Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Brushed with Beauty: A Soft & Romantic Anniversary Card

There's something truly special about a handmade card — the layers, the textures, the thought behind every element. Today I'm sharing one of my favorite recent creations: a romantic anniversary card that feels like a garden in full bloom, wrapped in the softest blush and cream tones.

This card was inspired by the incredibly talented Bree Kathleen, whose elegant layered style I absolutely adore. If you haven't seen her work, do yourself a favor and go look her up — her eye for composition is just stunning. I put my own spin on her design and I'm so happy with how it came together.

I started with a Crumb Cake card base, then layered on a Petal Pink mat to bring in that warm, rosy blush. The background features two pieces of Brushed with Beauty DSP — one with a soft watercolor brushstroke pattern in peachy-pink, and the other with a gorgeous floral arrangement of white, blush, and soft coral blooms. The combination is simply dreamy.

The right side of the card features a Very Vanilla panel that's been run through the Beautiful Pattern Embossing Folder. That subtle cross-hatch embossing adds beautiful texture and dimension without competing with all the gorgeous pattern paper. It's one of those quiet details that makes the whole card feel elevated and intentional.

Three Pearls of Beauty embellishments are nestled in the upper right corner of this panel, adding just a hint of soft shimmer. I love how they catch the light!

For the sentiment, I used the Phrases and Frames Stamp Set paired with the Phrases and Frames Impression Dies. The die creates a beautiful ornate label shape, which I cut in Petal Pink cardstock and embossed with the matching impression die for added texture. The "Happy Anniversary" sentiment is heat-embossed in white on the soft Petal Pink is classic and romantic — exactly the right finishing touch.

No card is complete without a little something extra, and this one got a generous bow of Petal Pink Organdy Striped Ribbon. The sheer, striped ribbon has such a soft, feminine quality — it pools beautifully on the lower left corner and adds a lovely three-dimensional touch.

This card is a perfect example of how layering papers, textures, and embellishments can create something that feels rich and detailed without being fussy. The Brushed with Beauty DSP does so much of the heavy lifting — those soft florals and painterly strokes are just gorgeous — and the neutral Petal Pink, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla tones keep everything cohesive and elegant.

Whether you're celebrating a milestone anniversary or simply want to tell someone you love them, a handmade card made with this kind of care says everything words sometimes can't.

I hope this inspires you to pull out your stamps and dies and make something beautiful today.

Check out the links below, to see all of the exciting things happening with Stampin' Up!

From now until May 31, 2026 when you join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you’ll get our new 2026–2028 In Color Stampin’ Pads FREE along with your Starter Kit! 

Or if you’d rather have different products instead of ink pads, we’ve got you covered there, too—you can add an extra $35 USD worth of products to your Starter Kit.

You’ll also enjoy all the perks that come with being a demonstrator, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, the opportunity to earn a modest commission, the chance to attend incredible training and crafting events, and so much more.

Click here to Join my Team!


May Product of the Month

If you love paper crafting and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to help! Shop through my Online Store to earn Stampin' Rewards for free and discounted products.

And if you're as passionate about crafting as I am, why not join my Stampin' Up! team? As a demonstrator, you'll get early access to the newest products and catalogs, enjoy exclusive discounts, earn a commission, and become part of an amazing global crafting community.
If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!
Happy crafting! ✂️💖


Product List

Monday, May 18, 2026

Set Sail for Dad!

There's something about a nautical card that just feels right for Father's Day. This design is layered, textural, and full of coastal character — the kind of card that looks like it took all day but comes together with a little planning and the right supplies.

The base is the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper, with its beautifully printed wood-grain giving the card a driftwood, seaside-cottage feel. Three panels cascade across the front in a staggered layout inspired by Bree Kathleen's design: a stamped wave pattern panel runs vertically down the left side, a vintage-style seashell postcard panel anchors the upper section, and a stunning watercolor sailboat scene takes center stage in the lower half. Each panel is matted with Misty Moonlight and Gray Granite cardstock, building up that rich layered depth that makes the design so satisfying to look at.

The sailboat panel is the showstopper — a moody blue watercolor scene with white sails catching the breeze and soft headland shapes in the distance. It's atmospheric and calm, exactly the kind of image that invites you to just breathe for a moment. Layered on top of the Misty Moonlight mat, it really pops.

Tucked into the lower-right corner of the sailboat panel, the sentiment comes from the April Paper Pumpkin kit — stamped in Misty Moonlight ink and backed with Misty Moonlight cardstock. The mix of bold print for "HAPPY" and "DAY" with a flowing script for "Father's" gives it a modern, editorial feel that contrasts beautifully with the soft watercolor behind it.

