July 20, 2026

3 Easy Lily of the Valley Cards for Every Kind of Crafter

 Have you ever fallen in love with a stamp set, only to bring it home and wonder what on earth you should make with it?

The Stampin’ Up! Lily of the Valley Bundle makes that decision much easier. Its delicate flowers can look soft and simple, bold and modern, or beautifully elegant depending on the colors and techniques you choose.

During this week’s Stampin’ Sundays with Katrina, I created three handmade cards—including an easy Z-fold birthday card. Whether you’re new to stamping, short on crafting time, or simply looking for fresh card-making inspiration, you’ll find an idea here that you can recreate.

An Easy Z-Fold Birthday Card That Stands Up for Display

The first project is a Z-fold birthday card featuring Pretty Peacock cardstock and the gorgeous Valley in Bloom Designer Series Paper.

A Z-fold is one of my favorite fun folds because it looks impressive without requiring complicated cutting or scoring. The card base is simply scored at 4 1/4" and again at 2 1/8". Fold the card in half as usual, then fold the front panel back on itself.

That’s it—you have a Z-fold!

I used two Everyday Arches die cuts for the front and inside of the card. The front arch features the large die-cut lily of the valley and a “Happy Birthday” greeting. The matching arch inside provides a place for the message, “To one of the nicest people I know,” along with a handwritten note.

Here’s an important assembly tip: when attaching a shape across the front fold, add adhesive only to the section touching the narrow front panel. Otherwise, you may accidentally glue your card closed. I lined up the front arch with the one inside before pressing it into place.

This card stands beautifully on a mantel, desk, or shelf—perfect for the person who loves to display and save handmade cards.

A Quick Card for Busy Crafting Days


The second card is proof that a quick card can still be absolutely beautiful.

I started with a Thick Basic White card base and added a Pool Party layer. The background combines two coordinating papers: a leafy pattern from the Valley in Bloom Designer Series Paper and a tone-on-tone design from the Luxe White Specialty Designer Series Paper.

The specialty paper is lovely on its own, but I wanted its subtle pattern to stand out. Using a blending brush, I added Balmy Blue ink to the center of the paper. The color gently settles around the raised design, making the pattern easier to see while keeping the background soft.

The small lily of the valley image was stamped in black and colored with Pool Party and Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends. Two overlapping circular die cuts create the focal point, with the smaller circle holding the simple “Happy for you” greeting.

This design is a great card recipe to save. Choose two coordinating patterned papers, add a simple stamped image, and finish with two layered shapes. You can easily adapt it for birthdays, congratulations, thank-you cards, or thinking-of-you cards.

And yes, we decided it needed rhinestones—because a little bling makes everything better!

Create Texture with Torn Two-Tone Cardstock


The third card has a bolder color combination, pairing Basic Beige with Pretty Peacock, Blackberry Bliss, and Granny Apple Green.

For the background, I tore a strip of Blackberry Bliss two-tone cardstock. This cardstock has a white core, so tearing the paper toward yourself exposes that white edge. It creates texture and contrast without adding another layer or specialty tool.

If you want a rougher, more organic appearance, gently distress the torn edge with your fingers after tearing it.

I stamped the large lily of the valley image in Granny Apple Green and used a Blender Pen with a small amount of Balmy Blue ink to shade the base of each white flower. Lily of the valley blossoms are naturally white, so they didn’t need to be completely colored. That little hint of blue was enough to give them depth.

The separate leaves were stamped tone-on-tone on Granny Apple Green cardstock, die cut, and layered behind the flowers. A Pretty Peacock geometric die cut added another bit of interest in the background.

The finished “So grateful for you” card is a wonderful reminder that you don’t always need to color every part of a stamped image. Sometimes a little shading is all it takes.

