Showing posts with label Butterfly Cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Butterfly Cards. Show all posts

July 27, 2026

3 Easy Handmade Cards with the Stampin’ Up! Extraordinary Life Bundle

 Have you ever looked at a stamp set and thought, “That’s cute, but I wouldn’t know what to do with it”?

Or maybe you’ve seen a product labeled for scrapbooking and immediately passed it by because you’re a card maker—not a scrapbooker.

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sometimes the hardest part of card making isn’t the actual stamping. It’s knowing where to begin without feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities.

This week, I used the Stampin’ Up! Extraordinary Life Bundle to create three easy handmade cards. Although this bundle was designed with memory keeping in mind, its butterflies, flowers, notebook paper, frames, hearts, and other playful elements work beautifully on cards, too.

These projects are simple enough for a newer stamper while still offering enough layers and interesting details to make an experienced card maker smile.

Start with One Simple Idea


You don’t need to see the entire finished card before you begin. Sometimes you only need one element that catches your attention.

For the first card, that starting point was the notebook paper die cut. I paired it with a colorful butterfly, a bright heart, and the “Happiest Birthday Wishes” sentiment.

The Golden Glow background was stamped with a small honeycomb image in the same color ink. This tone-on-tone stamping added texture without creating more visual clutter.

That is a helpful trick when you want your card to feel more finished but don’t want to introduce another color or patterned paper. Simply stamp a small image repeatedly using ink that matches your cardstock.

The butterfly was colored with Hydrangea Hue and Cloud Cover Stampin’ Blends, but I kept the coloring intentionally simple. You don’t need elaborate shading to create a beautiful focal point. A little color and a few Stampin’ Dimensionals can make an image pop.

Make Coloring Easier with Blending Brushes


If coloring stamped images makes you nervous, the second card includes a wonderfully forgiving technique.

Before stamping the butterfly and flowers, I used Blending Brushes to add soft circles of Pool Party and Crisp Cantaloupe ink to Basic White cardstock. Then I stamped the images directly over the blended color.

That’s it—instant color without carefully staying inside the lines!

This technique is especially helpful when you are short on time or don’t feel confident using markers. The soft, imperfect color creates an artistic look without requiring precision.

I layered these images with a vellum circle, a Pretty Peacock frame, a notebook paper die cut, and a heart featuring the “Sending You Hugs” sentiment. The result has plenty of detail, but every step is manageable.

And isn’t that what we really need from our creative time? A project interesting enough to feel satisfying, but not so complicated that it becomes another source of stress.

Let Patterned Paper Do Some of the Work


The third card may be the simplest of the three, but it certainly doesn’t look plain.

I started with a full card front of Beautiful Ordinary Life Designer Series Paper. A second pattern from the same package was added diagonally, along with a strip of Basic White cardstock for the stamped butterflies and birthday greeting.

Using coordinating patterned paper removes much of the guesswork. The colors and patterns are already designed to work together, so you don’t need to spend your limited creative time trying dozens of combinations.

I added soft areas of Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, and Crisp Cantaloupe ink around the butterflies with Blending Brushes. A few small butterfly embellishments completed the card.

Quick, colorful, and completely achievable—even after a long day.

What Happens When a Card Goes Wrong?

I have to tell you about the mistake I made while creating the original version of the third card: I decorated the card base in the wrong direction, so it opened backward!

Yes, I make mistakes, too.

Fortunately, the decorated panel can be trimmed from the card base and attached to a new one. The project isn’t ruined, and the supplies don’t have to be wasted.

If you’ve ever made a crooked cut, stamped something upside down, or assembled a card backward, please don’t let that convince you that you aren’t creative. Mistakes are part of making things with your hands. Most can be covered, trimmed, flipped, or turned into a new design feature.

Your handmade card does not need to be perfect to make someone feel remembered and loved.

Use a Card Sketch When You Feel Stuck

One of these cards began with a card sketch, although the finished design looked quite different from the original layout.

