Welcome to Week 1 of the Heart of Christmas 2026 blog hop! It’s lovely to be creating Christmas cards again with the Art With Heart team, and I’m looking forward to sharing a new project each week as we head towards Christmas.
This week’s card is a CASE of a beautiful design created last year by Mikaela from The Crafty Oink Pen in 2025. CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything, and it’s a wonderful way to take inspiration from another card maker while adding your own creative touches.
There were several elements of Mikaela’s original card that immediately caught my eye. I loved the way the embossing folder was positioned on an angle, rather than straight across the card. The neutral combination of dark green, cream and dark brown was also beautiful, as was the stamping directly onto Designer Series Paper.
The Perennial Postage Dies added another lovely detail, giving the layers a decorative edge without overwhelming the design. I wanted to retain these elements while creating a version in my own colour palette.
When you look at the two cards side-by-side so you can see how I’ve CASED Mikaela’s card and changed the elements of the design to make it my own.
Both cards have a Mossy Meadow card stock base with an embossed Mossy Meadow card stock or my card. Once again I’ve used the Softly Woven 3D Embossing Folder.
The beauty of a large embossing folder is the ability to angle the card stock layer in any direction you chose. I kept the angled embossing detail that I loved so much in Mikaela’s design. It adds movement and texture to the background and makes the card feel a little different from a traditional straight-layered layout.
However, I’ve used a slightly different colour scheme and moved my pinecones and foliage to the other side of the card to allow the elements on the DSP to be seen
I chose a limited colour scheme, combining Mossy Meadow, Basic Beige and Early Espresso (colours in the Yuletide Carols DSP), with touches of gold to finish.
The foliage was created using the large oval wreath die from the Noel Tidings Dies. Rather than using the wreath as a complete oval, I snipped the die-cut apart to create individual branches. The pine cones are stamped in Early Espresso onto Basic Beige card stock.
The “Sending Cheer” sentiment is from the Noel Tidings stamp set, stamped directly onto the Yuletide Carols Designer Series Paper. I love stamping onto patterned paper when the design is subtle enough to allow the sentiment to remain clear. It creates an extra layer of interest without needing another piece of cardstock.
I carried the design through to the inside with more stamped foliage and the sentiment: From our home to yours.
It’s a simple detail, but I always enjoy adding something to the inside of a handmade Christmas card. It makes the card feel finished and gives the recipient another little surprise when they open it.
Take a look at some more Heart of Christmas inspiration!
If the next button link is not working or you’d like to see the entire list of participants, go to Sharon Davern’s blog.
Welcome to Week 18 of the Art With Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. This week we’re showcasing Crumb Cake, one of my favourite Stampin’ Up! colours and the perfect colour for a Father’s Day card.
With Father’s Day this Sunday, I’ve created a Crumb Cake and white slimline card, combining lots of pattern, texture and dimension while keeping the colour palette elegantly simple and monochrome.
The starting point for my card was the oversized HAPPY sentiment. Rather than cutting all five letters from the same Designer Series Paper, I went through my DSP collection to find five different patterns featuring Crumb Cake. I love how different each one looks, yet they all work together because of the limited colour palette. From left to right, I used: H – Everyday Essentials Mix & Match 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper A – Beautiful Gallery 6″ x 6″ (15.2 x 15.2 cm) Designer Series Paper P – Nature Walk 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper P – Everyday Essentials Mix & Match 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper Y – Delicate Dreams 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper
Before die cutting the letters, I adhered the DSP to Adhesive Foam Sheets. This was an easy way to give the large letters plenty of dimension and really lift them away from the embossed background. This photo shows the lovely dimension. the foam gives to the words.
And that background adds even more texture! The Basic White layer has been embossed with the Softly Woven Embossing Folder. I especially love the contrast between its woven texture and all the different prints in the HAPPY letters.
The smaller FATHER’S DAY sentiment was die cut from Crumb Cake card stock using the Mini Alphabet Dies. I kept this part of the sentiment quite simple so it didn’t compete with those fabulous oversized letters from the Party Alphabet Dies.
I do love slimline cards. The extra length was perfect for the large letters in this design, however it also meant I needed to make an envelope to fit.
I used a sheet of Wood Grain Wonders 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper to create a coordinating envelope. The subtle Crumb Cake woodgrain couldn’t have been more perfect for this Father’s Day card.
I think this project is a great example of how a limited colour palette doesn’t have to mean a simple design. Mixing patterns, embossed texture and different levels of dimension gives a monochromatic project so much interest.
