowers together first and then adhered them to the stem (using both the keyhole system and the visuals on the back of the packaging). I adhered the whole thing  to a US A2 sized black card base with liquid glue, cutting the excess off the top and bottom using scissors.  

I stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Sentiment Strips Stamp Set onto black cardstock using Altenew Embossing Ink. I applied Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip and adhered to the card using Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. To finish, I embellished the card with Altenew Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

DELIGHTFULLY DOTTY + SOFT PEONIES

I started off by debossing the Altenew Essential Textures: Delightfully Dotty Press Plate onto a panel of white cardstock. It was then adhered to a US A2 sized white card base. I die cut the envelope from Altenew Lovely Envelope Die Set from white cardstock and then die cut the foliage from the same set from Altenew Crafty Necessities Pink Diamond, Dew Drops and Aqualicious Cardstock. 

I also cut a couple of stems from vellum. I arranged the stems inside the envelope and then adhered the front panel on top before adhering to the card with foam tape. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from Altenew Sentiment Strips 3 Stamp Set onto black cardstock, cut it into strips and adhered to the card.

I then created the wax seal. I used the Altenew Wax Seal Warmer Kit and melted Altenew Cosmic Berry Wax Beads in the spoon. Once melted, I poured the wax onto the Altenew Silicone Mat and pressed the new Altenew Soft Peonies Wax Seal Stamp on top. Once set, it was adhered to the card with Altenew Ultra Sticky Double Sided Tape. To finish, I embellished the card with Altenew Cherry Blossom Enamel Dots. 

I wanted a coordinating envelope to go with the card, so I made another wax seal but this time using Altenew Milky White Wax Beads and the Altenew Soft Peonies Wax Seal Stamp. It was added to an Altenew Crafty Necessities: Rubellite Envelope. 

COZY HOMES

The last of my non-Christmas projects uses Altenew Creative Cuts: Cozy Homes. As you will see later in the post, you can use this for holiday projects too, but I wanted to show that it doesn't have to be! I die cut three of the houses from Altenew Crafty Necessities Cardstock. The house on the left was cut from Volcano Lake and Lagoon Cardstock. The third layer was cut from Lagoon cardstock and I applied Emerald Fresh Dye Ink on top to make it darker (for the roof and trim). 

The house in the middle was cut from Pink Diamond, Rubellite and Berrylicious Cardstock. The house on the right was cut from Dew Drops, Aqualicious and Teal Cave Cardstock. The back layer (to see through the windows) for all houses was cut from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Buttercream Cardstock, and the window frames and doors from white cardstock. I assembled them and adhered the layers using liquid glue. 

The houses were adhered to the bottom of a US A2 sized card base with Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I cut the letters from Altenew Fine Alphabet Die Set to spell 'home' five times. They were adhered one on top of another and then onto the card. I stamped and heat embossed the 'new' from Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Clematis, cut it out and added it on top. To finish, I added a heart enamel dot to the pink house from the Altenew Cherry Blossom Enamel Dots set. 

Now onto the Christmas/holiday projects:

TIMELESS SLED

I started off my card by die cutting the Altenew Timeless Sled Layering Die Set from Altenew Crafty Necessities Morning Frost, Evening Gray, Mocha and Espresso Cardstock for the sled itself. It was assembled and then adhered to a US A2 sized white card base with foam tape. 

I die cut the poinsettia from the set, as well as foliage from the Altenew Zero-Waste: Ornamental Winter Pattern Die, from Altenew Crafty Necessities Puffy Heart, Volcano Lake, Lagoon and Limeade Cardstock. I cut the flowers from white cardstock and the sparkly foliage was cut from Altenew Moonstone Glitter Cardstock. 

I stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Sleigh Ride Greetings Stamp Set onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. It was die cut using the coordinating die and adhered to the card. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Iridescent Stellar Sequins and then added an Altenew Rhodonite Gem Sparkle to the centre of the poinsettia. 

ORNAMENTAL WINTER PATTERN + BEST WISHES TAGS

I die cut two tags from the Altenew Best Wishes Tags Die Set from white cardstock. I cut the hole reinforcers from Altenew Crafty Necessities Jet Black Cardstock and adhered them on top. 

