Three Cheers for Teachers

 Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to celebrate the everyday heroes who encourage, inspire, and support our kids all year long. And, the design team at Pajama Crafter Stamps is doing just that this week.

 I created a bright and playful cheer-themed teacher appreciation card filled with school spirit and a big heartfelt thank you!  

This card combines several fun elements—layered borders, pennant banners, adorable cheerleaders, and a bold sentiment—to create a design full of movement and energy.

Creating the Card Base

Start by creating a black 5 x 6 1/2 inch card base. Cut a blue mat measuring 4 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches. Also cut a white background panel to 4 5/8 x 6 1/8 inches.

Adhere the blue mat to the black card base.

Stamping & Coloring Cheerleaders

Next, I stamped several adorable images from Cheer You Up Stamps, colored them with gel pens and Prismacolor pencils.

Preparing Card Elements

Stamp and die cut elements. 

Fussy cut the cheerleader images.

Create the School Banner

At the top of the white background panel, create a festive red and blue banner with Pennant Dies.

• One pennant features the sentiment “You Are the Best!”
• Another includes “#1” for a fun teacher-themed touch.

Pennants help bring the “pep rally” feel to the design.

Layer the "Thank You" sentiment onto a black strip and a red panel cut with Scalloped Border Dies. Adhere just below the center.

Finish with a Heartfelt Sentiment

To tie the design together, add the fussy cut “a big heartfelt” sentiment above the main die-cut sentiment so it reads:

a big heartfelt Thank You

A perfect message for Teacher Appreciation Week!

Add the cheerleaders and the card design is complete.

Products Used

• Pajama Crafter Stamps Cheer You Up Stamps (cheerleaders)
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Hippo Hooray Stamps ( "a big heartfelt" sentiment)
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Hats Off Stamps (#1 & "YOU ARE THE BEST! images)
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Pennant Dies
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Scalloped Border Die
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Shadow Word Dies – Thank You

Final Thoughts

I love how this card feels like a mini cheer performance on paper! The bright primary colors, spirited images, and layered details make it a fun way to say thank you to the teachers who deserve a standing ovation.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy crafting!

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Linking up to:

613 Avenue Create - playing ATG

Dragonfly Dreams - Use Die Cuts

Creative Fingers - ATG

Krafty Chicks Challenge - ATG/color an image twist

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Ally's Angels - ATG

Classic Design Challenge - ATG option

Crafts Galore Encore - ATG

Die Cut Divas - Celebrations (celebrating National Teachers Day)

Love to Craft - ATG

Love to Scrap - ATG

Last Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge

Happy Friday and May 1st!

The first of the month brings on a new challenge at

Morgan's ArtWorld. 

This is our last challenge.

Morgan's Shop has been closed.

If you care to participate the theme is

ANYTHING GOES.

You can enter creations with any images from any company.

My inspiration card was created with

Winter 7.

Although this is a so called "winter" image, I

tried to bring it into spring.

She is colored with pencils and fussy cut.

I had this cut and embossed piece sitting on my desk (a discard from another project)

so ,though I would put it to use.

Does this ever happen to you?

You start a project, don't like where it's going and

start over with something else?

I'm sure everyone experiences that at one time or another!

Anyway, I inked the embossing and background in the opening.

I tucked the image in and added a die cut sentiment.

A green mat was added behind to complete.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Celebrate Your Graduate with a Shaker Tag Keepsake

 Graduation season is the perfect time to create something extra special! Judy here and today I’m sharing a fun and festive tag project made with Clear Scraps products! This tag is not only a beautiful embellishment for a gift, but it also doubles as a keepsake your graduate will treasure.

2 products were used:
Shaker Tag Grad Hat
Congrats Chipboard Word Title

For this design, I went all in with bold, celebratory colors—rich reds and shimmering golds—to really capture that proud, milestone moment. The base of the tag is covered with glitter cardstock for instant sparkle and layered with a metallic gold panel to add contrast and elegance.