Take a look at some more Crumb Cake inspiration on our Insta Hop!
Our blog hop is now an Instagram hop but the good news is that you don’t need to have an Instagram account to view all of the other projects!
Simply go to my Insta handle in a new search engine window to follow the Instagram hop: @whatcathymade.
Welcome to Week 17 of the Art With Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. This week we are creating with the gorgeous Coastal Cabana.
For my project this week, I’ve made a tri-fold arch card using the stunning Valley in Bloom Suite Collection. I love the way this card opens out to reveal three arched panels, and because it stands up so beautifully, it makes a wonderful display card too.
I used the three largest dies from the Everyday Arches Dies to create the layers and shape of my card.
The Coastal Cabana card base consists of three arch-shaped panels joined together, with each panel decorated slightly differently. When completely opened, the three arches create a lovely continuous display, while the folds allow the card to stand on its own.
I also decorated the reverse of each panel with coordinating Designer Series Paper, so the card looks just as pretty from the back when it is standing on display.
My colour combination was taken directly from the Valley in Bloom 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper:
Coastal Cabana
Darling Duckling
Garden Green
Lemon Lime Twist
Basic White
I stamped the lily of the valley images before colouring them with Stampin’ Blends in Darling Duckling, Garden Green and Lemon Lime Twist. I love how those fresh greens and little pops of yellow look against Coastal Cabana.
One of my favourite details on this card is actually quite subtle.
I used one of the beautiful patterns from the Luxe White 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper and added Coastal Cabana ink with a Blending Brush.
The soft ink blending allows the delicate white pattern of the paper to remain visible while completely changing its appearance. It was such an easy way to create a coordinating background without covering up the gorgeous detail in this specialty paper.
I used this piece on the front panel behind my largest arrangement of lily of the valley.
For the front panel, I created a fuller floral arrangement, layering several stamped, coloured and die-cut lily of the valley images over the softly blended Luxe White Specialty DSP.
I added a strip of the Valley in Bloom DSP behind the Happy Birthday sentiment, along with a simple linen thread bow and a few clear embellishments.
The centre panel features another pattern from the Valley in Bloom DSP, with a smaller arrangement of flowers positioned towards the bottom of the arch. I love how this panel lets that pretty Coastal Cabana pattern become part of the design rather than simply acting as a background.
The final panel is kept predominantly Basic White to leave plenty of room for a handwritten message. I stamped the sentiment “To one of the nicest people I know” and added one smaller lily of the valley image in the bottom corner to tie it back to the other two panels.
The combination of the repeating arch shapes, fresh colours and delicate flowers makes this card feel so light and spring-like.
And if you love the Valley in Bloom Designer Series Paper as much as I do, it’s an especially good time to stock up because it is on sale now.
I really enjoyed making this tri-fold design and I think the Everyday Arches Dies are perfect for this style of card. It looks quite impressive opened out, but I especially love that the recipient can stand it up and enjoy it long after their birthday.
Take a look at some more Coastal Cabana inspiration on our Insta Hop!
Our blog hop is now an Instagram hop but the good news is that you don’t need to have an Instagram account to view all of the other projects!
Simply go to my Insta handle in a new search engine window to follow the Instagram hop: @whatcathymade.
Welcome to Week 15 of the Art With Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. This week we’re creating with Cloud Cover, a beautiful soft blue-grey that works wonderfully with Secret Sea.
For my projects this week, I’ve paired Cloud Cover with Secret Sea, Old Olive and Basic White to create three very different cards using the Lovely Blossoms Designer Series Paper and the Lovely Arrangements Bundle.
And yes, this is another one of those DSP packs I’ve been hoarding because it’s just too lovely to cut into!
The good news is that Lovely Blossoms Designer Series Paper is currently included in the Stampin’ Up! paper sale, so it seemed like the perfect excuse to finally put some of mine to use.
The Lovely Arrangements Dies are also now in the Last Chance section of the Stampin’ Up! website, so if these versatile dies have been on your wish list, you might want to grab them before they disappear.
Card One – Fussy-cut florals
For my first birthday card, I let the gorgeous Lovely Blossoms DSP do most of the work.
I covered the card front with the subtle Cloud Cover striped pattern, then added a contrasting strip of the floral DSP down the left-hand side.
A narrow Secret Sea scalloped border was die cut using the Circle Lattice Die from the Lovely Arrangements Dies, creating definition between the two patterns.
