You Got This Card

 Today I’m excited to share a fun and energetic card that’s all about encouragement and positivity! Hey there, it's Judy V here with you today. This card is my latest project for Pajama Crafter Stamps and is perfect for cheering on a friend, loved one, or anyone who could use a reminder that you’re always in their corner.

Card Details

My card design is based on the sketch for this month's Pajama Crafter Stamps Sketch Challenge. See more info on the challenge at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pajamacrafterfriends/announcements

For the background, I used the Legends Born stencil to create the look of a stadium with glowing lights, giving the card that game-day excitement. I love how the purple and green tones really capture the atmosphere of an evening event under the lights!

I'm also using the Cheer You Up stamp set.

The sentiment—“YOU got THIS, I’ll always be your biggest cheerleader”—takes center stage inside a stitched circle frame. I added a festive banner in coordinating shades of purple and pink to tie everything together. I added Wisteria Confetti Embellishments to give it just the right amount of sparkle.

And of course, the stars of the show are the adorable cheerleaders from the stamp set along the bottom! Each one is colored in vibrant purple uniforms with matching bows and pom-poms. I gave them unique hair and skin tones for extra personality, making them look like a spirited squad ready to root you on.

Why I Love This Card

I love creating encouragement cards because they’re so versatile—you can send them for school achievements, new jobs, sports, or just when someone needs a little pick-me-up. This one has such a cheerful vibe that it’s sure to bring a smile to the recipient’s face.

Supplies Used

• Pajama Crafter Stamps cheerleader images, banner, megaphone & sentiment
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Legends Born stencil (stadium background)
• Circle die for the sentiment panel
• Prismacolor pencils for coloring
• Pajama Crafter Stamps Wisteria Confetti Embellishments

This design was so much fun to put together, and I can already think of several friends who would love a card like this. Because at the end of the day, we all need a cheerleader in our lives! 

Birthday Celebration Wands

Looking for a fun party decoration, table centerpiece, or a cute gift topper? These sparkly handmade wands are perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or just adding a touch of whimsy to any event. They’re made with layered paper rosettes, chipboard embellishments, and lots of glittery details. Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed

Chipboard embellishments (stars, words, cake, etc.) 

I’m using Surprise Chipboard Word Title, Wishes Chipboard Word Title and                                         Mini Shaker Birthday Cake

Patterned or solid cardstock (purples, pinks, or your choice of colors)

Glitter paper or foil paper

Paper rosette die or scoring board

Circle die cuts or punch

Hot glue gun or strong adhesive

Wooden dowels or paper straws

Acrylic paint or spray paint (for painting dowels)

Glitter, sequins, or shaker fillers

Foam tape or shaker adhesive strips

Scissors, trimmer, and basic craft tools

Step 1: Prepare the Bases

Cut strips 3 strips of cardstock about 1.5"–2" wide and score every 1/4” or 1/2” to create accordion folds. My strips measure 2” wide x 11” in length,  scored every 1/2”. 

Adhere 3 strips together and form a circle by gluing the ends together.

Push down the center to flatten into a rosette and secure with a die-cut or punched circle on the both the from & back.

Repeat to make as many rosettes as you need for your wands.

Step 2: Add Decorative Layers

Die cut scalloped circles or lace-edged circles from glitter cardstock.

Adhere your rosettes onto these glittery bases for extra sparkle.

Add an additional circle in coordinating card stock to the front of each rosette.

Step 3: Embellish with Chipboard

Next, paint your chipboard word title pieces and 1 of the 3 cake shaker chip forms in white.  Paint the cake chip back in a color of your choice.

Construct the Birthday Cake Shaker

Adhere 2 of the chip forms together. 

Paint this piece in a color of your choice.

Add shaker bits and acrylic divider. Be sure to remove protective film from both sides.

Decorate the top chip form piece as desired. I add glitter to mine. Adhere to shaker when dry.

Attach the chipboard word titles and shaker to the center of the rosettes. I added some star die cuts behind 

Step 4: Create the Wands

Paint your wooden dowels or straws with acrylic paint or metallic spray paint.

Once dry, insert between the rosette and base and secure with hot glue.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

• Add sequins, glitter, or small rhinestones for extra sparkle.
• Tie ribbon or tulle bows around the dowels for a festive touch.
• Use them in floral arrangements, party décor, photo props, or as cake toppers!

Ideas to Use Your Celebration Wands

• Birthday parties 
• Graduation celebrations 
• New Year’s Eve sparklers substitute 
• Gift bag toppers 
• Table centerpieces

And there you have it! A set of magical handmade wands ready to brighten any celebration.

Be sure and check out more Clear Scraps inspiration by following on social media

Clear Scraps Blog

Clear Scraps Facebook

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Clear Scraps Pinterest   

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Linking up to:

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Crafts Galore Encore - ATG

The Creative Crafters - ATG

613 Avenue Create - playing ATG

Classic Design Challenge - ATG option

A Place to Start - playing ATG

Birthday Wishes Bamboo Panda

Today I’m sharing a fun and cheerful handmade birthday card featuring the cutest little panda! 

