Please Send Chocolate

💕Hello! I remembered I had this woodblock 🍫stamp from many years ago and amazingly, I found it! I combined it with a few chocolates from the new Pretty Pink Posh 🩷🍫set. 

Slimline Cupcake Postage Collage Birthday Card

Hello Friends! Another 2026 birthday card is in the mail! I used the Waffle Flower Cupcake Postage Collage stencil and randomly arranged them on a Spellbinders embossed panel. I struggle with photographing and posting slimline cards on Instagram, but love making them! 

I used a leftover "stamp" inside the card. Enjoy!

Sending Love with Cardinals

Hello! These two cardinals from #Poppystamps are sending you love this season! I used both the Nordic Perched and Resting Cardinals. This was my first attempt at hot foiling (#Altenew plate) the Poppystamps Glossy Black paper and I highly recommend it! I also embossed it with an older folder from my stash and that worked just as well. I finished my card with the Nordic Holly Sprigs and a few “heart” berries!

Sending Love with Leaping Dachshunds

Hello! I made a similar card last fall with these adorable Leaping Dachshund dies from #Poppystamps and loved it, so I decided to make a similar one for Valentine’s Day. For my background I used the Poppystamps Criss Cross Heart stencil. Enjoy!

Poppystamps Products 
Leaping Dachshund 2729
Nordic Heart Pattern Rings 2688
Criss Cross Heart Stencil 7103
Sentimental Banners CB516
Curved Dachshund 2710 (bones)

Bundled Snowman

Hello! I love this little Bundled Snowman from Simon Says Stamp. It will be perfect for holiday cards later this year. For now, I'm having fun making winter cards and boy, are we having quite the winter in Michigan this year. It started snowing earlier than usual and hasn't let up. Here are two cards I've made so far. The first is on a hot foil background from Spellbinders along with an older sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.

Then I found a gel print in my stash from many years ago that was the perfect color for the other snowman I had already die cut. The Warm Wishes sentiment is from Poppystamps. Enjoy!

Swans in Love

Hello! I love these swans from Waffle Flower. I've used them for many cards including summer, anniversary, thank you and now a Valentine! The background is a Pop-Up Heart background die from Waffle Flower. I love how your friend finds a surprise underneath the swans!

Pink Blooms (BetterPress)

Hello! I began by hot foiling a BetterPress plate and using the coordinating stencil. Then I turned it into a split-layer card for something different. I added a few pieces of silver foil cardstock as a border to finish my card.

Split-Layer Card Snapshot
1. Card Base=5 ½” x 4 ¼”
2. Cut a piece of patterned paper or paper you stamped/stenciled: 4” x 4”
3. Cut another piece of patterned paper—preferably something simple or plain because you will stamp/stencil a sentiment on this. This layer can be 4” x 5 ½” or cut smaller to fit underneath your paper from step 2.
4. Use a curved die, fussy cut a curve or just cut your 4” x 4” paper into two pieces. Assemble the two layers.

A Shiny Little Jubilee Penguin

🐧🩷

Hello! This Valentine penguin is ready to give you hugs and kisses. I used the Jubilee Penguin from the new Penguin Party release and a few older, but fun Poppystamps products. It's a fun release with many festive items for birthdays and other special occasions! You should check it out!

Poppystamps Products
Jubilee Penguin 2702

Nordic Heart 2689

Diamond Oval Pinpoint Background 2757

Scalloped Pinpoint Frames 2751

Sentimental Banners CB516

A Chocolate Surprise!

Hello Friends! I recently won a gift card to Pretty Pink Posh...Thank you! I don't regret waiting to use my prize until the January release. I bought the Box of Chocolates die set. I love chocolate, so it was an easy decision. Here's the card I made with it (and a few things from my stash). More to follow on supplies. 

I didn't have this idea right at the start, but as I was having fun decorating all the chocolates I thought I need to make a surprise box of chocolates. I saw this hinged mini card online several years ago. I'm sorry, but I can't remember who made the first one. Jennifer McGuire does come to mind because I've watched many of her videos. 

First, some basic information. I used an embossing folder from my stash and the large heart-shaped dies are from Simon Says Stamp. Pretty Pink Posh does include a rectangular die to make a box in the Box of Chocolates set. The bow, tiny hearts and letters spelling out LOVE, HUGS and XOXO are included in the Pretty Pink Posh die set. I could have just made a heart-shaped card, but I like my cards to stand up on their own.

I decorated the inside of my card with some extra chocolates.

Since you can choose how to decorate your chocolates and colors to use, I'll just provide some more details on the hinged heart box (mini card) I made for my chocolates. You can use any shape and also use it to add a surprise message on your card.