The large floral arrangement was fussy cut directly from the DSP. I love doing this with papers that have beautiful large-scale imagery because you get all the detail of a stamped and coloured image without having to do any stamping at all.
I popped the arrangement up to give the card some dimension, then finished it with a simple Happy Birthday sentiment from the Lovely Arrangements stamp set, layered onto Secret Sea card stock.
Card 2 – Flower Frame
My second card uses another section of the Lovely Blossoms DSP, this time featuring the delicate white flowers and Old Olive foliage.
I once again fussy cut the floral arrangement from the DSP and layered over the Cloud Cover layer on the card front. I combined Cloud Cover card stock with another strip of the striped DSP.
I used the small floral detail die from the Lovely Arrangements Dies to cut tiny flowers into the Cloud Cover panel, allowing the Secret Sea layer underneath to show through.
A simple Happy Birthday sentiment across the bottom of the floral panel completes the card.
Card 3 – Lovely Arrangements Dies
For my third card I wanted to show just how versatile the Lovely Arrangements Dies can be, even without using the floral DSP.
I used the Circle Lattice Die to cut two panels from Cloud Cover card stock. I also cut the die twice from Secret Sea card stock, this time keeping the small negative diamond-shaped pieces. I carefully adhered these into the openings in the Cloud Cover panels to create a striking geometric pattern.
I love the contrast between the soft Cloud Cover and deep Secret Sea, and how this simple technique gives the die a completely different look.
The panels are mounted onto a Basic White card stock layer and I rounded the corners to reflect the overall circular design.
Between the two panels I added a Hello Friend sentiment on a Cloud Cover label, with more Secret Sea card stock diamonds on either side and a few Secret Sea and Cloud Cover embellishments from the Moody Palette Glossy Dots to finish it off.
It has a completely different look from the first two cards, but uses exactly the same die set! Here’s the inside of the card.
Take a look at some more Cloud Cover inspiration on our Insta Hop!
Our blog hop is now an Instagram hop but the good news is that you don’t need to have an Instagram account to view all of the other projects!
Simply go to my Insta handle in a new search engine window to follow the Instagram hop: @whatcathymade.
Welcome to Week 15 of the Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Blog Hop! This week we’re creating with Cherry Cobbler, a rich, classic red that is absolutely perfect for Christmas.
For my project this week, I’ve made a coordinating Interlocking Triangle Gift Box and Christmas card, using the gorgeous Pretty Poinsettia Bundle.
Interlocking Triangle Gift Box
How fabulous is this box? I love the unusual triangular shape and the clever way the sections interlock to close.
The instructions came from “Lauren’s Scrap Lot”, who has a fantastic video on YouTube showing exactly how to make this box. It looks quite intricate when it’s finished, but her video makes the construction very easy to follow.
I decorated my box with the beautiful Basic Beige and Cherry Cobbler striped Designer Series Paper from the A Little Christmas 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Designer Series Paper.
This DSP is a little sneak peek from the new September–December 2026 Mini Catalogue, available from 1 September.
The top of the box is decorated with layered poinsettias and leaves from the Pretty Poinsettia Bundle. I love all the texture in these flowers, especially when the different shades of Cherry Cobbler are layered together.
I finished the box with the Gold Striped 3/8″ (1 cm) Mesh Ribbon, which adds a lovely soft shimmer and ties in beautifully with the gold accents.
This video shows how the box opens up.
A Coordinating Christmas Card
Of course, I couldn’t make such a special gift box without making a card to match!
I carried the same striped DSP, poinsettia and ribbon across to the card so the two pieces work together as a coordinated Christmas gift set.
For the bottom section of the card, I used another new product coming in the September–December 2026 Mini Catalogue, the Softly Woven 3D Embossing Folder. The woven texture is gorgeous and adds so much interest to the Basic Beige cardstock without competing with the poinsettia.
The sentiment, “Bright Christmas Wishes”, has been given a touch of gold to complement the ribbon and the thin gold layer around the card front.
I really love this combination of Basic Beige and Cherry Cobbler with touches of gold. It feels warm and traditional, but the neutral Basic Beige gives it a softer, more contemporary Christmas look.
And I think this little Interlocking Triangle Gift Box would be perfect for filling with chocolates, jewellery or another small Christmas surprise.
Take a look at some more Cherry Cobler inspiration on our Insta Hop!
Our blog hop is now an Instagram hop but the good news is that you don’t need to have an Instagram account to view all of the other projects!
Simply go to my Insta handle in a new search engine window to follow the Instagram hop: @whatcathymade.