The first tag uses the poinsettia from Altenew Timeless Sled Layering Die Set cut from Altenew Crafty Necessities Puffy Heart Cardstock and the foliage from Altenew Zero-Waste: Ornamental Winter Pattern Die from Altenew Crafty Necessities Volcano Lake and Lagoon Cardstock, as well as the new Altenew Moonstone Glitter Cardstock. The tag was adhered onto the base layer cut from Jet Black Cardstock using foam tape. 

The second tag uses poinsettias and foliage from Altenew Zero-Waste: Ornamental Winter Pattern Die from the same cardstock as the first one, with some foliage cut from Altenew Crafty Necessities Limeade Cardstock added in too. For both tags, I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment from Altenew Happy Holidays Stamp Set onto black cardstock, cut them into strips and adhered to the tags. To finish, I added Altenew Rhodonite Gem Sparkles to the centres of the poinsettias and tied black twine bows at the top. 

FESTIVE TRIANGLES

I started off my card by taking a panel of white cardstock and stamping three of the trees from the Altenew Festive Triangles Stamp Set on top. I used Altenew Pink Diamond Fresh Dye Ink for the one on the left, Altenew Dew Drops Fresh Dye Ink for the one in the centre, and Altenew Aqualicious Fresh Dye Ink for the one on the right. 

I then stamped three more onto Altenew Crafty Necessities Cardstock - Pinkalicious Ink onto Pink Diamond Cardstock for the one on the left, Aqualicious Ink on Aqualicious Cardstock for the one in the centre, and Pink Diamond Ink onto Pink Diamond Cardstock for the one on the right. They were die cut out using Altenew Nesting Triangles Die Set and adhered to the panel. 

The panel was then adhered to a US A2 sized black card base. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from the Altenew Festive Triangles Stamp Set, cut it into a strip and adhered it to the card using foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

SERENE LANDSCAPES

My last card today uses the Altenew Stencil Art: Serene Landscapes Layering Stencil Set. This is a really beautifully set that can create snowy landscapes, although I am sure you could do it in greens to create hills too! For the main layers of the stencils, I used Altenew Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Inks - Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Teal Cave and Galactic Stream. 

I used Altenew Jet Black Fresh Dye Ink for the trees. I then mixed Altenew Titanium White Artists' Gouache with a little water and splattered it on top before adhering the panel on to a US A2 sized white card base. I created a house from Altenew Creative Cuts: Cozy Homes, this time from white and Aqualicious cardstock. I did use Buttercream for the inside of the windows again, but added a layer of vellum over the top, so that it would mute the yellow slightly. I also cut the snow for the roofs from Altenew Moonstone Glitter Cardstock. 

It was adhered to the card with foam tape. I stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Sleigh Ride Greetings Stamp Set onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. It was then die cut out using the coordinating dies before adhering to the card. 

BLOG HOP:

As mentioned, this post is part of a fun, inspirational blog hop with prizes. Please click on the other participants in the hop below to visit their blogs. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

GIVEAWAY:

$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 Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by July 17^th 2025 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's Blog Hop Post on July 19^th 2025. The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog. 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

If you have made it this far, thank you so much! I know it was a long post but I hope you enjoyed seeing all my projects today. It is a fabulous release! Thank you so much for stopping by, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great time on the rest of the hop! Take care!

Spellbinders | Stitched Sunflower

Hello there, today I have something a little different to share with you, this is not a plushie as such (as it has no filling) but simply a felt stitched sunflower. This is from the Summer Felt Stitch & Create Collection by Nichol Spohr for Spellbinders. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off by die cutting the petals from the Spellbinders Felt Sunflower Bloom Etched Dies from Sunflower Felt from the Spellbinders Merino Wool Trend Collection. I cut the flower centre pieces from Mocha Felt from the Spellbinders Merino Wool Neutral Collection and the leaves from Mossy Felt from the Spellbinders Merino Wool Holiday Collection. 