Instructions for making a mini card to adhere to your main card.

You’ll need three pieces (the shape and colors are your choice). For the purpose of these instructions, I chose three different colors to hopefully make the assembly easier.

For the hinges, I used a clear acetate package that stamp sets/dies often come in. You’ll need at least two hinges approximately 1/2” wide (could be smaller or wider depending on the size of your shape). Cut them at least 3” long. HINT: cut it along the side of the packaging so you don’t need to score the “hinge.” If you can’t do this you’ll need to score the acetate to create the hinge. Don’t worry too much about the exact length, you can trim it after adhering it to the shape.

You need the inside layer to hide the tape and acetate. I used double-sided adhesive tape to secure the acetate hinge. Adhere the two cardstock pieces together.

Lift up the hinges (on the front heart now) and bring them over the back of the inside of your mini card and secure with more double-sided tape. This will be adhered to the actual card, so don’t worry about how it looks. 

Now you're ready to write a message or decorate. When you're done, adhere it to your main card. I used more double-sided tape for extra security.

As always, when trying a new technique or fun-fold card, I usually use scrap paper before using my good cardstock. This also gives you a sample to keep to review if you make another card.

Party for Three

Hello Friends! Today, I’m sharing an easy, but fun card starring all three of the new Poppystamps penguins. I went with a mini slimline card size this time so the penguins could line up and celebrate together!

For my background I kept things simple by using some patterned paper from Poppystamps called Birthday Fun. It’s a 6x6 pad filled with beautiful, double-sided paper with gold accents—perfect for a birthday celebration. Since this card is for a friend with a February birthday, I chose a sheet featuring gold-foiled hearts. 

I used all three of the new penguin dies: the Jubilee Penguin, the Birthday Penguin and the Fancy Party Penguin. Don’t you just love the sunglasses on the Fancy Party Penguin? For the sentiment, I chose one of the Open Studio Greeting Tabs from Memory Box. These tabs are prefect for quick, ready-to-go sentiments. 

You can read more on the Poppystamps Blog.

A Happy Valentine Corgi

Hello Friends! Isn't this the most adorable Corgi you've ever seen. It's from the Poppystamps Nordic Winter Magic release, but I didn't get around to designing a Christmas card with it. I had this idea and just love the result. I colored the Corgi with Distress Oxide inks (the best I could after looking at some photos) and dressed her in a Valentine sweater. I used the Poppystamps Criss Cross Heart stencil for my background and added a border with the Scalloped Pinpoint Frames. One of the Nordic Heart Pattern Rings is perfect to highlight the Happy Corgi! 

Poppystamps Products 
Happy Corgi 2756
Nordic Heart Pattern Rings 2688
Criss Cross Heart Stencil 7103
Scalloped Pinpoint Frames 2751

Hi There! (Polar Bear Joy Ride)

💕Hello Friends! As you probably know, I love polar bears! I've seen them in the wild in Churchill Manitoba and they are so majestic. Today, I'm sharing a fun card with the Nordic Skating Bear from the Poppystamps Nordic Winter Magic release. Instead of skating, today this bear is riding in the brand new Joyride Car from the Poppystamps Penguin Party release. My background is the Simon Says Stamp Ocean Horizon which I turned into a Valentine-themed background! I love using my supplies in an unintended way. Enjoy! 

Cupcake Birthday Postage Card

Hello Friends! My first birthday card of 2026 is in the mail! I used the Cupcake Postage Collage stencil and randomly arranged them on a Simon Says Stamp embossed panel that I had ink blended in shades of purple. I used a leftover "stamp" to embellish the inside! Enjoy!

Penguin Birthday Party Fun

Hello Friends! Have you seen the new Poppystamps Penguin Party dies! I’m excited to share a colorful birthday card featuring these adorable new penguins.

For my background I used the Diamond Oval Pinpoint Background with a twist. Instead of die cutting the paper, I placed an embossing pad over the die with my paper and ended up with an impression (using my die cutting machine). This is an easy way to achieve two different looks with the same product. I love the textured look—similar to what you’d achieve with an embossing folder.

I used two of the three new penguin dies: the Jubilee Penguin and the Birthday Penguin. They were perfect for my design because I wanted them facing each other while holding up the birthday banner. For the banner, I chose one of the Open Studio Greeting Tabs from Memory Box. These tabs are wonderful for quick, ready-to-go sentiments. 

I hope you enjoyed my card. More details can be found on the Poppystamps Blog.