Glue 3 of the 4 chip rings for the shaker onto the tag base. Add color to the tassel. I used an acrylic paint marker.

Remove film from both sides of one of the acrylic pieces and adhere to the back of the tag.

Add color to the top shaker ring piece. I used an alcohol marker.

Remove film from both sides of the 2nd acrylic piece. Adhere to the back of the top ring piece once paint is dry.

Add shaker elements. Glue top piece to tag.

I added a digi image of a female graduate which I printed, colored and fussy cut.

Paint the Congrats Chipboard Word Title with gold acrylic paint. Adhere on an angle to the bottom of the tag.

At the top, I added ribbon in coordinating tones and finished it off with star accents for a polished look.

This tag is perfect for attaching to a gift bag, hanging on a bottle, or even displaying as part of a graduation party centerpiece. It’s a simple project that makes a big impact and can easily be customized for school colors or personal style.

I hope this inspires you to create something special for the graduates in your life. Handmade touches like this make those big milestones even more memorable!

May Your Day Bloom with Happiness

Happy Monday!

 I hope we're all off to a great start for the week.

Here I am winding down to the end of another month 

posting my last project for April.

This one is for

Conie Fong Art & Design using Bouquet Benny.

How sweet is this little guy with his big bouquet of flowers?

I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and fussy cut.

The background is embossed with inking added.

Matted and added to a 5 x 6 1/2 inch card base.

The sentiment was stamped and fussy cut.

It's a simple card design, but I love the way it came out.

Hope you do too!

That's it for now.

I'm off to work on projects for May!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

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Linking up to:

Daisy Chain Challenges - no design paper

Classic Design Challenge - ATG option

Ally's Angels - ATG

Ellibelle's Garden Party - ATG from or in the garden

Creative Fingers - ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - ATG

613 Avenue Create - ATG

A Place to Start - playing ATG

Inspiration Station - photo prompt (inspired by colors & overall feel)

Magical Dragon Easel Shaker Card

If you love interactive cards with a touch of whimsy, this heart-shaped dragon shaker card is such a fun project to create! With layered hearts, vibrant ink blending, and sparkling shaker elements, this design is perfect for celebrating Mother’s Day—or any special occasion.

Hey there! I'm here today showing you how easy it is to put a card like this together! I love creating easel cards and thought it would be fun to add a shaker. It may look complicated, but it’s really not.

Step 1: Create the Card Base

Start with a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch square card. You can either leave it square or die cut a desired shape. This will be your card base. Score, fold and burnish at the center of the card front lengthwise. This will serve as the easel element.

Also, go ahead and cut 2 white cardstock panels slightly smaller than the card base. One will serve a the background on the card front. The other is for the inside.

Step 2: Ink Blend the Background

Using the In My Heart of Hearts Stencil, blend ink over one of the white cardstock panels. Focus the color around the edges for a soft, glowing effect while keeping the center lighter. This adds depth behind your shaker window.

Adhere the background panel to the lower half of the card base.

Add the other white panel to the inside of the card.

Adhere the background panel to the lower half of the card base.

Add the other white panel to the inside of the card.

Step 3: Build the Shaker Window

1. Die cut a heart frame from deep purple cardstock.
2. Adhere a piece of acetate behind the opening.
3. Add foam adhesive around the back of the frame.
4. Place Opalescence Confetti Embellishments and Wisteria Confetti Embellishments onto the center of the card background.
5. Adhere the shaker over the confetti embellishments.

Step 4: Color and Prepare the Dragons

Stamp the adorable dragon images from the Greatest Treasure Stamps and color them with your favorite medium (alcohol markers or colored pencils work beautifully). Add a bit of shimmer to wings for extra sparkle, then fussy cut or die cut them out.

Step 5: Assemble the Focal Point

Arrange the dragons on top of the shaker window using foam adhesive for dimension.

