Crafteverly: card-making

Showing posts with label card-making. Show all posts

Craft Weekend

While everyone else in the USA is celebrating the 4th of July, I'll be crafting my heart out. I'm so excited to be able to go to a craft retreat that weekend. My sister and I have been to three previous retreats at a place called The Nest in Willis, Texas. We like that it is smaller than our previous retreat location so we have made friends with other card makers, scrapbookers, and even quilters. Plus it's closer to home. It's going to be great!

And I have my own organization tool to help me get ready. It is a printable Craft Weekend Planner Bundle. The project planners are invaluable in helping me make the most of my creative time. It's available on Etsy, and you can use code FAVORITE to save 10% on the bundle or any of my other printables. Hope you have a crafty week!

Quick Tip Tuesday - Test once. Stamp confidently.

Welcome to Quick Tip Tuesday! Today's tip has to do with stamping. I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but sometimes you will get a stamp that perhaps been bent at one time and now you're trying to use it, and it won't stamp all of the letters correctly.

There is a way to avoid this.

Before stamping on your final project, test your stamp on scrap paper. This checks ink coverage, pressure, and placement — and prevents frustrating do-overs.

Test once. Stamp confidently.

Have a crafty week!

Quick Tip Tuesday — Leave White Space

Not every space on your card, scrapbook page, or paper house needs embellishment. White space (or empty space) helps your focal point stand out and gives the eye a place to rest. Clean designs often feel more polished and intentional.

Plenty of open background (usually white or very light)

One focal image or sentiment

Minimal embellishments

Sometimes less really is more.

Color Swatching Printables

I have talked about color swatching and the benefits it provides. Now I have a way to make color swatching even easier for you.

There is now a Color Swatch Chart Bundle featuring 9, yes, nine, charts you can choose from and print out. Or print out all nine and see which ones will work best for you. I pull my Color Swatches out all the time to choose colors and see how inks would look if used together. I'd love for you to check it out!

Thanks, and happy crafting!

Quick Tip Tuesday - Batch It!

Baby Shower Card

Handmade card for a friend.

Visit Wordless Wednesday here and here.

Mistakes Aren't Failures - They're Design Opportunities

If you make a mistake, don’t toss the project right away. Many “errors” can be covered with embellishments, turned into layered elements, or redesigned creatively. Some of the best projects start as accidents. For example, an ink splotch becomes a cluster of flowers.

Think of your mistakes as opportunities to improve your design skills. Here is a list of ideas you can use to cover a mistake, or to simply add something special to a paper craft.

Have a crafty week!

#2 Craft Tip Try One Thing Quick Tip Tuesday

✨ Craft Tip: Try One Thing… Then Build From There

If you’re ready to do more than just one project, the key is still focus — not buying everything at once.

Last week we encouraged new crafters to start by choosing one tool and one project (paper, vinyl, beads, sublimation, sewing, etc.) and try at least 1 additional small project using the same tool and supplies. Each project teaches you something new without starting from scratch every time. Now it's time to take the skills you learned and make something else new.

For example:

If you made labels → then decals → then a small sign
If you made a mug → then a journal/notebook → then a tote bag
If you made greeting cards→ then a fun fold card (Youtube it) → then a card with multiple embellishments

By staying in the same craft lane:

You gain confidence faster
You waste less money
Your skills build naturally instead of feeling scattered

Once you feel comfortable, that’s when it makes sense to add a new tool or technique.

Progress doesn’t come from doing everything — it comes from doing one thing a little deeper.

#1Craft Tip Start Simple Quick Tip Tuesday

Here’s a simple, beginner-friendly craft tip that works perfectly for the start of a new year — especially for someone who doesn’t craft much:

✂️ Craft Tip: Start with One Tool + One Project

If you’re new (or rusty) at crafting, don’t buy everything.
Pick one tool and one small project and learn them well before moving on.

For example:

One paper trimmer → make greeting cards (paper and glue)
One cutting machine → simple vinyl labels (I recommend the Explore Series or Cricut Joy Extra)
One paint pen → decorate mugs or notebooks

Finishing a small project builds confidence, saves money, and helps you discover what kind of crafting you actually enjoy — before your supplies pile up.

Why this works:
✔️ Less overwhelm
✔️ Faster success
✔️ More motivation to keep going

Quick Tip Tuesday - Test Strip

Quick Tip: Build a “Test Strip” Habit Before Every Project

Before starting any craft project—vinyl, sublimation, resin, paint, ink, or paper crafts—create a small test strip or sample swatch using the exact materials and settings you plan to use. Not just when something is new, but every time.

For paper crafts, this might mean cutting a small shape from the same cardstock to test blade depth, pressure, or score lines before cutting your full design. It can also include testing ink blending, stamping pressure, or adhesive placement on a scrap from the same paper pack to see how it reacts.

Why? Humidity, paper coatings, blade wear, and even paper color can change results. A quick test can prevent tearing, cracking folds, or ink bleeding.

Pros treat test strips as part of the process—not a backup plan. Adopt the habit, and your success rate will jump instantly.

Christmas Cards

Making some more Christmas Cards

This one is a pop-up card

Let me know what you think in the comments, please! I'd love to hear from you!

Woud you vote for my "commercial" ?

Hello Crafty Friends!

I have entered a contest using something I recorded about two months ago.

It's VIP AAP Submission #4 (Diana) and the time stamp is 4:48. I'm in last place right now, but that could change if you vote for me!

Click here to watch, then click "next" to vote. Below are some cards I made during the Card Maker Success Summit. I have my mojo back! And I appreciate you taking a couple of minutes to vote!

Quick Tip Tuesday - You May Not Like Everything You Try!

You don't know if you like to do something or if you're good at it until you've tried it.

I have learned I am not fond of inking using layered stencils. When the stencils are layered, and I have to try to line them up, I have a hard time getting them in exactly the right place. Layered flowers tend to be more forgiving as far as getting them lined up exactly, but the new landscape stencil I have is a chore to line up!

One stencil that covers the whole card, fine!

But it's okay! You don't have to enjoy every single technique, and you don't have to be an expert at everything, either. But you never know until you try, so try something new this week!

Quick Tip Color Wheel

A color wheel is a simple tool that helps you pick colors that work beautifully together.

To find complimentary colors, look directly across the wheel—these are opposite each other (like blue + orange or purple + yellow) create eye-catching contrast and make your project shine. 🌟. Pairing them creates bold, eye-catching contrast. If you prefer something softer, try using tints or shades of those complimentary colors for a more balanced look. Next time you’re planning a project, let the color wheel guide you—it takes the guesswork out of choosing harmonious combinations!

Here's an example:

Card Maker Success Summit card

A card inspired by Gaylin Martling.

Hang Out with Your Card-making Buddies

The semi-annual Card Maker Success Summit starts today. It is totally free to join, and it lasts from July 31 to August 3. Between 10-12 holiday card-making videos will be released each day for 4 days.Over 40 expert card-makers are in the line-up.

You have 24 hour access to each day's videos. I suggest choosing each day's favorites (based on the card or the supplies you currently have in your stash) and tackling the videos that way instead of trying to rush through all of them.

They, of course, have a VIP pass that allows you continued access to all of the videos with no time limits, but if you're on a budget, the free version has the same exact workshops, just with the time limit. I have done both free and VIP versions of this summit.

Brandi Mahon, the creative owner of Stamp Me Some Love and host of this summit, also has a card-maker beginner summit coming up in August, so stay tuned for that. She is a fantastic teacher! Now go check it out then let me know how much you love it as I'll be crafting right alongside you.

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