One Bundle, Three Completely Different Looks

What I love about the Lily of the Valley Bundle is its versatility. We created a dimensional birthday fun fold, a quick and airy “Happy for you” card, and a rich gratitude card using the same bundle.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a new stamp set, try choosing just one element to change on each card:

  • Use a different color combination.
  • Switch between stamped and die-cut flowers.
  • Add a simple fun fold.
  • Combine patterned paper with a subtle coloring technique.
  • Change the sentiment to fit the cards you need most.

You don’t need hours of free time or a craft room full of supplies to make something meaningful. Start with one beautiful image, keep the layout manageable, and let the paper do some of the work for you.

Which of these three Lily of the Valley cards would you make first: the Z-fold birthday card, the soft “Happy for you” card, or the torn-paper gratitude card? Leave me a comment and let me know. Be sure to save this post for your next creative afternoon, and grab the coordinating printable tutorial so you can craft right along with me!

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July 13, 2026

3 Easy Handmade Fall Cards with the Simply Leaves Bundle (Plus a Stunning Emboss Resist Technique!)

 

Fall is one of my favorite seasons to create handmade cards. The warm colors, cozy textures, and beautiful leaves make it so easy to create cards that feel heartfelt without being complicated.

If you're anything like me, you're looking for projects that are beautiful but still fit into a busy schedule. This week's cards do exactly that! I created three simple fall-inspired cards using the Simply Leaves Bundle from the July Online Exclusives, and each one offers something a little different—from quick and easy to a technique that looks far more difficult than it really is.

The best part? You don't have to be an experienced card maker to recreate any of these.

Card #1: Add Texture with Two-Tone Cardstock

Sometimes the simplest techniques create the biggest impact.

For the first card, I paired Pumpkin Pie Two-Tone Cardstock with a leafy embossing folder, then lightly sanded the raised areas to reveal the lighter core underneath. It's an incredibly easy way to add instant texture and depth.

A few layered leaves, a linen thread bow (because you know I love my linen thread!), and a simple sentiment finish the card beautifully.

Beginner Tip:
If you don't own a sanding block, borrow a small piece of sandpaper from your husband's toolbox! Any fine grit works perfectly.

Card #2: Let Designer Paper Do the Heavy Lifting

Not every beautiful card needs lots of layers.

This cheerful "Thinking of You Often" card features the gorgeous new gingham Designer Series Paper from the 2026–2028 In Colors collection. The bold pattern becomes the star of the show while a cluster of simple punched leaves adds just enough interest.

This layout is perfect when:

  • You need a quick card.
  • You want to showcase beautiful Designer Series Paper.
  • You're building up your confidence with layering.

Sometimes less really is more.

Card #3: Try the Emboss Resist Technique

If you've never tried the Emboss Resist Technique, this is the perfect project to start with.

It may look fancy, but the steps are surprisingly simple:

  • Blend several ink colors onto Basic White cardstock.
  • Stamp your leaf images with Versamark Ink.
  • Cover with Clear Embossing Powder and heat set.
  • Roll a dark ink (Early Espresso) over the entire background with a brayer.
  • Wipe the embossed leaves clean and watch those gorgeous fall colors come to life.

This technique creates dramatic backgrounds that look like you spent hours making them—even though the process is actually quite relaxing.

It's one of those classic techniques I learned years ago, and I find myself coming back to it every fall because it never disappoints.



Simple Cards Can Still Wow

One thing I hope you take away from this week's projects is that beautiful cards don't have to be complicated.

Whether you're embossing, sanding cardstock, or simply layering pretty paper with a few punched leaves, each small detail adds up to something special.

Handmade cards aren't about perfection—they're about sharing kindness, encouragement, and a little piece of your heart with someone else.

And honestly? That's what makes this hobby so rewarding.

I'd love to know—which card was your favorite this week?

Was it the textured embossed card, the bright gingham design, or the colorful Emboss Resist background?

Leave a comment below and let me know! If you'd like the complete measurements and step-by-step tutorial, be sure you're on my email list so you never miss a week's inspiration. As always, happy stamping!


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