Spellbinders | Halloween City

Hello there, it's release day over at Spellbinders. I'm using the new Halloween City Holiday by Yana Smakula collection for my card today. This is a fun collection with just two sets that work to coordinate with the City Holiday apartment building to decorate it for Halloween! You can also use the decorations set on it's own, without the building, and I will be sharing a card doing that on Saturday. 

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

I started off my card by die cutting the apartment building from Spellbinders City Holiday Etched Dies from Spellbinders Lilac ColorWheel Cardstock for the main building and bricks. The roof, door, door steps, window frames, window sills, some of the inside windows, and some of the curtains were cut from Spellbinders Raven ColorWheel Cardstock. The other inside of the windows were die cut from Spellbinders Beeswax ColorWheel Cardstock and the other curtains from Spellbinders Lavender ColorWheel Cardstock. 

The window top left uses just the sets from City Holiday for the window itself, the ghost (cut from Classic White & Raven) is from the Spellbinders Halloween City Holiday Decorations Etched Dies. The top middle window uses the window blind from Spellbinders Everyday Windows, Curtains & Flower Boxes Etched Dies. The eyes are from the decorations set, cut from Spellbinders Peridot ColorWheel Cardstock. The top right window was cut the same as the first one, minus the ghost.  

The next row of windows all use the Spellbinders City Holiday Etched Dies set for the main parts of the windows. The one on the left has the hand from the Spellbinders Halloween City Holiday Decorations Etched Dies cut from Spellbinders Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock, the middle one the bat from the same set cut from Spellbinders Brushed Onyx Treasured Cardstock, and the one on the right with the skeleton from the same set, cut from Spellbinders Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock. 

To see how I assembled the windows, you can watch this video. Although the shape of the windows are different from that card, I assembled them in the same way. I die cut the pumpkin from the Spellbinders Halloween City Holiday Decorations Etched Dies from Spellbinders Raven, Rainforest and Carrot ColorWheel Cardstock. I assembled it and adhered it to the step. The curtains on the bottom window are from the Spellbinders Everyday Windows, Curtains & Flower Boxes Etched Dies set and the cobweb from the decorations set. 

I adhered the other cobweb to the roof first and then adhered the roof to the house using black foam squares. I adhered a card base made from Spellbinders Lilac ColorWheel Cardstock to the back of the house. I then adhered the ghosts on top using black foam squares. I hot foiled a sentiment from the Spellbinders Happy Halloween Sentiments Press + Foil Plate & Die Set onto white cardstock using Opaque Black Foil. It was die cut out using the coordinating die and adhered to the bottom window with more foam squares. To finish, I added a Spellbinders Onyx Color Essentials Gem to the door for the handle, and then embellished with Spellbinders Prism AB 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 had a lot of fun decorating the apartment with all the Halloween decorations, I especially love those ghosts and the bat! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great day! 

Altenew | August 2026 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Altenew today to celebrate the August 2026 release with a fun blog hop. 

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

There are lots of new products in the collection including stamps, dies, stencils, and ink pads, and I am sharing five cards today using some of those products. 

CONEFLOWERS

My first card uses the new Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Coneflower Layering Die Set. I die cut the flowers and stems from white cardstock and then added ink blending on top using Altenew Shades of Purple Fresh Dye Inks for the petals, Golden Sunset Fresh Dye Inks for the centres, and Green Valley Fresh Dye Inks for the stems and leaves. 

I adhered the stems first, onto a black US A2 sized card base using liquid glue, followed by the flower heads using liquid glue behind the flower centres and Altenew Black Instant Dimension Foam Tape behind some of the petals. 

I stamped a sentiment from Altenew Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms onto Altenew Crafty Necessities: Jet 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 with more foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

SOFTLY SKETCHED BLOOMS

My next card uses Altenew Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms. I stamped the image onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. I then used the stencils to colour the image using ink blending. The stencils are made to follow the sketchy look, so they do add extra areas of ink blending outside the stamped image. 

I used Altenew Cherry Blossom and Enchanted Garden Fresh Dye Inks for the flowers, and Altenew Green Valley and Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Inks for the leaves. The image was die cut out using the coordinating die and adhered to a US A2 sized white card base using Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from the set onto Altenew Crafty Necessities: Jet Black Cardstock. It was cut into a strip and adhered to the card using foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

LEMON TREE

My next card uses the new Altenew Creative Cuts: Lemon Tree Layering Die Set. The lemons are made to go inside a pot to become a mini lemon tree but as you can see, you can use them in different ways too! I started off my card by die cutting the leaves and stem pieces from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Bamboo Cardstock, and the lemons from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Buttercream Cardstock. 