I started off by stitching the circle centre piece to the two petal pieces using Light Mocha Brown DMC Floss. I then took the long centre piece and folded it half and taking one end, rolled it into a circle. I secured the other end to the circle I created using hot glue. You can use one of these pieces but I cut two to get a nice dimensional centre. So I took another of the pieces, folded it in half and adhered this piece to where the last one finished, using more hot glue, I then rolled this piece around the first and secured at the end. 

I added glue to to the bottom of it and adhered it to the circle in the middle of the flower with more hot glue. I stitched two leaves back to back using green DMC Floss and then repeated the process so that I had two leaves to adhere to the back of the sunflower (with each leaf having two layers of felt). If you are new to stitching with felt, this one would be a great starting point as there isn't too much actual stitching involved. 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

This collection is slightly different to the others in that the creations (there is an apple, strawberry and beehive too) are made to be flat, rather than stuffed, so you would attach them to something like a cushion/cards/bags etc. For me, I think I may use this sunflower as pin/needle cushion. The centre is so dimensional that I think the needles will stick in there nicely and not get lost while I am switching between needles! 

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Spellbinders | Cheerful Chirps Thank You

Hello there, today I have a card to share that I made for a friend using the Cheerful Chirps collection from Spellbinders. I already made one card using this collection, which you can see here. These birds really put a smile on my face, so I am hoping my friend will like them too! 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off by die cutting the Spellbinders Flying High Etched Dies from Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock. I die cut the body, head and wings from Fairy Tale, Lavender and Lilac. I used Chiffon for the cheek and Classic White and Raven for the eye. The beak was cut from Beeswax and the feet from Raven. I adhered the cockatoo together using Bearly Art Glue, leaving off the bottom wing for now. 

I die cut the branch from Spellbinders Acorn ColorWheel Cardstock twice and adhered them one on top of another. I then adhered the cockatoo's feet to the branch, followed by the bottom wing behind. I then thin foam tape to the back of the cockatoo and branch and set them aside. I stamped a sentiment from the Spellbinders Typewriter Adventure Sentiments Clear Stamp Set onto a white 4" x 5.5" white card base using Versafine Onyx Black Ink. 

The cockatoo and branch when then adhered on top. I die cut the flowers from Spellbinders Waterfall and Beeswax ColorWheel Cardstock and adhered them together using Bearly Art Glue. I die cut the stems and leaves from Spellbinders Peridot ColorWheel Cardstock. I arranged and then adhered the flowers and leaves around the branch. To finish, I embellished with Spellbinders Silver Mix Color Essentials Gems. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

I am really hoping to have time to use this collection more, these birds are really very cute! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great weekend too! 

Simon Says Stamp | Ahoy Matey!

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Simon Says Stamp today to celebrate the Friend Like You release with a fun Instagram hop. I already made one card using the release which you can see here. Today I am using the super cute Ahoy, Matey set designed by the amazing Alberto Gava. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off my card by die cutting a circle of cardstock using a Spellbinders Everlasting Circles Etched Dies. I then stamped the pirate girl and boat (one image) from the Simon Says Stamp Ahoy, Matey Stamp Set onto the circle using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I coloured the image using Copic Markers (the colours that I used are listed below the supplies list). 

It is always a bit intimidating colouring one of Alberto's images with him being the king of colouring, but I tried my best! I then die cut two more circles of white cardstock and on one, I cut a little off the bottom so that the card could stand up easily. At the top, I scored a line using a scoring board a stylus to create a hinge. I added adhesive to the hinge and adhered it to the other circle to create a card base. I then adhered the image circle on top (to hide the colouring bleed-through on the back). 

I stamped the sentiment from the set onto black cardstock using Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip using the Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Labels Dies and adhered onto the card with thin foam squares. I felt that the card was lacking, so I stamped the macaw from the set and coloured him using Copic Markers. I fussy cut him out using scissors and adhered him onto the card so that he was sitting on top of the sail. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

COPIC MARKERS: Girl skin - E13, E11, E00, E000, R20. Hair - E29, E27, E25, E23. Hat - N10, N8, N5, N3/YR27, YR24, YR23, Y08. Shirt - W3, W1, W0. Jacket and shoes - N10, N8, N5, N3. Trousers - V09, V17, V15, V12. Boat - E49, E59, E57, E55. Sail - W5, W3, W1, W0, W00, 0. Water - BG49, BG15, BG13, BG11. Macaw - V09, V17, V15, V12/C8, C6, C3/C1/Y17, Y13, Y11. 

