Sweet November Stamps ~ Swing into Spring is Coming!

Spring is in the air, and so is excitement over Sweet November Stamps' upcoming "Swing Into Spring" Clear Stamp Release—and I’m thrilled to share a sneak peek of one of the sets: “Take Flight”! 🐛💚

How adorable is this little caterpillar? With those bright eyes and charming smile, he's ready to wiggle his way into your heart and onto your crafty creations. I had the absolute joy of coloring him up for this release, and let me tell you—he’s a total blast to bring to life with your favorite coloring mediums. 🌈🖌️

🗓️ Mark your calendars: The full clear stamp release is coming Saturday, April 12th, and you won’t want to miss it!

While we’re floating on spring vibes, I wanted to share a sweet little friendship card featuring two of my favorite digital stamp sets from Sweet November: “Cupid and the Dove” and “Cupid’s Arrow”. 🎯💕

These cherubs are full of mischief and charm, and they made the perfect pair for this lighthearted "Hey Girl Hey" card. I created a dreamy pastel background with soft rainbow clouds and tiny golden hearts to give it a whimsical feel. Perfect for a gal pal, a sister, or anyone who needs a little extra love in their day. 💌🌸

Both the upcoming "Take Flight" clear stamp and the Cupid digital sets can be found at Sweet November Stamps! Be sure to follow along on social media for more sneak peeks, inspiration, and coloring fun.

👉 Follow me on Instagram: @i_card_so_hard
👉 And of course, check out Sweet November’s official page for updates!

Thanks for stopping by, crafty friends! Stay sweet and keep creating! 💕

~ Ally ~ 

Crafty Meraki ~ Sneak Peek for April!

🌸✨ Sneak Peek Time! ✨🌸

Say hello to the breathtakingly beautiful new "Songbird Serenade" collection from Crafty Meraki — a symphony of creativity featuring a press plate, stamps, stencils, AND coordinating dies! 🎶💐

We’re totally in love with the dreamy florals and the sweet hummingbird that’s perfect for spring cardmaking and beyond. 💜💚

Designed to let your creativity soar, this set is a must-have for all crafty songbirds out there! 🐦

🛍️ Available in the Crafty Meraki shop on April 7th — mark your calendars! 📅

~ Ally ~

Crafty Meraki ~ Blooming Birthday Wishes

Hey crafty friends!

Today I’m sharing a soft and elegant birthday card that brings all the spring vibes, featuring some favorite products from Crafty Meraki. This card showcases the gorgeous Whimsical Magnolias Press Plate and coordinating dies, all beautifully colored with Copic Markers, layered over a dreamy die-cut background.

Let’s Talk Florals

The star of the show is the Whimsical Magnolias — these blooms are a floral dream! I used the Press Plate for crisp, letterpress-style detailing, then colored the magnolias in rich pinks with a pop of deep magenta and violet, using my trusty Copic Markers. The coordinating die made it a breeze to cut them out cleanly and arrange them around the sentiment.

Soft & Sophisticated Background

To add texture and dimension without overwhelming the florals, I die-cut the background using the Fern Lattice die in a soft blush cardstock. The stitched leaf-like pattern brings a subtle, elegant texture that pairs beautifully with the organic shapes of the flowers.

To ground the sentiment, I used the Background A2 Frame dies to create a horizontal band across the card. This helps draw your eye to the “Happy Birthday” greeting and adds a lovely layered touch.

Final Details

The sentiment itself is stamped on a smooth oval and popped up slightly for dimension. A little foam adhesive goes a long way to give that finishing touch! I kept embellishments minimal so the flowers could take center stage.

A Perfect Birthday Bloom

This design would work beautifully for a variety of occasions—just swap the sentiment and you’ve got a card for weddings, anniversaries, or even a thinking-of-you moment. The combination of crisp floral details and soft, textured background makes this card truly timeless.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope this project inspires you to pull out your Crafty Meraki goodies and get creative with your floral cards.

Until next time,

~ Ally ~

Crafty Meraki ~ A Thank You

Hello, crafty friends!  

I’m so excited to share a floral thank you card that highlights some of my favorite Crafty Meraki products. If you’re a fan of delicate florals and elegant texture, you’re going to love this one!

For today’s card, I pulled out the stunning Crafty Meraki "Petal Poetry" stamp and die set. These beautiful bold florals are a dream to color – I chose soft purples and fresh greens to keep things springy and serene. The detail in these blooms makes them perfect for center stage on any project.

To add some subtle texture and dimension, I used the "Fern Lattice" background die. I absolutely love how it adds interest without overwhelming the delicate lines of the flowers. I die-cut it from the same lavender cardstock as the card base to keep the design cohesive and elegant.

The bold gold foiled “Thank You” greeting comes from the "Gilded Greetings EAP". I love the mix of greetings in this set – the scripty font adds a touch of glamour and style to any sentiment. I popped up the sentiment with foam tape to give it a little extra dimension.

Supplies Used:

• Stamps & Dies: Crafty Meraki Petal Poetry Stamp & Die Set

• Background Die: Crafty Meraki Fern Lattice Die

• Sentiment: Crafty Meraki Gilded Greetings EAP

• Cardstock: Lavender, white

• Coloring: Copic Markers, Polychromos Pencils

I hope this card inspires you to mix texture with florals and to let your sentiments shine! Thank you for stopping by today – and as always, happy crafting!

~ Ally ~