Snow Far, Snow Good

We're still creating cards that feature snow this week at Jingle Belles and we'd love for you to join us. In the meantime, here's what I made this week:

One of my favorite "specialty" mandalas is a Snowflake Mandala. Because to me, snowflakes are (in a kinda sorta way) basically natural mandalas; at least, they're an arrangement of crystals in a more or less concentric circular pattern; which lends itself to being doodled and played with as a format. I feel similarly about Spiderweb Mandalas, and make at least one per year, generally in pink; but that's another story. A few weeks ago, when I was at Ranger HQ drawing mandalas with Patti Behan, someone watching the Live Video asked if I had any ideas for mandalas that would work for Christmas/ Winter Holiday greetings and I mentioned both Snowflake Mandalas and also Poinsettia Mandalas, of which I've done fewer, but I also enjoy them because you can easily make them recognizable... without having to make them realistic. I stand by this belief, lol. 

So of course, when I realized we were featuring SNOW this fortnight, I knew this would be the perfect time for the first Snowflake Mandala of 2026. I made a nice inky background with some of my favorite blue Archival Ink shades, dried it thoroughly, and then drew lots of snowflakes with a Letter It Fineliner. I added details with a few blue markers and finally put additional white in there with a Posca Pen. Since the design is quite busy already, when I turned my mandala panels into cards, I only added bright blue mats, a chunky (sparkly!) sentiment and some small Eyelet Outlet Snowflake Bling.

Hop over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's card, check out the Readers' Gallery, and get a peek at the tiny Snow-centric prize that one lucky cardmaker will score, just for linking up with us this fortnight. JB2610: Dashing Through the Snow runs until the evening of Wednesday, May 20th.

GNOME for the Holidays (New Kit!)

Holiday Jumpstart: GNOME for the Holidays is Paper Anthology's newest holiday card kit, which features an adorable gnome, a quirky diecut sentiment, and lots of circles. It's available now in the Paper Anthology Design Etsy Shop.

Paper Anthology’s Holiday Jumpstart Card Kit is our pre-packaged kit that includes everything you need (except adhesive) to complete FIVE copies of this new original holiday card design. This edition is called “GNOME for the Holidays” because of the supercute guy (or gal… it's hard to tell with gnomes!) on the lefthand side.

We all love the IDEA of making holiday cards throughout the year, instead being overloaded in November and December; but sometimes it’s hard to be inspired during the “off-season”. That issue is solved by this pre-packaged kit, which features everything you need (except adhesive) to complete five copies of this original design. Also included are complete written instructions (not pictured, but included!) and a nice big photo for reference.

This kit contains:

Five sets of gnome diecuts (base, hat, beard, tunic, nose)
Five 3" green knitty circles
Five 2" festive tree circles
Five 1.25" red dotted circles
Five small green knit printed hearts
Five sets of G-N-O-M-E diecut letters
Five printed "for the holidays" sentiments
Five panels of white textured cardstock
Five white A2 cards

Get your copy of Holiday Jumpstart: GNOME for the Holidays today, available only in the Paper Anthology Design Etsy Shop. 

SHELL-ebration!

Neutral tones with pops of teal and yellow add up to a bright and beachy card featuring Eyelet Outlet Shell Brads, Sea Shore Brads, a Beach Umbrella and Sunglass Brads. A few Sticky Back Heart Pearls, 1/8" Round Eyelets in the corners, and mats of Glitter Copper Tape complete the design.

In the background are the shells and sentiment from Ranger's Make-It Beach Vibes Stamp Set, embossed in Marigold Metallic and painted with diluted Archival Inks.

Remember that ALL Eyelet Outlet Bling varieties are on CLEARANCE at just $1 each; including Sticky Back Heart Pearls! Stock up now, because when they're gone... they're GONE!

Layered Collage Mandala

The other day I was talking about Clean Up Collages, by which I mean quite random assemblies of paper scraps, tickets, and trading stamps left on my worktable at the end of a project, that I glue together instead of putting away. Occasionally, this process results in an actual finished piece that I love... (Saturday's was one such) ...but often it's more valuable as a process than an outcome. So what do I do then? I diecut the pieces and use them for something else! In this case, the heart-shaped petals surrounding the central frame are from two different Clean Up Collage panels that I didn't love on their own; but they work really well (in my opinion) in this orange, yellow, green and neutral creation, so I'm calling it a win!

I hope your Monday isn't too Mondayish, lol; and that your week in general is off to a good start.

Wildflower Collage

A Clean Up Collage for a dreary (but not yet raining) Saturday, consisting of torn scraps of vintage map, index and sheet music; lots of S&H Greenstamps; and a framed transparency loaded with watercolored wildflower diecuts and Eyelet Outlet Bling (it's on clearance!) in my 6 x 6" square Dina Wakley Kraft Journal from Ranger.

Fingers crossed that the rain holds off long enough for me to take a walk outside after lunch, woohoo!

Dashing Through the Snow

This fortnight at Jingle Belles we're asking you create projects that celebrate the white fluffy flakes of snow. You might choose snowmen, snowflakes, a snowscape, or snowfall; just include some snow on your card. Like this:

I still have a few well-hoarded Penny Black Masterpieces Made Simple journal-style cards and this one fit the prompt perfectly. I gave Scrapaholics' Elegant Frame a quick coat of white Dina Wakley MEdia Acrylic Paint, added it to my snowscape, adorned the whole thing with Eyelet Outlet 1.5" Snowflake Bling* and popped it onto a piece of Photoplay's Solids + paper with earth-toned snowflakes, et voila!

JB2610: Dashing Through the Snow runs until 6pm (Eastern) on Wednesday, May 20th. Hop over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's card, a photo of the fun (SNOWY!) little prize pack one lucky random cardmaker will score just for linking up with us this time, and to link up your own snow-centric design(s)!

*Just a reminder that ALL Eyelet Outlet Bling is currently on clearance for $1.00 each! Stock up now, because when it's gone... it's gone for good!

Mother's Day Bouquet

Mother's Day is this Sunday in the USA, so here is a fast and simple card idea featuring a colorful bouquet Eyelet Outlet Tulip Brads with embroidered stems, surrounded by some sweet Mini Butterfly Brads.

Bright and Beautiful Shopping List:

Eyelet Outlet Tulip Brads

Mini Butterfly Brads

Eyelet Outlet has all the embellishments you need for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation and beyond! Don't forget the big Bling Liquidation Sale: ALL Eyelet Outlet Bling is just ONE DOLLAR... while supplies last!