Caro's Cartistry

Ever had a tiny bird take over your craft space, demand a week of your attention and somehow turn your brushstrokes into a full-blown adventure? Meet my Olive Sparrow! I’m absolutely delighted to share my homework for my final AECP Level 3 class: “Botanical Illustration Inspired Watercolor”  by the ever-amazing Jaycee Gaspar — a class that is equal parts inspiration, challenge and “how does he make it look so easy!?”

Today I am sharing another mixed media card that I made to participate in the Altenew October 2025 Inspiration Challenge.

For my latest AECP Level 3 class, “All About Layering 7 – Stencil Edition,” I set out to see if a non-Christmas stencil could sneak its way into a holiday card. Enter a single bird, perched gracefully in pink and light green—a gentle twist on traditional Christmas colors. With a little ink blending, some colored pencil detailing, and a thoughtfully altered branch, this bird became the star of a clean, simple, one-layer card that manages to feel festive, serene and fun all at