Mountains or Coast | The Paper Funday Challenge | May

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G’Day Friends,

It’s time for a brand new challenge over at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog!  Our sponsors for May are Gina K Designs & Pajama Crafter Stamps.  The Twist is Mountains or the Coast.

If going for the twist like me, be inspired by the calming waves of the seaside or the fresh air of mountain landscapes.  Think sandy beaches, ocean animals, pine trees, scenic views – or anything that brings those coastal or mountain vibes to life!

Need Some Inspiration?

  • Create a beach scene with soft blues and sandy textures
  • Design a mountain card with earthy tones and bold patterns
  • Use an ocean animal as the star of your project or as a fun accent

There are so many ways to interpret this theme, and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Be sure to join us for this month’s challenge – we love seeing your creativity and celebrating your unique ideas.

Until next time – stay inspired & keep creating!

Vicky
Inspiring Heartfelt Creations, One Beautiful Layer at a Time

Polkadoodles Crafts | By The Sea | Easel Card

Published on by Vicky Wright2 Comments

G’Day Crafty Friends,

I’m a little excited to share my very first card as a Guest Designer for Polkadoodles Crafts.

This week’s challenge is an Easel Card with a By the Sea Theme.

This is Digi Choosday over at the blog – don’t you just love that name – which runs each Tuesday, so there’s always something new to spark your creativity.  I’d absolutely love for you to join in.

For my project, I created an easel card, which is such a fun interactive design.  It stands beautifully for display and gives you that extra wow factor when giving or posting to someone special.  I took my inspiration from the papers as they reminded me of the mermaid’s tail.  Check out the lovely soft colours of purples & blues!

Supply List –

Be sure to hop on over to the Polkadoodles Crafts shop & check out all the lovely digi products.

Copics –

  • Skin – E00, E000, R30
  • Hair – BV00, BV02
  • Flowers/Bra – RV21, RV23
  • Tail – BG000, BG01

I hope this card brings a little seaside calm to your day.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the design team’s amazing creations and play along with us this week!

Until next time – stay inspired & keep creating!

Vicky
Inspiring Heartfelt Creations, One Beautiful Layer at a Time

Lakeside Memories Collection | Paper Rose Studio

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G’Day Crafty Friends,

Today I’m sharing a relaxing, nature-inspired card set of 3 featuring the beautiful Lakeside Memories Collection by Paper Rose Studio.  This project is all about making the most of what you have – using leftover scraps of pattern paper & embossed die cuts – all the little bits we sometimes tend to save for just that occasion or that’s what we tell ourselves hey!

 The Inspiration

The Lakeside Memories Collection is filled with soft, calming tones, scenic prints and rustic textures that instantly bring to mind peaceful days by the water.  I leaned into those elements to create cards that feel warm, thoughtful and easy to customise – Happy Birthday, Sympathy & Father’s Day!

Using Pattern Paper & Scraps

Instead of cutting into full sheets, I challenged myself to work mainly with leftover scraps —and it was such a fun creative exercise!

  • Layered different pattern papers to build depth
  • Mixed subtle prints with bolder designs
  • Let smaller pieces shine as accents and borders

It’s a great reminder that even the tiniest pieces can become something beautiful.

Supply List –

Tips for Creating Your Own Set

  • Don’t be afraid to mix and match scraps
  • Stick to a cohesive colour palette for unity
  • Use embossing to elevate simple designs
  • Create multiple cards at once to maximize your supplies

Final Thoughts

These cards were such a satisfying way to use up my leftover materials while creating something meaningful and practical.  The Lakeside Memories Collection made it easy to pull everything together with its serene, coordinated designs.

I hope this inspires you to dig into your stash and create your own set of all-occasion cards!

Until next time – stay inspired & keep creating!

Vicky
Inspiring Heartfelt Creations, One Beautiful Layer at a Time

Card Clusters | Words of Wisdom Collection

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G’Day Crafty Friends,

I have someting a little different to share with you today – Card or Scrapbook Clusters – all created with the Words of Wisdom Collection by Paper Rose Studio.

There’s something quietly powerful about pairing meaningful die cuts & ephemera with delicate designs. Whether you’re a scrapbook enthusiast or simply someone who loves collecting inspiration, transforming die cuts into card or scrapbook clusters is a deeply satisfying way to preserve and share positivity.

Think of each card or scrapbook cluster as a tiny story –

  • A gentle reminder tucked into a journal
  • A heartfelt message gifted to a friend
  • A visual affirmation displayed on your desk

Keep them in a dedicated spot on your desk for future use to use on your cards or scrapbook pages.  I love it when I create with left over die cuts, ephemera & even stamped images.  My cluster box is one of my first go to spots.

Designing Floral Clusters

Florals are timeless – and they pair beautifully with uplifting messages.  When designing your clusters –

  • Layer different floral elements for depth
  • Mix soft and bold blooms for contrast
  • Add subtle textures like lace, vellum or watercolour backgrounds
  • Let your clusters be the star of your project
  • Use soft pattern papers for card backgrounds
  • If not done so, add a sentiment among your cluster or direct onto your card
  • Finish off with subtle emblellishment
  • Hightlight spsecial memories on your scrapbooking pages

You can create sets for different occasions – encouragement cards, thank-you notes or “just because”.

For these projects I used –

You don’t need to be perfect.  The beauty of this process lies in expression, not precision.  Let your creativity flow, trust your instincts and allow the shapes to guide your hands.

Because sometimes, the simplest combination – a few flowers and a sentiment or heartfelt words – can say exactly what the heart needs.

Until next time – stay inspired & keep creating!

Vicky
Inspiring Heartfelt Creations, One Beautiful Layer at a Time

Just for Him Tuesday | Male Card Inspiration

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G’Day Crafty Friends,

I know some of us have trouble creating for the males in our lives which means a new series is starting as from today!  New inspiration for the males will be posted every 2nd Tuesday of each month along with a FREE PDF Tutorial.

Welcome to Just for Him Tuesday – your dose of inspiration dedicated to creating thoughtful, stylish cards just for him.  Whether you’re crafting for birthdays, Father’s Day or “just because,” masculine designs don’t have to feel limiting – they can be bold, meaningful and full of personality.

Rethinking Male Cards

Designing cards for men often comes with the question – Where do I start?
The key is to focus on elements that feel grounded and intentional –

  • Neutral tones like Kraft, Navy, Charcoal and deep Greens for example
  • Textures such as woodgrain, metal accents or stitched details
  • Clean layouts with strong focal points

Less florals, more structure – but still plenty of creativity.

Tips for Creating Masculine Cards

  • Keep it structured – Use grids, straight lines and balanced layers
  • Limit embellishments – Choose a few impactful pieces instead of many small ones
  • Play with dimension – Foam tape, layered panels and embossed textures add depth without fuss
  • Typography matters – Bold fonts or typewriter styles work beautifully

Free PDF Tutorial

To make it even easier, I’ve created a FREE PDF Tutorial for this week’s feature card design!

Inside you’ll find –

  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Suggest supply list
  • Measurements – A5 & A2

It’s perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike.

Download your free tutorial and start creating your own Just for Him masterpiece!

Final Thoughts

Masculine cards are all about balance – strong but thoughtful, simple but striking.  With the right textures and a bit of inspiration, you can create designs that truly stand out.

So grab your supplies, think like a maker and let’s get crafting!

Until next time – stay inspired & keep creating!

Vicky
Inspiring Heartfelt Creations, One Beautiful Layer at a Time