Step 6: Prepare the Sentiment

Stamp “Happy Mother’s Day” from the Greatest Treasure  set onto a banner from the Banner Die Set with Versamark and heat emboss.

Step 7: Final Embellishments

Stamp the heart images from the Greatest Treasure set. Color, fussy cut and add glitter glue for a little extra sparkle. 

Lightly ink the edges of the sentiment banner. Adhere with foam tape to the inside of card near the center. This acts as the “stop” for the easel. I did also add a die cut heart beneath the sentiment.

Add the hearts to complete.

Recap of Supplies 

• Pajama Crafter Stamps:
  • Greatest Treasure Stamps
  • Banner Die Set
  • In My Heart of Hearts Stencil
  • Opalescence Confetti Embellishments
  • Wisteria Confetti Embellishments
• Cardstock (various shades of purple, white)
• Ink pads (pink, purple tones, Versamark)
• Blending brushes
• Embossing powder
• Die cutting machine
• Heart dies
• Foam adhesive
• Acetate sheet
• Glitter or shimmer accents
• Adhesive (liquid and tape)

This dimensional heart card stands beautifully and is sure to bring a smile! The combination of soft stenciling, interactive shaker elements, and adorable dragons makes it a standout handmade creation.

Until next time…

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Linking up to:

613 Avenue Create - playing ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Ally's Angels - ATG

Classic Design Challenge - ATG

Daisy Chain Challenge - No Design Paper

Pearly Sparkles Challenge - Something Old(easel card die)/Something New(stamps)

The Creative Crafters - ATG

A Place to Start - ATG/Ombre Twist

Creative Inspiration Challenges - ATG

Uplifting Umbrella Shaker Card

Do you find that everyone, from time to time, needs a little encouragement and/or reminder that even a rainy, dark day can be turned around? Today I'm  here with my latest CutCardStock project. It is an uplifting umbrella shaker card that is sure to add a little sunshine to a rainy day!

This card features a textured brick background, soft floral accents, and a bold yellow umbrella. This design is full of dimension, movement, shaker bits and an encouraging sentiment that is sure to raise spirits.

Supplies for Uplifting Umbrella Shaker Card

• Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock
• DCS Canvas Textured Rubber Ducky Yellow Cardstock
• Lessebo Salt Water Blue Cardstock
• Bright Foil Silver 10 pt Cardstock
• Brick embossing folder
• Die-cutting machine
• Floral corner die
• Umbrella die
• Shape die (for shaker window)
• Acetate
• Foam adhesive
• Sequins or shaker mix
• Ink blending tools & inks
• Sentiment stamp & black ink
• Liquid adhesive

Step 1: Create the Card Base

Cut a piece of Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock to 7 x 10 inches. Score at 5 inches on the 10 inch side, fold and burnish to create an A7 (5 x7 inch) card base. Set aside.

Step 2: Die Cutting for Uplifting Umbrella Shaker Card

Use a shape die to cut a window from the center of a 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inch piece of Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock. This will be the focal area for your shaker.

Die cut 2 floral corner pieces out of Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock.

Cut 2 umbrellas. One out of Bright Foil Silver 10 pt Cardstock and one out of DCS Canvas Textured Rubber Ducky Yellow Cardstock. The silver piece serves as the base of the umbrella. Trim the handle and top off of the yellow umbrella. Draw in sections and shading on the yellow piece. See photo for reference.

Step 3: Inking & Stamping Sentiment

Run the shaker window panel through your die-cutting machine using a brick embossing folder to create texture. Add ink with an ink blending tool to the raised areas.

Ink the floral borders to add color and adhere to the embossed panel.

Cut a piece of Lessebo Salt Water Blue Cardstock to 5 x 7 inches for the card background and base of the shaker. Stamp the sentiment so it will be seen through the shaker window. Adhere to the white card base.

Step 4: Build the Shaker

Attach acetate behind the window opening. Add foam adhesive to the back side.

Pour sequins or shaker mix onto the card base.

Adhere the panel to the card base.