Would it have looked better if I had stamped and masked the macaw instead of making him a separate layer? Maybe! But I am glad that I added him on, he is super cute! All the fun for the hop is happening over on Instagram. You can see my feed here and Simon Says Stamp's here. Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have wonderful day! 

Hero Arts | Hero Studio July 2025 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Hero Arts today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the Hero Studio July 2025 release called Road Trip. The Card Kit of the Month, Stamp & Cut of the Month, Dies of the Month, Layering Stencils of the Month, and Cling of the Month are all releasing today. You can also purchase the Whole Studio which includes all of the kits and a free gift. Today, I am focussing on the Card Kit and the Stamp & Cut of the Month. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

HERO STUDIO CARD KIT OF THE MONTH

I started off my card by taking the dies from the Hero Studio July 2025 Card Kit of the Month and die cutting the arm and coffee cup. I cut the arm itself from Spellbinders Alabaster ColorWheel Cardstock and the sleeve and cuff from Spellbinders Seaside and Waterfall ColorWheel Cardstock respectively. For the coffee cup, I used Classic White and Fawn Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock. 

I assembled the pieces and adhered them using Bearly Art Glue. I then attached the hand to to coffee cup, so that it looks like it is holding it and added thin foam tape on the back. It was adhered to a 4.25" x 5.25" panel of white cardstock. I then stamped the sentiment from the kit stamp set onto more white cardstock using Intens-ified Black Ink. 

It was die cut out using the coordinating die and then the die cut another two times from white cardstock. I adhered them one on top of another with the stamped one on top (for added dimension) and then adhered onto the panel. The panel was then adhered to a US A2 sized card base made from Waterfall cardstock with foam tape. To finish, I die cut the smallest Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies from Seaside cardstock and adhered it to the coffee cup. 

WHAT’S IN THE KIT?

The Hero Studio July Card Kit of the Month includes:

On the Road HeroScape 6x8 Stamp Set

On the Road HeroScape Coordinating Dies

Let's Go Die Set

Pine Core Ink Cube

10 Sheets of Cardstock- 1 of each colour, 5.5" x 8.5" (Sicily, Coral, Bellini, Waterfall, Teal Topaz, Blue Spruce, Peridot, Beeswax, Saffron, Carrot)

Mirror Paper, 1 sheet - 5.5" x 8.5"

HERO STUDIO STAMP & CUT OF THE MONTH

I started off my card by stamping the 'friend' word from the Hero Studio July 2025 Stamp & Cut of the Month onto white cardstock using Intens-ified Black Ink. There are two parts to the word - the outline and the shadow, so that you can stamp them in different colours if you want to. I just opted to keep mine black and white. It was then die cut out using the coordinating die. I cut the die another four times from white cardstock and stacked and adhered them behind the stamped one. 

I then die cut two hearts from the Hero Arts Nesting Hearts Infinity Dies from white cardstock. On one, I cut a little off the bottom so that it could stand up better and also scored a line at the top to create a hinge. I added adhesive to the hinge and adhered to the back of the other one to create a heart shaped card base. I die cut strips of cardstock using the Hero Arts Sentiment Strips Fancy Dies and adhered them on to the card base, cutting the excess off the sides with scissors. 

I adhered the friend word on top. I then stamped the accompanying sentiment from the kit onto Hero Arts Pitch Black Cardstock with Hero Arts Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink. I applied Hero Arts White Detail Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip and adhered to the card with thin foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Hero Hues Clear Enamel Dots. 

WHAT’S IN THE KIT?

The Hero Studio July 2025 Stamp & Cut of the Month is called Sending Big Hugs. It is a 4" x 6" stamp set with coordinating dies. 

BLOG HOP:

For the hop, you should have arrived here from Michelle Lupton. Next on the hop is Mindy Eggen. Please head over to the Hero Arts Blog for the full list of participants. 

GIVEAWAY:

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by 6th July 2025 at 11:59pm PST, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. Leave a comment on all stops for more chances to win!

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day!