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

Inspired by the incredibly talented Erum Tasneem, a one layer card with a single bloom full of depth, color and life, set against a background that celebrates texture and play.

For my AECP Level 3, I recently took “Artists’ Watercolors 101 for Paper Crafters” with the wonderfully talented Emily Midgett, and let me tell you—this was no “splash on some color and call it a day” kind of class. No, this was watercolor boot camp… with beautiful results.

Don't these paper houses look cute in a sea of flowers? You can recreate this 5 by 7 card using Creative Cuts: Cozy Homes Layering Die Set, Cute Open Rose Layering Die Set, Just Leaves Die Set and the floral stamp from the Breezy Quest Stamp and Die Set.

For my first AECP Level 3 class, I share a spread in my journal which celebrates the magic of bird visits in an early autumn garden.

I was inspired by the darker colors of the inspiration picture and created this card using Altenew's Watercolors and an image from the Watercolor Coloring Book.

Inspired by Altenew’s July 2025 Challenge, this elegant thank-you card features soft ink-blended leafy masking, glittery die cuts, and a dimensional, glittery butterfly. A simple design with a striking result — perfect for any occasion!

Discover how to upcycle an empty tissue box into a beautiful DIY storage solution for your Altenew Mini Delight stamp and die sets. In this post, I walk you through the steps to cover and reinforce the box, create custom paper sleeves (no plastic required!), and organize your supplies with style. Perfect for eco-conscious crafters and paper lovers looking to repurpose everyday materials creatively.

Learn how to make masculine handmade cards using flowers, gel printing, paper weaving, and paper piecing. No masculine stamps needed, no masculine dies needed — just creative techniques with supplies you already have.