Card Details

For the focal, I used Bamboo Panda from Conie Fong Art & Design.

This little cutie is 1 of 12 included in a bundle.

 I colored him up with Prismacolor pencils, keeping his fur soft and fluffy while adding bright pops of green to the bamboo leaves. The bold green against the black-and-white panda really makes him stand out.

             I layered the panda inside a stitched circle die cut, framed with a black border for contrast.               Behind it, I embossed the background with a bamboo-like texture to give extra dimension.

A few black sequins were sprinkled in for a playful touch.

To finish the card, I added the die cut sentiment “Birthday Wishes” across the bottom in a lovely script font. The whole panel was then mounted on a green card base to tie in with the bamboo leaves.

Inspiration

This card makes me smile because pandas are such a symbol of happiness and peace. I thought it was the perfect design for a birthday, sending a little joy along with warm wishes.

I love how this card came together—it’s simple but full of personality. Perfect for anyone who adores animals or just needs a little panda cheer on their birthday!

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Linking up to:

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Crafty Animals - ATG w/animals

Critter Crazy Challenge - ATG w/featured critter

Die Cut Divas - ATG

Love to Craft - ATG

A Place to Start - playing ATG

613 Avenue Create - playing ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - ATG

You're the Sweetest

It's time to share some inspiration for this month's

Polkadoodles Craft & Cardmaking Challenge!

Challenge Theme: ANYTHING GOES

This week's inspiration project is a card created using autumn colours.

 I used Cuppa Tea Bee Time Buzzy Gnome as my focal. 

This cute digi was coloured with Prismacolor Pencils and fussy cut.

The background is comprised of a patterned paper

Bee Buzzy Polka Dots Printable Paper.

 I finished the design with one of the sentiments from 

Bee Buzzy Message/Sentiments/Quotes Printables.

Won't you join in?

We'd love to see what you create!

 

Merry Woofmas Card

 The holidays are all about joy, laughter, and a little bit of whimsy – and this fun card brings all three together! Hey there, it's Judy V here with my latest project, a Merry Woofmas Card, created for Pajama Crafter Stamps.

For this design, I used the Wienerful Christmas Stamps. I couldn’t resist featuring this adorable dachshund which was stamped, colored with Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut. As were the ornaments and gifts, adding some extra festive charm.

The background is one of the Christmas Wishes Flashcards. The snowflakes were foiled. I added shimmery snowbanks by hand cutting glitter card stock. These details add a magical holiday sparkle without overwhelming the playful theme. The sentiment “Merry Woofmas” is one of the sentiments included in the stamp set. It ties everything together perfectly for a lighthearted and dog-loving twist on the season.

This Merry Woofmas card would be perfect for friends, family, or anyone who loves pups and appreciates a handmade holiday greeting that makes them smile.

Do you send out handmade cards for Christmas? If so, do you go for cute and playful, or more classic and elegant? I’d love to hear! Let me know in the comments.

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Linking up to:

Creative Fingers - ATG

Krafty Chicks Challenge - Christmas

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenge - ATG

Addicted to Stamps and More - Make Your Mark

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - ATG Christmas 

A Place to Start - playing ATG

Dream Valley Challenge - 2 or More Layers

A Perfect Time to Craft - ATG

Crafts Galore Encore - ATG

Crafty Animals - ATG w/animals

Critter Crazy Challenge - ATG w/featured critter

Love to Craft Challenge - ATG

Love to Scrap Challenge - ATG

Merry Little Christmas Challenge - ATG Christmas

613 Avenue Create - playing ATG

Little Patch of Crafty Friends - ATG

Crafty Gals Corner Fall Colors

We have a new challenge up at 

Crafty Gals Corner!

The theme for this challenge is: 

~ Fill in the blank -  Fall _____ ~

(leaves, florals, harvest, colours, activity, etc.)

  Our sponsors for this challenge are: 

Fred, She Said Digital Designs

Prize ~ $10 Gift Certificate

Fred She Said Designs offers a wide variety of digital products with a floral flair and cute characters too - Digi's, Pre-colored images, Papers, Sets, Fred's Flower Kits, and even digital cutting files.  Have some fun with Fred!

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LeAnn's World 101

Prize ~ 3 Digital Images

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Polkadoodles

Prize ~ 3 Digital Images

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My DT card was created with

 Pumpkin Bouquet

Fred She Said

For this design, I layered a soft peach and brown polka-dotted background 

with a deep chocolate die-cut to add depth and texture. 

The focal point is s pumpkin bouquet filled with 

bright red blooms, cheerful sunflowers, and vibrant autumn leaves,

colored with Prismacolor pencils.

 A sweet little butterfly adds the finishing touch, 

bringing movement and whimsy to the card.

