Sometimes the best cards start with a great piece of Designer Series Paper!

For this card, the Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper provides both the beautiful black-and-white polka dot background and the floral vases featured in the focal point. After colouring a few flowers and leaves with Stampin' Blends, I simply cut them out and layered them over a vellum scalloped circle.

You don't always need lots of stamping to create an eye-catching card. A thoughtfully designed paper can do much of the work for you while still allowing plenty of opportunities to add your own creative touch.

Recently, one of my clients mentioned that she wishes she made more time for crafting. I suspect many of us feel the same way.

Creative time isn't just about making cards or scrapbook pages. It's a chance to slow down, focus on something enjoyable, and give your mind a break from the busyness of everyday life. Even 15 or 20 minutes can leave you feeling refreshed.

If finding time is a challenge, here are a few ideas:

🩵 Keep a kit on hand. Kits are perfect for a quick, easy crafting session with no planning required.

🩵 Break projects into smaller steps. You don't need a whole afternoon to create. One day you might gather supplies, another day cut paper, and another day assemble your project.

🩵 Take a class. Watching the class can be one crafting session. Preparing your supplies can be another. Then, when you're ready, you can sit down and enjoy creating at your own pace.

The most important thing is to give yourself permission to make a little time for creativity. Your craft supplies will be waiting!

The Scenic Coast Craft Class is coming up on June 18, and time is running short to get ready for this fun crafting event.

You'll learn how to create projects in four completely different styles using the same Scenic Coast Suite. It's a wonderful way to stretch your supplies and gather fresh ideas you can use long after the class is over.

The sooner you register, the sooner you'll have access to the class information and supply list so you can prepare ahead of time. 

Plus, if your schedule doesn't allow you to attend live, you'll still be able to watch the replay afterward. Click below to get a sneak peek of the projects and learn more about this unique crafting experience before class day arrives!

One of the things I enjoy most about card sketches is seeing how differently they can be interpreted. The original sketch features a butterfly and striped paper, but for my version I used a floral image from the Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper and added texture with Pool Party Two-Tone Cardstock.

The sketch provided the basic layout, but a few simple changes completely transformed the look. That's the beauty of sketches. They give you a place to start while still leaving plenty of room to make the project your own.

If you've been looking for inspiration, try pulling out a favourite piece of Designer Series Paper and see where this sketch takes you!

One of the best things about Two-Tone Cardstock is that it's almost like getting twice as many colours in one package! Each sheet has a lighter shade on one side and a darker shade on the other, giving you more options when you're designing your projects.

It also has a white core, which means you can emboss and lightly sand it to reveal the white underneath and make the texture stand out even more.

How to find two-tone cardstock?

Go to the online store and type TWO TONE into the search bar.