I added ink blending to the stems and leaves using Altenew Grass Field and Teal Cave Fresh Dye Inks. I added ink blending to the lemons using Altenew Golden Sunset Fresh Dye Inks. They were adhered together using the keyhole system (Altenew's fabulous system of adhering die cuts together). They were then adhered to the card using Altenew Black Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

I wanted to add some flowers, so I die cut the Altenew Zero-Waste: Oval Serenity Die from white cardstock and Buttercream Cardstock (for the flower centres). I adhered the centres to the flowers and then shaped them using the Altenew Petal Shaper Tool Set before adhering to the card. The sentiment, from Altenew Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms, was stamped and heat embossed and adhered to the card. To finish, I added white gel pen dots. 

ART STUDIO TREASURES

My next card uses the fabulous new Altenew Art Studio Treasures Layering Die Set. This set is so cute as you can build little paintbrushes, paint tubes, a palette and an easel! I die cut the pieces from white cardstock. I added ink blending to the easel using Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Inks and assembled it using liquid glue. The paint tube was assembled and the label ink blended with Altenew Enchanted Garden Fresh Dye Inks. 

The paintbrush ferrules were die cut from Altenew Brushed Silver Cardstock and the pieces adhered together. For the canvas, I first stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Stitched with Love Craft Your Life Project Kit onto a panel of white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. It was then die cut out using the canvas die. I placed the Altenew Painted Petals Stencils on top to add ink blending to the canvas to look like a painting. 

I used Altenew Enchanted Garden Fresh Dye Inks for the petals and Altenew Green Valley Fresh Dye Inks for the leaves and stem. I then brushed what ink was left onto onto the tips of the bristles of the paintbrushes. The canvas was adhered to the easel first and then adhered to the card using foam tape. The paint tube and brushes were then added on top. 

SWEET POPSICLES

My final card today uses the new Altenew Mini Delight: Sweet Popsicles Stamp & Die Set. This fun set makes a popsicle/ice lolly and you can mix and match all the different elements/layers as you wish! I started off by die cutting the lolly stick from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Sand Dunes Cardstock. I added ink blending on top using Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Inks. 

The main part of the lolly was die cut from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Rubellite Cardstock. I also cut the sprinkles from this too. The chocolate layer was die cut from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Espresso Cardstock. I added a little ink blending to the main layer using Altenew Cherry Blossom Fresh Dye Inks. The pieces were then adhered together using liquid glue. 

I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set onto a white US A2 sized white card base using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. The lolly was adhered to the card using Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I wanted to add a little flower, so I grabbed the Altenew Zero-Waste: Oval Serenity Die and die cut a flower from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Pinkalicious Cardstock, adding a little ink blending to the centres, and the leaves from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Bamboo Cardstock. It was adhered to the lolly and then to finish, I added an Altenew Rhodonite Gem Sparkle to the centre. 

In case you missed it, I shared this card on release day using the One-Go: Briar Blossoms, as well as the new Nesting A2 Panels Dies. You can read more about the card here. 

BLOG HOP:

As mentioned, this post is part of a fun, inspirational blog hop. Please click on the other participants 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 August 16th 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 August 18th, 2026. 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.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great time on the rest of the hop and a great rest of the weekend too! Take care! 

VIDEO | Negative Ink Blending

Hello there, I hope you are well! Today I have a card and video to share using a fun technique - negative ink blending. As the name suggests, you ink blend the negative, rather than the positive. So in this instance, it looks there is a tag layer behind the tulips that have been cut out, but in actual reality, it is all one layer! 

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

I started off my card by taking a 4.25" x 5.5" panel of Altenew Masking Paper and die cut one of the largest tags from the Altenew Terrific Tags Die Set from the middle. The positive (the tag) can be kept for a future project. I just need the negative (the outside of the tag) for this card. Using the panel as a guide for where to stamp the image, I stamped the outline tulips stamp from Altenew Cartoon Tulips Stamp Set onto a panel of white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. 

Once the ink was dry, I took the masking paper piece, removed the backing, and adhered it to the panel. I then die cut the coordinating die for the tulips from masking paper and adhered that over the image. I added ink blending to the tag opening using Altenew Fresh Dye Inks in Pinkalicious, Deep Iris and Midnight Violet, using an Altenew Small Blending Brush. 