Hello Friends! Here’s one of the thank you cards I sent recently. I love this Block Print Edge Snowman from Birch Press Design I paired it with paper from my stash. The sentiment and Dotty Whirlpool embossing folder I used are from Simon Says Stamp. Thanks for stopping by!

Cardinals and Lush Berries

Hello Friends! I’m starting the new year off with a winter birthday card. I started with the Altenew Lush Berries embossing folder and used Lisa Horton metallic inks! I’ve tried quite a few metallics over the years and am in love with hers! I finished with two beautiful Poppystamps cardinals (Nordic Perched Cardinal and Nordic Resting Cardinal). My sentiment tab is from Memory Box Open Studio. Enjoy!

HaPpY New Year!

I bought the Alexandra Renke clock die last year with my 2026 New Year's cards in mind. I also used it for Birthday cards. I paired it with number dies and paper from my stash. Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy 2026!

Iced Cookies and Gingerbread House Fun (Simon Says Stamp)

I had so much fun decorating the Simon Says Stamp Gingerbread House Fun and Iced Cookies Dies and arranging them on the Waffle Flower postage die and the Altenew Gingerbread House embossing folder. I have a few more ideas, but they will have to wait for Christmas 2026.

The next card used a few other items from my stash including a snowman cupcake from Simon Says Stamp and a hat, snowman face and hat from Poppystamps.

I paired the new items with an older Simon Says Stamp embossing folder that I thought fit the baking theme perfectly!

Here's the Altenew Gingerbread House embossing folder being decorated with the new Simon Says Stamp dies and finally, the new Altenew Timeless Sled.

Let It Snow!

I fell in love with the Waffle Flower Nesting Postage Collage Let it Snow Stencil and made quite a few cards with it. For my first card, I combined it with last year's Postage Collage Snowmen. This card came together real quick and remains my favorite! 

Then I combined it with the Waffle Flower banner sentiments (left) and Birdies in Winter (right) and some glitter using Stickles. The embossing folder (Dotty Whirlpool) from Simon Says Stamp remains a favorite!

I used a variety of backgrounds for the last three. I hot foiled some snowflakes using a Spellbinders glimmer plate and used two Waffle Flower Holly Jolly and Pop Up Trees dies along with more glitter. The sentiments are also from Waffle Flower.

Nordic Cardinals and Golden Holly Sprigs

I think this is a wrap on my Poppystamps Christmas/Winter cards for 2025. These beautiful Cardinals are from the Poppystamps Nordic Winter Magic Release: Nordic Perched and Nordic Resting Cardinal. I die cut the Nordic Holly Spring with gold and silver foil for an extra festive look. I love using the Poppystamps Woodgrain paper to add texture. 

Nordic Holiday Tags

The December Poppystamps Challenge is over, and since I'm busy catching up...I still decided to post this fun card. The challenge was "Pockets Please." There's a challenge every month, so check the Poppystamps Blog. For my pocket project, I chose to make a card with a pocket to hold a pair of tags my friend can use this holiday season.

I decided to make a flat card for this project. I started with a 5 1/2” x 4 1/4 card base. Then I cut two 4” x 4” squares to create my pocket. I chose to use some festive patterned paper from the Memory Box Brilliant Fuchsia pad.

To assemble the pocket, I used double-sided tape for extra strength before slipping my tags inside. It was a bit snug (with two tags), so I switched to thin foam strips. If you are only giving one tag, the tape is perfect. 

To decorate the front, I used dies from the new Nordic Winter Magic release—I used the large die from the Nordic Snowflake Border set and added the Nordic Layered JOY die for a festive touch.

For my tags, I used the largest tag in the Scalloped Pinpoint Tag set and added a Cute Bow die cut at the top. To add some interest and depth to the background of the tags, I used an extra Nordic Snowflake die cut as a stencil. I ink-blended with a light brown shade to create subtle snowy background. 

To decorate my first tag, I used the Nordic Swirl Tree and leftover paper from my pocket and finished it with a sentiment from the Open Studio Greeting Tabs. These tabs make it so easy to add an elegant sentiment! 

For the second tag, I used the Layered JOY die again, but replaced the “O” with the adorable Nordic Chilly Snowman face.

A Classic Nordic Large Mitten

Here's a simple, but festive card featuring the Poppystamps Nordic Large Mitten. For my background I used some plaid paper from the Memory Box Fucshia Plaid pad. I die cut the paper with the new Scalloped Pinpoint Frames. I can easily see using these dies many more times in the future. You end up with the scalloped border and a rectangular inner piece. You don’t have to use both, but I chose to do so for this card.

I went with traditional colors for my mitten—red and green cardstock. I added some fur for a fun finishing touch! I just used a cotton ball and added a touch of glitter for some sparkle.