Five Faves: Very Vecchi Edition

Wendy Vecchi's newest collection for Spellbinders came out this October and not only is it brilliant on its own, it mixes beautifully with literally every previous thing she's designed! I had a lot of fun and made quiiiiite a few samples, so it was a challenge just to choose five, but here they are in no particular order. Click the linked text under each photo to go to the original blog or Instagram post for more info and direct links to all the products.

New Wendy Vecchi? (Yes, Please!)

I think I used every piece from the Everyday Add-Ons set along with the Tabbed In and Out Sentiment Stamps and Dies; as well as the original Essential Envelopes pocket, of course. 

So! Much! Texture!

I used the embossing folder from the Thank You Bouquet Bundle on my pumpkin layers (it's just five ovals of exactly the same size!) and the blooms are from there as well. I cut the background into squares which I embossed with the Polka Dot and Posy Duo Embossing Folder.

More Pink

I did some light stenciling with Thank You Bouquet Bundle before using the  Polka Dot and Posy Duo Embossing Folder on the background. The blooms are from the Thank You Bouquet set too, and I've added just a little bit of ink to emphasize their fabulous texture.

Freestyle Stencil Thank You

Apparently I only posted this on social and there wasn't a blog post? But the essential facts are: I tried Wendy's brilliant Tip Tuesday idea of using her Perfect Stamp Positioner and STAY-tion with the layered stencils from the Thank You Bouquet Bundle, which meant I could easily reposition the orientation of the blooms to make a fun all-over pattern. I did the stenciling on sticky-back canvas paper with Wendy's Archival Inks; the canvas makes the design a little less crisp, but has a fun vintage fabric flare to it!

Merci Bouquet

Features the Essential Envelopes pocket doing double duty as a vase; and the pocket cover adorned with the Build a Plaid Layered Stencils. Blossoms from the Everyday Add-Ons set and the Polka Dot and Posy Duo Embossing Folder singin' backup in two shades of purple.

(Note to self: the radiating pieces of cardstock are pretty cool as staging!)

For more inspo check out Wendy's Instagram @wendyvecchi (Tip Tuesdays are my fave!); the Make Art with Wendy Vecchi FB Group (everyone's welcome!); or click THIS LINK to see all my previous Wendycentric projects.

Five Faves: Eyelet Outlet Edition

Here are my personal faves (in no particular order) from my Eyelet Outlet cards in 2025. Click the link under each photo if you'd like to visit the original post, which as a handy linked shopping list for all the EO products used!

Cozy Fall Vibes

I have lots of Reading Friends, so I make at least a couple of cards per year with EO Book Brads and Book Tape. It's exciting that I can still think of new twists!

Home and Away

These adorable retro Camper Brads were brand new this summer and I was instantly smitten. (I still am, actually!)

Life is Better at the Beach

I never get tired of the actual ocean OR of ocean/beach themed cards. And since there are so many great EO beachy brads (Shells, Gulls, Flamingos, etc) the possibilities are nearly endless. 

Kind of a Big Deal

Card Suit Brads were new in 2025 and as soon as I saw them, I knew exactly what I wanted to make!

Ahoy, Matey!

I cannot tell a lie: I was given-- and couldn't wait to use-- this pirate-themed stamp set, and so I deliberately sat down and thought about how many brads I could incorporate. The answer was six... (the parrot from our Tropical Birds set is my fave!) ...plus some Glitter Gold Enamels.

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Stay tuned for more Design Team faves on the Eyelet Outlet Blog; then c'mon back next week for lots of brand new cardmaking inspiration!

Five(ish) Faves: Mandala Monday Edition

Not to be braggy, but I had a hard time only picking FIVE of this year's fifty-one mandalas; not because I'm conceited (well maybe a little, lol!) but because I love drawing/ composing/ dreaming them up. My advice to artists and makers who want some time to make something for themselves: start a weekly, fortnightly or monthly post based on something you LOVE doing; whether it's coloring or collages or frosting cakes or... WHATEVER; create a regular strand for your blog or socials and honor it like any other deadline. You'll be glad you did!

MM05

Using Ranger's Perfect Pearls as watercolors is a lot of fun and the results are SO SHIMMERY!

(Shout out to Dina's Watercolor Journal which has VERY sturdy watercolor paper!)

MM08

I love the concept of viewing a traditional mandala through a cluster of "windows"; I'd like to try some more of these with different shapes next year!

MM11

For a sticker-loving, cupcake-eating Irish American girl, a Mandala Monday which falls ON St. Patrick's Day MUST be made of Pusheen stickers, right?!

MM15

Becca Sadler had the GENIUS idea of starting a weekly strand called "Mondrian Mondays" in which she posted journal pages inspired by Dutch Utopian artist, Piet Mondrian. And when I saw how creative and cool her interpretations were, I wanted to try it in Mandala form. I did five or six versions throughout the year (you can see them together HERE) and this one miiiight be my fave!

MM42

My friend Gina has published her first clipart book on Amazon, I was lucky enough to get an advance copy, and I had a blast making cards and mandalas and all sorts of things with it this year.

(You can see all my Gina is Arty stuff HERE!)

MM45

I sometimes neglect my Posca Pens quite shamefully, but truly, there are few artful things more dramatic than drawing a bright and colorful design on BLACK paper... so luscious!

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To read more about the process and supplies used for any of these Mandalas, just click the link beneath the photo. To see ALL fifty-one Mandala Mondays of 2025, click THIS LINK!