Step 5: Finishing the Uplifting Umbrella Shaker Card

Assemble the umbrella pieces and adhere to the card.
Add sequins to complete.

You now have a bright and uplifting umbrella shaker card featuring texture, movement and a pop of sunny color! The combination of embossed detail, soft florals, and interactive elements makes this a standout design for any occasion.

Thanks so much for checking out my project. I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

For more inspiration join us over on the CutCardStock Facebook Page and the Facebook Group Creating with CutCardStock. And check out our CutCardStock YouTube Channel too!

And, find even more inspiration on the CutCardStock Creative Blog!

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Linking up to:

613 Avenue Create - April Showers

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Watercolor and/or Spring + Sentiment

A Place to Start - playing ATG

A Cut Above - at least 1 die cut

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Ally's Angels - ATG

Classic Design Challenge - ATG option

Daily Chain Challenges - No Design Paper

The Creative Crafters - ATG

The Four Seasons - Anything Spring

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Rainy Days

{PIN}aspirational Challenge - photo

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - ATG

Create a Scalloped Border Card

 This scalloped border card is such a sweet mix of soft color, pattern, and uplifting sentiment—perfect for spring or just sending a little encouragement! Hey there! Judy V here with a step-by-step tutorial so you can recreate this look.

Stamp and Color the Image

Stamp the birds from Birds of a Feather Stamps onto white cardstock that had been die cut on both the top and lower edges with Scalloped Border Die.

Color them using alcohol markers or colored pencils in a variety of bright, cheerful shades. Prismacolor Pencils are my choice.

Trimming Cardstock

Cut a piece of teal cardstock to 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Score at 4 1/4 inches along the 8 1/2 inch side. Fold and burnish. This forms an A2 card base.

A piece of coral cardstock is cut to 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches. 

Trim a piece of a plaid pattern paper from the Spring Plaids Paper Pack to approximately 2 7/8 x 3 inches.

Stamp the sentiment from the Birds of a Feather Stamps below the bird image

Die Cut Embellishments

Die cut a small accent using the Scalloped Circle Die out of teal cardstock.

Cut two small banners using the Pennant Dies (one coral, one teal).

Assemble the Card

Adhere the pattern paper panel to the lower portion of the coral piece. This adds a soft, colorful foundation and balances the brighter top section.

Add the white scalloped piece over the plaid paper leaving to top of the coral panel bare.

Then adhere this assembled panel to the card base.

Finishing touches

Cut the scalloped circle die cut in half. Tuck under the white scalloped panel on the upper left side.

Add the 2 pennant pieces up under the lower left side.

Opalescence Confetti Embellishments are added randomly to the top half of the card to complete the design.

Final Thoughts

This design is a great way to combine patterned paper with clean stamping and soft die-cut details. The bright birds paired with the encouraging sentiment make it perfect for sending a little happiness through the mail.

Feel free to switch up the color palette or papers to match different seasons or occasions!

Supplies Used

• Pajama Crafter Stamps:
  • Birds of a Feather Stamps
  •  Scalloped Circle Die
  •  Scalloped Circle Die
  • Pennant Dies
  • Spring Plaids Paper Pack
  • Opalescence Confetti Embellishments
• Cardstock (teal, coral, white)
• Alcohol markers or colored pencils
• Black ink
• Adhesive 
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Get 10% off your entire Pajama Crafter Stamps order through 11:59 PM

April 20, 2026 with code JUDY10.

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Linking up to:

Creative Fingers Challenge - ATG

Cut It Up Challenge - Colors of Spring

CRAFT Challenge - ATG

Word Art Wednesday - ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Ally's Angels - ATG

Classic Design Challenge - ATG/Furry Friends Twist

Crafty Animals - ATG w/animals

Critter Crazy - ATG/w featured critters

A Cut Above - ATG with Die Cut

A Place to Start - playing ATG

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

613 Avenue Create - playing ATG

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CHALLENGE RECOGNITION