I removed all the masking and then stamped the image again to make sure it was nice and crisp (the masking paper removed a little of the ink when I took it off). I adhered the panel to a US A2 sized white card base using Altenew Glue Tape. I then stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Enchanted Roses Stamp Set onto more white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. 

It was die cut out using the coordinating die. I then cut the die again two times from white cardstock and adhered them behind the stamped one for some dimension, before adhering to the card. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

VIDEO:

Here is the video showing how I made the card:

If you are viewing this blog post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube. 

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 kept my card clean and simple today, but as I mention in the video, this technique can be stepped up by adding a pattern onto the negative portion using a background stamp or a stencil but I do like it as it is too! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Spellbinders | August 2026 Club Kits

Hello there, today I have two cards to share using August Club Kits from Spellbinders. I am using the Small Die of the Month called Boo Crew Lab, as well as the All Clubs Crate Exclusive called Scaredy Cat + the Embossing Folder of the Month called Happy Jacks. 

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

As you can see, the theme of the kits this month is Halloween! Whilst it is not something I generally celebrate, I do enjoy making Halloween cards; mainly because I get to use my favourite crafting colour - purple! 

My first card uses the Spellbinders August 2026 Small Die of the Month Club Kit. The kit features a potion/lab bottle, a ghost, bats, books and candles. I started off by die cutting the dies - I used Spellbinders Raven ColorWheel Cardstock for the book (as well as Alabaster for the pages), bats and the bottom layer of the candles. I used Classic White, Beeswax and Saffron for the top layer of the candles. 

The pieces were assembled and adhered together using Bearly Art Glue. I took a panel of Spellbinders Lilac ColorWheel Cardstock and added ink blending to the top portion using Altenew Enchanted Garden Fresh Dye Inks (Ultraviolet & Andromeda), plus a little Jet Black. I then splattered on Hero Arts Black Acrylic Speckle Ink and set the panel aside to dry.

Once dry, it was adhered to an A2 sized card base. I then hot foiled the sentiment from the Spellbinders Halloween Icons Press Plate & Die Set onto Lilac cardstock using Spellbinders Opaque Black Glimmer Hot Foil and the Glimmer Hot Foil System. It was die cut out and adhered to the card, followed by the book, candles and bats. To finish, I embellished with Spellbinders Onyx Color Essentials Gems. 

My second card uses the Spellbinders August 2026 All Clubs Crate Exclusive. This is a free gift when you subscribe to the All Clubs Crate (all of the club subscriptions), it cannot be purchased separately. I die cut the cat from Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock - Raven for the body, tail and head, Chiffon for the ears and nose, Classic White for the teeth, and I added Peridot (behind the head) for the eyes. 

I die cut the pumpkin from Carrot, Rainforest, Raven and Wild Berry. The collar was cut from Carrot also. I adhered the elements to the cat's head first, followed by the pumpkin. I then set everything aside while I worked on the background. I took a panel of Spellbinders Lilac ColorWheel Cardstock and ran it through my die cutting machine inside the Spellbinders August 2026 Embossing Folder of the Month. 

I then added ink blending at the bottom using the same inks as I did on the first card. It was adhered to a Lilac US A2 sized card base. I adhered the tail on first, flat with liquid glue. I then adhered the body, followed by the head and then the pumpkin - all using black foam squares. I die cut the sentiment from Spellbinders Carrot ColorWheel Cardstock twice and adhered the letters (one on top of another) onto the cat's tail. To finish, I embellished with Spellbinders Onyx Color Essentials Gems.

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the projects. 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.

SPELLBINDERS CLUB KITS

To buy the kit - if you are a current subscriber to any of the kits, you do not need to do anything. You will be charged as normal on the 5th of the month and your kit will be shipped to you. If you are a new subscriber, you can purchase any of the kits from the 6th - 27th June 2026 to receive that month's kits. Members can cancel their membership at any time. If you are not keen on subscribing to a kit but still want one, you can purchase them individually (without a subscription) on the 10th of the following month but the price will be higher. The free gifts from the All-Clubs Crate will not be sold separately. 

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

Altenew | One-Go: Briar Blossoms

Hello there, it's release day over at Altenew and today, I have a card to share using a few new products. The main one is the beautiful One-Go: Briar Blossoms. As the name suggests, this is a one-go product. So you stamp all the images in one go, stencil them all in one go and die cut them all in one go! 