That is exactly how sketches are supposed to work. They aren’t rigid instructions—you can treat them as a starting point.

Try changing the shapes, rotating the layout, replacing a circle with a butterfly, or using patterned paper where the sketch shows cardstock. You don’t have to copy it exactly. Let it give you just enough direction to begin.

The next time you sit down to stamp and your mind goes blank, choose one sketch, one stamp set, and three coordinating colors. That is more than enough to create something wonderful.

Which of these Extraordinary Life cards would you make first: the layered birthday card, the Sending You Hugs card, or the diagonal butterfly birthday card? Leave me a comment and tell me your favorite. Be sure to save this post for the next time you need a little creative jump-start!

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June 29, 2026

3 Beautiful Butterfly Cards You'll Love with the Stampin' Up! All Aflutter Bundle

 If you've ever looked at a butterfly stamp set and thought, "It's pretty, but what else can I do with it?" then this week's projects are for you!

The All Aflutter Bundle proves that butterflies aren't just for spring—they're perfect for thinking of you cards, thank you cards, hello cards, birthdays, and so much more. This week I created three completely different cards using one adorable punch bundle, including a fun fold that's easier than it looks!

Whether you're just getting started or you've been stamping for years, I hope these ideas inspire you to pull out your patterned paper and start creating.

Card #1: A Stand-Up Arches Fun Fold

My favorite card of the week has to be the stand-up arches card!

Using the Everyday Arches Dies and the beautiful Velvet Meadow Designer Series Paper, this card creates a gorgeous dimensional display that stands on its own. It looks impressive sitting on a desk or mantel, yet it's surprisingly simple to assemble once you know the scoring trick.

One thing I love about this design is that you can leave the back open to write your message or add another Basic White arch for a polished finish.

Sometimes those "wow" cards are much easier than they first appear!

Card #2: Create a Modern Look with Angled Paper Cuts

Have you ever wanted a card that looks fancy without requiring complicated measurements?

This angled panel card is exactly that.

Instead of measuring several individual pieces, I stacked my cardstock and Designer Series Paper together and cut them all at the same time. When you put the pieces back together like a puzzle, everything fits perfectly.

It's one of those techniques that gives every card a unique look because no two cuts will ever be exactly the same—and that's part of the charm!

To finish it off, I added stamped butterflies and a few embellishments for just the right amount of dimension.

Card #3: Sometimes Simple Really Is Best

Not every handmade card has to be elaborate.

This final card is proof that beautiful Designer Series Paper can do most of the work for you.

The flocked Velvet Meadow paper adds gorgeous texture without any extra effort. By simply shifting the patterned paper slightly to one side instead of centering it, the entire layout feels fresh and modern.

Add a layered sentiment, three punched butterflies, and a little sparkle, and you have a card that's quick enough to make several at once.

Perfect for thank you cards, encouragement cards, or simply building your card stash.

Why I Love the All Aflutter Bundle

One of my favorite things about this bundle is its versatility.

The coordinating punch makes creating butterflies fast and easy—no fussy cutting required. You can:

  • Stamp detailed butterflies or quick all-in-one images
  • Color them with Stampin' Blends or simply stamp and punch
  • Layer them for extra dimension
  • Use them on elegant, whimsical, or everyday cards
  • Pair them with almost any Designer Series Paper

If you're someone who enjoys making cards for lots of different occasions, this bundle gives you plenty of options.

Your Turn!

Which card is your favorite this week?

  • The stand-up arch fun fold?
  • The angled paper design?
  • Or the quick and simple floral card?

I'd love to hear which one you'd make first!

Grab the tutorial Here:


If you'd like the complete PDF tutorial with measurements and step-by-step instructions, directly to your inbox, then be sure you're on my email list. My subscribers receive the tutorial first, and it's one of my favorite ways to thank you for being part of the Katrina's Kreative Heart community.

Until next time, happy stamping!

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