The star embellishment is the Loose Anchor Trinket — a silver metal anchor with a rope-ring surround, placed in the lower-left corner of the sailboat panel. It's weighty and detailed, and it grounds the whole composition (quite literally). Three Misty Moonlight dots from the Strawberries and Dots Embellishments line the bottom edge of the card, adding a clean, rhythmic finishing touch that echoes the Misty Moonlight throughout.

Every element on this card earns its place. It's a confident, cohesive design — and one any dad with an eye for the sea would be thrilled to receive.

Check out the links below, to see all of the exciting things happening with Stampin' Up!

From now until May 31, 2026 when you join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you’ll get our new 2026–2028 In Color Stampin’ Pads FREE along with your Starter Kit! 

Or if you’d rather have different products instead of ink pads, we’ve got you covered there, too—you can add an extra $35 USD worth of products to your Starter Kit.

You’ll also enjoy all the perks that come with being a demonstrator, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, the opportunity to earn a modest commission, the chance to attend incredible training and crafting events, and so much more.

Click here to Join my Team!


May Product of the Month

If you love paper crafting and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to help! Shop through my Online Store to earn Stampin' Rewards for free and discounted products.

And if you're as passionate about crafting as I am, why not join my Stampin' Up! team? As a demonstrator, you'll get early access to the newest products and catalogs, enjoy exclusive discounts, earn a commission, and become part of an amazing global crafting community.
If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!
Happy crafting! ✂️💖


Product List

Friday, May 15, 2026

A Sweet Escape for Dad!

Sometimes a card just takes you somewhere. This Father's Day design does exactly that — a lazy summer afternoon, the kind of small-town ice cream shop Dad always seemed to know about, and that feeling that the day is entirely yours. That's the mood the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper brings every single time.

This card is built on a base of Waterside Retreat DSP, its weathered wood-plank pattern giving the whole design that relaxed, coastal-retreat quality. A top panel of the same DSP sits centered on the card, backed with layers of Misty Moonlight and Gray Granite cardstock — the navy depth of Misty Moonlight frames the watercolor scene beautifully while the Gray Granite adds just the right amount of grounding warmth underneath.

The centerpiece is a gorgeous watercolor vignette from the DSP itself: a charming ice cream shop facade, complete with a striped awning, hanging sign, and terracotta planters spilling with greenery. The loose, sun-drenched brushwork feels effortless and nostalgic — like a page torn from a summer sketchbook.

Tucked into the lower-right corner, the sentiment label reads Happy Father's Day in a bold, classic hand. It's stamped from the Relaxing Waterside stamp set in Misty Moonlight ink, giving it a soft navy tone that ties back to the mat layers perfectly. The label is backed by a coordinating panel cut from the Waterside Retreat DSP, adding another layer of cohesion to the design.

The finishing touch? A scatter of Pool Party Rainbow Adhesive Backed Dots — three little pops of color that add dimension and a playful, handcrafted feel without competing with the illustration. They're understated but they do so much work, drawing the eye around the card and softening the geometry of all those layered panels.

This is the kind of card a dad will actually keep. It's thoughtful, beautifully composed, and tells a story before a single word is read.

Have you crafted with the Waterside Retreat collection yet? I'd love to see what you've made — drop a photo in the comments below, or tag me on social. Happy crafting!

Check out the links below, to see all of the exciting things happening with Stampin' Up!

From now until May 31, 2026 when you join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you’ll get our new 2026–2028 In Color Stampin’ Pads FREE along with your Starter Kit! 

Or if you’d rather have different products instead of ink pads, we’ve got you covered there, too—you can add an extra $35 USD worth of products to your Starter Kit.

You’ll also enjoy all the perks that come with being a demonstrator, like a 20–25% product discount, early access to the latest products and catalogs, the opportunity to earn a modest commission, the chance to attend incredible training and crafting events, and so much more.

Click here to Join my Team!


May Product of the Month

If you love paper crafting and are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to help! Shop through my Online Store to earn Stampin' Rewards for free and discounted products.

And if you're as passionate about crafting as I am, why not join my Stampin' Up! team? As a demonstrator, you'll get early access to the newest products and catalogs, enjoy exclusive discounts, earn a commission, and become part of an amazing global crafting community.
If this sounds exciting to you, let's chat!
Happy crafting! ✂️💖


Product List