This card would be perfect to send as a thank you, Thanksgiving greeting, or simply a note to brighten someone’s day during the fall season.

 Cardmaking Tips:

When working with bold fall colors like red, orange, and yellow, 

balance them with earthy tones such as brown or muted peach.

Layering patterned and solid cardstock helps create dimension 

without overwhelming the focal image.

Adding a small accent (like the butterfly) can bring life and movement to your design.

Handmade cards are such a heartfelt way to share joy, and 

I hope this little autumn creation inspires you 

to bring seasonal colors into your own craft projects.

 Do you enjoy making seasonal cards, or 

do you like creating designs that work year-round?

 I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Embossed Masculine Birthday Cards

 When it comes to handmade birthday cards, sometimes it’s nice to step away from florals and bright colors. It can be fun to create something with a more masculine edge. Hey there, It’s Judy here sharing my latest project for CutCardStock. I am creating two embossed birthday cards that feature metallic highlights, bold textures, and clean designs—perfect for the men in your life.

Supplies 

• Lessebo Colors NAVY BLUE 83lb Cardstock
• Stardream Metallic COPPER 105lb Cardstock
• Stardream Metallic SILVER 105 lb Cardstock
• Embossing folders (gears & clocks)
• Die-cut & stamped sentiments (embossing ink & powder for stamped sentiment)
• Enamel dots
• Ink and gilding wax for highlighting embossed textures

Embossing for Striking Backgrounds

Both of my cards start with embossing panels. Using gear and clock embossing folders, I created dimensional backgrounds that really pop when highlighted with metallic cardstock and ink. Embossing is such a simple technique, yet it adds instant texture and interest.

• Card One (Left): I used a gears embossing folder on Lessebo Navy Blue Cardstock and lightly rubbed on silver gilding wax to enhance the raised details. The sentiment is cut from Stardream Metallic Silver Cardstock and layered with a bold “birthday” die cut. “happy” was stamped and heat embossed. 3 silver, glitter enamel dots finished off the design.

• Card Two (Right): For this version, I embossed clocks onto Lessebo Navy Blue Cardstock. I applied silver metallic ink onto the embossing folder to give the cardstock an aged or patinated look. Then lightly apply bronze gilding wax with a finger. Layering the embossed panel with Stardream Metallic Copper Cardstockgave it a warm, industrial look. The “Happy Birthday” sentiment is die cut to match, tying the whole design together.

Why I Love These Cards

These cards are a great reminder that masculine cards don’t have to be plain or boring. The combination of texture, metallic shine, and strong contrasts creates an eye-catching look that works for birthdays and beyond. Plus, backgrounds with embossing are quick to make and they are easy to adapt with different color schemes or sentiments.

Final Thoughts

Embossing is one of my go-to techniques when I want to make cards that look polished with minimal effort. These masculine birthday cards came together quickly, yet the results are bold and striking. Whether you’re making a card for your dad, brother, husband, or a friend, this style is sure to impress!

Join us over on the CutCardStock Facebook Page and the Facebook Group Creating with CutCardStock for more inspiration.

 And even more inspiration can be found on the CutCardStock Creative Blog.

DIY Music Themed Decor

 If you love music and paper crafting like I do, this project is the perfect blend of both! 

 Today I’m sharing a fun and meaningful décor piece that features one of my favorite quotes: “Where words fail, music speaks.” With bold colors, glittery accents, and playful music notes, this project makes a beautiful display for your craft room, music studio, or as a gift for the music lover in your life.

Supplies Used:

• Clear Scraps 8 x 8  Acrylic Book Stand  
• Clear Scraps Treble Clef Chipboard Embellishments
• Clear Scraps Music Notes Chipboard Embellishments
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• Patterned papers
• Black glitter cardstock, black glitter vinyl
• Quote/title cut file 
• Adhesives (double sided tape, liquid glue)
• Scissors, paper trimmer

Step 1: Cut the Quote

Cut or print your chosen quote—“Where words fail, music speaks.” I used black glitter vinyl to make the words stand out against the colorful background. 

Step 2: Apply Quote to Book Stand

Apply quote to the front side of the book stand. I’m only using the words from the cut file.

Step 3: Add Pattern Paper

Start by selecting bold patterned papers that will make your project pop. 

Trim the paper down slightly smaller than the backside of book stand. Add double sided tape to edges on front side of the paper.

Adhere

Cut 4 strips of black glitter cardstock about 1/4’ wide for a border. Adhere to front side of book stand.

Step 3: Embellish with Music Notes

Nothing says “music” like music notes! I used the chipboard embellishments, colored them with a black sparkle pen. Place them around the quote and project is complete.

Final Thoughts

I love how this project turned out—playful, bold, and full of meaning. Whether you’re gifting it to a music teacher, decorating a studio, or making something for yourself,  this project is sure to hit the right note! 🎶

Be sure and check out more Clear Scraps inspiration by following on social media

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Clear Scraps Facebook

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