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

I started off my card by stamping the image from Altenew One-Go: Briar Blossoms onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. I then used the stencils to colour the images using ink blending. I used Altenew Enchanted Garden Fresh Dye Inks for the petals, and Altenew Green Valley and Sweet Dreams (Aqualicious) Fresh Dye Inks for the leaves and stems. They were then die cut out using the coordinating die. 

I die cut multiple rectangles from the new Altenew Nesting A2 Panels Die Set from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Jet Black Cardstock. They were adhered to a black A2 sized card base using Altenew Black Instant Dimension Foam Tape, cutting off the excess from the sides using scissors. The leaves were then adhered on top using liquid glue. 

The flowers were adhered on top using more foam tape. I stamped a sentiment from Altenew Build-A-Garden: Softly Sketched Blooms onto more Altenew Crafty Necessities: Jet 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 with foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Mystic Black Stellar Sequins. 

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'll be sharing more using the release on Sunday, so I hope you will join me then, but for now, you can see all the new products here. 

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

VIDEO | Altenew Holiday Products for a Non-Holiday Card

Hello there, today I am sharing a card (and video) using Altenew holiday products for a non-holiday card. This is a great way to stretch your products and use them not just for seasonal projects. I am also sharing two ways to enhance die cuts. 

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

I started off my card by die cutting the Altenew Festive Greenery Dies from Altenew Crafty Necessities Cardstock in Bamboo, Aqualicious, Dew Drops and Pink Diamond. I added ink blending to them (the first way to enhance die cuts) using Altenew Fresh Dye Inks. I used the following combinations:

• Fern - Firefly, Grass Field and Shadow Creek (Green Valley collection).
• Leaf branch - Firefly and Grass Field. 
• Darker berry branch - Aqualicious, Teal Cave and Galactic Stream (Sweet Dreams collection).
• Lighter berry branch - Dew Drops, Aqualicious and Teal Cave. 
• Berries - Pinkalicious and Razzleberry (Cherry Blossom collection).

I adhered the berries to the branches using liquid glue. I cut multiple of the smaller individual berry so that I could layer them up on the cluster for some added dimension. I cut one of the larger tags from the Altenew Terrific Tags Die Set from white cardstock. I then cut the hole reinforcer from the Altenew Labels & Tags 1 Die Set and adhered it on top. 

The greenery was adhered on top using a combination of liquid glue and Instant Dimension Foam Tape. I then threaded black twine through the top of the tag and tied in a bow. I adhered a panel of Altenew Crafty Necessities: Dew Drops Cardstock onto a US A2 sized white card base (finished size 4.25" x 5.5") using Glue Tape. The tag was adhered on top using Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

I stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Soft Blossoms Stamp Set onto Altenew Crafty Necessities: Jet 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 with more foam tape. To finish, I applied Altenew Iridescent Glitter Relief Paste to the berries using a paintbrush (the second way to enhance die cuts) and then embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

VIDEO:

Here is the video showing how I made the card:

If you are viewing this post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube. 

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 used the glitter paste like glitter glue here, applying it to the berries to add some frostiness to them. Applying it with a brush gave some dimension to them too and I really like how it looks on the berries. Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great week ahead! 

Spellbinders | Sweet Twist

Hello there, I was delighted to be over on the Spellbinders Blog last week, sharing a card using the new House-Mouse Sweet Twist Stamp Set from the Holiday Dreams collection. These images are great to colour if you are a beginner as they already have shading on them. 

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

I stamped the image from House-Mouse Sweet Twist onto white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. It was coloured using Copic Markers (the colours that I used are listed below the supplies area). I die cut the panel into an arch using the Spellbinders Essential Arches Etched Dies and then cut a little off the bottom. I stamped the sentiment and then adhered it to an arch shaped card base made from Spellbinders Wild Berry Color Wheel Cardstock. To finish, I embellished with Spellbinders Pink Color Essentials Gems and Star Dust Stickles was applied to the top of the stocking. 

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: Mouse - E13, E11, E00/R12, R01/E57, E55. Stocking - R89, R37, R35, R32/C3, C1, C00. Candy Cane - R85, R83, R81/C3, C1, C00. Branch & berries - E57, E55/R85, R83, R81. 

If you are new to colouring, I have a step by step photo tutorial on how I coloured then image in over on the blog post here. Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!